Laclede County Schools
The history of Laclede schools below was taken from the book History
of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, Pulaski, Phelps and
Dent Counties published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889. Note
that only some portions with many surnames were taken from this book (since
there is no index printed for this section of the book, this should be
helpful for researchers to find their ancestors.)
Earliest Schools
In common with the pioneers of all newly settled countries, the early
settlers of Laclede County were deprived of educational advantages for their
children. As soon, however, as sufficient number of pupils were found
to exist in any particular locality, the parents or guardians thereof
assembled and erected one of the old-fashioned log school-houses, with
puncheon floor, open fire-place, with stick and mud or stone chimney, and
furnished with hewed plank benches for seats, and rough boards resting on
pins driven into the logs for writing-desks. This was the style of the
first school-houses, and the teachers were paid by the parents or guardians
in proportion to the number of pupils sent by each. These early
teachers were generally of limited education. Occasionally a
well-educated man was employed.
Public School System
Missouri has had a public system ever since it became a State, but for many
years it was considered as an institution of charity for the benefit of the
poor, and, consequently, was not patronized or encouraged by the more
wealthy classes. The original incentive to the creation of the school
system was the donation made by the General Government to the State of the
sixteenth section of land in every congressional township, for the purpose
of raising a fund to maintain free schools. The first step preparatory
to the establishment of such schools in Laclede County was taken February 5,
1851, when the county court ordered that School Township No. 2, as it had
previously been organized as a part of Camden County, should be changed to
No. 1, in Laclede County. Then, on the 5th of May following, comes
this order of county court:
It is ordered that School Township No. 2, in the county
mentioned, and bounded and described as follows - it being Congressional
Township 33 north, Range 13 west-be organized for school purposes, agreeable
to the provisions of an act of the General Assembly of this state, entitled,
"An act to provide for the organization, support and government of common
schools," approved March 27, 1845, a majority of the qualified voters
in said township having petitioned for organization. And it is further
ordered, that the first meeting of the inhabitants be held at the house of
Richard Stroup on the 7th day of June, 1851, at 10 o'clock in the
forenoon. And it is further ordered, that John McElroy be, and
he is hereby appointed, commissioner, and Richard Stroup and David
B. Laxton inspectors of said township.
Following this order, at the same time and in like manner, School Township
No. 3, consisting of Township 35 north, Range 16 west, was organized upon
petition of majority of the qualified voters thereof, and the first meeting
of the inhabitants of the same was ordered to be held at the house of H.
Mizer, June 7, 1851. Benjamin Hufft was appointed
commissioner, and John Atchley and H. Mizer, inspectors of the
school township. Also, at the same time and in like manner, School
Township NO. 4, consisting of Township 36 north, Range 16 west, was
organized in response to a petition of a majority of the qualified voters
therein, the first meeting of the inhabitants to be held at the house of
Matt H. Hooker, on June 7, 1851. M. N. Houston was
appointed commissioner, and George W. McCulloch and Moses Norman,
inspectors. On the 6th of May, 1851, School Township No. 5.,
consisting of Township 34 north, Range 15 west, was organized in accordance
with the law cited, the first meeting of the in habitants to be held at the
house of William Jones, June 14, 1851. W. O. Duval was
appointed commissioner, and William Tyree and William Jones,
inspectors. In like manner, and at the same time, School Township No.
6, consisting of Township 35 north, Range 14 west, was organized, the first
meeting of the inhabitants to be held at the house of W. H. Smith,
June 21, same year. W. H. Smith was appointed commissioner, and
T. W. Pearcey and D. B. Murrell inspectors.
On the 6th of August, 1851, School Township No. 7 consisting of Township 34
north, Range 14 west, was organized, the first meeting of the inhabitants to
be held at the house of Robert Faires, on
the first Saturday in September following. Robert Faires was
appointed commissioner, and D. A. Mooneyham and J. C. Morelock,
inspectors. On May 3, 1852, School Township No. 8, consisting of
Township 33 north, Range 16 west, was organized, the first meeting of the
inhabitants to be held at the house of John S. Shields, on the first
Saturday of June following. John S. Shields was appointed
commissioner, and R. E. Clinkingbeard and John N. Lowrance,
inspectors. On the 4th day of August folllowing, School Township No.
9, consisting of Township 33 north, Range 17 west, was organized, the first
meeting of the inhabitants to be held at the house of Joseph McMinness,
on the first Saturday of September, same year. Daniel Bilderback
was appointed commissioner, and D. M. Street and Rufus Phillips,
inspectors. On the same occasion, School Township No. 10, consisting
of Township 33 north, Range 15 west, was organized, the first meeting of the
inhabitants to be held at the house of William Hough, on the first
Saturday of September following. Ashford Hough was appointed
commissioner, and William Atwood and Cornelius Williamson,
inspectors. Also, at the same time, School Township 5. was
reorganized, the first meeting of the inhabitants to be held at the house of
Samuel McGinnis, on the first Saturday of September following.
Z. B. Robertson was appointed commissioner, and Alex. McKey
and William McGinnis, inspectors. On May 2, 1853, School
Township No. 11, consisting of Township 35 north, Range 15 west, was
organized, the first meeting of the inhabitants to be held at the house of
Alfred Smithpeter, on the first Saturday of June following.
J. B. Lambeth was appointed commissioner, and G. T. Holeman and
Elisha Gregory, inspectors. On the 1st of August, 1853, School
Township No. 12, consisting of Township 32 north, Range 14 west, was
organized, the first meeting of the inhabitants to be held at Hopewell
School-house on the second Saturday of September following. Joseph
Henderson was appointed commissioner, and James A. Strickland and
E. H. Porter, inspectors.
