Educational Facilities.
From its earliest history El Paso has been a city of splendid schools and today supports two as good High schools with correspondingly efficient lower grades as can be found in cities of much greater pretensions. Of our early schools there is but little on record, but from the older settlers and early teachers we have been able to glean considerable of interest. In '57, through the efforts of Dr. S. L. Kerr and others interested in education a school district was formed which included the village and about all of the north half of El Paso township. The building which has been remodeled into a residence and is now owned by Dr. J. A. Schofield, was the first school building erected here. That was constructed in 1857, but prior to that there had been a school taught in the house now occupied by E. H. King and his mother. About 1858 or 9, by a petition of David Graft, J. H. Wathen and others, district five was formed by dividing district four in two parts, the Illinois Central road being the division line. District five erected two rooms, which served them until 1866, when two wings were added. Among the early teachers in these two rooms were Miss A. M. Frazier, Miss Georgia Robinson, daughter of the lady who served as postmistress some years, and Silas Hayes.
When the addition was completed in 1866, a Mr. Atwood was chosen the first principal, with Hattie (Thompson) Hodges, Jennie (Carlton) Worthington and Addie Frazier assistants, and the school then made some progression in the way of grading and arranging a course. The next year the teachers were the same with the addition of Georgia (Cooper) Black and Melvira Patton, who took Mrs. Hodges's place, on account of the latter's resignation. During '68 and 9 Atwood resigned and G. W. Glover was principal, with Mrs. Worthington, Mrs. Black and Melvira Patton, the latter, we believe, a cousin of J. L. Patton, of Greene. The next year John Ellis was principal with Jennie (Fishburn) Young and Molly Minor as assistants.
1870-1--John Ellis, Mary C. Ives, Mrs. Worthington, Molly Minor.
(Continued on page 26.)
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