(Continued from page 26.)
In 1877 a portion of the building was raised, a high school department was added and a greater part of the time since five teachers have been employed. The present corps is Anna E. Hill, principal, Rosa Hayden, Rose Carson, Hattie Helme, Anna VanMeter, assistants.
District four occupied the original frame structure until 1869, when the erection of its present magnificent structure was begun. The lady who taught in the Mrs. King residence as mentioned above, was Sarah Cooper, sister of Mrs. King and she had about twenty pupils.
The first teacher in the old frame school was Henry Hewitt, who was in more ways than one identified with the early history of our city. Following Mr. Hewitt was James B. Carson, who taught two years, '58 and 9. As the school was large he was assisted by Jennie (Fishburn) Young, a pupil teacher. A part of the hall was arranged for a class room. Mr. Carson was a fine mathematician, a superior teacher in his time. He died in Peoria in 1884 or 5. On account of the crowded condition of the public school, a private school was opened by Miss E. A. Branch, of Potsdam, N. Y. The school was held in Crawford's hall, a building which occupied the corner northeast of the Baptist church. In the public school following Mr. Carson was Albert Houston, who taught one year; Mary Stockwell one year.
Mr. Nightinggale also taught one year. Another teacher of those early times was Ruth Fenner, who finished her work here in '66. There was at that time but one room in the building. Following Miss Fenner or at least about that time Geo. Wells was teacher, with Lou (Hager) Smith and Mattie Shoemaker assistants, the primary room being a small building standing on the present site of J. I. Kerr's residence and since fitted up by that gentleman as a kitchen. A year or two later the room used for primary department was a small building standing very near the old Methodist church and which now forms a part of the residence occupied by C. P. Shur and wife. Mr. Edwards, brother of the distinguished Richard Edwards, ex-state superintendent, was in charge here also in the school's early
(Continued on page 34.)
Page 32