Jubilee Township

No. 10 N., R. 6 E

1945 School Districts and consolidation

Greenbush School

District #44

1951 #311

1969 #326 Princeville

Shane School

District #46

1948 #309 Brimfield Unit

Cahill School

District #47

1947 #307 Brimfield CC

1949 #309

Bramble School

District #48

1948 #309

Poland School

Dsitrict #49

1948 #309

Robin's Nest

District 50

(Abondoned in 1912)

Town House School

1947 #307

1948 #309

Carroll School

District #52

1950 (part) #98 Good Hope

1969 #326 Princeville

1951 #311 Princeville CC

Unknown School

Maher Rd. from 150 before Brimfield

E. on Martin Rd.

N. on Cluskey Rd. (before Kelstadt Rd)

Shane School

District #46

The first schoolhouse was built in 1847. This was called the Shane because it was built on land belonging to Hiram Shane, who resided on land adjacent to the school plot.

Elmwood carpenters built the present schoolhouse in 1870, when the new road was built where the old one stood. Mr. John Hindle bought the old building and moved it to his farm for use as an implement shed.

In early days, the Shane Schoolhouse was much used as a place for religious services, and the old-fashioned Spelling Bees were of weekly occurrence. These and the local debating society provided the chief entertainment of the old folks while they improved the orthography and logic of the youthful contestants. To this day it has been used as a community center where meetings were frequently held.

It was here that our County Superintendent of Schools, Prof. John A. Hayes passed his boyhood and received the rudiments of education His father Charles Hayes owned the homestead farm near the schoolhouse.

The school has not been left behind by the advance of time, and is fast becoming a modern school

Lois Irene Carter

Rt 150 and Shane Rd.

Cahhill School

District #47

The first schoolhouse of District #47 was erected in the year of 1847. It was constructed brick and the material hauled by team from Kickapoo. It was placed at the intersection of the Knoxville Road and the cross road running south. This is on the extremem west side of Jubilee Township and also the extreme west side of the district but as that was where all the people lived at that time, it was considered properly located. Nathaniel Shaw did the work on the building. It might be said here that his family was the first to settle on Orange Prairie.

The building faced the south and was a one-room structure with no vestibule. The teacher’s desk was placed up the north and where a platform was constructed for it. Back of the teacher’s desk was small blackboard. The room was equipped with seven double seats and on recitation bench. The room was not plastered but was covered with a dull substance which made the room look cark and gloomy even on he brightest days. Mr. Shaw was employed to teach the school the first winter and he had crowded into the building between thirty and forty pupils.

The first few years men were employed to teach the winter term and women for the summer term. The salary was small and they got their board and room thrown in, by living a week at a time with each family in the district.

In the summer of 1893, the brick building was torn down to make room for a more modern frame building but before they had started to build the people on the east side of thee district decided that at they wanted the cite changed. There was a great amount of difficulty arose at this time. The people who lived on the west side did not want to move the school, so after wrangling for a couple of months and paying several lawyers to settle their arguments, they found they would have to vote on it.

The vote went in favor of moving. During the mnths of July and August, a frame building was erected on a tract of land a quarter of a mile east of the old site this is very near the center of the district. This same building as been in use since that time but has been greatly improved from time to time so as to keep within the regulations as approved the stateo.

Route 150 before the Jubilee Rd.

Bramble School

District #48

In the 1853 James Bramble gave part of the northwest quarter of Section 34 of Jubilee Township to be used for educational purposes. A small frame school building was built on this land and George Radley and Edmund J. Hamilton were the first directors.

The Lutherans and the Methodists held their services in this schoolhouse for a number of years. In 1880 the Lutherans built a church, but the Methodists continued to hold services in the schoolhouse until some time later.

About 1885 this building was torn down as it was small and old. A small strip of land was bought from August Notzke and added to the school grounds. A new schoolhouse was built. The new building was also used for church services, box suppers, and many other social events.

For many years the school ground was a camping place for gypsies. They became so troublesome that the yard was fenced to keep them out

In 1920 the directors and Frank and Edward Notzke went to court concerning a part of the school ground. The school lost the ground: this made the yard much smaller.

The schoolhouse should a mile west and a half-mile south of its present location in order to be in the middle of the district.

Poland School

District # 49

The present Poland School District Number 49 of Peoria County is one of the most historic spots we know of in the county. Around Jubilee College this interesting history is wound.

Bishop Philander Chase, first Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Illinois came out from the East and founded Kenyon College in Ohio in the year of 1824 and then came west to found Jubilee College.

The Bishop called it Jubilee because he says in his Reminiscences, “If you ask me the reason why I call my Illinois institution Jubilee College, I answer, that name of all others suits my feelings and circumstances. I wish to give thanks and rejoice that after seven years have passed in much trouble pain and moral servitude, God permitted me to return his gracious favor.”

The Bishop and his family left Ohio in 1836, and procured lands to the amount of twenty-five hundred acres in Peoria County for the benefit of this institution with the idea of encouraging religion and learning. Portions of this land were sold from time to time until the college farm at present is about 96 acres.

Bishop Chase said this of the site chosen for the College. “The College site is remarkable for its health and beauty. It is high, commanding a cheering variegated prospect up and down the two branches of a beautiful stream of pure water. (Kickapoo Creek) It looks to the south and has a fine grove of trees which shield it from the North and west winds in the winter, and which overshadowing the buildings makes it pleasant in summer.” This describes its location admirable at the present time and though many of the trees are gone, some of the grand old oaks,

“Yet tell in grandeur of decay

How swift the years have passed away.’

Around a winding road from the College toward the north a steep bluff rises above Kickapoo Creek, known as Lover’s Leap. A tradition has been handed down from earliest time about this cliff-an Indian maiden finding that her lover had been untrue, had plunged over the steep cliff to her death on the rocks below.

The stone for the College was secured along the creek and along the cliff. The

corner of the building and in a very short time the chapel was completed and in Christ Chapel as it was called, church services were held for my years.

The high price and difficulty of obtaining lumber prohibited the Bishop from building a very good house for himself so he constructed one from mud and sticks, which were plentiful. He gave his home the name, Robin’s Nest, and later made the statement that it was well named, being made of mud and sticks and filled with young ones. Some years later a roomy substantial house was built which still stands.

The Bishop traveled about over the state preaching the gospel and baptizing many in the Christian faith, enduring privation and hardship such as few of our generation can understand.

Bishop Chase’s noble life closed on Sept. 20, 1852 and his earthly remains laid to rest in the cemetery west of the College. A beaten path about the fence, which surrounds his grave, bears testimony to the tribute annually paid at the tomb of this venerable man.

After the Bishop’s death his son Henry, lived at the Robin’s Nest. In 1863 the Bishop’s daughter Mary, who had carried Jacob Chamberlain, a preacher, came to Robin’s Nest to live, where she stayed until her death. Descendants of the Bishop occupied the place until a few years ago when it was sold to M.W. Baker of Peoria who is operating it as a dairy. One grandchild of the Bishop lives about a mile from the old home and is the only relative in Illinois.

Dr. Samuel chase, a grand nephew of the Bishop’s who was affiliated with the school during the Bishop’s life, had charge of the school after 1852. He served as chaplain during the Civil War, at which time the College was closed.

Rev. Thomas Haskins former the “Jubilee Industrial Company” and started a school which he called “The Homewood School.” In 1884 he had a number of Indians sent to him from a reservation. He wrote, “I am getting quite in love with the Indians. They will lead the palefaces in both study and work.”

Rev. Haskins became ill and the Doctor ordered him to go west immediately which he did, going first to Arizona and then to California where he died. This broke up the school and it was closed for a few years.

Mr Whitty opened the school again in the early nineties. It was attended by the people in the community and also by people who came from distant places. It was not a success at this time however, so it was closed by again reopened in 1906 by Raymond Ricerdan. He carried on quite successfully for several years. After he left an attempt to carry on by Clarence Abbott was a failure, not because of the management so much as by the fact that the people of Illinois were getting more of a city somewhere, then too the railroad facilities were not good to Jubilee and the buildings were getting old and shabby, and last but not least, the college did not have sufficient money with which to operate

Such is the history of the first school in Jubilee Township and of District 49. At first the younger children attended school at the College. Later they went to the Printing Office where grade school was conducted. This was superseded by a little brick schoolhouse on the square. The little brick school was in use until 1859 when amidst a grove of beautiful oaks the school was built which has served 72 years. It received its name from the Poland Farm, a part of the Jubilee College ground and so name by Bishop chase.

After this district was divided, the division being known as Robin’s Nest and Poland. In the early history of Poland School, there two terms, the winter term and summer term. The winter term was attended by all the students ranging from 6 to 21 and was taught by a man as many of the older students only thought of how much trouble they could cause, while the summer term was taught by a woman, the pupils being for the main part younger and then too the woman teachers could be hired cheaper.

The first post-office in Jubilee was called Robins Nest. At the time of Bishop Chase, the receiver, the price being $.25 per letter, must pay for letters. Bishop Chase received so many letters that he was threatened with bankruptcy and as the postmaster received his mail free, the Bishop decided to apply for the postmastership which he was successful in getting and from that time until his death his mail was delivered to his door by the stage. The route, which the stage took, was marked for many miles by a row of hard maples which the Bishop set out. The post office was later moved over to the college where it was still known as Robin’s Nest until 1883 when the name was changed to Jubilee. This post office was in use until the advent of the Rural Free Delivery service

The early social gatherings were the well-known spelling bees. Those were attended by everyone and usually caused a lot excitement and rivalry. At each meeting the ladies prepared a lunch and men brought a keg of cider and a great time was had. This superseded by a Literary Society, which was formed in the early nineties. This society has a large membership, involving nearly everyone in the district and gave the young people a chance to get together and do their courting. Those two social gatherings spelled the sum total of the pastimes of the early days. After the beginning of 20th century, when the roads became better and families all had horses and buggies, the nearby towns and cities, like in every other community, served as the pastime attraction.

Robin’s Nest School

District Number 50

This was a small district located just to the south of Robin’s Nest and was originally a part of Bishop Chase’s holding.

It was abandoned in 1912 and the land turned back to the Rowciffe estate of which it has now become a part.

Town House School

District Number 51

The history of Town House School, district number 51 of Peoria County, starts in the year of 1890. The first school building was the old town house of that settlement, thus the name was put into use. This building was used until 1895 when the building now in use was built.

The members of the district and much of the labor done by these men also hauled the lumber and material for the building. The community was not in a very wealthy state at the time and they were attempting to curtail the expenses as best they could. At the time this building was erected, the number of students in attendance average around 50. The families in those days were larger and then too the students went from the time they were 6 until they were 21 years of age.

When the school started in 1880, there were two terms, the winter term of three months, taught by a man, and the summer term of three months taught by a woman. The terms in the year have been changed from time to time, the first radical change being the change from two terms of three months each, to the one term of six months so as to pursue more systematically the courses. The first teachers got $25.00 per month. The present school is beautifully located among the hills. It was built on the main highway but even roads become unused and go out of existence with age. This road has been considered impassable in bad weather for many years.

The school building is now getting old and is somewhat out of date. The number of pupils in attendance has been small and so the district has not considered it necessary to expand much for repairs or improvements.

Park School Rd. ( west past Jubilee-Princeville Rd.) and N. Savage Rd.(turns s and runs into Jubilee State Park

Carroll School

District

Carroll School District #52 was organized between 1820 and 1830 and a small school building erected on Patrick Delaney’s farm about the same time. The building accommodated 40 pupils with benches around the outside and an old cannon stove in the center.

In 1870 the school was moved to the farm of Thomas Carroll, and thoroughly remodeled. This location is the one on which the school stands at the present time, the ground having been leased from 1870 until 1923 when the district purchased it.

From 1880 until 1890, summer school was held at this place with the teachers getting a salary of about $25.00 to $40.00 per month. After 1890, the seven-month school year was practiced and later the eight-month year came into effect.

Few improvements have been made and the building is getting very old and out of date.

District 51

This is Town House in Section 15 of Jubilee Township with a Princeville address.

Greenbush Bush

District #45

On May 1, 1855 the voters of school District1, since made into District 45, met according to notices posted, and decided to build a schoolhouse on the North East corner of the South East quarter of Section 11 in Jubilee Township of Peoria County.

For the first three years the district from William Rowcliff leased the ground. The plot was one half acre. At the end of three years it was decided to buy the property and warrantee deed was secured.

The school building was 24 by 24, of frame construction, built on a rock foundation. The ceiling was 9 feet high. The district levied a tax of $400.00 to pay for the erection.

The following year in June the building was completed and Miss Rose Ann Riel was hired to teach for fourteen weeks at $3.00 per week. A man taught the winter term. Miss Riel was married to a man from Farmington, Illinois the spring and was living at that place in 1920. In this district6, like many others in those early days, the teacher boarded with each family in the community for a short period. This was considered part of her pay to get free board and room, and each family shared their responsibility by keeping her the proportioned length of time. The janitor work the first few years was done by one of the older boys in the neighborhood.

During the 75 years since the organization of the school, there have been 57 teachers, who have taught at salaries varying from $3.00 a week to $100.00 per month. In the early day, it was quite usual to hire for a three-month term, making three terms a year, a higher salary being paid for winter months than for the spring and fall terms..

On the teachers roll were found the names Rosanna Riel, Kate Clussman, William Maxwell, William Sealy, Emma White, Rastus Dewolf, L. J. Boss, Julia Moss, M.J. Rowcliffe, Mary Seabury, Laura Waldo, Mary Stewart, Essie Stewart, Bessie Rowcliffe, Adah Hall, Nellie Blue, Ella Crowe, Mina Edwards, Ann Gordon, Asa Beall, O.B. Slane, Flora Case, Jessie Anrews, Leveret Mansfield, Lena McKown, Essie Harrison, W. E. Bliss, Eva Mendenhall, Eva Bingham, Jane Carleton, Carrie Cheesman, Ella Harrington, Carrie Bean, Ann Anderson, Bessie McKown, J.C. Miss, Emma Rowcliffe, Dora Parks, Almeda Mendenhall, Lulu Brown, Stella Wakefield, Effie Williams, Linnie Atkinson, Claudia Barrett, Maude Corbett, Dora Bennett, Generva Chivington, Helen Kern, Minette Fritz, Norma Haller, Theil Manker, Jessie Jackson, Cecil Sheeler, Helen White and Doris Nelson, the present teacher.

Many of the teachers were from the nearby countryside, some from the city. Among those from the town Princeville was Miss Mina Edwards whose first term was in 1876, and who taught many succeeding terms, leaving in 1891. She was much loved for her faithfulness and interest in her pupils. In an old album we find this gift of sentiment penned by Miss Edwards:

“Be good, dear child,

Let those who will be clever.”

Students of the school, who have returned as teachers, are: Julia Moss, Mary J. Rowcliffe, Bessie Rowcliffe, Ella Crowe, Jane Carleton, J.C. Moss, Lena McKown, Emma Rowcliffe, Claudia Barrett, Maude Corbett, Cecile Sheeler and Helen White.

Many items of interest come to mind. The first well was dug in 1859 at a cost of $19.00. The well we have today was remodeled and dug deeper in 1893 by Wm. Mack and James Wakefield. The blackboard, which many of us remember, was installed in 1878 at a cost of $12.50/ Sixty-nine posts were bought of Wm. Wakefield in 1866, for a fence, at a cost of 14 cents a piece.

On October 3,1864, the day school that year, the following pupils are listed: Girls—Mary E. Moffitt, Gertrude Letterman, Rachel Lawrence, Susan Blackmore, Pamelia Jones, Elizabeth Jones, Lucy Jones, Lettie Rowcliffe, Minnie Bouton, Elisa Crowe and Martha Crowe; Boys—Charles Rowcliffe, James Rowcliffe, Joseph Moffitt, Willie Wakefield, Clark Moss, George Rowcliffe, Francis Moss, Wm. Moffitt, Monroe Wakefield, Frank Jobnes and Wm. Crowe.

The tax levy in 1865 was 75 cents on the $10,00 valuation. In 1893 the old-fashioned straight-backed seats were replace by modern ones. A flagpole was erected on the school building to comply with the state law in 1894.

We find the names of Wm. Mack, Oliver Gordon, Asa Lawrence, James Pollock, etc., as official fireman.

In thinking of the families of the district, we find that Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Beall hold the record for the longest continued residence, and that they and their children have all attended the school. Mrs. R. P. Miller has the unusual record of having been pupil, teacher, and director of the school and all her children have attended the eight grades of the school.

The former pupils of Greenbush are Princeville high school alumni: Emma Rowcliffe Blout, Ferris Rowcliffe, Claudia Barrett, Olive Miller, Laura Miller, Helen Miller White, Deane Miller, Mary Knussman, Jessie Smith Yess, Merle Smith, Maude White, Martha White Miller, Howard Corbett, Maude Corgett, Harriett Beall Pierce, Cecile sheelor, Ralph Beall, Josephine Day, and Mabel Peirce Aldredge.

Clifford Bush, Ward Bush, and Lloyd Mankle are alumni of the Dunlap High School.

The district has been fortunate in the fact that no destructive storm or fire has managed the properly. After 61 years of use, in 1917 the directors considered a new building with better heating equipment. Tuesday, April 10, 1917, the president of the board, C.W. Beall, called a meeting of the board for the purpose of calling a special election to vote on the proposition of building a new schoolhouse. April 21,1917 the election took place, the voters voting on the question “Shall District 45 build a new schoolhouse?’ The result was 17 votes being cast for the propostion, 18 votes in all being cast.

Early in June 1917 a gathering of nearby pupils and patrons was held in the old schoolhouse, in honor of its passing. On June 20, 1917 an auction sale of the school building and coal house took place on the school site. Robert Symond purchased the schoolhouse for $80.00. The old school house now stands one-half mile south on the farm now occupied by Jon Wyes.

Bids were submitted for the school house, and on June 24 were opened and read at the home of Mrs. Lena Miller and the contract was let at that time to Wm Friedman of Princeville for the sum $1,556.84. The patrons hauled fifty-two loads of material as donation work. The building, which has a basement with furnace, was completed at a cost of $1,822.23. A new fence was built in 1921. The district is well equipped for future days.

You may wonder way the school was called ‘Greenbush.”

The older ones may remember when there were trees and hazel brush on the surrounding land. The “Greenbush” as given in an offhand way and has remained through year.

In the 50’s and 60’s we are told of the deer passing through these parts, or other wild game, and of pigeons in great flocks, and there are those present who remember that skunks harbored under the old building. As near as we can learn, C.C. Moss is the oldest person living whom attended Greenbush. He has attained the age of 88 years. Much of his life has been spent in the district. He is now living in Chicago.

Where boys and girls full of life are gathered at school there is plenty of excitement such as games, parties, skating, coasting, and now and then an argument that led to blows. It has long been a well-known fact that the Greenbush pupils are noted for their activity in play as well as study. Greenbush school has done her part in training boys and girls to be good law-abiding American citizens.

The writers wish to congratulate the school board and patrons of the school on the homecoming, which gives honor where honor is due---to the Rural Schools

Submitted at the 75th Homecoming of Greenbush School, September 5,1931.

Ferris Rowcliffe

LuLu Brown Rowcliffe

Enma Rowcliffe Blout

John Hayes Supt. Of Schools

Greenbush School 1902