PRINCEVILLE TOWNSHIP
Adams School
District #93
In 1841, Moses Alford bought the east 60 acres located in the northeast quarter of Section 11, Township 11 of Range 6, east. In the southeast corner of this farm were a few acres of timber and brush. In this little spot of timber a log cabin was built to accommodate the children of school age in their quest for education. The school was similar in every respect to the early log schools; it was small and had very poor lighting and even poorer heat. For seats and desks the children had split logs, hewed as smooth as a broad axe could make them.
Several years later, the 160 acres adjoining Moses Alford’s farm was purchased by George Andrews and Carlos Alford. This quarter was divided diagonally by the old Peoria and Henderson Road. On this farm, on the south most portion, the second school building was erected and used for several years. This building was better than the log hut in that it had better lighting and a cannon stove for heating purposes.
In 1862 a fame structure was built on the site now used for school purposes in district #93. The building was quite modern at that time and was improved from time to time to keep up with advanced ideas and needs of education.
John Hayes
Located on W. Streitmater Rd. between N. Princeville Rd. and N. Duncan Rd.
White Grove School
District #95
On the first day of October 1841, at a meeting of legal voters, a school district was formed out of “That part of the township lying nearest to Spoon River,” and directors were elected. One of the directors signed the legal report with “his mark”.
The teachers whom they employed the next year, taught fifteen pupils from five families from August 8th to October 29th, 1842, in a house formerly occupied by John Miller. The teacher claimed in her schedule, $13.00 for the term.
The attendance was very regular, school kept for six days per week. The school was continued in November and December of the same year “in a house owned by Mr. Skinner”.
The attendance was quite bad, but they had abundant circumstantial evidence that there was good excuse for this.
About 1844 this district built on the Northeast corner of Section 8, back 40 rods in a field near a spring. This was the first public school house of any kind in that region. The house was about 13 square, being built of lumber sawed at Slackwater. The walls were of thick siding only, and a stove, which burned wood until 1847, heated it. Then Sam White brought in from Joseph Morrow’s farm on Section 18, near where Earnest Lamay now lives, a load of the mysterious stone coal, and the fuel question of the treeless prairies was settled.
In 1858, the salary seemed to have been at a rate of $25.00 per month. The textbooks were Webster’s Orthography, McGuffeys Readers Whomson’s Arithmetic; Penmanship was taught but no textbook was used.
The old schoolhouse had long desks against the wall, and long benches, homemade, facing the desks and wall. All pupils had to step or put their feet over the bench to get in or out. The stove was in the middle of the room with pipe going straight up.
When the new one finally replaced the old building, the lot was increased to an acre. It was bout from Isaac and Maria German, in 1878, for $75.00 an acre. The building was set clear back, making the large sized playground or baseball field in front which is used and enjoyed to the present time.
The new school was dedicated, “Ebenezer Armstrong gave a sermon on “Buildings.” He spoke of John Bowman who did the mason work, having come from across the ocean (from Scotland) and helps build the schoolhouse.
The Nelson School took great delight in coming and trying to spell down District #95 and these “Spelling Bees” were popular. It was said that Whites Grove was scarcely ever spelled down.
Church services were conducted in the school building until the Whites Grove Baptist Church was built in 1916. The services were undenominational, or rather, preachers of Methodist, Presbyterian or Baptist church faith preached as they happened to come, but after the church was built the Baptist services were the only ones held in the neighborhood.
The new building saw many religious gatherings. Inspiring sermons, earnest prayers, and the gospel of songs, sung without accompaniment, echoed from the building. Crowds would sit for hours in a cramped position lined up on the desks, benches too full often to rest ones feet on them, and never complained that the minister preached too long
It would be well to note that Susie Stansbury (Mrs. WM Walliker) was the first teacher to teach in this school.
On April 10th, 1878, a number Box Elder Trees were obtained from the timber near Spoon River, and set out on the lawn.
In September 1880, a well was dug, being sixteen and one-half feet deep. Wm. Mann did the work. Some time later he completed the well four feet three inches deeper.
The type of pump used was called “Chain Pumps”.
In 1892 the district feeling the need of some musical instrument in the school, purchased an organ. In 1903, the pupils gave a Box Social from which they obtained $45.00. With this amount they purchased a set of books for the library.
In September 18th day, 1909, about one half the trees on the lawn were cut down. Being seedling, they proved to be a public nuisance as their seeds were scattered far and wide.
In the years following 1910, no minutes of vital importance and interest were kept.
John Hayes
Location N. White Grove and W. Mendell Rd.
Moody School
District #94
The Moody School was at its beginnings a “subscription school”. Each father paid nine dollars a year for his children’s schooling.
This school was one of the first five district schools to be established. Its establishment took place near 1848. The first building was a log cabin. After a few years a frame schoolhouse, built from, superseded the cabin lumber sawed at Prince’s sawmill, and had nothing but the thin siding to keep out the cold. This was moved to the present site of the Moody School or District #2. Later the districts were renumbered, making this District #94
John Hayes
Located on w. Streitmater Rd. off of E. Elliott Rd.
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Byrnes School
District #96
The first record we have of this school is the record taken in 1859. The teacher was Sarah Smith. She taught the term of three months for $35.00. The schoolhouse was located about two and one-half mile straight west of Princeville. Pupils from the districts that are now Monica, Henry, Princeville, and Good Hope came to this school. It was called District #1.
Finally the school districts were laid out and this schoolhouse had to be changed to make the distance from the north and south ends of the school the same.
The district chose an acre of land from Pete Rhoney upon which to build the school. They paid $100.00 for the land. The new schoolhouse was built in 1878. The cost was about $200.00. It was called the Phoney School. It was District #4. The same school that was built then is the school that is the Byrnes School, District #96. The building has had many improvements made in it since then.
Most of the land in the district is owned by people that have at one time gone to school in this district.
Some of the teachers that taught here, and that we are familiar with are Miss M. Edwards, Amelia Hoag, Belle Huey, Onias Bliss, O. B. Slane, Thomas Byrnes, and many names that are familiar to us having heard our parents speak of them.
John Hayes
Located off of Route 90 on N. Duncan Rd just north of the railroad tracks.
Moved by current owners to the corner of W. Laura Rd. and N. Duncan Road
Princeville School
District #97
It has been said: “A nation is made up of individual and its strength, moral and intellectual, depends upon their strength. What the individuals are, that will the nation be.”
What is true of a nation is also true of a community, however small it may be.
Princeville was fortunate in its early settlers. They were people of broad minds and sterling character; they had at heart the future welfare of the community. The promotion of education was one of the things, which they held uppermost in their minds.
In the Princeville cemetery lies the remains of William Chase Stevens, who founded the village of Princeville. On his monument are inscribed these words in his memory; “Student Educator, Pioneer, Patriot, Philanthropist, Public Spirited, Hospitable, and an enthusiast in all good works.”
He alone could not have made the community but with much an able and enthusiastic leader, who gave generously of his land for church and school sites, and even before the community was large enough to support these institutions, gave his home for school services, the village of Princeville was sure to be equal to and ahead of most other settlements.
“Select School”. This school was private, of course, and the pupils attending paid tuition. This home, which she used as a school, was a frame building, located near the west end of the village. She later taught a private school at her home between Princeville and Akron Townships, about a half-mile north of Canton Street. Between the times she taught her first and second schools however, Miss Lizzie Farwell conducted a school at the home of Mr. Stevens. This school was open to everyone who could pay the fee and the fee made as small as it could be and still pay operating expenses. Later other private schools in the district were taught by Mrs. Lydia Auten, Miss Julia Roger, and Mrs. Oliver Cutter. These schools were all held in the teacher’s homes.
Just across the Akron Township Line, a short distance to the southeast of the present Rock Island and Peoria Railway Station, on the site now occupied by the Richmond Feed Mill, the first building erected for educational purposes, was built in the year of 1840. The building was so made to hold about 60 pupils as they were seated in those days on benches but frequently the enrollment was very near 100. The pupils of this more nearly public school often held spelling matches with the pupils of the “Select Schools”. Much rivalry was in this way stimulated and the teacher, a lady named Miss Stoddard was quite successful in keeping order and teaching her pupils a great deal. This schoolhouse was replaced by a stone building in 1846. This building was larger and more modern. It was very well built and is still standing on Canton Street where it is being used for a dwelling. This building was the first public school and it was built by donations of material and money by all the residents of the community. The ground for the site was given my Mr. Stevens. The old building was used for a town house until 1848 when it caught fire and was burned to the ground. Mr. B. F. Slane taught the first term in this building.
In of 1856, Mr. Milton S. Kimball, knowing that the present school was too crowded and that many of the students were qualified for higher education, opened a school in the Presbyterian Church, out of which grew the first Princeville Academy. This first academy, under that name was held in a two-story frame building located just east of the present public school square. The school was considered very good at that time and pupils came a great distance to attend.
The Civil War put a stop to the school for older students however, and the Academy was closed until 1887, some of the pupils who had graduated from Academy and later went east to college, reopened the Academy.
The first Academy building (there were three buildings used at different times by the Academy: was used for the public school until the first brick building was erected in 1873 and 74, on the square where the present school stands.
There were long halls extending the length of the building, which had four rooms. Each of the rooms had a stove in it and the halls were without heat and the little clock rooms were without wither light or heat. This building was in use until February 1908.
At this time the district erected a modern seven-room building with a furnace, proper ventilation, and all other modern conveniences. It has a superintendent’s office, a library, two large halls, cloak rooms, a teacher’s rest room, running water, and large play rooms in the basement to be used in bad weather.
In about 1904, the University of Illinois placed the Princeville School on the accredited list but it would not recognize credits in science because of lack in laboratory facilities. The new building was equipped to take care of this lack and the school was officially recognized in every way.
In 1927, a new building was added. For the main part a gymnasium takes up this new building but there are also classrooms in it. The building is very fine in every way and is a great addition not only to the school but also to the town of Princeville.
Princeville Public School Dedicated in 1908
Princeville Academy 1898 Built in 1873
Good Hope School
District Number 98
The first School building in District #6, now District #98 of Peoria County, was erected on the present school site, about 1860. This was not as early as schools were built in many localities but since Princeville School was built much earlier and it is very close, there are great possibilities that the few families who did live here, sent their children to Princeville if anywhere. The district was small even in 1860 when the building was erected, there being only ten pupils the first term.
The building was very similar to other buildings of its time, being constructed with lumber and having three windows on a side. The stove stood in the center of the room and did a poor job of heating; literally roasting those near it while those around the outside of the room froze. When the school first opened the teachers were paid about $12.00 per month and boarded around with families who had children in the school. Odillion Slane, who is still living, attended the first term, which was taught by a Miss Wilson. The children were seated on benches on either side of the room the girls on one side, the boys on the other. The worst punishment given out by this teacher, and it served the purpose of disciplining, was to set a misbehaving boy on the girl’s side or vice versa.
In 1917, after the building had been in use for 57 years, and hopes of repairing it to conform with modern regulations laid down by the state with the exception of a few double seats which are still being used, but since the enrollment is not so large but what the teacher can so arrange the students that only one person has to occupy a double seat, this would really be an advantage, in as much as the student would have more room for his books, etc. The school is equipped with a heater, a piano, a library in ion a case, a large dictionary and full set of maps.
Location on N. Princeville Jubilee Rd. south of W. Akron Rd
Monica School
District #99
After the War of 1812, Congress set aside a tract of land between the Illinois and the Mississippi River, known as the Military Tract to be given to the soldiers who had taken part in the war. This was surveyed in 1817 and Peoria County was designated as such.
Very few of the ex-soldiers settled in the land which belonged to them on account of Indian attacks, for Indians were very plentiful there at the time. Most of this land was sold to other people, and after the Black Hawk War, when the Indian power was broken in Illinois and most of the Indians had moved on to Iowa, settlement went on rapidly.
At first the early settlers shunned the prairie. There were several reasons for this. They preferred to settle near the forests on account of the plentiful fuel to be found there, and on account of the supply of good quality water, which could be procured from the springs along the running streams. The water on the prairies was very unhealthful because of swampy ground. Mosquitoes abounded, and ague and malaria resulted.
About the middle of the century the rich coalfields of Illinois were discovered. In 1848 the Illinois and Michigan Canal was completed and lumber could be shipped to this section from the Great Lakes region. Then, since they had learned to drain the swamps, to build houses of lumber secured from far away Michigan and Wisconsin, and to burn “black stone” for fuel, many people moved out of the forests.
The C.B. & W. Railroad was built from Buda to Rushville in 1869. At first no stop was made between Duncan and Brimfield, but a little later a depot was built at Monica and the train stopped here. The settlers from nearby, and especially from W. Princeville moved here to be near the railroad and to facilitate shipping away of excess crops and livestock raised on their farms. The people not only moved in but also brought their houses and stores with them. There are still at least three houses in Monica, which were moved around the years 1870-71. Thus, Monica grew quite rapidly and need arose for establishing a school.
There were three schools established quite early in the community. They were White’s Grove, Nelson, and what was known as the Blanchard School, Distirct 7. The public school system now in use in our state had not yet been adopted in these early times, and the school was supported by money paid by the patrons of the school whose children would benefit thereby. The teacher boarded around at the homes of the children, and would stay at each home a length of time in proportion to the number of children attending school from each family.
The Blanchard School, built in 1857, and located about half a mile south then three quarters of a mile east of Monica where John Delbridge lives at present, was moved to Monica in 1882, since there was such a large group of children from that place to attend school. It was moved to a site about half a block north of the former location of the Santa Fe Depot, near where the old “hotel building” new stands. Part of this old school building may still be seen, as it was again moved and now forms part of the Ed Calhous,Sr. house, one half mile east of Monica.
Due to the large number of pupils it became necessary to erect a larger building, and the one now in use was built in 1884. It is a large two-story building and was intended for use as a two-room school. At first, however, only one teacher was employed and only the lower story was used.
The first teacher was Mr. Young, who died before the year of school ended. The next teacher was Mr. Asa M. Brown, who taught three years. M. Brown, who taught three years. Richard Rennick was the third to teach in the new building.
The room was then heated by means of a stove, which stood in the middle of the room; and was connected with the chimney at the back by a long crooked stovepipe. The blackboards were made by painting the lower part of the plastering black. It was usually given a fresh coat of paint just before school opened each fall. The child all used slates and slate pencils instead of pencils and tablets, and great was the noise thereof. Not only did they make a loud clatter when dropped to the floor, but also many of those old-time slate pencils developed an alarming squeakiness.
In the year 1886 or thereabouts, the school was divided and two teachers were employed, because the large number of pupils filled one room to overflowing. In a few years both rooms were crowded and classes were heard in the coatrooms by some of the older girls in the upper room. Double seats were then in use and ever one was occupied, especially during the winter months when the boys from the farms were free to attend school. The fact that some of these children could go to school only a few months each year made it impossible for them to get through the eighth grade at the early age of twelve or thirteen as is done today, and it was not uncommon thing to see boys and girls eighteen or even twenty years of age attending grade school.
All grades were taught in Monica, including the ninth and tenth. Subjects taught in these grades were history, ancient and modern, algebra, physical geography, botany, and zoology. Latin was also taught for a time but was soon discontinued. Now only the first eight grades are taught.
At one time there were as many a fifty pupils in each room. This many maybe accounted for in two ways. First, people in those days had larger families. As many as five or six pupils might come from one family. Second, the fact, as mentioned above, that children did not complete their school work at such an early age.
A course of study used by Monica School in 1905 sets down definite rules governing the conduct of the pupils, the teachers, and the janitor. A list of books used is also given, as well as an outline of the work each grade was expected to cover.
The first teacher in the primary grades after the school was divided into two parts, was Miss Emma MicKown. Other teachers in the lower room include Miss Jennie Burns, Miss Conver, Miss Gilfillan, Mis Lillian Pullen, Miss Manry Dwyer, Miss Clara Buck, Miss Helen Miller, Miss Hazel Buck, Miss Mildred Williams, Miss Verna Kirkpatric, and Miss Mildred Bliss, who is the present teacher.
Teachers in the upper grades include the following: Mr. R.E. Stowell, Mr. J.A. Hayes, Mr. Diddle, Mr. McMillan, Mr. Bain, Mr. Forest Edwards, Mr. Litton, Miss Schori, Mr. Troth, Miss Myrtl McKown, Mr. Driscoll, Mr. Sommers, Mr. Willard Curry, Miss Bernice Barton, Miss Hazel Buck, Mrs. Josephine Huggins, and Miss Laura Miler, the present teacher. These lists are probably incomplete.
An interest in music began to be taken in 1890 when an organ was purchased for use in the school from E.L. Howard, a blind man from Brimfield. This organ cost the sum of eighty dollars. Later on an organ was secured for the other room and music has been a part of Monica School ever since that time.
A victrola is now in use in the upper grades. It was purchased in 1928 with money earned by entertainments given by the pupils. In the same way a piano was added to the equipment of the primary room in 1929.
Monica School has been in possession of a library ever since 1901, when a play was given by the young folk of the community and proceeds used in the purchasing of the Encyclopedia Britannica, which is still owned by the school, but now removed from the library to give some place to more usable material for the grades, as Home and School Reference Work, Standard Reference Books, and Pictured Knowledge. The library has been added to at various time and in various ways, such as donations, purchases made by the school board, purchased made by proceeds from entertainments given by the pupils. Each room now has a fairly good collection, including many of the Illinois Pupil’s Reading Circle Books. Each year a large box of books is borrowed from the State Extension Library at Springfield, and these books are greatly enjoyed by the pupils.
Monica School has always shown a great interest in Athletics. Quite a number of basketball and track stars have come from this school, and 1915 our grade school won the County Grade Basketball Tournament. The trophy awarded the team still hangs on the wall, and is one of the most treasured possessions. Monica has a basketball team this year although we did not enter the County Tournament; we hope we are developing material, which will be successful in high school.
In the year 1930 Monica had its first annual declamation and music contest, in which contestants from eight nearly schools competed for trophies awarded in declamation, in vocal, and in piano. Contestants from this school were sent to the county grade contest held at Brimfield on May 8th. Monica held another invitational contest in February 1931, in which great interest was shown, and it is hoped that it will be made an annual event. In the 1931 contest three cups were awarded to Monica contestants.
Another improvement was made when the stoves with their long stove pipes were abolished and building equipped with a hot air furnace. Along the line of fires and compliance with the state law, fire escapes were provided at an early date, consisting of ladders leading from windows on each side of the room. These were condemned in 1927 by the state fire inspector and before school opened that fall, a new fire escape was installed on the west side of the building.
Our school is now electrically lighted, and equipped with good modern maps, reference books, globes, and pictures.
In sanitation, too, we have progressed. The floors are oiled twice each year. We have individual drinking cups and paper towels. In the past five years it has not been necessary to close school on account of contagious diseases, and the record of attendance, take as a whole has been remarkable good.
The school grounds are clean and well kept. They have been beautified by shrubs and the grass is kept mown even during the summer months. There are playground equipment as well as baskeball standards to provide healthful exercise for the pupils.
We are proud of our school.
John Hayes
Nelson School
District #100
The Nelson School was built on land donated by Mr. Nelson, and named in his honor. The first directors for this school were Joseph Gelling, Clark Hill and John Goodman. The schoolhouse was very small, and often there were as many as sixty pupils in the one small room. Long benches were used instead of desks like those we use now.
The old schoolhouse was moved to the Cook farm, a short distance from where it stood, and it is now being used as an oats granary. The present schoolhouse was built across the road from the first one in 1872. The ground was given my Mr. Cook.
Reading, writing, and arithmetic were the main studies Instead of being divided into semesters; the year was divided into three terms, fall, winter, and spring. The six classes, primary, first, second, third, fourth, and fifth were upgraded, and pupils were classified according to scholarship, natural ability, and age.
John Hayes
Location Rd. 90 to Monica to W. Laura R. to N. Beall Rd.
Henry School
District #101
The Henry School, now known as District #101, is located on the northwest corner of the northwest quarter of Section 14 in Township II, North Range 6, East of the Fourth Principal Meridian, Peoria County, Illinois.
The present site was chosen about the year 1870. At that time eight was the usual number of districts in one township. The eighth school in Princeville Township was located at Monica, which was too far away for the children of this vicinity to attend. This led to the organization of the Henry School, the ninth district in the township. Dr. John Henry declared that he would donate one acre of ground from his farm for school purposes on the condition that when it was no longer used for a school, it should go back to the farm.
In 1871 upon this tract of land was erected the Henry School, named for the man who donated its site.
The first teacher was a Miss Richardson from Elmwood, Illinois. There were about thirty pupils in the school in early times.
The original building is still in use at the present time. Some few changes have been made. A cloakroom has been added and the other buildings have been renewed.
John Hayes
Located Off Rt 90 on N. Duncan Rd. and W. Mendall Rd.
Princeville Township
Schools and Consolidation 1945
Adams School
District #93
1948 part #971951 part #3111948 part#20 Stark County1969 #326 Princeville Moody School
District #94
1948 #20 Stark CountyWhite
White's Grove School
District #95
1951 #311 Princeville1969 #326 PrincevilleByrnes School
District #96
1951 #3111969 #326Princeville School
District #97
1951 #3111969 #326Good Hope School
District #98
1951 #3111969 #326Monica School
District #99
1963 #3111969 #326Nelson School
District #100
1953 #305 Millbrook Cons.1969 #326Henry School
District #101
1948 part #951951 part #971951 #3111969 #329Princeville Hertiage Center
Princeville Hertiage Center
Princeville Hertiage Center
Princeville Hertiage Center
Princeville Hertiage Center
Princeville Hertiage Center
Princeville Hertiage Center
Princeville Hertiage Center
Princeville Hertiage Center
.Princeville Hertiage Center
Byrnes School
2009
