Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/498

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY

��•' Dr. Catlin has had charge of the schools as Superintendent of Instruction, since Septem- ber, 1855, at which time the Board of Educa- tion foiuid it necessary to adopt, and publisli in pamphlet form, a system of general rules and regulations, to the wise and wholesome ad- ministration of which, the present flourishing condition of our schools is, in a great measure, attributable. Our school ^-ear, commencing on September 1. consists of forty weeks, divided into three terms, one of sixteen weeks, and the other two of twelve each. We have at present eleven schools, employing, with Superintendent, thirteen teachers. There are five primary-, four secondary, a grammar and a high school. The annual enumeration of youth, at the last census, was over one thousand five hundred, an in- crease of about two hundred since the present s^'stem was adopted.

'' The enrollment of pupils in our schools for the past school year was 808, and at the pres- ent time 925. We are satisfied that the course of study adopted by our Board is a most judicious one, and well calculated to discipline the mental faculties as they mature, impart a valuable fund of knowledge, and prepare our youth for the highest usefulness and happiness. We are happy to notice that moral instruction has a high position in the minds of our teachers and all our school officers. The Bible, without note or comment, but as Gods revealed will, is used in all our schools."

As the Mansfield Female College came into existence about this time, it ma}- be proper to give a brief history of tljat institution, which created expectations and hopes that have not been realized. It was projected in the spring of 1 853, and completed for the reception of pupils November 7, 1855.. It occupies a pleasant sit- uation on West Market street ; is a suljstantial and beautiful brick edifice. 54x76 feet, and four stories high. The entire cost of the building, apparatus, library, etc.. was $22,447. It started out with a competent corps of professors, and

��an attendance of 113 students the first year. It struggled along for a number of years, but failed for want of pecuniary support ; being heavily burdened with a debt it was unable to liquidate. The Odd Fellows were about purchasing it in 1857, for the purpose of establishing a school for the orphans of deceased members of that society, but for soi*ne reason that project failed, and it finally passed into other hands. For many years, it has Ijeen occupied as a boarding- house.

Following Bartlett and Merril as Superintend- ents, came William C. Catlin, who continued to occupy that position until 1859, when he was succeeded by J. H. Beed, who, after his retire- ment from this office, engaged in the retail, and afterwai'd the wholesale, book and paper trade. Henry M. Parker succeeded Mr. Beed, and con- tinued in the office of Superintendent until 1873, when he resigned, and was succeeded by John Simpson, the present efficient officer.

As has been stated, the first Board of Edu- cation, under the present sj'stem. was elected in 1853, and consisted of A. L. Grimes, J. H. Cook and Isaac Gass. In 1854, George W. Waring succeeded Gass ; in 1856, Barnabus Burns succeeded Grimes ; in 1857, Uzziel Stevens succeeded Waring ; in 1858, Henry C. Hedges succeeded Cook ; in 1860, Joel Myers succeeded Stevens, and in 1868, A. L. Grimes succeeded Burns. The Board then consisted of H. C. Hedges, Joel Myers and A. L. Grimes, who remained in office until 1872,^ and during whose administration the four beautiful brick schoolhouses were built, one in each ward of the city. Before the erection of these build- ings, there was a controversy among the citi- zens regarding the organization of the schools ; one party wishing to build one grand institution of learning, in a central portion of the cit}', which should accommodate all the children in the corporation ; the other desiring to erect a building in each ward. The latter finally pre- vailed. The former desired to purchase the

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