Early Schools of Marion County

When Missouri became a State in 1824, Section 16 in each Township was given for school purposes. In Marion County, the school lands were sold and schools were located in different districts. The money derived from the sale of the land started the School Fund that our forefathers left us. After­wards, about 1885, the criminal costs and fines were added each year, with the interest. By 1950 the Fund had grown to the sum of $119,133.94. This money was lent to people who wanted farm loans, and could not be used, as one Township learned when their school burnt, and they had to float bonds to rebuild.

The idea of cashing these bonds started in Hannibal and was taken up at the County Court. The law stated, it required a vote of the people to cash them and someone was contacted in each school district to talk to the voters to cash the bonds. It did sound good to the little schools and they fell for it. In the division of the money Hannibal received $70,746.90, and the re­maining $48,387.04 was divided among thirty-nine country schools and the City of Palmyra. The division was made so much per capita.

The State of Missouri plainly stated that it gave 640 acres to each Town­ship, and at that time Marion county had only three Townships, Mason, Liberty and Fabius. It appeared that Mason Township received money that should have gone to Liberty and Fabius, and the Townships formed from these. The country schools were very much disappointed. The savings of our forefathers were spent, not as intended. Again, as in Chapter Two, let me re­mind you that the Indian and the little squirrel were taught by nature not to take all. A nest egg of some of this fund might have drawn interest to be spent each year.

The first schools were in the homes or log cabins. In South River Town­ship on the bank of South River, Patrick McGee taught in 1820. Logs were flattened for seats and there was a supply of hickory sprouts in the corner for discipline. But the children did learn the three “R’s,” “readin’,” “ ‘riting,” “‘rithmetic.” Ink for writing was made from chips of white oak trees, put in water, then a piece of iron dropped in, and the tannic acid in the oak bark made a blue ink that was very good. When snows became too deep, a horse was hitched to one end of a log and a path made to school.

The first school in Hannibal was a log cabin in the City Park, also used as a church.

In 1854 the Hannibal Female Institute was held in the basement of the Second Presbyterian Church. Principals were The Rev. D. L. Russel and Mrs. M. P. Russel.

A select school for males was also opened in the basement of the Presbyterian Church, September 4, 1854, rate of tuition from $7.50 to $14.00. Fuel was 25 cents per session. D. R. Colmery, teacher.

In 1864 the Catholic Sisters of St. Joseph bought the ground and buildings of the Hannibal Institute, in the eleven hundred block on Broadway. This school accommodated 120 boarders and 300 pupils. The school was originally built by Andrew and Robert Summers, Episcopal ministers, at the beginning of the Civil War. It failed. 

Hannibal College was founded by R. T. Lakenan, J. L. Robards, J. W. Brady, John Ure, J. H. McVeigh and Wm. Drescher. It was opened in 1869 and had, until disbanded, 650 students. The Charter provided that the Bible shall be taught daily to all. Land was donated by Lakenan. Prof. Leo Baires and Prof. Ebers taught in a two story red brick which was dismantled and the J. T. McKnight frame home built. This house was sold to Elliot and then moved west, and the Cruikshank mansion built.

Other facilities included a private school of Mrs. Annie Dean, between 6th and 7th Streets on Church and a one room brick school of Mrs. Sallie (Ross) Hill, which is still standing at 1012 South Griffith.

In the first Baptist Church on the northeast corner of 4th and Church Streets, John M. Ray taught the boys in the basement, and Mrs. Hodge Foreman, the girls upstairs. A high board fence divided the playgrounds so the girls and boys could not play together, in the early days. Miss Martha Ray, a teacher in Hannibal Public Schools for fifty years, started her education in this school in 1855. The salary for teaching in this day, was $40.00 per month.

Mrs. Sarah (Hawkins) Smith, descendant of Asa Smith, Revolutionary War Soldier, taught in the basement of the house at 2600 Broadway Exten­sion. The house is still standing. Among students were the Fisher boys, Nellie (Shephard) Etkins and others.

A Miss Haerr had a select school near Center and Third Streets, attended by Laura Frazer, Norval and Jennie Brady.

Mrs. Maggie O’Leary kept a private school up Denkler Alley. The house is still standing.

Rev. J. M. Phillips and daughter conducted a private school in South Hannibal.

Hannibal City College, corner of Maple Avenue and Lyon Streets, was conducted by W. Welch, Principal. Miss Florence Holme, Miss Lou Myer, and Mr. Bolten, were teachers.

The old Central School on Center Street, between 9th and 10th Streets was erected in 1881. Cost $20,000. Miss Agnes Mathews taught the first grade. Prof. A. H. Foreman was the first principal. A new building was erected in 1923, cost $183,143.78. 1959 Principal, Paul M. Turner.

The first South Side school building, now named A. D. Stowell School, was erected in 1870 at 700 Fulton Avenue. In the year 1924 the sum of $48,000 was spent for another addition. Another addition was added later. John M. Ayers was the first principal, Frederic Kleiber is now principal.

The West Side School was a frame building erected in 1868. Present day called Eugene Field. Improvements in 1925 cost $209,516.21. Miss Libbee Carleton, first principal, now in 1959, Charles 0. Christian.

The North School, corner of Rock and 6th Streets, erected in 1872 at a cost of $10,000, was replaced in 1924 by funds from W. Pettibone, and named in honor of his wife. Funds donated were $212,299.25. Miss Amelia Kaley, first principal. In 1959, Ralph Spires.

The two room Mark Twain School was built about 1909 at a cost of $5,000. In 1925 a large brick building was erected at a cost of $120,699.68. Principal in 1959, Glenn Harrison.

The Douglass School was built about 1868 at a cost of $5,000. In 1925 $24,000 was spent and in 1933 an additional $18,000.75. No distinction was shown in advantages extended to either race. Now this school, with the fine addition, has been discarded and offered to rent for $1.00 per year. J. H. Pelham was first principal.

  The first High School was on the corner of 6th and Hill Streets, in the year 1866, and was used for twenty years. Prof. H. K. Warren was first principal. Then the school was relocated at 1405 Pearl Street, and in 1893 the High School addition was built on the west side of Central School. In 1904 a beautiful building at 1020 Broadway was erected at a cost of $103,252.01. In 1934 the Hannibal High School located on McMasters Avenue was built at a cost of $298,870.00. Mr. H. V. Mason, principal. Mr. E. T. Miller was Superintendent of Hannibal Public Schools until 1962 when he retired.

The oldest tax record found of expenses of Hannibal Public Schools that were tax supported was for the year ending May 18, 1882. Expense for the year was $37,355.03. In the year 1959, total expense for the year was $1,089,-418, which excluded food supplies. Activities of playgrounds that are self supporting.

Enumeration of school children in 1882 was 2,338 white and 729 black. Now in 1959, 4,389 white and 306 black.

Assessed value of taxable City of Hannibal property in 1882 was $58,700, rate of taxation for school purposes $006. Valuation of taxable City of Hannibal property in 1959 was $15,596,325.00 real estate, and $5,424,935.00 personal, rate of taxation for school purposes, $2.60.

A new Junior High was built in 1959, corner of McMasters and Highway 61, at a cost of $1,713,589.24. Floyd Cokerham, principal.

Tilden School, Oakwood, was first one room, built about 1860. The stone over the door, with this date, was hidden by remodeling in 1901 when enlarged to three rooms. The school was discarded and sold to Sims Nursery Co.

Washington School in Oakwood on Market and Singleton, was built about 1909. Now sold for a church.

The new Oakwood school, built in 1958, cost of $325,000, at 3716 Market, has about 200 pupils. Principal A. M. Howard.

Hannibal schools are in good financial condition. Teachers with expert ability are employed each year. In fact the facilities are of the best in the State.

The Lutheran Church maintains their own school at 1317 Lyon and another school is in contemplation.

Catholic schools are also the best to be had. The largc one in the 1100 block on Broadway was at first the McCooey school donated by McCooey sisters in memory of their brother. It is now called St. Marys, with a large annex built in 1959.

The Blessed Sacrament School, 2100 Broadway, has a large attendance. Built by Father T. C. Fox.

The St. Thomas Aquinas Preparatory Seminary, 245 North Levering was formerly the second Home of the Friendless. A new and large addition has been made, costing $333,587, with a beautiful chapel built of marble from Italy.

In the Marion County Atlas of the Twentieth Century, 56 school districts were listed in the county. Now only 38, each year more consolidations are in view. In the early days, from 1850 to 1920, children walked to school, or drove a horse. Now buses are provided to transport children, picking them up at their homes in the county, and in Hannibal, if a child lives a mile from school he is eligible for transportation. Tuition is now paid for by the dis­trict. In 1896 tuition to Hannibal schools was $40.00 per year, paid by the parents. Now the cost to the tax payers of the district is $263.00 per pupil, per year. In the year 1961 only three country schools, Turner, Provi­dence, and Clear Creek, remained.

Emerson has a fine building to replace one that was burnt. Philadelphia ~was the setting of the first school or college of William Muldrow and Ezra Styles Ely, before the Civil War. The upper college was built on the north side of the Highway, as you enter Philadelphia, and the lower college at West Ely. Muldrow and Ely made a trip east in interest of the college, and returned with $150,000. The college flourished a few years before the war, then failed, sold to the Masonic order. It also failed. Now all traces are gone and an open field remains.

At West Ely there is a new modern Lutheran School.

Palmyra also had private schools at first. The Baptist School or Bethel College, 1852, was renamed Ingleside College in 1895. The buildings are used only as residences now. Hezekiah Ellis was the teacher.

St. Paul’s Episcopal College north of Palmyra. The Rev. Mr. Corbin and The Rev. Mr. Wainwright were teachers in 1848. The Rev. Mr. Corbin was a very stern man. He kept two large dogs, and as the boys that were sent away from home to school would try to run away to the river and return to their homes in the south, Corbin would mount his pony, call the dogs and track the boys. When found, each dog would take hold of the clothing of the homesick lads, and herd them back to school for a week on bread and water diet. Some of the buildings are still used as residences.

Palmyra Public School System. Two school houses have been discarded and a new $280,000 school has been started. Only after five school elections, did the issue carry. Families that had been friends for years were split over the school question. Some wished a playground school. These advocates usually were the ones who did not pay taxes.

The Negro school has been abandoned. Education is a must now, and black and white attend the same school. Very few counties have the good schools of Marion County.

The Hannibal LaGrange College was moved to Hannibal. Acreage was purchased and large and beautiful buildings erected. At the present time, Dr. L. A. Foster is President.