Others taught in the same street, presided over by Oran Freeman and Robert Thompson. place, but the names of the teachers are not to be ascertained. ward Mrs. Dr. Babcock, taught a school in the Fiero House, on Front street, in the winter of 1839-40. She taught a twelve weeks' term, enrolling forty-six pupils, averag. ing about forty per day. From 1840 to 1843, Miss Mary Bacon taught school in the Gil bert House, on New street, and in the Lee House, on Market street. From the records in the office of Register of Deeds, I learn that Christian Clemens, in November, 1834, deeded to School District No. 7 the southwest corner lot at the junction of New and Cherry streets. Mr. Pelton's residence now occupies the site. The consideration was $1, with the proviso that the same be used forever for school purposes. The officers of the district at that time (1834) were John Stockton, Joel Tucker and R. O. Cooley. I shall call this district Old No. 7, in contradistinction to New No. 7, which had an existence afterward. The district probably included all the village of Mt. Clemens, with considerable surrounding country. The schoolhouse was probably built in 1834. It was a good school building for those early days. The seats were placed around the walls, with desks in front, and another row of seats in front of the desks. As to the time this district had an existence, there seems to be some controversy. Mrs. Dr. Babcock thinks the schoolhouse burned in 1841, and seems positive that she is right, as she was teaching there at that time. Others assert quite as positively that the house was not burned until 1843. The preponderance of testimony seems to favor the latter opinion. The district was probably organized in 1834, and merged into New No. 7 in 1843 or 1844. The The date of the grant to the district by Mr. Clemens would seem to fix the first date. Some think that the house was not originally intended for school purposes, but had to be made over, so to speak, for school uses. From what I regard as the most positive authority, I incline to the belief that the house was built for a school. The first schools taught here were of the same character as those previously taught in other places in town. new school law was not enacted until 1837 or 1838, after which time the school became, to a certain extent, public. The first teacher was Thomas Richardson. The wages of teachers were raised by subscription, all who were interested in maintaining the school paying what they thought they were able for the support of the schools. The names of the other teachers so far as learned, of old No. 7, were Ira Stout, 1834 or 1835; Miss Prudence Cook, now Mrs. Pratt, in 1835; Mrs. John Gilbert, in 1835; Cary Worden, probably in 1835 and 1836 (one term only); Mr. William Campbell, in the winter of 1836-37. About 1837 or 1838, a gentleman who was nicknamed "Our Ornament.” The true name could not be remembered. He was rather unpopular, but had been spoken of at a prayer meeting as an ornament to the town-hence the cognomen. Jefferies in 1838 or 1839; Jones in the fall of 1839 or winter of 1840; Miss Delia Smith (Mrs. Dr. Babcock), in 1841; Miss Elizabeth Sacket (Mrs. William Campbell), in 1841 or 1842, for a year or more; Miss Sarah Murray, now Mrs. McDonald, of Detroit, in 1843. It is claimed that when Miss Murray was teaching, the schoolhouse burned, being set on fire by ashes left in a barrel in the vestibule. Of these teachers named, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Pratt and Mrs. Dr. Babcock live on Shelby street. Mr. Campbell's school numbered from 90 to 120. Cary Worden was excessively fond of strong drink. It is said that he would so far forget his dignity as a teacher as to get gloriously drunk, then go to the schoolhouse and there sleep off his debauch-sometimes in school hours. When he awoke from his drunken stupor, almost invariably he would beat the first pupil he saw for some imaginary offense. The pupils at one time by preconcerted action, gave him a good sound drubbing in payment of "old scores." At the time the new school law went in force, there was much opposition to it because it was surmised that expenses of maintaining schools would be increased. Under the new law, Mr. James Williams was elected Moderator. He did much to assure the people that the cost would not be increased, while the gain in superior school facilities would be largely augmented. Even at what may appear a rather late date (1836 to 1840), the Indians were very plentiful in this part of the State. They used to assemble in quite large numbers, build their camp-fires and execute their war dances on the site of the present Methodist Church. Apropos to this subject, an interesting event occurred while William Campbell was teaching in No. 7. The boys and girls used to have separate recesses. The boys at their recess time were in the habit of going to an old barn situated in the woods, about opposite the present residence of A. T. Donaldson, on North Branch street, to play. One day while there, William Rutter and Floyd Allen, two school-boys, came unexpected upon the dead body of an Indian covered by hay and straw. Of course, they did not remain long to investigate, but had a sudden call elsewhere. The whole town soon knew of the circumstances of the finding, and, upon investigation, it was ascertained that the body was one that had been decently interred only a short time before. The Indians were very wroth and suspected that Dr. Campbell and Dr. Henry Taylor were instrumental in resurrecting the body for purposes of dissection. The suspicion growing. the Indians began to mutter threatenings until they became so loud that Dr. Campbell sought safety in a foreign locality and Dr. Taylor kept himself secreted for a time until the excitement had abated. Other versions are given to this Indian story. One is to the effect that the doctors named did employ a man to provide them a cadaver for dissection. The wrong body was obtained and secreted in the barn. The Indian chief was called from Salt River who pacified his people, and those who were regarded by the Indians as the sinners, purchased their pardon with a gallon of "fire-water." Mr. Jeffreys was a severe disciplinarian. He used to offer prayer twice a day. at opening and closing of school. During one of the prayers, the hat of one of the pupils, Granville Chappell by name, blew out of the window. Granville, not wishing to lose his hat, followed through the window. Mr. Jefferys sent the guilty youth after some switches, which were employed in teaching Granville proper decorum during prayers. Mrs. Babcock received as tuition of pupils pursuing the common English branches, grammar, arithmetic, geography, etc,, $2 per quarter of twelve weeks. For primary pupils, $1.50 per quarter was charged. Mrs. Babcock states that while she was teaching. in 1841, the house burned, and she completed the term in a house then standing near the present old jail. The house has since burned. Thus endeth the history of old School District, No. 7. NOTE.-Previous to the building of Mount Clemens churches, church services were held in some of the numerous school-rooms of the town. The Presbyterians worshiped in the log court house. The Methodists worshiped in the schoolhouse of old No. 7. The Baptists worshiped in an old log building situated about on the present site of E. J. Olde's store. The Episcopalians afterward used the log court house, and the Presbyterians went to the "Brown building." I shall treat of the history of the schools from 1840 to 1857 as a unit, because during this period several new schools were organized, and afterward (1857) they were all merged into the union school. The order of discussion will be: 1, Private Schools; 2, the Academy; 3. the District Schools. PRIVATE SCHOOLS-1840 To 1857. From 1839 to about 1841. Mrs. John Dudley, wife of the then officiating Presby. terian clergyman, taught a young ladies' school, first, in Lawyer O'Flynn's office, situated about on the present site of Biewer's brewery; second, in a building standing nearly opposite the Sherman House, and third, in the Goldby House, new standing in the rear of the Robinson block. She was assisted by Rev. Mr. Dudley, and it is said they taught a most excellent school. In 1841 and 1842, Miss Frances Lewis (Mrs. Norton L. Miller) and Miss Hall (Mrs. Thomas Forster) together taught a private school in the Lewis House, only recently torn down to make way for the new Macomb County jail. Just previous to this (1840) Miss Hall (Mrs. Forster) had been teaching in the Cady District just north of Mount Clemens. In the winter of 1841-42, Miss Zemira Hall (Mrs. Forster's sister, taught a term in the Dryer Settlement, in the township of Lenox. The schoolhouse, which was a poor old log affair, burned during the term. It must have been about 1840 or 1842 when Simon S. Hall taught probably in the Brown building. Miss Delia Grosvenor (afterward Mrs. Goodman and now Mrs. Magee, wife of Rev Mr. Magee, an Episcopal clergyman, of Detroit), for a number of years, from 1840 to 1845 or 1846, taught in various places in town in the Goldby House, in the Lewis House, in the Lee House, in James Williams' shop (about on the site of Mr. Bentley's jewelry-store), in a building about on the site of Mr. T. W. Snook's store, and finally, as Mrs. Goodman, she taught in the academy. Her school was chiefly for young ladies. She was regarded as a teacher of a high order. Miss Eliza Hillis (afterward Mrs. William Jenney), in 1842 to 1844 or 1845, taught a private school in her own house just back of Father Ryckaert's residence on Pine street, and also in the Lee House. Miss Ada Traver (Mrs. J. E. Van Eps) taught a private school in the Lee House about 1842 or 1843. Miss Harriet Allen, in 1842 or 1843, taught a private school on East street, in the house now occupied by Charles King. In 1842 or 1843, Miss Dana taught a school in the house now owned and occupied by Mr. Patton on Pine street. In 1847, Miss Hannah Brown taught a private school on Fraser street. Miss Annette Ward taught a private school in 1847. In the spring of 1850, Miss Gregory taught a private school in the Fenton House on Shelby street. The front room on the first floor was used as the school-room. Either late in the 40's or early in the 50's, Miss Sarah Murray (now Mrs. McDonald) taught a private school in a yellow house now standing on the site of Van Eps & Co.'s store. She also taught in a house on Shelby street near the present residence of Mrs. Axtell. About this time Miss Margaret Cook taught a private school on Macomb street. Miss Clara Fulton, in about 1849 or 1850, taught a private school in the building which stood on the site now occupied by A. Jacobi. The school was held on the second floor. At a time not far from this, Miss Vaughan, who had previously taught in the academy, taught a private school in the Mershon House, one door north of Mr. DeHate's residence, North Gratiot street. In about 1850 or 1851, Miss Mary Power (afterward Mrs. Henry Wales, recently deceased), taught in the upper story of Brehler's wagon-shop, on North Gratiot street. In about 1840, Miss Mary Fiero taught a private school in the old tannery, formerly standing on the site of Snook & Robinson's stave-mill. She also taught, about the same time, another school in a yellow house formerly standing on the present Avery House site. The last of the private schools, previous to 1857, of which I have any record, was taught by Miss Dr. Arnold, now of Detroit. Let me introduce to the reader Miss Arnold and permit her to speak for herself. Copy of letter received from Miss Arnold: DETROIT, MICH., September 9, 1881. PROF. SEARS-Sir: During the spring of 1857, the union school system of Mount Clemens was adopted, and the three districts made one. The plan met with much opposition and it was thought best to experiment a few months on the workings of the system using the old buildings before levying tax for new buildings. During the three years previous to this I had been teaching a large academic school. The first year in the old academy building, the building being in a rather dilapidated condition, I rented and fitted up a private building which stood directly in front of the Presbyterian Church, and continued teaching there until the spring of 1857. I then reluctantly yielded to the importunities of the school board to help start them off under the new organization. I taught in the building near Mr. Eldredge's residence in the rear of the Methodist Church. My brother, S. Ŏ. Arnold, taught in the lower district and a Mr. Coppernoll in the middle district, where Mr. Bingham had for a number of years taught. The older scholars of the town were almost universally my pupils in private school, hence it was thought best by the board to allow those who desired from the other districts to attend my school. The result was, I had on my list over 150 pupils with one assistant. My salary was $51 per month which was thought to be generous, $23 being the highest price paid before this. I taught six months except two weeks, being released for that time, with salary paid, to enable me to start for Philadelphia in time to enter my first course of medical lectures. A part of the questions asked I cannot answer, but you should have no difficulty in securing the desired information and probably will not. 22 West Columbia Street. Yours respectfully, LUCY M. ARNOLD. The three districts of which Miss Arnold speaks in the above letter will be discussed immediately after the history of the academy has been disposed of. HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY. If your historian were to attempt to write the history of the barbarous tribes of Central Africa, he could find but little less authentic record than he has been able to ascertain concerning the academy of Mt. Clemens. No one seems to know when its career began, who began it, how it was commenced, how it was afterward managed, nor what was the order in rotation of the instructors. The idea has become pretty well fixed in the historian's brain, that if evolution is a natural process, it was most eminently true of the academy, viz., it began itself, run itself, and, when it run itself out, died a peaceful and natural death. The academy building was the original Methodist Church of Mt. Clemens, lately owned by the German Church and recently torn down to make room for their present brick edifice. The building was constructed with a basement, which, for some time, was used for school purposes. It seems as far back as early in the 40's, the school was called an academy, but that title did not properly apply to it until later, probably about 1850. From an old school record, lately handed me by E. Wright Hall, and belonging to Old District No. 1--yet to be discussed-I find that in 1843 to 1846, District No. 1 rented the basement of the building in which to hold its district school. The building was rented of Robert Thompson, but was then owned by the Methodists. I incline to the opinion that Mr. Thompson had a lease to the building for a term of years, and that he had previously (1840-42) taught a school there. From records in the county register's office, it appears that the Methodists did not dispose of the property until 1850. It was then purchased by a corporation that styled itself the Clinton Institute. The Trustees of said institute were A. C. Smith, William Jenney, John I. Traver, John Stephens, H. H. Cady and David Shook. Probably previous to this time (1850), the schools taught in the building were private schools, except when District No. 1 rented it. It had, however, in some way, acquired the name of academy, and that had seemed to be its designating term, but it was not until after 1850 that so worthy a title belonged to it. From 1850 to about 1853, the academy saw its palmiest days. After the Clinton Institute purchased the building, up to 1862 or 1863, when the Germans bought it, the property passed through several hands, being owned at one time, about 1856 or 1856, by William Jenney. Early in the 40's (1840-42), it appears that one Robert ("Bob") Thompson commenced teaching in the academy building. Probably his was nothing more than an ordinary private school, he renting the building of the Methodists and teaching on his own responsi bility. He evidently allowed considerable latitude to the wild career of his pupils, and |