The Start of Conway's Public Schools
By James G. Clayton
After the turmoil caused by the "First Yankee Invasion", the " 'Bush-whackers,”
the "Renegades," and the "Carpet-baggers,” the Arkansas Legislature was again
returned to the electorate. The Legislature realized the importance of
education, and took immediate steps to establish public schools, so that each
citizen between the age of six and twenty-one could receive an education.
A new era was begun in the 1870's.
By an act of the Arkansas Legislature, April 18, 1873, Faulkner County was
created. Governor Baxter appointed John M. Clifton of Conway Station, County
Superintendent of Schools. In the statement of the number of teachers and grades
of Certificates for the year ending September 30, 1873, Faulkner county was
employing eleven male and two female teachers for a total teaching force of
thirteen. Holding First Grade Certificates were four males and one female
teacher. Those with Second Grade certificates numbered four males and one
female. Three males held Third Grade certificates. Nineteen hundred dollars and
forty-four cents was the total outlay for teachers salaries for the year ending
September 30, 1873; fourteen hundred and twenty-five dollars and thirty-three
cents being paid to the male teachers and four hundred, seventy-five dollars and
eleven cents being paid to the females. There were fifteen school-houses in
Faulkner County. They were all of wooden construction and had a total cost of
two thousand, one hundred and fifteen dollars. Their condition was described as
"good.” Total expenditures for the year was limited to the teacher's salaries,
inasmuch as there was not a new school constructed during the year. There was
not a "Teachers Institute" in Faulkner County the first year of its existence.
The scholastic population between the ages of five and twenty-one years in 1873
was given as:
White males 885
White females 745
Total White 1,630
Colored males 4
Colored females 7
Total Colored 11
The grand total in Faulkner County was 1,641 (1)
Taxes, provided for the operation of Public Schools, were limited to "Not more
than two mills on all taxable property in the state; and by an annual per-capita
tax of one dollar, to be assessed on every male inhabitant of the state over the
age of twenty-one years.” (2) However, school districts could levy, by a vote
the qualified electors of the district, a tax not to exceed five mills on the
dollar in any one year for school purposes. (3)
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction had the power to issue teaching
certificates to any person in the state who could pass a thorough examination in
all branches of instruction required for granting county certificates; and, in
addition, pass an examination in algebra, physics, rhetoric, mental philosophy,
history, Latin, the Constitutions of the United states and the State of
Arkansas, natural history and the theory and art of teaching. (4)
This was the situation that confronted the community of Conway when some of the
inhabitants thought that a Conway School District should be formed.
Following the usual procedures of petition and election, there assembled in the
Conway Mayor's office, the first elected school board members of the Conway
District Number 1. They were: J. E. Martin, A. P. Robinson, Jo Van Ronkle, R. T.
Markham and A. F. Livingston. The date was October 3, 1878. All presented
Certificates of election and took the oath of office before P. M. Prince, a
Notary Public. This was done as prescribed by law.
The board then drew for tenure of office. J. E. Martin drew the short term with
an expiration date of the third Saturday of December, 1878. A.P. Robinson and
R.T. Markham drew the middle terms with an expiration date of the third Saturday
of December, 1879. Jo Van Ronkle and A.P. Livingston drew the terms expiring the
third Saturday of December, 1880. The Board then proceeded to organize and Jo
Van Ronkle was elected president and A.F. Livingston was elected secretary.
There was a vacancy on the Board inasmuch as J.S. Jones refused to qualify and
declined to serve. On motion, A. C. Hoss was elected to fill this vacancy and
Secretary Livingston was instructed to advise Mr. Hoss of his election. On
another motion, the Board adjourned until Saturday evening, October 5.
At this Saturday meeting, all Board members were present, and indulged in a
short discussion. They decided to adjourn until the following Monday morning.
And so it was that the first full Board meeting of Conway School District,
Number 1, came to a close.
At the meeting held October 7, 1878, Director A.P. Robinson offered the
following resolution:
“Be it resolved that a tax of five mills on all taxable property in this school
district (No.1) be levied for school purposes and that the same be certified to
the County Court by the President and the Secretary. That two-thirds of said tax
be collected for teachers funds and on-third for school-house funds.”
The resolution was adopted.
A.C. Hoss and A. F. Livingston were appointed as a committee to draft rules for
the government of the school Board.
The Board met again December 28, 1878, and extended the time for this committee
to perfect the rules. It was also noted at this meeting that no school election
was held on the third Saturday of December and that there were no successors to
serve in place of J. E. Martin and A. C. Hoss. On motion that passed, Martin and
Hoss were elected to fill the vacancies. It was also voted to retain the same
organization of the Board.
At the next meeting, February 1, 1879, a petition from many Conway residents was
presented asking that a public school be opened in Conway. J. E. Martin and A.
F. Livingston were named a committee of two to investigate the possibilities of
procuring a house for school purposes and to receive applications from school
teachers. On motion that passed, it was ordered that the school be called the
"Peabody School of Conway.”
On February 7, 1879, the Board met again. The committee, appointed to procure a
house for school purposes, reported that the Baptist Church could be had for a
period of three months for a sum of fifteen dollars. This offer was accepted and
the committee discharged.
Professor J. W. Thompson was unanimously elected to take charge of the school at
a salary of fifty dollars a month. Applications for the jobs of assistant
teachers were received from Major Bourland, Mrs. D.P. Loretz, and Miss Lou
Munger.
The next meeting of the Board was February 15, 1879. At this meeting it was
ordered that the first term of the Conway Peabody Public School commence on
Monday, the 17th of February, 1879, and continue for five months and in
subsequent years the term of school should begin on the first Monday of
September and continue for a period of ten months. At this meeting of the Board,
Mrs. D.P. Loretz was elected assistant teacher at a salary of thirty-five
dollars a month.
The Board meeting of March 10th resulted in the naming of a Board of visitors
and examiners. Named to this Board were F.R. Adams, A.C. Hoss, G.W. Bruce, E.M.
Merriman, and A.R. Witt. The Board Adjourned, subject to call.
There was a called meeting March 14th. Several committees were named at this
meeting: On Finance - A.F. Livingston, A.P. Robinson, and J.E. Martin;
School-house and Site - A.C. Hoss, J.E. Martin, and R.T. Markham; Teachers and
Schools - A.C. Hoss, J.E. Martin, and Jo Van Ronkle. Also at this meeting, the
secretary was ordered to advise all the applicants for teaching jobs that
examinations for teachers would be held at ten o’clock, March 15.
The next meeting of the Board was March 15th, and on the fifth ballot, Miss Lou
Munger was elected an assistant teacher.
Mr. J.H. Hartje, secretary of a public mass meeting, tendered the school Bard a
“subscription list” for the purpose of aiding in building a public school house.
On motion, the Board accepted the list and ordered that it be spread on the
minutes of the meeting that a vote of thanks be given from every member of the
Board.
The petition read as follows:
"State of Arkansas, County of Faulkner, We, the undersigned, agree and promise
to pay the sum of money, goods, etc., subscribed by each of us placed opposite
each of our names for helping build a free public school house in the town of
Conway, Arkansas. The money, goods, etc., as subscribed by us we will pay over
to the trustees of School District No.1, of said county when called upon for
same by the trustees. March 3rd, 1879."
Subscribers were as follows:
J.H. McCulloch - $15.00
J.M. Alinder - $15.00
D.R. Loretz - $10.00
Hilliard & Brothers - two thousand feet of lumber
A.R. Witt - $10.00
J.F. Kincheloe - $10.00 in lumber
S.V. Castleberry - $10.00
Jessie Witt, Jr. - $5.00
B.F Lackey - $1.00
Henry Cuerden - $5.00 in plastering
John N. Hasen - $5.00
J.H. Hartje - $10.00 in lumber
J.W. Thompson - $10.00
V. Yeager - $1.00
J.E. Martin - $25.00
A.T. Brown - $10.00
B.F. Jones - $10.00 work or brick
E.W. Little - $2.50
H.C. Munger - $10.00
J. V. Mitchell - $10.00
E.M. Merriman - $10~00
J.M. Dickens - $7.50
J.G. Gill - $5.00
J.W. Walton - $25.00
J.R. Jennry - $10.00
J.N. Ferguson - $5.00
W.S. Stemett - $10.00
J.C. Witt - $2.00
Thos. Biggs - $5.00
R.S. Markham - $10.00
Max Frauenthall - $60.00 in lumber
G.S. Harrell - $20.00
G.S. Brown - $10.00 in work
A.J. Witt - $5.00
J.F. Harrison - $5 .00
John Ingram - $10.00
F.M. Dickens - $ 5.00
P.H. Prince - $10.00
L.C. Lincoln - $10.00
E.C. Dunlap - $6.00
H.F. Lock - $10.00
G.W. Bruce - $100.00
P. P. Loetscher - $10.00
A. J. Herters Lumber - $12.00
A. F. Livingston - $10.00
A. P. Robinson - $100.00
On motion, the Board adjourned.
And thus was the beginning. There were many trials and tribulations to follow.
It was a rough road ahead in Conway for the Public School. There were many
demands of the Board, the teachers and the contractor. An injunction was granted
to prevent the sheriff from collecting the five mill tax. There were special
called meetings of the Board for items we would think of as trivial. But that is
an entirely different story.
A Public School had opened in Conway.
(Most of the material used in compiling this article was taken
from notes gathered by my brother; B. Paul Clayton, with the aid of my father,
William B. Clayton, who was a member of the Conway School Board some thirty-five
years ago.)
--------------------
Footnotes:
(1) Public Documents, 1873, State of Arkansas
(2) Digest of Laws, Relating to Free Schools of the State of Arkansas
(3) Ibid.
(4) Ibid.
Faulkner Facts and Fiddlings
Faulkner County Historical Society
Volume II, No. 2, April, 1960, pp. 3-11.
Conway Public Schools- Part II
by James E. Clayton
While the “public-spirited” citizens of Conway were subscribing money for the
construction of a school house, an injunction had been granted to prevent the
sheriff from collecting the school tax. On April 12, 1879, the Conway School
Board met with the following Directors present: Jo Van Ronkel, president, J.E.
Martin, R.T. Markham, A.C. Hess, A.P. Robinson, and A.F. Livingston, secretary.
There being a quorum present, the directors entered into an exchange of
thoughts. A motion was then made to appoint A.P. Robinson a committee of one to
confer with Col. Sam W. Williams of Little Rock, with power to act for the Board
in this matter. The motion prevailed and the Board adjourned.
The next meeting of the Board took place May 3, 1879, and a full attendance was
recorded. Present were: Van Ronkel, Martin, Markham, Hess, Robinson, and
Livingston. Director Robinson offered to donate to the Conway Free School Board,
six lots for school house grounds. The Board, with thanks, accepted. These lots
were in Block 25 and were numbers 30, 31, 32, 42, 43, and 44.
A motion carried that Director Robinson prepare a plan and specifications for a
school house having the general specifications as submitted by Professor
Thompson. These dimensions were: “Main Building, 28 by 44 feet with wings on
each side 20 by 24 feet, to be built of wood” and to report back to the Board at
the earliest possible date. Also at this meeting the Board refunded A.P.
Robinson the amount paid out as attorney fees. $25.35 as costs in the case of
the injunction case before the State Supreme Court. Then Board then adjourned.
The highlight of the next Board meeting, May 16, 1879, was a communication from
Professor Thompson saying that there was trouble between pupils at the school.
The President and Secretary of the Board were appointed a committee of two to
determine the nature of the trouble. A.P. Robinson submitted the plan and
specifications for the building and they were adopted. A motion carried that
Professor Thompson submit a list of names of pupils attending school, the dates
they entered, and the rates of tuition that prevailed. The meeting then
adjourned.
The next meeting was held May 24, 1879, and the committee that investigated the
disturbance between pupils recommended that John W. McCulloch be indefinitely
suspended for bad conduct during school hours. The Board so acted.
On May 31, 1879, the Board met and advised that an advertisement for bids for
the new school house had been printed in “The Arkansas Traveler” and that the
following bids had been submitted: W.S. Stemett, $2,000; Miss Pence and
Berglebaw, $2,000; and F.J. Hilliard & Brother, $1,599. A motion prevailed that
Hilliard & Brother be awarded the contract and the Board exercise all haste in
completing the contract and that the subscription list be converted to cash or
notes running 30, 60, and 90 days, and two-fourths in ninety days. With this
action, the Board adjourned, subject to call.
Shortly thereafter, the committee that was to enter into a contract with
Hilliard & Brother reported that Hilliard & Brother would not enter into the
contract. At a called meeting of the Board, it was decided to enter into the
contract and guarantee Hilliard & Brother six per cent interest on the unpaid
balance at the completion of construction. October 1 was set as the date that
construction should be completed. It was further agreed that two mills would be
set aside exclusively for the purpose of retiring the construction indebtedness.
It was then satisfactory with Hilliard & Brother to contract for the
construction. Hilliard & Brother’s bond was presented to the Board June 28.
The Conway School Board met July 26, 1879, and the following personnel for the
school was elected: Professor Thompson, Principal for a period of five months at
a salary of fifty dollars a month; Mrs. D.P. Lorets and Miss Lou Munger were
elected assistant teachers for five months at a salary of thirty dollars a month
each. A twenty five percent increase was ordered in tuition for “foreign”
pupils. President Van Ronkel was authorized to procure a building for use as a
school house; the meeting then adjourned.
The sixth of September was school election day in Conway and all of the school
board members were re-elected. September 17, the group assembled and elected Jo
Van Ronkel president, and A.F. Livingston, secretary, temporarily.
Lots were then drawn for tenure of office. Jo Van Ronkel and A.R. Livingston
drew the short terms to expire the third Saturday in December, 1879. A.P.
Robinson and R.T. Markham drew the middle terms to expire a year later, and J.E.
Martin and A.C. Hess drew the long terms that would expire the third Saturday in
December, 1881. A motion passed making the temporary appointments permanent.
This motion was made by A.C. Hess. The meeting then adjourned to meet again
Saturday night, September 20.
This Saturday night meeting proved to be a lengthy session and several
resolutions were passed. The first one was:
“Be it resolved by the Board of School Directors that a tax of five mills on the
dollar on all taxable property personal and real in school district (Number 1)
in Conway, be and the same is hereby levied for school purposes and that two and
a half mills be appropriated for teachers fund and that the same be certified to
the County Clerk and County Treasurer by the president and secretary as required
by law.”
On motion it was resolved that a colored school for the instruction of colored
children of this district be established, to be under the same rules and
regulations as already adopted in relation to the school for white children. n
motion the salary of the colored teacher was fixed at thirty dollars a month.
Thomas Walker was then duly elected teacher of the colored school to commence
the first Monday and to continue for four months.
Another resolution was adopted, it was as follows:
“Resolved that the principal of the white school be authorized to employ a
person satisfactory to the Bard as janitor at a salary not to exceed five
dollars per month. That the duties of said janitor shall be to keep the school
house and furniture in a “cleanly” condition, to make the fires when necessary,
to cut fuel and ring the bell at the established hours for calling the school.”
With this action, the board adjourned.
The Christmas spirit was with the Board at its meeting on December 20. It was
decided that a Christmas vacation be given the faculty and pupils, that school
be closed after classes the twenty fourth of December, and not re-open school
until January 5. It was also ordered that all pupils procure permits from the
secretary of the Board before the teachers would admit them to class. A
committee consisting of A.C. Hess, J.E. Martin, and A.F. Livingston was
appointed to procure seats. It was also voted that President Van Ronkel and
Director Hess prepare and present a memorial to town council soliciting aid for
the public schools. A committee consisting of President Van Ronkel and Directors
Martin and Markham was appointed to collect subscriptions.
A motion prevailed that pupils without the district be required to pay tuition
monthly, in advance. The meeting then adjourned.
At the first Board meeting in 1880, which was held January 10, all the employed
teachers were re-elected and their salaries increased 10 percent. President Van
Ronkel was instructed to see under what conditions the school property could be
insured against fire. On motion, director Robinson was appointed to have erected
two privies on the school grounds and to confer with Professor Thompson
concerning same.
A motion prevailed that all teachers were required to have the care and
supervision of their classes and during recesses and be held strictly
accountable for the conduct of their pupils in their charge during the entire
school day. With this action the meeting adjourned.
At the next meeting, February 28, the committee on seat procurement reported
that they had purchased 75 seats in St. Louis, and that the seats were now in
use. Their cost was $305.00. Director Hess reported that the town council
presented $250.00 as a memorial and that this money has been paid on the seats.
President Van Ronkel reported that he had placed a three year contract for fire
insurance in the amount of $1,250 on the school house and furniture.
The committee on privies reported same had been established. R.E. Sevier was
paid $7.00 for putting up the seats.
Director J.E. Martin was elected Treasurer of the School Board. President Van
Ronkel presented a copy of garnishment in the case of Stemett & Wright vs.
Hilliard & Brother and school district for garnishee. The same was ordered
filed. The President was ordered to see Col. Robinson about securing the deed to
the school grounds. The meeting was then adjourned.
At the next meeting, March 27, President Van Ronkel reported that the deed Col.
Robinson was to present would be ready by the next meeting. Accounts were
allowed as follows: Adam Nahbeck $6.75; A.F. Livingston $1.25; Jake Frey, $1.25.
On motion, the Board adjourned.
April 24 was the next meeting of the Board. Accounts of $63.08 were paid for
stoves and fittings; $15.43 for lumber; and $1.00 for work on the privies. The
deed to the school house grounds was received and ordered recorded.
At the May 29 meeting of the Board, a committee was appointed to attend the
examination on “Thursday and Friday of next week” and to then make a report to
the Board. The committee consisted of A.C. Hess, Max Frauenthal, R.T. Markham,
A.F. Livingston, and C.H. McCulloch.
A.P. Robinson, J.E. Martin, and A.C. Hess were appointed to see the contractor
and see “that compliance of the contract and a settlement” is reached.
On motion, the president was authorized to rent the schoolhouse to Professor
Thompson for the purpose of operating a private school. It, too, was moved and
seconded that the money on hand be pro-rated to the teachers. The motion was
approved and the Board adjourned.
The next meeting of the Board was August 27, 1880. On motion, a tax of five
mills was levied on all the taxable property in the Conway District. Three mills
to be for the teachers fund and two mills for the schoolhouse fund. The Board
ordered that school commence the first Monday of October and run for a period of
six months with a two week vacation at Christmas. Professor J.W. Thompson was
elected Principal at a salary of fifty dollars a month. It was voted that the
President and the Secretary of the Board certify the tax levy to the County
Clerk. The final order of business at this meeting was to postpone the election
of teachers until the next meeting.
At the September 20 meeting of the Board, teachers were elected. Miss Allie
Chrisman was elected head teacher and Miss Fannie Winten was elected assistant
teacher. The salary scale was revised also. The Principal’s salary was raised to
seventy dollars, Miss Chrisman’s salary was made forty dollars, and Miss
Winten’s salary was thirty dollars a month. It was voted that all the rules and
regulations of the proceeding year be adopted for the coming year. A motion was
adopted prohibiting calisthenics at the school.
The secretary was directed to purchase three dozen erasers and a clock for use
at the school. It was voted also to purchase a book for the secretary, The Board
then adjourned.
On September 28, the Board voted that the colored school open at the same time
as the white school. Thomas Walker was elected teacher of the colored school at
a salary of $40.00 a month.
At the October 30 meeting, very little business was transacted. The bill of Wilt
Kinchelow and the bill for janitor service was refereed to the President of the
Board. It was then agreed to have the Principal of the school hire the janitor
in the future. The secretary was directed to contract for wood for the school
and issue warrants to the teachers each month.
A committee that was to determine the condition of the schools reported to the
Board at its meeting November 20. It was recommended that one teacher be
dispensed with. Some of the Board wanted to retire the Principal but a vote on
the matter retained Professor Thompson. The Board then adjourned.
C.A. Billingsley and W.C. Watkins were new members of the Board that was in
attendance at the December 25 meeting. J.M. Alinder had been selected as a
member but was not present at this meeting. Van Ronkel, Hess, and Martin
remained on the Board.
Thus, the new Board was organized. The mission of the old (and the first) Board
had been accomplished. The Conway Public Schools had a meeting place. I have no
information as to the number of pupils in attendance in 1880, but one can assume
the usual percentage of attendance and get a close approximation of the
enrollment by counting the students and teachers in the photograph.
The writer is indebted to Mr. R.T. Cole, who provided the original picture of
the schoolhouse. The engraving was made from a copy of that picture.
Faulkner Facts and Fiddlings
Faulkner County Historical Society
Vol. III, No. 2, April, 1961, pp. 5-15