Observations on the Early History of Anderson School

Exerts from article by Harry Ward

Our Memorial this evening not only marks the passing of Anderson School, but of every one-room school in the county, Anderson being the last to go. Anderson School was born 1825 and died 1959; age 134 years. It was named for Uncle John Anderson who was the first by the name of Anderson, to settle in this part of the country. He settled on what is now the bank of the city Reservoir, soon after the Revolutionary War; not very long after George Washington was elected President of the United States. His home was near where the spillway of the reservoir is now; and it was in his home that the first court was held in Hamilton County.

He had three sons, namely, Edmond, Thomas and Warner. Edmond was the father of Captain John Anderson, little Warner Anderson, Claborn and Robert Anderson. The late Dr. C. H. Anderson, Attorney Harry Anderson, and Chester C. Anderson were three of Edmond's grandsons. Joe Anderson of McLeansboro is the only living grandson of Thomas Anderson; and Arthur Anderson and Wilburn Anderson are two of his great-grandsons. William Anderson and John Anderson were sons of Warner Anderson, and A. B. Anderson of McLeansboro is his grandson and Warner Hughey Anderson is his great grandson.

The three sons of the original John Anderson raised large families; most of whom settled in the district, and when I was a child there were almost as many people in the district by the name of Anderson as all other names combined; hence it was called Anderson District.

A few parents conceived the idea of contracting with a teacher for each parent who sent children to school, to pay the teacher a certain sum of money, for each child sent to school. Naturally the poorer children of the community received no education.

The injustice of such a system of education became apparent and about the year 1825, what is now known as the "Free School System" was established. Under this system districts about two miles square were formed; and every one in the district was assessed a tax, according to the amount of property he owned for the purpose of providing instruction for every child in the district; no matter how poor he might be.

About the year 1825 a log school house was built in Anderson District a quarter mile east of where this house stands. It was a very crude building, heated with a fire-place, and for windows, greased paper was used to shut out the weather and yet admit light.

The seats were made the same height for six year olds as for twenty-year olds; and were made by splitting logs into halves, and boring holes in each half log; into which were driven green hickory sticks, about two feet long for legs. There were no backs to the seats and they were called PUNCHEON seats and you can imagine how comfortable they were.

For drinking water the teacher would send a boy to the branch with a bucket and all the pupils would drink out of the same cup.Of course such sanitation caused much sickness and every year, it was a common thing for many to linger for weeks with Typhoid Fever, which in many cases proved fatal.

The larger part of the district was a forest, through which a winding road led to the school house. When a deep snow came, the fathers of the children, would hitch a yoke of oxen to a log and drag it to the school house to make a path for the children.

This building was erected in the year 1875, and has been in use for 84 years; and I personally remember attending school in this house 77 years ago. But today the school can boast of many conveniences that I didn't get to enjoy when I attended school here; such as electricity, the drinking fountain, and the modern kitchen with all its equipment, and two of the best cooks in the country who know how to prepare the best and cheapest dinner that can be found anywhere in the county.

I have prepared a list of fifty-two teachers that have taught here and if I have omitted any teacher's name, I beg the pardon of that teacher; for I assure you it was not intentional. The list includes;

Royal Alden, John Turrentine, Claborn Anderson, Wilburn Dale, S. H. Ward, Will Leake, Will Proudfit, George Daily, Jim Brown, Robert Morris, Frank Stafford, Mrs. Will Mapes, Will Gott, Walter Anderson, Charles Dale, Arthur Todd, Albert Mitchell, Nora Ward, Lucy Sneed, Grace Leslie Allen, Nannie Mangis McClure, Pearl Harper Mangis, Grace Carr Maulding, Wilburn Cullins, Joe Morris, Howard Hawkins, Cameron York, Felix Malone, Kenneth Swank, Sumner Henderson, Willie Cottingham, Ruth Harper Moore, Arthur Allen, Lena Metcalf, Cecil Austin, Clarence Thompson, Emma Braden, Nettie Ingram, Dorothy Dale Malone, Effie Black, Lela Ward, Emory Weldin, Mary McLain, Clytus Rhine, Margarete Rhyne, Mable Hargrave Gholson, Allene Webb Green, Eugene Cox, Cecil Hayes; and the present teacher; Mr. Leonard Sanders, who is closing his forty seventh term of school; and this is his eighth consecutive term here at Anderson.

And now as we hear the last gong of the bell as it tolls the death knell of dear old Anderson School; it is with sad hearts and tear dimmed eyes that we say "GOOD BYE, DEAR OLD ANDERSON SCHOOL, FAREWELL."

Thanks Kay (Ward) Bones