HISTORY OF MANITOWOC COUNTY


er's certificate. The superintendent refused on account of inefficiency,
but the
mother of the boy begged so long until the certificate was issued. Mr. Smith,
in
referring to his early school days, calls attention to the old log cabin,
self-made
benches carved with the jack-knife, the indispensable rod, and the square
stove
in the middle of the room and the children around, the last of which has
re-
mained with us until a comparatively recent time, and even today may be seen
in some of the backward school districts.
The salary of a teacher was eight dollars per month and he got his meals
by
"boarding round" through the families of his pupils.
Not much is known about the period of township superintendents. Some
of the men who have served in such capacity were Samuel S. House, H. C.
Hamilton, H. H. Smith (Deacon Smith), and Mr.' Heap. Inasmuch as there
were but three districts in the county at this time, and that practically
the entire
northern part comprised one district the following resolution passed at an
ad-
journed town meeting on April 9, I849, may appear interesting, viz: "Resolved,
that One Hundred Dollars be raised by tax on real estate for the support
of the
schools in the town.                          H. C. HAMILTON, Clerk"
The township superintendents were required to give a bond as present county
superintendents are required, as the following resolution will attest: "Resolved,
that the bond of L. H. House as town superintendent of schools be approved
of."
From three districts in I850, the educational system has expanded to one
hun-
dred and nine districts at the present time.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS
In addition to the general mention of the county superintendents, special
mention should be made here regarding their work. Previous to the time of
county superintendents, Manitowoc county was under the township system of
superintendents.
The following is a list of the county superintendents of schools since the
abo-
lition of the town superintendent plan:
B. J. Van Valkenburgh, I year  ........................ i8 862
C. S. Canright (appointed) .   ......................... I862-I863
J. W. Thombs ...................................... I863-I864
J. A. Crowley, 5 years ............................... I864-I869
Michael Kirwan, 6 years ............................. i869-I875
W. A. Walker, 4 years .     ............................. I875-I879
C. F. Viebahn (resigned), i year  .   .............. I879-I880
John Nagle (appointed), II years . .................... I880-I89I
C. E. Patzer, 4 years ................................ I89I-I895
A. W. Dassler, 2 years    .       .................. I895-I897
E. R. Smith, 2 years ....... ........................ I897-I899
F. C. Christiansen (resigned), 5Y2 years ...... i899 to August I904
W. E. Larson (appointed), 4'2 years ...... Aug., I904 to Jan., i909
C. W. Meisnest (appointed) (present incumbent)..Jan., i909
The office of county superintendent of schools was created by the legislature
in i 86i.


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