The History of Public Education in Lancaster Township
Wells County, Indiana
In 1856 the Indiana State Legislature passed a law providing that upon the petition of 20 households in a township there might be ordered an election, which three trustees should be chosen to manage the schools of the township.
The law of 1859 reduced the trustees to only one trustee to have charge of all schools and the rest of township business.
In the year of 1845 Lancaster Township was organized as a township unit under the law of 1845. An election was held and three trustees were elected on the 29th of August 1845. The three trustees elected were William Hannah, Allen Clark, and William Montgomery.
In 1847, the board met and laid off in school districts starting in the north-east corner of Range 12 with District No. 1 known in later years as the Daily School District No. 2 as the Eagleville School, No. 3 as the Donaldson School, No. 4 in the south-west part of the township, No. 5 as the Center School, the No. 6 as the No. 6 as the Bender School, No. 7 as the Wasson School, No. 8 as the Toll Gate. This school was so named because the toll house stood here to collect tolls for use of the corduroy or plank road to Fort Wayne. District No. 9 was the Lamb School; and at a later date a district was made in the range 13 known as the Little School No. 10, and No. 11 known as the Craigville School. In 1856 it was decided that District No. 4 was too small and a new district was made which was known as the Murray School. And the last district was made in the northeast part of the township known as the Swamp or Little Vine School. It was first called “Swamp” because of the many acres of low swampy ground surrounding it.
On May 7, 1853, there was a petition filed with the trustees of the township to hold an election for the purpose of levying a tax to build schoolhouses in Lancaster Township. The election was held on the 6th of June, 1853, for the above-said purpose and the final vote was 93 votes for a tax and 34 for no tax. A levy was made for 50 cents on the $100 valuation to raise money to build the schoolhouses. ON July 8, 1854, sealed bids were opened for the building of nine frame school buildings. The following bids were accepted for the building of nine new buildings in districts No. 1-2-4-5-6-7-8-9-11. The average bid was $352. The bid was let to Jacob Myers, William Merriman, and David Burgan.
The trustees of the township at that time were Allen Clark, Nathaniel Greenfield and Alexander Delong.
In 1859 three more new school buildings were built by Enoch High in Districts 3,10, 13(?) at a cost of $320 each. On June 6, 1868, the trustees opened bids for a new school building to be built in District No. 12. George Steele and Isaac Shady were the lowest bidders at $475.
The law of 1859 reduced the trustees from 3 to 1 and an election was held April 4, 1859. Nathaniel Greenfield was elected and took office the following day, April 5, 1859. He served 1 year as trustee and later served two enlistments with the Union Army in the Civil War.
It should be mentioned that there were no wells and no toilet facilities furnished with the early schools. Even the later brick structures did not always have these “extras”. Water was carried from the nearest farmhouse.
In later years the frame buildings were replaced by brick buildings. Several of the one room buildings were built by E.R. Davenport, trustee. He served from 1886-1890. He was a doctor by profession and made his home in Craigville.
In 1895 the two back rooms of the Craigville School were built by Andy Reed, trustee. In 1899, a 4-room brick building was built at Murray which accommodated the grades and also two years of high school. Nelson Stafford was trustee. Mr. Stafford ran a large grist mill in Murray which was later moved to Bluffton.
In 1903, the front part of the brick school at Craigville was built and used as a high school. Joel Fry was trustee. In 1910, the brick building known as the Little School was built by Dan Harsh, trustee. It is located 1 ¼ mile south of Craigville on Rd. 301. This was the last of the one room schools built in Lancaster Township. It was used until 1928 when the students were transferred to Craigville.
In 1816 the State Legislature passed a law providing that upon the petition of twenty households in a township, there might be ordered an election, at which time three trustees should be chosen to manage the schools of the township.
The law of 1859 reduced the number of trustees from three to one and is to have charge of all the schools and the rest of the township business. Lancaster Township was organized under the Law of 1816 in the year of 1845 as a township unit, and an election was held and three trustees were elected on August 29,1845. The three trustees elected were William Hannah, Allen Clark, and William Montgomery.
In 1847 the board met and laid the township off in school districts starting in the northeast corner of range 12 with District No. 1 known in later years as the Daily School , District No. 2 as the Eagleville School, No. 3 as the Donaldson School, No. 4 in the southwest part of the township, No. 5 as the Center School, No. 6 as the Bender School, No. 7 as the Wasson School, No. 8 as the Toll Gate, No. 9 as the Lamm School, No. 10, and No. 11 known as the Craigville School. In 1856 it was decided that district No. 4 was too large and a new district was made and is now the Murray School. The last district was made in the northeast part of the township and was known as the Swamp or Little Vine.
On May 7, 1853 there was a petition filed with the trustees of the township to hold an election for the purpose of levying a tax to build schoolhouses in Lancaster Township. An election was held on June 6, 1853 for the above said purpose and the final vote was 93 votes for a tax and 34 for no tax. A levy was made for fifty cents on the $100 evaluation to raise money to build the schoolhouses. On July 8, 1854 sealed bids were opened for the building of nine new frame schoolhouses. Bids were accepted for the building of nine new buildings in the districts Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11. The average bid was $352.00. The trustees of the township at the time were Allen Clark, Nathaniel Greenfield, and Alexander Delong.
In 1859 three more new school buildings were built, by Enoch High in districts Nos. 3, 10, and 13 at a cost of $320 each. On June 6, 1868 the trustee opened bids for a new school building to be built in district No. 12. George Steele and Isaac Shady were the lowest bidders. The bid was $475.00. The law of 1859 reduced the trustees from three to one. An election was held on April 4, 1859 and Nathaniel Greenfield was elected. He took office the following day, April 5, 1859.
The following persons have served as Trustees of Lancaster Township:
Nathaniel Greenfield : 1859-1860
James Nelson: 1860-1863
Eli Thomas: 1863-1867
Robert Souder: 1867-1870
Jacob Miller: 1870-1873
James Wasson: 1873-1877
T. J. Sowards: 1877-1882
Charles Scotten: 1882-1886
E. P. Davenport: 1886-1890
Andrew Reed: 1890-1895
Nelson Stafford: 1895-1901
Joel Fry: 1901-1905
William Wasson: 1905-1909
Daniel Harsh: 1909-1915
N. J. Kleinknight: 1915-1919
A. E. Hunt: 1919-1927
Leo Wasson: 1927-1935
Milo Lesh: 1935-
In later years, the frame buildings were replaced by brick buildings. Several of those one room buildings were built by E. P. Davenport, Trustee. In 1859 the two back rooms of the Craigville School were built by Andrew Reed, trustee. In 1899 the present four-room buildings at Murray were built by Nelson Stafford, trustee. In 1903 the front part of the present building at Craigville was built by Joel Fry, trustee. In 1910, the brick building known as the Little School was built by Dam Harsh, trustee. This building was used until 1928, when the students were sent to the Craigville School.
There came a time when these one-room schools were getting old and no longer suitable for school purposes. A movement for the consolidation of the one-room buildings was started. Some of these were abandoned and the children were hauled to the Craigville and Murray Schools. In 1920 the trustee and advisory board started plans to build a high school and elementary school. In December 1921 the trustees and advisory board met and opened bids for a new school building to be built near the center of the township. Contracts were awarded to Hisey & Bebout for the general contract for $65,625.00. J. J. Moser and Co., $1,250 for heating and plumbing and Ed Paul, $1,621.00 for electric wiring and fixtures.
Bonds were issued against the township for $97,000. There were one hundred ninety-seven bonds at $500.00 each at 5% per annum. Each year in June and December a certain number of the bonds came due. Bonds were issued for a period of fifteen years. Before the building was finished and equipment was bought, it was necessary to make temporary loans to finish and equip the building. The total indebtedness at that time was about $113,000.00.
This building was finished in the fall of 1922 and school started at that time. Students were all hauled and thirteen buses were used. There were 23 teachers. The first class to graduate from the high school was in the spring of 1923. The first principal was Cary Mounsey.
This building was built by the following township officers: A. E. Hunt, trustee; A. R. Huyette, County Superintendent; Jess Dailey, Charles King, Raymond Wasson, and N. J. Kleinknight, members of the advisory board. The trustee and advisory board, after having the building built, had to meet the bond payments as they came due. This was done by taxation. The above board met all of these payments as they came due through their terms of office. At the end of the above board’s term of office, they had paid $35,000.00 of the township indebtedness.
Mr. Hunt and the advisory board can be congratulated on the construction of this fine school building, of which every loyal school patron should be proud for years to come.
In the spring of 1957, Leo Wasson, former Trustee of Lancaster Township provided this detailed timeline of the Lancaster Township schools.
The History of Lancaster Central School
A time in the late 1910’s came when one room schools in Lancaster Township were getting old and not very suitable for school purposes. A movement started of consolidation of these one room buildings. Some of these schools were abandoned and the children were transported to the Craigville and Murray Schools.
In 1920 the Lancaster Township trustee and advisory board started plans to build a high school and elementary school. Township officers: A.E. Hunt, trustee; A.R. Huyette, Co-Supt.; Jess Dailey, Charles King, Raymond Wasson, and N.J. Kleinknight, Advisory board.
In December 1921 the trustee and advisory board met and opened bids for a new school building to be built near the center of the township, thus Lancaster Central was born. Five acres of ground were bought from George Millholland for $1,250.
Construction contracts were awarded to Hisey and Bebout for the general contract for $65,625, J.J. Moser and Co. $21,250 for heating and plumbing, and Ed Paul, $1,621 for electrical wiring and fixtures.
The new school was not completed by the time the neighboring schools were opening in 1922, so Lancaster’s classes began later in the fall.
The first principal was Cary E. Mounsey. Twenty-three teachers were hired to provide educational classes. The students were brought to school by thirteen buses.
The first senior class to graduate from the high school was in the spring of 1923. The class of 14 students were Mable Patterson Avery, Wilda Paxson Bell, Beth Blue, Lola Barger Ehrman, Henry Harvey, Ralph Hoover, Larimer Johnson, Alton Meyer, Celia Schwartz, Charles Shady, Dorothy Paxson Smith, Edna Plummer Wasson, Alta Kleinknght Wilminton.
In 1940-41 it was necessary to build an addition to the school, which consisted of a large gymnasium and several classrooms. Milo Lesh was a trustee at this time. With the completion of this unit, the schools at Craigville and Murray were abandoned, and all students were taken to Lancaster Central.
In the spring of 1957 plans were made for building another unit for the elementary grades. As the new addition to Lancaster Central was just completed, there was a fire in 1959 that destroyed much of the original part of the school. The east end and the gymnasium were saved.
In the Fall of 2003, a new Lancaster Central Elementary School was opened across the street to the north serving k-5.
Information from the Reflector 1967 and 1938 Lancaster Central Yearbook
Information provided by Gene Donaghy
