“The township was early divided into school districts, which underwent modifications and changes as the progress of improvement and the increase of inhabitants demanded.
“The first school-house was erected on land of Benjamin Drake, on section 13, in 1833, and presided over by Miss Harriet Hubbard, who claimed, with justice, the honor of having been the first to guide the youthful minds of Oshtemo. The scholars were David Keyes, Mary Keyes, Charles Marsh, Wells Marsh, Benjamin Drake, Frank Drake, Jane Elizabeth Drake, Elizabeth Taft, Eliza Jane Wilmarth, Salinda Smith, and Ebenezer Smith. This school-house, built of logs, was located on the first, and at that date the only, school district in the township, but later a district was formed in the southeast portion, under the auspices of several residents, who were desirous to bring educational advantages’within easy distance of their own homes.
“In 1840 the increasing population afforded encouragement for the erection of a new school-house in this district, which was used for a quarter of a century, and replaced by a building of brick, with basement and furnace, and containing so many modern improvements and conveniences as to make the residents of this district justly the envy of their neighbors. This latter building was erected at a cost of $4000,—just double that of the earlier one.
“A district was soon after organized, embracing the land of Messrs. Buell and Hurd, and a rude log structure was erected, which served the purpose of both school-house and township hall for a number of years. But eight scholars presented themselves for instruction when the school was first opened. With the presence of settlers came a demand for a building of greater proportions, which was furnished by a few public-spirited citizens, and replaced in 1867 by a spacious and inviting brick edifice, costing $4000,* and boasting an average daily attendance in excess of that of any district in the township.
“New districts continued to be formed as occasion demanded, nearly all of them embracing the system of the direct taxation of property as the means of sustaining the educational interests of Oshtemo. A few have dispensed with the primitive custom of requiring the teacher to “board around.”
“The township now numbers 6 whole and 5 fractional districts. The number of children attending school during the year 1869 was 402, of which 23 were non-residents. There are 21 teachers employed, to whom in salaries the sum of $1690 was paid. There are 11 school-houses in the township, 2 of which are brick and 9 wood. The total value of school property is $9250. The total resources for the year were $2823.90, of which $216.84 was derived from the primary-school fund.
“* It it quite probable that the cost of these school buildings is stated too high.”