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Wakeshma Township Schools

General Information and Sources


The following sketch is from History of Kalamazoo County, Michigan, by Samuel W. Durant, published in Philadelphia by Everts & Abbott, 1880.

“The first school-house in the township was built near the log house of J.J. Gardner, some time after his advent. The early teacher in this rudely-constructed building is not remembered by the surviving settlers. Soon after a school was organized embracing the children of the families living on section 32, and a log school-house was built, the first teacher being Miss Crucia Ann Tuttle.

School-houses followed the arrival of settlers until the township is well supplied with means of instruction. There are in Wakeshma 6 whole and 4 fractional school districts, presided over by the following directors: J.G. Wicks, N.R. Wakes, Joseph Crotser, A.S. Pomeroy, William Culp, Nathan Holcomb, Thomas Copley, J.C. Mears, George Eberstein, and I.F. Alvord. The whole number of pupils receiving instruction is 463, who are taught by 10 male and 11 female teachers. The total amount paid them in salaries is $1488.50.

School Inspectors

1847, A. R. Scott; 1848, Caleb Orcutt; 1849, J. J. Gardner; 1850, Joseph Heminway; 1851, Charles Root; 1852, Joseph Heminway, 69 J. J. Gardner; 1853, R. R. HIeminway, George Rickard; 1854, James Hawes, George W. Corliss; 1855, Israel Leighton; 1856, Walter F. Lovin, J. W. Codman; 1857, Samuel R. Culp; 1858, E. B. Skidmore; 1859, Valentine Cornwell; 1860, William Bradshaw; 1861, E. B. Southwick; 1862, David Kindy; 1863, Wm. H. Overholt; 1864, David Kindy; 1865, C. C. Crotser; 1866, David Kindy, A. E. Brockett; 1867, A. W. Pierce; 1868, J. 0. Wilsey; 1869, A. W. Pierce; 1870, 0. M. Gates; 1871, P. M. Thomson, A. W. Pierce; 1872, no record; 1873, A. W. Pierce; 1874, P. M. Thomson; 1875, A. E. Brockett; 1876, 0. M. Gates; 1877-78, Samuel Rosenberry; 1879, S. B. Snyder.

Superintendent of Schools

1875, Samuel Beane; 1876, C. E. Faunce; 1877, John P. Reidinger; 1878-79, Amandus B. Hanshue.”

 

Sources

Books

History of Kalamazoo County, Michigan…, 1880

Durant, Samuel W.
Evansville, IN: Unigraphic, 1976
H 977.417 H67u (oversize), page 299


Manuscripts

List of one-room schools still standing in Kalamazoo County in 1982

Hultmark, Sarah
Manuscript, Local History Collection, Kalamazoo Public Library


Maps and Atlases

Map of Kalamazoo County, Michigan

Geil & Harley, Philadelphia. 1861
History Room atlas case, left shelf #2

Atlas of Kalamazoo County, Michigan from Recent and Actual Surveys and Records

F. W. Beers & Co., New York. 1873
Library of Congress

Illustrated atlas of Kalamazoo County [Michigan] with early and present history of Kalamazoo County

Sauer, William C.
Wm. C. Sauer, Detroit. 1890
History Room atlas case, left shelf #1

Standard Atlas of Kalamazoo County, Michigan

Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1910
History Room atlas case, left shelf #1

USGS Topographic Map for Kalamazoo County, 1918 (Leonidas Quadrangle)

History Room map case, left drawer #1


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