Pleasant Valley #2

Section 24, Township 15, Range 20 Deed V-131. Catherine E. Merkel of Baldwin City, KS to School District #2. 10 Apr 1873, filed 12 Apr 1873, consideration $1, 1 acre in NW 1/4 of Sect. 25, T15, R20. Commencing at the SW corner of said section, east 15 rods, north ten 2/3 rods, west 15 rods, south 10 2/4 rods to place of beginning.

link to locator map

From the “Scratcher” or notebook of Superintendent of Public Instruction Philetus Fales:

Nov. 20, 1867:  “Rode with Mr. Merchant east across the country through a dense fog to ascertain condition of Dist. No. 2 from which no report had been received for two years.  After some search, found a school in operation with 21 pupils on the roll.  Miss Russia Still, teacher.  One of the best schools yet visited.  Settlement much scattered.”

June 16, 1868:  “Visited School in district 2.  Miss Still, teacher.  No house.  Accommodations miserable.  Pretty good school nonetheless.”

June 2, 1868:  “Visited School in dist. 31.  Day very hot.  Building log, new and unfinished.  Site almost unapproachable.  Miss Spear, teacher.  Discipline good.  Pupils 34.”

Feb. 1, 1869:   “Also appointed J.E. Blunt clerk of dist. 31 vice W.F. Hecker removed from the district.”

Feb 3, 1870:  “[Term began] Nov. 22.  J.H. Lanter, Teacher.  Visited Feb. 3/70.  School small and house wretched.  Teacher apparently doing as well as possible under the circumstances.”

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