Early Schools in Defiance, Ohio - Part 2

From the Defiance Democrat - January 10, 1895
Continued from Part 1, here.

When the settlement increased in numbers and the old, log school house became too small, a district school was organized and taught in the court house for many years. During Court, which was six or eight days of each year, the school would take a vacation.  One E. C. Betts taught in the court house.  His certificate authorized him to teach reading, writing , spelling and arithmetic as far as the rule of three.  Wm. A. Brown also taught in the court house. His assistant was Miss Stowe, afterward Mr. Brown's wife, and who now resides in this city with her daughter, Mrs. Dr. Scott.  Mr. Edwin Phelps also taught in this building.

The second school in what is now the City was on the bank of Coe Run near where the canal is now.  It was built of logs by the settlers along both the rivers. This school was first taught by Brice Hilton.

In 1840, after the county seat of Williams county was moved to Bryan, the old court house was sold and fitted for a dwelling as a new school house had to be provided.  In 1841 the third school house was built in Defiance on the west side of Wayne street, between Fourth and Fifth streets.  It was a two story brick and was built by Timothy Dame, who had succeeded Seamans and Wason in the brick yard. At first the lower room only was finished.  Part of the time there were two teachers and usually over one hundred pupils.  
In 1849 the district was divided, that part East of the Canal being No. 1 and that West, No. 5. A lot was purchased in January 1850 on the North side of Fifth street, just East of where the railroad now is, and a school house was built there.

In 1851, the Union school was organized and the districts consolidated, then the upper room in the brick building was completed, another school house procured and Francis Holenbeck employed at Superintendent, and teacher for the high school.
The present school was kept in a building owned by E. L. May  on the west side of Wayne street near the river, and a few years afterward was moved to the building at the corner of Court and Wayne streets that had been built and used by Dave Marcellus as a carpenter shop and which was rented and used for years as a primary school.

About this time, the Baptist church and a large unfinished frame building where the Carter homestead now stands were used as school houses.  The secondary school, as it was called, was kept in the school house of District No. 5. This building is now used as a dwelling. There was also an overflow school taught in a small building just north of the one last named, Lot fronting on Fourth street.  These were all school houses between the rivers until the Central building, which was commenced in 1866 and completed in 1868.  This building has since been greatly enlarged by adding wings and another story.

In the 4th Ward, a district school house was built about 1858 on the Ottawa Pike just south of the B & O R.R. track, called the Kahlo school house.  It was a frame building, and Miss Southworth, E. H. Gleason, Abijah Miller and others taught there.  In 1875, a brick building was built, which was lately replaced by the splendid Fourth ward building.  In 1875, the present Second ward building was built.

On the north side of the Maumee river was school district No. 2.  The first school house was built in 1851 on Water street, just east of the Wabash railway.  It was a little, frame school house.  Samuel Stacy was the first teacher.

Afterward, E. H. Gleason, John H. Crowell, B. F. Southworth, Mary Bridenbaugh, now Mrs. Kiser, and others taught here.  Before the war, Mr. Southworth was reputed as a normal teacher of great ability, and his school was so popular for young teachers that the directors built an addition to the house and secured an assistant to teach the lower grades.  When Capt. Southworth went into the army, no less than nine of his old pupils went with him and many more followed. On his return from the army, Colonel Southworth again taught here.  In 1866, this district was made part of the Union schools of the town, and in 1874, the ole brick building was built and is now replaced by this beautiful, modern building.

The people of Defiance have never parted from the faith and example of the early settlers.  They have always been liberal in the support of schools; and now our city is guarded at every point on the compass by magnificent school buildings.  They are a wise investment.  They are the city's best defense..."