Source: Ruth M. Brubaker, THE HISTORY OF PLEASANT TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS 1835-1962 (1979), pp. 104-111.

A HISTORY OF THE LAKETON SCHOOL (DISTRICT 12)

The first schoolhouse built for District 12 was located on the line between Messrs. G. and P. Wertenberger's farm, later owned by Mr. J. Stoop and Mr. B. Sailors. But this farm has changed hands so many times and has been divided that it is not just sure who owns the land at this point where the first school sat. It was built in 1842 and was a small log structure. The windows were about five and one half feet from the floor. They consisted of three panes of glass eight by ten inches and were placed side by side in a hole cut in the logs. The desks were boards laid on wooden pins, which were driven into the wall. These board desks went entirely around the room. The seats were made of boards nailed to small legs that were fastened to the floor. The program was the same in the afternoon as in the morning, except that geography was studied only once a day. The pupils studied reading, spelling, grammar, arithmetic, and geography. The first master that kept school in this building was Mr. J. Dodge. This schoolhouse was abandoned in 1857.

The second schoolhouse was built in 1857. This was a frame building. It is thought this building stood east of where the first brick school stood. Somewhere in the area of where Bob and Mary Ohmart now live. Mr. Philip Amos was trustee at the time this schoolhouse was built. It too was just a one room schoolhouse and the gradual increase in the number of pupils made it impossible to teach in so small a building. An addition was soon built on to the house, but it still remained a one room building. The Teacher had never before had any assistance, but was now permitted to hire help by paying for it himself. After this arrangement, the first teachers were Mr. and Mrs. McNammer. At last the township raised enough money to put a partition in the building. The "common school branches" were taught at that time the same as now. Mr. Henry Scott, who finished his education in this building, received a two-year license at his first examination. H.P. Wenzel, principal in 1870-71, afterwards studied medicine, went to St. Louis, and became an eminent physician. In 1872, when G.W. Amos and Daniel Funderburg were teaching the school, a very novel episode to us now occurred. It was the custom at that time for the teacher to treat the scholars on the last day of school. Mr. Funderburg, who was the primary teacher, treated his scholars with candy and apples, but Mr. Amos treated his scholars very differently. He gave the girls candy etc., but for the boys he got a large bucket of cider and put a quart of whiskey in it. They played town ball and drank cider and whiskey. W.L. Moyer, who assisted D. Funderburg, went on to be one of the directors of the American Trust and Savings Bank in Chicago.

Elias Stoneburner, who was principal during the terms of 1874-75 and 1875-76, went on to be Justice of the Peace in Jackson Township, Kosciusko County, Indiana. The old schoolhouse was very crowded when Mr. Stoneburner taught his first term, but by the time his last had expired the school had grown so much that the old shell was too small to contain all the pupils.

The people objected greatly to the building of a new schoolhouse. They insisted on building another addition to the old one, but the men in authority considered it more wise to build a new one. In the year 1877 the trustee, Mr. E. Chinworth, proceeded, very much against the will of some people, to erect the first brick schoolhouse in Laketon. This schoolhouse cost some $3,000, it stood on the corner of Main and Wayne Street (northeast corner). This schoolhouse had two rooms  below and a room used as the trustee's office and one school room above and a room used for a library. Three teachers were employed. The dilapidated old building still stood in 1898-99 behind the new one  but was used for a wood shed.

In 1878-79 Loren Jordan was principal. He later went on to become a prominent doctor in North Manchester. During his time of teaching there were a few high school subjects introduced in the school.

The school was very greatly indebted to Professor George E. Long, as he did a great deal to establish a high school course. he was very successful for in the year 1883 a class of four graduated, all of whom afterward taught school. Two of them continue to teach, one had become a minister and one married and lived in Dayton, Ohio.

The following year another class of thirteen, six of whom taught school. One then became a minister and another was a postmaster at Laketon. The class is widely scattered now; some lived in the west and some in the east and a few even stayed right at Laketon.

In 1880 there was a partition put in the upstairs, dividing it into two rooms. Four teachers were then employed. Four teachers taught the school until 1896, when an assistant principal was put in the school. At this time the school was known as the "Union Schoolhouse."

After Professor Long left the school in 1884 the high school work gradually died out. For several years the only high school work was a little work in algebra and physical geography. It is believed that G.N. Moyer graduated from this school the first year it was built in 1878.

In 1895-96, when Mr. U.R. Young was principal there were four high school pupils. It was during this term that the new county high school course was adopted in the school. In the year 1896 the school was again very fortunate. It succeeded in getting Professor Charles I. Kerr and wife, graduated of the State Normal and of the State University, to take the position of principal and assistant principal. They remodeled the course of study and made many other improvements during this year. There were nineteen pupils who attended the high school during this term.

In 1897, the attendance was so large that one teacher, Mr. White, had to use the Town Hall as a second schoolroom. Mr. Kerr worked very hard during the year to build up the library and start a museum. By furnishing the school with books, stationery, by lectures and by subscriptions from the patrons, he raised about $125 for the library.

The old school building was condemned by an authorized and disinterested architect in the spring of 1897. On account of the smallness and the danger of the house, the trustee decided to erect a new one. The old brick building was left as soon as the new schoolhouse was done.

But the old brick school did not just stand still all the years afterwards. There were many things for it to have. People had programs, Home Ec. meetings, farmers had meetings, and even people later made it their home. There was a basket factory for a time in the building. Just the fact it was too small for school did not mean it was too small for other things.

In 1920, there was a Mock Trial held in it. Laketon had been noted for years for its politicians and many a strongly contested election has been held there but never before have the politicians gone to the extremes in bribery, where it was felt that in justice to the good name of the town, the guilty politicians should be brought to justice. Fred Signs was accused and the trial was held in Judge Reahard's court at the Laketon school building or Maccabbe Hall. mark Ogden was the prosecutor for the state and in the evidence Signs was shown to have given bribes in the stsraw vote held there the first of the week. Guerney Baker was counsel for the defense, John Earl was clerk of the court and Emmit Eiler was court bailiff. A jury could pronounce sentence but Signs took advantage of leg bail and is still at large. A program of music and recitations by other members of the school followed the trial.

FIRST LAKETON HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT

Rosina and Anna Funderburg were members of the first graduating class held at Laketon for high school students. There were two other members in the class, William Scott, and Martin Grisso. The school now had the regular State High School course, it having been adopted by Wabash County the year before.

The commencement was an outstanding event for Laketon that year. The graduates had prepared their thesis and recited them at the exercises. Rosina had highest grade and was salutatorian. Anna had next highest and was valedictorian, which is just the opposite of the present custom. The Thomas orchestra from North Manchester was hired to play. Their music was enjoyed by all. Many had never before heard an orchestra. The exercises were held in the Old United Brethren Church or what is known today as the United Methodist Church, and there was a packed house.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

1883: Rose Funderburg, Martin Grisso, Anna Funderburg, W.R. Scott.
1884: Mattie Grow, Will Bicknell, Ednie Downing, Albert Ward, Rie Hetler, Albert Wertenberger, Mary Fulton, Etnie Milan, Rachel Ward, Georgia Duncan, Vena Lautzenhiser, George Ogden, Mary Grow.

NEW SCHOOL BUILDING OF LAKETON 1897-1910

This building was described by Mr. L.J. Noftzger, "that the most careless observer must certainly pronounce it a beauty, although at the time it was not finished. The architecture is modern and of a very pleasing design to the eye, being a great relief from the old-style box-like structures without any attempt at ornamentation which was thought the only style in which schoolhouses could be erected a few years ago. It will be well arranged and scientifically adapted to the purpose for which it is built. We do not believe any town of the same size in the state has a more handsome schoolhouse, than this will be when completed. Considerable annoyance and delay has been experienced as the house was to have been completed in time for the opening of the school some four weeks ago, but like all other building contracts it has dragged by the time and is still unfinished. The wisdom of the trustee Shipley in building this new house and in selecting the location, although now questioned by some persons for political reasons, is sure to be vindicated in the future. The house was one to be proud of."

This new building was to have a basement with two rooms for science laboratories. On the first floor there are a large assembly room, a recitation room and the trustee's office. On the second floor there were three schoolrooms and a room for the library and museum. Its beauty, convenience and its adaptability to the needs of the community were the wonder and admiration of all who visit it. There were thirty-two pupils enrolled in 1897-98. The lecture courses were very successful.

There were two organizations, the Longfellow Literary Society and the Eclectic Literary and Debating Club. The latter was organized in 1896-97, but the former was in 1897-98. The work of both these societies was very beneficial and entertaining. Pupils had their choice of the two societies. Nearly all pupils  belonged to the one or the other. All members do the work assigned to them. They hold regular meetings every two weeks on Friday afternoon.

This year (1898-99) the enrollment reached fifty, a very large increase over other years. The school has grown and developed in other ways in proportion. The school was largely increased and made more efficient. The museum received considerable attention. Necessary apparatus, maps, dictionary, etc., were bought. The new building gives the high school plenty of room. Mr. Elmer E. Frantz was put in as assistant in the high school. This made it possible to give time to each subject and to have the work done more thoroughly.

The land had been bought from David Warner and the building cost $16,000, when it was finally done.

An extra year's work was added to the course of study, thus making the course equal to that of the town and city schools with longer terms. A German course was added. There were then three courses: Latin, German, and Science. These improvements brought the school up to the standard required by the state board of education for a commission and an application for a commission was accordingly made by Professor Kerr. Dr. W.E. Stone, Vice President of Purdue University, visited the school early in April to see whether it was ready for a commission. His inspection was entirely satisfactory, for the state board of education at its meeting April 12, 1899, made the Pleasant Township High School a commissioned high school.

Commencement was held Friday evening, April 14. The large assembly room of the new building was beautifully decorated. The most unique part of the decoration was a giant toadstool which served as a canopy over the rostrum. It was made by the botany class as a token of esteem for Miss Summerland, who was also a member of the botany class. The commencement address was given by Dr. U.G. Weatherly, of Indiana University, on the subject of "The Uses of Heroes" in a very masterly manner. The graduating thesis of Miss Summerland was entitled "The Utility and Beauty of Trees." It was interesting to everyone and excellently delivered. The entire program was excellent throughout.