this meeting and to take steps to further this purpose.

Signed-Henry C.

Kumpf, Dr. Joseph Feld, J. F. Spaulding, John H. Ramsey, William Warner, L. E. Prindle, G. W. Lovejoy, Henry N. Ess, Henry T. Wright, Dr. S. S. Todd, Frank Hudson, A. A. Tomlinson, James Smith, D. Ellison, Dr. D. R. Porter, C. O. Tichenor, M. B. Wright, S. P. Twiss, J. V. C. Karnes, D. S. Twitchell, Louis Dragon, W. H. Winants."

Pursuant to the above notice a large number of Pioneers and Old Settlers assembled at Turner Hall, 12th and Oak streets, Dec. 17, 1895.

The meeting was called to order by Hon. Henry C. Kumpf and on motion duly seconded Col. Daniel S. Twitchell was made chairman and E. R. Hunter, secretary. The chairman delivered an address and remarks were also made by Col. Charles E. Kearney and M. J. Payne.

On motion duly seconded it was resolved that a committee of 10 be appointed by the chair whose duty it should be to formulate a plan of organization by which the Old Settlers and Pioneers in Kansas City and vicinity should be organized into a society. The above committee was also authorized to draw up a constitution and by-laws by which the organization should be governed, and to present the same at a future meeting of the Old Settlers and Pioneers to be called at Turner Hall by the chairman, Daniel S. Twitchell. The chair appointed on said committee-Henry C. Kumpf, Charles E. Kearney, J. V. C. Karnes, J. A. Bachman, M. J. Payne, Joseph S. Chick, Dr. S. S. Todd, Robert Salisbury, J. F. Spaulding and Peter Reinhart. On motion duly seconded the chairman and secretary were added to the committee.

The committee held a number of meetings in the Temple Block, in the office of Daniel S. Twitchell. The work assigned to the committee was subdivided among its members; the chairman and secretary corresponded with the secretary of the Kansas Historical Society and the Society of Pioneers of 1849, in San Francisco.

A constitution and by-laws were drawn up, and the chairman, by notice, published in the Kansas City daily papers, called on all Old Settlers and Pioneers to meet at Turner Hall to hear the report of the committee.

After the adoption of the constitution and by-laws, a committee of three was appointed by the chair to propose the names of ninety-nine persons as directors, thirty-three to serve for three years, thirty-three for two years, and thirty-three to serve for a term of one year.

The directors elected met in February, 1893, officially organized the society to be known as the "Early Settlers of Kansas City and Vicinity," and elected the following officers and committee: Daniel S. Twitchell, president; Henry C. Kumpf, 1st vice-president; Col. Charles E. Kearney, 2d vice-presi

dent; Hon. M. J. Payne, 3d vice-president; E. R. Hunter, secretary; Frank Muehlschuster, corresponding secretary; and J. A. Bachman, treasurer. The executive committee: H. W. Cooper, Joseph Lorie, R. C. Crowell, Samuel Bales, Daniel O'Flaherty, Peter Reinhart and M. D. Trefren.

The "Old Settlers' Association" after carrying out its purpose of becoming a united body, did little active work the first year of its existence. That the members of the association had done some thinking, however, was evidenced by the fact that on the first anniversary of this organization, January 5, 1897, an amendment to the constitution was proposed that "This association shall, hereafter, be known as The Early Settlers and Historical Society of Kansas City, Missouri." This amendment was accepted.

Finally on February 9, 1906, the society became known as "The Kansas City Historical Society of Kansas City, Missouri." The first three years of the existence of the society saw many changes in meeting places; however, in 1898 the society secured a permanent place of meeting in the Free Public Library building of Kansas City, Missouri.

The present officers, 1908, are: Dr. W. L. Campbell, president; Frank Titus, vice-president; Mrs. Carrie Westlake Whitney, corresponding secretary; William H. H. Tainter, secretary; and J. A. Bachman, treasurer.

On August 5, 1898, at a regular meeting of the society, Mr. William H. H. Tainter was elected secretary. Since its organization the collections of the society have not been published. There are, however, in the valuable records kept by Mr. Tainter, and the number of general, historical and biographical papers read before the society at various times, a sufficient number of documents to make a volume of historical collections which is now in course of preparation.

CHAPTER XV.

EDUCATION.

Missouri was practically without an efficient public school system until 1866. Private schools and colleges that had flourished in other years for the most part had been abandoned or turned into hospitals during the Civil Even the State university scarcely had sufficient life to open its hall doors for the admission of students. In the strife, which had been waged for four years in all parts of the state, the minds of the people had been diverted from all peaceful and ennobling pursuits; their affections alien

war.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX

TILDEN FOUN. ATIONS

ated, so that neighbor, not infrequently, regarded neighbor with feelings of suspicion or distrust, and at times with intense hatred. Society was torn asunder, and amid this general convulsion the education of the youth had been entirely neglected. The children were growing up illiterates, and unless something could be done, and that speedily, a cloud of ignorance soon would overshadow the whole state. Immediately following this crisis, laws were enacted specifying how to organize country, village, town and city schools; also the mode of levying taxes for buildings and other school purposes. The duties and qualifications of school officers and teachers were clearly set forth in a statutory enactment.

The idea of a public school system was new in Missouri, and the measure met with violent opposition in many parts of the state. Missouri always had had a system of schools, partly public and partly private, but now the conflict raged in town and country. In some localities the residents positively refused to organize for school purposes, and displayed their hostility to the measure in various ways.

The press, the public educator, in some counties fell in with the opposition or maintained a "lofty silence." Kansas City did not fare much better than some other localities. Public opinion was divided here as elsewhere in the state. Business interests and industries of the West, East and South soon drew people here from all parts of the Union. The rankling passions that other and bitter years had produced, soon were extinguished or silenced. Reason, parental love and philanthropy prevailed. That schools must be established and the children educated was the decision of the majority here as elsewhere in Missouri.

The Kansas City school district was organized under a law entitled, "An act authorizing any city, town or village to organize for school purposes, with special privileges," approved March 15, 1866; also a measure entitled "An act authorizing any city, town or village to organize for school purposes with special privileges," approved March 19, 1866.

Under the authority of this act the Board of Education of Kansas City was organized August 1, 1867, composed of the following: W. E. Sheffield, president; H. C. Kumpf, secretary; J. A. Bachman, treasurer; E. H. Allen, T. B. Lester and E. H. Spalding. J. B. Bradley was elected superintendent and teacher in the Central school.

Immediately after the organization of the board, Mr. Kumpf retired, and A. A. Bainbridge was chosen to fill the vacancy. There were at that time 2,150 children of school age living within the limits of the school district. There was not a public school building in the city. The city was destitute of school accommodations, and there was not a dollar available