History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

FARMINGTON SCHOOLS
The first school in the township was taught by Nathan Power at
Quakertown (Farmington), in the year 1826. Its sessions were held
in a small log building that stood on the bank of a creek, at a point about
opposite where in later years was built the home of Deacon Adams,
well remembered in this vicinity. As late as 1830 this was the only
school taught in the town and during the winter of I828-29 it was still
in charge of its original teacher.
Thaddeus Andrews, late of Farmington Centre, and who was one
of Mr. Power's pupils, was wont to relate how one morning "the
master" met him with a rather troubled and thoughtful expression of
countenance. "Thaddeus", said he, "I lost one of my oxen last night;
UNION SCHOOL, F[ARaMIN(GI ()N
how does thee suppose I will manage to get another in his place?"
But as Thaddeus could not suggest any feasible plan to meet this unexpected necessity, the teacher explained to him that he had decided to
catch wolves enough so that the bounty upon their scalps would
supply the necessary means. The state bounty was then eight dollars
and the county offered an additional five dollars, and before the opening of spring the proceeds of the sale of wolves ears had reached an
amount sufficient for the purchase of another ox, while the duties
of the trapper-teacher had not been disturbed or neglected in any wise.
The female teacher who first wielded the rod of command during the
summer term was Polly Ann Mead, afterwards Mrs. Ladd. The terms
were short, and this school, like all the others, was supported by subscription, the public school system not going into effect until some
years later. The general law ordering the layin; off and numbering
of school districts in townships was passed in 1833.,.