Written by: Wayne Chambers

“These history talk about Dever School District were given at the 100th year celebration on November 5, 1954 at Dever School. The 8 Edward A. Chambers children including your great-great grandfather Elmer and my father Elbert attended Dever School. My sister Marilyn, brother David and I went 8 years to grade school at Dever.

“The Dever community has changed over the years, resulting in too few students for a grade school. The school building was sold in 1983. I hope this history is of interest to you.”

‘The Beginning of School District No. 20, Linn County

My talk given tonight concerns the years 1854 to 1880, the beginning of School District 20, Linn County. Our toastmistress, Mrs. Harnisch, has already mentioned that Syracuse Precinct had earlier schools, one of which was attended by Allie, McClain, and aunt of Mrs. Elizabeth Truax in 1848. It was located on Fenn Butte, afterwards called Zimmerman’s Hill, where Mr. and Mrs. Parker now live. Mrs. Truax has established this as correct, as there is a spring above the house from which Johnny Fenn, the teacher, carried a bucket of water for his school in the Fenn house. There was also a brickyard close by — a pile of brick is still there. In 1865 the minutes mention this brickyard location. This was the first school in Linn County.

There was a District 22 organized by law in November 1854, from which date we celebrate this Centennial. That schoolhouse was situated on the Charlie Cox farm, once part of the donation land claim of an old pioneer, John Weis, who lived where Mr. and Mrs. Drager now live. This school house was a log house with homemade seats and desks. Quills were used as pens and their ink was homemade. The equipment was a stove with pipe, a bucket, wash pan, dipper and dictionary.

The first directors elected were James F. Jones, John T. Crooks and John B. Miller; the clerk was Benjamin F. Redman who was the first teacher. He was also a justice of the peace. Redman lived in a house east of Ardle Edwards’ old house and was clerk and teacher until 1861.

Much honor is due these early pioneers for their perseverance and ability. We are justly proud of them. The first funds received were $52 in April, 1855. Mr. Redman taught in 1855 three months for $33.33 and received part pay of 58. At that time 3 months a year was the time taught. 

When this district was organized, the pioneers built their own school house by subscription, 17.5 square feet, located very nearly in the center of that district. The pioneers built this log school house in one month’s time. 

In 1858 the voters made a union of District 20 with District 22 and thereafter the entire district was called District 20. By this, we see there was a District number 20 already existing. The Weis school house was then sold to Mr. Weis for the sum of $100, with the teacher taking $65 of his money in trade. Perhaps Mr. Weis ad a store at his place. The remainder of the $100 was paid by James F. Jones. District 22 is now near Scio.

From 1858 to 1869 there was a school house on the Allphin claim near the Allphin cemetery which was on the hill behind Mr. Mervin Case’s house. This was a small school house, too small for the number of pupils attending. At different times it was voted upon to divide the district but the motions were lost as were also motions to raise school money by taxation. This old Allphin school house was sold later to Wm. Allphin for $16 when the new Allphin school house was built.

In 1859 the voters began to talk of a new school house and selected a place as near the center of the district as the nature of the ground would permit but it was not until 1868 that the district accepted a site which Wm. Allphin came forward and proposed to give: a site of 2 acres near Fenn’s Butte on the south side of Allphin’s land claim, near the old brickyard. Dayton Simison was appointed to circulate a subscription list to procure money to build the school house, which he did, and raised $558.  In 1869 the new school house was built. It was 36 feet long, 24 feet wide and 12 feet to the eaves. This was the second school house to be called the Allphin School House. In 1879 it was voted to move this Allphin School House  and the move was made in 1885 to the S.T. Jones Place where Mr. and Mrs. Craft live, which is now the E.A. Chambers’ farm. It was then known as the Syracuse School House, and referred to as the Jones School House. This building burned in the summer of 1911. 

To go back to the pioneers of these years to whom we owe so much, we will mention some of the directors of District 20. They were Samuel T. Jones, John McCoy, Absolam Addington, J.J. Davis, John Meeker, Hiram Farlow, James Butcher, Thomas Allphin, John Weis, Elias Johnson, Christopher Farlow, Henry Johnson, John Wilson (for whom Wilson Lake is named), Wm. Hale and David Lewis. Many of these names we recognized by having heard them mentioned by our parents; also some descendants are living in the districts of Dever and Conner. I will mention these descendants now: Mrs. Myrtle Jones Graham and Charles Jones, descendants of S. T. Jones; Mrs. Zelma Davis Harnisch and Mrs. Davis Harnisch, descendants of J.J. Davix; Stacey Meeker Neeley, descendant of John Meeker; Elizabeth Cardwell Truax and Gerald Truax, descendants of E.C. McClain; Rebecca Crooks Hoefer, descendant of John T. Crooks; Dale Wills Harnisch, descendant of Dayton Simison. 

The clerks who served between 1854 to 1880 are also recognized as outstanding men. Their minutes in the record book clearly show their ability. These clerks we honor this night of November 5, 1954 are: Benjamin F. Redman, who served 7 years; E.C. McClain, 1 year; J.J. Davis, 2 years; Horace Farwell, 4 years; Dayton Simison, 7 years. Samuel Crooks, 4 years (elected in 1876). 

Now to honor our teachers. I will mention just a few of the most important: Benjamin F. Redman, the first teacher who taught 4 years; Lydia Miller, 1/2 year; W.L. Coon of Peoria, 3 months; L. Flynn, later an Albany banker, 3 months; J.D. Pruitt of French Prairie near Salem, 3 months; John S. Fenn, 3 months in 1869, 1872, 1873 and 2 terms in 1874; Peter A. Moses, 3 months in 1879; and T. Handord, 3 months in 1880. 

I know this District 200 was a typical frontier district, having their trials, such as lack of money, no roads, great distances to travel, which was done by horseback, and no conveniences. But they had their joys too. They had singing lessons, political rallies and church services. 

We do not know many exciting events of this period but we are told of two murders, two suicides and a big flood — the water being higher that at any time since, measuring 36 feet in Albany in 1861. I thank you for your kind attention. (Rebecca Crooks Hoefer)