Manual High School - Mirror Yearbook (Peoria, IL)

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INSPIRING us with his mes- sage of wholesome living, bring- ing us words of encouragement when the need is greatest, con- soling us in times of despair or defeat, and ever finding time to rejoice with us in the celebration of our victories, he retains a uni- que place in our heartsg such a man is our Superintendent, Mr. E. C. Fisher. All Manual takes pride in honoring him.

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Eleven 1 Main Street, From jefferson-1851. Y to approximately its present size. The village of Peoria was incorporated in 1835, and a city charter was granted by an Act of the General Assembly in 1845. In 1812, the French villagers were accused of being allied with the In- dians against the Americans, and a detachment of United States' soldiers under Captain Craig was dispatched to destroy the colony. The inhabitants were driven from their homes, and the village destroyed by fire. Fort Clark, in honor of George Rog- ers Clark, was built in the autumn of 1813 as a protection for the American soldiers against the Indian allies of the British, at a spot now marked as Liberty and Water Streets. It housed a garrison of some seven hundred mounted militiamen of Illinois and Missouri, as soon as the troops were withdrawn, the Indians promptly burned it. The ruins of its charred walls were visible as late as 1840. GROWTH No further attempt was made by white men to return to this location until 1819, when three settlers ar- rived by boat to be followed a few days later by four other men on horse- back. Of these, Josiah Fulton, then but nineteen years of age, and who reached a ripe old age of ninety-four, described Peoria as a big Indian vil- lage with many children, dogs, and half-drunken braves running about. This was the actual beginning of the present city. Growth was very slow in this period of Illinois history. By 1825, the entire population of extensive Peoria county was only 1,236 persons, and Peoria herself, in 1833, had only twenty-five families. At this early date, an order was issued that forbade erection of build- ings on the land held as public prop- erty in front of Water Street until such time as incorporation was accom- plished. By 1840, the population had grown to 1,277 inhabitants. Increase from this time was rapid. In 1850, the population was 5,0953 in 1900, 55,100g and in 1930, 104,969, and most recent estimates point to a pres- ent population of better than 114,000 people. EDUCATION In 1821, Peoria's iirst schoolhouse of logs was built near the site of the present day Franklin Street bridge in the upper part of what is now Water Street. The first schoolmaster to call a class to order was Peter Grant. In 1844, a Ladies' Seminary, Peo- ria's first school of higher education, was built. In 1849, at 322 North Washington Street, the first public school was built, but not until 1855 was the first city board of inspectors elected. Meager were the funds they fContinued on page 2032

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OF KEEN discernment, broad understanding, and sympathetic interest our principal, W. G. Rus- sell, knows well the problems of youth. To him we open our hearts and find a ready listener. We admire his virtues, we honor and respect his wishes, we seek his advice. We recognize him as a lover of knowledge, honesty, and truth and shall ever cherish our associations with him as administrator, counselor a n d friend. Thirteen Xvyc X f L