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common schools of Benton, supplemented with three terms of select school.
He taught school from 1884 to 1894 continuously. In 1894 he became deputy county treasurer under W. R. Browning, serving four years in such capacity alternating as Deputy County Clerk to W. P. Asa for two years. He resigned to resume teaching, which profession he followed till 1906, when he was elected to the office of County Treasurer and Collector of Franklin County, serving four years. In 1910 he became Deputy County Treasurer to his successor J. A. McClintock, serving four years as such deputy. In 1914 he was re-elected County Treasurer, which office he now holds. In 1908 he was elected city clerk of the city of Benton, Ill., which office he has held continuously since.
H. Clay lng, County Superintendent of Schools, was born in Frankfort Township in Franklin County, Illinois, December 18, 1879. At an early age his parents moved to Cave Township one and one-half miles west of Thompsonville, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. He attended the common school at Parrish, two miles from his home, until he completed the common school course and obtained a teacher's second grade certificate. He taught his first school at Oak Hill in Ewing Township in the year 1898-99 and has been actively engaged in school work in Franklin County ever since.
He is the son of James M. and Melvina Ing. His paternal grandparents were Christopher and Polly lng. His maternal grandparents were Leonard and Polly Branson.
Mr. lng's common school education has been supplemented by high school and normal work obtained by persistent effort on his part, assisted by such schools as he was able to attend.
He was elected to the office of County Superintendent of Schools in 1914.
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F. D. Whittington, circuit clerk of Franklin County, was born in Northern Township in this county, Oct. 26, 1876. He is the son of William Jasper and Phoebee (Bain) Whittington; he received his scholastic training in the public schools of Franklin County; began teaching school in 1898 and taught five terms. After this he was elected town clerk of Benton Township, 1902, again in 1910, 1912, and 1914. Mr. Whittington was elected circuit clerk in 1916. His term will expire in 1920.
Robert S. Watkins, Sheriff of Franklin County, was born in Allen County, Kentucky, March 1, 1861, and moved to Franklin County in 1879. He served the people of Cave Township as constable eight years.
Mr. Watkins received the nomination on the Republican ticket in 1898, but was defeated by J. B. Moore by thirty-one votes.
He was appointed Night Deputy Warden of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary and served in that capacity for five years.
The County Board of Franklin County appointed Mr. Watkins sheriff of the county to fill out the unexpired term of S. M. Locklar, deceased.
William R. Browning, Jr., County Coroner of Franklin County, was born in Browning Township, July 31, 1872. He is a son of one of the twins-the first white children born in the county. He received his education in the common school of the county. He was elected constable of Browning Township and served in that capacity for four years. Next he was elected supervisor of the same township. Mr. Browning was elected coroner of the county in 1916 for a term of four years.
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Roy C. Martin, State's Attorney of Franklin County, was born near Royalton, December 2, 1882. He is a son of John and Mary (Vaughn) Martin. He was educated in the common schools and later attended Ewing College. He was appointed assistant bookkeeper of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary and served in this capacity four years. He entered the University of Valparaiso, Indiana, 1911. He was admitted to the practice of law in this state, 1914.
Mr. Martin served as prosecuting attorney for the city of Benton. He was elected State's Attorney of this county in 1916 for a term of four years.
Nealy I. Glenn, County Judge of Franklin County, was born near Logan, in Franklin County, October 13, 1887. He is a son of John and Lavina (Bell) Glenn. Mr. Glenn attended the common schools completing his course there, entering Ewing College, where he finished the course.
He took one term in Valparaiso University and later entered the University of Arkansas, where he completed the law course. He taught school for four years after which he was admitted to the bar in this county. Mr. Glenn was elected County Judge of this county in 1914.
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Thomas M. Sams 1850 1852 1854
James Hampton 1858 1860
John Ward 1864 1866
C. C. Payne 1868 1870
W. W. Barr 1870 1872
Peter Phillips 1876 1878
Thos. M. Mooueyham 1880 1882
W. W. Hoskinson 1882 1884 1886
Q. E. Browning 1884 1886
W. S. Crim 1887 1888
Thos. Sullivan1888 1888
W. J. N. Moyers 1890 1892
M. N. Webb 1890 1892
W. L. Eskew 1902 1904
R. D. Kirkpatrick 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912
W. W. Williams 1904 1906
J. W. Crawford 1908 1910
S. B. Espy 1908 1910
Dr. D. T. Woodard (Senator). 1912 1916
C. A. Stewart 1914 1916
E. J. Odum 1916 1918
From the above list it is seen Elijah Ewing of Frankfort was the first member of the Legislature from this county.
Thomas M. Dorris served three terms in the Legislature from 1820 to 1830.
A. D. Dollins of Benton, father of Uncle Joe Dollins, served five terms and sat in the Legislature with Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas.
It seems Franklin County has not been productive of senatorial timber, only two persons having represented the county in the senate - Willis Allen and Dr. D. T. Woodard.
Hon. R. D. Kirkpatrick of Benton has the distinction of having served a longer time in the Legislature than anyone.
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S. M. Hubbard 1838 1845
W. A. Denning
John Edgerly
Sam K. Casey - - - - assisted in the Clerk's office
W. R. Browning 1846 1853
Thos. J. Mooneyham 1853 1857
James L. Dollins 1857 1861
Calvin M. Clark 1861 1873
E. Fitzgerrell 1873 1877
Chas. A. Aiken 1877 1882
T. P. Harrison 1882 1886 1890
J. M. Joplin 1890 1894
J. C. Stanfield 1894 1897
W. P. Asa 1897 1902
W. D. Seeber 1902 1918
S. M. Hubbard 1837 1846
Wm. R. Browning 1846 1853
Thos. J. Mooneyham 1853 1857
Lemuel R. Harrison 1857 1860
W. W. Martin 1860 1861
C. M. Clark 1861 1863
Wm. B. Kelley 1863 1864
Carroll Payne 1864 1865
John A. Rodman 1865 1867
J. S. Barr 11867 1868
T. M. Mooneyham 1868 1876
Robt. H. Flannigan 1876 1880
James F. Mason 1880 1884
W. F. Spiller 1884 1888
W. B. Webb 1888 1892
G. B. Shaw 1892 1896
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H. R. Dial 1896 1898
W. F. Burkitt 1898 1904
James J. Hill 1904 1916
Delmar Whittington 1916 1920
David Maxwell 1820 1828
Thos. J. Mansfield 1828 1832
John Crawford 1832 1836
Willis Allen 1836 1838
Wm. S. Crawford 1838 1841
Benj. Smith 1841 1842
Geo. W. Aiken 1842 1848
Thos. J. Mooneyham 1848 1849
Thos. J. Mooneyham 1849 1853
Lewis G. Payne 1853 1855
Wm. Mooneyham 1855 1857
James Swofford 1857 1859
Wm. Mooneyham1859 1860
Marion D. Hoge 1860 1862
John Denning 1862 1864
Isaac Ward 1864 1866
M. D. Hoge 1866 1868
W. B. Denning 1868 1870
Carroll Moore 1870 1872
Cyrus D. Means 1872 1874
J. F. Mason 1875 1876
James M. Aiken 1876 1878
W. D. Seeber 1878 1880
Wm. R. Jones 1880 1886
John B. Moore 1886 1890
W. B. Blake 1890
R. E. Cook 1894
J. B. Moore 1898 1902
George J. Stein 1902 1906
Thos. Odum 1906 1910
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John Vaughn 1910 1914
Mint Lockler 1914 1917
Samuel Watkins 1917 1918
J. M. Vancil 1869 1871
John W. Hill 1871 1873
T. W. Sweet 1873 1877
A. C. Stalcup 1877 1882
S. W. Swain 1882 1886
J. A. Dollins 1886 1890
T. M. Webb 1890 1894
W. R. Browning 1894 1898
J. A. Dollins 1898 1902
W. R. Browning 1902 1906
Q. E. Burgess 1906 1910
J. A. McClintock 1910 1914
Q. E. Burgess 1914 1918
Samuel Marshall 1837 1839
Wm. H. Stickney 1839 184t
Willis Allen 1841 1845
W. A. Denning 1845 1847
Samuel Marshall 1847 1850
Wm. K. Parrish 1850 1853
M. C. Crawford 1853 1854
John A. Logan 1854 1857
M. C. Crawford 1857 1859
Edward V. Pierce 1859 1861
J. M. Cleminson 186i 1863
A. P. Corden 1863 1864
C. N. Damron 1864 1869
F. M. Youngblood 1869 1872
W. W. Barr 1872 1877
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W. J. N. Moyers 1877 1881
John A. Treece 1881 1886
W. S. Cantrell 1886 1888
T. M. Mooneyham 1888 1892
W. F. Spiller 1892 1896
R. H. Flannigan 1896 1900
T. J. Myers 1900 1904
W. P. Seeber 1904 1908
Geo. Hickman 1908 1912
W. F. Spiller 1912 1916
Roy C. Martin 1916 1920
Andrew J. Duff 1849 1853
John Duff 1853 1857
Moses Neal 1857 1857
W. R. Browning 1857 1859
W. J. Dillon 1859 1861
Walter S. Aiken 1861 1862
John W. Hill 1862 1865
W. E. Smith 1865 1869
D. M. Browning 1869 1879
William H. Williams 1879 1886
W. J. N. Moyers 1886 1890
R. H. Flannigan 1890 1894
W. F. Dillon 1894 1898
W. H. Hart 1898 1902
J. P. Mooneyham 1902 1906
T. J. Myers 1906 1910
Thos. J. Layman 1910 1914
Nealy I. Glenn 1914 1918
Walter B. Scates 1832 1847
Wm. A. Denning 1847 1854
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Wm. K. Parrish 1854 1859
Wm. J. Allen 1859 1861
Andrew J. Duff 1861 1875
Monroe C. Crawford 1875 1878
John Dougherty 1878 1879
Daniel M. Browning 1879 1883
David J. Baker 1883 1885
R. W. McCartney 1885 1891
O. A. Harker 1885 1891 1897
A. K. Vickers 1891 1897
J. P. Roberts 1888 1891
G. W. Young 1897 1903
E. D. Youngblood 1897 1915
E. E. Newland 1897 1909
P. A. Pierce 1903 1915
J. R. Creighton 1909 1915
W. H. Green 1915 1921
C. H. Miller 1915 1921
J. C. Eagleton 1915 1921
Julius C. Kern
A. H. Cook 1876 1878
John Mulkey 1878 1880
J. H. Fleeman 1880 1882
James J. Miller 1882 1883
John L. Ragland 1883 1888
E. D. Palmer 1888 1892
Isham Taylor 1892 1904
J. M. Adams 1904 1908
Thos. Dye 1908 1912
C. C. Biggs 1912 1916
Wm. R. Browning 1916 1920
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Lemuel R. Harrison
Herbert W. Perry
Solomon Webb
Elijah T. Webb
Calvin M. Clark
W. W. Whittington 1875 1884
I. R. Spillman 1884 1888
Philip Lager 1888 1892 1896
Chas. Stilley 1896 1900 1904
Henry Moore 1904 1908 1912
Curtis Smith 1912 1916
Marshall Neal 1916 1920
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Franklin County has furnished more than her share of soldiers in all the wars in which our government has been engaged.
Three Revolutionary soldiers lie buried in Franklin County. In the War of 1812 the county sent four soldiers to help Andrew Jackson defeat the British at New Orleans.
In 1832 our county was fourteen years old and contained a population of 4,083 yet the county sent three full companies of soldiers that offered their services in the Black Hawk War.
At that time Franklin had not been divided and Williamson was a part of the county. Below are the names of the men who volunteered for service in this Indian war.
First Company-Captain, Geo. P. Boyer, Lieutenants, Jacob Phillip and Thomas P. Moore; Sergeants, Thos. Adams, Jacob Clark and Edward Franklin; Corporals, William Fleming, William Aiken and Augustus Adams; Bugler, William Whittington; Privates, Benjamin Adams, Thomas Bevers, James Bowling, Benj. Bowling, Henry Bowyer, Jacob Bailey, James Browning, William Clampet, Evan and Jesse Cleveland, Reuben Clark, John P. Due, Vackel Dillingham, Absolom Estes, James Farris, Joseph Gifford, Thos. Hale, Moses Jordan, Elijah Jordan, James Jordan, Nathan Morgan, Aaron Neal, James Plasters, Abraham Redburn, James and Noah Summers, James Schoolcraft, John Slater, Benj. and James Whittington, Benj. Williams, William Ward and Joseph Wistern.
Second Company-Captain, William J. Stephenson; Lieutenant, Tramel Ewing; Sergeants, John P. Maddox, Anderson P. Carder, Henry Hays and J. T. Knox; Corporals, Thomas Province and Michael Rawlins; Musician, Walter B. Scates; Privates, John Rabbitt, Joseph B. Denning, Elisha Eubanks,
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Anderson P. Farris, Hes and Robert Garrett, William Gassaway, Benj. F. Hickman, John Hays, William Hubbard, Lewis Hollen, Nat Jones, Thos. Knox, Larkin Lynch, William P. Maddox, Andrew Miller, Moses Neal, Benj. W. Pope, Henry Rotramel, Andrew Robertson, Ezekial Rawlings, Wilson Rea, Harvey Swofford, H. M. Silkwood and Benj. Talbot.
The Third Company-Captain, Obediah West; Lieutenants, Robert West and Hugh Parks; Sergeants, Wilie Scott and William Henry; Corporal, Moses Odum; Privates, James Browning, Pleasant Bradley, Wash Beasley, Edward Franklin, Isaac Graves, Jabez Hooker, Augustus Henry, Giles Joiner, Henry Layman, Junior Meridith, William Murphy, Albert Province, Thomas Pulley, Sam Parks, Richard Price, Andrew Price, David H. Springs, Robert Northern, John Ward, Dickson Ward, Robert Watson, Isaac Youngblood and Zack George.
These companies after having served until the war was over were mustered out of service at Dixon Ferry, Aug. 7, 1832.
In this war, Abraham Lincoln served as captain, also Jefferson Davis served as captain in the "Regular Army."
These pioneer soldiers have all answered the "Last call," but some of them lived till a few years ago.
The next war in which Franklin County was affected, was the Mexican War. In this war Company K of the Sixth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers was raised at Benton and mustered into the service with its regiment at Alton, Illinois. Capt. John Ewing known as "Jack Ewing" was made captain and died at Tampico, Mexico. This Mr. Ewing helped to start Benton and Ewing Post Office took its name from him. Thos. J. Mooneyham became captain at the death of Capt. Ewing, and Daniel Mooneyham became first lieutenant.
This company did not do much fighting, as the fighting
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was about over when they reached the scene of action.
Thirty of the 102 in this company died in Mexico. Thirteen were discharged and the rest - fifty-one - just half of the number enlisted returned home.
One would suppose that most of the citizens of Franklin County in 1861 would sympathize with the Southern Cause since so many of the emigrants came from the South but the large numbers that enlisted in the cause to suppress the Rebellion proved that the reverse was true. The stirring appeal of the fife and drum, together with the patriotic addresses caused the boys to "fall in line" and march in defense of their country.
In May, 1861, was organized the first company of soldiers, containing eighty-nine men and was mustered into the U. S. service as Company C of the Eighteenth Illinois Infantry of which Michael K. Lawler of Gallatin County was the first colonel.
The commissioned officers were Capt. William S. Crawford, Lieutenants William J. Dillon and Andrew J. Ice. William J. Dillon was killed while bravely leading his command. In addition to the eighty-nine men of Co. C, forty-two men enlisted from the county and were assigned to other companies.
Alfred Ewing of this company was the first soldier to die from Franklin County.
Another company containing twenty-three men enlisted from the county and the balance of the company was made up from adjoining counties and was organized at Benton on the 18th day of September and were mustered into the service as Co. I of the Thirty-first of which John A. Logan, a prominent lawyer who lived in Benton from 1854 to 1859 was made
colonel. John Mooneyham of Benton was first lieutenant. Lieut. Mooneyham resigned and Carroll Moore finally became captain. Sixteen recruits joined this company from the county making thirty-nine in all who served in this company.
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A company of cavalry was organized in Benton in August, 1861, and temporarily attached to the Thirty-first Infantry but later mustered into the service as Company C of the Fifteenth Cavalry. The company contained ninety-one Franklin County boys. Capt. John J. Dillon; Lieutenants, M. Fitts and Oliver C. Martin. Capt. Dollins became colonel of the Eighty-first and was killed at Ft. Pemberton, near Vicksburg, Miss., May 22, 1863. Lieutenant Fitts became captain of Company C. Thirty-three more men from the county joined this company, making 124 men in all. There were also four Franklin men who entered the service in Company E of this
same regiment.
Another regiment of cavalry was organized in Benton in September, 1862, with seventy-two Franklin County men and was mustered into the service as Co. F of the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry. This company afterwards received two recruits from the county, making in all seventy-four men. Capt. Joseph Adams; Lieutenants, Geo. T. Hubbard and George W. Stewart, all of Benton.
Company A of the Fortieth Illinois Infantry was raised in Frankin and Hamilton Counties in July, 1862. It contained only ten men from Franklin County. Co. F of this same regiment was raised in the eastern part of the county. The old drill grounds was first at Knob Prairie Church then later moved to Aiken McLean's pasture where they drilled to August 3, and then made their departure for the service. At the organization it contained fifty-two men and later received thirty-two men more, making eighty-four for this county. Tilman Shirley was made captain, Lieutenants, Wm. T. Ingram and Joseph Ing, C. C. Ing, Sr., became captain later. The Forty-ninth Illinois Infantry was organized in Jefferson County mainly in October 1861, contained ten Franklin County boys.
Co. I, of the Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry was organized in December, 1861, with forty-four men from the county. William B. Dillon was made captain, and James M. Aiken lieutenant.
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Co. E, of the same regiment had eight men from the county.
Co. F, Sixty-third Illinois Infantry raised in Franklin County was mustered into service the 10th of April, 1862. Wm. Davis of Mulkeytown became captain.
Co. B, Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry, was organized at Frankfort in August, 1862, and contained eighty-six men from this county. Captain, Travis O. Spencer; Lieutenants, Henry W. Smith and Horace W. Adams, all from Franklin County.
Companies A, F, and I, of the One Hundred and Tenth Illinois Infantry, was raised and organized at Benton in August, 1862. Co. A contained 89 men; F, 81; I, 85, and K, 25 men, all from Franklin County, thus making 280 men. Daniel Mooneyham of Benton was major. Captain Co. A, Marion D. Page; Lieutenants, Green M. Cantrell and William B. Denning. Co. F, Capt., Grayson DeWitt; Lieutenants, Caroll Payne and Jesse G. Payne. Co. I, Capt., William L. Britton; Lieutenants, William S. Bales and William W. M. Amie. Co. K, Capt., Mark Harper; Lieutenants, J. I. Wycough and John T. Barnett. The colonel of One Hundred Tenth Illinois Infantry was Thos. K. Casey.
Co. A, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry, contained fifty-four Franklin County men. Capt., William J. Mayers; Lieutenants, Alex Royall, M. V. B. Dial.
Co. K, of the Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry, had 42 men from the county. Henry W. Smith of Benton was captain and John Scarborough of Ewing was lieutenant.
Co. A, One Hundred Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry, contained 38 men from the county. Geo. T. Hubbard was first lieutenant of this company.
Co. K, Thirtieth Illinois Infantry, had 16 men from the county. Co. H, One Hundred Fifty-third Illinois Infantry, was mustered into service in February, 1865, and mustered out in September of the same year. This company had 11 men.
Co. K, Seventy-first Illinois Infantry, organized 1862, contained 24 men from the county.
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The total of all men in the service as taken from Adjutant General of Illinois report shows that Franklin County furnished 1110 men out of a population of about 9,000 people.
Although Franklin County as a whole manifested a great loyalty to the Union, as shown by the above, yet a portion of her citizens at the outbreak of the war were in deep sympathy with the Southern Cause and a few of them actually entered the Confederate Army. When the Spanish American War came on the sons of these noble sires who fought in the Civil War answered to President McKinley, "We are ready." Col. James R. Campbell of McLeansboro raised a regiment in Southern Illinois. Co. F was from Franklin County. James M. Joplin of Benton was the first captain. He resigned after being out some time and Robt. E. Hickman became captain. Lieutenants, Simeon Moore and Ransom Dial.
Almost twenty years have elapsed from the time of the Spanish-American War and we again are engaged in the greatest conflict the world has ever known. Franklin County has always done her part in all the wars, and she is not failing to do her part in this conflict. Capt. O. C. Smith, a veteran of the Spanish-American War, organized a company of State Militia about 1914, known as Co. F, Fourth Illinois National Guards. This Co. F was called out to the border of Mexico and served about 9 months. When the U. S. declared war on Germany, Co. F was ready and with her military experience a large number of old Co. F became efficient officers in other military units. Co. F took from the county about 130 men. About that many have joined the navy, regular army or special army service. At this date, July 25, more than 1,000 men from the county are in the National Army. The total from the county to date is about 1500 men. Three of the boys from Franklin County have already fallen in battle.
As the American soldiers are drilled, trained and fully prepared for battle they have been sent to the front.
The World War began in August, 1914, but the U. S.
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did not enter till April, 1917. Up to this time the armies of the Central Powers and the Allies seemed to have been well matched. Since the trained Yankee soldiers began to fight, they have not lost a battle but have been successful on every battlefield so far. The citizens of Franklin County are led to believe when her sons get into the fray, they will give a good report of themselves. It is hard indeed for the good mothers to send their sons to fight "Over Seas." All of the bravery in this war is not centered on the battle field. In the American homes that give up boys for the great struggle, of "Safe for Democracy" are brave and stout hearts who can endure this trying ordeal.
Let us
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The early settlers of Franklin County did not have the advantage of schools. About 1824, a school was opened up in the Dillon Settlement in the vicinity of Parrish. The first school teacher was Sion Mitchell, the father of Rev. J. G. Mitchell who lived in Benton for a great many years.
The first school house in Franklin County did not have any floor, nor chimney, the fire was in the middle of the house, and smoke passed up through the roof. The seats were made of split logs, with holes bored in each end, and legs inserted. The text-books used in the early schools were Webster's Blue Back Speller, and McGuffy's readers. Only advanced students were given arithmetic.
The teachers of the early days, were so limited in education that they would contract with the parents of the children "to teach spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic to the rule of three." There were no blackboard, teacher's desk, maps or charts. The Dillon Settlement just north of Parrish was a community that maintained a school, In the vicinity of Fitt's Hill was another, in the vicinity of old Mulkeytown another, and on Webb's Prairie another, making in all four settlements or communities that occasionally kept up a "subscription" school.
As the county grew in population, more schools were opened up. This system of schools continued till about 1849.
The first laws passed for the benefit of the schools were enacted in 1849, which were called "Free schools."
This law made the Secretary of State, ex-officio state superintendent of schools, provided for a county school commissioner, created school districts, provided for directors of same, created the school township and provided for a school