Log Creek School Site, 2003
Log Creek
Rockford Township, Caldwell County, Missouri
The first schools in the county were established by Mormon settlers. They valued education as part of their religion and had several schoolhouses throughout the county. In 1837, a log cabin was built on Log Creek to be used as a school and meeting house. William Charles Wightman wrote, ". . . We lived on what was called log creek 7 miles from Farwest. Father [William Wightman] taught school there." [William Charles Wightman, MS 15026, LDS Archives].
Log Creek School started up again in the 1850's. Classes were held in the former Mormon schoolhouse. By that time, "pupils attended subscription schools. A subscription school (or select school as letter called) was one in which the parents paid the teachers for teaching their children. The tuition charges were very low, often ten cents a month for each child in attendance. These schools were usually kept at the home of the teacher who taught without a certificate." [Booth, 39]. Residents began dividing the couny into school districts in the 1850s. Log Creek School continued to be used for many years. Eventually the old structure burned and a new school building was erected nearby. It was known part of the time as Webster Hall.
The schoolhouse was in Rockford Township, Section 11, Township 55, Range 29. It was located 1.8 miles south of Mirabile on D highway, on the east side of the road at the curve. 1 1/4 acres of ground were reserved for a church and school, according to deeds dated 1866. A local burying ground was nearby. Two tombstones have remained there through out the years. However, these two children also have markers at the Mirabile Cemetery. It is thought that in later years, when the parents died, markers were placed near their parents while the bodies remained buried at Log Creek Burial Ground.
Log Creek School was an important meeting place for early Mormon settlers living south of Far West. In addition to providing a building for teaching their young daytime schooling lessons, the Log Creek School was also used by the Mormons for church services. Charles C. Rich mentions attending Sunday meetings on “log creek,” May 14, 21, 28 and again on June 11, 1837, relating that he and Hervey Green preached. Rich's journal entry is verified by Solomon Wixom, one of the attendee's of that meeting, who stated, “I attended meeting at the school house. Brother Charles C. Rich and H. Green preached. This was the 11th of June 1837.” Wixom's journal entry clarifies Rich's use of the term “Log Creek” to mean the school house.
Rich did not mention meetings in the Log Creek School during his first brief trip to Caldwell County in 1836, so the structure may have been built in the Spring of 1837.
Charles C. Rich
On special occasions, members of the Rich Branch on Log Creek gathered to Far West for church-wide events. On other occasions, members gathered at the Log Creek School House as a place for branch meetings and community activities.
Under the heading of May 18, 1838, but clearly recorded some time later, the following may be found, "After leaving Davies county the counselors of the seventies met once or twice in the city of Far West and adjusted some difficulties arising among themselves and appointed a meeting for the quorum of seventies at the school house near the house of John Sayers in Rockford Township Caldwell Co. Mo. 3 miles south of the city of Far West on the 27th Dec. 1838." Under Dec. 28, 1838 is, "Adjourned to meet at 12 oclock PM at the school house near brother Leonard's on Sat. next." [Minutes of the Quorum of Seventy].
Depiction of Original Log School House
"Many schoolteachers were found among the Mormons, and schoolhouses were among the first buildings the Saints erected. The Missourians, learning of schoolteachers in the Mormon communities, hired a number of them to teach their children. One of Milo's sisters-in-law was among those hired." [Ivan J. Barrett, Trumpeter of God: Fascinating True Stories of the Great Missionary and Colonizer, Milo Andrus (Covenant Communications, 1992)].
William Wightman recalled that as a youth his family, "
. . . lived on what was called log creek 7 miles from Farwest Father taught school there and I can remember when we were all drove into Farwest by the mob in the . . . We were some of the last to get away. " [William Charles Wightman, Autobiography, MS 15026, LDS Family and Church Historical Department, Salt Lake City, Utah].
Rich Branch
Reminiscences on Log Creek
List of Members in Rich Branch/Log Creek Area