Township Organization

A History of the School and Township Organization

At a meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Foster County held at Carrington on June 10, 1887, a school-township election was ordered held July 10, 1887 for the organization of township 146-67. The polling place to be at the house of J. Morley Wyard, in said township. J. Morley Wyard was appointed to make signs and post notices thereof.

Pursuant to the above order, an election was held at the residence of J. Morely Wyard, section 24-146-67. The said district was to include the whole congressional township 146-67.

J. Morley Wyard was elected clerk and P.D. McKenzie was elected judge of the election. The following ten electors voted on this occasion: J. Morley Wyard, W.P. Wyard, F.N. Chaffee, J.H. McDermott, G.W. Wilder, P.D. McKenzie, J.G. Duff, Preston Garland, D.W. Wyard, Charles E. Walton.

The director for the sub-district elected was J.H. McDermott. For directors at large the following were elected: Charles E. Walton, Frank N. Chaffee and George W. Wilder. P.D. McKenzie was elected treasurer. They voted to name the township Wyard.

The board of Wyard school-township met in the homes of the members. The first meeting was held at the residence of Charles E. Walton on July 25, 1887, with all board members present.

At this meeting the sub-district director, J.H. McDermott, was instructed to purchase the necessary books for the district. The clerk was to take a school census, to be reported to the County Superintendent by July 10. The property was to be evaluated and a levy made for school purposes. A two mill levy was levied; which amounted to $71.53. The treasurer was bonded. In the early years the mill levy was from one to five mills.

The district had no schools so some children went to school in Birtsell district and some to Carrington. The township agreed to pay Carrington fifty cents a week for the scholars. In June 1888 tuition to Carrington was $20.45. The cost for books was $11.00.

In May 1890 the board decided to have 3 months of school if a suitable room could be found. In 1895 school was held for three months in the Wilder building on the Northwest 1/4 of Section 8. School was held for several summers. The teachers were paid $30 a month. Later the salary was $35. By June 1892 a schoolhouse had been built and all the equipment was reported in good condition.

In 1895 Anna Tenborg taught summer school.

Others who taught in the early years were Mrs. Ella Ellsworth, Mrs. Rogers, Miss Libbie Walton, Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Harry Page, Miss Gertrude Nicholson and others.

In 1889 T.M. Page became clerk and served for many years.

In 1902 there were nineteen books in the school library.

The first regular term of nine months was in 1909

1910 in school number 2 and was taught by Mrs. J.T. Sines.

Wyard School district ceased to exist on October 14, 1969 and became a part of the Carrington School District.

Prepared by Pearl Linderman

Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 387