WHITE SCHOOL

On June 24, 1849, Edward T. Durant and wife Sally deeded ground for school purposes to the Will county commissioners known as District #2 (former district 40-white). All original records pertaining to the early history of this district were burned in the fired of Mr. Palmer Patterson.

In 1948, White School voted to join Districts 38, 39, 41, and 42, and form District 40-C. During the next two years the directors planned and construction the original Wheatland School. This school opened for the fall term of 1950.

The early settlers of Wheatland Township were anxious to establish a good school system. Robert Clow (whom I would like to call Robert Clow the first) left Scotland in 1837 and settled in New York State. Then in 1844 he sold his holdings and came to Chicago in search of better and cheaper land. He purchased seven hundred and twenty acres in Wheatland for one dollar and twenty-five cents and acre. As soon as homesteads were established these early settlers turned their attention to schools, churches and roads. Robert Clow the second was a scholar, orator, and an excellent penman. He was public spirited, served in the State Legislature and held classes I his home. He promoted education in every way he could. Robert Clow the third followed in his father’s footsteps, served as school director and always hired the best schoolteachers available. He guided his children skillfully in their educational experiences. So-it was only natural that Robert Clow the fourth carried on this tradition. He became a school director and was influential in the development of consolidated District 40-C. Now we have the Clow School named in his honor. Robert Clow the fourth died in 1980 but the family tradition goes on. His nephew Dr. John Edward Clow, son of Harry and Jane Clow was co-editor of a mathematical textbook for use in high schools and colleges.

Over the years, White School has many excellent teachers. The most outstanding of whom was Marvelous Madison. He was born and reared in Vermont. When the War Between the States broke out, he was too young to serve, but when he became sixteen, he enlisted and served the last tow years of the war. After his discharge he came to Northwestern College in Naperville. Upon graduation he was hired to teach at White School. He was so successful he was written up in the Chicago Tribune as an outstanding educator was. He gave Robert Clow the second much credit for his success. He taught in the West Chicago system and attained the position of Superintendent. At the age of seventy he retired. White School directors persuaded him to return to teach at White School at the then not heard of salary of seventy-five dollars a month. My father studied under him and now it was my privilege to have him during my fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. His methods were unorthodox but he followed the course of study prescribed by the county Superintendent of Schools. He asked all parents if they objected to having Bible reading and prayer in school. There were no objections so-the day started with reading a chapter from the bible and reciting the Lords Prayer. He taught first the three R’s and emphasized the importance of good writing. Also we were graded on morals and manners. He tried to create a thirst for knowledge and then satisfy that appetite from his vast storehouse and any other source available. He had periods of reading aloud to the whole school like Mark Twain, Guffy’s readers, Longfellow and Grants Memories. He tried to create a thirst for knowledge and then satisfy that appetite for his vast storehouse and any other source available. He has periods of reading aloud to the whole school like Mark Twain, Guffys readers, Longfellow and Grants Memories. He also told stories from his experience as a soldier. On account of so many pupils and so many classes the regular class time was only about fifteen minutes. However he never dismissed a class until the subject matter was covered, even if it took half an hour. If the school became uneasy he would have us rise, step into the aisle and March. He would march up one aisle and down the next, out the door, around the schoolhouse and back to our seats. As I look back I realized how exercise and change relieved the tension. He composed questions that were challenging and interesting. He taught algebra along with arithmetic and also some geometry. During vacation he did carpentry work and taught the upper grades how to figure lumber bills and use the square to saw out a rafter. When a flower was brought in he dissected it and taught the botanical names of the various parts.

At this time High School was not available to many of us in winter, quite a few older boys and girls came to White School to broaden their education under “Old Madison” as he was often referred to. His eighth grade class, after studying with him for three years took the examination for second grade teacher certificate and as I remember, all passed the examination. My brother sterling was offered a teaching position but could not be spared form the farm. When Professor Madison came to teach at White School the second time he has already had over forty years of experience in the educational field. We boys played shinny, on the ice in winter and on the bare ground in summer. We snared or snagged fish off of the DuPage River Bridge. We drowned out gophers in Millers pasture across the roads. We played duck on rock-which often ended when some kid got hit in the head with a rock. And of course baseball. We chose up sides and played every minute we could. Also palm pullaway and draggle. We learned to skate and swim in and on beautiful DuPage River. In those days the water was clear and unpolluted and we didn’t hesitate to drink it. The girls played trisect a tasket, needles eye, and joined in the running games.

Several of our alumni went to the University and became engineers. Newell Boughton went to work for the Kansas and Texas Railroad and became Material inspector and served on the board of directors. Harry Boardman taught at White School, studied engineering and worked for the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. He served the army of World War One and was discharged with the rank of major. He told his Uncle Jim Clow, “We design our structures with sufficient strength to withstand any strains and stresses to which they might be subjected.” He became outstanding in his field, (The Research Building in Plainfield is dedicate to Harry Clow Boardman. He was Research Directory form 1945-1956, He won the affection of his colleges by integrity, courage, and modest. Professional Honors for this contribution to the advancement of Engineering and wielding. Herbert Thompson also studied engineering at the University of Illinois. He served in the Air Force in World War One and was discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant. He went into business in Naperville and after being elected to the office of Mayor he designed a modern sewage system for the city and saw it built.

The one room county schoolhouse has been replaced by something bigger but there will never be a better place to start an education. The smarter pupils listen to the class above and the slower ones review by listening to the class below. The teaching was very demanding and only the best could handle it.