File:Illinois history stories, for use in elementary schools (1910) (14593635688).jpg

Identifier: illinoishistorys01camp (find matches)
Title: Illinois history stories, for use in elementary schools
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Campbell, William H., 1851- (from old catalog)
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Publisher: New York, Chicago, D. Appleton and company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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ntylines were frequently changed. We may pause here to take note of an interestingincident in the early history of Cahokia that has butrecently come to light. It is claimed that here in thislittle French village close by the Mississippi, began thepublic schools of Illinois. The old court house, used bythe judges under St. Clair, stood for years, undisturbed.Recently it was bought by an association of citizens ofChicago and removed to Wooded Island in JacksonPark, where it stands, a relic of the past, to remind usof the primitive simplicity of those times. An old docu-ment was found bearing date May 6, 1794, addressed tothe judges of the court. It is written in French, whichwhen translated reads as follows: The inhabitants of the parish of the Holy Family of Cahokiahave the honor to express to you at their assembly that theyhave the desire to establish a school in the said parish (ortown) for the instruction of their children. As they are obliged to do many necessary public works in 99
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100 REVOLUTION TO STATEHOOD the parish, they cannot at once undertake the construction of abuilding necessary to hold the said school, so these representativesask you gentlemen that you allow them to hold the said school inyour audience room of the courthouse until they construct abuilding which will oblige all the inhabitants whose childrenhave their instruction in the school and in which case, shouldthere arise any defacement of the said audience room, they willleave it in the best condition which you judge necessary andproper. That is why they supplicate you to accord them this request .as being necessary for the public good. In this cause they submitthemselves to your good will and have the honor to be, veryrespectfully, Your very humble and very obedient servants, Louis Sebrun,Louis Grand. Cahokia, 6 May, 1794. This, according to the historians, was the first requestfor a public school in Illinois after the revolutionarywar when, under one of our first laws, one section ineach to

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