Churches and Schools

Churches and Schools. . , The first church in Upland actually preceded the founding of the town. On the original plat map of Upland, dated 1867, the Friends Church is shown just south of the railroad on Main Street. The Jefferson Church, a short distance from Upland, was organized even earlier in 1840, by a circuit riding minister, Halbert Barber. People traveled up to twelve miles to attend services. The Jefferson Church has grown and maintains an active membership and school today in its original location., Other early churches in Upland included the Methodist Church, organized in 1875. For a time, they worshiped with the Friends at the church, then built their own building in 1884. The present Methodist Church was built on the same site in 1904 for $12.000., One room school houses were built on an average of two miles apart. The neighborhood children attended the closest school, which meant the number in each school varied Sometimes there were 20 to 30 children crammed into one room and all eight grades were taught it there was only one child in a grade, he was usually advanced or held back a year whichever was best for the child., The schools were commonly it by kerosene lamps. There were no inside plumbing facilities Water was usually brought inside in a bucket with each child having their own drinking cup. Coal was carried in buckets while wood was stored behind the large pot belied stove which was used to heat the one-room schools., By the time children completed eighth grade, their help was needed on the farms and to supplement family income, so they would not continue on to high school.