From History of Madison County, W. H. Beers & Co, Chicago, 1883
The education of the children of the early settlers of Fairfield Township received their prompt attention, and, although like all new settlements, they labored under great disadvantages, yet they did what they could, and we find them early establishing schools, and, though the first schoolhouses were rude structures, and the qualifications of their teachers, and the privileges generally very limited yet they served as a beginning; and the earnest efforts of the people, the sacrifices and self-denials they made in that early day to give their children the much needed instructions, deserve the admiration and gratitude of their descendants and all lovers of learning and progress.
The first schoolhouse built within the limits of this township was erected in the southeast corner, on Opossum Run. It was a rude structure round-log cabin, puncheon floor, slab-seats and greased paper for windows. This was built about 1811. The first teacher was Thomas McCafferty, who was crippled by one useless arm. One of his pupils was John F. Chenoweth, who still survives and now resides in London. This cabin served for school purposes several years. About 1836, a good hewed-log house was erected twenty feet square, with shingle roof, huge and commodious, on the ground now embraced in the Fitzgerald Cemetery. There was also another of those primitive log schoolhouses, chinked and mudded, built very early, where Mrs. S. Bowers now lives, where some of the children of the early pioneers obtained some of the first rudiments of an education. One of the first teachers in this cabin was Judathan Waldo, a Yankee, who had a very limited ability. His qualifications would not at the present day be considered sufficient for a Road Supervisor. These early schools were supported by subscriptions, and generally the teacher was paid from $8 to $10 per month. About 1867, the present frame schoolhouse was built, and has continued in use to the present time. This now constitutes District No. 7, known as the Cartmill District. The enumeration is now about forty-five scholars. Teachers' wages in summer, $25 to $30; in winter. $40 to $45 per month. The present Board of Directors, Alfred Cartmill, Edward Fitzgerald and J. W. Puckett
District No. 1, Byers Schoolhouse.—The first school building was a log of the most primitive kind, as described above, erected about 1830. This was succeeded by a comfortable frame house, erected about 1853. In 1878, the present neat and comfortable brick house was erected. Enumeration, sixty scholars. Teachers' wages, summer, $30 to $33; in winter, $45 to $50. Board of Directors, Joel M. Byers, Samuel Truitt and J. C. Byers. District No. 2, Bales Schoolhouse—The first house was a small frame, built about 1825, and the next built was the present house. District No. 3, Noland School, organized in the fall of 1836. First house, a hewed log, built by D. C. Freeman in 1837. The first school opened January 1, 1838. The first teacher, D. Wald; the second was D. C. Freeman. This house was used about twenty years, and was also used by the Methodist and Christian denominations for preaching. The second house was a frame, erected on the same ground of the first, about 1857. Then, in 1879, the present large brick was built. District No. 4, Lilly Chapel—The first schoolhouse in this vicinity was a rude log of the most primitive style, and stood on land now owned by William Durflinger. This was in an early day, and was the first schoolhouse in the northern part of the township. This was succeeded by another log house, erected on the ground of the present frame house, just east of the village of Lilly Chapel. Then this was succeeded by a small frame house, and this again by the present frame that is now in use. But by the rapid growth of the village of Lilly Chapel, and the consequent increase of the number of school children, this house soon became inadequate to accommodate all the scholars, and, in the fall of 1881, they began the erection of a good brick house just east of the frame, on the same lot, which is now (July, 1882) being completed. The frame house is to remain for the primary department, and the new brick used for the more advanced scholars. This district now enumerates about one hundred and thirty. Board of Directors, S. H. Edwards, George Durflinger and Albert Lilly. District No. 5, Pringle School, situated on the California & Lilly Chapel pike. The first schoolhouse here was a rude log house, and, being located near the center of the township, the first township elections were held at this schoolhouse. About 1850, a good comfortable frame house was built. Then, in 1877, the present brick house was erected. Enumeration of scholars, thirty-two. Board of Directors, A. J. Henkle, H. Gilliland and J. A Pringle. District No. 6, Dennison Chapel—First, a log house located on Lemuel Lawrence's land, which was probably built about 1847. Next, about 1858, a frame house was erected on the same lot where the church now stands. Then, in 1880, the present large aud commodious brick house was erected. Enumeration of scholars, about seventy. Teachers' wages, $45. Board of Directors, Allen Dennison, William Strain and Lemuel Lawrence. District No. 8, California—This district was formed from Districts No. 2 and 3, and was organized in 1854, and the same year a frame house was erected. First Board of Directors were J. H. Gardner, Dr. Simmerman and Henry Watrous. The present brick house was built in 1879. Enumeration of scholars in the district, sixty five. Teachers' wages, $30 to $45. Present Board of Directors, Dr. C. W. Higgins, W. H. Hill and George Corder. District No.9—The last erected, was organized about 1868-70, and was formed from territory taken from Districts No. 3 and 5; a frame building erected, which is still occupied for school purposes. Thus it is seen that Fairfield Township now supports nine schools, but, as stated above, there being no books or records of this township to be found, we are very much limited, in means by which to give official statistics of either political or educational matters. The latest enumeration of scholars in possession of the Township Clerk is that of 1878, when the total of the township was 556. Educational funds, $4,500. Tax levy in the spring of 1882; For township purposes, 2-10 mill, $93.20; for road purposes, 1 mill, $807.25; for poor fund, 1-4 mill, $116.86.