The people of Mt. Vernon patronized schools in Shiloh Township in the very early days. In 1830-31 a log school house was erected in the northwestern part of the town, in the vicinity of the George Howard home on 12th street. Mr. Talley was the first teacher followed by John Baugh in 1833-34. Abner Melcher and his daughter, Precilla, followed then came John Downer in 1836-37. The school was abandoned after this date.

Miss Rand taught a school on the west side of the square over Dr. Park's home. The next school was taught in the Methodist parsonage by Joshua Grant. Here Miss Elizabeth Bullock had a summer school. The school was on the edge of the woods and was often thrown into much excitement by the appearance of snakes.

It was determined that Mt. Vernon should have an academy and Governor Anderson gave a portion of his farm as a site for the new school. This site was in the area of present-day 8th street just south of Jordan. A building committee was appointed and they engaged John and Asa Watson and John Leonard to build and equip the school for $350. Governor Zadok Casey furnished some school equipment at a cost of $100.

This first academy was taught by Lewish Dwight, a Yankee school-teacher preacher, and he was assisted by Miss Evans. While teaching Dwight married a daughter of Governor Casey. Joel Watson was an assistant the following term. Dwight taught two terms and the people were pleased with his work except Sheriff Bowman, father of two extra bad boys, one of whom Dwight ventured to discipline. Meeting the principal on the street one day Sheriff Bowman hit him with a brick, inflicting a severe head wound. Bowman was fined $1.oo. A later teacher was the "notorious" Bob Ingersoll of infidel fame. The reputation of the Mt. Vernon Academy was known far and wide.

The building committee could never get the property out of debt and in 1854 it was attached and sold. A new Methodist church was erected in this same year and three rooms on the first floor were used for school classrooms. Professor J. Leaton, the preacher, was the first teacher. This school closed its doors during the turmoil of the Civil War.

Interest in the school revived as the war came to an end. For several years this school flourished in the Methodist Church with Rev. Thomas Herdman the principal.

In 1866 the subject of building a new school for the community was hotly debated. A site was finally chosen, where the present Franklin School now stands. A two story brick building was erected at a cost of $12,000. A Mr. Barbout was employed to teach but he left before the school year was out following a fight with a student, Duff Green.