west union started the first school district in washington county. the first meeting of the school board was on november 12, 1851. school district no. 1 was directed by david thomas lenox, james w. chamberlain, and caleb wilkens, and the school was built on the land claim of the holcomb family. classes began in october 1852 after a school was completed on may 17, 1852. miss e. h. lincoln was paid $100 for a 12-week term to be the first teacher at the school.