USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 15
USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 15
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this in his report of January 1, 1872, and Governor Merrill forcibly endorsed his views in his annuril message. But the Legislature of that year provided for the formation of independent districts from the sub-districts of district townships.
The system of graded schools was in- augurated in 1849, and new schools, in which more than one teacher is employed, are universally graded.
Teachers' institutes were organized early in the history of the State. The first offi- cial mention of them occurs in the annual report of Hon. Thomas HI. Benton, Jr., made December 2, 1850, who said: " An institution of this character was organized a few years ago, composed of the teachers of the mineral regions of Illinois, Wisconsin
No legislation, however, was held until March, 1858, when an act was passed au- thorizing the holding of teachers' institutes for periods not less than six working days, whenever not less than thirty teachers should desire. The superintendent was authorized to expend not exceeding $1oo for any one institute, to be paid out by the county superintendent, as the institute may direct, for teachers and lecturers, and St,- 055 was appropriated to defray the expenses of these institutes. Mr. Fisher at once pushed the matter of holding institutes, and December 6, 1858. he reported to the Boor.i of Education that institutes had been ap- pointed in twenty counties within the pre- codling six months, and more would have been held but the appropriation had bom exhausted. At the first session of the Board of Education, commencing December 6. 1858, a code of school lawy was enacted. which retained the existing provisions for teachers' institutes. In March, 1995, the
4.
156
HISTORY OF IOWA.
General Assembly amended the act of the board by appropriating "a sum not ex- ceeding $50 annually for one such institute, held as provided by law in each county." In 1865 the superintendent, Mr. Faville, re- ported that " the provision made by the State for the benefit of teachers' institutes has never been so fully appreciated, both by the people and the teachers, as during the last two years." Under this law an in- stitute is held annually in each county, under the direction of the county superin- tendent.
By an act approved March 19, 1874, nor- mal institutes were established in cach county, to be held annually by the county superintendent. This was regarded as a very decided step in advance by Mr. Aber- nethy, and in 1876 the General Assembly established the first permanent State Nor- mal School at Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, appropriating the building and property of the Soldiers' Orphans Home at that place for that purpose. This school is now "in the full tide of successful ex- periment."
Funds for the support of the public schools are derived in several ways. The sixteenth section of every congressional township was set apart by the General Goverment for school purposes, being one thirty-sixth part of all the lands of the State. The minimum price of these lands was fixed at $1.25 per acre. Congress also made an additional donation to the State of 500,000 acres, and an appropriation of 5 per cent. on all the sales of public lands to the school fund. The State gives to this fund the proceeds of the sales of all lands which escheat to it ; the proceeds of all fines for the violation of the ligger au! criminal lawvs. The money derived from these sources constitutes the permanent school fund of the State, which cannot be diverted to any other purpose. The pen- altics collected by the courts for fing an ]
forfeitures go to the school fund in the counties where collected. The proceeds of the sale of lands and the 5 per cent. fund go into the State Treasury, and the State distributes these proceeds to the several counties according to their request.
In 18444 there were in the State 4,339 school districts, containing 11,244 schools, and employing 21,776 teachers. The aver- age monthly pay of male teachers was $32.50, and of female teachers $27.25. There were 594.730 persons of school age, of whom 431,513 were enrolled in the public schools. The average cost of tuition for each pupil per month was $1.62. The expenditures for all school purposes was $5, 129,819.49. The permanent school fund is now 83,547,- 123.82, on which the income for 1881 was $234,622.40.
Besides the State University, Agricult- ural College and Normal School, described on preceding pages, ample provision for higher education has been made by the different religious denominations, assisted by local and individual beneficence. There are, exclusive of State institutions, twenty- three universities and colleges, and one hundred and eleven academies and other private schools for the higher branches. All these are in active operation, and most of them stand high.
Amity College, located at College Springs, Page County, has eight instructors and two hundred and forty-five students.
Burlington University, eight instructors and forty-three pupils.
Callanan College, at Des Moines, has eighteen in the faculty and one hundred and twenty students carolled.
Central University. at Pella, Marion County, is under the anspices of the Baptist church, and has eleven in the faculty and one hundred and two students.
Coe College, at Cedar Rapids, has a faculty of ten, and an attendance of one hundred and ninety-nine
V. V. 5
157
HISTORY OF ION 1.
Cornell College, Methodist Episcopal, at Mt. Vernon, Linn County, has cighteen members of the faculty and four hundred and seventy-nine scholars. This is a strong institution.
Drake University, at Des Moines, has thirty instructors and three hundred and twenty-five pupils.
Griswold College, at Davenport, is under the control of the Episcopal church, and has seven instructors and seventy-five stu- dents.
Iowa College, at Grinnell, is permanently endowed. Has fourteen instructors and three hundred and eighty-four students.
Iowa Wesleyan University (Methodist Episcopal), at Mt. Pleasant, has six mem- bers of the faculty and one hundred and seventy-five students.
Luther College, at Decorah, Winneshiek County, has a faculty of ten, and one hun- dred and sixty-five pupils.
Oskaloosa College has a faculty of five, and one hundred and thirty-five students.
Penn College, at Oskaloosa, has a faculty of five members, and one hundred and forty pupils in attendance.
Simpson Centenary College, at Indianola, Warren County (Methodist Episcopal), has a faculty of seven and an attendance of two hundred.
Tabor College, at Tabor, Fremont County, modeled after the Oberlin (Ohio) College, has twelve members in the faculty and an attendance of two hundred and ten scholars.
University of Des Moines has five in- structors and fifty pupils.
Upper lowa University (Methodist Epis- copab, located at Fayette, in Pavette County, has eleven instructors and three hundred and fifty stu bents.
Whittier College, at Salem, Henry County, is under the auspices of the Friends. There are two instructors and sixty papils
STATISTICAL.
When Wisconsin Territory was organ- ized in 1836, the entire population of that portion of the Territory now embraced in the State of lowa was 10.531. The Terri- tory then embraced two counties, Dubuque and Des Moines, erected by the Territory of Michigan in 1834. Since then the counties have increased to ninety-nine, and the population in 1880 was 1,624.453. The following table will show the population at different periods since the erection of lowa Territory :
Year.
Population. Year
Population
1838
22.599 15:9
635.775
IS10
43,115.1860
674.913
IST.
75.152 1863
701,732
IS46.
7.50.659
IS47.
116,631 1567.
902,010
IS19.
152,99$ 1900
I 040.S19
1850
191,582'1870.
1,191,727
1951
.204.774 1 73
1,251.333
IS52
230.713 1ST5.
1 366.000
1851.
. 326,013 ISSO.
1,621-153
IS56.
519.055
The most populous county is Dubuque --- 42,997. Polk County has 42,395, and Scott. 41,270. Not only in population, but in everything contributing to the growth and greatness of a State, has lowa made rapid progress. In a little more than thirty-five years its wild but beautiful prairies have advanced from the home of the savage to a highly civilized commonwealth.
The first railroad across the State was completed to Council Bluffs in January, 1871. The completion of three others scon followed. In 1854 there was not a mile of railroad in Iowa. Within the succeeding twenty years, 3.765 miles were built and put in successful operation.
The present value of buildings for our State institutions is as follows :
Ser University. In an.
. .
2 .-
159
HISTORY OF IOR'.1.
. The State has never levied more than two and one-half mills on the doller for State tax, and this is at present the consti- tutional limit.
Jowa has no State debt. Whatever obli- gations have been incurred in the past have been promptly met and fully paid. Many of the counties are in debt, but only four of them to an amount exceeding $100,000 cach. The bonded debt of the counties amounts in the aggregate to 82,592,222, and the float- ing debt, $153,456; total, $2,745.678.
In the language of Judge C. C. Nourse, we feel compelled to say : " The great ulti- mate fact that America would demonstrate is, the existence of a people capable of at- taining and preserving a superior civiliza- tion, with a government self-imposed, self- administered and self-perpetuated. In this age of wonderful progress, America can exhibit nothing to the world of mankind more wonderful or more glorious than her new States -- young empires, born of her own enterprise and tutored at her own politica! hearth-stone. Well may she say to the monarchies of the Old World, who look for evidence of her regal grandeur and state, 'Beholdl, these are my jewels! and may she never blush to add, . This one in the center of the diadem is Iowa! "
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
that of 40 36', or merdy three degrees; but this does not include the small angle at the southeast corner. The length of the State from cast to west is about 265 miles. The area is 55. 44 square inile , nearly all of which is readlily tillable and highly fer- tile.
The State lies wholly within, and com- prises a part of a vast plain, and there is no mountainous or even hilly country within it's borders, excepting the Bluffs of the larger rivers. The highest point is near Spirit Lake, and is but 1,205 feet above the lowest, which is in the southeast corner, and is 441 feet above the level of the Gult of Mexico. The average descent per mile b. tween these two points is four feet, and that from Spirit Lake to the northeast corner of the State, at low-water mark of the Mississippi, is five feet five inches.
It has been estimated that about seven- eighths of lowa was prairie when the white race first settled here. It seems to be a set- tled point in science that the annual fires of the Indians, prevented this western country from becoming heavily timbered.
GEOLOGY.
Geologists divide the soil if lova into three general divisions, which not only possess different physical characters, but also differ in the mode of their origin. These are drift, bluff and . Movieland ! :- ling respectively to the deposits bearing the sune names. The drift oscardes a much larger part of the surferof the State
lowa, in the highly figurative and cs- pressive language of the aborigin -, is said to signify " The Beautiful Lan L" and was applied by them to this magnificent section of the country between the two great rivers. that both the other . The Man has the The general shape of the State is that of next greatest a en el surface. a rectangle, the northern and southern Mit soil is disintegrate troch .. The mint boun iries being due east and west life's, di posit of leva were defined in consider- and its eastern and western boucherie de sick extent from the rocks ! Min .: termined by southearly flowing rivers the but the greater jat Mississippi on the cast and the Missouri That rocks much of whi - portel lit & shine you. In North. :.: and the Bi, S'og . on the west. Tie with of the State from north Of South. is over 23 miles, being from the parallel of y go to more find and !
159
HISTORY OF IOWA.
Southern lowa the soil is frequently stiff and clayey. The bluff soil is found only in the western part of the State, and adjacent 10 Missouri River. Although it contains less than i per cent. of clay in its com- position, it is in no respect inferior to the best drift soil. The alluvial soil is that of the flood plains of the river valleys, or bot- tom lands. That which is periodically flooded by the rivers is of little value for agricultural purposes ; but a large part of it is entirely above the reach of the highest flood, and is very productive.
The stratified rocks of Iowa range from the Azoic to the Mesozoic, inclusive; but the greater portion of the surface of the State is occupied by those of the Palcozoic age. The table below will show each of these formations in their order :
Azoic ..
Lower Silurian. .
Upper Silurian. . . . Niagara ..
Devonian. . .
Carboniferous. .. <
Cretaceous ..
AGES.
SYSTEMS.
. Iluronian.
Primordial.
Trenton ..
Cincinnati.
. . Hamilton.
1
Coal Measures. . ..
(Lower Cretaccous.
( Post Tertiary ..
PERIODS.
GROUPS.
. Sioux Quartzite ...
( Potsdam Sandstone ..
(St. Peter's Sandstone ..
( Trenton Limestone ..
5 Galena Limestone ..
. Maquoketa Shales
. Niagara Limestone ..
Kinderhook D .ds ...
Keokuk I Hinestone.
Lower Coal Measures
Middle Coal Mesures.
(Upper Co. ! Measures.
( Nishnabotany Sandstone ..
( Inoceramons Bed ..
POCHE
FORMATION ..
.10 to :
25.
250
Su
3.0
201.
175
200
130
,50
The Sioux quartzite, in the azoic system, is found exposed in natural ledges only upon a few acres in the extreme northwest corner of the State, upon the banks of the Big Sioux River, for which reason the specific name of Sioux quartzite has been given them. It is an intensely hard rock, breaks in splintery fracture, and of a color varying, in different localities, from a light to deep red. The process of metamorphism has been so complete throughout the whole formation that the rock is almost every- where of uniform texture. The dip is four or five degrees to the northward, and the trend of the outcrop is castward and west- ward.
The Potsdam sandstone formation is ex- posed only in a small portion of the north- eastern part of the State. It is only to be seen in the bases of the bluffs and steep valley sides which border the river there. It is nearly valueless for economic purposes. No fossils have been discovered in this for- mation in Iowa.
The Lower Magnesian limestone has but little greater geographical extent in Iowa than the Potsdam sandstone. It lacks a uniformity of texture and stratification, ow- ing to which it is not generally valuable for building purposes.
The St. Peter's sandstone formation is remarkably uniform in thickness through- out its known geographical extent, and it occupies a large portion of the northern half of Allamakee County; immediately be- neath the drift.
With the exception of the Trenton lime- stone, all the limestones of both Upper and Lower Silurian age in Iowa are magnesian limestone. This formation occupies large portions of Wingeshick and Allamokce counties, and a small part of Clayton. Tlc greater part of it is useless for ccomonic purposes; but there are some con all, cvon layer. that both fine mese.si fu window one and sp's
Lower Magnesium Limestone ..
Woodbury Sandstone and Shale .....
Drift ..
Hamilton Limestone and Shales.
( St. Louis Linustone.
Subcarboniferous. . Burlington Limestone. .
-
HISTORY OF IOWA.
miles long and seldom exceeds twelve miles . in width. It exhibits its greatest develop- ment in Dubuque County. It is nearly a pure dolomite with a slight admixture of silicious matter ; good blocks for dressing are sometimes found near the top of the bed, although it is usually unfit for such a purpose. This formation is the source of the lead ore of the Dubuque lead mines. The lead region proper is confined to an area of about fifteen miles square in the vicinity of Dubuque. The ore occurs in vertical fissures, which traverse the rock at regular intervals from east to west; some is found in those which have a north and south direction. This ore is mostly that known as galena, or sulphuret of lead, very small quantities only of the carbonate being found with it.
The surface occupied by the Maquoketa shales is more than 100 miles in length, but is singularly long and narrow, seldom reach- ing more than a mile of two in width. The most northern exposure yet recognized is in the western part of Winneshiek County, while the most southerly is in Jac' son County, in the bluffs of the Mississippi. The formation is largely composed of bluish and brownish shales, sometimes slightly arenaceous, sometimes calcare ous, which weather into a tenacious clay upon the sur- face, and the soil derived from it is usually stiff and clayey.
The area occupied by the Niagara lime- stone is forty and fifty miles in width and marly no miles ley's from mettreauth. to the middle of the north The of Jasper
This formation is entirely a tongue sin Fin . stone, with a considerable portion ."sifi- cipas matter, in some places, in the form of chert of course fint. A large put of it probudiy affords the best and our post amount of quarry nek in the Store. The parra at Alcabo a, Le Clanc and Farley .. al opened in this formation.
The area of surface occupied by the
The Galena limestone is the upper for- mation of the Trenton Group. It is 150 , Hamilton limestone and shales, is as great as those by all the formations of both Upper and Lower Silurian age in the State. Its length is nearly 205 miles, and width from forty to fifty. Portions of it are valuable for economic purposes ; and, having a large geographical extent in the State, is a very important formation. Its value for the pro- duction of hydraulic lime has been demon- strated at Waverly, Bremer County. The heavier and more uniform magnesian beds furnish material for bridge piers and other material requiring strength and durability. A coral occurs near Iowa City, known as "Iowa City marble" and " bird's-eye mar- blc."
Of the three groups of formations that constitute the carboniferous, viz., the sub- carboniferous, coal measures and Permian, only the first two are found in Iowa.
The Subcarboniferous group occupies a very large area of surface. Is castern border passes from the northeastern part of Winnebago County, with considerable di- rectness in a southeasterly direction to the northern part of Washington County. It "then makes a broad and direct bend nearly 1 castward, striking the Mississippi at Mes- catine. The southern and wester. boand. aries are to a considerable extent the same as that which separates it from the real field. From the southern part of Poca- hontas County it passes southett to Fort Dodge, thence to Webster City, thenice to a point three or four miles northeast of FL dor, in Hardin Comis, thence southwart County, thered suche than! to Siger- nevin Kockal Cole's, Hence tol' 101h- cistern corner of ] Hersen County, flest. teater of Van Buren Comps. Isde
The motto atedy expense of the ka-
HISTORY OF HOW'.1.
derhook beds is in Des Moines County, near the mouth of Skunk River. The most northerly now known is in the eastern part of Pocahontas County, more than 200 miles distant. The principal exposures of this formation are along the bluffs which border the Mississippi and Skunk rivers, where they form the eastern and northern bound- ary of Des Moines County; along English River, in Washington County ; along the Iowa River, in Tama, Marshall. Hamlin and Franklin counties, and along the Des Moines River, in Humboldt County. This formation has a considerable economic value, particularly in the northern portion of the region it occupies. In Pocahontas and IHumboldt counties it is invaluable, as no other stone except a few boulders are found here. At Iowa Falls the lower division is very good for building purposes. In Marshall County all the limestone to be obtained comes from this formation, and the quarries near Le Grand are very valu- able. At this point some of the layers are finely veined with peroxide of iron, and are wrought into both useful and ornamental objects. In Tama County the politic men- ber is well exposed, where it is manufact- ured into lime. Upon exposure to atmos- phere and frost it crumbles to pieces ; consequently it is not valuable for building purposes.
The Burlington limestone is carried down by the southerly dip of the-Jowa rocks, so that it is seen for the last time in this State in the valley of Skunk River, near the southern boundary of Des Moines County ; it has been recognized in the northern part of Washington County, which is the most northerly point that it has been found; but it probably exits as far north as Mar had County, Much valuable material isador kul by this formation for conomic purposes. The upper division furnishes excellent com mon quarry rock. Geologi tran attr. de by the great abondance . and variety of its
fossils-crinoids-now known to be more than 300.
The Keokuk limestone formation is to be seen only in four counties : Lec, Van Buren, Henry and Des Moines. In some localities the upper silicious portion is known as the Geode bed; it is not recognizable in the northern portion of the formation, nor in connection with it where it is exposed, about eighty miles below Keokuk. The geodes of the Geode bed are more or less masses of silex, usually hollow and lined with crystals of quartz; the outer crust is rough and unsightly, but the crystals which stud the interior are often very beautiful ; they vary in size from the size of a walnut to a foot in diameter. This formation is of great economic value. Large quantities of its stone have been used in the finest structures in the State, among which are the postoffices at Dubuque and Des Moines. The principal quarries are along the banks of the Mississippi, from Keokuk to Nauvoo.
The St. Louis limestone is the uppermost of the subcarboniferous group in Iowa. It occupies a small superficial area, consisting of long, narrow strips, yet its extent is very great. It is first seen resting on the Geoxile division of the Keokuk limestone, near Kco- kuk; proceeding northward, it forms a narrow border along the edge of the coal fields in Lee, Des Moines, Henry, Jefier- son, Washington, Keokuk and Mahaska counties; it is then lost sight of until it appears again in the bank of Boone River, where it again passe - out of view under the Coa! Measures, until it is went seen in the banks of the Des Moines, ner Fort Deles. .Is it exists in lowa, it consists of thice tolerably distinct subdivisions: The me - nesian, arenacons and calcareous. The upper division targiches excellent mat ! for quickling, and when quarries are sol opengl as in the northwestern part d' Vwo
The saadet me, of middle division, is of
HISTORY OF 1OR.1.
little valne. The lower, or magnesian di- vision, furnishes a valuable and durable stone, exposures of which are found on Lick Creek, in Van Buren County, and on Long Creek, seven miles west of Burlington.
1
The Coal Measure group is properly divided into three formations, viz .: The Lower, Middle and Upper Coal Measures, each having a vertical thickness of about 200 feet. The Lower Coal Measures exist eastward and northward of the Des Moines River, and also occupy a large area west- ward and southward of that river, but their southerly dip passes them below the Middle Coal Measures at no great distance from the river. This formation possesses greater Economic value than any other in the whole State. The clay that underlies almost every bed of coal furnishes a large amount of ma- terial for potter's use. The sandstone of these measures is usually soft and unfit, but in some places, as in Red Rock in Marion County, blocks of large dimensions are ob- tained, which make good building material, samples of which can be seen in the State Arsenal, at Des Moines.
The Upper Coal Measures occupy a very large area, comprising thirteen whole counties, in the southwestern part of the State. By its northern and eastern bound- aries it adjoins the area occupied by the Middle Coal Measures.
The next strata in the geological series are of the Cretaceous age. They are four ! in the western half of the Step! donc dip, as do all the other fra the ap m which they rest, to the south alan I west- ward, bont have a gown dl dip of their own to the north of westward, who is a flower. is very light. Although the a team of
western half of the State ve widely
The Nishnabotany sandstone has the most easterly and southerly extent of the cre- taceons deposits of lowa, reaching the southeastern part of Guthrie County and the southern part of Montgomery County. To the northward, it passes beneath the Woodbury sandstones and shales, the latter passing beneath the chalky beds. This sandstone is, with few exceptions, valueless for economic purposes.
The chalky beds rest upon the Wood- bury sandstone and shales. They have not been observed in Jowa except in the bluffs which border the Big Sioux River in Wood- bury and Plymouth counties. They are composed almost entirely of calcareous ma- ferial, the upper portion of which is exten- sively used for lime. No building material can be obtained from these beds, and the only value they possess, except lime, are the marls, which at some time may be use- fnl on the soil of the adjacent region.
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