USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > Historical and biographical record of Black Hawk County, Iowa > Part 60
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WATERLOO COURIER.
In August, 1858, W. H. Hartman, then a young man " chock-full of days' works," and ambitious of winning fame and wealth as a newspaper publisher, resurrected the defunct Banner, at Cedar Falls, and in No- vember following, Geo. D. Ingersoll be-
came associated with him. They made a desperate struggle to keep it waving ; but times were tight, money scarce, and the publishers, finding it hard to live on faith and corn meal alone, suspended the paper again, and on Christmas Day, 1858, moved the material to Waterloo, where, on Janu- ary 18, 1859, the Courier was born. It was first issued as a seven-column folio. Pat- ronage was light, and it was only by the most rigid economy that both ends were made to meet. On the Ist of January, 1860, the paper was enlarged to an eight-column sheet, the death of the Register making such enlargement possible and necessary. In September of the same year, Hartman bought out Ingersoll, and the Courier con- tinued with him as sole proprietor until November 14, 1864, when J. W. Logan be- came half owner. In 1865, the paper was again enlarged by adding an extra column to the page, and other improvements were made. In April, 1871, Hartman & Logan sold out the entire establishment to Aldrich & Woodruff, but in October of the same year Mr. Hartman again became part owner by purchasing Mr. Aldrich's in- terest. February 5, 1874, Mr. Woodruff sold out to A. J. Felt and the firm was changed to Felt & Hartman. On the 16th of April following the paper was again enlarged and changed to a seven- column quarto. August 16, 1875, Mr. Hartman purchased Mr. Felt's interest and since that date has been sole editor and proprietor.
The early years of the Courier were full of troubles and struggles for existence; but now it is considered one of the best news- paper properties in the interior of the State and it is blessed with a patronage which in- sures its publisher a good, liberal income. It is now an eight-column quarto, published Wednesdays at $2 per year. J. W. Rich- ards has been local editor since July, 1876. The next paper, in age, is the
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
IOWA STATE REPORTER,
which was started May 13, 1868, by H. Q. Nicholson, and was then almost the only paper in the State issued in quarto form. It was started as a Democratic paper, al- though Black Hawk was one of the strong Republican counties of the State, giving only 841 Democratic votes out of 3,421 cast at the election of that year. But the paper was neatly printed and ably edited, and its publishers soon worked up a list of about 1,000 subscribers, and a handsome advertis- ing patronage. In November, 1868, Mr. Nicholson was called East by the serious illness of his father, and during his absence the paper was continued by the boys in the office so long as there were any coal piles in the neighborhood and the paper dealers had faith enough to send on white paper. When these two supplies were cut off the paper had to stop, but the boys were full of grit to the end, and in their last number let themselves down with the following ex- planation :
"Owing to the rapidly increasing busi- ness which an appreciating community is bestowing upon us, we find it necessary to remove our material and machinery to more capacious quarters. Therefore, we shall be compelled, however reluctantly, to sus- pend the publication of the Reporter for a few weeks, as our machinery is so heavy and extensive that the change cannot be effected without incurring the above sus- pension."
But the suspension was a permanent one, so far as Mr. Nicholson was concerned. His father died December 20, 1868, which made it impossible for him to return and resume its publication. February 11, 1869, the material and subscription list were pur- chased by Smart & Parrott. At that time the office was in the building on Fourth street, now occupied by Seaman & Son, and was too small and inconvenient for print-
ing-office purposes. The new proprietors secured a lease of the rear rooms in the second story of Union Hall Block, but did not begin the publication of the Reporter again until the office was moved to the new location, which was in April, and on the 14th of that month the Reporter again appeared, but as a Republican paper.
On the 31st of May, 1871, the paper was enlarged to a six-column quarto, and other improvements made, and at that time it was the largest newspaper in the county. The next era in the life of the Reporter was October 16, 1872, when the establishment was moved from Union Block into the building specially erected for its occupancy on Sycamore street.
On June 18, 1873, a change was made in the firm, James L. Girton becoming a part- ner, and the firm name was changed to Smart, Parrott & Co. On March 17, 1875, J. J. Smart sold out his interest to J. P. Sherman, and the firm name was changed to Parrott, Girton & Sherman. The last named withdrew March 17, 1879, and Feb- ruary 21, 1884, the firm of Parrott & Gir- ton was succeeded by that of. Matt. Parrott & Sons, under whose names the Reporter is now issued. It is published on Thursdays, at $2 per year, and enjoys an excellent patronage in Black Hawk and surrounding counties.
The youngest paper at Waterloo is the WATERLOO TRIBUNE,
established September 11, 1879, by Van Metre & Wilson. Its politics has been Democratic from the start. At first an eight-column folio, it was changed to a seven-column quarto in February, 1882. Later it was made a semi-weekly, half the paper appearing on Tuesday and half on Friday of each week. This arrangement was discontinued January 1, 1885. Decem- ber 1, 1884, L. H. Edwards purchased the Tribune, which he published until October,
THE PRESS.
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1885, being in the meantime appointed post master at Waterloo. He sold at the time mentioned to Isaiah Van Metre, the pres- ent editor and publisher. The Tribune is issued on Tuesdays, at $2.00 per year, and has been quite successful as a Democratic paper.
The only German paper in Black Hawk County is published at Waterloo, under the name of
DER DEUTSCH AMERIKANER.
The first number of this paper was issued August 29, 1872, one side English and the other German. It was published by a com- pany and edited by A. Schill. On the Ist of January, 1873, Mr. Martin Blim became proprietor and editor, and on the 21st of February following, discontinued the Eng- lish part of his paper, making it exclusively German. Mr. Blim went to Germany for his health in October, 1882, and died in November. The following March, J. G. Schmidt, the present editor and proprie- tor, purchased the paper of Mrs. Blim. The Amerikaner is issued on Thursdays at $2.00 per year. Hans von Kessel is its local editor. It has enjoyed a fair degree of
prosperity and is well conducted. The
LA PORTE PROGRESS
was established November 30, 1870, by Dr. Jesse Wasson. It was at that time a sev- en-column folio. In February, 1872, the paper was enlarged to eight columns. The firm became J. Wasson & Son in 1879. January 1, 1886, the paper was made a six- column quarto. It is issued on Wednes- days, at $1.50 a year, and is Democratic in politics. The
LA PORTE CITY REPUBLICAN
first appeared in July, 1852, W. H. Brink- erhoff, editor and publisher. After strug- gling against fate for eleven long, weary months, the Republican succumbed to the inevitable, and suspended for want of ade- quate support. The
LA PORTE CITY REVIEW . was established June 10, 1879, by W. E. Throne and S. A. Wagoner. After several changes, the firm is now S. A. Wagoner & Co. The Review is a Republican paper, a six-column quarto in size, and is issued on Thursdays at $1.50 per year.
550
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
EDUCA
Y
HERE is no subject connected with our progress and civiliza- tion in which our people have taken a deeper interest than in that of education. While our public schools, which constitute the basis of our progress and intelli- gence, have especially en- gaged the attention of our most enterprising citizens and legislators, they have also liberally encouraged the higher institutions of learning, as is shown by our numerous seminaries, colleges and univer- sities. Iowa has education for her corner- stone upon which she has reared an en- during superstructure. Education is the secret of the great prosperity of our State and the safeguard of our institutions. There is no excuse whatever for a person being uneducated in Iowa, for her counties are dotted over with numerous and excel- lent school-houses, while the school build- ings in the cities are models of elegance and convenience, and these public schools are free to all, rich and poor, irrespective of race, color or religion. There has been manifested a constant and very general de-
termination to bring the schools of the State to the highest degree of excellence, consonant with sound policy and the devel- opment of its material resources.
The findings of the last census in educa- tional matters, although hardly a revolu- tion to our people, are yet not a little grati- fying, as they enable the people elsewhere to realize something of the work being done in Iowa in educational matters. In re- spect to the number of school-houses Iowa is seen to be fifth, New York, Pennsyl- vania, Ohio and Illinois only having more. The same States have each more teachers than Iowa. Six states only surpass Iowa in respect of sittings in schools, of value of school property, of outlay for school pur- poses, and of number of pupils attending school. In respect of the extent of illiter- acy, no less than twenty-five States have more persons over ten years of age unable to read and write.
The first schools taught in Black Hawk County were private or subscription schools. Their accommodations, as may be readily supposed, were not good. Sometimes they were taught in small log houses erected for the purpose. Stoves and such heating apparatus as are in use now were unknown. A mud and stick chimney in one end of the building, with earthen hearth, with fire-place wide enough
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EDUCATIONAL.
and deep enough to take in a four-foot back- log, and smaller wood to match, served for warming purposes in winter and a kind of conservatory in summer. For windows, part of a log was cut out in either side, and maybe a few panes of eight by. ten glass set in; or, just as likely as not, the aperture would be covered over with greased pa- per. Writing benches were made of wide planks, or, maybe puncheons resting on pins or arms driven into two-inch auger holes bored into the logs beneath the windows. Seats were made out of thick planks or puncheons; flooring was made of the same kind of stuff. Everything was rude and plain, but many of America's greatest men have gone out from just such school- houses to grapple with the world and make a name for themselves, and names that come to be an honor to their country. In other cases, private rooms and parts of private houses were utilized as school- houses, but the furniture was just as plain.
But all these things are changed now. A log school-house in Iowa is a rarity. Their places are filled with handsome frame or brick structures. The rude furniture has also given way, and the old school books, the " Popular Reader," the " English Reader " (the finest literary compilation ever known in American schools), and " Webster's Elementary Spelling Book," are superseded by others of greater pre- tensions. The old spelling classes and spelling matches have followed the old school-houses until they are remembered only in name. The school-houses and their furnishings are in full keeping with the spirit of the law that provides for their maintenance and support. The teachers rank high among the other thousands of teachers in the State; and the several county superintendents, since the office of superintendent was made a part of the school system, have been chosen with es-
pecial reference to their fitness for their position.
It is impossible to find any reports of educational matters in this county prior to 1858, when the Seventh General Assembly passed " An act for the public instruction for the State of Iowa," and organized the present school system. By this act, which went into force March 20, 1858, each civil township was made a school district, and the number of districts and district officers were thus greatly reduced. By the same act the office of county superintendent of schools was created, and appropriations made in aid of teachers' institutes.
The first teachers' institute held in the county, of which any recollection remains, was at Cedar Falls, October 8-13, 1860, conducted by J. L. Enos, of Cedar Rapids. Those in attendance were: T. Steed, L. J. Hammond, W. C. Porter, R. C. Hall, J. S. Livingston, E. B. Lamb, W. H. Merwin, Peter Livingston, T. H. Leslie, Dr. John Kerr, E. H. Wilcox, Wilbur F. Poor, Jen- nie Gardner, Anna Gardner, E. A. Leslie, Alice Doolittle, Sarah A. Dougherty, Lois A. Dunham, Anna E. Jaynes, N. Collins, E. A. McStay, Anna Bullock, Mary E. Pratt, Mary A. Barnard, M. J. Collier, Mrs. D. C. Overman, Mrs. Joseph Chase, Phebe Tondro, Susan McNalley, Emma Hall, W. Garrison, L. F. Barnard, W.W. Engle, M. J. Engle, M. W. Collins, Eliza Dixon, M. J. McStay. The officers chosen for the ensu- ing year were: J. M. White, President; E. B. Lamb, Vice-President; L. F. Barnard, Secretary; T. Steed, Treasurer; Mrs. D. C. Overman, L. J. Hammond, E. H. Wil- cox, Executive Committee.
Between October 5, 1860, and October 4, 1861, there were seventy public schools in Black Hawk County; number of pupils attending school, 2,347; number of teachers -males, 44; females, 64; average weekly compensation to males, $5.21; to females, $3.16; amount paid teachers during year,
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
$6,353.60. The total population of the county in 1860 was 8,244.
In 1860 there were seventeen township districts and seventy-one sub-districts; in 1885, cleven townships, fifty-six independ- ent and eighty-six sub-districts. There are in all one hundred and forty ungraded schools and forty-four rooms in graded schools. The average number of months taught is seven and three-tenths.
In 1860 there were six male and twelve female teachers employed, at average com- pensation of $6.46 and $3.08 per week, re- spectively. In 1885 forty-nine male teachers receive an average of $47.13 per month each, and 214 female teachers, $33.21 each.
In 1860 there were 1,461 males and 1,37 I females between five and twenty-one years of age. In 1885 there are 4,219 males and 4,070 females.
In 1884 there were 6,554 pupils enrolled in the public schools of Black Hawk Coun- ty, and the average attendance was 4,133. The average cost per pupil was $1.38 a month. There are now 130 frame, thirteen brick and seven stone school-houses, valued at $168,340. Apparatus is valued at $2,- 581.
About $75,000 is paid every year in teachers' salaries.
Detailed mention of the graded schools will be found in the chapters devoted to Waterloo, Cedar Falls, etc.
WATERLOO COLLEGE.
Waterloo College was established May, 1885, by Prof. T. Tobin, A. M. The Pro- fessor came to Waterloo in September, 1884, and conducted a school for one year in Rus- sell's Hall, with a view to ascertain the feasibility of founding the above named in- stitution. Professor Tobin commenced his school with thirteen scholars and raised the enrollment in the winter term to eighty. With this prospect before him he resolved to give his attention and best efforts to the
founding of the proposed college. The cit- izens of Waterloo donated two excellent lots for a building site, and in the spring of 1885 the corner-stone of the new college building was laid with appropriate cere- monies.
The new school entered at once upon its career of usefulness September, 1885. The present enrollment is 123. The school is intended to do the work of a first-class acad- emy, and to also a fford to those who may desire an excellent graduating course. Be- side the preparatory and graduating cour- ses there is a business and normal course. Everything the public requires is taught. There is no examination required upon en- tering, and students may choose their own studies,in either of the above named courses. The school is bound to prosper and accom- plish much good, and be a blessing to those who desire to avail themselves of its ad- vantages. It has completed a long and suc- cessful term of school. The enrollment was 123, and the grade was most excellent. Twenty counties were represented-about one-half the school was from Black Hawk County, Buchanan stood second.
The classification was as follows : One hundred and two studied arithmetic, thirty Algebra, thirty-two history (ancient and modern), sixty grammar, fifteen geogra- phy, ten physical geography, twenty-five reading, forty-eight writing, 120 spelling, forty-five bookkeeping, thirty physiology, eight philosophy, twenty German, seven civil government, twenty analysis, eight Latin and 120 literary exercises.
The Amphiction Society affords an ex- cellent school for literary culture.
There is a classification equal to the best of the old institutions. The Waterloo Col- lege is to-day more efficient and better pa- tronized than many of the schools in our State which are old in years and have the support of church and denominational patronage. This school is doing a work
Profit. Yolin a. m. Waterloo College.
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EDUCATIONAL.
which could not be done by any other school in the State, and the patronage which it has received sustains the good judgment of those who favored the enterprise, and paid their money to establish it.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, CEDAR FALLS.
This school was established by an act of the Sixteenth General Assembly, approved March 17, 1876. The school was opened September 10, and has had a very suc- cessful career during ten years. It has en- rolled two thousand one hundred (2,100) students, and has graduated one hundred and ninety-two (192). The annual enroll- ment for the tenth year was 487 including sixty-eight pupils of the model school. The school has contended with difficulties during its history, the chief of which has been an inadequate appropriation of money to develop and sustain it to a full degree. The tuition is free to all students who sign a declaration that they are attending the school with the purpose of preparing themselves to teach and that they design to teach in Iowa. Students not having this purpose are charged tuition. A stu- dent, if male, must be at least seventeen, and if female at least sixteen years of age.
The Courses of Study are:
I. The Didactic Course, which requires three years of study for its completion and secures for the student a certificate.
2. The Scientific Course, which requires four years for its completion. It is equal to college courses in the time required, and is as complete though differing in the choice and arrangement of subjects. Stu- dents graduating from this course receive a diploma and the degree of BACHELOR OF DIDACTICS-B. D. In addition to these regular courses there are a Post Graduate Professional course, and a Post Graduate Scientific course, each requir- ing one year and open to graduates of any school of the college class. Within the
regular course there are: I. The depart- ment of common branches; 2. The depart- ment of penmanship, book-keeping and drawing; 3. The department of music, vocal and instrumental; 4. The depart- ment of language and literature (English and Latin); 5. The department of mathe- matics; 6. The department of sciences; 7. The department of educational philosophy (didactics and psychology); 8. Department of methods.
Board of Directors .- E. H. Thayer, Presi- dent, Clinton; C. C. Cory, Vice-President, Pella; W. M. Field, Cedar Falls; J. C. Milliman, Logan; L. D. Lewelling, Mitch- ellville; J. W. Sattethwaite, Mt. Pleasant.
Faculty .- J. C. Gilchrist, A. M., Principal, teacher of didactics, psychology and ethics ; M. W. Bartlett, A. M., teacher of English language and literature ; D. S. Wright, A. M., teacher of mathematics; W. W. Hull, A. M., teacher of penmanship, drawing and accounts; Miss S. Laura Ensign, A. M., teacher of history and geography ; Miss Anna E. McGovern, B. D., teacher of didactics and physiology; Miss Maude Gilchrist, B. D., teacher of natural sciences and assistant in mathematics; Miss Mary Bagg, teacher of vocal and in- strumental music; Miss Lillian Bartlett, teacher of model school.
The Grounds .- A little outside of the city limits are the Normal School grounds, consisting of forty acres. Fifteen acres are occupied as a campus, a fine rolling tract on which several hundred thrifty trees are now growing. The walks, drives, trees, shrubbery and grass-plots are well kept.
The Buildings .- There are at present three. They are all heated by steam throughout, water is supplied on every floor, and conveniences for comfort and safety are well provided.
Central Hall .- The original building is a great structure of pleasing outline, four
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
stories high. It has an eastern frontage of 90 feet, and extends west 100 fect. At 55 feet from front, the width changes from 90 to 45 feet.
North Hall is a smaller building, 50 x 30, and is two stories high. It is used as a dormitory for young men.
South Hall is the new building dedicated June 8, 1873. It is a beautiful and impos- ing building, costing with its furniture and equipments $40,000. It consists of a cen- tral portion or nave, and two wings-north and south-and occupies an arca of 6,400 square feet. It has an eastern frontage of 113 feet, and a depth of 78 feet, cach of the two wings being 32x 46 feet. It is three stories high, with a basement nearly above ground, and two large rooms as a fourth story on each wing for society halls. The building contains the halls and corridors, twenty-two rooms of various sizes, besides the large rooms of library, model school (32 ×45), two society halls and chapel. The chapel is 78 x 45 feet, with ceiling twenty- four feet from floor, and is finely frescoed and seated. It is a beautiful room, and will comfortably accommodate 600 people. The building is supplied with an excellent heating apparatus that proved satisfactory during the excessive cold of last winter, a system of water supply for all chief rooms, and is piped for gas throughout.
Boarding Department. - The buildings provide accommodations for one hundred and fifty students. North Hall is occu- pied by the young men. The young ladies are accommodated, part in Central Hall and part in South Hall. The dining-room is in the basement of Central Hall. The appointments are all very satisfactory and conducive to health and comfort, the rooms are kept in excellent repair, neatly carpeted and furnished, thoroughly ventilated and heated by steam.
The Library consists of over 2,000 vol- umes of standard works, on nearly all
subjects of human knowledge. It is rich in cyclopædías and special dictionaries of the arts and sciences. It contains a really large and choice list of books on education and allied subjects. This collection of di- dactic works is a valuable feature to those who may seek this school for professional study. Valuable additions will soon be made to it. The new library room is very pleasantly located and admirably adapted to its uses.
The Apparatus is a fine collection of well-chosen pieces. Maps, charts, globes, fine instruments for physical science, chemi- cal ware, a theodolite for surveying, are all provided. A fine spectroscope, Ruhm- korff coil, Plucker's tubes, Crook's tubes, and other goods have lately been pur- chased in Germany for our use.
The Laboratories for Physics and Chemistry are fitted up with the modern equipments and conveniences, and are as complete as the best, lacking only in size.
The Literary Societies .- There are three live and efficient organizations doing good service for the intellectual advancement of their members.
The Philomathean is the society for young men.
The Alpha Society and the Shakesperian Circle are the societies for young women.
The extraordinarily low cost at this school is worthy of remark. A student can have a good home for forty weeks, and the advantages of a good school for a total cost of $121.621/2 per school year.
Besides the gentlemen named as now constituting the Board of Directors, there have been only five other members of said board during the period of ten years, and it is proper that special mention of them be made, since they were so closely identified with the inauguration of the school-Hon. H. C. Hemenway, Cedar Falls; Hon. S. G. Smith, Newton; Hon. G. S. Robinson, Storm Lake; Hon. J. J. Tollerton, Cedar
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EDUCATIONAL.
Merrick Det
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
BAKER CO
FIX
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
Falls, and Prof. N. W. Boyes, Dubuque. It is true that Hon. William Pattee, Janes- ville, was a director for a few months at the beginning, but he resigned to become steward, an office which he held nine years. Mr. Hemenway was a member of the House of Representatives of the Sixteenth General Assembly (1876) and much credit is due him for his legislative management in securing the founding of the school and the necessary appropriations. It is well known that Hon. Edward G. Miller, Sena- tor from Black Hawk County, first pro- jected this plan of a normal school to the Fifteenth General Assembly, two years earlier, and as the ally of Mr. Hem- enway he ably sustained the measure in the Senate of the Sixteenth. The cause of education is much indebted to these gentlemen.
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