USA > Iowa > Benton County > History of Benton County, Iowa. From materials in the public archives, the Iowa Historical society's collection, the newspapers, and data of personal interviews > Part 16
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FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE-FORESTALLED HENRY GEORGE -- BENTON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM- FIRST TEACHERS' INSTITUTE-SCHOOL TOWNSHIP-CITY AND VILLAGE . SCHOOLS -- RURAL INDEPENDENT DISTRICTS -- IRVING INSTITUTE -- BLAIRSTOWN ACADEMY AND SCHOOLS -- TILFORD COLLEGIATE ACADEMY, VINTON-JOHN S. TH.FORD -- REV. THOMAS TOBIN AND WIFE --- PROF. T. F. TOBIN AND THE PRESENT -- VINTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS-BELLE PLAINE SCHOOLS.
The first collection of settlers in Benton county which can be dignified as a community was that which gathered on the northeast corner of section 34 and vicinity. Polk township. in the early '10s and became known as " Hoosier Point." In 1845 the Lockharts, the Remingtous, the Kendricks. James Downs, Thomas Way. Bar- ney D. Springer, Wm. Mitchell. Caleb S. Hendeys and a few others, got together and agreed that a school house must be built. In those days both the building and the conduet of such establishments were purely on the subscription basis.
FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE.
In 1846 the log house was completed which was to give the first dozen or so of Benton county children their true start in life. It stood on section 25 (southwest corner) and the first little class which gathered within its rude walls was taught by Francis James Rigaud. who is described as an educated man who "wrote a magni- ficent hand -- " the latter qualification largely determining the classification "educated man." Mr. Rigaud lived in a little log rabin near the site of a town named Wilmington, which was laid ont on sertion 4. about a mile southwest of the present Urbana in 1858. This pioneer schoolmaster died in 1848. He was also the county surveyor, and as such laid out Marysville. the first town in the county. in 1847. Hlis school was located about half a mile to
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
the northeast, and a description of the log house in which he taught will apply to every school building of that period and for ten years afterward.
In one end of the log honse was a chimney made of mud and sticks of wood, with earthen hearth inside and fireplace wide enough and deep enough to embrace a four-foot back log, with smaller wood to match. In summer it was sometimes filled with plants and flowers; adapted to a conservatory. For windows part of a log was ent out on either side, the opening being covered with greased paper. Writing benches were made of wide planks : likewise seats and flooring.
FORESTALLED HENRY GEORGE.
The necessity for schools was generally recognized by the early settlers of Benton county, who. in fact, eraved more education for their children than their limited means could supply. Like other home-builders they also objected to the schemes of non-resident land owners to purchase property and then hold on to it for a rise, relying upon the hard and faithful labors of bona fide settlers to bring about such an increase in values. Both to discourage this kind of speculation and to assist them in the building of school houses the assessors fixed upon the plan of placing an especially high value upon such tracts of land, taxing it about as high as improved property. It is said that several of the townships of Benton county were among the first in lowa to adopt this policy. which was a forestalling of one of Henry George's pet theories to "tax land speenlators out of existence." The story is told that one non-resident easterner, who held several tracts in Kane town- ship, came west in 1857 to investigate the high rate of taxation. He finally complained to a resident of the township that he had paid enough taxes to build two or three school houses. The settler thereupon posted him as to the method pursued in organizing school districts, and added that "sometimes the people changed their minds after the tax was levied and borrowed the money back."
BENTON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.
The schools in Benton county were first systematized under the general legislative act of March 20. 1858, by which each eivil township was made a school district. the office of county superin- tendent was created and appropriations were made in aid of
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teachers' institutes. Various improvements have been made upon the organie law. As it now applies, Benton county is divided into ten school townships, ten rural independent district townships and twelve independent city, town or village corporations, each governed by its board of directors. School officers may be of either sex and women may vote for issuing bonds for school purposes, or for in- creasing tax levy. . No member of the board may receive compensa- tion for any work done for the district in any capacity. The scheme of education provides that the effect of stimulants, poisons and nareoties and vocal music shall be taught in every school, and that the Bible shall not be excluded. As a means of beantifying the school grounds and encouraging tree culture in a prairie state, the regulation is also in force that each corporation shall cause twelve trees to be set out and protected on each school house site. Compulsory attendance is a part of the Iowa school law, and library funds are created by withholding from the semi-annual apportion- ment from five to fifteen cents for each pupil residing in the school corporation. As the result of the sad experience of comparatively recent years the doors of all school buildings in the cities and towns of Benton county. and all other sections of the state, are required to open outward.
FIRST TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.
The Teachers' Association which was organized at Vinton in 1857 held only a few meetings. but on August 29, 1859. the first Teachers' Institute ever held in the county began its session at that place, under authority of the state law. The principal addresses were delivered by Prof. D. F. Wells. Amos Dean and Dr. J. L. Enos, and an association was formed with Julins Stevens as presi- dent : Miss Jennie Kiddoo and James Irving, vice presidents; A. E. McQuaid. secretary; and J. Austin, treasurer. As this was the
organization of what has become one of the strongest features of the county's educational system the names of those in attendance are given, the list forming quite a complete list of the public school teachers in 1859: Salina Blackburn. Frances Scott, Mary A. Brooks, Margaret C. Jenks. Jane L. Wilson. Flora Wilson, Mary L. Shutts. Jane Hudson, Anna Matthews. Sarah Meskinens, Mrs. Ann Reed. Mary Spafford. Ann Brown. Margaret Pyne. Salina Heddin, Mary Kirkpatrick. Sarah Simpson. Maria Dickinson, Ellen Boyden, Mary Ann MeCamron. Daniel Wood. Andrew Martin. Amos Rogers, James HTellar, W. C. Parmeter. L. Clingham. John F. Pyne. Nathan
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
Rice. N. C. Keys, W. C. Connell, A. C. McQuaid, George L. States. F. D. Dean, S. Stiekney, R. L. Rowe, J. S. Eberhart. A. Eberhart. M. Hartwell. G. B. Gill, J. L. Davis, S. Wood. J. K. Thompson. B. F. Page, Amos N. Dean. Joel J. Long. Sherman Tracy, Syreno O. Eaton. Jacob Austin, A. J. Dickinson. S. Rowe and David Martin. Fifty-two in all. At the second session, also held in Virton. eighty teachers were in attendance. The first superintendent of schools of Benton county was Joseph Dysart. who went into off e under the act of March 20, 1858.
SCHOOL TOWNSHIPS.
The present superintendent. J. W. Jones, has the county schools well systematized, and is a tireless and skilful worker. Under the legal classification. following are the ten school town- ships, with number of teachers, attendance and enrollment in each township :
Township
Teachers
Attendance
Enrollment
Big Grove
9
119
170
Bruce
S
85
99
Eldorado
8
80
128
Florence
6
87
115
Fremont
11
121
196
Harrison
6
68
104
Le Roy
7
69
104
Monroe
9
90
155
Taylor
9
88
146
U'nion
9
95
127
Total
82
902
1344
CITY AND VILLAGE SCHOOLS.
-
.
Place
Teachers
Attendance
Enrollment
Belle Plaine
17
650
770
Blairstown
5
130
145
Garrison
4
113
145
Keystone
3
78
94
Luzerne
1
12
35
Mt. Auburn
3
65
101
Newhall
2
46
64
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
Place
Teachers
Attendance
Enrollment
Norway
3
95
119
Shellsburg
1
115
146
Urbana
3
87
111
Van Horne
4
92
118
Vinton
21
525
659
Total
70
2008
.
2510
RURAL INDEPENDENT DISTRICTS.
There are 87 rural independent districts, which have 83 teach- ers, with an attendance of 774 pupils and an enrollment of 1,367. One joint district (Irving) is under the supervision of Tama coun- ty and has an attendance of 12 and an enrollment of 32.
A summary of the above figures shows that more than 225 teachers are employed in Benton county, and that out of a total en- rollment of over 5.200 pupils some 3,700 actually are in attendance.
IRVING INSTITUTE.
It is worthy of note that it was within the present joint school district of Irving that the first higher institution of learning in Benton county was founded-this honor belonging to Rev. A. A. Sawin, a Baptist minister of great ability who came from Massachusetts. Irving, on the northwest quarter of section 6, township 82, range 12. was the seventh town to be platted in Ben- ton county, October 10. 1855. In 1862 the following citizens donated of their money, land, materials or labor to the extent named. for the purpose of erecting and maintaining a high school : Levi Marsh. $1,050; George S. Williams, $370; J. M. Yount, $300: Andrew Hale. $290; S. W. Hution. $275; T. G. Arbuthnot, $170; Martin Smith, $150; Samuel Miles, $120; I. R. Compton, $120; E. Thompson. $100. Levi Marsh, as the largest donor and most influential man in the community, was appointed by the subscribers as trustee of the institute. and Mr. Sawin gave bonds to maintain a high school for ten years or refund to those who had donated real estate.
In the spring of 1862 the Irving Institute was opened in Marsh Hall, but in the following year occupied a frame building erected by Mr. Sawin. The foundation of a brick structure was laid in the spring of 1863. and the future of the enterprise seemed bright
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
when it was clouded by the sudden death, from smallpox, of its earnest and gifted president. The widow and her brother, Pro- fessor Lauren A. Scott, of Vermont, thon assumed the responsibility of carrying out Mr. Sawin's contract. Through the energy and faithful offices of Mr. Marsh the necessary funds were collected for the completion of the Institute building, and, with the exception of a short period in 1865, Mr. Scott and Mrs. Sawin continued the school with credit until the expiration of the ten-year contract in 1872. At that time Prof. J. G. Craven became principal and proprietor and, with the assistance of various members of his fam- ily, for many years maintained Irving Institute at a uniformly high standard. It was long considered one of the best preparatory schools in this part of the state, many of its graduates taking prominent rank in college and university.
John G. Craven was one of the best known superintendents of that early school of higher education. After graduating from Miami University at Oxford. Ohio. in 1845. he entered the theolo- gical seminary at Covington. Kentucky, completed his course there- in in 1847. and was ordained to the Baptist ministry in the same vear. For the sucreeding twenty-five years he labored as a clergy- man in Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and lowa, coming to Irving. this county. in 1872. to assume charge of the institute.
BLAIRSTOWN ACADEMY AND SCHOOLS.
The second of the academies to be put in operation in Benton county was the institution at Blairstown. Its original project rs and most liberal contributors were Rev. Geo. Herring, Uriah Keck. Henry Miller. Caleb Carter. Isaiah Morris. G. B. Crandall, Henry Bell. Amos Dean and James Brain. The academy was conducted under the auspices of the Evangelical church. its first board .. i trustees, organized early in 1868, being Rev. W. J. Hahn (princi- pal). Rev. George Herring and Messers. Uriah Keek, Henry Miller. James Brain and G. B. Crandall.
In the spring of 1868 the construction of the building was begun on the academy site. comprising four aeres in the south- eastern part of the town. The two-story structure, 75 by 90 feet in size, was inclosed and roofed during the summer, and it was completed in the fall, being formally dedicated on the first of October. Amos Dean. of Blairstown, made a suitable address on the occasion. and Rev. Mr. Shoutz. of Tipton, followed with appro- priate remarks on "Christian Education." The first term of
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
the academy opened with a good attendance, under the instruction of Rev. W. J. Hahn, assisted by Lloyd Fording, but the debt which had been left upon the building proved too heavy for the Evangel- ical Society to bear. and the property passed into the hands of the sheriff. In 1870 W. S. Shon purchased it at public sale, and during the year of his ownership no school was held. In 1872 Rev. Mr. Raile bought the property in behalf of the Reformed Presbyterian church, and the building was remodeled at a cost of $3.000, but in 1876 the classis of that church also found the property so unrenmnerative that it sold the building and grounds to Pro- fessor John McCarty, a highly educated Irishman who had been principal of the Vinton public schools for three years. Four teachers assisted Professor MeCarty (including his wife) and for many years. under their management and proprietorship, the Blairstown Academy stood remarkably high.
The following testimonial, unanimously signed, was given in 1877, but would apply at any period of the MeCarty administra- tion : "The undersigned, residents of Blairstown and vicinity. take pleasure in giving their testimony to the satisfactory success with which Professor MeCarty and his excellent wife have con- ducted the academy during the past year ; and we would recommend the institution as worthy the patronage of such parents as desire to give their sons and daughters an education to fit them for the various spheres of usefulness that lie open before them in our growing country. The patrons and friends of the school cheer- fully accord to Professor and Mrs. McCarty the merit of first class educators ;and we have no hesitaney in saying that all pupils en- trusted to their guardianship will not fail to receive thorough instruction in all branches of learning they may pursue, and proper care for their morals."
The attendance at Blairstown Academy during the winter term of 1877-78 was seventy-six, and during Professor MeCarty's principalship it considerably exceeded that. The institution re- mained under private management until its suspension in 1894. when Professor Stevenson was in charge.
Blairstown is now accomodated with fine school facilities through its high and grammer courses which are conducted in a substantial and modern building. Freeted in 1904 at a cost of $15.000. The attendance averages 150 pupils. L. O. Worley, the principal. is assisted by four teachers.
The board of education for the Blairstown school corporation in 1910 was as follows: J. H. Ransom, president ; Dr. A. J. Bryant.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
secretary ; A. F. Allen, treasurer; other directors, M. A. Heck, W. E. Davis, M. F. Bruch and G. W. Goss. Jr.
TILFORD COLLEGIATE ACADEMY. VINTON.
In the late fifties earnest efforts were made by leading citizens of Vinton to secure an institution of learning in their midst. As the Presbytery of Iowa was looking for a site for a college. it was considered rather a favorable time to agitate the project. Cedar Rapids, however, best met the requirements of that body. and
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TH.FORD COLLEGIATE ACADEMY, VINTON.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
Parson's Academy was located in that city. On March 1, 1857, articles of incorporation had been filed by John S. Tilford, N. C. Robinson, J. C. Traer. James F. Young, John Shane, John W. Filkins, IT. B. Clingan. L. D. Boardwell. Russell Jones, William H. Bristol and Joseph Young. for the Vinton Collegiate Institute, providing for a capital stock of $10.000. Sixty subscribers placed their names to considerably more than that amount (on paper), but little of a practical nature was accomplished. In September, 1858. a meeting of the stockholders was held, when Rev. N. C. Robinson was president and Joseph Dysart secretary, with A. C. Williams as principal. It appears that a few students were formed into classes under the half-hearted instruction of the latter, but no attempt was made to erect a building. and nothing further was accomplished in actual furtherance of such a project until the win- ter of 1870-1.
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JOHN S. TILFORD.
John S. Tilford, who had come to Vinton twenty years before as one of its first half dozen settlers. had never ceased to labor for the highest interests of his adopted town, and an institution of higher education had continued to be one of the ambitions nearest his heart. Professor S. A. Knapp, the principal of the College for the Blind, which had been located at Vinton, was also deeply interested in the project. Fortunately. also, the latter had among his eastern acquaintances a bright. earnest and stanch Trishman. highly edneated, whom he had first met at Fort Edward Collegiate Institute. New York. The eastern friend had made a deep im- pression on Professor Knapp, and when a special turn in one of Mr. Tilford's property investments promised to result in the dona- tion of grounds for the long-desired institute of learning. the mind of the former instinctively turned to Rev. Thomas Tobin, a Baptist clergyman of New York since 1863. This combination of cireum- stances and men resulted in the founding of the Tilford Collegiate Academy in 1971.
REV. THOMAS TOBIN AND WIFE.
For some time Mr. Tilford had held a heavy mortgage on the grounds of the Agrienltural Society. and in March arrangements were completed with the trustees of that organization by which the land in question was deeded to Mr. Tobin. on condition that he
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
build thereon and conduct an academy for a term of at least five years. The three-cornered correspondence between Mr. Tilford. Professor Knapp and Mr. Tobin had progressed so rapidly and satisfactorily that the last named was in Vinton soon after the ink had dried on Prof. Knapp's last urgent letter to him. According to the mutual agreement the old grounds of the Agricultural So- viety were transferred to him, and he promptly invested all his private means in the enterprise. Within sixty days after he placed foot in Vinton the plan for the academy was completed and thir- teen teams and twenty-five men were at work grading. setting out trees, and preparing the foundation for the building which is now the west part of the Ladies Hall and originally used as a day school only. Within five months from the time of beginning work, Pro- fessor Tobin had completed and furnished the academy; and he . had also demonstrated his energy and persuasive powers in another direction, for he had gone to Vermont, married and returned with a bright, faithful. educated wife, who proved his stanch assistant for many years thereafter. She was formerly Miss Allie C. Griswold, of Casteltown, that state, and in her collegiate work at Vinton attained a high reputation both as an artist and teacher. In the early years he also had the valued assistance of his nephew. Professor T. F. Tobin, who commenced his splendid labors for the college while he was still a sophomore at Cornell University.
In May, 1871, the foundation for the first building had been completed and more than five hundred trees set in the grounds. and so rapidly was the work prosecuted that the dedicatory exer- cises were held on Saturday evening. July 30, the address being delivered by Professor Knapp at Watson's Hall. In the course of his address he quoted the remark originally made by the president of the Fort Edward (N. Y.) Collegiate Seminary when Mr. Tobin had graduated therefrom, to the effect that "he can be depended upon. " The stamp of perfect reliability continued to be clearly defined upon his personality during the thirteen years of his man- agement, and the same trait is the strong feature in the able per- sonality of the nephew, who has been faithfully and successfully engaged in the development of the institution for more than a quarter of a century, until now it ranks as one of the leading western collegiate academies, engaged in educational work pre- paratory to university courses, teaching and business life.
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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
PROF. T. F. TOBIN AND THE PRESENT.
In 1884, soon after his graduation from Cornell. the present head of the institution purchased the buildings, grounds and patronage of the Tilford Collegiate Academy, and since that year he has been its principal and superintendent in every sense of the word. Like his energetic and talented uncle, while he has "made things move," he has also inspired a strong and constant spirit of enthusiasm and loyalty among both students and teachers of the faculty. The attendance of students from a distance soon made it necessary to provide boarding facilities. To supply this need a large addition was made on the east side of the main building for the accommodation of young ladies, and still cast of this a struc- ture was erected for young men. In 1892 was completed the fine three story brick building known as College Hall, its location be- ing diagonal from the original school and its site also donated by J. S. Tilford. Since that time the progress of the institution has been rapid and so substantial that the authorities of the state university, some years ago, placed it on the list of fully accredited schools. Students come from Florida. New York, New Mexico. Kansas. Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan. Missouri and other states. It has a well selected library of over two thousand volumes on the first floor of College Hall. on which is also a well equipped laboratory and the principal's office. The commercial school occupies the entire third floor of the building. and its course embraces not only the usual branches taught in busi- ness colleges but a post-graduate and normal enrriculum for those who wish to teach any or all its branches.
In brief. the Tilford Collegiate Academy is an institution con- dueted for the education of pupils of average means, who desire to become trained and useful members of society. No entranec examinations are required and students can enter at any time and select their own studies. The regular courses, however, are the college preparatory. the teachers'. musical and commercial. each presided over by expert educators in their line, under the superin- tendency of Professor Tobin. There are now two hundred and seventy-five students enrolled in all the courses, with the following faculty: Thomas Francis Tobin, A. M., principal and superin- tendent (Cornell College). professor of psychology. mathematics and didacties; Miss Emma Louise Stone, dean of women (Oberlin College), professor of Latin. modern languages and English litera- ture: Fred S. Seegmiller (Northwestern College. University of
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ILISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
Chicago), professor of mathematics, science and economics; Nilas O. Shively, principal of Business College (North Manchester Busi- ness College. Indiana University ). professor of civies and history : and Miss Eleanor Houts, director of the Conservatory of Music (Conservatory of Music, Cornell College). teacher of piano, normal music and choral work. In this connection it might be added that the organ of the student body is a tasteful and ereditable publication issued for the first time in 1909 and entitled "The Green and Gold" (from the collegiate colors).
VINTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The first school in Vinton (Fremont) was taught in the old court house in the fall of 1852 by George Parish: he also was teaching in the winter term of 1852-3. when the court house burned. During the following summer Miss Jennie Chapin taught in a little brick building on Main street, known as Alexander's office. school house was built before the end of that summer, and in the fall Mrs. Fellows taught the first school in it.
Vinton was organized as an independent school district or corporation in 1861. its first board meeting being held on April 6th. with Joseph Dysart as president and W. W. Hanford secretary. Its bounds were fixed by a committee of the board in consultation with the township district officers. On the 22d of April the board rented the basements of the New School Presbyterian and Metho- dist churches, and on the 4th of the following mouth. E. Bennett. U. E. Traer. Fannie Kiddoo. Nellie Howe and Mrs. J. F. Young were employed as teachers and took possession of these temporary quarters. Messrs. Adams. Webb and Watson. members of the board appointed to look out for a school house site. reported in favor of J. S. Tilford's offer, and in May it was voted to give him an order on the county treasurer as part payment. The building was completed in the fall of 1864 and the board celebrated New Year's day of 1865 by vacating the church basements for school purposes. At the annual election in 1872 it was voted to issue bonds for the erection of a new building in the third ward.
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