USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
As early as 1858, an item appeared in the papers urging parents to send their children to the two free public schools, one on either side of the river. Then a third one was taught in the upper story of the stone building now occupied by the Woodward Department Store. These three schools amply supplied the needs of Independence, but besides these several private academies and seminaries were well attended. The public schools to be sure did not teach the higher branches and were deficient in many of the essentials for education, so all who could afford to do so, availed themselves of the opportunities offered by these academies and seminaries. Elsewhere we have spoken of these private institutions.
367
368
HISTORY OF BUCIIANAN COUNTY
With the establishment of the State Board of Education in 1857, and when it came into full operation in 1859, the school system which previous to that time had been carried on in a slip-shod, haphazard manner, became systematized and gave the school directors some recourse as well as resource, also a haeking and an authority. This was before Independence was incorporated as a city, and more than any other reason the better public schools proposition was primarily the cause for wanting it incorporated, and immediately measures toward that end were taken. Mayor D. S. Lee issued a proclamation in March, 1865, whereby an ordinance in relation to forming a separate school district in Independence should be voted upon, and the ordinance passed. The first school meeting for Washing- ton Township was held on Monday afternoon, March 13, 1865. at the courthouse. Clinton Wilson was chairman and Mr. Robinson, secretary, It was voted to raise $600.00 for a new schoolhouse in sub-distriet No. 7, $800.00 for one in sub-district No. 8, besides $110.00 for improvements in sub-district No. 1.
At the first school election in 1865, Rev. J. M. Boggs was elected president ; P. C. Wilcox, vice president ; Edward Brewer, treasurer; L. W. Hart, secretary ; James Forrester, C. F. Leavitt and W. S. Chase, directors. It also was voted to delegate full powers to the board, which has continued till now.
In this as in all other necessary and progressive moves, the newspapers were the advance gnard and fortunately the editors of both the Guardian and Civilian were ambitious, enterprising, progressive men, who boosted for good schools con- tinuonsly and conscientiously, early and late, and finally educated the publie to see the urgent demand of new and better school facilities. Not only for the bene- fit of the established population, but for the prospective population, who, with good publie schools. besides all our other natural advantages and attractions, might be induced to locate here, and naturally these things attracted a better class of citizens. In 1865, the school board had determined to build at least one, and if possible two, new schoolhouses, one on each side of the river. For months there had been such a deficieney of school room that it was necessary to have two separate sets of scholars, one for forenoons and the other afternoons, in the school next the courthouse, and like arrangements would soon have to be made on the West Side. So in June, 1866, the school board voted to build the first school- house on the East Side and large enough to seat 400 pupils. and establish a graded school.
Quite a bit of controversy ensued as to where it should be located, but finally it was agreed to build it on the block east of the Methodist Church, a site that was eminently adapted for the purpose, high and sightly, overlooking the whole town and fitly surrounded by academic trees, as the papers stated. The grounds con- sisted on only the four north lots, and it was not until 1865 that the contract to build the school was let to Mr. Samuel Sherwood for $17,000. It was to be en- closed the first season and finished in eighteen months and in the summer of 1867 it was completed and a graded schoot established in it that fall, with five rooms and six teachers beside the principal.
The building was of brick, three stories high, besides a basement. It cost with furniture and feneing for the grounds about twenty thousand dollars. About five hundred dollars was spent on constructing the fence, sidewalk, grading and setting out trees. But this building proved inadequate and it was found neees- sary to hire additional school rooms besides occupying the old school building
369
HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
near the courthouse. One school was held in the east lower room of the Morse Block just west of the Plunket IIotel.
The first records of the proceedings of the Board of Directors of the Inde- pendent District of Independence date back to March 16, 1868. On that date the following officers and members elect were qualified and took their seats: Albert Clarke, president : H. A. King, vice president; I. P. Henshaw, secretary ; Edwin Cobb, treasurer; I. L. Winegar, director. James Forrester, D. S. Deering were the other members re-elected to serve on this 1868 board.
The board consisted of five members just as now, but then the secretary and treasurer took part in the deliberations of the board and voted. The names of the previous board and all of their transactions probably were not kept in record books and the pages have been scattered, or if in books they have been lost, for at this first meeting the secretary was directed to buy a suitable book for keeping the records and these are the first we have been able to find, although we have made diligent search. At this time the new school had just been completed and the principal business of this board was to pay the bills. Jerry Connelly was the first janitor at $32.00 per month. Mr. Wilson Palmer was superintendent at that time and continued in this position until 1872. At this first meeting Miss Mary E. Dickson was elected as second assistant principal at a salary of $350 per annum. Miss S. E. Homans, when the graded schools were established, diseon- tinned "Oakwood," her private girls' seminary and accepted a position as principal of the grammar school at $50.00 per month. Other of the early teachers were Miss Emma Butterfield, Miss Bowers, Miss Dickey, Miss Baldwin, Miss Deering, Miss Gillespie, Miss Kate Wilson and Mrs. P. H. Farr. The salary of each of these teachers was $35.00 per month with the exception of Miss Homans, who received $50.00 and the superintendent got $150.00 per month. Compared with present wages and the difference in cost of living expense, this was a very good wage. In contrast to these wages were some of the janitor's bills, one for building fires and sweeping briek schoolhouse in the First Ward for term- seventy days at 10 cents per day. And this before woman's suffrage and advanced pay. Miss Wilson, afterwards Mrs. W. H. Chamberlain, and now a resident of San Diego, California, was the teacher of the West Side School. Mrs. P. H. Farr taught the Primary School in the First Ward. The names of Miss Fannie Mason (now Mrs. Rogers, still a resident of Independence), Miss Matikdla Boardman, Mrs. Addie Lucky, Mrs. W. F. Reynolds and Mrs. F. L. Tripp were other names which appeared on the pay roll of the Independence schools. The furnace in this first building proved very unsatisfactory and a great deal of trouble ensued between the company from whom it was bought and the school board, but after months the differences were finally adjusted by the company agreeing to make it work according to the guarantee. The principal was authorized to admit tuition scholars in the grammar department until the seats were all filled, and also such other pupils as were willing to prepare for recitation outside of school.
The tuition was $6.50 a term or 50 cents per week. The school board met at the new schoolhouse on the last Saturday of each month at 7 o'clock P. M. In the spring term there were eight tuition scholars in the Independence schools. The school terms were as follows: the fall term commenced usually about Septem- ber 7th and continued ten weeks. After a vacation of two weeks, the winter term started the first of December and continued fifteen weeks, then after another two Vol. J -24
370
HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
weeks' vacation, the spring term began about April 1st and continued twelve weeks, or until about the last of June. This made thirty-seven weeks of school. The terms of the school year continued so until in October, 1871, the principal and teachers petitioned the school directors to change the terms as follows, to have the fall term commence on the first Monday in September, continue sixteen weeks. The winter term to commence two weeks after the elose of the fall term and continue twelve weeks. The spring term to commence one week after the close of the winter term and continue twelve weeks, making a total of forty weeks. This petition was granted by the board. Just this same arrangement and length of terms was continued for many years. Now the time of starting and closing terms is governed entirely by the board and no set time is observed, just so thirty- six weeks of school are held. At the meeting September 28, 1868, a motion was made by Director Roszell that the school board purchase a site for a schoolhouse on the west side of the river, which carried. The price was not to exceed twelve hundred dollars, and by October 13th, a contract had been made with Allen Fargo for the purchase of block 22, Bartles second addition to Independence, where the West Side School now is. For the spring term of 1869, there were thirty-one tuition scholars-the tuition for the entire year averaged about three hundred and fifty dollars. The number of teachers had increased to nine and the schools to four, but with these four schools, the First Ward, the Morse's Block School, the new graded East side building, and the Third Ward School, there was still a scarcity of room so that scholars could not be advanced properly, and it was pro- posed by the board to borrow $15,000 at a rate of interest not to exceed 10 per cent, to build a schoolhouse on the site they had purchased on the West Side. This building was to be of brick and capable of seating not less than four hundred scholars. This proposition when submitted to the voters carried. Also a tax of 5 mills on the dollar on all the taxable property in the school district. The plans adopted were similar to the schoolhouse at Manchester, and consisted of the main part. 56 feet long by 36 feet wide, which forms the center now, and an east wing 14 feet wide and 32 feet long, both parts were three stories high. Mr. D. S. Deering was the architeet.
Not until 1869 did the school board require the teachers to hold a first class certifieate. Before this schoolhouse was built, more rooms had to be rented. In one room there were ninety-six pupils and only sixty-three desks.
The contraet for this school was let to Messrs. Deering and Tyson for $16,500 -this being the least of four sealed bids submitted, but owing to a change in the roof plans they declined to build it for that amonnt. More bids were accepted and finally the contract was awarded to G. A. & M. J. Baker for $17,850. Mr. Joslin was hired to superintend the construction of the building. The building was completed and in the fall of 1870 was ready for occupancy. Thereupon the First and Third Ward schools were elosed and the houses and lots were to be sold, also the Morse Block School was discontinued. The First Ward School lots were sold to Buchanan County for the sum of $600, the distriet to remove the building thereon and grade the ground ; the building was sold for $25. The Third Ward lots were sold to H. B. Brownell for $500, possession to be given as soon as possible. E. S. Wilcox was elected the first janitor in the new building at a salary of $30 per month and continued in this position for sixteen years, although he was transferred to the East Side Building
371
HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
the next year with an increase of $10 per month, making it $40. After one year there he was transferred back to the West Side and back and forth from one side to the other several times. The following teachers were employed to fill these new positions : Miss Emma Butterfield held the place of first assistant principal, Miss Hester A. White (afterwards Mrs. Arch. Fisher) as second assistant principal. Miss Eliza Butterfield assigned to the second intermediate department, Miss Matilda Boardman in the first intermediate department, Miss Amanda J. Brown in the second primary, Miss Maggie Cooper in the first primary. These additional teachers raised the total number employed to thir- teen, aside from the principal. Wilson Palmer was retained as principal of both graded sehools at a salary of $150 per month. Just two out of the fourteen teachers were men. The first foreign language to be introduced was in 1870, when German was added to the school enrriculum of the "upper room," as it was then called. J. G. Schaible was employed to teach it at a salary of $20 per month. The grades consisted of the primary, the intermediate and the grammar department.
The trees which so handsomely shade and adorn our school grounds were not a "happenstance" as we might be led to suppose, but were earefully planted and mirtured by our painstaking and far-sighted school directors of over forty years ago. One bill of $50.60 for trees and labor was for 100 maples at 20 cents apiece and 32 elins at 25 cents, and another bill a little later of $64 for trees, all of which had been planted in and around the East and West Side school grounds and then had to be properly boxed at an added expense, and this was not the last expense attached to the tree proposition as they were continually dying and had to be replaced. Then flower beds were added to beantify the grounds, on which the board expended quite a bit of money.
It strikes us that these early day school directors were a very generous, progressive lot of men and fully appreciated the beneficent effect of pleasant, comfortable and artistic surroundings. Organs were furnished the grammar grades, and numeral tables for the primaries, charts, maps, dictionaries and many other useful and progressive things were added to the equipment of the schools, the best and most comfortable curved back seats procurable, furnace heat, and pleasant, shady, decorated grounds in which to play-all were supplied for both the pleasure and profit of the scholars.
Some of the resolutions of the board in those early days seem rather peculiar now. One reads, "That no announcements shall be made in the public schools of this district of any coneert. lecture, exhibition or entertainment given for pay, except such as are of a local character and given for charitable or religious purposes."
In 1872 the board appointed a special committee to revise the rules and regulations for the government of the schools. There were twenty-five sections to the document and many of these early rules obtain in the present form of government. One rule which differed from present school laws was Section 20, a part of which read: "No pupil shall be punished by being detained during recess or after school hours." In three months' trial of this the rule was amended by adding the following, "Pupils in the grammar rooms may be detained after school hours, not to exceed fifteen minutes." Years after the words "not to exceed fifteen minutes" were stricken out. This, too, must cer-
372
HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
tainly have proved unsatisfactory, for, to the writer's certain knowledge it had become obsolete before 1885 or else was not in vogue with the teachers, at any rate an unenforced rule. Nowadays the teachers are allowed to keep the pupils after school hours either for discipline or to make up work. Another rule now obsolete is Section 25, which reads as follows: "Each department shall be opened by reading of Seriptures, but all questions of a sectarian character shall be carefully left out of the school." This requirement of Scriptural readings has been discarded and the selection of opening exercises is optional with the teachers. This was a great advancement, as the compulsory reading was very offensive to some creeds and engendered much opposition and con- troversy.
Another difference was in the school hours. The morning session commenced at 9 A. M. and closed at 12 o'clock, just as it has ever since ; in the higher grades the afternoon session commenced at half past one and continued until 4:30 P. M., a half hour longer than it does now, but the primary and lower grades have been dismissed at different and earlier times. At this present term the high school begins its afternoon session at 1:15 o'clock. No allusion was made to corporal punishment ; evidently this was left to the discretion of the teacher, and accord- ing to history they all firmly believed in the old adage-"Spare the rod and spoil the child"-and adhered strictly to that principle. In 1874 an additional regulation for the government of the schools, that corporal punishment shall not be inflicted on the day of the commission of the offense, but shall be post- poned until the following school day, giving time for repentance to the pupil and reflection for the teacher. In 1884 certain specified punishments were forbidden. The teachers now are not constrained by rules in regard to punish- ment of refractory pupils but are supposed to maintain order and obedience and, if necessary, to enforce compliance to the rules, but to do so with moderate and reasonable methods. The superintendent adjusts most of the difficulties between teachers and pupils, and in the general advancement along all lines the discipline in the schools is much easier and better than it was years ago.
In March, 1872. E. W. Purdy's name first appeared as a member elect, and he continued a member for twenty-four years.
11. P. Henshaw, who had been the secretary from 1868 until 1870 was elected president of the board from '72 to '73.
In March, 1872. Wilson Palmer tendered his resignation as principal of the Independence schools, to take effeet when his contract expired, in December, 1872. He had filled the position of principal for five years in a most satisfactory and conscientious manner and the school board regretted his departure.
James MeNanghton was employed as principal for the year 1873 at a salary of $1,500, but his health failed and J. K. Pieket was employed to fill the vacancy until Mr. MeNaughton had sufficiently reenperated to resume the position, but the school board saw fit to employ him for the entire year.
Even so far back as the year 1872 the universal book idea was a vibrant issue. The county superintendent, Prof. E. H. Ely. had requested that the school board appoint one delegate to represent the Independent School District in a committee to meet for the purpose of selecting and adopting a list of text books to be used in all the schools throughout the county.
373
HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
In September, 1872, a convention of county superintendents was held for three days in Independence and the grammar departments were closed one day for the county fair, as is customary now.
A night school of penmanship was conducted by W. HI. Baker in the West Side Grammar Room in the fall of 1872, and one by K. Cameron on the East Side.
In 1873 the number of teachers had increased to fourteen besides the principal.
In January, 1873, the grammar schools became so crowded that pupils in the C elass on the East Side were transferred to the West Side and the scholars on the West Side pursuing the higher branches were transferred to the high school on the East Side. Professor McNaughton made a number of reeom- mendations to the school board, among them that books be procured in which to record the names of the pupils of the different departments and their promotions from time to time. That the teachers be required to make weekly reports and hold monthly examinations and report results to the principal.
That teachers' meetings be established to be held every two weeks. These were innovations in the way of conducting the schools, but the board adopted all except three of his eleven recommendations.
In the fall term of 1873, the first primary grade on the East Side was so crowded that only a portion could attend each half day and the high school classes were transferred to the grammar room on the West Side. The board concluded to employ two principals for the spring term of 1874, one for either side of the river; Mr. Picket was retained as principal, but only of the East Side School, and Miss Emma Butterfield of the West Side School. Mr. Picket officiated just one term in this capacity and W. G. Brainard was elected to fill the position at $90 per month. Miss E. S. Homans was assistant principal of the East Side School and Mrs. Il. A. Fisher of the West Side. Both principals and teachers were only employed by the term and each new term found a long list of applications to dispose of. (Now teacher's contraets are for the year.) In May, 1875, the board returned to their former policy of employing a "super- intendent of schools," and L. W. Graydon was elected for the next school year at a salary of $1,200. In May, 1876, he resigned and H. L. Grant, who had been assistant principal of the East Side Grammar Department for the term previous, was elected to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term, although the board was petitioned by the citizens of Independence to have Wilson Palmer appointed. At the beginning of that school year in September, 1876, the secretary took the school census and reported the number of scholars between the ages of five and twenty-one years was 1,210-males 561, females 649. He also reported that there is no record of the formation of the Independent School District of Inde- pendence. The secretary had been authorized to procure an abstract of these proceedings on account of Washington Township wishing help from the Inde- pendent Distriet. (Jf said information had been properly recorded, it would have saved the present historian hours of research.)
About the year 1876 the board began to be more particular about the qualifications of teachers, and required them to pass examinations in such branches as the board prescribed. These examinations to be conducted by a committee appointed by the board. The committee appointed by the president
374
HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
to examine teachers consisted of W. E. Parker, county superintendent ; William Elden, and O. H. P. Roszell. Three grades of certificates were granted, one for primary, one for grammar and one for high school grades, but the two higher certificates required the holder to pass examinations in all the branches of the lower grades.
These grades were very similar to and embraced nearly all the branches taught in the country graded schools now. Probably the greatest differenee was in the grammar grade, which then included a course in botany, English litera- ture and elementary algebra, and two terms had been added to the course. The high school grade embraced natural philosophy, natural history of animals, botany, algebra, geometry and Latin. All scholars coming from other schools were required to pass an examination before a committee, which consisted of the principal of each school and a member of the school board. Now scholars are admitted on their credentials. Two sets of Chambers' Encyclopedia were purchased, one for each school, and various mechanical apparatus to facilitate study in the advanced branches. And although they were increasing their apparatus and school supplies, their heating apparatus in both schools was the poorest ; both furnaces had given out and the board had resorted first to coal and then to wood stoves. For some unexplainable reason the board sold the coal (some of which was already in the bins) and the coal stoves and bought wood stoves in their place-although wood was $5 and $6 a cord and it took fifty cords a winter for each school. Not until 1876 were any printed blanks used in the public schools, every report was written out in full.
E. W. Elden became the next superintendent. being elected for the school year beginning September, 1876, and continuing until June, 1877, at a salary of $1,500, and he was reelected for the next year for the same salary and the next at a reduced salary and each succeeding year thereafter they redneed his salary. He continued in office until 1881, but failed of reeleetion and three superin- tendents, one of each school, took his place. Probably at his suggestion the course of study was revised in the schools and one year's work was designated as completing a grade, and the promotions which previously had been at the end of each term were postponed until the close of the first month of the winter terin, 1877. The first diplomas granted under this new system were to Maude A. Durham (now Mrs. C. E. Purdy). Helen A. Main and Adda P. Hammond in June, 1877. We have previously mentioned the following proposition which was submitted by L. J. Curtis on behalf of the directors of Washington Township "that the City District be at one-half the expense of putting up a schoolhouse on section 27 in the District Township of Washington, and when the house is so built that said section 27 be placed in the district township for school purposes." The question was submitted to the electors of the Independent School District of Independence, at their annual meeting in March, 1877, in the following form: "Shall the directors of this district issue bonds in the form specified by law not exceeding $10,000 for the purchasing of suitable lots and ererting thereon a schoolhouse for the use of said district ?" This proposition carried by a vote of 313 for and 130 against. The number of pupils of school age in the district had inereased from 1,210 to 1,242 in one year and to 1,284 the next, and every year there was an inerease, so more school room was soon to be, if not already, a necessity. So the board proceeded to hunt for suitable grounds for a new
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.