USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 109
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 109
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"Having been county superintendent six years, my position has enabled me to watch the practical workings of our school sys- tem. We may justly feel proud of our common schools. They are the surety and defense of our national life, and the effi- cient means of our national prosperity. We ought to do all that we can to sustain them and to increase their efficiency.
"My experience has suggested some im- provements in our school work, and some amendments to our school laws.
"It must be confessed by those that are acquainted with school reports, that there is a painful waste of school money, or rather, a loose and careless way of keeping account of school money. School boards, and especially district treasurers, fail in many cases, to keep and give a correct account of school money that comes into their hands. To remedy this, the county. superintendent should be made the guar- dian of all school money.
"It seems to me that some changes might be profitably made in the duties of the county superintendent, both in examining teachers and in visiting schools. As the law now stands, one day in every month, and only one, is provided for examination of teachers. In the spring and in the fall, more time is needed for this work than in mid-winter and mid-summer. Further, the law requires the superintendent to visit
every school in the county, large or small, whether doing well or not. More discre- tion should be given him in this matter.
"My work has been to me exceedingly pleasant in every department of my labor -in examining teachers-in visiting schools-in talking to children-in visit- ing with their parents-in counseling with school directors-in gathering up the statistics and keeping a record of the schools-in working out the various re- ports, and in conducting the extensive cor- respondence of the office. Teachers have been uniformly kind and courteous to me in my official work, and school directors and other officers have been always ready to carry out my plans or to engage in any work that promises to increase the effi- ciency of our schools.
"In visiting schools, I have necessarily been much from home, but have always found a pleasant home among the friends of the schools. I have traveled over the county a great many times, aud have found the hospitality of teachers and patrons pe- culiarly generous and cordial. I owe a debt of gratitude to the people of Bremer county that I can never repay. I shall ever hold them in grateful remembrance."
PRESENT CONDITION.
From the last statistical report available, a number of items have been collected, which will show conclusively the present condition of educational matters in Bre- mer county :
REPORT OF 1880.
Number of district townships in the county 6
Number of independent districts. 59
Number of sub-districts. 43
.
984
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
Total number of districts.
108
Number of ungraded schools in
the
county
100
Number of rooms in the graded schools ..
19
Average term of schools in the county ...
7.40
Number of male teachers employed in the
county
51
Number of female teachers.
151
- Total number of teachers
202
Average monthly compensation to male teachers. $28.04
Female teachers.
$22.00
Total number of children in county be-
tween ages of five and twenty-one years. 5, 255
Total number of pupils enrolled in the
schools of the county.
3,935
Total average atteudance
2,310
Average cost of tuition per month, per
pupil.
$1.30
Number of school houses in the county-
frame, 91; brick, 9; stone, 8; total.
108
Total value of houses.
$81,090
Total value of apparatus.
$2,309
Total number of certificates issned during 1880 130
Of which were professional. 24
First grade.
40
Second grade
110
Number of applicants rejected.
56
Average age of female applicants.
19
Average age of male applicants.
24
As to the financial condition of school matters, below is presented the account of the county treasurer, with the various funds pertaining to it, for the year ending December 31, 1882:
TEACHERS' TAX.
To balance from last report. $1,653 90
To amount of tax collected.
18,221 59
$19,875 49
Contra.
By amount paid school treasurers. $17,758 50
By balance on hand.
2,116 99
$19,875 49
CONTINGENT SCHOOL TAX.
To balance from last report.
$ 583 92
To amount of tax collected.
7,119 05
Contra.
$7,702 97
By amount paid school treasurers
$6,904 11
By balance en hand ..
798 86
$7,702 97
SCHOOL HOUSE TAX.
To balance from last report.
$
336 62
To amount of tax collected. .
3,695 56
$4,032 18
Contra.
By amount paid school treasurer.
$3, 825 99
By balance on hand.
206 19
$4,032 18
PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND.
To balance from last report.
$1, 788 62
By amount received on notes
8,940 00
$10,728 62
Contra.
By amount re-loaned
$6,660 00
By balauce on hand.
4,068 62
$10, 728 62
SCHOOL FUND INTEREST.
To balance from last report.
$3,214 12
To amount of interest collected.
4,191 57
$7,405 69
Contra.
By transfer to State Revenue.
$932 38
By apportioned to schools.
2,037 94
By transfer to county fund.
3,000 00
By balance ou hand.
1,435 37
$7,405 69
SCHOOL FUND APPORTIONMENT.
To balance from last report. .
$877 66
To amount received from tax levy.
3,003 28
To amount received from penal fines.
160 89
To amount received from interest ....
2,037 94
$6,079 87
-
1
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
985
Contra.
By paid school treasurers. $5,359 01
By balance on hand.
720 76
$6,079 87
COUNTY SCHOOL TAX.
To amount from last report. 89
To amount of tax collected. . $3,191 11
$3,192 00
Contra.
By amount apportioned to school. . . $3,003 28
By balance on liand.
188 72
$3,192 00
FIRST TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.
At a meeting of the friends of education, held at Waverly, October 7, 1858, it was unanimously resolved that it was expe- - dient to hold a teachers' institute in said village, and the first week in November, was selected as the time for holding the same.
The first issue of the Waverly Republi- can; published after the meeting, gave the following account of the proceedings:
The first Teachers' Institute was held in Wa- verly, November 1st, 1858, at which some fifty teachers werc in attendance. Wc desire to say here, however, that the Institute was a very pleasant and profitable occasion, not only to the teachers themselves, but to many outsiders. The ordinary exercises were conducted with much spirit and ability by the Rev. A. K. Moul- ton, as principal; Isaac High, of Janesville, E. C. Moulton, of Waverly, and L. F. Goodwin, of Douglas, as assistants. The exercises embraced all the branches ordinarily brought within the scope of the common schools.
Resolutions adopted by the teachers of the common schools of Bremer county, at the session of the Teachers' Institute held at Waverly during the week, ending on Saturday, the 6th inst .:
Resolved, That we, the members of the Teach- ers' Institute, tender our sincere thanks to the citizens of Waverly for the hospitality so mag- nificently extended to us while attending said Institute; to our efficient superintendent, A. K. Moulton, for the apposite suggestions he pre- sented upon the subject of school government; to those other gentlemen who addressed us with so much ability on several occasions, and Mrs. L. W. Thickstun, and those assisting her, for music executed in the highest style of that ex- quisite science, with which they gratuitously favored the Institute.
Resolved, That all teachers who absent them- selves from the Teachers' Institute, either from an egotistical selfishness, or from a consciousness of inefficiency, are not deemed by us as suffi- ciently progressive to teach school in the State of Iowa.
Resolved, That we earnestly desire to assemble annually in the capacity of a Teachers' Institute, and to this end we hereby solicit the County Su- perintendent to convene another Institute on the last Monday of October, A. D. 1859, at snch place in this county as to him shall seem most expedient.
Resolved, That as teachers we will endeavor to elevate the standard of common school in- struction in Bremer connty, by qualifying our- selves to the full extent of our opportunities, for the more perfect discharge of those grave duties and responsibilities which our profession impo- scs upon us.
Resolved, That the present superintendent and - his successors in office, be requested to require of all candidates for certificates as thorough a knowledge of the branches required by law to be taught in common schools, as he or they can do, and yet supply the schools of the county with resident teachers.
Resolved, That we concur in the sentiments expressed by Dr. Burbank, that the use of to- bacco is a filthy and injurious habit, and hold that it should be discontinued and abandoned by all teachers.
Signed,
E. C. MOULTON, Chairman of Committee.
986
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
NORMAL INSTITUTES.
Under an act passed by the General As- sembly in 1873, it was made a part of the duty of county superintendents to hold each year, a normal institute in their respective counties, for the pur- pose of instructing teachers, and thus ele- vating the efficiency of the county schools. The funds for carrying on the institute are raised in various ways-partly by the teacher's examination fee, and the institute fee. This fund is under the direct con- trol of the county superintendent, and is paid out by the county treasurer upon his order.
The first normal institute of Bremer county was held at the high school build- ing in Waverly, commencing August 24th and lasting until September 5th, 1874. There were 124 teachers present and the institute passed off very satisfactorily. The officers were as follows: Manager, H. H. Burrington, superintendent; instructors, Prof. Irwin Shepard, D. C. Chamberlin and Miss Elie M. Washburn; treasurer, D. C. Chamberlin; secretaries, Delia J. Far- rington and Emma J. Chamberlin.
Since this time an institute has been held each year, with increasing interest and success; demonstrating beyond doubt, the success of the system. Eaclı year they have grown in attendance and the effect is plainly visible in the records of examination.
The last normal institute was held at Waverly, in 1882, commencing on August 14th, and lasting until August 27th. There were 126 members. The officers were as follows: Conductor, county superintend- ent, D. C. Chamberlin; secretary, Jennie
Benton Dean; instructors, A. W. Stewart, R. S. Holway, G. G. Lampson, and E. C. Bennett. State Superintendent Akers de- livered the lecture upon the occasion, and in regard to him the following entry is made upon the record books of the insti- tute:
"The session was made memorable by the presence of our State Superintendent, whom, having never seen, we were desir- ous to welcome. Mr. Akers was weary from traveling and much speaking, but said that the presence of such a body of teachers inspired him, so that he forgot his weariness. The words he uttered will not soon be forgotten, and we are sure he gained many warm friends among the teachers. His lecture in the evening was excellent, and well attended."
BREMER COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.
This association was organized in 1878. The constitution declared the object to be, "the improvement of its members in the science of teaching, and in the most ap- proved practice; the diffusing of informa- tion upon the system of common school education among the people, and promot- ing harmony of feeling; and the greatest possible advancement in scientific and general information." Meetings were to be held on the third Saturday in each month, at places decided upon by the asso- ciation.
The first meeting entered upon the records of the association was held in the. school house at Tripoli, on the 18thi of October, 1878, with D. C. Chamberlin,
-
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
987
president of the association, in the chair; Mary Kenny, acting secretary. A. H. Bcals was clected vice-president.
For several years meetings were held quite regularly, but at present the active work of the association has ceased:
1
CHAPTER XV.
TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY AND AGRICULTURAL.
The county of Bremer lies in the north- eastern portion of the State of Iowa, threc tiers of counties from both the north and east State lines. It is sur- rounded by the counties of Chickasaw, Fayette, Black Hawk and Butler, respec- tively on the north, east, south and west. Bremer is among the smallest counties in the State, embracing only twelve congres- sional townships. The territory comprised arc townships 91, 92 and 93, north of ranges 11, 12, 13 and 14, west of the fifth principal meridian. Thus making it 18 miles across from north to south, by 24 miles from east to west containing, 276,- 480 acres, or 432 square miles. This ter- vitory is divided into civil townships as follows: Sumner, Dayton, Franklin, Le- roy, Fremont, Maxfield, Frederika, Doug" las, Warren, Jefferson,' Polk, Lafayette, Washington and Jackson.
The surface of Bremer county is beauti- fully diversified with prairie and timber land. It is generally level with the grace- ful undulations so common to prairie
countries. This, of course, is somewhat different in the vicinity of the streams, where the rolling tendency is increased to a sufficient extent to be termed hilly. But the locations are few where there are breaks in the surface sufficiently abrupt to be detrimental to agriculture. This whole region of Iowa has long borne the reputa- tion of being one of the finest in all the great State. The "Valley of the Cedar" has a wide renown as the "garden spot of Iowa," and the "Gem of Iowa Waters" is a term very frequently applied to the Cedar. As to the soil and geological for- mation of this region, an alluvial deposit, averaging about three feet deep, resting upon a bed of blue clay, varying in depth from ten to one hundred fect, below which limestone rock is invariably found, forms the general geological structure of the county. The soil is for the most part & rich, dark, adhesive loam, underlaid by a mixed clay and gravel subsoil. Limestone rock, of excellent quality, easily quarried and wrought, abounds, and has for many
988
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
years received the attention of a good deal of energy and capital. It admits of a fine polish, and endures the action of the weather without deterioration in color or texture; makes good lime, and possesses strong hydraulic properties. Choice corals of manifold formations are found in great number near the Cedar river, in the vicinity of Waverly. Very fine chrystalizations and petrifactions are likewise obtained, from twelve to seventy feet below the surface, all over the county. Brick-clay and sand exist in abundance.
The county is well watered, and in all parts of it excellent well water can be ob- tained in abundance at various depths rang- ing from eighteen to eighty feet. Several streams, each pursuing a more or less southeasterly course, intersect every township, without exception. Cedar River, the principal stream, finds its source in Minnesota, and enters the county in the northwestern corner and traversing the townships of Polk, LaFayette, Washington and Jackson-the western tier-it crosses the line and passes into Black Hawk county, at about midway of the southern line of the township last mentioned. The transparently clear waters of the Cedar have a rapid flow over a limestone bed, between banks that, although high, are seldom precipitous.
Its bottom lands have a general eleva- tion above the highest rise of freshets, and the stream furnishes a water power suffi- cient to propel a vast amount of machinery, which does not fail, even at the lowest stage of water.
The next stream in importance is the main Wapsipinicon, which also rises in Minnesota. It likewise enters the county
from the north, at nearly the center of the northern boundary, running thence through the townships of Donglas, Frederika, Fremont, Dayton and Franklin,and crosses into Black Hawk county, at a distance west from the southeast corner of Bremer county about three miles. It has sufficient fall to render it valuable for mill power, with a constant and steady flow over a sandy and pebbled bottom. Unlike those of the Cedar, the bottom lands of the Wapsipinicon, are low, extending a good distance back from the stream and are subject to overflow. Next to the main Wapsipinicon ranks the Little Wapsipini- con. Rising in Chickasaw county, it crosses the northeastern corner of Bremer on its way to Fayette county. Returning, it enters Bremer and crosses portions of Sumner and Dayton townships, and again enters Fayette county, pursuing a southerly course near the Bremer county line, and finally empties into the main Wapsipini- con in Buchanan county.
The Shell Rock River, scarcely inferior in size and beauty to the Cedar, crosses the southwestern corner of the county. Its mill power is abundant and its beauty re- nowned. Its confluence with the Cedar takes place in the northwestern part of Black Hawk county.
Originally, about one-sixth of the entire surface of Bremer county was covered with variously large and small bodies of excellent timber, well distributed. Twen- ty-six thousand acres of heavy oak, ash, maple, elm, locust, black walnut, and other varieties, each variety of the largest growth and of the best quality were com- prised in the lower Big Woods, lying wholly within the county, on the east side
.
/
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
989
of the Cedar river near the southern boundary. North of this body, large groves skirted the Cedar, on either side, nearly to the north line of the county. The main Wapsipinicon was also skirted with timber, extending in places to several miles in width. On Crane creek, and else- where in many parts of the county, were other large and fine groves, at distances convenient to every settler. But, while greater or smaller portions of these once larger bodies of timber yet remain, there is less than one-half the amount originally existing.
As to the products of the county, wheat, corn and oats arc the staples, varying rel- atively in amount from year to year. Barley, hay and potatoes rank next as im- portant productions. Rye, sorghum and grass-seed are also largely cultivated. Vegetables and fruit, common to this lati- tude, grow here to perfection, and there arc now many fine and profitable fruit or- chards in Bremer county. Years ago about the whole attention of agricultural- ists was devoted to raising wheat, but that day has gone by. The wheat belt seems, from its history, to be always moving westward, and, while it hovered over this portion of America, it was well improved, thirty, forty and even forty-five bushels to the acre being raised, and all farmers con- sidering it the staple product. Of late years, however, farmers arc turning, their attention more toward raising stock. Their success in this line has been marked and rapid, and few counties in Iowa can boast of the amount and quality of blooded stock that can Bremer. On the whole, Bremer county ranks high among its sis- ter counties of the great State, and its re-
sources not having all been developed, its promise is indeed flattering.
BREMER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. ·
In the fall of 1856, there were a number of unsuccessful attempts made to organize this society. Finally, these attempts being renewed in the spring of 1857, a meeting was called and adjourned until May 5th, 1857, and a "loud" call for attendance issued.
Pursuant to adjournment, the friends of agricultural improvements met on the 5th day of May, 1857, at the school house in Waverly, and perfected an organization by adopting a constitution and clecting the officers herein provided for, as follows: President, W. P. Harnon, Waverly; Vice- Presidents, W. Pattee, Janesville, and M. F. Gillett, Frederika; Recording Secretary, G. C. Wright, Waverly; Corresponding Secretary, D. P. Walling, Frederika; Treas- urer, B. F. Gass, Waverly; Board of Man- agers, N. M. Smith, Giles Mabee, J. H. Eldridge, Matthew Rowcu and C. C. Allen.
The newly elected officers assumed their positions and duties, and the following named gentlemen were appointed as the committee provided for in the constitu- tion: W. H. Jay, of Washington; N. J. Perry, of LeRoy; James Quinn, of Jack- son; James Bevard, of Jefferson, R. D. Titcomb, of Fremont; J. Richmond, of Franklin; Silas Furr, of Polk.
The treasurer was requested to procure the necessary books for the use of the officers, at the expense of the Society.
The board of Managers were constituted a committee to report to the next regular meeting a code of by-laws for the govern- ment of the Society.
990
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
The publishers of the Waverly Repub- lican were requested to publish the pro- ceedings of this meeting and the constitu- tion adopted by it.
The proceedings were signed by
W. P. HARMON, President. G. C. WRIGHT, Secretary.
CONSTITUTION. Preamble.
The name of this society shall be the Bremer County Agricultural Socicty; its object shall be improvements in the character and operations of agriculture, horticulture, mechanical and household arts.
SECTION 1. The society shall consist of such citizens of the county as shall signify their wishes to become members by signing their names to this constitution and paying one dol- lar on subscribing, and one dollar annually thereafter, on or before the first Monday in June, or by paying at one time, ten dollars, which payment shall constitute them life mem- bers and exempt them from all annual pay- ments thereafter.
SEC. 2. The officers of the society shall con- sist of a president, two vice-presidents, to be located in different townships in the county, a recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a treasurer, and a board of managers, consisting of five, who, with the president and recording secretary shall constitute the board of mana- gers, and a general committee composed of one member from each organized township in which there is a member of the society. Five mem- bers of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
SEC. 3. The President shall preside over the deliberations of the meetings of the society, or in his absence, one of the vice-presidents shall preside. The president shall, by virtue of his office, be chairman of the board of managers.
SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of the recording secretary to keep the minutes and records of the society and read the minutes of the last mecting
as the first order of business after the meeting is duly organized. It shall be his duty, also, to make out a certificate of the sum actually raised by the society, and the precise application of all money for the past year, and transmit the same to the Auditor of State, in accordance with the act for the encouragement of agriculture, approved February 5, 1857, on or before the third Wednesday in June, of each year.
SEC. 5. It shall be the duty of the corresponding secretary to answer all communications of the society, and shall arrange and publish all com munications that are designed for publication, as he may think will best promote the interest of the society, and to communicate with other societies when necessary for the improvement of this society.
SEC. 6 It shall be the duty of the treasurer to hold the funds of the society and disburse them on the order of the president, countersigned by the recording secretary, and shall make a full report of his receipts and disbursements, at the annual meetings, as the second business in order, and he shall give bonds for the sum of twice the amount of money that is likely to come into his hands by virtue of his office, with two sufficient sureties to be approved by the president; and it shall be his duty on or before the second Mon- day in June, to file with the recording secretary, a full statement of all the moneys received from the State, and from members and individuals, annually.
SEC. 7. The board of managers shall take charge of and preserve, or distribute (as shall be proper), all seeds, plants, books, implements, models and other property which may be trans- mitted to or ordered by the society, and they shall make their report at the annual meetings previous to the election of officers. It shall be the duty of the board to select suitable persons to deliver addresses at the annual fairs, upon the general prospects of the matters which the secretary designs to foster and encourage; they also shall have power to fill any and all vacan- cies, which may occur in offices before the annual meeting of the society.
991
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
SEC. 8. The general committee are cxpected to look after the affairs and interests of the society in towns in which they reside, and will be regarded as useful mediums of communica- tion between the board of managers and different portions of the county.
SEC. 9. The society shall hold their meetings on the third Wednesday of December, of each year, at the county seat, at which time the presi- dent, vice-president, recording secretary, corres ponding secretary and treasurer shall be elected; and a semi annual meeting on the first Monday in June, in each year, at which time the board of managers shall be elected, the voting to be by ballot, and a plurality of votes cast electing the candidates. The committee shall be appointed by the president at the semi-annual meeting of the society: Provided, In case a general attend- ance of members at either of said meetings is prevented by some unavoidable obstacle, then such members as may be present may adjourn the meeting and election to some future time, at their discretion; but not exceeding three weeks, in which event they shall immediately publish the same in one or more newspapers, if any be published in the county, and at which adjourned meeting the usual and appropriate business shall be performed.
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