USA > Iowa > Cass County > History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history > Part 110
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Through the aid of $200, from the board of church erection, and the energy of the people, the injured building was restored.
In the spring of 1873. Mr. Hughes ceased his labors in Atlantic and journey- ed to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Consump- tion has wasted him, and he thought to be benefitted in that climate. He died there December 18, 1873.
Rev. W. G. Kephart succeeded him in the pastorate of the church June 14, 1873 and continued in that relation abont three years.
Rev. Mr. Zahniser formerly of Hunt- ingdon, Pennsylvania, followed as stated supply for a few months.
Rev. John Herron took charge of the church the first Sabbath of July, 1877. Hitherto the congregation had been as- sisted with a considerable sum annually by the board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian church.
One year later the church became self- supporting. Another year, and two lots for building a new church were secured on the corner of Sixth and Chestnut streets-three blocks west of the first lo- cation. In 1880 the new church was built, and dedicated free of debt. A handsome, commodious structure, complete in its ap- pointments, it is creditable alike to the church and the community. The year 1881 saw the purchase of an elegant pipe organ, built expressly for the church, by llook and Ilastings, of Boston. The at- tendance on church service has uniformly been good. Strangers in the city over Sabbath, find it a convenient place to wor- slip, and the congregation itself is per- manently of good size. In 1882, the church sent out a colony to form a Presby- terian organization in the town of Marne. Much evangelistic and missionary work has been done by this people in the town and the region round abont. They have not found the proverb to fail : "He that watereth shall be watercd also himself."
The present officers of the church and congregation are:
Pastor-Rev. John Herron.
Ruling Elders - John Y. Cotton, J. E. Willett, W. A. Morrison, J. M. Emmert, M. D.
56
904
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Deacons-William McGeehon, W. H. Peters and A. P. Macomber, M. D.
Superintendent of the Sunday School -- E. Sayers.
Trustees-E. Sayers, Robert Major, A. L. Bostedo, C. McDaniels and C. S. New- lon.
Treasurer-J. P. Gerberich.
Moderator of the Congregation-A. L. Bostedo.
Clerk of the Congregation-W. A. Mor- rison.
W. G. Kephart was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1818. His first ecclesiastical connection was with the New School Presbyterian church. He was one of the committee who drew up the manifesto that the Free Presbyterian church at its founding in Cincinnati adopt- ed as their apology.
The churches of Winchester and Mt. Leigh, in Ohio, Mr. Kephart's pastoral charge accompanied him into his new association.
He ministered to the church in Kossuth, : Iowa, for eleven years. He was in the army as chaplain of the Tenth Iowa In- fantry. Before coming to Atlantic he had charge of the church in Cheyenne, Wyom- ing Territory. The church in Atlantic enjoyed a healthy growth in his pastorate.
THE ATLANTIC SCHOOLS. [By R. H. Frost.]
The territory included in the original independent district of Atlantic, was for a time under the jurisdiction of the board of directors of Pymosa township. On the 15th day of January, 1870, the board in- structed its secretary, Samuel L. Lorah, Esq., to issue notice of election, at which the electors of Atlantic should vote on
the question of independent organization. The election was called for January 31, 1870, at H. T. Jones' tailor shop.
The territory embraced in the proposed independent district was described in the call as follows:
"Begin at the northeast corner of sec- tion 4, thence south on section line to sontheast corner of section 9, thence west on section line to southwest corner of southeast quarter of southeast quarter of section 7, thence north to northwest cor- ner of northeast quarter of northeast quar- ter of section 6, thence east to place of beginning. All in township 76 north, range 86 west."
At the election eighty-one votes were cast, all in favor of separate and independ- ent organization.
At three different times territory has been annexed to the district. The first addition was made on August 5, 1872, upon petition of William Duncan, Esq., and included all of the west half of sec- tion 3, Atlantic township.
The second addition was made on March 5, 1875, when the Atlantic board concnr- red in the previous action of the board of the district township of Pymosa. The territory included in this addition was the west half of the southwest quarter, and the west half of the north west quarter of section 33, township 77 north, range 36 west.
The third addition was made on Nov- ember 4, 1884, by concurrence of the At- lantic board with the action of the board of the district township of Atlantic. The tract thus added embraces the west half of section 6, the west half of northeast quarter and west half of southeast quarter
.
905
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
of section 6; the north west quarter of sec- tion 7, and the west half of the northeast quarter of section 7, township 76 north, range 36 west.
The independent district of Atlantic is made up, therefore, of sections 4,5, 6, 8, 9, the west half of section 3, the north half of section 7, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 7, Atlantic township, and the west half of the south west quarter and the west half of the northwest quar- ter of section 33, in Pymosa township.
On March 14, 1870, the first board of directors was elected, and consisted of the following named gentlemen: W. W. Parker, F. H. Whitney. John R. Rey- nolds, W. K. Straight, D. F. Hawks and R. D. McGeehon, who qualified on March, 21, and entered upon the discharge of their duties.
On March 24, 1870, the board purchased of the town company, lots 7, 8, 9 and 10, block 56, for a school house site, at a cost of $400.
Plans and specifications for a school building were adopted, and the contract for the erection of the building was awarded to Neimeyer Bros., the price be- ing $9,288. The work was pushed for- ward under the supervision of Messrs. Reynolds and McGeehon, the building committee. The work was done by J. M. Haver and A. D. Boyd. The house was completed, and accepted by the board on January 1, 1871.
The first school in Atlantic of which any record is found, was taught in 1869. In April of that year, W. W. Parker, Esq., director in sub-district No. 6, of the district township of Pymosa, engaged H. G. Smith to teach the spring term. In -
the following winter, D. W. Scribner taught. The school was held in a build- ing situated at the northeast corner of Chestnut and Sixth streets. This build- ing was afterwards moved, a second story added, and used for a court house.
In the fall of 1869, and the following winter, Miss Belle Tiffany, afterward Mrs. C. B. Osborne, conducted a private school on the east side of Walnut street, south of the present Occidental Hotel. The school was full, and nearly every child had books unlike the others. The pleas- ures of the situation will be appreciated by all who have taught.
In the spring of 1870, D. W. Scribner and Fanny Whittam taught the schools. Miss Whittam taught in a small building on the south side of the old fair grounds, which then comprised block sixteen.
On January 16, 1871, the school was organized in the new building, under the principalship of S. R. Manning. The assistant teachers were Mrs. Manning, Lucy E. Terry and Miss C. V. K. Towne.
In August, 1872, a committee of the board was appointed to secure a room for an extra teacher. The committee failed to find a suitable room, and the board ordered the erection of a building to be 20x24x9 feet. The structure stood on the west side of Walnut street near the site of the present high school building. This house was sold in 1875, for $225.
In May, 1873, the board purchased lots 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, block 69, and in- structed a committee to have them har- rowed and seeded, and to plant trees around them. The price paid for these lots was $500.
906
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
In April, 1875, the board purchased, for . the use of the district, lots 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, in block 47, for the sum of $1,500.
In July, 1872, a committee was appoint- ed to lay off lots in block 56, preparatory to planting trees in the spring. In March, 1873, a committee was instructed to pro- cure trees and have them planted on the school lots. In April, 1874, the commit- tee on buildings and grounds was instruct- ed to plant trees in the school yards, "in such quantity and manner as they deem best." In June, 1876, fifty-nine trees were planted on the lots in block 56. The grounds are now well supplied with trees.
On May 3, 1875, plans for the Third ward building were adopted, and on June 12, the contract for erecting the building was let to Willetts and Kelsey ; but, on June 15, the contract was annulled, and an advertisement for proposals was again made. On July 25, the contract was again awarded to Willetts and Kelsey, the con- sideration being $6,500. The building was completed November 3, 1875, and on November 15, school was opened with the following corps of teachers : Ada Dun- can, Kate M. Tupper, Madge Tupper and Alice Baugh.
In 1877, the board resolved to erect a building for the exclusive use of the High School, upon the lots in block forty-seven. The house was completed at a cost of $1,320, on September 3, and school began in it at once, with Sarah E. Buckley as principal. Ada Duncan taught here half of the time during that school year.
The growing demand for more room, resulted, April 9, 1879, in a resolution of the board to build an addition to the house
in the third ward, and the building com- mittee, consisting of John R. Reynolds, I. N. Hammond and George W. Norton was instructed to advertise for proposals. In May the committee entered into con- tract with Robinson and Smedley. The addition was completed at a cost of $1,- 375, and was accepted by the board on August 20.
Greater accommodations being neces- sary, on June 18, 1881, the board adopted plans for an addition to the building in the fourth ward. This addition was com- pleted in October of that year.
Increased enrollment in the schools compelled the board to provide yet more room for the school-going population, and in September, 1883, the Temperance Hall was secured. In this building two rooms were opened, which are still in use.
In the summer of 1883, the board, at a cost of $3,156, put steam heating appa- ratus into the third and fourth ward build- ings, and inaugurated a plan for ventila- tion. Water pipes were put in during the same season.
The following table exhibits the total number of school children in the district; the number of pupils enrolled in the schools, and the average daily attend- ance, as shown by the annual reports of the secretaries which were made in Sept- ember of the years indicated. The ta- ble also shows the per cent. of average daily attendance compared with the total enumeration. and the per cent. of average daily attendance compared with the num- ber enrolled.
.
=
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
907
YEAR.
Enumeration
Enrollment ..
ยท tendance ..
Average at-
umeration ..
ance on en-
av. attend-
Per cent. of
rollment . ..
ance on en-"
av. attend-
Per cent. of
1870
1871.
365
1872
840
253
1873
418
1874
425
300
1675
631
516
301
47.7
58.3
1876
679
B02
375
55.2
62.3
1877
757
704
451
59.8
64 1
1878
1.255
901
51.0
39.8
55.5
1879
1,325
925
564
42.6
61
1880
1.325
891
526
39.7
59
1881.
1,342
909
579
38.1
57.8
1683.
1,556
1,127
689
44.3
B1.1
1684
1,556
1,080
710
45.6
85.7
Excluding the years 1870, 1871 and 1873, the total receipts and expenditures of district treasurers since the organiza- tion of the independent district, are shown below:
FUND.
Receipts.
Disbursem'ts.
School-house fund
$34,069 17
$33,712 66
Contingent fund .
23.483 73
23,866 92
Teachers' fuud ...
67,979 13
65,309 26
Total
$125,532 03
$122,688 84
In the spring of 1870, a meeting of electors was called to vote for or against the proposition of issuing bonds, in the sum of $6,000, with which to build the school house on block 56. The meeting was held at the Pacific house, now known as the Commercial hotel, on May 27th. Forty votes were cast-all in favor of issuing the bonds.
In March, 1879, at the annual meeting, the electors voted on the question of issuing $12,000 in bonds to take up bonds then outstanding. The proposition car- ried.
While it is not apparent how all the bonds of the original $12,000 were issued,
evidently a meeting, subsequent to that of May, 1870, must have voted an addi- tional 86,000, as the minutes of the meet- ing of the board, held March 20, 1871, show that "On motion, the treasurer was instructed to have the new bonds so read as to make the redemption of the same optional after two years."
In 1879, $2,000 surplus in the school house fund was used for the redemption of bonds, leaving obligations outstanding to the amount of $10,000, which is the amount of the bonded indebtedness of the district. The bonds bear seven and one-half per cent. interest, which is pay- able semi-annually.
At the March meeting of 1883, a prop- osition to issue bonds to the amount of $20,000, for the erection of an additional school building, was voted down.
The board of directors, uniformly com- posed of prominent citizens, have labored zealously to promote the best interests of the schools, and to them the excellence of the schools is in no small measure due. The financial affairs of the district have been managed with economy, and the district has sustained no losses.
Thomas Hardenbergh, Esq., was the first director in the territory originally erected into the independent district of Atlantic, prior to the formation of the district.
In March, 1869, his term of office ex- pired, and W. W. Parker, Esq., was elected in his stead. Since the formation of the district, the following named gentle-
1882.
1,518
1,002
908:
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
men have served in the capacity of direc- tors for the periods specified:
NAME.
ELECTED.
SERVED TILL-
W. W. Parker.
March, 1870
March, 1871
D. F. Hawks
w. K. Straight
..
..
F. H. Whitney
Jno. R. Reynolds.
1878
1884
H. T. Sharp.
1871
1874
W. Warwick.
'A. D. Boyd. :
1872 Resigned. Mar. 1873
Jno. P. Gerberich
1873
1876
D. H. Stafford
.
1879
William Waddell.
-
1874
B. Lamcon.
-
1878
Dr. G S. Montgomery
1876
1879
Geo. W Norton
1877
1880
Dr. J. Nichols.
1878
1881
Dr. J. M. Emmert
1879
1882.
I. N. Hammond.
Present.
Jno. W. Scott.
1880
March, 1883.
C. B. Osborne
1881
Present.
James S. Pressnall ..
1882
M. Northup.
1883
H. J. Cavenaugh.
C. L. Brown.
1884
Names of officers of the board are given below:
PRESIDENTS.
NAME.
ELECTED.
SERVED TILL-
---
March, 1870| Resigned. July, 1872
A. D. Boyd .....
July,
1872
March, 1873
William Waddell. . re-ele Led
1879
1880
D. H. Stafford.
..
1878
1879
Jno. R. Reynolds ..
1880
66
1881
Dr. J. M. Emmert
1881
1882
C. B. Osborne.
1882
1883
L. L. DeLano
18831
Present.
SECRETARIES.
NAME.
ELECTED.
SERVED TILL-
S. W. W. Straight ..
March, 1870 Resigned, Jan. 18.5
Geo. S. Wedgwood.
Jan'y, 1875
March, 1875
Jno. W. Scott.
March, 1875 Resigned, July, 1877
H. E. Bacon
July,
'1877
Sept. 1880
Henry Fry
Sept
1880
1883
S. E. Smith.
1883
Present.
TREASURERS.
NAME.
ELECTED.
SERVED TIL.L-
W. Warwick I. L. Dudley.
March, 1870|
1871
Jno. P. Gerberich
Sept.
1882
March, 1871 Sept. 1882 Present.
In January, 1874, it was resolved "That that the President divide the board into three committees of two members each, and that the said committees are required to visit the school at such time or times as the President may appoint or direct." During the remainder of the school year, it is said, the schools were much encouraged by frequent visits from the committees.
Appreciating the benefits of teachers' meetings, in June, 1883, the board re- solved that all teachers under its jurisdic- tion must attend the Normal institute and Teachers' associations. This rule was abolished in 1884.
Two important educational meetings have been held in Atlantic. The first was a meeting of county superintendents, held in July, 1872, at which many practi- cal questions pertaining to the superin- tendency were discussed, and which re- sulted in much mutual benefit to the participants. The second was a meeting of the Educational Association of South- western Iowa, which was organized here on January 22, 1880. The meeting con- tinued for three days, was largely attended and developed a deeper interest in school work. The school board ordered the schools closed during the meeting to en- able the teachers to attend.
The following named persons have served as teachers in the schools of Atlan- tic:
.....
-------
F. H. Whitney
March, 1873
1878
-.... ... .
1880
I. Dickerson, app'd ..
1874
1877
J. W. Winslow
1875
1872
R. D. McGeehon.
Resigned July, 1872
March, 1873
re-elected.
March, 1878
S. J. Applegate ..
L. L. DeLano ..
909
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Mrs. S. R. Manning, winter and spring terms of 1871; Lucy E. Terry, winter and spring of 1871, and year of 1871-2; Miss C. V. K. Towne, January, 1871, to June, 1873; Miss Frank Hoyt, April, 1872, re- signed April, 1873; Miss E. Kellogg, Sept- ember, 1872, to June, 1874; Mrs. E. R. Carr, spring of 1873; Mrs. Lafe Young, April, 1873, resigned December, 1873; Nellie McGeehon, December, 1873, re- signed April, 1874; Mollie A. Fuller (married L. E. Luccock) September, 9873, to June, 1880; Anna Griffith, December, 1873, to June, 1875; Emma Davis, April, 1874, to June, 1875; Josie Isett, Septem- ber, 1874, to June, 1875; Mrs. Fanny Dunan, September, 1875, to June, 1876; Ava Duncan, 1875, to June, 1877, and after attendance at the State University, was elected principal of the High school in June, 1880, which position she filled till June, 1883; Alice Baugh, October, 1875, to June, 1876; Kate M. Tupper, October, 1875, to June, 1876; Madge Tup- per, October, 1875, to June, 1876; Mary E. Miller, October, 1875, resigned Decem- ber, 1875; Mary F. Luccock, December, 1875, resigned September, 1876; Kate Richards, December, 1875, to June, 1876; Emelie Brooks, December, 1875, resigned March, 1877; Jessie Coldren, September, 1876, to June, 1879; Alice Prather, spring of 1876; Nellie Miles, September, 1876, resigned March, 1877; Mrs. R. C. Farr, spring of 1876; Rufus H. Frost, Septem- ber, 1876, to June, 1879; Mrs. Julia S. Frost, October, 1876, resigned, Christmas, 1883; Marcia Kimball, September, 1877. resigned March, 1883; Sarah E. Buckley, September, 1877, to June, 1881; Eliza H. Sayward, September, 1877, to June, 1879;
Jennie Ferrier, September, 1877, resigned December, 1877; Adah E. Hodge, Septem- ber, 1877, to June, 1879; M. Alice Smith, September, 1879, to June, 1881; Paul Gra- bill, September, 1879, resigned August, 1881; Mamie D. Conway, September, 1879, to June, 1882; Irene Cumberlin; September, 1879, resigned October, 1880; Nettie Kimball, September, 1880, to June, 1882, and March, 1883, to June, 1883; Helen M. Harding, October, 1880, to June, 1883; Mrs. George S. Wedgewood, Sept- ember, 1881, to June 1888; Rev. W. G. Kephart, September, 1881 to June, 1882; A. B. Hughes, October, 1881 to June, 1882; Ella J. Pratt, September, 1882, re- signed March, 1884; Serena Bridges, Sept- ember, 1883. resigned, Christmas, 1883.
The following named persons consti- tute the present corps of teachers.
J. J. McConnell, superintendent since September, 1879.
HIGH SCHOOL .- William J. Dobson, principal since September, 1883; F. Della Young, assistant since September, 1882.
THIRD WARD .- Mrs. R. S. Harris, prin- cipal. Mrs. Harris was elected August 12, 1871, and has served continuously and faithfully ever since. Mrs. Sophronia Northup, since March, 1884; Mattie I. Craig, since September, 1883; Mrs. Lucy R. Conway, since September, 1878; Car- rie E. Pratt, since September, 1882; Jen- nie S. Clark, since September, 1883.
FOURTH WARD .- , Aggie George, princi- pal since October, 1881; Jessie F. Kep- hart, since September, 1879; Laura A. Snively, since October, . 1881; Alice E. Hopper, since September, 1882; Clara L. Fink, since September, 1883; Minnie L. Smith, since December, 1883.
910
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
TEMPERANCE HALL .- Anna O. Temple, since September, 1883; Lizzie C. Clark, since December, 1883.
The following is a list of the superin- tendents of the schools:
S. R. Manning, January 16, 1871, re- signed April 12, 1872.
E. R. Carr, April 12, 1872, to June, 1873.
Z. C. McCormick, September, 1873, to October, 1873.
George S. Wedgewood, October, 1873, to June, 1879.
J. J. McConnell, September, 1879, to present.
Mr. Wedgwood had heen superintend- ent of the schools of LaSalle county, Illi- nois, and upon assuming control of the schools of Atlantic, immediately re-or- ganized them and started them upon a career of unusual prosperity. During his prolonged term of service, the schools gained a wide reputation.
Mr. McConnell is a graduate of the State university. Before taking charge of the Atlantic schools, he had taught in Albia and Oskaloosa. His constant effort has been to maintain the reputation of the schools and to increase their efficiency.
In 1876, the schools prepared a large amount of work, which was sent to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia.
In 1877, the schools were thoroughly represented in the State contest, which took place that year.
In 1884, the schools exhibited speci- mens of their skill at the National Teach- ers' Association, which was held at Madi- son, Wisconsin.
The character of all this work was ex- cellent, and the schools feel a just pride in their achievements.
The following named persons have completed the course of study, and grad- uated from the High School:
1878-Ada Duncan; 1879-Fred. Alex- ander, William J. Findley, James Loof- bourow, George H. McCormick, Clarence E. Stafford, Mary Waddell, Mary E. Col- ton, Jessie F. Kephart, Emma Lamson, James Ruane, Anna O. Temple, F. Della Young, Ernest L. Alexander, William Tea- garden, Frank P. McGrew, Ed. J. Dicker- sou, Charles M. Reynolds; 1880-Gertrude F. Bacon, Bertha L. Temple, Edith L. Col- ton; 1881-Fred W. Fitch, Ida Mckay, Jennie Richards; 1882-Jennie E. Bar- nett, Callie Mc Waid, Dora Talbot, Edgar W. Smith, Louis Graham; 1883-Lucy P. Batton, Jessie Findley, Grace Green, Frank O. Temple, Carrie Egbert; 1884- Mattie B. Alexander, Jessie Hunt, Ed. Hammond, Julia Joy, Birdie Northup, Louise St. Clair, Lizzie.Dufford, Nellie E. Gerberich, Edna Harris, Mary E. Kep- hart, Phoebe Talbot, Cora McFadden, Ed- ward Willard.
In May, 1873, George Stafford, an ex- cellent student in the High School, re- ceived an appointment to the Naval academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he graduated with honor, in June, 1877. Since graduation, he has been connected with the Pacific Coast survey. In August, of this year, (1884), he was detached from the U. S. S. Ranger, and is now awaiting orders from the secretary of the navy.
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