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 58
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463
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
We are told of schools of astronomy in Babylon, at least thirty-three hundred years before the Christian era, schools of medicine and science in China but little later. Schools were one of the institutions of Egypt in the time of Moses, and the schools and lyceums of Greece date back to the siege of Troy. But little is known of the mode of teaching in these early days, and, it was not until the fifteenth century, that anything like an intelligent effort seems to have been made toward the instruction of the masses. Then, and for many years thereafter, the education partook more of a religious than a secular cast, and the history of the saints, the dogmas of the fathers, and the formula of faith held a more prominent place than the more practical studies of the present day.
In our own time and country the history of education has been a varied one. The Puritan had no sooner established himself upon the wave-washed, stormy coast of New England, than he planted the pre- cious seed of the district school, whose foundation was so solid, whose roots were so deep and far-reaching that it secured so strong a foothold, that the storms and trials of two centuries and a half have never disturbed, nor interrupted its course, nor loosened its hold in, this, its native soil. The system of district schools, as these mighty reformers planted and nour- ished it, has endured, and does endure, to this day in the land where first they rais- ed the banner of universal education, a prouder monument than blazoned stone, to their memories.
The system of district schools as estah- lished in 1622, in New England, now pre-
vails in that land to-day, and, with such modifications as were suggested by the difference of time and circumstances, was brought from that far away part of our common country, by our forefathers, when they turned their faces toward the setting sun, when they journeyed to new homes in the wilderness. Wherever they stopped they planted some of this precious seed and flourishing schools sprung up, all along their track, and almost the first years of the settlement of our young State of Iowa, witnessed the establishment of the common school.
The first settlers in the Territory showed in their works their faith in the public schools. Governor Robert Lucas, in his message to the first legislative As- sembly, of Iowa Territory, which conven- ed at Burlington, November, 12, 1838, says, in reference to schools:
"The twelfth section of the act of Con- gress establishing our Territory declares, 'that the citizens of Iowa shall enjoy all the rights, privileges and immunities here- tofore granted and secured to the Terri- tory of Wisconsin and its inhabitants.' This extends to us all the rights, privil- eges and immunities specified in the ordi- nances of Congress of the 13th of July, 1787.
"The third article of this ordinance de- clares, 'that religion, morality and knowl- edge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and all means of education shall be for- ever encouraged.'
"Congress, to carry out this declaration, has granted one section of land in every township, to the inhabitants of such
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464
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
townships, for the purposes of schools therein.
"There is no subject to which I wish te call your attention more emphatically than the subject of our establishing, at the commencement of our political exist- ence, a well digested system of common schools."
This Assembly addressed itself, early; to the task of providing for a system of common schools, and enacted a law pro- viding for the formation of districts, the establishing of schools, and authorized the voters of each district, when lawfully assembled, to levy and collect the neces- sary taxes, "either in cash or good mer- chantable property, at cash price, upon the inhabitants of their respective dis- tricts, not exceeding one-half per centum, nor amounting to more than ten dollars on any one person, to do all and every- thing necessary to the establishment and support of schools within the same."
The Second Legislative Assembly en- acted, January 16, 1840, a much more comprehensive law to establish a system of common schools-a law containing many excellent features. Its provisions were, however, in advance of the existing public sentiment on the subject of educa- tion, making ample provision, as it did, for free public schools. Even the people of Iowa were scarcely ready for such a law.
In the United States census of 1840, very few schools, either private or public, were reported. One academy in Scott county, with twenty-five scholars, and in the State sixty-three primary and common schools, with 1,500 scholars, being the whole number reported.
The first section of the act of 1839 for the establishment of common schools pro- vided, that "there shall be established a common school, or schools, in each of the counties of this Territory, which shall be open and free for every class of white cit- izens between the ages of five and twenty- one years;" the second section providing that "the county board shall, from time to time, form such districts in their re- spective counties, whenever a petition may be presented for that purpose by a majority of the voters resident within such contemplated district." These dis- tricts were governed by a board of three trustees, wliose duties were to examine and employ teachers, superintend the schools, and collect and disburse the taxes voted by the electors for school purposes.
Among the earlier enactments of the Territorial Legislature were those requir- ing that each district maintain at least three months' school every year, and that the expenses for the same be raised by taxes levied upon the property of said district. Among the latter enactments was that providing for a county school tax to be levied, to pay teachers, and that whatever additional sum might be re- quired for this purpose should be assessed upon the parents sending in proportion to the length of time sent. The rate-bill system was thus adopted near the close of the Territorial period.
When Iowa was admitted into the Union as a State, December 28, 1846, with a population of 100,000, and a reported school population of about 20,000, about 400 districts had been organized. From this time the number of districts rapidly increased, reaching 1,000 in 1849, and
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465
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
1,200 in 1850. In 1857 the number of organized school districts had increased to 3,265. The IIon. Maturin L. Fisher, of Clayton county, who then so ably filled the office of superintendent of public in- struction, in his report, dated November, 1857, urged the revision of the school law, and of the reduction in the number of school districts.
The Seventh General Assembly again took np the subject of the revision of the school laws, and on the 12th day of March, 1858, passed "An act for the Public In- struction of the State of Iowa," the first section of which provided that "Each civil township in the several counties of this State is hereby declared a school dis- trict for all the purposes of this act, the boundaries of said township being the boundaries of said school district, and every township hereafter laid out and or- ganized, a school district; and each dis- trict, as at present organized, shall become a sub-district for the purposes hereinafter provided: Provided, that each incorpor- ated city or town, including the territory annexed thereto for school purposes, and which contains not less than 1,000 inhab- itants, shall be and is hereby created a school district." This law took effect March 20, 1858, and reduced the number of districts from about 3,500 to less than 900.
In December, 1858, a law was enacted providing that any city or incorporated town, including the territory annexed thereto for school purposes, may constitute a school district, by vote of the majority of electors residing in the territory of such contemplated district. In 1860, the provisions of this act were extended to
unincorporated towns and villages con- taining not less than three hundred inhab- itants.
By an act passed April 3, 1866, this privilege was further extended to any city or sub-district containing not less than two hundred inhabitants, and containing territory contiguous thereto. It soon be- came evident that by this amendment a serious innovation would be made in the district township system, by the formation of independent districts in the more thick- ly settled and wealthier portions of the townships. The amendn.ent was repealed early in the session of the following Gen- eral Assembly.
The township system met the approval of every State superintendent. The sub- district system was opposed strenuously by Hon. A. S. Kissell, who desired each township a school district to be governed by a board of directors elected at the an- nual district township meeting for the term of three years. In his report dated January 1, 1872, he says:
"In this system every township becomes a school district, and all sub-district boundaries are abandoned; and if this plan were carried into effect in this State, it would allow no other school divisions than those of the independent and town- ship districts. The most experienced ed- ucators of the country have advocated this system. Among these are such men as Horace Mann, U. S. Commissioner Barnard, Ex-Governor Boutwell, Dr. New- ton Bateman, of Illinois, Dr. Gregory, late superintendent of Michigan, and the county and State superintendents of one- third of the States of the Union. The arguments advanced by many of these ex
466
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
perienced school men are unanswerable. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania have tested the system practically for several years; it is pronounced by these States a success; and this successful experiment of three or four years should have greater weight with us in this young and growing commonwealth than any theoretical argu- ment that could be advanced."
Notwithstanding the efforts and array of argument, and the conviction on the part of those who had made a special study of this subject, the General Assembly which convened January 8, 1872, enacted a law providing for the formation of inde- pendent districts, from the sub-districts of a district township. This law has ever been a plague to county superintendents, and several efforts have been made to ef- fect its repeal, but without avail.
Every governor that Iowa has had has given his warmest approval of the common school system. Governor James W. Grimes in his inaugural message, December 9, 1854, displays broad statesmanship, ad- vanced and liberal views and eminently sound philosophy in the following lan- guage:
"Government is established for the pro- tection of the governed. But that pro- tection does not consist merely in the en- forcement of laws against injury to the person and property. Men do not make a voluntary abnegation of their natural rights, simply that those rights may be protected by the body politic. It reaches more vital interests than those of proper- ty. Its greatest object is to elevate and ennoble the citizen. It would fall far short of its design if it did not dissemin- ate intelligence, and build up the moral
energies of the people. It is organized to establish justice, promote the public well- fare and secure the blessings of liberty. It is designed to foster the instincts of truth, justice and philanthrophy that are planted in our very natures, and from which all constitutions and laws derive their validity and value. It should afford moral as well as physical protection by educating the rising generation; by en- couraging industry and sobriety; by stead- fastly adhering to the right; and by being ever true to the instincts of freedom and humanity.
"To accomplish these high aims of gov- ernment, the first requisite is ample pro- vision for the education of the youth of the State. The common school fund of the State should be scrupulously preserved and a more efficient system of common schools than we now have should be adopted. The State should see to it that the elements of education, like the ele- ments of universal nature, are above, around and beneath all.
"It is agreed that the safety and perpe- tuity of our Republican institutions de: pend upon the diffusion of intelligence among the masses of the people. The statistics of the penitentiaries and alms- houses throughout the country abundantly show that education is the best preventive of pauperism and crime. They show, also, that the prevention of those evils is much less expensive than the punishment of the one and the relief of the other. Educa- tion, too, is the great equalizer of human conditions. It places the poor on an equality with the rich. It subjects the appetites and passions of the rich to the restraints of reason and conscience, and
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SUPERINTENDENT OF COMMON SCHOOLS. Rufwell. Frost
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
469
thus prepares each for a career of useful- ness and honor. Every consideration, therefore, of duty and policy impels us to sustain the common schools of the State in the highest possible efficiency."
EDUCATIONAL GROWTH OF CASS COUNTY.
In the year 1854, the county contained but ninety-seven children between the ages of five and twenty-one years, accord- ing to the report of the State superintend- ent of public instruction of that year, James B. Eads. The whole amount of money expended for school purposes dur- ing the same year was less than $200, and there was not a single school house within the limits of the county. In 1856, the children of a school age were reported to have increased to one hundred and fifty- eight.
The first school district organized in this county, was No. 1, Cass township, which was established in 1853. Districts Nos. 2 and 3, of the same township, were organized in the following year. Who were the officers of the first two it is hard to determine at this late day, but a record is still in existence showing that in district No. 3, the first officers were: Joseph Ev- erly, president; John Van Houten, treas- urer; Edward Manly, secretary. District No. 4, of Cass township, was organized the same year with D. Stanley as presi- dent; D. Chapman, treasurer, and B. Bales, ยท secretary.
James W. Brown, in his annual report filed on the Ist of October, 1858, shows that there was but one school house in the county, and that was one in district No. 3, in Turkey Grove township, the school house in Grove City. This house cost $700, and was a frame structure. In Tur-
key Grove, there were at the same time, however, three schools being taught, two in Cass township, and one each in Bright- on and Edna, while Lura and Pymosa had none. The whole number of children in the county between the ages of five and twenty-one years, is set down that year at 376.
In the year 1875 the public school houses in the county numbered one hundred and one and were valued at $79,995. In the same year there were expended for new school houses and sites the sum of $14 897.56; and $44,683.89 was paid to teachers; at the same time there was paid out of the contingent fund for fuel, re- pairs, etc., the sum of $13,879.54, making a total of $73,460.99 paid out in one year for school purposes. The average number of months taught that year was seven and a quarter; the average rate of compensa- tion was $35, although some superior teachers received as high as $125 per month, and some as low as $25.
From the report of the superintendent, for 1884, we learn that Cass county had the following:
Number of district townships in the county 16
Number of independent districts. 4
Number of sub-districts. 141
Number of ungraded schools in the county. 139
Number of rooms in graded schools ....
31
Average term of schools in the county, months 8.1
Number of male teachers employed. . Number of female teachers 199
64
Average monthly compensation to
male teschers. $ 42.90
Female teachers.
33.59
Number of children in the county be-
tween the ages of five and twenty-one. 6, 748
30
6
470
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY .. .
Total average attendance.
3,260
Number of school houses in the county
148
Frame
144
Brick
4
Total value of school houses.
$115,350
Total value of apparatus.
.$
1,993
Total number of certificates issued from
Sept. 1, 1883, to Sept. 1, 1884:
First grade.
123
Second grade.
152
Third grade.
58
Number of applicants rejected.
33
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, 1883:
TEACHERS' TAX.
To balance from last re-
port.
$3,046.86
To amount of tax col-
lected
38,880.47
$41, 927.33
Contra.
By amount paid school
treasurers ..
$39,102.15
By balance on hand.
2,825.18
$41,927.33
CONTINGENT SCHOOL TAX.
To balance from last
report.
$1,200. 83
To amount of tax col-
lected.
14,201.53
$15, 402.36
Contra.
By amount paid school
treasurers
$14, 341.87
By balance on hand ...
1,060.49
$15,402.36
SCHOOL HOUSE TAX.
To balance froui last
report ..
$641.09
To amount of tax col-
lected.
5,780.64
$6,421.73
Contra.
By amount paid school
treasurers.
$6,080.38
By balance on hand .. . .
341.35
$6,421.73
PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND.
To balance from last
report.
$2,455.26.
By amount received on
notes.
15,279.55
$17,734.81
Contra.
By amount re-loaned .... $16, 940 06
By balance on hand.
794 75
-
--
$17,734.81
The Normal institute was established in 1874; but no record of meetings is found till 1876.
Each annual session has continned twenty days. Below are given some facts in reference to them:
1876 ..
1877
1878. .
1879. .
1880. .
1881 ..
1882 ..
1883.
1884 ..
Total enroll- ment
58
85
100
125
144
148
188
171
194
Average
daily
attendance ...
88
104
114
148
134
149
Aggregate
at-
tendance in
days.
1757 2083 2268 2922
'663 2977
The first information concerning items below, is found in report of 1871. We give, therefore, what is found in reports for 1871, 1875 and 1880:
1871.
1875. |1880.
Total school population Number pupils enrolled in schools Number school houses.
1,533
4,081
5,675
88: 3,068 3,978 33
101
138
Average compensation of male teachers $33.25 $37.60 $31.18
Average compensation of female teachers
28.37
31.60, 26.93
=
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
471
SCHOOL FUND COMMISSIONER.
When Cass county was organized in 1853, educational matters in Iowa were as yet in a primitive state, and were managed in a rude manner. The school fund commissioner was the only educa- tional officer, and as the name implies, had especial control of the school funds, and, in fact, his authority extended no farther. There were no public examina- tions of teachers, as in later days, as the directors themselves examined the teach- ers they wished to employ, and if not satisfactory, the applicants were rejected.
At the first election for county officers, in April, 1853, J. E. Chapman was chosen to fill this office and entered upon the dis- charge of his duties with the rest of the county officials. He had come to this county the year previous. He was re- elected the following year and served to the end of 1854. He afterwards removed to Adair county.
In 1855, Rev. George B. Hitchcock was elected to this office, but does not seem to have served any great length of time, and was succeeded by Samuel L. Lorah, who, after holding the office for a while, re- signed on the 30th of July, 1857. Both of these gentlemen are noticed elsewhere.
In 1857 and 8, Oliver Mills, still a resi- dent of the county, served in this office. A sketch of this gentleman appears in connection with the annals of the Gen- eral Assembly, of which he was a mem- ber, in the chapter entitled, National, State and County Representation, to which the reader is referred.
During the winter of 1857-8, the office of school fund commissioner was abolish- ed by an act of the General Assembly.
The duties of that officer, as regards the management of the school funds, devolved upon the county judge, and subsequently, when the board of supervisors was cre- ated, these duties passed into their hands, and still remain there. The duties of the commissioner, so far as schools and edu- cational matters are concerned, passed into the hands of the
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, which office was at that time created. Ilis duties then were the same as now, except that at the present time, he has charge of the normal institute fund, which, at that time, did not exist.
The first superintendent of schools of Cass county, was James W. Brown, who was elected in the spring of 1858. IIe en- tered upon his official duties at once, and discharged thein faithfully and intelli- gently. Mr. Brown is one of the lead- ing attorneys of Atlantic at the present, and is noticed in full in the chapter devoted to the bar.
In October, 1859, at the general elec- tion, William S. Newlon was elected to this office.
At the election in the fall of 1861, the contestants for this office were E. W. Hall and J. S. Rand, and on a due can- vass of the ballots cast, it was discovered that each had received one hundred and fifty-seven votes, making it a tie. Lots were prepared and drawn and E. W. Ilall drawing the fortunate number, was de- clared county superintendent of schools. He only served the year of 1862, when he gave way to a successor.
The next to fill the office of superinten- dent of schools in the county, was G. M. Smith, who was elected thereto, in the
472
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
fall of 1862, to fill the vacancy. He was re-elected in the fall of 1863, and served until the 7th of June, 1865, when he re- signed.
Upon the resignation of G. M. Smith, the board of supervisors appointed II. G. Smith to fill the vacancy, which he did, and was elected his own successor in 1865 and again in 1867, holding the office for four years and a half.
E. D. Hawes was chosen by the quali- fied voters of the county, at the regular fall election in 1869, to fill this onerous office and was re-elected in 1871 and 1873.
Edward D. Ilawes was born in Schuy- ler county, New York, October 18, 1828. His father, Jonas IIawes, died at his old home, many years ago. His mother, Re- becca Hawes, survived her husband about five years. Edward D. Hawes, in his youth, attended the common schools and later, the Peach Orchard academy, on Seneca Lake. He then spent one year (1856) with his brother, John D. Hawes, at East Troy, Walworth county, Wiscon- sin, engaged in teaching. In 1857 be went to Iowa City where he held the posi- tion of principal of the first ward school four years, and was also deputy county superintendent of schools. He went to Polk county in 1861, locating in the city of DesMoines, where he was superinten- dent of the city schools, also had charge of the high school. He was elected county superintendent of Polk county in 1862, and then gave up the charge of the city schools. He held this position two years, during the time, doing institute work in more than thirty counties of the State. In 1864 Mr. Hawes left DesMoines and then became identified with the in-
terests of Cass county, of which he has since been a prominent citizen. In Feb- ruary of that year, be located at Lewis and there engaged in the grocery busi- ness, in partnership with J. C. Yetzer of Atlantic. Six months later he sold his interest in that business, and removed to the farm on which he now resides. It is located in sections 23 and 24 of Wash- ington township, and contains three hun- dred and sixty acres. The farm is under good cultivation and his improvements are of the best. He is engaged in the business of raising and feeding stock for market. Mr. IIawes was married Febru- ary 4, 1864, to Mrs. Mary C. Carey, wid- ow of Dr. J. B. Carey, who was formerly of Ohio but died in Lewis, March 5, 1863, aged forty years. Mrs. Hawes was born in Fulton connty, Illinois, January 8, 1841, and is a daughter of J. P. and Mary Cross- wait. The former died in Atlantic. The latter is now living in Atlantic. Mr. and Mrs. Crosswait were among the pioneers of this county, having come here from Fulton county, Illinois in 1856. They lo- cated at Lewis. He owned land in sev- 'eral counties in this section of the State, but was not engaged in active business after coming here. Mrs. Hawes has one daughter by her former marriage, Jennie B. Carey, born March 30, 1860. She is now teaching school at Indianola, War- ren county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Hawes have three children-Nellie C., born Au- gust 26, 1867; Ettie D., born January 24, 1872 and Louis E., born July 29, 1878. Mr. Hawes has held the office of county superintendent six years, and also nearly all of the township offices.
The successor of Mr. Hawes was H. A.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Disbrow, who was elected in 1875-7. He is now a member of the legal fraternity of Atlantic, and is noticed at length in the chapter devoted to the reminiscen- ces, etc.
In 1879, R. H. Frost, was elected super- intendent of the county schools, and has been re-elected his own successor twice since, and is the present incumbent of the office.
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