USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 17
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 17
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
"There at the case he stands and marshals into line the forces armed for truth, clothed in immortality and English. And what can be nobler than the equipment of a thought in sterting Saxon-
+
-
.
1
167
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
Saxon with the ring of spear and shield in it, and that commis- sioning it, when we are dead, to move gradually on to the -'latest syllable of recorded time'. This is to win a victory from death, for this has no death in it.
"The printer is called a laborer, and the office he performs, toil. Oh, it is not work, but a sublime rite that he is performing, when he thus sights, the engine that is to fling a worded truth in grand- er curve than missle e'er before described-flung it into the bosom of an age yet unborn.
"He throws off his coat indeed ! we but wonder, the rather, that he does not put the shoes from off his feet, for the place whereon he stands is holy ground.
"A little song was uttered somewhere, long ago-it wander- ed through the twilight feebler than a star-it died upon the ear. But the printer caught it up where it was lying there in the silence like a wounded bird, and equips it anew with wings, and he sends it forth from the ark that had preserved it, and it flew forth into the future, with the olive branch of peace, and round the world with melody, like the dawning of a spring morning.
"How the types have built up the broken arches in the bridge of time ! How they render the brave utterances beyond the Pilgrims audible and eloquent-hardly feeling the free spirit, but moving not a word, not a syllable lost in the whirl of the world-moving in connected paragraph and period down the lengthening line of years."
The first newspaper published in the county, was the Chickasaw County Republican, which made its appearance at Jacksonville in May, 1857, under the proprietorship of Isaac Watson, who brought the material from Missouri. Watson was subsequently killed by the rebels in Missouri during the war. Following the Republi- can very closely, in the same month, and during the succeeding week-the Cedar Valley News was issued at Bradford, with A. J. Felt as editor. Felt sold to a Mr. Bushnell, and he to D. A. Bab- cock, who represented a stock company. The stock company sold to G. M. Reynolds, who, in connection with Babcock, ran the paper for some time. The News finally succumbed to adverse circum- stances, and after a flickering existence, its "light went out." It was neutral in politics, and, says our informant, "was published for a republican constituency by a democratic editor."
The Jacksonville newspaper enterprise was republican in poli- tics, and it, too, fell into the hands of a stock company, which, as
168
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
in the case of the Cedar Valley News, also proved to be the pre- cursor of death. We have before us as we write, the paper relat- `ng to the organizing of thestock company, purchase of the paper etc., which we herewith present in full:
"In pursuance of a call of individuals that have proposed taking shares and forming a joint stock association for the purpose of pur- chasing the press, fixtures, furniture and books of the Chickasaw County Republican, under the name ofthe Chickasaw County Re- publican Association, a meeting was held at Jacksonville on the 7th day of November, 1857, and on motion William Little was called to the chair and J. H. Powers appointed secretary. On mo- tion the articles that had been circulated for the purpose of elicit- ing stock were presented, the blanks filled, and were unanimously adopted as follows:
"The stock of the association shall consist of shares of ten dol- " ... lars each, and each share shall be entitled to one vote. The stock shall be paid in installments as follows, to wit: one-half dollar down, two dollars in four months, and the remainder in six months.
" 'The stockholders shall at the annual meeting on the second Wed- nesday of November, elect by ballot a president, vice-president secretary and treasurer, and an executive and such other commit- ties as they shall see fit, whose duties shall be as prescribed by the by-laws of the association.
" 'The treasurer shall, before entering upon the duties of his of- fice, give bonds in the sum of two thousand dollars, said bonds to be approved by the president and filed with the secretary.
" The stock holders shall have power to make by-laws not in- consistent with these articles.
"'No share shall be entitled to a vote after an installment be- comes due, until paid.
"'One-half of the shares taken, represented by at least five stock- holders, shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business.
" 'These articles may be amended at any annual meeting by a majority of shares represented, by giving two months' notice prior to said meeting.'"
These articles were signed as follows: D. A. Babcock, 3 shares,. $30; R. C. Horton, 3 shares, $30; G. W. Howard, 3 shares, $30; B. E. DePuy, 2 shares, $20; A. W. Billings, 3 shares, $30; M. B. Taylor, 1 share $10; Thomas Poolr & Co., 5 shares, $50; Luthan Morgan, 1 share, $10; L. L. Morse, 3 shares, $30; W. W. Foster, 1 share, $10; A. E. Bigelow, 1 share, $10."
*
1
169
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
The proceedings of the meeting were continued as follows:
"On motion they proceeded to ballot for officers, which resulted as follows: President Hazard Green; vice-president, D. A. Bab- cock; secretary, J. H. Powers; treasurer, J. H. Dickens; executive committee, G. W. Howard, F. D. Bosworth, J. Cole; committee on by-laws, W. E. Beach, J. H. Dickens, J. Cole, J. H. Powers, G. W. Howard."
Shares were limited to two hundred at ten dollars each, and the installments were made payable as follows: five dollars down, two dollars in three months and three dollars in six months. The cor- poration began its existence on the 14th day of November, 1857, and was to continue ten years, subject, however, to dissolution by a two-thirds vote of all the shares taken. Private property was exempt from the incorporate debts, and the indebtedness of the association was never to exceed three hundred dollars at any one time.
Isaac Watson's assignment of the property is as follows: "For the consideration of the sum of six hundred dollars in hand paid, I hereby assign and sell to the Chickasaw County Republican As- sociation, all the material and fixtures of the office of the Chick- asaw County Republican; also the stock and books on hand, the job type now at the river, and all the stock now on hand connected with the office; and authorize the association to appropriate the same to the use of the association."
ISAAC WATSON.
The following is also from the records kept by the association:
NAMES.
NO. SHARES.
AMOUNT.
Cole
20
$200 Receipted
H. Green
15
150
W. E. Beach
1
10
A. Vaughn
2
20 ~
Willliam Little
5
50
J. H. Powers
1
10
J. P. North
3
30
F. Coover
2
20
H. H. Brakeman
6
60
C. Fitch.
1
10
E. R. Gillett
1
10
D. A. Babcock 1
10 Receipted
J. H. Powers (for Gurley) 1
10
170
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
"The amount of shares set against the names above will call for shares in the Chickasaw County Republicon Association, on pre- senting the receipt of Isaac Watson.
J. H. POWERS, "Sec. of C. C. R. A."
Recd. on the above the amount set opposite each name in full, in payment on account of the Chickasaw County Republican of- fice, with the exception of A. Vaughn, Charley Fitch and E. R. Gillett, and $40 on H. H. Brakeman.
"Jacksonville, December 18th, 1857.
"ISAAC WATSON."
Certificates of stock appear to have been issued as follows:
NAMES.
NOS.
NO OF SHARES.
F. D. Bosworth 1
1
D. A. Babcock
2
1
J. H. Powers 3
1
W. E. Beach 4 1
J. Cole.
5 to 25
20
H. H. Brakeman. 25 to 31 6
G. W. Howard 31 1
J. P. North 33 to 36 3
Little & Wood 36 to 41 5
A. Vaughn
41 to 42
2
Coover 43 to 44
2.
The certificates of stock were in form as follows, being a copy of an origonal one now before us:
No. 5. CERTIFICATE OF STOCK, $10.
OF THE -
CHICKASAW COUNTY REPUBLICAN ASSOCIATION. TEN DOLLARS.
Issued to
J. COLE.
December 25th, A. D., 1857.
Chickasaw County Republican Association Seal.
J. H. POWERS, Sec.
H. GREEN, Pres.
171
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
After a brief and unsatisfactory existence the Chickasaw County Republican Association, which had been started with such careful preparation, sold the Republican to L. J. Young, who moved the material to New Hampton and with it began the publication of the New Hampton Courier, in connection with W. E. Beach. In pay- ment for the material Young executed the following instrument:
"Be it remembered that I, L. J. Young, for a valuable considera- tion in hand paid by. J. H. Powers, as agent of the Chickasaw County Republican association, do hereby sell and deliver unto the said powers as the said agent, one yoke of white-faced oxen, now used by me, and one spotted cow; and make and deliver unto the Chickasaw County Republican association a good and suffi- cient warrantee deed of lot number three in block eighteen in the village of Chickasaw, Chickasaw county, Iowa, or at their request to any other person that they may direct instead thereof; and to give over to him the following donations, to-wit:
"Gardner & Hamlin, $20; D. Edwards, one lot in New Hamp- ton; H. Gurley, $10; S. Cotant, $10; D. A. Jackson, $10; E. T. Runion, $10; Powers, balance due him on note holden by. H. Gurley; said donation to be collected by the said agent.
"Witness my hand and seal this 11th day of November, A. D., 1859. L. J. YOUNG."
The New Hampton Courier made its first appearance on the 16th day of January, 1860, as a six column folio, Beach & Young editors and proprietors. The first number was evidently put to- gether under difficulties, not the least of which was the scarcity of proper type. On the fourth page the proceedings of congress are. set in double column measure, in great primer type, but the pro- ceedings not "filling out" the double column, capitals of the Ger- man text alphabet are inserted to fill the vacancy. An item from the Charles City Intelligencer, predicting the early demise of the new venture, is quoted in this number, with appropriate comments to the effect that the Courier has come to stay, etc., an assertion which has proven more than usually correct as regards such en- terprises, the Courier being at this writing in its twenty-third year and so far from showing signs of decay as to evince, on the con- trary, increased vigor, ability and prosperity with its increasing years. .
Of the home advertisers in this first issue of the Courier, we note
172
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
the following, doing business at that time in New Hampton, ex- cept where otherwise stated: Waite & Albertson, dry goods and groceries; A: & N. Vaughn, general merchandise, Jacksonville; H. Green, tavern stand, Jacksonville; William Beebe, blacksmith, "clocks and watches cleaned, guns and gun-locks repaired," Jack- sonville; H. Gurley, general merchandise; Cotant & McCullow, general merchandise; J. H. Powers, counselor at law; W. E. . . Beach, notary public; Caleb Arnold, justice of the peace.
W. E. Beach subsequently sold his interest to G. M. Reynolds, who, after a time, purchased Young's interest also. Mr. Reynold's continued to publish the Courier until his death in 1878, on June 22d, of which year the paper passed into the hands of W. R. Ed- wards and J. R. Carleton, who continued its publication until Oct. 11, 1882, when Mr. Edwards sold his interest to C. F. Geer. The Courier is now published by Carleton & Geer, editors and proprie- tors, is an eight-column folio, republican in politics, and in every way creditable to its owners and the county of Chickasaw.
RAILROADS.
In the days when the feet of the pioneer first pressed the prairie sod of Chickasaw county, no guiding road had they on which they could travel to reach their destination. A pocket compass, the North star, the course of the streams, or often blind chance were their only guide. Before their coming, to select their lands and build their cabins, the prairie grass and flowers had never known the disturbing feet of the white man. Few railroads were their in any parts of the United States, and in this country they lay as yet in the bosom of the unborn years. The hardy pioneer seeking out a new home, came by wagon, on horseback .; yea, often on foot; the ferries across the streams were rude enough when there were any; but often the immigrant was compelled to ford the creeks or raft himself over the rivers. Sometimes, wagons were transported across the river in small Indian canoes, that were lashed together at a width to accommodate the width of the wagons; the wheels of one side of the wagon being placed in one canoe, and the wheels of the other side in the other canoe and then "paddled" across. The horses and exen being swam by the side of the canoes, and another voyage being made to "set over" the family of the emi- grant who shared his toil and privation.
As the country settled up, the needs of the pioneers began to in-
.
173
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNUY.
crease, stores and trading places to spring up, goods and merchan- dise were hauled by wagons from McGregor and Dubuque, the nearest landing places on the Mississippi. In those days, and un- til the railroads crossed the Mississippi river-and followed the set- tlements into the interior, freighting and staging was a prosperous business, and laid the foundation for fortunes to the men who en- gaged in it. The old four-horse stage are still remembered with much pleasure, as being the joy of their early days, when the farmer stopped the horse in the furrow, the mechanic dropped his tools, and the merchant came from behind his counter, all to see the stage go by. What a hero-a man to be envied-was the driver. The young man's mind could conceive no higher ambi- tion than to drive a four-in-hand stage. And in fact, it made many of the fathers and men in middle-life feel wonderfully proud, when, for the first time, they took a seat in one of those old coaches to be whirled back to the east, from which he had so la- borously toiled with plodding oxen but a few years ago.
In 1856, the people of Chickasaw first began to agitate the sub- ject of railroads. The McGregor, St. Peters and Mississippi rail- road company being then in process of formation with headquar- ters at Decorah and McGregor, a special election was held in Chickasaw county on the question as to whether the county should subscribe to the stock of said company to induce them to run their line through the county. The election was held on October 15th, 1856, and the whole number of votes cast were .536, of these 352 voted for the subscription for the stock and 176 against it, with 8 ballots rejected on account of being incorrectly worded.
On October 6th, 1857, a vote was taken in the county as to whether the county should aid in the construction of the Cedar Valley branch of the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska, and resulted in 309 votes being cast in favor of so doing and 216 against it. But the McGregor, St. Peter and Mississippi railroad having collapsed about 1860, the county held another election and recinded all votes cast in aid of both the above roads, by very large majorities.
The first company who broke ground within the limits of, the county, was the Cedar Valley and Minnesota, who during the sum- mer of 1868 graded the road and laid the rails through the south- western part of Bradford township. The station at Nashua was erected in July of that year. Immediately on the completion of the road,it was leased to the Illinois Central railroad, who furnished the
/
174
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
necessary rolling stock to transact the business and who operate the road now under the name of the Cedar Falls and Minnesota branch of the Illinois Central. There are, however, but seven miles and a small fraction lying within this county.
On the 9th day of September, 1868, however, ground was broken at Calmar, Winnesheik county, by the McGregor and Sioux City railroad, and in the early summer of 1869 had entered the bounda- ries of Chickasaw county. This road traverses the entire breadth of Chickasaw county, crossing the townships of Stapleton, New Hampton, Dayton, Chickasaw and a small fraction of Utica, and having stations at Lawler, New Hampton, Chickasaw and Bassett It is now under the control of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, and designated the Iowa and Dakota division.
Several attempts have been made to induce the building of other roads, notably those running north and south, to secure ad- ditional facilities and produce competition, and thereby cheapen freight, but at present nothing has come of it, although there seems to be a prospect, in the future, for at least one to be com- pleted.
175
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
1
CHAPTER VI.
EDUCATION .- EARLY SCHOOL LAWS, TAX RATES, AND REPORTS ;: SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS; PRESENT STATUS; REPORTS OF SCHOOLS; REPORT OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT; AND TEACHERS, ETC.
EDUCATIONAL.
The United States, although the youngest in the bright brother- hood of nations may in truth be said to be the parent of the public : school. Two hundred years ago, the stern and rigid Puritan, on the bleak and rocks shores of New England, originated the district, school for the inculcation of ideas, to the _ youthfull mind, and it exists to this day in that far away portion of our great. republic. Our forefathers, in the mighty emgrations which they made toward the setting sun, brought with them the germs of the precious seed, and where ever they settled planted it in a fruitful soil. Some came to our own noble state, and though the seed was in small quantity, verily the harvest is abundant. It can now without any. fear of contradiction, be said, that Iowa possesses the best school system in the
-
176
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
world; and Chickasaw county is by no means, in the rear of the other counties of the state, in this respect. Let the following exhibit of the use of the educational system vouch for the truth of this.
The first school opened in the county, was one at the old village of Bradford in the year 1852, and from this small beginning, in thirty years it has grown into a mighty tree, whose outreaching branches overshadow every part of it. The first schools were ap- parently independent movements brought about by the commun- ities in which they were planted for we find no records. of any thing approaching to concerted action or system until 1855, from that period until 1858, there are no records at all owing partially to the loose manner, in which all the early papers were kept. After that date there seems to be more effort to keep them in proper form, and from them we collate the following:
In 1858 the secretaries of the several school districts, returned the following tax rates for school purposes: New Hampton town- ship, seven mills; Richland township, five mills; North Washing- ton, one mill; Bradford, one mill; Dayton, five mills; Jackson- (or Jaxonville, as here spelled,) five mills.
September 12th, 1859,'the permanent school fund, and the school tax collected in Chickasaw county were apportioned as follows:
PERMANENT CO. TAX
TOWNSHIP.
SCHOOL FUND.
COLLECTED.
Jacksonville.
$ 62 12
$ 39 15
Utica
66 86
42 11
Washington
31 32
19 44
Deerfield
56 38
35 53
Chickasaw
104 40
65 80
Dayton
32 88
20 92
New Hampton
49 59
31 26
Stapleton
33 41
21 06
Fredricksburg.
51 68
32 57
Dresden
34 97
22 04
Richland
53 77
33 89
Bradford
143 03
90 15
Totals
$720 41
$453 92
October 3d, 1859, J. C. Strong, county superintendent of Chick- asaw county schools, filed the following abstract of the number of
.
177
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
youths, between the ages of five and twenty-one years, residing in each township and school district: TOWNSHIP. MALES. FEMAES.
Bradford
143
144
287
Chickasaw
125
90
215
Dayton:
22
23
45
Deerfield
51
60
111
Dresden.
25
43
68
Fredericksburg.
47
32
79
Jacksonville,
62
56
118
New Hampton,
71
57
128
Richland,
33
57
90
Stapleton
35
34
69
Utica
73
73
146
Washington
33
30
63
Total.
720
699
1,419
Apportionment of school moneys April, 1860:
TOWNSHIPS.
PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND.
CO., TAX.
Bradford
$ 170 38
$ 163 14
Chickasaw
127 55
122 21
Dayton
26 70
25 58
Deerfield
65 87
63 10
Dresden.
40 35
38 65
Fredricksburg
46 88
44 90
Jacksonville
70 03
67 07
New Hampton
76 00
72 75
Richland
53 40
51 15
Stapleton
40 94
39 22
Utica.
86 64
82 99
Washington
37 39
35 81
Totals
$842 13
$806 57
Report of G. J. Tisdale, county superintendent, for 1860:
TOWNSHIPS.
MALES.
FEMALES.
TOTAL.
Bradford
144
149
293
Richland
31
53
84
Dresden.
35
40
75
Fredricksburg
52
50
102
Stapleton
33
37
70
TOTALS.
178
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
New Hampton
81
66
147
Dayton
27
25
52
Chickasaw
118
101
219
Deerfield
51
54
105
Washington
37
35
72
Jacksonville.
51
60 .
111
Utica
82
78
161
Totals
743
748
1,491
PUPILS 1880.
and 21 years.
No. between 5
in each Twp.
. No. enrolled
tendance.
Average
per pupil.
Cost tuition
TOWNSHIPS.
MALES.
FEMALES.
Bradford
213
233
299
153
1.60
Chickasaw
169
121
240
122
1.85
Deerfield
224
191
286
182
1.60
Jacksonville
231
239
282
177
1.64
Utica
254
240
443
177
1.24
Dayton
138
130
198
99
2.33
Dresden
126
138
252
115
167
Fredricksburg
148
124
236
128
1.69
New Hampton
112
118
203
95
2.08
Richland
145
169
237
122
42.1
Stapleton
150
136
221
124
1.49
Washington
259
224
298
169
1.33
IND. DISTRICTS.
Chickasaw.
47
49
78
33₺
.79
Fredricksburg
36
38
86
62
.95
Ionia
54
72
82
62
.95
Lawler
145
125
166
116
1.04
Nashua.
194
188
354
214
1.03
New Hampton
195
228
311
178
3.23
at-
The earliest records in the office of the county superintendent of schools begin on the 20th of October, 1862, on which date it ap- pears of entry that the board of supervisors appointed Thomas N. Skinner, superintendent in the place of J. A. Sawin. Skinner
179
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
entered upon the discharge of his duties the same day, and went to Bradford to attend a teachers' institute. Skinner's last entry is of date January 6th, 1864, and the first entry by his successor, F. D. Bosworth, appears on the blank day of January, 1864.
Records of examinations for teachers' certificates comprise the greater portion of Skinner's entries, together with itemized ac- counts of his expenses and sums due for official services. The enteries show, however, a very fair degree of energy on his part and quite a number of visitations upon the schools of the county. In the light of latter-day blank forms and other facilities for mak- ing out reports, etc., these early records appear somewhat primi- tive, but none the less evince the progressive spirit which has paved the way to the present orderly system.
The first entry of an official visit by superintendent Skinner is given below precisely as it appears in the records, as a specimen report of the more or less simelar memoranda which follows:
"June 2, 1863, journalized from memorandum Teacher Miss Rose Doud, wages $12 per month,
Faulty ortho- graphy.
Stapleton school district, May 20, 1863. Visited school in sub-district No. 2 in Staple- ton. School taught by Miss Rose Doud. School room neat and in order. Vase of flowers. Pupils enrolled. 8
Pupils 2 in first grade 2
Pupils 2 in 3 grade. 2
Pupils 4 in 4 grade 4
8
Wages $12 per month. A first-class school for a small one. Rented room for school."
Mr. Skinner is not always so complimentary in his reports, however; "faulty in orthography" is a comment which frequently appears, and there are other criticisms set forth with a charming degree of frankness unusual in our day of apologetic literature. Mr. S. evidently believed in calling a spade a spade. One teacher is "not well qualified;" in one school the room contained "no flowers or anything to make it pleasant; another is "too full a school for the house;" one school house is in "common order," and the school under "medium government." Then there are "a poor teacher, not fitted for the school;" a school that is "not neat;" a teacher that "hasn't energy enough for teaching successfully,"
-
+
180
HISTORY OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
and a teacher who "needs more education." Indeed, according to Mr. Skinner, there is quite a number'of the latter class. We learn also of a "good teacher" who is "conceited" and "does not stimu- late to higher standards;" a "national" teacher; a "nervous" teacher; a "middling" school, and are informed that "every school in the county is deficient in books"-better supplied, hewever, than the superintendent had anticipated."
The wages, it will be observed, were generally less than one-half the wages paid at the present time, twelve dollars per month being the usual sum, and fifteen dollars the highest paid save in the Bradford schools, where the principal, A. M. Mott, received forty- five dollars and his assistant, Miss Louisa Robinson, twenty dol- lars per month.
According to a resolution of the board of supervisors of the county, adopted at the June term 1863, the county superintendent was directed to visit and grade the various schools of the county agreebly to the instructions of the secretary of the state board of education, and that the schools be so graded that the pupils may advance in any one study when found to be so qualified.
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.