USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 8
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 8
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
The organization of the University at Iowa City was impractica- ble, however, so long as the seat of government was retained there.
69
HISTORY OF IOWA.
In January, 1849, two branches of the University and three Normal Schools were established. The branches were located- one at Fairfield, and the other at Dubuque, and were placed upon an equal footing, in respect to funds and all other matters, with the University established at Iowa City. "This act," says Col. Benton, "created three State Universities, with equal rights and powers, instead of a 'University with such branches as public con- venience may hereafter demand,' as provided by the Constitu- tion."
The Board of Directors of the Fairfield Branch consisted of Barnet Ristine, Christian W. Slagle, Daniel Rider, Horace Gay- lord, Bernhart Henn and Samuel S. Bayard. At the first meeting of the Board Mr. Henn was elected President, Mr. Slagle Secre- tary, and Mr. Gaylord Treasurer. Twenty acres of land were purchased, and a building erected thereon, costing $2,500. This building was nearly destroyed by a hurricane, in 1850, but was re- built more substantially, all by contributions of the citizens of Fairfield. This branch never received any aid from the State or from the University Fund, and by act approved January 24, 1853, at the request of the Board, the General Assembly terminated its relation to the State.
The branch at Dubuque was placed under the control of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Trustees never or- ganized, and its existence was only nominal.
The Normal Schools were located at Andrew, Oskaloosa and Mount Pleasant, respectively. Each was to be governed by a board of seven Trustees, to be appointed by the Trustees of the Univer- sity. Each was to receive $500 annually from the income of the University fund, upon condition that they should educate eight common school teachers, free of charge for tuition, and that the citizens should contribute an equal sum for the erection of the requisite buildings. The several Boards of Trustees were appointed. At Andrew, the school was organized November 21, 1849. A building was commenced and over $1,000 expended on it, but it was never completed. At Oskaloosa, the Trustees organized in April, 1852. This school was opened in the Court House, Septem- ber 13, 1852. A two-story brick building was completed in 1853, costing $2,473. The school at Mount Pleasant was never organ- ized. Neither of these schools received any aid from the Univer- sity fund, but" in 1857 the Legislature appropriated $1,000 each for those at Oskaloosa and Andrew, and repealed the law author- izing the payment of money to them from the University fund. From that time they made no further effort to continue in opera- tion.
At a special meeting of the Board of Trustees, held February 21, 1850, the "College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Upper Mississippi," established at Davenport, was recognized as the "Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons of the State University of Iowa,"
70
HISTORY OF IOWA.
expressly stipulating, however, that such recognition should not render the University liable for any pecuniary aid, nor was the Board to have any control over the property or management of the Medical Association. Soon after, this College was removed to Keokuk, its second session being opened there in November, 1850. In 1851, the General Assembly confirmed the action of the Board, and by act approved January 22, 1855, placed the Medical College under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the University, and it continued in operation until this arrangement was termi- nated by the new Constitution, September 3, 1857.
From 1847 to 1855, the Board of Trustees was kept full by regular elections by the Legislature, and the Trustees held fre- quent meetings, but there was no effectual organization of the University. In March, 1855, it was partially opened for a term of sixteen weeks. July 16, 1855, Amos Dean, of Albany, N. Y., was elected President, but he never entered fully upon its duties. The University was again opened in September, 1c55, and con- tinued in operation until June, 1856, under Professors Johnson, Welton, Van Valkenburg and Guffin.
In the Spring of 1856 the capital of the State was located at Des Moines; but there were no buildings there, and the capitol at, Iowa City was not vacated by the State until December, 1857.
In June. 1856, the faculty was re-organized, with some changes, and the University was again opened on the third Wednesday of September, 1856. There were one hundred and twenty-four stu- dents-eighty-three males and forty-one females in attendance during the year 1856-7, and the first regular catalogue was pub- lished.
Article IX, Section 11, of the new State Constitution, which went into force Sept. 3, 1857, provided as follows:
The State University shall be established at one place, without branches at any other place; and the University fund shall be applied to that institution, and no other.
Article XI, Section 8, provided that
The seat of government is hereby permanently established, as now fixed by law, at the city of Des Moines, in the county of Polk; and the State University at Iowa City, in the county of Johnson.
The new Constitution created the Board of Education, consist- ing of the Lieutenant-Governor, who was ex-officio President, and one member to be elected from each judicial district in the State. This Board was endowed with "full power and authority to legis- late and make all needful rules and regulations in relation to com- mon schools and other educational institutions," subject to altera- tion, amendment or repeal by the General Assembly, which was vested with authority to abolish or re-organize the Board at any time after 1863.
In December, 1857, the old capitol building, now known as Central Hall of the University, except the rooms occupied by the United States District Court, and the property, with that excep-
71
HISTORY OF IOWA.
tion, passed under the control of the Trustees, and became the seat of the University. The old building had had hard usage, and its arrangement was illy adapted for University purposes. Exten- sive repairs and changes were necessary, but the Board was witlı- out funds for these purposes.
The last meeting of the Board, under the old law, was held in January, 1858. At this meeting a resolution was introduced, and seriously considered, to exclude females from the University; but it finally failed.
March 12, 1858, the first Legislature under the new Constitution enacted a new law in relation to the University, but it was not materially different from the former. March 11, 1858, the Legis- lature appropriated $3,000 for the repair and modification of the old capitol building, and $10,000 for the erection of a boarding house, now known as South Hall.
The Board of Trustees created by the new law met and duly or- ganized April 27, 1858, and determined to close the University until the income from its funds should be adequate to meet the current expenses, and the buildings should be ready for occupa- tion. Until this term, the building known as the "Mechanics'. Academy" had been used for the school. The Faculty, except the Chancellor (Dean), was dismissed, and all further instruction sus- pended, from the close of the term then in progress until Sep- tember, 1859. At this meeting, a resolution was adopted ex- cluding females from the University after the close of the existing term; but this was afterward, in August, modified, so as to admit them to the Normal Department.
An "Act for the Government and Regulation of the State Uni- versity of Iowa," approved December 25, 1858, was mainly a re- enactment of the law of March 12, 1858, except that changes were made in the Board of Trustees, and manner of their appointment. This law provided that both sexes were to be admitted on equal terms to all departments of the institution, leaving the Board no discretion in the matter.
At the annual meeting June 28, 1860, a full Faculty was ap- pointed, and the University re-opened, under this new organiza- tion, September 19, 1860 (third Wednesday); and at this date the actual existence of the University may be said to commence.
August 19, 1862, Dr. Totten having resigned, Prof. Oliver M. Spencer was elected President and the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon Judge Samuel F. Miller, of Keokuk.
At the commencement, in June, 1863, was the first class of graduates in the Collegiate Department.
The Board of Education was abolished March 19, 1864 and the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction was restored; the General Assembly resumed control of the subject of education, and on March 21 an act was approved for the government of the University. It was substantially the same as the former law, but
72
HISTORY OF IOWA.
provided that the Governor should be ex-officio President of the Board of Trustees. Until 1858, the Superintendent of Public Instruction had been ex-officio President. During the period of the Board of Education, the University trustees were elected by it, and elected their own President.
The North Hall was completed. late in 1866.
The Law Department was established in June, 1868, and in Sep- tember following an arrangement was perfected with the Iowa Law School, at Des Moines, which had been in successful opera- tion for three years, by which that institution was transferred to Iowa City and merged in the Law Department of the University.
At a special meeting of the Board, on the 17th of September, 1868, a committee was appointed to consider the expediency of establishing a Medical Department. The committee reported at once in favor of the proposition, the Faculty to consist of the President of the University and seven Professors, and recom- mended that, if practicable, the new department should be opened at the commencement of the University year, in 1869-70.
By an act of the General Assembly, approved April 11, 1870, the "Board of Regents" was instituted as the governing power of the University, and since that time it has been the fundamental law of the institution. The Board of Regents held its first meet- ing June 28, 1870.
The South Hall, having been fitted up for the purpose, the first term of the Medical Department was opened October 24, 1870, and continued until March, 1871.
In June 1874, the "Chair of Military Instruction" was estab- lished, and the President of the United States was requested to detail an officer to perform its duties. At the annual meeting, in 1876, a Department of Homopathy was established. In March, 1877 a resolution was adopted affiliating the High Schools of the State with the University.
In 1872, the ex-officio membership of the Superintendent of Public Instruction was abolished, but it was restored in 1876.
The Board of Regents, in 1881, was composed as follows: John H. Gear, Governor, ex-officio, President; Carl W. VonCoelln, Superintendent of Public Instruction, ex-officio; J. L. Picard, President of the University, ex-officio. C. W. Slagle, Fairfield, First District; D. N. Richardson, Davenport. Second District; H. C. Bulis, Decorah, Third District; A. T. Reeve, Hampton, Fourth District; J. N. W. Rumple, Marengo, Fifth District; W. O. Crosby, Centerville, Sixth District; T. S. Parr, Indianola, Seventh District; Horace Everett, Council Bluffs, Eighth District; J. F. Duncombe, Fort Dodge, Ninth District. John N. Coldren, Iowa City, Treasurer; W. J. Haddock, Iowa City, Secretary.
The Regents are elected by the General Assembly, in Joint Convention, for six years, one-third being elected at each regular session, one member to be chosen from each Congressional District.
73
HISTORY OF IOWA.
The present educational corps of the University consists of the President, nine Professors in the Collegiate Department, one Pro- fessor and six Instructors in Military Science; Chancellor, three Professors and four Lecturers in the Law Department; eight Pro- fessor demonstrators of Anatomy; Prosector of Surgery and two Lecturers in the Medical Department, and two Professors in the Homopathic Medical Department.
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
By act of the General Assembly, approved January 28, 1857, a State Historical Society was provided for in connection with the University. At the commencement, an appropriation of $250 was made, to be expended in collecting, embodying and preserving in an authentic form, a library of books, pamphlets, charts, maps, manuscripts, papers, painting, statuary, and other materials illus- trative of the history of Iowa; and with the further object to res- cue from oblivion the memory of the early pioneers; to obtain and preserve various accounts of their exploits, perils and hardy ad- ventures; to secure facts and statements relative to the history and genius, and progress and decay of the Indian tribes of Iowa, to exhibit faithfully the antiquities and past and present re- sources of the State; to aid in the publication of such collections of the society as shall, from time to time, be deemed of value and interest; to aid in binding its books, pamphlets, manuscripts and papers, and in defraying other necessary incidental expenses of the Society.
There was appropriated by law to this institution, till the Gen- eral Assembly shall otherwise direct, the sum of $500 per annum. The Society is under the management of a Board of Curators, consisting of eighteen persons, nine of whom are appointed by the Governor, and nine elected by the members of the Society. The Curators receive no compensation for their services. The annual meeting is provided for by law, to be held at Iowa City on Mon- day preceding the last Wednesday in June of each year.
The State Historical Society has published a series of very valu- able collections, including history, biography, sketches, remi- niscences, etc., with quite a large number of finely engraved por- . traits of prominent and early settlers, under the title of "Annals of Iowa.'
THE PENITENTIARY. Located at Fort Madison, Lee County.
The first act of the Territorial Legislature, relating to a Peni- tentiary in Iowa, was approved January 25, 1839, the fifth section of which authorized the Governor to draw the sum of $20,000 appropriated by an act of Congress approved July 7, 1838, for public buildings in the Territory of Iowa. It provided for a
5
74
HISTORY OF IOWA.
Board of Directors of three persons elected by the Legislature, who should direct the building of the Penitentiary, which should be located within one mile of the public square, in the town of Fort Madison, Lee County, provided Fort Madison should deed to the Directors a tract of land suitable for a site, and assign them, by contract, a spring or stream of water for the use of the. Peni- tentiary. To the Directors was also given the power of appoint- ing the Warden; the latter to appoint his own assistants.
The first Directors appointed were John S. David and John Claypole. They made their first report to the Legislative Council November 9, 1839. The citizens of the town of Fort Madison had executed a deed conveying ten acres of land for the building site. Amos Ladd was appointed Superintendent of the building June 5, 1839. The building was designed of sufficient capacity to contain one hundred and thirty-eight convicts, and estimated to cost $55,933.90. It was begun on the 9th of July, 1839; the main building and Warden's house were completed in the fall of 1841. Other additions were made from time to time till the build- ing and arrangements were all complete according to the plan of the Directors. It has answered the purpose of the State as a Penitentiary for more than thirty years, and during that period many items of practical experience in prison management have been gained.
ADDITIONAL PENITENTIARY. Located at Anamosa, Jones County.
By an Act of the Fourteenth General Assembly, approved April 23, 1872, William Ure, Foster L. Downing and Martin Heisey were constituted Commissioners to locate and provide for the erec- tion and control of an additional Penitentiary for the State of Iowa. These Commissioners met on the 4th of the following June, at Anamosa, Jones County, and selected a site donated by the citizens, within the limits of the city. L. W. Foster & Co., architects, of Des Moines, furnished the plan, drawings and specifications, and work was commenced on the building on the 28th day of September, 1872. May 13, 1873, twenty convicts were transferred to Anamosa from the Fort Madison Peniten- tiary. The entire enclosure includes fifteen acres, with a frontage of 663 feet.
IOWA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. Mount Pleasant, Henry County.
By an act of the General Assembly of Iowa, approved January 24, 1855, $4,425 were appropriated for the purchase of a site, and $50,000 for building an Insane Hospital, and the Governor (Grimes), Edward Johnston, of Lee County, and Charles S. Blake, of Henry County, were appointed to locate the institution and
75
HISTORY OF IOWA.
superintend the erection of the building. These Commissioners located the institution at Mt. Pleasant, Henry County. A plan for a building designed to accommodate 300 patients was accepted, and in October work was commenced. Up to February 25, 1858, and including an appropriation made on that date, the Legislature had appropriated $258,555.67 to this , institution, but the building was not finished ready for occupancy by patients until March 1, 1861. April 18, 1876, a portion of the hospital build- ing was destroyed by fire.
Trustees, 1881 :- Timothy Whiting, Mount Pleasant; J. H. Kulp, Davenport; Denison A. Hurst, Oskaloosa; John Conaway, Brooklyn; L. E. Fellows, Lansing. Mark Ranney, M. D., Mt. Pleasant, is the Medical Superintendent; C. V. Arnold, Mt. Pleas- ant, Treasurer.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. Independence, Buchanan County.
In the winter of 1867-8 a bill providing for an additional Hos- pital for the insane was passed by the Legislature, and an appro- priation of $125,000 was made for that purpose. Maturin L. Fisher, of Clayton County; E. G. Morgan, of Webster County, and Albert Clark, of Buchanan County, were appointed Commissioners to locate and supervise the erection of the building.
The Commissioners met and commenced their labors on the 8th day of June, 1868, at Independence. The act under which they were appointed required them to select the most eligible and de- sirable location, of not less than 320 acres, within two miles of the City of Independence, that might be offered by the citizens free of charge to the State. Several such tracts were offered, but the Commissioners finally selected the south half of southwest quarter of Section 5; the north half of northeast quarter of Sec- tion 7; the north half of northwest quarter of Section 8, and the north half of northeast quarter of Section 8, all in Township 88 north, Range 9 west of the Fifth Principal Meridian. This loca- tion is on the west side of the Wapsipinicon River, and about a mile from its banks, and about the same distance from Independ- ence.
The contract for erecting the building was awarded for $88,114. The contract was signed November 7, 1868, and work was at once commenced. The main buildings were constructed of dressed limestone, from the quarries at Anamosa and Farley. The base- ments are of the local granite worked from the immense boulders found in large quantities in this portion of the State.
In 1872 the building was so far completed that the Commis- sioners called the first meeting of the Trustees, on the 10th day of July of that year. The building was ready for occupancy April 21, 1873.
76
HISTORY OF IOWA.
In 1877, the south wing was built, but was not completed ready for occupancy until the Spring or Summer of 1878.
Trustees, 1881 :- Erastus G. Morgan, Fort Dodge, President; Jed. Lake, Independence; Mrs. Jennie C. Mckinney, Decorah; Lewis H. Smith, Algona; David Hammer, McGregor; A. Rey- nolds, M. D., Independence, Medical Superintendent; W. G. Don- nar, Independence, Treasurer.
IOWA COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND. Vinton, Benton County.
In August, 1852, Prof. Samuel Bacon, himself blind, established an Institution for the instruction of the blind of Iowa, at Keokuk.
By act of the General Assembly, entitled "An act to establish an Asylum for the Blind," approved January 18, 1853, the institu- tion was adopted by the State, removed to Iowa City, February 3d, and opened for the reception of pupils April 4, 1853, free to all the blind in the State.
The Board of Trustees appointed Prof. Samuel Bacon, Princi- pal; T. J. McGittigen, Teacher of Music, and Mrs. Sarah K. Bacon, Matron. Twenty-three pupils were admitted during the first term.
In his first report, made in 1854, Prof. Bacon suggested that the name should be changed from "Asylum for the Blind," to that of "Institution for the Instruction of the Blind." This was done in 1855, when the General Assembly made an annual appropria- tion for the College of $55 per quarter for each pupil. This was subsequently changed to $3,000 per annnm, and a charge of $25 as an admission fee for each pupil, which sum, with the amounts realized from the sale of articles manufactured by the blind pupils, proved sufficient for the expenses of the institution during Mr. Bacon's administration.
On the 8th of May, 1858, the Trustees met at Vinton, and made arrangements for securing the donation of $5,000 made by the citizens of that town.
In June of that year a quarter section of land was donated for the College, by John W. O. Webb and others, and the Trustees adopted a plan for the erection of a suitable building. In 1860 the plan was modified, and the contract for enclosing let for $10,420.
In August, 1862, the building was so far completed that the goods and furniture of the institution were removed from Iowa City to Vinton, and early in October the School was opened there with twenty-four pupils.
Trustees, 1881 :- Clinton O. Harrington, Vinton; S. H. Wat- son, Vinton, Treasurer; J. F. White, Sidney; M. H. Westerbrook, Lyons; W. H. Leavitt, Waterloo; Jacob Springer, Watkins; Rev. Robert Carothers, Principal of the Institution and Secretary of the Board.
77
HISTORY OF IOWA.
INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB. Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County.
The Iowa Institution for the Deaf and Dumb was established at Iowa City by an' act of the General Assembly, approved Jan- uary 24, 1855. The number of deaf mutes then in the State was 301; the number attending the Institution, 50.
A strong effort was made, in 1866, to remove this important in- stitution to Des Moines, but it was located permanently at Council Bluffs, and a building rented for its use. In 1868, Commissioners were appointed to locate a site for, and to superintend the erection of a new building, for which the Legislature appropriated $125,- 000 to commence the work of construction .. The Commissioners selected ninety acres of land about two miles south of the city of Council Bluffs. The main building and one wing were completed October 1, 1870, and immediately occupied by the Institution. February 25, 1877, the main building and east wing were de- stroyed by fire; and August 6th, following, the roof of the new west wing was blown off and the walls partially demolished by a tornado: At the time of the fire about one hundred and fifty pupils were in attendance. After the fire, half the classes were dismissed and the number of scholars reduced, to about seventy, and in a week or two the school was in running order.
Trustees, 1881 :- B. F. Clayton, Macedonia, President; J. H. Stu- benrauch, Pella, Treasurer; Louis Weinstein, Burlington. Rev. A. Rogers, Superintendent.
SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' HOMES. Davenport, Cedar Falls, Glenwood.
The movement which culminated in the establishment of this benificent institution was originated by Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer, during the civil war of 1861-65. This noble and patriotic lady called a convention at Muscatine, on the 7th day of October, 1863, for the purpose of devising measures for the support and educa- tion of the orphan children of the brave sons of Iowa, who had fallen in.defense of national honor and integrity. So great was the public interest in the movement that there was a"large repre-
sentation from all parts of the State on the day named, and an association was organized called the Iowa State Orphan Asylum.
' The first meeting of the Trustees was held February 14, 1864, in the Representative Hall, at Des Moines. Committees from both branches of the General Assembly were present and were invited to participate in their deliberations. Arrangements were made for raising funds.
" At the next meeting, in Davenport, in March 1864, the Trus- tees decided to commence operations at once, and a committee was
78
HISTORY OF IOWA.
appointed to lease a suitable building, solicit donations, and pro- cure suitable furniture. The committee secured a large brick building in Lawrence, Van Buren County, and engaged Mr. Ful- ler, of Mt. Pleasant, as Steward.
At the annual meeting. in Des Moines, in June, 1864, Mrs. C. B. Baldwin, Mrs. G. G. Wright, Mrs. Dr. Horton, Miss Mary E. Shelton and Mr. George Sherman, were appointed a committee to furnish the building and take all necessary steps for opening the "Home," and notice was given that at the next meeting of the Association, a motion would be made to change the name of the Institution to Iowa Orphans' Home.
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.