USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 18
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The Congregational church was duly incorporated in September, 1872. Edward Pruyn, H. B. Coryell and Peter M. Moore were the incorporators.
The incorporators of the Free Baptist church were G. D. Marcellus, R. A. Coats, J. F. Calkins, P. E. Randall and others.
The first Clay county agricultural society dated its organization from May 21, 1873. It, however, was short lived, giving but one exhibition.
The Co-operative Council of Patrons of Husbandry was in existence from the early part of 1875 until the beginning of 1878, when it went the way of all things earthly. For a time it was a potent factor not only in business matters but in political circles. It was well officered, but. like many organizations of a
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similar character, it did not prove either profitable or beneficial generally, and the members gradually dropped out and it became a thing of the past. The officers were: President. J. M. Spencer : secretary, A. W. Green ; treasurer. Eben Bailey ; superintendent, S. W. Dubois; trustees, J. W. Ford, J. R. Ward and W. W. Scott. .
The Iowa and Montana Live Stock Company came to be known in 1883. For a time this organization, which was composed of some of the wealthiest citizens of the county, did a large and extensive business. They purchased several thousand head of cattle and horses, which they shipped to Montana, where for a few years the investment made bid fair to yield immense profits. Unfavorable weather. extremely low prices for cattle and the great cost for railroad transportation all combined to entail a loss and cost that ultimately caused the investment to prove unprofitable to the investors. Among those in this county who were original stockholders were Marcus Tuttle. John Thaver. M. E. Griffin, James Goodwin, J. E. Francis and Franklin Floete.
In 1884 a number of gentlemen living at Peterson, after discussing the question from day to day, decided that there was coal underneath the soil in and around that town. The more the subject was discussed the more convinced they became of it being a fixed fact. They became so satisfied and convinced that they formed a stock company, sent for an expert. and at once began sinking a shaft in search of the "dark and dusky diamonds." After digging down some distance the expert reported growing signs of coal. The stockholders became jubilant. The news was spread broadcast, and the excitement became intense. The work was prosecuted with great vigor and the quantities of soil, rocks, etc., raised made a small mountain. The expert reported brighter and better signs and the people no longer doubted that in a short time huge quantities of coal would be ready for sale. The confidence in the ultimate success of the project became so great that a large number of companies were immediately organized. The first one was called the Fairbanks Coal and Mining Company, after the main projector. The officers were as follows: President, Hon. Isaac S. Struble ; Lewis Voight, secretary: J. W. Fairbanks, treasurer. Then there were the G. F. Strait Coal and Mining Company, the Jones Coal and Mining Company, the Peterson Coal and Mining Company, and a host of others. The whole project came to naught and the incorporators were out of pocket several thousands of dollars. There may be coal there, but these companies failed to obtain it in sufficient quantities to make it profitable.
The Spencer and Southeastern Railway Company was organized in 1884. The object of this company was to construct a line of railroad running through Clay county in a southeasterly direction. The officers were A. W. Miller, James Goodwin, J. Q. Adams. C. S. Penfield. J. D. McDonald and Ackley Hubbard. The first movements of this company gave evidences of ultimate success and probably would have resulted in securing a railroad had not the farmers and others refused to aid it in voting a tax. Failing to secure a majority of the townships through which the proposed road was to run, the organizers abandoned their plans.
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THE FIRST HOTEL IN SPENCER.
Captain W. H. Hunter, a veteran of the Civil war, came to Spencer early in its history and built its first hotel. He was not permitted long to be its landlord. He erected the building in the spring of 1871 and in the spring of 1873 it was completely destroyed by fire. This building stood at the corner of Main and Second streets, now the site of the Farmers' Institute. On another page is shown the building as it stood at that time.
The first band in the town of Spencer was known as the Spencer Cornet Band. and was led by Major A. H. Cheney.
The first petition for a road to be opened in Clay county was filed with the county judge on the 25th of March. 1859. This was for a road running from section 32, township 96, range 78, by Spencer, thence to the north line of the county.
John William Brockschink, a native of Prussia, was the first one to be given naturalization papers in Clay county. He secured them in 1859.
On August 20, 1859. Andrew Hood, surveyor of the city of Fort Dodge, was appointed surveyor for the county of Clay, by Judge Charles C. Smeltzer. Mr. Hood had shortly before that time entered into a contract with Clay county to locate and survey the swamp lands allotted to the county under the "Swamp Land" act.
THE CITY HALL.
The town hall was built in 1883. Previous to this Spencer was without a public building. The council had from time to time leased different rooms, but none of sufficient size to accommodate any public gathering. It was therefore decided to construct a building of sufficient dimensions to meet these wants. After due deliberation it was agreed to bond the town for $3,000 and put up the building, which was done, and the town now has a neat two-story building, twenty by fifty feet. The lower floor is used for the hook and ladder outfit and the hose cart, while the second story is divided into two rooms, one being used for a council room and the other for public purposes. The lot on which the building stands was a donation from the late Alexander Mitchell, president of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company, to the town. The facts in regard to this gift are these: In the spring of 1882 a number of young men. being fired with a military spirit, decided to organize a militia company. A meeting was called, which was largely attended. A paper was drawn up which set forth the object of the organization, and after being circulated among those gathered and others, some fifty signed their names and signified their willingness to unite. As soon as the proper officers were elected, semiweekly drills were held in the building later occupied by Ackley Hubbard. In a short time Mr. Hubbard gave the company notice that he intended to occupy the building and it must seek other quarters. There being no building of sufficient size, it was decided to build one. A subscription paper was handed around, and nearly one thousand dollars was at once subscribed. The project had all the evidences of success and the matter was referred to a committee to select a site and report at the next meeting. Alexander Mitchell, Jr .. at that time a resident of the county. a member of the company and a member of the committee. volunteered to go
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to Milwaukee and interview his uncle, Alexander Mitchell, and endeavor to induce him to donate a lot. That he succeeded is unquestionably true. In the meantime the members and officers of the company had lost their interest and military zeal, and the matter, like many other projects, fell through. The "next meeting" was never called; that committee on a site has never reported, but the town has the lot just the same.
THE SPENCER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The first school house in Spencer was a little sixteen by twenty-four, built in 1869. It was the only schoolhouse in the township at a time when the school township comprised five congressional townships. Besides doing service as a school building, this primitive structure answered the demand for a church and Good Templars' hall. The first teacher was Charles Carver. Here Frank W. Calkins, one of the contributors to the Youth's Companion, went to school.
In the fall of 1874 the independent school district of Spencer was organized. with practically the same boundaries as at present. An addition, eighteen by thirty-two, was built, and George Mann was selected principal and Augusta Smith assistant. The first board of education was M. Hines, H. B. Wood and llorace Smith.
In the fall of 1879 the old building gave place to a new two-story frame building, forty-eight by fifty-eight, containing four rooms and heated by a furnace. The building cost $4.000. and fixtures $800. M. M. Gilchrist was made principal. He laid out the first course of study and thoroughly graded the school.
In 1881 the public schools of Spencer had an enrollment of three hundred pupils. J. T. Lamar was principal and was assisted by Miss 1 .. Parker, Miss E. Bean. Miss --- Cowan and Miss Olivia Woodruff. The board of education consisted of T. P. Bender, President A. W. Miller, J. C. McCoy and Ackley Ilubbard.
In 1882 the present four-room frame building was erected on the east side. This building was overhauled in 1907, after twenty-five years of continuous service, and a commodious basement constructed, modern water closets added, and the walls and ceilings tinted. At this writing grades one to six, inclusive, are housed here.
In 1887 a one-room building was erected on the north side, but in 1902, this building was moved down to the site of the West school, to make room for the handsome four-room brick building which was erected in that year.
In 1893 the Spencer high school building shown in the picture was erected at a cost of $24,000. It is ninety by ninety-four and contains an assembly room thirty-five by seventy-five and four recitation rooms on the upper floor, five grade rooms on the first floor, two recitation rooms, steam plant, water closets, coal bins and storeroom in the basement. Bonds for the erection of this building were voted in 1892, and it is said that had they been floated immediately, five per cent bonds would have brought a premium, but in 1893 the panic came on and it was found almost impossible to float the bonds at any price. Over two hundred letters were written to various financial institutions in Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco and other cities throughout the country, but without avail.
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Finally Mr. S. Gillespie went to Chicago, and after spending several days upon the street, succeeded in floating six per cent ponds at ninety. In order to get in the heating plant, which cost $2,100, a local party was persuaded to take warrants upon the schoolhouse fund drawing six per cent and discounted ten per cent. At this time the board of education consisted of S. Gillespie, H. Chamberlain, A. H. Cheney, F. T. Verharen, M. P. W. Albee and George Starr. The building was constructed by S. B. Taylor and J. C. McCoy.
In 1901 a one-room frame building was erected on the south side. The first three grades are housed here.
In 1902 a handsome four-room two-story brick building was erected on the north side at a cost of $8,000. It is heated by hot air, but has neither city water nor sewer connections. The first five grades and the seventh are housed here.
At this time Spencer has a school population of eight hundred and sixty pupils, over seven hundred of whom are in school. The pupils are housed in five different buildings and instructed by twenty-three teachers. A. H. Avery is superintendent, and the board of education consists of A. W. Green, President A. C. Perine. M. E. DeWolf, S. Gillespie and Charles Weaver.
A full five-year course of study is laid out for the high school and graduates are conditioned for sophomore in college. The high school has an enrollment of one hundred and ninety-two students, twenty-three of whom will graduate this year. Eight teachers do the work, as follows: D. M. Odle, principal, geometry : John A. Larson, physics, chemistry and geology; Lodema Willis, English : W. J. Moir. Jr., history ; Gertrude Ingalls, Latin and German ; Laura Benson, science and algebra ; Florence Hall, Latin and English ; A. H. Avery, economics. First year classes are segregated. The following is the course of study :
Eighth grade, A class : Arithmetic, grammar, history, physical geography.
Ninth grade: Latin, algebra, rhetoric, physiology, botany.
Tenth grade: Cæsar, geometry, American literature, ancient history.
Eleventh grade: Cicero, or geology and zoology, geometry, English litera- ture, modern history.
Twelfth grade: Virgil or chemistry, German, algebra and civics, United States history.
Thirteenth grade: Physics, German, economics and arithmetic, English literature, including English grammar.
The Spencer high school has two literary societies, the Alpha, a girls' society, whose membership is limited to fifty, and the Athenian, a boys' society, whose membership is limited to forty.
The Spencer high school has a library of fifteen hundred volumes, consisting largely of books of reference, histories, biographies, science and literature. The history department is especially strong, there being over two hundred volumes of the very best. The library has been accessioned and card catalogued according to the Dewey decimal system, and the books are made as accessible to the school as it is possible to make them.
In the fall of 1901 the Spencer high school became a member of the Iowa High School Declamatory Association. Since then the following have carried off silver medals from the district contests : Ralph McWhirter, Clare Horner.
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Wilson Cornwell, Leonard Reed: and the following gold medals from the state
contests : Ralph Mc Whirter, Wilson Cornwall and Leonard Reed.
The following is a complete list of the graduates of the high school :
Class of '87: Ella Bowman. Burton Calkins, Charles Jones, Carrie Randall and Blanch Watson.
Class of '88: C. C. Bender, Harry Glover, Curtis Cruver, Irving Townsend. Mattie Knight, Florence Claypool. Myrtle Gifford, Frank O'Brien, Carrie Fay, Archie McCoy, Mabel Mann. Nellie Kirkpatrick. Lorena Varney.
Class of 'go: Zada White, A. J. Cuttell. Belle Hulling, Allie Myers, Hattie Cuttell. Nellie Green, Lena Verharen, Bessie Smith, Carrie McConnell Lizzie Mc Elhiney.
Class of '02: Alice Hubbard, Minnie McConnell, Bessie Knight, Mark Taylor. Charles Kirkpatrick, Rose Davison, Oma Evans.
Class of '94: G. C. Albee, Susie Barrett, Jessie Bender, O. A. Hammond, Edna McConnell, Melvin Stephenson, Lulu Purdy.
Class of '95: Jay Goble. Florence Steele.
Class of 'go: Edith Brande. Edna Brande, Marion Bruntlett, Alonzo Chamberlain, Jennie Claypool. Fred Crandall, Ida Dubois, Arthur Greaves. Frank Hendricks, Minnie Ilurinton, Forest Hirleman, Florence Hubbard, Lulu Verharen, Ethel Wyatt, Gertrude Robbins, May Tryon.
Class of '07: Edith Archer, Olive Archer. Homer Coffin, Bessie Cotterell, Bessie Crawford, Lena Fuhr. Zelma Goldsworthy, Adelaide Hewitt, Dasie McConnell. Harry Oliver, William Paterson, Arthur Verharen, Avis Wescott. George White.
Class of '98: Jennie Austin, Lenora Barry, Mary Burgin, Grace Gregory, Nina Hewitt, Gertrude Ingalls, Ella Jones, Inez Palmer, Amanda Palmquist, Will Robison, Victor Tryon.
Class of '99: John Ackenback, Leigh Gillespie. Clinton Green, Rov Sherbondy. Lorne Smylie.
Class of 1900: Edna Ryerson, Stella Kimball. Eunice Hockett, Grace Walsh. Edna Dubois, Ruth Francis, Edna Green, Stella Gregory, Floyd Hiser, Elsie Kellogg, Jessie Miller, Minnie Bowman, Irene Montour, Margie Perine, Cordelia S. Treat, Emma Robinson.
Class of 'of : Elizabeth Crandall, Basil Dean, May Dull. Sadie Goble, Clara Green, Edna Mattson. Lucy Starff. Emma Steigleder, Bessie Van Denburg.
Class of '02: Mabel Ackenback. Mabel Hay, Beulah Hendershott, Vilhelmine Jesperson, Audrey Livingstone, Aleck McAllister, Hazel 'Painter, Margaret Steigleder, Mabel Treat. Blanch Watts, Mortimer Weaver.
Class of '03: Gertrude O'Brien, Henry Hubbard, May Nettleton, Maude Gillespie, Josephine Francis, Blanches Goldsworthy. Ricka Larson, Mae Thomas.
Class of '04: Maud Fraher. Susie Goble. May Ketcham, Flora Belle Mack, Ruby Montour, Emma Miller, Mary Perine. Grace Symington, Thomas Thomas, Frances Wade, Mildred Yates. Cecile Buck, Clare Horner, Leo Mather.
Class of '05: Emma Ackenback, Fanny Blondel, Flora Mitts, Charles Collester, Oran D. Jones.
Class of '06: Mildred Morgan, Lena Bjornstad. Agnes Gillespie, Mabel
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Kingsley, Verne McCown, Barbara Cornwall. Charles Royce, Ethel Weaver, Elsie Scholer.
Class of '07: Elsie Ackenback, Lyle Baker, Helen Black, Royal Burgin, Marie Dickinson, Lisle Goldsworthy, Ethel Knight, Edna Livingstone, Zella Palmer. Zora Parrott, Theodore Scholer, Eva Spencer, Alfred Thomas, Bertha Walters.
Class of 'o8: Wilbur Bailey, Edna Brown, Mabelle Claypool, Wilson Cornwall. Avery Constant, John Cory, Harold Horner, Lilly Knight, Floy Mather, Ralph McWhirter, Leonard Reed, Donald Wooliscroft, Etta Taylor, lona Wilson, Bennie Wilson, Dale Youde, Cass Youde.
The Spencer Public Library Association was organized in 1883 by a few ladies who were willing to give their time and means that Spencer might have the best advantages possible at that, time in the way of books, which meant hard work, much time and sacrifice on their part.
Officers were selected, Mrs. Ackley Hubbard being chosen as the first presiding: officer.
The beginning was made with a few books and a few from the W. C. T. U .. of which they wished to dispose. Mrs. Dr. Crary gave the use of her parlor as a library room, acting as librarian for a time, the ladies taking turns in looking after the library. A plan was made for raising money to carry on the work and buy books, also for regular subscribers, who, by paying the sum of $1. were entitled to the use of the library books for one year, non-subscribers paying at the rate of five cents per week. Fairs were held, suppers given, and money raised by many legitimate means.
After seven years of untiring effort the ladies were able to purchase a small frame building for library purposes, paying $500 for it, which they then occupied. To keep this in repair, pay insurance and other incidentals necessary, added so much to the expense that the ladies found it too great a burden, so offered the town council the property, on condition that they levy a tax for the maintenance of the library, which proposition was accepted and a tax voted by the people, as provided by the state law.
The property, then valued at $1,000, was turned over to the city, the ladies still having charge of it and taking all responsibility, which did not materially lessen their work. The name was changed to Spencer Public Library, and a librarian employed at a small salary. For three years a tax of one mill was received, then one and one-half for a time.
In the spring of 1902 Harlan J. Buck, an attorney and old resident of Spencer, was elected mayor, and soon after he procured letters from prominent congressmen, cabinet officers and judges urging Mr. Andrew Carnegie to make a donation of $10,000 for a library building, which letters, together with a certified copy of a resolution adopted by the city council July 18, 1902, pledging the city council and its successors to levy such a tax for library purposes as would produce a sum of at least $1,000 per annum, were forwarded by the mayor. together with his letter of application, to Mr. Andrew Carnegie, of New York City.
On January 13. 1903, the mayor received the following letter :
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
"Andrew Carnegie, 2 East gIst Street, New York.
13th January, 1903.
Mayor, Buck.
Spencer, Iowa.
Dear Sir: Responding to your communications in behalf of Spencer, if the city agree by resolution of council to maintain a free public library at cost of not less than $1,000 a year and provide a suitable site for the building, Mr. Carnegie will be glad to furnish $10,000 to erect a free public library for Spencer.
Respectfully yours, JAS. BERTRAM, P. Secretary."
At the time the library books were turned over to the city by the Spencer Public Library Association they also conveyed a lot on Main street, together with a small wooden building located thereon, to the city, this having been the home of the library for many years; and after the receipt of the letter from Mr. Carnegie steps were taken to procure a new site for the library, it being thought that the old site was not suitable in many respects.
Dr. Charles McAllister offered to deed the present library site to the city in exchange for the lot and building on Main street, which offer was accepted by the board of library trustees and the city council April 6, 1903, and subse- quently deeds were exchanged.
The city council on September 18, 1903, adopted a resolution pledging the city to levy an annual tax upon the taxable property within the city sufficient to produce the sum of $1.000 to maintain the free public library when the library building shall have been built, also expressing appreciation to Mr. Carnegie for his magnanimous offer to the city, and the city clerk was directed to send Mr. Carnegie a certified copy of the resolution.
In 1904 the present library building was crected. The structure is quite a novelty in architecture and pleasing to the eye. The exterior is beautiful and the arrangements are the acme of perfection for convenience and the com- fort of its patrons. Almost four thousand volumes of a varied selection of books are on the shelves of this Carnegie library and from year to year the most desirable of new publications are being added to the list.
SPENCER POSTMASTERS.
R. A. Coats was the premier postmaster of Spencer, taking the office in 1869 under General Grant's administration. Mr. Coats was one of the early settlers of the county and was a member of the famous "Spencer Pioneer Band" of early comers. His homestead was what now constitutes land belonging to A. S. Mack and Frank M. Tuttle, northwest of the city limits. He at one time was county superintendent of schools and for a number of years was the pastor of the Free Will Baptist church. Rev. Coats left Spencer about a quarter of a century ago and now makes his home at Maine, Minnesota, although he occa- sionally visits Spencer and renews old acquaintances.
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EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SPENCER
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FO. . DA IONS
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
R. A. Coats was succeeded by Miss Eliza Gannett, who was a daughter of E. Gannett, a homesteader who came to Clay county in 1870, from Wisconsin, and located one mile southwest of Spencer. Miss Gannett held the office until 1874, when she resigned to become the wife of Charles Carver, an early settler of Riverton township. In less than a year after his marriage, Mr. Carver lost his life in a windstorm. The house in which he was sleeping was blown over and his lifeless body taken from the debris. His widow about four years later became the wife of David Skinner, who died about four years ago. Mr. Skinner was a blacksmith and plow maker and owned the Skinner block, on Main street. Mrs. Skinner is now living with relatives in Missouri.
The next postmaster of Spencer was Peter E. Randall. He was appointed to the office to fill out Miss Gannett's unexpired term and was his own successor for another term of four years. Mr. Randall came to Clay county in 1870, from Wisconsin, and took up a homestead two miles southwest of Spencer, in Riverton township. He afterward resigned from the postoffice to assume the duties of county treasurer, to which office he had been elected. Mr. Randall died in Spencer in 1905.
The next incumbent of the office of postmaster was J. H. Hale, who held the position until the beginning of the first Cleveland administration. It was for Mr. Hale that P. M. Moore, civil engineer, laid out the town of Spencer, in 1871.
C. P. Buckey, the present cashier of the First National Bank, of Spencer, was Mr. Hale's successor as postmaster, serving four years under Grover Cleveland's first administration. Mr. Buckey came to Clay county in 1874, from West Virginia. He is a native of Frederick, Maryland. He located in Spencer and went into the Clay County Bank as bookkeeper.
A. F. McConnell received the appointment as postmaster, and assumed his duties as such under Harrison's administration, in 1889. Mr. McConnell has long been a resident of Spencer and is now engaged in real estate and the buying and selling of live stock.
The successor of A. F. McConnell was Earl Bronson, who came to Spencer in 1891 and established the Spencer Herald. He entered the postoffice as its chief when Grover Cleveland became president the second time, and held the position four years. Mr. Bronson is now engaged in editing the Spencer Herald, one of the most creditable newspapers of northwestern Iowa.
Mr. Bronson was followed as postmaster of Spencer by the present incum- bent, Charles C. Bender. Mr. Bender was born in Algona and was but a child when his parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Bender, arrived in Spencer, in 1872. At that period the elder Mr. Bender engaged in general merchandise, but when the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad began operations in Spencer, an elevator was built and he bought and sold grain. He is now living in Los Angeles. Postmaster Bender is now serving his third term and performing the duties of his office to the entire satisfaction of the postal department and his constit- uency. In fact, the same may be said of all who held this responsible position.
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