USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 4
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 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
31
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Today the schoolhouses which everywhere dot the broad and fertile prairies of Iowa are unsurpassed by those of any other state in the great Union. More especially is this true in all her cities and villages, where liberal and lavish appro- priations have been voted by a generous people for the erection of large, com- modious and elegant buildings, furnished with all the modern improvements, and costing from ten thousand dollars to sixty thousand dollars each. The people of the states have expended more than twenty-five million dollars for the erection of public school buildings, which stand as monuments of magnificence.
THE FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING AT DUBUQUE.
Dubuque saw within its limits the first school building erected in the state of Iowa, which was built by J. L. Langworthy and a few other miners in the fall of 1833. When it was completed George Cabbage was employed as teacher during the winter of 1833-4. and thirty-five pupils answered to his roll-call. Barrett Whittemore tauglit the school term and had twenty-five pupils in attendance. Mrs. Caroline Dexter commenced teaching in Dubuque in March, 1836. She was the first female teacher there, and probably the first in Iowa. In 1839 Thomas H. Benton, Jr., afterwards for ten years superintendent of public instruction, opened an English and classic school in Dubuque. The first tax for the sup- port of schools at Dubuque was levied in 1840. A commodious log schoolhouse was built at Burlington in 1834 and was one of the first buildings erected in that settlement. A Mr. Johnson taught the first school in the winter of 1834-5. In Scott county, in the winter of 1835-6. Simon Crazen taught a four months' term of school in the house of J. B. Chamberlain. In Muscatine county the first term of school was taught by George Baumgardner, in the spring of 1837. In 1839 a log schoolhouse was erected in Muscatine, which served for a long time as schoolhouse, meeting house and public hall. The first school in Davenport was taught in 1838. In Fairfield, Miss Clarissa Sawyer. James F. Chambers and Mrs. Reed taught school in 1839.
Johnson county was an entire wilderness when Iowa City was located as the capital of the territory of Iowa, May. 1839. The first sale of lots took place August 18, 1839, and before January 1, 1840, about twenty families had settled in the town. During the same year Jesse Berry opened a school in a small frame building he had erected on what is now known as College street.
In Monroe county the first settlement was made in 1834 by John R. Gray about two miles from the present site of Eddyville, and in the summer of 1844 a log schoolhouse was built by Gray and others, and the first school was opened by Miss Urania Adams. About a year after the first log cabin was built at Oska- loosa. a log schoolhouse was built, in which school was opened by Samuel W. Caldwell in 1844.
At Fort Des Moines, now the capital of the state, the first school was taught by Lewis Whitten, clerk of the district court, in the winter of 1846-7. in one of the rooms on "Coon Row," built for barracks.
The first school in Pottawattamie county was opened by George Green, a Mormon, at Council Point, prior to 1849. and until about 1854 nearly all the teachers in that vicinity were Mormons.
4
32
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
The first school in Decorah was taught in 1855 by Cyrus C. Carpenter, since governor of the state. During the first twenty years of the history of Iowa the log schoolhouse prevailed, and in 1861 there were eight hundred and ninety-three of these primitive structures in use for school purposes in the state. Since that time they have been gradually disappearing. In 1865 there were seven hundred and ninety-six ; in 1870, three hundred and thirty-six; in 1875, one hundred and twenty-one, and today there is probably not a vestige of one remaining.
In 1846, the year of Iowa's admission as a state, there were twenty thousand pupils of schools out of one hundred thousand inhabitants. About four hundred school districts had been organized. In 1850 there were twelve hundred and in 1857 the number increased to three thousand two hundred and sixty-five. The system of graded schools was inaugurated in 1849, and now schools in which more than one teacher is employed are universally graded. Teachers' institutes were organized early in the history of the state. The first official mention of them occurs in the annual report of Hon. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., made December 2, 1850, who said: "An institution of this character was organized a few years ago, composed of the teachers of the mineral regions of Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. An association of teachers has also been formed in the county of Henry, and an effort was made in October last to organize a regular institution in the county of Jones."
Funds for the support of public schools are derived in various ways. The sixteenth section of every congressional township was set apart by the general government for school purposes, being one-thirty-sixth part of all the lands in the state. The minimum price of all these lands was fixed at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Congress also made an additional donation to the state of five hundred thousand acres and an appropriation of five per cent. on all the sales of public lands to the school funds. The state gives to this fund the proceeds of the sales of all lands which escheat to it, the proceeds of all fines for the violation of liquor and criminal laws. The money derived from these sources constitute the permanent school fund of the state, which cannot be di- verted to any other purpose. The penalties collected by the courts in fines for forfeitures go to the school fund in the counties according to their request and the counties loan the money to the individuals for long termns at cight per cent. interest on security of lands valued at three times the value of the loan, exclusive of all buildings and improvements thereon. The interest on these loans is paid into the state treasury and becomes available school funds of the state. The counties are responsible to the state for all money so loaned, and the state is like- wise responsible to the school fund for all money transferred to the counties. The interest on these loans is appropriated by the state auditor semi-annually to the several counties of the state in proportion to the number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years of age. The counties also levy a tax for school purposes, which is apportioned to the several district townships in the same way. A district tax is also levied for the same purpose. The money arising from these several sources constitutes the support of the public schools, and is sufficient to enable every sub-district in the state to afford from six to nine months' school every year. The burden of district taxation is thus lightened and the efficiency of the schools increased. The taxes levied for the support of the
33
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
schools are self-imposed. Under the admirable school laws of the state, no taxes can be legally assessed or collected for the erection of schoolhouses until they have been ordered by the election of a school district at a school meeting legally called. The teachers' and contingent funds are determined by the board of directors under certain legal instructions. These boards are elected annually. The only exception to this method of levying taxes for school purposes is the county tax, which is determined by the county board of supervisors. In each county a teachers' institute is held annually under the direction of the county superintendent, the state distributing annually a sum of money to each of these institutes.
STATE UNIVERSITY.
By act of congress, approved July 20, 1840, the secretary of the treasury was authorized to "set apart and reserve from sale, out of any public lands within the territory of Iowa not otherwise claimed or appropriated, a quantity of land not exceeding two entire townships for the use and support of a university within said territory when it becomes a state." The first general assembly, therefore, by act approved February 25, 1847, established the "State University of Iowa" at Iowa City, then the capital of the state. The public buildings and other property at Iowa City were appropriated to the university, but the legislative sessions and state offices were to be held in them until a permanent location for a capital was made. The control and management of the university were committed to a board of fifteen trustees, and five were to be chosen every two years. The superin- tendent of public instruction was made president of this board. The organic act provided that the university should never be under the control of any religious organization whatever, and that as soon as the revenue from the grant and dona- tions should amount to two thousand dollars a year the university should com- mence and continue the instruction free of charge of fifty students annually. Of course, the organization of the university was impracticable so long as the seat of government was retained at Iowa City.
In January, 1849, two branches of the university and three normal schools were established. The branches were located at Fairfield and Dubuque and were placed upon an equal footing, in respect to funds and all other matters, with the university of Iowa at Iowa City. At Fairfield the board of directors organized and erected a building at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. This was nearly destroyed by a hurricane the following year, but was rebuilt more sub- stantially by the citizens of Fairfield. This branch never received any aid from the state and, January 24, 1853, at the request of the board, the general assembly terminated its relations to the state. The branch at Dubuque had only a nominal existence. The normal schools were located at Andrew, Oskaloosa and Mount Pleasant. Each was to be governed by a board of seven trustees, to be appointed by the trustees of the university. Each was to receive five hundred dollars an- nually 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 build- ings. The school at Andrew was organized November 21, 1849, with Samuel Ray as principal. A building was commenced and over one thousand dollars
34
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
expended on it, but it was never completed. The school at Oskaloosa was started in the courthouse, September 13, 1852, under the charge of Professor G. M. Drake and wife. A two-story brick building was erected in 1853 costing two thousand four hundred and seventy-three dollars. The school at Mount Pleasant was never organized. Neither of these schools received any aid from the uni- versity fund, but in 1857 the legislature appropriated one thousand dollars for each of the two schools, and repealed the laws authorizing in payment to them of money from the university fund. From that time they made no further effort to continue in operation.
. From 1847 to 1855 the board of trustees of the university was kept full by regular elections by the legislature, and the trustees held frequent meetings, but there was no actual organization of the university. In March, 1855. it was partially opened for a term of sixteen weeks. July 16, 1855. Amos Dean, of Albany, New York, was elected president but never fully entered into its duties. The university was again opened in September. 1855, and continued in operation until June, 1856, under Professors Johnson, Van Valkenberg and Griffin. The faculty was then reorganized with some changes, and the university was again opened on the third Wednesday of September, 1856. There were one hundred and twenty-four students ( eighty-three males and forty-one females) in attend- ance during the years of 1856-57. and the first regular catalogue was published. At a special meeting of the board. September 22, 1857, the honorary degree of bachelor of arts was conferred on D. Franklin Wells. This was the first degree conferred by the university.
By the constitution of 1857 it was provided that there be no branches of the State university. In December of that year the old capitol building was turned over to the trustees of the university. In 1858 ten thousand dollars were ap- propriated for the erection of a students' boarding hall. The board closed the university April 27. 1858, on account of insufficient funds and dismissed all the faculty with the exception of Chancellor Dean. At the same time a resolution was passed excluding females. This was soon after reversed by the general assembly. The university was reopened September 19, 1860, and from this time the real existence of the university dates. Chancellor Dean had resigned before this and Silas Totten. D. D., LL. D., was elected president at a salary of two thousand dollars. August 19, 1862, he resigned, and was succeeded by Oliver M. Spencer. President Spencer was granted leave of absence for fifteen months to visit Europe. Professor Nathan R. Leonard was elected president pro tem. President Spencer resigning, James Black, D. D., vice-president of Washington and Jefferson college, of Pennsylvania, was elected president. He entered upon his duties in September, 1868.
The law department was established in June, 1868, and soon after the Iowa. Law School, at Des Moines, which had been in successful operation for three years, was transferred to Iowa City and merged in the department. The medical department was established in 1869, and since April 11, 1870, the government of the university has been in the hands of a board of regents. The university has gained a reputation as one of the leading educational institutions of the west, and this position it is determined to maintain.
SPENCER PUBLIC LIBRARY
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
37
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
STATE NORMAL COLLEGE.
Cedar Falls, one of the chief cities of Black Hawk county, holds the State Normal school, which is an institution for the training of teachers and is doing most excellent work.
STATE NORMAL COLLEGE.
By act of the legislature. approved March 23, 1858, the State Agricultural College and Farm was established at Ames, in Story county. In 1862 congress granted two hundred and forty thousand acres of land for endowment of schools of agriculture and the mechanical arts. In 1864 the general assembly voted twenty thousand dollars for the erection of the college buildings. In 1866 ninety- one thousand dollars more was appropriated for the same purpose. The building was completed in 1868, and the institution was opened the following year. The institution is modeled to some extent after the Michigan Agricultural college. In this school of learning admission is free to all students of the state over sixteen years of age. Students are required to work on the farm two and a half hours each day. The faculty is of a very high character and the college one of the best of its kind. The sale of spirits, wine or beer is prohibited within three miles of the farm. The current expenses of this institution are paid by the income from the permanent endowment. Besides the institution here mentioned there are many others throughout the state. Amity college is located at College Springs, in Page county, Burlington university at Burlington, Drake university at Des Moines, Iowa college at Grinnell, etc.
STATE INSTITUTIONS.
SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
The legislature established the institution for the deaf and dumb January 24, 1855, and located it at Iowa City. A great effort was made for its removal to Des Moines, but it was finally located at Council Bluffs. In 1868 an appro- priation was made by the legislature of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars for the erection of new buildings and ninety acres of land were selected south of the city. October. 1870, the main building and one wing was completed and occupied. In February, 1877, fire destroyed the main building and the east wing. About one hundred and fifty students were in attendance at that time.
There is a regular appropriation for this institution of twenty-two dollars per capita per month for nine months of the year for the payment of officers' and teachers' salaries and for a support fund. The institution is free to all of school age too deaf to be educated in the common schools, sound in mind, free from immoral habits and from contagious and offensive diseases. No charge for board or tuition. The session of the school begins the first day of October and ends the last day of June of each year.
COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND.
In 1852 Professor Samuel Bacon, himself blind, established a school for the instruction of the blind at Keokuk. He was the first person in the state to agitate CLAY 3.
38
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
a public institution for the blind, and in 1853 the institute was adoped by the legislature, by statute, approved January 18, 1853, and removed to Iowa City. During the first term twenty-three pupils were admitted. Professor Bacon was a fine scholar, an economical manager and in every way adapted to his position. During his administration the institution was, in a great measure, self-supporting by the sale of articles of manufacture by the blind pupils. There was also a charge of twenty-five dollars as an admission fee for each pupil. In 1858 the citizens of Vinton, Benton county, donated a quarter section of land and five thousand dollars for the establishment of the asylum at that place. May 8 of the same year the trustees met at Vinton and made arrangements for securing the donation, and adopted a plan for the erection of a suitable building. In 1860 the contract for the building was let for ten thousand four hundred and twenty dollars, and in August, 1862, the goods and furniture were removed from Iowa City to Vinton and in the fall of the same year the school was opened with twenty- four pupils. There is a regular appropriation of twenty-two dollars per capita per month for nine months of each year to cover support and maintenance. The school term begins on the first Wednesday in September and usually ends about the ist of June. Applicants may be admitted at any time and are at liberty to go home at any time their parents may send for them. The department of music is supplied with a large number of pianos, one pipe organ, several cabinet organs and a sufficient number of violins, guitars, bass viols and brass instruments. Every student capable of receiving it is given a complete course in this depart- ment. In the industrial department the girls are required to learn knitting, crocheting, fancy work, hand and machine sewing; the boys, netting, broom- making, mattress-making and cane-seating. Those of either sex who desire may learn carpet-weaving.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
The hospital for the insane was established by an act of the legislature Janu- ary 24, 1855. The location for the institution was selected at Mount Pleasant, Henry county, and five hundred thousand dollars appropriated for the build- ings, which were commenced in October of that year. One hundred patients were admitted within three months after it was opened. The legislature of 1867-68 provided measures for an additional hospital for the insane, and an appropriation of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars was made for the purpose. Independence was selected by the commissioners as the most desirable location and three hundred and twenty acres were secured one mile from the town on the west side of the Wapsipinecon river and about a mile from its banks. The hospital was opened May 1, 1873. The amount allowed for the support of these institutions is twelve dollars per month for each patient. All expenses of the hospital, except for special purposes, are paid from the sum so named, and the amount is charged to the counties from which the patients are sent.
SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' HOME.
The Soldiers' Orphans' home is located at Davenport, and was originated by Mrs. Anne Whittenmeyer during the late rebellion of the states. The noble- hearted woman called a convention at Muscatine, September 7, 1863, for the pur-
39
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
pose of devising means for the education and support of the orphan children of Iowa whose fathers lost their lives in the defense of their country's honor. The public interest in the movement was so great that all parts of the state were largely represented, and an association was organized, called the Iowa State Orphan Asylum. The first meeting of the trustees was held February 14, 1864, at Des Moines, when Governor Kirkwood suggested that a home for the dis- abled soldiers should be connected with the asylum, and arrangements were made for collecting funds. At the next meeting, in Davenport, the following month, a committee was appointed to lease a suitable building, solicit donations and pro- cure suitable furniture. This committee obtained a large brick building in Lawrence, Van Buren county, and engaged Mr. Fuller, of Mount Pleasant, as steward. The work of preparation was conducted so vigorously that July 13 fol- lowing the executive committee announced that it was ready to receive children. Within three weeks twenty-one were admitted, and in a little more than six months seventy were in the home. The home was sustained by voluntary contri- butions until 1866, when it was taken charge of by the state. The legislature appropriated ten dollars per month for each orphan actually supported and pro- vided for the establishment of three homes. The one in Cedar Falls was organ- ized in 1865: an old hotel building was fitted up for it, and by the following January there were ninety-six inmates. In October, 1869, the home was removed to a large brick building about two miles west of Cedar Falls, and was very pros- perous for several years, but in 1876 the legislature devoted this building to the State Normal school. The same year the legislature also devoted the buildings and grounds of the Soldiers' Orphans' home at Glenwood, Mills county, to an institution for the support of feeble-minded children. It also provided for the removal of the soldiers' orphans' at Glenwood and Cedar Falls homes to the one located at Davenport. There is in connection with this institution a school building, pleasant, commodious and well lighted, and it is the policy of the board to have the course of instruction of a high standard. A kindergarten is operated for the very young pupils. The age limit beyond which children are kept in the home is sixteen years. Fewer than twenty per cent. remain to the age limit. A library of well-selected juvenile literature is a source of pleasure and profitable entertainment to the children, as from necessity their pleasures and pastimes are somewhat limited. It is the aim to provide the children with plenty of good, comfortable clothing, and to teach them to take good care of the same. Their clothing is all manufactured at the home, the large girls assisting in the work. The table is well supplied with a good variety of plain, wholesome food and a reasonable amount of luxuries. The home is now supported by a regular appro- priation of twelve dollars per month for each inmate, and the actual transporta- tion charges of the inmates to and from the institution. Each county is liable to the state for the support of its children to the extent of six dollars per month, except soldiers' orphans, who are cared for at the expense of the state.
FEEBLE-MINDED CHILDREN.
An act of the general assembly, approved March 17, 1876, provided for the establishment of an asylum for feeble-minded children at Glenwood, Mills county, and the buildings and grounds of the Soldiers Orphans' home were taken for that
40
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
purpose. The asylum was placed under the management of three trustees, one of whom should be a resident of Mills county. The institution was opened Septem- her 1. 1876. By November, 1877, the number of pupils were eighty-seven. The purpose of this institution is to provide special methods of training for that class of children deficient in mind or marked with peculiarities as to deprive them of the benefits and privileges provided for children with normal faculties. The object is to make the child as nearly self-supporting as practicable, and to approach as nearly as possible the movements and actions of normal people. It further aims to provide a home for those who are not susceptible of mental culture, relying wholly on others to supply their simple wants.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
The industrial school for boys is established at Eldora. By act, approved March 31, 1868, the general assembly established a reform school at Salem, Henry county, and provided for a board of trustees from each congressional dis- trict. The trustees immediately leased the property of the Iowa Manual Labor Institute, and October 7 following the school received its first inmate. The law at first provided for the admission of both sexes under eighteen years of age. The trustees were directed to organize a separate school for girls. In 1872 the school for boys was permanently located at Eldora, Hardin county, and some time later the one for girls at Mitchellville. There is appropriated for these schools and their support the sum of thirteen dollars monthly for each boy and sixteen dollars monthly for each girl inmate. The object of the institution is the reformation of juvenile delinquents. It is not a prison. It is a compulsory educational institution. It is a school where wayward and criminal boys and girls are brought under the influence of Christian instructors and taught by ex- amiple as well as precept the better ways of life. It is a training school, where the moral, intellectual and industrial education of the child is carried on at one and the same time.
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.