USA > Iowa > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 9
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Following Mr. Waterman came R. E. Porter, R. W. Boeger, J. L. Latta, and H. L. Cosner, who was the first principal to have an assistant in the high room. Next came V. S. Webber, John Burkhart, and the present principal, Charles HI. Tedford. The school has con- tinued to grow in size, until last year an enrollment of 167 students was reported.
During the years of 1879, 1880 and 1881 the children of Lamoni attended the district school of Fayette Township No. 1, the school- house being a small frame structure east of town across the road from the Banta farm where Samuel Keown now resides.
Among the early teachers in this school were Earl D. Bailey, A. L. Ferguson, Inas Peck, Julia Hoadley, and Miss Fuller.
Some of the early students were Miss Graham, now Mrs. Poush, of Leon, C. F., T. J., and E. H. Smith, Tom and Nellie Riggs, Letha Barr and Alex. Hopkins, now of Lamoni.
In 1882 a carpenter shop was rented in the business part of town, which provided an additional schoolroom until 1883, when the main part of the old East Side building, containing three rooms, was erected. Prof. A. A. Roy was the first teacher in this schoolhouse, he teaching from 1883 to 1886. Professor Andrews then taught two terms, he preceding Prof. D. F. Lambert, who taught from the spring term of 1887 to the spring term of 1889, when he resigned this position.
Under Professor Lambert the first class that ever graduated in Lamoni held its exercises in the year 1888. This class was composed of Frank Stoddard, Andie Smith, Cora Bailey, Martha Robinson, Frances Walker and Mary Evans.
Professor Gunsolly, who is now in Graceland College, was hired to teach the next term of school, he teaching till the fall of 1894. During this time the old East Side building had become so congested that out- side rooms were again pressed into use until 1891, when the north wing of the old East Side schoolhouse was erected. The town grew so rapidly that in 1894 a four-roomed brick building was built in West Lamoni. It was then that Prof. D. F. Lambert again took charge of the schools until 1897.
In 1896 the school board purchased the old lumber yard lot and shed, which was quickly converted into a schoolhouse, today known
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as the Red Central. Since 1897 Lamoni has had the following pro- fessors: G. N. Briggs, Mr. Buffman, who is now in the North Dakota University, Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Hannum, O. H. Hollen, Mr. Fisher and the present superintendent, Mr. Neveln.
Lamoni is now building a fine modern building just south of the Herald Publishing House, which is to cost around forty-two thousand dollars.
The first school in Pleasanton was probably conducted in 1855-56, in a log house not built for school purposes on Main Street west of the square. The first teacher was Perry Bailey. A few of his pupils were Henry, Louis and Mary Anne Mills, William and John Craw- ford, Almira Snook, Lucy Anne and Monroe Willis.
The first building erected for a schoolhouse was a large log house built in northeast Pleasanton. It is now used as an icehouse. W. S. Warnock and Louis Hastings were two of the early teachers in this building. Among the early students of this school are W. J. Sullivan, Doctor Foxworthy, now of Leon; John Painter, of Pleasanton; Dr. E. C. Macy, of Pleasanton, now deceased; Mrs. E. C. Macey, Mrs. Gardner, and Rev. G. P. Campbell, now of Davis City.
In the later '50s or early '60s, the people of Pleasanton decided to establish a college. The building was to be a large two-story one, 40 by 80 feet. For financial reasons only two rooms were finished. These were used by the little town for a public school. Among the early teachers were W. S. Warnock, deceased, A. W. Lewis, and W. W. Murphey, now a prominent physician in Los Angeles, Cal. Later teachers were Mrs. Dr. Macey, Sr., Gideon P. Walker, Doctor Fox- worthy and J. M. Sallee, of Bethany, now deceased.
In the year 1886 the building blew down before a severe hurricane. In its place was erected a one-story brick building occupying the same site. This brick building was torn down in 1898 and the present one erected. Among the teachers in the present building were Erven Spencer, Mrs. Vena Edwards, Ralph Shelton, and at present Miss Silvia Vandel.
For many years Pleasanton claimed to have one of the best schools to be found in the country. It now has a good school of ten grades, it being graded about 1904.
The first schoolhouse in Decatur was a log one, located about where Lew Brown's residence now stands. Mr. James taught in the year 1855, a later teacher being John Finley, Jr., of Leon. Among the early pupils were Sarah McCroskey-Springer, Delia Huston- Teale, Jane Huston-Day, and Anna Ownby-Rowell.
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During early times when no school building was to be had, school was conducted in a store room, Methodist Church and hotel, succes- sively, until a building was erected in the center of what is now their town park.
In the years 1871 and 1872, Ed Sampson, of Van Wert, was prin- cipal and Mrs. Ownby was primary teacher. Among her pupils were Belle Shelton-Horner, Mrs. Emma Horner-Tullis, Arthur and Gene Moore, and Mollie Moore-Little.
The schoolhouse which stood in the center of the park burned and the present building erected about 1882.
Henry and Sarah Alden were the first teachers in the present . building. Succeeding the Aldens came I. N. W. Cooper. During the '80s Col. H. W. Peck taught several terms. Since then a great num- ber of men have been principals, among whom are Profs. W. H. Kalkofen, D. W. Greenslate, Arthur Moore, J. W. Long, Ed Con- well, J. M. Howell, Erven Spencer, J. C. Cozad, and the present superintendent, F. H. Riggle, who is now in his fourth year.
The first school building in Davis City was located in S. W. Davis' pasture in the southwest part of town. Mr. Samuel Bowman was teacher in the year 1863. Mr. N. C. Piercy taught in 1867. Mr. Pierey preceded Mr. S. A. Gates, who taught the year of 1868, and then returned to Davis City in 1874 and conducted school in the same old building. He had an average of seventy-two scholars and forty- two recitations daily. For teaching the schools he received $40 per month.
The brick building which is now used as an opera house was erected in 1875, and William Poland hired as principal, with Mrs. Lloyd Severe as primary teacher. From 1875 to 1880 William Poland, A. M. Morgan, E. J. Hainer, W. P. Davidson and J. C. Hainer were employed as teachers. Mr. J. C. Hainer upon leaving Davis City was employed in the State Agricultural College at Ames. Mr. E. J. Hainer was later a United States congressman. Since 1882 up to the present time J. M. Howell has alternated with many principals, among whom are J. C. Knott, - MeGhee, - Owen, J. W. Long and James Dutton.
Principal Darrah taught the first term in the present schoolhouse which was erected in 1890. The members of the first graduating class were: Lew Horner, Maude Topliff, Grace Horner, Pearl Norman and Anna Shirley.
The first Van Wert schoolhouse was built about one-fourth of a mile north of Van Wert or Prairie City, as it was then called, in 1858.
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This building was a log structure about 16 by 20 feet, with one door and two or three windows. It was provided with puncheon slats long enough for eight or ten pupils to sit on, for seats. An undressed board placed upon pegs driven into the wall served as a writing desk.
Among the early teachers in this school were: Miss Powell, Lewis Holt, James Blair and Newton Piercy. Some of their pupils were: Charles L. Spencer, Guy and George Jackson, John, William and Minerva Barrackman, O. H. and E. J. Blair, W. A. Irving, the Misses Taylor, Jake and John Flora, and. Leora and LeRoy Kelsey.
In the winter of 1871-72, Mrs. Belle Burns-Harvey, who was teaching there at the time, held the first Christmas exercises ever given in the town. While she was teaching the name of Prairie City was changed to Van Wert.
In the year 1872 a frame building 22 by 28 feet was erected and equipped with desks in keeping with the time. It was a one-room building and seated during the winter of 1887-88, seventy-seven pupils.
In 1888 a high school or graded school building of three rooms was erected and a two-roomed school started. Some of the early prin- cipals in this school were: Mr. Rhodes, V. R. McGinnis, A. A. Roy and Mr. McVey.
A few years back an addition of two rooms was built to the school- house, the result being the present building. Some of the later prin- cipals have been F. P. Reed, O. H. Hollen, Mr. Davis and Miss Poi- teaux Halstead, who is the present principal.
EARLY SCHOOL DAYS IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP By J. N. Machlan
The schoolhouse at which the writer first attended school was located one-half mile north and one-fourth mile west of Fairview Church on what was then called the Leon and Osceola road, which angled across a beautiful stretch of prairie from where Fairview schoolhouse now stands to what was formerly Green Bay, over which the old buckboard, drawn by pair of tiny steeds, assisted Uncle Sam in distributing the mails. Well, the little school ship weighed anchor and launched out with Hannah Smith, later Lorey but at present Evans, of Leon, at the helm, with a small band of urchins at her side, prominent among whom was the writer of this article, who at that time still donned the dress such as was worn by the fair sex of our country and which became a source of no little grievance to the wearer from the fact that my brothers, who were bad boys and were
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1
a little older than myself, persisted in calling me "sis," a name which I abhorred from the beginning.
Perhaps some of my readers will say, "For land sake, why didn't the mothers dress their young men in pantaloons?" Well, let me tell you some reasons for doing as they did.
1st. Fashions have changed somewhat over in Paris during the past few decades.
2d. Cloth from which to make garments at that time was very high and we must of necessity economize by wearing our garments as long as they were any good.
3d. Self pride had not yet overrun this country.
4th. This country was not yet rid of the army greyback and the seven-year itch.
So you see the mothers were quite busy preparing food, looking after sanitary regulations, etc., and could not devote much time to making wearing apparel as at the present day. The little school ship glided peacefully along and we pupils were learning quite rapidly. Miss Smith was painstaking and her methods of teaching about as follows: Twice two was four; two times four are eight; twice five ought to be ten, and so on. About the same as they teach mathematics now. The school fixtures consisted of benches, a blackboard and a gad. The books were principally of the old elementary type of readers and spellers; not so costly as at present. A good lead pencil cost 10 cents, a slate, 25 to 30 cents. The pupils had to walk pretty straight or get a licking, the writer excepted, who was a very obedient lad of a few summers. Our teacher was a good singer and used to entertain us with such songs as, "We'll Hang Jeff Davis to a Sour Apple Tree," "Glory Hallalujah," etc. Our hats were home-made, of rye straw braided by our mothers.
In course of time it was deemed best to move the schoolhouse to a location more convenient to the pupils, who were few and scattered. At an appointed time when the ground was covered with snow the building was placed on skids, several teams hooked on and the build- ing was moved one-half mile north and one-fourth mile west where it remained on the prairie until it was sold and torn down. After the schoolhouse was moved a term of school commenced, and at the close of the term a summer term was taught. A big fellow who stood six feet tall was employed to teach the winter term. When the day ar- rived he appeared with a gad some six feet long, and at the sight of that six foot salamander the chills chased each other up and down my spine and I believe my schoolmates felt similar to myself, as we knew
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he had whipped a boy at another place so hard that the boy was con- fined to his bed for a time. This teacher, although very strict, proved to be a good instructor.
There was a class in mathematics that was far advanced, also some good readers. Among those who attended this school who have be- come prominent were: One missionary to India, one lawyer of no little prominence, one college professor who has the reputation of being one of the best educators in Iowa, besides several successful school teachers, farmers, merchants, etc. We now jump a period of time to the time when Lee Harvey, of Leon, was employed to teach a winter's term of school. Mr. Harvey was equal to the occasion. He was a very intelligent and promising young man. Well. Lee, as we called him, taught a very successful term of school. He taught four winter terms in succession. Mr. Harvey was a kind hearted man and was held in high esteem by the majority if not all the pupils.
EARLY SCHOOLS IN GARDEN GROVE
This article was written by one who attended the early schools of Garden Grove and lived there during the first years of that town's existence :
"Thirty-one years ago our little colony, consisting of Ozro N. Kellogg and his family and the Davis family arrived at Garden Grove. There were about a hundred families of Mormons making a transient stay, but not a house for a distance of forty miles, either east or west; the nearest settlers being along the southern border of our county. There were no counties organized adjoining this, in Iowa, and no land surveyed, excepting six townships that were put in market to induce immigrants to buy the improvements, for the alleged reason that the saints were destroying the timber, thereby diminishing in value the timber land.
"We cannot proceed without honorable mention of the lamented father of our county superintendent, who was the first to awaken an interest in the cause of education in this goodly land, not by teaching, as he did formerly, but recommending the writer to our neighbors, many of whom were glad of an opportunity to have their children at school.
"This school commenced in December, or as soon as a puncheon floor could be made for our rude log cabin, and continued three months. Tuition, $1.25 per scholar. In the winter of 1851-52 Mr. Hiram Chase resumed the work. He had been a successful educator
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in years gone by. They vacated their kitchen, and a profitable term was taught not kept.
"Those good spelling schools will always be remembered by those who attended, and almost every person in our sparsely settled com- munity was included in the number.
"The summer of '52 still found us dependent on our own resources for a teacher. A district had been organized and the writer was em- ployed. Some pupils came five miles, and frequently were obliged to leave their horses across Weldon and come over on a foot log. Mr. Kellogg proffered the use of one of his rooms. The teacher went a mile and carried two children on horseback.
"Our first teachers re-entered the schoolroom from the necessity. They brought with them years of study and practice, and knew no education that meant an exemption from labor, in whatever depart- ment. They had no advantages of convenient school buildings or fixtures. The seats were made of logs split in two with legs put in them. The kitchen tables (not extensions) were the desks, and they used what books happened to be brought., Much of the instruction was necessarily oral. They took great pride in correct spelling, good reading and writing."
The following list is of the first pupils who attended the normal school at Garden Grove in 1881: Till Jordan, Eva Chase, Mettie Pitman, Leola Haywood, Amanda Kier, Mina Madarasz, Jessie Madarasz, Kate Detrick, Esther Sanger, Kittie Stone, Emma Butts, Lizzie Martan, Cyrena Kausler, Belle Wise, Addie Hainer, Mary J. Ryan, Mary Campbell, Manda Rogers, Ada Kirkpatrick, Kate Ryan, Sallie Coover, Allie Gardner, Allie Porter, Ida Genree, Mary Davis, Nora Gassett, Mary Shinn, Eva Shinn, Sallie Walton, H. Hutchinson, Della Lunbeek, Ellen Gammon, Anna Gammon, Mat- tie Post, and J. A. Beevers, W. A. Machlin, A. J. Law, Dan West, Elza Osborn, E. D. Samson, T. J. Hasty, W. W. Hamilton, Chas. Matsler, Stev. Varga.
EARLY EDEN TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
The first school in Eden Township was taught in 1853 in a log building, 16 by 24, covered with clapboards and puncheons. David Shinn was the teacher. Robert Dye taught in the same building in 1855-56. The next school was held near the Judge Kelley farm. The first regular schoolhouse was built in 1856 on the Richard Meeks farm, built of frame, the timber sawed by Billy Davis, of Davis City.
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Robert Dye taught the first term in this new school. In 1856-57 the township organized and divided into school districts. Aunt Mary Walton was another of the pioneer teachers of this township. The present Eden School was built in 1868. It was built of brick by William Jenkins, of Leon. Calvin Morris was the first teacher here.
SCHOOL STATISTICS
In the Davis City District there are two teachers, one male and one female; there are 250 pupils enrolled; and one schoolhouse is used, which cost $9,000.
In the Decatur City District there is one male and four female teachers; 118 pupils enrolled; and one school, cost $450.
In the Garden Grove City District there are two male and nine female teachers; there is one schoolhouse worth $15,000. This school was built in 1903. The enrollment is 245.
In the Grand River Town District there is one male and three female teachers; 156 pupils are enrolled; and there is one school worth $2,500.
In the Lamoni District there are two male and twelve female teachers employed; the enrollment is 466; and there are four school- houses, worth together $10,000.
In the Leon District there are two male and seventeen female teachers; 631 enrolled; and two schools with a combined value of $35,000.
In the Leroy District there is one male and two female teachers; eighty pupils enrolled; and one school used, which is worth $4,500.
In the Pleasanton District there are three female teachers; 124 enrolled; and one $2,000 schoolhouse.
In the Van Wert District there is one male and five female teach- ers; 117 enrolled; and one school, cost $4,500.
In the Weldon District there is one male and five female teachers; 132 enrolled; one $6,000 school.
The total in independent city, town and village districts is as follows: twelve male and sixty-five female teachers; 2,319 enrolled; and fourteen schoolhouses, costing together $88,950.
COUNTY DISTRICTS
In Bloomington District there are two male and nine female teach- ers: 207 are enrolled; and there are eight schoolhouses, costing $6,050.
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In the Burrell District there is one male and eight female teach- ers; 171 enrolled; seven schools worth $4,200.
In the Center District there are eight female teachers; 160 en- rolled; seven schoolhouses, worth $3,600.
In Eden District there are one male and seven female teachers; 183 enrolled; eight schoolhouses, worth $4,050.
In the Franklin District there is one male and seven female teachers; 120 enrolled; six schoolhouses worth $2,300.
In the High Point District there is one male and eight female teachers; 131 enrolled; eight schoolhouses, costing $3,300.
In the Morgan District there are two male and six female teach- ers; 183 enrolled; six schoolhouses which cost $2,250.
In the Woodland District there is one male and eight female teachers; 189 enrolled; nine schools which cost $3,725.
In the Decatur District there are the following: No. 2, Wood- mansee, there is one male teacher, eighteen enrolled, and one school which cost $634; No. 3, Pleasant Hill, there is one female teacher, twenty-eight enrolled, and one $500 school; in No. 4, Stone, there is one female teacher, thirteen enrolled, and one $400 school; in No. 5, Washington, there is one female teacher, fifteen enrolled, and one $300 school; in No. 6, Wells, there is one female teacher, twenty-nine enrolled, and one $300 school; in No. 7, Hickory Grove, there is one female teacher, seventeen enrolled, and one $300 school; in No. 8, Lone Star, there is one female teacher, twenty-six enrolled, and one $400 school.
In the Fayette District there are the following: In No. 2, Spur- rier, there are three female teachers, nineteen enrolled, and one $300 school; in No. 3, Black, there is one female teacher, twenty-six en- rolled, and one $500 school; in No. 4, Evergreen, there are two fe- male teachers, twenty-two enrolled, and one school which cost $1,175; in No. 5, Athens, there is one female teacher, fourteen enrolled, and one $300 school; in No. 6, Brenizer, there is one female teacher, twen- ty-three enrolled, and one $500 school.
In the Garden Grove Rural Independent District there are the following: In No. 2, White Oak, there is one female teacher, twenty enrolled, and one $500 school; in No. 3, Gospel Ridge, there is one male teacher, thirteen enrolled, and one $300 school; in No. 4, Tick Ridge, there are two female teachers, fifteen enrolled, and one $800 school; in No. 5, Pleasant Ridge, there is one female teacher, eighteen enrolled, and one $800 school.
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In the Grand River Rural Independent District there are the following: in No. 1, Jefferson, there is one male and one female teacher, seven enrolled, and one $100 school; in No. 2, West Elk, there is one female teacher, sixteen enrolled, and one $600 school; in No. 3, Centennial, there is one female teacher, twenty-one enrolled, and one $500 school; in No. 4, Union, there are two female teachers, twenty- three enrolled, and one $450 school; in No. 5, Elk, there is one male and one female teacher, twenty-five enrolled, and one $400 school; in No. 6, Center, there are two female teachers, nineteen enrolled; and one $500 school; in No. 7, Diamond, there are two female teachers, sixteen enrolled, and one $600 school; in No. 8, Welcome, there is no school.
In Long Creek District there are the following: In No. 1, Wood- ard, there are three female teachers, twenty-seven enrolled, and one $800 school; in No. 3, Good Hope, there is one male and one female teacher, fourteen enrolled, and one $350 school; in No. 4, there is one female teacher, twenty-three enrolled, and one $400 school; in No. 5, there is one female teacher, twenty-six enrolled, and one $300 school; in No. 6, Hawkeye, there is one female teacher, eleven enrolled, and one $500 school; in No. 7, Hazel College, there is one female teacher, twenty-nine enrolled, and one $400 school; in No. 8, Elm Grove, there are two female teachers, forty-one enrolled, and one $200 school; in No. 9, Spring Valley, there is one female teacher, seventeen en- rolled, and one $300 school.
In the New Buda District there are the following: In No. 2, Stringtown, there are two female teachers, twenty-nine enrolled, and one $450 school; in No. 3, New Buda, there is one female teacher, twenty-four enrolled, and one $500 school; in No. 4, Togo, there is one female teacher, twelve enrolled, and one $500 school; in No. 5, Bennett, there is one female teacher, thirty-one enrolled, and one $60 house; in No. 6. Liberty, there is one female teacher, twenty en- rolled, and one $300 school.
In Richland District there are the following: In No. 1, Brick, there is one female teacher, forty-three enrolled, and one $600 school; in No. 2. Glenwood. there is one male and one female teacher, nine- teen enrolled, and one $250 school; in No. 3, Dunham, there is one male teacher, thirty-three enrolled, and one $500 school; in No. 4, Daughton, there is one female teacher, sixteen enrolled, and one $400 school: in No. 6. Comstock, there is one female teacher, twenty-one enrolled, and one $800 school: in No. 7, Liberty, there is one male
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teacher, fifty-six enrolled, and one $700 school; in No. 8, Westerville, there is one male teacher, twenty-seven enrolled, and one $600 school.
The total for the rural districts is as follows: There are nine- teen male and one hundred eighteen female teachers, there are 2,457 pupils enrolled, and 110 schoolhouses, costing a total of $55,494.
The grand total is as follows: there are thirty-one male and 183 female teachers, there are 4,776 pupils enrolled in the county, and there are 124 schools, costing an aggregate of $144,444. In the county there are 2,686 male and 2,600 female children between the ages of five and twenty-one. The average monthly wage for men teachers is $67.66 and for women, $49.45.
CHAPTER IX GRACELAND COLLEGE
By Inez Smith
For righteous masters seized my youth, And purged its faith, and trimmed its fire; Showed me the high, white star of truth That bade me gaze and then aspire. -Matthew Arnold.
Almost as old as the church itself is the dream of its wise men for the establishment of a house of learning. Graceland is the crystalliza- tion of that dream. They were not all-in fact, few of them were- educated men, who built the church and sustained it in the olden days- they were not educated men who kept the sacred gospel message pure through the "dark and cloudy day," but all were men who, even while they felt the Spirit's power, still knew that an organized, systematic course of study and discipline would make them bigger men. Had not the Almighty himself spoken and urged this duty upon them? The Seer of Palmyra-an unlettered farmer boy, during the brief years of his activity in the world, in the midst of church-and city building, and in the midst of turmoil and confusion, still found time as he rested from flight by the dusty roadside, or in the home of a friend, to study his Greek or Hebrew lexicon. And our fathers who built the little city on the river shore had dreams that did not concern the boisterous Gentile hordes that stormed their gates and made defense first thought. In those dreams a university crowned the hill, and a learned people populated the little City of Nauvoo. In all those days, through sedi- tion within and pressure without, the people were rallied and sup- ported by a love and trust in one man, for they said that God was with him. Why need they fear, when this one man, a man of almost unparalleled moral and physical courage, saw nothing to fear?
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