USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 20
USA > Iowa > Emmet County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 20
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
"The General Assembly, however, may pass laws permitting the owners of lands to construct drains, ditches and levees for agricultural or mining purposes across the lands of others, and provide for the organi- zation of drainage districts, vest the proper authorities with power to construct and maintain levees, drains and ditches and to keep in repair all drains, ditches and levees heretofore constructed under the laws of the
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state, by special assessments upon the property benefited thereby. The General Assembly may provide by law for the condemnation of such real estate as shall be necessary for the construction and maintenance of such drains, ditches and levees, and prescribe the method of making such con- demnation."
The vote on the amendment in Emmet County was 992 in favor of its adoption and 397 opposed. There were then thirty-two completed drains in the county. Within the three years following the adoption of the amendment the number almost doubled, and since then the number has increased each year, until now there are 117 ditches completed or under construction.
Owing to the question of legality or constitutionality, the first drain- age bonds issued or authorized by the supervisors in some of the swamp land counties were looked upon with such distrust by investors that they had to be canceled. A few months before the adoption of the constitu- tional amendment, the supervisors of Emmet County came to the conclu- sion that bidders on ditches were charging fancy prices, because of the heavy discounts to which the drainage warrants were subjected. In Janu- ary, 1908, the Iowa Savings Bank of Estherville submitted a proposition to the board to purchase all drainage certificates of 1908 at their par value, provided the said bank should be given the first privilege and option of purchasing the certificates issued during the years 1909 and 1910 upon the same terms. On January 24, 1908, the board adopted a resolution accepting the bank's offer and directing the chairman of the board and the county auditor "to issue, negotiate and transfer drainage improvement certificates in conformity with this resolution."
Thus the credit of Emmet County, in the matter of drainage bonds or warrants, was placed upon a solid financial basis, and the competition between bidders since then has kept the cost of drainage construction within reasonable bounds. It has cost thousands of dollars to excavate these ditches, but in every instance the returns have far exceeded the out- lay. Lands that could not be sold at any price were sometimes assessed as high as fifteen or twenty dollars per acre for the purpose of reclama- tion. Owners of such lands grumbled at first, at what they considered excessive taxes, but when they saw their lands increase in value and productiveness more than a hundred fold the grumbling ceased.
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CHAPTER XI EDUCATION IN EMMET COUNTY. THE PRESS AND THE LIBRARY.
THE FIRST SCHOOLS-SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN ESTHERVILLE-SCHOOL LANDS- SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION-STATISTICS OF CONSOLIDATED DISTRICTS, INDE- PENDENT TOWN AND CITY DISTRICTS AND SCHOOL TOWNSHIPS-THE FIRST NEWSPAPER-THE VINDICATOR AND REPUBLICAN-THE ESTHER- VILLE DEMOCRAT-THE ESTHERVILLE ENTERPRISE THE ARMSTRONG JOURNAL - THE RINGSTED DISPATCH - THE ESTHERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE FIRST SCHOOLS
The factors which have made rapid educational progress possible in Emmet County are many. From the beginning of educational work in 1859 until 1917 new ideas have been incorporated into the public school system until now Emmet County may boast of one of the most efficient and extensive educational systems in the state.
The first school in Emmet County was established at Estherville in 1859. Mary Howe, also the first teacher in Dickinson County, taught the three R's to the few pupils gathered in the log house belonging to E. A. Ridley, which was located on the present site of the Rock Island roundhouse. Shortly after this the well known firm of Logan and Meser- vey, of whom mention is made elsewhere, constructed a schoolhouse on the courthouse square just north of the courthouse location. The build- ing was afterward moved across the street northward, where it was burned in 1876. This historic little schoolhouse in its day performed many a service, having been utilized for religious meetings, political gatherings, entertainments, lectures, etc., as well as for school purposes. In 1871 a schoolhouse was erected at the corner of Fifth and Howard Streets and was known during its existence as the "White House." The first principal here was Prof. J. W. Cory and the first class consisted of Edna May Barker, Minnie Belle (Neville) Lough, Grace Agnes (Bemis) Brown and Orlando Lough. In 1891 a high school, known as the Wash- ington Building, was constructed at a cost of $35,000. In 1895 the Jack- son School Building was erected and cost the county $11,000. In 1900 the Lincoln and Mckinley school buildings were erected. Just recently
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the magnificent high school building in Estherville, costing over $100,000 and one of the finest in the state, was erected by the taxpayers. It is a model of school building construction, efficient in that it provides for the training of the child from every angle. Large, well lighted and ven- tilated rooms for classes, good heat, a commodious and well equipped gymnasium, a library, recreation rooms, laboratories, work shops, etc., are but a few features of this structure.
SCHOOL LANDS
In February, 1891, there was advertised by G. E. Delevan, then editor of the Northern Vindicator, a sale of school lands at public auc- tion in April. This sale was held according to the advertisement and it is interesting to note the description of the lands sold and the price per acre paid, especially in contrast to the price of the same land in the year 1917.
The northwest quarter of Section 16, Township 98, Range 31, was sold to J. H. Griffith for $7 per acre.
The north half of the northeast quarter of Section 16, Township 98, Range 31, was sold to Griffith for $8 per acre.
The south half of the northeast quarter of Section 16, Township 98, Range 31, was sold to P. P. Bogh for $8.70 per acre.
The southwest quarter of Section 16, Township 98, Range 31, was sold to Charles Hanson for $8 per acre.
The southeast quarter of the same was sold to J. H. Griffith for $8 per acre.
Two hundred and forty acres of land in Section 16, Township 99, Range 31, were sold to J. H. Griffith for prices ranging from $6 to $8.80.
The southeast quarter of Section 16, Township 99, Range 31, was sold to M. W. Atwood for $6 per acre.
The northwest quarter of the same was purchased by K. R. Knudson for $10.10 per acre.
The northeast quarter of Section 16, Township 98, Range 34, was sold to Hans Forde for $6.20 an acre.
The northwest quarter of the same was auctioned off to K. L. Westa- gaard for $10.60 an acre.
The north half of the southwest quarter went to the same buyer for $8.55 an acre.
T. N. Berve purchased the south half of the southwest quarter of Section 16, Township 98, Range 34, for $8.55 per acre.
On January 11, 1893, the trustees of Lincoln Township were author- ized to "lay out into separate tracts as in their judgment will be for the best interest of the school fund for the purpose of selling same."
Vol. 1-12
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SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION
Although Emmet County has not taken up the subject of school con- solidation quite so extensively as Dickinson County, actual features of consolidation may be said to have existed in the former county prior to the latter. As early as 1898 the school at Armstrong was centralized and the children hauled from the outlying districts in hacks supplied by the county. This is one of the principal advantages of consolidation. The Armstrong school is now housed in a splendid $50,000 building, which was opened for use in 1915.
There are four consolidated independent school districts in Emmet County-Armstrong, Dolliver, Halfa and Swan Lake. Children are trans- ported to schools at Dolliver, Armstrong, Maple Hill and Halfa from the portions of Lincoln, Swan Lake, Armstrong Grove, Jack Creek and Den- mark Townships lying in the districts named. A new school building has recently been constructed in Iowa Lake Township, on Section 28.
Through the consolidated system of teaching every child of school age in the district, whether living in the town or in the country within a range of miles, is carried to school each morning in closed hacks which take a certain route. In the evening the pupils are returned to their homes. This is repeated each day school is in session. The pupil, also, has the advantage of graded school education, which he did not have when he attended a crossroads country schoolhouse. His classes rank with those of the city, he is given a variety of courses, and after com- pleting the eighth grade is ready for the high school branches without extra preparation. The pupil also has the advantage of added social life, being associated with more of his fellows and upon a more equal plane than heretofore.
Armstrong and Estherville are independent town and city districts, while the school townships are: Center, Denmark, Ellsworth, Emmet, High Lake, Iowa Lake, Jack Creek, Swan Lake, Twelve Mile Lake.
The school township of Armstrong Grove has eleven teachers and three school buildings, the latter valued at $50,400. Two of these build- ings are not used at present.
In Center there are ten teachers employed in ten schoolhouses. The buildings are worth $8,300.
In Denmark Township ten teachers are employed. Seven school- houses here are worth $6,000.
Ellsworth Township has twelve teachers and seven buildings, the latter valued at $5,900.
Emmet Township has five teachers and six buildings. The sum of $2,800 covers the value of the schools. One building is not used.
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High Lake Township has ten teachers and nine buildings worth $7,050.
Iowa Lake Township has five buildings worth $3,400 and employs five teachers. A new building has been constructed since the last report of the county superintendent.
Jack Creek Township has nine teachers employed. There are seven buildings worth $3,200.
Swan Lake Township has three teachers and three buildings, the latter valued at $1,200. Most of the eastern portion of this township is in the Maple Hill 'consolidated district and the children attend the school there. Maple Hill has a $30,000 school building.
Twelve Mile Lake Township has nine buildings and nine teachers employed. The buildings are valued at $6,100.
The town of Armstrong is consolidated with the district.
Dolliver before consolidation had seven teachers and two buildings valued at 2,400. Since it has been consolidated there is one $48,000 building. All the pupils of Lincoln Township attend this school.
Estherville has thirty-eight teachers and nine school buildings, five of which are in town and four in the country. The total value of the nine buildings, which includes the new high school, is $168,000.
Halfa previously had three teachers and three buildings, the latter worth $2,450. Now one $25,000 building provides accommodation for all.
This gives a total for the county of eighty-seven teachers, and eighty- three buildings. The combined value of the buildings, with the exception of the $48,000 building at Dolliver, the $30,000 building at Maple Hill and the $25,000 building at Halfa, is $263,105.00. This value does not include the school sites. School bonds outstanding on June 30, 1916, amounted to $270,000. The teachers' fund in 1915-6 amounted to $101,- 725.54. The total value of all buildings in Emmet County reaches the grand sum of $367,305.00.
The early schools of the county have disappeared, except in the recollection of people now living who attended them. The hard journeys on foot the pupils were compelled to take, through the winter's snows and storms, made school life a very different proposition from the pres- ent, when a pupil can step into a comfortable conveyance and be car- ried to a warm and attractive building. Not the least factor in this change from the old way is that of personal hygiene. The care of the child's health and proper attention to his personal welfare have been mighty forces in compelling the improvement of school facilities. There are living in the county now just two men who were early teachers here -Robert I. Cratty and Amos A. Pingrey.
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THE PRESS
THE FIRST NEWSPAPER
The first newspaper in Emmet County, in fact the first in north- western Iowa, was the Northern Vindicator, the first number of which was issued December 14, 1868. The publishers were Eaton Northrop and O. C. Bates, working under the firm name of Northrop & Bates. The mechanical facilities were crude, but for the time and conditions a very creditable sheet was run from the press, a sheet which promised to make up in editorial quality what it lacked in mechanical perfection. The editors announced in Volume I, Number I, that the paper would be "devoted to the interests of northwestern Iowa and the Vindicator of republican principles."
Like every other frontier newspaper the Vindicator fought a hard fight during the first months of its existence. The distance from rail- roads and civilization was a serious handicap, the work was hard, finan- cial returns small, living difficult. The frontier editor was often regarded by his contemporaries in larger settlements as a sort of martyr, a man willing to risk bankruptcy for the sake of spreading his profession to the frontier country. Most of the men who brought journalism to the unset- tled country of the West were men who found living conditions back East too crowded, who were more contented to eke out a small existence in a broader field than to combat the severe competition in more thickly settled communities. They generally brought their office materials and their mechanical apparatus with them. The hand press and the type were often those which had been discarded years before and purchased for a song. The settlers were as a rule anxious for a newspaper, but when it came to paying hard cash for the privilege many of them were reluct- ant. Potatoes, wood, building materials, grain and flour were taken by the editor in many cases "on subscription."
In the summer of 1869 the Vindicator ceased publication for several weeks, which afforded the Humboldt County Independent occasion to remark sarcastically that the Vindicator had "give up the ghost." Editor Northrop, in his issue of June 17, 1869, answered this as follows: "Our subscriptions increased so much more rapidly than we had anticipated, and our distance from rapid transportation facilities being so great, we were unable to keep up a supply of paper; we have been waiting patiently for six weeks for that which has now arrived, and henceforth the Vindi- cator will appear regularly to our patrons, who shall have no cause for complaint as regards its imprint or character as a journal."
Eaton Northrop retired from the firm on October 14, 1869, and was succeeded by Frank A. Day. The paper continued without serious
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interruption and acquired an excellent reputation over the entire state. The Vindicator became a part of the Editorial Association of the Sixth Congressional District on July 19, 1870. This association was ·organized then at Fort Dodge, with twenty-five papers represented in the mem- bership. C. T. Clarkson was the president of the organization; George E. Perkins and J. C. Irwin, vice-presidents; B. F. Gue, secretary; and E. N. Chapin, treasurer.
The issue of the Vindicator of November 11, 1871, bore the names of H. G. and Frank A. Day as editors and proprietors, H. G. Day appar- ently having succeeded Bates in . the firm. Henry Jenkins afterwards took the place of H. G. Day. The firm next became Jenkins & Jarvis, then Charles W. Jarvis alone, who sold to Frank Davey in 1876. Davey kept the paper for six years and in 1882 sold out to Logue & Mattson. Logue disposed of his interest to Mattson and the latter took in his son, the firm becoming Mattson & Son. In 1885 the Vindicator was pur- chased by the firm of McFarland & Jarvis. In 1895 the publication was taken over by Heacock & Gruwell and in May, 1897, W. T. Heacock sold . his one-half interest to Frank P. Woods.
The Emmet County Republican was the outgrowth of the National Broadax. It was started August 11, 1882, by Reynolds, Lough & Com- pany, with Frank Davey as editor. In May, 1884, the sheet was sold to Peter Johnson and H. J. Wasson .. These men changed the name from the Emmet County Republican to the Emmet County Herald. In 1887 it again was given its former name under the editorship and proprietor- ship of F. B. Woods. Jenkins & Mulholland succeeded Woods. George A. Nichols afterward bought Mulholland's interest and then the firm of Jenkins & Nichols conducted the paper until 1900, when Nichols became sole proprietor.
In November, 1902, the Republican was consolidated with the North- ern Vindicator. The paper has since been known as the Vindicator and Republican, with George A. Nichols as editor and publisher, and is recog- nized as being one with large scope of influence, excellent make-up and editorial quality. Modern presses are used in the publication of the Vin- dicator and Republican. A linotype in addition to several type-setters provide for the issue of a paper "all solid home print."
The Estherville Democrat, weekly, was established by Peter John- ston in 1888 as an eight column quarto. The publication of the paper continued without mishap until March 22, 1895, when fire completely destroyed the plant. The outfit was a total loss as no insurance had been carried. However, Mr. Johnson rebuilt the plant and started publication again with a six column octavo. On November 25, 1896, he sold out to Frank Carpenter and Edward H: Sillge.
From February, 1901, until about a year later, the Daily Tribune was published every afternoon except Sunday, in connection with the Demo-
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crat which was issued weekly as before. The Tribune had the distinc- tion of being the only daily paper ever published in Estherville.
In July, 1905, Frank Carpenter purchased Sillge's interest in the Democrat and in the following October sold out the whole plant to J. J. Reardon. In February, 1907, Carpenter rebought the outfit and has remained the owner until the present time. When Mr. Carpenter was appointed postmaster of Estherville in July, 1913, by President Wilson he installed James W. Ghoslin as editor and manager of the Democrat. Mr. Ghoslin maintained the excellent quality of the paper, as is evidenced at the meeting of the Iowa Press Association at Des Moines in January, 1916, when he won the silver cup given as a trophy for the best front page of any weekly newspaper in Iowa. Four hundred papers were entered in the contest. Again, in March, 1906, at the journalistic short course at the Ames Agricultural College, he was awarded a medal for the same product. Mr. Ghoslin resigned his position with the Democrat to enter the employ of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Com- pany, and was succeeded as editor and manager of the Democrat by R. R. Allison. The paper is, of course, owned by Mr. Carpenter. The Democrat ranks with the Vindicator and Republican as being one of the best weekly newspapers in the Middle West in every particular and has a well merited patronage from the people of Emmet County.
The third weekly newspaper in Estherville, the Estherville Enter- prise, was started by A. F. Lowe in 1900. A short time later the owner- ship of the newspaper was placed in the hands of a stock company, then was purchased by George E. Patterson, who sold to G. C. and G. K. Allen in April, 1913. On March 26, 1914, the plant was destroyed by fire. The paper was then published in the Masonic Block, then printed for a time in a barn in the rear of the Gardston Hotel. In December, 1916, the new building erected for the plant on East Lincoln Street, between Seventh and Eighth, was occupied. The plant is one of the best in the state, being equipped with cylinder press and linotype.
The Armstrong Journal was established in the fall of 1892 by S. S. Bellefield. He operated the plant until June 1, 1893, when he sold out to J. A. Reagan. On February 1, 1894, Kaspar Faltinson bought a one- half interest in the paper and four years later got the remainder of the stock, Reagan taking a position as cashier of the bank. In 1900 the Journal was consolidated with the Armstrong Republican and then sold out to A. L. Leeson, who in turn sold to Walter McBride. J. E. Tierney was the next owner, then W. H. Hassing. W. O. Howard came from Sac County in September, 1916, and took charge of the Journal, and is now owner and publisher.
For eight months during the year 1897 the paper known as the Armstrong Pilot was published, but found money-making too precarious, so was abandoned.
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The Ringsted Dispatch is a creditable sheet published weekly at Ringsted, Emmet County. The Dispatch was established here in March, 1901. The paper is a six column octavo and is under the guidance of A. L. Anderson, editor and proprietor. The Dispatch is a newsy and attractive paper and devoted principally to the interests of the community and section of the county in which it is located. A special booster edition was published November 1, 1912, as Volume XII, Number 33.
THE ESTHERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
The library movement in Estherville began in the year 1880 as an association. Charles P. Birge of Keokuk, Iowa, sent twelve volumes of Froude's History of England and four volumes of Goldsmith's works to F. E. Allen. This occurred about February 7, 1881, according to the Vindicator and was the nucleus of the present library. The officers of the association in 1885 were: Mrs. E. H. Ballard, president; Mrs. Edie G. Espeset, vice-president; James Espeset, secretary ; S. E. Bemis, treasurer and librarian. At one time the library was located in S. E. Bemis' store; then in Lincoln Street, near the Richman & Brown real estate offices; then on the east side of the park; and still later in the second story of the Coon Block. Mrs. Howard Graves, Mrs. Frankie Barber and Mrs. M. G. Williams were also prominent in the work of maintaining the library during its early years.
The question of a suitable building for housing the library was agitated in 1897, in fact for several years previous. Ordinance No. 120 of the City of Estherville, approved February 6, 1897, and signed by E. E. Hartung, mayor, and N. B. Egbert, city clerk, authorized the sub- mission of the question of levying an eight cent tax for the support of the library to the voters at the next general municipal election. This was done and the voters, by a small majority, decided in favor of the tax. This election was held in March, 1897. However, on Tuesday eve- ning, June 8, 1897, the trustees decided to close the library on account of no funds. All books were called in by June 15th. The special tax was available April 1, 1898, and the library resumed business.
In 1903 W. P. Ward and E. E. Hartung succeeded in obtaining the sum of $10,000 from Andrew Carnegie, philanthropist, with which to build the library building on the public square, provided certain monies were raised by the townspeople and support of the institution guaran- teed after it was constructed. A. M. Jefferis, architect, made the draw- ings for the building; which was then erected and opened to the public in the fall of 1903. The library now numbers about five thousand volumes. It is open every afternoon and evening, except Sunday, and is under the charge of Mrs. S. M. Davidson, as librarian.
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CHAPTER XII
LAW AND MEDICINE
EVOLUTION OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT-PURPOSE OF THE COURTS-THE LAWYER AS A CITIZEN-TERRITORIAL COURTS THE DISTRICT COURT-ITS HIS- TORY-ITS JUDGES THE CIRCUIT COURT-COUNTY ATTORNEYS-THE BAR-BAR ASSOCIATIONS.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION-MEDICINE IN ANCIENT TIMES-THE PIONEER DOCTOR-HIS HARDSHIPS-HIS STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY-SOME EARLY PHYSICIANS OF EMMET COUNTY-MEDICAL SOCIETIES-EMMET COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY-LIST OF PRESENT DAY PHYSICIANS.
It has been said that the history of a country could be written from its laws. This is true to some extent, for in a country's legislation are reflected the character of the people, their ambitions, their hopes, their ideals and their aims. Civil law made its appearance as soon as men began to realize that they were dependent upon each other and that some system of rules was necessary for the protection of person and property- rules that would conserve the communal interest without trampling upon the rights of the individual. The lawyer and the legislator therefore made their appearance with the very dawn of civilization. At first the laws were simple and the methods of the primitive courts were crude. But as the occupations and business interests of the people became more varied through advancing civilization, the laws became correspondingly more complex and have been arranged into codes.
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