USA > Iowa > Floyd County > History of Floyd County, Iowa : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 54
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Mr. Hildreth was also instrumental in getting Webster's Una- bridged Dictionary supplied to all the schools of the State by law.
Many other men, and some women, have also been prominently identified with the progress and advancement of public schools,
579
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
and their names appear mostly in the respective township and city histories.
The County Superintendents of Floyd County, as near as can be ascertained, have been as follows:
J. C. Whitney, four years; Hervey Wilbur, two years; Horace Stearns, two years; H. O. Pratt, two years; J. W. Merrill, two years; Mrs. Helen R. Duncan, four years; G. H. Nichols, four years; H. H. Davidson, the present incumbent.
SCHOOL PROGRESS IN FLOYD COUNTY.
The winter of 1858 a new school law was passed, providing a complete system of free public schools from the primary all the way up to, and including, the State University and which was wholly substituted for the old system. To reap its advantages required considerable special study; and of course many stumbled under it before they could walk perfectly. This law was expounded by school officers and educators, until the machinery got to moving well throughout the country. Meetings were held of township school presidents, where they instructed one another. One such meeting was held in Cheney & Brackett's Hall, Charles City, Oct. 6, 1858.
Like all the West, the first schools of Floyd County were of course small, and were kept in log school-houses, poorly furnished. The first school in the county was taught at Nora Springs in 1854, the second was opened at Charles City, the third at Floyd, and so on. Twelve years from that time the number of schools was fifty- four; children of school age-males 1,305, females 1,132; number attending schools, 1,786; number of teachers-males seventeen, females eighty-one; average compensation of teachers-males $6 .- 88, females $5.11, per week; aggregate amount paid teachers for the year, $8,415.70; number of school-houses, forty-two, of which twenty-three were frame, nine stone, nine log and one brick; total value of school-houses, $28,516; amount appropriated for building and furnishing school-houses the last school year, $10,737.48; value of school-houses in the several townships, as follows: Cedar, $200; Floyd, $750; Niles, $1,400; Riverton, $1,930; Rock Grove, $3,425; Rockford, $1,281; Scott, $400; Union, $2,550; Ulster, $980; St. Charles, $15,100; Floyd, independent, $500.
In September, 1875, there were 100 school-houses in Floyd County, 118 teachers, 102 schools and 4,917 children entitled to the public fund. The school-houses were thus distributed: St.
580
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
Charles sixteen, Floyd eight, Ulster seven, Rockford eight, Union ten, Pleasant Grove eight, Rock Grove eight, Scott six, Niles eight, Riverton ten, Rudd five, and Cedar six. Number of graded schools, five,-one each at Charles City, Floyd, Nora Springs, Rockford, and Marble Rock,-the five villages of the county. At these schools were tanght all the branches preliminary to a collegiate education.
SCHOOL STATISTICS OF ISS0.
The number of districts in Floyd County 11
The number of independent districts in Floyd County 14
The number of sub-districts in Floyd County. 97
The number of ungraded schools in Floyd County . . 106
The number of rooms in graded schools in Floyd County 28
Average duration of schools in months 7.9
Number of male teachers engaged. 48
Number of female teachers engaged . 162
Average monthly compensation of males.
$31 89.
Average monthly compensation of females 24 65
Number of male pupils between the ages of five and twenty-one years .. 2,644
Average of female pupils between the ages of five and twenty-one years.
2,488
Average of pupils enrolled in public schools 4,336.
Total average attendance. 2,487
Average cost of tuition per month per pupil.
1 49
Number of school-houses, frame 102
3
Number of school-houses, stone.
10
Number of school-houses, log
10
Total valuation of school-houses
$ 105 310.
Valne of apparatus.
1 566
Number of volumes in libraries 50
SCHOOL-HOUSE FUND.
DEBIT.
On hand at last report. S 626 04
Received from district tax.
2 045 97
Received from other sources. 1 509 30
Total debit and credit. . 4 181 31
CREDIT.
Paid for school-houses and sites
$2 194 56
Paid for libraries and apparatus
50 00
Paid for bonds and interest .. 424: 46
Paid for other purposes 1 013 87
On hand.
498 42:
Number of school-houses, brick
.
581
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
EXAMINATION.
MALES.
FEMALES.
Professional certificates
3
2
First grade.
5
35
Second grade.
22
154
Third grade.
Total number issued.
30
191
OF TEACHERS.
MALES.
FEMALES.
Applicants rejected.
Applicants examined
30
191
Certificates revoked ..
Average of applicants .
23 0
23 0
No experience in teaching.
Taught less than one year
Holding State certificates.
VISITATION OF SCHOOLS, APPEALS, ETC.
Schools visited by county superintendent. 70
Visits made during the year 70
Educational meetings held
22
CONTINGENT FUND.
DEBIT.
On hand at last report.
$ 5,148 32
Received from district tax .
9,644 40
Received from other sources
638 10
Total debit. . $15,430 82
CREDIT.
Paid for rent and repairs of school-houses
$ 3,303 91 Paid for fuel .
3,498 11
Paid secretaries and treasurers
662 80
Paid for records, dictionaries and apparatus.
150 42
Paid for insurance and janitors
831 88
Paid for supplies, brooms, chalk, etc
1,111 91
Paid for other purposes 1,093 95
On hand. 36
4,777 84
582
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
TEACHERS' FUND.
DEBIT.
On hand at last report . $15,527 93
Received from district tax 21,014 89
Received from semi-annual apportionment. 5,763 19
Received from other sources
559 06
Total debit. . $42,861 07
CREDIT.
Paid teachers since last report $29,291 23
Paid for other purposes . 233 88
On hand. . 13,335 95
Cases decided by the county superintendent. .
None
Compensation for official services from Oct. 1, 1880, to
Oct. 1, 1881, of county superintendent. 929 00
Number of private schools. 1
1
Teachers employed in private schools.
52
TEACHERS' NORMAL INSTITUTE.
The Teachers' Normal Institute, for Floyd County, holden at Charles City each August, commenced August 15, and continued three weeks. There were 30 males and 134 females, making a total attendance of 164.
THE FINANCIAL CONDITION.
RECEIPTS.
On hand at last report
$340 11
Examination fees
221 00
Registration fees.
164 00
State appropriation
50 00
Sundries .
Total receipts . $775 11
EXPENDITURES.
Instruction
$460 00
Incidentals
89 20
Unexpended
225 91
Pupils in attendance in private schools
Total expenditures $775 11
583
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
The teachers and lecturers were :
J. C. Yocum, Conductor ; Instructors, H. H. Davidson, Hoss- feld, Miss M. C. Dixon, Miss Harbin, Miss E. Knapp ; lecturers, C. W. von Coelln, S. P. Heland, J. Piper.
The graded schools of the county are in the following towns, all of a nine months' session :
Charles City has one male teacher and thirteen female teachers; Floyd, one female teacher; Marble Rock, one male, three female teachers; Nora Springs, two female teachers; Rockford, one ma'e, two female teachers; Rudd, one female teacher.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTES AND NORMALS.
During the latter part of the winter of 1859-'60, an educational convention was called to meet in St. Charles City, February 4, to examine and discuss the new school law just adopted by the State Board of Education, to organize a county teachers' society, to memorialize the General Assembly for an appropriation of money for the support of teachers' institutes, and to awaken a greater in- terest in educational matters generally. The call was signed by Hervey Wilbur, Floyd ; Isaac Teeple, Union ; J. C. Whitney, Rockford ; A. W. French, St. Charles ; Fayette Richmond, Cedar; J. Henry Eaton, Cedar ; John H. Aylsworth, L. T. Patterson and Charles Wheat, St. Charles.
At the appointed time a good number were in attendance and exhibited a high degree of enthusiasm. The meeting was called to order by Mr. French, and A. B. F. Hildreth was elected Chair- man, and Mr. French, Secretary. A committee of three, appointed for the purpose, reported subjects for discussion and action; name- ly, the formation of a teachers' association or an educational society, teachers' institutes, and union or graded schools. The result of their deliberations was the organization of the "Floyd County Educational Society," to admit all other friends of education as well as teachers. A preamble and constitution were adopted, and the following officers were elected : A. B. F. Hildreth, President; Maxwell Ireland, Vice-President ; Asa W. French, Secretary ; Hervey Wilbur, Treasurer ; and Messrs. Wilbur, French and J. C. Whitney, Business Committee.
584
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
On motion of Mr. Wilbur, the following resolution was adopted: "That a petition to the General Assembly be forwarded to our Representative, Hon. E. G. Bowdoin, asking an appropriation of money to be made which will enable the teachers of this county to hold an institute some time during next summer or fall." Mr. Hildreth was appointed the committee to draft and report a form of petition, which duty he performed.
On motion of Mr. Aylsworth, a resolution was adopted request- ing the county superintendent to give at least one lecture in each township on the subject of common schools and also an explanation of the new school law, as soon as he should find it convenient after the law had been acted upon by the General Assembly.
A resolution was also adopted heartily indorsing the late amend- ment made by the State Board to the school law.
Among those who took part in the discussions were Dr. Cort- right, of Rockford, B. F. Cheney and Messrs. Hildreth, Wilbur, Alysworth and Ireland.
Adjourned to meet Feb. 25, following.
The next meeting, however, did not take place until April 5, at Floyd, where it was called to order by the secretary, and Rev. Thomas Thompson was chosen Chairman, pro tem. Resolutions were discussed and adopted, recommending the Iowa School Jour- nal, urging uniformity in the text-books as recommended by the State Board, and insisting that the township boards establish graded or union schools in all sub-districts where the situation and number of scholars would justify it. An animated discussion took place upon the last resolution, in which Messrs. Aylsworth, Wilbur, Teeple, Raymond, French, Thompson and Cook partici- pated, although the resolution was at the last unanimously adopted.
Mr. Wilbur stated that the position he occupied in relation to educational matters had been changed since the last meeting, he having been appointed County Superintendent of Schools, and that though the law limited his duties to the office, he proposed to make at least one visit in each township. In conclusion, Mr. W. moved. that as the ladies had not assisted in speaking, they be requested to sing. The ladies responded, with the assistance of Mr. Bissell, by singing " Unity," whereupon the meeting adjourned.
May 3, following, Mr. Wilbur, by notice in the Intelligencer, called for correspondence from teachers desiring to attend an insti-
585
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
tute, saying that if not more than thirty desired it they had better join Mitchell County in the undertaking, and giving notice that the State would bear the expense of normal instruction at the insti- tute. He also interpreted the new law as requiring the sub-district to meet the first Monday in May, instead of the second Monday in July as before, to levy a tax for school-house purposes. In the Intelligencr of June 14, this indefatigable school superintend- ent kept the blaze increasing by publishing a list of the teachers in the county, with the hope that they would all attend an institute in this county, and announcing that the session would continue six days, the teachers themselves to select their instructors and the place and time of holding the institute. By the 27th of August the Superintendent was enabled to announce that a sufficient number of teachers had promised to attend, and that the institute would be held at Floyd, the first week of October, Mitchell County teachers to join.
Monday, Oct. 1, arrived; the Floyd County Teachers' Insti- tute commenced its first session at Floyd according to arrange- ment. It was called to order by the county superintendent, and J. H. Aylsworth was made President pro tem. Permanent officers were elected, as follows: Hervey Wilbur, President; J. C. Whitney and J. H. Aylsworth, Secretaries; J. H. Aylsworth, S. P. Bissell and J. C. Whitney, Financial Committee; J. D. Rust, Chaplain.
Instruction was given during the week by Mr. Wilbur, on Edu- cation and its Influences; by Asa W. French, on the Qualifications, Difficulties and Influence of Teachers; by John G. Patterson, on the General Duties of Teachers; by Prof. Wm. Brush, of Upper Iowa University, on the True Teachers; by Hon. Oran Faville, on the Study of the Languages; by Rev. Mr. Paxton, of Osage, on the Origin and Destiny of the English Language. A splendid poem, on The Teacher's Mission, was composed and read by J. Cheston Whitney, of Rockford, and subsequently printed in the Intelligencer.
At this institute there were sixty-one persons in attendance, thirty-eight ladies and twenty-three gentlemen, -- and the session was exceedingly interesting and profitable.
A successful teachers' institute was held at Charles City, com- mencing Sept. 30, 1861, and continuing a week; thirty ladies and twenty-eight gentlemen were in attendance. Instructors: Dr. J. L.
586
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
Enos, of Cedar Rapids, and Hervey Wilbur, of Floyd; Lecturers: Dr. Enos, Rev. J. E. McClelland, Hon. E. G. Bowdine, of Rockford; and James Jackson, of Charles City. The last named delivered a lecture on Architecture. J. Cheston Whitney, County Superin- tendent, and President of the Institute.
March 17, to April 7, 1862, a " normal school " was successfully conducted at Charles City, by J. C. Whitney. Fifty were in at- tendance, and much interest was manifested, notwithstanding the war. Mr. Whitney was an efficient institute leader, as was also Mr. Wilbur. The former left this county in 1865, to edit a paper at Hampton, Franklin County, and the latter is still a resident in Floyd. In 1863 another successful institute was held in the county, and indeed every year to the present time. Sometimes they were held at one village, sometimes at another. In 1866 one was held in Charles City, Oct. 15 to 20, inclusive, conducted by Hon. G. J. Tisdale, of Chickasaw County. Over fifty pupils, all young ladies except four or five, were in attendance. Horace Stearns, the County Superintendent, did much to render the session an interest- ing and profitable one. Oct. 27, 1870, the teachers attending an institute at Floyd, made arrangements for organizing a " teachers' association " for the county. Feb. 18, following, they held their first regular meeting. They exchanged views on all educational topics and thus practiced mutual instruction. A common evil of teachers' "institutes " in early days in the West, was that of meet- ing without a programme and amusing one another by their wit. This cannot be asserted of the institutes which have been held in Floyd County. Here they have always had zealous and competent in- structors, so that no time has been wasted. In 1874 the Board of Supervisors appropriated $175 for the benefit of a normal institute to be held in the county during that summer. Since then the Floyd County " Normals " have been self- sustaining aside from the State appropriation of $50; and have been held annually with an aver- age attendance of about 160 teachers.
EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS.
About 1873 the Shell Rock Valley Educational Association was formed on the west side of the county; and in 1876, when Mr. J. C. Yocum took charge of the Charles City schools, he issued a call for a meeting to form a similar organization on the east side of the county. Mr. Yocum's communication to the educational public was followed by others, and soon a meeting was called for Nov. 25,
587
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
at the school-house in Charles City. At this meeting an organiza- tion was effected, and the first regular meeting was held in Charles City on Dec. 16, of the same year.
Feb. 16, of the following year, the first union meeting of the east and west side associations was held at Charles City. Up to the present time (1882) both of these educational associations have maintained a vigorous existence with monthly meetings from Oct- ober to May of each year; and the two meet in joint session once each year at some convenient point in the county.
1
CHAPTER XIII.
LITERARY.
As Floyd County is blessed with considerable literary talent, we make a chapter of selections, which will doubtless be highly ap- preciated by those who are acquainted with the parties, and even by strangers. And as good prose deserves as much credit as good poetry, we give two or three short selections of that species of lit- erature, as illustrative of Floyd County talent,-not that they are the best that can be produced in the county, but as good composi- tions already published in the press.
MRS. PERSIS A. BROWN.
This poetess, who has written over the nom de plume of " Ruth," " Ruth Rustic," "Ruth Holmes," etc., is a resident of Ulster Township, Floyd County, Iowa, and was born in Halden, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Sept. 8, 1807. She received a common- school education when young, which, together with her constant habit of reading, enabled her to successfully engage in school teach- ing which avocation she pursued some four or five years in Hamp- shire County. August 29, 1832, in the village of Speedsville, Tompkins County, New York, she and Mr. Edward T. Brown, were united in marriage. This union was blessed with five chil- dren. The first died on the day of her birth. The second died at the age of twenty months, of inflammation of the brain caused by a fall. Eugene, the third, is still living; the fourth was shot through the lungs at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, and died April 10, 1862, at the age of twenty years and two months. He sleeps at Fort Henry, Tennessee. The fifth was drowned; aged nearly four years. She sleeps at North Becket, Massachusetts. The fam- ily, including an adopted daughter two years of age, left Massa- chusetts Oct. 7, 1853; resided in Geneva and Batavia, Illinois, several years. In 1855 they arrived in what is now Charles City, though in that day scarcely worthy of the name of a village. Since that time they have resided in St. Charles Township, and now are residents of Ulster Township.
(588)
589
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
Aug. 29, 1882, they celebrated their golden wedding, on which occasion Mrs. Brown contributed the following gem:
Fifty years of married life Have fallen to my share ; Fifty years of toil and strife, Happiness blent with care.
What hath not these fifty yoars
Known of sorrow, joy and tears-
Births and deaths, fearful, even,
All hopes wrecked, save those of Heaven.
This half century of years
Bears a record damp with tears;
War, starvation, prison-bars,
Cursed deeds and endless jars.
Retribution will ere long Sift the good, adjust the wrong,
Bless the righteous, lift the just 'Bove the rubbish, mire and dust.
Still I linger, still I wait, Watching, till the summons come ; May no drowsiness o'ertake, Ere I'm bidden, "Child, come home."
The scenes that called forth the following poem transpired long years since in Massachusetts. Mrs. Brown perhaps is not alone in such trials. We dare say many who will read these lines can tes tify to their appropriateness in their own cases:
I had a little son, A son just three years old ; His face was lily pale, His hands as marble cold. I knelt beside the sleeping thing, He faintly whispered " Sing, ma, sing."
But how could I attune- My heart all crushed and sad- My voice to melody, And bid mine eye look glad. Poor, vain attempt. I could bu' try To sing his dying lullaby.
Long weary years have sped Since that eventful day ; Still lives that seeming dead Now absent, far away. The battle-field, the fife, the drum, Give forth the strains around him sung.
590
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
Oh, what a world is this, So fraught with hopes and fears! Events at every step Requiring smiles and tears. Constrained to sing when least inclined, To sing or weep, howe'er ill-timed.
The thousand nameless ills Which cluster in our path, Alown life's varied track, Some useful lesson hath. This life is long, and ends not here ; We want a higher, holier sphere.
In the month of March, 1863, Mrs. Brown was so unfortunate a; to have her house and its entire contents consumed by fire. She was at that time alone and a cripple, which made her loss a still greater calamity. In this fire she lost a trunk which was filled with keepsakes, relics, and all her early literary productions. By request of some friends she produced the following, which ex- plains itself:
I had a huge trunk all battered and worn, Some fifty years old or more; Of relics, mementoes, and unique things, It held a curious store.
There were letters and books, pen-holders and wax, That came from the scene of the war; A jack-knife, a dirk, an old, mouldy shoe, That ha i traveled o'er lands afar.
Little strings of beads, a thimble and comb, And many a trinket and toy ; Many locks of hair, silver spoons and cards, And the ball that killed my boy!
There were needles and pins, a tin plate an 1 cup, There were hard tack and cartridge's, to, A teicup, a pitcher, the till of a chest ; That was many years ago.
A worsted sa'chel, a small vas · mat, Each wrought by a mother's hand ; A tiny blue dress, a collar and chain, That need not a magic wand
To tell as plaintively sweet As ever a novelist told ; A whet stone, a hair brush, a china vase, Of value more than gold ;
A sol lier's companion, a scarf, book an i key, An album and poems sweet; A small white basket, som : Southern fruit leaves, I think my list complete.
591
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
A. B. F. HILDRETH.
The author of the following, is well known to the people of Floyd County. A biographical sketch is given of him in Chapter XIV:
"I SHALL REST TO-NIGHT." BY A. B. F. HILDRETH.
A morning flower plucked for heaven was the writer's little daughter of six summers, who lately passed from this to a better world, there to bloom forever in the paradise of God. While upon her dying couch, and shortly before her de- parture, she besought her wearied and grief-stricken parents to take repose, say- ing-"I shall rest to-night." At midnight, Nov. 29, 1957, she closed her eyes as if in a calm slumber, and in a few minutes was indeed "at rest."
"I shall rest to-night." Another day, While my loved flowers* in breezes dance,
You'll take me from this home away ! A mournful train will then advance Up through the long and silent street,
To bear me to my lone retreat.
Oh, there-it matters not-will rave The storms and blasts of wintry weather,
Above the narrow new-made grave, Where de ith and I lie down together ! Enough that I shall know it not,
Within that lone and narrow spot.
For I shall sleep. As sweet a sleep As ever blessed a child reposing, Awaits me in the grave so deep. When I, my weary eyelids closing, At length shall lay me down to rest, Heedless of clods above my breast.
Asleep! How deep will be the "rest," Free from life's turmoil moving wildly, That when is passed the earth's unrest, Its bosom shall receive me mildly; For not one dream of earth may come To break the slumber of that home !
Oh, deep repose! Oh, slumber blest! Oh, night of peace! no storm, no sorrow,
No heavy stirring in that "1 est," To meet another weary morrow!
· I shall heed neither night nor dawn, But still with folded arms sleep on !
"Weep not, dear parents," more for me, But live as all true Christians should "I'm not afraid to die," you see; "You'll come to me, if you are good ;"+ Ere long we'll meet, forever blest, Beyond the skies in endless "rest."
*She was passionately fond of flowers. +Her dying words.
592
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
FLORENCE PERCY.
This is the nom de plume of Elizabeth (nee Chase) Allen, the author of "Rock Me to Sleep, Mother." Her compositions were neat and beautiful. A further notice is given of her in the next chapter, in the account of the Intelligencer.
J. CHESTON WHITNEY,
well known as a former County Superintendent of Schools, many years ago contributed the following :
THE COUNTIES OF IOWA.
Our home is in Iowa, Westward towar I the setting sun,
Just between two mighty rivers, Where the flowing waters run ; It has towns and it has cities, It has many noble streams,
It has ninety-nine counties, And we'll join to sing their names.
Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Where the Spirit Lake we see ;
Emmet, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth, with its Lake Albert Lea; Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek, And Allamakee so fine, Make eleven northern counties On the Minnesota line.
Clayton, Dubuque, Jackson, Clinton, Together with Scott and Muscatine, Lee, Louisa and Des Moines, On the eastern line is seen ; Van Buren, Davis, Appanoose, Decatur, Ringgold, Wayne we spy ;
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