USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 37
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SCHOOL FUND COMMISSIONERS
When Franklin county came into existence in 1855, the office of superintendent had not been created. The only school officer was the school fund commissioner, who merely had charge of the school funds to a certain extent as has the board of supervisors today. He had authority to make loans of school funds to private parties upon suffi- cient security. In his day the school directors hired the teacher, ex- amining those whom they wished to employ. Public examinations were unknown.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
The office of school fund commissioner was abolished in the spring of 1858 and the office of county superintendent of schools created. The duties of this official were then the same as at the present day: Visiting schools, holding examinations and looking after the interests of educational matters in general. By an act passed by the General Assembly of Iowa in 1873, the county superintendent was required to convene and each year hold a teachers' or normal institute at some convenient point in each county for the instruction of those who were teachers or were preparing themselves to enter the profession. From that time to the present normal institutes have been held in the county, most, if not all, of them at Hampton, upon which occasions practically every teacher and would-be teacher in the county has been in attendance.
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CHAPTER XXV
HAMPTON PUBLIC LIBRARY-DIFFICULTY IN THE WAY OF ESTABLISH-
ING THE INSTITUTION-INTERESTING DESCRIPTIVE STORY BY ONE WHO KNEW-THE CARNEGIE GIFT OF TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS- DEDICATION OF THE LIBRARY BUILDING.
The Hampton Public Library building, made possible by a hand- some benefaction of the iron king, Andrew Carnegie, was opened to the people of this community Friday, October 6, 1905. Impressive and interesting dedicatory services were held at this time and the late Col. Levi B. Raymond read a sketch, in which he depicted the many ups and downs of the library and its final triumph in the mass- ing of a valuable collection of books and the acquisition of a hand- some, commodious and modern library building. Mr. Raymond's pen was facile and strenuous and when employed covered its sub- ject substantially and fully. The article follows :
When Abraham Lincoln was asked, after being nominated for the presidency, for a sketch of the early history of himself and family, he replied that it could very briefly be told in one sentence: "The short and simple annals of the poor." With the early history of the Hampton Public Library it is shorter and simpler; if any attempt is made to go back to its inception, it would be only a review of the failures of a score of years.
Every community has one or more individuals in its midst who are classed either as progressive and enterprising citizens, or as cranks. The difference between the two classes lies in the measure of success that attends their efforts. If successful, they are awarded a place in the first class mentioned ; if unsuccessful, they are promptly relegated to the econd class. And so it may be proper to say that it was only after about twenty years of efforts by "cranks" that the Hampton Public Library was born.
If memory and scanty records are not at fault, the first attempt to establish a public library in Hampton by voting a tax for its support was made in 1869. It failed, and in the light of subse- Vol. 1-2G
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quent events and developments, it is probably just as well that it did. During the next twenty years two other efforts were made to carry a tax for the same purpose, but they were also unsuccessful, and the records accessible are silent as to the figures of the elections, but that the proposition was decisively voted down each time was freely admitted.
It may not be amiss to state that under the old school law of the state, school districts voted a tax for district libraries. In the winter of 1889, to be exact, February 12th, at a meeting of the school board of the Independent district of Hampton, the conver- sation turned upon the necessity of a public library in Hampton, and the proposition was made to ask the electors of the school dis- trict to vote a tax for that purpose. The motion prevailed, and accordingly when the call for the annual election was made, it was announced that the proposition to vote a one mill tax for "the pur- chase of a public library" would be submitted to the electors. It was agreed by the board that the less agitation concerning the mat- ter, the better the prospect of success, and that what "electioneer- ing" was done, should be done quietly and unostentatiously. For- tunately there was no contest over directors at the election held March II, and the library proposition "slipped through" by a vote of 97 to 76. It was duly certified to the board of supervisors, and that body very obligingly, and without asking the opinion of their legal advisor, levied the tax, which brought in about three hun- dred dollars. Of course before the tax became available it was necessary for the board to again submit the question of another tax, which was voted on March 10, 1890, but it carried without at- tracting general notice or material opposition by a vote of 65 to 23. Again the board of supervisors kindly levied the tax, and the Hamp- ton Public Library was fairly born.
There were seven of these school directors who took the chances of this violation of law, if such it was, and as we think that the statute of limitations has now run, we will give their names: G. G. Clemmer, W. P. Smith, B. F. Ferris, E. M. Funk, Henry Proctor and L. B. Raymond. In March, 1890, Mr. Smith was succeeded on the board by G. C. Hayes, who thereby became equally respon- sible with the balance of the board for what was done, for it need not be said that whatever was done, was done unanimously. In other words, there being no objection, the rules may have been said to have been suspended. Of these seven, Messrs. Clemmer, Smith
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and Hayes have paid the last great debt, and are beyond your praise or censure, while the other four are yet among you, subject to your blame or blessing, as you may choose.
And yet, while the library was born, proper provisions had not been made for its sustenance. It had been born in the wrong family for that, and its adoption by the city was necessary. Meantime about three hundred dollars' worth of books had been purchased, and some donated, and taking advantage of an unexpired lease in the basement of the (then) Beed block, quarters were secured for the books at a nominal rental, and the library may be said to have had a local habitation and a home.
From the very start, the patronage of the library amply justi- fied all that the most ardent friends of the project had ever claimed for it, and its growth in popular favor encouraged its friends to get the child regularly adopted into the family properly chargeable with its support, and accordingly, the proper notice having been published by Mayor J. M. Hemingway, at the election held March 2, 1891, the question of the permanent establishment of the library was submitted and carried by a vote of 97 to 38. It was generally conceded that without the object lesson in the shape of the meager library in the basement of the Beed block that the project would have been de- feated.
Under the law as it then stood, five trustees were appointed by the mayor; of that number two, B. F. Ferris and L. B. Raymond, were members of the school board who were responsible for the inception of the library, and it may be stated that their membership on this board has been continued ever since, they being the only two present® members of the body who were of the original appointments.
I desire at this point to mention briefly another of the original members of the board, whose service terminated only within the last few months by his removal from our community, Thomas B. Taylor. His services as a practical business man, as a careful financier, as a member of the building committee during the protracted period of our building operations, and as a man of absolutely correct ideas as to the management of a public trust, could not have been bought with money, and a debt of gratitude and a high degree of obligation is due him from every citizen of Hampton. His labor and services were given absolutely without money and without price, and it is proper here to say that no trustee has ever received one dollar for any serv- ices rendered, or even recompense for expense incurred in the
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service of the Hampton Public Library. The board has visited other libraries and incurred other minor expense, but in every in- stance no allowance, even for expenses, had been asked or allowed.
On the 28th of January, 1892, a contract was made by the trus- tees with the board of supervisors of Franklin county for the room in the southwest corner of the basement of the courthouse for the use of the library, the lease to be for eight years from July 1, 1892, and for which the rental of $162 was paid in advance. This amount was expended in finishing off and plastering the room, it having previously been in an unfinished condition. This room having been found inadequate for the needs of the library, in 1896 a further con- tract was made with the board of supervisors for the use of the ad- joining room on the east, on condition that it should be finished off without expense to the county, which was done at a cost of about one hundred dollars. This room was used as a reading and reference room, and it gave to the library far better quarters than its most sanguine friends had ever hoped for. These rooms were occupied by the library up to August 1, 1905, when they were vacated by the removal into the library building without any additional ex- pense except electric light. It may never have occurred to the library trustees or to the patrons of the library to make any formal acknowl- edgment of the liberality of the board of supervisors in this matter, but I desire now to give public recognition of the favor, and to ask that the public spirit manifested by the board in freely making this important gift be not forgotten by this community.
I trust that anything I have said in regard to the difficulties at- tendant upon getting the library established in public favor will not be construed by any one as a criticism upon the intelligence or public spirit of our community. It must be remembered that public libraries twenty-five or thirty years ago were almost entirely con- fined to large cities or to educational institutions. It is probable that of the population of our town in the '70s and '8os not over 10 per cent had ever resided in any larger town, and probably 75 per cent of the inhabitants were from farms, not necessarily less intelligent than other people, but with more limited facilities for observation. The times were close, almost every man was in debt, we were building our schoolhouses, public buildings, bridges and making other expensive improvements, so that taxes were often op- pressive, and when a taxpayer was in doubt as to where the money was coming from to pay his taxes, he was naturally careful not to add
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to the amount any more than absolute necessity called for. It is possible that in all these years a campaign of education was going on in reference to libraries, and other public utilities, which taught us how to care for all these things and enjoy the full benefits thereof after they came to us. Hampton is one of the most generous places of which I have any knowledge, and I trust that nothing said here at this time will leave any other impression.
Early in the year 1901, the attention of those directly interested in the library was drawn to the benefactions of Hon. Andrew Carnegie, and an effort was made to secure his attention to the fact that Hamp- ton would be very glad of a place in the list of those favored. It seemed for several months that we would be unable to get any answer through any avenue by which we could approach him, but finally, on the 14th day of March, 1902, we were notified that our request would be granted upon the usual terms and conditions. Let me say right here that it was owing to the good offices of Senator Dol- liver, whom we had hoped to have with us on this occasion, that we reached Mr. Carnegie's ear when we did, so that while it may be too much to say that to the Senator we are indebted for our gift from Mr. Carnegie, it is not too much to say that it would not have come to us at the opportune time that it did, had it not been for our Sen- ator's good offices. Our city council acted promptly in the matter of a site and in furnishing the necessary guarantee of future support, and the present site was selected, it being in accordance with the sentiment of the inhabitants of the city, so far as known. The action of our city council was in accordance with the liberality and public spirit the body has always manifested in its dealings with the library board, and they freely and without being solicited gave over the en- tire responsibility of all matters connected with the proposed library building in the hands of the trustees, and have universally and at all times been ready to second their labors and assist in every way pos- sible. What has been true of one council has been true of all since the library came under the control of the city, and it is fitting, Mr. Mayor, that I make, on behalf of the library trustees, this public acknowledgment of the fact that not only they, but our citizens gen- erally, should not forget the hearty cooperation of the body you represent, and your predecessors, in behalf of the Hampton Public Library.
The difficulties and delays experienced in the construction of our library building are too recent in the minds of this community
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to justify any extended comment at this time. During the two years that the building was going on, the library board were freely criti- cised, and from the standpoint of view of the average citizen, not without reason. Suffice it to say that the peculiar conditions of the matter were not generally known, and the board felt that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the community to have any public discussion of matters. Briefly, it may not be out of order to state that the library board felt that it was due to Mr. Carnegie and to the citizens that the entire $10,000 donated by Mr. Carnegie should all be put into the building, leaving the furnishing, heating apparatus, electric light fixtures, etc., to be provided from other funds. The board, too, were from the first up against the proposition of trying to get a $12,000 building for $10,000, and felt that the con- tractor, who had allowed local pride to induce him to take the con- tract at a losing figure, should be allowed all possible latitude and leniency, so far as delays were concerned. More under this head need not be said, and all the board claim is, that if they did make mistakes, their action was guided by what was their best judgment. And here I must be excused if I pay a brief tribute to my associates of the library board. No set of men of whom I have ever had any knowledge worked more faithfully and unselfishly, and it is enough to say that that board never had a disagreement that was not amicably adjusted in five minutes.
While the building committee have made their report to the board, and some portions of the same have been published in the reports of the board to the city council, it is proper, that now the building is complete, there should be made at this time a complete report to the people direct of the entire cost of the edifice and fur- nishings, that the city of Hampton now owns, free from encumbrance.
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Andrew Carnegie's donation $10,000.00
City of Hampton, paid for site. 3,660.60
Paid architects 270.00
Grading and filling in lots. 60.00
Cement sidewalks and approaches 170.00
Electric light fixtures. 170.00
Heating plant 1,515.00
Kalsomining interior walls. 170.00
Water and sewer connections 50.00
Window shades 50.00
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Window and door screens 52.50
Furniture 818.25
Total
$16,916.35
In concluding this sketch of our library, it will be apparent that we are at the close of the creative period, so to speak, and that its interests have been almost entirely dependent upon those who have had control of matters connected with it and its material welfare. That period now closes and the future and prosperity of this library no longer depends upon a few individuals, but upon the community at large. No person is so obscure or so lacking in influence that he or she does not share in this responsibility, and that every one may realize the full measure of their obligation in this respect and act accordingly is the best wish that can be offered for the future of the Hampton Public Library.
The Carnegie Public Library is a valued institution of Hamp- ton and is well patronized by a class of people, refined in their tastes and selection of reading matter. The report of the librarian for the fiscal year 1912 shows that the library issued that year 8,850 books, and that the public has a collection in the library of 5,000 volumes from which to make a choice.
Since the Carnegie library opened its doors to the public, the following have served as librarian: Carrie Barker, Bertha B. Barker, Helen Sweet, and the present incumbent, Pearl Glazier. The pres- ent members of the board are: President, B. F. Ferris; vice presi- dent, T. J. B. Robinson ; secretary and treasurer, O. W. Maxwell; E. P. Andrews, A. W. Beed, T. E. B. Hudson, Charles Krag, Mrs. Julia Evans, and Miss Indie Reeve.
CHAPTER XXVI
HAMPTON'S FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS-BANKING A BUSINESS OF GREAT ANTIQUITY-EARLY BANKS IN THE COUNTY SEAT-DEPOSITS IN HAMPTON BANKS OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS-INDUSTRIAL HAMPTON.
The business of banking is of great antiquity and in its simpler forms no doubt was understood and practiced by the Assyrians, Babylonians and Athenians. As the taking of interest for money lies at the root of all banking and furnishes the chief motive for it, where- ever a people were sufficiently advanced to loan money for hire there would naturally spring up many of the practices and methods of mod- ern banking. The transfer of credits was undoubtedly known among the ancients. They used checks and bills of exchange, but for all that they were very far from having the confidence in credit business that has since been fostered by modern banking methods. They used gold and silver coin and other commodities then in use as standards of value and media of exchange and had not invented representative money. It is more fanciful than correct to ascribe to the Romans the invention of modern banking. The business carried on by their money lenders and dealers was similar to that of the Jews of the Middle Ages and the Lombards.
When gold and silver were deposited, it was more in the nature of a special deposit to be kept until called for. There have always been money lenders but banks for lending money are of compara- tively modern origin. The Bank of Venice, which originated in 1171, may be pronounced the forerunner of modern banking. It was followed by the Bank of Genoa, 1320; Bank of Amsterdam, 1609; Bank of England, 1694; Bank of France, 1716; and others at later dates. In the United States there have been private banks and chartered banks and of the latter some have derived their powers from State Legislatures and some from the Federal Congress.
The National Bank Act, which became a law early in 1863, was modelled largely after the free banking laws of New York, Ohio
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
and other states; and the distinctive principles which underlie it are government supervision of the operations of the banks and a circulation based directly upon the securities and guarantee of the Government. The original act has undergone many modifications, some of them of considerable importance, and while in its operations it has proved of great value to the commerce of the country, it is undoubtedly capable of improvement and further changes may be expected in it in the not distant future.
FRANKLIN COUNTY STATE BANK
The first attempt at banking in Franklin county was by J. F. Latimer and A. G. Kellam, who pooled their interests and estab- lished a private concern in 1871, under the firm name of Latimer & Kellam. Their place of business was on the east side of the court- house square in a frame building, where they continued to remain for some years. At a period during the Latimer-Kellam regime, Capt. R. S. Benson and G. C. Hayes, both since gone to their last reward, became actively interested in the institution. Sometime thereafter, Latimer sold out his interests and the firm name was changed to Kellam, Benson & Hayes. This continued for a period, then Kellam disposed of his interest to the remaining partners. Benson finally withdrew and D. B. Parks was taken into the firm.
It was while Benson and Hayes were connected with the insti- tution that they erected the two-story brick building on the north- west corner of Reeve and Fourth streets, where the headquarters of the bank was maintained for a number of years.
In 1891, A. W., G. F. and B. C. Beed secured full control of the bank and conducted the institution until 1905, when they be- came possessed of the equities and appurtenances of the Bank of Hampton, successor to the First National Bank of Hampton, and incorporated the two concerns under the banking law of Iowa as the Franklin County State Bank, with a capital of $75,000. The first officials selected by the directors of the Franklin County State Bank were: President, A. W. Beed; vice president, G. F. Beed ; cashier, H. L. Harrison ; assistant cashier, N. A. Inglis.
Previous to this, however, the bank had moved into the Empire block on the northwest corner of Reeve and Fifth streets, where it remained until about 1880, and then occupied its own home.
HARDWARE
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4
1 -- North comer Reeve street in early 70's showing Court House fence on Fourth. 2- Fourth street between Reeve and Main street in the early 60 's. 3-Reeve street in early 60's between Fourth and Sixth street. 4- Franklin County Bank.
VIEWS OF HAMPTON
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
The condition of the Franklin County State Bank in June, 1913, was as follows: Capital, $75,000; surplus, $25,000; undivided prof- its, $23,000; deposits, $673,000. Officials: President, A. W. Beed; vice president, J. C. Powers ; cashier, N. A. Inglis; assistant cashier, F. H. Ridgeway; directors, A. W. Beed, N. A. Inglis, G. F. Beed, F. J. Scantlebury, B. D. Hunt, George D. Patterson, Dr. J. C. Powers, Jacob Pohl, C. F. Showalter, F. D. Smith and A. W. Wolf.
THE FIRST NATIONAL AND BANK OF HAMPTON
The First National Bank of Hampton was established late in the '70s, and was finally absorbed by the Bank of Hampton, which had at its head the late J. F. Latimer and D. D. Inglis. It was recog- nized as a very conservative banking institution and the policy adopted by Latimer and Inglis was followed faithfully by their successors, H. L. Harrison and N. A. Inglis. This course gave them the entire confidence of the public.
THE CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK
A strong and influential financial institution is that of the Citi- zens National Bank of Hampton. It is the only national bank in Franklin county, and was organized as a state bank in 1875 by George Beed, G. G. Clemmer, D. W. Mott, Isaac Robinson and C. J. Mott. The first home of the bank was in a little frame building that stood on the corner of Reeve and Fourth streets, facing south. The present headquarters of this institution is on the same corner in a large brick building erected in the winter of 1880-81 by the Hampton Building Association. For years the upper floors have been used for hotel pur- poses and it was first known as the Beed House and later the name was changed to the Rule Hotel. The property passed into several hands and for some years past has been owned by the Robinsons, members of the bank. The first officials of the Citizens National Bank were: George Beed, president; D. W. Mott, vice president; G. G. Clemmer. cashier.
The Citizens State Bank was reorganized September 1, 1905, and received its charter as the Citizens National Bank. It was then cap- italized at $100,000. Those prominent in the organization of the new institution were: Thomas J. B. Robinson, Nathaniel W. Beebe, W. L. Robinson, Abraham R. Carter and Albert M. Mott. The
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
first officials were: T. J. B. Robinson, president; N. W. Beebe, vice president; W. L. Robinson, cashier; Walter T. Robinson, assist- ant cashier. The capital of the bank is $100,000; surplus, $35,000; undivided profits, $20,000; deposits, $759,000.
ROBINSON BROTHERS BANK
The Robinson Brothers Bank, a private financial concern, was established in 1887 by T. J. B. Robinson, now president of the Citizens National Bank. In 1894 he took into partnership his broth- ers, G. A. and W. L. Robinson, and the firm name of Robinson Brothers was adopted. The business included abstract, real estate, insurance and farm loans. I. B. Robinson was made a member of the firm later, and in 1906 the business name of the concern was changed to the Robinson Brothers Bank, which has been for the past several years owned by G. A. Robinson, his brothers having retired from the firm.
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