USA > Iowa > Cerro Gordo County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 72
USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 72
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By Timothy H. Parker
I left Wabash township, Jay Co., Ind., Sept., 10, 1855, with two teams, to come to Iowa. We were five weeks getting ten miles west of Dubuque. It got very cold and as I had no claim picked out in Cerro Gordo county, the place toward which I was making, I concluded to leave my fam- ily and go ahead alone to find a location. So I rented a house, got my family com- fortably domiciled and came to Mason City, purchasing the farm on which I now live. I then returned to my family, and in the following April started to my land in Cerro Gordo county. When I got to the Shell Rock river, the ice was running and we couldn't cross with the wagons, so I got Enoch Wiltfong to help swim the horses over and take the family, beds, stoves, etc., across, giving him one dollar
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
for his trouble. After paying Wiltfong I had thirty cents left to begin the sum- mer. The next winter I went to Cedar Rapids and hauled a load of mill irons for George Brentner, receiving for the job seventy dollars, with which I bought stuff that was called flour, at five dollars per hundred. We had bad luck with the first two crops of corn we planted, as the early frosts killed both, and we had almost nothing to feed our cattle. We had six cows, however, that we had brought with us, and these helped us weather the storm all right. One day, in 1856, we were vis- ited by an Indian squaw, who wanted to
trade us her papoose for a bushel of pota- toes, because the little thing was sick, and she didn't want to take care of it; but we didn't care about dealing in that kind of goods, and so didn't make a trade. When we first came to Cerro Gordo we didn't have very good religious privileges, and it was very seldom that we got the benefit of hearing a good sermon. I remember the first Sabbath I spent in this county. I went to Mason City, to see if there was any meeting; all I found was a Sunday school, and there was but little satisfac- tion in that, as there wasn't a man to open the school by prayer.
CHAPTER XII.
EDUCATIONAL.
In this respect, the facilities in Cerro Gordo county are fully up to the average of Iowa's counties. The present mode of government of the public schools differs much from early days, and is a great im- provement, for as it is with all innovations, the law in this respect has run the gaunt- let, and finally arrived at what must be considered as filling abont all the require- ments. There are, however, some weak points which prove in many cases very in- convenient if not exasperating. The law provides for the organization of what is termed district townships, which are di- vided by the local boards into sub-districts. The district township, as the name im- plies, is a township organized for educa- tional purposes. All of the sub-districts
are a part of the whole, and the finances and all business matters of one and all are managed by the board of directors made up of one from each sub-district. Thus one district cannot make up their minds to vote a tax and build a school house, which may be sadly needed, unless the whole township agrees that the tax can be lev- ied; a school teacher cannot be engaged by the sub-district where she is to teach, but the whole township has a voice in it. The board of directors fix a price to be paid to all teachers in the township, and thus one teacher with a hard school to teach, and fifty pupils, must often receive the same compensation as does the teacher with an easily taught school and but five pupils. To partially rectify this opening
HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY. 681
for injustice, the law provides for the or- ganization of the sub-districts into inde- pendent districts, or in other words, when a certain population is attained, it gives them power to choose their own board of directors and officers, in whom is vested all the powers held by the officers of the district township. It also provides for the erection of school houses by the inde- pendent districts, but modifies this by the declaration that there must be fifteen scholars of school age in the district be- fore this can be done. Under the above law, a district of this kind, unless it las fifteen scholars, cannot build even should there be enough money in the treasury to defray all expenses. They can, however, order school in such other places as can be furnished.
SCHOOL FUND COMMISSIONER.
When Cerro Gordo county was organ- ized in 1855, the office of county superin- tendent of schools had not yet been cre- ated. Educational matters were managed in a primitive manner. They were to a very limited extent vested in what was termed the school fund commissioner. This officer, as the name implies, had charge of the school funds, the same as has the board of supervisors of to-day. It was an important office. He had authority to loan the school fund to pri- vate parties, on suitable security, and many of the mortgages in an early day were made to the school fund commission- er in consideration of the school funds. He had no control of the schools at all. Public examinations were unknown. The school trustees or directors of the various districts saw that their schools were tanght and managed in an efficient manner, and
always appointed a committee to examine and learn the qualifications of a teacher whom they contemplated employing.
David Wright was the first school fund commissioner of Cerro Gordo county. Ile was elected on the organization of the county in August, 1855, and served until his successor was elected in April, 1856. David Wright settled on Lime creek, three or four miles north of Mason City, in 1852. He brought his family with him and engaged in farming, also spending a good share of his time hunting. In one of his hunting trips he killed a large buf- falo just west of where the fair grounds are now located. About 1857 he sold his farm and removed to Worth county, where he died a few years ago. Wright was a man of a good deal of natural ability, and had a way with him that was calculated to make friends. His education was some- what limited.
Thomas Drummond succeeded David Wright as school fund commissioner. He was elected in April, 1856, and served for one year. Drummond was the first law- yer that located in Cerro Gordo county, and was a smart fellow.
In April, 1857, Amos B. Miller was elected school fund commissioner and was the last to fill the office for Cerro Gordo county. Shortly after the expira- tion of Mr. Miller's term of office he was elected register of the State Land Office. Before the expiration of Mr. Miller's term, the office of school commissioner was abolished by law. The duties devolved upon the county judge unti the creation of the board of supervisors, when that body took charge of the school funds, with the exception of those devoted to holding
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
normal institutes, which matter is treated at length in its proper place. When the office of commissioner was dispensed with that of
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS was created. The duties and work of the office were then the same as at the present day, visiting. schools, holding examina- tions, and looking after the interests of educational matters in general.
John M. Hunt was the first county superintendent of schools of Cerro Gordo county. He was elected in April, 1858, and served for a few months. Hunt was an early settler and the first county judge of Floyd county. He afterwards moved into Cerro Gordo county and became the first county superintendent. He was a married man and brought his family with hin, settling in Falls township. He re- mained here for a number of years and finally removed to Missouri. He is now in Oregon. He was a thoroughly edu- cated man, refined in manners and genial and pleasant in disposition.
Mr. Hunt resigned after serving for a fesv months and Dr. W. M. Skinner, of Clear Lake, was appointed to fill the vacancy.
In the fall of 1858 Rev. Thomas Ten- ney was elected superintendent of schools and served until Jan. 1, 1860.
Rev. Thomas Tenney was born in Brad- ford, Mass., (now Groveland), in 1798. His parents soon after removed to Chester, N. H., where he was reared on a farm. When eighteen years of age he became interested in spiritual matters. His mother, a true daughter of the Puritans, and one of the most prayerful women of that age, earnest in her teachings and consistent in
her example, led him by her influence to commence his career as a Christian, with the resolution to devote his life to the glory of God. This became the watch- word and aim of his life. He now began to feel the need of an education, which would the better fit him for his chosen life work. Through many hardships and much self denial he obtained an education, graduating at Dartmouth College as vale- dictorian of his class, as well as taking two other college honors. There were several members of his class who were afterward quite distinguished. He after- ward assisted a younger brother through the same school and was always very con- siderate in helping, not only his kindred, but other young men of promise who were seeking an education. He was married in 1827 to Martha T. Parker, of Dunbar- ton, N. H. After completing his theolog- ical studies he was principal of an acad- emy in Hampton, N. H., during 1827-8, and the following year he presided over a school of high order in Portland, Maine, after which he settled in Standish, where he served as pastor for six years. The Unitarian question was at that time disturbing the churches of the northeast, and though a remnant in Rev: Tenney's church clung to their beloved pastor and the religion of their parents, yet the agita- tion led to his leaving Standish and ac- cepting a position as teacher in Gorham Academy, Maine, in which a female de- partment had just been organized. IIe remained here four years as a teacher. At the close of this period, 1839-40, he ac- cepted an invitation to become principal of a prominent school in Austinburg, Ohio, where one of his pupils was John Brown,
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Jr., a son of Ossawattamie Brown. Austin- burg was an important town on the under- ground railroad, and many of the colored people escaping from slavery were assist- ed by the citizens and students. Mr. Tenney's views on slavery were in advance of those generally held in the northeast, and though never adopting the extreme views held by the Garrison school, yet he keenly felt the shame of the north in be- ing linked with slavery, and was fearless in speech and efforts for the abolition of human bondage. He remained principal of Grand River Institute in Austinburg for seven years, training up a corps of young men and women as teachers and workers for Go 1. But the desire to preach the gospel became as a pent up fire within him, and about the year 1847 he went to Wisconsin, preaching in Beloit, Waukesha and other places, and then settled in Somers, Wis. Here, amid a fluctuating population, he was very successful. Feel- ing that his talents and energies would be of use in nursing the then feeble churches of Iowa, he with his wife and two chil- dren, Henry M. and Emma Maria, fol- lowed his son, Charles W., to Cerro Gordo county, where he was the pioneer in found- ing the Congregational churches in this s etion, and assisted materially in the building of several church edifices, a' Mitchell, Mason City, Roek Falls and other places. The Congregational Asso- ciation for this district was in session when the news of Rev. Tenney's death reached them, and nearly the entire Asso- ciation attended his funeral. His wife and companion in all his labors, Martha . T. (Parker) Tenney, only survived him about two years. She was born in Brad-
ford, Mass., Jan. 23, 1804, and after- wards graduated at Bradford Academy, near Boston, where she was engaged sev- eral years as a teacher. She was a true helper in all his toils. They had eight children; three of them were buried in Maine, and the youngest, Emma Maria, died at Plymouth, Iowa, Oct. 9, 1863, be- ing a young lady of remarkable intellect and lovely disposition. Of the four sur- viving children, the eldest, Mary Eliza, has never resided here. She was educated at Austinburg and Mt. Holyoke. She was an anti-slavery writer under the nom de plume of Mary Irving, and was a teacher in Shibideaux Female Seminary, near New Orleans, at the breaking out of the rebel- lion. She then went as a missionary to Asia Minor, and was afterwards married to Cyrus Hamlin, D. D., of Constantino- ple, who is now president of Middlebury College, Vermont Henry M. came to Iowa with his father, and now resides in Falls township. He was educated at Oberlin College, Ohio. He enlisted in company B, 32d Iowa Volunteer Infantry, was promoted to first lieutenant in a col- ored regiment, but having lost his health, he resigned about the close of the war, and returned to his farm. He married Louisa La Due, by whom he has six chil- dren.
Charles W. Tenney was the first of the family to come to Falls township, Cerro Gordo county, where he still resides. He was born Feb. 16, 1834. In pioneer days he often visited northern Iowa, south western Minnesota and Dakota, hunting and trapping. He was the first treasurer and recorder of Cerro Gordo county and has also been county surveyor He was
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
also a member of the board of supervisors and was elected to the lower house of the State Legislature, the district at that time comprising the counties of Cerro Gordo, Worth, Winnebago and Kossuth. He has been twice a trustee of the Iowa State Agricultural College, served in all about seven years, but resigned in 1882 because of ill health, being succeeded by Governor Kirkwood. He has been married twice. His first wife was Mary A. La Due, to whom he was married Sept. 12, 1857, by whom he had eight children-Thomas L. D., Edward H., Mary E., (deceased when two years of age), Charles I., Nina A., Mattie P., Hattie I. and Georgie H., (died in infancy). May 5, 1875, he married Anna E. Hays, of Cincinnatus, N. Y. They have had three children-Johnnie H., (deceased), Dewitt C. and Albert W. Charles W. Tenney's home is Beaver Grove, his stock farm adjoining the village of Plymouth, which he helped to found. His east and home farms contain about 700 acres of prairie and timber land, well watered by Beaver Dam creek and Rocky Branch. He is greatly interested in agri- cultural pursuits, and was a member of the first class in the first agricultural college in the United States. His failing health prevents his being actively engaged in any occupation at the present time.
In October, 1859, John M. Brainard was elected county superintendent and served for two years. Brainard came to Cerro Gordo county as a teacher, but after the expiration of his term of office as superintendent, engaged at publishing a paper in Clear Lake. He continued this for about one year when he went into trade. Subsequently he removed to
Nevada, Story county, where he published a paper, and later went to Boone county where he still lives, following the same business. Brainard was an intelligent, energetic and well educated fellow, and made many friends.
In 1861 A. B. Tuttle was elected super- intendent of schools and served two years. He is still a resident of Mason City.
George P. Griffith succeeded Mr. Tut- tle, being elected in the fall of 1863. He was a teacher who had come from Iowa Falls.
Jarvis S. Church was elected county superintendent in 1865, and served one term.
Nathan Bass succeeded him by election in October, 1867. Bass came to Mason City in 1860 or 1861, from Blue Earth City, Minn. He was a teacher and a lawyer, although he devoted but little time to the latter profession. He also spent some time at farming. At one time the schools of Mason City were taught by himself and wife. A number of years ago he left the county and went to some point south of here.
In October, 1869, A. S. Allen was elected to the office of county superintend- ent, and served for two years.
E. C. Moulton was elected superintend- ent in 1871, but did not serve out his full term. Mr. Moulton came to Mason City as a teacher. He now resides at New Hampton, Iowa.
Upon the resignation of Mr. Moulton, Mrs. J. B. Dakin was appointed to fill the vacancy. In 1873 she was elected to the office.
In the fall of 1875 Ira C. Kling was elected superintendent. In 1877 he was
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
appointed deputy State Superintendent and resigned the county office.
In 1877 M. H Kling was elected to fill the vacancy and for the full term.
In 1879 L. S. Klinefelter was elected to succeed Mr. Kling, and in 1881 was re- elected as school superintendent of Cerro Gordo county. He is the son of Adam and Margaret (Dillman) Klinefelter, na- tives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Ohio after their marriage, and were the parents of six sons and four daughters. Levi was born in Summit Co., Ohio, Nov. 13, 1848. His father was an Evan- gelical preacher who traveled extensively through the wilds of that State organizing churches. Levi was educated at Union and Northwestern College in Du Page Co., Ill. He came to this county in 1873, and in 1879 was elected to his present office, which he has filled with credit to himself and constituents for two terms. He was married Oct. 1, 1879, to Carrie E., daugh- ter of Dwight Brown, a native of Vermont.
THE DEVELOPMENT.
The progress of the county is nowhere better illustrated, than in the progress of educational matters. In the early days good schools were like "angel visits, few and far between," and it was considered very fortunate, indeed, if an opportunity was offered for obtaining even the rudi- ments of a common school education. A person competent and willing to teach the three branches commonly and sarcasti- cally spoken of as "readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic," was often hard to find. Some of the few scattered settlements could not afford to employ a teacher, and were therefore compelled to do without or send their children across the prairie to some
more fortunate settlement where a school was in operation. Many instances are brought to the notice of the historian, where children were sent a distance of four and six miles, walking the entire distance, morning and evening of each day, in order that they might avail them- selves of the opportunity of acquiring a little knowledge, and fit themselves for the duties of life. How different now! In every township there are from seven to nine schools in successful operation; com- petent teachers are employed, many of whom have spent years in fitting them- selves for their vocation, and who make teaching a profession by preparing them- selves as thoroughly for the work as the lawyer, doctor or divine. According to law, the sixteenth section of every town- ship was to be used for school purposes, but there being little or no sale for land, the government price being only $1.25 per acre, the income amounted to but little. Subscription schools, therefore, had often to be depended upon. In those days, as a rule, a log house or board shanty. probably 10x12 feet, was probably erected, on some settlers land, or else upon donated land. The furniture usu- ally consisted of slab seats for the scholars, a chair or three-legged stool, and a hickory rod for the teacher. As for books, but few were needed, the less the better, as the teacher could get along more readily. Altogether, in the light of to-day, the schools of twenty and twenty-five years ago were very limited and dreary affairs.
Every decade that has passed since the organization of the county has shown a marked elevation in its standing as to educational matters. The following
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
statistics have been collected to illustrate this faet.
In 1870 the total amount of the interest on the State permanent school fund ap- portioned to Cerro Gordo county was $1,565,37; the number of sub-districts in the county was forty-four; number of persons in the county between the ages of five and twenty-one years, 1,661; enrollment 1,418; average attendance at schools, 777; number of schools in the forty-four dis- tricts, fifty, of which only one was graded. There were seventy-seven teachers em- ployed, eighteen males and fifty-nine females; the average compensation for males was $8.88 per week, and females $6.67. The average cost of tuition for each scholar was forty-five cents. There were forty-six school houses in the county, sixteen stone and thirty frame. The value of the school houses was $28,495; value. of apparatus $1,018. There were 425 volumes in the district libraries. The total amount paid teachers during the year was $10,892.50. The county superintend- ent examined ninety-nine applicants for certificates,and granted ninety-two;twenty to males and seventy-two to females. Of these, four were premium certificates; twenty-two were first grade; eight were second grade for one year, and fifty-seven were second grade for less than one year. The average age of applicants was twenty- one years. The county superintendent, A. S. Allen, visited forty-seven of the schools during this year, and held two educational meetings.
Ten years later, in 1880, there were in Cerro Gordo county fourteen district townships, four independent townships and ninety-nine sub-districts. Of these
106 were ungraded; there were twenty- one rooms in graded schools. There were 221 teachers employed; seventy-one males and 150 females. The average monthly compensation of males was $28.90, females $26.01. There were 3,895 persons in the county between the ages of five and twenty one years; there were 2,980 pupils enrolled in the public schools; average at- tendance 1,767. The average cost of tu- ition per month for each pupil was $2.22. There were 110 school houses in the coun- ty, valued at $62,185; ninety-nine of them were frame, eleven stone. The apparatus was valued at $1,857. There were thirty- four volumes in school libraries. The to- tal amount paid teachers during the year was $29,114.06. The county superintend- ent examined 296 applicants for certifi- cates and granted 246, of which seventy were first grade; ninety were second grade and eighty-six third grade. The average age of applicants was twenty-one; sixty- eight of them had had experience at teaching. The county superintendent had visited 108 schools and held twenty-four educational meetings.
TEACHERS' NORMAL INSTITUTE.
On the 19th of March, 1874, an act was passed by the General Assembly, estab- lishing normal institutes in all the coun- ties throughout the State. By this act, the superintendents were required to com- mence and each year hold an institute, at some convenient point in each county, for the drill of those who were, or who in- tended to be, teachers. The object of this was, to furnish teachers an opportunity to review and enlarge their knowledge of the branches to be taught, and acquaint themselves with improved methods of
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
teaching. For the purpose of defraying the expenses incident to such gatherings, the Institute Fund was created, to which the State annually pays $50, and the bal- ance is made up by the $1 examination fees paid the county superintendent, and the fee of $1 charged to each attendant of the institute. The board of supervisors were authorized to appropriate additional sums, as they deemed necessary, for the further support of the institute. This fund is under the exclusive control of the county superintendents.
The first normal institute of Cerro Gordo county was held at Mason City, beginning Sept. 21, 1874, and continuing four weeks. There were sixty-six teach-
ers in attendance, fifteen gentlemen and fifty-one ladies. J. C. Gilchrist was con- ductor, and had for his assistants, Mrs. J. C. Gilchrist, Mrs. J. B. Dakin and Mrs. Ira C. Kling. The lecturers were W. E. Crosby, John Avery and J. C. Gilchrist.
Since that time, an institute has been held each year, growing in value and in- terest each year. They have all been very successful and their effect has been plainly visible in elevating the character of the schools.
The last institu e was held at Mason City in August, 1883. There was a large attendance and the interest manifested was unprecedented.
CHAPTER XIII.
AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
The county of Cerro Gordo lies in the second tier of counties from the northern line of the State. This is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the northwest, and Cerro Gordo county, through the agency of great natural advantages, as fertility of soil and an abundance of water, and a thrifty and in- telligent class of people, has assumed a high rank among the agricultural counties of Iowa. Lines of railway have brought excellent marketing facilities to the very doors of the producers, and agricultural pursuits are to-day pursued with pleasure and profit, where a few years ago the far-
mer met with hardships, uncertainty and privation.
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