History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 40

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002

USA > Iowa > Hardin County > History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 40

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J. F. Hardin is a native of Champaign county, Ill., where he was born October 11, 1852. He came to Iowa with his parents when twelve years of age. His

6. & Alberoos born in Pa. 1850

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

parents are residents of Clay township, this county. Mr. Hardin began the study of law in 1877, and practiced at the law school at DesMoines in 1878. The co- partnership of Albrook & Hardin was formed in 1879. Mrs. Hardin was formerly Miss Mary C. Carpenter, native of Illinois. They have two children. Mr. and Mrs. Hardin are graduates of Ames College. The former graduated in 1876, the latter in 1877.

George Ward, of the firm of Eastman & Ward, Eldora, is a native of Iowa county, Wisconsin, where he was born in 1854; but removed to Dane county with his parents when but six years of age. He graduated at the Northwestern Business College in March, 1874. Immediately after graduating he went to DesMoines and purchased a one-half interest in the lowa Business College of that city, his partner being Mr. B. U. Worthington. Here he remained about three years, teaching com- mercial arithmetic, commercial law and double entry book-keeping.

He was engaged in the reading of law at Madison and also at DesMoines; he went to Washington, D. C., in 1877, and entered the National University Law School of that city, where he remained four years, receiving from that institution the degrees of L. M. and L. B. He was admitted to the Bar in 1878, his standing in his exam- ination being 98 in a possible 100.

Mr. Ward has been thoroughly educated in his profession, which, together with his ability and love for the study of the law, promises a brilliant future in his profes- sion. While at Washington he had an extensive experience in practice in the Supreme Court of that city. He is now

associated with Governor Eastman, with whom he formed a co-partnership in Feb- ruary, 1882. His wife was Miss Allena Dimmick, born in the State of New York. They have two daughters, Marion and Ethel.

L. O. Lowden, attorney-at-law, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1833, where he remained until 14 years of age; thence to Wyoming county, New York. His educational advantages were common school with an attendance at Castle Academy in Wyoming county. He remained in Wyoming county five years; he then returned to Pennsylvania, remain- ing two years; thence to Chisago county, Minnesota, in 1854, and engaged in black- smithing, being one of the pioneer settlers of Taylor's Falls, Minn. Remaining here two years he went to Sunrise City, Minne- sota, remaining nearly ten years. While here he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, which office he held eight years. While holding this office he stud- ied law under Judge Setzer, of Sunrise City. He was re-elected to the office of justice of the peace, but did not qualify, owing to his removal from the State. November, 1868, came to Hardin county, Iowa, and engaged in farming and mercan- tile pursuits, also in the practice of law at Pleasant Tp. In spring of 1881 he settled at Hubbard, and formed a partnership with J. F. Cady, forming the law firm of Lowden & Cady, and remained in partnership with Mr. Cady until February 1, 1882, when Mr. Lowden bought the business, and Mr. Cady returned to Union.

Mr. Lowden has been twice nominated to the Legislature by the Greenbackers, but not elected. He was married in 1856

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

to Miss Nancy E. Bogg, a native of Steu- ben county, New York. They have been blessed with ten children, six of whom are now living: May Adelaide, now the wife of John A. Hammet, Frank O., Eveline D., Allie, Belle and Nellie.

Mrs. Lowden was born in Steuben county, New York, October 8, 1836. Her father, William Bregg, was born near Au- burn, N. Y., and received a good, liberal education. When about twenty-one years of age, he married Elenor Elliott, also a native of Auburn, by whom he had three boys and five girls, Mrs. Lowden being the youngest. Her father was one of the prominent men of his county, holding the office of sheriff quite a number of years. Her brother, William L. Marcy Bregg, had the misfortune of being born deaf and dumb, was a graduate of New York Deaf and Dumb Asylum, at New York City, and taught in same institution one year, when he was recommended by Professor Fay, of that asylum, for a professorship in the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in Michigan, which position he held from its foundation until his death, in 1876.

Mrs. Lowden has a good, liberal, com- mon-school education, and also attended Dansville (Steuben county) Academy. After finishing her education, she followed the profession of school teaching three years.

James F. Cady was born at Lamont, Ottawa county, Michigan, July 11, 1855. He is the oldest son of Pearly P. and Olive B. Cady . His father is a native of the State of New York; his mother, a daughter of Jeremiah . Prescott, is a native of the State of Maine.

Mr. Cady came to Iowa in 1856 with his parents, who settled at Hardin, Alamakee county, where they began making for themselves a home and a farm.

Here, at the age of six years, in the graded school of the village, his school life began, and continued till he was ten years of age, when, in 1865, with his parents, he came to Hardin county and located on a farm which they had pur- chased, and. on which they still reside. Here he attended the common schools, and helped his father on the farm till 18 years of age, when he was sent to school at New Providence Academy. In the winter of 1873-4 lie commenced teaching in the com- mon schools of the county, taught seven terms, working on his father's farm, or canvassing for the Hawkeye Insurance Company between terms of school. Hav- ing chosen the law for his profession and the practice thereof for his business in life, he entered the law office of F. W. Pillsbury at Union, Ia., April 19, 1879, and studied diligently for two years, in the meantime assisting Mr. Pillsbury in the business of the office; and on the 16th day of Marclı, after a rigid examination, was admitted to the Bar in the March term of the Circuit Court, the Hon. D. D. Miracle, judge, administering the oath. In April following he formed a copartner- ship with L. O. Lowden, and commenced the practice of law at Hubbard under the firm name of "Lowden & Cady."

After nearly a year of successful prac- tice at Hubbard, Mr. Cady sold his interest in the firm to Mr. Lowden, severed his connection as partner, purchased the busi- ness of Mr. Pillsbury, and opened an office of his own in the thriving town of Union,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

where he is now, by studious habits and industrious efforts, honest and energetic dealing, building for himself a business both pleasurable and profitable.

Mr. Cady takes an active part in politics, and is a Republican from principle. He is a worthy member of society, and looks to the future with bright hopes and pros- pects.

George L. Griggs located in Iowa Falls in 1866, and remained there till 1872. For a time he was associated with I. M.Weaver in the practice of his profession.

T. H. Milner came to Iowa Falls in November, 1878, and remained here till July, 1882. He was from Jackson county.

CHAPTER VII.

EDUCATIONAL.

The educational history of Hardin county is one of interest, and the zeal displayed by many in the interests of good schools is indeed commendable. The common schools of our country are now regarded by many as essential to the safety of the Republic. The first settlers of the Territory showed in their works their faith in the public schools. Governor Robert Lucas, in his message to the first legislative assem- bly of Iowa Territory, which convened at Burlington, November 12, 1838, says, in reference to schools:

"The 12th section of the act of Con- gress establishing our Territory, declares, 'that the citizens of Iowa shall enjoy all the rights, privileges and immunities here- tofore granted and secured to the Territory of Wisconsin and its inhabitants.' This extends to us all the rights, privileges and

immunities specified in the ordinance of Congress of the 13th of July, 1787.

"The 3d article of this ordinance declares, 'that religion, morality and knowledge be- ing necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and all the means of education shall be forever en- couraged.'

"Congress, to carry out this declaration, has granted one section of land in each township to the inhabitants of such town- ship for the purposes of schools therein.

"There is no subject to which I wish to call your attention more emphatically than the subject of establishing, at the com- mencement of our political existence, a well digested system of common schools."

This assembly addressed itself early to the task of providing for a system of com- mon schools, and enacted a law providing

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

for the formation of districts, the estab- lishing of schools, and authorized the voters of each district, when lawfully assembled, to levy and collect the neces- sary taxes, "either in cash or good, mer- chantable property, at cash price, upon the inhabitants of their respective districts, not exceeding one-half per centum, nor amounting to more than $10 on any one person, to do all and everything necessary to the establishment and support of schools within the same."

The second legislative assembly enacted, January 16, 1840, a much more comprehen- sive law to establish a system of common schools-a law containing many excellent features. Its provisions were, however, in advance of the existing public sentiment, on the subject of education, making ample provision as it did for free public schools. Even the people of Iowa were scarcely ready for such a law.

In the U. S. census of 1840, very few schools, either private or public, were re- ported. One academy in Scott county with 25 scholars, and in the State, 63 primary and common schools with 1,500 scholars, being the whole number reported.

The first section of the act of 1839 for the establishment of common schools pro- vided, that "there shall be established a common school, or schools, in each of the counties of this Territory, which shall be open and free for every class of white citizens between the ages of five and twen- ty-one years;" the second section provid- ing that "the county board shall, from time to time, form such districts in their respective counties, whenever a petition may be presented for that purpose by a majority of the voters resident within such

contemplated district." These districts were governed by a board of three trus- tees, whose duties were to examine and employ teachers, superintend the schools, and collect and disburse the taxes voted by the electors for school purposes.

Among the earlier enactments of the Territorial Legislature were those requir- ing that each district maintain at least three months' school every year, and that the expenses for the same be raised by taxes levied upon the property of said dis- trict. Among the later enactments was that providing for a county school tax to be levied to pay teachers, and that what- ever additional sum might be required for this purpose should be assessed upon the parents sending, in proportion to the length of time sent. The rate-bill system was thus adopted near the close of the terri- torial period.

When Iowa was admitted into the Union as a State, December 28, 1846, with a population of 100,000, and a reported school population of 20,000, about 400 districts had been organized. From this time the number of districts rapidly in- creased, reaching 1,000 in 1879, and 1,200 in 1850. In 1857 the number of organized school districts had increased to 3,265. The Hon. Maturin L. Fisher, who then so ably filled the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, in his report, dated November, 1857, urged the revision of the school law and of the reduction in the number of school districts.

The Seventh General Assembly again took up the subject of the revision of the school laws, and on the 12th day of March, 1858, passed "An act for the Public In- struction of the State of Iowa," the first

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

section of which provided that "Each civil township in the several counties of this State is hereby declared a school dis- trict for all the purposes of this act, the boundaries of said township being the boundaries of said school district, and every township hereafter laid out and organized, a school district; and each dis- trict, as at present organized, shall become a sub-district for the purpose hereinafter provided: Provided, that each incorpo- rated city or town, including the territory annexed thereto for school purposes, and which contains not less than 1,000 inhabit- ants, shall be and is hereby created a school district." This law took effect March 20, 1858, and reduced the number of districts from about 3,500 to less than 900.

In December, 1858, a law was enacted providing that any city or incorporated town, including the territory annexed thereto for school purposes, may constitute a school district, by vote of the majority of electors residing upon the territory of such contemplated district. In 1860 the provisions of this act were extended to unincorporated towns and villages con- taining not less than 300 inhabitants.

By an act passed April 3, 1866, this privilege was further extended to any city or sub-district containing not less than 200 inhabitants, and certain territory contigu- ous thereto. It soon became evident that by this amendment a serious innova- tion would be made in the district town- ship system, by the formation of indepen- dent districts in the more thickly settled and wealthier portions of the town- ships.

The amendment was repealed

early in the session of the following General Assembly.

Hon. D. F. Wells, in his report dated December, 1867, says that "the advantages of the district township system are so numerous and apparent that prominent educators in other States where it is not yet introduced are laboring earnestly for its adoption."

. Hon. A. S. Kissell labored assiduously to secure such a change as would remove the sub-district feature of our system, which had proved a fruitful source of dis- cord and dissatisfaction, and was every year making the system more unpopular as it became more difficult of administra- tion. " He desired to abobish the sub-dis- trict meeting and the office of sub-director, and make each township a single school district, to be governed by a board of directors elected at the annual district township meeting for the term of three years. In his report dated January 1, 1872, he says:

"In this system every township becomes a school district, and all sub-district boun- daries are abandoned; and if this plan were carried into effect in this State, it would allow no other school divisions than those of the independent and township districts.

"The most experienced educators of the country have advocated this system. Among these are such men as Horace Mann, U. S. Commissioner Barnard, ex- Governor Boutwell, Dr. Newton Bateman, of Illinois, Dr. Gregory, late Superinten- dent, of Michigan, and the County and State Superintendents of one-third of the States of the Union. The arguments advanced by many of these experienced

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

school men are unanswerable. Massachu- setts and Pennsylvania have tested the system practically for several years; it is pronounced by these States a success; and this successful experiment of three or four years should have greater weight with ns in this young and growing commonwealth than any theoretical arguments that could be advanced."

Notwithstanding the efforts and array of argument, and the conviction on the part of those who had made a special study of this subject, the General Assembly which convened January 8, 1872, enacted a law providing for the formation of inde- pendent districts, from the sub-districts of a district township. This law has ever been a plague to county superintendents, and several efforts have been made to effect its repeal, but without avail.

Every Governor that Iowa has had has given his warmest approval of the common school system. Governor James W. Grimes in his inaugural message December 9, 1854, displays broad statesmanship, advanced and liberal views and eminently sound philosophy in the following language:

"Government is established for the pro- tection of the governed. But that protec- tion does not consist merely in the enforce- ment of laws against injury to the person and property. Men do not make a voluntary abnegation of their natural rights, simply that those rights may be protected by the body politic. It reaches more vital inter- ests than those of property, Its greatest object is to elevate and ennoble the citizen. It would fall far short of its design if it did not disseminate intelligence, and build up the moral energies of the people. It is organized to establish justice, promote the

public welfare and secure the blessings of liberty. It is designed to foster the in- stincts of truth, justice and philanthrophy, that are implanted in our very natures, and from which all constitutions and laws de- rive their validity and value. It should afford moral as well as physical protection by educating the rising generation; by en- couraging industry and sobriety; by stead- fastly adhering to the right; and by being ever true to the instincts of freedom and humanity.

"To accomplish these high aims of gov- ernment, the first requisite is ample pro- vision for the education of the youth of the State. The common school fund of the State should be scrupulously preserved, and a more efficient system of common schools than we now have should be adopted. The State should see to it that the elements of education, like the ele- ments of universal nature, are above, around, and beneath all.

"It is agreed that the safety and perpetu- ity of our republican institutions depend upon the diffusion of intelligence among the masses of the people. The statistics of the penitentiaries and alms-houses throughout the country, abundantly show that education is the best preventative of pauperism and crime. They show, also, that the prevention of those evils is much less expensive than the punishment of the one, and the relief of the other. Educa- tion, too, is the great equalizer of human conditions. It places the poor on an equal- ity with the rich. It subjects the appe- tites and passions of the rich to the re- straints of reason and conscience, and thus prepares each for a career of usefulness and honor. Every consideration, there-

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

fore, of duty and policy, impels us to sustain the common schools of the State in the highest possible efficiency."

Hardin county was organized in 1853, and in the fall of that year the first public school was commenced in a log building erected for that purpose, on section 21, Eldora township. Previous to this time the settlements in the county were so scat- tered that a sufficient number could not be gathered together for school purposes. T. Y. McClure was the first teacher. Be- fore the expiration of the term Mr. Mc- Clure resigned, and Samuel Smith was appointed to fill the vacancy. From that time on the schools rapidly increased. District after district was organized by the School Fund Commisssoner, until, with respect to population, Hardin county was equal to any in the State in educational advantages.

In 1858 a law was enacted by the Leg- islature abolishing the office of School Fund Commissioner, and creating that of County Superintendent of Public Schools. Edward fuller was the first elected to the latter office.

Edwin Fuller was a native of Ohio. He came to this county among the earliest. Mr. Fuller served but one year, and was succeeded, in 1859, by J. M. Comstock, who served two years. R. F. Ripley fol- lowed Mr. Comstock, and served four years. Elias Jessup, of New Providence, was the next incumbent, being elected in the fall of 1805. J. M. Boyd, then a res- ident of Eldora township, was Mr. Jes- sup's successor, and was in turn succeeded by E. P. Stubbs, in 1869; Frank A. Moore came next in 1871, with L. S. McCoy in 1875 and Howard G. Fuller in 1881.

The statistics are wanting in the office of the county superintendent prior to the year 1871, so that comparisons in growth during the first decade and a half of the county's history cannot be given. During that time the old log school houses were slowly giving way to the better edifices more adapted to the wants of the com- munity .

In 1871, from the report of the County Superintendent, Frank A. Moore, it is found there were 82 sub-districts in the county, and 92 schools. There were 55 male and 104 female teachers employed. The number between the ages of five and twenty years were 5,389, with an enroll- ment of 3,688. The average compensa- tion paid teachers were, males $45.36 per month, females $34.88. There were 7 brick, 5 stone and 75 frame school houses, every log school house having disappeared. The total value of the school houses were estimated at $92,920.

In his report to the State Superintend- ent of Public Schools, Mr. Moore says: "I am pleased to report improvement in onr common schools. The public is now demanding better qualified teachers, and making a distinction between those of first and second grade. To meet this demand teachers are seeking every available means to qualify themselves for their work. Our Normal Institute, held at Iowa Falls for two terms, has furnished to the schools of the county a corps of live teachers, and the very name of Prof. Jerome Allen, the conductor, is respected by teachers, school officers, patrons and pupils, for the reform- ation in our schools. The school room is now no longer a prison in Hardin county. The academy at New Providence, a

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

fine moral and religious school maintained by the Friends, is another source of great benefit to the teachers of this and adjoin- ing counties, and, I am proud to say, is ably managed and largely attended."

Frank A. Moore made his final report to the State Superintendent in the fall of 1875. A gratifying increase was shown in the educational work in the county. At this time there were eleven district town- ships, forty independent districts and seventy-two sub-districts. Fifty-nine male and one hundred and fifty-four female teachers were employed, at an average monthly compensation of $33.98, and $29.38, respectively . The decrease in salary is due, not to the fact less inter- est was being taken in securing good teachers, but to the hard times which pre- vailed. There were now 6,040 children of school age, of whom 4,481 were enrolled in the public schools, with an average attend- ance of 3,051. A decrease in the number of brick and stone school houses was re- ported, but a very gratifying increase in te number of frame. There were three stone, five brick and one hundred and four frame houses reported, the value of which was given at $85,000.

From L. S. McCoy's report in 1877, it is learned that the number of township dis- tricts had been decreased, while the number of independent districts had increased largely. There were 9 township, 67 inde- pendent and 62 sub-districts, with 118 ungraded and 7 graded schools. During the year, 88 male and 170 female teachers had been employed, the former receiving an average monthly compensation of $35.46, the latter of $28.49. An increase was reported in compensation to males,

but a slight decrease in that paid female teachers. The number between five and twenty-one was increased, now numbering 6,831, of which number 5,169 were en- rolled in the schools, aud showing an aver- age attendance of 2,865. There were now 115 frame, 6 brick and 3 stone school houses, the value of which was reported at $100,468.

Superintendent McCoy, in his final re- port in 1881, reported 9 township districts, 59 independent and 62 sub-districts. Dur- ing the year there were 76 male and 180 female teachers employed, the former receiving an average of $35.20, and the latter $28.65 per month. The number of school 'age was reported 6,954, of whom 4,821 were enrolled in the schools, with an average attendance of 2,915. An increase in the number of school houses was re- ported, there being now 120 frame, 7 brick and 3 stone.

Mr. McCoy, in his report, made the fol- lowing observations on the schools of the county :

"From observation of the schools of this county, continued through some six years, I am satisfied that the desirable results reached by teachers in school work fall short of what may be attained. What applies to Hardin county will probably apply to the average counties of the State. "Very much of this inefficiency arises from the number of young teachers con- stantly entering, or trying to enter, the work by competition, discouraging or driving out the better class, thus lowering the wages. There is entirely too much crude practice required to fit these imma- ture aspirants for instructors, and by the time they are somewhat fitted, the mass of

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History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 40

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1002

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002