USA > Iowa > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882 > Part 10
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69
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
At the annual meeting, June 28, 1860, a full Faculty was appointed, and the University re-opened, under this new organization, September 19, 1860 (third Wednesday); and at this date the actual existence of the University may be said to commence.
August 19, 1862, Dr. Totten having resigned, Prof. Oliver M. Spencer was elected President and the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon Judge Samuel F. Miller, of Keokuk.
At the commencement, in June, 1863, was the first class of graduates in the Collegiate Department.
The Board of Education was abolished March 19, 1864, and the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction was restored ; the General Assembly resumed control of the subject of education, and on March 21, an act was ap- proved for the government of the University. It was substantially the same as the former law, but provided that the Governor should be ex officio President of the Board of Trustees. Until 1858, the Superintendent of Public Instruction had been ex officio President. . During the period of the Board of Education, the University Trustees were elected by it, and elected their own President.
President Spencer was granted leave of absence from April 10, 1866, for fifteen months, to visit Europe; and Prof. Nathan R. Leonard was elected President pro tem.
The North Hall was completed late in 1866.
At the annual meeting in June, 1867, the resignation of President Spencer (absent in Europe) was accepted, and Prof. Leonard continued as President pro tem., until March 4, 1868, when James Black, D. D., Vice President of Wash- ington and Jefferson College, Penn., was elected President. Dr. Black entered upon his duties in September, 1868.
The Law Department was established in June, 1868, and, in September fol- lowing, an arrangement was perfected with the Iowa Law School, at Des Moines, which had been in successful operation for three years, under the management of Messrs. George G. Wright, Chester C. Cole and William G. Hammond, by which that institution was transferred to Iowa City and merged in the Law De- partment of the University. The Faculty of this department consisted of the President of the University, Hon. Wm. G. Hammond, Resident Professor and Principal of the Department, and Professors G. G. Wright and C. C. Cole.
Nine students entered at the commencement of the first term, and during the year ending June, 1877, there were 103 students in this department.
At a special meeting of the Board, on the 17th of September, 1868, a Com- mittee was appointed to consider the expediency of establishing a Medical De- partment. This Committee reported at once in favor of the proposition, the Faculty to consist of the President of the University and seven Professors, and recommended that, if practicable, the new department should be opened at the commencement of the University year, in 1869-70. At this meeting, Hon. Ezekiel Clark was elected Treasurer of the University.
By an act of the General Assembly, approved April 11, 1870, the "Board of Regents " was instituted as the governing power of the University, and since that time it has been the fundamental law of the institution. The Board of Regents held its first meeting June 28, 1870. Wm. J. Haddock was elected Secretary, and Mr. Clark, Treasurer.
Dr. Black tendered his resignation as President, at a special meeting of the Board, held August 18, 1870, to take effect on the 1st of December following. His resignation was accepted.
1
70
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
The South Hall havng been fitted up forthe purpose, the first term was Medical Department was opened October 24, 1870, and continued until March, 1871, at which time there were three graduates and thirty-nine students.
March 1, 1871, Rev. George Thacher was elected President of the Univer- 'sity. Mr. Thacher accepted, entered upon his duties April 1st, and was form- ally inaugurated at the annual meeting in June, 1861.
In June, 1874, the " Chair of Military Instruction " was established, and the President of the United States was requested to detail an officer to perform its duties. In compliance with this request, Lieut. A. D. Schenck, Second Artil- lery, U. S. A., was detailed as "Professor of Military Science and Tactics," at Iowa State University, by order of the War Department, August 26, 1874, . who reported for duty on the 10th of September following. Lieut. Schenck was relieved by Lieut. James Chester, Third Artillery, January 1, 1877.
Treasurer Clark resigned November 3, 1875, and John N. Coldren elected in his stead.
At the annual meeting, in 1876, a Department of Homoeopathy was established.
In March, 1877, a resolution was adopted affiliating the High Schools of the State with the University.
In June, 1877, Dr. Thacher's connection with the University was termi- nated, and C. W. Slagle, a member of the Board of Regents, was elected Pres- ident.
In 1872, the ex officio membership of the Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion was abolished ; but it was restored in 1876. Following is a catalogue of the officers of this important institution, from 1847 to 1878 :
TRUSTEES OR REGENTS.
PRESIDENTS.
FROM
TO
James Harlan, Superintendent Public Instruction, ex officio.
1847
1848
Thomas H. Benton, Jr,, Superintendent Public Instruction, ex officio ..
1848
1854
James D. Eads, Superintendent Public Instruction, ex officio ..
1854
1857
Maturin L. Fisher, Superintendent Public Instruction, ex officio
1857
1858
Amos Dean, Chancellor, ex officio.
1858
1859
Thomas H. Benton, Jr
1859
1863
Francis Springer.
1863
1864
William M. Stone, Governor, ex officio.
1864
1868
Samuel Merrill, Governor, ex officio.
1868
1872
Cyrus C. Carpenter, Governor, ex officio
1872
1876
Samuel J. Kirkwood, Governor, ex officio
1876
1877
Joshua G. Newbold, Governor, ex officio ..
1877
1878
John H. Gear
1878
1882
VICE PRESIDENTS.
FROM
TO
Silas Foster.
1847
1851
Robert Lucas
1851
1853
Edward Connelly
1854
1855
Moses J. Morsman
1855
1858
SECRETARIES.
Hugh D. Downey.
1847
1851
Anson Hart
1851
1857
Elijah Sells.
1857
1858
Anson Hart.
1858
1864
William J. Haddock
1864
......
71
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
TREASURERS.
Morgan Reno, State Treasurer, ex officio.
1847
1850
Israel Kister, State Treasurer, ex officio ..
1850
1852
Martin L. Morris, State Treasurer, ex officio.
1852
1855
Henry W. Lathrop.
1855
1862
William Crum
1862
1868
Ezekiel Clark
1868
1876
John N. Coldren.
1876
......
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY.
Amos Dean, LL. D.
1855
1858
Silas Totten, D. D., LL. D.
1860
1862
Oliver M. Spencer, D. D .*
1862
1867
James Black, D. D
1868
1870
George Thacher, D. D.
1871
1877
C. W. Slagle.
1877
Josiah L. Pickard.
1878
In 1882 a dental department was added to the University, with L. C. Ingersoll, M. D., of Keokuk, as Dean of the Dental Faculty. There were also added this year a school of elocution and oratory, under Prof. E. M. Booth; and a school of short-hand reporting, in charge of Prof. Eldon Moran.
GENERAL STATEMENT.
The University secular affairs are managed by a Board of Regents con- stituted as follows: The Governor of the State, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the President of the University are ex-officio mem- bers-the Governor of the State, being by virtue of his office, the Presi- dent of the Board.
The General Assembly elects one person from each Congressional dis- trict of the State to hold office for six years. The Regents are divided into three classes, so arranged that the members of one class are elected at each biennial session of the Legislature.
The Board of Regents is empowered to confer such degrees and to grant such diplomas as are usually conferred and granted by other Universities.
The University fund arising from the sale of lands donated by the Gen- eral Government has been supplemented from time to time by Legislative grant. The Institution is now in receipt of an annual endowment, whereby the work and usefulness of the University are greatly extended.
No preparatory work is done in the University; that is left to the High Schools, Academics and Colleges throughout the State. The require- ments for admission have been determined upon after the fullest considera- tien of what is best for the High Schools of the State as well as for the University.
BOARD OF REGENTS .- 1882.
His Excellency, Buren R. Sherman, Governor of the State, member, and President of the Board ex-officio. C. W. Slagle, Fairfield, T. S. Parr, Indinola, D. N. Richardson, Davenport, term expires, 1882 ; H. C. Bulis, Decorah, A. T. Reeve, Hampton, J. F. Duncombe, Fort Dodge, term expires, 1884 ; J. N. W. Rumple, Marengo, W. O. Crosby, Centerville, H. Everett, Council Bluffs, term expires, 1886 ; D. N. Richardson, Davenport, elected 1882, H. A. Burrell, Washington, T. S. Wright, Des Moines, term expires, 1888; J. W. Akers, Superintendent of Public In- struction, J. L. Pickard. President of the University, members ex-officio; J. N. Coldren, Iowa City, Treasurer; W. J. Haddock, Iowa City, Secretary; J. L. Pickard, L. Robinson, L. W. Ross, Executive Committee.
72
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS.
1. The Central Building, the former State Capitol, is 120 feet by 60 feet, and two stories in height. It is built of stone.
2. The South Building is 108 feet by 45 feet, and three stories in height. It is built of brick.
3. The North Building is 90 feet by 61 feet and two stories in height. It is built of brick.
4. The Astronomical Observatory is 66 feet by 26 feet with a rotunda 14 feet in diameter. It is constructed of brick.
5. The Hospital and Clinical Amphitheater is 68 feet by 55 feet and two stories in height. It is constructed partly of brick and partly of wood.
6. The Homeopathic Medical Building is 42 feet by 25 feet and two stories in height. It is constructed of brick.
7. The Armory. Brick; 30 by 40 feet, two stories in height.
S. The Medical Building, is 84 feet by 60 feet and four stories in height with a French roof.
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
By act of the General Assembly, approved January 28, 1857, a State His- torical Society was provided for in connection with the University. At the commencement, an appropriation of $250 was made, to be expended in collecting, embodying, and preserving in an authentic form a library of books, pamphlets, charts, maps, manuscripts, papers, paintings, statuary, and other materials illus- trative of the history of Iowa; and with the further object to rescue from oblivion the memory of the early pioneers; to obtain and preserve various accounts of their exploits, perils and hardy adventures; to secure facts and statements relative to the history and genius, and progress and decay of the Indian tribes of Iowa ; to exhibit faithfully the antiquities and past and present resources of the State; to aid in the publication of such collections of the Society as shall from time to time be deemed of value and interest; to aid in binding its books, pamphlets, manuscripts and papers, and in defraying other necessary incidental expenses of the Society.
There was appropriated by law to this institution, till the General Assembly shall otherwise direct, the sum of $500 per annum. The Society is under the management of a Board of Curators, consisting of eighteen persons, nine of whom are appointed by the Governor, and nine elected by the members of the Society. The Curators receive no compensation for their services. The annual meeting is provided for by law, to be held at Iowa City on Monday preceding the last Wednesday in June of each year.
The State Historical Society has published a series of very valuable collec- tions, including history, biography, sketches, reminiscences, etc., with quite a large number of finely engraved portraits of prominent and early settlers, under the title of " Annals of Iowa."
THE PENITENTIARY. Located at Fort Madison, Lee County.
The first act of the Territorial Legislature, relating to a Penitentiary in Iowa, was approved January 25, 1839, the fifth section of which authorized the Governor to draw the sum of $20,000 appropriated by an act of Congress ap- proved July 7, 1838, for public buildings in the Territory of Iowa. It provided
73
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
direct the building of the Penitentiary, which should be located within one mile of the public square, in the town of Fort Madison, Lee County, provided Fort Madison should deed to the directors a tract of land suitable for a site, and assign them, by contract, a spring or stream of water for the use of the Penitentiary. To the Directors was also given the power of appointing the Warden ; the latter to appoint his own assistants.
The first Directors appointed were John S. David and John Claypole. They made their first report to the Legislative Council November 9, 1839. The citi- zens of the town of Fort Madison had executed a deed conveying ten acres of land for the building site. Amos Ladd was appointed Superintendent of the building June 5, 1839. The building was designed of sufficient capacity to con- tain one hundred and thirty-eight convicts, and estimated to cost $55,933.90. It was begun on the 9th of July, 1839; the main building and Warden's house were completed in the Fall of 1841. Other additions were made from time to time till the building and arrangements were all complete according to the plan of the Directors. It has answered the purpose of the State as a Penitentiary for more than thirty years, and during that period many items of practical ex- perience in prison management have been gained.
It has long been a problem how to conduct prisons, and deal with what are called the criminal classes generally, so as to secure their best good and best subserve the interests of the State. Both objects must be taken into considera- tion in any humaritarian view of the subject. This problem is not yet solved, but Iowa has adopted the progressive and enlightened policy of humane treat- ment of prisoners and the utilization of their labor for their own support. The labor of the convicts in the Iowa Penitentiary, as in most others in the United States, is iet out to contractors, who pay the State a certain stipulated amount therefor, the State furnishing the shops, tools and machinery, as well as the supervision necessary to preserve order and discipline in the prison.
While this is an improvement upon the old solitary confinement system, it still falls short of an enlightened reformatory system that in the future will treat the criminal for mental disease and endeavor to restore him to usefulness in the community. The objections urged against the contract system of dis- posing of the labor of prisoners, that it brings the labor of honest citizens into competition with convict labor at reduced prices, and is disadvantageous to the State, are not without force, and the system will have no place in the prisons of the future.
ADDITIONAL PENITENTIARY.
Located at Anamosa, Jones County.
By an act of the Fourteenth General Assembly, approved April 23, 1872, William Ure, Foster L. Downing and Martin Heisey were constituted Commis- sioners to locate and provide for the crection and control of an additional Penitentiary for the State of Iowa. These Commissioners met on the 4th of the following June, at Anamosa, Jones County, and selected a site donated by the citizens, within the limits of the city. L. W. Foster & Co., architects, of Des Moines, furnished the plan, drawings and specifications, and work was commenced on the building on the 28th day of September, 1872. May 13, 1873, twenty convicts were transferred to Anamosa from the Fort Madison Penitentiary. The entire enclosure includes fifteen acres, with a frontage of 663 feet.
74
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
IOWA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. Mount Pleasant, Henry County.
By an act of the General Assembly of Iowa, approved January 24, 1855, $4,425 were appropriated for the purchase of a site, and $50,000 for building an Insane Hospital, and the Governor (Grimes), Edward Johnston, of Lee County, and Charles S. Blake, of Henry County, were appointed to locate the institution and superintend the erection of the building. These Commission- ers located the institution at Mt. Pleasant, Henry County. A plan for a building designed to accommodate 300 patients, drawn by Dr. Bell, of Massa- chusetts, was accepted, and in October work was commenced under the superin- tendence of Mr. Henry Winslow. Up to February 25, 1858, and including an appropriation made on that date, the Legislature had appropriated $258,555.67 to this institution, but the building was not finished ready for occupancy by patients until March 1, 1861. The Trustees were Maturin L. Fisher, Presi- dent, Farmersburg; Samuel McFarland, Secretary, Mt. Pleasant; D. L. McGugin, Keokuk; G. W. Kincaid, Muscatine; J. D. Elbert, Keosauqua ; John B. Lash and Harpin Riggs, Mt. Pleasant. Richard J. Patterson, M. D., of Ohio, was elected Superintendent; Dwight C. Dewey, M. D., Assistant Physician; Henry Winslow, Steward; Mrs. Catharine Winslow, Matron. The Hospital was formally opened March 6, 1861, and one hundred patients were admitted within three months. About 1865, Dr. Mark Ranney became
Superintendent. April 18, 1876, a portion of the hospital building was destroyed by fire. From the opening of the Hospital to the close of October, 1877, 3,584 patients had been admitted. Of these, 1,141 were discharged recovered, 505 discharged improved, 589 discharged unimproved, and 1 died ; total discharged, 2,976, leaving 608 inmates. During this period, there were 1,384 females admitted, whose occupation was registered "domestic duties ;" 122, no occupation; 25, female teachers; 11, seamstresses; and 25, servants. Among the males were 916 farmers, 394 laborers, 205 without occupation, 39 cabinet makers, 23 brewers, 31 clerks, 26 merchants, 12 preachers, 18 shoe- makers, 13 students, 14 tailors, 13 teachers, 14 agents, 17 masons, 7 lawyers, 7 physicians, 4 saloon keepers, 3 salesmen, 2 artists, and 1 editor. The pro- ducts of the farm and garden, in 1876, amounted to $13,721.26.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. Independence, Buchanan County.
In the Winter of 1867-8, a bill providing for an additional Hospital for the Insane was passed by the Legislature, and an appropriation of $125,000 was made for that purpose. Maturin L. Fisher, of Clayton County ; E. G. Morgan, of Webster County, and Albert Clark, of Buchanan County, were appointed Commissioner to locate and supervise the erection of the building. Clark died about a year after his appointment, and Hon. G. W. Bemis, of Indepen- dence, was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The Commissioners met and commenced their labors on the 8th day of June, 1868, at Independence. The act under which they were appointed required them to select the most eligible and desirable location, of not less than 320 acres, within two miles of the city of Independence, that might be offered by the citizens free of charge to the State. Several such tracts were offered, -
but the Commissioners finally selected the south half of southwest quarter of
75
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
northwest quarter of Section 8, and the north half of northeast quarter of Sec- tion 8, all in Township 88 north, Range 9 west of the Fifth Principal Meridian. This location is on the west side of the Wapsipinicon River, and about a mile from its banks, and about the same distance from Independence.
Col. S. V. Shipman, of Madison, Wis., was employed to prepare plans, specifications and drawings of the building, which, when completed, were sub- mitted to Dr. M. Ranney, Superintendent of the Hospital at Mount Pleasant, who suggested several improvements. The contract for erecting the building was awarded to Mr. David Armstrong, of Dubuque, for $88,114. The con- tract was signed November 7, 1868, and Mr. Armstrong at once commenced work. Mr. George Josselyn was appointed to superintend the work. The main buildings were constructed of dressed limestone, from the quarries at Anamosa and Farley. The basements are of the local granite worked from the immense' boulders found in large quantities in this portion of the State.
In 1872, the building was so far completed that the Commissioners called the first meeting of the Trustees, on the 10th day of July of that year. These Trustees were Maturin L. Fisher, Mrs. P. A. Appleman, T. W. Fawcett, C. C. Parker, E. G. Morgan, George W. Bemis and John M. Boggs. This board was organized, on the day above mentioned, by the election of Hon. M. L. Fisher, President; Rev. J. G. Boggs, Secretary, and George W. Bemis, Treas- urer, and, after adopting preliminary measures for organizing the local govern- ment of the hospital, adjourned to the first Wednesday of the following Septem- ber. A few days before this meeting, Mr. Boggs died of malignant fever, and Dr. John G. House was appointed to fill the vacancy. Dr. House was elected Secretary. At this meeting, Albert Reynolds, M. D., was elected Superintendent; George Josselyn, Steward, and Mrs. Anna B. Josselyn, Matron. September 4, 1873, Dr. Willis Butterfield was elected Assistant Physician. The building was ready for occupancy April 21, 1873.
In the Spring of 1876, a contract was made with Messrs. Mackay & Lundy, of Independence, for furnishing materials for building the outside walls of the two first sections of the south wing, next to the center building, for $6,250. The carpenter work on the fourth and fifth stories of the center building was completed during the same year, and the wards were furnished and occupied by patients in the Fall.
In 1877, the south wing was built.
IOWA COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND. Vinton, Benton County.
In August, 1852, Prof. Samuel Bacon, himself blind, established an Insti- tution for the Instruction of the Blind of Iowa, at Keokuk.
By act of the General Assembly, entitled " An act to establish an Asylum for the Blind," approved January 18, 1853, the institution was adopted by the State, removed to Iowa City, February 3d, and opened for the reception of pupils April 4, 1853, free to all the blind in the State.
The first Board of Trustees were James D. Eads, President ; George W. McClary, Secretary ; James H. Gower, Treasurer ; Martin L. Morris, Stephen Hempstead, Morgan Reno and John McCaddon. The Board appointed Prof. McGugin, Keokuk; G. W. Kincaid, Muscatine; J. D. Elbert, Keosauqua;
76
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
Samuel Bacon, Principal; T. J. McGittigen, Teacher of Music, and Mrs. Sarah K. Bacon, Matron. Twenty-three pupils were admitted during the first term.
In his first report, made in 1854, Prof. Bacon suggested that the name should be changed from "Asylum for the Blind," to that of "Institution for the Instruction of the Blind." This was done in 1855, when the General As- sembly made an annual appropriation for the College of $55 per quarter for each pupil. This was subsequently changed to $3,000 per annum, and a charge of $25 as an admission fee for each pupil, which sum, with the amounts realized from the sale of articles manufactured by the blind pupils, proved sufficient for the expenses of the institution during Mr. Bacon's administration. Although Mr. Bacon was blind, he was a fine scholar and an economical manager, and had founded the Blind Asylum at Jacksonville, Illinois. As a mathematician he had few superiors.
On the 8th of May, 1858, the Trustees met at Vinton, and made arrange- ments for securing the donation of $5,000 made by the citizens of that town.
In June of that year, a quarter section of land was donated for the College, by John W. O. Webb and others, and the Trustees adopted a plan for the erection of a suitable building. In 1860, the plan was modified, and the con- tract for enclosing let to Messrs. Finkbine & Lovelace, for $10,420.
In August, 1862, the building was so far completed that the goods and fur- uiture of the institution were removed from Iowa City to Vinton, and early in October, the school was opened there with twenty-four pupils. At this time, Rev. Orlando Clark was Principal.
In August, 1864, a new Board of Trustees were appointed by the Legisla- ture, consisting of James McQuin, President; Reed Wilkinson, Secretary ; Jas. Chapin, Treasurer; Robert Gilchrist, Elijah Sells and Joseph Dysart, organized and made important changes. Rev. Reed Wilkinson succeeded Mr. Clark as Principal. Mrs. L. S. B. Wilkinson and Miss Amelia Butler were appointed Assistant Teachers ; Mrs. N. A. Morton, Matron.
Mr. Wilkinson resigned in June, 1867, and Gen. James L. Geddes was appointed in his place. In September, 1869, Mr. Geddes retired, and was succeeded by Prof. S. A. Knapp. Mrs. S. C. Lawton was appointed Matron, and was succeeded by Mrs. M. A. Knapp. Prof. Knapp resigned July 1, 1875, and Prof. Orlando Clark was elected Principal, who died April 2, 1876, and was succeeded by John B. Parmalee, who retired in July, 1877, when the present incumbent, Rev. Robert Carothers, was elected.
The Legislative Committee who visited this institution in 1878 expressed their astonishment at the vast expenditure of money in proportion to the needs of the State. The structure is well built, and the money properly expended ; yet it was enormously beyond the necessities of the State, and shows an utter disregard of the fitness of things. The Committee could not understand why $282,000 should have been expended for a massive building covering about two and a half acres for the accommodation of 130 people, costing over eight thou- sand dollars a year to heat it, and costing the State about five hundred dollars a year for each pupil.
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