History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 101

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950

USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 101
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 101
USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 101

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The first nursery trees sold in this county, were we think, from Dubuque. From a small nursery at Mason City a few trees were also got and planted. But of all the fruit trees planted up to 1864, we think not more than two or three varieties are still living. Nearly every body made the same mistake, that of planting the

820

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

kinds familiar to them in the Atlantic or middle States. Our months watered for the well remembered Baldwins, bell- flowers, fall pippins, greenings, Vande- veres and Jersey sweets; for the sweet cherries and luscious pears, and forgot that latitude does not always determine tem- perature, and that the climatic conditions of our inland prairies were not the same as in the humid, protected regions far to the east of us.

During the rebellion but little thought was given to growing anything except the necessaries of life, and horticulture was almost at a stand-still, at least in this part of the State, when about three-fourths.of the able-bodied men were in the army. At the close of the war, however, every- body began to plant for fruit. The com- mercial nurseries flooded the country with agents carrying highly colored plate books of fruits so nicely executed that one could almost taste it, and all bought and planted whatever their fancy dictated, re- gardless of expense, or desirable quali- ties. Consequently the mistakes of the earlier planters were often repeated, as to varieties. The want of a knowledge of the proper care of an orchard, also caused many failures and much disappointment and discouragement. The greatest obsta- ele to horticultural progress is the irre- sponsible tree agent who periodically per- ambulates the county selling at large pri- ces, a poor stock of undesirable varieties.

Those who have studied the subject carefully and have planted intelligently are reaping their reward in fruit, and in a reasonable prospect of final success. The Russian varieties and selected seedlings from these, bid fair to solve the prob-

lem of fruit-growing in northern Iowa. After one of the most trying winters ever known in the history of this county, the past season (1883) has given us the largest and finest crop of apples and small fruits ever harvested here.

The following comparative table shows the growth of this industry from 1865 to 1883 inclusive as returned by the town- ship assessors so far as available:

1865 1867 1869 1875 1883

No. fruit trees in bearing No. fruit trees not bearing No acres trees returned

231

395

732 747 1916

341

FOREST TREES.

Abont 30,000 acres of this county were originally covered with timber, and as the early settlement was confined to the eastern part of the county (the timbered part) and as this furnished the first settlers with both fuel and shelter, little thought was given to planting forest trees until about the year 1869, after the passage of an act by the Iowa Legislature for the encouragement of tree planting.

As the settlement in the county extended westward to the prairies, and fuel grew more scarce, and the necessity for shelter for stock became apparent to the farmer, and added to these the pecuniary induce- ments held out by the State in the way of exemptions from taxes, groves began to be planted. At first the plantings were confined mostly to cottonwood, white willow, Lombardy poplar and soft (silver leaf,) maple. Even these, so common now, were by no means easy to procure. None of them were native in this county. The writer helped to ent and plant the first cottonwood cuttings which were put out in this county, so far as he has been able to learn. They were ent from a tree

821

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

growing on the north bank of Clear Lake, in the spring of 1863. From this planting euttings were freely disseminated, and the the cottonwood soon became very common. The oldest trees (twenty years), now measure five feet in circumference, one foot from the ground. The first soft maple seeds were procured at considera- ble trouble and expense, from a branch of the Des Moines river, in Kossuth county, where they grew naturally. The white willow was introduced here about the year 1865, from Illinois, by Judge Rose- crans, now of Clear Lake. Some very fine groves are now to be seen, from these early plantings. Notable among these, is the one planted and yet owned by S. Simmons, just west of Forest City, which is not only a pleasure to the eye, but a most perfect protection from the prairie blizzards. If any one doubts the utility, comfort and actual value of tree planting he should visit this grove and talk with the proprietor.

Following these earlier plantings, were others with a greater variety of trees. As transportation facilities increased, and the price of nursery-grown trees was reduced so as to place them within the reach of the farmer of ordinary means, the kinds planted have been on the increase. Groves may now be seen containing European larch, white ash, black walnut, box elder, golden willow, wild cherry, silver poplar, Norway spruce, Scotch and white pine, balsam fir, etc. And in less numbers, and as ornamental trees, there have been in- troduced the sugar maple, Norway maple, red maple, catalpa, Kentucky coffee tree, honey locust, black ash, etc. Additional

varieties are being added to the list each year. About twenty varieties of forest trees were found in the county. Importa- tions have doubled the number, and the kinds that will grow and thrive here are probably many times the original number.

From assessors' returns to the county auditor the following showing is made of forest trees planted:

Number of acres planted in 1867, one; Number of acres planted in 1875, ninety- two; number of aeres planted in 1883, 4531.

THE DAIRY.

This is fast becoming one of the most important industries in Winnebago coun- ty, and farmers now incline to the opinion that it is much more remunerative than anything else. The Lime Valley Cream- ery is an important feature in the business development of Forest City, while other smaller and private creameries play no in- significant part in providing work and wealth to the county. A glance at the accompanying table will show the growth of this industry in the past twenty years.

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

The following table shows the amount of butter and cheese produced on farms in the county for each enumeration from 1860 to 1880, inclusive:

YEAR.

Pounds [Pounds of Butter. of Cheese

Milch Cows.

1860

3,353

200

1863.

5,560

100

103

1865

4,200

356

216

1867

16, 506

500

361

1869

24, 841

320

435

1870

17,305

200

390

1875

100,912

1,498

1880

193, 906

2, 150

2,484

822

IHISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIII.

EDUCATIONAL.

The State of Iowa has just cause to be proud of her public school system. Ac- cording to the census of 1880 there was less illiteracy in Iowa than in any State in the Union. This is very gratifying, and it is of interest to note the canses that produced this result. The first settlers of Iowa were strongly in favor of universal education, and were determined to give every child within her limits the privi- leges at least of a common school educa- tion. Gov. Robert Lucas, in his message to the first Legislative Assembly of Iowa Territory, which convened at Burlington, Nov. 12, 1838, said, 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 heretofore granted and secured to the Territory of Wisconsin and its inhabi- tants.' This extends to us all the rights, privileges and immunities specified in the ordinance of Congress of the 13th of July, 1787.

"The third article of this ordinance de- clares ' that religion, morality and knowl- edge being necessary to good goverment and the happiness of mankind, schools and all means of education shall be for- ever encouraged.'

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

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

This Assembly addressed itself to the task of providing for a system of common schools, and enacted a law providing for the formation of districts, the establish- ing of schools, and anthorized the voters of each district, when lawfully assembled, to levy and colleet the necessary taxes, "either in cash or good, merchantable property, at cash prices, upon the inhabi- tants of their respective districts, not ex- ceeding one-half per centum, nor amount- ing 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 2d Legislative Assembly enacted, Jan. 16, 1840, a much more comprehen- sive law to establish a system of common schools-a law containing many excellent features. It provisions were, however, in advance of the existing public senti- ment on the subject of education, making ample provisions as it did for free public

823

IIISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

schools. Even the people of Iowa were scarcely ready for such a law.

In the United States census report of 1840 very few schools, either private or public, were reported. One academy in Scott county with twenty-five scholars, and in the State sixty-three 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, provided that "that there shall be estab- lished a common school, or schools, in each of the counties of this territory, which shall be open and free to every class of white citizens between the ages of five and twenty-five years;" the second section providing that "the county board shall from time to time form such dis- tricts in their respective counties, when- ever a petition may be presented for that purpose by a majority of the voters resi- dent within such contemplated district." These districts were governed by a board of three trustees, 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 earlier enactments of the Terri- torial Legislature were those requiring that each district maintain at least three months of school each year, and that the expenses for the same be raised by taxes levied upon the property of said district. Among later enactments was that provid- ing for a county school tax, to be levied to pay teachers, and that whatever addi- tional sum should be required for this purpose should be assessed upon the par- ents of the scholars in proportion to the

length of time sent. The rate-bill system was thus adopted near the close of the territorial period.

When Iowa was admitted into the Union as a State, Dec. 28, 1846, it had a population of 100,000, a school population of 20,000, and had about 400 organized school districts. From this time the number of districts rapidly increased, reaching 1,000 in 1849, and 1,200 in 1850. In 1857 the number of organized districts had increased to 3,265. The llon. Ma- turin D. Fisher, who then so ably filled the office of superintendent of public in- struction, in his report dated November, 1857, nrged the revision of the school law, and the reduction in the number of school districts.

The 7th General Assembly again took up the subject of the revision of the school laws, and on the 12th of March, 1858, passed "An Act for the Public In- struction of Iowa," the first section of which provided that "each civil township in the several counties of the State, is hereby declared a school district 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 distriet, as at present organized, shall become a sub-district for the purpose hereinafter provided: Pro- vided, that each incorporated city or town, including the territory annexed thereto for school purposes, and which contain not less than 1,000 inhabitants, 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.

824

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

In December, 1858, a law was enacted providing that any city or incorporated town, including the territory annexed thereto for school purposes, may consti- tute a school district by vote of the ma- jority of electors residing in 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 aet passed April 3, 1866, this privilege was further extended to any city or sub-district containing not less than 200 inhabitants, and comprising territory contiguous thereto. It soon became evi- dent that by this amendment a serious innovation would be made in the district township system, by the formation of in- dependent districts in the more thiekly populated and wealthier portions of the townships. The amendment was repealed in the session of the following General Assembly.

The township system met the approval of every State superintendent, while the sub-district system was strenuously op- posed. Especially did IIon. A. S. Kissell oppose the latter system. He desired that each township be a school district governed by a board of directors elected at the annual district township meeting for the term of three years. In his re- port dated Jan. 1, 1872, he says :

"In this system every township becomes a school district, and all sub-district boundaries are abandoned ; and if this plan were carried into effect in this State, 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, United States Commissioner Bar- nard ex-Governor Boutwell, Dr. Newton Bateman, of Illinois, Dr. Gregory, late superintendent of Michigan, and the county and State superintendents of one- third of the States in the Union. The argments advanced by many of these experienced school men are unanswerable. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania have test- ed the system practically for several years; it is pronounced by these States as a suc- eess, and this successful experiment of three or four years should have greater weight with us in this young and grow- ing commonwealth than any theoretical arguments that could be advanced."

Notwithstanding the efforts and array of argument in favor of the township sys- tem, and the conviction, on the part of those who had made a special study of of this subject, that it would prove dis- astrous in its results, the General Assem- bly, which convened Jan. 8, 1872, enacted a law providing for the formation of in- dependent districts, from the sub-districts of a district township. This law has ever been a plagne to county superintendents, and several efforts have been made to effect its repeal, but without avail.

On the whole, however, the school sys- tem of the State of Iowa is fraught with the most gratifying results, and has met with the approval of every governor that the State has had.

Gov. James W. Grimes in his inaugural message, Dec. 9, 1854, displays broad statesmanship, advanced and liberal views and eminently sound philosophy in the following langnage:

825

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

"Government is established for the pro- tection of the governed. But that pro- tection does not consist merely in the enforcement 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 interests than those of property. Its greatest object is to elevate and enno- ble the citizen. It would fall far short of its design if it did not disseminate intelli- gence, 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 de- signed to foster the instincts of truth, justice and philanthropy, that are im- planted in our very natures, and from which all constitutions and laws derive 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 steadfastly adhering to the right ; and by being ever true to the instincts of free- dom 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 serupulously 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 universal nature, are above, around and beneath all.

"It is agreed that the safety and perpe- tuity of our republican institutions de- pend upon the diffusion of intelligence among the masses of the people. The

statistics of the penitentiaries and alms- honses throughout the country abundantly show that education is the best preventa- tive 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. Education, too, is the great equalizer of conditions. It places the poor on an equality with the rich. It subjects the appetites and passions of the rich to the restraints of reason and conscience, and thus prepares each for a career of useful- ness and honor. Every consideration, therefore, of duty and policy impels us to sustain the schools of the State in the highest possible efficiency."

EDUCATIONAL GROWTH OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

In 1866 there were seven school houses in the county, their value reported as be- ing $4,840. There were, however, eight schools in the county, employing nine teachers, who received an average weekly compensation of $9.75 for males, and $5.11 for females, aggregating, for the year, $1,151.75. The number of persons of school age was 328; the number of pupils enrolled in the schools was 170; average 99. The average cost of tuition, per week, for each pupil, was twenty-one cents in summer, and thirty-eight cents in the winter. The apparatus used by the schools was valued at $146.

In 1867 there were ten school houses in the county, valued at $9,808; there was $200 worth of apparatus; there were 318 persons of school age; 216 enrolled in the schools; average attendance, 155. There were thirteen teachers employed, who re- ceived an average compensation, per week,

826

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

of $9.60 for males, and $5.94 for females, the total amount paid teachers for the year being $1,593. The average cost of tuition, per week, for each pupil was thirty- ne cents in the summer, and twenty-five cents during the winter.

In 1870 the county made a much better showing, as will be seen by examination of the following statistics, compiled from the superintendent's reports for that year: Number of sub-districts in the county in 1870 .. 5

Number of school houses. 14

Number of schools taught .. 15

Value of school houses. 15, 850

. Valne of apparatus.

260

Number of persons of school age. 589

Of which were males, 329

Of which were females. 260

Number of pupils en olled. 323

Average attendance. 315

Total unmber of teachers in county.

Of which were males. 10

Of which were females. 11

Average compensation of male teachers per week .. 7 20

Of female teachers .. 5 00

Average number of months schools have been tanght in the year. 7

Number of volumes in district libraries 55

As to the examination of teachers, the total number examined in 1870 was:

Males 14

Females. 13

Number receiving first grade. certificates. 11

Number receiving lower grade.

Total certificates issued. 18

Number of applicants rejected. 9

The educational interests of the county continued to improve, new schools were formed and teachers became better quali- lied for their work. In 1877 we find a marked increase in the number of schools and of enrolled scholars. In the report of schools for 1877, W. A. Chapman, county superintendent, referred to educa- tional matters as follows:

"The schools of this county are steadily improving, both as to numbers and etli- ciency. The teachers are becoming con-

vineed of the necessity of making some special preparation for the work in which they are engaged. I find the Normal In- stitute to be one of the most efficient means for the elevation of the standard of education among our common school teachers. The Institutes held in this county have been a decided success. I have taken pains to employ only such con- ductors and teachers as were fully up to the requirements of the times. The In- stitute programme coming to hand early, gave our teachers a better chance to pre- pare for the work of the normal and most of them did make some use of it. Some- thing ought to be done to secure a better attendance at our schools. I have made it a point to visit each school, and advise, connsel and encourage the teachers as oc- casion might indicate."

From the report of the superintendent, for 1881, the following is taken:

Number of district townships.

Independent districts 1

Number of sub-districts. 53

Number of ungraded schools. 35

Number of rooms in graded schools. 4

Number of teachers employed. 63

Male teachers 32

F. male teachers. 31

Average monthly salary for male teach- ers. . $ : 60

Average monthly salary for female

teachers. 26 08

Number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years 1,773

Of which were males 941

Of which were females. 832

Number enrolled in schools 1,271

Total average attendance. 623

Average cost of tuition, per month, per pupil .. 1 70

Number of school houses in the county 35

Of which were frame. 32

Of which were brick

Of which were log. . 1

Total value of school houses. $ 27,900

Total value of apparatus. $ 2,690

Number of schools visited this year by superintendent ... 90

Total number of visits 145

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY. 827

In the same report, A. N. Brones, su- perintendent, speaks of educational mat- ters as follows:

"We are pleased to report general pro- gress in educational matters. The re- sources of our county are being developed very rapidly, and our school interests are not being neglected in the general ad- vancement. Many new school houses have been rebuilt and a marked improve- inent is noticed in the better qualifications of our teachers.

" It is fair to presume that this county will continue to advance, and take high rank among the counties of our State in educational matters."

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.

In the spring of 1858 this office was created and the first election was held in April. The names of those who held the office are given below and opposite each name is given the year in which the per- son was elected. These gentlemen are noticed at length in the chapter on repre- sentation.

C. W. Scott. 1858

B. F. Denslow 1859

Martin Bumgardner. 1861

Augustus Oulman 1863 C. A Steadman. 1865

Martin Cooper 1867-1869

A. L. Shay. 1871-1873

W. A. Chapman. .1875-1877

A. N. Brones 1879-1881-1883

NORMAL INSTITUTES.

The 15th General Assembly enacted a law March 19, 1874, to establish Normal Institutes, which reads as follows:

"SEC. 1769. The county superintend- ent shall hold annually a Normal Institute for the instruction of teachers, and those who may desire to teach, and with the concurrence of the superintendent of pub- lic instruction, procure such assistance as

may be necessary to conduct the same, at such time as the schools in the county are generally closed. To defray the expenses of said Institute, he shall require the pay- ment of a fee of $1 for every certificate issued; also the payment of $1 registra- tion fee for each person attending the Normal Institute. He shall, monthly, and at the close of each Institute, transmit to the county treasurer all moneys so re- ceived, including the State appropriation for Institutes, to be designated the 'Insti- tute fund,' together with a report of the name of each person so contributing, and the amount. The board of supervisors may appropriate such additional sum as may by them be deemed necessary for the fur_ ther support of such Institute. All dis- bursements of the Institute fund sha 1 be upon the order of the county superintend- ent; and no order shall be drawn except for bills presented to the county superin- tendent, and approved by him, for services rendered or expenses incurred in connec- tion with the Normal Institute."

The first institute ever held in the county, convened at the court house in Forest City, in the fall of 1869, about five years before the above law was enacted. There was no appropriation of money in that early day to assist in mecting the ex- penses of such a gathering, and upon each person there devolved a share of the work and cost. In many instances teachers were too poor to attend, and it not being obligatory upon them, they did not go unless very desirous of increasing their store of knowledge and experience. Mar- tin Cooper, county superintendent at the time, deserves much credit for holding the first Institute in 1869. Such a thing

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History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 101

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 950

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950