USA > Iowa > Humboldt County > History of Kossuth and Humbolt 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 39
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The paper continued under the manage- ment of this co-partnership until April 12, 1875, when Mr. Starr purchased the interest of J. B. Jones, and the style of the firm was changed to that of Horton & Starr. Ably edited and neatly gotten up in the mechanical department, the Re- publican now succeeded to a liberal pat- ronage. Upon the 22d of February, 1881, Mr. Horton disposed of his share in the enterprise to his partner, Milton Starr. On the 1st of July, 1883, Mr. Cowles was admitted as a partner in the Republi- can, and the style of the firm at present is Starr & Cowles. The paper is a well edited, and in the general make-up, most creditable. Local columns teeming with
items and a large display of advertise- ments, proclaim the healthy state of this weekly. Mr. Starr is an easy, fluent writer, and by strict attention to business and the wants and wishes of the commu- nity, has built up one of the best papers in northern Iowa.
Milton Starr, son of Jesse and Lucinda Starr, was born in Whitley, Canada, Feb. 17, 1846. His grandparents on his father's side were natives of Pennsylvania. Ilis father was a carpenter, but became part proprietor in a flouring mill, in which he retained his interest until removing to Wisconsin and settling on a farm in Dane county. The family remained at this place until the summer of 1861, when they removed to Jones Co., Iowa. In 1866 he entered Cornell College, graduating from that institution in 1870. In Octo- ber, 1871, he came to Algona, and entered the office of the Algona Times, then just established by B. J. Castle, and assisted iu the printing of the second number of the paper. He was a member of the firm of Horton, Jones & Co., who bought out the Times March 4, 1872, changing the name to the Algona Republican. In April, 1875, Mr. Starr bought the interest of J. B. Jones, thus acquiring a half in- terest in the paper. In February, 1881, he became sole proprietor by the purchase of the interest of A. M. Horton. Mr. Starr immediately put a power press in the office, and many improvements were made. In 1882 Mr. Starr erected a build- ing 22x72 feet in dimensions, and twenty- four feet in height, which is intended for the permanent home. of the Republican. The lower story is used for printing and editorial rooms, and the second floor for a
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public hall. In July, 1883, he admitted Gardner Cowles as a partner. The paper has always been uncompromising in its advocacy of republicanism and prohibi- tion. Mr. Starr was a charter member of the lodge of Good Templars organized at Algona in 1876, and has since main- tained his connection with the institution. In 1879 he was elected grand secretary of the order in Iowa, a position which he held four years. Mr. Starr is a member of the Congregational Church. He was married Oct. 1, 1879, to Kate Krater, born in Clayton Co., Iowa, July 23, 1852, her parents being natives of Lorraine. Mrs. Starr was educated at the Iowa Agricul- tural College, graduating in 1873. From that time until her marriage her attention was given almost wholly to art studies, three years being spent in the studio of Helen M. Knowlton, in Boston, a pupil of the late William M. Hunt. Mr. and Mrs. Starr have two children-Helen, born July 30, 1880, and Robert, born March 15, 1882. Mr. Starr's mother died Feb. 17, 1852. Ilis father resides in Palo Alto Co., Iowa, being upwards of eighty years of age.
The Kossuth County Review, a new ven- ture in the newspaper world, first saw the light in the spring of 1883. On the 16th of March, the first number was issued by its present editor and proprietor, V. S. Ellis, at Luverne. The editor in honor to the time-honored custom of the craft, made his bow to the people of this locali- ty in the following words:
"With this, the first issue of The Kos- suth County Rerieir, we make our bow, and to the general public and future read-
ers of the Review, would say: good morn- ing.
"Of course a live and generous public will allow us to say a few words; however, we do not call your attention to this move to gratify any personal pride that we might entertain, but we intend to make the Review a live paper, published in the interests of Luverne and surrounding country. Our motto shall be, 'home first, then the outside world.' We shall ever endeavor to set forth at all times that which will be for the upbuilding of our town.
"While this is yet a new undertaking in this young but prosperous burg, we are sure that we can make it a success. Hav- ing been in the newspaper business for several years we are aware of the price that it costs to run a paper, and a partial canvass of the business firms of this place has convinced us that we shall have a hearty support, which we need to make the paper a success financially.
"We shall treat subjects that we deem worthy of mention in our own way and according to our own views. However, in the great political field we shall be in- dependent. When we say independent we do not mean that we will entirely ig- nore all political questions, but that we will not ally our paper to party, clique or ring. If we are on the fence, we reserve the right to strike either way, and if we should strike more on one side than the other, it will be because our convictions outweigh our caution, for the political history of our country proves that parties, like individuals, are liable to make grave errors.
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"With these few remarks and hoping the | dated March 16. The paper has been Review will find a hearty welcome in published regularly since then, both pa- pers being owned and published by Mr. Ellis and brother. every household in southern Kossuth and northern Humboldt counties, we again say to you, one and all, 'good morning.""
The paper is a seven column folio, neatly printed and with a liberal show of advertising patronage. Although the editor is a young man, still the leaders show more than average ability. The first issue has an interesting account of the rise of the town and the resources of the surrounding country, and three and a half columns of local items.
Verne S. Ellis, son of Smitzer and Charlotte Ellis, was born Jan. 16, 1864, in Geauga Co., Ohio. When five years of age his parents moved to Iowa, locating in Montour, Tama county, where his father erected a building for a meat mar- ket, but soon sold out and went to work at his trade, being a painter. Mr. Ellis received his education in Montour. In 1879 he went into the office of the Mon- tour Review, to learn the printing busi- ness under A. A. Blackman. The paper was discontinued in 1880, when in about two months, Mr. Ellis and brother, Da- vid A., started it again, and issued it un- til September, 1882. They then discon- tinned its publication and moved the office to Bancroft, Kossuth Co., Iowa, where they were running a paper ealled the Bancroft Register, which was estab- lished April previous. In Mareb, 1883, they started a paper in Luverne, called the Kossuth County Review. Getting the material here Monday morning, they sent out the first issue on Saturday evening
The Bancroft Register, a neat little seven column folio, was established in the town of Bancroft, Kossuth county, in 1882, by D. A. Ellis and brother. The first sheet was issued upon Friday, April 14, and is now in a good healthy condition. David A. Ellis, the senior editor, handles a pen to some purpose and the local col- umn is quite creditable. Mr. Ellis, al- though a young man, has had some jour- nalistic experience, having published the Review in the town of Montour, Tama county, previous to coming to this county.
David A. Ellis, editor of the Bancroft Register, was born in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, Feb. 21, 1861. When eight years of age he moved with his parents, S. and Char- lotte L. (Frazer) Ellis, to Tama Co., Iowa, locating in Montour. In 1878 Mr. Ellis entered the office of the Montour Review, edited by Mr. Blackman, to learn the print- ers' trade. After working there two months the office was closed, and it being in debt to Mr. Ellis for his work, he took charge of it, operating it for six months. In 1879 Mr. Ellis purchased new material and started the paper anew. He publish- ed the paper until Sept. 29, 1882, when it was discontinued, Mr. Ellis having six months previous to this time started the Register in Bancroft. He still has con- trol of the Register, and makes it a very lively and spicy little sheet. Mr. Ellis is a republican in politics.
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CHAPTER X.
EDUCATIONAL.
When npon that cold and stormy day in December, 16201, the noble band of Pil- grims landed upon the bleak and desolate shore of New England, their first thought was of religions duty, the second of schools and academies. They came, flee- ing from the religions intolerance of the old world, to found a Utopian country of their own in the wilds of America. Scarce were they landed when all were assem- bled and prayers and religious services were held, the echoes of which yet rever- berate around the world ; for in their prayers they sought the Divine assistance to found a colony, where freedom and education could go hand in hand, and if in after years, their stern creed of morals and religious asceticism led them into intolerant acts towards their neighbors, still the general movement was toward the light of liberty and education.
There, on the stony soil of Massachu- setts, these stern and rigid moralists first planted the seed of our grand system of educational facilities. There they origi- nated the district school that has outlasted them and their other institutions, seen governments wax old and pass away, and survived the throes of revolution, when these colonies revolted from the galling yoke of Britannia. In that land of its birth, the system of district school», with
its board of select men, still survives, with but little change from that of the original system that was planted two cen- turies and a half ago. The sons and danghters of New England, in their journey toward a home in the west, car- ried the precious seed, and planting it in the fruitful soil, it flourished and grew until it far overshadowed the parent tree. In Iowa, such has been the fostering hand of our State government, it has reached the very acme of perfection. According to the report of the census of the United States government, the ratio of illiteracy in this State is less than in any other of the States of the Union, and the citizen of our noble young commonweath can well hold up his head and say, "although .we are among the youngest in the sover- eignties of the world, none can exceed ns in intelligence or knowledge, or in our system of education."
One of the county school superintend- ents of Kossuth county, and one of its best educators, M. Helen Wooster, says of the subject of education and teaching as follows :
"History is one long record of the rise, supremacy and downfall of theories, in- stitutions and governments. The long- ing for true theories, lasting institutions and safe governments has caused to be
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recognized the fact, that the common per- ception of many individuals is safer and presumably more nearly correct than the perceptions of a few; as the rays collected and converged by the microscope produce
· more legible representation than can be produced directly upon the eye. If, how- ever, the lens be defective, the eye is the truer interpreter.
"Democratic institutions must be based upon the strong common sense of the masses. If it be an educated common sense, no concern need be felt for the effect of time or the loss of individuals, for the elements of life are within and not applied.
"To accomplish a general dissemination of knowledge, method after method was advocated, tried and modified, until the present public school system was adopted and established. Soon interested observa- tion detected that the end obtained was not the end desired, and as quickly dis- covered that one cause of the partial fail- ure lay in the misapplied energies of the teachers. Perhaps no one better under- stood the duties and, therefore, the quali- fication of a teacher than Horace Mann. He says:
'One requisite is a knowledge of com- mon school studies. Teachers should have a perfect knowledge of the rudimental branches which are required by law to be tanght in our schools. They should under- stand, not only the rules which have been prepared as guides to the unlearned, but also the principals on which the rules are founded, those principles which lie be- neath the rules, and supercede them in practice, and from which, should the rules be lost, they could be framed anew.
Teachers should be able to teach subjects, not manuals merely. The knowledge should not only be thorough and critical, but it should be always ready at command for every emergency, familiar like the alphabet, so that as occasion requires, it will rise up in the mind instantaneously and not need to be studied out with labor and delay * * The next principal qualification is the art of teaching. This is happily expressed in the common phrase, aptness to teach. The ability to acquire and the ability to impart are wholly different talents. The former may exist in the most liberal measure without the latter.'
"The necessity for such trained talent in the school room las involved the Normal School, and, for the benefit of those teachers who cannot take a Normal course, the Teachers' Institute. Probably there are many teachers who receive their first and only true ideas of teaching through them. There is nothing of arrogance in the assertion. Until the teachers' profes- sion shall have taken its proper position in public opinion and none be allowed to enter it withont special training, numbers will for a few months in the year assume the place of teacher to the child. They cannot be expected to understand the art of instructing others. To help this class of teachers and prepare them for their duties is the object of the Teachers' In- stitute. There the methods that have been wrought out by educators who have made it their life's study, are explained and illustrated. Surely nothing but a censurable indifference on the part of the teacher to his duties toward the pupil, or the equally censurable willingness to re-
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ceive compensation from the public treas- ury without having rendered an eqniva- lent, could permit one to neglect the means for improvement so offered them." SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
When the county of Kossuth was or- ganized, the office of school superintend- ent was not yet created, and the only officer in the educational department of the county was the school fund commis- sioner, and he only had charge of the school fund, only so far as it is in the hands of the board of supervisors at pres- ent. He could loan the surplus funds to private parties upon first-class securities. So far as educational matters were con- cerned, he had little or no authority. The directors hiring the teachers, made the necessary examination into their requisite qualifications for the position, and public examinations were totally unknown. The first party to hold the position of school fund commissioner, in Kossuth county, was George W. Hand, who was elected to fill the position, in April, 1857. Mr. Hand did not hold it very long, as his time of office expired with that year. Some years since, he left the county, going to the State of Kansas, where he is believed to be at present.
W. B. Moore was his successor, but only held it for a short time, as this office ex- pired in the latter part of the year 1858. Mr. Moore has been dead some time, and nothing can be gathered in regard to him, of an interesting nature.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
This office was created during the year 1858, and the duties of the office were the same as at present, but the official put in much less time, and in several instances
the semi-annual appropriation of the county court and, subsequently, of the board of supervisors, for the salary of county superintendent, reached the mu- nificent sum of $20 for six months ser- vices. The first to occupy this respon- sible position was the Rev. Chauncey Taylor, who was elected in April, 1858, and served one year. Mr. Taylor was a member of the Congregational Church, and was one of the first to con- dnet Divine service in the county. He died on the 29th of February, 1876, at Algona,and the following obituary of him, written by the hand of one who knew and loved him, gives a better sketch of him than can be penned by the hand of a stranger, no matter how much he may ad- mire the man and the record of his work. The item in question goes on to relate the fact of his death, and then says:
"Sorrow at his departure is not alone confined to those who knew him well, and knowing, learned to love and admire his many virtues, his unflagging zeal in pros- ecuting his life work of doing good, his broad charity towards his fellow-men, for all recognized in him the true, honest Christian minister, and as such mourn his loss. Father Taylor had filled the allotted three score years and ten, and had filled them with blessings for others, and eter- nal blessings for himself. He commenced his ministerial labors in Iowa in 1856, though for twenty years previons he had possessed the design of one day coming to our western prairies, and here found- ing a Church and lending his efforts to es- tablishing an institution of learning.
"In 1856 he was appointed an agent of the Home Missionary Society, and leav-
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ing his family in New York, came hither to the scene of his future labors, crossing the Mississippi on foot, stopping at Des Moines a short time, and then taking up his route to this then almost solitary re- gion. He at once went to work to advance the moral and mental well-being of his fellows, and mainly through his exertions, was erected a town hall, during the first years of his stay, and which, enlarged, is now the Congregationa! church. For six- teen years he was the presiding genius, the spirit of the Congregational Society, and in great measure the parent of most of the religious interests in the county. During the time of his ministry here he assisted in consigning to their last resting place eighty-eight of his parishioners, among them, the old and young, withered and fair, and poured the balm of relig- ious consolation into the aching hearts of the mourning friends. During that time also, he solemnized sixty-three marriages and lived to christen the pledges of many of those happy unions and to give them their early instruction of reverence and love for the Great Parent of all.
"He also established the first reading club, devoted to the intellectual improve- ment of its members and of the citizens of the county generally. The first sing- ing class in the county was inaugurated by him, and for many years he was the sole musical instructor. For the greater portion of his twenty years ministry among us he filled appointments at various places throughont the county, until his kindly features and gentle words were known to almost every inhabitant of the county. In 1858 he attended the State Congregational Association at Dubuque, and in reply to
the astonishment of his admiring friends, that a man of his abilities should bury himself in the northwestern solitudes, in- sisted that Algona was in the centre of the world, that the difficulty was, the world was one sided.
"He was one of the three ministers who organized the Northwestern Congrega- tional Society, then including but three Churches, and now representing no less than twenty-three Churches, with a mem- bership of 932. When the War of the Rebellion broke out, he sent, with tears of sorrow but the glow of patriotism, his youngest son to do battle for his country, soon to mourn him a victim offered upon the alter of his country. A few years later and he was called upon to grieve the loss of his only remaining son, his sorrow doubled from the fact that they each died surrounded by strangers, and far from the loving embrace of parents and kindred.
"The formal organization of the Church here was made in August, 1858, and for over fifteen years he filled the position of pastor, gaining the love, not only of his parishioners but of the whole community, by his eminent piety, and broad charity and tolerance, and to-day young and old throughout the county, mourn with sin- cerest sorrow the departure of Father Taylor."
What more could be added, when it is well known that the above is the verdict of every one in the county. Admiration for his inany virtues, and for his truly Christian life shall never cease while any who knew him shall exist upon earth.
In 1859 J. R. Armstrong was elected to fill this office and served for two years in
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that capacity. He is still one of the prom- inent residents of the conuty.
The Reverend Chauncey Taylor was again chosen superintendent of schools of the county at the general election in 1861, and served a term of two years from the Ist of January, 1862, when he again retired to the shades of private life and his ministerial duties.
M. D). Blanchard was the immediate snecessor of Mr. Taylor, entering upon the duties of the office with the first of the year, 1864, and fulfilling its functions for the space of two years. Mr. Blanch- ard, at a later date, filled the office of county treasurer, under which head the reader may find a more extended sketch of the gentleman. His term of office ex- pired the last of December, 1865.
The Reverend Chauncey Taylor was again called to superintend the school system of Kossuth county, entering the office the Ist of January, 1866, and again serving, as such, for a term of two years.
John Reed, the present recorder of the county, was elected county super- intendent of common schools, in 1867, and entering upon the function of the office with the year 1868 served until September, 1869, when he resigned. Mr. Reed is noticed in fuller detail under the head of recorder, in the chapter de- voted to the representation of the Nation, State and county.
On the resignation of Mr. Reed the board appointed A. W. Osborne to this office, and at the election of that year, 1869, he was elected to be his own sue- cessor, and held the office until October, 1870, when he too, resigned the office. Mr. Osborne shortly afterward left this
county, emigrating to Spirit Lake, Dickin- son county, where he has since been prom- inently identified with the official man- agement of county matters, having been county treasurer of that county for seven or eight years. He has always been spoken of as a man of excellent business habits and quite methodical in all the affairs of life.
On the acceptance of the resignation of Mr. Osborne, the board appointed M. Helen Wooster to fill the vacancy, and at the general election of 1871, the people of the county endorsed the selection by electing the lady to the office by a hand- some majority. Miss Wooster, the only lady official the comity has ever elected to fill an office, was a native of Massa- chusetts and came west for the purpose of engaging in educational pursuits, es- pecially in the higher branches. Iler peculiar ability fitted her well for the ardnons duties of superintendent and un- der her able management the schools of the county took a great step forward in the march of progress. Miss Wooster is now in California, where she went several years ago.
A. A. Bronson was elected county su- perintendent of schools in 1873. Was re- eleeted in 1875 and 1877, and held the office for six years. Having fulfilled the duties devolving upon him in a manner ereditable to himself and satisfactory to the people of the county, he retired from official position covered with laurels. He is still one of Kossuth county's influential citizens.
A. A. Crose, another of the present resi- dents of the county was chosen by his
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fellow electors, in 1879, to fill this difficult office, and served two years.
J. J. Wilkinson, the present incumbent of the office of county superintendent of schools, was elected in 1881, and at the election of 1883 was re-elected to the same position for the ensuing term.
J. J. Wilkinson was born Aug. 31, 1851, in Oakland Co., Mich. His parents, Joseph and Sarah (Scholey) Wilkinson, were natives of England, and emigrated to the United States in 1850, locating at Detroit, Mich., where they spent one win- ter, then went to Oakland county, where he engaged in farming. In 1862 they re- moved to Shiawassee Co., Mich., which is still their home. Coming to this conn- try a poor man, he has by hard labor ac- cumulated a comfortable property, and is to-day one of the well-to-do farmers in this county. J. J. Wilkinson was reared on a farm, received a common school edu- cation, and afterward graduated from the High school. He then entered a store as clerk at Perry, remaining two years, af- terward attended Mayhews Business Col- lege in Detroit, Mich., graduating in 1873. After leaving Detroit, he taught school several years. In 1877 he came to Kossuth county where he taught till 1881, then was elected county superintendent of pub- lic schools, was re-elected in 1883 without opposition. Mr. Wilkinson is a young man, well qualified for his position, and the interests of the schools are carefully looked after. He married Mertie IIar- per, a daughter of Judge A. A. Harper, of Michigan. They have three children- J. Leslie, George H. and Stanley. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
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