USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > History of O'Brien County, Iowa, from its organization to the present time > Part 18
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The old soldiers are constantly dropping from the ranks, and though they faced the missiles of war, and many came out of the conflict without a scar, they must surrender to the grim reaper.
RESIDENCE OF FRANK PATCH, HARTLEY.
We have endeavored to get the names of all the old soldiers in the county, but still, some names will be missed. At Paullina there was a post, but some time ago disbanded, and we were unable to find the list.
There are many letters and papers preserved, as a part of
304
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
the civil war, but very few letters of private correspondence, which if they had been preserved would be very valuable, and somewhat of a curiosity, especially when the parties connected with them, have advanced from the boy life of a soldier, to active business men. The following letter has fallen under the writer's observation, which was written by D. M. Shel- don's captain to Mr. Sheldon's mother :
CAMP 74TH REGT. ILL. VOLS., UNIEINGS STATIONS, GA., July 6th, 1864.
MRS. HARRIET SHELDON :
Dear Madam :- It becomes my duty to inform you, that your son, D. M. Sheldon, of my company, was wounded in the face by a musket ball, while taking a brave and gallant part with his company in a skirmish with the enemy some five miles south of Marietta, Ga., on the 4th of July, 1864. The surgeon thinks his wound is not dangerous at all. He is being sent back where he will receive good care. Daniel is a brave and good soldier, brave to a fault, and I hope you will see him home soon, and that he may be able to join us again soon, and help us finish up this wicked rebellion, and return to you a sound man yet.
Very truly your obedient servant CAPT. A. M. BLAKELEY, Commdr. Co. E. 74th Ill.
The names of the members of the different posts, as far as we were able to ascertain are as follows:
SANBORN KENYON POST NO. 449.
The G. A. R. post at Sanborn was organized June 27, 1884, with thirty-six members. The following are the list at the present time :
Warren Walker, Co. H, 14Ist Illinois Infantry.
Harley Day, Co. K, 106th New York Infantry.
J. I. Perry, Co. D, Ist Wisconsin Infantry.
Jacob H. Wolf, Co. H, 46th Pennsylvania Infantry.
305
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
Wilbur F. Mills, Co. I, 22d Iowa Infantry. Martin Finley, Co. F, 8th Wisconsin Infantry. Hugh E. Correll, Co. K, 15th New York Infantry. Edward R. Wood, Co. C, 2d Wisconsin Cavalry. Chancy F. Owen, 3d Iowa Battery. Isaac Daniels, Co. I, 50th Pennsylvania Infantry. Thomas F. Allen, Co. D, 20th Iowa Infantry. Claudius Tifft, Co. H, 23d Kentucky Infantry. Richard M. Boyd, Co. H, 14th Iowa Infantry. John W. Kelley, Co. D, 90th Illinois Infantry. William H. Woodman, 22d Wisconsin Infantry. Thomas T. Shaffner, Co. B, 87th Indiana Infantry. Charles Merwin, Co. C, 42d Illinois Infantry. Joseph M. Vincent, Co. C, 45th Illinois Infantry. Israel Free, Co. G, 126th Illinois Infantry. William De Witt, Co. B, 9Ist Ohio Infantry. Henry Prime, Co. L, 3d Wisconsin Cavalry. James F. Sisson, Co. K, 27th Wisconsin Infantry. John W. Todd, Co. C. Charles Moon, Co. E, 11th Illinois Cavalry. W. W. Johnson, Co. A, 22d Iowa Infantry. M. C. Wilkins, Co. C, 7th Iowa. George Hakeman, Co C, 24th Iowa Infantry. John V. Dergin, Co. K, 24th Wisconsin Infantry. William Bonner, Co. C, 50th Wisconsin Infantry.
HARTLEY POST NO. 45I.
W. H. Eaton, corporal Co. G, 2Ist Wisconsin Infantry. J. M. Yeoman, private Co. D, 9Ist Illinois Infantry. L. Miller, private Co. D, 4th Wisconsin Cavalry. E. B. Messer, lieutenant colonel, 156th Illinois Infantry. S. Boyce, private Co. H, U. S. Infantry. W. A. Compton, private Co. A, 190th Pennsylvania. John E. Holford, private Co. E, 91st Illinois Infantry. B. C. Bouten, private Co. K, 22d Wisconsin Infantry. W. S. Fuller, sergeant, 17th Illinois Cavalry. A. McDonald, corporal Co. B, 8th Iowa Infantry. 20
306
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
J. S. Webster, private Co. B, 154th Illinois Infantry. R. W. Ayers, sergeant Co. G, 25th Illinois. Clark Robinson, Co. D, Minnesota Artillery. C. Hopfe, private Co. C, 8th Iowa Infantry. James Stuce, private Co. C, 4th U. S. Cavalry. O. M. Whitman, private Co. A, 8th Wisconsin Infantry. W. H. Bevinham, private Co. D, 40th Illinois Infantry. F. Kelly, private Co. G, 43d Infantry Musician. Abraham DeLong, private Co. G., 23d Michigan. J. E. Richards, private Co. A, 2d New York Artillery. W. A. Elliott, private Co. E, 92d Illinois Infantry. Geo. Nickedemus, private Co. K, 15th Illinois Infantry.
PRIMGHAR POST.
Chas. F. Albright, private Co. C, 2d Iowa Infantry. Henry Goodman, corporal Co. I, 5th Wisconsin Infantry. Adolphus V. Conoway, private Co. B, 134th Illinois Infantry. S. E. Carmichael, private Co. K, 34th Iowa Infantry. Dewit C. Chapman, private Co. I, 2d Iowa Cavalry. William Oliver, private IOIst Indiana Infantry. Isaac L. Rerick, Ist corporal Co. E, 14th Iowa Infantry. Isaac Clements, corporal Co. H, 16th Iowa Infantry. Geo. W. Schee, private Co. C, 33d Regiment Iowa. Thos. A. Stewart, corporal Co. G, 7th V. R. C. Charles Moon, private Co. E, 11th Illinois Cavalry. James Morton, private Co. C, 88th Indiana, V. I. Charles O. Cookinham, private Co. F, 117th New York. Geo. H. Cook, private Co. E, 105th Illinois. F. A. Gere, private Co. A, 153d Illinois.
C. H. Slocum, private Co. A, 34th Illinois Infantry.
S. A. Carter, private Co. K, 27th Iowa.
Wm. J. Stewart, private Co. L, 9th Iowa Cavalry. Jasper N. Marsh, private Co. C, 92d Illinois. Al. Waterman, private Co. H, 47th Illinois.
David Algyer, private Co. A, 115th New York. Oscar McElwain, private Co. I, 28th Ohio.
P. R. Bailey, corporal Co. A, 118th Ohio Infantry.
307
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
L. P. Vance, captain Co. B, 35th Missouri Infantry. Elias Holt, private Co. I, N. E. Cavalry. A. M. Cleghorn, private Co. A, 22d Iowa. J. C. Hillyer, private Co. D, B. B. Cavalry. SHELDON M'KENZIE NO. 72.
T. J. Lett, corporal Co. F, 8th Illinois. Cavalry. Jas. W. Taylor, private Co. K, Ist Nebraska Cavalry. J. A. Glenn, private Co. B, 100th Pennsylvania. G. H. Klock, corporal Co. A, 9th Iowa. P. A. Edington, sergeant Co. H, 90th Ohio. J. O. Lias, private Co. H, 5th Iowa Cavalry. J. W. Lee, corporal Co. A, 8th Illinois Cavalry. Warren J. Woods, private Co. C, 7th Wisconsin. R. E. Osborne, musician Co. K, 76th Ohio. H. A. Scott, sergeant Co. A, 58th Illinois. John Deacon, hospital St., Co. A, Ist Wisconsin. Geo. W. Davis, corporal Co. A, 4th Iowa Cavalry. F. E. Wyman.
John W. Lias, private Co. M, 2d Iowa Cavalry. W. H. Dummett, corporal Co. H, 6th Iowa Cavalry. Pahner Crampton, corporal Co. F, 26th Iowa. E. M. Young, private Co. H, 23d Iowa. J. C. Wilmuth, private Co. G, 99th Ohio. W. N. Strong.
Fred Guthrie, private Co. E, 53d Pennsylvania. J. C. Van Campen, private.
John Woodward, private Co. C, 97th New York.
W. H. Dorward, private Co. E, 29th Wisconsin.
A. G. Canfield, private Co. C, 177th Ohio. Johnathan Richardson, Co. I, 19th Wisconsin. William H. Riley, private Co. C, 35th Illinois. Daniel Moffit, private Co. A, 2d Iowa Cavalry. Wm. Stratten, private Co. D, 122d Illinois. Wm. H. Knepper, private Co. C, 34th Illinois Infantry. Enoch Philby, private Co. I, 4th Indiana Cavalry. James Thomas, private Co. I, 25th Michigan,
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
John M. Hayes, private Co. E, 105th Illinois. W. J. Anderson, first lieut. Co. F, Ist N. Y. Light Artillery. James Wykoff, private Co. L, 50th New York Eng. Ed. C. Brown, sergeant Co. C, 3d Michigan. E. F. Parkhurst, private Co. A, 74th Illinois. Eugene Riddell, private Co. E, 14Ist Illinois. James Roberts, private Co. C, 84th Ohio. C. E. Andrews, private Co. K, 14Ist Illinois. C. H. Smith, private Co. B, 52d Wisconsin. L. D. Marshal, private Co. E, 23d Iowa. James M. Lewis, sergeant 7th Iowa Cavalry. E. A. Ward, private Co. G, 24th Iowa Infantry. William Lyle, private Co. B, 93d New York. Robert Martin, corporal 5th Battery, Pennsylvania Artillery. William J. Wiley, private Co. I, Ist Ohio Cavalry. George Arend, private Co. G, 2d Illinois Artillery. George Lyle, private Co. L, 2d New York Cavalry. Geo. A. Greenfield.
Gladney Ewers, private Co. A, 67th Ohio. W. W. Waters, private Co. D, IIIth New York. W. B. Bowne, private Co. D, 23d New Jersey. Henry M. Crocker, corporal Co. I, 84th O. V. J. H. C. Lane, first sergeant Co. E, 128th Illinois. M. B. Darnell.
James Marston, private Co. E, 4Ist Wisconsin. George Mennig, private Co. B, 2d Iowa Infantry. D. W. Buell, private Co. M, Ist California Cavalry. Byron Donovan, private Co. C, 34th Massachusetts. George Patterson, private Co. A, 5Ist Ohio. George Bryan, private Co. C, 208th Pennsylvania. D. G. Eldridge, first lieutenant Co. F, 149th Illinois. John Wood, private Co. A, 40th Wisconsin. William Hecker, Jr. private Co. H, Ist New Jersey. F. Tuffrey, private Co. H, 13th Iowa Infantry. J. W. Hicks, private Co. E, 42d Wisconsin. A. S. Powers, private 124th Ohio.
309
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
Milt Gillispie, private Co. G, 20th Iowa. J. Rider, private Co. K, 14th Illinois. D. Moos, private Co. B, 104th Illinois. W. W. Beebe, private Co. B, 113th Illinois. Wm. H. Riley, private Co. C, 35th Illinois. J. D. Billings, private Co. H, 9th Indiana. George W. Wilsey, private Co. H, 5th Wisconsin. Conrad Moeller, private Co. C, 5th Iowa. Wm. H. Moore, corporal Co. A, 37th Wisconsin. J. E. Markham, private Co. E, 44th Wisconsin. D. B. Judd, corporal Co. E, 128th Ohio. Andrew Hunt, private Co. G, 38th New York. Abe Appleton, private Co. B, 167th Ohio. E. P. Messer, quarter master 37th Illinois. A. L. Burnell, first sergeant Co. B, 2d Illinois Cavalry. David Heastad, private Co. B, 12th Ohio Cavalry. D. K. Vrooman, private Co. E, 49th Wisconsin. E. Y. Royce, private 8th Wisconsin Battery. J. F. Bishop, first lieutenant Co. B, 5th Minnesota. Horace Wellman, private Co. M, 3d New York. C. W. Touthaker, private Co. M, 4th Iowa Cavalry. H. H. Winters.
SUTHERLAND, E. O. C. ORD POST. R. M. Van Horn, private when discharged. Joseph Cowan, private when discharged. J. H. Reagan, private when discharged. E. M. McOmber, private when discharged. George W. Nelson, private when discharged. R. M. Cleghorn, private when discharged. G. F. Colcord, private when discharged. Jolın H. Peck, private when discharged. J. M. Snider, private when discharged. Charles Peaker, private when discharged. F. L. Bidwell, private when discharged. Wm. Virgill, private when discharged. D. B. Harmon, private when discharged.
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
L. T. Gates, private when discharged.
D. H. Lemburg, private when discharged. N. Renville, private when discharged. J. Renville, private when discharged. E. W. Parker, private when discharged. James Parks, private when discharged. James Dewey, private when discharged.
D. W. Pratt, private when discharged. D. M. Sheldon, private when discharged. George. W. Haye, private when discharged. Charles M. Short, private when discharged. John H. Stock, private when discharged.
CHAPTER XV.
EDUCATIONAL.
If there is one thing more than another, in which the state of Iowa feels a just pride, it is its system of education, and O'Brien county is not behind any other, in its desire to have the best of schools.
If any boy or girl living in the county, grows up to man- hood or womanhood, without a good common school educa- tion, the fault must be charg- ed to the child or the parents, and not to any lack of op- portunity.
The bureau of education at Washington has stated the fact to be, that Iowa has the smallest per cent of illit- eracy, of any state in the union. Up to 1870 the school system of the county was in a loose way, in keeping with other affairs.
The office of county sup- erintendent was simply nom- MISS ELLA SECKERSUA .. inal, until the election of Stephen Harris, who took much interest in the schools, and from that time on, the office of superintendent became one of much importance, and since then has been admirably filled. The present superintendent, Ella Seckerson, has taken much interest in the schools of the county, and under her adminis- tration, they have materially advanced.
312
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
In 1887, the county had 102 school houses, which were located as follows: Baker, eight; Center, eight; Carroll, seven: Caledonia, six; Dale, four; Floyd, eight; Franklin, six; Grant, eight; Highland, seven; Hartley, four; Liberty, eight; Lincoln, one; Omega, four; Summit, four; Union, five; and Waterman, eight. Of the Independent School Districts, San- born had two school houses, and Primghar, Paullina, Sheldon and Sutherland each, had one. County Superintendent Algyer in that year, 1887, carefully estimated the value of ..
:
SHELDON SCHOOL BOARD), 1893.
school property to be $65,000, which was an increase of valu- ation of $37,880, from 1879. In 1886, there was expended by the county for all school purposes, the sum of $52,462.35, which was an increase of $31,653.58 compared with 1879. In 1886 there were 3,242 persons of school age.
In the county at present there are one hundred and thirty- six school houses, distributed as follows: Floyd, eight; Car-
313
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
roll, eight; Baker, nine; Caledonia, nine; Franklin, five; Sum- mit, six; Dale, nine; Union, six; Lincoln, eight; Center, nine; Highland, nine; Liberty, eight; Hartley, seven; Omega, nine; Grant, nine; Waterman, eight. These are outside of the independent districts. The independent districts are as fol- lows: Sanborn, Hartley, Sheldon, Sutherland, Paullina, Prim- ghar. These have pupils as follows: Sanborn, three hundred and eighty-six; Hartley, two hundred and sixty-nine; Sheldon, seven hundred and forty-six; Sutherland, two hundred and thirty-one; Paullina, two hun- dred and twenty-five; Prim- ghar, two hundred and seven- ty-seven.
The school townships have pupils as follows: Baker, one hundred and ninety-nine ; Caledonia, one hundred and -- twenty-seven; Franklin, nine- ty-one; Summit, one hundred and four; Dale, one hundred and thirty-three; Union, one hundred and thirteen; Lin- coln, one hundred and forty- one; Center, one hundred PROF. W. S. WILSON. and seventy-seven; Highland, one hundred and ninety-one; Liberty, one hundred and sixty-eight; Hartley, one hundred and forty-four; Omega, one hundred and sixty-nine; Grant, two hundred and twenty-two; Waterman, one hundred and thirty-two. This makes the entire number of pupils enrolled in the county four thousand five hundred and eighty-five.
The school property of the county is now valued at one hundred and forty-three thousand eight hundred and one dol- lars, and the amount expended for school purposes including everything in 1896 was eighty-eight thousand seven hundred and three dollars and fifty-six cents.
.
314
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
Values are as follows :
School houses
$137,744
Apparatus
6,057
Total $143,801
There are now school houses in the independent districts as follows: Sanborn, two; Primghar, two; Paullina, two; Shel- don, one; Hartley, one; Sutherland, one. The Sheldon school house is the best in the county, a picture of which will be found in this book. It was built in 1894 and it's well enough to further describe it as follows:
FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING, SHELDON.
The perspective view of south and west gives a fairly good idea of the appearance of the building, which is 128 feet long from east to west and 100 feet wide from north to south. The basement is occupied by heating furnaces, closets, etc., supplied by the Smead Heating and Ventilating company, and we have every reason to believe that the system will work satisfactory.
315
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
The ground floor consists of seven school, and one recitation rooms, and office for the use of the superintendent and board. As will be seen from elevations, the entrance halls are spacious, and the stair cases which go midway between the stories up to commodious landings, and then turn to the corridors of the second floor, are elegant and convenient. The accommoda- tions on the second floor, consist of seven school and one reci- tation rooms. The principal room on this floor is occupied by the high school, and can accommodate 130 pupils.
The superficial area of school and class room approaches 14,000 feet; the cubical contents of same, 166,000 feet. We ought not to omit mention that a spacious dinning room is fit-
FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING IN SHELDON WITH ADDITIONS.
ted up in the basement, for the accommodation of such pupils who bring their mid-day dinner along with them. The square tower forming the south entrance is So feet high, and at all times when school is in session, the national flag may be seen floating over the same, over 100 feet above the street level.
316
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
All foundations are put in with Sioux Falls rock on a bed of concrete. All exterior brick work is executed with hydraulic pressed bricks, set in white mortar, supplied by the Hydraulic Pressed Brick Company of Omaha. All the roofs are cover- ed with the best blue Pennsylvania slates. All joiner's work was executed by Messrs. Smith & Wyman, of Minneapolis, and it is only justice to this firm to say that their work was completed in a first-class manner. The hardware was supplied by E. P. Messer, of this city, and the painting, hard oil finish,
SHELDON SCHOOL BUILDING.
etc., was satisfactorily executed by F. C. Steel. In fact the work in its entirety was done in a commendable manner by the Mather Brick company, under personal superintendence of I. N. Flanagan, their contract superintendent. The new furni- ture was supplied by the Manitouwoc Furniture Company. The blackboards are of natural slate, supplied by E. D.
--
SHELDON SCHOOL TEACHERS AND PROFESSOR.
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HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
Beighley & Co., of Dayton, Ohio, the material throughout be- ing without blemish, and the setting executed in such a man- ner, as to be pronounced the best work ever seen by educators who have visited schools all through the states.
It may be of interest to our readers to know the cost of the building, furniture, etc., complete, which, by the kindness of the board, we are able to annex:
Builder's contract
$ 26,207 00
Account of extras
2,159 50
Architects account for plans
500 00
Salary of Superintendent of Construction
457 50
Heating and Ventilating contract
3,100 00
Shades to windows
147 50
Seats, desks, tables, etc.
729 00
Natural slate blackboards, moulding, oilings, settings, etc.
885 00
Total cost of building and fitting
$ 34,185 50
Less amount received from sale of old school buildings
1,225 00
Total net cost of new building and furnishings
$ 32,960 50
Last, but not least, it should be placed on record that the board which has erected a monument to its public spirit is composed of W. H. Myers, president; Ed. C. Brown, H. B. Wyman, R. H. Mar- tin, E. P. Messer and John Bowley."
PROF. W. I. SIMPSON.
Prof. W. S. Wilson, now principal of the public schools at Rock Rap- ids, had charge of the Sheldon school for twelve years. His strong in- dividuality, and remarkable profici- ency as a public instructor, were im- pressed on the pupils, and the school, so that in the time he was here, he brought about a wonderful ad- vancement in all departments.
As a citizen he commanded the highest respect, and left the city with the good will of the entire community. His succes- sor was the present principal, Prof. W. I. Simpson. Mr.
319
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
Simpson continues the work with universal approval, and as an instructor and in charge of the various school departments, shows much tact and efficiency. He is an educated gentle- man, of much culture and has been admitted to the bar. His assistants, filling the various departments of instruction, are recognized as teachers possessing the highest qualifications.
SANBORN.
The town of Sanborn has reason to feel a just pride in its school facilities. From the first school house built in 1881. and through the building of several since then, the district now has one of much beauty and extensive pro- portions. From the Sanborn Pioneer we note a detailed description. ,
" The independent district was or- ganized in 1881; by a vote of the people, the territory embraced being five miles square, or twenty-five sec- tions-twelve in Franklin township, eight in Summit, three in Lincoln and two in Center. Since that time, sections and parts of sections have been restored to the several town- MRS. EMMA FREEMAN. ships from which taken, until only about fifteen or sixteen re- main.
"I. W. Daggett, M. D. Comes and A. S. Fitzgerald were the first directors elected. M. D. Comes was elected presi- dent, J. W. Kelly secretary, and J. A. Stocum treasurer. This first meeting was held April 19, 1881, the members of the board being sworn in by E. Smith, justice of the peace. The treasurer was appointed at the second meeting, held May 3.
" One of the first bills allowed was for corn, for fuel. The first school house built in the independent district was built in 1881. Bids were opened July 16. Nine bids were received, ranging from $2,995 up to $4,628. The lowest bid was by
320
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
George E. Berry, of Sheldon, who was awarded the contract at $2,995, and gave bonds in the sum of $3,000 for faithful performance of contract. Bonds to the amount of $3,500 were sold.
" The present school site was selected October 13, 1881.
" The house built in 1881 contained four rooms, was two stories high, and is the same building now owned by H. Telkamp, and being at this time fitted up for an opera house. It served the district from that time till the present one was built, but was often repaired and once enlarged by having a two-room addition built thereto. The addition was built by D. Moody some five or six years ago, and is now owned and used by C. A. Foote as a residence, having been bought by him last year and moved to his residence lots.
"For more than a year before the work of erecting the present house was begun, the board had the matter under advisement. It seemed like a big undertaking, and there was some opposition there- to, but it was finally agreed that the house should be built, and it was ordered at the meeting held January 25, just one year from the date of the writing of this article, that bids should be advertised for, said bids to be opened March 14, 1896. Plans and specifications prepared by the architect, F. W. Kenney, Austin, MISS MAME BUTTON. Minnesota.
"There were eleven bids received, ranging from $13,400 to $16,996.64.
"On April 25 the contract was awarded to D. Moody, of Sanborn, for $13,900.
" Bonds to the amount of $11,000 were voted by the people at different times and were sold, the proceeds being devoted to the erection of the new school house. .
PUBLIC SCHOOL
SANBORN SCHOOL BUILDING.
21
322
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
" Active work was begun in a short time, the basement ex- cavated, stone, brick, lumber, etc., delivered, and in the latter part of June the foundations were laid and basement walls put up, and in July the brick work was started. There was some delay in getting proper material, and some changes made, causing still further delay.
" The contract called for the completion of the building by the 5th of September, but it was soon found it would be im- possible, or at least impracticable, to have it done by that time. Some material was delayed on the way, some plaster- ing was defective and had to be gone over, and the build- ing was not ready, and school did not begin till October 19.
" Mankato stone and Sioux City brick were used, the red brick and buff colored stone trimmings making a beautiful contrast.
" The building is two stories high, with full basement, and architecturally beautiful and imposing as shown by the cut. The basement is used for the heating plant, fuel-room, play-rooms, etc. The heating plant was put in by the Windsor Heating Company, of Gal- ena, Ill., the contract price being $3,500. The system is what is called the direct and indirect, or in- direct direct. Steam radiators are in all the halls, and rooms. In the school rooms the radiators are placed about seven feet above the floor. Ventilation and additional warmth are secured by hot air from a room MISS KATE M'KEEVER. in the basement, the air being warm- ed to about 110 degrees. This air is from the outside before it is heated, and, of course, pure. By forcing this warm air into the rooms, the cold and impure air is forced to the floor, drawn off, and passes out and up the smoke stack. This insures constant and perfect ventilation, a thing of vital im- portance in the schoolroom, always.
323
HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY, IOWA.
" The heating plant has had a severe test the past week, It takes good appliances and careful handling these days with the wind blowing hard and the temperature twenty to thirty degrees below zero, to keep so large a building comfortably warm all over. Mr. W. F. Mills, the janitor, informs us that these days it takes about a ton of Iowa coal every twenty-four hours.
"There are four school rooms on each floor. The room on the first floor, southeast corner, is occupied by the first primary department, taught by Miss Anna J. Wientz. En- rollment, fifty-two.
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