USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county > Part 38
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May 1. Saloon and billiard license transferred to Countryman & Wise.
October 2. Petition against the granting of saloon licenses laid on the table.
October 12. Argus, Shugart and Gaff appointed a committee to con- sult Judge Hewitt regarding the abrogation of the saloon license. Hewitt stated that the license was good for one year.
December 4. Twenty-five dollars appropriated to fix up Hook and Ladder building for meetings of council and fire company.
January 15, 1879. Saloon and billiard license transferred to James Countryman.
March 10. Regular meeting night changed to first Tuesday in each month. Compensation of members fixed at fifty cents each night with fine of fifty cents for absence, no member to speak twice on same subject without permission of mayor.
April 1. Dog tax fixed at one dollar for small dogs and two dollars for large ones.
April 1. Application of James Countryman to renew saloon license laid on the table. Saloon license fixed at ten thousand dollars per annum.
May 6. W. C. Matthews granted exclusive right to sprinkle the streets for five years "on condition that he give perfect satisfaction to the citizens."
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May 16. Contract made to erect a city building for two hundred and fifty dollars.
February 3, 1880. City Hall insured for two hundred and thirty dollars.
February 6. Fire limits adopted, including both sides of Sheridan avenue from the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad to the junction of Clarinda avenue.
April 6. A city pound ordered built.
February 1. 1881. Dog tax repealed.
May 3. License on R. B. Crose's hall fixed at twenty-five dollars per year.
May 5. Appropriation of one hundred and fifty dollars made for "dis- tressed citizens of Hamburg." Park purchased of D. S. Priest.
December 9. Proposition of Farragut citizens for a "right of way" for the Shenandoah & Lincoln Railroad discussed at great length.
February 7, 1882. Park in Priest's addition leased for "gardening purposes."
February 9. Revised ordinances ordered.
April 30. First smallpox scare. Schools and churches closed for two weeks.
June 13. Hitching chain ordered removed from Sheridan avenue.
August 15. Lot purchased for city hall and the hall moved to same.
December 8. Petition of W. P. Ferguson and others received signed by one hundred and thirty-eight resident free holders presented asking for an appropriation of two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars for the 'purchase of land for the location of the Humeston & Shenandoah machine shops and donation of the same. Election ordered for December 19.
December 22. Ballots of special election canvassed, one hundred and fifty-six for the donation and three against.
January 2, 1883. Street around the cemetery to be made a public highway.
February 1.4. A. Bowman appointed a committee to dispose of the town hall "as he thought best."
April 6. Shed ordered built to store fire apparatus. Citizens requested to observe April 19 as arbor day and set out trees.
April 13. Committee appointed to consult an attorney regarding bond- ing the town for a town building and fire engine.
April 17. Badham property ( where city hall is now located) purchased for twelve hundred dollars.
May 1. Committee appointed to negotiate the sale of ten thousand or fifteen thousand dollar bonds to run ten years at six per cent interest but payable at discretion after five years. Also to ascertain cost of a building twenty-five by one hundred feet. two stories high, lower fourteen feet and upper twelve feet.
May 15. Committee appointed to visit places where fire engines were used. also to get plans and specifications for city hall.
May 26. Fire engine purchased of St. Joseph for fifteen hundred dol- lars : also five hundred feet of two and a half inch White Anchor hose.
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July 23. Telephone Exchange franchise granted.
July 28. Architect Maxon of Council Bluffs employed to draw plans for city building.
August 7. Old town hall sold to A. M. Wilson.
August 20. Contract for city building awarded to H. S. Stephenson for seven thousand one hundred and twenty-six dollars. Crose and Morse appointed to go to Atlantic and consult Mr. Whitney regarding a proposed new railroad.
August 22. Proposition of H. S. Stephenson to put foundation of city building seven feet deep for additional two hundred and seventy dollars accepted, and to use natural instead of manufactured stone for forty dollars and seventy cents additional accepted.
September 4. Bonds sold for thirteen thousand seven hundred dollars. A lot of accounts against the city sold to merchants. A long standing controversy with Grant township trustees regarding a road grader settled.
September 24. Hose cart and eight hundred feet of hose purchased.
November 6. Shutters in rear of city building ordered "put on in a workmanlike manner."
December 15. Fire engine tried and approved. W. M. Smith elected engineer at fifty dollars per month.
December 21. Well fifteen feet in diameter and twenty feet deep or- dered at junction of Sheridan avenne and Blossom street.
January 2, 1884. Triangle ordered for fire alarm in city building. C. V. Mount elected fire marshal.
February 12. Settled with Mrs. Oppenheimer for two hundred and sixty dollars for injuries received by a fall upon the icy sidewalk.
February 22. Fire hats provided for the company.
June 3. Lanterns, rubber coats and spray nozzle purchased for fire company.
January 6, 1885. Office of marshal abolished.
February 4. I. B. McGogy employed as night watch and engineer.
May 21. Quarantine ordered of houses where smallpox prevailed. Public schools ordered closed, also to dispense with church services and public meetings.
May 28. Guards appointed for houses where smallpox is found, nurses employed for those needing, and a man to carry supplies to quarantined houses. Salary of health officer fixed at thirty dollars per day during smallpox.
May 30. A hospital building ordered erected.
June 3. Presbyterian church was purchased for a hospital for five hundred dollars.
June 4. Quarantined against Clarinda and Farragut.
June II. J. C. Wilson employed as quarantine officer.
June 17. Bed clothing, clothing and goods that had been in contact with smallpox patients ordered destroyed.
June 19. Three thousand dollars paid to pay smallpox claims.
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June 29. Health officer reported thirteen patients still under guard at the hospital, all out of danger but two. Quarantine ordered raised upon the discretion of the health officer.
February 5, 1886. Shenandoah reorganized from an incorporated town to a city of the 2d class and boundaries of the wards fixed.
April 5. J. W. Schwartz elected marshal to receive as compensation "fees only." Proposition of F. S. Burkhard to put in a system of waterworks rejected as inexpedient in the state of the city's finances. Each member of the council, the mayor and clerk appropriated five dollars from his salary to plant trees on Arbor Day. First Monday in April fixed as permanent Arbor Day.
May 18. Petition and remonstrance received regarding the removal of stallions from Lowell avenue. This was the beginning of the stallion controversy continuing ever since.
July 6. A wheel grader purchased for eighty-five dollars.
November 3. New springs and rubbers purchased for fire engine.
January 4, 1887. Mayor was instructed to loan fifteen hundred dollars of the city funds.
January 13. Improvements ordered for the jail, including chain and shackle.
February 1. Five hundred dollars more loaned.
May 7. Judgment of Mrs. Fleming against the city settled for ten hundred and seventy dollars.
August 2. City Hall leased to Free Methodists at two dollars per week.
October 11. Office of engineer and night watch dispensed with and fire engine ordered set aside. Agreement to pay twenty dollars per month for night watch, balance to be paid by citizens.
January 3, 1888. A fire bell ordered, weighing one thousand pounds. July 3. Four thousand dollars of city bonds paid.
August 7. Petition received from citizens asking for some system of fire protection.
August 14. Resolution of thanks to Captain Mount and the military company for services the night of the Gallup tragedies, also to D. S. Camp- bell and T. H. Winfrey who were wounded. Also resolutions of condolence to families of B. O. Rice and F. J. Pine, killed.
August 28. Tax levy made seven mills, same as year before. The rate was twelve mills for several years.
June 4, 1889. Circus license fixed at seventy-five dollars. Changed to fifty dollars July 2. Five hundred dollar bond paid July 1. Five hundred dollar bond also paid January 1, 1890.
December 17, 1880. Names of several streets changed and one hundred signs ordered for the streets.
April 9. 1800. Ordinance passed prohibiting the keeping of stallions in the corporate limits.
May 26. Five hundred dollar bond ordered paid. Two wells ordered on Sheridan avenue.
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October 7. George E. Claflin of St. Louis was present and solicited franchise for ten years for electric lighting. Special meeting called to consider the subject.
November 7. Resolution for special election to vote upon a two mill tax to pay for ten arc lights for ten years carried. Petition of I. N. Whita- ker for street railway franchise presented.
November 22. Election proclamation rescinded.
March 16, 1891. Five hundred dollar bond paid.
April 7. Franchise asked for by Shenandoah Electric Light & Power Company. Vote ordered for April 27. Vote cast stood three hundred and seventy-three for franchise and forty-one against.
May 5. Fire limits extended to include triangular block bounded by Clarinda avenue, Sheridan avenue and Sycamore street.
July 7. City contracted for twenty-seven electric street lights. October 6 three more lights contracted.
December 4. Five hundred dollar bond paid. Use of city building tendered for Western Normal College.
February 2, 1892. R. W. Morse and others presented city a deed to three-eights of an acre of ground at entrance to cemetery.
March 8. Five hundred dollar bond paid.
March 21. P. H. Mentzer and others presented a petition asking that a special election be called to vote upon the question of putting in a system of waterworks.
May 3. O. S. Smith and others presented a petition for the organization of a fire company.
June 7. City papers requested to publish proceedings of council free of charge. Clerk ordered to correspond and procure information regarding the cost of street paving. A speedy investigation of the subject of water- works ordered by a committee of the whole.
July 5. George Cotrill elected fire marshal and J. W. Schwartz assist- ant. President Wiley of the Omaha Electric Light & Power Company invited here to advise as to the cost and method of putting in waterworks.
CAUSES OF GROWTH.
The causes of the organization and growth of Shenandoah may be briefly stated here as follows :
Ist. Unparalled fertility of the soil of the surrounding country. When in 1869 and 1870 the prairie lands began to be occupied by farmers and the wonderful productiveness began to be generally known there was a demand for farms and land was speedily taken. These early farmers had need of all kinds of supplies and the first merchants did a large business, thus building up a flourishing trading point within the first three or four years. Shenandoah was about equally distant from Red Oak, Clarinda, Hamburg and Sidney, the principal trading points at that time and was therefore properly located to secure the bulk of the trade that was not convenient to those towns. As above indicated, the railroad company favored Riverton.
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hoping to build up a large town there and secure the county seat of Fre- mont county, but the location was too near Hamburg to secure a large country trade and Shenandoah continued to forge ahead, drawing the trade of the pioneer farmers from a territory nearly ten miles in every direc- tion from the young town.
2d. Shenandoah was fortunate in the character of its first residents. They were honest, energetic and enterprising. The early Mormons, who settled in this vicinity, were of the class whose love of morality and virtue prevented them from following the polygamists to Utah. They have been from the first among the most law-abiding and conscientious of our citizens. The early settlers from Illinois and other states were intensely loyal and American in all their sentiments, believed in schools, churches and good government. Except for one short year the town never permitted a saloon to exist herc. The business men were energtic and pushed for trade. Thus the town's citizenship had a favorable beginning and from that time to the present Shenandoah has been noted for its morality and progressive spirit, attracting to it the best of citizens.
3d. The establishment of the Western Normal College here in 1883 made the town an educational center and attracted here many hundred people.
4th. The location of the Humeston & Shenandoah Railroad machine shops here and making this the terminus of the road gave employment to a large number of railroad men who became permanent residents of the town.
5th. The establishment of great nurseries here, the largest in the west. gives employment to a steadily increasing number of hands and brings to the city more and more trade each year.
The fact that the topography of the country was such that all railroads passing through this part of lowa must enter the Nishna valley or traverse it at this point made the shrewd early settlers realize that Shenandoah would become a railroad center and such has already been proven, three important railroads now reaching or passing through the city. Any future roads that may be built to the southwest and passing through this vicinity must necessarily come right here to avoid hills and heavy grading on either side. Shenandoah is at the natural gateway to the southwest.
SHENANDOAH SCHOOLS.
The following article was prepared by Mrs. S. E. Field, formerly of Shenandoah, now of Highlands, California. Mrs. Field taught the first school in Shenandoah, and in this article she gives a graphic portrayal of its history. Mrs. Mary Welty Smith, the wife of Dr. Smith, taught school in Shenandoah in 1878. Her school experience in Shenandoah is herein given and follows that of Mrs. Field. These articles were prepared for the first Annual of the Shenandoah high school, which appeared in 1907 and was edited by the senior class of that year.
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THE FIRST SCHOOL IN SHENANDOAH.
Mrs. S. E. Field.
It is a great pleasure to me to be asked to help with your first Annual and I write you this pen picture of Shenandoah's first school with the same joy in the labor that I felt when I opened that school thirty-six years ago last December.
First, you must imagine a little house of two rooms standing all alone in the prairie grass where C. S. Keenan's residence now stands. A family living in the west room and the east room, the school room, was but twelve by fourteen with but one window, a north one. There was a north and a south door, and a stove stood in the iniddle of the room. This first home of our schools held eighteen pupils at first, but as the little city grew, the number rapidly increased and by April there were forty. The pupils were requested to bring chairs from home but in those days an extra chair or two, or three or four, was more than many a home could boast and so some brought boxes which were used both as seats and for holding books. One little fellow found a seat on a nail keg belonging to the woman who lived in the other room. The keg was half full of beans, which furnished our material for work along kindergarten lines, for all grades were repre- sented from kindergarten to high school.
The children were newcomers from north, south, east and west and had text books from all known authors. I was fresh from school work in Illinois and unused to such conditions, but I was young and happy, the bride of a month, and full of energy, strength, missionary zeal and love for children, and liked my task of laying aside books and teaching by the topic and lecture methods.
Every morning I rode on my pony the two miles from home, cross country through the native grass. The boys watched to see me come over what is now "college hill" and vied with each other to get the opportunity to help me alight and to care for my horse. I often think of those lessons taught, probably the first lectures ever given in Shenandoah. Whether any real educational advancement was made by those children that winter I am not the one to judge, but I have always hoped that I planted some seeds in those bright young minds during that busy, happy school year of 1870-71, that made lives broader and better for the world and the Master. From that humble beginning to the present flourishing schools is a far cry, but here are congratulations to the class of 1907 from the godmother of their school system.
LATER HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS. Mrs. Mary Welty Smith.
In the fall of 1870, where Shenandoah now stands, was a new western town, a group of small plain houses, not one having any but the necessary living rooms for its occupants. This village was in the midst of an unbroken
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prairie. It boasted neither schoolhouse nor church. There were no old people here then; the young, middle aged and children made up the popu- lation. One of the first thoughts was for the provision of a school. The first term, taught by Mrs. Field, is above mentioned. In the spring of 1871 a barn was built on Thomas avenue and used as a schoolhouse, Miss Eunice Baker being the teacher.
In the summer of 1871 Mentzer Brothers erected their store building, finishing the upper story for a public hall. There all public meetings, church services and school were held for more than two years. The homes being small, many social functions were held there and enjoyed with the heartiness and good will prevailing in new communities. The seats were long and high, all right for adults but hard on the little ones who sat with dangling feet, their books and slates beside them or in their laps, for there were no desks. Terms were taught there by Mrs. Bascom, J. R. Badham, Miss Julia Burnet and S. E. Field.
The Independent District of Shenandoah was organized in 1872. In March, 1873, the following directors were elected: R. B. Crose, J. Swain, A. J. Welty, J. Stokes and A. B. West. In the organization of the board Mr. Crose was chosen president and Mr. West secretary.
In the summer and fall of 1873 the first school building was erected in Shenandoah, a two-story, two-room brick building with halls and cloak rooms. This building may still be seen at the southwest corner of the west building on Clarinda avenue. The first principal was W. P. Jeffrey ; the first primary teacher, Miss Gray of Sidney. Mr. Jeffrey held this position until the spring of 1876. Meantime the rooms had become so crowded and classes so numerous that the more advanced pupils were often asked to hear recitations of the lower classes in the cloak rooms. Other teachers in the lower department were Misses Stella Reed and Mary Lacy.
In the summer of 1876 an addition was built to the west and north, containing four rooms. Two of these were completed and occupied that year and the remaining ones, the north rooms, were finished and occupied in 1877. June 21, 1878, was the first Commencement Day in the history of the Shenandoah high school. The class motto was "Rather Use than Fame." The class numbered two, Katie Carey and Mary Welty, the latter having been a member of the school since its organization.
The course of study at that time included Latin and German. The corps of teachers were: Principal, C. S. Chase, Misses M. C. Tubbs, Lulu Ritner, F. M. Long, Nellie Ritner and Alice Baker.
The class of 1879 consisted of seven members: Hattie Allphin, Cora Carey, Addie Williams, Etta Allphin, Eunice Smith, Richard Carey and Thomas Beard. At this time Mr. Chase severed his connection with the school and was succeeded by O. J. Colton, who remained one year, gradu- ating a class of two-Addie Argus and Ella I.eBarron.
Thus closed one decade of the history of the Shenandoah schools. Since then they have grown rapidly. They have had more and better apparatus and a better library, but I doubt if they have worked with more enthusiasm or enjoyment than did we in the early days.
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Mrs. S. E. Field has written suggestively of the first school in Shen- ยท andoah and Mrs. Dr. Smith has given an accurate and detailed description of the first eight years of the public schools. It only remains now to con- tinue the narrative from the departure of Superintendent O. G. Colton, in 1880, to the present time.
C. H. Guerney was elected superintendent of the schools in 1880. The school was still held in the white building only. At first the average at- tendance was about two hundred but as the number of pupils increased and more rooms were needed, in 1882-83 the north wing of the red building was erected at a cost of five thousand dollars, thus furnishing sufficient room for several years. Among the most prominent teachers in the grades at that time were Misses Kittie Laws, Lu Ritner and Lu Tucker. No man could have done more for the schools than Superintendent Guerney during the eight years that he remained. In the second year of the superintendency he reorganized the high-school course and enlarged it so that it would be an accredited school and its graduates could thus enter the university with- out examination. In consequence of this there were no graduates from the years 1880 to 1884. In 1888 he left Shenandoah, having been elected superintendent of the schools in Marengo, Iowa. During his superintend- ency the schools certainly reached their highwater mark and no man in all the history of the schools has been held in greater esteem by both pupil and patron. His successor was A. B. Carroll, who remained five years. In 1800 he put out a course of study and revised it in 1892. putting in two years of Latin and a special instructor of penmanship.
There were in 1892 three high school teachers, including the superin- tendent, and ten grade teachers. The entire teaching force had grown to fifteen in 1802. In 1891 the front wing of the red building was added, making the school on Clarinda avenue as it stands today.
F. A. Lacey succeeded Mr. Carroll in 1893. In 1894 the number of teachers had increased to seventeen. He remodeled the course of study, extending the course in Latin to four years, putting in a college preparatory and an English course, each of four years. During his stay the open recess was done away with in the high school and grades and marching substi- tuted. In inclement weather this was carried on indoors. O. E. Smith and Mr. Lacey exchanged places in 1897. Mr. Smith coming here from North Des Moines. He brought out a new modern grade course of study in 1901. He revised the high-school course first in 1899 and again in 1902, making some changes and enriching the different departments. The class of 1898 was the first to graduate from the four-year Latin course.
During Mr. Smith's stay, he succeeded in having the high-school teach- ers assigned to definite departments of work instead of teaching subjects miscellaneously. The high-school had kept pace with the onward march of the colleges, and students graduating from the revised course of this period were recognized by all state schools. The average high-school at- tendance in 1903 had increased from eighty-seven in 1806 to one hundred and forty-seven pupils.
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During his superintendency Forest Park schoolhouse, a modern four- room building was erected in the second ward, at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. When the building was completed and the assignment of its four teacher's had been made, Miss Irwin, principal, Mr. Smith remarked that he had sent all those immune from matrimony and other attractions. This state- ment has been proven up to this time, for these teachers have continued with ranks unbroken. By 1902 the buildings became so crowded that it was again necessary to have more room. Broad Street school was then begun but not entirely finished until the fall of 1904, in H. E. Wheeler's superin- tendency. This building, a modern, commodious, four-room structure, is in the first ward. It was built at a cost of ten thousand dollars. Miss Junk is its principal.
Although Mr. Smith was elected here for the seventh time, he re- signed. being tendered the superintendency at Indianola, Iowa, and wishing to place his children in a good college.
In 1903 H. E. Wheeler succeeded Mr. Smith. In 1904 the colleges had so modified their entrance requirements that it became necessary to once more revise the course. Two years of German and other advantages were added so pupils could enter the State University without examination. The completion of Broad Street building allowed more room for the high school. One room was set aside for a laboratory and fully equipped with the necessary apparatus.
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