USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. : a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Page County, constitution of the state of Iowa, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 56
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The Nodaway Chief, the official Greenback organ of the county, was founded in August, 1879, by Mr. J. J. Moulton, the present editor and pro- prietor. It is a seven column folio and a most staunch advocate of the political doctrines it has espoused. No one better than newspaper men know the difficulty of establishing on a permanent basis a new enterprize in journalism. Add to this the fact that the political principles advocated
539
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
are still in their infancy, and arrayed against the prejudices of the old party papers, and the uphill work of a new departure can be readily ap- preciated. The Chief has been fortunate in that at its head was a man thoroughly imbued with the tenets of his political faith, honestly earnest in his attempt to place his views before the public. It has thus been able to secure a foothold, and if the hearty support of the community is given, it bids fair to make one of the first papers in influence in the county. The paper is not only a strenuous but a consistently honest representative of its political faith.
The Essex Index was established the latter part of February, 1876, by L.L. Heath, who conducted it until January, 1877, when it passed into the hands of D. W. Jones, one of the thrifty and wide-awake farmers of Grant township, with L. S. Hanna as editor. Mr. Hanna greatly improved the paper, enlarging it from a six column folio to a five column quarto. He remained as editor of the paper until the 13th of June, 1878, when he re- tired, and Mr. S. E. Wilson, now county superintendent of schools, as- sumed the editorship of the paper, remaining as such for a few months, when he retired and the name of J. W. Kendall appeared at the mast- head. He remained in charge of the editorial department until the spring of 1880, when he also retired. The paper is now edited by A. P. Skeed, D. W. Jones still owning the material. The Index has been of much value to the town of Essex, and has doubtless aided materially in building up the west side of the county.
The first paper established in the town of Shenandoah was the Repor- ter, founded in August, 1871, by M. Nicholson and D. R. Gaff. In 1873 James McCabe purchased Mr. Nicholson's interest, and the firm was known as McCabe & Gaff. December 1, 1874, the office was purchased by George W. Gunnison, its present proprietor and editor. The Repor- ter was established as a seven column folio, and so continued until 1876, when it was enlarged to eight columns to the page. In March, 1880, the pressure on the columns of the paper demanded a further enlargement, and consequently another column was added. The paper is thoroughly republican in politics, and as such is well patronized by the live business men of the flourishing and prosperous town in which it is published. The Reporter has a fine job office in connection, and is noted for the excellency of the work therein produced.
The Shenandoah Republican was founded in September, 1877, by W. H. Copson and D. R. Gaff. At first it was but an eight column folio, and was conducted as such until the first of January, 1878, when the growing patronage of the office warranted the enterprising publishers in enlarging the paper to its present dimensions, nine column folio. The paper, as its name indicates, is thoroughly republican, and since its estab- lishment has done good service for its party. Particular attention is paid
540
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
to the local department of the Republican, and in this respect the paper is above the average country papers published in towns no larger than Shenandoah. The office is well supplied with a good outfit for job work.
The Blanchard Record was established in December, 1879, by Zeluff & Vosburgh, the town of Blanchard being then only about three months old. The paper is now edited by Townsend & Vosburgh. It is a five column quarto and a good representative of the live and flourishing town in which it is published, as its editors take particular pains with the local department of their paper and thus make it above the average, and es- pecially so when the age and size of the town is taken into consideration. The paper has aided materially in building up the town of Blanchard.
EDUCATIONAL.
It must not be supposed that while the pioneers who settled the prairies and valleys of Page county were busy reclaiming the wilderness, and sur- rounding themselves with domestic comforts, they forgot to plant the seeds of those institutions among which they were reared. As soon as a sufficient number of children could be gathered the school house made its appearance; rude at first, like the primitive houses of the settlers, but adapted 10 the circumstances of the people in those times. Pioneer school houses were usually log structures, warmed in winter from fire-places similar to those in the pioneer houses." Slanting shelves for desks, and in front of these were benches made of slabs. These were for the "big scholars." A row of similar benches stood in front of these, upon which the smaller ones sat. The buildings were sometimes without doors, and paper made to serve as window glass. The books then in use in schools were such as would not be tolerated now. Webster, Dilworth, Pike, Daboll, and Murray, or McGuffey were their authors. These books were well adapted to the capacities of those who had mastered the branches of which they treated, but not to those of beginners. The method of teach- ing was then quite different from the present. The early settlers, as had been their fathers before them, were reared with full faith in the maxim, " Spare the rod and spoil the child." Their teachers were usually anx- ious that pupils should not spoil on their hands, and many old men retain a vivid remembrance of what school discipline was in their boyhood. An account of the exercises during half a day of a school in those days would be amusing, though, in some respects it is a question whether modern customs are great improvements. Many can remember that when word was passed around, " master's coming!" a grand scramble for seats took place, so that every one was found in his place and order prevailed when
541
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
the august dispenser of wisdom entered; and, if for any reason he re- mained at the house during the intermission at noon, it was necesssary that he should walk a short distance away and then retrace his steps, in order that he be "comin." It must be admitted, that notwithstanding the miserable text-books then in use, and the, in many respects, awkward methods of teaching which prevailed, the schools of that period furnished some excellent scholars; perhaps, almost a larger proportion than those of the present time.
The early establishment of an efficient common school system in the great state of which Page forms a part is in a great measure due to the eager demand for such a system, on the part of those who had enjoyed . the educational advantages of the older east. It has been said that men are more generally inclined to follow than to lead, and an evidence of truth of this saying may be found in the tardiness which people exhibit in the adoption of those changes in their customs that changing circumstances require. The conduct of the Welchman who placed a stone in one end of the bag which his horse carried across his back, to balance the wheat in the other, " because his father did so," was not a greater absurdity than many were guilty of before him, or than others will perpetuate in future, to say nothing of the present. Yet Page county may justly be said to have taken rapid strides in the cause of education. The following statis- tical tables will show the advances made, by the most reliable test known- that of the actual figures.
1864 |
1872
1880
No. of district townships .. .
13
16
11
No. of independent townships.
1
4
47
No. of sub-districts .
45
96
82
No. of ungraded schools
51
89
122
No. of rooms in graded schools
3
1
26
No. of months school in year .
3.8
6.5
7.3
No. of male teachers employed.
27
67
92
No. of female teachers emploped .
45
69
179
No. of female “
66
1053
2012
4720
Average attendance of pupils
1061
2038
3167
Average cost of tuition per month.
.96
1.80
1.60
Average compensation of male teachers per month
25.48
33.20
35.45
Average compensation of female
16.20
26.64
27.75
No. of frame school houses
24
83
121
No. of brick school houses
2
1
6
No. of log school houses.
8
Whole number
34
84
127
Value.
$16400
$70825
$118225
Value of apparatus
$12200
$1750
$2353
No. of volumes in district libraries
6
238
400
No. of male pupils between 5 and 21 years
1077
2343
3416
No. of pupils enrolled in school
1881
2750
5037
542
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
FINANCIAL REPORT.
SCHOOL HOUSE FUND.
1864.
1872.
1880.
On hand at last report
A 3239 67|$ 5448 03
Received from district tax
$ 433 07
18217 22 2050 26
10801 99
Received from other sources
1519 70
Total debit.
$
433 07|$ 23507 15
$ 17769 72
Paid for school houses and sites
433 07
17958 63
4930 57
Paid for school apparatus
311 60
Paid on bonds and interest
387 06
5272 20
On hand.
5161 46
5278 91
Total credit
$ 433 07 $ 23507 15 $ 17769 70
CONTINGENT FUND.
On hand at last report
Received from district tax .
594 70
2724 74 9759 67
6656 07 13041 81 527 16
Total debit
$ 594 70
$ 12895 12 $ 20225 04
Paid for rent and repairing sch. houses
5 00
1492 60
1489 70
Paid for fuel
459 00
2498 46
3265 29
Paid secretaries and treasurers
130 70
709 46
1281 53
Paid for other purposes.
3548 73
5188 09
On hand .
4645 86
9000 43
Total credit
$ 594 70 $ 12895 12 $ 20225 04
TEACHERS' FUND.
On hand at last report
17717 40
Received from district tax
1203 38
6705 80 23258 68
33994 47
Received from semi-annual appor'm'nt
2154 63
4976 76 615 09
594 14
Total debit
$ 3358 01
$ 35556 25
$ 58780 00
Paid teachers
3358 01
26044 50
35639 63
Paid for other purposes
754 23
On hand.
9511 65
22386 14
Total credit.
$ 3358 01|$ 35556 25 $ 58780 00
Total apportionment for 1879, $2979 48.
.
6473 99
Received from other sources
Received from other sources
410 71
-
543
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS.
1864.
1872.
1880.
Professional certificates issued.
16
13
First Grade
40
80
Second "
66 66
134
102
Third
66
43
Total number issued
72
190
248
Applicants rejected
54
Total number examined
261
302
Average age of teachers.
21
23
No experience in teaching.
30
40
VISITATION OF SCHOOLS.
Schools visited by County Superintendent.
80
126
Visits made during the year
96
168
Educational meetings held
.
4
NORMAL INSTITUTE.
No. of weeks held.
1
1
4
males in attendance
48
58
66 females in
47
122
Total
95
180
SCHOOL FUND COMMISSIONERS.
1850 to 1852-Philip Bowler.
1852 to 1854-A. H. Farrens.
1854 to 1858-B. B. Hutton.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.
1858 to 1860-B. B. Hutton. 1860 to 1862-J. T. Anderson. (Resigned in 1861. and Wm. Stryker appointed to fill vacancy).
1862 to 1864-J. S. Maughlin.
1864 to 1870-J. A. Woods. (Resigned in 1869, and T. J. Garnett ap- pointed to fill unexpired term). 1870 to 1874-Elijah Miller. 1874 to 1876-Hugh Morton. 1876 to 1880 -- Elijah Miller. 1880 to - -- -- S. Eugene Wilson.
-
544
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
What has been said with reference to the schools of Shenandoah, may, perhaps, be justly said of the system in the county. The importance of the common school, the value of good teachers, the necessity of a compe- tent head to the system, the need of commodious well ventilated, well lighted, and cheerful school houses will ever assume a greater importance in the mind of an intelligent people. It should always be true of Page that the "school master is abroad in the land " -- not the mere school keeper, but the active, energetic teacher. One is alive to and keeps abreast of the issues of the day. Time never was when men and women who under- stand the importance of their relation to the youthful mind were so needed as now. What the future of education in this county shall be, we can only judge by the past, and thus judging the future is full of promise. To the present superintendent, Prof. S. E. Wilson, the county owes not a little of its educational advancement. He is a man alive to the interests of his office, and interested in both the schools and teachers of the county. Worth and merit should be and are being recognized by the people of the county in retaining good teachers-all realizing the fact that incessant changes are in themselves detrimental to the highest interests of the pupils in the schools. To the teachers of the county success, to the people good schools and enough of them.
Townships, Towns and Villages.
NODAWAY TOWNSHIP.
This township as it now stands was first settled by Isaiah Hulbert in 1850, on what is now known as the Neff farm. After him came Henry D. Farrens, in the spring of 1852, and soon afterward came Messrs. Stafford, W. Lavering and John Dodson. Within the founding of Cla- rinda, the history of which is hereinafter given, the history of the city be- comes that of the township, which embraces by far the most considerable township in the county. The impetus given to the settlement of Clarinda and the rapid growth of business interests now makes Nodaway town- ship the banner one of the county. The surface characters of the eastern and western halves are widely different, and the geological features cor- respondingly diverse-that is, where the rock structures appear at all.
CLARINDA.
As soon as emigration becomes an important factor in the growth of a county, then commences a process of centralization. Men begin to group themselves into communities, not for protection but for convenience. Once the nucleus is formed, and then begins the process of aggregation; houses are built, stores are erected, public buildings become a necessity and rapidly multiply, churches and civic societies are organized, and almost before our own plans are matured we have become interested in those of a public nature, and are in the midst of a rushing, driving busi- ness city. Such is the history, in brief, of all western towns, and there- fore of Clarinda. From a day of small beginnings to a town of several hundred buildings, and more than 2000 population, the hurry and rush of an active business life has become the daily experience of a resident of this town.
The act authorizing the location of the seat of justice of Page county was passed early in the session of the fourth general assembly, and was as follows:
M
546
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa :
SECTION 1. That John Scott and Thomas M. Gordon, of the county of Fremont, and Jacob Miller, of the county of Taylor, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners to locate and establish the seat of justice for the county of Page. Said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall meet at the house of Philip Boulware in said county, on the first Monday of March next, or within thirty days thereafter, and proceed to locate and establish the seat of justice of said county as near the geographical center of said county as may be, having due regard to the present as well as the future population of said county.
SEC. 2. That the said commissioners, before entering upon their duties under the provisions of this act, shall take an oath before some person authorized to administer the same, for the faithful performance of said du- ties, and make a written report thereof to the county judge of said county, who shall cause the same to be filed and entered upon the records of said county.
SEC. 3. That said commissioners shall receive as compensation for said services two dollars per day for each day necessarily employed in lo- cating said seat of justice, and two dollars for every twenty miles' travel going and returning from the said Boulware's, to be paid out of the pro- ceeds of the first sale of lots in said town; and the name of said county seat shall be Clarinda.
SEC. 4. This act to take effect from and after its passage.
(Signed) JAMES GRANT,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
W. E. LEFFINGWELL,
President of the Senate.
Approved, December 22, 1852,
S. HEMPSTEAD, Governor.
In accordance with the foregoing authority the commissioners located the seat of justice on the northwest quarter of section No. 31, township No. 79, north, range No. 36 west. The county authorities immediately pre-empted the same in the name of the county.
In May, 1853, the said quarter section was laid out into lots, as it ap- pears on the plat of the original town to-day. The town was laid off under the direction of Wm. L. Burge, prosecuting attorney, and acting county judge and was surveyed by E. Miller.
In Septemper following there was a public sale of lots. The lot on which Hawley's opera house stands brought the highest price. It was bought, or bid off, by R. W. Stafford, for $15.00. Other lots around the square sold for $2.50 each. The county judge sold a considerable number of lots to Isaac Hulbert for means to enter the land at the land office, then located at Council Bluffs.
547
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Many, and especially strangers, to-day wonder why the commissioners located the town so near the eastern border of the county. The act re- quired them to locate it " as near the geographical center of the county as may be, having due regard to the present as well as the future popu- lation of said county. " At the time of the location the population was confined almost wholly to that portion of the county lying to the east and southeast of where the commissioners fixed upon for the town site. There were those living in the county then, and are residing here yet, who pre- dicted the time would come when it would be rather inconvenient to cer- tain portions of the county to have the county seat located on the site the commissioners fixed upon ; while others stoutly asserted that the then bar- ren waste lying to the westward never could and never would be settled and improved, and as they were then largely in the majority the present town site was selected. As to whether or not the location was a judicious one it is not in our province to state, but of one thing we are sure, those who predicted the "barren waste " would never be improved were cer- tainly mistaken, or in other words, their judgment in regard to the matter was not the very best. The county seat question, however, has never been a very perplexing one to the citizens of the county, as but few times has an attempt at its removal even been hinted at, and never have the citi- zens of the county been called upon to decide the matter by their votes, and the probabilities are now that they never will be so called upon.
The first little shanty that was on the present site of Clarinda, was brought from the spot where Mr. A. Loranz's house now stands and had been used for a school house in which Mrs. Farlow had taught one term of school. The little house above mentioned was removed to the west side of the square and used for the accommodation of the first district court held in the county seat of Page county-this court was held Sep- tember, 1853. The building wasa one story frame, 12x14 feet, neither plastered or sealed. The judge's stand was rudely constructed, much like those used for speakers at picnics in the woods.
The next building was what was known as a "hewed log " house erected by S. F. Snider, county judge-this building was used by the district court-spring term, 1854. It was on the site now occupied by the Com- mercial house.
The next building was a "round log building scutched down" as the old settlers called it. That is round logs used and hewn after they were in the building. This building occupied the site just south of Burns' livery stable and occupied afterward by Lewis Schultz and after him by Geo. Ribble, Esq., as a hotel. At this time Wm. L. Burge, acting county judge, lived in a little log shanty where Mr. J. H. Powers' residence now stands.
The first sermon preached in the county seat was in the old court house
548
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
shanty above described, in the fall of 1853, by Rev. S. Farlow, of the M. E. church, which Mr. Farlow then occupied as a dwelling.
Early in the summer of 1854 Camp & Conn commenced selling goods in the old court house shanty. This summer the old cottonwood school house was built, and E. Miller taught school-this was the first school taught on the town site of Clarinda, of which there is any original record.
Late in the season Gorden & Townsend sent a wagon load of goods into town. Judge Snider and family were the only persons then living in town. In September, 1854, James Shambaugh bought the goods of Gor- den & Townsend and opened a store on the north side of the square.
Next year, 1855, J. H. Polsley commenced selling goods on the south side, and in the fall Mr. J. H. Powers (who had been here in the summer) returned and bought Shambaugh out.
About the same time Rogers & Hinchman of Savannah, Missouri, started a store on the northwest corner of the square and were finally succeeded by Hinchman & Murphy.
The first attorney in the town, except Burge, was a Mr. Dodge, who soon left; want of patronage supposed to be the cause. The first physi- sician in the town was Dr. J. L. Barrett, who came in 1854, and who has been a regular practitioner at Clarinda from that day to this -a period of twenty-six years. Dr. Kridlebaugh came in September, 1855. In connection with his practice as a physician he has given considerable at- tention to the science of entomology. J. J. Barwick was the first resident attorney; he came in 1854. Dr. A. H. East was the next attorney to make his appearance; he was also a successful physician.
In the fall of 1855 school was taught in the "old cottonwood " by Mr. J. H. Wilson. In the spring of 1856 Dr. J. H. Conine established an office in town and afterwards a drug store.
Sometime during the spring of 1856 Kridlelaugh & Douglas started a drug store, and in 1857 Douglas was succeeded by D. C. Ribble. In the spring of 1857 Col. John R. Morledge established a law office in town. He is still in the law, having been at the Clarinda bar for a period of twenty-three years. In these early days times draged slowly, only oc- casionly a straggler passed through when news from the outside world could be obtained free. "To live" was the main idea with the few set- tlers; the spirit of speculation had not yet reached this garden spot of the world. The whistle of the long-bill snipe was the only musical institute then available, that was also free. But the rattle-snakes and the wolves were absolute masters of the situation-no quarters given on either side- the white man had no quarters to give, and the other side recognized no right but their own.
There had been a post-office established at Boulware's mill for some time, but the mail was only carried when the water was down, which
549
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
was in accordance with the government contract. The first post-office in Clarinda was established in 1854; S. F. Snider, the first post master; John Polsley and J. S. B. Polsley were his successors. Dr. Kridlebaugh was postmaster in 1856 and was succeeded by John Haskin and Col. A. R. Anderson. The first tin shop was established by C. W. Foster. Thos. Evans established a tin shop in 1860.
The first regular hotel was established by George Ribble, Esq., in 1855. Mr. Ribble states that during the land sales he frequently had as much as a peck of gold coin under his bed for safe keeping. Ribble sold to E. Keeler in 1857. Keeler sold to Major Joseph Cramer in 1859, Cramer rented to Winkler, and sold to Capt. Jacob Butler, Butler to Anderson, Anderson to Capt. W. Rawlings, Rawlings to George Baker.
The business of the town increased slowly compared with after years. The business house occupied by Hinchman & Murphy fell into the hands of S. F. Snider, who was then selling goods in the same building the county records were burned-especially the county judge's minute book. The following extract from the county judge's minute book will explain itself :
"Be it known, that on the night of the 12th day of January, 1858, all the books pertaining to the office of the county courts, together with the building in which they were kept-were consumed by fire. * *
A. H. EAST,
Prosecuting Attorney and ex-oficio County Fudge.
The building referred to was located on the ground on which the new bank building is being erected. The fire destroyed two other business houses on the north side ere the flames were extinguished; both of them were vacant at the time, consequently, the loss was not so great as it other- wise might have beeen.
In 1860 the thriving village heard the echoes that ushered in the great war struggle that fairly shook the earth. For the honor of the old flag Clarinda sent forth many of her bravest and best, and " over their ashes her most bitter tears have been shed."
But it was only the echoes of the war surges that reached the town. The wreck and desolation were elsewhere. The prosperity of the town was slackened, not stopped. With the return of the soldiers to the fields of activity and industry, the growth of the town was quickened. Still it was a healthful growth, even during the " wild cat" days of speculation that always follow the footprints of war.
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