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 59
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The first public school in Blanchard opened September 20, 1880. The building known as the " Milwaukee Beer Parlor" has been nicely fitted up for a school room, and E. Benedict, of Union Grove, has been en- gaged to train the young folks to be good citizens.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
In 1858 this township included the greater part of congressional township No. 67 north, range 39 west, and part of range 38. The first settlements were made prior to its organization, and were by B. C. Free- man, of Missouri, J. B. Vansandt of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Al- exander Vansandt. These persons are all supposed to have come in the year 1856. Shortly afterward Messrs. Mawhinney, Johnson, Webb, Wilk- inson, Mullen and others " staked out" claims, and began homes. This township had the experiences of the others of the county, its residents be- ing subjected to the usual privations of a pioneers life, meeting with the same discouragements and rejoicing in the same or similar triumphs. They early began to care for the educational and religious interests of their children-the first school house having been built at Union Grove in 1861, by a Miss Dupray, and the first sermon having been preached by the Rev. Stephen Blanchard in the same place-and they have intelligently cared for the same ever since. But industrial matters were cared for as well-Mrs. B. C. Freeman being the first person to weave cloth. The love affairs of the township have known only one untoward circumstance, which was the suicide by shooting of Mr. James Hilderbrand, through temporary insanity, caused by disappontment in love matters. The love experiences of J. M. Kinne and Miss Kate Hull were brought to a most happy consummation by their marriage on July 5, 1860, at the home of the bride's parents, which marriage was the first one in the township. The wife of B. C. Freeman not only wove the first cloth, but gave birth
572
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
to the first male child, in September, 1856. The following year, Mary, daughter of Alexander and Susan Vansandt, was born, being the first female child born in the township.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Baptist church was organized in January, 1876, with C. P. Green and wife, G. E. Morrill and wife, R. F. Freeman and wife, and Charles Cox as members. They possess no church, but worship in the school house. The pastors have heen the Revs. Irely, Webb, and E. N. Best. The society is now in fair condition.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1866. D. A. Peck and wife, Henry Welb and wife, Mrs. E. Welb, Richard Dupray and wife, T. C. Petie and wife, and James Hull and wife were the original members. They worship in a school house under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Reid. There is now a membership of 22, and a flourishing Sabbath school, attesting the zeal of its members.
DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.
Douglas township was first settled by Levi Reeves and James Black, in 1854. Mr. Reeves was a native of Ohio, originally. In coming to Page county he came directly from Wapello county, this state. The settlement of Douglas was not rapid, nor did its population increase in any marked ratio until the Swedes came in 1870 and the year following. The first marriage in the township occurred in 1859, the contracting parties being Cyrus Dinwiddie and Miss Hannah Ward. The wedding was celebrated with due jollification at the home of the bride's parents by Thomas Bowen, Esq. The connubial ice being once broken, others followed in rapid suc- cession. The first male child born in the township was William, son of Levi and Amanda Reeves, which happy event occurred in October, 1857. The first female antedated William by nearly a year, being the birth of Lucinda Ottee, daughter of Henry and Charlotte Ottee, born in 1856. Along with the pleasant incidents of history come those of a sad nature. History must chronicle both. The first death was that of Mrs. Ward- presumably the mother of the first bride-which occurred in 1857. With the message of death came the need of the clergyman. The clergy had been in the township from almost its earliest settlement, dispensing, as was their wont, the bread of life eternal to those eagerly hungering for
573
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
it. The first sermon was preached in the school house on section 12, by the Rev. Colwell, of the M. E. church. This school house had been used for educational and religious purposes alike, which fact is a common one in the history of new sections. Religion and education are commonly thought to be inseparable; the early settlers at least regarded them as such, and used the single for the common purpose. The first school was taught by Miss Hester Sayres, on section 12, for a monthly compensation of nineteen dollars. She taught in the first school house built, on section 12, in the year 1866. From this beginning a grand and noble work has been done in the township in the cause of popular education. It is a fact that should cease never to be regretted, that so many refuse to accept the blessings of education, as they are offered them so freely and liberally. May the time never come when the people of Douglas shall fail to see in the common school the greatest boon the state can grant its constituency. She is a grand township, with agricultural possibilities before her that shall one day make her second to none in the county.
CHURCHES.
There are in the township four distinct church organizations, as fol- lows:
The Evangelical Lutheran, which was organized in 1868, with an original membership of nine souls-J. H. Diftmire, Henry Ottee, M. Sun- derman, Henry Sunderman, William Sunderman, August Bucknel, J. Groeling and T. F. Knost. In 1869 a frame building was erected at a. cost of $700, the members contributing, in addition, a large amount of gratuitous labor. In the same year the church was dedicated by the Rev. L. Hanwald. The present pastor is August Lohr. The original church building was burned in 1876, but was rebuilt in the year following. This sufficiently well illustrates the energy and zeal of its membership, and the interest they take in religious matters.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church was organized December 26, 1870, with the following membership: John Johnson and family, John Carlson and family, Gustave Hill and family, John Hill, Andrew Shell- green, Ephraim Anderson, J. Pearson and family, August Nelson and family, Andrew Sniberg and family, and Abraham Sniberg. A frame church was built in the year 1877, at a cost of $4,000, inclusive of the parsonage. The dedicatory services were conducted by the Rev. B. M. Halland, on December 31, 1877. Since its organization the church has been served by the following pastors: B. M. Halland and J. P. Neandor, who is the present pastor. The present membership of the church is 184; the congregation, including children, numbers 330 persons. The church cares for a Swedish school, in connection with its religious work, which
574
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
has an average attendance of 64. The school is well taught, and doing an urgently needed work.
The United Presbyterian church was organized in 1872, with a mem- bership of eight: James Pollock and wife, J. L. Black and wife, William Wolf and wife, Isaac Schofield, and Mr. White, constituting that number. A frame building was erected in 1874, at a cost of $1,100, and dedicated in the same year by the Rev. D. C. Wilson, of Clarinda. The present pastor is the Rev. D. Dodds. The membership is now 73.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1868, at the Cramer school house on section 5. The original class consisted of George W. and Sarah Hogan, Major J. Cramer and wife, J. H. Cramer, D. W. Cramer, and J. Lytle. There is no building belonging to the church; their services are held in the Cramer school house. The pastors have been the Revs. Reed, Prince, Newman, Delong, Smith, and the present incumbent, the Rev. Mr. Lynn. The present membership is 30. The so- ciety was organized on Thanksgiving Day, 1868, by the Rev. Mr. Reed.
GRANT TOWNSHIP.
The township was originally a part of Tarkio. The history of its sepa- ration from that township is given in the account of the records forming the several townships. It now comprises congressional township No. 69, range 39 west. It is therefore one of the last organized in the county, but by no means the least important. In it is included some of the very finest farming land in Page county, a fact settlers have not been slow to perceive and to improve. And from the time when the first settler in the county, J. F. M. Porter, who came in 1856, until the present time the township has been marked by a steady growth, in both population and wealth. The Nebraska City branch of the B. & M. R. R. was completed through this township in 1870, when Shenandoah was laid out, and to this fact must much of its prosperity be attributed.
SHENANDOAH.
The city of Shenandoah has a brief history. It is yet phenomenal in its rapid growth and developement ; in its wealth and resources. Its rise is not of that character which bears on its surface some of the marks of permanency, but has taken place in obedience to those laws which ensure
575
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
permanency, and are of themselves a sufficient guarantee of future growth and prosperity. When business interests and a fealty to town prosperity once become a factor in the popular mind, there is the promise and po- tency of substantial development. Such has characterized the brief his- tory of the beautiful town of Shenandoah. Where but a short ten years ago was unbroken prairie and the stillness that broad, untilled acres only may know, stands a city of fifteen hundred people, busied each with the cares of an active life, and moving amidst the hum of numerous indus- tries. Sure in no land except the great west could such a wonder be.
Shenandoah occupies a portion of one of the westernmost sections of Grant township, (Sec. 19,) has a gentle western slope and its site com- mands a magnificent view of the Nishnabotna, for miles in either direc- tion. The town was founded on the 6th day of August in the year 1870, the first house built in the city having been completed on that day. The pioneer store was the hardware establishment of J. H. Shugart & Co., which opened on the 10th day of October following. In the early part of August, however, two firms had engaged in the lumber business, those of Brison & Bro. and J. J. Kaster & Co. In September of the following year W. E. Webster established the first drug store, and S. P. Carpenter erected what was at that time the finest hotel in Page county-the Shen- andoah house.
The first municipal election in the town occurred on Saturday the 22 of August, 1871. The entire number of votes cast at this first election-61 -may afford an index to the already rapid growth of the place. The election resulted in the choice of the following officers:
Mayor-J. H. Shugart. Recorder-W. E. Webster. Treasurer-B. M. Webster. Marshal-T. J. Warren. Council-S. P. Carpenter, Benj. Lake, R. B. Crose, J. S. Johnson, A. J. West.
The following are the officers from this date until the present year, (1880):
1872.
Mayor-J. H. Shugart, (re-elected). Recorder-W. E. Webster. Treas- urer-B. M. Webster. Marshal-E. J. Warren. Council-S. P. Carpen- ter, Benj. Lake, R. B. Crose, J. S. Johnson, A. J. West.
1873.
Mayor-G. W. Gunnison, Sr. Recorder-A. B. West. Council-E. W. Beghtol, J. Swain, A. J. West, J. H. Shugart, G. W. Coverston.
1874.
Mayor-A. S. Lake. Recorder-J. Mentzer. Treasurer-W. E. Web-
576
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
ster. Council-E. L. Arthur, A. J. West, R. Ingraham, R. B. Crose, H. C. Reed.
1875.
Mayor-E. S. Arthur. Recorder-John Mentzer. Treasurer-W. E. Webster, (resigned in August, 1875). Council-T. N. Pace, L. K. Hut- ton, G. W. Winchester, R. B. Crose, H. C. Reed.
1876.
Mayor-W. C. Martin. Recorder-John Mentzer. Treasurer-O. P. Cole. Council-A. B. Woodford, G. A. Quimby, R. B. Crose, S. S. Wil- cox, Benj. Lake.
1877.
Mayor-J. C. Cheshier. Recorder-J. T. Kemp. Treasurer-J. S. Swain. Council-G. A. Quimby, O. P. Cole, F. W. Chase, W. C. Math- ews, J. Mentzer.
1878.
Mayor-J. H. Shugart. Recorder-D. R. Gaff. Treasurer-H. P. Duffield. Council-G. H. Chase, L. K. Hutton, Thomas Lytle, C. T. Cox, John Angus.
1879.
Mayor-W. C. Mathews. Recorder-D. R. Gaff. Treasurer-H. P. Duffield. Council-F. E. Miller, C. T. Cox, Thomas Lytle, A. J. Crose, L. Wilford, J. Worrel.
1880.
Mayor-S. S. Wilcox. Recorder-D. R. Gaff. Treasurer-H. P. Duffield. Council-G. R. Taylor, E. C. Hale, Thomas Lytle, A. J. Crose, L. Wilford, J. Worrel.
No more fitting tribute can possibly be paid to the enterprise of the Shenandoah of to-day than to present the speech of Mr. Furguson, the first lawyer of the city on the occasion of the "bissextile" of its first mayor, J. H. Shugart. The speech is itself an epitome of the city's history. The address was made on the occasion of a presentation to Mr. Shugart of a gold-headed cane by the citizens of the place as an endorsement of his official acts as first mayor, and as a token of their sincere respect, as well as in honor of the event they had met to celebrate. Mr. Furguson spoke as follows:
577
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Mr. Shugart: SIR-In appreciation of the honorable part you have hitherto taken in the rise, development and welfare of the town of Shen- andoah, as its first mayor, and as one of its pioneer citizens, your many friends have thought this birthday anniversary a fitting occasion to con- gratulate you by presenting some tangible token of their esteem and ap- probation. When we reflect that but scarcely eighteen months ago the place where Shenandoah now stands existed only in the dreamy past, without leaving tradition or history by which to trace the succession of countless ages, from the earliest dawn of creation until now, and then compare it with the Shenandoah of to-day, that has sprung up as if by magic, so full of life and activity, we can scarcely comprehend that we have not merely been passing through, but forming an epoch in history as responsible and peculiar, if not so mighty, as the first landing of the pil- grim fathers on Plymouth Rock.
On the 23d day of July, 1871, the infant town doffed its swaddling clothes and came forth fully fledged and christened as an independent corporation by the beautiful and significant name of Shenandoah-" Daughter of the stars."
At the election of officers you, sir, were the choice of the citizens, and duly elected to fill the honorable and responsible position of first mayor. To have been present and taken part on that occasion was an honor which we all appreciate, but to you, sir, as the first magistrate of this embryo city, that will, ere long, be the metropolis of the fertile valley of the Nishnabotna, the chief honor belongs to the laying the foundations of municipal government and standing first on the roll of honor that will never cease to be the pride and envy of its first citizens. But, sir, were we to express our hearty endorsement of your official acts, it would be stating the matter too lightly. If Shenandoah has grown and prospered to realize the highest hopes of the most sanguine, if the mud in its streets has been fathomed and made passable by proper walks and crossings, if a high standard of morality, education and temperance has early developed itself, it is not all due to the superior locality and fertile prairies surround- ing it, but to those principles of enterprise and virtue planted and main- tained by its pioneer citizens, of whom, sir, you are the fittest representa- tive. Time will never efface the memory of these events, but they will grow brighter and brighter as they ripen to maturity, and time lends en- chantment to the view. It gives us great pleasure to join here to-night in a reunion of friends and relatives to congratulate you that so many circum- stances contribute to make this anniversary of your bissextile birthday so pleasant and happy, and let us hope that your future will be as bright and prosperous as the past has been honorable. And now, sir, in behalf of your assembled guests to-night, allow me to present this gold-headed
0
578
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
cane, which you will ever regard as a memorial of their respect and grat- itude."
Mr. Shugart reponded as follows:
GENTLEMEN :- This has taken me so much by surprise that I cannot fully express my gratitude for this act of kindness, nor feel sufficiently thankful to you for this evidence of your esteem. It shall ever be my en- deavor so to act as to merit the confidence you have hitherto placed in me and I shall always look upon this event as the one, in my life, of which I may feel the proudest.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
With the settlement and growth of towns a hundred necessities spring into being, demanding each its appropriate share of attention, and promis- ing each its own measure of good. By far the most important of all these is the common school. In direct proportion to the attention paid to it, does the common school add to the sum of human happiness by increas- ing the sphere of human usefulness and duty. The more earnest the spirit that prompts to action, the broader and grander are the results at- tained. The history of education is the history of that long struggle by which the human intellect arrived at a just conception of its native pow- ers ; a struggle in which we are ever interested ; a struggle that comes to us laden with the accumulated facts of ages, heavy with years yet benefi- cent in influence ; a struggle in which opinions covered with honors have been marched off the stage of action and have been supplanted by facts and principles which it has cost thousands of years of trial to discover and to establish. Along with these opinions have gone faulty methods of edu- cation ; faulty ideas of what education is in itself. As a result the scope of the educator has been enlarged, he partakes very much of the relation of an adviser as well as instructor of youth. Recognizing that youth can- not be driven, and that under proper guidance each may find his own sphere of labor and usefulness. He has ceased turning the undivided at- tention of the student to the " three R's," and called him into far wider and grander fields of study. At his best he may only lay the foundation of an education, then the leading branches of human knowledge become various departments of valuable training, under the title of individual self- culture. The great mass of human information in its purest and most valuable type is obtained when school days have been ended and the text book and teacher, are replaced by the stern activities of life and that harsh old pedagogue-experience. This much is a recognized fact in modern education, and the common school adapts itself to the needs of the hour.
579
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
To-day it is educating statesmen and leaders of public opinion ; those who plead for human rights and those who present eternal spiritual truths. It is the educational factor of the age, the moulder of the nation's future, and in its recognition the city of Shenandoah has cause for self-congratu- lation. It is a proud feature of the city that she has good schools, and able teachers-made more effective far by an enthusiastic and liberal minded board of education.
The schools of Shenandoah belonged to the system of Grant township until 1872, when the independent district of the city was organized. In March of 1873, the following directors were elected: R. B. Crose, J. Swain, A. J. Welty, J. Stokes and A. B. West. The board met soon after the election and organized, with R. B. Crose as president and A. B. West secretary.
The earlier records of the district are lost, and of the very early pro- ceedings no record was kept. It is, however, possible to judge of the growth of the schools by the necessity of more room for school purposes.
The present brick structure was erected at a cost of $3,040, in 1873. It soon became necessary to enlarge the building, which was done by ad- ding to the original building two wings, also of brick, at an additional cost of $7,000. Next to the school building at Clarinda this is the finest in the county. It is a lamentable feature of the school-and the only one calling for regret-that there is hardly any apparatus and fewer books be- longing to the educational appliances of the school. In these days of cheap and valuable books there can be no excuse for the absence of a consultation library in any town of the progressiveness of Shenandoah.
The statistics of the district show the value placed upon the schools, and the eagerness of the young people to become acquainted with rudi- ments of a liberal education.
Average daily attendance
198
Number of persons of school age
402
Number of males of school age
200
Number of females of school age.
202
The city schools are divided into six departments, under the supervision of principal C. H. Guerney.
DEPARTMENT.
TEACHERS.
MALE.
FEMALE.
TOTAL.
First Primary
Miss Lida Jones
36
28
64
Second Primary.
Miss Nellie Ritner.
28
23
60
First Intermediate.
Miss Kittie Laws.
24
26
50
Second Intermediate .
Miss Lulu Ritner
13
19
32
Grammar
Miss J. E. Kennedy
12
22
34
High.
C. H. Guerney
21
21
42
Grand total
134
148
282
580
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Teachers compensation, averages per month-males, $100.00; females, $43.00.
When the schools of Shenandoah were first organized, in 1871, there was no building they could call their own. Mrs. S. E. Field taught the first school, numbering forty pupils, in a room 12x24, in the dwelling now occupied by Mr. Keenan. What has been the growth of the school sys- tem those can best appreciate who are conversant with the growth of the town -the former having been consequent on the latter. Their history, brief as it is, is only another instance of the truth of the homely old ad- age, "Tall oaks from little acorns grow." It is the good fortune of the people of Shenandoah to live in one of these eventful periods of intellect- ual and moral history when the oft-closed gates of discovery and reform stand open at their widest. How long these good days may last we can- not tell. It may be that the increasing range and power of the modern method, with its stringency of argument and constant check of fact, may start the educational world on a more steady and continuous course of progress than it has moved on heretofore. It is for those among them whose minds are set on the advancement of education and educational methods to make the most of present opportunities, that even when in future years progress is arrested-as arrested it may be-it may be stopped at the higher level.
CIVIC SOCIETIES.
MASONIC.
The first recorded proceedings of Tricentum lodge No. 300, working under a charter granted by the grand lodge of Iowa, June 7, 1871, bear the date of February 4, 1871, U. D. The charter was granted to W. E. Webster, W. M .; L. B. Alexander, S. W .; Albert Blake, J. W., and several other brethren of the mystic tie.
Benj. Lake was elected and installed W. M. in 1875, holding the chair for two years, when Amos Cox was elected to succeed him, and was in- stalled in June, 1877. In June, of the following year Benj. Lake was again called to the chair of the worthy master, serving about half the official year. He was succeeded by the S. W., H. P. Duffield, who was elected and installed W. M. in June, 1879, and again in June, 1880. The members come from among some of the best men in the vicinity. The lodge owns the finest furnished room in southwestern Iowa, is very prosperous and out of debt.
The present secretary of the lodge is Elmer C. Hale, who for two years
581
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
has filled the honorable position with credit to himself and entire satisfac- tion to the fraternity.
Starting with a few members, such has been the prosperity of the lodge that it numbers 71 members, and many have withdrawn from Tricentum lodge to join other lodges.
In the same hall occupied by the Blue Lodge meets Sheshbazzar chap- ter No. 82, Royal Arch Masons. This chapter worked under a dispensa- tion granted by the grand high priest of Iowa, from July 29, 1876, to Oc- tober 18, 1877, when the chapter was organized under a charter granted by the grand chapter, with the following officers: H. P. Duffield, H. P .; G. A. Quimby, king; Amos Cox, scribe; C. S. Chase, secretary.
In 1879 E. C. Hale was elected king; John Norton, scribe; H. P. Duf- field still filling the position of high priest.
The chapter started with a membership of thirteen. Its career has been so prosperous that now the membership numbers twenty-eight. The dispensation instituting the chapter was granted to Asa B. West, H. P .; E. W. Beghtol, king; E. C. Hale, scribe, and ten others.
Both the Blue lodge and Sheshbazzar chapter are sustained by men who always "meet upon the level," men to whom the interests of the town are not only indebted as stirring, active business men, but to whom the prin- ciples of the order are a rule of life; men of the strictest integrity and up- rightness of character.
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