USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume 1 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
INK
Cooper School Parker School South School SCHOOLS OF GRINNELL
CHAPTER VIII.
SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS FOLLOW THE SETTLEMENTS-THE LOG HOUSE AND PIONEER TEACHER DE- PICTED-FREE SCHOOLS SOON ESTABLISHED-HIGH AND GRADED SCHOOLS RULE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY-BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS AND LIBRARIES-NORMALS AND INSTITUTES.
When Poweshiek county was opened to whites, the territory had made little provision for schools, and none at all for free schools. These were not pro- vided for until 1858, or fifteen years after the Black Hawk Purchase. Such schools as were maintained before that time were supported by the payment of tuitions chiefly and by the income of some state bonds. A good educational spirit became masterful twenty years after Governor Lucas said to the first territorial legislature of Iowa: "There is no subject to which I wish to call your attention more emphatically than the subject of establishing, at the com- mencement of our political existence, a well-digested system of common schools." The governor was greatly in advance of the legislature in this respect.
The first schools were poor affairs, from the seats on which the children sat to the houses in which they were taught-we should say, "kept" perhaps,- and to the "school keepers" who directed them. Their first books were the "Scottish Chief," or "Pilgrim's Progress," the "Columbian Reader," or "Weem's Life of Washington," or "The Child of Thirty-six Fathers," as either might happen to be found in each family. When they reached the heights of arith- metic one used his Daboll or any book he could find among the learned volumes of the household, brought from Pennsylvania or Kentucky. Every boy studied by himself without the annoyance of reciting, and the girls often closed their school work with no knowledge of arithmetic at all, though few, if any, went so far as to keep their girls from school altogether as the old farmer did who said: "My gals must learn do blough."
But when houses and fences were built, and conveniences for work were gathered in the house and on the farm, when those who valued education more highly came from eastern states, and when settlements became more compact, schools improved. They were better taught, and longer. When James W.
107
108
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
Grimes was made governor in 1854, his inaugural rang out clearly : "Property is the only legitimate subject of taxation. It has its duties as well as its rights. It needs the conservative influences of education and should be made to pay for its own protection." The educational tide was rising. In 1856 the gover- nor recommended the appointment of three competent persons to revise the school laws. Hon. Horace Mann, then famous as a wise friend of common schools, Amos Dean, of the Albany Law School and chancellor elect of the Iowa State University, and F. E. Bissell, Esq., of Dubuque, a scholarly lawyer, were appointed to make the revision. The people were aroused, law makers were ready for action. The committee made its report in December, 1856. Our present constitution was framed, substantially, in 1857, and "the educational in- terests of the state including common schools" were committed by it to a board of education, consisting of the lieutenant governor and one member chosen from each judicial district of the state.
The general assembly for 1858 met in January. They were eager to adopt the school law, substantially as proposed by Horace Mann and Amos Dean. (Mr. Bissell was unable to cooperate with them in preparing it.) This was done during the session. The supreme court was called upon and decided that the law was, in part, unconstitutional. The board of education convened in December and remedied the evil.
Poweshiek county was interested in that law. Many of the more recent comers had arrived from the region of free schools. The unoccupied lands held by non-residents for an advance in price were paying nothing for educa- tion. What they were paying for schooling largely exceeded the increase of their taxes if schools should be maintained by taxation. It meant longer schools for less money for those blessed with children, and most immigrants were ap- proaching life's prime and their children were needing education. The call of Governor Grimes in 1854 for free schools, the appointment of men in 1856 to propose laws for them, prepared the way for men to enact them in 1858. J. B. Grinnell of this county had been here nearly four years, was well known, an ardent advocate of free schools in his own town and county, ready in repartee, a keen debater, an adroit campaigner. He appeared as a candidate for the state senate. Opposed to him was one esteemed an honorable gentleman, a moderate speaker, slightly informed as to free schools, and no match for "J. B." Grinnell who challenged Reuben Mickel. of Montezuma, his competitor, to debate. The arrangements were made for a series of discussions, but one round be- tween them was enough. Grinnell's opponent was outgeneraled at every point. He withdrew from the field, and left to a friend the mortification of defeat. Good fortune followed Grinnell to the senate. The presiding officer of that body had little acquaintance with the senators and asked ex-Governor Grimes whom he should make chairman of the committee on schools. "Grinnell of Poweshiek, who was elected on that issue," was the answer. He was made chairman.
The board of education was limited by the constitution to a session of twenty days each year unless in an emergency. It was hoped that, having only a single topic of legislation, experts in that one line would be able to do better work in shorter time, but the legislature was very willing to dispense with their serv-
109
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
ices about as soon as they were permitted to do so. It is true that there were some very eminent men on that board, and none superior to Hon. Charles Mason, who graduated at the head of his class in West Point. in which Robert E. Lee was second and J. E. Johnston was thirteenth. He was supreme judge in Iowa from 1838 to 1847, and chief in preparing the code of 1851, an able and upright man. And yet among all the members no man seemed better qualified to legislate for schools as did the representative from Poweshiek county,-Hon. Samuel F. Cooper, a college graduate and an experienced and eminently successful teacher.
STATE SUPERINTENDENTS.
The office of state superintendent of public instruction was created in 1847. The following named persons have held the office : James Harlan, 1847; Thomas H. Benton, Jr., 1848-54; James D. Eads, 1854-57; Joseph C. Stone, 1857; Ma- turin L. Fisher, 1857-58.
The board of education abolished the office in 1858, and its duties were per- formed by their secretary from: 1858 to 1864, as follows: Josiah T. Tubby, 1858-59; Thomas H. Benton, Jr., 1859-64; Oran Faville, 1864.
The office of superintendent of public instruction was restored in 1864, and has been held by the following named persons: Oran Faville, 1864-67; D. Franklin Wells, 1867-68; Abraham S. Kissell. 1868-72; Alonzo Abernethy, 1872-76; Carl W. Von Coelln, 1876-82; John W. Akers, 1882-88; Henry Sabin, 1888-92; Jolin B. Knopfler, 1892-94; Henry Sabin, 1894-98; Richard C. Bar- rett, 1898-1904; John F. Riggs, 1904-11; A. M. Deyoe, 1911-
The supreme court decided that Mr. Harlan was elected prematurely. James D. Eads was dropped for malfeasance in office, but he was the only one who failed to give a fair degree of satisfaction, while some have been classed with Horace Mann, of Massachusetts, and Samuel R. Lewis, of Ohio.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BLUNDERS.
The change from rate bill to free schools was immense. It introduced a large number of officers to unfamiliar duties. It was easy for those most inclined to do well to make mistakes, to do what ought not to be done, or to neglect some important duty. It may be amusing to some to remember that our gen- eral assembly violated the constitution of 1857 at its first session under the con- stitution in 1858. The supreme court decided in December that the legislature, in its eagerness to secure the advantages of free schools, had incorporated some provisions in their law approved March 12, 1858, which were invalid. They were expressly entrusted to the board of education. When the supreme court made its decision the winter schools of the state were in session. Some schools were closed promptly. Anxiety prevailed everywhere. What shall be done ?
This was the first serious question which confronted the county superin- tendent. The superintendent of this county promptly issued his announcement that inasmuch as the board of education was in session and it had the power to correct the mistake of the legislature, it would soon be done. "Let us all wait,
110
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
at least, one week longer before we close any school," said the superintendent. "We have fifty per cent more teachers and more pupils in our schools than ever before." That was the fruitage of the new law. All waited patiently. Two days later the board legalized all acts that had been done under the laws of the March general assembly.
STATE AND COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS MEET.
The lawmakers, anticipating the need of a conference between the state and county superintendents, had provided for such a meeting. The state superin- tendent, then Hon. Maturin L. Fisher, a graduate. of Brown University and a scholarly gentlemen, called the county superintendents to a meeting at Iowa City, September 22d and 23d, 1858. He was delighted by their prompt attend- ance from every quarter of the state. One of them, Chauncey Taylor, walked to the meeting from Algona, Kossuth county. He certainly deserved a large share of the praise which Mr. Fisher gave the members of that convention. "There has probably never assembled in Iowa a body of men better educated, more intellectual or more practical, than at this convention."
Nearly all believed that the law was a long step forward, and that its suc- cess or failure depended largely on their discretion. On the whole, the county superintendents were heartily in favor of it; in details they differed somewhat, but in nothing did they differ so much as with reference to high schools for the training of teachers. The state had authorized creation of such a school in each county. One of the members had been urging the erection of such a school in his county, and wanted the endorsement of that convention. He secured the cordial cooperation of Mr. Fisher and introduced a resolution recom- mending an immediate effort to establish such a school in each county. He made a vigorous speech in favor of his motion. Another promptly seconded it and followed it up with another able speech. They represenetd two of the largest counties in the state and were two of the ablest men in it. Some ques- tions were asked. Some objections were made. They were quickly brushed aside. The motion was about to be put. No serious opposition had been made. The motion was likely to prevail, when the representative of Poweshiek made a speech. He conceded the need of normal training for teachers, the ability of a few counties to maintain such a school, but insisted on the inability of his county to do so, and asserted his unwillingness to ask his county to do anything of the kind. The ice was broken. Others similarly situated, endorsed his posi- tion. To save something of the plan, it was referred to a committee consisting of one from each judicial district. They reported in favor of some provision for the training of teachers in each county, either such a high school as was proposed, or a protracted teachers' institute, or to utilize some school of the county for normal training. It was carried. The result in the state was that only Marshall county established a county high school under the law and the law itself was soon repealed.
Many teachers were in that convention. Most returned to their homes to aid in making the law most welcome.
HIGH SCHOOL, MALCOM
لـ
111
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
THE LAW EMINENTLY SUCCESSFUL.
Where the school officers, and especially where the county superintendents, gave themselves earnestly to understand the law and to make it popular it was well received. In one county where the law soon became "the pride of well balanced citizens," as a writer of that county declared, after two or three years' painful experience, its board of supervisors put the following on record :
"Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors of County, Iowa, deem, after long experience and mature reflection, the present school system of lowa a nuisance, a conglomerate of misunderstandings and inconsistencies, having a direct tendency to squander the school fund and benefitting the youth of our state but very little; and that we would recommend, and use our influence, to have the present school law remodeled, and each sub- district of the township to have the exclusive control and management of their own school matters, and that the County Superintendent be instructed to for- ward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Board of Education."
THOMAS H. BENTON'S FIRST REPORT, DECEMBER 5, 1859.
After the trial of the school law about one year and a half the report of Thomas H. Benton, December 5, 1859, near the end of his first year as state superintendent, contains some very interesting statements. The reports of the county superintendents for that year present some striking and interesting facts. They were generally in favor of the new school law. The district township occasioned more annoyance than any : other change, and it was very natural that it should be so.
The Boone superintendent tried prophecy and said, "The machinery of the present school system is too cumbrous and expensive,' the district board's sys- tem never will work, or give the people any satisfaction."
"The school law operates badly in Bremer county," said its superintendent.
Superintendent W. Helm of Tama said: "The school law has grown in favor with our people until scarce a growl of the old feeling is heard."
H. C. Bulis of Winneshiek county made a report eminently sad and blue, as follows: "My ideas relative to the school law are, that it would hardly be possible to enact a law that would be less adapted to the wants of the people, or that would be more unpopular."
But the citizens of this county are more interested in the report from Powe- shiek. Here are extracts from that county superintendent's report taken from the state superintendent's report: "The improvement of our schools during the year and a half of the operation of the free school system has been so marked as to preclude all cavil. During the winter of 1857-8 we had only twenty public schools, but during the first winter after a common school education was of- fered to all 'without money and without price,' there were thirty-one schools, being an increase in the number of schools, of fifty-five per cent, while the number of pupils was increased probably not less than one hundred per cent.
"The schoolhouses built during the past year are more commodious, better built and better furnished than their predecessors.
112
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
"Nearly every one who has been examined for the second time has made marked progress during the interval of teaching, while some have vacated the chair of the teacher to accept that of the pupil.
"Neither the wisdom nor the good fortune of our lawmakers has ever sug- gested a law more popular with us than that which makes education as free as the sunlight. The old rate bill scheme excluded many of the children of pov- erty from some of our schools, and, had that system been in operation during the last year and a half, no one supposes that one-half of the 'average attend- ance' which we now exhibit, could have been shown.
"Some changes are desired :- 'A provision to enable a sub-district to build its own house, even if the majority of the township should be opposed to it.'
" 'The permission by express enactment to parents to send to school in any sub-district of the township under such regulations as the Board of Directors may adopt.'
" 'Some legislation in favor of those who wish to prepare themselves for teaching, and which will be of service to them, without attending the State University.'"
Such eminently has been the history of Poweshiek county. Its people saw no occasion for complaint and its board of supervisors cooperated with their superintendent as heartily as though they were one family. Before the new law no dictionary was owned by a district and there was usually no black- board in a schoolhouse. Both of these soon appeared there. When the county superintendent's term of office was closing, one of the great parties renominated him and the other recommended the re-election of the incumbent. It was several years before an appeal went up to the secretary of the board or to the state superintendent. This generous patience seems to have been due as much, or more, perhaps, to the wise and kindly spirit of the people, as to the wisdom of the county superintendent. In this county no one has ever been able to dis- cover that either arithmetic or grammar was republican, or that the best way of teaching them was democratic. Politicians, party men, as such, have kept their hands off from our public schools. The county superintendent has usually been a republican, but the democrats on the board have often led in school advance- ment, remembering that no man was a more sincere friend of popular educa- tion than Thomas Jefferson.
COUNTY INSTITUTES.
The first provision for county institutes was made in the law of 1858, but a teachers' institute was held in the state as early as 1849, conducted by J. L. Pickard, later president of Iowa State University. It was held in Dubuque county, and with good results. The teachers of Henry county held one, and those of Jones county tried to do so, in 1850. Then there were less than 600 teachers in the state and they received a beggarly pittance for their services, the men $14.76 a month, and the women about two-thirds as much. Neither men nor women could afford to spend much time or money in trying to improve at such a salary. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., superintendent of public instruction, had
GARFIELD SCHOOL, MONTEZUMA
HIGH SCHOOL. MONTEZUMA
113
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
recommended an appropriation of $150 for three institutes annually, but it ac- complished little, perhaps nothing at all.
In 1858 there were nearly 3,000 teachers in Iowa, four times as many as before, and their average compensation was about twice as much as eight years before. Institute conductors were in demand, institutes were popular, they oc- cupied a week in listening to lectures and in reviewing studies, and $50 were given to each by the state. The instructors were largely educational mission- aries and received much less than they earned unless they happened to be conductors in their own counties, and this was often true even then. We may take President H. H. Seerley's list of conductors and notice their rank and abil- ity. Jonathan Piper, keen as a Damascus blade, as full of thought "as an egg is of meat," and made his pupils think profoundly ; J. L. Enos graduated in the first class of Page's Normal School in Albany, New York, a short time before, eminent as an institute conductor in New York and in Iowa; C. C. Nestlerode, the apostle of common schools and of all that pertains to them, watchful over legislation and all school interests; Moses Ingalls, a modest man, but eminently worthy ; H. K. Edson, Daniel Lane, S. J. Burk, S. N. Fellows, L. F. Parker, all college professors ; R. M Haines, who would have been in congress, the peer of the best, if he had been a little more diplomatic. A. S. Kissell, too, who was unsurpassed as a teacher and a lecturer, and who was our superintendent of public instruction, must not be omitted, nor must be D. Franklin Wells, an hon- ored professor of pedagogy in the State University, and superintendent of pub- lic instruction, whose pupils gave him first placecin valued service. Of these and of many another we may say that institutes which they conducted must have been model ones.
A YOU: : ** *? A
OUR FIRST INSTITUTES.
The first meeting of teachers in Poweshiek county was held at Montezuma in 1857. Six men and one woman met at the call of L. F. Parker, who had come to the state in 1856. Only one of these was employed by the year ; all other teachers in the county were engaged term by term. And in doing that those pioneers did well, for in 1860, three years later, Brooklyn had only 184 residents, Grinnell 392, and Montezuma 564, and in 1857 the number must have been materially less.
The first institute in the county was held in Grinnel, in the college building, through one week, beginning October 22, 1860. It organized itself into the Poweshiek County Teachers' Association, of which S. Henderson Herrick was made president ; Joseph Lyman, Theodore M. Owen and S. Draper, vice presi- dents; and John Carney, secretary and treasurer. Their session continued six days without help from abroad. The results were eminently satisfactory in all respects. They adjourned with money in their treasury from membership fees and from the $50 appropriated by the state.
The regular meeting for 1861 was held in Grinnel, October 28th to Novem- ber 2d, and as cheaply as in 1860, when they paid out about half of what they received. Teachers in the county conducted the classes and with one exception, Vol. 1-8
114
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
delivered the lectures. The expenditures for lectures were as follows: L. F. Parker, $10; Stephen L. Herrick, $5; Julius A. Reed, $5; Rev. Mr. Farrar, $3. The resolutions adopted at this meeting were as follows:
"Resolved, That every teacher should borrow or buy a good educational periodical and should peruse it thoughtfully and regularly.
"Resolved, That the elevation of our schools depends not on mere words but deeds, not on the elevation of our claims but an the elevation of ourselves.
"Resolved, That we, whether in honor or dishonor, will strive to render our schools worthy of the highest place among public interests."
The meetings of 1862, 1863 and 1864 were held in Montezuma, Brooklyn and Grinnell in the order named, and in charge of the same officers and teachers as before, substantially. This was during the Civil war, and the teachers of the county were as interested in the war as any class of our citizens as they showed by their resolutions and enlistments.
The principal teachers in the institute of 1864 were A. S. Kissell and D. Franklin Wells, the first persons employed from beyond the boundaries of the county, and both served the state as superintendent of public instruction.
Jonathan Piper conducted the institute of 1866 with his usual success and enthusiasm, and, as usual, left the county with the teachers all ready to "swear by him."
COUNTY NORMAL SCHOOLS.
Provision was made by law for a protracted teachers' institute or a normal school in each county if desired. The first school of this kind in this county was held in 1874, and continued four weeks. It was conducted by the county superintendent, W. R. Akers. He was assisted by A. C. Hart, A. T. Free, W. M. Cross, Susie J. Whitcomb, A. C. Osborne and G. H. Needham. The en- rollment was 204, of whom 129 were females. That year they paid $423 for instruction and $32 for incidentals,-a great change from 1860.
HIGHER BRANCHES TO BE TAUGHT.
One year before the territory of Iowa was organized, Horace Mann, the apostle of common schools, was appointed secretary of the Massachusetts board of education for the revision of the school laws of that state. He was poor enough in early life to prize an education and to work hard to acquire it. He devoted twelve years to that secretaryship, twelve years of most diligent service in holding conventions, delivering lectures and carrying on a laborious corre- spondence. He bore himself quickly to the summit of his class and made him- self an authority on education. Educators everywhere caught his spirit and be- came his disciples. They could learn of him without equaling him. They could adopt his ideas on the frontier. Governor Grimes showed that he knew of his work in 1856, when he asked him to be chairman of the committee to revise the Iowa school law.
Then, too, there were teachers in Iowa who had come here with something of Mann's spirit, "to grow up with the country," and to take charge of its schools.
1177
HIGH SCHOOL, GRINNELL
115
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
They met legislators like J. B. Grinnell of our own county, William G. Thomp- son of Linn, Alvin Saunders of Henry, Charles Foster of Washington, Jonathan W. Cattell of Cedar, and others who were already interested in Horace Mann and New England schools. All these and more than these, were ready to make our schools free and to make them the best.
It was a great thing then to make them "free." To make them best was still greater. It was evident that many were ready to admit studies above the "3 R's." It was not so plainly best to open the doors to the "ologies" or the classics. Comparatively few cared for them; teachers favored them. To teach them was a recommendation for their schools. It was true, however, that one could not make corn grow by algebra, nor could a Latin scholar break prairie better for being able to conjugate "amo." The question even arose in the State Teachers' Association whether a teacher who knew only one language imperfectly should begin to chatter in the schoolroom about a second. Hence there was opposition enough to restrain the unwise introduction of higher studies into the schools.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.