USA > Iowa > Sac County > History of Sac County, Iowa > 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 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
Among those who were teachers and others deeply concerned in school matters may be recalled such names as B. W. Trout, William Chapin, Robert Browning and Levi Davis. A teachers' association was organized and meet- ings were alternately held at Grant City and Sac City.
In 1865 there were polled at the annual election about ninety votes in the entire county. I was elected county superintendent. served three terms and was succeeded by John Dobson, who took great interest in educational mat- ters. After the close of the Civil War this county settled up very rapidly, settlers being attracted by the extra fertility of the soil and the most excellent character of the few pioneers who had already settled here and laid well the foundations for a good county government. It was about this time-1867 to 1870-that other civil townships were organized and school districts estab- lished in each of them. There was a time here when it did not require a cer- tain number of pupils in order to organize a school district and at least one was organized and a term taught with only two scholars and the wife and
128
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
mother was the teacher. Today we have excellent school advantages on every hand and people universally take pride in their good schools. I have taught fifty years and it does my heart good to think that my successors in the office of superintendent of this county have been so faithful in the discharge of their duties, and among such I want to mention William Chapin, William Drewry and John Dobson.
It may be stated in this connection that ex-County Superintendent R. Ellis of Grant City, who furnished us with the above, was himself an educator of no small proportions at an early day in this county. He was superin- tendent of this county three terms, and taught seven terms of school in Sac City and many in his own town of Grant City, where he still resides, honored by all. He now numbers among his old pupils many of the old gray-haired men and women of this county, and in many instances taught the children of his former pupils here. He was no less a success as a teacher than as a county superintendent, when he had to go on foot and on horseback to visit the few schools within the county in the seventies. His methods were always prac- tical and his discipline firm, yet sensible and tender. He governed by reason and only in extreme cases used the rod. Ile won his pupils by gaining their good will and confidence.
THE SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY IN 1884.
Thirty years ago the public schools of this county, as shown by County Superintendent Martin's report to the state department, were in the following condition, as to number, buildings, etc. :
Township
Township
District.
Buildings.
Pupils.
District.
Buildings.
Pupils.
Boyer Valley
7
177
Richland
8
21I
Cedar
9
222
Sac
7
198
Clinton
9
218
Viola
9
226
Cook
7
192
Wall Lake
9
275
Coon Valley
7
210
Wheeler
9
236
Delaware
7
174
Early
I
IOL
Douglas
7
124
Odebolt
I
250
Eden
6
IO5
Sac City
1
1
I
328
Eureka
8
105
Schaller
I
65
Jackson
8
178
Wall Lake (town)
I
150
Levey
6
162
Total
-- 127
4,153
1 1
I
1
1 1
1
I
1
I
1
1
1
1
1
I
1
I
I
1
1
1
1
F
HIGH SCHOOL, AUBURN
S
INSTITUTE
SAG GITY, 1A. 8
ONE REASON FOR SAC COUNTY'S PROGRESS
1 20
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
This was an increase of twenty-seven school houses and nine hundred and seventy-eight pupils in three years. In the winter of 1884-85 there were required one hundred and forty-seven teachers to teach the winter schools of this county.
In 1900 this county had a population of 17,639. There were three deaf and dumb children and two of feeble minds. The schools were divided into 132 sub-districts, in which there were 131 ungraded schools; 2.958 male and 2,890 female pupils. The value of all school property was estimated at $116,075 : apparatus, $5,740; volumes in school libraries, 4.238; number of living, thrifty shade trees about school grounds, 2,342. The school buildings ranked : Fifty-four good, eighty fair and seven poor.
Sac City became an independent school district in 1876, and J. N. Miller, in his Sac Sun, some years later, described the school house then in use as follows: "It is a fine brick edifice, with a stone foundation, built in 1871, at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars. It contains three rooms, the whole upper story being devoted to the high school department, while the intermediate departments and the primary are accommodated on the first floor. The building is well built and handsomely furnished, and is well ven- tilated, comfortable and more than ordinarily lighted. The schools are in a good condition, well disciplined and progressing most satisfactorily in the various branches of study."
Really, the climax in school buildings in Sac City was the erection of the present high school building ( so called) which was built in 1903-04, at a cost of forty thousand dollars, including a five-thousand-dollar heating plant. It is about midway from the business center of the city to the Northwestern depot, on the south side of Main street. Its campus is indeed beautiful. while all the general surroundings are those calculated to inspire the youth who attend this school. The structure is thoroughly modern in all particulars. Its appointments meet with all the now known requirements of sanitary and student life. It is certainly an ornament to the county seat town of Sac county.
In 1913 the school board purchased the old Institute buildings, treated elsewhere in this chapter, from that institution and have converted the same into a school building, and in it now the high school department of the Sac City public schools is kept. The price paid for this property was six thousand dollars. It was much the cheapest piece of school property ever bought in the county.
(8)
130
SAC COUNTY. IOWA.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF SAC CITY.
The following is quoted from an illustrated Christmas number of the Sac County Bulletin, published in 1911, and so befittingly covers the school system at the county seat town that it is here appended to other educational matters concerning the county :
"Sac City gives ample proof of keen interest in her educational efforts, as is evidenced by the substantial public school and college buildings found here which would be a credit to a town twice the size of it. A very compe- tent force of teachers has always been one of the features especially aimed at by the school board, and the product of the high school is ample proof of the success attained along this line. The pupils in attendance at our high school and college are drawn from a large extent of territory, presumably larger on account of the excellent reputation of the managing boards of both these institutions and the just pride of the faculty invariably secured. We place the educational interest in the first rank as regards importance in any town, because it is there that the lawmakers and statesmen are made. No feature of improvement stamps a town more distinctly than the school, and nothing else in the town makes so much for good government as the school. Sac City is liberal in this matter in a highly satisfactory manner, and stands ready to give the rising generation all the aids possible for the achievements of scho- lastic success.
"The explanation for the interest taken in all the matters relative to education in Sac City is not far to seek. The population of the town and immediate vicinity is largely made up of a practical, intelligent class, critical in a high degree when it comes to anything along the line of oratory or rhetoric, and pronounced in their approval of whatever comes near the high standard of excellency they have intuitively established. Every form of knowledge-producing publications are to be found in the hands or libraries of our people, and a true appreciation of everything worthy is always un- grudgingly given.
"A gentleman of high standing in educational circles, a lecturer who appeared on our chautauqua platform recently, in speaking of Sac City, said : 'I have never been in a town so small as Sac City where there was so much evidence of higher education generally distributed among the people.' This was no empty flattery, as some of the victims of Sac City's disapproval can tell, when they come to us with any form of entertainment that fell short of what was expected."
131
SAC COUNTY, IOW.A.
Sac City may justly boast of her public schools. No sooner had the hardy pioneer settled here on the banks of the Coon river than he took account (after first building a house in which to live) of the matter of caring for his children's education. The culmination is seen in that splendid educa- tional monument-the Sac City high school building. It is built upon honor, by competent craftsmen; it is well equipped with the latest improved ap- pliances and apparatus. It really ranks well up in the scale of any school in the state. The Sac City school system provides for one year of training in the kindergarten, a four-year course of study in the primary department, a four-year course in the grammar department and an elective four years in the high school. Music, drawing and art work are also taught here.
In 1911 the total enrollment in all departments was about six hundred pupils. Of these a considerable number in the higher grades came in from outlying districts and not a few from other near-by counties.
In 1905 the Sac City high school was placed on the list of fully ac- credited high schools by the State University and colleges of Iowa. The following year, after a most thorough inspection, it was fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges, being accepted for thirty-two credits, or sixteen units, two more than required for unconditional entrance into any college or university of the fourteen states in the association. Sac City long since ranked as one of the best of the thirty Iowa schools on this association's accredited list.
OTHER SAC COUNTY SCHOOLS.
At Odebolt an independent district obtained in 1880; the first school was taught by Jacob Gable. A neat frame building was erected in 1880, costing three thousand dollars.
Away back in the eighties, Wall Lake was set off into an independent school district. In the summer of 1879 a neat frame building was erected at a cost of seven hundred and fifty dollars. It was twenty-two by thirty-six feet in size. In 1880 it was too crowded to do good school work and rooms had to be secured in outside rooms, the Masonic lodge room being used for one grade.
In all other towns in this county, as soon as they had been platted and a few families settled there, school houses went up and competent instructors were at once secured.
What was styled the County Teachers' Association existed many years
132
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
in Sac county and frequent meetings were held at the various towns, Sac City, Grant City, Wall Lake and Odebolt. Much good was derived from these teachers' gatherings. It appears from a record book that this associa- tion was established in the early eighties and continued many years until our present institute was created. This journal gives the teachers enrolled in the book at the meeting at Odebolt. October 20. 1892, as follows: F. F. Strong. E. D. A. Strong, Myra Hovenden, Ella, Rothwell, Lizzie Platt, C. H. Jump. Mrs. C. H. Jump. Edgar Corry, Ralph Parker, Jessie Townsend, C. E. Stallcop, Ethel B. Hayden. Ella Down, Mabel Brinck, Mabel AAllen, Benjamin G. Hess, Mrs. C. B. Bailey, Julia Gavin, Agnes Gavin, Anna Hempen, Mabel Spafford, Emma Menges. Jim Smellhurst, John C. Stevens, H. M. Hayes, T. W. Down, A. L. Hunt, Emma D. Petersmyer, J. 11. Orcutt, Maggie Dunn, Katie Molloy, Hannah Aupperle.
SCHOOL HOUSES, ETC.
School houses are dotted here and there over every township in the county, usually eight or nine to the township. They are. for the most part. good frame structures in the country and of brick in the larger towns within the county.
A few years ago it was learned that Hon. George W. Schee, an early homesteader, who came to O'Brien county right after the Civil War a poor man, but who, by his shrewdness in dealing in lands, became a very wealthy man, and a philanthropist as well, had been donating United States flags to many of the northwestern Iowa counties to have them placed on the school buildings. When this was known. efforts were made to secure such for the one hundred and twenty-eight school buildings in this county. Mr. Schee made a trip in his automobile from Primghar, his home, to Sac City, and the result was his donation of not only flags, but poles and cords for each three- and-a-half by seven-foot flags, with the promise when these "Old Glories" had worn out that he would direct that they be replaced free of cost. . \ll he required was that the school boards in this county should hire a competent person to attach the flag poles to the school houses, which was cheerfully granted. Mr. Schee was an old soldier and a lover of the emblem of his country for which he had fought and takes great delight in inspiring in the breasts of the rising young a true love and patriotic spirit for the country in which they live. It is stated that this worthy man has donated flags to the schools in twenty-two counties in northwestern lowa. Just think of the cost
£33
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
and think of the mind of a man who is thus generously disposed. Let his flags be a monument unto him for all time!
THE DELAWARE TOWNSHIP UNION SCHOOL.
By J. R. Slacks, County Superintendent of Schools.
At Nemaha, in the center of Delaware township, is located the only union township school in Sac county. The steps leading up to the establish- ment of this school discloses a rather stormy history.
In the winter of 1909-1910 a petition was presented to the school board of Delaware township asking that an election be held for the purpose of vot- ing on the question of consolidating the schools of the township. The plan included five subdistricts of the township, leaving out the four corner dis- tricts. Meetings were held and the question discussed pro and con. When the votes were counted it was found that the proposition had failed to carry. Nothing daunted, the promoters of the plan of consolidation began quietly to talk and work for another election, this time to include the whole township in a consolidated independent district. The election was held in January, 1910, and this time the proposition carried by a vote of eighty to seventy-six. Those favoring consolidation were well pleased with the result and thought the battle was over ; that there was nothing more to be done but wait until the school was provided by the board. As a result of this feeling they failed to go to the election when the new board was elected and the opponents of the plan elected a board that was opposed to consolidation to a man. This board refused to make any change in the schools, and for a year things drifted along with no change or attempt to provide a school house. Under the law then in force, the board could not be compelled to make a change even after the people had voted for consolidation. The thirty-fourth General Assem- bly, however, passed a law that provided that in cases where the people had voted to consolidate, the board was obliged to go ahead and carry out the wishes of the voters. Even then the Delaware board refused to act until a petition for a writ of mandamus was filed in the district court. This moved them to act, and an election was called giving the people an opportunity to vote on the question of issuing bonds in the amount of some seventeen thou- sand five hundred dollars for the purpose of building a central school house. The proposition failed to carry.
A petition was then presented to the board asking for an election to vote on the question of changing back to the township corporation plan. This
134
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
proposition carried and the change was made in due time. Thus the town- ship was back exactly where it had been at the beginning of the school agita- tion.
During the winter of 1912-1913 a petition was presented to the board asking that the people be allowed to vote on the question of issuing bonds in the amount of ten thousand dollars for the purpose of building a union town- ship high school. The election was held and the proposition carried. John C. Woodward, of Council Bluffs, was engaged by the board as architect, and the contract for the building was let to C. E. Axelson, of Harcourt, Iowa. The building was completed and dedicated on February 11, 1914. The schools of the township were dismissed for the day and all came together at the building to spend the day. Programs were held both in the forenoon and the afternoon, with a sumptuous dinner at noon. It was voted to make the day an annual affair.
The building is two stories, with high basement, and is built of brick. There are four recitation rooms and a principal's office or library, with cloak rooms for all. In the basement are two excellent rooms which can be used for school purposes if desired. The building is heated with steam through- out. The furniture is of the best, the seats and desks being adjustable to the height of the pupil.
The board of directors that has had charge of the erection of this mod- ern building is composed of the following men : T. R. Puterbaugh, presi- dent: A. B. Domino, secretary; C. H. Townsend, treasurer ; T. H. Carnine, T. A. Whitmore, William Hadley, Charles Hicks, James Mooney, Harter Marquess, H. . \. Stephan and I. W. Scothorn. The teachers who had the honor of teaching the first day in the new building are as follows: Principal. John E. Hays ; primary, Ella Toohey ; intermediate, Zaidee McQuirk.
CONDITION OF SCHOOLS IN 1913.
As shown by the county superintendent's report to the state department of education, the following are the school statistics for Sac county for the school year ending September, 1913:
I35
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
TOWN AND CITY SCHOOLS.
Name.
Rooms. Enrolled. Houses. Valuation.
Auburn
1
123
I
$ 4.000
Early
6
143
I 4,500
Grant City
2
45
I
1,000
Lake View
6
1 36
I
6,500
Lytton
3
65
I 2,400
Odebolt
13
372
I
35,000
Sac City
1.4
617
2
60,000
Schaller
6
182
I
20,000
Wall Lake
6
168
I
10,000
SCHOOL TOWNSHIPS.
Boyer Valley
8
129
8
8,000
Cedar
9
I3I
9
1.730
Clinton
9
103
9
4.800
Cook
9
152
9
4,500
Coon Valley
9
170
9
1,800
Delaware
9
I54
9
3,000
Douglas
6
112
6
1,200
Eden
9
106
9
3.900
Eureka
8
98
7
1,900
Jackson
8
162
8
3,900
Levey
8
143
8
8,400
Richland
8
85
7
5,800
Sac
7
I 30
7
2,250
Viola
8
160
8
5,300
Wall Lake
8
174
8
2,500
Wheeler
9
109
8
3,200
Total
132
2,118
126
$62,180
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
I
1
I
I
I
1
1
1
I
1
1
I
I
1
1
1
1
I
1
1
I
1
1
I
1
1
1
I
1
L
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Į
1
1
1
1
I
1
1
T
1
1
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
Total value of apparatus in county, $5,376; volumes in libraries, 10,770. Total of school age in county. 2.767 : male. 1.465 : females, 1.302; total en- rolled, both sex, 2,118. Wages for males in country, from $35 to $50; fe-
136
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
males, $34 to $49. Male teachers in town and city received $90 to $135: fe- males, $48 to $60 per month.
GRADE SCHOOLS.
Male
Female
Male
Female
Location.
Pupils.
Pupils.
Graduates. Graduates.
Auburn
IO
20
I
4
Early
20
25
+
2
Lake View
21
13
2
2
Lytton
8
3
-
-
Odebolt
48
52
2
9
Sac City
1
I
51
60
12
IO
Schaller
23
31
I
Wall Lake
20
23
I
3
Totals
201
227
23
27
I
1
1
1
1 I
-
THE SAC CITY INSTITUTE.
This splendid educational institution was in existence up to within a year or two. Its general history may be summed up as follows : It was established through the co-operation of the progressive element of Sac City. These men and women saw the need of such a school and went forward to perform their known duty to the rising young about them. This start was made in 1892, and the school was first styled the Oak Park Normal College. Following this step, the board was reorganized, and in 1894 it was known as the Sac City Institute. Among the leading spirits in this laudable educational enterprise may be recalled the names of A. B. Mason, Dr. Caleb Brown, D. Carr Early, Phil Schaller, Asa Platt, E. N. Baily, D. E. Hallett, Judge Eugene Criss ("Father of the City"), Judge Elwood, W. Jackson and W. H. Hart. Many of these gentlemen are now deceased, but during their lifetime they gave time, money and personal attention to this institution. During the almost a score of years the institute had but three principals. Prof. H. C. Nash served four years, and was succeeded by Prof. Walter Guthridge, and he in turn by Prof. G. W. Lee, who was at the helm for more than a dozen years. These men were thorough educators and the school prospered to a good degree.
Soon after the founding of this school the Baptist denomination accepted the offer of the stockholders to turn the institution over to them, providing they would keep it up. The Baptists all over Iowa were, for a time, enthusias- tic over the new school and much constructive work was done toward uplift-
137
SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
ing the institution. Libraries, scientific apparatus, etc., were from time to time added. In 1911 the faculty included such men and women as Prof. G. W. Lee, A. B., who, besides teaching, traveled about raising funds for the school and was successful. Prof. S. P. Fogdall, Plı. B., instructor in Latin and his- tory, came from the Iowa Teachers' College, of Cedar Falls, and Des Moines College. Miss Lela Montgomery, Ph. B., instructor in English and German. was an accomplished educator from Ohio. Miss Mary Anderson, instructor in mathematics, was a later teacher, and was from the well-known Tarkio (Missouri) College. The commercial department was in charge of Prof. M. M. Merriman, M. Acct. He was educated at the Pennsylvania Normal and at Valparaiso, Indiana.
The work of the institute was divided into departments as follows: The academic department fitted students for the higher studies and for the pro- fessional lines. This was one of about eight thousand like schools in this country, and was indeed popular in its day. The normal department trained teachers and prospective teachers so they might be amply qualified to perform better work in the schools of our land. The commercial department was added later and was one of great value to the surrounding counties and to Sac City especially. Here the Goodyear-Marshall system of bookkeeping was used and taught with much practical efficiency. Here the young men and women were taught up-to-date commercial knowledge, thus fitting them for a life of useful- ness and profit to themselves. Stenography and typewriting were also an im- portant department. The piano or touch system of operating typewriting ma- chines was used. The music department was another great feature of the in- stitute in its palmy days. Among those connected as instructors in this de- partment were Mrs. F. G. Cook and Miss Edna V .. Wachtler. The art de- partment was complete in every detail-free-hand drawing, pen and ink, char- coal, water colors, still life and life oil painting work were all successfully taught here. Miss May Alice Smith was the chief instructor along these lines and won many compliments for the work of advancing art.
On account of a universal change in the educational system of the coun- try at large, and the demand for higher grades for the high schools of lowa; the better facilities offered by the state institutions, such as the Normal School at Cedar Falls, the Ames Agricultural College, the State University, Grinnell and a score more high class schools and colleges, with the tendency ( really a fad) to go abroad to attend school, the Sac City Institute declined in attend- ance and closed its doors in 1912. A portion of the building and property were sold in 1912 to the school district of Sac City and are now used for high school purposes.
CHAPTER XII.
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.
While it should be remembered in reading this chapter that Sac county was unsettled to any great extent at the opening years of the Civil War period, and long after all the other great conflicts of this country had been fought, hence had no part in such wars as the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, yet it was not without loyalty to the flag of the country. When her people had an opportunity to speak and act in defense of the starry banner during the Civil War a goodly number responded to the call of President Lincoln, as well as to the call of President William McKinley during the Spanish-American struggle in 1898. But it is not without profit to the reader of local annals to be posted also as to the issues and final call to arms in struggles which have gone down into history, even though but few of the brave sons of the few men who resided on Sac county soil were permitted to engage in these wars fought for the upbuilding of the state and nation's honor and integrity.
Of the Civil War of the sixties it should be stated that the institution of slavery had long been a source of trouble between the free and and slave-hold- ing states. The latter were always troubled with the thought that the former would encroach upon their rights, and nothing could be done to shake this belief. Compromise measures were adopted from time to time. Threats of secession were frequently made by the slave-holding states, but as some meas- ures of a conciliatory character were passed, no attempts were made to carry out their threats. Finally came the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the adoption of a measure styled the Kansas-Nebraska bill. This bill in Con- gress opened up territory north of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes latitude to slavery. which, under the Compromise of 1820, was forever to be free. About the time of the passage of this act, the Whig political party was in a state of dissolution and the great body of that party were opposed to the pas- sage of the bill. These, with a few Democrats, joined together and formed the Republican party early in the fifties. It had for its object the prevention of the extension of slavery into other territory. The people of the South believed, or rather imagined, they saw in this new party not only an organized effort to
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.