History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 34

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280

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Ambrose P. McGuirk, attorney, of the firm of Gannon & Mc- Guirk, began the practice of law in Scott County in 1878, at which time the present partnership was formed; was educated in the law course in Michigan State University, graduating in March, 1878, and was admitted to the Michigan bar in Washtenaw County. Mr. MeGuirk is a native of St. Mary's, Canada, born in 1854. His early edneation was obtained there; took a course in Jones & Y'erex's Academy in London, Ontario, and graduated from that

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

school July 18, 1876. He had attended the Michigan State Uni- versity, during the sessions of 1874-'5, then spent nearly two years reading law in the office of Jones & Mc Dougal, in St. Mary's. Aug. 3, 1878, he came to Davenport, since which time he has de- voted himself to his profession. The law practice of the firm is qnite satisfactory and steadily growing. He is a Democrat in pol- itics and has done considerable public speaking in the interest of that party, in this county. He is now President of the Catholic Literary Society of this city. and has served as its vice-president since its organization in 1878. He is secretary of the Emerald Dramatic Association, and the Davenport Land League.

J. Scott Richman, ex-District Judge of the seventh judicial district, occupied the bench from 1863 till May, 1872, when he re- signed the office, and on the death of John P. Cook he formed a law partnership with the son, E. E. Cook, which relation continued about eight years. Upon the dissolution of that firm, Judge Richman entered into partnership with W. D. Burk and J. J. Russell, under the firm name of Richman, Burk & Russell, in Muscatine, in July, 1880, since which his time has been divided between his business in Muscatine and Davenport. He carries on a general and extensive law practice in the several courts, largely in the Federal Courts. Judge Richman was born in Summerset, Ohio, and was reared in Pennsylvania, whence his mother removed from Perry Co., O., with her family of seven children, after the death of his father, Rev. Evert Richman, who was a Methodist clergyman, and was on the judicial bench as associate judge for a number of years; was also clerk of the Ohio House of Repre- sentatives seven years.

Judge Richman began reading law in Bucks Co., Pa., and completed the course after coming West in Muscatine, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar in 1840, at 19 years of age. He was mar- ried in November, 1842, to Miss C. A. Hannaman, danghter of Judge Hannaman, of Knoxville. Ill. Two sons were born of their union, viz .: Evert F., born in Muscatine Co., Iowa, Sept. 25, 1845; at the age of 18 enlisted in the 44th Iowa Infantry, and was appointed adjutant of the regiment at its organization. He was admitted to the Muscatine County bar at the age of 20 years; practiced there two years; removed to Maquoketa, Jackson Co., where he practiced two years. In 1872 he came to Davenport and was employed successively by the firms of Cook, Richman & Breming and of Cook & Richman; began practice on his own

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

account in March, 1880; and Clayton S., a lieutenant in the United States navy, now stationed at the navy yard at San Fran- cisco, Cal. The Judge lost his wife in February, 1878. Immediately after being admitted to the bar the Judge formed a partnership with Judge S. C. Hastings, now of California, and began practice in Muscatine, and continued until 1849, when Judge Hastings went to California. Judge Richman then remained alone in the prac- tice several years; then formed a partnership with his brother, D. C. Richman, present judge.of the Circuit Court, who read law with the subject of this record. This partnership continued until he went on the bench in 1863. The Judge was clerk of the Iowa House of Representatives one term, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention which framed the first constitution adopted by the State of Iowa. He was also a member of the House of Representatives of Iowa in the extra session of 1856. In polities the Judge was an old line Whig, and afterward a Re- publican. Davenport has been his home since 1872.

Hadley M. Henley, lawyer, born Feb. 26, 1853, in Scott Co., Iowa, is the son of Jesse L. and Sarah (Biggs) Henley, natives of Clark Co., Ind. Stephen Henley, the father of Jesse L., came from Indiana by water to Scott Co., arriving in 1836, bringing his family with him. He settled in what is now Pleasant Valley town- ship, about eight miles above Davenport, on the Mississippi River, and there erected a saw-mill and spent the remaining years of his life in that vicinity. Mr. Jesse Henley pursued farming in that township until 1865, when he moved to the city to give his children the benefits of the city schools. He and wife still reside here ; they are the parents of one son, Hadley, and one daughter. Hadley at- tended Griswold College for four years, then took an eclectic course in Iowa State University in 1872 and '73. Upon leaving school he was on the local staff of the Davenport Gazette about three years. Ile then read law with Putnam & Rogers, and graduated from the law department of the Iowa State University in the class of 1877. He then spent two and one-half years in Putnam & Rogers' as head clerk. In October, 1879, he opened a law office in Daven- port, and has been in active practice since. his success exceeding liis most sanguine expectations. Mr. Henley married Miss Ella Van Fleet, a native of Bedford, Iowa, on May 28. 1878. They have one daughter, Nellie, born Oct. 1, 1579.

George C. Preston, lawyer, of the firm of Hirschl & Preston, has practiced law in Seott County since June, 1879. He was born in Zanesville, O., Nov. 3, 1857 ; came with his parents to Davenport

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

at three years of age ; was educated in the Pennsylvania Military Academy, Chester, Pa., from which he graduated in 1877; entered the law department of the Iowa State University in the fall of 1877, graduated in 1878, and took the advanced course, closing in 1879. He immediately formed the present partnership and began the practice of law. His father, A. J. Preston, was for many years in the hardware business in Davenport as a member of the firmn of Sickels & Preston. He is now a member of the Cotton Exchange in New York.

Hon. Jeremiah H. Murphy, of the firm of Martin, Murphy & Lynch, attorneys, was born in Lowell, Mass., Feb. 19, 1835, son of Timothy and Jerusha (Shattuck) Murphy, natives respectively of Cork County, Ireland, and New Hampshire. He was educated in the public schools of Boston until the age of 14, when his father and family of 10 children removed to Fond du Lac Co., Wis., and purchased a large farm. Here they remained until 1852, our subject in the meantime attending for 18 months the Appleton University, of Wisconsin. On removing to Iowa Co., Iowa, in 1852, Mr. Murphy and a younger brother, during the first summer, turned the sod on something over 80 acres of wild land, enclosing and placing under cultivation a large farm in the brief period of one year. In 1854 he entered the State University of Iowa, at Iowa City, graduating in 1857, when he engaged as a law student with Hon. Win. Smith, of Marion. Ia. ; was admitted to the bar nine months afterward, and commenced his professional career at Marengo, where he remained nine years. In 1867 he removed to Daven- port and formed a partnership with H. M. Martin, which busi- ness relation still exists, Mr. Lynch having been recently admitted to the firm. Mr. Murphy has given considerable attention to pol- ities, having been delegate to numerous State and national conven- tions; elected alderman of Marengo in 1860, his first office, mayor of Davenport in 1873 and again in 1878, and State senator from 1874 to 1878. He ran for Congress against Hon. Hiram Price in 1876, being defeated by only a small majority, and running far ahead of his ticket. He was also a Hancock elector in the Presi- dential campaign of 1880. Mr. Murphy was married in 1859 to Miss Mary Green, daughter of Sam. Green, a native of England. Their two children are Tim and Jessie. Politically Mr. M. has been, as he expresses it, " a rock-rooted, moss-covered, iron-elad Bourbon Democrat." His religious views are liberal.

CHAPTER VI.

EDUCATIONAL.

The educational history of Scott County is commendable, its eiti- zens not stopping short of the best. From the beginning a good feeling toward the public schools has always existed, and an earnest desire has been manifested on the part of many to secure even the higher grades of education.

COMMON SCHOOLS.

Few even of the older States of the Union have an educational history more rich , varied and instructive than that of Iowa. When that history shall be written and due honor shall be given to those who have raised the State to the high position it now holds, it will be seen that to Scott county no little honor will attach.

The first school in the county was held at Pleasant Valley in 1835. It was taught in a log cabin by Simon Cragin. Since that day much has been done in the way of popular education, and in no way is progress better illustrated in this county than in connection with its public schools. In the early day good schools were few, and it was considered fortunate, indeed, if an opportunity was offered of obtaining even the rudiments of a common school education. "Read- in', writin' and 'rithmetic," were the principal'branches taught. Some of the few scattered settlements could not afford to employ a teacher, and were therefore compelled to do withont, or send their children through the timber or across the prairie to some more for- tunate settlement where a school was in operation. Some were sent a distance of six to nine miles, walking the entire distance morning and night of each day, in order that they might avail themselves of the opportunity of acquiring a little knowledge of their mother tongue, and thus fit themselves for the duties of life.

Probably the first school in Scott County which was paid out of the public treasury was in 1850 at Davenport. The system of in- struction then pursued was entirely different from the present, great improvement having since been made. In the early day attention was paid more to rules and instruction in theory. To-day cvery-

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

thing is more practical. C. W. Von Coelin, State Superintendent of Publie Instruction, in speaking upon this point, in his annual report, says: "The demand for industrial training in our ele- mentary schools is made by persons who misapprehend the object of these schools, and who have given little thought to the require- ments for preparation to conduct such instruction. Our schools must become more practical, and none appreciate this more than those in charge of our best schools. Instead of teaching geography for five or six years in our elementary schools, the rudiments of botany and zoology should be taught. The child who can tell all about the rivers and mountains of Asia and Africa is often utterly ignorant of the names, habits and uses of the plants that grow by the roadside and of the animals that he sees in the field and forest. Instead of studying the intricate rules for complicated examples of arithmetic, he should be made thoroughly familiar with the ordi- nary operations of everyday life, not by learning rules, bat by con- tinned practice and reasoning. Instead of learning definitions and rules of technical grammar. he should be taught to speak correctly and to write in a legible handwriting a good business or friendly letter. The teachers in our country schools are better prepared for this work than they were'six years ago, when the normal institute was inaugurated; but they still laek knowledge of methods and com- prehensive views of education and of their own place in the train- ing of the young.

Seott County is ahead of any other in the State with respect to value of school property, average attendance, length of the school year and compensation paid teachers. The great difficulty now experienced is the want of uniformity in the organization of school districts. Upon this point Hon. P. S. Morton, County Superintend- ent, thus speaks: "Every patriotic citizen of Iowa is justly proud of the liberal provisions that have been made for the education of the children of the State. Leading educators all over the land, and even in Europe, admire the generosity of the system of public instruction. In the munificent bestowment of privileges in this particular, Iowa is second to no other State. And yet, notwith- standing the liberality of our law-makers, supported and sustained by the people, it does seem that grave mistakes have been made, not only in the law as originally framed, but especially in the numerous amendments that have been made thereto from time to time, in the matter of the organization and government of school districts.

M. Saltyraau

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

Strangers coming into the State often ask the question, On what system are the schools of Iowa organized ? The question is easily asked but very difficult to answer. The truth is, we have no sys- tem. From the time our school law was framed up to the present the watch-word has been change, amend, and to-day we have no system in the organization of districts, but instead, incongruous parts of several systems.

As an illustration, the civil township of Hickory Grove, in Scott County, contains the district township of Hickory Grove, consist- ing of two and one-half sections of land. The officers to manage this formidable school corporation are three directors, one of whom is president, a secretary and a treasurer, neither of whom is a member of the board. The same township also embraces within its limits three independent districts, two of which have three directors each, and the other one six directors. The township of Buffalo in the same county-a fractional township-is blessed with seven independent districts and 35 school officers.

Scott County has 40 school districts, with 232 officers. All this is in striet conformity with law. Is there not some defect in the law'?

After a careful consideration of this question, aided by an experi- ence of many years in the work, we cannot find a single argument in favor of the present so-called system, and have never heard a valid argument produced in its favor. Can we improve it? Every civil township ought to be a school district. The State should have just as many school districts as there are civil townships within its limits, cities and incorporated towns excepted. All districts should have the same number of officers.

This township system has been thoroughly tested in several of the States, notably so in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, where the testimony is overwhelmingly large in its favor. It has been stren- nously advocated by Horace Mann, the greatest exponent of popu- lar edneation of his time in this country; by Dr. J. P. Wickersham; by Prof. Barnard; by Hon. J. S. Eaton, the present United States commissioner of education; by Drs. Gregory and Bateman, of Illi- nois; by several of the most eminent governors of many of the States, and by most of the State and county superintendents of the country.

Some of the advantages that would naturally result from the adoption of a township system are: It would be uniform as to its organization and government in all communities in every part of

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the State, and of necessity would simplify the school laws, so that the mass of citizens would the better understand them, and take more interest in their execution, and in the education of their chil- dren. It wonld diminish the number of school officers, and greatly simplify the work of county auditors and county treasurers, as well as lessen their labors. The aggregate expenditure for schools would be materially diminished. In most cases it would prevent litigation and neighborhood quarrels as to boundary lines, and the payment of tuition in adjoining districts, which at present is a serious evil. It would furnish more equal advantages and privileges to every citizen and make the rate of taxation more uniform. It would make school inspection and supervision much more efficient and permanent-a matter of the greatest importance. It would secnre a better grade of teachers, with more permanency in the profes- sion, more uniformity in method, and better results every way. It would enable townships, in many cases, to grade their schools by establishing a central school of higher grade without much, if any, additional cost. It would systematize and unify our entire school work in the rural districts by securing more thoroughness and ac- curacy on the part of pupils, a more general and hearty co-operation on the part of parents, a closer and more systematic supervision by Boards of Directors, and economy of time and money in proportion to the results accomplished.

The year ending Sept. 30, 1881, was a most satisfactory one ac- cording to the report of the county superintendent. There are now in the county 14 township districts, 79 sub-districts, and 27 inde- pendent districts. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1881, there were 74 male teachers employed and 172 female, the average com- pensation being for males, $49.89; for females, $41.35. There were then 7,852 males and 7,928 females between the ages of five and 21, with an enrollment of 9,179. There were 103 frame, 11 stone, and seven brick school-houses, the total value of which was $421, 625. There are also in the county nine select schools, employing 46 teachers.

For further particulars in relation to the schools, the attention of the reader is called to the histories of the various townships.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.

A. S. Kissell was the first county superintendent of public schools, and served from May, 1858, to October, 1859. Mr. Kissell was a practical educator, and was for some time principal of the

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public schools of Davenport, and was the first eity superintendent. He did much in placing the schools of that city on the road to their present prosperous condition. He was subsequently State super- intendent and discharged faithfully the duties of that offiee.

Thomas J. Saunders was the second county superintendent. A sketch of Dr. Saunders will be found elsewhere in this work. He served from October, 1859, to November, 1861. He was after- ward appointed in June, 1867 to fill the unexpired term of George P. Whitcomb, and served to Dec. 31, 1867.

D. J. Gorton succeeded Mr. Saunders on the expiration of his first term, Nov. 1, 1861, and served four years, being re-elected on the expiration of his first term. Mr. Gorton was a faithful officer and served acceptably. He is now in business in Springfield, Mis- souri.

W. O. Hiskey was elected to the position in October, 1865, to suc- ceed Mr. Gorton. Ile served only until January, 1866. He was quite popular during his short administration. He subsequently moved to Minnesota for the benefit of his health and there died.

D. J. Gorton was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Hiskey, and served until the general election, October, 1856.

George P. Whitcomb was elected in October, 1866, and served until June, 1867, when Mr. Saunders was appointed. Mr. Whit- comb is now practicing law in Chicago.

John Gallagher was elected in October, 1867, but the law being changed he did not take possession of the office until January, 1868. He served two years and subsequently moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he is practicing law.

Roderiek Rose sneceeded Mr. Gallagher in January, 1870, and served two months, when he resigned. A sketch of Mr. Rose will be found elsewhere in this work.

P. S. Morton was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Rose, and was elected in October following to serve out the unexpired term. He was re-elected in 1871 and in 1873, and served until Jan. 1, 1876.

C. H. Clemmer was elected in October, 1875, and assumed the duties of the office Jan. 1, 1876. He was re-elected in 1877, and served until Jan. 1, 1880. Mr. Clemmer came to Scott County from Cincinnati. He was a graduate of Yale College, and was a fine scholar. Previons to coming here he studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar, and on his arrival he practiced his profession for

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some time in Davenport. On retiring from the office of superin- tendent he moved to Dakota, and is now residing in Jamestown, in that Territory.

Philo S. Morton, in 1879 was again elected, and re-elected in 1881, which term of office will expire January, 1884. Mr. Morton is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Lawrence County, Dec. 3, 1836. His father, Wm. Morton, was born in Ireland; came to Amer- ica when five years of age. He served as captain in the war of 1812; and served four years in succession in the Pennsylvania Legislat- ure. He died in 1851, aged 66 years. He was well posted in all points of the law and a good scholar, although he only attended school three months in his life. He was the nominee for associ- ate judge at the time of his death, on the Whig ticket. His wife was Hannah Slemmons, born in Fayette Co., Penn .; was of Ger- man descent. Philo S. was educated in the district schools, at- tending Westminister College, and completed a course in the Western Pennsylvania Normal School. His principal occupation was that of teaching school. He farmed some at intervals until he entered the army in Angust, 1861, as a member of the 100th Penn .. sylvania Infantry. He went out as first lientenant of Company C. He was commissioned captain but failing heath compelled him to resign before receiving his commission in the spring of 1863. He commanded the company at the second battle of Bull Run; was at South Mountain, Antictam and Fredericksburg. On leaving the army he again taught school and farmed alternately un- til he came West in July, 1867. He taught two years in St. Louis, coming to Scott County in 1869. After teaching six months in Dav- enport township, he assumed the duties of county superintendent. Mr. Morton was united in marriage with Mary E. Robeson, in Scott County, January, 1871. She was born in Scott County, and was a daughter of Thomas Robeson, an early settler of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Morton's family consists of four daughters. In politics Mr. M. has always been a Republican. He is an Odd Fellow, and has passed through the several chairs of Davenport Lodge, No. 7.

MEDICAL INSTITUTE.

In 1849 an institution known as the Davenport Medical Institute was established in Davenport, with a full corps of professors, in- cluding Dr. John F. Sanford, afterward well known in connection with the Keokuk Medical College. For some reason, hard to be explained, a prejudice arose in the minds of many of the people of

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the city against the institution, heightened on one occasion by an unfounded report that a servant girl in the employ of the family of Dr. Sanford had died suddenly, and instead of having a Christian burial her body was given to the medical students for dissection, and an empty coffin buried. A number of citizens, principally Gormans, went to the graveyard and exhumed the body and found. it had never been touched by the dissecting knife.

On Tuesday evening, June 11, 1850, the college held its first and only commencement exercises. A large crowd of citizens and friends attended the exercises, and the enjoyment was only marred by the faet being generally known that the college was to be removed The following named gentlemen were graduated and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine : H. S. Porter, A. A. Noyes, HI. Wilfred Cross, A. J. Hnyck, R. C. Warriner and Monroe Dodson.

TOWA COLLEGE.

The first movement for the founding of Iowa College was made by a called meeting of ministers and others held at Denmark, Iowa, March 12, 1844. It was proposed to enter a township of land, and by sale thereof to settlers favorable to the enterprise commenee an endowment. A committee of three was chosen to examine the location contemplated, who reported favorably to another and larger meeting April 16. The Iowa College Association was then formed, a Board of Trustees agreed upon, an Executive Committee appointed, and an agent to secure funds for the entry of land em- ployed. The agent, Rev. Asa Turner, Jr., went East immediately, his expenses being defrayed by the ministers composing the association. In the latter part of May he met in Boston parties who had just organized the "Society for the Promotion of Collegiate and Theo- logical Education at the West " and others, who condemned the plan and advised that a location be first seenred and a fund commenced from the gifts of the churches, and gave assurance that through the new society " aid may be obtained when the plan and system of instruction shall be so matured that they can secure the confidence of the Eastern mind." The agent abandoned the original plan and returned without further effort.

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History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 34

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co. Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280