USA > Iowa > Tama County > History of Tama County, Iowa, together with sketches of their towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 65
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Rena A. Cody, W. D. Livingston,
W. D. Crittenden, Fannie B. McClung,
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
549
Mary S. Childs, Matilda Nauerth,
Ida E. Dntton,
Eva Olney,
Elmer E. Dexter,
Ida F. Peck,
Mrs. W. J. Dean, Mary E. Potter,
Geo. S. Diek, Ida Redfield,
Dora Dobson, Mary E. Raines,
Lizzie Dobson, Emma Spencer,
Lnella Gravatt, Lottie Sehooleraft,
Mrs. R. E. Fallion, E J. H. Sanborn,
Ilanuah J. Ilitchner, Lizzie B. Wilson,
Zina Young.
TAMA COUNTY TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION.
A convention of Tama county teachers met in the Toledo High School room on January 17, 1874, pursuant to the call of the County Superintendent A. H. Sterrett, and at this time this society was organ- ized.
A constitution was adopted declaring that the name should be as above, that the aim of the association should be the im- provement of its members in the science of teaching, the diffusing of information upon the system of common school educa- tion among the people; and advancing the general interests of education in this county.
It was also stated that not less than three meetings of the association held annually, and that any person may be- come a member by signing this constitu- tion and thus agreeing to perform all duties imposed on him.
The first officers were as follows: Presi- dent, A. II. Sterrett, County Superintend- ent; Senior Vice President, C. M. Barn- hardt, of Chelsea ; Secretary, Miss Ettie M. Musser; Treasurer, Mrs. E. L. Dillman. The following persons were elected Vice Presidents for the various townships:
Geneseo. E. W Cleveland Buckingham T. J. Knoll
Grant. . .J. M. Wynn
Spring Creek. . Wesley Ilorne
Crystal. A. W. Wheatly
Perry M. S. Seamans
Clark. E. M. Bonney
Oneida. Jas. G. Hagerman
Carroll.
D B Mason
Howard
. . C. C. Granger
Carlton Rev. W. II. Allen
Indian Village. J. S. McKee
Toledo. J. J. Andrew
Tama.
A. E. Carbart
Otter Creek M. W. Staley
York. L. P. Winterstein
Salt Creek .C. M. Barnhardt
Richland.
J. B. Chapman
Columbia
B. C. Cory
Highland
Joseph C. Fisher
Of these Vice Presidents, A. H. Sterrett County Superintendent at the time the organization was effected, says :
" It is expected that the person elected Vice President will call the teachers of his township together for the pur- pose of organizing an association, and he may or may not, be elected permanent chairman by the teachers of his township. A meeting should be held once every two weeks.
The association is still in existence, and is having a good influence over the teacli- ers. It is now divided into two branches, North and South Tama associations.
The present officers for the South Tama Teachers' Association are as follows:
President, J. P. Hendricks; Secretary, Miss Emma Dexter; Vice Presidents, Prof. W. H. Brinkerhoff, of Toledo; Miss Mary E. Helm, of Chelsea; Prof. S. S. Dobson, of Garwin; Prof. W. J. Dean, of Gladbrook; Prof. S. M. Cart, of Tama city.
All the teachers in the southern part of the county numbering one hundred and
550
IHISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
twenty-five, are members of this society.
The Northern Tama Teachers' Associa- tion has about one hundred members, and the following are its present officers:
President, Prof. W. D. Livingston, of Traer; Secretary, Miss Luella Gravatt; Vice President, Prof. J. R. Caldwell, of Dysart.
WESTERN
COLLEGE.
The first steps taken toward the found- ing of an institution of learning by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, west of the Mississippi, were taken by the Iowa Annual Conference, assembled at Muscatine, in August, 1855. At an hour set apart to consider the educational inter- est, the question of immediate action to- ward the promotion of higher education was quite thoroughly discussed, and it was determined to establish a college at an early day. A board of trustees was elected, consisting of Rev. Solomon Weaver, Pres- ident; Rev. M. G. Miller, Secretary; Rev. Joseph Miller, Rev. Daniel Runkle and Jonathan Neidig, Esq., who "were required as soon as possible, to select a site for the location of a college, in as convenient a place as possible for the whole Church in lowa." Rev. George Miller was elected traveling agent. Steps were also taken toward securing the co-operation of the Des Moines Annual Conference. "A reso- luti n was then offered and passed that the institution should be known by the name of the 'WESTERN COLLEGE' of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ." This name was suggested by the fact that, of the colleges of the United Brethren Church, it would be the fartherest west. The board of trustees here created, held its first
session in Vinton, Benton county, Iowa, October 15, 1855.
Sessions were held at various points in the State in 1855, and the early part of 1856, during a part of which time propo- sitions of financial aid were being pre- sented by different localities with the design of seeuring in their midst the loca- tion of the college. The following appears in the minutes of the third regular meeting, held at Sugar Creek, Cedar county, De- eember 24, 1855: "Inasmuch as William HI. Shuey has presented a proposition to this Board of a donation of six thousand dollars, provided the college be located in the neighborhood of Shueyville, near the southwest eorner of Linn county, Iowa. Resolved, therefore that we locate Western College near the southwest corner of Lin county." This bonus was in cash and lands. At this meeting Joseph Miller, having by letter, resigned, W. H. Shuey was elected to fill the vacancy.
At the fourth meeting of the trustees, held at Shueyville, Johnson county, Feb- ruary 11, 1856, the location was finally made where the town Western now stands, on lands conveyed to the college by Jacob Shuey, Adam Perry and W. A. Wherry. This tract of land lay out on the bleak prairie. At this meeting steps were taken toward the ercetion of college buildings.
The lands, thus made the property of the college, were laid out as a town, which was named "Western." Near the center of the plat was located the college campus, containing about seventeen acres. Friends soon began to flock to the place and buy lots and build; and thus around the college a village grew up, which contained, in 1876, about two hundred and fifty inhabitants.
551
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
One of the leading designs in thus lo- cating the college upon an unsettled prairie was that by this means it might secure a strong local support through the friends who would, it was supposed, buy land and open farms for miles around it. In this its friends were disappointed. A foreign people (Bohemians) began to purchase and settle upon these adjacent lands, and soon comprised a greater part of the neighbor- ing population.
The location was beautiful and healthful, in the midst of one of the most fertile sections of Iowa. It lay eight miles south of Cedar Rapids, having its nearest connection with Ely station, three miles east, on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railway.
The institution was incorporated under the name of "Western College," in March, 1856. The incorporators and first trustees were: S. Weaver, D. Runkle, M. G. Miller, Jonathan Neidig and W. II. Shuey. The powers usually vested in trustees of col- leges were given these trustees and their successors, in these articles. The number of trustees was not definitely fixed-each annual conference of the United Breth- ren Church which co-operated with the College being required to elect five trus- tees, whose term of office is five years- the term of one expiring each year. An executive committee, elected by the Board of Trustees, acts in its stead between the times of its annual sessions.
In the fall of 1856, the main college building was completed, and on the first day of January, 1857, the school was formally opened. Thirty-eight students entered.
The buildings were three in number-
all brick. The main building was thirty- six by sixty-two feet, and three stories in height. The lower story contained four recitation rooms and rooms for labratory and library. The second story was the chapel. The third story-formerly wholly comprised of dormitories - was subse- quently occupied by the two halls of the gentlemen's societies, a recitation room and cabinet room.
Neidig Hall was thirty by forty feet and two stories in height. It was named from Jonathan Neidig, of Western, who con- tributed liberally toward its erection. It was erected in 1858. It was designed to accommodate gentlemen boarding them- selves, and was occupied by gentlemen until 1875, when it was partially refitted and set apart for the use of ladies board- ing themselves.
Lane llall was three stories in height, beside basement, and thirty-five by sixty- two feet. It was named from Mr. Ira Lane, of Illinois, a liberal donor to the college. It was the boarding hall for ladies. The basement contained a cellar, pantry, kitchen, dining-room and laundry. The first story contains steward's rooms, music and reception rooms and hall of the ladies' society. The second and third stories are used as dormitories. The foundation of this building was laid in 1860, but a want of funds delayed its completion. Its walls, at various times raised higher, stood unfinished and with- out roof until the fall of 1864. In the summer of 1865, the building was partial- ly finished, and in the fall of the same year, it was occupied and opened for boarders. It was finally completed by finishing the upper story in 1874.
552
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
At the session of the Board of Trustees held in June, 1875, an amendment to the articles of incorporation; allowing the Alumni Association of the college a rep- resentation of five in the Board of Trus- tees, was proposed. This amendment was duly submitted to the co-operating eonfer- ences for ratification, and having been approved, is recognized as a part of the fundamental law of the institution. The first representatives of the Alumni Asso- ciation will take their seats at the next session-June, 1876. This a new depart- ure with the colleges of this church, but its originators and friends see many reasons why, in their judgment, it will prove highly beneficial to the college.
From the very first, there was but one sentiment among the founders of the insti- tution upon this point. It was taken as a matter of course that their daughters, as well as their sons needed, and should have, the benefits of higher education. If pre- cedents were wanted, they had them in the action of the older colleges of the United Brethren Church. The history of the college proves their action wise and just. At no time have its managers had the least disposition to change its policy in this regard. The whole of this matter may be stated by simply remarking that the experience of Western College in co- education is of the same satisfactory char- acter as that of hundreds of institutions in our country, and that its testimony in its favor is equally hearty and pronounced.
GRADUATES.
The following named comprise a list of the graduates :
1864
Classical. W. T. Jackson
Ladies'
Emma Neidig
1865.
Scientific.
Jacob A. Shuey
1868.
Ladies
Mary A. Beam
A. E. Grove
1869.
Classical.
Homer R. Page
Joseph B. Overholser
Ladies'
Eleanor A. Cook
1870.
Ladies'
Mattie E. Allison
1871.
Scientific.
A. D. Collier
1872.
Classical Lewis Bookwalter
Marion R. Drury
A. W. Drury
Robert E. Williams
Ladies' Anna E. Shuey
Lou D. Strother
Sallie S. Perry
S. J. Sherman
Scientific.
.F. R. Fry
W. H. Custer
1873.
Classical Henry G. Bowman
.Thomas J Bauder
Enoch F. Light
Ladies'. Eva M. Drury
Scientific . Milo Booth
Henry Sheak
W. K. Riggs
John W. Surran
1874.
Classical Francis M. Washburn
.€
Cyrus J. Kephart
Scientific. . Wm B. Arble
.L. M. Coun
A. L. Marshall
1875.
Classical.
J. H. Albert
Ladies' Lou Hopwood
Millie Gambrel
1876.
Classica A. M. Beal
Ladies' Sophia Bookwalter
.Belle Hopwood
W.M. Beardshear.
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY. . 555
Ladies' Mary C. Iledges
Scientific. . Wm. I. Beatty
W. H. Kaufman
Frank S. Smith
1877.
Abram A Neidig. A. B.
J M. Ilorn .B. S.
A. R Burkdol. B. S.
Joseph Bookwalter B. S.
John Moore. B. S.
JI. I). Runkle. A. B.
W. J. Ham.
A. B.
Josephine Johnson. B. S.
Mina E. Wooldridge B. 8.
Katherine Patterson. B. S.
Australia Patterson B. S.
Jennie E. MeAlvin. B.S.
1878.
A M. Moore B. S.
J. W. Bumgardner
A. B.
1879
J. W. Robertson B. S.
Daniel Miller .B. S.
Eliza A. Moore. B S.
Emma A. Patton. B. S.
W. IL Klinefelter. A, B.
Walter L. Linderman A. B.
1880
J. W. Robertson. A. B.
W. I. Beatty. A. B.
E. O Kretzinger A. B.
Eli Redenour A. B.
G. D. Mathewson A. B.
Lou Ilalverson. B. S.
1881
J L. Drury A. B.
Ella M Horn B. S.
R. R Wilson. B. S.
Allie E. Singley B. S.
G. M. B Miller. Λ. Β.
Ada A. Diekman B. S.
1882.
Walter C. Smith B. S.
Thomas .II. Studebaker. B. S.
1883.
Willis E Johnson B. S.
Emma Howard Miller. B. S.
The college has had some very liberal donations made to it. Among liberal do- nors were Ira Lane, Jacob Shuey, Jonathan Neidig, Adam Perry, A. B. Hisey, Benja- min Tallman, W. HI. Shuey, Revs. M. S. Drury, D. Runkle and M. Bowman.
REMOVAL OF THE COLLEGE TO TOLEDO.
For about twenty-five years the college remained at Western. In the meantime Western had grown to be a town of about 250 inhabitants, but here the growth stopped, as there was no inducement aside from the college to invite capitalists to take hold and push its growth. The founders of the college had hoped that friends of learning would gather about and build a town and develop a country that would be conducive to its interests, but the surrounding country was thickly set- tled by Bohemians, which left but a small chance for the improvement hoped for ; and as to railroads, the formation of sur- rounding country was such that an expen- sive grade was required to reach the town, so it was left out in this respect. It was these unfavorable circumstances that caused the supporters and friends of the college to determine upon its removal to the place where it would receive the great- er encouragement. These conditions hav- ing been met by the citizens of Toledo, in 188I it was removed to that place by a vote of the trustees at a called session in West- ern, in the winter of 1880-1.
PRESENT BUILDINGS.
A building was at once commenced in Toledo and was ready for occupancy the following year. It is a magnificent struc- ture, on an elevated site commanding a fine view of the city of Toledo and sur-
36
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
rounding country. The principal dimen- sions of the edifice are as follows : Great- est length of stone masonry, one hundred and forty-eight feet ; greatest breadth, eighty-nine feet ; extreme heighth of ma- sonry to chapel, seventy-eight feet ; ex- treme heighth of masonry to tower, eighty- six feet ; total heighth of tower and spire, one hundred and twenty-six feet. Size of college extension, seventy-five by fifty-six feet ; heighth of first story throughout, in the clear, fourteen feet; heighth of second story, (college extension) thirteen feet; heighth of third story-society halls-fif- teen feet.
PROSPECTIVE.
The outlook for Western College is now more promising than at any time during its history. The raising of twenty-five thousand dollars to pay the old debt in- curred at the former location shows the integrity and fidelity of the people, as well as it manifests a determined spirit to advance their educational interests. Embracing what the citizens of Toledo have pledged, they have raised for the college in two years in good notes and cash over seventy thousand dollars. The location is beautiful. The railway facili- ties are good. The community is well adapted in moral and intellectual influence for a college town, and is in hearty sympathy with the work.
The alumni are coming into prominence and influence in this and other States. The co-operative conferences are inereas- ing in wealth and numbers. The spirit of education is warmly encouraged by the membership of these conferences.
There is a desire for concentration
of effort and means among them. The co-operative territory embraces the United Brethren Church in Iowa, Northern Illi- nois, Minnesota, Dakota, and Eastern Nebraska, in all eight conferences. This ought in the near future to afford a large and influential constituency.
Those over the church are broad and liberal enough in view and spirit, yet sufficiently rigid in truth and doctrine, to enlist the sympathy and be worthy of the patronage of the whole county and surrounding communities, irrespective of churchly relationship. The instructors allow to all students the right of individual judgment and choice with respect to relig- ous belief, so that while the college may be in a sense denominational, it is by no means sectarian, but a public institution of higher learning, devoted to the interests of all the people in the neighboring country.
The departments and resources of the institution will be constantly enlarged and increased, until it is placed upon a perma- nent basis in every respect.
The following named comprise those who have occupied the position of P'resi- dent of the College, or who have been Principals and acting Presidents : Rev. Solomon Weaver, 1856 to 1864; Rev. Win. Davis, 1864 to 1865 ; M. W. Bart- lett, Principal, 1865 to 1867 ; 11. R. Page, Principal, fall term ; E. C. Ebersole, A. M., Principal 1867 to 1868 ; Rev. E. B. Kephart, A. M., 1868 to 1881 ; Rev Wm. M. Beardshear, A. M., 1881, and yet fill- ing the position.
S. S. Dillman and wife were the first teachers in the college.
557
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
Sylvester S. Dillman was born in Sum- mit county, Ohio, December 31, 1827, but in early life, removed with his parents to Williams county, in the same State. Ile prepared for college in Otterbein Univer- sity, at Westerville, Ohio, but took his col- lege course at Oberlin, completing it with the class of 1854. He then became con- nected with the U. B. College at Mt. l'leasant, Pennsylvania, as Professor of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, in which position he remained till the close of the year 1856. On the 20th of Angust, 1856, he was united in marriage with Emily Loughridge, at Mansfield, Ohio. Two sons were born unto them-James W. L. and George L. In the fall of 1856, Mr. and Mrs. Dillman were offered posi- tions as teachers in Western College, which they accepted, opening the institu- tion January 1, 1857, being the first teachers employed. In November, 1860, the family removed to Toledo, Iowa, where Professor Dillman was employed as Principal of the Public Schools. Under his management the schools were first graded. While still engaged in the work, the war commenced, and in the summer of 1862, he enlisted in Company E., Twenty- fourth Iowa Infantry. On the organiza- tion of the company, he was elected Second Lieutenant. Ile was subsequently appointed First Lieutenant, and for some time was in command of the company. At the battle of Winchester, Virginia, September 19, 1864, he fell, mortally wounded by a shell, from the effects of which he died September 23, 1864. Ilis body lies buried in the city cemetery at Winchester, in the private lot belonging
to the Wrenn family, at whose house he died.
Rev. Solomon Weaver, the first Presi- dent, was not a man of college training, hence labored at much disadvantage. But he was a man of great energy and much natural ability. He did no work in the recitation room. Mr. Weaver came to Iowa from Ohio, where he had been con- nected in some capacity with Otterbein University. His views respecting the question of the church establishing and building up institutions for the promotion of higher education, were far in advance of the opinions entertained by most of his co-laborers in the church twenty years ago. Ile was the leading spirit in the movement for a college in the U. B. Church in Iowa. In his efforts in found- ing and laboring for Western College, he did a good work for the church and the world. Soon after his resignation, in 1864, he removed to Kansas, and subsequently founded " Lane University " at Lecomp- ton. Ile afterwards started the Kansas New Era, which paper he edited until his death, in December, 1874.
Rev. Ezekiel B. Kephart, M. A., who served as President of Western College from 1868 till 1881, is the present Bishop of the U. B. Church. He was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of November, 1834. His mother's grandfather, G. Goss, was born in Ger- many, and came to the United States in about 1759, settling in Mohawk county, Pennsylvania. Her father, Abram Goss, was born in Wyoming Valley, in 1766. Abram's mother was Miss Stoums. Two
558
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
or three of his grandfather's brothers were killed in the Wyoming massacre. At this time Abram Goss was about twelve years ohl, and he and his father enlisted as vol- unteers in General Washington's army. Ilis (Abram's) father died or was killed during the war, and at the close of the war, Abram, with his mother, moved into Clinton county, Pennsylvania, near Lock llaven, where he married a Miss Eam- aheiser, and from that place they moved into Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He drew his pension from the United States as a soldier of the Revolution until his death. Miss Eam - aheiser's mother was an Irish woman. E. B.'s Grandfather Kephart's name was Henry. He was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and his father was a native of Germany. The paternal grandmother's maiden name was Smith, she being an English woman. E. B.'s mother, Sarah Kephart, was the daughter of Abraham Goss. She was born .July 6, 1818, in Clear- field county, Pennsylvania. His father, Henry Kephart, jr., was the second son of Henry Kephart, sr., and was born January 5, 1802, in Penn's Valley, Pennsylvania. 'The father moved to Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, in 1804. The Bishop's parents are both living and now reside in Johnson county, Iowa. Ifis father is a minister of the United Brethren Church. Bishop Kephart had six brothers and six sisters ; three of the brothers and one sis- ter being now deceased. The brothers living are : C. J. Kephart, President of Avalon College, Missouri, and t. L., the eldest, who was for a number of years at Western College, Professor of Natural
Sciences, but who now is a minister of the Pennsylvania Conference of the U. B. Church. Bishop Kephart's early days were spent in farming and lumbering He acquired a liberal English education in the common schools of Pennsylvania, but not being satisfied with his limited education, at the age of twenty-one years he entered Dickinson Seminary, Pennsylvania, where he remained a student for some time. But being short of funds (for he had to depend on his own resources) he was compelled to quit school and go to teaching. In April, 1857, he entered Mount Pleasant College, located in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he remained a student until the transfer of the students of the above named college to Otterbein Univer- sity, located in Franklin county, Ohio. There he remained in the university un il his money was all spent. He left the university in his poverty and went to Mis- souri, where he engaged in teaching school. After having replenished his "wasted store," he returned to Pennsyl- vania and entered the ministry in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. He spent five years in the active ministry, most of which time he was pastor of the U. B. church in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Ile was also stationed as pastor of the U. B. church at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. On the 4th of November, 1860, he married Miss Sue J. Trefts, of Johnstown, Penn- sylvania, and at the expiration of the five years above referred to, he returned to Otterbein University, where he completed the scientific course of study and grad- nated June 14, 1865. Ile first graduated in the scientific course and afterwards, on
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HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
June 1, 1870, graduated from the classical course.
On or before the time of his graduation he was elected Principal of Michigan Col- legiate Institute. In this institute he shortly afterward entered upon his duties; but not receiving a due remuneration for the amount of labor performed, he re- signed his position at the end of one year, and returned to Pennsylvania, and took charge of a congregation in Westmore- land county, from whom he had received a call prior to his resignation. In 1868, he was elected President of Western Col- lege, Linn county, Iowa, which position he had the honor of holding until June 20, 1881. Hle came to Iowa in Angust, 1868, and located at Western, Linn county, and now is a resident of Toledo, Tama county. Mr. and Mrs. Kephart have been blessed with four children-Waldo M., born January 20, 1862 ; died January 17, 1869 ; Elwood Irving, born May 5, 1866; lied November 11, 1866 ; Emma May, born December 28, 1868 ; and Lulu Maud, born October 12, 1871. On the 19th of May, 1881, at Lisbon, Iowa, at the Gen- eral Conference of the U. B. Church, Mr. Kephart was elected to the Bishopric of that church, and was assigned to the Southwest District. This district com- prises the following conferences : White River, Indiana; Indiana Conference, Illi- nois, Central Illinois, Lower Wabash, Southern Illinois, East Des Moines, Mis- souri, Southwest Missouri, East Nebraska, Kansas, West Kansas, Arkansas Valley, and the Osage Conference, the four last being in Kansas.
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