USA > Iowa > History of western Iowa, its settlement and growth. A comprehensive compilation of progressive events concerning the counties, cities, towns, and villages-biographical sketches of the pioneers and business men, with an authentic history of the state of Iowa > Part 8
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
66
HISTORY OF IOWA.
great Mississippi was a mighty empire, but almost unknown, and marked on the maps of the period as " The Great American Des- ert."
Now, thirty-eight stars glitter on our national escutcheon, and forty-five millions of people, who know their rights and dare main- tain them, tread American soil, and the grand sisterhood of States extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border, and from the rocky coast of the Atlantic to the golden shores of the Pacific.
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND FARM. Ames, Story County.
The Iowa State Agricultural College and Farm were established by an act of the General Assembly, approved March 22d, 1858. A Board of Trustees was appointed, consisting of Governor R. P. Lowe, John D. Wright, William Duane Wilson, M. W. Robinson, Timothy Day, Richard Gaines, John Pattee, G. W. F. Sherwin, Suel Foster, S. W. Henderson, Clement Coffin and E. G. Day; the Governors of the State and President of the College being ex-officio members. Subsepuently the number of Trustees was reduced to five. The Board met in June, 1859, and received propositions for the location of the College and Farm from Hardin, Polk, Story and Boone, Marshall, Jefferson and Tama Counties. In July, the proposition of Story County and some of its citizens and by the citizens of Boone County was accepted, and the farm and the site for the buildings were located. In 1860-61, the farm-house and barn were erected. In 1862, Congress granted to the State 240,- 000 acres of land for the endowment of schools of agriculture and the mechanical arts, and 195,000 acres were located by Peter Mel- endy, Commissioner, in 1862-63. In 1864, the General Assembly appropriated $20,000 for the erection of the college building.
In June of that year, the Building Committee proceeded to let the contract. The $20,000 appropriated by the General Assembly were expended in putting in the foundations and making the brick for the structure. An additional appropriation of $91,000 was made in 1866, and the building was completed in 1868.
Tuition in this college is made by law forever free to pupils from the State over sixteen years of age, who have been resident of the State six months previous to their admission. Each county in the State has a prior right of tuition for three scholars from each county; the remainder, equal to the capacity of the college, are by the trustees distributed among the counties in proportion to the population, and subject to the above rule. All sale of ardent spirits, wine or beer, are prohibited by law within a distance of three miles from the college, except for sacramental, mechanical or medical purposes.
67
HISTORY OF IOWA.
The course of instruction in the Agricultural College embraces the following branches: Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Botany, Horticulture, Fruit Growing, Forestry, Animal and Vegetable Anatomy, Geology, Mineralogy, Meteorology, Entomology, Zoology, the Veterinary Art, Plane Mensuration, Leveling, Sur- veying, Bookkeeping, and such Mechanical Arts as are directly connected with agriculture; also such other studies as the Trustees may, from time to time, prescribe, not inconsistent with the pur- poses of the institution. The funds arising from the lease and sale of lands, and interest on investments are sufficient for the support of the institution.
The Board of Trustees, in 1881, was composed of Charles W. Tenney, Plymouth; George H. Wright, Sioux City; Henry G. Little, Grinnell; William McClintock, West Union; John N. Dixon, Oskaloosa. A. S. Welch, President of the Faculty; W. D. Lucas, Treasurer; E. W. Stanton, Secretary.
The Trustees are elected by the General Assembly, in Joint Convention, for four years, three being elected at one session and two the next.
THE STATE UNIVERSITY. Iowa City, Johnson County.
In the famous Ordinance of 1787, enacted by Congress before the Territory of the United States extended beyond the Missis- sippi River, it was declared that in all the territory northwest of the Ohio River; "Schools and the means of education shall for- ever be encouraged." By act of Congress, approved July 20, 1840, the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized "to set apart and re- serve from sale, out of any of the public lands within the Terri- tory of Iowa, to which the Indian title has been or may be ex- tinguished, and not otherwise appropriated, a quantity of land, not exceeding the entire townships, for the use and support of a uni- versity within said Territory when it becomes a State, and for no other use or purpose whatever; to be located in tracts of not less than an entire section, corresponding with any of the large divis- ions into which the public land are authorized to be surveyed."
William W. Dodge, of Scott County, was appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury to make the selections. He selected Section 5, in Township 78, north of Range 3, east of the Fifth Principal Meridian, and then removed from the Territory. No more land were selected until 1846, when, at the request of the Assembly, John M. Whitaker, of Van Buren County, was appoint- ed, who selected the remainder of the grant except about 122 acres.
In the first Constitution, under which Iowa was admitted to the Union, the people directed the disposition of the proceeds of this munificent grant in accordance with its terms, and instructed the
68
-
HISTORY OF IOWA.
General Assembly to provide, as soon as may be, effectual means for the improvement and permanent security of the funds of the university derived from the lands.
The first General Assembly, by act approved February 25, 1847, established the " State University of Iowa" at Iowa City, then the Capital of the State, "with such other branches as public con- venience may hereafter require." The "public buildings at Iowa City, together with the ten acres of land in which they are situated, were granted for the use of said university provided, however, that the sessions of the Legislature and State offices should be held in the capitol until otherwise provided by law. The control and management of the University were committed to a Board of fifteen Trustees, to be appointed by the Legislature, five of whom were to be chosen bienially. The Superintendent of Public Instruction was made President of this Board. Provisions were made for the disposal of the two townships of land, and for the investment of the funds arising therefrom. The act further provides that the University shall never be under the exclusive control of any religious denomination whatever, and as soon as the revenue for the grant and donations amounts to $2,000 a year, the University should commence and continue the instruction, free of charge, of fifty students annually. The General Assembly retained full supervision over the University, its officers and the grants and donations made and to be made to it by the State.
The organization of the University at Iowa City was impractic- able, however, so long as the seat of government was retained there.
In January, 1849, two branches of the University and three Normal Schools were established. The branches were located- one at Fairfield, and the other at Dubuque, and were placed upon an equal footing, in respect to funds and all other matters, with the University established at Iowa City. "This act," says Col. Benton, " created three State Universities, with equal rights and powers, instead of a 'University with such branches as public con- venience may hereafter demand,' as provided by the Constitution."
The Board of Directors of the Fairfield Branch consisted of Barnet Ristine, Christian W. Slagle, Daniel Rider, Horace Gay- lord, Bernhart Henn and Samuel S. Bayard. At the first meeting of the Board Mr. Henn was elected President, Mr. Slagle Secretary, and Mr. Gaylord Treasurer. Twenty acres of land were purchased, and a building erected thereon, costing $2,500. This building was nearly destroyed by a hurricane, in 1850, but was rebuilt more substantially, all by contributions of the citizens of Fairfield. This branch never received any aid from the State or from the Univer- sity Fund, and by act approved January 24, 1853, at the request of the Board, the General Assembly terminated its relation to the State.
The branch at Dubuque was placed under the control of the Su- perintendent of Public Instruction. The Trustees never organ- ized, and its existence was only nominal.
69
HISTORY OF IOWA.
The Normal Schools were located at Andrew, Oskaloosa and Mount Pleasant, respectively. Each was to be governed by a board of seven Trustees, to be appointed by the Trustees of the Univer- sity. Each was to receive $500 annually from the income of the University fund, upon condition that they should educate eight common school teachers, free of charge for tuition, and that the citizens should contribute an equal sum for the erection of the requisite buildings. The several Boards of Trustees were appointed. At Andrew, the school was organized November 21, 1849. A building was commenced and over $1,000 expended on it, but it was never completed. At Oskaloosa, the Trustees organized in April, 1852. This school was opened in the Court House, Septem- ber 13, 1852. A two-story brick building was completed in 1853, costing $2,473. The school at Mount Pleasant was never organ- ized. Neither of these schools received any aid from the Univer- sity Fund, but in 1857 the Legislature appropriated $1,000 each for those at Oskaloosa and Andrew, and repealed the law author- izing the payment of money to them from the University Fund. From that time they made no further effort to continue in ope- ration.
At a special meeting of the Board of Trustees, held February 21, 1850, the "College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Upper Mississippi," established at Davenport, was recognized as the "Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons of the State University of Iowa," expressly stipulating, however, that such recognition should not render the University liable for any pecuniary aid, nor was the Board to have any control over the property or management of the Medical Association. Soon after, this College was removed to Ke- okuk, its second session being opened there in November, 1850. In 1851, the General Assembly confirmed the action of the Board, and by act approved January 22, 1855, placed the Medical College under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the University, and it continued in operation until this arrangement was termin- ated by the new Constitution, September 3, 1857.
From 1847 to 1855, the Board of Trustees was kept full by reg- ular elections by the Legislature, and the Trustees held frequent meetings, but there was no effectual organization of the University. In March, 1855, it was partially opened for a term of sixteen weeks. . July 16, 1855, Amos Dean, of Albany, N. Y., was elected Presi- dent, but he never entered fully upon its duties. The University was again opened in September, 1855, and continued in operation until June, 1856, under Professors Johnson, Welton, Van Valken- burg and Guffin.
In the Spring of 1856, the capital of the State was located at Des Moines; but there were no buildings there, and the capitol at Iowa City was not vacated by the State until December, 1857.
In June, 1856, the faculty was re-organized, with some changes, and the University was again opened on the third Wednesday of
70
HISTORY OF IOWA.
September, 1856. There were one hundred and twenty-four stu- dents-eighty-three males and forty-one females in attendance during the year 1856-7, and the first regular catalogue was pub- lished.
Article IX, Section 11, of the new State Constitution, which went into force September 3, 1857, provided as follows:
The State University shall be established at one place, without branches at any other place; and the University fund shall be applied to that institution, and no other.
Article XI, Section 8, provided that
The seat of Government is hereby permanently established, as now fixed by law. at the city of Des Moines, in the county of Polk; and the State University at Iowa City, in the county of Johnson.
The new Constitution created the Board of Education, consist- ing of the Lieutenant Governor, who was ex officio President, and one member to be elected from each judicial district in the State. This Board was endowed with "full power and authority to legis- late and make all needful rules and regulations in relation to com- mon schools and other educational institutions," subject to altera- tion, amendment or repeal by the General Assembly, which was vested with authority to abolish or re-organize the Board at any time after 1863.
In December, 1857, the old capitol building, now known as Cen- tral Hall of the University, except the rooms occupied by the United States District Court, and the property, with that excep- tion, passed under the control of the Trustees, and became the seat of the University. The old building had had hard usage, and its arrangement was illy adapted for University purposes. Extensive repairs and changes were necessary, but the Board was without funds for these purposes.
The last meeting of the Board, under the old law, was held in January, 1858. At this meeting, a resolution was introduced, and seriously considered, to exclude females from the University; but it finally failed.
March 12, 1858, the first Legislature under the new Constitution enacted a new law in relation to the University, but it was not materially different from the former. March 11, 1858, the Leg- islature appropriated $3,000 for the repair and modification of the old capitol building, and $10,000 for the erection of a boarding house, now known as South Hall.
The Board of Trustees created by the new law met and duly or- ganized April 27, 1858, and determined to close the University until the income from its fund should be adequate to meet the cur- rent expenses, and the buildings should be ready for occupation. Until this term, the building known as the "Mechanics' Academy" had been used for the school. The Faculty, except the Chancellor (Dean), was dismissed, and all further instruction suspended, from the close of the term then in progress until September, 1859. At
71
HISTORY OF IOWA.
this meeting, a resolution was adopted excluding females from the University after the close of the existing term; but this was after- ward, in August, modified, so as to admit them to the Normal De- partment.
An "Act for the Government and Regulation of the State Uni- versity of Iowa," approved December 25, 1858, was mainly a re-en- actment of the law of March 12, 1858, except that changes were made in the Board of Trustees, and manner of their appointment. This law provided that both sexes were to be admitted on equal terms to all departments of the institution, leaving the Board no discretion in the matter.
At the annual meeting, June 28, 1860, a full Faculty was ap- pointed, and the University re-opened, under this new organiza- tion, September 19, 1860 (third Wednesday); and at this date the actual existence of the University may be said to commence.
August 19, 1862, Dr. Totten having resigned, Prof. Oliver M. Spencer was elected President and the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon Judge Samuel F. Miller, of Keokuk.
At the commencement, in June, 1863, was the first class of graduates in the Collegiate Department.
The Board of Education was abolished March 19, 1864, and the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction was restored ; the General Assembly resumed control of the subject of education, and on March 21, an act was approved for the goverment of the University. It was substantially the same as the former law, but provided that the Governor should be ex-officio President of the Board of Trustees. Until 1858, the Superintendent of Public In- struction had been ex-officio President. During the period of the Board of Education, the University Trustees were elected by it, and elected their own President.
The North Hall was completed late in 1866.
The Law Department was established in June, 1868, and, in September following au arrangement was perfected with the Iowa Law School, at Des Moines, which had been in successful opera- tion for three years, by which that institution was transferred to Iowa City and merged in the Law Department of the University.
At a special meeting of the Board, on the 17th of September, 1868, a committee was appointed to consider the expediency of establishing a Medical Department. This Committee reported at once in favor of the proposition, the Faculty to consist of the President of the University and seven Professors, and recom- mended that, if practicable, the new department should be opened at the commencement of the University year, in 1869-70.
By an act of the General Assembly, approved April 11, 1870, the "Board of Regents" was instituted as the governing power of the University, and since that time it has been the fundamental law of the institution. The Board of Regents held its first meet- ing June 28, 1870.
72
HISTORY OF IOWA.
The South Hall having been fitted up for the purpose, the first term of the Medical Department was opened October 24, 1870, and continued until March, 1871.
In June, 1874, the "Chair of Military Instruction" was estab- lished, and the President of the United States was requested to detail an officer to perform its duties. At the annual meeting, in 1876, a Department of Homeopathy was established. In March, 1877, a resolution was adopted, affiliating the High Schools of the State with the University.
In 1872. the ex-officio membership of the Superintendent of Public Instruction was abolished; but it was restored in 1876.
The Board of Regents, in 1881, was composed as follows: John H. Gear, Governor, ex-officio, President; Carl W. vonCoelln, Superintendent of Public Instruction, ex-officio; J. L. Pickard, President of the University, ex-officio; C. W. Slagle, Fairfield, First District; D. N. Richardson, Davenport, Second District; H. C. Bulis, Decorah, Third District; A. T. Reeve, Hampton, Fourth District; J. N. W. Rumple, Marengo, Fifth District; W. O. Crosby, Centerville, Sixth District; T. S. Parr, Indianola, Seventh District; Horace Everett, Council Bluffs, Eighth District; J. F. Duncombe, Fort Dodge, Ninth District. John N. Coldren, Iowa City, Treasurer; W. J. Haddock, Iowa City, Secretary.
The Regents are elected by the General Assembly, in Joint Convention, for six years, one-third being elected at each regular session, one member to be chosen from each Congressional District.
The present educational corps of the University consists of the President, nine Professors in the Collegiate Department, one Pro- fessor and six Instructors in Military Science: Chancellor, three Professors and four Lecturers in the Law Department; eight Professor Demonstrators of Anatomy; Prosector of Surgery and two Lecturers in the Medical Department, and two Professors in the Homoeopathic Medical Department.
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
By act of the General Assembly, approved January 28, 1857, a State Historical Society was provided for in connection with the University. At the commencement, an appropriation of $250 was made, to be expended in collecting, embodying, and preserving in an authentic form, a library of books, pamphlets, charts, maps, manuscripts, papers, paintings, statuary, and other materials illus- trative of the history of Iowa; and with the further object to rescue from oblivion the memory of the early pioneers; to obtain and preserve various accounts of their exploits, perils and hardy adventures; to secure facts and statements relative to the history and genius, and progress and decay of the Indian tribes of Iowa, to exhibit faithfully the antiquities and past and present resources
73
HISTORY OF IOWA.
of the State; to aid in the publication of such collections of the Society as shall, from time to time be deemed of value and inter- est; to aid in binding its books, pamphlets, manuscripts and papers, and in defraying other necessary incidental expenses of the So- ciety.
There was appropriated by law to this institution, till the Gen- eral Assembly shall otherwise direct, the sum of $500 per annum. The Society is under the management of a Board of Curators, consisting of eighteen persons, nine of whom are appointed by the Governor, and nine elected by the members of the Society. The Curators receive no compensation for their services. The annual meeting is provided for by law, to be held at Iowa City on Mon- day preceding the last Wednesday in June of each year.
The State Historical Society has published a series of very valuable collections, including history, biography, sketches, remin- iscences, etc., with quite a large number of finely engraved por- traits of prominent and early settlers, under the title of " Annals of Iowa."
THE PENITENTIARY.
Located at Fort Madison, Lee County.
The first act of the Territorial Legislature, relating to a Peni- tentiary in Iowa, was approved January 25, 1839, the fifth section of which authorized the Governor to draw the sum of $20,000 appropriated by an act of Congress approved July 7, 1838, for public buildings in the Territory of Iowa. It provided for a Board of Directors of three persons elected by the Legislature, who should direct the building of the Penitentiary, which should be located within one mile of the public square, in the town of Fort Madison, Lee County, provided Fort Madison should deed to the Directors a tract of land suitable for a site, and assign them, by contract, a spring or stream of water for the use of the Peni- tentiary. To the Directors was also given the power of appoint- ing the Warden; the latter to appoint his own assistants.
The first Directors appointed were John S. David and John Claypole. They made their first report to the Legislative Council November 9, 1839. The citizens of the town of Fort Madison had executed a deed conveying ten acres of land for the building site. Amos Ladd was appointed Superintendent of the building June 5, 1839. The building was designed of sufficient capacity to contain one hundred and thirty-eight convicts, and estimated to cost $55,933.90. It was begun on the 9th of July, 1839; the main building and Warden's house were completed in theFall of 1841. Other additions were made from time to time till the build- ing and arrangements were all complete according to the plan of the Directors. It has answered the purpose of the State as a
74
HISTORY OF IOWA.
Penitentiary for more than thirty years, and during that period many items of practical experience in prison management have been gained.
ADDITIONAL PENITENTIARY. Located at Anamosa, Jones County.
By an Act of the Fourteenth General Assembly, approved April 23, 1872, William Ure, Foster L. Downing and Martin Heisey were constituted Commissioners to locate and provide for the erec- tion and control of an additional Penitentiary for the State of Iowa. These Commissioners met on the 4th of the following June, at Anamosa, Jones County, and selected a site donated by the citizens, within the limits of the city. L. W. Foster & Co., architects, of Des Moines, furnished the plan, drawings and speci- fications, and work was commenced on the building on the 28th day of September, 1872. May 13, 1873, twenty convicts were transferred to Anamosa from the Fort Madison Penitentiary. The entire enclosure includes fifteen acres, with a frontage of 663 feet.
IOWA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. Mount Pleasant, Henry County.
By an act of the General Assembly of Iowa, approved January 24, 1855, $4,425 were appropriated for the purchase of a site, and $50,000 for building an Insane Hospital, and the Governor (Grimes), Edward Johnston, of Lee County, and Charles S. Blake, of Henry County, were appointed to locate the institution and Superintend the erection of the building. These Commissioners located the institution at Mt. Pleasant, Henry County. A plan for a building designed to accommodate 300 patients was accepted, and in October work was commenced. Up to February 25, 1858, and including an appropriation made on that date, the Legislature had appropriated $258,555.67 to this institution, but the building was not finished ready for occupancy by patients until March 1, 1861. April 18, 1876, a portion of the hospital building was de- stroyed by fire.
Trustees, 1881 :- Timothy Whiting, Mt. Pleasant; J. H. Kulp, Davenport; Denison A. Hurst, Oskaloosa; John Conaway, Brook- lyn; L. E. Fellows, Lansing. Mark Ranney, M. D., Mt. Pleasant, is the Medical Superintendent; C. V. Arnold, Mt. Pleasant, Treas- urer.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE Independence, Buchanan County.
In the winter of 1867-8 a bill providing for an additional Hos- pital for the insane was passed by the Legislature, and an appro- priation of $125,000 was made for that purpose. Maturin L.
75
HISTORY OF IOWA.
Fisher, of Clayton County; E, G. Morgan, of Webster County, and Albert Clark, of Buchanan County, were appointed Commissioners to locate and supervise the erection of the building.
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.