USA > Iowa > Henry County > Mount Pleasant > Mount Pleasant city directory, 1870 > Part 2
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" Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey. Where wealth accumulates, and men decay : Princes and kings may flourish and may fade, A breath can make them as a breath has made; But a bold peasantry, their nation's pride. When once destroyed can never be supplied."
To our fertile prairies, then, are the husbandmen invited-they who among the rocks of eastern hillsides, earn a scanty living-here where land is cheap and farming casy-where nonc is so poor but he may be lord of a manor. And with such a population to sustain, we leave it to some other prophet to say what our future shall be.
MT. PLEASANT CITY REGISTER.
1870
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Municipal election held City Council meets first Monday in every month. Council Chamber in Union Block north side of Public Square.
City Officers, 1870.
Mayor-W. D. LEEDHAM. City Clerk-WM. McCOY. City Treasurer-J. H. WHITIMG. City Sol'r-R. J. BORGHOLTHAUS. City Marshal-B. BEESON. Street Com'r-JNO. A. HIGGINS. Weigh Master-THOS. MATTHEWS.
Board of Trustees.
First Ward-W. J. Parker, Col. R. Root. Second Ward-H. Ambler, P. Jericho. Third Ward-S. Lyon, G. Cooper. Fourth Ward-J. B. Lash, W. P. Smith. Standing Committees.
Ordinances and Printing-Lash, Lyon and Cooper. Finance-Smith, Ambler and Lash. Claims-Jericho, Cooper and Root. Ways and Means-Ambler, Parker and Jericho.
Streets and Alleys-Cooper, Root and Ambler.
Public Grounds and Buildings-Par- ker, Smith and Lash.
Sanitary-Lyons, Smith and Jericho. Police and Fire Department-Root, Parker and Lyon.
Board of Education.
Meets Union Block ns Square. President-DR. W. BIRD. Secretary-JNO. S. WOOLSON, Esq. Treasurer-J. H. WHITING.
Directors -- Dr. W. BIRD, Dr. S. LYON, Capt. J. B. RITNER, W. D. EVANS, E. HAWKINS and GEO. COOPER. Co. Sup't-G. W. THOMPSON.
Fire Department.
Chief Engineer-Col. R. ROOT. 1st Assistant-JOHN POTTER. MT. PLEASANT FIRE COMPANY -Organized Jan. 10, 1870. Engine house, Washington opposite City Ho- tel. Le Roy Brooks, foreman ; J. F. Wise, assistant foreman ; C. F. Pitch- er, Hose foreman ; J. M. Bonner, as- sistant ; P. P. Vancise, Secretary ; T. P. Hollowell, Treasure „;
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MT. PLEASANT CITY DIRECTORY.
WAR
SAL
Ward Boundaries.
First Ward .- Commences at the north east corner of the Publie Square, and ineludes all that portion of the City lying between North Main and east of Monroe.
Second Ward .- All that portion of the City that lies north of Main and west of Monroe.
Third Ward .- All that portion of the City that lies between West Monroe and South Main.
Fourth Ward .- All that portion of the City that lies between South Main and East Monroe.
Bands.
MT. PLEASANT SILVER CORNET BAND. Meets Tuesday and Friday evenings of each week, C. M. Snyder, jr., leader.
Banks.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MT. PLEASANT. Organized Jan'y, 1864. Offiec, north west corner of the Publie Square. Regular meeting of the Directors Tuesday evenings. Annual meeting and election of Directors, 2d Tuesday in January. President, P. Saunders; cashier, L. W. Vale ; teller, John Martin ; book-keeper, T. J. Van Horn.
NATIONAL STATE BANK OF MT. PLEASANT. Organized, May, 1865. Office, north west corner Main and Monroe, north east corner of Pub- lie Square. Regular meeting of Direc- tors, first Monday of each month. An- nual meeting and election of Directors 2d Tuesday of January. President, T. Whiting ; cashier, J. H. Whiting.
MT. PLEASANT GRADED SCHOOLS.
G. W. THOMPSON, County Superintendent. Board of Directors.
Dr. W. BIRD, W. D. EVANS, Capt. J. B. RITNER, GEORGE COOPER Dr. 8. LYON and E. HAWKINS.
Officers of the Board.
Dr. W. BIRD, President ; J. S. WOOLSON, Sec'y ; J. II. WHITING, Treas.
High School Department. B. M. Cozier, A. M., principal. Alice Bird, A. B., 1st assistant. Franc Roads, B. S., 2d assistant.
Grammar School Department.
Mattie Lennox, principal. Mary Hawkins, assistant.
Intermediate Department. Mollie Gillis, principal. Maria Rockhold, assistant.
Secondary Department.
Maggie McDonald, principal. Amelia Mount, assistant.
Primary Department. Sallie Bereman, principal. Emma Townsend, assistant.
Main Street Primary. Helen Roseman, principal.
Winona School.
(Grammar School Department.) Rebecca A. Van Tress, principal.
Intermediate Department. Minnie C. Martin, teacher.
Secondary Department. Sallie Porter, teacher.
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MT. PLEASANT CITY DIRECTORY.
PRI
ĮTHE
Primary Department. Sue Sutton, teacher.
Music Teachers.
Brass and Silver Instruments. C. M. Snyder.
Piano-Forte.
Gardner F., Locust ws 2n Warren.
Rommel A., Washington cor Asylum Avenue, Rev. Belden's Female Sem- inary.
Treloar W. M., Iowa W. University.
Newspapers & Publications.
HENRY COUNTY PRESS, (Demo- cratic) Weekly, Dr. D. W. Robinson, editor and proprietor, 22 Monroe ns Squre.
MOUNT PLEASANT JOURNAL, (Republican) Weekly, Frank Hat- ton, editor and proprietor, 22 and 27 Jefferson.
THE INDEPENDENT, (Neutral) Weekly, C. L. Moorehouse, editor and proprietor, west side Square.
·ALISHHAINA NVXCISEM VMOI
13:
INSTITUTIONS.
EDUCATIONAL.
Iowa Wesleyan University.
The Iowa Wesleyan University is located. in this city. Its buildings are on a beautiful plat of ground containing twenty aeres. The main edifice is one hundred feet long, fifty-four feet wide, and three stories high. There is also a building sixty feet long, thirty feet wide and two stories high. Both buildings are of briek, and furnish as ample and attractive accommodations as are usually possessed by such Institutions.
There are in the Institution six departments ; the Preparatory, the Collegiate, the Scientifie, the Law, the department of Modern Languages, and the depart- nient of Fine Arts. In any of these departments students ean readily be classed according to their preparation.
The year ineludes three terms of study, and three vacations. The Commenee- ment takes place the third Wednesday of June. The first term begins the first Wednesday of September. The second term begins the second Wednesday of Deeember. The third term begins the third Wednesday of March.
The University has had the usual experience of such Institutions in this eoun- try. It has seen dark days, and known what it was to struggle with difficulties. But it has held steadily on its way, and, during the fourteen years of its exis- tenee, hundreds have, in its rooms, fitted themselves for usefulness and honor. Its graduates already number over one hundred.
It has just celebrated its Fifteenth Commeneement, and perhaps at no previ- ous one has there been so much of interest and hopefulness among its friends.
It is now under the Presidency of Rev. John Wheeler, D. D., and with him are associated competent and diligent instructors in all the departments.
Additions are constantly being made to the Library, Apparatus, Museum, and Endowment Fund of the Institution. Its friends are devoting themselves with new vigor to its interests. The community is becoming more and more awake to the necessity of the University to the prosperity of this seetion of the State ; and there is good reason to believe that those who are so vitally interested in the well-being of the Institution will furnish it with all it yet needs to assure it large and permanent prosperity.
Mt. Pleasant High School and Female Seminary.
Monroe strect, north-east corner of Locust. Prof. S. L. Howe, Principal and Proprietor. In 1845 this Institution was established in the town of Mt. Pleas- ant, by Prof. Samuel L. Howe, under whose supervision it was suecessfully con- dueted for nearly twenty years, when, owing to ill health and the pressure of other duties, he relinquishied its' Superintendaney and placed the seliool in the eare of his son, Edward P. Howe, who condueted it with great success till the winter of 1867 and '68, when he was ealled to take charge of the Bonaparte Academy, and S. L. Ilowe again became Principal of the Mt. Pleasant School, which has sinee been eondueted and will eontinne to be eondueted by him. The thorough and practical seientitie knowledge it imparts, the complete system of mental discipline it pursues, the moulding of the mind to intelligence, and the heart to virtue, the energy and zcal it inspires in the pupils, are all more
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MT. PLEASANT CITY DIRECTORY.
and more felt and appreciated. From no school are so many teachers supplied to the State and from none are they so eagerly sought. Free and untrammellcd, the mind of the pupil is permitted to range through the mental, moral and sci- entific world, gathering the fruits of pleasant, patient, and successful investiga- tion. The good qualities of the mind and heart are seized upon, cherished and cultivated, till they outgrow, and finally overcome the unpromising, unlovely, and debasing dispositions and propensities with which youth are sometimes afflicted. To train the youth of the land to aet well their part in the great drama of life in which they must necessarily be engaged, is the design and de- cided tendeney of this Institution. The pupils live in the very heart and soul of the teacher, and he trusts, to some good extent, at least, he lives in theirs. It is a Mutual Insurance Company, in which one insures the success of another, and the teacher of all.
.The Institution stands on its own reputation ; it asks the testimony of its own works only, to seeure its prosperity ; it ardently seeks, and especially desires an acquaintance with the wise and good of the land. Its best friends are those who best know it, and its enemies, if it has any, are those who have but little, if any knowledge of its modus operandi.
The Mt. Pleasant Female Seminary.
This Institution was opened in September, 1863, under the charge of Rev. G. P. Bergen, now of Birmingham, Iowa. IIe conducted it one year, and in Sep- tember, 1864, it passed under its present management. It is incorporated under the laws of the State. The Directors are Rev. E. L. Belden, J. II. Whiting, Esq., and Miss M. C. McCulloel. The building and furniture have cost $20,000.
Sixty-five boarders can be accommodated. It is hoped that a still larger building will be ereeted in a year or two. Six aeres of ground belong to the Seminary. The object of this Institution is to give a liberal Christian Educa- tion to the young ladies entrusted to its care. Thoroughness is aimed at, both in the solid and ornamental branches. The health, manners, morals and sehol- arship of pupils are carefully looked after. No case of serious illness, and no death has ever occurred in the Seminary.
Thurty-five young ladies have been graduated, who will compare favorably with the same number of graduates of any Seminary East or West.
Unsurpassed facilities for thorough instruction in Music and Painting. The present corps of teachers consists of-
Rev. E. L. BELDEN, Mrs. JANE M. BELDEN,
Miss M. C. McCULLOUGII, Mrs. RACHEL P. MORTON,
Prof. A. ROMMEL, Miss MARY L. BARNES,
Miss BELLE R. WILLIAMS.
D. WINTER & Co., PLANING MILL!
AND MANUFACTURERS OF
SASH AND DOORS, Blinds, Mouldings, Brackets, Frames, Casings, Base, &c.
STAIRS, STAIR RAILINGS. ETC., FURNISHED AT LOWEST RATES.
WEST OF O. H. SCHENCK'S PORK HOUSE.
Burlington, Iowa.
DE Dealers furnished at Chicago Prices. Price Lists furnished on appli- ration.
D. RISSER & Co., East Side of the Public Square,
MT. PLEASANT. - IOWA,
MANUFACTURERS OF
BOOTS & SHOES !
OF THE BEST CLASS AND LATEST STYLES.
D. RISSER, HAVING HAD TWENTY-FIVE YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN THE
FINE BOOT AND SHOE BUSINESS,
NOW MAKES THE FINE BOOT TRADE A SPECIALTY.
We use no Japoncca leather. but use the best stock in the market. In fact we use the best materials and employ first-class workmen, and hence our success in the fine boot line. Thankfal for an increasing public patronage. we intend in the future as in the past to merit the same.
MT. PLEASANT
School and Female Seminary !
MONROE STREET, N. E. COR. LOCUST.
SAMUEL L. HOWE, Principal and Proprietor.
Fac et erudias et eduees.
ONE SESSION PER YEAR.
This is the only Institution of the kind in the state where candidates can enter any time during the year, and have assigned them appropriate classes.
Gentlemen and ladies, boys and girls, are taught in the same classes, because this is God's plan, aud any other is faulty aud mischievious.
AM
Common branches, per terin of ten weeks. $6.00
Algebra, Philosophy, Chemistry, Etc., per term of ten weeks. 7.00 U. S. History, Latin, Greek, Geometry, Etc ... 8.00
NO PUPIL RECEIVED FOR LESS THAN TEN WEEKS.
After thesc have been completed and payment has been made, they are received and re- quired to pay only for the length of time actually engaged in school, an advantage enjoyed in few other schools. No deduction will be made except for protracted sickness. A prominent department in this Institution is its
SCHOOL FOR TEACHERS,
CONDUCTED DURING SUMMER AND FALL VACATIONS, BY
PROFESSOR SAMUEL L. HOWE.
Being upheld by no sect or party, and resting alone on the diligence, perseverance and rep- ntation of its conductor, it has attained a standing unequalled hy any other similar Institution in the state.
It will be the constant aim and untiring effort of the proprietor to maintain, in the future, the pre-eminence with which this Seminary has been honored.
We claim for it the following characteristics, which, at any time, before competent judges, we are ready to verify: .
I .-- It le moral, scientific and systematic in all its operations, its only object being so to de- velop and educate children and youth, that they may attain morally, physically and mentally the full stature of perfect men and women.
II .- It is logical and thorough in its mental training; the pupil is taught to think, reason and reflect, and is thus sure to obtain a complete knowledge of the sclences he resolves to con- quer, and to conquer them from three to five times quicker and more thoroughly than in most other schoo's.
III .- All the instruction is based upon principle; the pupil is taken to the foundation of every science; hc knows it all; hence, what he learns hc will never forget.
IV .- It teaches the love of knowledge for its own sake; all naturally love to know, and if this love is noi smothered, It will increase; hence, a pupil thoroughly drilled in this school will, after hc leaves it, overcome all obstruc. ions and educate himself.
V .- It professcs to teach truth in arrangement or principles; the crrors arc rejected, thc truths retained.
VI .- We clalm for this school, both in manner and matter, advantages superior to any other similar school in the state; and we invite parents and guardians to send in their children and to visit the school, and see and know for themselves. We challenge a fair and houorable comparisou.
BERRY
LIBRARY.
Leisenring Bros Pho. Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Me
Engraved for Bailey & Hair's Iowa Gazetteer
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE, M! Pleasant, Iowa.
IOWA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
Institutions and hospitals for the curative treatment of the insane, belong ex- clnsively to modern times. The earlier establishments of this kind were scaree- ly more than " mad-houses" and " bedlams," in the strietest sense of the words. They were little else than places of detention for the unhappy sufferers.
Abont the middle of the last century the first establisliment solely for the insane, was erected in England. It was not, however, till many years later, when the sympathies of the English people had been aroused in consequence of the derangement of their unfortunate king, George III, that anything further was done for their relief.
Contemporaneonsly with the first movements in England, provisions for the insane were made in this country. The first in order of time was the Pennsyl- vania Hospital, in the city of Philadelphia, founded in 1751, and opened for pa- tients in the following year. The next practical effort was the ereetion of the Eastern Asylum, at Williamsburg, Virginia, opened in 1773. In 1771 a charter was granted for the " New York Hospital," into which insane patients were received in 1797, and out of which grew the "Bloomingdale Asylum," situated in the northern part of of New York city.
As far as known, this was all the provision made for the insane in this eoun- try during the eighteenth century. In these, however, the treatment was little more than custodial, and bore little resemblance to that of the present day.
" We have now arrived," says a distinguished medical writer of our time, "at the period of initiation, in another country, of an enterprise which, whether we regard the boldness of its beginning, the rapidity of its progress, the extent of territory over which it spread, the success which it has achieved, or the amount of good to mankind of which it has been the minister, challenges the admira- tion of every advocate of human improvement and every lover of his raee. In the midst of all the horrors of the French revolution, Dr. Pinel walked the red- dened streets of Paris, a minister of benevolenee-a physician with a heart. He was connected with the Bicetre Hospital, in which many of the insane were confined in cells, and loaded with chains and manaeles. After repeated solicita- tions, he at length, in the latter part of the year 1791, obtained permission from the public authorities to remove these torturing instruments of bodily restraint. The first person upon whom the experiment was tried, was an English captain, who, being subjeet to paroxysnis of extreme violence, had been chained there 40 years. A promise of good behavior having been obtained from him, the chains were loosed, and the man, returning as it were to the joys of life, kept his prom- ise, rendered himself useful, and had no reeurrenee of inaniaeal fury during the two additional years of his residence in the hospital. * * * History fur- nishes few sketehes of more toueliing interest than the account of tliese proceed- ings given by M. Seission, son of the chief actor in them."
Germany, and some other European countries, were not far behind in intro- ducing new and improved methods in the treatment of the insane; and some enlightened philanthropists of each country, through their well-directed zeal, won for themselves imperishable renown.
This new and humane movement spread less rapidly, for a brief period, on this side of the Atlantic than in Europe ; but at length there appeared a fervid
3
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MT. PLEASANT CITY DIRECTORY.
spirit of enterprise and progress, resulting in the erection of several institutions that at onee took a position in advanee, whichi, to this day, they have well main- tained.
In this State, public attention was first directed to the neeessity of providing a suitable Hospital for the Insane by the following words in governor Grimes' message to the fifth general assembly, in 1855: "The general assembly cannot, be too urgently ealled on to take immediate steps to establish state charitable institutions. According to the most reliable information, there are now inore than one liundred pauper insane persons in the state. One-half of these are eon- fined in the common jails, and are thius placed beyond a reasonable expectation of recovery. The other moiety are remaining at large, a terror to their friends and neighbors, and by exposure to exciting causes, rendering their disease hope- lessly incurable. Every dietate of humanity, every principle of sound poliey, demands that the state should make immediate provision for the care and treat- ment of this unfortunate elass of our fellow-eitizens."
During the winter of 1854-5, while the legislature was in session, Dr. D. L. MeGugin visited the capital, and in a public lecture urged an appropriation in accordance with the suggestions of the governor. Moved by the appeals of phi- lanthropie persons, the legislature appointed a commission, and appropriated $50,000. The commissioners were the governor, Edward Johnson, esq., of Lee county, and Dr. Charles S. Clark, of Henry county. Their first meeting was held Mareh 15, 1855.
The sixth scetion of the "Act to establishi a state Insanc Asylum," provided that "the cost of the building contemplated by this aet shall not exeeed fifty thousand dollars ; but it is advised that the plan determined on by the board should be one that may admit of future enlargement."
On the 17th of Mareli, 1855, the valuable tract of land. now oeeupied contain- ing one hundred and seventy-three acres, was purehased for twenty-five dollars per acre.
As authorized by the aet, the commissioners proceeded to visit the best hos- pitals and asylums in other states, and also procured a plan from Dr. Bell, of the McLean Asylum, Somerville, Mass., whichi was afterwards substantially followed in erecting the hospital. The information obtained by them during their visits led them to abandon as unwise the project of ereeting for $50,000 an edifiee whichi would be incomplete and soon insufficient. The united voices of the su- perintendents of hospitals were strongly against such a procedure; and the commissioners determined to erect a building, complete, capacious and on the best plans, relying for support and justification upon the liberality, intelligenee and humanity of the people and of the legislature. This reliance was not mis- placed.
Mr. Henry Winslow, formerly a praetieal mason, and for some years eonneet- ed with the Maine Insane Hospital-a man of high qualifieations and much ex- perience, was appointed to superintend the building. He entered upon the duty October 22, 1855. From this time the work went steadily on, till a por- tion of the house was finished and ready to receive patients. The first patient was admitted February 27, 1861 ; and the hospital was formally opened on the 6th of March following.
The year 1864 saw the building fully completed and furnished. Since the opening in 1861, nearly one thousand patients have been received and treated. During the most of the time sinee its completion in 1864, the hospital has been filled to its utmost eapacity.
The hospital has now eost $400,000, ineluding special appropriations for new supply of water, reconstruction of sewers, construction of drain around the hos- pital, building of a eoal house and a shop, and extensive repairs upon the steam apparatus, ete., rendered necessary in consequence of the corrosive quality of the water from the artesian well. This well is no longer used.
Dr. R. J. Patterson, who had had much experience in other hospitals, was
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MT. PLEASANT CITY DIRECTORY.
appointed superintendent in, 1860, and entered upon his duties early in the fol- lowing year. From his first report the following description of the hospital is taken :
The building, which is of the Elizabethian style of architecture, consists of a stately central structure, and wings on either side, tastefully grouped in tlie quadrangular forins. The central portion is four stories high, and all other parts three stories high above the basements. The walls are all of solid cut stone ma- sonry, lined on the inner side with brick. The roof covering is of heavy gal- vanized iron.
In the central building, which is 90 by 60 feet, and four stories high, are the public offices of the superintendent and his assistants, the stewards and the pri- vate rooms of all resident officers. It has also a rotunda 49 by 57 feet, in which is a splendid double stairway reaching to the top. It is surmounted by a beau- tiful tower, the top of which is 137 feet from the ground. The six wings, three on either side, are for the special use of patients, and are each respectively, 114, 151, and 131 feet in length by 40 feet in widthi, all three stories high above the basements. They are agreeably diversified by bay windows, projections and recesses, and give an entire front of 512 fect. Two cupolas risc 90 feet from the ground over these wings, and serve a practical use as ventilators as well as orna- ments. At the extreme end of these wings are return-wings, each 131 feet deep by 40 feet wide, giving the structure its quadrangular forin. Also, there is one central wing, extending from the rcar of the central building, 115 feet deep, 3 stories high, in the basement and first stories of which are the kitchen, bakery, dining-rooms, store-rooms and other domestic offices. In the second and third stories is a beautiful chapel 38 by 50 feet, 20 feet ceiling, in the rear of which are numerous lodging rooms for domestics.
In each story of the lateral wing, where patients have their apartments, are placed and always kept, 240 feet, or in the aggregatc, 720 feet of water-hose, always attached to the water-pipes, to subdue fire in case of its occurrence, and for the same purpose six iron steam pipes, 114 inch in diameter, open into the attics at varions points.
The lateral wings contain :
220 single rooms for patients, each 8 by 12 feet.
18 associated dormitories " 18 by 24 “
18 parlors.
16 by 24 “
18 dining rooms.
12 by 112 “
24 bathing rooms for patients.
25 water closet.
24 wash rooms with enameled iron sinks.
78 clotlies closcts.
In the whole establishment there are 425 rooms, great and small, exclusive of basement rooms. It contains 1,100 windows and 900 doors. A walk around the outside walls is a half mile, and a walk all over its lialls about one mile in length. It required 120,000 square feet af galvanized iron sheeting to cover the roof. In the basement is a railroad one-eighth of a mile in length, with iron rail, upon which a hand car carries food from the central kitchen to dumb-wait- ers beneath all dining rooms. The buildings are designed for the liberal accom- modation of at least 300 patients with all nceded officers, attendants, and assist- ants to take care of them.
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