USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 16
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The Storm Lake Chantauqna was the first in this section of the state, at least in a decade. The success of the Storm Lake assembly impelled many of the neighboring towns to establish similar courses but in spite of the sharp competition the Storm Lake assembly has gone steadily forward and is au assured aud established fact. Such men as Newell Dwight Hillis. W. J. Bryan, Dr. F. W. Gunsaulus, Robert M. LaFollette. Booker T. Washington, William A. Sunday. Gipsy Smith, Governor Hoch of Kansas, Governor Hanley of Indiana, Congressman Bede of Minnesota, Congressman Landis of Indiana, Congressman Hobson of Alabama. Col. Bain. Capt. Jack Crawford, John Vance Cheney, Dr. Wickersham and Senator Dolliver have been heard with pleasure and profit, and the Chautauqua has enabled the people of the county to hear men from the outside world on questions that are momentous and timely.
Classes for the study of domestic sciences have been held for the women, at which demonstrations in cooking have been given. These, with talks on hygiene in the home, have proved of much value.
For the past two years Prof. Wilcox of the Iowa State University has given a series of lectures on history that have been a liberal education in themselves. and the forenoon honr has also been devoted to a study of Biblical topies and ethical subjects.
BUENA VISTA COLLEGE.
The seed from which the present educational tree of Buena Vista college has grown was planted October 17, 1883, when Rev. JJ. C. Gilkerson, representing
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Sound
the Calliope Academy Association, presented to the Presbytery of Fort Dodge, then in session at Sac City. the idea of taking into its care the Academy at Calliope. A committee was appointed to consider the whole matter, and to recommend to the Presbytery at its next meeting in April, 1884, what action should be taken. The acceptance of the offer from Calliope was deferred until September. 1884, when propositions from localities desiring the location of the institution were examined. Cherokee and Fort Dodge made offers, the latter town being chosen, and in the fall of 1885, the Fort Dodge Collegiate' Institute was opened with Rev. F. L. Kenyon as president. President Kenyon condneted the school until 1889, when he was succeeded by Rev. L. Y. Hayes. However, two years later it was decided that the school would not be successful as it was, and propositions from other towns were considered. Among those offered, the Storm Lake Town Lot and Land Company made the proposition to "donate a campus of about eight aeres, and to erect there upon buildings of the value of twenty-five thousand dollars, suitable for college purposes."
In October, 1890. the Presbytery of Sioux City was set off from. the Presbytery of Fort Dodge. 3 A joint commission of twelve members chosen by the two Presbyteries met in Storm Lake July 8, 1891. and accepted the propo- sition of the Storm Lake Town Lot and Land Company. The organization and incorporation of Buena Vista college was completed on the following day, July 9, 1891. The Synod of Iowa, in regular session at Boone, October. 1891. unanimously adopted the college as its own, and a board of trustees was elected composed of the following persons: Rev. 11. D. Jenkins, Rev. S. W. Stophlett. Rev. John MacAllister, Rev. Win. M. Evans, Rev. Wm. M. Robinson, L. S. Faucett. A. A. Horton. Zeph. Chas. Felt. S. D. Eadie, E. R. Sisson, E. E. Mack, 1. B. Williams, J. B. MeKibben. J. P. Morey, and President L. Y. Hayes. ex officio. To these trustees was entrusted the entire control of the college proper- ty and the management of its interests. The Synod recognized the existence of the other colleges in the state, but the grouping of these educational institutions in the eastern and southern portions of the state, left a vast unoccupied field in the center of what was destined to become a fine part of Iowa. The leading men in the Presbyterian church in northwest Iowa foresaw with prophetic vision the splendid opportunity of usefulness which the planting of a Christian college would furnish in this field. The wisdom of its founders has already appeared in the success it has attamed.
The approximate geographical centre of this field was Storm Lake, and this little city with its beautiful lake and clean, wide streets, was chosen because of its fitness for preserving a wholesome moral atmosphere, being free from the many temptations that beset the student in the larger cities.
The college is situated in the southwest part of the town, on a beautiful elevation sloping down to the lake. The main building is of briek, trimmed with eut stone, and measures ninety by seventy-two feet, with three stories. It contains nine recitation rooms, a chapel, a library, a reading room, together with ten other rooms used for various purposes. Its cost, exclusive of all furnishings, was twenty-five thousand dollars. It is valued today at forty thousand dollars.
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Until the completion of the new building, school was conducted in the Opera House. The first faculty was constituted as follows: Rev. L. Y. Hayes, president ; Rev. Geo. HI. Fracker. Rev. J. C. Hutchinson, C. Ray Aurner, N. H. Tyson, Miss Ida L. Sisson, Miss Ida D. Bennett, and C. A. Heinrieks.
During the early part of the year 1901, the Miller-Stuart house, formerly known as the president's home, became college property. being given by Mrs. Lois G. Stuart of Audubon, and Rev. Wm. Miller of Des Moines. It was built for a president's home by Rev. J. M. Linn, during his presidency of the college. It stands across the street from the college, is roomy, and substantially built, and is a valuable addition to the college possessions.
The Ladies' HIall, located on a lot with two hundred and seventy foot frontage, is valued at ten thousand dollars. It contains twenty-one rooms. beside a parlor, dining room and kitchen.
Mather Hall, the musical conservatory, is located between the Ladies' Hall and the Miller-Stuart house, and these three buildings occupy a half block facing the campus on the east. The conservatory became the property of the college through the generosity of Mrs. Flora S. Mather of Cleveland, Ohio. It contains eleven rooms, is well equipped and suited to the purpose for which it is used.
The college is conducted at the present time by the following faculty ; Rev. Geo. H. Fracker. A. M., D. D., vice president (acting president ) ; Martha M. Reid, A. B .; Alice E. Wilcox. A. B .; Ed. Forest Blayney. A. M., Ph. D .; Laura MeLanghlin : Irwin Billman, B. S., B. L .; A. B. Thut. A. B., B. L. ; S. P. Ronnei; Grace B. Gilmore; Julia E. Porter. A. B .: C. Helene Burgess, A. B .; Maude E. Ilawkins; Rena Garberson : Mable Lnhman.
The following men have served as presidents in the order named: Rev. L. Y. Hayes, Rev. J. M. Linn, Rev. John MacAllister. Rev. Harvey Hostetler, Rev. E. E. Reed. and Rov. Robert L. Campbell. Rev. Geo. Fracker has been acting president since December, 1908, Rev. Campbell having resigned in the fall of that year. A committee is at work at the present time endeavoring to secure a suitable man for the presidency.
It is the purpose of the college to furnish opportunity for a thorough odneation in its various departments. A classical education is encouraged ; special attention is also given to the instruction in the Sciences, Philosophy and English. The trustees desire to provide, in addition to the regular college course, the best opportunities for training in education, music, oratory and business.
Among the facilities for study is the library, containing about six thousand volumes, well chosen and well classified, and of a practical character, nearly every volume being secured for some specific need. There is also a museum, for which the first collection was made by Rev. R. E. Fliekinger. Additions for various kinds have been and are being made from time to time. There are the laboratories, the Chemistry, the Physics, and the Biological, all well equipped with the apparatus necessary for their several needs.
Among the student organizations, the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A. hold prominent places, these associations having there own Furnished rooms in the main building. Weekly devotional meetings are held. and weekly Bible study
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conducted. Besides these associations there are two literary societies, the Star and the Franklin, maintained for literary culture in its various phases. Friend- ly rivalry exists between the two societies: a debate is held each year, a prize vup being awarded to the successful society.
Athletics are under the control of a committee of three members of the faculty, together with the officers of the College Athletic Association.
The college owns its own printing outfit. a small press situated in the basement. On it are printed the Bulletin and the Tack. the former issued bi- monthly by the faculty, and the latter published monthly by the students. The press furnishes employment to several students wishing self support.
The control of the college is vested in the board of trustees, which at the present time is composed of the following men : Rev. E. W. Brown, Spirit Lake ; W. II. HIart. Sac City; Hon. Phil Schaller, Sac City: Ilon. De Witt Miller, Newell ; J. B. M.Kibben. Storm Lake; Rev. John W. Day, Des Moines; Prof. Floyd T. Voris, Tacoma. Washington; Robert H. Campbell, Ireton; G. H. Cummings. Sioux City: Rev. S. W. McFadden. Spokane, Washington; F. F. Faville, Storm Lake; JJ. T. Edson. Schaller ; S. C. Bradford, Storm Lake; Prof. J. E. Ulman, Paullina; W. L. Geisinger, Storm Lake; Robert Bleakly, Storm Lake; E. 11. Fairburn. Fonda ; Geo. Lawhorn, Storm Lake: Rev. O. S. Thompson, Paullina ; F. S. Ranney, Storm Lake; M. W. Friek. Rockwell City ; Rev. Daniel Williams, Storm Lake; A. W. Unger, Storm Lake; Rev. Harvey Hostetler, Council Bluffs; M. N. Volding. Cherokee; R. W. Marquis. Des Moines; G. M. Parker. Auburn; W. C. Edson, Storm Lake: M. O. Miller. Storm Lake; Hon. A. D. Bailie, Storm Lake; E. R. Sisson. Storm Lake; IIon. E. E. Mack, Storm Lake; L. M. Nusbaum, Storm Lake; A. C. Binnie, Alta; W. C. Kennedy, Rolfe; Thomas II. Wright, Fort Dodge.
In 1901 a movement was started for securing an endowment for the college. The plan was to secure fifty-thousand dollars in Iowa, and fifty thousand dollars more in the past. Ohio was selected as the field for this latter sum. By the spring of 1902, the first fifty thousand dollars had been successfully raised. The Synod of Iowa has for the second time recommended that Buena Vista college should be given two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to meet immediate needs for more buildings, grounds and endowment. It is the ambition of Storm Lake to be a religions educational center and this purpose is kept steadily in view by those who appreciate the opportunities of the college. Although Buena Vista is still a small school, yet with the steady growth which it has been making. and with its beautiful situation by the lake, there is every evidence that its present progress will continue in the future.
TIIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The first school in Storm Lake was begun in the spring or summer of 1870 in the residence of S. D. Eadie. Miss Alma Gates was the first teacher. The school district at that time included all of Hayes township, and Win. Guilford was the president of the first board of directors. In the summer of 1871 a
V
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small frame building was erected diagonally across the street from the site of the present southside school building. This was built by private subscription and Miss Honeywell was the teacher in this school.
In JJuly 1872 Storm Lake was organized into an Independent School Dis- triet. The number of scholars had increased, so that the frame building was too small, and the hall above Smith Bros. store was rented for one year. George Il. Eastman was at the head of the school as principal. the first male teacher in the Independent district ; Miss Iris Kelso was his assistant. The Baptist church was next used for the school, being rented for one year.
In the summer of 1874 the construction of a brick building was begun on the present site, but before it was finished the north wall blew over and the contractor abandoned it. Another contractor took up the work in 1875 and
finished the building. This forms the central part of the present building. The old frame building, which was the first school building in Storm Lake, was moved into the country. and now stands about three miles west of town, a short ways north of the main road leading to Alta.
The schools continued to increase rapidly. A small frame building had to be erected near the school as an overflow. In 1880 another lot was purchased adjoining the school land, and an addition of four rooms was built to the school building. Two rooms more and the high school up stairs were added in 1894, making the building as it now stands.
The "North school" was begun in 1889 when a brick building of four rooms was erected in the north part of town. The building consists now of six rooms. an addition of two rooms being made in 1894.
The present superintendent of the schools is A. C. Fuller, Jr. The principal of the high school, Thos. Teakle: 9th grade. Mrs. Julia HI. Braginton. Assistants in the high school : Miss Mabel L. Anderson, Miss Stella M. Russell, and Miss Grace E. Russell.
Supervisor of music: Miss Frances M. Witter.
Grade teachers. (south school) : Miss Alice W. Proctor, Mrs. Flora Fitch, Miss Nettie Aiken, Miss Edna E. Steffen, Miss Maude Lamb, Miss Ethel Mathews. North school : Miss Charlotte Diehl, Miss Ethel Carson, Miss Edith Mal- bone. Miss Leona M. Darr, Miss Edna R. Kington, Miss Bessie Cox.
The Storm Lake school district inchides one rural school-the Lakeview school. Miss Ethel Smith is the teacher.
The present enrollment of all schools numbers five hundred and sixty-five, of which two hundred and eighty-nine are boys and two hundred and seventy-six are girls.
In 1890 the high school was made a four year course, and has been l'ully accredited since that time. The school has a library containing about two thousand volumes, including supplementary reading.
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Storm Lake Methodism began October 4. 1868 when Rov. Thomas Whitely. a local preacher, delivered the first sermon and conducted the first regular
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service on the Chamberlain farm, directly south of the Mineral Springs at the west end of the lake. The circuit of which Rev. Whitely was pastor reached south to Ida Grove, west to Cherokee, and north to Peterson.
In the spring of 1869. Rev. Whitely preached a second time at the Chamber- lain farm. and organized a class "composed of Brother Andrews, leader, Sister Andrews, Laura Harlan, Sister Whitely, Alvu Carrington, Daniel Smith and wife. Martha Whitely, and Mrs. Chloe Clemons."
During the conference year of 1869-70, the Storm Lake territory was formed a part of the Sae City circuit. and Rev. White was the pastor, a supply. Dur- ing that year he made only one visit to the society, at which time, aided by Rev. Whitely, he administered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper at the home of Mr. Andrews. (The given, name of Mr. Andrews does not appear in the records: he is always mentioned as "Brother Andrews.")
In the autumn of 1870. J. R. Horsewell was appointed pastor of the Storm Lake circuit, and he preached the first sermon ever preached in the town in the freight depot of the Illinois Central railroad. About one hundred persons were present. A class, composing fifteen persons, was organized and Thos. Whitely was appointed leader. Daniel Smith and C. S. Greenman were chosen stewards. Mr. Andrews soon took the place of Thos. Whitely as leader. Rev. Horsewell also organized a class at Nokomis schoolhouse. "Hunt's schoolhouse." as it was called. about nine miles northwest of Storm Lake. The entire circuit included Storm Lake. Nokomis, and a schoolhouse southeast of the lake. The Elk appointment was added before the close of Rev. Horsewell's pastorate.
In Storm Lake various places of worship were used, namely the freight depot. S. D. Eadie's residence, a room over Eadie & Guilford's store, the German Mill (afterward burned) and the hall over Smith Bros. store.
The first church building in town was the Presbyterian, which was erected at the corner of Third street and Lake avenne in 1872. The Methodists made arrangements whereby they occupied this half of the time.
In September. 1872. the Northwest Iowa conference was organized at Fort Dodge, and Rev. O. S. Bryan was appointed pastor of Storm Lake to succeed Rev. Horsewell. Rev. Smith D. Fry and Rev. Thos. Whitely also served successively that year. In 1873 Rev. Wilmot Whitfield was appointed pastor. This appointment also included Nokomis and Elk. During the winter revivals increased the membership from seventy-one to one hundred and forty-two.
In the spring of 1874 a little parsonage was built; and during 1875 a church was built at Storm Lake, and one at Alta. The circuit had been enlarged "so as to include. in addition to the other three appointments, the Fosters, the Wilsons, the Parkers, the MaeGugors, and Whitelys and occasionally the Griffiths." The pastor preached four times every Sabbath during part of that year, driving from five to nine miles between places.
At the conference in 1875 the circuit was divided into the Storm Lake charge with sixty-five members and Alta with one hundred and twenty members. Rev. Henry Brown was appointed to Alta, and Rev. C. B. Winter to Storm Lake. The first trustees of the church were elected in 1875, and were as follows: Wm. 1. Smith, Mansel Tolle, Emanuel Geist, J. R. Lemon. J. G. McGregor, Thos. Whitely. Sr., E. L. Carrington, Daniel Smith and James W. Bethards.
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Following Rev. C. B. Winter the following ministers have served in the church successively : Revs. F. J. Barr. Seymour Snyder. J. C. R. Layton, T. M. Williams, W. T. Gleason, Robert Smylie. B. S. Taylor. II. P. Dudley. I. J. Gardner, Wilmot Whitfield (second time). Samuelson P. Wilson, II. K. Hastings, G. W. Pratt. A. S. Cochran, W. J. Carr, S. R. Beatty, and Nathaniel Pye. the present pastor.
The present church building was erected at a cost of twenty-five thousand six hundred and sixty-four dollars and sixty-two cents. every cent of which was paid within sixty days after the completion of the church. The following constitute the present officers of the society :
Trustees: W. H. Wheat. Jos. Nattress. W. L. Geisinger, Adam Holmes. V. G. Burton, A. W. Sutter. W. J. Geisinger. J. W. Leinger, Wm. Pike.
Stewards: G. M. Walrod. A. S. Caulkins, J. W. Planalp. J. S. Bell, J. Southers, Mae Austin. August Hock, Mrs. Leech, Mrs. Cora Nattress, Geo. Lawhorn. A. T. Troeger. C. A. Fulton. S. L. Cole.
Sunday school: Superintendent. J. S. Bell.
Epworth League: President, II. W. Krause.
Pastors Aid: President, Mrs. Wm. Rose.
Woman's Home Missionary Society: President, Mrs. N. Pyo.
Womans Foreign Missionary Society: President, Mrs. J. W. Leininger.
Standard Bearers: Superintendent. Mrs. J. Il. O'Donoghue; President Miss Mae Austin.
THE LAKESIDE CHURCH.
Rev. Geo. R. Carrol and Mr. Alexander M. Darley first visited Storm Lake August 8, 1870. Rev. Carrol was district missionary of the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions for western lowa and Nebraska. It was the intention of these men to start a Presbyterian church. but they did not find enough persons of that denomination to justify that action. On October 29, in the same year, they again visited Storm Lake, but ouly five names were seenred. so nothing further was done.
On December 17, 1870 a third visit was made by Mr. Carrol, and on the next day. Sunday, December 18, a sermon was preached. after which the persons whose names appear below were organized into the "Presbyterian Church of Storm bake": Wm. M. Reeder. Mrs. M. L. Reeder. W. Il. MeCune, Mrs. E. A. MeCune. F. W. Steffen, S. D. Eadie, Mrs. Martha Eadie. S. D. Eadio and W. H. Med'une were elected ruling elders, and F. W. Steffen deacon.
June 16, 1871, Rev. Darley was elected permanent moderator. lle was the presbyterian missionary for the counties of Cherokee and Buena Vista. Church services were held in "the only public building in town." S. D. Eadie's residence, which was also used for a schoolhouse and a town hall. The Presby- derian society, together with the Baptists and the Methodists. rented a building in which to hold services. The Presbyterians used it one year-until they built their own church in the winter of 1871-2. A Sunday school had been organized about the same time as the church society. The progress of the church was rapid from the beginning.
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In February 1893, proposals were taken up by the Presbyterian and Con- gregational churches to join their organizations. The Congregational church had been organized since May 11, 1883, their charter members being: George Stetson. E. E. Maek, E. C. Cowles. Z. C. Felt, Joseph Sampson, J. C. Frank, T. A. Thompson, S. J. Johnson, J. M. Diekinson, II. C. Cutts, and A. D. Bailie. They held their services in a rented room in the old courthouse, until they built their own brick building, which is a part of the present Lakeside church building. The following ministers had served in the Congregational church: Revs. J. B. Chase, Geo. Morton, Asa Countryman, Fred Magoun, J. W. Ferner, O. V. Rice. In considering the union of the two churches, it was agreed March 9, 1893 that after March 16, they should meet and worship together in the Congregational church, the union to be temporary for two years, and at the end of this time the question of a permanent union would be decided. On May 7. 1895, the union was made permanent. The Presbyterians sold their church building to the German Lutherans, and built an addition of brick to the Congregational church to offset the possession of the latter by the Congregational society. This con-
stitutes the present building.
Following are the ministers who have served since the organization of the two churches : Revs. Alex M. Darley, Braxton Beun. C. M. Allen, Joshua Cooke, O. T. Langfitt, Alex. M. Darley, (about one month) R. T. Pressly. Cyrus A. Price, II. C. Keely, John MacAllister, who served for eight years, seven of which were under the union of the two congregations. Then followed successively Wm. E. Sloane. H. V. Comin, and the present pastor. D. C. Mackintosh.
During the year 1902 a modern parsonage was erected, the lot for which was donated by E. R. Sisson on June 8 of that year.
The church has now an enrollment of four hundred and twenty-nine mem- bers. The present elders are: S. D. Eadie, S. F. Luhman, M. O. Miller, S. M. Cox, Win. Ross, F. S. Ranney, A. M. Foster, T. K. Alexander, J. II. MeLaughlin.
The Sunday school has a membership of three hundred and forty-six; A. M. Foster is superintendent and Josephine Hoffman, secretary.
The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor has an enrollment of seventy-two with C. F. Greenway as president.
The Ladies Aid Society: Mrs. K. Buland, president.
Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society: Mrs. Jeannette Foote, president.
There is a "Westminster Guild," a society of young ladies of the church with Mae W. Ilamilton, president.
ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCHI.
The German Lutheran church had its beginning in the home of Mrs. Duschinski sometime during the year 1876. For about eight years services were held in this home. The town hall was rented and used until 1893, when for the next two years they rented the Presbyterian church during the latter's temporary union with the Congregational society. Upon the fusion of the two last named churches in 1895, the German Lutherans purchased the Presbyterian
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church building. In 1906 the building was renovated, an altar and pulpit being built, and other improvements made both inside and outside.
The following have been pastors of the church during its history : Revs. Kramer, Frederick Grim, Lape, (a student) Laner, Traub, II. Wehking and the present pastor. R. Haendschke.
The enrollment of the church is twenty families, aggregating about one hundred and thirty persons. The present trustees are: Chas. Banman, Philip Banmann and Chas. Heschke. Elders: Wm. Mantenfal and John Wetestein. The Sunday school. Rev. R. Haendschke is superintendent. There is an enrollment of twelve members, who also meet on Saturday as a parochial school. The Concordia society has a membership of twenty-five. Peter Fillmore is president, and Frank Frazier secretary.
The Ladies Aid Society : Mrs. J. Wetestein, president ; Mrs. R. Haendschke, secretary. The membership is twenty.
The minister at Storm Lake also has a parish a mile and a half east of Newell, to which he goes every two weeks. This parish, called St. Peter's Evangelical German Lutheran church, has been in connection with the Storm Lake church for about three and a half years. Its membership numbers sixty.
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