USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 45
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The Wesleyan Methodists had quite a strong organization at one time, and a considerable number of members still reside in West Union, but they
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have no regular church services. The church building and parsonage are now located at the extreme southern end of Vine street, near the southeast corner of the fair ground.
A German Lutheran congregation meets for regular semi-monthly services at the Baptist church.
The Universalist church, known as "Burbank Memorial," was built and donated to a small congregation of that faith, by Mr. and Mrs. L. Burbank, in 1888. It is a handsome structure, built of white brick, and has a nicely arranged auditorium, well seated, and parlor, kitchen and dining-room equip- ment. No regular pastor is now employed, but occasional services are held. Because of the convenient arrangement, and near-by location, this building is frequently used for general assemblies of the people, or for the use of societies in serving meals.
The United Brethren in Christ is the name of one of the old and con- tinuing religious organizations in West Union. Its ministers occupied the field as early as any. Rev. John Brown and Rev. Mr. Davis (father of A. D. Davis, a one-time merchant in West Union) were among the first ministers in Fayette county. The original United Brethren church in West Union was erected in 1855, on lot II, block 14. The lot was donated to the church by Llewellyn Piper and wife. The first minister after the building was erected was Rev. John Dollarhide. Some of his co-laborers of that day were Revs. Richardson and M. S. Drury, from Winneshiek county. Two sons of the lat- ter also served the church as pastors in later years. Under the pastorate of Rev. A. W. Drury, a scholarly and talented young man, the church was rebuilt and modernized in 1878. For many years this church was strong, numeric- ally, and numbered among its membership many substantial farmers in the surrounding country.
But the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic, whom all re- ligious societies sought to favor, and eliminate from the realm of "secrecy," if possible, precipitated a discussion in the general conference of the church, which, in many instances, resulted disastrously. The church was divided on the question of eliminating the word "secrecy" from the discipline, though the general conference was almost unanimously in favor of it. The existing churches sought to hold the church property, regardless of the claims of the "Liberal" branch, that they were the "recognized authority." The result was a radical division of the church from the highest tribunal down to the most humble, and serious litigation followed in almost every state in the Union. The disruption also meant the support of two general conferences, the estab-
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lishment of two church publishing houses, and the creation of many new officers to be supplied and paid for by practically the same people who had hitherto supported but one set of high officials, editors, book-makers, etc.
The West Union church remained with the Liberals, or those favoring the elimination of the secrecy clause from the discipline, but was crippled and weakened in doing so, some members withdrawing and uniting with other churches, and some dropping out altogether. While the organization has been kept up, and usually a resident pastor is employed, the accomplishment of this end is a heavy burden upon those who remain steadfast in the faith and teach- ings of their fathers.
The history of the Baptist, Catholic, Methodist Episcopal and Presby- terian churches appears in the special articles to which reference has been made.
The Masonic history also appears in a special article, by Grand Master Clements.
PROFESSIONAL LIST.
In presenting the following list of professionals' names, attention is called to the fact that the professional people of the entire county appear under the title of "Fayette County Lawyers" and the "Medical Profession in Fayette County," to which articles the reader is referred for further discussion of these subjects.
The legal profession has been ably represented by the following named gentlemen : S. S. Ainsworth, S. B. Zeigler, Milo McGlathery, C. H. Millar, Henry Rickel, William McClintock, L. L. Ainsworth, J. J. Berkey, J. W. Rog- ers & Son (O. W.), Joseph Hobson, William Cowle, J. B. Onstine, M. V. Burdick, C. A. Newcomb, L. M. Whitney, D. W. Clements, William E. Fuller, H. P. Hancock, A. N. Hobson (one of our present judges), W. J. Rogers, H. L. Adams, L. P. Phillips, W. B. Clements, E. H. Estey, C. B. Hughes, I. M. Weed, H. T. Weed, C. W. Dykins, R. G. Anderson, W. C. Lewis.
The medical profession represented by Doctors Elliott, Cruzans, Stafford, Hart, Lake, Fuller, Chase, Armstrong, Ecker, Bassett, Robinson, Zeigler, G. D. Darnall, Drake, E. A. and F. L. Ainsworth, Crepin, Harback, Zoller, Hadsel, Cartwright, Wray, Smith, Axiline, C. F. Darnall, Williamson, Renni- son, King, White, Bartlett, Whitmore, A. B. Stuart, E. H. Feige.
Among the lawyers, Hon. J. J. Berkey has been longer in practice than any other attorney now living in West Union. Hon. W. E. Fuller and Hon. D. W. Clements are close seconds for this honor. They have been in practice
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in West Union about thirty-six years, Mr. Clements constantly, Mr. Fuller intermittently. as shown in his personal sketch. Dr. G. D. Darnall has been in constant practice as a successful physician and surgeon since 1874, with the exception of a brief respite while serving one term in the Legislature. The efforts of but few men, in the profession or out of it, have been crowned with greater success than Doctor Darnall's. He came to the town a poor man, but with indomitable energy, a robust constitution and fixed determination. Instead of losing any of these personal characteristics, he has added to them other desirable features-wealth and prominence. He is the oldest physician now in practice in West Union, Dr. E. A. Ainsworth being next in order of time.
FRATERNITIES.
West Union is not as much of a "lodge town" as some others of similar size and importance. Aside from the various Masonic bodies there are organ- izations of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and Grand Army of the Republic, these being fraternal organizations, ex- clusively, while there are, or have been, numerous insurance "lodges," some of which have passed out of existence, to the grief of their patrons.
The Ancient Order of United Workmen, known as West Union Lodge No. 25, was instituted on the 19th of April, 1875, and is still in existence, and has paid out more than half of the original members.
The Modern Woodmen of America also have a continuing organization, and these two fraternal insurance organizations have done much good in coming to the aid of beneficiaries when assistance was most needed.
The Grand Army Mutual Benefit Association was brought into existence in the early eighties by local men, but had an ephemeral existence. Its pur- pose was to afford insurance to ex-soldiers of the Civil war at cost. Evident- ly this feature was not thoroughly investigated, since some of the promoters were obliged to pay out most of the organizing expenses and large printing bills from their own pockets. Only one death loss was ever paid, and that only in part.
The V. A. S. Society had an organization in the town for a few years, but, like the Iowa Legion of Honor, its contemporary, both became so expen- sive that most of the members dropped out, and the local organizations were suffered to lapse.
Round Grove Lodge No. 41. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has had an existence in West Union since July 26, 1852, when it was instituted by
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District Deputy Grand Master Thomas B. Dripps, assisted by H. B. Fox. The charter members were William McClintock, Clark Newcomb, Edwin Mont- gomery, Joseph H. Dripps and A. W. Dripps. The first noble grand was William McClintock. This was the first fraternal organization in the town and it had a phenomenal growth, enrolling among its members nearly every prominent man within its jurisdiction. But enlistments in the army during the sixties depleted its ranks in the interests of a better cause, and the charter was surrendered in 1864 and the organization was dormant until 1871, when, on petition of William McClintock, D. M. Hoyt. S. B. Zeigler, David Winrott, Mark Gilbert and L. B. Dersham, the original charter and number were re- stored. Henry Rickel was the first noble grand after the restoration of the charter. The society has been prosperous, and after paying all its obligations in sick benefits, death claims and widows' and orphans' annuities, it accumu- lated a considerable sum of surplus money which has been invested in erecting a two-story brick building on Elm street, south of the public square, the upper floor being devoted to the uses of the lodge and the first floor is rented for mercantile business. The membership has remained about stationary at one hundred contributing members for the last twenty-five years. Connected with this subordinate body, and auxiliary to it. are West Union Encampment No. 57, West Union Rebekah Degree Lodge No. 97, and Colfax Canton, Patri- archs Militant.
There are very few of West Union's reputable male citizens that have not been, at some time, connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The temperance movement has had an existence in West Union for more than fifty years, and yet it must be classed as a saloon town throughout many years of its career. There have been three organizations of Good Templars, commencing in 1858, when the first lodge was organized. This existed for ten years and had a strong following of the best and most influential people of the time. This may be said of the lodge which succeeded the original one, and was organized in 1874. Some of the first members were concerned in this organization, but as a general thing. the citizenship had undergone a radical change, but the tendency was constantly towards interesting the best people in the movement. This lodge survived less than three years, surrendering its charter in March, 1877. Six years later, or in 1883, another lodge was organ- ized under the labors of Mrs. Tyng, through whose efforts there was a gen- eral revival of Good Templarism throughout the county. Some of the organ- izations affected through this agency are still in existence, but the West Union organization went the way of all its predecessors.
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The Woman's Christian Temperance Union has had an active organiza- tion in West Union for many years, and still maintains one, but with indiffer- ent results in later years, owing to the death or removal of some of the most active workers. There have been a few private temperance workers in the town who have accomplished more in bringing offenders to justice than all of the lodge organizations. Prominent among these are the names of Hon. J. W. Rogers and Thomas L. Green.
There have been many saloons in West Union, some under color of legal sanction and others in defiance of existing state laws. But the tendency of the town has always been towards temperance and sobriety, as evidenced in the defeat, by vote, of every proposition to open a saloon in the place since the mulct law became operative. Bootleggers flourish for a time, go to jail and serve out heavy fines, and others take their places. As early as 1854 the ladies of the town put the "Black Warrior" out of business by spilling the stock and advising the proprietor to quit the business, which he did. But this action precipitated a political fight in the election of a county judge in that year, and the whisky element won, by first tying Elder John Webb, who "drew lots" with his competitor, Gabriel Long, and lost the "ermine."
LIBRARY.
The West Union public library was established some twenty-five years ago, and for a number of years a regular librarian was employed and great interest was manifested in the enterprise. The board of education was asked to provide a suitable room and combine the public library with that of the high school, which was done. This gives West Union much the largest school library in the county, while former patrons of the city's institution can be ac- commodated at the high school building by compliance with the simple and easy conditions. A recent acquisition of the historical library of the late Charles H. Talmadge has added materially to the number of volumes, which was, prior to this, two thousand two hundred and thirty.
West Union has always been a literary town, and some of her people; of both sexes, have evinced much interest in the progress of literature and art. Coincident with this taste is the formation and maintenance of two literary societies, the Historical and Literary club, for a select number of men, and the Ladies' Tourist Club. These have been in existence for many years-the Historical and Literary Club since 1879-and their regular meetings are
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fraught with great interest to the participants in the discussion of men and measures, historical subjects, and travels and travelers.
A system of rhetorical, literary and oratorical training has been a part of the high school curriculum for many years.
SCHOOLS.
In presenting the preceding history of West Union, we feel constrained to use an old and familiar phrase, "the best of the wine at the last of the feast!" The school history of this town is supremely interesting and, though varied and mediocre in early days, it has had a constantly upward trend. The pioneers were all men of intelligence, and many of them were liberally edu- cated. It is not strange, therefore, that they took an early interest in the establishment of a school for their children. Scarcely was the county organ- ized, and the town plat of West Union recorded, when the first school house was built. It was not a pretentious affair. It was built of logs, and its dimensions were eighteen by twenty-four feet. It was covered with "shakes" and seated with slab benches. It goes without saying, that the school "furni- ture" was of the simplest and most inexpensive kind. Nor were the rude walls covered with costly maps and charts ; but they were extremely fortunate if good blackboards, with sufficient area, were provided. It is probable that a huge fire-place, with burning logs, radiated sufficient caloric to scorch the face and allow the back to freeze; but of this we are not informed. Possibly a stove may have been provided, but if so, this was an exception to pioneer schools in Fayette county.
The first teacher in this school was J. S. Pence, who taught during the winter of 1850-1. It is said that he was examined as to his proficiency by J. W. Rogers, who was working in his field, and each party to the transaction stood on opposite sides of a rail fence. The successor of Mr. Pence, for the following summer term, was Miss Anna Dutcher. James Boale taught the winter term of 1851-2. As time passed there were some improvements made in the school furniture, by substituting desks and seats made of boards. These were probably upholstered with the jackplane. In a few years the town out- grew its school accommodations, yet was unable to build larger. In this emer- gency the Methodist Episcopal church was utilized, and the pastor, Rev. Joel Davis, was employed as a teacher. In like manner other rooms were secured as needed, and eventually private schools ( for which West Union was noted) began to take in the pupils in excess of public school accommodations.
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Of the pupils in the first log school house, .none are known to be living except Hon. William E. Fuller, Newel Johnson, Thomas D. Reeder, Darius O. Smith and L. C. Phillips. They all live in West Union, where their homes have always been, except that the three last named served in the army during the Civil war, and Mr. Fuller served in the Legislature, went to Congress, and was assistant United States district attorney. It is understood that public schools were taught in the Baptist and United Brethren churches during the year 1859. D. W. Hammond and wife and Miss M. E. Hackett were. the instructors. These and kindred accommodations, with an occasional select school, supplied the educational needs of the town until after the organiza- tion of the independent district of West Union, about 1860, and the building of the first section of the school house near the entrance to the cemetery. This was occupied by a three-department school in 1864. The teachers were E. B. Wakeman, principal, with Mrs. Jennie E. (Hines) Lacy and Miss Addie M. Close in charge of the other departments. It may be remarked here, incident- ally, that Mrs. Lacy was a teacher in the public schools of the county, and mostly employed in the West Union schools, for thirty-five years. Miss Jessie Sherman commenced teaching in the "old school house" and continued in the employ of the city schools for twenty-six consecutive years.
In 1869 it became necessary to again increase the school accommodations, and an addition was built about the same size as the original. It was then a two-story frame building, on a high basement wall, and had accommodations. for six grades, which were then established. Some splendid educators have been employed in the West Union schools, both in the old building and in the present one. Men have gone out from the principalship of this school into much more profitable positions in educational work, leaving an odor of effi- ciency and adaptability behind them, which stimulated their students to strive for equal attainments. One of these was Prof. J. B. Knoepfler, who succeeded to the state superintendency soon after leaving West Union to enter upon a similar but better paying position, at Lansing, Iowa. He is now an instructor in the Iowa State Normal School. Nearly all of the former principals and superintendents here have gone upward in their professional career. In 1879 the question of building a new and modern school house came before the board of education, who also favored a change of school house site. Parties desir- ous of beautifying and enhancing the value of their surroundings, offered sites for sale in several different localities. The board had decided to change the location in order to locate nearer the geographical center of the district, and at the same time get the school house away from the environments of the cem-
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etery, which had been enlarged and brought nearer. But it was not so easy a matter to locate as it was to decide upon making a change. After much dis- cussion in which some bad blood was engendered, the board selected the site as now occupied, at the northeast corner of the public square. An appeal was promptly filed with the county superintendent, by the opponents to this location, and after a patient hearing, lasting two or three days, that official approved the action of the board in the matter of selecting a school house site. An appeal was then taken to the state superintendent, who reviewed the testimony, maps, diagrams, etc. and modified, but approved, the decision of the county super- intendent. The district commenced building at once, and by the beginning of the school year, 1881, the east half of the building was ready for occupancy, and the "old school house on the hill" was abandoned. The new building is architecturally very beautiful. There is a large stone basement under the entire building, wherein is the heating apparatus, fuel, etc., with ample room for storing broken furniture and other commodities which accumulate around a public place. The building, proper, is constructed of red brick, with hand- some colorings about the windows, doors and archways. Artificial stone is used for window sills, thresholds, etc., the whole presenting a striking and artistic appearance. In 1902 an addition, or practically the other half of the building, was erected, thus completing the symmetrical appearance, and doub- ling the capacity of the building. At that time a handsome tower was added, the interior of the old rooms remodeled, decorated and partially refurnished. The building is two stories high, with entrance off Main street, and faces the handsome court house park. All modern conveniences and appliances are sup- plied in this school, which is an "accredited" high school, its graduates being eligible to the freshman class in the Iowa State University without examina- tion. The teaching force as at present constituted consists of one superintend- ent (male), one principal of the high school ( female), and thirteen teachers in the grades, or in special work. Ten rooms are occupied. The salary of the superintendent is one hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents per month; the other teachers receive an average of forty-five dollars and seventy-two cents per month. The duration of the school year is nine months. The total number of persons in the school district between the ages of five and twenty-one years is five hundred and seventy-two. Probably five per cent of these are away attending higher schools. Of those remaining, four hundred fifty-five were enrolled in the school during the year 1909. The average daily attendance for that year was three hundred sixty-seven, at an average cost for tuition in all departments of one dollar and ninety-eight cents per month for each pupil.
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There were fourteen non-resident pupils enrolled below the ninth grade from whom was received in tuition fees one hundred and seventy-eight dollars and sixty cents ; and twenty-five students were enrolled above the ninth grade, who contributed five hundred and five dollars and eighty cents in tuition fees. The estimated valuation of the school house property is thirty thousand dol- lars, and the school apparatus is valued at one thousand two hundred dollars. As previously stated in this article, the school library contains two thousand two hundred and thirty volumes. In connection with the school, and under jurisdiction of the superintendent, a manual training department is conducted for the benefit of the young men in the high school department. This me- chanical work, in connection with the regular gymnastic exercises, affords a pleasant diversion and profitable hour to those availing themselves of the opportunities.
West Union is justly proud of her schools, and every citizen, whether rich or poor, takes a personal interest in their welfare. With hardly an ex- ception during the history of the schools, the rich, but childless man, has vied with his prolific neighbor to determine which could do most to increase the efficiency and popularity of the public schools.
Under the regime of Professor Knoepfler, above mentioned, the schools were moved from the old to the new building, the first thorough gradation effected, and an approved course of study adopted; and it was under his juris- diction that the first class was graduated. Since that time the annual gradu- ation exercises are looked upon as one of the most interesting of all literary proceedings in the town.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Referring again to the later history of West Union to record its progress since it became a city of the second class : The fire department was established in 1876, when Engine Company No. I and West Union Hook and Ladder Company were organized. Previously, the fire-fighting had been done by the "bucket brigades" and a few bottles of chemical fire extinguishers placed about town in stores, hotels and other public places. The establishment of the water- works plant by vote of the people in 1891, necessitated some changes in the fire equipment and the purchase of a hose-cart and several thousand feet of hose. The department moved from the old rookery east of the Commercial House on the completion of the elegant city hall, which building provides for their accommodation. Members of the department are paid by the city for actual services, but there are no salaried men on the force.
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OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.
The electric lighting plant was built as a private enterprise in 1897. After two or three changes in ownership, it became the property of the Neff Broth- ers (J. H. and C. G.), and so continues. The town and streets are well lighted, and the service seems to be entirely satisfactory.
Some very substantial street improvements have been made within recent years, and each year sees an addition to the preceding one in the amount of macadamized street opened to traffic. Under the skillful manipulations of "Billie" Loftus (a long-time street commissioner), this department of the city's improvements has kept abreast of all others.
Cement walks and crossings have taken the place of the perishable planks of former days and add greatly to the appearance of the city as well as to the comfort of the pedestrian. West Union has as many miles of cement walks as any town of its size in the country.
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