USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 10
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IOWA LAND GRANTS.
The congressional act of May 15, 1856, granting lands for the purpose of constructing railroads in this state, included the following trunk lines : Burlington & Missouri River, 287.000 acres of land; Mississippi & Missouri
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River, 774.000 acres of land ; Cedar Rapids & Missouri River, 775.000 acres of land; Dubuque & Sioux City railroad, 1,226,000 acres of land.
By this same act of Congress, the Mississippi & Missouri line was au- thorized to transfer and assign all or any part of the grant to any other com- pany or person, "if in the opinion of said company, the construction of said railroad across the state of Iowa would be thereby sooner and more satisfac- torily completed."
But greater still was the "graft" of the act of Congress in August. 1846, which provided for the navigation of the Des Moines river, and in payment for same undertaking the Des Moines River Navigation Company was to receive two hundred and seventy-one thousand acres of valuable land on either side the stream, the same being each alternate section.
Then. in 1855, when it was seen that the navigation scheme would not prove a success, they got Congress to juggle the case over, so that a railroad company might be built and thus utilize the proceeds of the land grant. The newly formed company was styled the Des Moines River Improvement & Railroad Company. After more than thirty years of litigation, in the courts of the country and in Congress, the case was finally settled by the commis- sion appointed by Congress to adjust the matter. Many improvements had been made on these lands by innocent purchasers and the company ejected many of the families. This went on as far north on the river as the grant extended, which was to Fort Dodge. Webster county settlers were the greatest sufferers. One steamboat went as far north as Fort Dodge, on the high water of 1857. but no more was seen of steamboating on the river. Several sections of this river land, as it was styled, was in Des Moines and Fairview townships of Jasper county.
Having expended just enough money to partly complete locks and dams along the stream, to control the lands granted by Congress, the company became bankrupt (?) and transferred its title to the Keokuk. Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad Company. This company, in about 1860, commenced the building of a railroad along the banks of the Des Moines. Three years later the corporation was changed to the Des Moines Valley Railroad Com- pany, and under that corporate name the road was finished to Fort Dodge.
This was the first railroad completed in Jasper county. The date was late in 1865. The first freight. a car of lumber, was landed at Monroe November 24. 1865. The next spring it reached Prairie City and in August. that year. it reached Des Moines.
In 1873 the company went into bankruptcy and was sold to others. The line between Keokuk and Des Moines was afterwards known as the Keokuk
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& Des Moines railroad. The last named corporation became involved and in 1878 it passed into the hands of the great Rock Island system. Including its connection with the river land project. for making the river a navigable stream, this is the oldest railway corporation in Iowa.
THE CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC.
This highway entered Iowa by reason of a lease from the old Missis- sippi & Missouri railroad. already mentioned as having been given aid through the great land grant of 1856, along with several other trunk lines across the domain of Iowa. Yet. without these grants it might have been many years longer before the pioneer settler would have heard the neigh of an iron horse.
Like all other early roads, this one made slow progress in getting through to the Missouri river at Council Bluffs. In 1858 it had reached Iowa City, where it stopped several years for lack of business and funds with which to complete its lines. During the middle of the Civil war period, about 1863, work was resumed, and "will reach Newton in ninety days" was heard several years, and finally, in 1867, it did reach this point. The oft-repeated defeats of the company at the hands of the people of Jas- per county proved but the part of wisdom when later decisions of the United States and state courts held that the bonds asked for in aid of such an enterprise would have been null and void for lack of constitutionality.
In May, 1867, Newton had her first train service and the road was pushed on to Des Moines in the same year.
Not long after this the old company went into the hands of a receiver, in the person of that once well known, highly respected banker, B. F. Allen. who in handling the large amounts entrusted to him invested in personal enterprises, and in the end became a bankrupt himself, and many think went down to his grave in dishonor. After this the road was operated and finally owned by the Rock Island corporation, and is today one link in its long and powerful system-a part of its main line. Another branch of this railroad is what was formerly called the
NEWTON & MONROE RAILROAD.
For a short line route, this railroad has had a checkered career. It was started by the coal mining interests found in the southern part of Jas- per county. in 1863-4. when F. H. Griggs, of Davenport, invested in a large
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tract of this coal land, situated three or four miles to the south of Newton. In 1871 a local company was formed for the purpose of building down into the mining district from Newton. It was called the Jasper County Coal and Railroad Company, with Griggs as its president.
In 1871 a company known as the Chicago, Newton & Southwestern was organized, and the old coal road company contracted to build the same for them. No bonus was asked for this road.
About the same date there was still another railroad enterprise formed on paper, largely, that of the Iowa. Minnesota & Northern Pacific, having a capital of twelve million dollars back of it. This line was projected as far to the northwest as Webster City, Hamilton county. Iowa. As soon as the last company began operations along the line, at Newton they disputed the rights of the coal road to hold the right-of-way in and through Newton, and then came an injunction suit in which the Iowa, Minnesota & Northern Pacific were beaten.
During 1871 some work was executed along the new line to the great northwest, and in Palo Alto, Newton and Fairview townships, Jasper county. a tax was voted to aid the construction of the new proposed highway. In fact, the new corporation had but little means on which to operate and they had to depend largely on the taxes they hoped to receive from farmers along the line. Hence they gave time checks and due bills to the workmen who performed service for them in construction. They, of course, believed that when the taxes were paid as levied that they would receive their pay. Busi- ness men took the paper at Newton and Monroe, and that by a slight dis- count. But presently, the men who had not favored taxation refused to pay taxes in and snits were filed to recover in cases where they had been paid in. At that date more than twenty thousand dollars of paper was floating. as given out for work done on the new road.
The Iowa, Minnesota & Northern Pacific Company then laid still until 1875. when Hornish, Davis & Company, contractors, transferred their con- tract to the Iowa & Minnesota Construction Company, organized for the purpose of getting the old company out of the financial trouble it had fallen into. The old original stockholders of the coal company, of course, re- ceived thirty-five thousand dollars in bonds of the road. Under this con- tract the grading was done and the track laid between Newton and Monroe. in December. 1876. Thus ended the much-talked-of great northwestern thoroughfare to the lake region of the upper Mississippi river and the thun- dering cataract of St. Anthony Falls (now Minneapolis)-a road part way through Jasper county.
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In the spring of 1878,+becoming involved, the last named company was reorganized and was styled the Newton & Monroe Company, with general offices at Newton. But later it was taken over by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Company and is by them operated today.
THE IOWA CENTRAL RAILROAD.
This system strikes Jasper county at a few points. Its main line, built in the seventies, from Marshalltown to Oskaloosa, goes through the city of Grinnell, and from the first station point to the north of Grinnell, called Newburg, which place is situated in Jasper county, a branch of the Iowa Central diverges to the northwest, to State Center. Newburg is within Hickory Grove township.
Then this road has a branch, in Jasper county, running from Newton southeast to Lynnville, from which place it passes southeast and out of the county, terminating at the main line, at New Sharon.
THE CHICAGO GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD.
This road was originally known as the Diagonal. then the Maple Leaf. and now the "Great Western" route, which runs to St. Paul, Chicago, Des Moines, Council Bluffs and Kansas City. It passes through the northwest part of Jasper county, with stations at Baxter, in Independence township; Ira, in the same township: Mingo, in Poweshiek township, and also Valaria, where it forms junction with the short road from Colfax, the Colfax North- ern. The Great Western was completed early in the eighties through this county and is a valuable adjunct to transportation. It was built after the days when people were asked to be taxed to build railroads in Iowa, hence cost the people nothing, save here and there a bit of right of way, which was more than paid for in the advantages had by the coming of so good a system of railroad.
THE NEWTON & NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD.
This is the latest highway constructed in Jasper county, and so far has not proved to be a success, financially. It was constructed and put in opera- tion in 1905-6 and bid fair to become a good road. It runs through a rich section of Iowa's fair domain with several flourishing station points en route, but in a few years it was forced into the hands of a receiver. in the person of Parley Sheldon, of Ames. It is at this writing in the hands of the United States court, and unless matters can be adjusted or the property sold to another corporation, it will be ordered sold for the material on its roadway,
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including the iron and bridges, etc., and depot buildings will be sold at auction for the benefit of its creditors. But it is hoped, and believed, that the property will remain intact and purchased by a company able to continue its operation. Rumor says the Iowa Central and Rock Island both have their eyes on it. And it is thought the Des Moines interurban electric line may purchase and electrify a part of it.
The general offices of the company are at Boone, while some of the stock is held in Boston. It extends from Newton to Rockwell City, a dis- tance of one hundred and six miles, with a branch line from Goddard to Colfax of about four miles length.
In Jasper county it passes from Newton through Mingo, in a north- westerly direction. It has been suggested that it be electrified from Newton to Des Moines Junction, but this remains to be recorded by another histor- ian, when the road has been finally disposed of.
RAILROAD MILEAGE OF COUNTY.
The mileage of railroads in Jasper county, in the spring of 1911 is as follows :
Miles.
Main line of Rock Island railroad .
34.38
Monroe branch of Rock Island railroad
17.02
Old "Des Moines Valley" branch
Iowa Central (main line) 17.52
Newton-New Sharon line 23.28
4.00
State Center branch 6.00
Colfax & Northern I3.00
Newton & Northwestern 24.35
Chicago Great Western 31.82
Interurban ( from Colfax west) 5.06
Total mileage in county 176.43
CHAPTER X.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
Sidney Foster, of Des Moines, is credited with originating the follow- ing phrase : "Of all things good, Iowa affords the best." And this sentiment applies justly to the public school system of the state. The common schools of our country are now looked upon as the safeguard of the republic. The first settlers of Iowa territory showed their faith by their works in planning for a greater and better common school system than had hitherto been known in any section of the country. Governor Robert Lucas, in his first message to the first Legislative Assembly of Iowa territory, which con- vened at Burlington November 12, 1838, said in reference to schools :
"The twelfth section of the act of Congress, establishing our territory, declares that 'the citizens of lowa shall enjoy all the rights, privileges and immunities heretofore granted and secured to the territory of Wisconsin, and its inhabitants.' This extends to us all the rights, privileges and im- munities specified in the ordinance of Congress of the 13th of July, 1787.
"The third article of this ordinance declares that 'religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government, and the happiness of man- kind, schools and all the means of education shall be forever encouraged.'
"Congress, to carry out this declaration, has granted one section of land in each township to the inhabitants of such township, for the purposes of schools therein.
"There is no subject to which I wish to call your attention more em- phatically, than the subject of establishing at the commencement of our political existence a well digested system of common schools."
This Assembly addressed itself early to the task of providing for a system of common schools and enacting a law providing for the formation of districts, the establishing of schools, and authorized the voters of each district, when lawfully assembled, to levy and collect the necessary taxes, "either in cash or good merchantable property, at cash price, upon the inhabitants of their respective districts not exceeding one-half per centum, nor amounting to more than ten dollars on any one person, to do all and everything necessary to the establishment and support of schools within the same."
CENTRAL SCHOOL BUILDING, NEWTON
8 PUBLIC SCHOOL 97
WEST SCHOOL BUILDING, NEWTON
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTON, LENOX TILDON FOUNDATIONS
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
The second Legislative Assembly enacted in January, 1840, a much more comprehensive law to establish a common school system. But it was a little in advance of the public mind of the day. In the United States census reports for 1840 there were few public or private schools reported. One academy in Scott county with twenty-five students, and in the territory, sixty-three primary and common schools, with one thousand five hundred scholars enrolled, is the report of that day.
The first section of the act of 1839, for the establishment of schools. provided, that "there shall be established a common school, or schools, in each of the counties of the territory, which shall be open and free for every class of white citizens between the ages of five and twenty-one years." These districts were governed by a board of three trustees, whose duties were to examine teachers and employ the same, superintend the schools and collect and disburse the taxes voted by the electors for school purposes.
When Iowa was admitted into the Union, in December, 1846, it had a school population of twenty thousand, one-fifth of its entire population. There were then four hundred school districts. By 1857, there had come to be three thousand two hundred and sixty-five school districts.
From the earliest day, in Jasper county, education was considered first in importance and well were laid the foundation stones for the present most excellent public schools.
The first schools in the county were taught in a private way, in the various settlements. These were what were termed "subscription schools." Sometimes they were taught in a rude log cabin, scarce fit for human habita- tion. Stoves and other heating appliances, now so common, were then un- known to this section of the country. A mud-and-stick chimney in one end of the building, with an earthen hearth, with a fireplace wide enough and deep enough to take in a four-foot length of wood for back-log and smaller wood to match, served universally for the warming of these early school houses. In summer time they served as a sort of conservatory. For win- dows, part of a log was cut out in either side, and maybe a few panes of eight-by-ten glass set in, or, in other instances, the opening would be covered with thick greased paper, which allowed a small amount of the sun's light into the rudely furnished school room. For writing benches wide planks were rested on pins or arms driven into some two-inch auger holes bored into the logs of the building, just beneath the windows. Seats were fashioned out of thick planks or hewed puncheons. The floor was usually made of the same material-sometimes only the soil of mother earth. Yet, from just
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such school rooms have gone forth many of America's greatest statesmen. In some other instances the "spare room" of some humble farm cabin home was fitted up for school purposes. But even there the furniture was of the same rude, home-made type, never having seen a saw or smoothing plane, but all had the score line and imprint of the handy pioneer's hand-ax. All this has materially changed. In Iowa, a log school house has come to be looked upon as a rarity. In common with all the great commonwealth of Iowa, Jasper county now boasts of excellent school houses and teachers fully up-to-date in their manner of training the young. The county superintend- ents and the city instructors in the graded schools rank as high as any in Iowa.
EARLY SCHOOL HOUSES.
The first school house erected in Jasper county was built on the claim made by David Edmundson, near the site of the present county farm. This was built in 1848, of logs, and was about sixteen feet square. The floor, doors and desks were all made from rough hewn puncheons. The windows were glazed with greased paper. The chimney would be a startling curiosity. to any person, old or young, today. A huge log was laid inside and parallel with the outside walls. On this the flue was constructed, sloping to the roof. Thus the space usually left in cabins for a recess was left open as a toasting place for the little scholars. The flue-walls were covered with a thick mor- tar of clay.
This school was taught by William C. Smith on the "subscription" plan and lasted three months. In the dreary winter of 1848-9 might have been seen huddled together such boys as were later prominent men in this county, and known as Messrs. A. T. Prouty, W. M. Springer, Lewis Herring, John Moss, Moses Lacy and D. Edmundson.
The first school house in the southern portion of the county was that near Jasper Whitted's, at Tool's Point, which structure was completed in the fall of 1848 also. This was a much superior building, in that it had a chimney clear up from the earth to above the roof and it stood on the out- side of the building. The windows also were provided with glass. These window lights possibly came from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, via the Ohio and Mississippi river, round by way of the Des Moines river to this county. This school was taught by E. R. Wright and it was held in the winter of 1848-49. He had an attendance of about fifteen and some weeks as high as twenty pupils.
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SCHOOL FINANCES LONG AGO.
Jesse Rickman, the first county school fund commissioner, had but little trouble in looking after the finances, as turned in to him, as will be observed by the following: Only six school districts had so far been or- ganized by the fall of 1849-50. David Hinshaw, treasurer for district No. 2, Newton township, receipted for $18.08; Ezekiel Shipley, of district No. 3, same township, $20.60; Levi Plummer, for district No. 1, Poweshiek town- ship, $34.06: Joseph L. Doan, for district No. I, of Newton township, $44.90; William Hayes, No. I, of Des Moines township, $48.77; Jacob Pudge, No. I, of Fairview township, $51.63.
The school fund apportionment in March, 1851, was as follows: No. 2, Fairview, $8.29; No. 2, Newton, $19.35; No. 1, Elk Creek, $12.27; No. 3, Newton, $17.15: No. 4. Newton, $23.34: No. I. Poweshiek, $18.25; No. I, Lynn Grove, $42.61; No. I, Newton, $24.34: No. 1, Fairview, $24.34: No. I. Des Moines, $26.00; No. 1. Clear Creek. $19.97: No. 2. Des Moines, $13.27. Five districts were formed in 1851.
In 1854 four school districts were organized in Jasper county. That year marks the beginning of better school days in the county, for its first for- mative stages were then at an end-the log school house was then doomed to be superseded by frame and brick structures, for the mighty tide of settle- ment then set in had brought hundreds of settlers, some of whom had means, and all had an idea that education was a good thing to have in opening up a . new country. By 1856 the rush of immigration was great and it brought new life and the true spirit of education and general progress from the older Eastern states. In August, 1854, the annual tax levy was : State, one and a half mills ; county, three mills and a poll tax of fifty cents; roads, two mills, and a poll tax of one dollar and fifty cents ; schools, three-fourths of a mill.
FIRST SCHOOLS IN SOME OF THE TOWNSHIPS.
For Newton township, see "City Schools."
In Monroe, in Fairview township, the first regular school house of any consequence was erected in 1851.
The independent district of Jasper city (now Kellogg) was organized May 25, 1868, with S. C. Monett as its president. June 8th of that year it was voted to erect a school house by the issue of a ten-mill tax for bonding purposes.
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The independent district of Lynnville was created in March, 1870, with A. O. Ailver as its president, and Benjamin F. Arnold, treasurer. In August, 1871, the board ordered the old school house sold and appointed a committee to confer with the Friends society of the town, with a view of selling the property and then leasing of them if possible. At that date, the Friend's had a large building which had been used by them as an academy, but was then not in use. The board finally made satisfactory terms and the old meeting house of the Friends was secured and served the district until in 1876, when it was found too small for the increasing population. The Friends believed in the school and recommended it to the surrounding settlement of Friends. and in this way large numbers from outside were sent to school in this dis- trict, thus giving a nice town school revenue. The land owned by the Friends was not thought legal to build a public school house upon and hence. after an injunction suit had been commenced, the matter was not protested against, but the district went ahead and bonded for two thousand dollars to build on grounds of their own purchasing. The building was twenty-eight by forty feet and two stories high.
This is the base of the present school system at Lynnville, which from an early date has been noted for good order and most excellent public schools, as well as the old academy conducted by the Friends, first in the near-by country and later in town, an account of which will appear elsewhere in this chapter.
The independent district of Colfax was not formed until in April, 1876. William Kelsey was the first president of the school board. During that year the district voted and bonded itself for the amount of three thousand five hundred dollars with which to erect suitable school buildings. Its cost was really over four thousand dollars. It was a two-story, forty-foot square building.
At Prairie City an independent district was voted into existence at the March election of 1867. Caleb Bundy was chosen first director. In 1868 an exceptionally good school house was erected at a cost of six thousand dollars.
The district in which Reasoner is located was formed in 1878 and since then the schools of the village have been on a par with most small town schools in Jasper county.
With the passing of the years there were built school houses all over the fair domain of Jasper county, wherever the settlement demanded it. and this appears to have been in almost every nook and corner. The present county superintendent's report to the state authorities, dated 1910. discloses many facts relative to Jasper county schools, which should be carefully read
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by all interested in the subject of education in this county. But before entering into that subject, it will be best to note some things concerning the city schools of Newton, for they have, indeed, made an almost enviable record in the last quarter of a century among the cities of Iowa, and that largely perforce of having the right men at the helm, both on the board of education and as instructors.
NEWTON CITY SCHOOLS.
To have been educated at the Newton high school has been to be well trained-fit for entering into a college or an active life of business, in what- ever calling one might adopt. However, this excellent school did not come by mere chance. but by long, hard struggles. It has had its foes within and without, but at last came off conqueror and stands out prominent among the foremost schools in any section of the Hawkeye state.
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