USA > Iowa > Shelby County > Past and present of Shelby County, Iowa, Vol. 2 > Part 3
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A. N. Buckman, who served as county superintendent of schools from 1873 to 1877. was a native of Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, receiving his education at the Friends School at Wrightstown and at the State Normal School at Millersville, which he entered at the age of eighteen. Subsequently he took a course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Philadelphia. He subsequently taught school. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C of the Third Pennsylvania Reserves in the Civil War, fighting in a number of important battles. He became captain of his company and was finally breveted major of volunteers by President Lincoln for "gallant and meritorious service in the field." At the close of the war he was in business at Philadelphia for two years. He then came west, spending one year in Nebraska, and in 1869 he located in section 18, Douglas township, Shelby county. He experimented largely in fruit growing and planted one of the first large apple orchards of the county, and also five acres of artificial timber. He was active in the organization of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company and of the Shelby County Agricultural Society, serving both of these organizations as an . officer.
Of M. D. Bridgeman, who followed A. N. Buckman as county superin- tendent, the author knows nothing except that he had previously taught coun- try schools in Shelby county. W. W. Girton, who followed Bridgeman, was one of the joint editors of the Hub, a Harlan newspaper, which was finally
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merged with the Harlan Herald, subsequently coming to be known as the Shelby County Republican. Mr. Girton was a graduate of a Wisconsin normal school, I am informed. Ile was followed in the superintendency by Mrs. M. E. Downey. and in 1883 W. K. Colburn, son of a well-known pio- neer of Washington township, succeeded Mrs. Downey as superintendent. Mr. Colburn had had extensive experience in teaching, several years of which were in the Harlan schools. Mr. Colburn has shown business ability as sec- retary of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of the county for many years, and, besides, is extensively interested in the management of farms in the county.
In 1885 C. F. Swift succeeded Mr. Colburn. He was born in Davis county, Iowa, where he resided on his father's farm until sixteen years of age, at which time he entered the Southern lowa Normal and Commercial Institute at Bloomfield. Here he completed the teachers' course and also a scientific course, immediately after which he began teaching in Davis county. In March, 1882, he came to Shelby county and began teaching in the country schools, which profession he filled with high success and with the approbation of patrons. The author of this work will, he trusts, be pardoned for saying that one of the best and most inspirational instructors he had in the country schools was C. F. Swift. J. D. Dunlavy was another Davis county boy, educated in the Southern Iowa Normal School at Bloomfield. who served one
term as county superintendent of schools, after many years of successful work as a country school teacher in Shelby county. He was succeeded by Paul Peterson, who had previously been an instructor in Elk Horn College in Clay township. Mr. Peterson was a graduate of the State Normal School at Cedar Falls. John B. Shorett, who served two terms as county superin- tendent, had attended the Woodbine Normal School, had taught school and had also spent several years in the State University at Iowa City, where he had especially distinguished himself in debating contests. Mr. Shorett is now a very able and successful attorney of Seattle, Washington, where he has been in the practice of law for nearly fifteen years. Mr. Shorett was suc- ceeded by George .\. Luxford. a Defiance boy, who had spent several years in teaching and had had several years of college work before assuming the duties of the office. M. C. Peterson, a son of Peter I. Peterson, was a grad- uate of the Harlan high school and had had several terms of experience as a teacher. MIrs. Rose Parker, the present incumbent of the office, is one of the best known experts in lowa on the subject of primary teaching and methods. She has been employed in possibly a dozen different teachers' institutes in Iowa, to take charge of the instruction of teachers along these lines.
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SHELBY COUNTY, IOWA.
It is interesting to learn from an old record of school visitation kept by County Superintendent W. W. Girton from November 10. 1880, to June 17, 1881, the character of his observations. He, of course, named the in- dividual teachers, but it would not serve any useful purpose now to give the names. Here is his record for this period of time: (Would his remarks apply to any teachers of this day ?)
"Record of School Visitation, from November 10, 1880, to June 17, 1881.
Teacher No. 1 -- Teacher energetic, active. Disposition on part of some pupils to dispute teacher's methods and be contrary. Rooms clean and or- derly.
Teacher No. 2-Teacher not as active as I would wish to have him.
Teacher No. 3 -- Teacher active, alive. Discipline good.
Teacher No. 4-Teacher industrious and discipline fair. Building new and in good condition, except that of being very, very dirty.
Teacher No. 5-School not industrious enough. Small pupils not in- terested. Teacher devotes too much time to large pupils.
Teacher No. 6-School room in good condition. New stove. Every- thing neat. Pupils actively employed, not time for mischief. Teacher doing her part well. A success.
Teacher No. 7-School quiet, studious. Teacher follows books too closely. Work too mechanical. Not life enough.
Teacher No. & -Teacher active, industrious and doing good work. Should not make his questions leading.
Teacher No. 9-Teacher lacks vim and energy. Should do more teach- ing and less hearing classes.
Teacher No. 10-Teacher not careful enough in personal appearance ; hears recitations instead of teaches.
Teacher No. 11-Teacher doing his work thoroughly-knows what to do and does it-takes care of health of pupils-water on stove with syphon to cause steam.
Teacher No. 12-School a hard one to govern and teacher rather irrit- able, inclined to scold and threaten -- needs more persuasive power.
Teacher No. 13-School room untidy; scholars orderly, but given to bad practices-smoking permitted in the room by the teacher.
Teacher No. 14-Slovenly in dress, but enthusiastic enough.
Teacher No. 15-(One of the author's teachers)-School house new, frame, in good condition: ornamented with winter bouquets, pictures, etc .; (27)
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no apparatus, except dictionary ; teacher doing her work quietly but faith- fully."
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.
Much inspiration and training for the best educational work is centered about the teachers' institute, which was in existence in Shelby county at least so early as 1870, and possibly prior to that time, although the author has no proof of an earlier institute and finds the records in the county superin- tendent's office of no assistance in the determination of the matter. In the Shelby County Record of November 3, 1870, County Superintendent P. C. Truman gives notice that a teachers' institute will be hell for a period of not less than six days, beginning on December 26, 1870. It is likely that in- stitutes were held annually thereafter. In the matter of the ability and reputation of the men who have taught or delivered lectures before the teachers' institutes, Shelby county has been especially fortunate. Such a list would include former State Superintendents of Public Instruction Henry Sabin, C. W. Von Coelln. R. C. Barrett, John W. Acres, and others; H. H. Seerley, president of the lowa State Teachers' College: Prof. W. C. Wilcox, of the chair of history in the State University of Iowa: Professors Kinney, Reed and Riddle, of the Woodbine Normal School, Professor Riddle subse- quently becoming for many years the able and successful superintendent of the West Des Moines schools: Superintendent A. B. Warner, Professor War- man, Professor Kirk, now president of the Missouri State, Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri: Prof. G. W. Cullison. Prof. O. H. Longwell, Supt. R. G. Saunderson, of the Burlington schools, and others.
Early in September. 1874. County Superintendent A. N. Buckman gave notice with reference to a teachers' institute as follows :
"A normal institute will be held at Harlan, commencing September 21, 1874, in compliance with the provisions of section 1759. School Laws of Iowa of 1874. The institute will continue four weeks, of five days each.
Experienced teachers will give instruction daily in reading, arithmetic. both written and mental, grammar. geography and United States history. . Occasional lessons will be given in penmanship, orthography, physiology, etc. A lesson in vocal music will be given every day by a competent instructor.
Any schools that may be in session during the normal institute will not be closed except upon the order of the board of directors thereof."
In one of the Harlan papers, under date of August 30, 1877. there is found the following list of teachers in attendance at the Shelby county in- stitute : Martin D. Bridgeman, John I. Newby, George McMullen, Cicily
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Chatburn. Nettie Ashton, Mollie Wright, Eugene E. Moore, William Hig- gins, Joseph H. Slagg. Thomas W. Slater, Wiley N. Doty. Lizzie B. Fair- field, Ina Fritz, Ella Plummer, Jennie B. Gish, Kate Young, Alida Vande- burg, Lizzie S. Saunders, Mrs. E. Wintermute. Mary A. Webster, Essie T. Muck, Mollie Gleiser, Ella A. Palmer. Mariah J. Carroll. Martha Roundy. Eva Irwin, Carrie Culver, Rockie M. Whitney, N. Lizzie Allen, Carrie Har- vey. Thomas Way, Etta Jackson, Anna Burke, Eugene G. Elliott. Mrs. J. Stiles, Emma Nance, J. W. Carter. Etta Tibbott. Of the above named per- sons, John L. Newby, William Iliggins, George McMullen, Kate Young, and possibly others, are alive and residents of the county.
The author is fortunate enough to secure from an early Harlan paper the following list of pioneer teachers attending the teachers' institute in August, 1878: Emily Tinsley, Cicily Chatburn. Lizzie Saunders, Eva Irwin. Mary A. Webster, Maggie Booker. Mollie Wright, Martha Roundy. Susie Grounds, Jessie Baker. Emerette Gregoire. Carrie Flock. Mary West. Ida Crandall. Cora Shannon, E. E. Moore, Fannie Hurless, Ella M. Gregoire, Ina Fritz, Emma Irwin, Essie Muck, Emma Nance, Anna Peterson, G. E. McMullen, J. H. McArthur, W. A. Higgins. J. L. Newby. J. M. Wyland. W. E. Cooper. Isaac Cook, Maggie Clark, T. W. Slater. A. W. Sims, O. F. Phun. A. G. Wolfenbarger, J. W. Kime, Edward Johnson, C. K. Olivers, W. J. Wicks, J. H. Mather. M. E. Downey, Carrie Tonneson, Minnie Tuck. Kate M. Young, Jennie I. Lane, Kate K. Griffith, Mrs. Annie Ivens, Annie Masterson, Lillian White. Jennie S. Clarke, Ella G. Austin, A. K. Askwith, Ray Williams.
Solemn fidelity to the truth forces one to admit that then, as now, not all of the questions submitted in teachers' examinations were correctly an- swered. For instance, here are some "guesses" offered in teachers' exam- inations held in 1878:
"I. Question: Name three movements of the ocean and give their causes. Answer: Current is caused by the rise and fall of the earth. Waves are caused by the traditions of the wind.
"2. Question : Of what countries are the following cities the capitals ? Berne, Brussels, Ottawa. Lima and Lisbon. Answer: Berne is the capital of Africa, Brussels of Brazil, Ottawa of British America, capital of Peru.
"3. Question : What. from the structure of his teeth, do you infer man should eat? Answer: Man, I think, should eat vegetables and pork ; corn should be his main dish."
The normal institute of 1885 had an enrollment of one hundred and ninety-one. There were many able men among the list of teachers. Among
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them were D. T. Dunlavy. A. P. Leach, C. K. Redfield, J. T. Couser. W. H. Fleck, W. J. Wicks. A. B. Frost, James R. Hanna ( now mayor of Des Moines ), C. H. Champ. George Chatburn ( now a professor in the University of Nebraska ), J. C. Shirk. AAlbert Newton, J. W. Miller ( now a merchant in Harlan), 11. S. Miller, Jesse B. Whitney ( now an attorney in Harlan). Al- bert Curtis, Fred Pratt, O. F. Plummib ( now an attorney at law in Nebraska). Arlie Parker ( now a resident of Harlan). Oscar Roland (better known as M. O. Roland), U. S. Roland, L. O. Hawley. James McMillan, W. D. Young (now connected with The Lana Construction Company, Council Bluffs, Iowa), Albert Morrissey, John Edwards, Albert S. Stevens, J. B. Mather ( later a well-known preacher ), Walter Plum, E. H. Abbott (now a lawyer in Chicago), Robert Heinemann, Charles Wilson, J. J. Elser, J. A. Gunsolley, George W. Harmon, Joseph B. Reams, John Neff. S. Gallagher, J. J. Sheppard ( later head of the great Commercial high school of New York City), E. H. Snyder, C. M. Wilder. Thomas Hogan, Jacob B. Wolf. J. C. Kelley. D. J. Keat ( later an attorney at law in Harlan ), Harry Mc- Cuskey, Emery Allen, P. F. Vincent, C. A. Marlin. James Lowery.
The normal institute at Harlan for 1886 was conducted by Superin- tendent C. F. Swift. The instructors were O. H. Longwell, A. B. Warner, J. D. Dunlavy and Mr. Swift. The branches taught were English, grammar, history of education, American literature. didactics, natural philosophy, as- tronomy, arithmetic, reading, vocal music, geography, United States history, physiology. orthography, civil government and algebra.
In August, 1886, when Mr. Swift was county superintendent of schools, the normal institute seems to have had graduating exercises, followed by the presentation of diplomas. I quote from the Harlan Tribune of the time: "The normal institute had a program at the Congregational church on the Friday evening preceding. The audience was called together by Supt. A. B. Warner. and a prayer was offered by Rev. Post. C. M. Wilder delivered his address. 'The Relation of the Teacher to the Patron.' Miss Linnie Long followed with the subject, 'Nothing Great Is Lightly Won.' J. C. Kelly read a paper on 'Froebel.' Miss Carrie Scott also had a paper on the program. Miss Ina Fritz, a daughter of John Fritz, read a paper on 'Life and Efforts of Pestalozzi.' Charles Hunt delivered the valedictory. and the salutatory was to have been given by Miss Mamie Fritz, who was unable to attend. Supt. C. F. Swift presented the class with diplomas."
At the normal institute. sixteenth session. August, 1889. one hundred and ninety teachers or more were enrolled, including many men. Among them were W. H. Gooding, Colfax Smith, Archie Myers, Charles Dickinson,
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SHELBY COUNTY, IOWA.
Frank W. Hanna, Alva W. Taylor. James Quinn. Frank Stevens. C. O. White, James Kinsella. Joel Fisher. Carl Campbell. F. A. Malick, W. B. Buckley, W. J. Wicks, Walter Guthridge. Guy Martin. W. R. Fisher, Frank Gallagher ( now postmaster at Walnut ). W. D. Young and others.
SPELLING SCHOOLS.
One of the distinctive educational features during the decades between 1870 (or slightly earlier ) and 1890, was the spelling schools. These schools were held practically throughout the county. In connection with them a good deal of attention was paid to the definition of words and to correct pronunciation. This author has little doubt that such contests were of more value than many present-day educators are wont to believe. They, no doubt, not only encouraged boys and girls to note the printed form of words, but greatly favored the acquisition of a wider vocabulary.
It may prove not uninteresting to preserve some facts with reference to a noted spelling school, held at the Harlan opera house on December 31, 1886. This contest was open to all residents of the county. In spite of the fact that there was a heavy fall of snow and the weather intensely cold. there was a large attendance. The rules governing the contest. as published, were as follows :
"I. Words must be given out alternately to gentleman and lady.
"2. Spellers will be provided with seats and in their turn will rise to their feet, spell the word given out and resume the seat.
"3. Should the word be missed, those missing will retire to the aud- ience.
"4. In case of dispute as to the correctness of the ruling. the appeal must be made while the contestant is upon the floor, and will remain stand- ing until the referees give a decision.
"5. When a word is missed, a new word will be given to the next speller.
"6. Webster's unabridged dictionary will be authority."
Music was given by the orchestra. The forty spellers entered were about equally divided between men and women. Mrs. Warner and Mrs. J. W. Jones were referees. Applause was given over amusing breaks and episodes. The first prize was won by Miss/M. O. King. Miss Ina Fritz the second, Mrs. J. W. Jones the third. George Stamm won the boy's prize, and Helen MeArthur, the girl's prize. The following were the contestants : Mesdames Fred Eidamiller. E. A. Cobb, Clyde Mosby. Mary Wyland. J.
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Turner, T. H. Smith. W. H. Cockerell, J. W. Jones. J. H. Mc Arthur : the Misses Ina Fritz. Mamie Fritz, M. O. King, Ada French, Linnie Long. Cora Ramsey, Pearl French. Maude French, Lettie Smith, Kate Holtschneider, Helen Mc Arthur, Sarah Grant : Messrs. Lewis Gingery. S. A. Burke, Fred French, J. J. Myerly, E. B. Wicks, A. N. Stamm. Porter Gray. Fred Black- stone, B. F. Eshelman, George Stamm, H. Ramsey, J. S. Mills. O. S. Dona- hue, E. A. Reynolds, T. H. Smith. Charles Reynolds, Guy Martin, Ira Smith, George Chatburn. E. J. Smith. D. B. Sheller and Wilson Young.
The words missed were: Dial. dual. sequel, despair. decency, sphinx. valise, irksome. cuticle, symmetry, breathe, chasm, colossus, treacle, silex, rarely, cede, feign. octavos, miracle, pelican, seraphim, halloo, auxiliary. main. omniscient, mementos, porticoes, traceable, compelled, Buddhism, post- humously, misspell, bifid, gaseous, raillery, cupola, fetish, deficit, sumach, syrup, viscount. pyrites, phosphorus, plebeian.
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
In 1874 there were 1.523 children of school age in the county, the largest number being Harlan township. 277; the next, Grove, with 224; next, Monroe. with 209, and the next. Fairview, 183.
Report of county superintendent for the year ending September 20, 1878: Number of persons in the county between five and twenty-one years of age. 3.479: number of schools in the county, 100; average number of pupils at- tending school, 1,620: number of teachers employed, men, 80; women, 98: average compensation of teachers, per month, men, $32.72: women. $30.40; total value of school houses and apparatus, $45,095 : total amount paid teach- ers since September 20. 1878. $22,882.57.
The county schools were often very large. For instance, in 1888, from school reports of almost forty schools in session during that year, it appears that the largest school was No. 3. Monroe, with Nellie Bungor as teacher, with an enrollment of 42. The second largest was No. 9. Jackson, L. O. Hawley, teacher, enrollment, 40; the fourth largest was No. 9, Monroe, with Lizzie G. Boland. teacher, enrollment. 37: the third largest was No. 3. Jackson, with Laura B. Newby, teacher, enrollment. 38; the fifth was Har- lan No. 2,.J. W. Jones. teacher, enrollment. 37 : the sixth was No. 9, Greeley. Tina Anthony, teacher, enrollment. 34, and the next. No. 7, Jackson, J. C. Kelly, teacher, enrollment, 34.
In these nearly forty schools there were only seventeen pupils neither absent nor tardy. These schools were taught in the winter term. Among
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the men who were teaching them were H. C. Hanson, J. D. Keet. C. M. Wilder. Walter Guthridge. W. A. Gibbs, Frank Gallagher, J. C. Kelly, J. W. Jones, Frank Stevens, Eugene Sullivan ( now a well-known banker of Pana- ma, Iowa ), I. O. Hawley. Thomas Hogan. W. J. Wicks and John Keitges. The least cost of tuition per month per pupil was in Jackson No. 3. $1.33, and the highest cost was No. 8. Fairview, $4.92. this variation, of course. de- pending largely upon the enrollment.
Superintendent Swift's report in 1889 to the state superintendent of the number of pupils of school age in the county. showed a total number of 6,267, made up of 3.205 boys and 3.062 girls, the boys being in the majority by 143.
Statistics from Shelby county teachers' journal. February 18. 1904: Total number of school age in Shelby county today, 5,928 : twenty years ago, 5.515. Total number of library books now, 9,469: twenty years ago, 250. Value of school houses now, $122.425: then, $91,975; average wages paid rural school teachers in Shelby county today. $33.89; twenty years ago, $34.19.
WAGES OF TEACHERS.
In 1879 a majority of the country schools had seven months' school. although Lincoln and Monroe had eight months, and Greeley township had nine months. The wages paid first class teachers were: Harlan, $25; Douglas, $30: Jefferson. $28; Jackson, $30: Fairview, $30: Lincoln, $30: Monroe, $30: Greeley, S30: Shelby. $25; Westphalia had six months and paid $35 per month, except the town school, which had ten months. M. J. Heires taught the school at $50 per month. The enrollment of the town school was 84.
KIRKMAN CONSOLIDATED SCIIOOL.
The recent prominent movement in Shelby county education is the for- mation of consolidated independent school districts. that is, the annexation. of course after the vote of the people. of territory surrounding a village or town, with the school district in the village or town, and with provision for the transportation of pupils from the county territory to the school house. Shelby county now has four consolidated independent school districts in which pupils are transported in hacks to school some miles from the country. These districts are the Harlan independent district. the Tennant consolidated independent district, the Kirkman consolidated independent district and the Irwin independent district.
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The Kirkman consolidated district was established following an election on April 26, 1913. on which date the vote favoring a consolidated distri was: In town 37. in the country 22, or a total of 59 votes in favor of the proposition : the vote against consolidation was : in town, 7 votes, and in the country 13, or a total of 20 votes against the proposed consolidated district. The new board of education was organized May 19, 1913.
The territory embraced by the district at the present time includes the town of Kirkman and all of Douglas township, except four corner sub-dis- tricts, 1, 3, 7 and 9. The pupils from this territory are conveyed to the school in Kirkman by means of four hacks.
The course of study, which is being printed, provides for the taking of agriculture in the eleventh grade. instruction in this branch having been offered for the first time in the fall of 1914. So far the subject has been taught by text books. Courses are also offered in domestic science and in manual training. The equipment of the school consists of ten double steel vises and work benches and one lot of tools for carpenter work. For the domestic science there are five double cook tables, one kitchen cabinet. one blau-gas range connected with a blau-gas plant, cooking and table equipment. also a sewing machine. For the teaching of the agriculture there is also one set of agricultural charts.
TENNANT CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL.
In 1913 the consolidated independent school district of Tennant was formed from certain territory in Shelby, Cass and Lincoln townships. Dur- ing 1913-14 a fine brick school building was erected. It is equipped with modern heating apparatus, plumbing, ventilation, and with apparatus for , manual training and domestic science.
The building was dedicated March 14. 1914. The school now has an enrollment of one hundred and twenty-eight pupils, with an average attend- ance of ninety-five per cent. The pupils are conveyed several miles, in five hacks, to the school. These hacks begin picking up the pupils about seven o'clock. The drivers are paid an average salary of nearly seventy dollars per month.
The first principal of the school was A. W. Phillips. The first and pres- ent board of education is: George X. Cook, president ; R. F. Plumb. August Turke, Albert Hansen, Fred T. Miller, and F. L. Hansen, treasurer. The
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IRWIN HIGH SCHOOL. NEW HIGH SCHOOL, DEFIANCE.
GOOD ROADS PICNIC DAY. PORTSMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.
PORTSMOUTH PAROCHIAL RESIDENCE. OLD HIGH SCHOOL, DEFIANCE.
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first secretary was R. A. Studley, who worked especially hard for the estab- lishment of the school.
The present teaching force is composed of Thomas L. Cook; Blanche Morris, domestic science; Miss Freiburghouse, intermediate grades; Hattie Wulff, grammar grades : Mrs. J. B. Wiley, primary grades.
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