The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 73

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 807

USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its. > Part 73

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Oldridge, V. D .; C. E. Sperry, A. D .; L. E. Dean, R .; R. Spear, F. R .; Bid. Gage, Treasurer; William Coles, Chaplain; A. R. Hart, G .; William Bell, Guardian ; I. A. Lovell, S. Charter members : J. W. Polleys, S. C. Ireland, A. A. Carpenter, W. F. Luse, J. C. Gabriel, J. A. McArthur, W. T. Whit- more, A. C. Lovell, J. L. Cook, I. A. Lovell, W. S. Metcalf, H. King, J. Clark, A. R. Hart. The Lodge now has 40 members, and is in a flourishing condition.

The Degree of Protection, New Era Lodge, No. 121 (Knights and Ladies of Honor), was instituted by L. E. Dean, D. S. P., January 10, 1879, with the following charter members : Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Hart, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Scott, Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Th. Wrede, Mr. and Mrs. H. Roeder, Mr. and Mrs. Th. McBride, Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Dean, Mr. and Mrs. C. Rademacher, Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Carpenter, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Mathers, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Lanning, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Maxfield, T. R. Beers, William Dolan, M. H. Westbrook and wife, Mrs. I. A. Lovell and Mrs. A. Schneider. The officers at present are : L. P. Adams, P. P. ; A. R. Hart, P. ; Mrs. A. J. Maxfield. V. P. ; L. E. Dean, Secretary ; Mrs. L. E. Dean, F. S. ; Mrs. Th. Wrede, Treasurer ; Mrs. A. R. Hart, Chaplain ; T. McBride, G. ; Mrs. C. D. Scott, Guardian ; A. J. Maxfield, S.

Germania Lodge, No. 789, K. of H., was instituted November 12, 1877, with the following officers and charter members : H. F. Schaale, D. ; F. Baer, V. D ..; A. Studemann, Asst. D. ; Th. Wrede, R. ; F. Feddersen, F. R. ; Th. Marx, Treasurer ; H. Thiessen, C. ; F. F. Boock, Guide ; W. Sitan, G. ; F. York, Sent. ; J. Roeh, P. D. Charter members : Ch. Rademacher, J. Hoff- mann. The present officers are : F. F. Boock, D .; J. Hoffmann, V. D .; P. Naeve, A. D. ; J. B. Haynungs, R. ; A. Schneider, F. R. ; Ch. Rademacher, Treasurer ; J. Renners, Chaplain ; F. Baer, Guide ; W. Sitan, G. : W. M. Miller, Sent. ; Th. Wrede, P. D. The Lodge assembles in K. of H. Hall, and numbers 30 members.

United Workmen .- Eureka Lodge, No. 6, A. O. U. W., was instituted October 31, 1874, being the first Lodge in the State after the organization of the Iowa Grand Lodge. The first officers were J. C. Hopkins, P. W. M .; S. G. Clough, W. M. ; G. N. Haun, G. F. ; W. B. Haywood, O .; S. B. Corey, R. ; A. S. Baldwin, Receiver; H. A. Hobein, F .; G. A. Rich, I. W .; Dr. T. W. Mitchell, G. Charter members : S. Jones, T. G. Leedham, William F. Gauger. J. McMurray, William Allen, Samuel Waters, Samuel Waters, Jr., I. T. Bowen, J. Langanhagan. The Lodge first met in Hannaher's Block, whence it removed to Odd Fellows' Hall, where its quarters have since remained. The present officers are : Charles Barber, P. M. W. ; Bradley Durling, W. M. ; L. G. Blain, F. ; J. L. Pollock, O .; L. Jones, Recorder ; A. J. Leffingwell, F. ; J. A. Nattinger, Receiver; G. A. Rich, G. ; J. Schneider, I. W. ; L. P. Adams, O. W. The Lodge has 115 members enrolled, and is accordingly prosperous.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Records are almost entirely lacking concerning the primitive schools of Lyons. April 7, 1846, John Sloan being Director, Lots 2 and 3 in Block 26 were purchased of Dennis Warren for $25. On February 19, a minute is found, " Paid to Daniel Gordon, school-teacher, $3," and May 27, another payment of $23 to said Gordon. It is safe to infer that teachers' wages have risen since then. The teacher appears to have been compelled to wait for the collection of school funds to pay his stipend. November 3, 1847, John S. Stowes was employed to teach one term of school at the rate of $30 per

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quarter. For 1848, J. T. Foster, Daniel H. Pearce and Oliver P. Aikman were elected School Directors. In November, 1851, William C. Harrington was appointed to teach the winter school at a salary of $23 per month, teachers' wages having evidently " boomed," though the pedagogue was expected to himself collect one-half of it pro rata from patrons. Simultaneously, sealed proposals were invited for " six chords " of wood. It would be interesting to know whether anybody criticised that School Board for lavish use of public funds. In 1847, was built the famous old Fourth-street brick schoolhouse.

The people at that time were personally solicitous concerning the comfort of the school children. A special district meeting was held in November, 1848, to provide for " banking up " the schoolhouse, so as to keep out winter winds, and Messrs. Sloan, Lake and France were appointed a committee to "draw a plan for desking and seating." The " woman question " was even then irre- pressible. It having been determined to employ a female teacher, so much opposition was manifested that a special meeting was held, the previous vote rescinded and a male teacher appointed. What those who then opposed ladies teaching would have thought could they have with prophetic eye looked into the schools of to-day and seen them, with equal skill and dignity, conducting classes both in summer and winter, one cannot venture to guess.

In 1852, Ben Lake, W. R. Miller and Elijah Buel were elected Directors. Only seven votes were cast. But a change was at hand, and, owing to the rivalry of progressives and conservatives and the north and south sections of the city, a controversy arose almost equaling, in bitterness of feeling, muni- cipal feuds in the middle ages, out of which, however, the schools were destined to emerge, renovated and invigorated.

Previous to the year 1865, the Lyons public schools constituted a township district, and were operated through the cumbersome machinery of the township system. They were generally overcrowded, imperfectly equipped and but par- tially graded, and, although they bore favorable comparison with other schools of the same character, it became apparent to those who were familiar with the administration of school affairs, that better results could be obtained by a general re-organization and the adoption of more modern and improved methods. It took several years to create a sentiment sufficiently strong to effect a change in that direction, all the early efforts being met by violent and uncompromising opposition on the part of the solid conservatives, who were thoroughly satisfied with the established order of things, and were in a majority whenever any voting had to be done.

Although the population of the district exceeded four thousand, the old one- story brick building, of three rooms, comprised the sum total of schoolhouse accommodations owned by the public. The necessity of having more room, therefore, became so imperative that, at the annual election, May 5, 1857, it was resolved to authorize the erection of what was termed a " first-class union schoolhouse," to cost $6,000, in addition to the sum to be realized from the sale of the old school property, before mentioned. At that election, W. W. San- born was chosen President, Rev. William F. Davis, Secretary, and A. C. Root, Treasurer. These gentlemen were instructed to procure plans and specifica- tions for a schoolhouse, "after some of the most approved models," to be pre- sented to the consideration of the electors at a subsequent meeting. They accordingly went diligently to work, and soon had a plan made ready for sub- mission. Three different meetings were held within as many weeks, all of them numerously attended, and all devoted to lengthy, heated and desultory discus- sion, without making much progress with the matter in hand. Finally, the

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plans furnished by the Board were adopted, and the business appeared to be set- tled in favor of a new schoolhouse and the graded system of schools. Before the building contract was let, however, the opposition resolved upon another struggle to defeat the enterprise. A meeting was again called, and their forces mustered to the last man, armed and equipped for a general assault. The attack was led by Mr. D. H. Raymond in a set of resolutions abrogating and repealing all former action favorable to the new school project. The President having declared these resolutions out of order, an appeal was taken from his decision. The meeting sustained the appeal, and forthwith engaged in an old- fashioned " scrimmage," best described by the proper historian of the occasion, Rev. W. F. Davis, who was Secretary of the meeting. In the recorded minutes he says : "Here followed a long controversy upon points of law, questions of order and mode of taking sense of meeting. Some called for yeas and nays, others for ballot, others for tellers. Personal crimination and recrimination was freely indulged in. There was debating by Leffingwell, Cotton and W. L. Parker upon the affirmative, Sawyer, Jerome and Davis upon the negative, promising to break up in a general row. A motion to adjourn having failed, Rev. Mr. Sawin attempted to speak, amid stamping of feet, hissing, shouts and general confusion. It was evident that parties unfavorable to the establishment of a better system of schools and the erection of a suitable building were deter- mined to gag down the friends of the movement, but Mr. Sawin still retained the floor, and delivered a masterly and eloquent speech in favor of the union school system and the erection of a commodious schoolhouse."

The proceedings at this meeting are a fair sample of the doings at several others. All through the hot summer weeks, under the baleful influence of the "dogstar," the contest waged without much abatement, drawing in a good many citizens, among whom the names of lawyers and preachers stand most prominent. Cotton, Leffingwell, Ellis Brothers and J. H. Flint all had their say, and Rev. W. F. Davis, Rev. Mr. Clark and Rev. Mr. Sawin had theirs. The laity were represented by a no less loquacious and vociferous crowd, including E. Buell, W. W. Jerome, Gen. Stumbaugh, W. L. Parker, Ben Lake, A. C. Root, E. Hatton, Philip Deeds, G. M. Davis, W. W. Sanborn and others too numerous to mention, whose names appear upon the record ; but, as everything must have an end, so, at last, did the school controversy, the progressive party coming out a little ahead. It was the custom in those days to settle differences between hostile and contending factions by means of compromise. Sectional and national disputes had frequently been adjusted that way, and now the lead- ing disputants and constitutional lawyers of Lyons school district determined upon that method to extricate themselves from the unpleasant predicament they were in. Mutual concessions were reluctantly made, and a plan slowly elabor- ated to build three schoolhouses-one in the north part of town, one in the south and a large one in the center, the latter to be constructed of brick, the former two of wood.

The schoolhouse question having been thus disposed of, the next subject presented to the action of the electors was a demand that a portion of the school fund be set apart for the support of the Catholic school in charge of the parish priest.

Mr. Henry Bassett was secretary of the meeting to which this matter was submitted. The minutes which he placed on record explain the disposition that was made of the matter in question, and also demonstrate his own exalted lit- erary qualifications and peculiar fitness for the position he occupied as a school official. The following extract is given verbatim et literatim, and furnishes a

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just and proper conclusion of the whole subject. He says: "On the votes being counted there was foure hundred and eleven votes cast as followes (yes one hundred & Ninty-two) (no two hundred & seventeen) and two ballot was double two other and was thrown out them votes ware yes, theire beaing twenty- five majoraty against the Catholic school having a share of the school fund and the vote was so declared."

The Central brick schoolhouse was begun in 1858, but, owing to a compli- cation of causes, it was not completed for several years, though, in the mean time, it was used for school purposes. Extensive litigation, in which injunctions, judgments, writs of mandamus and lawyers' fees figured largely to fill the general expense, followed the erection of the schoolhouse, producing such a state of financial embarrassment as to threaten the total suspension of the schools. In that emergency, it was proposed to thoroughly investigate the affairs of the district, post the books, strike balances and take a new depart- ure. At the annual meeting in March, 1866, Dr. G. F. Wetherell, President of the School Board, forcibly and concisely stated the situation : "On their accession to office, the Board found an exhausted treasury, the district loaded with a heavy debt, the interest of which alone amounted to one- third the entire liability. They found that the embarrassments of the previous year had necessitated the discontinuance of the public schools, and that a heavy indebtedness for teachers' services remained to be cancelled before they could be again opened. In addition, the schoolroom apartments were quite insufficient to meet the requirements of the large and increasing population, and that an extensive outlay must be made for completing new ones in the graded-school building, and instituting improvements and repairs in all the others," etc., etc.

One year later, the Board of Directors made another report through the same President, showing that the indebtedness still amounted to no less than $17,500, the interest upon which was eating up, at a rapid rate, the substance of the tax-payers. The people responded liberally, and, during each succeeding five years, appropriations were voted by the electors, and applied by the Board to the payment of the debt till, in 1872, it disappeared. In 1873, the south brick schoolhouse, and, in 1874, the north one, were built at a total cost of $15,000, thereby providing all sections of the city with satisfactory school facil- ities for many years to come. An immense amount of work has been done in grading and otherwise improving the school property. The total cost of grounds and buildings, up to the present date, is about $56,000, and, considering the excellence of the schools and the faithful work done therein alike by pupils and teachers, there are probably few people in Lyons that grudge either their cost or the liberal running expenses. The total number of pupils enrolled (between eight and nine hundred), is being affected somewhat by denominational and private schools. The systematic grading of the schools, to which they owe much of their efficiency, was completed by Principal Durkee, in 1866-67, the first High School class graduating in 1870.

The graded school proper comprises eight grades, divided into primary and grammar departments. They are supplemented by the High School, the three-years' course in which prepares graduates for college, and qualifying them to enter the State University, at Iowa City, without examination.

The following is the list of the Principals since the school re-organization : 1864-65, James L. Tayler ; 1865-66, S. Shoecraft ; 1866-68, A. O. Durkee: 1868-69, J. J. Andrews ; 1869-72, C. C. Snyder ; 1872-74, T. W. Nowlin; 1874-75, A. J. Blanchard; 1875-78, W. W. Wylie; 1878-79, C. E. Smith, aided by sixteen accomplished assistants, all ladies.

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THE FEMALE COLLEGE.

The chimerical and visionary ideas that, before the war, were so prevalent in educational as well as business matters, unfortunately embarrassed the Lyons Female College from its dedication, September 15, 1858, and, in conjunction with incompetent principals, prevented the development of the magnificent institution that would have otherwise resulted from its admirable location, and the initial interest manifested by many of the most intelligent and solid men, not only of Lyons, but of the county at large. At that time, there was a great interest taken in the education of young ladies. Their right to a higher educa- tion was generally conceded, the seed sown by Margaret Fuller and Mary Lyon having germinated. Public High Schools had not then arrived at an excellence surpassing "seminaries " and "academies " in thoroughness and extent of study. Accordingly there was a constant series of experiments and plans concerning the higher female education. The founder of the Lyons College was one Rev. John Covert, who was also identified with other similar institutions in Ohio and Indiana, and who had an impracticable idea of uniting them and the Lyons College into one system, with a grand central university at Chicago or St. Louis. The first prospectus of the institution is fairly dazzling with its glittering promises. At first, the institution was well patron- ized, but owing to the workings of the injudicious scholarship system, and financial bungling by Covert, the attendance began to dwindle, a prejudice against the school was developed and its reputation and value equally depre- ciated.

In 1866, the institution passed into the hands of Rev. G. P. Moore, assisted by an accomplished classical teacher, the venerable Prof. M. Soules, of Lyons, and a strong corps of other teachers. For awhile the institution revived. An arrangement was made by which it should pass under the control of the Pres- bytery of Iowa. Subsequently, Revs. Hanna and F. A. Chase, each for one year, were Principals, the college afterward reverting to Moore. He conducted it for several years, but at no time did the institution adopt Prof. S.'s advice and keep pace with the progress of educational ideas, and therefore failed to command a remunerative patronage. Accordingly, Mr. Moore, to save himself from complete financial loss, concluded to dispose of the unprofitable property, which was accordingly metamorphosed into

OUR LADY OF ANGELS SEMINARY.

October 2, 1872, the institution was purchased for $10,000 by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For the first two years, the Sisters labored under many disadvantages, as the seminary buildings were so nearly a complete wreck that they had to be practically renovated till, with the subsequent additions and improvements, the school ranks as one of the leading Catholic institutions of Iowa. Thirteen teachers have charge of the Primary, Prepara- tory, Grammar, Academic, Musical and Art Departments. Those who pass creditably through the Academic or Classical Course receive the graduating gold medals of those departments. During the past year, the Sisters enrolled in the Seminary thirty boarders, and seventy-five day pupils, and in St. Irenæus' parochial school, of which four sisters have charge, 100 pupils of both sexes.

RIVERSIDE INSTITUTE.

September 1, 1875, the Riverside Institute was opened in the empty Ran- dall House, by Revs. W. T. and Samuel Currie as Principals, Mrs. Mary H. Core

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Currie, Principal of Primary Department, Ellen M. Currie, Teacher of Music. The institution was conducted from the beginning as a joint-stock company, the above-named four being the corporators and owners of the property. The school is conducted in the interest of the Protestant Episcopal Church, though not under Church control. The combination of physical, intellectual and moral training is a governing object of this school, and is expressed in its motto, "Educate the whole man.'

The corps of teachers has been from time to time increased, and in March, 1869, the Institute was duly incorporated. The catalogue of 1878-79, gives fifty-four as the number of students in the various departments.

YOUNG MEN'S LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

The remarkably active intellectual, and gracious social life of Lyons are largely both causes and effects of the Young Men's Library Association, which has, by the energy and wisdom of a faithful few, been placed on a permanent basis, and brought to a point of efficiency wherein all citizens take just pride. Though the present association was the first body of the kind to achieve success in Lyons, it had several predecessors that fell by the wayside.

The first Lyons organization for literary purposes was the old Lyceum, started in 1858, in which Judge D. W. Ellis, Charles Scott, W. B. Lamont, W. H. Gibbs, George Burton and Dr. Matthews were prominent in high debate. This organization was continued for several years, but its objects being limited to discussions and lectures, no attempt was made to build up a library, though it undoubtedly aided in developing a demand for one.

Subsequently, the Iowa Literary Society, organized principally by H. H. Green and L. T. Sloan, acquired a small library of perhaps three hundred vol- umes, mostly donated by citizens, but, owing to exclusiveness and lack of interest, it failed and suffered the usual. fate of small libraries-dispersion. This was naturally a severe blow to similar enterprises, as citizens were unwilling to co- operate without some guarantee of permanence.

However, simultaneously with the above, some young men had organized the germ of the future Association. It was successively known as the Young America Debating Club, the Washingtonian Society, and culminating as the Young Men's Social, Literary and Debating Society ! As no organization could survive such a name, it was, in October, 1862, christened the Excelsior Society, from which the present Association directly emanated. About a year afterward, Messrs. George W. Bettesworth, E. Rand and C. M. Baldwin were chosen a committee to organize an Association similar to one in Milwaukee. Mr. Bettesworth leaving Lyons. J. Cully Root took his place, and a meeting was called at Council Hall in 1864, but it was attended by only four persons. The committee did not, however, see fit to abandon the project, but resolved then and there that it should ultimately succeed. This was the trying point of its creation. Citizens lacked confidence, young men had not woke up, parents did not lend a helping hand in behalf of an enterprise destined to feed their children with mental food and develop in them lofty aspirations. Nothing daunted, they visited friends and secured a preliminary meeting in Council Hall, January 20, 1864, which was virtually the birth of the Association. In addition to the above committee, were present as founders, J. C. Miller, W. H. Gibbs, George T. Crandall, Lyman A. Ellis and R. M. Rockwell. An act of incorporation was filed and officers chosen as follows : President, W. H. Gibbs; Vice President, Charles Baldwin ; Secretary, J. C. Root; Treasurer, G. T. Crandall; Directors, L. A. Ellis, W. S. Baldwin, R. M. Rockwell, G.

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M. Davis, J. C. Miller, E. W. Baldwin, J. C. Kelley, F. G. Heinrich and D. S. Balch. The officers at once took energetic measures to carry out the object of the body, not by calling for subscriptions but by paying their dues and inaugurating a system of public amusements, giving out as a motto,

Amusement our means-Instruction our end.

The ladies lent willing assistance. Concerts and festivals were given. The purchase of books was begun ; a few were donated, not many of which were at first of much value, many people thinking a book elsewhere useless was good enough for the library, though some elegant and valuable volumes were pre- sented. In 1864, after giving an unprofitable course of lectures, on February 1, the Association took possession of commodious rooms over Baldwin Bros.' store on Main street, which were offered free of charge.

On May 4, 1864, a series of debates were inaugurated. The North-Western Railway consolidation prevented an excursion to Chicago that promised golden returns, a serious second drawback, as heavy expenses had been incurred in advertising.

The library was opened to the public October 29, 1864, with 121 volumes, including cyclopedia, Patent-Office and State Reports, etc., to the number of 43 volumes. The first annual festival was given at the Randall House, November 30, 1864, and a handsome sum realized. Fortune began to smile on the plucky friends of the library. During the winter of 1864-65, the City Hall was occu- pied, one evening per week, for debates of much interest to all who attended. At the annual meeting, January, 1865, the library had increased 136 volumes, and there was a balance in the treasury. The new officers were substantially the same as before, and the library was so well managed that at the end of another year the report showed 101 gentlemen, and 43 lady members, and an increase to 471 volumes. The election of a belle of Lyons at a strawberry festival in June, had caused a great deal of hilarity, and put many shekels in the treasury of the Association. Lectures were given by some of the ablest orators of the nation, including Taylor, Emerson, Greeley, Schurz and Fred Douglass, during the seasons of 1865-67. Since then, the development of the library has been steady and permanent. Amateur theatricals, festivals and donations have added to its alcoves till they are now well filled with upward of 3,000 volumes, valued at over $5,000. The present officers are : President, J. A. Nattinger ; Vice President, D. O. McCarthy ; Secretary, J. L. Pollock ; Treasurer, J. C. Root ; Librarian, Miss Calla Carpenter. The library occu- pied quarters over Baldwin Bros.' present store, from 1870 to August, 1879, when they moved into Disbrow's Building, on the north side of Main street. The success of the association has been largely due to feminine co-operation.

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The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 73

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 807

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 807