USA > Iowa > Marshall County > The History of Marshall County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 59
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
Roman Catholic Church .- The first services according to the rites of the Romish Church in this city, were conducted by Rev. Father Lowery, of Cedar Rapids, some ten years or more ago. Since that time, a flourishing society has been built up. The present Pastor, Rev. Father Portz, observes service in Marshalltown, and as a missionary, in Liscomb. There is a seminary in this city under the charge of the Sisters. Although the time since the formal organization of the Church here has been brief, the society is well founded and includes many influential members. Father Portz is an indefatigable worker in his worthy cause, and is much respected both in and out of his Church.
The Swede Lutheran Church .- This society was organized in Marshalltown Jan. 18, 1870. A meeting was called to perfect the organization, at which the Rev. P. A. Lindahl was chosen Chairman, and John Bowman, Secretary. The first Trust- ees were Andrew Chandland, Louis Noyd and Carl Burg. The society organized with about twenty members, and purchased a church edifice from the Trustees of the Episcopal organization for $2,000. Rev. Mr. Westling was the first regular Pastor. Since its formation, the society has been steadily growing, until to-day it is free from all incumbrances, and has 100 members. The Rev. P. A. Pilghren is the present Pastor of the church ; Deacons, Carl Burg, P. Hanson, Andrew Elmblod and Louis Peterson ; Trustees, W. C. Rebb, N. Peterson, Henry Olson and Frank Engstran ; M. Peterson, Treasurer ; Henry East, Secretary.
Disciples or Christian Church .- The present organization of Disciples of Christ was effected Feb. 15, 1877. The charter members numbered twenty, consisting of E. L. Lemert, Byron A. Beesen, Daniel Burkhart, Ellen Lemert, M. K. Huffaker, M. C. Huffaker, A. W. Weatherly, Mary L. Johnson, O. S. Hill and others. The Church adopted the New Testament as their creed and only rule of faith and practice. On the 16th day of February, 1877, the Church
482
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
was duly incorporated. The following Board of Trustees were elected : Byron A. Beesen, E. L. Lemert, O. F. Hixson, M. K. Huffaker and A. W. Weatherly. Some time after the Church was organized. Daniel Burkhart was chosen Elder and A. A. Wilber and A. W. Weatherly, Deacons. The Trustees rented the "brick church " on West Church street, between Third and Fourth, and during the Spring and Summer of 1877, the pulpit was occasionally occu- pied by Eld. N. A. McConnell, of Cedar Rapids, Eld. F. Walden, of Albion, Prof. G. T. Carpenter and Prof. Laughlin, of Oskaloosa College, and others. On Sept. 1. 1877, Eld. L. Lane, of South Bend, Ind., was employed as Pastor of the Church, for one half of his time for one year, and Sept. 1, 1878, the Church re-employed him for his entire time. The present membership (Sep- tember, 1878) is fifty-five, making thirty-five additional members since the organization of the church. Prosperity attends all the different departments of the Church. The Sunday school was organized April 7, 1877. Byron A. Beesen was chosen Superintendent. It now numbers seventy-five.
Young Men's Christian Association .- This society was organized in April. 1876, with the following officers : L. E. B. Holt, President ; William Pentland. Vice President ; J. R. McQuiston, Secretary ; L. S. Kilborn, Treasurer.
An interest was awakened in the cause and $400 secured to carry on the work. Rooms were opened in the City Bank building, and vigorous measures were taken to place the society on a sound financial footing. The second elec- tion. in 1876, placed the following officers over the society : E. W. Deitrich, President ; William Pentland, Vice President ; Theodore Johnson, Secretary : L. S. Kilborn, Treasurer. The third election resulted in the choice of J. R. McQuiston. President ; E. R. Jones, Vice President ; Theodore Johnson, Sec- retary ; L S. Kilborn, Treasurer.
The society was materially aided by the citizens at a public meeting held in Woodbury Hall, and was enabled to open spacious rooms in the Union Block. Here a reading room and rooms for meetings are kept in constant use, the for- mer being placed at the service of those who desire to read the better papers and publications. Religious meetings are held in the prayer and service rooms. to which the public are invited. The society is doing a grand work. The present officers are: W. B. Bently, President; A. J. Swett, Vice President ; Theo- dore Johnson, Secretary ; William Pentland, Treasurer.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Marshalltown was incorporated July, 1863. Previous to this period, the city was governed in much the same manner as all townships are managed at the present day. The officers of the city for each year from 1863 to 1879. are given below :
For 1863-4-J. L. Williams, Mayor ; Peter Dalesman, Recorder ; Thomas E. MeCracken, Marshal ; G. M. Woodbury, Treasurer ; H. P. Williams, Assess. or. Trustees-G. M. Woodbury, George Glick, R. H. Barnhart, H. E. J. Boardman, Thomas Murphy.
For 1864-5-E. J. B. Statler, Mayor ; C. H. Shaw, Recorder, and Will- iam H. Gallup to fill vacancy ; Il. P. Williams, Assessor; Thomas B. Able. Treasurer ; Thomas E. McCracken, Marshal. and A. S. Curtis, to fill vacancy. Trustees-E. C. Rice, William Johnson, George Glick, R. M. Barnhart. Thomas Murphy.
For 1865-6-J. B. W. Johnson, Mayor; C. H. Shaw, Recorder; A. S. Curtis, Marshal. Trustees-A. C. Abbott, J. H. Smith, Samuel Hull, Jabez Banbury, Thomas Murphy.
483
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
For 1866-7-John Fisher, Mayor, and Obed Caswell to fill vacancy ; Geo. Mill, Recorder ; Thomas Murphy, Treasurer ; Samuel Huffman, Marshal. Trustees-E. H. B. Statler, Sylvester Lacey, J. Banbury, W. W. Miller, R. Howe Taylor.
For 1867-8-R. M. Johnson, Mayor; J. Lee Knight, Recorder ; Thomas Murphy, Treasurer ; Samuel Huffman, Marshal, and M. Munsell to fill vacancy. Trustees-George Glick, A. C. Abbott, G. M. Woodbury, H. Willard, J. H. McClain.
March 18, 1868, the city was divided into Wards.
For 1868-9-J. M. Parker, Mayor; J. Lee Knight, Clerk, and H. P. Williams to fill vacancy; Thomas Murphy, Treasurer ; George L. Canfield, Marshal; Obed Caswell, Solicitor; William Sharp, Street Commissioner: Thomas Murphy, Engineer. Councilmen : First Ward-William Johnson, J. Banbury ; Second Ward-Charles Aldrich, H. Willard ; Third Ward-J. D. McCord, E. Baker; Fourth Ward-George Glick, J. D. Downer.
For 1869-70-J. M. Parker, Mayor; H. P. Williams, Clerk ; Thomas Murphy, Treasurer : [M. Munsell, Marshal, and J. D. McCord to fill vacancy ; Obed Caswell, Solicitor ; M. Munsell, Street Commissioner ; Thomas Murphy, Engineer ; Fred Baum, Assessor. Councilmen : First Ward-C. M. Fracker, William Johnson : Second Ward-W. H. Calhoun, H. Willard. and O. B. Barrows to fill vacancy ; Third Ward-W. S. Rice, D. P. McCord ; Fourth Ward-John Turner, J. D. Downer.
For 1870-71-G. M. Parker, Mayor; L. G. Seagar, Clerk ; J. Banbury. Treasurer ; C. J. Epenalter, Marshal, and J. D. McCord to fill vacancy ; Obed Caswell, Solicitor ; Solomon Brooks, Street Commissioner; P. M. Sutton, Engineer ; Fred Baum, Assessor. Councilmen : First Ward-E. N. Cha- pin, C. W. Fracker; Second Ward-O. B. Barrows, W. H. Calhoun ; Third Ward-George Seagar, W. S. Rice; Fourth Ward-J. D. Downer, John Turner.
For 1871-2-L. W. Griswold, Mayor ; Leroy G. Seagar, Clerk ; J. Banbury, Treasurer ; Albert Satia, Marshal ; Solomon Brooks, Street Commissioner ; P. M. Sutton, Engineer, and William Bremner to fill vacancy; Fred Baum, As- sessor. Councilmen : First Ward-J. C. Kuener, C. E. Bromley, and E. N. Chapin to fill vacancy ; Second Ward-W. H. Calhoun, O. B. Barrews ; Third Ward-N. S. Rice, George Seagar ; Fourth Ward-R. Howe Taylor, H. P. Williams, N. F. Craig to fill vacancy.
1872-3-L. W. Griswold, Mayor; M. H. Haviland, Clerk ; J. Banbury, Treasurer ; A. Satia, Marshal ; J. F. Meeker, Solicitor; Samuel Hull, Street Commissioner ; William Bremner, Engineer ; Fred Baum, Assessor. Council- men : First Ward-C. E. Bromley, William East ; Second Ward-O. B. Bar- rows, W. H. Calhoun ; Third Ward-Delos Arnold, W. S. Rice ; Fourth Ward -N. F. Craig. H. P. Williams.
For 1873-4-L. W. Griswold, Mayor; M. H. Haviland, Clerk ; J. H. H. Trisbee, Treasurer ; C. H. Brock, Marshal ; J. F. Meeker, Solicitor; George Seagar, Street Commissioner ; William Bremner, Engineer: Fred Baum, As- sessor. Councilmen : First Ward-C. E .. Bromley, William East; Second Ward-N. L. Bunce, O. B. Barrows ; Third Ward-Delos Arnold, Sylvester Lacey ; Fourth Ward-B. F. Frederick, N. F. Craig.
For 1874-5-0. B. Barrows, Mayor ; J. H. H. Frisbee, Treasurer; C. H. Brock, Marshal, and Albert Satia to fill vacancy ; P. M. Sutton, Solicitor; G. A. Hartman, Street Commissioner ; William Bremner, Engineer ; Fred Baum, Assessor. Councilmen : First Ward-William East, C. E. Bromley ; Second
484
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Ward-W. H. Calhoun, N. L. Bunce; Third Ward-Fred Grumme, Sylvester Lacey ; Fourth Ward-John Turner, B. F. Frederick.
For 1875-6-0. B. Barrows, Mayor; A. Saddler, Clerk ; J. H. H. Fris- bee, Treasurer ; A. Satia, Marshal ; P. M. Sutton. Solicitor ; G. A. Hartman, Street Commissioner ; William Bremner, Engineer ; S. H. Porter, Assessor. Councilmen : First Ward-C. E. Bromley, William East ; Second Ward-N. L. Bunce, W. H. Calhoun ; Third Ward-S. Lacey, F. Grumme; Fourth Ward-B. F. Frederick, J. Turner.
For 1876-7-O. B. Barrows, Mayor; A. Saddler, City Clerk; J. H. H. Frisbee, Treasurer ; A. Satia, Marshal ; J. M. Parker, Solicitor; G. A. Hart- man, Street Commissioner ; William Bremner, City Engineer; S. H. Porter, Assessor. Councilmen : First Ward-William East, C. E. Bromley ; Second. Ward-W. H. Calhoun, N. L. Bunce ; Third Ward-F. Grumme, S. Lacey ; Fourth Ward-John Turner, B. F. Frederick.
For 1877-8-R. Howe Taylor, Mayor ; Byron Webster, Clerk ; J. H. H. Faisbee, Treasurer ; George R. Norris, Marshal ; J. M. Parker, Solicitor ; E .. Shurtz, Strect Commissioner ; William Bremner, Engineer; S. H. Porter, Assessor. Councilmen : First Ward-William Cole, William East ; Second Ward-N. L. Bunce. W. H. Calhoun ; Third Ward-M. C. Wheeler, F. Grumme ; Fourth Ward-D. W. Cunningham, John Turner.
For 1878-9-R. Howe Taylor, Mayor; Byron Webster, Clerk; W. F. Treadwell, Treasurer ; George R. Norris, Marshall ; B. L. Burt, Solicitor ; G. A. Hartman, Street Commissioner; William Bremner, Engineer; T. S. Kil- born, Assessor. Councilmen : First Ward-W. East, W. Cole, Fred J. Wood- bury; Second Ward-N. L. Bunce, O. B. Barrows ; Third Ward-M. C. Wheeler, J. D. Vail; Fourth Ward-D. W. Cunningham, John Turner.
The city owns a building on West Main street, where the several officers have appropriate rooms.
The lower portion of the building is used by the Hook and Ladder Company and the Hope Hose No. 1.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Rescue Hook and Ladder Co .- This is the oldest fire organization in the city, dating back to 1869-70. A hook and ladder truck was purchased in Chicago at a cost of $1,600, and the Rescue Company was formed.
After the great fire in 1872, the city purchased a large double-decker, Jeffer- son end-brake engine for $800, which they obtained in Rock Island, Illinois. With that came the large hose cart, carrying 1,100 feet of hose. The first truek was subsequently exchanged for the present large and durable one. The company is now in a splendid condition, being supplied with everything needed. in case of an emergency. A. C. Sherwood was the first chief of the department. The present chief is C. S. Woodworth. The present officers of the Rescue Company are J. W. Haines, Foreman ; George W. Mckinney, First Assistant.
The Woodbury Independent Hose Company .- This company was organized. in 1874. under the name of the Washington Independent Engine Company. It originally consisted of forty members, but was at one time increased to seventy. Messrs. Sowers, Waters and Woods raised the necessary amount, $600, by soliciting subscriptions, for the purchase of a single decker, side-brake, Button engine, which they purchased in Dubuque. The engine house, a frame build- ing, was located on Main street. Robert Vogle was the first Foreman. The engine was a good one and did some very effective service. After the building of the water works, the engine was sold to the State Centre people for $600.
485
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
The company then purchased, in Auburn, N. Y., a handsome hose-cart, which they called the " Spider," at a cost of $400. The cart and hose weigh but 820 pounds. The name of the company was then changed to the G. M. Wood- bury Independent Hose Company. They have 500 feet of linen hose. The engine house is located on East Main street ; is a substantial brick structure, 20x30 feet in size, and handsomely fitted up with all the necessary fire apparatus. They have what is called the twin coupling, which can be used
in throwing two streams of water. The Foreman, M. K. Williams, has been in charge of the company since its organization, and sleeps in the engine house. The company pay their own gas bills and are strictly independent. The men are nearly all young, and are ready at a moment's notice to do their duty. The officers are M. K. Williams, Foreman ; George Canfield, First Assistant ; John Boman, Second Assistant ; William McFarlan, Secretary ; Oscar Blaney, Treasurer. Membership, twenty-eight.
Alert Hose Company, No. 2 .- The Alert Hose Company was organized May 5, 1877. A hose-cart was purchased of Coburn & Rewey, of Marshall- town, for $235, and was paid for by the city. The engine house is located at 305 South Third avenue, and is a substantial brick structure, two stories high and twenty-two feet square. The cart weighs 450 pounds. They have 500 feet of linen hose. The first officers of the Alert Company were: J. II. Johnston, Foreman; W. H. Harrington, First Assistant ; W. W. O'Brien. Second Assistant ; R. W. Westlake, Secretary ; J. W. Brackett, Treasurer. The present officers are : J. H. Johnson, Foreman ; W. H. Harrington, First Assistant ; George Bowman, Second Assistant ; J. R. Welsh, Secretary ; J. W. Brackett, Treasurer. The company consists of twenty members.
Hope Hose Company .- This company was organized in 1875, at the time of the building of the water works. They are allowed twenty men, but the roll is not filled at present. The headquarters are in the city building. N. E. Sar- gent is Foreman ; A. E. Walters, First Assistant ; Nathan A. Kers, Second Assistant. This company is well organized and constitutes an important feature of the department.
WATER WORKS.
The city is supplied with water from the Iowa River, by a system of Knowles pumps. The water works are located on the south bank of the stream, near the Woodbury Mills. The mains are laid in all the principal streets, and the power of the pumps is ample to furnish water for fire and ordinary purposes.
A system of telegraph is maintained to warn the engineer of fires. The entire service is satisfactory to the city.
The contract for works was made with Carpenter & Co., of Ottawa, for the sum of $46,500. The entire cost exceeded this amount, and, including exten- sions, is stated at $67,817. The city is now carrying some $60,000 of bonds, issued for this improvement. These bonds represent the bonded debt of the city, the financial condition of which is exceedingly satisfactory.
This enterprise is one of the most extensive ever attempted in the city, and reflects great credit upon those who originated the plan and carried it to a successful completion. No town of its size in the State is better supplied with water than is this city.
Mr. Frank Killala has general supervision of the works and supply depart- ment. William Fisher is Chief Engineer of the pumping house, and William Brush is Second Engineer.
486
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
POLICE.
The City Marshal constituted the police force of the city, with occasionally a few appointed assistants until 1877, when three men, including the Marshal, were uniformed and given regular beats. In 1878, another man was added to the force. The Mayor is Chief of Police, with headquarters at the city build- ing. George R. Norris is the present Marshal.
GAS WORKS.
The city is supplied with gas from works owned by Gabriel Carpenter, S. D. Carpenter. John Weare and E. E. Weare, of Cedar Rapids, but leased by C. G. Spencer, who employs three men. The streets are not lighted with gas.
SCHOOLS.
[The following sketch of the Marshalltown schools, which are famous in the State for their excellence, is furnished for this work by a gentleman long a resident of the city, who is thoroughly acquainted with their history, although not connected with them in school work .- EDITOR. ]
Some of the records of the early history of the Independent District of Marshalltown, with the organization of which this history is to commence, are imperfect. But the city was separated from the adjacent territory and became independent in the Spring of 1864. At the regular election in March, 1864, the first Board of Directors was chosen, and was composed of the following persons : President, H. C. Henderson ; Vice President, G. R. Dewey ; Secre- tary, T. W. Hazen ; Treasurer, Geo. Glick ; Directors, N. F. Yeamans, Wm. Johnson, J. H. Smith.
The first meeting of the Board appears by the record to have been held March 18, 1864. The President, H. C. Henderson, having been elected while absent at Des Moines attending upon the Senate, of which he was a member, and not yet having returned, George R. Dewey, Vice President, presided at this first meeting, as also at the two following meetings March 26th and April 14th. We find by the report of the Secretary, the Board were informed that the services of T. N. Tucker, as Principal for the Independent District School of Marshalltown, could be had at a salary of $700 per year, and on motion of the Secretary, the Directors were instructed to immediately enter into a con- tract with said T. N. Tucker upon the above terms. At this meeting a motion was also carried instructing the Directors to lay side-walks in front of the school house, and also to build a six-foot platform walk in front of the build- ing. At this meeting a motion was carried to plant shade trees in the grounds around the school building. The wide-spreading branches of the beautiful trees that now make so attractive the school grounds, attest the wisdom and forethought of the men who composed the School Board at that time.
During the years 1864 and 1865, the first School Board elected for the Independent District remained in office. The services of Mr. T. W. Tucker were retained as principal, with an advance in salary of $300 in the year 1865, over that of the previous year. The wages of the entire corps of teachers were raised, the system of grading the schools was begun, public examinations inaugurated, and the schools ran up to a higher standard of excellence than ever before. In the year 1864, we find the number of persons between the
487
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
:ages of five and twenty-one in the district to be 545; the number enrolled upon the school record, 355; the average attendance, 205.
In the year 1866, Thomas Benton was elected President of the Board. The following were the members of the School Board at that time: President. T. H. Benton ; Vice President, Jabez Banbury ; Secretary, A. C. Abbott ; Treasurer, George Glick ; Directors, T. J. White, A. Loree.
This Board continued until 1868. During the year 1868, Dr. Glick and Mr. Benton were appointed to sell the school building then occupied, and fix upon ground for another. Many of the citizens were opposed to the move, and much opposition developed. The then acting Board was thrown up and a new Board elected, as follows : President, T. J. Wilson; Secretary, Thos. Mercer; Treasurer, Jabez Banbury ; Directors, D. W. Cunningham, E. N. Chapin, B. T. Frederick.
In the Fall of 1866, Prof. T. W. Tucker was succeeded by Prof. J. S. Mabie, a graduate of the Chicago University, a ripe scholar and experienced teacher, who conducted the schools with much skill and ability, and took a very active part in the contest between what was known as the "Central School" and the "Ward School" factions, Mr. Mabie following the Central Schools. This faction being defeated by the election of the above-named officers, who were opposed to him and to his system, he resigned in the Spring of 1868, and Prof. P. M. Sutton, who had for several years been Professor of Mathematics in the Iowa Lutheran College, was unanimously elected by the new board, as Pro- fessor Mabie's successor.
Prof. Mabie remained in the city for several years, and although not in any way connected with the schools, yet always took a very active interest in every- thing that pertained to their welfare, and showed a manly lack of that jealousy which too often is shown by teachers who are obliged to give way for others.
Soon after Mr. Sutton's election as Superintendent of the Schools, Prof. T. J. Wilson, who was then County Superintendent as well as President of the School Board, was drowned, while visiting schools in the county. The death of Prof. Wilson was a severe blow to the schools in Marshalltown, as well as to the public school interests of the county generally. He was a graduate of Bow- doin College, and was for many years a Professor in the Iowa Lutheran Col- lege ; for several years the County Superintendent, and one term Representa- tive for Marshall County, to the Iowa Legislature. He was known throughout the State, as an educator of great culture and high rank. Upon his death, the Board elected Mr. Sutton to fill the vacancy thus occasioned, and he thereby became President of the School Board, as well as Superintendent of the Schools.
The general management of the schools, the employment of teachers, and the janitors, and the whole responsibility of the schools, was thrown upon Mr. Sutton by the Board. Meetings of the Board were seldom had, and then about all they did was to approve all the acts of their President and Superintendent. After the first term of Mr. Sutton's administration, there was a general change made in the policy of the schools, as well as in teachers. He secured the serv- ices of Miss Abbie Gifford, who was then teaching a select school in the city, with great success, and who had formally taught in the famous public schools of Racine, Wis., and was generally recognized as one of the most practical and successful educators in the State. Miss Gifford has since been County Super- intendent of Marshall County for four years, and has organized and conducted the most successful Normal Schools in the State.
Mr. Sutton also secured the services of Miss Anna Perry. now Mrs. Samuel Hull, a teacher who had had years of experience in graded schools ; and gener- ally none were employed but the ablest and most experienced teachers.
488
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
Mr. Sutton remained Principal of the schools for two years and a half. and it may be truly said that the public schools of Marshalltown were never so generally popular before, and have never been more popular since. A Liter- ary Society was formed in connection with the schools, known as the "Wilson- ian Society," being named after the Hon. T. J. Wilson. This Society pro- cured a large library, and its exercises every Saturday night were attended by our citizens generally, the house usually being crowded to witness the enter- tainments the Society gave. Many of the young men who attended school at that time, and who were members of this Society, now occupy responsible po- sitions of trust and business in this county and State.
In the Summer of 1870, Mr. Sutton refused a contract tendered him by the Board, for the two years following, at $2,000 a year-to become a candi- date for Clerk of the Courts of Marshall County, but before resigning, procured the appointment of Prof. Charles Robinson, of De Witt, as his successor.
Prof. Robinson was one of the most successful organizers the schools of Marshalltown ever had.
But his system was an exceedingly rigid one, and at last gave dissatisfaction to a certain class of patrons who expect their children to be educated without any effort upon their part, or the part of their parents, and with this class Mr. Robinson became very unpopular. In the Summer of 1873, after three years of most unremitting and successful labor, he resigned his position as Superin- tendent.
The School Board then elected Mr. W. P. Burdick to succeed Mr. Robinson. Mr. Burdick was before, and has proved himself since, a very successful teacher ; but as Superintendent of Schools in a city like Marshalltown. he was not alto- gether successful, especially as succeeding so able a Superintendent as Mr. Robinson, and in 1874, Mr. Burdick severed his connection with the schools, which were left without a Superintendent.
At the Spring election in 1874, there was a general disposition to elect a Board that would spare no pains to place the schools upon a sound footing, and P. M. Sutton and J. M. Parker, both of whom had been strong and earnest supporters of Mr. Robinson during his three years of administration, were elected Directors without any particular opposition. As soon as they were elected, Mr. Sutton was chosen President of the new Board, and took general supervision, although without any compensation, of the government of the schools, during the term following Mr. Burdick's retirement, and when there. was no Superintendent.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.