USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,. > Part 58
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Marshal-William Pexton.
Situated in the center of a great farming district, Grinnell cannot fail to increase in size and importance, both as a business trading point and as a shipping station for farmers and mechanics.
The following lines of occupation are at present in active operation in Grinnell: 2 banks, 3 railroads, 3 hotels, 1 general store, 12 groceries, 2 hardware stores, 4 drug stores, 9 dry goods stores, 6 blacksmith shops, 3 wagon shops, 4 carpenter shops, 2 livery stables, 1 brick yard, 2 book stores, 2 boot and shoe stores, 3 lumber yards, 4 elevators, 3 clothiers, 1 news stand, 2 cabinet stores, 3 jewelry stores, 3 restaurants, 2 bakeries, 3 meat markets, 2 photograph galleries, 2 dentists, 1 cigar store, 3 tailors, 3 telegraph 33
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
offices, 1 music store, 4 dress-makers, 2 barber shops, 1 semi-weekly paper 1 weekly and 1 monthly college paper, 2 barbed-wire factories, 1 pork- packing establishment, 1 soda-water factory, 3 millinery stores, 4 sewing- machine agencies, 1 creamery, 2 coal dealers, 1 butter and egg packing establishment, 1 glove factory, 4 harness shops. There are also 3 churches, 1 college, 2 public schools, 2 public halls, 14 ministers, 9 doctors, 7 lawyers, 25 teachers and 300 college students in this young city.
IOWA COLLEGE, GRINNELL, IOWA.
The first settlers of Grinnell, coming from New England, brought their own views of advanced education and strict religious principle. They be- lieved with their fathers, that these two should be inseparable companions. Several were college graduates, and all knew enough of education to re- spect and cherish the influence of a Christian college.
Before the town was platted from the treeless prairie, in 1854, the found- ers of the colony contemplated the establishment of a college. In Decem- ber, 1855, they gave the projected enterprise definite form; first naming the institution "People's College," and then "Grinnell University," from the name of one of its principal founders, Rev. J. B. Grinnell.
A site was chosen for the Female Seminary where the college buildings now stand, and work upon it commenced immediately, with the under- standing that it should be used for both departments until further buildings could be provided. But before the completion of the building, the whole property of "Grinnell University " was transferred to the trustees of " Iowa College." This latter institution, the oldest college in the State, was pro- jected in 1844, by a few Congregational Home Missionaries and located at Davenport. Trustees were elected, who formed an incorporation, under the general law of the State, June 17, 1847. The preparatory department was opened in 1848, and the first freshman class admitted in 1850.
At Davenport, the college constantly met with embarrassments. Once the site was necessarily changed, and twice its grounds were wantonly cut through by necessary streets. The trustees could do no otherwise than to sell the location and building at Davenport, and take advantage of the de- sire of other towns to have the college. All things considered, it was thought best to accept the offer of the town of Grinnell, to take the partly completed building and the promised funds of Grinnell University, with other gifts pledged, and locate Iowa College in Grinnell; this was in 1858. In 1859 classes were organized in Grinnell, though no college classes were formed till 1861. Since that time the college has inade good progress, though hindered in early years by the war, and for the last few years by hard times and fire
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
The first important effort to secure an endowment was made in 1863. In the spring of that year Rev. J. C. Holbrook went East, by arrangement with the society for Western Colleges, to obtain $2,000 pledged by the society to the current expenses of the college.
His success led the society to consent to his raising $20,000 for endow- ment, and afterward a greater sum. Subsequent efforts have raised the en- * dowment to about $90,000. Three chairs have been fully, and four partially, endowed. The entire property of the college has grown to about $200,000, including the endowment. The public college buildings are respectively forty-two feet by eighty, and fifty feet by ninety-five in size, three stories high; the larger, constructed of stone, is to contain eleven rooms: chemical lecture room, laboratory, museum, society, apparatus and recitation rooms. The smaller building, constructed of brick, contains chapel, recitation and reading rooms, and dormitories. December 24, 1871, the original building, or " East College," was destroyed by fire.
The character of instruction that is given at Iowa College, is best shown by the fact that a number of its professors have been called to positions in the Eastern colleges, and that the President has declined urgent calls to much more lucrative fields of labor. Although, as stated, the move toward founding the college came from Congregationalists, it is in no proper sense denominational. Its trustees, faculty and students belong to different re- ligious denominations, and there is no sectarian teaching or pressure. The best of religious teaching, by example and precept, is designed to cultivate the nobler qualities of the student and guide him in the discharge of duty. As now constituted, the college consists of five departments: 1st, the Col- lege, including the Classical and Scientific courses; 2d, Ladies' course; 3d, the Academy or Preparatory department; 4th, the Normal and English department; 5th, the Conservatory of Music. The two courses, Classical and Scientific, are parallel; the students in the two departments reciting together in the studies which are pursued by both, but the latter taking sci- entific studies instead of the classics, and having some option between the mathematical and experimental sciences. The Ladies' course, recently ex- tended to four years, is in great part identical with the college courses, be- ginning, however, with the Academy class in the classics, although this course is arranged to meet the desires of many young ladies who wish something like the ordinary course of the first-class female seminaries. The College courses are open to both sexes alike, and many young ladies have availed, and are availing themselves of this opportunity.
Although it would be preferable, in many ways, to teach nothing below the rank of college studies, yet the scarcity of good academies makes it
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
imperatively necessary that the College should prepare a large portion of its own students. The Academy gives a careful and exact preparation for College. The requirements for admission to the Classical and Scientific courses are precisely the same; thus, two important and generally over- looked points are secured: that the student acquires some degree of matu- rity before being compelled to choose between the two courses, and that the scientific student acquires enough of both Latin and Greek to help him to understand and so remember many things which he will encounter in his studies of the sciences, the nomenclature of which is so entirely derived from those languages.
The Normal and English department is for the instruction of teachers, both those passing through the regular courses and those who can attend only for a short time. The problem of adopting a Normal course for teachers in connection with the regular College course has been happily solved.
Prof. Henry K. Edson, an experienced instructor in the theory and prac- tice of teaching, has this department in charge, and looks forward to a new era in advanced Normal work. The following extracts from his circular, recently issued, will furnish the reader a good understanding of this branch of the College curriculum:
"A normal institution to be to the profession of teaching what schools of theology, law, and medicine, are to the other professions, is yet in the future. In this emergency it is the dictate of wisdom to utilize the means we already possess in our colleges, to furnish in the best manner possible thoroughly educated and practically trained teachers. Two reasons unite to give great force to the plan already inaugurated in several colleges in this country, as well as in England and Scotland, to add a teacher's course to their educational advantages. First, A large proportion of their grad- uates take up teaching, either from necessity for a time after graduating, or from choice making it their profession for life; and this latter class, it is, for every reason, desirable to increase. Secondly, The colleges by their trained and experienced teachers, and by their laboratories, and museums, are best fitted to meet at once the demand for teachers who are thoroughly educated and up with the times in all branches, and especially in natural history, one of the most important departments of school education, and most difficult to introduce fully and effectively. While the culture char- acter of the college course will not be impaired, nor its standard lowered, it directly meets the wants, and invites the attendance of those whom the urgency of the claims of active life and the necessities of their situation compel to seek their profession by the shortest road possible, consistent
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
with due preparation. Iowa College now offers her students a Collegiate Teachers' Course. This will run through a year, term after term, for all those who come mainly to attend the teachers' class, while it will be a part of the regular study of the members of the college for one term each year for three years. Thus: In the fall term, with the sophomore class: the history of education and educational systems, the educators of the world, and the history of the teaching art, and connected themes, will be the sub- ject of study and lectures. In the winter term, with the junior class: the philosophy of education, the science of teaching, nature of mental culture, natural order of development and of studies. In the summer term, with the senior class: the art of teaching, with practice, school laws and school management, including organization, government, instruction, and methods. Graduates of high schools and academies, and teachers of one or more years' approved standing, may join the class without formal examination, upon satisfactory evidence of fitness to profit by its advantages.
The members of the teacher's class will have every desirable facility offered them. An excellent teacher's library (now collecting) will be at their disposal.
The wants of this class have long been known, and it is believed that the department of instruction now opened will afford the opportunity many have long desired for higher education and professional training under ex- perienced educators.
Another practical plan connected with the teachers' course is contem- plated-the establishment of a teachers' registry for the benefit of normal students, to bring into communication those who desire reliable teachers and teachers who are prepared for good positions.
Certificates of college or high school grade will be given to those who complete the teachers' course, according to the attainments of the candi- dates. Instruction in the normal course is given in the regular college terms, which are three each year, of fifteen, twelve and eleven and a half weeks, respectively.
The Conservatory of Music is constantly gaining ground, and doing well its work of sending out well-trained musicians, with high ideals, and thus raising the musical standard of the community ..
The trustees of the college are:
Rev. Geo. F. Magoun, D. D., President, Grinnell; Rev. S. L. Herrick, Secretary and Auditor, Grinnell; Rev. Asa Turner, Oskaloosa; Rev. Har- vey Adams, Brown's Prairie; Rev. Alden B. Robbins, D. D., Mucatine; Rev. Ephraim Adams, Waterloo; Rev. Oliver Emerson, Miles; Hon. J. B. Grinnell, Grinnell; Col. John Meyer, Newton; Rev. J. M. Chamberlain,
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
Grinnell; Rev. Daniel Lane, Belle Plaine; Ex-Gov. Samuel Merrill, Des Moines; Rev. Henry S. De Forest, Talladega, Ala .; Lucien Eaton, Esq., St. Louis; Jeremiah H. Merrill, Esq., Des Moines; Rev. William Wind- sor, Marshalltown; Nathaniel C. Deering, Osage; R. D. Stephens, Esq., Marion; David Leonard, Esq., Burlington.
Treasurer of the College-Rev. Joshua M. Chamberlain, Grinnell.
Executive Committee.
The President, ex officio, Hon. J. B. Grinnell, Rev. S. L. Herrick, Col. John Meyer, Rev. Wm. Windsor.
Faculty.
Rev. George F. Magoun, D. D., President and Williston Professor of Mental and Moral Science.
Rev. Samuel J. Buck, A. M., Memorial Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy.
Richard W. Swan, A. M., Benedict Professor of Latin and Literature.
Stephen G. Barnes, A. M., Ph. D., Ames Professor of English Literature, Anglo-Saxon, and Rhetoric.
William H. Herrick, A. M., Dodge Professor of Chemistry.
Willard Kimball, Professor of Music and Director of Conservatory.
Fisk P. Brewer, A. M., Carter Professor of Greek and Instructor in Modern Languages.
Rev. Henry W. Parker, A. M., Stone Professor of Natural History.
Rev. Henry K. Edson, A. M., Iowa Professor of Theory and Practice of Teaching.
Jesse Macy, A. M., Principal of Academy.
Miss Mary Ellis, A. M., Lady Principal.
William A. Noyes, A. B., B. S., Tutor and Assistant in Chemistry and Physics.
Miss Mary Manley, Instructor in Vocal Culture and Theory of Music. Miss Ella A. Baker, Lady Assistant.
Prof. R. W. Swan, A. M., Librarian.
Besides the foregoing there are lecturers.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
During the college year of 1879-80 the students were distributed through the various departments as follows:
College Course 82
Ladies' College Course
52
The Academy Course
76
Normal English Department
71
Conservatory of Music
58
Graduates of 1879 20
Total 359
Deducting those reckoned twice
33
Total number students 326
The entire number of gentlemen who have graduated is 94; of ladies, 77; total, 171.
There are several literary societies.
The Chrestomathian Society is composed of members of the college classes. Organized 1852; library 550 volumes; library fund $1,000.
The Calocagathian Society is composed of ladies pursuing either course. Organized 1863; library 200 volumes.
The Christian Association-formerly the Society of Christian Inquiry- established in 1865, is composed of students without distinction. Library begun.
The Philologian Society, established in 1867, consists of young gentle- man in the academy. Library begun.
The Grinnell Institute is composed of gentleman of the college courses. Organized 1870; library 387 volumes.
Lewis Literary Association is composed of gentleman of the academy. Organized in 1871; library begun.
It is made obligatory for all students to attend daily prayers in the chapel, and two regular services on the sabbath in such church as parent or guardian may direct. Exercises in declamation and composition are re- quired of all students. Examinations are held at the close of each term. The library and reading-room is open to all students. The library contains 5,080 volumes. The museum of natural history occupies a large and con- venient room in the third story of Central College. The tuition expense is low considering the character of instruction, and advantages given. Stu- dents preparing for the ministry receive aid. Prizes are awarded for ex- cellence in several departments. Degrees and diplomas are conferred in
536
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
accordance with the customs of the best Eastern colleges. Such is a brief history of Iowa College. It is growing in popular favor and will ere long stand in the front rank as an institution for higher education. The pro- fessors are men peculiarly adapted to their work. Dr. Magoun, its first and only president, is no less distinguished, and has been at its head nearly sixteen years, and impressed his individuality upon it in a most remark- able degree. No town in the State is better suited to college purposes.
Horace Greeley, in an article printed in the New York Tribune after his visit to Grinnell in 1871, says of it as a site for a college:
"Scholarly parents have emigrated hither from the East in order to se- cure the best instruction for their children. And I doubt if there is a spot on earth better suited to their purpose. For Grinnell has one advantage as the site of a college over any other within my range of observation, in that no glass of alcoholic liquor is, or ever was, sold here. It has no " bar- room," no " saloon," lager beer, or otherwise, no resort of tipplers, even in . this most respectable stage of their downward progress. Need I add that Grinnell has no paupers, no loafers, no ruffians, no brawlers, and that her people are equal in morality, intelligence and culture to any community on earth."
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
In March, 1854, several thousand acres of land were purchased, a portion of which was set off for a town site, for educational purposes and for farms. The April following a cabin was erected in the grove, two and a half miles west of the town site, which was occupied by Dr. Thomas Holyoke, H. Hamlin, H. M. Hamilton, A. F. Gillett, A. Bixby, J. B. Grin- nell and others-the first settlers.
The first religious meeting was held at the log house of Mr. Perry M. Mat- tison, about three miles west of the town site, in the grove, at which seven adults were present. The second was in the grove at the cabin of Mr. Oak- ley, near Mr. Mattison's, the audience numbering fifteen, of whom Mrs. Holyoke was the only lady present. The third meeting was held under the oaks near the cabin, the congregation numbering nearly thirty. The fourth was held in what was known as "The Long Home," a rough struc- ture, about 60 feet by 16, made of boards sawed by horse-power. It was on what is now Broad Street, between Fourth and Fifth Avenue, West Side, and served as a temporary residence for about twenty families. At the fifth meeting, which was held in this building, while yet without a roof, it was resolved that when no minister was present there should be a read- ing meeting on the sabbath, and that a prayer meeting should be held statedly on Thursday evenings. The prayer meeting has been regularly
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
sustained up to the present day. During the summer and fall, meetings were held in " The Long Home " and in the residences of Messrs. Bixby, Holyoke, Phelps and others, when the north chamber of the Bixby House, then owned by George Chambers, was fitted up with seats and occupied as a place of worship through the winter. In the spring, meetings were held in the house of Mr. Phelps, situated on the corner of Broad and Commercial Streets, and in his parlor the church was organized.
Articles of faith, covenant and by-laws having been prepared the organ- ization of the church was effected on the 8th of April, 1855, under the direction of Rev. Samuel Loomis.
The following are the names of those who, on that day, were constituted the Congregational Church of Grinnell :
Rev. J. B. Grinnell, Mrs. Julia A. Grinnell, William N. Ford, Mrs. Lydia W. Ford, Mrs. Lucy Ford, Mrs. Christiana Patterson, Thomas Hol- yoke, M. D., Mrs. Nancy Holyoke, Gideon Gardner, Mrs. Naomi Gardner, Anor Scott, Mrs. Harriet B. Scott, Sumner Bixby, Mrs. Sarah H. Bixby, Abram Whitcomb, Mrs. Mary Whitcomb, Levi H. Marsh, Mrs. Edith Marsh, Emory S. Bartlett, Miss Lucy Bixby.
In June, 1855, measures were taken to erect a temporary building for meetings and a school. Rev. J. B. Grinnell agreed to build one 16 by 24 for $150. It was a rude structure, untouched by plane or brush, and the lumber being green, wide seams were soon opened to the weather, so that on rainy days the audience would have found comfort in raising their um- brellas, and the minister's sermon was in danger of being ruined. The next place occupied for worship was a lower room in a large, new school- house; and in the spring of 1856 the upper room of the same building, 40 feet square. In June of this year, the General Association of Iowa here held its meeting. This room was used for worship till 1860, when the church edifice was erected, which was twice enlarged to meet the increasing wants of the community. For two years, the main dependence for preach- ing was upon Rev. J. B. Grinnell, who, though strongly solicited to accept a salary, persistently declined any compensation other than the good will of the people.
Rev. Samuel Loomis preached often in 1855, and in the fall of that year Rev. S. L. Herrick, from Vermont, became a resident, and, for five or six years, rendered gratuitous service on the sabbath, in connection with oth- ers. About 1857 Rev. L. C. Rouse, from Ohio, moved' into the place, and Joined with ministers already on the ground in maintaining the regular ministration of the sanctuary. In the year 1860 Rev. J. W. Matthews, of Maine, was called to act as pastor. He remained not quite a year, and
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
then returned to New England. In 1863 Rev. S. D. Cochrane was called to the pastorship, accepted the call, and was installed May 1, 1867. His labors were continued till April 13, 1869, when, at his own request, he was dismissed by a council called for the purpose. President Magoun, of Iowa College, was then invited to supply the pulpit till a pastor could be ob- tained. Early in 1870, a call was extended to Rev. W. W. Woodworth, of Belchertown, Mass., who accepted the call, and entered upon his duties in June of the same year. March 1, 1871, he was regularly installed by a council. November 5, 1875, Rev. Mr. Woodworth tendered his resignation, having received a call from Berlin, Conn., the scene of his earliest ministe- rial labors. The church, taking into consideration his earnest wishes in the case, accepted his resignation, and he was regularly dismissed, Novem- ber 26, 1875. The pulpit was supplied from various sources during the year 1876. December 29, of that year, a call was extended to Rev. J. M. Sturtevant, Jr., of Denver, Colorado, to act as pastor of the church for one year. The call was accepted, and he entered upon his duties February 10, 1877. The church has been blessed with many very precious revivals- Previous to the labor of a regular pastor, over two hundred had united with the original twenty who constituted the church at its organization. And all along the years, showers of blessings have been shed upon the church, till it now numbers over six hundred.
The present magnificent stone church was commenced in the spring of 1877.
The building (without furniture) cost twenty-six thousand dollars.
The laying of the corner-stone occurred June 26, 1877; the ceremonies were held at two P. M., and were as follows:
Invocation-Rev. S. L. Herrick.
Reading the hymn-Rev. Thomas Brande.
Singing-by the choir.
Reading of Scripture -- Prof. S. J. Buck.
Prayer -- Rev. J. M. Sturtevant.
Address, and laying the corner-stone-by Hon. J. B. Grinnell.
Address: "The Church and College"-by President G. F. Magoun, D. D.
Statement from the Building Committee.
Doxology.
Benediction-Rev. E. Adams.
The following articles were placed in the box: Manual of the Congrega- tional Church of Grinnell, containing, "Articles of Faith," "Covenant," and " Historical Sketch of the Church." A Catalogue of Iowa College.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
Copies of the Grinnell Herald, College News-Letter, Chicago Advance, and Des Moines Register. History of Town of Grinnell. Various coins in present circulation.
There was a large congregation of people, and they were impressed with the ceremonies, as well as rejoiced to see the building of God's house.
The church is a large structure, seating, in the main auditorium, eight hundred, with a large Sunday-school room and a parlor. The seats are in the form of an amphitheater, ascending from the pulpit to the most dis- tant row. The arrangement of the house is of the most approved modern style. The floors carpeted, the seats comfortably adjusted and neatly cush- ioned, the pulpit set with red velvet cushioned chairs and sofa, the parlor ele- gantly furnished, the infant class room with all conveniences, the kitchen, with cook-stove, the superior system of ventilation, lighting, and heating, are among the comforts and blessings enjoyed by the church and congre- gation.
The stone of which the church is constructed came from Mason City and Bentonsport. The lighting is with gas, manufactured on the premises, with the Imperial Gas Machine. The heating is by steam, the boiler and furnaces being located in the basement. The ceiling is of ribbed iron, and curved in many angles. There are three entrances to the large audience room, and two large vestibules. The choir is in the rear of the speaker. The infant class room may be separated from the main Sunday-school room by sliding doors. The tower, which is to contain the bell, is yet to be completed. The church has a membership larger than any other of the same denomination in the State, and is one of the most substantial, as well as most elegant, houses of worship in the West. The parsonage, situated on the east side of the public park, is one of the finest residences in the city. Rev. J. M. Sturtevant, the present pastor, has been successful in spreading the influence of the gospel, and winning the hearts of the people.
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