USA > Iowa > Boone County > The history of Boone County, Iowa, containing biographical sketches war records of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the Northwest, history of Iowa, map of Boone county etc. > Part 64
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The second business honse was erected by Henry Hile early in the sum- mer of 1865. It was a frame structure located on the corner of Eighth and Allen streets. When he had his building completed Mr. Hile began the grocery business, which he has carried on ever since without interrup- tion, this being the oldest business honse in the city. During the same season Lonis Burgess erected a two-story frame building on the corner of Eighth and Story streets, and engaged in the dry goods trade. This build- ing has continued to be used as a business house until recently, when it was moved away to give place to a more imposing structure about to be erected by the firmn of Mason Brothers. This has always been considered one of the best locations in the city. A. Robinson erected a house the same season on the corner of Seventh and Story streets, and the building was for some time used for a store-room where were sold boots and shoes. This house was afterward moved to the corner of Eighth and Keeler, where it is now doing service as a dwelling. H. Robinson, about the same time, put up a house on Story street, between the Downing and Burgess buildings, which was used for the sale of clothing and furnishing goods.
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
A. J. Roberts erected a building on the lot where the city bank now stands. A grocery was opened in this building. J. B. Crafts built where Schleiter Bro.'s are now located. Reynolds Bro 's opened out a stock of boots and shoes in the building, and a photograph gallery was. located in the second story. The foregoing buildings, seven in number, were all which were erected for business purposes, at first; a number of houses had in the mean time been erected in various parts of the town for dwellings. During the same season Mr. D. Lutz put up a building on Seventh street; he lived on the second floor and used the first floor for a school-room. Mr. Lutz erec- ted the building with money received on subscription; persons having children to send to school paid him money in advance, taking his note for the same; what was not taken out in tuition Mr. Lutz paid back. The first regular district school was opened some time after in the building erected in 1865, and for some time after used by the manufacturing com- pany. Two teachers were employed, and the town, though but young in years, furnished enough children of school age to inake a very respectable school. Neither were religious matters neglected. During the summer of 1865 the first religious services were conducted under the friendly shade of some cottonwood trees in front of the St. James Hotel, by Rev. Mr. Snod- grass, a Methodist preacher, who on that occasion delivered the first sermon preached in the town. In. December of the same year the Methodist Church was organized by Presiding Elder Rev. D. Larmont. During the month of March of the following year the Presbyterian Church was organ- ized by Rev. J. M. Peobles, and about the same time the Baptist Church was organized by Rev A. E. Simons.
Early in 1866 building operations were resumed with great activity, and in every direction could be heard the sound of the hammer and saw. On every hand could be seen evidences of improvement, and by the close of that year there were some three hundred buildings in the town; up to this time, however, there were no brick buildings in the town, neither had the railroad authorities as yet begun any extensive improvements.
Early in the year 1867 building was resumed on a much more elaborate plan, and the houses erected were of a more permanent and durable char- acter. Wells & Smith erected the Metropolitan Hall block on the corner of Eighth and Story streets. This was a very commodious and imposing structure for the young town, and even at the present time is a very credit- able building. When they had the building completed Wells & Smith opened a bank, the first to be established in the place. About the same time or some months previous the Goeppinger Brothers erected a brick
business house on Story street. This firm has been engaged in business in this town nearly from the first, and is as respectable and enterprising a firm as can be found anywhere. During the same season the railroad com- pany began the erection of the round-house, and other shops and buildings. This round-house was not completed for over a year, and the company have not completed their contemplated improvements yet, as new buildings and additions are being erected from year to year, and are now in course of con- struction.
The first law firm of Boone was that of Bittinger & Hudson, and the first physician to locate in the town was Dr. L. J. Alleman. The profes- sions of both law and medicine have from the first been represented by learned and able men. The old attorneys of Boonesboro, one by one came over to the new town. There are now over a score of law firmns, and the
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
bar of Boone has long had the reputation of being the ablest in central Iowa.
During the fall of 1866, the place was incorporated as a town under the name of Boone Station. The following list of municipal officers were chosen at the first election :
Mavor-H. Hudson.
Recorder-A. Downing.
Treasurer-A. K. Wells ..
Marshal-L. L. Moore.
Some time after its incorporation the name of the town was changed to Montana, and in 1872 it was again changed to Boone. In 1868 the muni- cipal government was organized according to the law regulating cities of the second class, and the city divided into wards, mayor elected and or- dinances passed before the town had a legal right to do so. When it was discovered by the citizens that they had not proceeded according to law a petition was sent to the legislature, and the acts of the corporation were legalized by special act of the legislature. The first officers of the new city government were as follows:
Mayor-I. B. Ringland.
Clerk-W. H. Gallup.
Treasurer-A. K. Wells.
Attorney-W. H. Gallup.
Aldermen-First Ward, W. H. Adams and Charles Whitaker. Second Ward, L. C. Wells and J. P. Tilson. Third Ward, W. A. Simmons and W. W. Nixon. Fourth Ward, J. M. Smith and L. H. Lockwood.
The division of the city into wards is as follows:
First Ward, all north of Eighth street and east of Story.
Second Ward, all south of Eighth and east of Story.
Third Ward, all south of Eighth and west of Story.
Fourth Ward, all north of Eighth and west of Story.
The Third Ward has always had the most wealth and largest population. In June. 1876, the mayor appointed a committee to inquire into the pro- priety of extending the city limits. The committee reported favorably on the proposition at ; subsequent meeting of the council, and the report was adopted and the mayor instructed to call a special election to vote on the proposition. The mayor accordingly issued his proclamation, naming the 9th of September, 1876, as the day for voting on the proposition. At that election the electors decided to extend the city limits, and the corporation boundaries were established as follows:
Beginning at the quarter section post between sections 28 and 29, town- ship 84, range 26, thence east 4073 rods into section 27, thence north to section line between sections 27 and 28 and 21 and 22, 407g rods, thence west 873 rods to south line of Nineteenth street, thence west along said street to line between sections 20 and 21 320 rods, thence south on said line between sections 20 and 21 and 28 and 29, 4073 rods, to the place of beginning. The corporation limits, as provided at that time, remain the same at the present. By virtue of its standing as a city of the second class the council has the power to gutter and macadamize the streets. Thus far but one street has been improved in this way, viz: Story from Eighth to the depot.
The public schools of Boone have long been regarded as the best in the
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
State. Not only have the people been liberal in voting funds for the erec- tion of school buildings and salaries of teachers, but what is even more im- portant, they have been careful to vote in members of the school board who have brought with them to this responsible position experience and a de- termination to give to the work their conscientious and earnest efforts for the maintenance of the schools. They have been fortunate in their selec- tion of their superintendents of schools who have, as a rule, been the most efficient and experienced of any in the State. Their tenure of office has not been as extensive, as a rule, as in other places, but nevertheless the schools have no superiors in the State for efficiency.
The crowning glory of American institutions is the public school system; nothing among American institutions is so intensely American. They are the colleges of democracy and if this government is to remain a republic governed by statesmen, it is from the public school that they must be grad- nated. The amount of practical knowledge which the masses here receive is important and forms the chief factor in the problem of material pros- perity, but it is not so much the practical knowledge which it is the osten- sible mission of the public school to impart that makes this systemn the sheet anchor of our hope; it is rather the silent social influence which the common schools exert. It is claimed for our country that it is a land of so- cial equality where all have the same chance in the race of life; and yet there are many things which give the lie to this boasted claim of an aris- tocracy of manhood. Our churches are open to all, but it is clear that the best pews are occupied by the wealthy. The sightless goddess extends the scales of justice to all, but it will usually appear that there is money in the descending scale. It takes money to run for office or, at least, it generally requires money to get office. The first experiences of the American citizen, however, are had in the public school. If he is the rich man's son, his classmate is a son of poverty. The seat of the one is no better than that of the other, and when the two are called to the blackboard the fine clothes of the rich man's son do not keep him from going down provided he is a drone, neither do the patches on the clothes of the other keep him down if he has genins and application. The pampered child of fortune may pur- chase a diploma at many of the select schools of our land, but at the pub lic school it is genius and application which win. That state or nation which reaches out this helping hand to the children of want will never lack for defenders in time of danger, and the hundreds of thousands of dol- lars annually expended for the common education of children is but money loaned which the children will pay back with compound interest when grown to manhood.
Then, too, in a modest way, our common schools inculcate the lessons of common honesty. The boy hears his father make promises and sees him break them. Mr. Brown is promised ten dollars on Tuesday, but Mr. Brown calls on Tuesday and again on Wednesday, and finally gets the ten dollars on Saturday; the boy goes with his father to church, and frequently gets there after the first prayer. In vain does the father teach that boy lessons of common honesty, when the boy knows that the father three times disappointed Brown, and never gets to church in time. The boy soon learns at the public school that punctuality and promptness are car- dinal virtues; that to be tardy is to get a little black mark, and to be ab- sent a day is to get a big black mark. A public school in which punctu- ality and promptness are impartially and fearlessly enforced is a most po-
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
tent conservator of public morals. The city is at present better supplied with school-houses more conveniently located, than most any other town in the State. The first, second and fourth wards have each a school build- ing well adapted for primary and intermediate purposes, while in the third ward in a large, elegant and well furnished high school building. In 1867 the school board by the authority of the electors of the town issued bonds to the amount of $12,000 and thereby erected the school building in the second and fourth wards. These two buildings are very similar. They are brick structures, two stories high, with two rooms on each floor, and a large hall-way with wardrobes between. The buildings are provided with the most approved pattern of seats and desks. The first ward build- ing and the high school building were erected in 1878. The former is an elegant brick structure of the most modern and approved plan; is two stories high, with a large and well ventilated room on each floor, with a tower and front projection. This building with the furniture cost $3,500. The high school building is a magnificent brick structure with tower and front projections. It is two stories high with a basement. It is provided with recitation-rooms, study-rooms, library-room and apparatus-room. The furniture and apparatus are of the most approved pattern, and the en- tire building is heated with steam. The building, exclusive of furniture, heating apparatus and other fixtures, cost $16,000. The school library con- sists of some six hundred and fifty volumes. The basis of the library was a number of books purchased by public subscription; the school board then appropriated a small sum to increase the number of books. The library has been gradually increased since then by the use of the non-resident fees which by order of the board has been applied as a permanent library fund. None have access to the library except pupils of the high school and such of the citizens as contribute to the maintenance to the institution by voluntary subscription. This library, though not large, contains no worthless material. All the books are standard books and consist of works on science, literature, fiction, biography and travel; there are also a num- ber of choice historical works. Great care has been taken to preserve the books in a good condition, and though many of them have been in constant use for over two years, they do not show evidences of ill use. There are employed in all the public schools of Boone twelve teachers, with salaries ranging from thirty to one hundred and twenty-five dollars per month. W. P. Todd A. M. is the present superintendent, which position he has oc- cupied for two years past. The following is a list of the officers and mem- bers of the school board at present:
President, Henry Goeppinger; secretary, S. R. Rice; treasurer, J. I. Mc- Farland; board, H. D. Udall, J. E. Buxton, L. W. Reynolds, Alfred Zandell, F. N. Bettes.
During the school year, ending June, 1879, there were enrolled in the public schools 369 boys and 389 girls, making a total enrollment during the year of 758. The average attendance for the year was 561.
The organization for the years 1878-9 was as follows:
Members of the board: Wm. Dale, J. E. Buxton, Wm. Ringland, Allan Smith, H. D. Udall, H. Goeppinger.
Officers: J. E. Buxton, president; J. I. McFarland, treasurer; S. R. Page, secretary; W. P. Todd, A. M., superintendent.
Standing committees: Teachers, Messrs. Dale and Udall; Finance,
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
Messrs. Smith and Dale; Grounds, Building and Repairs, Messrs. Ringland and Goeppinger; Purchasing Agent, S. R. Page.
The following rules have been adopted for the government of the schol- board:
1. The regular meeting of the board shall be held the first Monday of each month, at such place as the president may designate, excepting meetings in March and September, which shall be held the third Monday of said months.
2. Special meetings may be called by the president or any two members; but notice shall be given the other members of the board, and the object of the meeting shall be stated in the call.
3. The order of business at the regular meetings shall be as follows:
Reading minutes of previous meeting.
Communications and petitions.
Disposal of bills and accounts.
Reports of standing committees.
Reports of special committees.
Reports of officers and superintendent.
Unfinished business.
New business.
Adjournment.
The rules of order shall be the same as those usually governing deliberate assemblies.
4. There shall be appointed annually, at the regular meeting in March, the following standing committees :
Teachers.
Finance.
Grounds, Buildings and Repairs.
Purchasing Agent.
Each committee to consist of not less than two members each.
5. All bills presented for the action of the board, shall specify items, and no order on the treasurer for their payment shall be delivered until duly receipted.
6. All bills shall be approved by the finance committee before being allowed by the board.
The rules adopted by the board for the employment of teachers are as follows: 4
1. At the last regular meeting before the close of the school year, the board may elect the teachers. The teachers then elected, and those afterward appointed, when confirmed by the board, shall hold their positions for the time elected or appointed unless sooner re- moved.
2. All candidates are required to pass an examination under the direction of the commit- tee on teachers. Provided, that teachers of long and successful experience may be appointed without such examination.
3. SCHEDULE OF SALARIES:
First Grade. $40 to $50.
Second Grade. 5 to 45.
Third Grade. 30 to 35.
There is a general and ill-defined notion, among the people of every Iowa community, that the public school system is a grand one and that the taxes levied for its maintenance are burdensome and oppressive. That the expense is great is certainly true, the school tax usually in cities·amount- ing to almost, if not quite as much, as the taxes for all other purposes combined. Tax-payers, however, who most commonly object to the pres- ent school system are, as a rule, those persons who have not taken the trouble to examine the system and learn how vast the magnitude and how far-reaching the results of the system. They talk of the district school of the past and draw odions comparisons. They should study the public graded school system of the present and they would find that the progress made during the past decade is almost incomprehensible. The common
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
school of to-day is as much in advance of that of years ago as is the sulky plow in advance of the old-fashioned bull plow; and as the farmer of to- day, with his improved machinery, can perform from two to ten times more work so with the materials, conveniences and methods of the common school. The old-fashioned school-house, with its puncheon seats and greased paper windows, where ruled ye pedagogue at a salary of twelve and a half dollars per month, did good service. Many now occupying honor- able positions and managing successful business, can point to those rude cabins as the place where they received the first inspirations of knowledge and where was kindled a noble ambition to do something and be some- thing. But while this is true, it is also true that by means of modern edu- cational appliances the boy of to-day knows more than the man of twenty years ago, and for a person to claim that the old log school-house, with its incompetent master and miserable methods, was superior to the present educational system, is as unreasonable as it would be for the peddler, who conveys his goods on his back, to claim that this was the most approved mode of transportation, while a railroad train goes rushing past and shakes the abominable fallacy from his fogy mouth.
But in addition to the common school of to-day which is infinitely better than that of twenty years ago, every city which has ambition to keep in the front ranks of progress has a high school where are afforded facilities for higher education, almost equaling the average college, and far surpass- ing the average academy. To show what these facilities are we give the following course of study in the Boone high school. It is possible that the fact that such a course of study is prescribed and pursued will be news to many a one whose money for years has gone to maintain it. The people of any inland town, who have in their midst such a school, may well feel proud of it, and instead of producing last year's tax receipt as an argu- ment against the high school, should produce it on examination day, and exclaim with triumph: " I gave so much to support that institution."
HIGH SCHOOL COURSE.
FIRST YEAR.
First Term-Cathcart's Literary Reader; Word Analysis; Higher Arithmetic; Book-keeping; Penmanship and Drawing.
Second Term-Cathcart's Literary Reader; Word Analysis Reviewed; Composition, Swinton's; Higher Arithmetic; Book- keeping, double entry; Penmanship and Drawing.
Third Term-Cathcart's Literary Reader; Word Analysis Reviewed; Composition; Higher Arithmetic; United States History and Map Draw- ing; Penmanship and Drawing.
SECOND YEAR.
First Term-Cathcart's Literary Reader; Grammar; Higher Arithme- tic, finished; United States History and Map Drawing.
Second Term-Cathcart's Literary Reader; Grammar; Algebra; Civil Government; Penmanship and Drawing.
Third Term-English Analysis; Physiology; Algebra; Penmanship and Drawing.
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
JUNIOR YEAR.
First Term-Algebra; Natural Philosophy; Rhetoric; English History; Latin, optional.
Second Term-Algebra; Chemistry; English History; Latin, optional. Third Term-Geometry; Botany; English History; Latin, optional.
SENIOR YEAR.
First Term-Conic Sections; Zoology; English Literature; Cæsar-1 book, optional.
Second Term-Trigonometry; Descriptive Astronomy; English Litera- ture; Virgil-2 books, optional.
Third Term-Surveying; Geology; English Literature; Virgil-4 books, optional.
Rhetorical exercises through the entire course, at least once in each month, by every pupil. Certificate of graduation will be awarded to those students who complete the above course of studies.
CHURCHES.
The M. E. Church of Boone was organized in 1866. Some of the first members of this organization and most active in establishing the Church were R. D. Coldren and wife, Albert Ingersoll and wife, George Russell and wife, Darius Hawley and wife, Thomas Main and wife. In 1869 a frame church edifice was erected at a cost of $5,000, which was dedicated early in the year 1870 by Elder Jones. Rev. J. W. Snodgrass, Adam Kern, T. M. Williams, J. G. Eckles, H. H. O'Neal, C. W. Martin, B. F. W. Cozier, W. F. Chambers, A. T. Hull and J. C. Eckles have been pastors since the church was organized. The membership of the church at pres- ent numbers one hundred. The Sunday-school in connection with the church is in a very flourishing condition. J. C. Eckles is the superintend- ent. The average attendance is one hundred and thirty.
The First Presbyterian Church was organized March 12, 1866. The original members were C. C. Lambert, Louisa Lambert, Mrs. Wheat, Henry Burns, Lydia Burns, David Lutz, Helen Lutz, Newton Whitehead and Mrs. Day. In 1868 a frame church building was erected at a cost of $1,500. It was dedicated March 1, 1868, by Rev. J. M. Phillips, assisted by Rev. Wm. Cambrel. This building becoming unsuitable for the accom- modation of the congregation, a new building was erected in 1879. This is an elegant brick building with basement. The audience room is fitted up in a most elaborate manner. The basement, which is to be fitted up for lecture room and Sunday-school rooms, has not yet been completed. The cost of the building thus far has been $7,800. It was dedicated De- cember 28, 1879, by Rev. E. R. Davis, assisted by the pastor, Rev. J. A. Donahey. The pastors of the church have been as follows: A. M. Heizer from 1868 to 1870; W. S. Mesmer from 1870 to 1872; Rev. Joshua Cooke from 1872 to 1878; Rev. J. A. Donahey from 1878 till present time, and still pastor. The present membership is one hundred and ten. The offi- cers of the church are as follows: Elders-A. A. Deering, H. D. Ensign, R. M. Wier, Leroy Burdick, J. K. Giles; trustees-R. M. Wier, S. K. Huntsinger, C. J. A. Erickson, Wm. Wells, G. R. James; Rev. J. A. Don-
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
ahey is moderator and A. A. Deering clerk of the session; R. M. Weir is president, S. K. Huntsinger, secretary, and C. J. A. Ericson, treasurer, of the board of trustees. The Sunday-school is in a very flourishing con- dition, with an average attendance of two hundred. The pastor, Mr. Don- ahey is energetic, industrious and popular. It was mainly through his exertions that the work of erecting a new church building was entered upon about one year ago. The building as it now stands almost completed represents an amount of zeal, industry and self-denial truly creditable to those who assumed the responsibility of its erection. The last annnal re- port of the trustees shows the financial condition of the church, and at the same time affords a good history of the organization for some years past. It is accordingly herewith given in full:
"We, your trustees, beg leave to submit for your consideration these, their annual reports. One year ago we worshiped in the little frame church building; congregation getting larger, and the building seemingly getting smaller. The then board of trustees had begun talking up the prospects of enlarging our borders. Finding that the sympathy of the con.munity was favorable to the undertaking, the result of several meet- ings of the congregation was the appointing of what is known as the ' building committee,' consisting of the following: Rev. J. A. Donahey, chairman, Messrs. Wells, Clark, Champlin, Owen, Knight, Buxton, Wier, Potter, Hamling and Huntsinger, with instructions to act for the congrega- tion in the matter of building a new house of worship.
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