USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > The history of Des Moines county, Iowa, containing a history of the country, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers > Part 66
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Embalming Burial-Case Company was organized in 1876, and incorporated November 12, 1877. The officers are J. R. Nelson, President ; R. R. Dorr, Secretary ; A. L. Skinner, Treasurer.
Western Mill-Furnishing Company was organized January 23, 1879. Officers : John W. Swan, President ; William Sennett, Secretary ; Harvey Littler, Treasurer. Capital, $4,000.
Orchard City School-Desk Company was incorporated October 1, 1877. Officers : R. A. Moore, President ; J. Z. Moore, Secretary and Treasurer.
Murray Iron Works were incorporated February 1, 1870. G. H. Higbee, President. Capital, $75,000. Mr. Higbee controls the entire stock, and manages the business in person.
The Centennial Mutual Life Association filed Articles of Incorporation July 13, 1876, and received authority to commence business July 22, 1876. The incorporators were : S. M. Thompson, of Muscatine; E. M. Laws, of Osceola ; L. L. Beery, of Mount Pleasant; Watson Roberts, of Mount Pleasant ; and the following of Burlington : M. C. McArthur, C. P. Squires, J. W. Barnes, A. W. Parsons, R. Root, C. H. Squires, C. H. Phelps, E. McKitterick and O. P. Waters. The first officers were: O. P. Waters, President; C. J. Weatherby, Secretary. The present Directors are: E. M. Laws, C. H. Phelps, J. W. Barnes, O. P. Waters, M. C. McArthur, E. MeKitterick, C. P. Squires, S. M. Thompson, J. C. McKell, N. P. Sunderland and J. Tracy. The present officers are: M. C. McArthur, President; J. W. Barnes, Vice President ; O. P. Waters, Secretary ; W. H. Morehouse, Treasurer. The capital stock of the company is $100,000. They have written 11,375 policies, and since the date of payment of their first loss, February 2, 1877, they have disbursed for death-losses about $130,000. Any person, male or female, between the ages of fifteen and sixty years, who can pass the required medical exami- nation, may obtain a policy in the Association. To keep up the expenses of the Association, yearly dues are required. To pay de th-losses, a levy is made upon each member, according to age at joining, and an additional sum of 10 cents on each assessment, to pay expenses of collecting the same.
The White Breast Coal and Mining Company was incorporated January 19, 1876, by William Haven, R. L. Fix, Wesley Jones and J. C. Osgood. The first officers were : William Haven, President ; J. C. Osgood, Secretary and Treasurer. Wesley Jones retired from the Board, and was succeeded by C. M. Schenck. The present officers are: J. C. Osgood, President; L. R. Fix, Vice President ; C. M. Schenck, Secretary and Treasurer. The capital stock of the Company is $60,000. Its principal mines are located at Cleveland, Lucas Co., Iowa. The coal is of better quality mined at a depth of 250 feet below the surface. The Company also own and operate mines at Flagler, Marion County, and at Avery, Monroe County. They .employ about 300 men, and produce 120,000 tons of coal per year. The sales extend through Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska. The Company have yards at Burlington, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, and local agencies at all railroad points in the above named States. Their railroad trade is extensive. Their annual business is $350,000. The Company deals in foreign hard coals.
The Iowa and Missouri Coal and Land Company was incorporated March 1, 1872, by Fitz Henry Warren, James Putnam, C. P. Squires, J. W. Barnes, J. E. Labor and R. F. Hosford. The mines are located at Boyer and Caldwell,
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
Van Buren County, and the coal taken therefrom, is claimed to be the best in the world for generating steam. The present Directors are Dr. J. J. Ransom, James Putnam, N. B. Sunderland, C. P. Squires, L. R. Fix. The officers are : Dr. J. J. Ransom, President ; L. R. Fix, Vice President and General Manager ; C. P. Squires, Secretary and Treasurer. The capital stock of the company is $100,000.
The Hay Metallurgic Company was organized in 1876. The officers of the Company are : G. R. Henry, President : M. S. Foote, Secretary.
Hay Boiler Protection Company was organized in 1876. A. P. Hay is President, and G. R. Henry, Secretary.
SCHOOLS.
The educational interests of Burlington date back to 1834, and have for their founder William R. Ross. In the fall of 1833, Dr. Ross erected a small cabin, southwest of the present public square, and dedicated the building to the uses of preaching and day school. However, no school was taught therein until the following spring. During the winter of 1833-34, a man named Phillips lived in the cabin, with his family. When spring came, a school was opened by Zadoc C. Inghram, who taught during the summer. Subsequently, Mrs. Shelton and Mrs. Mayfield were employed as teachers. During the succeeding years, until the erection of Old Zion Church, the schools were "kept " in various places, and taught by various persons. There was no record preserved, so far as we are able to discover. The schools were primitive, in keeping with the settlement of the place. In 1839, Old Zion was in a condition to permit of the opening of school there. Rev. E. M. Scott, the tallest man in the neigh- borhood, lived in the basement of the church, and kept the youngsters in whole- some subjection by means of liberal doses of spelling-book and rod. Subse- quently, Scott removed to Arkansas and began the practice of law. On one occasion his long legs served him well, in fording the river, and after that he hung out the following sign :
" E. M. Scott, attorney at law, The man that waded the Arkansaw."
After Scott left, a man named Townsend took up the birch.
As the town increased in size, schools multiplied in numbers, but no organ- ized system was adopted until Jannary, 1847. At that time, the first Inspect- ors were appointed. The gentlemen who composed the Board were Hon. Charles Mason. IIon. J. W. Grimes and George Partridge. The Board was a township institution. Mr. Grimes was elected Inspector April, 1847, and again in April, 1848. The original Board divided the city into six districts. Small schools were maintained in most of those districts during 1847-48.
The impossibility of making a proper classification of scholars and of raising the schools to the highest excellence, under the system of small districts, and other reasons, suggested the expediency of consolidating the districts into one. This was done by the School Fund Commissioner, William Walker, March 19, 1849. The first meeting under the new plan was held March 29, 1849, in the Congregational Church. James Clarke was chosen President ; L. D. Stockton, Secretary ; John Johnson, Treasurer, and James W. Grimes. Chairman of the Committee to inquire about the number of schools needed. A meeting was held May 7, at which a tax of one-third of one per cent on all city property was authorized, for the purchase of schoolhouse sites.
May 11, 1849, the city was divided into four districts, and Samuel M. Clendenin was appointed Principal of District No. 4. May 24, of the same
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
year, O. L. Palmer took charge of No. 3, Abraham Darling of Division No. 2 and Mrs. Burge of District No. 1. July 4, Mrs. Burge was succeeded as Prin- cipal by Dan S. Moore.
In 1850, Burlington claimed a population of 4,500.
The Hawk-Eye was always found advocating measures for the advancement. of the moral and intellectual tone of Burlington. Mr. Edwards was acquainted with the school system of Boston, and aimed to build up a similar plan here. April 5, 1850, an editorial appeared, from which we quote :
" We regard it as vastly important that in laying the foundation of a system of common schools for our city, we should begin upon the most approved prin- ciples. * * There is now due this district, we believe, about $1,500.
* * This will enable the district to hire two principal teachers at a salary of $300 per annum, and five assistants at $160 each. This is better wages than our teachers now get. With the children properly classified, seven teachers can better instruct them than seventeen can under the system which now pre- vails among us."
In May, 1850, the Directors were authorized to, and did, levy one-third of one per cent tax on all property in the city for school purposes. The district was divided, at that time, into four divisions, as heretofore stated.
September 23, 1850, the Directors of the Burlington School District con- tracted for the erection of a schoolhouse on lots 729 and 730, southeast corner of High and Fifth streets. The plans were by Mr. Stareker, a resident archi- tect, and the contract was let to Myers & Kelber. The capacity was 39x63 feet, two stories high, four rooms, accommodating nearly three hundred pupils. The cost was $4,150. This was the first building erected for school purposes exclusively in Burlington, and called North Hill Schoolhouse. Prior to 1851, the schools were of excellent character, both the public and private institutions being well sustained, and conducted by persons of merit and scholarly attain- ments ; but the places of holding them were as diversified as the number of scholars would permit of.
The school census of September, 1850 (the first taken after the estab- lishment of the schools in this city), showed the following population between the ages of five and twenty-one years :
Division No. 1. 238
Division No. 2. 473
Division No. 3 192
112
Division No. 4.
Total 1,015
During that first year, the school in Division 1 was taught by Mrs. Burge and daughter, who resigned on account of ill health, and were succeeded by D. S. Moore and Miss Eliza A. Clark. No. 2 was taught by Abram Darling- ton and Mrs. Mary A. Wiggins. No. 3 by O. L. Palmer and Miss Ellen Griffey. No. 4 by S. M. Clendenin and Mrs. Prince, who died shortly after taking the place.
The attendance was, in No. 1, 130; No. 2, 183; No. 3, 140; No. 4, 109; total, 562. Teachers' salaries were fixed at $25 per month for male and $8 for female teachers. The total expenses for teachers was $372.66, leaving $27.54 cash on hand. There was a class in algebra, and one in natural philosophy. The common English branches were taught.
The finances of the Board were not satisfactory. The tax levied amounted to about $2,500 ; but of that sum only $500 had been paid in by January 1, 1850. No steps had been taken to secure sites for buildings.
536
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
In May, 1851, the Board was re-elected, with J. W. Grimes as President. It was voted at that meeting to raise $4,000 to complete the first schoolhouse, and to aid in the construction of one in the southern portion of the city.
In 1852, the Board consisted of William Salter, President ; O. H. Schenck. Treasurer : George Snyder. Secretary. January 2, 1852, a contract was made with Myers & Kelber for the erection of South Hill Schoolhouse, at a cost of $4,550. On the first Monday in April, 1852, C. B. Darwin was appointed Principal of North Hill School, at a salary of $40 per month, and teachers were employed at various salaries. In September, 1852, the services of a Principal were dispensed with, and J. W. Sennet was employed to take charge of the larger boys, at $30 per month, and four lady teachers were secured.
In 1853, nuder an act of the Legislature to extend the powers of school . districts, six Directors were chosen, to wit: W. B. Chamberlain, George Snyder, to serve one year ; J. A. Funk, J. F. Tallant, to serve two years, and Lyman Cook, J. Newton Evans, to serve three years. L. D. Stockton and Oliver Cock were appointed to succeed Messrs. Funk and Snyder, resigned. W. B. Chamberlain was elected President ; J. F. Tallant, Treasurer; L. D. Stockton, Secretary.
In 1854, Messrs. Chamberlain and Stockton were re-elected, the former as Chairman. Mr. Tallent acted as Treasurer, Oliver Cock as Secretary.
In 1855, William Salter was elected President, the other officers retaining their places.
The number of teachers employed had stood each year as follows; 1849, 9: 1852, 14; 1853. 16; 1854, 9.
A local writer, in 1855, said of the buildings: "They are eligibly sit- uated, and are the admiration of every traveler and the honest pride of every citizen of Burlington." The Board ordered trees planted about the buildings.
In 1855, there were 1,465 children of school age in the city, and there were but two buildings capable of holding 600 pupils. The condition of the schools was not very encouraging.
Up to 1858, the sexes were taught separately, and there was no attempt made to grade the schools. May 3, 1858, the Board decided "that the boys and girls shall occupy the same rooms and recite together," and that it had " become imperative on the Board to at once grade the pupils." This was accordingly done by the Principals, assisted by Rev. F. R. Haff, one of the School Examiners, and Rev. William Salter, of the Board of Education. Thus it may properly be said that the public schools of Burlington date only from May, 1858.
March 8, 1853, J. II. Smith was engaged as Superintendent of North Hill School. June 15, 1853, Alexander Mellhenny was appointed Principal of South Hill School. November 1, 1854, the schools were opened with R. J. Graff, Principal of North Hill and A. Henry, Principal of South Hill School. In 1855, on account of the small amount of money in the Teachers' Fund, it was ordered by the School Board not to hold school that winter. September 10, 1856, R. J. Graff and Mr. Lemon were elected Principals, and the schools re-opened. February 5, 1857. J. F. Tallant and George Temple were appointed a committee to negotiate for ground on which to erect a new school house. Sep- tember 21, 1857, R. J. Graff was re-elected Principal of North Hill School and E. L. Jagger assumed the same office at South Hill School. April 26, 1858, R. J. Graff resigned his position and was succeeded by Mrs. Clara Miller. Angust 30, 1858, J. E. Dow became Principal of North Hill School, and T. B. Gray Principal of South Hill School. At this time, also, the Board
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
of Education ordered a school to be opened in Dutchtown, to be known as Dutchtown School, with C. P. De Haas for its Principal. Principals elected August 19, 1859, by the School Board were: For North Hill School, J. E. Dow ; for South Hill School, T. B. Gray ; for Dutchtown School, C. P. De Haas. December 8, 1859, T. B. Gray was dismissed by the Board and succeeded by R. J. Graff. At the election of Principals July 16, 1860, J. E. Dow was chosen for North Hill, R. J. Graff for South Hill, and Miss Susan Colter for Dutchtown School. The election of July 29, 1861, made no change, except in the case of Miss Susan Colter, who was succeeded by C. P. De Haas. August 4, 1862, the same Principals were re-elected. April 29, 1863, Lots 10, 11 and 12, in Block 960, were purchased by the School Board for $300, and May 13, 1863, a contract was entered into with Richard Howard for the erection of a school-building for the sum of $1,900, to be known as South. Boundary Schoolhouse. July 3, 1863, the School Board elected as Principals for North Hill, J. Thorp ; South Hill, J. E. Dow ; Dutchtown, C. P. De Haas, and South Boundary School, Mrs. L. A. Littlefield. January 29, 1864, J. Thorp resigned his position as Principal of North Hill School, and was succeeded by Mr. Dunn. June 15, 1864, the School Board rented Cum- berland Presbyterian Church for the establishment of a high school, and, on June 22, of the same year they purchased ground of Rand & Sherfey for the erection of the present Dutchtown Schoolhouse. July 20, 1864, J. E. Dow was elected City Superintendent of the Schools and Principal of the high school, at a salary of $900 per annum. July 27, 1864, the following Principals were elected : J. H. Sanborn, North Hill ; O. C. Shelton, South Hill ; Milton Campbell, South Boundary, and C. P. De Haas, Dutchtown School.
The course of study in the high school is four years ; each year is divided into three terms, and the annual catalogue gives a complete list of the various branches taught in regular term rotation.
August 12, 1864, an addition to Dutchtown Schoolhouse was contracted for with Narn & Gillis. In 1864, the schools were graded into eight grades. Oc- tober 11, 1864, J. K. Mccullough was elected Principal of South Hill School; C. P. De Haas was transferred to North Hill, and Miss Jennie Chapman elected Principal of Dutchtown School. March 11, 1865, Miss Sophronia Tay- lor was elected to teach the colored school meanwhile established. March 16, 1865, Thomas Trulock was elected Principal of South Hill School. August 30, 1865, the Principal of the high school was made General Superintendent of the schools. A half-mill tax was levied, and May 13, 1872, a contract was awarded to Houseworth & Hayden to build the high school at the corner of Val- ley and Boundary streets. The ground and superstructure finished, at a cost of $29.000, the building remained in that condition until it was completed January 1, 1873, at a total cost of $43,000.
The records of the schools running from 1865 to 1872 have been destroyed. therefore we cannot undertake to furnish the names of the principals during that interval, but will supply the years of the erection of new school-buildings and of the enlarging of those already constructed. The South Boundary Schoolhouse was doubled in size in 1866. In the summer of 1866, Dutchtown Schoolhouse, now called Germania, was built at a cost of $4,129.
In the summer of 1870, West Madison Schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $5,319. West Hill Schoolhouse was built in the summer of 1867, at a cost of $3,469. North Oak Schoolhouse was built in the summer of 1868, at a cost of $6,285.
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
June 17, 1872. Mr. Lytle was elected Principal of North Hill; Mr. Fair- brother. of South IIill; Mr. Hummel, of South Boundary ; Charles A. Lisle, West Hill ; W. C. Jones. Germania; William D. Inghram, North Oak : L. Steece, West Madison. Mrs. Courtright took charge of the colored school, and W. M. Bry- ant was unanimously elected City Superintendent. In July, 1872, George A. Miller became Principal of North Hill School, and Robert Saunderson was elected City Superintendent. Mr. Fairbrother resigned his office and A. E. Mills- paugh was elected to fill the vacancy at South Hill. June 12, 1873, W. M. Bryant was unanimously elected Superintendent, and June 25, 1873, Robert Saunderson became Principal of the high school ; L. Steece, North Hill ; George I. Gordon, South Hill; M. W. Hummel, South Boundary ; George A. Miller, West Madison ; Charles A. Lisle, West Hill; J. W. C. Jones, Germania ; William D. Inghram, North Oak. August 29, 1873, W. M. Bry- ant resigned and Robert Saunderson succeeded him as City Superintendent. G. I. Gordon was transferred to the high school, and Charles Morrey took the South Hill School. In December, 1873, a night school was established in the high school building. May 9, 1874, a contract was awarded to Archibold & Bennett to build additions to North Oak and South Hill Schoolhouses. June 17, 1874, Robert Saunderson was re-elected, by acclamation, City Superintend- ent. July 8. 1874, Principals elected were, for the high school, Charles A. Lisle : North Hill, L. Steece ; South Hill, W. M. Forbes ; South Boundary, William Hummel ; West Madison, George A. Miller ; West Hill, E. E. Fitch ; Germania, R. S. Davis ; North Oak, William D. Inghram; Central Primary, Mrs. Dunham. In May, 1875, Hibernia School-building was erected by J. A. Johnson, and West IIill School built by William Kostner. The election June 19, 1875, made only this change-Miss M. Gray, at the Central Primary ; S. O. Thomas, at West Hill; Miss S. Johnson, at Hibernia School. September 4, 1875, W. F. Embish was elected Principal of Hibernia School. May 29, 1876, an addition to West Madison Schoolhouse was contracted for with William Kostner. The election June 26, 1876, retained Robert Saunderson as Super- intendent, and the only name changed in the Principals was in the case of South Hill, where W. E. Sampson was installed. No change was made in Super- intendent or Principals in 1877, except at West Avenue, where Miss C. Reed was elected. The election of May 5, 1878, made no change in either Super- intendent or Principals. In the spring of 1878, West Avenue School property was purchased.
We quote the following statement by the Board of Education :
"The development of the school interests has been very marked, especially during the last few years. The number of buildings has increased from four to nine since 1867, while all the old buildings have been remodeled and their seat- ing capacity largely increased, some of them being doubled in size. There are now nine large buildings, including the high school, which has been pronounced by competent judges, one of the best adapted buildings to this class of schools in the West. The school system embraces a course of eleven years in a like number of grades, four of which are in the high school, the remaining seven grades being found in each of the district schools.
" All the modern methods and appliances are in daily use by the teachers, and with gratifying results. The majority of the teachers, particularly the primary grades, are graduates of the high school and training department. They are thus thoroughly qualified by past experience and education, to enter into the spirit of their work, comprehend its details, and secure satisfactory results in their respective schoolrooms.
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
" The high school is the cap-sheaf of the system. It brings an academic course within the reach of every boy and girl in Burlington. The develop- ment of this school in efficiency and attendance, and in everything that goes to make a first-class high school, is not a little remarkable. It has over 11 per cent in attendance of all the pupils in the public schools ; and it is believed that there are not half a dozen pupils from this city attending schools or acad- emies of a like grade abroad.
"The medal and diploma which were awarded the Board of Education of Burlington, by the Centennial Commission, for an exhibit of fifty-six volumes of pupils' work at Philadelphia in 1876, are gratifying evidences of the excel- lence of our schools, and are prized as such by our citizens, teachers and school officers.
"Another important statement to be made in this connection is, that the schools of Burlington cost less for tuition, than the average for the country schools of the State, and less than any county in the State, except six of the more sparsely settled counties, where six months' schooling was the maximum, while we have ten months. This statement is made upon the basis of the State Superintendent's report for 1876. There is no school debt, and conse- quently no interest on bonds to be paid. The people of Burlington have built their schoolhouses with cash, and now they are able to boast of efficient schools with less taxation, than that of any other city of the same size in the North- west.
The present Board of Education is composed of William Wolverton, Presi- dent; William McD. Houseworth, Vice President ; Charles Mason, Treasurer; H. A. Kelley, Secretary ; C. B. Parsons, Theodore Guelich, H. Bailey and J. S. Schramm, Directors.
The independent school district of Sunny Side was organized in 1863. The present schoolhouse was built in 1870. The records of this district were burned. R. L. Alspaugh is the Principal of this school which has an aver- age attendance of sixty-five scholars.
THE UNIVERSITY.
The following sketch of the University is furnished by Mr. G. J. Johnson, now Missionary Secretary of the American Baptist Publication Society at Philadelphia, and is pronounced by him to be correct. The sketch has already appeared in print, but is presented as a satisfactory record, and is here pre- served in full :
" This institution had its origin in an educational convention, called by a committee of the Iowa Baptist State Convention, and held at Iowa City, then capital of the State of Iowa, April 13 and 14, 1852. Propositions bidding for the location were presented and considered at that meeting from fourteen different points of the State, but, after much discussion and many ballotings, the preference was finally given to Burlington, and then the location unani- mously made there. Articles of Incorporation, under the name of Burlington University, were next adopted by the Convention, the object of which was declared to be the establishing and conducting of an institution of advanced learning in Burlington, Iowa, that should offer equal advantages to all pupils, irrespective of sex or condition, and should consist of such departments- academic, collegiate, theological and others, as the Board of Trustees might from time to time see fit to organize and be able to sustain. A Board of Trustees to represent the corporation, consisting of twenty-four members, was also elected.
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HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY.
"Two days after the adjournment of the convention at Iowa City, a first meeting of the Board of Trustees was held in Burlington, at which the incor- poration was perfected by the necessary legal steps. Officers thereof were elected, and work in earnest was commenced. First, a proposition previously made by the city of Burlington and other parties who held a reversionary interest, to convey certain lands formerly occupied as a grave-yard, and which were desired as a site and campus, and to remove incumbrances therefrom, and to give sole and perpetual possession-all in consideration of the establishment of the institution and the conveying to the city of another parcel of ground in another location, was accepted. Additional lands adjoining were also purchased, making the entire grounds of the college, as now, about five acres. Next, committees were appointed to raise funds and to superintend the erection of a building, and also to secure teachers, and, at the earliest date practicable, to open the school.
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