USA > Iowa > Henry County > The history of Henry county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 50
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1874-Hattie Barton, A. B. (Mrs. G. S. Ambler), Monument Park, Colo .; Lulu L. Corkhill, A. B., Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Lizzie G. Davidson, A. B., Winfield, Iowa; Anna L. Fuller, A. B., Mount Pleasant, Iowa; William N. Groome, A. B., Batavia, Iowa; Cassivs L. Haskell, A. B., Albia, Iowa; Lida J. Hamilton, A. B., New London, Iowa; Loulilia W. Pierce, A. B., Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Ed. A. Robinson, A. B., Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Eliza J. Stephens, A. B., Marshall, Texas; John C. Wharton, A. B., Aledo, Ill .; John T. Wheeler, A. B., Burlington, Iowa; Stella Comstock, B. S., Mount Pleas-
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ant, Iowa; Annette Huston, B. S., Dodgeville, Iowa; W. H. La Monte, B. S., Chicago, Ill .; John F. Leech, B. S., Mount Pleasant, Iowa; James W. Love, B. S., Omaha, Neb .; William O. Norval, B. S., Midway, Ill .; James A. Pen- nick, B. S., Chariton, Iowa; Anna C. Trites, B. S., Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Jessie E. Wilson, B. S., Eau Claire, Wis.
1875 .- David O. Collins, Knoxville; George W. Holland, Mount Pleasant ; Alexander T. Jeffrey, Quincy ; Allen C. Jennis, Victor; Hattie Ketcham, Mount Pleasant; Andrew K. Lind, La Grange; John W. Palm, Mount Pleasant; Mag- gie D. Thomas, North English ; William F. Winter, Springfield, Ill .; Morris Banford, Kossuth ; Joseph M. Feghtley, Mount Pleasant; Franc A. Hungerford, Mount Pleasant; Kate Montgomery, Trenton ; George A. Rankin, Keosauqua ; Sophie H. Timmerman, Mount Pleasant ; Fannie M. Vance, Burlington ; Clay B. Whitford, Mount Pleasant ; Henry J. Philpott, New London.
1876 .- George M. Tuttle, Emma Allen, Bird A. Bradrick, Elmore P. Campbell, Mary E. Teter, Edwin Schreiner, of Mount Pleasant; Virginia Craig, Ainsworth ; Eugene Greenleaf, Bloomfield; George M. Jeffrey, Quincy ; Samuel Jones, Bloomfield ; A. M. Linn, Winfield ; Sebern S. Martin, Savan- nah ; John P. McCammon, Pulaski ; Kate F. Ranch, Dallas, Ill .; Leslie G. Rhodes, Kossuth.
1877 .- N. E. Carpenter, Ottumwa ; G. A. Fiegenbaum, St. Joseph, Mo .; Frank E. Gregg, Burlington ; Emma Lucrode, Mount Pleasant ; P. E. Winter, Springfield, Ill.
GERMAN COLLEGE.
The Southwest German Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at its session in 1870, appointed a commission to locate a German College. The incipient idea of its location at Mount Pleasant was broached in a conversation between Dr. Wheeler, at that time President of the Iowa Wesleyan University, and Rev. F. Stoffragen, member of the Southwest German Conference, who was appointed to bear fraternal greeting to the Iowa Conference, in session at Mount Pleasant, October 4-9, 1871.
Dr. Wheeler had succeeded at Berea, Ohio, in establishing a German Depart- ment in the Baldwin University, of which he was then President. That depart- ment was opened August 12, 1858, and had grown into one of the most impor- tant institutions of the kind in the country. It was, practically, the pioneer movement iu the direction of obtaining a Methodist German College in this country. Dr. Wheeler had taken so deep an interest in that work, making it the crowning labor of his life, that he naturally desired to see a similar enter- prise inaugurated here in the West. With that object in view, he suggested the subject, as has been stated. The Doctor was peculiarly fitted for the task, both by natural taste and previous experience. The prestige of success with the Berea institution aided him materially here. He was identified with the advance- ment of the educational interests of German Methodism, and had secured the friendship and co-operation in the Berea project of such men as Dr. William Nast and Rev. Jacob Rothweiler, because of his labors in that connection. It is certain that Dr. Wheeler is entitled to the honor of selecting Mount Pleasant as the location of the German College in Iowa.
The Board of Trustees of the Iowa Wesleyan University appointed Dr. Wheeler and Prof. Willey a committee to secure this location. Dr. Wheeler presented a proposition to the Commissioners of the German Conference, who met at Warrenton, Mo., March 20, 1872, offering free tuition in the University, five acres of land and a college building three-stories high, 40x60 feet in dimen- sions.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
At the session of the German Conference held in Quincy, Ill., the first at which Bishop Haven presided after his election to the episcopacy, on September 9, 1872, the Conference decided to accept the proposition and to locate the college at Mount Pleasant, on condition of the Germans raising, in six months, an endow- ment of not less than $20,000. At this Conference, Prof. Willey, a native German, did good service in securing the favorable result. The same week, Dr. Wheeler visited Pekin, Ill., where he obtained pledges from Messrs. Dietrich and Frederick Smith, and others, for $10,000 of this sum. This liberality is to be commended highly and ever to be remembered. The amount of $20,000 was raised and guaranteed within the six months, and April 30, 1873, a con- vention of the German ministers of the Burlington and Quincy districts met at Muscatine, and there accepted the vouchers for the $20,000 toward the endow- ment, and elected, as they were authorized by the Conference to do, the first Board of Trustees. The first meeting of the Board was appointed to take place at Mount Pleasant, May 23, 1873, at which date and place the college was duly incorporated. The first Board included the following: Revs. F. Fiegenbaum, L. Harmel, W. Koneke, C. A. Loeber, H. Fiegenbaum, W. Winter, R. Havig- horst, C. Schutte, F. Kopp, H. Naumann, C. Holtcamp, H. Lahrmann, Messrs. J. Zaiser, F. Smith, J. Johann, F. Schaffer, A. Hoffman, G. W. Marquardt, D. C. Smith, F. Fischer, L. Burg, Adam Ross and C. Giesler. The officers were: D: C. Smith, President; H. Naumann, Vice President ; R. Havighorst, Secretary ; J. Zaiser, Financial Secretary, and G. W. Marquardt, Treas- urer.
A part of the consideration offered to the Conference to secure the location of the College was a substantial brick building three stories high and 40x60 feet in size. With some assistance, the liberality of the citizens of Mount Pleasant furnished the means for the erection of the building, which cost be- tween $8,000 and $9,000. In obtaining the subscriptions, Dr. Wheeler received valuable aid in the efficient co-operation of Rev. I. P. Teter. Of the citizens of Mount Pleasant, Rev. W. R. Cole was the most active and liberal in encouraging the enterprise, furnishing from the firm of Cole Bros. the largest amount of means. The next largest subscriptions were from James W. Yandes, of St. Paul, Minn., $500, and Col. G. Corkhill, of Washington, D. C., $500. Especial and honorable mention is due to Charles Snider, the Chair- man of the Building Committee, for his earnest and continued labors until the building was finished.
Bishop Jesse P. Peck, on the morning of July 25, 1873, broke ground for the erection of the building, with the following brief prayer : "God bless the German College, the Board of Trustees, the students, and especially the liberal contributors. In the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, I break this ground, and thus commence the erection of this building. Amen."
On the 29th of August, 1873, Dr. Wheeler laid the corner-stone, with ap- propriate ceremonies. Addresses were delivered by Rev. R. Havighorst, Vice President of the German College, and Dr. Wheeler, President of the University.
The building being finished, it was dedicated and the College inaugurated September 22, 1874, by Bishop Haven. The dedicatory address, preceded by prayer by Rev. F. Fiegenbaum and and a brief and happy address by Rev. R. Havighorst, formerly Vice President of the College, was ably delivered by Bishop Haven in Union Hall. After the address, the audience retired to the new building. Prayer was offered in German by Prof. Willey, and addresses made in German by Rev. H. Naumann and F. Schaffer, Esq., and in English by
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Bishop Haven, Rev. W. F. Cowles, D. C. Smith, Esq., President of the Ger- man Board, and President Wheeler.
The Bishop referred to the success-at the Southwest German Conference, in Quincy, Ill., in 1872, the first Conference in which he presided as Bishop- of President Wheeler in securing the vote of the Conference in the location of this College, and that in the face of strong competition. And now it was an interesting incident that he was here to dedicate the new building. The dedi- catory ceremony was according to the Church Ritual, a part in each of the two languages.
The University and the College are independent in finances and control, but intimately connected in instruction. All German students become members of the German College, and all not German, of the University.
The German College is designed to be the theological institution of the German Methodists in the West, Northwest and Southwest. The importance of its field may be seen from the fact that Iowa is the center of seven States and a Territory. On the north is Minnesota; east, Wisconsin and Illinois ; south, Missouri ; and, west of it, Kansas, Nebraska and Dakota.
The first college year, 1873-74, the Faculty stood as follows :
Rev. R. Havighorst, Vice President; Rev. George F. W. Willey, A. M., Professor of Theology and German Literature; W. F. Winter, Assistant Teacher of German Literature; Grace W. Lyon, Teacher of Music, supple- mented by the Faculty of Iowa Wesleyan University. Fifteen German students attended the first year, and the recitations were heard in the University Build- ing, the new building not yet being ready.
Faculty of 1874-75: Rev. H. Lahrman, Vice President ; Rev. George F. W. Willey, A. M., Principal and Professor of Theology and German Literature ; F. W. Winter, Assistant Teacher ; Amalia Lahrmann, Teacher of Music. Number of students, thirty-seven.
Faculty of 1875-76: Rev. H. Schutz, President; Rev. George F. W. Willey, Vice President, and Professor of Theology and German Literature ; F. W. Winter, Assistant Teacher ; Emma S. Willey, Teacher of Music. Number of students, thirty-two.
Faculty of 1876-77: Rev. H. Schutz, President; Rev. George F. W. Willey, A. M., Vice President, and Professor of Theology and German Litera- ture ; Rev. William Balke, A. M., Assistant Professor ; Emma S. Willey, Teacher of Music. Number of students, thirty-four.
Faculty of 1877-78: Rev. George F. W. Willey, A. M., Acting Presi- dent, and Professor of Theology and German Literature; Rev. William Balke, A. M., Assistant Professor ; Emma S. Willey, Teacher of Music; Rev. E. C. Becker, Agent. Number of students, fifty-two.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
In 1865, the Academy of Music was organized, and incorporated in 1866. The first Principal was T. R. Walker, and the Directors : Rev. H. W. Thomas, President ; Rev. J. W. Picket, Vice President ; E. A. Van Cise, Henry Amb- ler, O. H. Snyder and J. W. Satterthwaite; the latter being the first Secre- tary.
The object of the institution is to afford a musical education to those who may desire to obtain it without incurring the necessary expense of going abroad. 'The Academy is still in successful operation.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
HOWE'S ACADEMY.
In 1841, Prof. Samuel L. Howe came to the Territory of Iowa, and settled on a farm southeast of Mount Pleasant. His life-work was very different from that of a farmer, since he had been prepared for the profession of teacher by a thorough course, and had, at the age of eighteen, practiced his profession in Ohio with marked success. In the winter of 1841-42, Prof. Howe began teaching in a log cabin, and had for pupils several who have since become well known in this county. A year or two later, he opened a school in Mount Pleasant, in a room in the old Jail-building. Subsequently, he removed to the old Cumberland Presbyterian Church building, where he continued his school. The leading incidents in Prof. Howe's life are recorded in a biographical sketch given elsewhere in this work, and also in the section devoted to the press of Mount Pleasant, and need not be repeated here. It is of the Academy we now write.
The Mount Pleasant High School and Female Seminary had for its incor- porators Samuel L. Howe, Edwin Van Cise, Presley Saunders and L. G. Palmer ; but no one will dispute the statement that it had for its life and soul the able educator whose name heads the little list given above.
In 1845, Prof. Howe completed the building which, with additions, is still standing, and there conducted his school, after a plan original, in many respects, with himself. As an educator, the Professor stood in the front rank of distin- guished men. His energies were all bent in one direction. and his existence identified with that of his great institution. He has left behind him no perish- able records, neither in the form of journals nor catalogues, save one small circular-pamphlet, issued in 1874. From that small volume we take such extracts as seem to bear upon the method of instruction introduced by him, believing that the only history which can be prepared is a statement of what he proposed to do, and had he fully accomplished during his long and successful career.
It was one of the Professor's theories that advertising and demonstrative methods were unnecessary in school-work ; and now it is a matter of regret that he felt so, since he has left no written list of the good he performed. He has left, it is true, an unfading record, impressed npon the minds and hearts of those who have passed under his disciplinary hand.
In his school-work, Prof. Howe was assisted, at different times, by his children-Oscar, Edward, Pembroke, Hayward, Elizabeth (Mrs. Panabaker, now deceased), Frances (Mrs. Newby, of Detroit, Mich.) and Seward. These were trained to the profession, and have achieved success, either locally or elsewhere.
It is impossible to give a list of the eminent men who were at one time pupils of this good man. Senator and Gen. Sherman, Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, and others, were among the number in Ohio, before the Professor came to Iowa; and, since then, the catalogue is full of names now well known in the legal, clerical and the medical professions, the army and the' business world.
In no material display does the famous seminary surpass its many contem- poraries. It is, and has been from the first, simplicity personified. The fame it has acquired must necessarily have sprung from intrinsic merit, and, as this. consists solely of the drill, the regulations and the moral atmosphere of the school, we can give no better sketch of the institution than by quoting from the catalogue of 1874 the description of the work and life therein.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
The school has been known for years as " The Old Steam Mill," perhaps because of its unpretending edifice, but more likely because of the manner in which human minds are trained. It does, indeed, remind one of a steam fac- tory to witness the rapidity, the accuracy and the pressure with which the classes perform their tasks.
The school is open to both sexes. The prospectus says: " We firmly believe that girls and boys should be educated together, because this is God's plan in the establishment of families ; and we are, therefore, decidedly opposed to schools where boys are made one school and girls another. If God had designed this plan of education, He would have so arranged affairs that male children should be born in one family and females in another ; but, for some wise reason, He did not so arrange ; but He made boys and girls complements of one another in the family, in the schoolroom and during life. We therefore include both, and educate both exactly alike, varying only on account of mental or moral capacity, but no more in reference to girls than to boys."
" During more than forty of the best years of his life, the Principal of this school has ardently and devotedly bent his earnest, unremitting and undivided attention and study to the attainment of such understanding and accomplish- ments as would give him power to develop, enlarge, strengthen and quicken the energies of the human mind and heart, and give the student the much more ennobling faculty of using his strength and accumulations to the best advantage in purifying, enriching and elevating the race-the family of mankind-of which he is a part. All the teachers of this school have been educated accord- ing to the same model, and all have acquired, to a remarkable extent, the same faculty. Thus everything in the institution is in harmony, and everything is conducted on the one great plan, which is the only plan that will always suc- ceed and always make of the student the most, the best, the wisest of which he is susceptible."
Of its methods of instruction the Professor said : "In this, as in many other particulars, this institution differs from all other institutions in the world. In its mode of teaching and the manner of conducting the class exercises, there is no institution that can accomplish so much in the same time, or do its work so well as the work is done in this. Every student, in every science, is trained individually and in concert to do his own work, give his reasons for so doing, and exhibit before the class how, in the best possible manner, he would impart his acquisitions to others. He is taught, and made to observe the teaching, that the moment he begins to talk or to write on the blackboard he becomes a teacher of others. If he cannot perform this duty well, he must step aside and let another, who can at least do it better, take his place. Whatever he knows at all, he is compelled to know well, and whatever he undertakes to teach he must teach well ; hence no second-grade teaching is allowed at all in this school. All must do their work well or not attempt to do it at all. The pupil that fails to-day comes up to the standard to-morrow, and the result is that eventually there are no failures."
Of its government he said : " It is usual, in seminaries, colleges and univer- sities, to tell the world that the government is parental, and, of course, conforms to that of a family. In this institution, we would be pleased to say, if we could truly, that there is no government, but every student is expected and required to govern himself. The greatest liberty is accorded the student compatible with good order. Gentlemanly and ladylike behavior in their intercourse with one another is required of all, and respectful and obedient conduct is rigidly enforced from pupils toward the teachers. Beyond this, the greatest liberty is
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
the law. That the greatest improvement is made in conjunction with the greatest liberty is the established belief, and consequently the established prac- tice of the teachers. In this school all are friends and, consequently, all work for the benefit of themselves and one another ; and in no other way can the best results of school education be secured. . One for all and all for one' is the motto. That this is true, the members of all the classes can attest most posi- tively. Our government is such that no disturbance and no serious or even trivial trouble has resulted from it during the forty years of its existence. Such a government recommends itself to parents and guardians of children and youth with a power which it is impossible for words to describe. If in this school no trouble has resulted from its government for forty years, while in institutions of higher pretensions, but certainly with no better results, such troubles are con- stantly occurring, we need not add more to justify the complete and successful management and government of this institution.
Of the style of life led by the pupils and teachers he observed : "No pre- tense or show of pretense is made or permitted to be attempted to be made in this school. All is intended to be real, sound and solid work, exactly what is needed to give the student a fair and sure opportunity to make his life useful, prosperous and successful. Beyond this, we do not pretend nor desire to go. We disregard and wholly repudiate, as a means to sustain our institution, all mere show and glitter, so commonly and so detrimentally put forth, as recom- mendations by professed but unworthy educational institutions.
" We teach what we know from long experience must be taught the pupil, and what we know he must study, learn, comprend and acquire, in order that he he may make the best possible use of himself during life, and there we stop.
"Having done this, we have done all that schools can do for the student. If in after life, he use this wisely, which a correct education ought surely to teach him to do, he will fulfill his destiny."
There are no vacations. The year is divided into sessions of ten weeks each, and students can enter at any time that suits their convenience, and always find classes corresponding to their attainments. After the first session of ten weeks, and payment therefor, the pupil can attend for any number of weeks he chooses, and pay accordingly. This is done in order to accommodate, to the fullest extent, the circumstances and necessities of all, especially the teachers.
Further than this we need not say, as in the foregoing the system of work is amply described, so far as historical preservation is concerned.
The school has been, since the Professor's death, which occurred February 15, 1877, under the charge of his son, Prof. Seward Howe, who follows his father's ideas in the conduct of the seminary. The school is now in a most prosperous condition, and puts forth every effort to preserve the reputation gained under the management of the founder.
Prof. Howe was the author of a grammar, which is highly estimated, and is in extensive use.
At one time, for about ten years, Prof. E. P. Howe, now conducting a school in Sacramento, Cal., was principal of the Academy in Mount Pleasant.
MOUNT PLEASANT FEMALE SEMINARY.
The Mount Pleasant Female Seminary was first opened in September, 1863, under the management of the Rev. G. P. Bergen, and by him was incorporated under the laws of the State on February 3, 1864.
After one year, the institution became the property of Rev. Edward L. Belden and others-the former owning nearly all the stock. An act for the
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
re-incorporation was recorded on June 3, 1865, the incorporators being Rev. Edward L. Belden, J. H. Whiting, Dr. Thomas Morton and Margaret C. Mccullough. Of the four, the Rev. Mr. Belden and Dr. Morton are dead.
The institution is a large brick building, located on the south side of the Burlington road, near the property of the Insane Hospital. A portion of the building had been erected prior to the opening of the school, and, in 1867, a large four-story addition was put up. The accommodations are very extensive. The number of students from year to year is eighty-five to one hundred. Classes of from five to eight are graduated cach year. The object of the Seminary is to give a thorough education to the young ladies intrusted to the care of the tutors.
The first corps of instructors under the Belden regime were Rev. E. L. Belden, Mrs. Jane M. Belden, Miss M. C. Mccullough, Mrs. R. P. Morton and Miss Anna M. Smith, in the literary department; Miss Jennie M. Smith and Miss Helen M. Mead, in the musical department, and Miss Helen M. Mead in the drawing and painting school.
OF OLDEN TIMES.
Among the early session laws were those incorporating the following insti- tutions, which have since become defunct :
The Mount Pleasant Literary Institute was incorporated February 17, 1842. A membership was secured by the payment of $25, which entitled at least one vote in all. business before the incorporation. It was under the charge of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the incorporators were E. Killpatrick, Samuel Nelson, J. D. Payne, L. B. Hughes, Charles Stoddard, N. J. Smith, John P. Grantham, J. C. Hall, G. W. Patterson, John Monroe, N. Lathrop, H. M. Snyder, Robert Monroe, G. W. Kesler, Samuel Brazelton and William Thompson.
The Henry County Common School Association was incorporated on the 29th of January, 1844, with John B. Crawford, George W. Carson, William C. Johnson, R. M. Clark, John Pencil, Wilkinson Grant, Linus Fairchild and Thomas Grant as the incorporators.
The Mount Pleasant Lyceum was incorporated February 14, 1844, with the object of establishing a library and scientific apparatus, the cultivation of the arts and sciences, and the diffusion of useful knowledge. The officers were to be a President, Treasurer and Secretary. The names of the corporators were Norton Munger, John P. Grantham, Samuel Nelson, Nelson Lathrop, J. D. Payne, John Craig, J. C. Hall, James Wamsley and Alvin Saunders.
THE COUNTY SCHOOLS.
The following is an abstract of the last annual report (1877), of Mr. J. W. Palm, County Superintendent of Schools for Henry County :
4
Number of district townships.
73
Number of independent townships.
33
Number of subdistricts
8
Number of graded schools
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