USA > Iowa > Iowa County > The history of Iowa County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 52
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According to the official canvass, Mr. Berstler received a majority of four votes for the full term, but owing to an informality in the returns, Mr.
416
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Wilson was accredited with a majority of fifteen votes for the unexpired term.
Mr. Berstler was the incumbent at the time, he having been appointed on the removal of Mr. Taylor, to serve until a successor should be elected. Simultaneously, on the same day, November 5, 1877, both candidates filed notice to contest the canvass, Mr. Wilson contesting for the long term, which had been awarded by the canvasser to Mr. Berstler, and the latter contest- ing for the short term which had been awarded to the former. Mr. Berstler being the incumbent, of course held the office in the meantime.
On the 8th day of November, finding that in resisting the contest for the short term, he would weaken his claims for the long term, Mr. Wilson filed a statement in which he disclaimed that he was elected for the short term, for the reason that said Berstler received more votes for said office in the various election precincts of the county than himself.
The time set for the trial of the case was December 3, but owing to the agreement of the parties, it was continued until the thirteenth. We copy the record entire from this stage of the case :
" Be it remembered, that on this day; to-wit., December 13, 1877, at the hour of one P. M., at the court-house in the town of Marengo, being the time and place agreed to for the trial of the case, Aaron Cover, chairman of the board of supervisors, ex officio presiding judge of contested elections, and Sylvester Sherman, the associate judge selected by the contestant G. W. Wilson, and M. W. Stover, the associate judge selected by the incum - bent J. G. Berstler, being present, and said judges being duly sworn to well and truly try the issues joined, and a true decision make according to the evidence and the law as presented in the trial of said case; the court for such trial is thereupon duly and legally constituted.
" Whereupon it is directed by the court that O. B. Bolton, sheriff of Iowa county, be and remain at the sessions of said court during such time as may be deemed necessary for the discharging of such duties as usually de- volve upon the sheriff at the sessions of the District Court; and said court on account of the ineligibility of the county auditor to serve as clerk, ap- points John Hughes, Jr., to fill said position, who thereupon qualifies as such clerk."
Then follows the record of the appointment of clerk and the oath of the judges.
" Whereupon, the trial of this cause is opened, the said contestant ap- pearing by his attorneys, Messrs. F. P. Murphy and H. M. Martin, and the said incumbent by his attorneys, Messrs. Hedges & Alverson, Rumple & Lake, Smith & Kirk.
" And now on this day; to-wit., December 20, 1877, the trial of this cause having proceeded from day to day (Saturday, December 15, excepted) and the court having examined the pleadings herein, made due examination of all contested ballots offered in evidence, and having heard the evidence of witnesses, and the argument of counsel, and being fully advised in the premises, it is found by the court that the incumbent was elected auditor of Iowa county, Iowa, at the election held in October, 1877.
" Whereupon, it is ordered by the court that J. G. Berstler, incumbent, was duly and legally elected auditor of Iowa county at the general election held October 9, 1877, for term commencing January 7, 1878, and is entitled to the certificate which he holds; and it is hereby certified by the court
417
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
that in the trial of this case six days were employed, and that the state- ment of costs accrued in the trial of the cause be hereto annexed and made part of this record. And it is hereby ordered and adjudged by the court that the contestant, G. W. Wilson, and his sureties on bond herein filed; namely, Ira S. Richards, Wm. Cushen, W. W. Orris, A. Emry and Pat David, pay the costs of this action, taxed at two hundred and fifty-two dol- lars and forty-five cents.
" AARON COVER, - " S. SHERMAN, Judges.
" M. W. STOVER,
" Attest: " JOHN HUGHES, Clerk."
This contested case, unlike the one between Morrison and Springer, was carried no further; the contestant being defeated, took no measures to carry it to any of the higher courts. Although the decision was unanimous on the part of the court, and generally regarded as a just one by the people, so much excitement was created throughout the county by it that much bitter feeling was engendered; likewise the contestant was a poor man and the assessment of the necessarily heavy bill of costs worked a hardship to himself and sureties.
We close this discussion of the political affairs of the county by repro- ducing the vote for the various State and county officers at the first and last election in the county; viz., August, 1845, and November, 1880. No one can help remarking the contrast. In 1845 the vote was as follows:
DELEGATE TO CONGRESS.
Augustus C. Dodge 17
Ralph P. Lowe 16
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Robert M. Hutchinson 21
Anderson Meacham 24
Edward R. Ricord 19
James McKray
14
William Foster
9
SHERIFF.
A. P. Kitchens 18
Wm. Foster 9
Alf. Meacham
1
TREASURER.
Lewis Lanning
4 E. Trotter . 10
PROBATE JUDGE.
A. D. Stephens 13
.
418
ABSTRACT OF VOTE IN IOWA COUNTY, NOVEMBER 2, 1880.
CANDIDATES.
Amana.
Cono.
Dayton.
English.
Fill-
more.
Greene.
Hart-
Hilton.
Creek. Honey
Iowa.
Lenox.
Lincoln.
Maren-
Sumner.
Troy.
Wash-
York.
Totals.
Majori- ties.
Garfield
|22|27
80| 156
60
63| 212|
86|
133
82|
42|
82| 319
97]
110
131
39
56|1,787
501
President
Hancock.
19|14
30
76
123
110 111
58
85
72|
37
30| 210|
64
29
52
63
103 1,286
J. B. Weaver. . .. .
2 7
69
97
5
2
11
. .
..
82
42
82|
317
97
110
131
34
56 1,782
511
Congress, 5th Dist.
Robt. E. Austin. . A. F. Palmer
19|14
29
77
123|
110
108
58
83
72
37
30
202
64
29
52
62
3
18|
340
J. A. T. Hull.
22|27
81
156
60
63
213
86
123
42
82
319
93
110
131
39
56 1,790
A. B. Keith.
9|14
30
77
123
110
109
58
86
72
37
30
209
29
52
63
16
3
335
Geo. M. Walker ..
2 7
68
97
5
2
13
28
86
123
82
42
82
319
98
110
131
56 1,790
505
Wm. V. Lucas. . . .
22|27
81
156
60
63
213
109
58
86
72
37
30
209
64
29
52
63
103 1,285
Chas. I. Barker .... 19.14
30!
77
2 7
68
97
5
2
13
·
.
42
82|
319
110
131 39|
56 1,789
504
81
156
60
63
110
109
58
86
72
37
30
209
64
29
52
63
103 1,285
30
77| 97
5
2
13
28
...
42
82
320
98
110
131
57 1,792
506
J. K. Powers.
22 27
19:14
30
77
123
110
109
58
86
72
37
30
209
64
29
52
63
16
Thos. Hooker . .
. 2 7
68
97
5
2
13
·
123
82
42
82|
319
209
29
52
63
103 1,282
335
W. A. Spurrier. .
2 7
68
5
2
13
·
·
. 82
42
89 369
120
110
134
53
56 2,014 2,014
Circuit Judge, 8th Dist.
C. Hedges . . .
24:33
135
221
60
62
215
86
123
121
72
42
78
279
89
118
34
65
66
3
201
347
G. W. Williams .. .
23|35
82
155
61
63
210
98
128
71
42
81
346
99
109
28
52
58
3
141
.
.
147 2,012
614
W. Popham
24 14
82
162|
141
135
208|
110
84
42
82|
99
109
45
94
11 1,371
|23:32
97
162
40
37
137
61
122
70
49
38
238
87
306
99 24
17
2
70
404
2 9
68
97
5
2
12
27|
... 34
3
2
192
31
67
25
12
39
893
388
Convention
-
-
-
No .
522
99
37
5
3
10
57
63
19
100
61
26
12
16
54
37
505
2 13
56
47
13
.
70
55
34
22
66
223
29
60
40
20
33
762
136
Yes
.
.
-
No
4/22
102|
43
5. ...
151
40
631
..
371
23
29!
20
6
481
451
626
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
1
Clarke Miller J. Spurrier.
23! 8
40
124
110
115
45
96
83
37
30
188
62
45
17
130
46
56 1,835
552
County Recorder
2 4
56
24|29
81
155
60
63
212
86
122
81
42
Surveyor
-
-
-
E. L. Ogle.
Yes .
2|13
55
53
13
103
75
43
. .. .
....
29
12
8
32
24
16
3
18
335
W. G. Thompson.
22 27
80
156
60
63
212
86
125
29| ... 82
12
8
34
24
16
70
97
5
2
13
Secretary of State
12
8
32
.:
28|
12
8
32
24 97
16
3
18|
335
Treasurer of State
M. Farrington ... ·
2| 7
68
81
156
60
63
213
86
123
82
12
8
32
25
16
18
336
Register of State Land Office
S. McPherson .
22 2
156
60
63
213
110
109
58
83 28
12
8
32
24
16
3
18
53 1,636
236
County Clerk
Levi Miller
23|15
22
70
120
111
126
65
92
81
37
32
250
10
27
26
/ Ed. Wagner
1 7
76
106
6
2
9
1
24
.
1
8
15 316
23
·
148 38
26
Supervisor
-
J. M. Groff .
132
27
55 1,764 1,360
C. Paine .. .
12
8
49
83
D. E. Evans .
23|26
79
145
61
63
196
74
28
...
12
8 32
24
110 131
56 1,790
508
81
.
-
.
Chas. A. Clark .
19 14
30
77 97
123
213
86
123
82
Martin Blim .
19|14
3
39
3
18 39|
·
335
· 86
72
37
30
98 64
Attorney-General
1
1
-
·
102 1,271
505
Auditor of State
G. V. Swearingen. E. H. Conger.
22 27
123
110
123
-
-
220
103 1,283
81 94
.. 83|
100 3
Amendment -
2| 7
64 24
18 39
103 1,285
102 1,284
D. Dougherty . . .
105|1,400
75
12
82
108
go.
Pilot.
ington.
ford.
· ·
419
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
OFFICIAL DIRECTORY.
The following official directory contains a full and accurate list of the officers of Iowa county from 1845 till the present time. It also contains the names of some of the persons who have been elected to the State Gen- eral Assembly, the latter not being given from the fact that the county was at various times united with other counties in senatorial and representative districts, and further, from the fact that the records of the county do not contain the votes of the other counties comprising the district, and we are thus unable to determine who were the successful candidates. From 1845 to 1851 there is no official record of the election. but we have been enabled by consulting concurrent testimony to compile a reliable and comparatively full official directory for that period. It should be remembered in consulting this directory that the dates have reference to the time of election, the persons named assuming the duties of their respective office at the time prescribed by law for the beginning of the official term. Since 1861 the official term of all county officers has begun on the first of January following the elec- tion. The terms of all county officers is two years, except that of the county supervisors, which is three years.
The office of county superintendent of schools, as it now exists, dates from 1858; that of county prosecuting attorney and probate judge and drainage commissioner have been discontinued. The office of county judge was merged into that of auditor in 1868.
1845.
County Commissioners-Edward R. Ricord, R. M. Hutchinson, Ander- son Meacham. Sheriff-A. P. Kitchens. Treasurer-E. Trotter. Pro- bate Judge - A. D. Stephens. Clerk of the District Court - Robert McKee. Clerk of the board of commissioners-G. W. Kitchens.
1846.
Commissioners-Lewis F. Wilson, Wm. Crawford, Thomas Dedmore, (failed to qualify). . Commissioner's Clerk-G. W. Kitchens. County Assessor-William Hench. Surveyor-James M. Price. Recorder- Robert McKee.
1847.
Commissioners-Lewis F. Wilson, Wm. Crawford, Thomas Hanson. Commissioner's Clerk-G. W. Kitchens. Probate Judge-Alexander Hudson. Sheriff-William Hench. Recorder-Robert McKee. Surveyor -- R. B. Groff.
1848.
Commissioners-Lewis F. Wilson, William Crawford, Thos. Hanson. Commissioner's Clerk - G. W. Kitchens. Treasurer - Robert McKee. Assessor-William Hench. Surveyor-R. B. Groff.
1849.
Commissioners-Lewis F. Wilson, Matthew S. Cleveland, Thomas Han- son. Sheriff-J. W. Hollowell. Commissioner's Clerk-G. W. Kitchens. Treasurer-Robert McKee. Surveyor-John McArthur.
420
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
1850.
Commissioners-Lewis F. Wilson, Albert T. Cross, William R. Collins. Commissioner's Clerk -G. W. Kitchens. Surveyor - David Risdon. Treasurer-Robert McKee.
1851.
County Judge. W. H. Wallace. Sheriff-John B. Irwin. Recorder and Treasurer -- C. C. Slocum. Coroner-John A. Hunter. Prosecuting At- torney -- A. B. Webber. Surveyer -- David Risdon.
1852.
Clerk-John A. Wilson. Prosecuting Attorney-James C. McCon- nell.
1853.
Treasurer and Recorder-Robert McKee. Sheriff-John B. Irwin. Cor- oner-Abel Hall. Surveyor -- David Risdon.
1854.
Clerk-B. F. Crenshaw. Prosecuting Attorney-William H. Dillon. Coroner -- H. B. Lynch.
1855.
County Judge-John Miller. Recorder and Treasurer-E. C. Hender- shott. . Sheriff-Henry B. Risdon. Surveyor -- C. H. Holbrook. Coroner -- J. W. Watson.
1856.
Clerk-James C. McConnell. Sheriff -- Josephus Crenshaw. Prosecut- ing Attorney -- John Miller.
1857.
County Judge-William H. Wallace. Treasurer and Recorder-E. C. Hendershott. Sheriff-N. B. Vineyard. Prosecuting Attorney-Hugh Coroner-James M. Kortz. M. Martin. Surveyor-F. M. Connelly.
1858.
Clerk-A. J. Morrison. 1859.
County Judge-William H. Wallace. Treasurer and Recorder-J. C. Beem. Sheriff-N. B. Holbrook. Superintendent of Schools-C. S. Jennis. Surveyor-G. C. House. Coroner-A. W. Childers. Drainage Commissioner-Robert Grimes. Representative -- H. B. Lynch. State Senator-H. M. Martin.
1860.
Clerk-A. J. Morrison.
1861.
Representative-H. M. Martin. County Judge-S. Sherman. Treas- urer and Recorder-J. C. Beem. Sheriff-N. B. Holbrook. Superinten-
421
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
.
dent of Schools-E. P. Miller. Surveyor-G. C. House. Coroner-I. H. Hopkins. Drainage Commissioner-George Fletcher.
1862.
County Judge-William H. Wallace. Clerk-William G. Springer.
1863.
County Judge-Alonzo H. Willits. Treasurer and Recorder-Homer C. Paige. Sheriff-G. C. House. Superintendent of Schools-O. Har- rington. Surveyor-G. B. Wheeler. Coroner-R. A. Redman. Drainage. Commissioner-Geo. Fletcher. Representative -- Robert Grimes.
1864.
Clerk-William G. Springer. Treasurer-Obadiah Dillon. Recorder- John Miller.
1865.
Representative-John R. Sersin. Treasurer-N. B. Vineyard. County Judge-A. H. Willits. Superintendent of Schools-James Root. Sheriff -Eli D. Akers. Surveyor-George B. Wheeler. Coroner -- A. W. Childers.
1866.
Representative-S. J. Murphy. Clerk-William G. Springer. Recorder -C. V. Gardner. Surveyor-James A. Paine.
1867.
Representative-Abraham Bolton. Treasurer-Charles Baumer. Judge -Isaac Goodin. Sheriff-J. M. Richardson. Superintendent of Schools -W. R. Akers. Surveyor-J. L. Williams. Coroner-Wm. L. Miller.
1868.
Clerk-John Hughes. Recorder-Walter Stover.
1869.
Representative-J. P. Ketchein. Treasurer-Charles Baumer. Sheriff -J. W. Richardson. Auditor-Joseph G. Berstler. Superintendent of Schools-J. C. S. Lake. Surveyor-J. S. Williams. Coroner-F. M. Jef- fers.
1870.
Clerk-John Hughes, Jr. Recorder-Walter Stover. Members Board Supervisors-James M. Westbrook, N. B. Holbrook, O. Harrington.
1871.
Representative-J. C. Clark. Auditor-Sylvester Sherman. Treasurer -Charles Baumer. Sheriff-James M. Gardner. Superintendent of Schools-Charles Fletcher. Supervisor-C. W. Thompson. Coroner- Isaac W. Lyons. Surveyor-J. L. Williams.
422
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
1872.
Clerk-John Hughes, Jr. Recorder-Walter Stover. Supervisor-E. Hopkins. Surveyor-Clement Paine.
1873.
Ropresentative-J. C. Clark. Auditor -- A. J. Morrison. Treasurer -- C. Baumer. Sheriff-J. M. Gardner. Superintendent of Schools-H. H. Sheldon. Supervisor-Robert Grimes. Surveyor-Albert Hickinson. Coroner -- John Bricker.
1874.
Clerk-John Hughes, Jr. Recorder-L. Patterson. Supervisor-A. Cover. Coroner-Isaac M. Lyon.
1875.
Representative-J. L. Williams. Clerk-A. B. Eshleman. Auditor- W. B. Taylor. Treasurer-C. Baumer. Sheriff-O. B. Bolton. Superin- tendent Schools-George Inghram. Surveyor-A. Hickman. Supervisor -C. Schonborn. Coroner-Isaac M. Lyon.
1876.
Clerk-A. B. Eshleman. Recorder-J. B. Wilson. Supervisor-H. T. Ogden.
1877.
Representative-N. B. Holbrook. Auditor-J. G. Berstler. Treasurer -C. Banmer. Sheriff- O. B. Bolton. Superintendent Schools - D. Hughes. Coroner-J. Brucker. Supervisor-W. Popham. Surveyor- C. Paine.
1878.
Clerk-A. B. Eshleman. Recorder-J. B. Wilson. Supervisor-James Conroy. Coroner-A. W. Childress.
1879.
Representative-E. Tilton. Auditor-J. G. Berstler. Sheriff-T. J. Talbott. Superintendent Schools-D. Hughes. Supervisor-W. E. Morse. Treasurer-N. M. Adams. Coroner-Isaac M. Lyon. Surveyor-A. Hickman.
1880.
Clerk-D. E. Evans. Recorder-G. W. Williams. Supervisor-Wil liam Popham. Surveyor-C. Paine.
It will be seen from the foregoing that there are many instances in which officers have held their positions for two terms. These instances in fact are so numerous that they are the rule, and the cases of a single term are an exception. One of these exceptions is the case of Auditor W. B. Taylor, elected in 1875, who served but part of one term, and was removed for ir- regularity in the discharge of his official duties. J. G. Brestler was ap- pointed by the board of supervisors to perform the duties of the office till
423
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
the next regular election, when he was chosen to that office, of which he is still incumbent.
Thomas Dedmore, who was elected county commissioner in 1846, refused to qualify, and assume the duties of the office.
Lewis F. Wilson served as county commissioner for five years.
J. C. Beem was elected for the second time to fill the office of treasurer and recorder, but declined the office. He afterward became candidate for the office of State Senator from the senatorial district composed of Powe- shiek and Iowa counties. He had for an opponent the Hon. M. E. Cutts, congressman elect from the sixth congressional district, and was defeated by but fifty-three votes, his majority in Iowa county being one hundred and thirty-seven.
The office of recorder and treasurer was in charge of one man till 1864, when there were two offices formed and they have been separate ever since.
The person longest in office probably was William H. Wallace. He was first elected to the office of county judge and served one term of four years. The official term of the office was then reduced to two years. Mr. Miller was elected in 1855 and served one term. Judge Wallace was then again elected in 1857, and re-elected in 1859. In 1861 S. Sherman was elected to the office, but from some cause served but one year when Judge Wal- lace was again elected in 1862. The entire time he occupied the office of connty judge aggregated the period of over nine years.
The record of the county is such as to include the idea that it is not a wo- man's rights county as no female has as yet held any county office.
Judged as a whole the county has been peculiarly fortunate in its public officials, and the people need have no fears that their county's reputation would suffer by being brought into comparison with any other county of the State.
MARRIAGE LICENSES.
It has already been remarked, that the first couple joined in matrimony in Iowa county under a license issued in the county was William C. Car- ter and Miss Sidney Ann Tinkle, Henry Starry, J. P., officiating, on the 19th of April, 1846. It would prove to be too voluminous to give the record of all the marriages which have been solemnized in the county from the first organization of the same till the present, but as a matter of interest to the public in general, and profit to such of the parties who were interested in particular and who are still living in the county we will here- with give the record during the first five years, thereby reminding, the per- sons referred to, of the time when there were boys and girls together, and of the auspicious day when they set up in housekeeping for themselves.
William C. Carter to Sindey Ann Tinkle, by Henry Starry, J. P., on the 19th of April, 1846.
Ethan Curtis Crawford (aged 19) to Rebecca Burgit (aged 15), by Porter Hull, J. P., April 1, 1847.
Samuel Huston to Mary M. Beem, by Rev. A. W. Johnson, May 28, 1847.
J. H. Richardson to Katharine E. Lanning, by Rev. A. W. Johnson, January 23, 1848.
Henry Sprague to Mary Ann Walters, by Daniel Talbott, J. P., April 16, 1848.
424
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
J. M. Kitchens to Ivey Snook, by H. H. Hull, J. P., November 23, 1848.
Goorge Snook to Catherine Scholes, by H. H. Hull, J. P., April 2, 1849.
John E. S. Gwinn to Caroline C. Wilson, by A. Meacham, J. P., June 16, 1849.
Charles Cheeny to Chanty Dennis, by Martin Ballard, June 23, 1849.
Samuel S. Cole to Sarah Dennis, by Martin Ballard, June 23, 1849.
H. C. Holmes to Sarah E. Crawford, by Daniel Talbott, J. P., August 13, 1849.
Alex. Smith to Millia Miller, by Martin Ballard, August 19, 1849.
Hanson Sprague to Rebecca Crawford, by H. H. Hull, J. P., August 13, 1849.
Michael Zeigler to Jane Hollopeter, by H. H. Hull, J. P., April 8, 1850. William Alvey to Elenor Penny, by E. C. Hendershott, J. P., April 25, 1850.
Jeremiah Morford to Mary Hanner, by Robert Furnas, J. P., May 2, 1850.
George Wallace to Eliza A. Alvey, by Asbury Collins, minister in M. E. Church, July 3, 1850.
William Merrifield to Margaret J. Givens, by E. C. Hendershott, J. P., August 22, 1850.
Hiram Walrod to Elizabeth Betz, by E. C. Hendershott, J. P., October 28, 1850.
Richard Williams to Mrs. Ann Pugh, by George Lewis, Congregational minister, January 4, 1851.
William Hinkle to Martha Ginther, by Martin Ballard, April 10, 1851.
E. C. Hendershott to Mary Bishop, by J. W. Maxon, Methodist minis- ter, May 8, 1851.
William Converse to Clarkey Jane Henry, by Asbury Collins, minister in the M. E. Church, June 23, 1851.
John Ritz to Nancy C. Morrison, by Rev. J. W. Maxon, July 25, 1851.
John Snow to Susan Jane Jones, by William H. Wallace, county judge, August 29, 1851.
It will thus be seen that during the first five years after the organization of the county but twenty-five couples were married.
It may also be remarked in this connection, that the blushing bride, Miss Mary Bishop, whom the gallant young doctor E. C. Hendershott led to the altar was the first school-marm who wielded the birch and taught the alphabet in Marengo.
CHAPTER VIII.
Schools --- Churches -- Agricultural Society -- Old Settlers Association.
SCHOOLS.
THE schools of the county are sharing with the contents of the newsboy's bundle the title of universities of the poor. The close observations of the working of the public schools shows that if the induction of facts be com- plete, it could be demonstrated that the public schools turn out more bet- ter fitted for business, and for usefulness, than most of our colleges. The freedom and liberty of our public schools afford less room for the growth of effiminacy and pedantry; it educates the youth among the people, and not
425
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
among a caste or class, and since the man or woman is called upon to do with a nation in which people are the only factor, the education which the public schools afford, especially where they are of the superior stand- . ard reached in this county, do fit their recipients for a sphere of usefulness nearer the public heart than can be attained by private schools and acade- mies.
The crowning glory of American institutions is the public school sys- tem; nothing else among American institutions is so intensely American. The schools are the colleges of Democracy and if this government is to re- main a republic, governed by statesmen, it must be from the public schools that they are to be graduated. The amount of practical knowledge that the masses here receive is important beyond measure and forms the chief factor in the problem of material prosperity; but it is not so much the prac- tical knowledge which it is the ostensible mission of the public schools to impart that makes this system the sheet anchor of our hopes; it is rather in the silent social influence which the common schools incidentally exert.
It is claimed for our country that it is a land of social equality, where all have an equal chance in the race of life; and yet there are many things which give the lie to this boaasted claim of an aristocracy of manhood. Our churches are open to all, but it is clear that the best pews are occupied by the men of wealth and influence. The sightless goddess extends the scales of justice to all, but it will usually appear that there is money in the de- scending scale. It requires money to run for office, or, at least, it takes money to get office.
The first experiences of the American citizen, however, are in the public schools. If he be a rich man's son his class-mate is the son of poverty; the seat which the one occupies is no better than that occupied by 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 be a drone, neither do the patches on the clothes of the poor man's son keep him down, provided he has the genius and application to make him rise. The pam- pered child of fortune may purchase a diploma at many of the select schools of our land, but at the public schools it is genius and application which win. That State or nation which reaches out this helping hand to the chil- dren of want will not lack for defenders in time of danger, and the hun- dreds of thousands of dollars annually expended for the common education of children, is but money loaned to the children which they will pay back with compound interest when grown to manhood.
Then, too, in a modest and unassuming way, our public schools inculcate 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 fre- quently gets there after the first prayer. In vain does that 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 cardinal 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 punctual- ity and promptness are impartially and fearlessly enforced is a most po- tent conservator of public morals.
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