USA > Iowa > Iowa County > The history of Iowa County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 53
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426
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
The public schools of America, of which the public schools of Iowa and Iowa county are above the average, are a grand success; this as rule has few exceptions. Should we take but a superficial view of the public school system, and select as examples some schools which are properly termed poor ones, and then endeavor to estimate the worth of the common school system from the useful results obtained in a given time in those selected as an example, we would probably pronounce the system a failure; but viewed in a more comprehensive manner and taking into account all its bearings, and then estimating the worth of the system from results ob- tained through a series of years, we must say-any unbiased mind must say -that even the poorest of our schools are good, and no other investment of public funds is so carefully managed and so economically applied.
Taking into consideration the age of the State, and some peculiar diffi- culties which attended the establishment of the school system in Iowa, it may be said with truth that the growth of the system has been unprece- dented. The schools of Iowa county are probably not the best in the State but they are of sufficient merit to average well.
In common with the early settlers of other counties, the pioneers of Iowa county laid the foundations of the public school system under pecu- liarly trying circumstances. It was in great weakness and by manifold personal sacrifices that the foundation stones of this fabric were laid, but the outcome has proved that the fathers built better than they knew.
Iowa county educational affairs are in a flourishing condition-the con- trast between the settler's school and the present accomodations has been marked. The puncheon floors and desks and doorless aperture for entrance have given place to more finished edifices, in some cases elegant ones, pos- sibly not more thoroughly ventilated, but more comfortably so.
The county has now become well supplied with comfortable, commodi- ous school-houses, and good schools are taught in all the townships and towns, sufficiently numerous and convenient for the accomodation of all parts of the county. Educational interests have been considered of the highest importance by a majority of the people, and means and efforts have not been spared to make the public schools a success. Under the efficient management of those energetic and conscientious persons, whose special business it has been to conduct and superintend, the schools of the county are rapidly approximating a condition of great efficiency and usefulness.
The county teachers believe in the interchange of thought, also in the community of effort, and are making the profession of teaching a study as well as practice. Teachers' institutes are now becoming of regular and fre- quent occurence, and are well attended by those who take special interest in the work. The superintendent's examination grade is now of such a standard that all applicants do not attain it, and for those who are success- ful, after diligent study and preparation, it shows a much more creditable standing, besides furnishing a more efficient class of teachers.
The county normal institutes which have been held annually since 1874 have been well attended in this county. By reference to the biennial re- port of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction it will be seen that there were in attendance at the institute in 1878 one hundred and thirty- three teachers, and in 1879 there were one hundred and thirty-four.
During the year 1879 there were two hundred and ninety-two applicants examined for teachers' certificates; of the number one hundred and seven re-
MUMStores
1
4.29
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
ceived first grade certificates, one hundred and thirty-three second grade, twenty-five third grade and twenty-seven were rejected.
There has been as great a change in the architecture and accommodation of school-houses as in the character and qualifications of the teacher.
Formerly schools were held at the residences of the settlers or else in cabins, whose external appearance and internal arrangement very closely resembled the pioneer cabin; the teacher also very closely resembled the early settler, for, as a rule, he was a settler, that is he devoted a great portion of his time and energy in making rails, grubbing hazel-brush and attending to his stock and crops, while teaching was simply accidental or incidental. Teach- ing has now become a profession, and as a rule, the teacher devotes his en- tire time to that business. We would not be understood as saying that both the old-fashioned teacher and school-house were anything but respectable, useful and of good reputation; on the contrary, they were all this; but we would say, that with an increase of wealth and population we have increased facilities for increased needs.
The first schools of the county were held in houses to suit the times. Some idea of these school-houses may be gathered from the following de- scription of a typical one.
It was built of round logs, the space between them chinked and then daubed with mud. About five feet from the west wall on the inside, and , about five feet high, another log was placed, and running clear across the building. Puncheons were fixed on this log and in the west wall on which the chimney was built. Fuel could then be used of any length not greater than the width of the building, and when it was burned through in the middle the ends were crowded together; in this manner was avoided the necessity of so much wood chopping. There was no danger of burning the floor, as there was none. The seats were made of stools or benches, con- structed by splitting a log, hewing off the splinters from the flat side, and then putting four pegs into it from the round side for legs. The door was made of clap-boards. On either side a piece of one log was cut out, and over the aperture was pasted greased paper, which answered for a window. Wooden pins were driven into the log running lengthwise immediately beneath the windows, upon which was laid a board, and this constituted the writing desks. The school-district in which this wonderful structure stood extended from the east part of the county to the adjoining township line, and from Skunk River on the north as far south as one could see. Since the day of school tax levies the people are a little more definite in defining their subdistricts.
The teacher who taught in this typical school-house located in Keokuk county at a very early time and was most emphatically a typical teacher. He still resides near the scene of his early trials, and triumphs and delights to talk of his schools where there were achieved results of which he may well be proud .. We quote his own language in narrating to the writer the circumstances which impelled or rather compelled him to teach school.
"I left Indiana in 1841, in company with two persons who were neigh- bors; had about two hundred dollars when I started, and we had one team in which we had eachi an equal interest. While crossing the State of Illi- nois I became sick and was compelled to stop at the house of a former ac- quaintance. My two companions went on, locating in the southeastern part of this State. I did not recover for some time, being sick during the
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430
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
entire summer. When I did recover my money was nearly all gone. So I set out on foot and walked nearly the entire distance from central Illinois to Keokuk county, Iowa, where I arrived early in the summer. I imme- diately took a claim and set about improving it. I had no team, no money, and, what was worse than all, was again sick. I did not succeed in accom- plishing much; my money was all gone, and my neighbors, fearing I would become an object of public charity, proposed that I teach school for them. I had not had any experience in teaching, and my qualifications were very limited. They, however, insisted, and I complied. My first school was regarded as quite a success, and during the winter seasons I taught school for many years after. There were no public school funds and scarcely any private funds. and I took for my pay anything, such as potatoes, corn, rails and flax. The following was the article of agreement entered into between the people of the neighborhood and myself for the first school which I taught:
"'Article of agreement made and entered into this 9th day of January, 1846, between R. F. Weller, of the Territory of Iowa, and the undersigned, witnesseth that the said Weller agrees to teach a common school for the term of three months; viz., spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic.
"'The undersigned citizens of the said county agree to pay said Weller one dollar and fifty cents per scholar; also, to furnish a suitable house and fire wood, and board said Weller; the above amount may be paid in mak- ing rails at the customary price, one-third to be paid on or before the ex- piration of each month. School to commence when twenty scholars are signed.' "
. The first schools of Iowa county were established along the Iowa River; the school-houses were usually built by individual expense rather than from a public fund. Usually two or three of the more enterprising people in a neighborhood would appoint a day upon which they would get together, cut logs, split the shingles and build the school-house. Such houses were not officially located, but were erected on the site inost desirable to the persons who built them. Another peculiarity of the school system in early days was that those who erected the school-house generally boarded the teacher and paid the larger portion of the salary, if from five to six dollars per month may be considered a salary.
The sites of the first school-houses cannot now be definitely located, neither can we give the names of the first teachers of all of these schools. These were deemed to be matters of not sufficient importance to be pre- served, and only such can now be mentioned as are remembered by the old settlers still living in the vicinity of the schools. In so far as we can de- termine, after diligent and careful investigation, the facts relating to the first schools in the various parts of the county will be given in connection with the history of the township in which each is located.
There was no county superintendent of schools till the year 1858, and al- though teachers were responsible to certain authorities, there was no effec- tive system of supervision; examinations were very unsatisfactory; there was no inducement for any one to prepare himself for the work of teaching and if there were some who excelled in their work it was because of the love they liad for the occupation, and not because of a spirit of emulation and a desire to excel.
'The new school-law, which went into effect in 1858, threw protection
431
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
around the school-fund and shut out of the business of teaching much in- competence and ignorance. While it is a fact that the present high stand- ing of the schools has been reached gradually, and not by sudden move- ment, yet it is likewise true that the most perceptible change for the better was between the years of 1858 and 1860.
The application of the law of rotation in office, making the tenure of ·office brief and necessitating frequent change of superintendents, has done much to impair the efficiency of the office; neither have the person filling this office always been professional teachers, and not always persons of cul- ture and education. The office, as is too frequently the case with other county offices, has at times been bestowed as a reward for party services to men not in sympathy with the public school system, and whose training had fitted them for managing a caucus or packing a convention rather than prepared them for organizing schools and stimulating teachers to energetic and thorough work in the school-room. The public schools of Iowa county, however, have not suffered more in this particular than the schools of other counties. There have been many superintendents to watch over the educa- tional interests of the county who were men of fine culture and renowned for their ability as educators; such persons, whose whole lives have been de- woted to the school work and whose every thought was in sympathy with the cause of popular education, have done much to build up where others have torn down. If there have been poor superintendents, there have also been good ones and as a result the schools of the county have all the time been kept well along among the first rank in the march of progress.
Among the men who have labored acceptably and efficiently in the cause of education in Iowa county is Prof. C. P. Rogers, at present superintend- ent of the public schools of Marshalltown. Although not at the head of the schools of the county, nevertheless by virtue of his position of principal of the Marengo schools for a number of years he did much to awaken an interest in the cause of popular education throughout the entire county. By industrious and persistent work in the school-room, by enthusiastic and impassioned addresses on public occasions he awakened in the minds of the young a thirst for knowledge and inspired in the hearts of the teachers throughout the county a desire to became thoroughly prepared for the im- portant work before them. To Prof. Rogers, the people of the county in general, and the citizens of Marengo in particular, owe much for his long and acceptable work among them.
The normal institute for 1878 was held at Marengo, beginning July 22, and continuing three weeks. Prof. C. P. Rogers was conductor, and was assisted by Miss K. N. Tupper and W. D. Evans. There were enrolled twenty-five males and one hundred and eight females. The following is a statement of the receipts and expenditures of the institute for that year:
RECEIPTS.
On hand at last report
$ 96.20
Examination fees .
233.00
Registration fees. 133.00
State appropriation 50.00
Total .
$ 512.20
-
432
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
EXPENSES.
Instruction
$ 380.00
Incidentals 77.60
Unexpended .
54.60
Total
$ 512.20
The normal institute for 1879 was held at Marengo, beginning August 11, and continuing three weeks. R. S. Bingham was the conductor, who was assisted by E. M. Ladd and W. D. Evans. There were enrolled twenty- six males and one hundred and eight females. The following is a state- ment of the receipts and expenditures of the institute for that year:
RECEIPTS.
On hand at last report $ 54.60
Examination fees.
310.00
Registration fees .
134.00
State appropriation
50.00
Total
$ 548.60
EXPENSES.
Instruction .
$ 300.00
Incidentals.
89.00
Unexpended
159.60
Total
$ 548.60
OTHER STATISTICS.
Number of district townships
10
Number of independent districts
31
Number of subdistricts.
77
Number of ungraded schools
137
Number of graded schools
20
Average duration in months
7.70
Number of male teachers .
111
Number of female teachers.
176
Average compensation of males per month.
$31.60
Average compensation of females per month.
$26.55
Number of male persons between the ages of 5 and 21
3,678
Number of female persons between the ages of 5 and 21
3,461
Number of pupils enrolled
5,532
Average attendance.
3,743
Number of frame school-houses
125
Number of brick school-houses
13.
Value of school-houses
89,255
Value of apparatus.
3,250
Volumes in libraries 758
433
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
For the purpose of comparison we give the same statistics for Poweshiek county.
POWESHIEK.
Number of district townships.
14
66 " independent townships. 24
66
" subdistricts. 116
66 " ungraded schools 135
66 " graded
25
Average durations in months
7.70
Number of male teachers employed
97
Average monthly compensation, males
.$
32.78
66
females $
27.16
Number of male persons between 5 and 21.
3,629
" female persons between ages of 5 and 21 ..
3,315
" pupils enrolled in schools .
5,260
Total average attendance.
3,300
Number of frame school-houses
140
brick 66
0
Value of school-houses $91,205.00
1,362.00
Number of volumes in library
108
It will thus be seen that the wages paid teachers in Poweshiek county are slightly in advance of Iowa county. The number of youths of school age in Iowa is more than in Poweshiek, while the average attendance in the former is greater by some four hundred.
IOWA COUNTY.
SCHOOL-HOUSE FUND.
On hand at last report.
$ 3,367.64
Received from district tax.
6,990.05
other sources 1,280.60
Total debit
$ 11,638.29
Paid for school-houses and sites
$ 5,245.56
66 66 library and apparatus 32.00
66
66 bonds and interest. 3,402.32
On hand
2,258.41
Total credit
$ 11,638.29
CONTINGENT FUND.
On hand at last report.
$ 5,918.61
Received from district tax.
10,450.14
66 other sources 4,394.12
Total debit
$ 20,762.87
Apparatus.
" female. «
187
434
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Paid for rent and repairs
$ 3,596.88
66 fuel ...
3,226.59
66 secretaries and treasurers
1,184.00
66
records, etc.
439.08
66 insurance.
203.60
66
janitors. 691.70
66 for other purposes
4,632.10
On hand .
$ 6,758.92
TEACHERS' FUND.
On hand at last report.
. $ 18,980.97
Received from district tax.
28,275.14
annual apportionment 7.500.67
other sources
4,743.71
Total debit.
$ 59,500.49
Paid teachers
$ 39,538.35
On hand
19,962.14
Total
$59,500.49
In order that the reader may make a comparison we again give statistics from Poweshiek county.
POWESHIEK.
SCHOOL-HOUSE FUND.
On hand at last report
$. 3,061.81
Received from district tax
4,087.40
other sources 72.22
Total debit
$ 7,221.43
Paid for school-houses and sites
$ 2,629.75
.
bonds and interest
400.00
On hand
3,237.25
CONTINGENT FUND.
On hand at last report
$ 8,315.94
Received from district tax
10,894.15
66 other sources
1,188.19
Total debit .
$ 20,398.28
Paid for rent and repairs
$ 5,416.35
66 fuel . ....
2,625.52
secretaries and treasurers
1,088.26
records, etc
663.15
66 insurance.
270.24
66 janitors.
763.60
for other purposes .
2,953.83
.
library and apparatus
38.50
other purposes.
885.93
435
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
TEACHERS' FUND.
On hand at last report.
$ 26,103.41
Received from district tax.
34.095.48
annual apportionment. 7,455.83
other sources 1,340.46
Total debit.
$ 68,995.18
Paid teachers. $ 40,140.36
Paid for other purposes
.
164.25
On hand . $ 28,690.57
It will be seen from the comparison that in the teachers' fund the amount on hand in Poweshiek county exceeds that in Iowa county. The other funds run nearly the same.
CHURCHES.
"Ye raised these hallowed walls; the desert smiled,
And Paradise was opened in the wild. "-POPE.
The first settlements of the country were scarcely made when the serv- ants of the Lord began work in the new vineyard. Within the last fifty years the agents of the Christian religion have been trained and taught to accompany the first advance of civilization, and such was their advent here in Iowa county. In the rude cabins and huts of the pioneers they pro- claimed the same gospel that is preached in the gorgeous palaces that, un- der the name of churches, decorate the great cities. It was the same gos- pel but the surroundings made it appear different, in the effect it produced at least.
The Christain religion had its rise, and the days of its purest practice, among an humble and simple minded people and it is among similar sur- roundings in modern times that it seems to approach the purity of its source. This is the best shown in pioneer times. It is true, indeed, that in succeeding years the church attains greater wealth and practices a wider benevolence. Further, it may be admitted that it gains a firmer discipline and wields a more general influence on society, but it remains true that in former times we find a manifestation of Christianity that we seek in vain at a later time and under contrasted circumstances. The meek and lowly spirit of Christain faith-the placing of spiritual things above vain pomp and show-appear more earnest amid the simple life of a pioneer people than it possibly can when surrounded by the splendors of wealth and fash- ion. But we may take a comparison less wide and instead of contrasting the Christian appearances of a large city with that of the pioneers we may compare that of thirty years ago here in the West with that at the present time of moderately developed wealth and taste for display and we find much of the same result.
The comparison is perhaps superficial and does not fully weigh the ele- ments involved nor analyze them properly. We simply take the broad fact not to decry the present but to illustrate the past. So that looking back to the religious meetings in the primitive log cabins we may truthfully say:
"Here was a faith, earnest and simple like that of the early Chris- tian."
436
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
The first religious meetings in the county were held in the cabins of the settlers with two or three families for a congregation. On pleasant days they would gather outside under the shade of the ancient oaks-
The century living crow, whose birth was in your tops,
Grew old and died amongst your branches,
'Till at last ye stood as now ye stand,
Cold. massive and dark, fit shrine
For the humble worshiper to hold communion with his Maker.
Here, under the outspreading branches, would be sung a song of Zion and the word of life would be expounded.
Representatives of the Methodist Church were the religious pioneers of Iowa county, as they also, were of nearly all the country west of the Missis- sippi. Following close in the steps of the Methodist missionaries came the Baptists. Later came the Presbyterians and Congregationalists and more recently the Episcopalians and Catholics. Among the early Metho- dists were representatives of two branches of that church, the Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant, and by the name Baptist we include not only that denomination known by that specific name but also the Christians, commonly known as Campbellites.
A Methodist preacher named Twining was among the first preachers to visit the county. He regularly visited the scattered settlements of the county as early as the spring of 1846, and was the first minister officially authorized to solemnize marriages in the county. The following is the record.
" Rev. Edward W. Twining, a minister of the gospel, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, exhibited to me this day a license issued by the clerk of the District Court of Johnson county, Territory of Iowa, duly authorizing him to solemnize marriages in said Territory.
"Given under my hand October 8, 1846.
" ROBERT MCKEE, Clerk."
Allen W. Johnson, Asbury Collins, J. W. Maxon, David Worthington, Methodists, George Lewis, Congregationalist, and Martin Ballard, supposed to have been a Baptist, preached, organized societies and established churches prior to 1850.
Rev. A. W. Johnson was formerly a missionary in Jefferson county, whence he came north to this county early in 1847.
Rev. Asbury Collins is well remembered, not only by the early settlers of Iowa county, but throughout this whole region of country.
Rev. Joseph Maxon, it appears, came to the county first, in 1849, from Clayton county, where he had been previously engaged in missionary labor.
Rev. David Worthington was from Scott county, and Rev. Joseph Lewis lived in Jackson county, but occasionally visited Iowa county to confirm what Congregationalist saints there were here in early days.
Rev. Mr. Watson, a Methodist Protestant preacher, was the first minister to labor among the people in the northwest corner of the county. After three years spent in preaching and missionary work, he went into politics and was sent to the Legislature. Aaron Steinberger, a Christian minister, also labored in the northwest part of the county at an early day. Mr. Stein- berger now resides in Lee county.
Mr. Casey, David Troup and Samuel Wannemauger started the first
437
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Sunday-school in the county north of the Iowa River. The school was kept in a school-house these gentlemen had previously erected at their own individual expense; each of these gentlemen also contributed five dollars apiece to purchase a Sunday-school library; this was probably the first Sunday-school library in Iowa county.
The first religious services of a public character held in Marengo oc- curred at Downard's store. The minister, a Methodist, so moved the merchant's sympathies, either by his impassioned eloquence, or what is more probable, by his dilapidated appearance, that Downard detained him after the sermon, until the congregation had dispersed, and gave him two shirts and two dollars and a half in money.
Richard B. Groff says:
" Israel L. Clark was our pioneer preacher. He was a Stoneite, set in motion during the clebrated Kane Ridge revival, and a stringent im- mersionist. Clark was preaching during a very dry summer day when he remarked that water was too scarce to satisfy the demands of so many sub- jects, when a member cried out at the top of his voice, 'There is a big hole on Bear Creek.' Clark, it is said, was accustomed to speak of the evil influences of 'larnen.' and was accustomed to preach such lengthy dis- courses that the only way to hold the audience was to turn the key and lock them in."
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