USA > Iowa > Lee County > The history of Lee county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 65
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In November, 1852, W. A. Hornish bought Armstrong's interest, and, in turn, sold to T. B. Cuming, who became sole proprietor May 24, 1853.
Early in 1854, we find H. W. Beers owning the paper, who sold it to D. Reddington November 15 of the same year. On the 28th of October, 1855, Reddington changed the name to the
SATURDAY POST,
and at the same time began the publication of a daily paper, in which he was associated with W. F. B. Lynch. In January, 1858, Reddington sold out, and from that date until 1860, the Post was published by William Rees, Sr., & Sons, who removed the office to Doniphan, Kan., where they published a paper for one year.
THE NIP-AND-TUCK KEOKUK DAILY.
This was a small sheet of four pages, four columns to the page, the first number of which was issued January 1, 1855, D. Reddington, proprietor, and S. T. Marshall, local editor. In February following, its name was changed to
THE MORNING GLORY,
which, in June following, was enlarged by the addition of one column. Red- dington sold out September 14, 1855, to A. T. Walling and Dr. G. St. Clair Hussey, who merged it into
THE DAILY EVENING TIMES,
the first number of which was issued July 27, 1855. Walling & Hussey sold out to Charles D. Kirk, from Louisville, Ky., who, on the 23d of November, 1857, issued the first number of the
KEOKUK DAILY JOURNAL.
A weekly paper was also published by Walling & Hussey when they estab- lished The Times, which was continued by Kirk as The Journal.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
The Weekly and Daily Journal was sold by Kirk to Newton, Hussey & Gwin, who became embarrassed financially, and, in May, 1859, the paper passed into the hands of Charles Smith, who managed it until December, 1861, when Hon. T. W. Clagett purchased the office under a sale by foreclosure of a mortgage placed on the office by the successors of Kirk.
Judge Clagett gave it the name of the
KEOKUK CONSTITUTION,
and under his management it at once took a position as one of the leading Democratic papers in the State. Mr. Charles Smith was retained as associate editor, and continued in that capacity until Judge Clagett's death, with the exception of eighteen months in 1871 and 1872, during which time, Alfred Avery, now publishing the Home and Farm, at Louisville, Ky., filled his place.
Judge Clagett died in April, 1876, after which, his daughter, Sue Harry Clagett, conducted the paper until July 17 following, when the office was purchased by John Gibbons, H. W. Clendenin, George Smith and Thomas Rees. The first named was in editorial charge until April 17, 1877, when he sold his interest to the remaining partners, who assumed the present firm name of Smith, Clendenin & Rees, H. W. Clendenin taking editorial charge of the paper.
In this connection it is proper that personal mention be made of Hon. Thomas W. Clagett, the founder of the Constitution, and its editor and propri- etor from 1861 until his death, on Good Friday, April 14, 1876, the twenty- sixth anniversary of his landing in Keokuk. What is here published is taken from a sketch of his life prepared by Dr. J. M. Shaffer, of Keokuk, shortly after his decease :
Judge Clagett was born in Prince George County, Md., August 30, 1815. He received his elementary training at the Academy near Bladensburg. His earlier manhood was passed as a planter, but he subsequently studied law in the office of Gov. Pratt, of Maryland, and was admitted to practice at Upper Marlboro. When he was but eighteen years old, he was married to Susan Guiger Harry, a lady of fine mental qualities. The issue of this marriage was three sons and three daughters-Thomas, a farmer and planter in Maryland ; William, late Delegate to Congress from Montana, and George, who died in Nevada. Of the daughters, Lucy died in infancy, and Sarah died at twenty-four, and sleeps in the Catholic cemetery adjoining this city. The youngest daughter, Susan Harry-the "Elizabeth Waking" of the press-is a lady of marked ability as a writer.
Judge Clagett's second wife was Miss Sarah B. Lewis. of Malden, Mass. All who have the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with this bereaved one, bear glad testimony to her many excellencies of character.
During his residence in Maryland, the deceased was twice elected to represent his district. in the Legislature, and the impress of his work is especially observable in his efforts to establish a system of common-school education for the youth of the State. He removed to Iowa in 1850, and settled in Keokuk.
He was a good man and true. There is, perhaps, not a church in this city that does not owe something of its being to his contributions. There is not a public enterprise of any kind looking to the general welfare of this people, upon which his name and his influence have not been stenciled. His election to the position of Judge of this district-a well-merited honor- was at the sacrifice of large pecuniary rewards that attached to his practice at law.
In politics, he was a Whig, and an ardent admirer of Webster, Clay and those great lights of that grand old party. He regarded the system of slavery as a wrong, an evil and a curse -- wrong to the slave, evil to all in its tendencies, and a curse, which, sooner or later, would ingulf the nation in disaster and ruin.
In the heat and unreason of the early days of the war between the States, his press was broken up by a band of soldiers. Some in that day were so intensely partisan as to rejoice at the lawless act. There may be not one remaining who, regarding the fact in the cool and calm deliberation that follows the fever of excited passion but would deplore the act, and wish the foul stain wiped away from the records of time. Editing with marked ability a Democratic paper, at a time when the strongest demands were made for personal courage and personal devotion to
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
principle, he did not waver. Bitter, perhaps, in his deunnciation of measures which he regarded as subversive of the Constitution, and dangerous to the personal liberty of the citizen, he favored the vigorous prosecution of the war, as the best. safest, surest means to accomplish a lasting peace.
In religion, he was a cordial believer in the rites, ceremonies, and traditions of the Episco- pal Church. He participated in the first meeting for the purpose of organizing the Church in this eity.
The blood of four Episcopal Bishops-three in England and one in America-ran in his veins, and from these ancestors there had descended to him a deep, though unique and independ- ent current of religious feeling.
Said Hon. John P. Irish, in the Iowa City Press :
In social life, Judge Clagett was a gentleman of the old school, a fascinating host. a gener- ons entertainer, and a cultured and interesting companion.
He was the oldest amongst the daily newspaper men of Iowa, and amongst all who will pause in the whirl of affairs to pen a paragraph announcing his death, there is not one who is in all respects, of character, culture and experience, his equal.
The present proprietors of the Constitution are all old citizens of Keokuk and Iowa, and are practical newspaper men. Mr. Smith came to Keokuk in 1856, from Newark, Ohio, and followed his business as a practical printer until he purchased an interest in the Constitution.
Mr. Clendenin came to Iowa from Pennsylvania, with his father, Samuel M. Clendenin, late of Burlington, Iowa, where he settled in 1839, and has resided in the State ever since. He came to Keokuk in 1864, and was engaged as a practical printer in various capacities until his purchase of an interest in the Constitution.
Mr. Rees comes of a family of journalists. His father, William Rees, Sr., formerly published the Keokuk Daily Post, and several of his brothers are at present following the "art preservative of all arts " in Keokuk and other cities. Mr. Rees came to Keokuk in 1853.
The Constitution, under its present enterprising management, has become firmly established, with a large and increasing circulation, and is looked upon as one of the leading Democratic papers of the State. The weekly is a mam- moth triple sheet, and has a national reputation as a humorous journal.
THE KEOKUK POST.
The first German newspaper published in Keokuk was established in 1855. by Mr. William Kopp, under the name of Beobachter des Westens (Western Observer). In 1857, Leopold Mader became proprietor, and, in 1858, was succeeded by Christ. Mueller.
Judge Edmund Jaeger, now Cashier of the Commercial Bank of Keokuk, was the successor of Mr. Mueller, and rather an unlucky one, as four weeks after he took possession, the office was destroyed by fire. Judge Jaeger was followed by Mr. - Rottick, and he in turn by Jacob Wohlwend and Serth in 1862. These sold out to Rinker & Althaus, but, in 1865, Wohlwend bought Rinker's interest, and the firm was Wohlwend & Althaus until 1869, when Emil Bischof, who died in 1877, at Council Bluffs, became sole proprietor. Mr. Bischof published the paper until 1874, when he was succeeded by Charles Norman, who sold to the present proprietor and editor, Adolph Wulff, Esq., February 1, 1877.
Twice under Mr. Bischof's predecessors, the name of the paper was changed and was successively called the Keokuk Deutsche Zeitung and Keokuk Tele- graph. Its present name was adopted when Mr. Bischof took possession in 1869.
In politics the Post has always been independent, leaning, however, to Democracy, especially in State and local affairs.
539
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
THE SUNBEAM.
This was a weekly paper established January 27, 1860, by J. W. Delaplain, and devoted especially to temperance work. It was suspended after an exist- ence of about two years.
THE DAILY EVENING NEWS,
a Greeley campaign paper, was published for four weeks in the fall of 1872. C. A. Calhoun, Jacob Wohlwend and Charles Smith were the proprietors.
THE SHARP STICK.
This was a spicy sheet, published by T. B. Cluming, while proprietor of the Dispatch. It abounded in local hits and was a "free-for-all " receptacle of things humorous.
THE PEOPLE'S DOLLAR,
published by Thornber & Hanson, was established February 28, 1879, and is an organ of the National Greenback party.
CENTRAL SCHOOL JOURNAL,
a monthly journal, issued under the auspices of the County Superintendents of Southeastern Iowa, is published by W. J. Medes & Co., who established it in December, 1877. It is ably edited by J. W. Rowley, W. J. Medes, John Paisley, N. C. Campbell and Cora E. Letts, and has a large circulation.
KEOKUK HIGH SCHOOL NEWS.
. This is the title of a small monthly sheet of four pages and three columns to the page, edited, printed and published by the boys of the High School, four numbers of which have been issued. In its general make-up the News is a credit to the boys, and, in fact, would do no discredit to older heads and more experienced hands.
THE WEST POINT APPEAL.
This, the first newspaper published in West Point, was established and the first number issued June 7, 1878, by Allison Leadley, the present proprietor. The paper is an eight-column folio, independent in politics, a lively, well-con- ducted weekly family paper, with a good list of subscribers, and increasing in influence and circulation.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
PRIMITIVE SCHOOLHOUSES AND OLD-TIME TEACHERS.
Less than half a century ago there was not a, schoolhouse in the territory now embraced in the domain of the great State of Iowa. Now there are 10,196 of them, from the ordinary frame structure of one room and one story, to magnificent brick and stone edifices of two and three stories and numerous departments, and colleges and seminaries equal in all respects to the colleges and other institutions of learning in any of the original thirteen States. In Lee County alone, there are 119 schoolhouses of different grades of excellence and finish, and 267 teachers.
The first school was taught at what is now the village of Nashville, in 1830. Benjamin Jennings, late a millionaire in Oregon, was the teacher.
The second school of which we can find any direct trace, was taught at the " Point," now Keokuk, about 1834. Jesse Creighton, a shoemaker, was the
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
teacher. Shoemaking was not a good business then, because most of the people went barefoot in summer and wore moccasins in the winter. To help him make both ends meet, the few settlers prevailed upon him to undertake a private or subscription school. The building occupied was a small log structure belonging to John Forsyth, and stood on the side of the hill a little west of " Rat Row,' and between what is now Main and Blondeau streets. Among Creighton's scholars was the present James W. Campbell, now of Fort Madison, and Henry D. Bartlett and Valencourt Vanausdol, of Keokuk. All the others long since removed to other parts of the country, and most, if not all, of them have passed over the dark river to the shores of eternity.
When the first settlers came to make permanent homes on the Black Hawk Purchase, they brought with them that love of education which is a part of every true American. There were no schoolhouses, nor school districts, nor school money. Educational affairs, like everything else, were in chaos-without form and void-for the country was a wilderness, and the pioneer fathers were left to their own resources and management.
When schools were desired, a central location as to the neighborhood and convenience of the scholars was selected and a log schoolhouse erected. Each settler who had children large enough to go to school, volunteered a certain amount of work toward its erection. In no case was the schoolhouse large or pretentious. One window in each side of the structure furnished light-that is if the settlers had money enough to buy sash and glass. If not, greased paper supplied the place of glass, and just as likely as not a part of a log was cut out of each side of the building, and greased paper fastened over the aperture was made to serve as a window. There was a puncheon door in one end, and a mud and stick or sod chimney and earthen fireplace in the other end. The seats were made from puncheons, or a suitably sized tree cut to the desired length, and then halved, i. e., split in two. The split sides were dressed down with a broad-ax. Holes were bored near the ends of the rounded sides, with an inch- and-a-half or two-inch auger, and pins driven in for supports. Writing " benches " or desks were made by boring slanting holes in the logs, in which supports or arms were driven, and on which a wide plank or puncheon, with the upper side dressed smooth, was laid, and held in place by a shoulder that was cut on the lower ends of the supports. This completed the furniture, unless, perhaps, an old splint-bottomed chair was added as a seat for the teacher.
The principal books were Webster's elementary spelling-book, the English reader (the best reader ever used in American schools), Daball's or Talbot's arithmetic, Olney's geography and Kirkham's grammar (the author of which fell a victim to intemperance and died in a Cincinnati stillhouse); hence the course of study was orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar and geography.
Orthography was the first great principle of education, for the people in those days were of the opinion that no one could ever become a good reader or a good scholar unless he was a good speller, and, as a consequence, children who were ambitious to become good scholars and noted and honorable men and women, were ambitious to become good spellers ; and no higher honor could be bestowed upon a girl or boy than to say they were the best spellers in the neighborhood. Spelling-schools or spelling-matches-who of us don't remem- ber them ?- were frequent. But why distress old-fogy minds by recalling those happy days, when they used to meet at the old log schoolhouses, choose their captains (the best spellers), who used to toss up the " master's ruler " for " first choice," and then "choose up" their lieutenants, commencing with the
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
ones they regarded as the best spellers, or, more likely, the prettiest girls without regard to their orthographical excellence, and so on until all the boys and girls were arranged on benches on opposite sides of the house. Then the fun com- menced. The "master" "gave out" the words from side to side. How quickly a "missed " word would be caught up! Those were happy days, and days that are sacred in the memory of the gray-haired fathers and mothers who took part in the exercises. It would be a pleasing reflection to them if their children, their children's children, and the children of their neighbors were permitted by the modern system of education to indulge in the same kind of old-fashioned orthographical exercises.
The school system of the spelling-school period, and even up until within a few years ago, in many localities, was fully described in the backwoods vernacular of "Pete Jones," in Eggleston's " Hoosier Schoolmaster," "lickin' and larnin'," the "lickin' " being the indispensable requisite. The perfect or ideal teacher of those days was a man of strong, muscular development, with an imperious frown, a sonorous voice charged with terror, punctual in bringing "hickories" into the schoolhouse, and a liberal disposition to frequently use them as back applications.
But all these things are changed now. A log schoolhouse in Iowa is a rarity. Their places are filled with handsome frame or brick structures. The rude furniture has given way to seats and desks combined. The old books have followed the old teachers into retirement, and both are superseded by others of greater pretensions. The old spelling-classes and spelling-matches have fol- lowed the old log schoolhouses until they are only remembered in name.
Of her school system, Iowa can justly boast. It is a pride and a credit to the people by whom it is maintained.
While the State has extended such fostering care to the interests of educa- tion, the several counties into which the "Forty-Mile Strip " has been divided, have been no less zealous and watchful in the management of this vital interest, and Lee County forms no exception to the rule. The schoolhouses and their furnishings are in full keeping with the spirit of the laws that provide for their maintenance and support. The teachers rank high among the other thousands of teachers in the State, and the several County Superintendents. since the office of Superintendent was made a part of the school system, have been chosen with special reference to their fitness for the position.
The present Superintendent of County Schools is W. J. Medes, who was first elected in November, 1876, and re-elected in October, 1878.
The following statistics are compiled from Mr. Medes' last report to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction :
Number of males between five and twenty-one years of age 7,206
Number of females between the ages of five and twenty-one years. 7,174
Total
14,380
Number of Independent Districts in county
65
Number of subdistricts
48
Total number of Districts. 113
Average number of months taught.
7.23
Number of male teachers employed.
89
Number of female teachers employed
178
Total 267
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
Number of scholars enrolled.
8,208
Total average attendance. 5,330
Number of frame schoolhouses 69
Number of brick schoolhouses. 35
Number of stone schoolhouses 11
1
Number of log schoolhouses
Total
119
Total valuation of schoolhouses.
$245,590
PIONEER LAWYERS.
The members of the Old Settlers' Society of Lee County are divided into two classes. Those who settled in the county prior to July 1, 1840, are termed Pioneers, and those who came subsequent to the pioneer age and before the 28th day of December, 1846, the date when Iowa became a State, are called Old Settlers. The legal profession was represented, in the pioneer period, by some of the most gifted men that ever claimed a home in the Hawkeye State. They were men every way calculated to adorn any society, and, by their brill- iant attainments, energy and enterprise, made names in the early settlement of the State and county of their adoption that are almost as familiar as household words. They were men of mark, if not one way, then in another, and those of them who remained in the county have been honored above those of any other profession or calling. Some of them have been called to high places of trust, honor and confidence, and the genius of their minds has been unfadingly impressed upon whatever they have touched. A tribute to the memory and worth of these men will not be out of place.
HENRY S. AUSTIN
came to Lee County and settled at Montrose in 1837. He was the legal repre- sentative and attorney for the New York Land Company, which had been organized for the purpose of speculating in Half-Breed lands. He was well edu- cated in general literature, and esteemed to be equally learned in the profession of the law, although he never represented any case of importance in any of the courts of the county-so that it is impossible for the writer to speak of his abilities as an advocate or in the management of law cases. He removed from Iowa some time in 1838, and now resides at Chicago.
EDWARD JOHNSTONE.
Mr. Johnstone came to Lee County in July, 1837, and settled at Fort Madison, where he engaged in the practice of the law for twelve or fourteen years. During that time, he made but few speeches at the bar, seeming to have a reluctance to engage in forensic discussions. But he was learned in his profession, drew pleadings with neatness and dispatch, and was elegant in speech and massive in argument. In 1852, he was elected County Judge of Lee County, and, after his term of judgeship expired, he did not return to the bar, but went into the banking business, in which he is still engaged. Judge Johnstone is a man of stalwart proportions, physically and intellectually. He stands six feet four inches high, and weighs two hundred and fifty pounds-a . weight from which he has not varied ten pounds in the last twenty years. He possesses a frank, open countenance, and is that type of man whose very pres- ence will inspire confidence and respect. As orator or writer, upon whatever
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
subject, he is graceful, easy and dignified. As a conversationalist, he has no superiors.
PHILIP VIELE.
Judge Viele is a native of New York, where he served eight years as Judge before he came to Lee County, and hung out his " law-shingle" at Fort Madi- son in 1837. As a speaker, he always excelled. His oratory was of the florid and animated style; his periods were elegantly rounded, and often, especially when excited, indulged in severe thrusts of humor and repartee. He had been favored with a good academic education at Union College, New York, and for his suavity and personal address he came to be known over the West as the " Chesterfield of Iowa." His knowledge of law never equaled his powers of oratory. Judge Viele retired from the practice of the law about 1848, and he now lives in dignified ease and retirement, in the eightieth year of his age, at his beautiful home at Fort Madison.
ALFRED RICH.
This gifted son of Kentucky was educated at Augusta College, in that State. He went from Kentucky to Texas, and came from Texas to Fort Madi- son in 1837. He was learned in law, and was good in the management of law- cases. His addresses were marked with such candor and gentleness that he was almost irresistible before a jury, and frequently had the audience all on his side, no matter what the cause.
A more particular account of his debut as a lawyer will be found elsewhere. He was a victim of consumption, and, after vainly seeking relief in Cuba, returned to Kentucky where he died in 1843.
HENRY ENO.
Eno, a native of New York, also came to Iowa in 1837. He was highly learned in general literature and reasonably well versed in law, but he seemed to dislike its practice and labors, and would quit a law-book at any moment to examine a specimen of geology, or to go into a garden to examine and enjoy the color and fragrance of a new-blown rose. He left Iowa and went to Cali- fornia in 1848, and still resides there. He was once elected a Judge there, and, perhaps, still holds that position.
HUGH T. REID.
The subject of this paragraph was a native of the State of Indiana, where he received a thorough academic education, and then went through a regular course of law study. He came to Iowa in 1839, and settled at Fort Madison. While he was a well-read lawyer, with an excellent understanding of its gen- eral principles, he was not a smooth or eloquent speaker in presenting argu- ments. His mind was eminently practical, and he had but few superiors in the management of law cases, and presented cases to a jury with great energy and effectiveness. He remained in the active practice of law until about 1852, when he abandoned the profession and gave his attention to land speculations. When the war of the rebellion came on, he volunteered in the Union army, and served three years in the line of duty, and was brevetted a Brigadier Gen- . eral for services in the field. He died in Keokuk August 21, 1874.
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