USA > Iowa > Wapello County > The history of Wapello County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics history of the Northwest, history of Iowa > Part 59
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On March 9, 1863, the Board met again. This meeting was an important one and drove the stake to which the future substantial educational features of Ottumwa were moored. Thus, inasmuch as the Board voted that a schoolhouse should be built, and instead of the children being subjected to a toting about from pillar to post at the pleasure of church trustees or some one else, who might at any moment refuse their portals for the purpose of affording the car- rying-out of educational plans, the growing village of Ottumwa was to have an establishment dignified with the title of educational institution. And to cap this climax of accomplishments, "Mr. G. Gillaspy moved that the Board be instructed to locate the schoolhouse on College Square. Carried by 120 to 15." It was decided that a tax of one-half of one per cent should be levied for school purposes. After which the names that follow were set down as being the choice of the meeting for officers for the year to come : W. J. Ross, Pres-
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ident; J. C. Fisher, Vice President; Timothy Riordan, Secretary; A. M. Bonnifield, Treasurer; T. J. Holmes, Director.
The meeting of the following year was March 14, 1864. The only bus- iness done was the election of officers. There were 277 ballots cast. The result was: President, Dr. C. C. Warden; Vice President, William Daggett ; Treasurer, James Hawley; Secretary, James T. Hackworth; Director, Charles F. Blake.
The meeting of March 13, 1865, was merely for the election of officers, and, with the exception of Director, which honor was assigned to William J. Ross, the officers remained unchanged.
The result of the meeting of March 12, 1866, was the same as the two pre- vious, this time F. Arthur being elected Director.
At the meeting of March 11, 1869, the solid "business" of the Board began. The financial reports began to come in, the first report being for the year 1863. The total expenditures of that year were $621.73. In this year, the excavation and first work on the building were commenced. The next year, the expenses began to multiply, and at the close of 365 days the district had expended $11.825.98 for various purposes, among which was $15 "for legal opinion on right to build on . College Square.'" In 1865, the Board laid out $13,208.49. This was the height of expenditures, for in the next year, 1866, the figures fell off to $2,087.50. The total cost of the building and furnishing had now amounted to $28,818.57. Of this, $20,600 had been borrowed. The report says ; "The district is now in debt, on building account, about $2,860; to teachers, to April 1, 1867, $1,380; all other debts, to April 1, 1867, will be about $156; probable total debt, on April 1, 1867, $4,390. There is now in the treasury $929.06." The report of the total cost of the school, from September 3, 1866, to the close of the term of April 1, 1867, was $4,288.75. For the entire year, $5,800 to $6,000. It was decided that a tax of 2} mills on the dollar be levied on taxable property of the district for the schoolhouse fund, and 2} mills for the teachers' fund. The election of officers followed, the President being Dr. C. C. Warden ; Vice President, J. M. Hedrick ; Secre- tary, S. B. Thrall ; Treasurer, James Hawley ; Director, J. C. Hinsey.
The coming together of the Board on March 9, 1868, was an event of im- portance. The report of the Treasurer showed that $4,269.23 had been expended. This for schoolhouse improvements. The cost of the schools for the ten months had been $7,600, a total of $11,869.23.
There were now thirteen teachers employed by the district, this including the Principal, the total pay of the teachers being $670 per month. A motion was made "to levy 1 mill schoolhouse tax." The affirmative vote was 55 to 24 against. A tax of 23 mills for teachers' fund was recommended, and a decisive vote taken in favor of the levy. The election of officers came next, as follows : Dr. C. C. Warden, President ; H. Bross, Vice President ; D. W. Power, Secretary ; James Hawley, Sr., Treasurer; Charles Lawrence, Director.
The thirteenth vearly meeting was held March 8, 1869. A levy of a ¿- mill tax for schoolhouse purposes was voted upon and carried. The report of the expenditures for the year past showed that a total of $11,312.64 had been paid out. The election of officers resulted as follows : Dr. S. B. Thrall, President; William L. Orr, Vice President; J. H. Merrill, Treasurer ; O. Tower, Secretary ; J. W. Edgerly, Director.
Again the Board met March 14, 1870. The subject of building a school- house in the northwest portion of the district came up, and the Board, on final
John C. Fijar OTTUMWA
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motion of Dr. C. C. Warden, resolved to buy a lot suitable and build a school- house, the cost of the house, exclusive of the lot and furniture, not to exceed $5,000. The financial report was listened to. There had been an outlay of $9,089.98 for the ten months. The election of officers put into positions : Herman Bross, President; A. H. Hamilton, Vice President ; S. B. Thrall, Treasurer ; W. L. Orr, Secretary ; J. W. Edgerly, Director.
The next yearly meeting, March 13, 1871, was ushered in with the usual reports, a reading of the expense report, which amounted to $11,103.49, and the levy of 1 mill tax for the building of a schoolhouse in the west side of the district. The following School Directors were elected : Dr. William L. Orr, Dr. C. C. Warden.
March 11, 1872. at the annual meeting, it was ascertained that, according to the finance report read, the expenditures for the year had been $16,267.84. Two Directors, L. M. Godley and G. F. Knight, were elected, and the Board adjourned.
March 10, 1873, the meeting was called. The expenses for the year had been $14,512.45; receipts, $12,801.02. The election of officers followed. For President, J. W. Edgerly ; Treasurer, George Haw; Director, for one year, W. W. Pollard ; two Directors for three years, Fred. Arthur, Oliver C. Graves.
A yearly meeting was held March 9, 1874. A total of $18,625.03 had been the receipts, and $14,629.13 the expenditures for the year. The election came after. J. W. Edgerly, Dr. S. B. Thrall, were made Directors for three years each, and Dr. J. Williamson for two years.
On March 9, 1875, the Board met again. The receipts for the year had been $12,453.06 ; the expenditures, $14,524.95. J. H. Merrill and W. T. Harper were elected Directors. A vote was taken on school bonds, there being 396 ballots for and 142 against.
The meeting of March 13, 1876, was important. It was decided that $6,000 of bonds should be issued, payable in three years. The receipts for the year were $23,325.70; the expenditures were $31,140.79. The debt of the district at that time was $18,561.10, as shown by the report. W. B. Armstrong and W. H. Fetzer were elected Directors.
March 12, 1877, a meeting was held, and the reports showed that the year's receipts had been $27,387.81, and the expenses $22,337.11. J. W. Edgerly and Alfred Lotspeich were elected Directors.
The last meeting was held March 11, 1878. During the past year there has been $25,332.15 received into the treasury, and $25,332.15 paid out. The bonded debt as it now stands is $11,000 ; outstanding orders, $7,000; making the district's total debt $18,000. The following officers now constitute the Board: J. W. Edgerly, President ; W. E. Chambers, Vice President ; C. F. Blake, Secretary ; A. W. Stuart, Superintendent ; Directors, J. H. Merrill, W. T. Harper, W. B. Armstrong, J. W. Edgerly, Jacob Chilton. There are now three public school edifices at Ottumwa. The High School department is in the Adams School. That division employs 5 teachers (including Superintend- ent) ; Adams School, 10 teachers ; Lincoln School, 6 teachers ; Douglas School, 6 teachers-making a total of 27 teachers.
With the completion of the Adams Schoolhouse, the present system of Ottumwa may be said properly to have begun. Previous to that the schools were scattered over town, with different teachers, and under as many different systems as there were teachers. There was no superintendent, or recognized head of schools. At the opening of the Adams building, Dr. Warden was
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President of the Board. He was a man much interested in school work, and a man universally recognized as a prudent and economical business man. And for this reason he was able to carry forward many reforms in the school manage- ment, which might have failed if undertaken by others.
At this time, Mr. L. M. Hastings was chosen Superintendent. He had had considerable experience in school work, was an excellent organizer and disci- plinarian, as well as devoted to his work. He was continued as Superintendent until 1873.
Object-teaching was then attracting considerable attention, and the Board, not to be behind others, sent to Oswego, N. Y., and secured the services of Miss Pride, a graduate of the school there. She opened a school here in which the pupils were instructed according to the object method, and also gave instruction to a class of other teachers, who wished to be instructed in the new plan. This method is still continued in a degree in the present schools, and has been found of great benefit. Miss Pride was succeeded by Miss Ennis in this department, and she, in turn, by Miss Reeder and Miss Spaulding.
Prof. Wilson Palmer succeeded Mr. Hastings as Superintendent, in 1873, when he resigned, and the Board elected Prof. A. W. Stuart, who holds that office at the present time.
The Presidents of the Board, since its organization as an independent dis- trict, have been : T. C. Woodward, 1859 to 1862; W. J. Ross, 1862 to 1864 ; C. C. Warden, 1864 to 1869 ; S. B. Thrall. 1869 to 1871; C. C. Warden, 1871 to 1872; J. W. Edgerly, 1872 to the present time.
The schools of Ottumwa take a high rank among the schools of Iowa, as well as among those of the Western States. The Superintendents have been men of high rank in their profession, and they have been aided by a corps of teachers as good as could be procured. Special teachers are supplied to teach music and German. The High School especially is worthy of praise. The requirements for admission there are very nearly the same as for corresponding schools in Chicago and St. Louis.
OTTUMWA BUSINESS COLLEGE.
This school was established in June, 1871, by W. C. Caldwell and J. W. Oldham. They began with only one student, but were determined to succeed in introducing a practical educational institution. In 1872, Mr. Caldwell bought the interest of Mr. Oldham, and added a telegraphic department. In 1874, Mr. C. sold out to Messrs. Fugate & Thompson, who greatly increased the business. The College is an established concern, and is steadily growing in popular favor. The rooms are over the post office, on Main street. It is now conducted by Messrs. Strong & Shafer.
OTTUMWA PUBLIC LIBRARY.
A stock library was organized in March, 1572, by several prominent gentle- men of the city, among them being E. S. Sheffield, W. E. Chambers, E. Faw- cett, J. C. Osgood and Rev. H. Bross. The first officers now are: Samuel Mahon, President ; Rev. H. B. Knight, Vice President; J. W. Edgerly, Sec- retary ; W. A. McGrew, Treasurer, and Miss Emma Daum, Librarian. There are 2,000 volumes in the library, all carefully chosen. This is in addition to all pamphlets and documents. The stock is placed at $2,000, and persons are entitled to the privileges of the Library by the payment of an annual fee of $3.
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CHURCHES.
The First Minister of the Gospel .- Mr. Spaulding came to Agency in 1843, probably in the fall, but the exact date is not obtainable. He was a graduate of Andover Theological Seminary, and was one of a party of young men who were sent out as missionaries in 1843, under the auspices of the Con- gregational Church. The men were known as the Iowa Band. Mr. Spaul- ding was an able, devoted man, and one who was able to appreciate the situation in which his duty placed him.
In recognition of the influence exerted over the new society in Wapello County in those early days, and in the later ones, as well, no more agreeable task has fallen to the historian's lot than that of recording the biographical sketch. here briefly given, of Mr. Spaulding.
There was probably no one of the early settlers of Wapello County who, while living, occupied a higher place in the confidence and hearts of the people than did this pioneer clergyman. He was a man of singular simplicity and purity of character, a Christian in thought and deed. As the first Pastor of the Congregational Church of Ottumwa, he labored nobly for the good of his Society and the welfare of the whole community.
He was born January 20, 1815, at Billerica, Middlesex Co., Mass. ; the eldest son of Sampson and Susannah Spaulding. His mother's maiden name was Skinner. There were ten children in the family, of which he was the fifth. In his early youth. he prepared his mind for college, and attended Philips Academy, at Andover, and Yale and Harvard Colleges successively, graduating from the latter in 1840. From Harvard he went to the Andover Theological Seminary and remained through a full course of three years. At the age of twenty, he experienced religion, and thenceforth trained his mind to the one end of entering the ministry.
Of the class to which he belonged at Andover, eleven decided to devote themselves to missionary work, and selected the Territory of Iowa as the field of their future operations. They met at Buffalo, N. Y., October 5, 1843; went from there to Chicago by way of the lakes, and from there to Denmark, Iowa, by private conveyance. The "Iowa Band," as the young missionaries were called, was ordained on the 2d of November, 1843. The names of some of this devoted band, and the stations then assigned to them, are obtainable and are given a place in these records : Rev. B. A. Spaulding, Wapello County ; Rev. Harvey Adams, Farmington and Bentonsport, Van Buren County : Rev. William A. Thompson, Troy, Davis County ; Rev. E. Adams, Henry County ; Rev. Horace Hutchinson, Burlington ; Rev. A. B. Robbins, Muscatine ; Rev. Ebenezer Alden, Cedar and Johnson Counties ; Rev. William Salter, Andrew, Jackson County ; Rev. E. B. Turner, Cascade, Jones County.
Mr. Spaulding came to Agency in the fall of 1843, having received his instructions as a missionary of the Home Missionary Society, at Andover, Mass., Sunday evening, September 3, 1843. As has been said. he was assigned to duty in Wapello County, on the 2d of November, and probably entered upon the work prior to the middle of that month.
The exact date of Mr. Spaulding's arrival in Ottumwa. is also forgotten, although the incident is vividly remembered by Dr. Warden and others. Dr. Warden thinks it was in the spring of 1844, as he was then boarding at the Ottumwa House, kept by David Hall, and Mr. Spaulding came to the tavern. The probabilities of a new country supporting a clergyman so aroused the Doctor's calculating faculties, that the event of the missionary's arrival is
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fixed permanently in his mind. Mr. Spaulding remained in Ottumwa perma- nently, after that time, preaching in log houses or wherever he could obtain suit- able, or even endurable places. Dr. Warden humorously remarks that Mr. Spaulding went about hunting for Congregationalists, and as Sewell Kenny and wife were the only ones in Ottumwa, in 1844, it probably proved a grand field for research after they were discovered. Mrs. Kenny died in the summer of 1844, and Mr. Kenny moved away soon afterward, thus diminishing the membership of the society to as low an ebb as the first white settler found it.
In 1844, a church was formed at Agency, by Mr. Spaulding, with Mrs. Coggswell and several of the Street family members.
Mr. Spaulding was married to Ann N. Norris, April 5, 1847.
The Congregational Church of Ottumwa was organized February 15, 1846, with eight members : Bela White, Samuel S. Norris, Anna N. Norris, Julia M. Norris, Peter Barnett, Mrs. P. Barnett, Mrs. David P. Smith. Mr. Spaulding was the Pastor from the first. For many years, he was the recipient of a sum of money from the Home Mission Society.
Lot 151 on Court street, between Second and Third, was purchased. A church edifice, 28x36, was commenced in 1849, and completed in 1850, at a cost, for building and furnishing, of $1,018.49. An uncouth square tower was erected at the rear end, at first for a belfry, but several years after it was pulled down, and a neat spire erected on the front part of the church. Shortly after the church was built, a bell was purchased and placed in the belfry, and for several years it was the only bell in the place. At the time of the taking-down of the belfry, twenty feet were added to the rear of the church. Until the completion of the new Court House, the church was used for various public purposes, beside the religious services of the society, it being the only suitable building in the place. Public meetings were held in it; a school was taught in it one year; the District Court held its spring session of 1854 in it, being smoked out of the Court House.
On the 26th of September, 1853, the Church became a legal body, by the adoption of Articles of Incorporation, under the name of the Ottumwa Congre- gational Church. The following persons were named in the instrument : S. S. Norris, B. A. Spaulding, W. H. Cripps, John Hite, Luther Hite, Lewis Leib, John Humphreys, J. Williamson and Joseph H. D. Street.
The membership of the Church has steadily increased from the beginning, but owing to deaths and removals, it has continued small. Mr. Spaulding was Pastor twenty-two years. He was a finished scholar, an honest man, a good neighbor and an able preacher; his ministry was acceptable and productive of results that will always be manifest in the Church. His domestic life was pecul- iarly happy, and the hospitality of his home was unbounded ; the journeying brother always found his latch-string out. At an early day, he purchased half a block, bounded by College, Second and Union streets, six lots in all, and built on the lot at the corner of College andl Second streets, where he resided many years, until about 1864, when he sold the property to Mr. J. G. Baker, and built on a forty-acre lot, a mile east of town. He resigned the pastorate in 1863. After this, he preached a year in Eau Claire, Wis., and, on his return, was elected County Superintendent of Schools, a position he held at the time of his death, March 31, 1867.
Mr. Spaulding's funeral sermon was preached by Rev. William Salter, of Burlington, a classmate of his in the Seminary, one of the " Iowa Band," and a warm personal friend.
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As an indication of the character of the Congregational society, we quote from the records of 1854, the following resolution :
Resolved, That neither slave-holders nor the apologists of slave-holding, shall be received to membership in this church.
This was adopted at a time when Antislavery sentiments ostracized a man, and when, especially so near the Missouri border, the entertainment of them was not only unpopular but dangerous. In them one can discern the radical hand of Dr. J. Williamson, who has lived to see a prayed-for change in public belief.
The Congregational Church has been under the pastoral charge of the fol- lowing clergymen : Rev. B. A. Spaulding, founder of the society, as shown in the foregoing pages ; Rev. Elias Clark, who came in October, 1863, and served as a supply until October, 1864; Rev. Simeon Brown, Pastor from October, 1864, to the time of his death, which occurred February 16, 1867 ; Rev. Her- man Bross, Pastor from May, 1867, until August, 1873; Rev. Orlando Clark, who served as supply from October, 1873, to October, 1874; Rev. J. W. Healy, D. D., Pastor from October, 1876, until October, 1878; Rev. R. M. Thompson, the present Pastor, who began his labors here in November, 1878.
The church edifice now owned by this society is one which elicits praise from all who see it. When the old church on Court street became too small, that property was sold and the proceeds applied toward the erection of the present structure on Fourth street, upon a site donated by Mr. Seth Richards. The designs of Benjamin J. Bartlett, architect, of Chicago, were accepted, and the work begun in 1875. The total cost of the property was $21,000. The inside decorations were the work of Almini, of Chicago, and are exceedingly artistic. The building stands upon the upper side of the street, facing the bus- iness part of town, and is constructed of brick. The style of architecture is a modification of the Gothic order, which is so peculiarly acceptable in houses of worship. The abrupt elevation upon which the church stands permits of a semi-basement lecture-room, with side-rooms hallway and ample kitchen accom- modations. The social life of a society is one of the most essential elements of vigor, and is properly provided for in this instance. The main floor is reached by two entrances, and the audience-room is one of the most pleasing that we have found in Iowa. The rostrum and choir are at the side, and the seats arranged in semi-circular form. Ample windows of stained glass flood the room with subdued light from the right of the speaker, or the front of the building, and also from the side opposite the desk. At the speaker's left, is a room for minor meetings, which can be made a part of the audience room by the sliding of large doors. When combined, these rooms give a seating capacity of 600. From the side hallway and from the council-room the Pastor's study is reached. All of the upper floor is carpeted with a shade grateful to the eye, while the main seats are uniformly upholstered in brown rep and crimson velvet. There is a graceful harmony of lines in the ceiling, which is constructed on a combined plan of the groined and hammer-beamed roofs. The frescoing is of a cheerful, modern style, in which bright colors relieve neutral tints to good effect. There is nothing puritanical or chilling about the edifice, but a sense of comfort and warmth pervades all. But above these many excellent features in importance is the perfectness of the acoustic properties of the audience-room. The archi- tect made a grand hit when he devised the lines and angles. It is one of the best rooms to speak in that can be found in the West. Take it for all in all, the church is a little gem, and the slight incumbrance still resting on it will be easily removed under the direction of so worthy and efficient a gentleman as the Pastor now in charge.
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The Presbyterian Church .- The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church improved the occasion of the Centennial of American Independence, and authorized the preparation of church histories, to the end that the begin- ning, growth and present condition of the various churches might be perma- nently recorded. Under such authority, Rev. H. B. Knight, Pastor in charge of the Ottumwa Presbyterian Church, delivered the following address, Decem- ber 24, 1876. We have omitted only such portions as relate to general church progress, but have preserved all that refers to the individual society concerned in this paper.
" Opening the sessional records, there is on the first page the following minute :
The Committee appointed to organize a Presbyterian Church in Ottumwa, viz., Rev. L. G. Bell and Rev. S. C. McCune, met December 21, 1853, and occupied themselves in exploring cer- tain portions of the county and in preaching the Word, until Saturday, December 24, when, at the hour of 11, the congregation met, and after a sermon by Rev. S. C. McCune, from Timothy, iv, 14, and prayer, certificates from other Churches were presented by the following persons : Dr. W. L. Orr, John Hite, Rebecca Hite, Luther Hite, Elizabeth Hite. Hannah Hoover, John M. Taylor, Sarah Taylor, Rebecca Brown, Charles Brown, Jonathan Heckard, Harriet Heckard, Elizabeth Carmen, Martha Gray, Mary Davis, Sarah Moyer, Lucy A. Sloan.
The following-named persons were received by the Committee upon profession of their faith, viz., Ann Billman, Sarah L. Mudge, Daniel Hoover.
" Then follows a record of the election, ordination and installation of three Ruling Elders, viz .: W. L. Orr, M. D., John Hite and John M. Taylor, after which the Presbyterian Church of Ottumwa was declared duly organized.
" On the following day, Michael Heckard and Mary M., his wife, were received on certificate. Thus the Church consisted, originally, of twenty- three members. Of this number but two, Dr. W. L. Orr and Mrs. Sarah L. Mudge, lived in town.
" The life thus commenced was sustained by toil, self-denial, prayer, heart, brain, and all the choicest treasures of the human soul. Those who engaged in this enterprise had a definite purpose before them, as is well expressed in the Articles of Incorporation : 'To promote the Christian religion in its doctrine, government, discipline and worship, as these are set forth in the book entitled, The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.'
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