USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics &c > Part 49
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COUNTY FUND.
Warrants for 1868
$ 9.70
Warrants for 1869
11.95
Warrants for 1870
7.84
Warrants for 1871
2.50
Warrants for 1872
...
Warrants for 1873
8.50
Warrants for 1874
...
Warrants for 1875
6.00
Warrants for 1876
4.75
Warrants for 1877
2,415.45
Warrants for 1878
8,202.78
Total county warrants
$10,769.49
Bonds, third issue.
12,000.00
Amount overpaid on county fund
916.72
Total county fund
$23,686.21
Poor farm warrants ..
6.17
Warrants on school fund
5,736.07
Warrants on bridge fund
3,736.89
Amount overpaid on bridge fund
716.38
Total indebtedness
$33,881.72
.
393
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
RELIGIOUS.
You raised these hallowed walls; the desert smiled, And Paradise was opened in the wild .- Pope.
The first settlement of the county was scarcely completed before the servants of the Lord were at work in the new vineyard. Within the last fifty years the agents of the Christian religion have been tanght and trained to accompany the first advance of civilization, and such was their advent here. In the rnde cabins and huts of the pioneers they proclaimed the same gospel that is preached in the gorgeous palaces that, under the name of churches, decorate the great cities. It was the same gospel, but the surroundings made it appear different, in the effect produced, at least.
The Christian religion had its rise, and the days of its purest practice, among an humble, simple-minded people, and it is among similar surround- ings in modern times that it seems to approach the purity of its source. This is the best shown in the days of pioneer life. It is true, indeed, that in succeeding times 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 pioneer 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 the Christian faith-the placing of spiritual things above vain pomp and show-appear more earnest amid the simple life and toil of a pioneer people than it can when surrounded with the splendors of wealth and fashion. But we may take a comparison less wide, and instead of con- trasting the Christian appearances of a great city with that of the pioneers, we may compare that of thirty years ago here in the West with that in the present time of moderately developed wealth and taste for display, and we find much of the same result.
The comparison is, perhaps, superficial to some extent, and does not fully weigh the elements 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 early religious meetings in the log cabins we may say: " Here was a faith, earnest and simple, like that of the early Christian."
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 in the shade of the cabin or under the branches of a tree, and here the Word would be expounded and a song of Zion sung. The first preacher in the county was, probably, Ezra Rathbun, a Methodist. This was probably as early as 1847. George W. Teas and V. P. Fink came from Des Moines and held meetings at the houses of the settlers in 1849. The Methodists were the pioneers, and for a short time they had the only religions organization in the county.
The first Methodist church, the first of any kind in Warren county, was . organized in Indianola in the summer of 1850. At that time all of the State of Iowa was included in one conference, and Indianola formed a part of the Three Rivers Mission, Iowa City District, Iowa Conference. Rev. Andrew Coleman was presiding elder of the district, and Rev. G. W. Teas, preacher in charge of the Mission. Three Rivers Mission included the following appointments, located in Madison, Warren and Polk counties, viz: Linden's, Laverty's, Allcock's, Smith's, Fleming's, Winterset and
394
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Linn Grove. The records of the first quarterly conference of this year are lost, but at the third, Felter's appointment and Indianola had been added to the Mission. In September, 1850, Rev David Worthington, now gone to his reward, was appointed presiding elder of the district, and the pas- toral charge of the Mission was supplied by Rev. V. P. Fink, a local preacher belonging to the Mission.
At the session of the Iowa conference, in 1851, Rev. James Hayden was appointed presiding elder of Ft. Des Moines district, and Rev. D. T. Sweem, pastor of Three Rivers Mission.
Rev. Geo. W. Teas, the first Methodist preacher, was something of a character. He had the affectation, withont the reality of learning, and had not that positiveness of character, which generally characterized the early adherents of Methodism. At one time he left the Methodists, and joined some other denomination, emphasizing his departure with the following couplet :
"Let the news spread from shore to shore, That Geo. W. Teas is a Methodist no more."
It was only a short time, however, until he returned to the fold, and then some brother celebrated this event by supplying this couplet to complete the stanza:
"Let the news spread from Georgia to Maine, That Geo. W. Teas is a Methodist again." 4
Teas came from New London, Henry county, and gave most of his time to the early religious work in this section of the new settlements.
The first organized Methodist church in the county was at Laverty's in 1850, and was really the foundation of that church, as at present constituted in the county with its great strength of membership, and large number of church buildings.
In Winterset all the early religious services were held in the old court- house.
The Methodist church in Indianola was organized in 1850, and the pres- ent church building erected in 1855.
The Presbyterians began their work in the county in 1848. The servi- ces were conducted by Rev. Thompson Bird, of Des Moines, at the resi- dence of Boston I. Taylor, about two miles north of Hartford. The servi- ces were changed to the village, after it was laid out in 1849.
The Baptists founded churches at rather an early day, in the neighbor- hood of Carlisle and Hartford.
Other denominations followed rapidly as the settlement increased, and the time of the organization of each separate church will be more fully de- veloped in the history of each town or township, in the county, to where it more properly belongs.
EDUCATIONAL.
The schools of the county are sharing with the contents of the news- boy's bundle the title of universities of the poor. A close observation of the working of the public schools shows that if the induction of facts be complete, it could be demonstrated that the public schools turn out more better fitted for business, and for usefulness, than most of our colleges.
395
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
The freedom and liberty of our public schools, affords less room for the growth of effeminacy and pedantry; it educates the youth among the people, and not among a caste or class, and since the man or woman is called upon to do with a nation in which the people are the only factor, the education which the common schools afford, especially where they are of the superior standard reached in this county, do fit their recipients for a sphere of usefulness nearer the public heart than can be attained by private schools or academies.
Warren county educational affairs are in a flourishing condition. The contrast between the settler's school and the present accommodations has been marked. The puncheon floor and desks, and doorless aperture for en- trance, have given place to more finished edifices, in some cases elegant ones, possibly not more thoroughly ventilated, but more comfortably so.
The county has now become well supplied with comfortable, commodi- ous school-honses, and good schools are being taught in all the townships and towns, sufficiently numerous and convenient for the accommodation of all parts of the county. Educational interests have been considered as of the highest importance by the majority of the citizens, and means and ef- forts have not been spared to make their public schools a success; and un- der the efficient management of the present county superintendent the schools and educational interests in the county are attaining a high standard.
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 frequent occurrence, and are well attended by those who take a special in- terest in the work. The superintendents' examination grade is now of such a standard that all applicants do not attain it, and for those who are suc- cessful, after diligent study and preparation, it shows a much more credit- able standing, besides furnishing a more efficient class of teachers.
The last teachers' institute was held in the chapel of Simpson Cen- tenary College, beginning on the 21st of July, and continuing three weeks. It was conducted by J. D. Hornby, Superintendent of Harrison county, as- sisted by Mrs. M. A. Peck, of Ottumwa. The number of teachers regis- tered was 115, of whom only 29 were males.
The interest was good, and it was by far the best and most profitable insti- tute ever held in the county.
It is interesting to note the growth of the schools of this county, as well as the added interest which accompanies it. From the humble beginning of one school-house, we see one in every neighborhood of the county, ac- comodating every child in its midst, whether it be rich or poor. We, therefore, give below returns for the years 1849, 1859, 1869, 1878, and those for 1879, so far as they have been prepared up to the first of October of this year:
1849.
Number of organized districts. 3
Number of districts unorganized . 5
Number of persons between the ages of 5 and 21 years .. 115
Number of school-houses. 1
Cost of school-house. $ 60
Amount of school fund invested as a loan on real estate. 185
Acres of land sold on credit 240
Amount on hand. $5.00
This was the first report ever made from the county.
396
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
1851.
Number of organized school districts 9
Number of persons of school age
306
Number of schools.
1
Number of days taught. .. 100
Salaries paid teachers per month, male. $17.50
Salaries paid teachers per month, female. 10.00
In 1852, $165 was expended in building school-houses and $7.50 for con- tingent expenses.
1854.
Number of persons of school age 1,079 Amount of permanent school fund apportioned to the county was. .. $763.01.
1859.
Number of sub-districts 76
Number of persons of school age. 4,304
Number of schools
54
Number of teachers. 58
Salary of teachers, males, per week. $13.55
Salary of teachers, female, per week 4.49
Number of days taught 3,941
Amount paid teachers $3,860.65
Amount of teachers' fund in hand of the District treasurer. 1,089.87
Number of school-houses
42
Value of school-houses
$12,052
1869.
Number of district townships and independent districts
21
Number of sub-districts.
106
Number of persons of school age.
6,597
Number of schools.
104
Number of teachers, males 58
Number of teachers, females. 117
Average compensation per week, males
$9.38
Average compensation per week, females 7.00
Aggregate number of days taught. 11,292
Average cost of tuition per week each pupil, winter
24 cts
Average cost of tuition per week each pupil, summer 24 cts
Aggregate amount paid teachers
Number of school-houses. $21,613.30
101
Value.
$60,568
Applicants examined for certificates, males.
68
Applicants examined for certificates, females
98
Number receiving first-class certificates, males
2
Number receiving first-class certificates, females
10
Number receiving second-class certificates, males 44
Number receiving second-class certificates, females 68
John N. Hudenon
399
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
The first report discussing the school interests of the county is for the year 1860-1, by Wesley M. White, county superintendent. He says:
" I herewith submit to yon my annual report of our public schools, from. which yon will see that we believe in progression. I can truly speak en- couragingly of our schools, and of the commendable spirit manifested by our people in the educational interests of the rising generation. I can as- sure you that it is not a small item for the county superintendent to find in his labors for the advancement of schools, that the sympathies of the people are with him in the cause of education. This is worth to him more than all the pecuniary reward which he receives.
" As a general thing, I think the people of this connty are very well satisfied with our school law. Of course, there are a few people whose fault-finding propensities are constitutional, and they are seldom pleased with anything, but this is a class of people whose opinions have but little weight. My observation is, that just in proportion as the people became acquainted with the school law they are in favor of its main features.
"The people of this connty are almost unanimously in favor of giving the county superintendent more work. to do-of his spending all his time in advancing the interests of schools, by conferring with teachers in regard to the best methods of teaching and managing their schools, and encourag- ing the pupils in their respective schools. My observation leads me to say that no feature of the law is more satisfactory than would be an efficient county superintendency. Require the county superintendent to devote all his time in personally superintending our schools and attending to the mat- ters necessarily connected therewitli, and our people will be still better pleased with the school law."
EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS OF WARREN COUNTY FOR 1878.
No. of district townships
6
independent districts
95
« snb-districts. 40
ungraded schools 126
66 graded
5
Average number of months tanght in 1878
67
No. of male teachers employed
114
female ".
158
Average compensation of males, per month
$32.58
females, " 26.11
No. of male pupils between ages of five and twenty-one 66 female 6
4,004
pupils enrolled
6,115
Aggregate attendance. 3,598 cost of tuition per month $1.29
134
66 brick
3
.
Total .. 137
Valne
$96,015
apparatus
3,650
No. of school-houses, frame
1,040
25
400
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS.
No. of professional certificates issued
None
1st grade certificates issued to males.
51
1st
females
2d
2d 66
females
66
3d 66
males
15
3d
females 52
Total number of certificates issned to males.
109
158
No. of applicants examined, males
266
66 rejected, males
32
"
females 58
26
22
No. having no experience, males
females 30
17
¥ 66
females
23
VISITATION OF SCHOOLS, ETC.
No. of Schools visited by the superintendent
62
" cases of appeal decided
1
Compensation of Superintendent.
$843.00
SCHOOL-HOUSE FUND.
On hand at last report.
$ 4,505.90
Received from district tax. .
7,920.31
¥ other sources 2,464.92
Total debit. $ 14,891.13
Paid for school-houses and sites
5,941.72
« on bonds and interests
4,242.68
On hand.
4,127.60
Paid for libraries, apparatus, etc
579.13
Total credit
$ 14,891.31
CONTINGENT FUND.
On hand from last report $ 3,865.25
Received from district tax.
8,236.58
other sources 497.45
Total debit.
$ 12,599.28
40
males
43
females
141
females
Average age of applicants, males
females
23
No. taught less than one year, males
401
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Paid for rent of school-houses and repairs
1,394.90
fuel . . . . .
2,226.89
secretary and treasurer
1,034.00
66 records, apparatus, etc
159.71
other purposes
2,485.75
for insurance
433.09
janitors
418.65
On hand
4,446.29
Total credit
$ 12,599.28
TEACHERS' FUND.
On hand at last report. $ 21,274.92
Received from semi-annual apportionments. 8,860.78
district taxes. 23,398.78
other sources 749.54
Total debit. $ 54,276.00
Paid to teachers
$ 30,445.02
On hand
23,832.00
Total credit
$ 54,276.02
In order to show the improvement which Miss Cooke is making in her department, we append herewith that portion of her report for 1879, which pertains to the examination of teachers and the visitation of schools:
EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS, 1879.
No. of 1st grade certificates issued to males
48
No. of 1st grade certificates issued to females
44
No. of 2d grade certificates issued to males
38
No. of 2d grade certificates issued to females
68
No. of 3d grade certificates, males
9
No. of 3d grade certificates, females.
36
Total number of certificates issued to males
95
Total number of certificates issued to females
148
No. of applicants examined, males.
100
No. of applicants examined, females
178
No. of applicants rejected, males
5
No. of applicants rejected, females
30
Average age of applicants, males
26
Average age of applicants, females. 23
No. having no experience, males 13
No. having no experience, females, 24
No. who have taught less than one year, males 23
No. who have taught less than one year, females 29
402
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
VISITATION OF SCHOOLS, ETC., 1879.
No of schools visited by the superintendent 82 No. of cases of appeal decided . 1
Compensation of superintendent, 1879 $ 876.00
PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND.
Apportionment of permanent school fund, April, 1879. $ 5,662.26 Apportionment of permanent school fund, September, 1879 ... 3,442.05
Total
$ 9,108.31
Amount of principal of school fund invested in Warren Co., about .$ 28,000.00
THE HIGHER EDUCATION. ·
From the very earliest settlement of this county there has always been a desire to accomplish everything possible for forwarding the interests of higher education. For many years, of course, there was neither the popu- lation nor the wealth which could justify the establishment of educational institutions higher than the common school. But, so soon as it became evident that the county was to take a magnificent position from a material point of view, then the demand for better educational facilities than were afforded by the common schools became a positive one, and it was not long until the want was supplied.
The first institution of this order was called the "Indianola Male and Female High School," and from the columns of the Indianola Republican of December 6th, 1855, soon after its publication was begun, we take the following commendatory article of the institution and the higher education generally. The article appears under the name of the institution itself :
"The proprietors of this institution, C. C. Griffith and R. W. Manley, have purchased the building known as the district school-house and town hall, situated on Main street and the State road from Chariton to Ft. Des Moines, and have opened a high school for the reception of scholars of grades, where the entire English course is taught; also, the Latin and Greek languages to those who desire it. The school is conducted at pres- ent by the proprietors. Mr. Griffith is a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and Mr. Manley was also a member of the same institution. They will be assisted, when necessary, by Miss Smith, from Pennsylvania, whose qualifications as an assistant are of the first class. There are at present fifty-two scholars in regular attendance, and an accession of from three to four every week. Besides several classes in each of the primary branches, and arithmetic, geography and English grammar, classes are also formed in the higher branches, such as philosophy, algebra, chemistry, physiology, Latin, etc. A literary society will be formed by the students, where debating, declamation and essay writing will be attended to. Books for students can be obtained at school at Keokuk prices. Ten weeks, or about half of the present term, are expired, so that those wishing to attend this institution would do well to commence soon. We bid success to the institution. We hope that the proprietors will not only be benefitted themselves, in a pecuniary point of view, will not only be remunerated for
-
403
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
the years of labor and toil in preparing their own minds for usefulness, but will eventually build up here on these delightful plains a temple dedicated to knowledge, which shall shed a lustre all around our town and all over our country. It inay be said by some that such institutions will have a tendency to break down the common school system of this country by detracting therefrom the interest of common schools and lending it to higher schools. But we think it is an erroneous idea. Where there is no rivalry there is no enterprise. When one portion of community stands equal or a little in advance of others, they are contented without higher at- tainments, but let there be high schools and seminaries built up throughout the country where there is not only energy, but talent employed, and it will immediately create an interest in the district school department. They will feel that others are trying to excel, hence a spirit of competition will arise, and as a natural consequence our common schools will become more lively, be better supported, and become schools of a higher grade them- selves. It is not to be understood that a high school must neglect first principles, and teach only those who are of the wealthy and nobility. But, on the contrary, where first and last principles can be taught, where high and low, rich and poor, alike may advance hand in hand to the temple of knowledge. Not only has it been the wealthy who has stood high in the literary world, but a vast multitude, who might be enumerated, who have toiled through all the frowns occasioned by poverty, stooped to the mnost servile labor while attending colleges, and now stand in the most promi- nent places in the Union. Therefore, while we express our deepest regard for the prosperity of the common schools, we also look with pleasing an- ticipation upon the establishment of high schools."
This school was kept up only for a few years, and we have been unable to trace the proprietors further in order to know what became of them.
They were succeeded by others, however, and there was probably never a time since that day when Warren county had not some institution repre- senting the higher education.
Upon these foundations, although they have no direct connection with the institution of to-day, have been built the collegiate facilities which are afforded to our people.
INDIANOLA MALE AND FEMALE SEMINARY.
At the first session of the Western Iowa Annual Conference of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, held at Indianola, Warren county, Iowa, on the 22d day of August, A. D. 1860, action was had on a petition presented by a committee appointed by the Quarterly Conference of Indianola, Warren county, Iowa, for a Seminary, to be under the control and patronage of said Conference, and for the election of a joint-board of trustees therefor. Whereupon the Conference did on the fourth day of its session, elect said board of trustees, as follows: E. M. H. Fleming, B. S. Noble, J. C. Read, G. W. Jones, J. W. Bundy, Thomas Thompson, Lewis Todhunter, C. W. Davis, L. E. Silcott, P. Gad Bryan, Albert Randolph, Rev. Sanford Haines, Rev. E. Wood, Rev. H. H. Badley, Rev. E. H. Winans and the Rev. R. S. Robinson.
The Conference also elected three visitors, viz .: Rev. S. Haines, Rev. E. H. Winans, and Rev. E. M. H. Fleming.
The Conference also agreed on their part that so soon as the citizens of
404
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Indianola and vicinity erected suitable buildings, worth at least three thousand dollars, presenting the same to the Conference free from pecuni- ary liability, then the Western Iowa Conference would accept the same.
At the first meeting of the board of trustees, on the 26th of August, 1860, Rev. E. M. H. Fleming was chosen president; B. S. Noble, vice- president; J. C. Read, secretary; and Geo. W. Jones, treasurer.
By the articles of incoporation adopted by the board on the 10th of September, 1860, the institution was called "The Indianola Male and Female Seminary."
At a meeting on January 9, 1861, the committee to select a site for building, reported in favor of that offered by Windle & Jones, in their addition to the town of Indianola, and the report was unanimously adopted.
Prof. E. W. Gray was the first principal, and the school was opened in the fall of 1860, in the old Seminary building on East Main street. Prof .. Gray neglected his duties, and before the close ot the first year left without warning, and the board proceeded to pass resolutions of censure against him.
On the first of August, 1861, Rev. E. H. Winans was unanimously elected principal of the Seminary, with a salary of five hundred dollars a year, and allowed an assistant with a salary of two hundred dollars.
In 1862 the Conference chose the following board of trustees, which the reader will observe was quite a radical change: G. R. Stover, Geo. E. Griffith, G. N. Elliott, J. W. Bundy, J. C. Read, V. P. Fink, Hon. J. H. Gray, James Laverty, Lewis Todhunter, Rev. S. Haines, E. Wood, E. H. Winans, T. Thompson, R. S. Robinson and H. W. Maxwell. Geo. E. Grif- fith was elected president of the board; James Laverty, vice-president; J. C. Read, secretary; and Lewis Todhunter, treasurer; and these, with J. W. Bundy, were to form the executive board.
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