USA > Iowa > Clinton County > Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1 > Part 14
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At the beginning of the school year of 1904, a manual training school was instituted and now a thorough course is offered to the boys in the gram- mar and high schools. At the latter a shop was fitted up with the best of modern benches, tools and machines, the whole costing one thousand two hun- dred dollars. A sewing department was also installed in the grammar school, and a practical course was opened to the girls of this department. This is of invaluable service and usefulness, fitting them, as it necessarily does, for later duties in life.
In 1908 the Manual Training school was built, at a total cost of three thousand five hundred dollars, including equipment. This school is equipped with the very best machinery, tools and other appliances for conducting the work of manual training.
Again, the pupils of the Clinton schools enjoy the great advantage of free text books, which has been in vogue since about 1899. Text books and books of reference have been placed in the schools to the number of nearly fifty thousand volumes. The patrons of public schools in Clinton demand good schools, as a result of good text books and competent instructors. The tax-payer is willing to go to this expense. In 1903 the total cost of the schools in this city was seventy-eight thousand dollars, while at Lyons the amount expended was fifteen thousand dollars. And let it be remembered that during the same year the entire taxes for the city, for all other expenses was only one hundred and one thousand dollars.
The persons who have headed the schools of Clinton, as superintendents, have been, since 1858: Grove P. Jenks, to 1860; William Sanderson, suc- ceeded by Julia A. Titus; H. Grant, of Galena, commenced in 1862; he was followed by Simon Shoecraft; in 1864, came C. H. Leadbetter, succeeded in 1866 by George W. Frost, who served faithfully for four years. In 1870, W. B. Howe, of Sterling, Illinois, was in charge of the schools and in 1871 came Prof. Henry Sabin, who served until January 1, 1888, when R. S. Bingham came and remained until June, 1889. At that date came the present efficient educator, Prof. O. P. Bostwick.
As the county has developed, the various towns, such as De Witt, Camanche, Wheatland, Low Moor, Delmar, Charlotte, Lost Nation and
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Toronto, have each kept fully abreast with the public school system as outlined above and have erected many fine school houses, as the demand was pressed upon them. The last annual report of the county school superintendent shows much relative to these outside schools as well as the city proper.
EARLY SCHOOLS OF CLINTON COUNTY. (By Mrs. Kate Purcell.)
The history of the progress and development of Clinton county can well be traced in the record of her educational achievements. From the very be- ginning the pioneer settlers of Clinton county directed their attention and best efforts towards the organization and maintenance of a substantial school sys- tem, for they realized how absolute was the necessity of procuring for their children some educational advantages, that they might take their place among the workers of the world, and not only be a credit to themselves and their parents, but likewise, an honor to the county in which they were reared.
That this might be accomplished, the early settlers of Clinton county were willing to make, and did make, every sacrifice of time, money and labor : and as a result, Clinton county has today a school system that cannot be sur- passed for efficiency anywhere in the whole state of Iowa.
The first school to open its doors in Clinton county was one built as early as 1838 in the old town of Camanche. The first teacher engaged in this school of pioneer days was Ann Eliza Thomas. It was not a public school in the sense we understand that term today, although any and all the children of that neighborhood might attend its sessions. It was supported by popular subscription.
The school ranking second in point of time in Clinton county was erected about 1840 near Silver Creek, a place about two miles northwest of De Witt. This school house was a crude structure built of logs, and sadly lacking in the conveniences and comforts that are to be found in our modern school build- ings. It began its work with seven pupils who were guided in their instruc- tions by Annie Brown, a very capable teacher. This school was really the first public school in Clinton county.
The first public school opened in the present city of Clinton was conducted in a log house near where the W. J. Young upper mill now stands. It was erected in the winter of 1855-56 and Isaac Baldwin, a broad-minded, public- spirited man, was its first teacher.
The first date of any school being opened in Lyons that anything definite is known of was about the year 1846, although it is probable there were private
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schools maintained at an earlier date, as the population of Lyons at that time was about two hundred. This school was taught by Mr. Goodrich, a very strict disciplinarian. Among the many requirements he exacted of a pupil was one that each pupil before being enrolled as a regular member of the school must take a pledge to abstain from all intoxicating liquors.
All of the early school houses erected were built of logs. The pupils were seated in long benches arranged in rows. The desks were such as were made by a carpenter, if such a person lived in the settlement, and if not, by some handy man who is always to be found in a new community. And a rough table was generally furnished the teacher. The school room was alto- gether devoid of the school apparatus found in the school rooms of today. The water for drinking purposes was obtained from the nearest spring or creek, and strange to say, the school houses were generally built on plots of ground destitute of trees.
The hours of class began at nine A. M. and ended at four P. M., allowing one hour for lunch. The session of school began in the month of September and closed along in March. The care of the school devolved entirely on the teacher. Such work as the building of fires in the winter time, keeping the room in order were among the duties assigned the teacher. In some of the early schools, timepieces were not to be seen, and hours of class were reckoned by the movements of the sun. The course of study embraced reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, grammar and geography.
In those days there were very few, if any, church edifices to be found. Hence it was the custom to use the school houses as places to hold divine services, Sunday school classes, etc. All creeds were welcome to use the school houses for such purposes. The old, old hymns, "Happy Land," "Gather at the River," "I am a Soldier of the Cross," were sung at these services, and the Bible was read and its lessons discussed with much rever- ence and piety. In passing, it is only right and proper to say here that the early settlers of this county were imbued with a deep sense of religious feeling.
Elections and all kinds of township meetings were held in the school houses. There were not many places of amusement in those days and the spelling bees held in all of the early schools were largely attended, and thor- oughly enjoyed. The boys and girls of those days took especial pride in their ability to spell correctly and it was the ambition of the pupils to spell without a mistake every word in Webster's Spelling Book. This thoroughness char- acterized all the branches taught in the early schools.
In addition to the public school mentioned in the above paragraphs there was founded the Catholic parochial school of Lyons as early as 1852. This
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school was conducted in a brick building of two rooms on Fourth street be- tween Main and Pearl streets. This school was an adjunct of St. Iraneaus' parish and began its labors with about twelve pupils. The other Catholic parochial schools of the county were founded some years later, as the different parishes were organized.
In the different German settlements throughout the county there were erected and maintained at private expense schools for the purpose of educating their young and especially for inculcating in the minds of their children a wholesome knowledge of the German language. The Norwegian settlement in Olive township also had a private school as early as 1855.
While it is true that the early school buildings were in every way prim- itive, the course of study simple and the manners of the pupils plain and homely. out of these schools have come men and women who by their energy, public spirit, industry and integrity of character have placed Clinton county in its present prosperous condition. These schools have furnished members for our state Legislature and our national Congress, they have furnished ex- cellent men for our judiciary, but what is still better, they have turned out of their doors hundreds of men and women in all walks of life whose fidelity to home, state and God, though not written in brass, will live on forever.
THE PRESENT-DAY RURAL SCHOOL. (By George E. Farrell, County Superintendent.)
The rural school system of Clinton county now consists of seventeen school township corporations, containing one hundred and thirty-seven sub- districts and twenty-three rural independent districts. These are governed by school boards with a total membership of two hundred and six directors, forty secretaries and forty treasurers, the former elected by the electors of the various districts in March. The boards of the various corporations organize the July following their election by selecting one of their members president, and a secretary and treasurer from outside the board membership. This sys- tem is impractical from the fact of the great number of officers, two hundred and eighty-six in all', who under the law must, with the exception of the secretaries and treasurers, give their services voluntarily.
But one business meeting is held annually, this being required by law .; other meetings may be called, but such are few.
The school population in our rural districts is showing a slight falling off each succeeding year, but the enrollment and regularity in attendance is better on an average than in previous years. This, when it is considered that
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the length of school terms have increased from seven months to nine months, shows a marked increase in school interests.
Rural school property, gradually as new needs are met, is being sup- planted with up-to-date conveniences, modern school buildings, equipments, etc. With few exceptions, Clinton county's one hundred and sixty rural schools are meeting the needs in education so far as it is possible for a one- room rural school to do.
In completeness in equipments, Center township schools lead, followed closely by Elk River and Eden. Several schools in Camanche, Center and Eden townships are supplied with modern heating and ventilating plants. The old plaster and painted board blackboards have given way to slate and hyloplate, the knife-hewn desks to modern seats, the no-maps to up-to-date sets in case, globe, etc.
There is scarcely a rural school but is supplied with an organ. Every school has a fair sized library of well selected books for children, including books of fiction, of travel, reference books, etc. These libraries contain from fifty to three hundred volumes each. Much of the minor equipments in the schools is due to the efforts of the teacher and pupil's in raising funds with which to purchase needed articles. During the year 1909-10 a sum of over .
one thousand two hundred dollars was thus raised and expended.
School house architecture is being given considerable attention, as is shown in districts No. 1, Elk River, No. 2, Orange, No. 3, Brookfield, No. 4 and No. 7, Camanche.
There is a strong feeling in many sections towards consolidation of two or more adjoining small schools, and this is being augmented through the at- tendance of pupils, who have completed the course offered in the rural schools, at town and city schools as tuition pupils, or at private schools where educa- tion in advance of the rural opportunities can be had. The number attending town and city high schools during the school year 1909-10 was one hundred and ninety-six, at a tuition expense alone to their parents of one thousand seven hundred and sixty dollars. This, in addition to the three hundred or more who are attending private schools, is opening the economic question as to the advisability of bringing advanced educational advantages to our rural schools.
The teacher problem in the Clinton county rural schools, not unlike that in other parts of Iowa, is becoming a serious one, due mainly to the following causes : First, boarding inconveniences; second, wage question; third, lack of permanency of positions and the recognition of real meritorious teaching ; fourth, lack of facilities in Iowa for training teachers. The latter is most
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marked in its effect, owing to the numerous beginners who must make their start in our rural schools. Records for the opening of the school year 1910 show thirty-three beginners and forty-two with one year or less experience, with little, if any, preparation for this work. The town and city schools are not so hampered, owing to the elimination of causes number one and three. Teachers of experience will leave country schools for town and city positions, often for less wages.
Under a system of classification, a course of study, including all the com- mon school subjects, combined with elementary courses in music, civics; agri- culture and drawing, is maintained and pupils who complete this course are eligible to the various high school courses. During the years 1906 to 1910 over four hundred pupils were graduated from our rural school course, fully one-half of whom entered other school's for advanced work. :
The teacher's wage question has received an impetus which is fast elim- inating this as a problem in the country. Some ten years since the annual average amount paid our rural teachers was slightly less than two hundred and fifty dollars. The annual report for 1909-10 shows an average of three hundred and forty dollars. But even with this increase, owing to the in- creased regularity in attendance, the average cost for each pupil per month in tuition has shown but a slight increase.
At the present, the opening of the school year 1910-1I, the lowest month- ly wage paid in any rural school is thirty-five dollars and this in but ten schools for the year, the majority of the schools paying forty dollars per month, or three hundred and sixty dollars per year. De Witt township. thirteen schools, pays the highest throughout the township, forty-five dollars per month for nine months; but Elk River, Lincoln, Waterford, and several other rural independent districts are paying on a much better plan, the gradu- ated system, varying from thirty-five dollars for beginners to forty-five dollars and fifty-five dollars for experienced teachers. The patrons in several other communities have clubbed in and raised from five dollars to ten dollars per month additional to enable their schools to retain the services of successful teachers.
Taking the wage question all in all, when considering the fact that one- half of our rural teachers have but one year or no experience, it averages up very well, when compared with the usual pay of teachers.
PRESENT STANDING OF CLINTON COUNTY SCHOOLS.
The subjoined is an abreviated report, as made to the state superintendent for the school year 1909-10, by the superintendent of schools in Clinton county :
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Berlin township had nine subdistricts, and each had a good school house; employed nine female teachers, at an average of $40 per month; had an aver- age of 102 pupils.
Bloomfield township had nine sub-districts; ten female teachers, at an average of $40 per month; attendance, average 95.
Brookfield township had eight sub-districts ; employed one male and seven female teachers, at an average of $39.78 per month; average attendance, 104.
Camanche township had six sub-districts; employed six teachers, at an average of $37.22 per month; average attendance, 60.
Center township had nine sub-districts; employed nine teachers, at an average of $43.53 per month; average attendance, 169.
De Witt township had twelve sub-districts, employed twelve teachers, at an average of $44.82 per month; average attendance, 160.
Eden township had eight sub-districts; employed eight female teachers, at $39.66 per month; average attendance, 128.
Elk River township had eleven sub-districts ; employed eleven teachers, at an average of $41.79 per month; average attendance, 220.
Liberty township had seven sub-districts; employed one male and six female teachers, at an average of $32.50 per month; average attendance, 81.
Lincoln township had five sub-districts; employed five female teachers, at an average of $39.20 per month ; average attendance, 71.
Olive township had twelve sub-districts; employed twelve teachers, at an average of $32.50 per month; average attendance, 151.
Orange township had six sub-districts; employed six female teachers, at an average of $35.00 per month ; average attendance, 65.
Spring Rock township had eight sub-districts; employed eight female teachers, at an average of $37.45 per month ; average attendance, 93.
Spring Valley township had two sub-districts; employed two female teachers, at an average of $32.36 per month; average attendance, 17.
Washington township had six sub-districts; employed six female teach- ers, at an average of $40.00 per month; average attendance, 91.
Waterford township had six sub-districts, employed six female teachers at an average of $41.85 per month; average attendance, 138.
Weston township had nine sub-districts; employed ten female teachers, at an average of $39.96 per month; average attendance, 125.
CITY AND TOWN SCHOOLS.
Calamus had one male and two female teachers and an attendance of 78. Camanche had four female teachers and 89 pupils.
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Charlotte had three female teachers and 82 pupils. Clinton had six male and 97 female teachers and 2,400 pupils. Delmar had one male and three female teachers and 122 pupils. De Witt had nine female teachers and 192 pupils.
Elwood had two female teachers and 32 pupils. Grand Mound had one male and three female teachers and 85 pupils. Low Moor had one male and one female teacher and 53 pupils. Lost Nation had two male and two female teachers and 124 pupils. Lyons had five male and 25 female teachers and 895 pupils. Toronto had one male and one female teacher and 22 pupils. Wheatland had one male and three female teachers and 134 pupils. This report does not include the rural independent districts, of which there are now twenty-five in Clinton county.
GRAND TOTALS IN COUNTY.
Clinton county now has 189 school houses, valued at $559,460, or an average of $2,960 each. There are now employed as teachers, 22 males and 332 females; the average pay received by males is $93.30 per month, includ- ing city and town schools. The average for women is $45.18 per month. Daily average attendance for county, 6,574.
RISE AND FALL OF THE LYONS FEMALE COLLEGE.
Before the Civil war there was founded in Lyons a female college, which was dedicated September 15, 1858. It was located right for a highly success- ful institution, but through bad management on the part of the principals it went down. Then there were no good high school facilities, as today, and as women were seeking higher educational opportunities than existed before that date, it seemed a natural thing to institute such a college for the exclusive education of ladies. Rev. John Covert, who was also identified with similar schools in Indiana and Ohio, sought to unite with them this Lyons school for women. He was not practical in his methods. At first it was fairly success- ful, but soon dwindled. In 1866 the school passed into the hands of Rev. G. P. Moore, assisted by the accomplished Prof. M. Soules, of Lyons, and a strong corps of teachers. It was finally ordained that it pass under the con- trol of the Presbyterian church synod. Mr. Moore with others conducted it several years with a measure of success. After refusing the advice given by Professor Soules, Mr. Moore, in order to save himself financially, disposed of
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the property, which was later metamorphosed into Our Lady of Angels Sem- inary, Catholic in its teachings. The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in October, 1872, bought the institution for ten thousand dollars. At first things moved slowly, but, with the characteristic grit and staying qualities of these people, it was finally made one of the foremost educational institu- tions of the state, in its special work and class, and is today high up in its order. As early as 1878 it had one hundred scholars, of both sexes.
RIVERSIDE INSTITUTE.
Another one of the past educational institutions, which must not be omitted in the history of the county, was the Riverside Institute, opened in the then empty Randall House, by Revs. W. T. and Samuel Currie as prin- cipals, Mrs. Mary H. Currie and Ellen M. Currie assistants. It was a joint stock company and was under the guidance of the Protestant Episcopal church, though not strictly under its control.
The combination of intellectual, moral and physical training was carried out under the motto "Educate the whole man." It went down in the eighties, as other institutions sprang into existence.
WARTBURG COLLEGE.
This, now a Clinton institution of learning, was first founded at Galena, Illinois, and had about a dozen students. In 1874 it was moved to Mendota, Illinois, and again, in 1885, removed to Waverly. In 1894 it was located at Clinton. It was started in 1868, under the Lutheran synod of Iowa, for the purpose of preparing young men for the theological seminary. After coming to Clinton, it first occupied a large three-story brick building and had five com- fortable residences for the use of the professors. In 1907, a well equipped gymnasium was provided for the college. It is a white brick structure on the beautiful campus, on the western edge of the city, overlooking the city and the great Mississippi river country.
The first director, or head, of this college was Rev. Frederick Lutz. At Mendota, Dr. Sigmond Fritschel was director. The other directors have served in the following order: Rev. G. Grossman, Rev. F. Richter, Prof. O. Kraushaar, and the present director, John Fritschel, who came in 1907.
The college averages about one hundred students. Instruction is given half in English and half in German. Here a regular liberal arts course is given, but religious study and classics are compulsory, as well as gymnasium work.
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CHAPTER XI.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.
That the people of Clinton county are a church-going, God-fearing peo- ple, it only needs to be known what number and variety of religious creeds of the Christian faith are sustained throughout its borders. If any churches have been omitted in this chapter, it has been through oversight, or by reason of the circular letters sent out not having been responded to in the time speci- fied in such communications.
It should not be forgotten that many of the early settlers in Clinton county were of the true Christian faith and did not leave their religion on the eastern bank of the Mississippi river, but upon locating in this goodly section, at once set themselves about providing the community with suitable societies and buildings, humble though they might have been, and here they worshiped God in the "beauty of holiness." The traveling ministers, no matter of what denomination, were accorded a right hearty welcome and listened to sincerely. And even after these seventy-five years, there are still those residing here who remember these men of God with deep reverence. It is the religious ele- ment, coupled with correct educational policies, that has helped to develop and make great the commonwealth of Iowa. Not that all, by any means, were Christians who first settled the broad prairies and beautiful valleys of Clinton county, but there were enough true men and women to plant the seed and support the churches, of both the Catholic and Protestant faith.
It seems quite well settled that the first minister to preach in the county was Reverend Hall, a Methodist Episcopal preacher who came from Albany, Illinois, and held services in 1837, at De Witt. Today, the sound of the church bell is heard on every hand, and not a township in the county but has church services, and church spires indicating to the passer-by that this is a community of Christian men and women.
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