History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 97

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110

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County Superintendent. Nathan F. Barnes, the first superintendent of the Stearns county schools, and at the same time city justice in and for St. Cloud, was born at Portland, Me., on June 26, 1817. After receiving a common school and aca- demic education, in 1834 he was appointed midshipman in the United States navy, serving five years. His first voyage was to the Island of Maderia, after which his vessel cruised along the eastern coast of South America, between the Amazon and La Plata rivers. In all he was in the . I South Sea exploring expedition, under Commodore Thomas Ap Catesly Jones, for nine months. After his discharge he re- turned to his native city and in 1840 took up the study of law. He completed the course in 1843, and soon after removed to New Hampshire, where he practiced law for six years. In 1850 Mr. Barnes became mail agent on the Isthmus route from New York to San Francisco, where he con- tinued for six years. The next two years he resided in California, engaged in min- ing. In 1858 he came to Alexandria, Douglas county, Minnesota, where he was the first settler. He remained there for about seven years, and during the Sioux outbreak he and Andreas Darling were the only persons who remained, the others fleeing for safety to different points. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Barnes removed to St. Cloud, purchased a half interest in the St. Cloud Times and conducted it one year. He was then elected city justice,

city clerk, county superintendent of schools, and twice (in 1865 and 1875) a member of the Minnesota House of Rep- resentatives. It was largely through his efforts that one of the state normal schools was located at St. Cloud. He was a member of the state normal board for several years, being the first resident di- rector at St. Cloud. Mrs. Barnes was Mary P. Sparhawk, to which union seven children were born. Three of their chil- dren died within a period of nine days in

the month of December, 1853, of diph- theria. Another son died in the Salis- bury, N. C., prison during the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes later moved to Cali- fornia where they spent their remaining years. During the years 1867 and 1868, the greater part of which is covered by Mr. Barnes' incumbency, twenty-four school districts were organized. He sys- tematized the work, so far as this was possible, and visited the schools as often as his numerous other duties permitted.

Upon his resignation he was followed by Henry Krebs, one of the pioneer teach- ers of Stearns county, who was appointed by the county commissioners on Septem- ber 4, 1868, at the same salary paid Mr. Barnes. Henry Krebs, who at the time of his appointment taught the school at St. Augusta, was a native of Germany where he had attended the elementary as well as one of the normal schools, from which institution he graduated. He taught school for a time in his native land, and then came to America, arriving in St. Louis, Mo., in the late forties. He was engaged in school work in that city for several years and then went to Iowa where he continued his educational activity. In the early sixties he came to Minnesota, taking charge of the school at St. Augusta. Mrs. Krebs was Mary Vossberg, a sister of Barney Vossberg, for many years auditor of Stearns county. During the incum- bency of Mr. Krebs, which extended from September 4, 1868, to April 1, 1872, twenty- six districts were organized. At the close of his term he returned to his school at St. Augusta which he continued to teach until he was again elected superinten- dent in 1884. Mr. Krebs was a con- scientious and painstaking man, who vis- ited the schools regularly and aimed at greater efficiency, though lack of trained teachers hampered his activity in many instances. As an instructor and teacher his work was not confined to the school room alone; he was a community force. While at St. Augusta he organized a brass band, a musical organization which at- tained a high standard of efficiency, and otherwise succeeded in leading the young people, who no longer attended school, into fruitful entertainment. He died in 1909.

The next superintendent was Dr. Moody C. Tolman, father of Attorney Frank Tol-

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man of Paynesville, who held office from April 1st, 1872, to September 6 of the same year, when he was obliged to resign be- cause of ill health. Dr. Tolman, a graduate of Dartmouth College and one of the first settlers of Stearns county, was born in Vermont in 1824. In 1855 he came to Stearns county and located in the town- ship of Brockway, being the first physician in that township. From 1859 to 1865 the family resided at Anoka. In 1861 Dr. Tol- man enlisted as surgeon in the Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and served during the war. He accompanied Sher- man in his famous march to the sea. After his return he removed his family to St. Cloud and practiced medicine for three years, after which he conducted a drug store until his death, which occurred on March 21, 1873. At the time of his death Dr. Tolman was resident director of the normal school. He was a member of the state legislature, and for a number of years president of the board of education.

Upon the resignation of Dr. Tolman the county commissioners appointed Bartholo- mew Pirz, who was then quite prominent in county affairs. Mr. Pirz was born Au- gust 24, 1819, in Prussia. He came to the United States in 1854, spending the first winter at Sauk Rapids, Crow Wing and Platte river. In the spring of 1855 he lo- cated at Cold Spring, taking a claim in section 29, township of Wakefield, where he lived about two years. He moved to the township of Munson in the fall of 1856, remainng one year, and then re- moved to Eden Lake. In 1859 he went to the Rocky Mountains, and after three years returned to Munson, where he lived two years, returning to Eden Lake where he located on a farm in sections 5 and 6. During Mr. Pirz's term of office, which ex- tended to September, 1874, thirteen new districts were organized, making a total of 104. Of these, however, only 98 received the state apportionment, which in that year amounted to $3,126.24 for Stearns county, 52 cents being remitted by the state for each child attending the required number of days. Mr. Pirz's salary was placed at $900. Barney Vossberg acted as his deputy for a short time.

In September, 1874, the County Commis- sioners appointed Peter E. Kaiser, who, at the time, was principal of the Franklin

school in St. Cloud. Mr. Kaiser's biogra- phy appears in another part of this work, so that a repetition here would be superflu- ous. The choice of the county commis- sioners proved a happy one, for Mr. Kaiser was known as a man of fine academic at- tainments and educational ability. He was very diligent in visiting the schools and looking after the wants of the teachers. For the first two terms Mr. Kaiser was ap- pointed by the county commissioners. In the meantime the legislature enacted a law making the office of county superintendent of schools an elective one, and thereafter, until 1881, Mr. Kaiser was regularly re- turned to office, the elections being held every year. His salary for the first two years was placed at $1,000, and during the remainder of his term, by the provisions of the statute, he was paid at the rate of ten dollars for each district under his su- pervision. During the last year of his in- cumbency the number of districts in- creased to 114.

The Hon. P. B. Gorman, whose biogra- phy will be found in another part of this history, succeeded Mr. Kaiser as superin- tendent of schools in 1881. The preelec- tion fight was a most bitter one. However, it must be said to the credit of the candi- dates that the contest gained none of its unsavory qualities from any effort of theirs. It was, rather, a fight for political supremacy, waged by factions far removed from the office of county superintendent of schools. So bitter were the feelings en- gendered and so stubborn the antagonism that, immediately following Mr. Gorman's election, a bill was introduced in the legis- lature by a Stearns county representative, providing that the office of superintendent of schools in and for Stearns county be abolished and the work assigned to the judge of probate. Happily this vindictive and utterly senseless measure was de- feated, whereby Stearns county retained a most excellent superintendent, for Mr. Gorman was a man of fine executive abil- ity, and looked to the affairs of the office with a firm rigidity quite unattained be- fore. The three years of his incumbency were fruitful ones for the schools, a nota- ble rise of the standard of efficiency among the teachers marking the period.

In 1884 Henry Krebs was again elected superintendent, holding the office until

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1887. There were now 133 districts in the county.

In the fall of 1887 Lorenzo J. Rocholl, who was then teaching in the township of Spring Hill, was elected superintendent, and for twelve years this gentleman was at the head of the Stearns county schools. His administration marks an era of great educational activity. The teachers were organized and sectional meetings were held at which matters pertaining to the welfare of the schools were discussed. Fifty-one new districts were organized. It was during Mr. Rocholl's incumbency that the German Catholic Teachers' society flourished and did much to advance the general interest in the schools. Mr. Rocholl was also very active as a member of the legislative committee of the Minne- sota Educational association, and it was with his cooperation that a number of the laws for the betterment of things educa- tional were enacted.

Up to this time the county superinten- dents prepared their own questions for teachers' examinations, though the state superintendent would send questions occa- sionally, which, however, were only re- garded in the light of a suggestion. All grades of certificates, except profession- als, were also issued by the county super- intendents until toward the close of Mr. Rocholl's term, when a law was enacted providing that first-grade certificates be issued only by the state superintendent. It was through Mr. Rocholl's efforts that the free text-book system was introduced into Stearns county, and the first state li- brary aid was secured by several districts.

Mr. Rocholl was succeeded in 1899 by Charles M. Weber, for a number of years engaged as a teacher in the township of Brockway and in the vicinity of St. Cloud. Mr. Weber held the office four years, and during his second term a law was passed providing that all grades of certificates, except so-called permits, be issued by the state department of education. J. B. Himsl, the present judge of probate and former county attorney, was Mr. Weber's deputy for a short time.

In the fall of 1902 Paul Ahles was elected superintendent. His biography appears elsewhere in this work, so that only his activity while in the office of county su- perintendent need be discussed here. Mr.

Ahles took hold of his official duties with a firm hand, his first efforts being towards raising the standard of efficiency among the teachers then employed in the county. He found that many were teaching on the old permits issued by former superinten- dents-which were no longer recognized by the state department-and he at once prepared to have all applicants for certifi- cates take the regular state examinations. Mr. Ahles also prevailed upon the dis- tricts to equip their schools with heating and ventilating plants, thus meeting the newer requirements for the special state aid, which will be more fully discussed farther along in this chapter. Teachers' and school officers' meetings were held all over the county, which were always large- ly attended. Examinations for county eighth grade diplomas were held. The first graduates from the eighth grade re- ceived their diplomas in June, 1904. They were Susan Auer, Alwina Besemann and Amelia Theisen from Albany; Minnie C. Stephens from Fair Haven; Elma N. Craig from the McCormick Lake School, east of Sauk Centre; Mary Heid from Luxem- burg, and Anna E. Kraft from the Lyman Prairie school in Raymond township. In 1907 the number of eighth grade graduates was thirty-seven, and thereafter the num- ber increased steadily with each examina- tion. Anton B. Rieland, now cashier of the Richmond State bank, was the first permanent assistant superintendent. He was appointed by Mr. Ahles shortly after the latter came into office, and held the position four years. He was succeeded by Charles Schmit, who still holds the posi- tion. The introduction of industrial con- tests was another of Mr. Ahles' achieve- ments, though at the present time the ef- forts are confined more specifically along one or two lines. Mr. Ahles remained in office eight years, and upon his retirement in 1911 left the schools of Stearns county in a condition quite unequaled before.

Mr. Ahles' retirement from office was voluntary. During the last four years of his incumbency he had applied himself to the study of law, and in February, 1910, was admitted to the bar, whereupon he de- clined a reelection. Four candidates en- tered the field, from among whom the writer of these lines was chosen to guide the school affairs of Stearns county. Pro-

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priety demands that a hand other than his own record his modest achievements, and he therefore relinquishes his pen, for a space, to an old friend who will recount the course of his life. This biography, by Andrew Kessler, principal of the Meire Grove school, here follows:

William Andrew Boerger, the present county superintendent of schools and au- thor of this history, was born November 26, 1875, at Victoria (St. Joseph), a dimin- utive village near the historic old Fort Recovery, in Mercer county, Ohio. He was the youngest of five children, three broth- ers and one sister arriving before him. His parents were poor, though they and their children never were in want for the common necessities of life. The home was a large log house, the only one left in the village, and in after years Mr. Boerger often related how, on rainy days and nights, the entire family hurried about, placing pails, pans and tubs to catch the drippings from a faithless and defective roof. The father of the family was a teacher, instructing in a small district school eight miles from home, to which he went early Monday morning and re- turned late the Friday evening following, making the trips on foot. During his ab- sence the mother and children did the work at home, for their six acres of land made it possible for them to make both ends meet. The three older brothers pre- pared themselves for the teaching profes- sion, which vocation they followed in after life.

When "Willie," as he was familiarly called, was thirteen years old he was per- mitted to go to the Josephinum in Colum- bus, Ohio, where he intended to learn the art of altar building and sculpture. The Rev. Father Jessing, the rector of the in- stitution, offered to take the boy free of charge, even providing for his clothes. He remained only a few weeks, however, for an immoderate and ungovernable attack of homesickness forced him to relinquish his cherished plans. So intense and acute were his sufferings that, on a Sunday morn- ing in February, while Father Jessing and the entire population of the institution were gathered in church for services, the puny, homesick little lad slipped out, hur- ried to the dormitory for his valise, and, without knowing what direction to take,

left the building, climbing over a six-foot iron fence in making his exit! The little fellow had never before been in a city and he was utterly bewildered. Somewhere in that sea of houses he had cousins, whose address he knew and which he kept saying over and over to himself as he hur- ried along, shivering and shaking, for he had no mittens, no overcoat and the weather was bitter cold. Finally when he could endure it no longer he entered a meat market and tremblingly inquired if he might warm himself. Permission was given, but before he left the place he opened his valise and provided his hands with some protection against the cold. And thus it came to pass that, on a cold morn- ing in the winter of 1888, the future su- perintendent of the Stearns county schools stole shyly up Main street in Columbus, Ohio, with a pair of gray cotton socks on his hands in place of mittens! Making inquiry of a policeman the overjoyed boy learned that he was only a few blocks from the home of his relatives, and that he had but to turn the next corner to come within view of it. The money for the journey home (about eighty miles) was provided by his relatives, Father Jess- ing was informed of the boy's where- abouts, and the next day "Willie's" mother was surprised beyond words to see her boy trudging up the road, carrying his heavy valise and almost wornout from his six- mile walk-but extremely happy! The fol- lowing year Mr. Boerger went to live with his oldest brother, John G. Boerger, who was then teaching at East Bristol, Dane county, Wisconsin, where he prepared for college. Thereafter he attended the Cath- olic Normal School at St. Francis, Wiscon- sin, preparing for the dual position of teacher and organist. Mr. Boerger taught his first school in Biehle, Perry county, Missouri, a small place about seventy-five miles south of St. Louis and perhaps thirty miles inland from the Mississippi river. His first experiences in his new position were not designed to inspire enthusiasm. Three days after his arrival he contracted malaria, and for four weeks lay suffering among total strangers, several hundred miles from home. The place was ex- tremely lonely and after his recovery he began teaching school, though the work was exceedingly trying because of his ex-

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hausted condition. On the evening of the first day he walked to the postoffice and found that a letter had arrived during his illness, telling him of the death of his mother which had occurred two weeks be- fore. There was no railroad in Perry county at that time and all the mail had to come via Chester, Illinois, to Perryville (the county seat) and thence to Biehle, which accounted for the delay. Mr. Boer- ger remained but one year in Biehle. In the fall of 1893 he went to Hoven, Potter county, South Dakota, where he taught three years and where in November, 1895, he married Minnie Schmidt, whose parents were among the pioneer settlers of that region. The year following Mr. and Mrs. Boerger lived at Lewiston, Idaho, where Mr. Boerger taught in the St. Aloysius academy for boys, conducted by the Je- suit Fathers. Returning to Hoven, South Dakota, he remained another year, teach- ing his former school, and then came to Stearns county, having engaged the school at Jacob's Prairie, near Cold Spring. After two years of successful work the position of principal of St. Mary's school at St. Cloud, which carried with it that of or- ganist at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, becoming vacant, Mr. Boerger applied for it and was elected, holding the position seven years. An incident in con- nection, showing Mr. Boerger's determina- tion and steadfastness of purpose-which led to his excellent success as superin- tendent-may here be related. Through a peculiar arrangement of circumstances he arrived in St. Cloud to make personal ap- plication at seven o'clock in the evening. It was necessary that he be at Jacob's Prairie the next morning to teach school, but there was no train to Cold Spring that night. However, he was nothing daunted. He met with the committee, was assured of his election and at ten o'clock at night, without having had time to take his even- ing meal, he started on foot for Jacob's Prairie, walking the fifteen miles during the night on a rough road, and arriving at his home at two o'clock the next morn- ing, tired but successful! During the time of his employment in St. Mary's school in St. Cloud Mr. Boerger was appointed a member of the City Library Board by Mayor J. E. C. Robinson, serving three years. In 1905 he was elected to the city

council from the Second Ward for three years, serving the last year as president of that body. After leaving the school in 1907, Mr. Boerger was for nine months dep- uty clerk of court under Henry J. Limpe- rich. Thereafter he took up newspaper work, holding the position of city editor of the St. Cloud Daily Times for three years. In the fall of 1910 he was elected superintendent of schools and entered upon his duties on January 3, 1911. Since that day two general elections have been held, but Mr. Boerger has had no opposition. Immediately upon assuming the duties of his office Mr. Boerger set about to achieve his chief purpose which is stated in a caption adorning all the stationery used in the office, "The Home and the School, Let

us Bring Them Nearer Together." It was with this purpose in view that sectional teachers' and parents' meetings were held, these being at all times largely attended. A general awakening was the result. Prizes were offered by Mr. Boerger for the largest number of parents' visits in the schools (in proportion to the enrollment) and in 1913-14 over twelve hundred parents' vis- its were reported. Mr. Boerger also asso- ciated himself with the management of the Stearns County fair at Sauk Centre, mak- ing a large educational exhibit there every fall. One movement which will prove of lasting benefit to the county was the po- tato contest begun by Mr. Boerger in 1912. Up to this time not more than fifty car loads of potatoes had been shipped out of Stearns county, owing to the lack of uni- formity in kind. The first year six hun- dred children entered the contest; the next year the number increased to seven hundred ninety-four, and the year follow- ing the contestants numbered over one thousand. As a direct result of these con- tests and their attendant instruction on the raising and marketing of potatoes, over five hundred car loads were shipped out of Stearns county the first year, and a much larger number the year following. In September, 1913, Mr. Boerger placed an exhibit of the Stearns county school work at the state fair, which won the second prize. The year following the Stearns county exhibit again took second money, and in both years the first prize for a com- plete grade exhibit in penmanship was awarded the Stearns county schools. Mr.

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Boerger's assistant is Charles Schmit, who was appointed by Mr. Ahles and re- tained by his successor. The situation in Stearns county is very encouraging. There is a most cheerful and hearty feeling of co-operation among all engaged and in- terested in school work, including not only the teachers, but the school officers and parents as well. The number of eighth grade graduates this year was 217, with a promise of a steady increase in the years to come.

Present Conditions .- It will be of inter- est as well as of value to future historians if the conditions of our schools as they exist at the time of this writing are briefly enumerated here, because far-reaching changes are contemplated and are already in the making. There are at present 196 schools in the county, exclusive of the independent districts, which are four in number. Seven joint districts, in which the schoolhouses are in adjoining coun- ties, also extend into Stearns county. High schools are maintained at St. Cloud, Sauk Centre and Paynesville, while a full high school and commercial course is taught at Melrose. Courses in agriculture, domestic science and manual training are taught in St. Cloud, Sauk Centre, Paynesville and Melrose. A normal training department is maintained at Sauk Centre. High school work is also done in the graded schools at Richmond, Kimball, Eden Valley, Belgrade and Brooten, the last named maintaining, in addition, domestic science and agricul- tural departments. There are two con- solidated districts, one at Sauk Centre and one at Kimball. In addition to the high and graded schools there are seventeen semi-graded schools, in which two or more teachers are employed, but which do not meet all the requirements for graded schools.

Including those of the independent dis- tricts there are 330 teachers employed in the county. Of these, 259 are women and 71 are men. The average monthly wages in the rural and semi-graded schools are $65.30 for men, and $51.16 for women. Twenty-two of the districts provide cot- tages for the teachers. Of the teachers employed 185 are graduates of high schools, normal schools or colleges, while of the rest 68 hold first grade, 65 second grade and 12 limited certificates. Limited

certificates are issued to applicants with- out experience, but the credits required are the same as for second grade certifi- cates. The branches required for a lim- ited certificate are reading, writing, arith- metic, grammar, history, geography, spell- ing, physiology-hygiene, civics and com- position. When the holder has acquired five months' experience the certificate is made a complete second. A first grade certificate requires, in addition, algebra, geometry, physics and physical geography. Eight months of experience were neces- sary for a first grade certificate up to the present time; however, beginning with August 1, 1915, applicants for first grade certificates must show eighteen months' experience acquired before that date or else they must show thirty-six weeks of normal training in methods. After that date no amount of experience, if subse- quently acquired, will be accepted toward a first grade certificate.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 97

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper Number of Pages: 1110

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110