USA > Minnesota > Wabasha County > History of Wabasha County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. : gathered from matter furnished by interviews with old settlers, county, township, and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources > Part 34
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The state appropriations for building purposes at various times amount to the gross sum of $115,837.
In accordance with a plan proposed by Principal Phelps, the legislature, in 1871, passed an act establishing in Winona the State Soldiers' Orphans' Home, and providing for the education of the children in the normal school. This plan proved to be a wise and economical one for the state, and of the greatest value to the children. Nearly one hundred of the soldiers' orphans received training for several years in the model and normal departments. A number completed the entire course, and are now filling important positions in the schools of the state. The growth of the school in numbers, in reputation, and in all the characteristics of an excellent training school for teachers, continued without marked interruption until the legislature in 1876, partly by design and partly by neglect, failed to make the usual annual appropriation for the support of the three norinal schools of the state.
The normal board was called in extra session. During that meeting several propositions to close the schools at once were voted down by a bare majority. The opposition to these propositions was led by Hon. Thos. Simpson, the resident director at Winona.
Finally the board took action, which was intended merely to give the normal schools a chance for continuance if they could find any means of existing without involving the board or incurring a debt. It was really a life and death struggle with the normal schools of our state. Had they been closed then, they would have remained closed, perhaps for ever.
The action of the board availed little ; it said, "Live if you can, but don't involve us." Liberal-hearted citizens of this city offered
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
to advance money to carry on the school at Winona, but this could not be accepted under the action of the board. Gen. Sibley, the president of the board, and Prof. Wm. F. Phelps, the principal at Winona, resigned.
The resident director determined that the school should not go down. He made a temporary reduction of the teaching force, some abatements of salaries, and some extra charges for tuition. He appealed to the soldiers' orphans' board, who generously responded by paying tuition for the pupils under their care. By these means, supplemented by a cash contribution from his own pocket, the school was kept in vigorous operation until the following year, when the appropriation was not only restored, but was made permanent. The action at Winona had much to do with inspiring a like spirit and determination on the part of the local management of the schools at Mankato and St. Cloud.
Prof. Charles A. Morey, a member of the faculty and a former graduate of the school, was elected principal.
The following year saw the school restored to its former condition of efficiency. In 1878 Principal Morey inaugurated an important change in the organization of the school by extending the element- ary course, and establishing an advanced four years' course of study designed to prepare teachers for the principalship of high and graded schools.
In May, 1879, Principal Morey resigned his position to enter upon the practice of law. On the 27th of June Prot. Irwin Shep- ard, superintendent of the city schools of Winona, was elected prin- cipal; since which time the growth of the school in numbers, in efficiency, and in the confidence of the citizens of the state, has, we believe, continned without interruption.
The following shows the increase of attendance during the past four years: 1878-1879, 302; 1879-1880, 342; 1880-1881, 388; 1881-1882, 439; 1882-1883, 485.
Hon. Thos. Simpson, the present resident director, has been a member of the state normal board continuously since 1868, and has served as president of the state board and resident director at Win- ona during most of that time.
The first state teachers' institute, in 1859, the first state conven- tion of county superintendents, in 1866, and the first institute of normal instructors, in 1872, were all held at the Winona normal school.
397
SKETCH OF THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
The first class which finished the course of this school numbered sixteen members and were graduated June 28, 1866. Since that date to June 1, 1883, twenty-five classes numbering 480 members have graduated, while nearly 3,000 other students have received instruction for one or more terms. These students, as well as the graduates, have fulfilled their pledges to the state with singular fidelity and success. Many of the graduates have been called to important and lucrative positions in other states from California to Maine. Several have received appointments to leading positions in the normal schools of the Argentine Republic, S. A., at salaries ranging from $1,200 to $2,500.
Prominent among the causes which have contributed to place the State Normal School at Winona in the foremost rank of similar institutions in America should be mentioned the liberal enterprise and singular devotion to its interests on the part of the citizens of Winona, as shown by their munificent donations of lands and money, by their loyal and unwavering championship in the trying times of legislative inaction and indifference ; by their establishment of an extensive museum and gallery of art for the free use of the students ; by their continued patronage and support of the model school, and by their just and generous pride in the past history, the present prosperity and the future promise of this educational institution of the state.
THE SOCIETY OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND LETTERS.
On May 24, 1871, a preliminary meeting was held in Normal Hall for the purpose of organizing a society for the promotion of a knowledge of art, science and literature.
At an adjourned meeting held June 12, articles of association were adopted. The corporate members were Wm. F. Phelps, Thos. Simpson, Abner Lewis, Mary V. Lee, C. C. Curtiss, O. B. Gould, Sarah L. Wheeler and C. H. Berry. The plans of the society provided for "the fitting of rooms in the First State Normal building for a museum of natural history and physical science, and for a department of drawing and the arts of design ; the collection, classification and arrangement of specimens in natural history and archæology, and of models in physics and the fine arts ; the collec- tion of facts and objects pertaining to local or general history ; the establishment and support, on the grounds of the normal school, of a botanical garden ; the arrangement and ornamentation of the
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
grounds; the gathering of a library of standard works in all depart- ments of science, literature and art ; the collection and preservation of all collections, and, by lectures and other appropriate means, the elevation of the public taste."
Previous to the organization of this society, citizens of Winona had placed in the normal school building, for the use of the students, private collections of minerals and other specimens. Principal Phelps had contributed a valuable collection, and the Hon. Thos. Simpson had donated his entire cabinet of mineral specimens, which he had been gathering for many years in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The proprietorship of these collections was vested in the new society. The collections were increased from time to time by additional contributions.
In 1875 the citizens of Winona, at the advice and solicitation of Professor Wm. F. Phelps, contributed about $3,500 for the purchase
of the Woodman collection of corals, shells, minerals and fossils. This valuable collection, and those previously belonging to the society, were arranged in suitable cases in the geological hall of the normal building in 1878, under the superintendence of Principal Chas. A. Morey. The following contract was subsequently made with the state normal board :
1. The society agrees that its collections, apparatus, pictures, etc., shall remain in the rooms now occupied by them so long as the building shall be used for the purpose of a state normal school.
2. That said collections, etc., shall be forever free to the use of the normal school in said building, its teachers and pupils, and that said collections shall not be removed, either in whole or in part, for any purpose whatever.
3. That, to prevent interference with the operations of the school, the times of opening said rooms to the public shall be as the principal and resident director of the school shall from time to time direct, and not otherwise.
4. That the society shall bear all expense of classifying, arranging and
399
BIRDS OF WINONA COUNTY.
putting in position all specimens and objects, and of preserving the order and condition of the same: Provided, That the state normal board agrees : 1. To furnish to the society, rent free, the room now occupied by its collections; to heat, light and keep the same in repair as long as the building shall be used for the purposes of a normal school. 2. To give to the society the use of such cases, platforms and fixtures as are already placed in said rooms, and to build others as the acquisitions of the society may demand. 3. To furnish janitor's services for said rooms, as their use may demand.
This museum has become one of the most extensive and com- plete in the west. Three large rooms, connected by arches, are lined with cases which are filled with specimens of minerals, fossils. birds and animals. A large case in the center of the room contains the skeleton of a mastodon. Two spacious rooms in the fourth story of the building are devoted to the exhibition of art subjects. A curator devotes a large portion of his time to the care of the museum and to the collection, classification and arrangement of specimens in all departments of natural history.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
BIRDS OF WINONA COUNTY.
THE following are the birds known to exist in this county : duck hawk, pigeon hawk (common), sparrow hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's hawk, marsh hawk, harrier or mouse hawk, red-tailed hawk (common), red-shouldered hawk (scarce), broad-winged hawk, bald eagle, great-horned owl, long-eared owl, screech owl, barred owl (summer), short-eared owl, snowy owl, saw-whet owl, hawk owl, day owl, black-billed cuckoo, yellow-billed cuckoo, hairy wood- pecker, downy woodpecker, black-backed three-toed woodpecker, yellow-bellied woodpecker, ileated woodpecker, log cock, red- headed woodpecker, pigeon woodpecker, ruby-throated humming- bird, chimney swallow, night hawk, bull-bat, whippoorwill, belted kingfisher, kingbird, wood-pewee, olive-sided flycatcher, pewee, Phebe-bird, wood thrush, robin, brown thresher, catbird, red- breasted bluebird, titmonse, chickadee, white-bellied nut-hatch, American creeper, long-billed marsh wren, short-billed marsh wren, house wren, skylark, shorelark, black and white creeper, Maryland yellow-throat, black-poll warbler, scarlet tanager, barn swallow, blue-backed swallow, eave swallow, bank swallow, purple martin,
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
wax-wing, Bohemian chatterer, cedar-bird, cherry-bird, great north- ern shrike, red-eyed vireo, purple-finch, red-poll linnet, snow bunt- ing, snowbird, swamp sparrow, song sparrow, tree sparrow, field sparrow, chipping sparrow, fox sparrow (frequent), rose-breasted grossbeak, ring-rail (occasional), bobolink, ricebird, cowbird, red- winged blackbird, yellow-headed bird, meadow lark, orchard oriole (not common), Baltimore oriole (common), crow blackbird, crow (on the increase), bluejay, wild pigeon (never abundant), common dove, pinnated grouse (scarce), ruffed grouse, quail (nearly exter- minated), woodcock, Wilson snipe, jack snipe, bittern, stakedriver, least bittern (on river bottoms), marsh hen, Virginia rail, coot (in marshes). Besides these, there are met occasionally the sandpiper, the great blue heron, the green heron, the wild goose and brant, the blue-winged teal, the hooded merganser, the widgeon, the pin- tail, the mallard, the butterball duck, the wood duck, and other ducks. The wood duck breeds here.
THE WINONA COUNTY PRESS.
The pioneers of Winona evinced a thorough appreciation of the power of the press as an important element in promoting the welfare of the young city, and in the development of the promising terri- tory of Minnesota. The first newspaper established was the " Winona Argus," September 7, 1854. It was published by Wm. Ashley Jones & Co., weekly, democratic in politics. Wm. Ashley Jones, Captain Sam Whiting, M. Wheeler Sargent and Robert T. Hunter were among the contributors. Samuel Melvin, at the present time a merchant in Winona, was foreman in the Argus office. He pur- chased an interest in the paper in January, 1855, and continued about a year and a half, when he sold back to Wm. Ashley Jones, and the paper continued about a year and a half longer, during which Mr. Cozzens was for a time editor. After vicissitudes incident to a western town twenty years ago, it was compelled to suspend its pub- lication in the month of September, 1857, not however, until it had accomplished a good work for southern Minnesota.
The "Winona Weekly Express" was the next venture in jour- nalism. It was established about August 1, 1855, Wilson C. Huff, son of H. D. Huff, being the editor. The Express continued until after the election in November, when the office and material were purchased by a company formed to establish "The Winona Repub- lican."
401
THE WINONA COUNTY PRESS.
In the fall of 1855, some earnest republicans formed a joint- stock company, purchased the material of the "Winona Express," and on the 21st of November, 1855, issued the first number of the " Winona Weekly Republican." The names of these stockholders were Charles Eaton, E. L. King, C. F. Buck, A. P. Foster, H. C. Jones, A. C. Jones, E. H. Murray, J. B. Stockton, J. S. Denman, H. T. Wickersham, Rufus Crosby, O. S. Holbrook, St. A. D. Bal- combe, John L. Balcombe, Matthew Ewing, W. G. Dye, J. H. Jacoby, L. H. Springer. The newspaper was a seven-column sheet and conducted with ability. The editor was Captain Sam Whiting. The business manager was Walter G. Dye, who continued to occupy that position, with slight intervals, for about twenty-five years. Messrs. Foster and Dye purchased the stock of the other shareholders and became sole proprietors. On the 19th of June, 1856, D. Sinclair purchased the interest of A. P. Foster in the estab- lishment, and it thus became the sole property of Messrs. Sinclair & Dye. In the fall of 1856 Mr. Dye disposed of his interest in the concern to Messrs. Balcombe, Murray, Buck and King, who in a short time sold out to W. C. Dodge. The latter continued his con- nection with the paper only a few months, retiring on the 3rd of February, 1857, and being succeeded by Mr. Dye, who repurchased one half of the establishment. At this time the firm name was changed to D. Sinclair & Co., and has so remained ever since.
On the 2d of April, 1864, Sheldon C. Carey purchased one half interest in "The Republican" from Mr. Dye, who retired. Mr. Carey continued a member of the firm until his death on the night of De- cember 28 of the same year he entered it, when he was drowned in the Mississippi river, Wisconsin, while out with a small party on a sleighing excursion. His death caused the most poignant grief in the community.
On the first of July, 1865, Mr. Dye resumed connection with "The Republican " as joint partner with Mr. Sinclair, and November 25, 1866, Mr. John Dobbs, an experienced practical bookbinder, became one of the firm, purchasing one third interest in "The Republican" establishment. In 1859 the proprietors of "The Republican " de- termined to try the experiment of a daily paper in Winona, and on the 19th of November issued the first number of the "Daily Re- view," a three-column paper somewhat larger than a sheet of fools- cap. The publication of this little paper demonstrated the readiness of the people of Winona to support - not a first-class journal, but
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
one of respectable size, considering the times. Accordingly the "Daily Review" was stopped, and] on the 19th of December, 1859, the " Winona Daily Republican " was started on its career. It was a five-column sheet, but was enlarged to a six-column sheet on the 8th of April, 1861, and on the 1st of July, 1865, it was enlarged to a seven-column sheet, its present form. The "Weekly Republican " has the honor of being the oldest republican newspaper in the state.
In 1867 the "well arranged three-story brick "Republican " building with basement was built. It was occupied in February, 1868. On the first of January, 1881, Mr. Dye retired, selling his interest to Mr. Sinclair. Mr. P. G. Hubbell, who had been con- nected with the office since 1864, was appointed business manager, and so continued until the first of January, 1883, when Mr. W. E. Smith bought a third interest in the establishment, and Mr. Hub- bell assumed the duties of managing editor of "The Republican." Through a long established career "The Republican," under the superior editorial management of Mr. Sinclair, has wielded a potent influence on the affairs of the county and state, while for the city of its choice it has ever been the zealous advocate and faithful friend. It is entitled to great credit as one of the important agencies in the development of Winona.
Returning to the history of other newspapers in the early years of the county, "The Times" was started by a man who came from Fountain City, Wisconsin. The proprietor purchased the ma- terial of the " Argus," but continued only a few months.
"The Democrat" was started on September 9, 1858, by C. W. Cottom, who came here from Rochester. He published an eight- column paper. In the course of a year or two he sold out to the Democrat Printing Company.
On the 11th of December, 1860, the "Tri-Weekly Democrat " was started by the Democrat Printing Company, with J. L. Thomp- son, printer ; C. W. Cottom, editor; Wm. T. Hubbell, city editor. This was a five-column sheet. In the following summer the paper was closed out and was succeeded by "The State."
"The Winona Daily State" was established by Massey & Wheeler, July 11, 1861. It was a six-column paper. The daily was a morning paper, but it existed only a few weeks. Mr. Wheeler retired and Mr. Massey continued the publication of the "Weekly State," which was first issued July 17, 1861. After an existence of a year or two the "State" suspended.
403
THE WINONA COUNTY PRESS.
"The Winona Weekly Democrat " was established by A. G. Reed September 17, 1864. It was a seven-column paper and lived some two or three years.
The "Democratic Press," which was issued by Messrs. Mes- ervey & Pomeroy, was another venture, which appeared in the fall of 1865, but continued only about six months.
"The Winona Daily Democrat" was established January 8, 1868, by Green & Gile. It was a four-page, seveu-column journal. It was afterward owned by Green & Dresbach, and then by the Democrat Printing Company. It suspended after a few months.
On the 7th of May, 1869, "The Winona Herald," a demo- cratic weekly newspaper, was established by Mr. W. J. Whipple. It is still in existence under the proprietorship of Mr. Whipple, though leased to Mr. T. A. Dailey in the summer of 1882.
On February 13, 1869, an amateur paper entitled "The North Star" was started by some young men, with Geo. T. Griffith, editor ; Wm. F. Worthington, publisher ; H. G. Smith, treasurer ; John N. Nind, subscription agent. The little journal subsequently passed into the hands of Fred. W. Flint and John N. Nind, by whom it was published for several months.
In 1872 another amateur paper, "The Novelty Press," was started at Homer by R. F. Norton. It was afterward removed to Winona and conducted by Eber Norton. In 1879, November 28, it was bought by Geo. B. Dresbach and the name changed to "The Democrat." In January, 1880, it was sold to Hiler, Busdicker and Dresbach, and was purchased in January. 1882, by Fred. W. Flint.
On the 9th of October, 1873, E. Gerstenhauer established a German weekly called "The Winona Adler," which still con- tinues under the same proprietor.
On the 4th of July, 1873, the "St. Charles Times " was estab- lished by H. W. Hill. It was democratic in politics and continued until January 1, 1883, when it suspended.
On May 24, 1875, "The Sunday Morning Dispatch " was issued by D. B. Sherwood. Only one number appeared, the pro- prietor returning to Michigan.
On the 24th of April, 1876, "The Monday Morning Bulletin " was started by John Seigler. It continued for a few months and was removed to Wabasha, Minnesota.
In 1877, August 11, "The Saturday Evening Postman " appeared
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
under the editorship and management of W. A. Chapman. It ex- isted for only a short time.
On January 3, 1877, the "St. Charles Union" was established by Joseph S. Whiton. It is independent republican in politics, and a paper of general circulation in the western part of the county.
REPUBLICAN
1867
BLANK BOOK MANUFACTORY.
REPUBLICAN PRINTING HOUSE
January 21, 1881, a German weekly newspaper, "The West- licher Herald," was started by Leicht & Schmid. The firm changed to Leicht & Hunger July 1, 1881, and again to Joseph Leicht Jan- uary 1, 1883, who is the present proprietor.
405
WINONA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
During 1881 the "Utica Transcript," a short-lived paper, was started at Utica by O. S. Reed.
On the 2d of July, 1881, "The Winona Daily Tribune " was established by F. W. Flint as an evening independent republican paper. About the first of July, 1882, it was sold to Morrissey & Bunn and changed to a democratic paper in politics, still retaining the name of "The Tribune." In January following the paper was sold to a stock company and changed to a morning paper. It con- tinued until April, 1882, when it suspended.
The year 1883, therefore, finds the following newspapers in existence in this county : "The Winona Republican," daily and weekly, republican in politics, established in 1855 ; "The Winona Herald," weekly, democratic, established in 1869; "The Winona Adler," German weekly, democratic, established in 1873; "The St. Charles Union." weekly, independent republican, established in 1877 ; "The Westlicher Herald," German, weekly, democratic, established in 1881.
CHAPTER XL.
WINONA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
As introductory to the history of the public schools of the city of Winona, as they have existed since the organization of the "board of education of the city of Winona," April 19, 1861, some mention is necessary to be made of the early educational work of the territory now included within the city limits. The first attempt at school teaching that was ever made in this region was in the summer of 1852, by Miss Angelia Gere, a young girl of fourteen or fifteen years of age, who collected a few small children in the shanty of Mrs. Goddard (known through all this region for the past twenty- five years as Aunt Catharine Smith). As nearly as the memory of old residents can fix such matters, this school was only continued for a few weeks, the instruction was of the most primitive kind, and the number of little ones eight or ten. The following summer, 1853, Mrs. E. B. Hamilton opened a school in her own little house at the lower end of the prairie. This school had been in session about two or three weeks when it was abruptly closed by the death of the teacher, who was killed by a stroke of lightning, June 19.
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HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY.
In the fall of 1853 a private school was opened by Miss Willis, long since married and settled in Chatfield, and this was the first school, that really deserved the name, opened on the prairie. Miss Willis was followed in 1854 by Miss Hettie Houck, now Mrs. W. H. Stevens, of this city, who taught a subscription school in a building belonging to Aunt Catharine Smith, on the corner of Front and Franklin streets. The number of pupils in this school was about twenty-five; the teacher was engaged at a regular salary ; no tuition fee was demanded; the funds were provided by voluntary subscrip- tion, and the school is really entitled to the name of the first public school of Winona.
During the winter of 1854-5 a school was opened by Mr. Henry Bolcom, in a small building on Second street, afterward known as Wagner's saloon. This school was supported largely in the same manner as that of Miss Houck's, the school-tax for the district never having been collected. The pupils in attendance during the winter term numbered about thirty.
In the summer of 1855 Miss Almeida Trutchell, subsequently Mrs. David Smith, taught school in the embryo city. The following winter, 1855-6, Geo. C. Buckman, now of Waseca, Minnesota, wielded the birch. Mr. H. C. Bolcom, who had been attending term at Oberlin College, Ohio, having returned to Winona, was employed as teacher during the winter of 1856-7, and his work in that line closed with the closing of the spring term. The original school district No. 2 had been divided in the spring of 1854, prior to which time there was but one school district on the prairie. No. 14, the new district, comprised that part of the town plat west of Lafayette street ; but for particulars concerning these matters, see · history of Winona county schools. In the fall of 1857 a union, by mutual agreement of the two districts, was effected, and the trustees of the separate districts became informally the board of the quasi united one. These trustees were for No. 2, Col. H. C. Johnson, Andrew Smith and H. C. Bolcon ; for No. 14, Dr. J. D. Ford, Dr. A. S. Ferris and John Iams. Rev. Geo. C. Tanner was employed as principal for the union or grammar school, as it was called ; commenced his work November 17, 1857, and before the close of the winter four schools were in operation. The teachers of these schools were : Rev. Tanner, his wife, Miss Wealthy Tucker, who taught the primary, in what is now ward 1 of the city, and John Sherman, who taught in the lower part of the city. Of the early
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