"History of Decatur County and Its People" Volume I

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith, Supervising Editors

The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago IL, 1915.
 
Chapter VIII ~ Progress of Education in Decatur County
Pages 76 - 95
The prosperity, the progress, the spirit and the character of a county is largely measured by the condition of its schools. The intellectual qualities of the people, their culture and regard of life may also be summed up by this means.

Decatur County began her life under the usual hardships, privations and sacrifices and her first schools were consequently crude and inefficient, but through the years of upbuilding in other lines, the county has perfected a commendable school system, one that will possibly bear more improvement, such as school consolidation, but nevertheless one which deserves credit. Competent teachers are employed and the schools, so far as possible, are equipped as the modern school should be. Every pupil has the opportunity to receive a splendid education in Decatur County and has entrance to just as many courses and as great a variety of subjects as can be had in any county in the state.

The government has, almost without exception, been in the hands of capable educators. The money of the county has been extended freely upon request for the betterment of the schools, and it is safe to predict that within the next decade the advance will be even greater than it has been in the last decade.

The following paragraphs deal largely with the early history of the schools in the county and many of them are written by men and women who attended the classes in the those houses and who firmly believe that they acquired as good or better education than the pupils who sit in steam-heated, ventilated rooms, with the maximmn of light.
EARLY LEON SCHOOL DAYS
A former Decatur County woman wrote the following of her girlhood days in the schools of Leon:

"In a room upstairs on Main Street possibly, the old, old court room, Howard SHACKLEFORD and I stood beside Miss JONES' knee and learned our A B C's. To me she seemed queenly as she was tall, stately and grand.

"My next remembrance is of attending school in the old Methodist Church where it was finished inside, being seated with rough boards. There were three teachers, I. P. MARTIN, Sarah KIRKPATRICK and Elizabeth SIMMONS, of Garden Grove, each reigning over a corner of the room, a most trying time for both teachers and pupils.

"Two incidents were vividly impressed on my mind, one being when Mr. A. GILLHAM'S's large yellow dog was loosed one morning and came to the church, causing us children to scamper into the room with fear and trembling. Miss SIMMONS thought to teach us a lesson in kindness to animals and put out her lily white hand to pat the dog, saying, as she did so, 'O, the poor dog won't hurt you,' whereupon he snapped her hand, biting it quite severely. With tears and sobs she informed us that she had a friend in Garden Grove who would avenge her injury.

"The other was how chagrined we were when Mr. MARTIN had several of us distributed around the platform to learn the eights in multiplication, and County Superintendent WAINWRIGHT came to visit the school.

"Afterwards came L. M. HASTINGS, who remained with us more than three years, moving with us to the first brick school building on tlie site of the present north building. It contained four rooms, halls, bell, home-made seats, desks and recitation seats, and a good long blackboard. For the first time we began to call the teacher 'Professor,' and he could not have been happier had he owned the whole building, as he sang, 'There's Music in the Air' with far more fervor than usual, and bade us 'goodby' and 'good morning or afternoon' every time he left the room or entered for several days.

"A few of us, Myra GARDNER, Hila FISHBURN, Emma DAWSON and, I believe, Lily BERGER were not eligible to the high room, but he graciously took us, saying that he had us started his way of teaching and wanted to keep us. The thorough mental arithmetic drill he gave us has ever been beneficial to me, although our parents thought him severe because we 'talked it in our sleep.'

"Politics raged high in school during the Civil war and fights, of words and fists, with an occasional hair-pulling, were not uncommon. 'Rebel,' 'Secesh,' 'Copperhead,' 'Abolitionist' and 'A nigger is as good as you are,' were epithets hurled back and forth. The ardor of the republican girls was dampened by the other girls saying, 'You are glad to get a democrat for a beau,' as there were more boys of that party than the other.

"Soon came A. J. ABBOTT, a nice man, and Professor NEWCOMB, who was awfully in love, spending most of his time walking the Moor, planning how he could get to Humeston and back from Friday evening until Monday morning. Mr. Tip DILSAVER, that prince of good fellows, taught us to sing 'The Poor Swiss Girl of Lucerne,' and seated the boys and girls together. Cal HOFFMAN was my seatmate and I remember how shy he was, clad in brown overalls and occupying the few inches on the farthest end of the seat from me.

"The school was graded about the year 1867, beginning in the fall of 1868 to have a three-year high school course of nine months each. How eager we were to finish that course. Comparing it now with the course pursued in small towns of today I find the latter only excel it in more difficult texts and the addition of Latin and German.

"A. F. WOODRUFF was about two days smarter than the rest of the class and was proud, timid and wreaked under criticism. He was standing at the blackboard one morning, arm extended from the shoulder, drawing a perfect circle, a feat we all envied, and as usual I was making merry with a group in the rear of the room, but he thought that I was making fun of his lavender pants, which were shrunken from much washing. So, with darkened visage, knitted brow and gritted teeth, he dashed off the following and passed it to me:
" 'In Pluto's dark domain below
Where some are forced to go
They wear petticoats and switches;
But while on earth's domain we dwell,
Some must be content as well,
To wear short breeches.'
 "Being so verdant as not to know whether 'pegged topped' or 'tight,' long or short trousers were the latest, I had to seek an interpreter. Again, though not provoked to it, he wrote:
" 'Of all the men who wisely wrote.
Be he saint or cuss.
The one who wrote most strangely.
Was this Anonymous.'
 "Besides several longer poems, 'The Rabbi's Daughter,' and 'My Former Lover.'

"One of the text-books we used was one, floral Science, containing a chapter on marriage laws. Belle THOMPSON was reciting and ventured the suggestion that people should marry on six months' probation, and if contracting parties were not congenial said contract to be null and void. A suppressed giggle passed through the audience and she was excused from further recitation.

"T. W. SILVERS was fluent and logical, mapping out a career, following it closely and, of course, attaining success.

"S. A. GATES, always amiable, had little use for monosyllables in his vocabulary. He did not 'fall' out of the hay mow, but 'was pre- precipitated.' Belle BOBBITT used that for 'a saying' until Josephine KELLER, when secretary of the institute, wrote:

" 'The multiplicity of matters to be attended to at the beginning of the term precluded the possibility of a carefully prepared literary program.'

"I frequently contrast the commencements then and now. Now we have showers and flowers and bowers, decorations, ovations and collations; but we marched in two by two. WOODRUFF, with his borrowed clothes, which we knew not of until his days of prosperity; GATES, with his whiskers; SILVERS, with his boyish appearance, and I, with mv white dimity dress trimmed in a yard of val lace, and delivered our essays and orations, replete with figures of speech and flights of oratory, we thought. We had neither flowers, motto nor decorations. The subjects were heavy enough, mine being 'Lights and Shadows of Life.' It makes me want to shrink out of existence to think of it. I opine I might do better on both the lights and shadows but on the mystery of life not any."
ANOTHER SCHOOL REMINISCENCE
The following paragraphs are written by another woman, whose memories of the early schools include the years from 1856 to 1877:

"The first school ever held in Leon was in the courthouse and the teacher, George T. YOUNG, forever endeared himself to all parents, by saving the lives of his pupils at the risk of his own in a cyclone that blew the building down behind him as he carried out the last two tots. This was in June or July, 1855.

"When a wee girl I went to school with my big brother Lemuel, to J. C. PORTER (a better preacher than teacher), in the first schoolhouse Leon ever owned, a little frame building out in the east part of town, where long recesses, carrying and passing the water, singing the states and capitals and the multiplication tables were the main attractions. On Friday afternoon the speakin' was great. John S. GARDNER 'Timber' — Aunt Ann's, Al (there was a 'Prairie' Aunt Ann's, Al also) and Hattie RAIFF were the prize speakers, and when Al GARDNER started out once a month on 'Rienzi's Address to the Romans' we sat with bated breath until he resonantly closed the declamation.

"Lou WELDON taught us little girls to knit at recess. John BOWMAN gave us riddles to guess. Later another preacher, George ADAMS, taught school over a store, being succeeded in turn by Samuel SEARS, Carr PORTER, Sarah PATTERSON, Mr. JUDD, Emily HIGBEE and others. The new Methodist Episcopal Church was used by Professor LEWIS, J. C. PORTER and later by that fiery tempered, but best educator Leon ever had up to that time, L. M. HASTINGS, a man who was a generation ahead of his day, who really sowed ambition's earnest seed in student minds and gave the new schools a new impetus.

"The boys of those old school davs were Jack and Reuben Weldon, Bob and Billy BOONE, Bill KIRKPATRICK and several others that I do not recall at present. My school attendance closed here for Mr. HASTINGS being county superintendent, as well as teacher, issued to four conceited pert little girls of fifteen to seventeen years, a teacher's certificate each, as special rewards of merit for greatest scholastic attainments in briefest time. They were Ella ADAMS, Martha JORDAN, Fannie RAIFF and the writer. At once we secured schools and launched into careers poorly prepared, but bravely determined.

"How well I remember that sketch of Henry LUNBECK'S on the blackboard of the old north end brick, where Mary MILES, Emma DAWSON, Mary HUTCHINSON and yours truly assisted Aaron FRAZIER in his school work. The three Belles (BOBBITT, THOMPSON and BURNS) made his life something wretched to carry, and he in turn took it out of his under teachers.

"My school days in 1861 to 1865 are eventful ones. When Ann WHARTON and Martha JORDAN tore a Lincoln and Hamlin button off my dress, political excitement, even among the children was high; I got Mary KNAPP and we promptly relieved those two girls of Douglas badges.

"The war was carried further next day by the democrat girls annexing to their ranks, Mary and Edith PATTERSON, Sarah KIRKPATRICK and Nancy SALES; on our side we had Hattie RAIFF, Nancy FREEMAN, Minerva BOBBITT and all our little sisters. While the war waged it was earnest. When we went home for repairs most of us had a threshing thrown in, though our parents all were in secret sympathy with the children's war of settling matters of national importance while our big brothers were 'in the war.' "
DECATUR SCHOOLS
The following article on the schools of the county was prepared in the schools of Leon by a pupil and contains an interesting and instructive story of the progress of education in this locality.

The first school in Leon, Iowa, was conducted in 1854 by H. V. WAINWRIGHT in a log schoolhouse located on Gospel Ridge and East Leon. He taught one term and was succeeded by Sarah PATTERSON BASHAW, who conducted a school in the same schoolhouse for two terms.

When the time for the next term of school came the old log schoolhouse was too small to accommodate the number of pupils, so that the lower floor of a two-story building, used as a courthouse, and standing where the VARGA residence now is, was pressed into service and George T. YOUNG hired as teacher. While Mr. YOUNG was teaching in the year 1857 a storm occurred which blew down the building, from which, fortunately, all escaped with their lives.

The courthouse having been blown down, a couple of buildings, one back of where the Kraft, Grimes & Co.'s clothing store now stands and the other across the street east of the present town square, were used for school purposes. About 1864 school was held in the old Methodist Church, which stood where the Carnegie Library is now located.

J. C. PORTER, Sarah KIRKPATRICK, Professor HASTINGS, C. S. PORTER and Mr. CALDWELL were some of the teachers between 1860 and 1868, when the first building was constructed for school purposes. This building, which stood on the site now occupied by the north school building and premises, was a four-roomed brick building. The first teacher in the new building was Aaron FRAZIER, who initiated a course of study requiring twelve years to complete. Under him the first graduating exercises ever held in Leon were given in 1871 by the class composed of A. F. WOODRUFF, Matilda JORDAN, S. A. GATES, T. W. SILVERS.

Professor FRAZIER taught until 1876, when a second brick building of eight rooms was erected on the present site at a cost of $11,000, the first brick building being retained for several years as a janitor's residence.

In the '80s Profs. A. B. CORNELL, B. F. MILLER, and S. I. __LOWATT, who had charge of the school for seven years. Next came Professors LYON and V. R. McGINNIS, who served for two years each, followed by Samuel L. DARRAH, who was principal of the school for four years. During this time, in the summer of 1895, the present South school building was erected, S. H. LOREY being the contractor.
    
                                                                                           North School, Leon
 Professors DRAKE, PIERCE, VOLKER and GASS followed. During the year 1903 the building which was erected in 1876 was torn down and a new one built in its place, which, with the addition annexed in 1913, forms the present modern and commodious North school building.

There is now the normal training course, with domestic science, a corp of nineteen teachers and an enrollment in 1913 of 610 scholars.

The first school in Decatur County was taught in Garden Grove in the year 1849 by Mrs. Enos DAVIS, a relative of Susan B. Anthony, school being conducted in her home as there was no building. Her house was known as the Old California House and so named by gold seekers on their way to California.

About 1853 a frame school building was erected and Reverend CAREY, a Methodist preacher, was hired to teach in the new building, but it burned on the first day of school. In 1856 a brick school building was erected of octagon shape, which was the best in Southern Iowa, and Professor HASTINGS hired to teach the first class. In 1861 the school began rising in prominence under the supervision of R. A. HARKNESS, of Delaware County, N. Y. During the sixteen years that he taught the school was called the Athens of Iowa. Since then the octagonal brick has been torn down and a frame building erected, which lasted for several years, but it was recently razed and the present handsome structure erected.

The school at the present time, with its normal, domestic science and manual training, is considered one of the best in the county. They have an enrollment of about two hundred and fifty students and employ about ten school teachers.  
 
In the year 1879, when the Humeston, Shenandoah Railroad was extended westward, the little Village of Weldon sprang up and grew with great rapidity. In the fall of 1880 Emma De SELM taught a subscription school in the I. O. O. F."T. Hall. The next spring the children were sent to a country school located one mile south of town. That fall William MORREN was hired to teach in town, the expenses of this school being paid from the township school funds. October 1, 1882, the town was set off as an independent school district and W. C. ___MARSH employed to teach the school, which was conducted on the second floor of the town hall. The members of the first school board were Geo. E. MITCHELL, S. M. PROWELL and L. T. GREENLEE. Dr. Enos MITCHELL was hired to teach the school during the months of May and June, 1883, at a salary of $25 per month. He was often obliged to leave the school in charge of one of the older pupils while he attended his practice.

The next fall Mrs. M. A. CRITCHFIELD took charge of the school. She had an enrollment of about seventy pupils. The next year she hired Miss Millie GRIMES to assist her for a few months.

In 1885 the first schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $2,000, grounds included. Joseph COFFEE was the contractor.

The first year in the new building Mrs. CRITCHFIELD was assisted in the primary department by Miss Nora BROWN.

In 1886-87, J. H. JAMISON, now known as ex-Senator JAMISON, was principal, preceding I. S. CONDIT, now professor of mathematics in the Iowa State Teachers' College. Next came A. A. ROY, who took the first steps in arranging a graded system. Next came J. C. SINGETT, Charles FISHER, and J. W. COZAD, who held the first graduating exercises in the spring of 1893. The members of this class were Maitland MAXWELL, Joe LANE, Frank DURNAL, Jessie MARSHALL, Anna KLINE and Ella TALLMAN.

The school having outgrown the building the grades were continued in the building while the high school was moved to the opera house until the new building was completed early in the year 1895. Since then an addition has been added to the building, now valued at $6,000. The school has continued to grow. They now have five teachers besides the music teacher, and last year's report gave an enrollment of 130 pupils. Among the later principals were A. N. SMITH, J. A. McINTOSH, J. M. HOWELL and H. J. O'NEIL.

When sub-district No. 5 of Richland Township was made an independent district in 1874, a school building was erected in the Town of Grand River, Iowa. Here Nora GASSETT-EIKER, Ellen GAMMON-LONG and Hannah HUTCHINSON were employed as teachers for the first terms in this building. By 1886 this building became inadequate and a new building 28 by 40 was erected and a short distance from the first one, and for a time school was carried on in both buildings. Afterwards both buildings were sold; one is now used for a residence and the other for a church. Chas. MATSLER and Bert EMERSON were among the first teachers. Following EMERSON came V. R. McGINNIS.

In 1890 John WATERMAN made the first attempt toward a graded school. He formulated a course of study from which there was practically no change from 1890 to 1896. He held the first graduating exercises in the year 1895, the class being composed of Frank BONE, Robert SNYDER, John BURKHART, Nora BOYD, Nora OVERHOLTZER and Nellie BRENNAMAN.

In 1897 the present school building was erected. It consists of four rooms, including the recitation room and library. Four teachers are employed to teach the eleven grades.

Following Mr. WATERMAN came R. E. PORTER, R. V. BOEGER, J. L. LATTA, and H. L. COSNER, who was the first principal to have an assistant in the high room. Next came V. S. WEBBER, John BURKHART, and the present principal, Charles H. TEDFORD. The school has continued to grow in size, until last year an enrollment of 167 students was reported.

During the years of 1879, 1880 and 1881 the children of Lamoni attended the district school of Fayette Township No. 1, the schoolhouse being a small frame structure east of town across the road from the BANTA farm where Samuel KEOWN now resides.

Among the early teachers in this school were Earl D. BAILEY, A. L. FERGUSON, Inas PECK, Julia HOADLEY, and Miss FULLER.

Some of the early students were Miss GRAHAM, now Mrs. POUSH, of Leon, C. F., T. J., and E. H. SMITH, Tom and Nellie RIGGS, Letha BARR and Alex. HOPKINS, now of Lamoni.

In 1882 a carpenter shop was rented in the business part of town, which provided an additional schoolroom until 1883, when the main part of the old East Side building, containing three rooms, was erected. Prof. A. A. ROY was the first teacher in this schoolhouse, he teaching from 1883 to 1886. Professor ANDREWS then taught two terms, he preceding Prof. D. F. LAMBERT, who taught from the spring term of 1887 to the spring term of 1889, when he resigned this position.

Under Professor LAMBERT the first class that ever graduated in Lamoni held its exercises in the year 1888. This class was composed of Frank STODDARD, Andie Smith, Cora BAILEY, Martha ROBINSON, Frances WALKER and Mary EVANS.

Professor GUNSOLLY, who is now in Graceland College, was hired to teach the next term of school, he teaching till the fall of 1894. During this time the old East Side building had become so congested that out- side rooms were again pressed into use until 1891, when the north wing of the old East Side schoolhouse was erected. The town grew so rapidly that in 1894 a four-roomed brick building was built in West Lamoni. It was then that Prof. D. F. LAMBERT again took charge of the schools until 1897.

In 1896 the school board purchased the old lumber yard lot and shed, which was quickly converted into a schoolhouse, today known as the Red Central. Since 1897 Lamoni has had the following professors: G. N. BRIGGS, Mr. BUFFMAN, who is now in the North Dakota University, Mr. GRIFFITHS, Mr. HANNUM, O. H. HOLLEN, Mr. FISHER and the present superintendent, Mr. NEVELN.

Lamoni is now building a fine modern building just south of the Herald Publishing House, which is to cost around forty-two thousand dollars.

The first school in Pleasanton was probably conducted in 1855-56, in a log house not built for school purposes on Main Street west of the square. The first teacher was Perry BAILEY. A few of his pupils were Henry, Louis and Mary Anne MILLS, William and John CRAWFORD, Almira SNOOK, Lucy Anne and Monroe WILLIS.

The first building erected for a schoolhouse was a large log house built in northeast Pleasanton. It is now used as an icehouse. W. S. WARNOCK and Louis HASTINGS were two of the early teachers in this building. Among the early students of this school are W. J. SULLIVAN, Doctor FOXWORTHY, now of Leon; John PAINTER, of Pleasanton; Dr. E. C. MACY, of Pleasanton, now deceased; Mrs. E. C. MACEY, Mrs. GARDNER, and Rev. G. P. CAMPBELL, now of Davis City.

In the later '50s or early '60s, the people of Pleasanton decided to establish a college. The building was to be a large two-story one, 40 by 80 feet. For financial reasons only two rooms were finished. These were used by the little town for a public school. Among the early teachers were W. S. WARNOCK, deceased, A. W. LEWIS, and W. W. MURPHEY, now a prominent physician in Los Angeles, Cal. Later teachers were Mrs. Dr. MACEY Sr., Gideon P. WALKER, Doctor FOXWORTHY and J. M. SALLEE, of Bethany, now deceased.

In the year 1886 the building blew down before a severe hurricane. In its place was erected a one-story brick building occupying the same site. This brick building was torn down in 1898 and the present one erected. Among the teachers in the present building were Erven SPENCER, Mrs. Vena EDWARDS, Ralph SHELTON, and at present Miss Silvia VANDEL.

For many years Pleasanton claimed to have one of the best schools to be found in the country. It now has a good school of ten grades, it being graded about 1904.

The first schoolhouse in Decatur was a log one, located about where Lew BROWN'S residence now stands. Mr. JAMES taught in the year 1855, a later teacher being John FINLEY, Jr., of Leon. Anion the early pupils were Sarah McCROSKEY-SPRINGER, Delia HUSTON TEALE, Jane HUSTON-DAY, and Anna OWNBY-ROWELL.

During early times when no school building was to be had, school was conducted in a store room, Methodist Church and hotel, successively, until a building was erected in the center of what is now their town park.

In the years 1871 and 1872, Ed SAMPSON, of Van Wert, was principal and Mrs. OWNBY was primary teacher. Among her pupils were Belle SHELTON-HORNER, Mrs. Emma HORNER-TULLIS, Arthur and Gene MOORE, and Mollie MOORE-LITTLE.

The schoolhouse which stood in the center of the park burned and the present building erected about 1882.

Henry and Sarah ALDEN were the first teachers in the present building. Succeeding the ALDENS came I. N. W. COOPER. During the '80s Col. H. W. PECK taught several terms. Since then a great number of men have been principals, among whom are Profs. W. H. KALKOFEN, D. W. GREENSLATE, Arthur MOORE, J. W. LONG, Ed CONWELL, J. M. HOWELL, Erven SPENCER, J. C. COZAD, and the present superintendent, F. H. RIGGLE, who is now in his fourth year.

The first school building in Davis City was located in S. W. DAVIS' pasture in the southwest part of town. Mr. Samuel BOWMAN was teacher in the year 1863. Mr. N. C. PIERCY taught in 1807. Mr. PIERCY preceded Mr. S. A. GATES, who taught the year of 1868, and then returned to Davis City in 1874 and conducted school in the same old building. He had an average of seventy-two scholars and forty-two recitations daily. For teaching the schools he received $40 per month.

The brick building which is now used as an opera house was erected in 1875, and William POLAND hired as principal, with Mrs. Lloyd SEVERE as primary teacher. From 1875 to 1880 William POLAND, A. M. MORGAN, E. J. HAINER, W. P. DAVIDSON and J. C. HAINER were employed as teachers. Mr. J. C. HAINER upon leaving Davis City was employed in the State Agricultural College at Ames. Mr. E. J. HAINER was later a United States congressman. Since 1882 up to the present time J. M. Howell has alternated with many principals, among whom are J. C. KNOTT, McGHEE, OWEN, J. W. LONG and James DUTTON.

Principal DARRAH taught the first term in the present schoolhouse which was erected in 1890. The members of the first graduating class were: Lew HORNER, Maude TOPLIFF, Grace HORNER, Pearl NORMAN and Anna SHIRLEY.

The first Van Wert schoolhouse was built about one-fourth of a mile north of Van Wert or Prairie City, as it was then called, in 1858. This building was a log structure about 16 by 20 feet, with one door and two or three windows. It was provided with puncheon slats long enough for eight or ten pupils to sit on, for seats. An undressed board placed upon pegs driven into the wall served as a writing desk.

Among the early teachers in this school were: Miss POWELL, Lewis HOLT, James BLAIR and Newton PIERCY. Some of their pupils were: Charles L. SPENCER, Guy and George JACKSON, John, William and Minerva BARRACKMAN, G. H. and E. J. BLAIR, W. A. IRVING, the Misses TAYLOR, Jake and John FLORA, and Leora and LeRoy KELSEY.

In the winter of 1871-72, Mrs. Belle BURNS-HAILEY, who was teaching there at the time, held the first Christmas exercises ever given in the town. While she was teaching the name of Prairie City was changed to Van Wert.

In the year 1872 a frame building 22 by 28 feet was erected and equipped with desks in keeping with the time. It was a one-room building and seated during the winter of 1887-88, seventy-seven pupils.

In 1888 a high school or graded school building of three rooms was erected and a two-roomed school started. Some of the early principals in this school were: Mr. RHODES, V. R. McGINNIS, A. A. ROY and Mr. McVEY.

A few years back an addition of two rooms was built to the schoolhouse, the result being the present building. Some of the later principals have been F. P. REED, O. H. HOLLEN, Mr. DAVIS and Miss Poiteaux HALSTEAD, who is the present principal. 
EARLY SCHOOL DAYS IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
By J. N. Machlan 
 The schoolhouse at which the writer first attended school was located one-half mile north and one-fourth mile west of Fairview Church on what was then called the Leon and Osceola road, which angled across a beautiful stretch of prairie from where Fairview schoolhouse now stands to what was formerly Green Bay, over which the old buckboard, drawn by pair of tiny steeds, assisted Uncle Sam in distributing the mails. Well, the little school ship weighed anchor and launched out with Hannah SMITH, later LOREY but at present EVANS, of Leon, at the helm, with a small band of urchins at her side, prominent among whom was the writer of this article, who at that time still donned the dress such as was worn by the fair sex of our country and which became a source of no little grievance to the wearer from the fact that my brothers, who were bad boys and were a little older than myself, persisted in calling me "sis," a name which I abhorred from the beginning.

Perhaps some of my readers will say, "For land sake, why didn't the mothers dress their young men in pantaloons?" Well, let me tell you some reasons for doing as they did.

1st. Fashions have changed somewhat over in Paris during the past few decades.

2d. Cloth from which to make garments at that time was very high and we must of necessity economize by wearing our garments as long as they were any good.

3d. Self pride had not yet overrun this country.

4th. This country was not yet rid of the army greyback and the seven-year itch.

So you see the mothers were quite busy preparing food, looking after sanitary regulations, etc., and could not devote much time to making wearing apparel as at the present day. The little school ship glided peacefully along and we pupils were learning quite rapidly.

Miss SMITH was painstaking and her methods of teaching about as follows:

Twice two was four; two times four are eight; twice five ought to be ten, and so on. About the same as they teach mathematics now.

The school fixtures consisted of benches, a blackboard and a gad. The books were principally of the old elementary type of readers and spellers; not so costly as at present. A good lead pencil cost 10 cents, a slate, 25 to 30 cents.

The pupils had to walk pretty straight or get a licking, the writer excepted, who was a very obedient lad of a few summers. Our teacher was a good singer and used to entertain us with such songs as, "We'll Hang Jeff Davis to a Sour Apple Tree," "Glory Hallelujah," etc. Our hats were home-made, of rye straw braided by our mothers.

In course of time it was deemed best to move the schoolhouse to a location more convenient to the pupils, who were few and scattered. At an appointed time when the ground was covered with snow the building was placed on skids, several teams hooked on and the building was moved one-half mile north and one-fourth mile west where it remained on the prairie until it was sold and torn down.

After the schoolhouse was moved a term of school commenced, and at the close of the term a summer term was taught.

A big fellow who stood six feet tall was employed to teach the inter term. When the day arrived he appeared with a gad some six feet long, and at the sight of that six foot salamander the chills chased each other up and down my spine and I believe my schoolmates felt similar to myself, as we knew he had whipped a boy at another place so hard that the boy was confined to his bed for a time. This teacher, although very strict, proved to be a good instructor.

There was a class in mathematics that was far advanced, also some good readers. Among those who attended this school who have become prominent were: One missionary to India, one lawyer of no little prominence, one college professor who has the reputation of being one of the best educators in Iowa, besides several successful school teachers, farmers, merchants, etc.

We now jump a period of time to the time when Lee HARVEY, of Leon, was employed to teach a winter's term of school. Mr. HARVEY was equal to the occasion. He was a very intelligent and promising young man. Well, Lee, as we called him, taught a very successful term of school. He taught four winter temis in succession. Mr. HARVEY was a kind hearted man and was held in high esteem by the majority if not all the pupils.  
 
EARLY SCHOOLS IN GARDEN GROVE 
This article was written by one who attended the early schools of Garden Grove and lived there during the first years of that town's existence:

"Thirty-one years ago our little colony, consisting of Ozro N. KELLOGG and his family and the DAVIS family arrived at Garden Grove. There were about a hundred families of Mormons making a transient stay, but not a house for a distance of forty miles, either east or west; the nearest settlers being along the southern border of our county. There were no counties organized adjoining this, in Iowa, and no land surveyed, excepting six townships that were put in market to induce immigrants to buy the improvements, for the alleged reason that the saints were destroying the timber, thereby diminishing in value the timber land.

"We cannot proceed without honorable mention of the lamented father of our county superintendent, who was the first to awaken an interest in the cause of education in this goodly land, not by teaching, as he did formerly, but recommending the writer to our neighbors, many of whom were glad of an opportunity to have their children at school.

"This school commenced in December, or as soon as a puncheon floor could be made for our rude log cabin, and continued three months. Tuition, $1.25 per scholar. In the winter of 1851-52 Mr. Hiram CHASE resumed the work. He had been a successful educator in years gone by. They vacated their kitchen, and a profitable term was taught not kept.

"Those good early schools will always be remembered by those who attended, and almost every person in our sparsely settled community was included in the number.

"The summer of '52 still found us dependent on our own resources for a teacher. A district had been organized and the writer was employed. Some pupils came five miles, and frequently were obliged to leave their horses across Weldon and come over on a foot log [?]. Mr. KELLOGG proffered the use of one of his rooms. The teacher went a mile and carried two children on horseback.

"Our first teachers re-entered the schoolroom from the necessity. They brought with them years of study and practice, and knew no education that meant an exemption from labor, in whatever department. They had no advantages of convenient school buildings or fixtures. The seats were made of logs split in two with legs put in them. The kitchen tables (not extensions) were the desks, and they used what books happened to be brought. Much of the instruction was necessarily oral. They took great pride in correct spelling, good reading and wanting."

The following list is of the first pupils who attended the normal school at Garden Grove in 1881:

Till JORDAN, Eva CHASE, Mettie PITMAN, Leola HAYWOOD, Amanda KIER, Mina MADARASZ, Jessie MADARASZ, Kate DETRICK, Esther SANGER, Kittie STONE, Emma BUTTZ, Kizzie MARTIN, Cyrena KAUSLER, Belle WISE, Addie HAINER, Mary J. RYAN, Mary CAMPBELL, Manda ROGERS, Ada KIRKPATRICK, Kate RYAN, Sallie COOVER, Allie GARDNER, Allie PORTER, Ida GENREE, Mary DAVIS, Nora GASSETT, Mary SHINN, Eva SHINN, Sallie WALTON, H. HUTCHINSON, Delia LUNBECK, Ellen GAMMON, Anna GAMMON, Mattie POST, and J. A. BEEVERS, W. A. MACHLIN, A. J. LAW, Dan WEST, Elza OSBORN, E. D. SAMSON, T. J. HASTY, W. W. HAMILTON, Chas. MATSLER, Stephen VARGA. 
 
EARLY EDEN TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS 
The first school in Eden Township was taught in 1863 in a log building, 16 by 24, covered with clapboards and puncheons. David SHINN was the teacher. Robert DYE taught in the same building in 1855-56. The next school was held near the Judge KELLEY farm. The first regular schoolhouse was built in 1856 on the Richard MEEKS farm, built of frame, the timber sawed by Billy DAVIS, of Davis City. Robert DYE taught the first term in this new school.

In 1866-67 the township organized and divided into school districts. Aunt Mary WALTON was another of the pioneer teachers of this township.

The present Eden School was built in 1868. It was built of brick by William JENKINS, of Leon. Calvin MORRIS was the first teacher here.
  
SCHOOL STATISTICS 
In the Davis City District there are two teachers, one male and one female; there are 250 pupils enrolled; and one schoolhouse is used, which cost $9,000.

In the Decatur City District there is one male and four female teachers; 118 pupils enrolled; and one school, cost $460.

In the Garden Grove City District there are two male and nine female teachers; there is one schoolhouse worth $15,000. This school was built in 1903. The enrollment is 245.

In the Grand River Town District there is one male and three female teachers; 156 pupils are enrolled; and there is one school worth $2,500.

In the Lamoni District there are two male and twelve female teachers employed; the enrollment is 466; and there are four schoolhouses, worth together $10,000.

In the Leon District there are two male and seventeen female teachers; 631 enrolled; and two schools with a combined value of $35,000.

In the Leroy District there is one male and two female teachers; eighty pupils enrolled; and one school used, which is worth $4,500.

In the Pleasanton District there are three female teachers; 124 enrolled; and one $2,000 schoolhouse.

In the Van Wert District there is one male and five female teachers; 117 enrolled; and one school, cost $4,500.

In the Weldon District there is one male and five female teachers; 132 enrolled; one $6,000 school.

The total in independent city, town and village districts is as follows: twelve male and sixty-five female teachers; 2,319 enrolled; and fourteen schoolhouses, costing together $88,950.
  
COUNTY DISTRICTS 
In Bloomington District there are two male and nine female teachers; 207 are enrolled; and there are eight schoolhouses, costing $6,050.

In the Burrell District there is one male and eight female teachers; - 171 enrolled; seven schools worth $4,200.

In the Center District there are eight female teachers: 100 enrolled; seven schoolhouses, worth $13,60.

In Eden District there are one male and seven female teachers; 183 enrolled; eight schoolhouses, worth $4,000.

In the Franklin District there is one male and seven female teachers; 120 enrolled; six schoolhouses worth $2,300.

In the High Point District there is one male and eight female teachers; 131 enrolled; eight schoolhouses, costing $3,300.

In the Morgan District there are two male and six female teachers; 183 enrolled; six schoolhouses which cost $2,250.

In the Woodland District there is one male and eight female teachers; 189 enrolled; nine schools which cost $3,725.

In the Decatur District there are the following:

No. 2, Woodmansee, there is one male teacher, eighteen enrolled, and one school which cost $634;

No. 3, Pleasant Hill, there is one female teacher, twenty-eight enrolled, and one $500 school;

in No. 4, Stone, there is one female teacher, thirteen enrolled, and one $400 school;

in No. 5, Washington, there is one female teacher, fifteen enrolled, and one $300 school;

in No. 6, Wells, there is one female teacher, twenty-nine enrolled, and one $300 school;

in No. 7, Hickory Grove, there is one female teacher, seventeen enrolled, and one $300 school;

in No. 8, Lone Star, there is one female teacher, twenty-six enrolled, and one $400 school.

In the Fayette District there are the following:

In No. 2, Spurrier, there are three female teachers, nineteen enrolled, and one $300 school;

in No. 3, Black, there is one female teacher, twenty-six enrolled, and one $500 school;

in No. 4, Evergreen, there are two female teachers, twenty-two enrolled, and one school which cost $1,175;

in No. 5, Athens, there is one female teacher, fourteen enrolled, and one $300 school;

in No. 6, Brenizer, there is one female teacher, twenty-three enrolled, and one $500 school.

In the Garden Grove Rural Independent District there are the following:

In No. 2, White Oak, there is one female teacher, twenty enrolled, and one $500 school;

in No. 3, Gospel Ridge, there is one male teacher, thirteen enrolled, and one $300 school;

in No. 4, Tick Ridge, there are two female teachers, fifteen enrolled, and one $800 school;

in No. 5, Pleasant Ridge, there is one female teacher, eighteen enrolled, and one $800 school.

In the Grand River Rural Independent District there are the following:

In No. 1, Jefferson, there is one male and one female teacher, seven enrolled, and one $100 school;

in No. 2, West Elk, there is one female teacher, sixteen enrolled, and one $600 school;

in No. 3, Centennial, there is one female teacher, twenty-one enrolled, and one $500 school;

in No. 4, Union, there are two female teachers, twenty-three enrolled, and one $450 school;

in No. 5, Elk, there is one male and one female teacher, twenty-five enrolled, and one $400 school;

in No. 6, Center, there are two female teachers, nineteen enrolled; and one $500 school;

in No. 7, Diamond, there are two female teachers, sixteen enrolled, and one $600 school;

in No. 8, Welcome, there is no school.

In Long Creek District there are the following:

In No. 1, Woodard, there are three female teachers, twenty-seven enrolled, and one $800 school;

in No. 3, Good Hope, there is one male and one female teacher, fourteen enrolled, and one $350 school;

in No. 4, there is one female teacher, twenty-three enrolled, and one $400 school;

in No. 5, there is one female teacher, twenty-six enrolled, and one $300 school;

in No. 6, Hawkeye, there is one female teacher, eleven enrolled, and one $500 school;

in No. 7, Hazel College, there is one female teacher, twenty-nine enrolled, and one $400 school;

in No. 8, Elm Grove, there are two female teachers, forty-one enrolled, and one $200 school;

in No. 9, Spring Valley, there is one female teacher, seventeen enrolled, and one $300 school.

In the New Buda District there are the following:

In No. 2, Stringtown, there are two female teachers, twenty-nine enrolled, and one $450 school;

in No. 3, New Buda, there is one female teacher, twenty-four enrolled, and one $500 school;

in No. 4, Togo, there is one female teacher, twelve enrolled, and one $500 school;

in No. 5, Bennett, there is one female teacher, thirty-one enrolled, and one $60 house;

in No. 6, Liberty, there is one female teacher, twenty enrolled, and one $300 school.

In Richland District there are the following:

In No. 1, Brick, there is one female teacher, forty-three enrolled, and one $600 school;

in No. 2, Glenwood, there is one male and one female teacher, nineteen enrolled, and one $250 school;

in No. 3, Dunham, there is one male teacher, thirty-three enrolled, and one $500 school;

in No. 4, Daughton, there is one female teacher, sixteen enrolled, and one $400 school;

in No. 6, Comstock, there is one female teacher, twenty-one enrolled, and one $800 school;

in No. 7, Liberty, there is one male teacher, fifty-six enrolled, and one $700 school;

in No. 8, Westerville, there is one male teacher, twenty-seven enrolled, and one $600 school.

The total for the rural districts is as follows: There are - nineteen male and one hundred eighteen female teachers, there are 2,437 pupils enrolled, and 110 schoolhouses, costing a total of $55,494.

The grand total is as follows: there are thirty-one male and 183 female teachers, there are 4,776 pupils enrolled in the county, and there are 124 schools, costing an aggregate of $144,444. In the county there are 2,686 male and 2,600 female children between the ages of five and twenty-one. The average monthly wage for men teachers is $67.66 and for women, $49.45. 
 
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