| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Page 143
Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, November 19, 2019
Map of Morning Sun Township
| 1. Concord No. 4 |
| 2. Honey Creek No. 6 |
| 3. Liberty No. 2 |
| 4. Mid Prairie No. 3 |
| 5. Midway |
| 6. Star-A |
| 7. Union No. 1 |
This township comprises a portion of township 73 north, range 3 west, and a portion of township 73 north, range 4 west, comprising in all a fraction over one congressional township. The township was first known as Florence, its name being given it by William Harrison. In 1853 it took the name of Morning Sun, after the village of that name. There are two streams running through the township, Otter Creek and Honey Creek. The first settlement was made about 1836. Jonathan Harkeman, of Ohio, settled on section 25. He was a blacksmith by trade, and the first to work at that branch of business in this township. He was also the inventor and manufacturer of the first diamond plow. After remaining here for a time he moved to Mahaska County, Iowa.
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Concord was located one and one half miles north and a mile east of Morning Sun. The Concord Cemetery is in the area. The land was deeded by W. Gregory in Section 17.
IPictures: CONCORD, 1915.
Bonnie Belle Peck- teacher. Front row, left to right: Ivan Graham, Joe Harris, William (Tom) Harris, Harold Kissinger, Brigham Robb, Norval Delzell, Cleo Carson, Lynn Graham. Second row: Jamie Gradner, Pearl Gradner, Glennie Harris, Lucille Curran, Fannie Delzell, Wiley Kissinger, Victor (Pete) Hunt, Celia Gardner, Margaret Kissinger.
CONCORD 1915.
Left to right: Fannie Delzell, Lucille Curran, Vergie Jacobs, Lena Elliott, Margaret Kissinger, Joe Harris, Harold Kissinger (boy with football), Clyde Elliot (quarterback), Norval Delzell, Lynn Graham.
Teachers at Concord between 1908-20 were: Harriet Metz, Lola Collins, Georgie Rice, Hattie Pogemiller, Ruth Dauelle, Helen Brown (Harris), Mark Campbell, Wallace Campbell, Bonnie Bell Peck, Reid Hannah, Ruth Woodruff and Frankie Hamilton.
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Pupils of Honey Creek were: Fred Andrews; Dean, Harriet and Alice Hudson; Frances Andrews; Boyd, Mark and Geneva Dotson; Pauline Hobbs; Marion, Earl and Lucille Wilson; Valdea Boltz; Jon and Vera Jarvis; and J. Ralph Wilson.
Teachers at Honey Creek included: Mark Campbell, Letha Campbell (McElhinney), Ruth Faris, 1918-19; and Ina Jamison and Mildred Boal, 1919-20.
Picture of Honey Creek school house.
An introduction to Honey Creek school is found in the Louisa County Album, 1889, page 641 from information by William M. Wilson:
“This district was named Honey Creek by John M. Wilson, Samuel Hamilton and Hiram Morgan. Among its early settlers were Mark Davison, Robert McElhaney, John Wilson, William Lee, J. Dowell, Robert Lee, John O’Laughlin, John Hamilton, E. W. Siverly and James Morgan. The first school was taught about the winter of 1839 by Mr. A. G. Siverly, in a log cabin used for a blacksmith shop, near the bank of Honey Creek. The boundaries of the district at that time were from Morning Sun to James McCray’s and from Linn Grove to Wapello. About 1845 it was permanently organized and the district erected a substantial log school-house which was used until 1856 when it burned. In the summer of 1857 the same building now occupied was built, in which the first school was taught by David Tolbert.”
The foundation stones of the school used from 1845-56 can still be seen on the NE ¼ of Section 28 near the center of the section.
“John Wilson, an early settler there, also taught school in the same building, probably in 1841” (Louisa County History, Vol. 1, pp. 402-4) and was still teaching in 1856 at age 65 according to records on file in the Department of Public Education in Des Moines.
My maternal grandmother, Myrilla Reid, taught at Honey Creek in the early 1850’s. Arthur Springer’s History of Louisa County (Vol. II, p.88) records of her: “For about three years she engaged in teaching school in Louisa County, having charge of the same school that her grandchildren—the children of Mrs. C. B. Wilson—now attend.” This must have been 1849-52 as she was married to my grandfather in February of 1853.
My father’s sister, Cynthia E. Wilson, who later became a missionary to India under the United Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, attended Honey Creek school in the 1850’s. We find this description of her school days in the book, Our India Mission by Andrew Gordon (published 1886, p. 416-417):
Miss Cynthia Ellen Wilson, the fourth child of James X. and Martha E. Wilson was born the 27th of March, 1850 near Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa … “her first school days were spent at the lovely old log schoolhouse in the woods—a long dreary mile and a half from home—whither, after being carried by her father across the dangerous creek on the narrow footlog, she daily tripped along, all the more nimbly that she …
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… was constantly in dread of the snakes and wolves with which the country was infested. The first grief which oppressed her childish heart arose from having to stand alone upon the floor of the school-room, as a punishment for looking off her book.
The gloomy old log schoolhouse was happily burnt down, and a better one built nearer home. Here, the cool refreshing spring at the foot of the hill, the open grassy lawn upon which she played with pleasant companions, the stately oaks beneath which she built playhouses, garnishing them with fragrant prairie flowers and beautiful moss carpets, and the hickory sapling upon which she swung as she dreamed of coming womanhood—all combined to make life’s pathway joyous and hopeful, and stored up many a pleasant memory to cheer the future missionary in a heathen land.
Later she graduated from Monmouth College in June of 1873, “taking first honor in the Scientific course—it being the Salutatory—her essay having for its topic, ‘Our Ship is at Sea.’ After graduation she engaged in teaching, first in the district of her home in Iowa which of course was Honey Creek School” (Sketch from Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia.)
The third Honey Creek schoolhouse was located along Highway 78 on top of the hill east of Honey Creek bridge just beyond the present Morning Sun City dump (SW ¼ Section 28). When I attended school 1910-1916 there was a grove of box elder trees in the west yard and a large oak tree at the rear of the school building. There was a buggy shed, coal shed, and an outdoor pump. The site of the well can still be found, and the old school pump is now in possession of Mr. Frank Schwab, Bettendorf, Iowa.
In 1920 the district was consolidated into the Morning Sun Community School and the little frame schoolhouse was abandoned.
My mother, Dayle Marie Owens Enke, taught at Liberty school one mile south of Marsh on Highway 78 during the years 1920-22. She taught Otter Creek, north of Morning Sun, in 1922-23. She took Normal Training courses two summers while in high school at Morning Sun. She and three friends went to Cedar Fall for these sessions.
While at Liberty she stayed at two farm homes. She grew up on a farm in the Marsh vicinity, one of a large family of John B. Owens and Alma Marshall Owens.
When teaching at Otter Creek she walked to school from Morning Sun (where her family had moved from the Marsh farm) when the weather was fit. Her younger sisters, then in high school, would walk half-way with her or go to meet her. Only when the weather was bad did she stay at Harold Williams’ nearby (where Reutingers now live).
The Owen family children attended the grades at Mid-Prairie school which was across the road from their farm. The Mid-Prairie schoolhouse ground was returned to their family, as they owned the eighty acres it was located on.
Picture: LIBERTY SCHOOL.
Liberty is five miles west of Morning Sun or one mile south of Marsh on Highway 78
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Pupils at Liberty included: Hollis, Robert, Maruel and Milas Hewitt; Carl, Tom, Mildred, Orville, Paul and Mildred Linder; Virgil and Merle Linder; Hazel and Floyd McCaw; Fred, Ralph, Carl, George and Frank Wilson; Gerald, Lucille, Mildred, Dwight, Twyla and Ebb Cornic; Herbert, Cora, Amos and Pearl Mosley; Dale, Harry and Alice Crawford; Gerald and Henry McCune; Lorna Grim; Harold, Orville and Vera Gibbs; Clone and Mildred Swartz; Cynthia Hooten; Earl Harris and Lela, Alta and Boyd Jacobs.
| Years | Teacher | Salary Per Month |
| 1918-19 | Marie Wheeler | $65 |
| 1919-20 | Marie Wheeler | $90 |
| 1920-21 | Dayle Owens | $90 |
| 1921-22 | Dayle Owens | $100 |
| 1922-23 | Lova Neil | $85 |
| 1923-24 | ||
| 1924-25 | Mildred Lofgren | $85 |
| 1925-26 | Helen Jones | |
| 1926-27 | Helen Jones | $90 |
| 1927-28 | Helen Jones | $90 |
| 1928-29 | Helen Jones | $90 |
| 1929-30 | Helen Jones | $90 |
| 1930-31 | Mildred Cockayne | $90 |
| 1931-32 | Izola Metzger | $85 |
| 1932-33 | Izola Metzger | $75 |
| 1933-34 | Izola Metzger | $45 |
| 1934-35 | Nettie Chrissing | $55 |
| 1935-36 | Icyle Ross | $50 |
| 1936-37 | Marguerite North | $50 |
| 1937-38 | Harriet Buffington | $75 |
| 1938-39 | Harriet Buffington | $75 |
| 1939-40 | Harriet Buffington | $70 |
| 1940-41 | Harriet Buffington | $70 |
Other teachers reported were: Dale Owens Enke, Ora Cummings, Marie Cornic, Helen Hetherington, Lona Neil, Gertrude Sheyham, Mildred Cocane (Robertson), and Rita Ring.
Mid-Prairie was located on the northeast corner of Sidney Crawford’s farm in Morning Sun Township. Liberty, Franklin, Washington and Mid-Prairie were in the Marsh Consolidated District and Sidney Crawford was the treasurer. I taught from 1933 to 1936. There were nineteen students in all eight grades. The students who attended from 1933-34 were: Paul and Verlee Martin; Delbert and Neil Grim; Norma and Elva Grim; Elbert Bice; Guy and Lois Meeker; Crystal, Martha and Mary Emma Baird; Betty Cummings; Mary and Norene Snell; Boyd Jacobs, Cloyce Mesenger; and Benny and Mildred Moore.
Mid-Prairie school was torn down for the lumber in 1946 or 47 by Wilber Pogemiller. The ground went back to the John Owens estate.
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Pictures: MID PRAIRIE, 1930.
Mid Prairie is approximately one and a quarter mile north of Marsh on the south side of the road.
MID PRAIRIE, 1930.
Front row, left to right: Leland Wheeler, Mary Snell, Guy Meeker, Junior Wheeler. Middle row: Verlee Martin, Paul Martin, Delbert Grim, Neil Grim, Freda Garland. Back row: Charles Garland, Leslie Meeker, Thelma Rice, Elbert Bice, Jack Ping.
MID PRAIRIE, 1930. Front row, left to right: Lois Meeker, Deltha Kirby, Wanda Jean Grim, Betty Cummings. Second row: Martha Baird, Elva Grim, Crystal Barid, Mary Emma Baird. Third row: Guy Meeker, Norma Grim, Verlee Martin, Neil Grim. Back row: Elbert Bice, Boyd Jacobs, Delbert Grim.
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| Years | Teacher | Salary Per Month |
| 1918-19 | Maude Swearinger | $65 |
| 1919-20 | Ora Eckey | |
| Mava Swan | $75 | |
| Eva Spangler | $75 | |
| Mrs. M. Weeler Cornic | $120 | |
| 1920-21 | ||
| 1921-22 | Mrs. M. F. Cornic | $100 |
| 1922-23 | Mrs. M. F. Cornic | $85 |
| 1923-24 | Mrs. M. F. Cornic | |
| 1924-25 | Mrs. M. F. Cornic | $85 |
| 1925-26 | Mrs. M. F. Cornic | $85 |
| 1926-27 | Mrs. M. F. Cornic | $90 |
| 1927-28 | Mrs. Marie Wheeler Cornic | $90 |
| 1928-29 | Mrs. Marie Cornic | $90 |
| 1929-30 | Mrs. Marie Cornic | $90 |
| 1930-31 | Zelda Lee | $85 |
| 1931-32 | Zelda Lee | $85 |
| 1932-33 | Zelda Lee | $75 |
| 1933-34 | Mildred Meeker | $45 |
| 1934-35 | Mildred Meeker | $45 |
| 1935-36 | Mildred Meeker | $55 |
| 1936-37 | Doris Gladd | $55 |
| 1937-38 | Doris Gladd | $65 |
| 1938-39 | Doris Gladd | $65 |
| 1939-40 | Doris Gladd | $70 |
| 1940-41 | Thelma Bice | $70 |
| 1941-42 | Thelma Coon | $70 |
| 1942-43 | Katherine Courtney | $90 |
| 1943-44 |
Other teachers reported were: Dale Owens Enke, Ora Cummings, Marie Cornic, Helen Hetherington, Lona Neil, Gertrude Sheyham, Mildred Cocane (Robertson), and Rita Ring.
Mid-Prairie was located on the northeast corner of Sidney Crawford’s farm in Morning Sun Township. Liberty, Franklin, Washington and Mid-Prairie were in the Marsh Consolidated District and Sidney Crawford was the treasurer. I taught from 1933 to 1936. There were nineteen students in all eight grades. The students who attended from 1933-34 were: Paul and Verlee Martin; Delbert and Neil Grim; Norma and Elva Grim; Elbert Bice; Guy and Lois Meeker; Crystal, Martha and Mary Emma Baird; Betty Cummings; Mary and Norene Snell; Boyd Jacobs, Cloyce Mesenger; and Benny and Mildred Moore.
Mid-Prairie school was torn down for the lumber in 1946 or 47 by Wilber Pogemiller. The ground went back to the John Owens estate.
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Pictures: MID PRAIRIE, 1930.
Mid Prairie is approximately one and a quarter mile north of Marsh on the south side of the road.
MID PRAIRIE, 1930.
Front row, left to right: Leland Wheeler, Mary Snell, Guy Meeker, Junior Wheeler. Middle row: Verlee Martin, Paul Martin, Delbert Grim, Neil Grim, Freda Garland. Back row: Charles Garland, Leslie Meeker, Thelma Rice, Elbert Bice, Jack Ping.
MID PRAIRIE, 1930. Front row, left to right: Lois Meeker, Deltha Kirby, Wanda Jean Grim, Betty Cummings. Second row: Martha Baird, Elva Grim, Crystal Barid, Mary Emma Baird. Third row: Guy Meeker, Norma Grim, Verlee Martin, Neil Grim. Back row: Elbert Bice, Boyd Jacobs, Delbert Grim.
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Picture: Miss Margaret Sloan’s souvenir, 1902-03
Louisa County, Iowa 1902-1903 Presented by MARGARET SLOAN Teacher DIRECTORS John J. Hill, Secy. Wm. Crawford, Treas. Scott Hewitt, A. W. Bice, J. S. Chilson PUPILS
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Picture: MID PRAIRIE, 1936.
Front row, left to right: Betty Cummings, Lois Meeker, Elva Grim, Mary Emma Baird, Detha Kirby.
Back row: Crystle Baird, Martha Baird, Norma Grim, Mildred Meeker – teacher, Guy Meeker
| 1944-45 | Shirley Hewitt | $125 |
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Picture: MIDWAY 1917-1918. This was taken from a souvenir.
Teacher, Aldene Rich 1919-1920
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Students over the years included: Audrey and Merle Thompson; Maude, Myrtle, Ross, Leota, Paul, Clifford, Elsie and Sammy Walker; Linda and Edith Eklund; Don, Dorothy, and Helen Jamison; Pauline, Harry, and Frances Crammond; Carl Wischmeier; Henry, Nellie, Edith and Bertha Cowles; Hazel, Eber, Jim and Goffry Umprey; Richard and Pauline Otto; Flossie and Art Maddux; and Virgel and Audrey Hancock.
Other teachers were: Riel Hannah, Naomi Fent, Merle Callahan, Nellie Christie, Vinne Aldridge, Allene Rich, and Mabel Swank.
Star A school is four and one half miles northwest of Morning Sun on the old Iowa City Road, near the J. K. Brown farm. The land was deeded by Joshua Brown in 1883. Doyle Bozman was the teacher in 1915-16. The school closed in the spring of 1916.
Pupils who attended Star A were: Milton, John, Frances, Carolyn and Phronia Hunt; George, Phronia and Verne Higgins; Roy Florang; Edward, Tillie, Josephine, Emma, Amanda and Elmer Casten; Wheeler Family; children of Martin Stone and Dallas and Louise Kerr.
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The land for Union was deeded by John Perrine in 1865. Records show that in 1918-19 and in 1919-20, Evelyn Green taught at Union and earned $60 and $70 per month respectively.
Pictures: UNION.
Front row: Ralph Swanson; the others are not identified. Back row: Vera Swanson, Elsie Swanson, Gladys Bazel, Alma Bazel, Evelyn Green-teacher.
UNION. Left to right: Ralph Swanson, ?, ?, Evelyn Green-teacher, Vera Swanson.