This institution, so beautiful, located in the northwest portion of the city of Osage, reflects credit upon its projectors and sustainers, by the high reputation it enjoys as a college for moral, mental and useful training of the mind. No educational institution is more favorably known, and none by reason of its efficient superintendence merits greater favor, or is more successful in performing the work indicated by its name.
The Cedar Valley Seminary originated in a proposition from the citizens of Osage to the Cedar Valley Baptist Association at its seventh anniversary at Waterloo, in September, 1862. It was that the citizens of Osage would furnish suitable buildings, if the association would establish and maintain an institution of learning suited to the wants of the community. This proposal was presented by Rev. H. I. Parker, to whom it had been made; and Revs. John Fulton, Alva Bush, C. B. Smith, R. P. Keyes, L. J. Harmon and H. I. Parker were appointed a committee to consider it. After careful deliberation the committee made the following report: Resolved, That we fully approve the acceptance of the said buildings, and pledge our hearty co-operation in the execution of the enterprise.
This report was adopted, but no special engagement was entered into. In harmony with this resolution, early in January 1863, Alva Bush, A. M., who had just concluded his engagement as professor of mathematics in the Upper Iowa University, visited Osage, for the first time, to canvass in reference to the immediate wants of the community, and his undertaking to commence the enterprise.
The result of this conference was that he returned to Fayette for his family, and within one week conveyed them to Osage, and on the l0th day of January, 1863, commenced a school, consisting of seventeen gentleman and fourteen ladies, in the court house in Osage, to which he, in consultation with its patrons, gave the name of Cedar Valley Seminary.
[The photo on the right is a recent photo of the seminary building, which is now a museum.]
During the first year there were four terms of eleven weeks each, thus gaining one term, so that the regular academic year might commence in September each year, with thirteen weeks each, which has since been done.
At the eighth anniversary of the Cedar Valley Baptist Association, held at Waverly in September, 1863, Revs. John Fulton, H. H. Burrington and William Wood were appointed a committee to examine the school and report in 1864.
At the ninth anniversary, held at Osage in September, 1864, the association assumed control of the school, and appointed Rev. William Ross, S.B. Chase, M.D., A.H. Moore, M.D., and O.P. Howard, Esq., of Osage, and Revs. John Fulton, Independence; A.G. Eberhart, of Cedar Falls, and H.H. Burrington, of Waverly, trustees.
The board accepted the appointment, and organized by choosing Rev. John Fulton, president; Rev. Wm. Ross, vice-president; S.B. Chase, M.D., secretary; Alva Bush, A.M., treasurer. After thorough examination, the entire management of the school was left in the hands of Prof. Bush, to conduct in the future as he had in the past.
This board was continued by the association at its tenth annual meeting, in Charles City, in September, 1865, and the management continued by the board as in 1864.
At the eleventh anniversary, held at Waverly, in September, 1866, Revs. C.T. Tucker, of Charles City, and T.F. Thickstun, of Waverly, were appointed trustees in addition to those appointed in 1864. The board continued the management of the school in the hands of Prof. Bush.
At its twelfth anniversary, held in Janesville, in September, 1866, W.W. Blackman, M.D., and Peter Morse were chosen trustees, in place of Revs. John Fulton and A.G. Eberhart, and the management of the school was continued in charge of Prof. Bush In accordance with recommendation of the association, in December, 1867, a legal organization was completed, consisting of nine trustees, to be appointed by the association--three each successive year--with terms of office as follows: S.B. Chase, M.D., A.H. Moore, M.D., and O.P. Harwood, Esq., for one year. H.H. Burrington, T.F. Thickstun and C.T. Tucker, for two years; and W.W. Blackman, M.D., Peter Morse and C.L. Clausen, for three years. This body was to be styled, "The Board of Trustees of Cedar Valley Seminary," in contradistinction to "The Cedar Valley Seminary," a legal body which had been organized to purchase site and erect a seminary building in Osage, of which body Judge Arad Hitchcock was president, Jesse P. Brush, secretary, and J.H. Brush, treasurer.
At its thirteenth annual meeting, at Hartford, in September, 1868, the association approved this organization, and appointed S.B. Chase, M.D., Rev. Asa Marsh and A.H. Moore, M.D., trustees for three years, to take the place of those whose term of office was about to expire. The entire management of the school was continued in charge of Prof. Bush. In 1867 the south half of block ninety-five and the north half of block one hundred and twenty-two in Osage, was purchased by the trustees of Cedar Valley Seminary, and during the years 1868 and 1869 the fine seminary building was erected, under the able management of Judge Hitchcock, and through a committee appointed by the trustees, consisting of Judge Hitchcock, J.H. Brush and Cyrus Foreman, Esq., --was formally tendered the association at its fourteenth annual session, hold in Seminary Chapel, Osage, September, 1869, on condition that it raise an endowment of $20,000 and maintain the school.
This tender the association formally accepted, through a committee, as per the following report:
WHEREAS, A communication from the citizens of Osage has been received by this body, tendering to the "Trustees of Cedar Valley Seminary," which are appointed by this association, their beautiful seminary building, just completed at an expense of about $10,000, and the grounds attached, on condition that an endowment be raised for the seminary, and we pledge our continued patronage to the school.
Resolved, That we highly appreciate the liberality of the citizens of Osage, and the untiring energy and perseverance of Prof. Bush, who has been largely instrumental in raising the school to its present elevated position.
Resolved, That we cordially accept the proffer made by the citizens of Osage, and undertake to raise an endowment for the seminary of $20,000, on condition that the owners of the building agree to transfer in fee simple the building and grounds to the board of trustees when the sum of $10,000 in cash and reliable notes bearing interest shall be raised to make a permanent endowment.
Resolved, That the Board be recommended to adopt the necessary measures to accomplish this endowment.
Resolved, That we will earnestly commend this subject to our churches and people, and that we will aid in the further development of the institution, and in the future erection of buildings to meet its necessities.
I. HALL,
C. T. TUCKER, }Committee.
A. MINER,On motion, this report was accepted, and without discussion adopted.
Revs. C.I. Tucker, H.H. Burrington and Hon. N.C. Deering were appointed trustees in place of those whose terms were about to expire. The school continued in care of Prof. Bush.
At each recurring meeting of the association since, trustees have been appointed to fill vacancies in the board; and renewed evidence of sympathy and interest in the institution has been manifested; yet, owing to the great severity of the times, the endowment was not reached so as to obtain the title to the property, until 1876. The title was transferred to the board of trustees in May, 1876,--who now have ownership and absolute control. The school was left entirely in charge of Prof. A. Bush with gratifying results, until the time of his death, in June, 1881, when Col. Alonzo Abernethy: late superintendent of public instruction of Iowa, was chosen principal, and still occupies that position.
The seminary building is a brick structure, 36x72 feet, two stories high, beside basement. It stands in the center of a beautiful square, one block north of Main street.
The institution is now in its twenty-first year. It has aided in the education of more than 1,600 young men and women. The thoroughness and excellence of its work have been recognized during its whole history, and is attested by the very large number of prominent places its old students have already earned for themselves in the leading professions and business occupations of northern Iowa. The seminary is under the immediate control of the Cedar Valley Baptist Association of Iowa, which body is responsible for the character of the institution and annually appoints trustees to manage and direct the school, its officers, property and endowments.
Osage, the county seat of Mitchell county, a beautiful and thriving city of near 3,000 people, in the heart of the Cedar Valley, on the Illinois Central Railroad, is easy of access from all directions and no better place could be found for the site of such an institution. It is distinctively a city of educated, Christian, temperance people. There has not been a saloon in Osage for many years. The moral and religious influences pervading and surrounding the seminary are most favorable to the development of good habits and good characters, and to the promotion of noble aims and purposes in life.
The students are allowed the right of individual choice and judgment with the respect of religious belief; so that while the college may be in one sense deformational, it is by no means sectarian, but a public institution of higher learning devoted to the interests of all the people in the neighboring country.
COURSES OF INSTRUCTION
A careful examination of the courses of study, show them specifically adapted to meet the present wants in the line of education, so far as they can be supplied in a school of this character. It is designed to teach nothing but what will have real, practical value to the student, and all who come have the privilege of selecting their own studies according to their special needs.
The preparatory year, for those who need it, affords good facilities for reviewing the common branches. It is desired to receive students of any age or stage of advancement. Many children contract an aversion to study solely because their progress is made too slow, and their reviews too frequent. This preparatory year gives a good preparation for the other courses, and in many cases will save a whole year's study.
The teachers' course, requiring one, two, or three years' study, according to the advancement of the student, is designed to fit students for the higher position in the teachers' profession. See note 4, chapter 167, Laws of 1882, provides that, "Candidates for State certificates shall be examined in the following branches: Orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, English grammar, book-keeping, physiology, history of the United States, algebra, botany, natural philosophy, drawing, civil government, constitution and the laws of Iowa, and didactics." This course, therefore, includes, every branch required for a state certificate.
The business course is arranged for those who want to devote two or three terms chiefly to penmanship, business arithmetic, book-keeping and commercial law. The book-keeping is by single and double entry, and includes full sets of books for manuscript work.
The scientific course, of four years, includes all the leading sciences, a full course in history and English literature, and a year or more in German.
The literary course gives three years' study of the Latin language and literature, and is the course which a large number of students will choose sooner or later as the most desirable.
In the classic course, a year and a half is given to Greek in place of science and other literary studies. The, first three years of this course is an excellent college preparatory for those who design to Pursue the complete college classical Course.
GENERAL REMARKS
Since the re-organization begun in August, 1881, by the election of Col. Alonzo Abernethy as principal, an old indebtedness against the Seminary amounting in the aggregate to over $4500, has been wholly paid off and settled. This places the institution wholly free from all debt. The building has been re-roofed, wholly repainted without and within, and the entire property put in thorough repair.
An Alumni Library Endowment Fund is slowly accruing, the annual interest on which keeps the library stocked with the best publications of the current times. Fifty volumes have been thus added the past year. Valuable donations have also been made. Hon. N.C. Deering has secured two hundred volumes of public documents, maps, and valuable reports. Rev. L.B. Plummer, of Hampton, Iowa, contributed seventy volumes, of history, literature, science, and religion. Rev. A. Marsh, of Riceville, presented "The Problem of Human Life," and a volume of the "Microcosm." The library is open Tuesdays and Fridays for drawing and returning books.
The sum of $350 has lately been secured from citizens of Osage and others to procure greatly needed apparatus for classroom use in the natural science and natural history studies. It includes a fine Holtz electrical machine, level air pump, microscope, lunar tellurian, globes, collision balls, inertia apparatus, gyroscope, Magdeburg hemispheres, magnets, magnetic needle, barometer, set of maps and charts, and a large number of smaller articles.
The collection of minerals which was received from the Smithsonian Institute contains choice specimens from all parts of our own country; also specimens from Spain, Switzerland and Norway, Greenland, Japan and South Africa. The set of marine invertebrates, also of the educational series from the Smithsonian, contains several hundred specimens of marine fauna. These were secured through the good offices of Congressman Deering.
There are two literary societies maintained by the students. These societies furnish an excellent means for acquiring ease and efficiency in composition, debate, public reading and speaking, and familiarity with the rules and customs of deliberative bodies.
Instruction is given in instrumental and vocal music and harmony. Students have the choice of private lessons, instruction in class, or both. Each student taking private lessons receives careful individual training from the teacher at the head of the department.
But few rules are prescribed for the government of students. They are expected to govern themselves. Promptness, thorough preparation, attention to their work, and courteous deportment are expected of all. Whenever a student neglects his duty, or is guilty of improper conduct, he forfeits the privileges of the school. All students are admitted or dismissed at the discretion of the principal. Students prepare their lessons in their own rooms, and come to the seminary to recite. When it is necessary to remain between recitations, a study room is provided.
The Illinois Central Railroad grants excursion rates for round-trip tickets to students visiting their homes during vacations.
Tuition is due and payable at the beginning of the term, for the whole term. Students may enter at any time, and after the first two weeks of the term, are charged only for the time remaining. No deduction for the last two weeks of the term. Tuition for full term, $7; for a shorter time, $3 per month; in the preparatory year, $5 per term. Tuition of children of ministers, half rates. Penmanship for a term of twenty lessons, $1.
Board is furnished at actual cost by the Seminary Boarding Club. A large, good building, centrally located one block from the seminary, is occupied for this purpose. The cost is about $1.50 per week, at which price an abundance of plain, well-cooked food can be furnished. Furnished rooms, 37 1/2 cents per week; unfurnished rooms at lower rates.
Board in private families, per week, $2.50 to $3.
The cost of textbooks is a large item of expense in attending school. The class of books which students usually need but a short time, and do not care to retain as arithmetic, grammar, geography, reading and elocution, are furnished and rented to students at an average cost of fifteen cents a term.
THE SEMINARIAN
The students publish quarterly a twelve-page paper, The Seminarian, at twenty-five cents a year. It is a valuable means of student culture, serves to publish and preserve many of their literary efforts, and to keep the public informed of the condition and work of the school.
CALENDAR 1883-84
First term begins Monday
Sept. 10, 1883
First term ends Friday
Nov. 16, 1883
Second term begins Monday
Nov. 19, 1883
VACATION OF ONE WEEK DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Second term ends Friday
Feb. 1, 1884
Third term begins Monday
Feb. 4, 1884
Third term ends Thursday
April 10, 1884
Fourth term begins Tuesday
April 15,1884
Fourth term ends Thursday
June 10, 1884
TRUSTEES OF THE SEMINARY
The following comprises a list of the trustees of the seminary since its organization as far as can be ascertained: Rev. John Fulton, Rev. A. G. Eberhart, Rev. William Ross, Rev. H. H. Burrington, S. B. Chase, M. D., A. H. Moore, M. D., 0. P. Harwood, Rev. C. T. Tucker, T. F. Trickstun, W. W. Blackman, M. D., Peter Morse, Rev. C. L. Clausen, Rev. Asa Marsh, Hon. N. C. Deering, Judge Arad Hitchcock, Frank C. Rice, Rev. A. Miner, Joseph Kelly, Jacob R. Brush, E. G. Rice, Rev. W. Whitney, G H. Rice, Hon. D. W. Poindexter, Rev. F. A. Marsh, Rev. R. Leslie, H. F. Tucker, Cyrus Foreman, G. D. Pattengill, J. H. Sweney, O. T. Congor, D. D., J. R. James, Albert Bush and A. J. Burtch.
The following gentlemen have served as officers of the board: Rev. John Fulton, president; Rev. William Ross, president; Rev. C. T. Tucker, president; W. W. Blackman, M. D., president; Hon. N. C. Deering, president; Judge Arad Hitchcock, president; Joseph Kelly, president; Hon. J. H. Brush, president; S. B. Chase, M. D., secretary; Rev. Alva Bush, A. M., treasurer; J. H. Brush, president; Rev. W. Whitney, vice-president; J. H. Sweney, president; J H. Brush., vice-president; Dr. S. B. Chase, president; E. S. Fonda, vice-president; G. D. Pattengill, secretary; J. I.. Sweney, treasurer; Rev. A. R. Button, financial secretary.
The following were the trustees and officers for the year 1883-4: E.S. Fonda, president, Osage; J.H. Sweney, vice-president, Osage; G.D. Pattengill, secretary, Osage; J.I. Sweney, treasurer, Osage; Cyrus Foreman, Osage; S.B. Chase, M.D., Osage; O.T. Conger, D.D., Shenandoah; J.R. James, Osage; Hon. N.C. Deering, Osage; Albert Bush, Osage; J.H. Brush, Osage; A.J. Burtch, Osage; Rev. A.R. Button, financial secretary, Osage, Iowa.
INSTRUCTORS
The following comprises a list of the teachers who have been connected with the seminary in past years: Rev. Alva Bush, A. M., principal, 1863-81; Mrs. Harriet Smith, assistant, 1863-64; Miss O. Estella Griswold, A.B., preceptress, 1863-66; Mrs. Martha S. Bush, assistant, 1864-65; Miss Addie Haskell, assistant, 1865-66; Miss Clarinda Hitchcock, preceptress, 1866-67; P. A. Collett, M. D., professor of languages, 1866-67; Miss Julia C. Addington, preceptress, 1867-69; Mrs. Dr. Turner, teacher French and German, 1867-69; Miss Emma F. Megquier, teacher of music, 1869-76; Rev. Thomas Ure, A. M., professor ancient languages, 1869-71; Peter A. Flaten, A.B., professor modern languages, 1869-71; Mrs. Carrie Murray, teacher of music, 1869-76; Rev. J. N. Lukens, A. M., professor of languages, 1871-72; Charles S. Chase, A. B., teacher of chemistry, 1875; Miss Abbie F. Bush, L. S., preceptress, 1871-76; D.G. Pattengill, teacher mathematics, 1874; J. C. Rebmann, professor languages, 1875-76; Rev. L. T. Bush, professor literature, 1876; Frank W. Chase, B., teacher of Latin, 1872; Rev. Jacob Kolb, teacher of German, 1876; Frank Scammon, B. S., teacher mathematics, 1872; Miss Carrie Rice, teacher of music, 1875-76; Mrs. S. G. Smith, teacher of drawing, 1875-76; Mrs. Emma F. Narey, teacher of music; D. F. Call, A.M., professor of languages; Miss Howard, teacher of music; L.W. Knowles, teacher of painting; Herr Johann Rehmann, instructor in German; Miss Leni Gardner, L. S.; T. Frank Hamlin, professor natural and physical sciences; Miss Leona, A. Call, A.B., professor Latin, French and history; Miss S. Lillian Ramblin, vocal music and elocution; Mrs. P. V. M. Raymond, piano; Mrs. D. F. Call, painting; Myrtie A. Stevens, music and elocution; Emma L. Miller, English language and literature; Lewis M. Alexander, book-keeping and penmanship; Melvin O. Tuttle, arithmetic.
In 1883-84 the instructors of the Cedar Valley Seminary were as follows: Alonzo Abernethy, A. M., principal, mathematics and philosophy; Rev. F. W. Gardner, history and Latin; Clara Remley, A. M., preceptress, science and German; Susie J. Pratt, A. B., English language and literature; Louise E. Abernethy, French; Lou F. Eaton, instrumental and vocal music; Susie J. Pratt, librarian.
GRADUTATES
In June, 1871, the trustees and professors bad the honor of sending out their first graduating class, consisting of ten, eight gentlemen and two ladies; and in 1872 a class of seven, six gentlemen and one lady, and also a class of honorary graduates, consisting of twenty-six, thirteen gentlemen and thirteen ladies, who had passed through the seminary course and left, before the trustees and gprofessors had determined to make the seminary a graduating institution.
The following is a list of the graduates from the seminary from 1871 to 1883, as furnished by the principal, Col Abernethy:
Class 1871--Charles S. Chase, A. B.; Frank W. Chase, A. B.; Jefferson F. Clyde, B. S.; Alonzo T. Conley, B. S.; Peter A. Flaten, A. B.; Robert D. Frost, A. B.; Willie F. Lour, A. B.; Ferdinand Miller, A. B.; Mary J. Sweney, L. S.; Emma J. Ure, L S.
Class 1872--A. G. Dunham, B. S.; Willard L. Eaton, B.P; Fred Flint. B. S.; Forest A. Marsh, B. P.; Frank Scammon, B. S.; Alonzo Wardall, B. S.; Cynthia L. Addington, L. S.
Class 1873--Forrester D. Call, A. B.; Warren H. Knowlton, B. S.; Ira A. Town, B. S.; Willie F. Lohr, B. A.; Hattie Morse, B. A.
Class 1874--Edwin C. Keeler, B. S.; Halvor Steinerson, B. S.; Abbie F. Bush, L. S.; C. E. Budlong, B. A.
Class 1875--Albert Button, B. S.; Orrin W. Cummings, B. S.; Frank T. Hamblen, B. S.; W. W. Pratt, B. S.; Leona Call, L. S.; Emma B. Lower, L S.; Alice E. Moore, L. S.
Class 1876--Geo. Almas Knowlton, B. S.; Ora O. Sawyer, B. S.; Mamie A. Chase, L. S.
Class 1877--Daniel H. Boughton, Herbert M. Bushnell, J. E. Caldwell, A. B. Coats, C. P. Colegrove, Thomas Elston, Charles Elston, Horatio Fay, Gilbert Fay, B. R. Hamilton, Wm. W. Knickerbocker, J. A. Lapham, Katie M. Poindexter, Julia Tucker, Delia Stacy, Anna E. Rowe, Carrie Loomis.
Class 1878--H. H. Dane, Julia Coon, J. F. Leonard, Fannie E. Cobb, Clias. P. Reeves, Leni L. Gardner, F. E. Whitley.
Class 1879--Rosa Clason, A. B. Coats, L. Paul Davison, Joseph Pilcher, C. Frank Sweney.
Class 1880--Charles Hammon, Flora J. Bush, W. W. Byington, Cora A. Call.
Class 1881--Anna J. Kelly, B. Babcock, W. G. Blakeslee, John Cutler, Mabel Dailey, Linna B. Evans, H. Garland, Maude L. Hawley, A. A. Moore, Lee J. Moss, Amelia C. Lohr.
Class 1882--Frans E. Rundborg, Addie I. Brown.
Class 1883--Fred W. Lohr, S. Altie Page, Charles C. Wiggins, Stella J. Rice.
Degrees were conferred upon all of the graduates named. The following is a list of the honorary graduates, those who completed the course before the seminary was a graduating institution. The degrees were conferred June 27, 1872: Charles S. Chase, A. B.; Frank W. Chase, A. B.; Jefferson F. Clyde, B.S.; Alonzo T. Conley, B. S.; Peter A. Flaten, A. B.; Robert D. Frost, A. B ; Willie F. Lohr, A. B.; Ferdinand Miller, A. B.; Mary J. Sweney, L. S.; Emma J. Ure, L. S.
Transcribed by Gordon Felland, NOV 2003
HTMLization by Kermit Kittleson
