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Shelby County |
Home 1915 History Index |
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Shelby County |
Home 1915 History Index |
CHAPTER XVIII -- EDUCATION (CONT'D)TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.Much inspiration and training for the best educational work is centered about the teachers’ institute, which was in existence in Shelby county at least so early as 1870, and possibly prior to that time, although the author has no proof of an earlier institute and finds the records in the county superintendent’s office of no assistance in the determination of the matter. In the Shelby County Record of November 3, 1870, County Superintendent P. C. Truman gives notice that a teachers’ institute will be held for a period of not less than six days, beginning December 26, 1870. It is likely that institutes were held annually thereafter. In the matter of the ability and reputation of the men who have taught or delivered lectures before the teachers’ institutes, Shelby county has been especially fortunate. Such a list would include former State Superintendents of Public Instruction Henry Sabin, C. W. Von Coelln, R. C. Barrett, John W. Acres, and others; H. H. Seerley, president of the Iowa State Teachers’ College; Prof. W. C. Wilcox, of the chair of history in the State University of Iowa; Professors Kinney, Reed and Riddle, of the Woodbine Normal School, Professor Riddle subsequently becoming for many years the able and successful superintendent of the West Des Moines schools; Superintendent A. B. Warner, Professor Warman, Professor Kirk, now president of the Missouri State Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri; Prof. G. W. Cullison, Prof. O. H. Longwell, Supt. R. G. Saunderson, of the Burlington schools, and others. Early in September, 1874, County Superintendent A. N. Buckman gave notice with reference to a teachers’ instituted as follows: “A normal institute will be held at Harlan, commencing September 21, 1874, in compliance with the provisions of section 1759, School Laws of Iowa of 1874. The institute will continue four weeks, of five days each. Experienced teachers will give instruction daily in reading, arithmetic, both written and mental, grammar, geography and United States history. Occasional lessons will be given in penmanship, orthography, physiology, etc. A lesson in vocal music will be given every day by a competent instructor. Any schools that may be in session during the normal institute will not be closed except upon the order of the board of directors thereof.” In one of the Harlan newspapers, under date of August 30, 1877, there is found the following list of teachers in attendance at the Shelby county institute: Martin D. Bridgeman, John L. Newby, George McMullen, Cicily Chatburn, Nettie Ashton, Mollie Wright, Eugene E. Moore, William Higgins, Joseph H. Slagg, Thomas W. Slater, Wiley N. Doty, Lizzie B. Fairfield, Ina Fritz, Ella Plummer, Jennie B. Gish, Kate Young, Alida Vandeburn, Lizzie S. Saunders, Mrs. E. Wintermute, Mary A. Websdter, Essie T. Muck, Mollie Gleiser, Ella A. Palmer, Mariah J. Carroll, Martha Roundy, Eva Irwin, Carrie Culver, Rockie M. Whitney, N. Lizzie Allen, Carrie Harvey, Thomas Way, Etta Jackson, Anna Burke, Eugene G. Elliott, Mrs. J. Stiles, Emma Nance, J. W. Carter, Etta Tibbott. Of the above named persons, John L. Newby, William Higgins, George McMullen, Kate Young, and possibly others, are alive and residents of the county. The author is fortunate enough to secure from an early Harlan paper the following list of pioneer teachers attending the teachers’ institute in August, 1978: Emily Tinsley, Cicily Chatburn, Lizzie Saunders, Eva Irwin, Mary A. Webster, Maggie Booker, Mollie Wright, Martha Roundy, Susie Grounds, Jessie Baker, Emerette Gregoire, Carrie Flock, Mary West, Ida Crandall, Cora Shannon, E. E. Moore, Fannie Hurless, Ella M. Gregoire, Ina Fritz, Emma Irwin, Essie Muck, Emma Nance, Anna Peterson, G. E. McMullen, J. H. McArthur, W. A. Higgins, J. L. Newby, J. M. Wyland, W. E. Cooper, Isaac Cook, Maggie Cook, T. W. Slater, A. W. Sims, O. F. Plum, A. G. Wolfenbarger, J. W. Kime, Edward Johnson, C. K. Olivers, W. J. Wicks, J. H. Mather, M. E. Downey, Carrie Tonneson, Minnie Tuck, Kate M. Young, Jennie L. Lane, Kate K. Griffith, Mrs. Annie Ivens, Annie Masterson, Lillian White, Jennie S. Clarke, Ella G. Austin, A. K. Askwith, Ray Williams. Solemn fidelity to the truth forces one to admit that then, as now, not all of the questions submitted in teachers’ examinations were correctly answered. For instance, here are some “guesses” offered in teachers’ examinations held in 1878: “1. Question: Name three movements of the ocean and give their causes. Answer: Current is caused by the rise and fall of the earth. Waves are caused by the traditions of the wind. “2. Question: Of what countries are the following cities the capitals? Bern, Brussels, Ottawa, Lima, and Lisbon. Answer: Berne is the capital of Africa, Brussels of Brazil, Ottawa of British America, capital of Peru. “3. Question: What, from the structure of his teeth, do you infer man should eat? Answer: Man, I think, should eat vegetables and pork; corn should be his main dish.” The normal institute of 1885 had an enrollment of one hundred and ninety-one. There were many able men among the list of teachers. Among them were D. T. Dunlavy, A. P. Leach, C. K. Redfield, J. T. Couser, W. H. Fleck, W. J. Wicks, A. B. Frost, James R. Hanna (now mayor of Des Moines), C. H. Champ, George Chatburn (now a professor in the University of Nebraska), J. C. Shirk, Albert Newton, J. W. Miller (now a merchant in Harlan), H. S. Miller, Jesse B. Whitney (now an attorney in Harlan), Albert Curtis, Fred Pratt, O. F. Plumb (now an attorney at law in Nebraska), Arlie Parker (now a resident of Harlan), Oscar Roland, (better know as M. O. Roland), U. S. Roland, L. O. Hawley, James McMillan, W. D. Young (now connected with The Lana Construction Company, Council Bluffs, Iowa), Albert Morrissey, John Edwards, Albert S. Stevens, J. B. Mather (later a well-known preacher), Walter Plum, E. H. Abbott (now a lawyer in Chicago), Robert Heinemann, Charles Wilson, J. J. Elser, J. A. Gunsolley, George W. Harman, Joseph B. Reams, John Neff, S. Gallagher, J. J. Sheppard (later head of the great Commercial high school of New York City), E. H. Snyder, C. M. Wilder, Thomas Hogan, Jacob B. Wolf, J. C. Kelley, D. J. Keat (later an attorney at law in Harlan), Harry McCuskey, Emery Allen, P. F. Vincent, C. A. Marlin, James Lowery. The normal institute at Harlan for 1886 was conducted by Superintendent C. F. Swift. The instructors were O. H. Longwell, A. B. Warner, J. D. Dunlavy and Mr. Swift. The branches taught were English, grammar, history of education, American literature, didactics, natural philosophy, astronomy, arithmetic, reading, vocal music, geography, United States history, physiology, orthography, civil government and algebra. In August, 1886, when Mr. Swift was county superintendent of schools, the normal institute seems to have had graduating exercises, followed by the presentation of diplomas. I quote from the Harlan Tribune of the time: “The normal institute had a program at the Congregational church on the Friday evening preceding. The audience was called together by Supt. A. B. Warner, and a prayer was offered by Rev. Post. C. M. Wilder delivered his address, ‘The Relation of the Teacher to the Patron.’ Miss Linnie Long followed with the subject, ‘Nothing Great Is Lightly Won.’ J. C. Kelly read a paper on ‘Froebel.’ Miss Carrie Scott also had a paper on the program. Miss Ina Fritz, a daughter of John Fritz, read a paper on ‘Life and Efforts of Pestalozzi.’ Charles Hunt delivered the valedictory, and the salutatory was to have been given by Miss Mamie Fritz, who was unable to attend. Supt. C. F. Swift presented the class with diplomas.” At the normal institute, sixteenth session, August, 1889, one hundred and ninety teachers or more were enrolled, including many men. Among them were W. H. Gooding, Colfax Smith, Archie Myers, Charles Dickinson, Frank W. Hanna, Alva W. Taylor, James Quinn, Frank Stevens, C. O. White, James Kinsella, Joel Fisher, Carl Campbell, F. A. Malick, W. B. Buckley, W. J. Wicks, Walter Gutheridge, Guy Martin, W. R. Fisher, Frank Gallagher (now postmaster at Walnut), W. D. Young and others.
Click on image to enlarge  Above left, SHELBY COUNTY TRIPLETS. Mina, Minnie and May Knudson, Irwin, Iowa. Upper right, A MODERN COUNTRY SCHOOL, WISCONSIN RIDGE, MONROE TOWNSHIP. Lower right, Tennant Consolidated Independent District School.
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