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The territory included in the original independent district of Atlantic, was for a time under the jurisdiction of the board of directors of Pymosa township. On the 15th day of January, 1870, the board instructed its secretary, Samuel L. Lorah, Esq., to issue notice of election, at which the electors of Atlantic should vote on the question of independent organization. The election was called for January 31, 1870, at H. T. Jones' tailor shop.

The territory embraced in the proposed independent district was described in the call as follows:

"Begin at the northeast corner of section 4, thence south on section line to southeast corner of section 9, thence west on section line to southwest corner of southeast quarter of southeast quarter of section 7, thence north to northwest corner of northeast quarter of northeast quarter of section 6, thence east to place of beginning. All in township 76 north, range 36 west."

At the election eighty-one votes were cast, all in favor of separate and independent organization.

At three different times territory has been annexed to the district. The first addition was made on August 5, 1872, upon petition of William Duncan, Esq., and included all of the west half of section 3, Atlantic township.

The second addition was made on March 5, 1875, when the Atlantic board concurred in the previous action of the board of the district township of Pymosa. The territory included in this addition was the west half of the southwest quarter, and the west half of the northwest quarter of section 33, township 77 north, range 36 west.

The third addition was made on November 4, 1884, by concurrence of the Atlantic board with the action of the board of the district township of Atlantic. The tract thus added embraces the west half of section 6, the west half of northeast quarter and west half of southeast quarter of section 6; the northwest quarter of section 7, and the west half of the northeast quarter of section 1, township 76 north, range 36 west.

The independent district of Atlantic is made up, therefore, of sections 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, the west half of section 3, the north half of section 7, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 7, Atlantic township, and the west half of the southwest quarter and the west half of the northwest quarter of section 33, in Pymosa township.

On March 14, 1870, the first board of directors was elected, and consisted of the following named gentlemen: W. W. Parker, F. H. Whitney. John R. Reynolds, W. K. Straight, D. F. Hawks and R. D. McGeehon, who qualified on March, 21, and entered upon the discharge of their duties.

On March 24, 1870, the board purchased of the town company, lots 7, 8, 9 and 10, block 56, for a school house site, at a cost of $400.

Plans and specifications for a school building were adopted, and the contract for the erection of the building was awarded to Neimeyer Bros., the price being $9,288. The work was pushed forward under the supervision of Messrs. Reynolds and McGeehon, the building committee. The work was done by J. M. Haver and A. D. Boyd. The house was completed, and accepted by the board on January 1, 1871.

The first school in Atlantic of which any record is found, was taught in 1869. In April of that year, W. W. Parker, Esq., director in sub-district No. 6, of the district township of Pymosa, engaged H. G. Smith to teach the spring term. In the following winter, D. W. Scribner taught. The school was held in a building situated at the northeast corner of Chestnut and Sixth streets. This building was afterwards moved, a second story added, and used for a court house.

In the fall of 1869, and the following winter. Miss Belle Tiffany, afterward Mrs. C. B. Osborne, conducted a private school on the east side of Walnut street, south of the present Occidental Hotel. The school was full, and nearly every child had books unlike the others. The pleasures of the situation will be appreciated by all who have taught.

In the spring of 1870, D. W. Scribner and Fanny Whittam taught the schools. Miss Whittam taught in a small building on the south side of the old fair grounds, which then comprised block sixteen.

On January 16, 1871, the school was organized in the new building, under the principalship of S. R. Manning. The assistant teachers were Mrs. Manning, Lucy E. Terry and Miss C. V. K. Towne.

In August, 1872, a committee of the board was appointed to secure a room for an extra teacher. The committee failed to find a suitable room, and the board ordered the erection of a building to be 20x24x9 feet. The structure stood on the west side of Walnut street near the site of the present high school building. This house was sold in 1875, for $225.

In May, 1873, the board purchased lots 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, block 69, and instructed a committee to have them harrowed and seeded, and to plant trees around them. The price paid for these lots was $500.

In April, I875, the board purchased, for the use of the district, lots 5, 6, 1, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, in block 47, for the sum of $1,500.

In July, 1872, a committee was appointed to lay off lots in block 56, preparatory to planting trees in the spring. In March, 1873, a committee was instructed to procure trees and have them planted on the school lots. In April, 1874, the committee on buildings and grounds was instructed to plant trees in the school yards, "in such quantity and manner as they deem best." In June, 1876, fifty-nine trees were planted on the lots in block 56. The grounds are now well supplied with trees.

On May 3, 1875, plans for the Third ward building were adopted, and on June 12, the contract for erecting the building was let to Willetts and Kelsey; but, on June 15, the contract was annulled, and an advertisement for proposals was again made. On July 25, the contract was again awarded to Willetts and Kelsey, the consideration being $6,500. The building was completed November 3, 1875, and on November 15, school was opened with the following corps of teachers: Ada Duncan, Kate M. Tupper, Madge Tupper and Alice Baugh.

In 1877, the board resolved to erect a building for the exclusive use of the High School, upon the lots in block forty-seven. The house was completed at a cost of $1,320, on September 3, and school began in it at once, with Sarah E. Buckley as principal. Ada Duncan taught here half of the time during that school year.

The growing demand for more room, resulted, April 9, 1879, in a resolution of the board to build an addition to the house in the third ward, and the building committee, consisting of John R. Reynolds, I. N. Hammond and George W. Norton was instructed to advertise for proposals. In May the committee entered into contract with Robinson and Smedley. The addition was completed at a cost of $1,375, and was accepted by the board on August 20.

Greater accommodations being necessary, on June 18, 1881, the board adopted plans for an addition to the building in the fourth ward. This addition was completed in October of that year.

Increased enrollment in the schools compelled the board to provide yet more room for the school-going population, and in September, 1883, the Temperance Hall was secured. In this building two rooms were opened, which are still in use.

In the summer of 1883, the board, at a cost of $3,156, put steam heating apparatus into the third and fourth ward buildings, and inaugurated a plan for ventilation. Water pipes were put in during the same season.

The following table exhibits the total number of school children in the district; the number of pupils enrolled in the schools, and the average daily attendance, as shown by the annual reports of the secretaries which were made in September of the years indicated. The table also shows the per cent, of average daily attendance compared with the total enumeration, and the per cent, of average daily attendance compared with the number enrolled.

Excluding the years 1876, 1871 and 1873, the total receipts and expenditures of district treasurers since the organization of the independent district, are shown below:

In the spring of 1870, a metting of electors was called to vote for or against the proposition of issuing bonds, in the sum of $6,000, with which to build the school house on block 56. The meeting was held at the Pacific house, now known as the Commercial hotel, on May 27th. Forty votes were cast--all in favor is issuing the bonds.

In March, 1879, at the annual meeting, the electors voted on the question of issuing $12,000 in bonds to take up bonds then outstanding. The proposition carried.

While it is not apparent how all the bonds of the original $12,000 were issued, evidently a meeting, subsequent to that of May, 1870, must have voted an additional $6,000, as the minutes of the meeting of the board, held March 20, 1871, show that "On motion, the treasurer was instructed to have the new bonds so read as to make the redemption of the same optional after two years."

In 1879, $2,000 surplus in the school house fund was used for the redemption of bonds, leaving obligations outstanding to the amount of $10,000, which is the amount of the bonded indebtedness of the district. The bonds bear seven and one-half per cent, interest, which is payable semi-annually.

At the March meeting of 1883, a proposition to issue bonds to the amount of $20,000, for the erection of an additional school building, was voted down.

The board of directors, uniformly composed of prominent citizens, have labored zealously to promote the best interests of the schools, and to them the excellence of the schools is in no small measure due. The financial affairs of the district have been managed with economy, and the district has sustained no losses.

Thomas Hardenbergh, Esq., was the first director in the territory originally erected into the independent district of Atlantic, prior to the formation of the district.

In March, 1869, his term of office expired, and W. W. Parker, Esq., was elected in his stead. Since the formation of the district, the following named gentlemen have served in the capacity of directors for the periods specified:

Names of officers of the board are given below:

In January, 1874, it was resolved "That that the President divide the board into three committees of two members each, and that the said committees are required to visit the school at such time or times as the President may appoint or direct." During the remainder of the school year, it is said, the schools were much encouraged by frequent visits from the committees.

Appreciating the benefits of teachers' meetings, in June, 1883, the board resolved that all teachers under its jurisdiction must attend the Normal institute and Teachers' associations. This rule was abolished in 1884.

Two important educational meetings have been held in Atlantic. The first was a meeting of county superintendents, held in July, 1872, at which many practical questions pertaining to the superintendency were discussed, and which resulted in much mutual benefit to the participants. The second was a meeting of the Educational Association of Southwestern Iowa, which was organized here on January 22, 1880. The meeting continued for three days, was largely attended and developed a deeper interest in school work. The school board ordered the schools closed during the meeting to enable to teachers to attend.

The following named persons have served as teachers in the schools of Atlantic:

Mrs. S. R. Manning, winter and spring terms of 1871; Lucy E. Terry, winter and spring of 1871, and year of 1871-2; Miss C. V. K. Towne, January, 1871, to June, 1873; Miss Frank Hoyt, April, 1872, resigned April, 1873; Miss E. Kellogg, September, 1872, to June, 1874; Mrs. E. R. Carr, spring of 1873; Mrs. Lafe Young, April, 1873, resigned December, 1873; Nellie McGeehon, December, 1873, resigned April, 1874; Mollie A. Fuller (married L. E. Lucoock) September, 1873, to June, 1880; Anna Griffith, December, 1873, to June, 1875; Emma Davis, April, 1874, to June, 1875; Josie Isett, September, 1874, to June, 1875; Mrs. Fanny Dunan, September, 1875, to June, 1876; Ava Duncan, 1875, to June, 1877, and after attendance at the State University, was elected principal of the High school in June, 1880, which position she filled till June, 1883; Alice Baugh, October, 1875, to June, 1876; Kate M. Tupper, October, 1875, to June, 1876; Madge Tupper, October, 1875, to June, 1876; Mary E. Miller, October, 1875, resigned December, 1875; Mary F. Luccoock, December, 1875, resigned September, 1876; Kate Richards, December, 1875, to June, 1876; Emelie Brooks, December, 1875, resigned March, 1877; Jessie Coldren, September, 1876, to June, 1879; Alice Prather, spring of 1876; Nellie Miles, September, 1876, resigned March, 1877; Mrs. R. C. Farr, spring of 1876; Rufus H. Frost, September, 1876, to June, 1879; Mrs. Julia S. Frost, October, 1876, resigned, Christmas, 1883; Marcia Kimball, September, 1877. resigned March, 1883; Sarah E. Buckley, September, 1877, to June, 1881; Eliza H. Sayward, September, 1877, to June, 1879; Jennie Ferrier, September, 1877, resigned December, 1877; Adah E. Hodge, September, 1877, to June, 1879; M. Alice Smith, September, 1879, to June, 1881; Paul Grabill, September, 1879, resigned August, 1881; Mamie D. Conway, September, 1879, to June, 1882; Irene Cumberlin; September, 1879, resigned October, 1880; Nettie Kimball, September, 1880, to June, 1882, and March, 1883, to June, 1883; Helen M. Harding, October, 1880. to June, 1883; Mrs. George S. Wedgewood, September, 1881, to June 1888; Rev. W. G. Kephart, September, 1881 to June, 1882; A. B. Hughes, October, 1881 to June, 1882; Ella J. Pratt, September, 1882, resigned March, 1884; Serena Bridges, September, 1883, resigned, Christmas, 1883.

The following named persons constitute the present corps of teachers.

J. J. McConnell, superintendent since September, 1879.

HIGH SCHOOL.--William J. Dobson, principal since September, 1883; F. Delia Young, assistant since September, 1882.

THIRD WARD.--Mrs. R. S. Harris, principal. Mrs. Harris was elected August 12, 1871, and has served continuously and faithfully ever since. Mrs. Sophronia Northnp, since March, 1884; Mattie I. Craig, since September, 1883; Mrs. Lucy R. Conway, since September, 1878; Carrie E. Pratt, since September, 1882; Jennie S. Clark, since September, 1883.

FOURTH WARD.--Aggie George, principal since October, 1881; Jessie F. Kephart, since September, 1879; Laura A. Snively, since October, 1881; Alice E. Hopper, since September, 1882; Clara L. Fink, since September, 1883; Minnie L. Smith, since December, 1883.

TEMPERANCE HALL.--Anna O. Temple, since September, 1883; Lizzie C. Clark, since December, 1883.

The following is a list of the superintendents of the schools:

S. R. Manning, January 16, 1871, resigned April 12, 1872.

E. R. Carr, April 12, 1872, to June, 1873.

Z. C. McCormick, September, 1873, to October, 1873.

George S. Wedgewood, October, 1873, to June, 1879.

J. J. McConnell, September, 1879, to present.

Mr. Wedgwood had been superintendent of the schools of LaSalle county, Illinois, and upon assuming control of the schools of Atla,ntic, immediately re-organized them and started them upon a career of unusual prosperity. Daring his prolonged term of service, the schools gained a wide reputation.

Mr. McConnell is a graduate of the State university. Before taking charge of the Atlantic schools, he had taught in Albia and Oskaloosa. His constant effort has been to maintain the reputation of the schools and to increase their efficiency.

In 1876, the schools prepared a large amount of work, which was sent to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia.

In 1877, the schools were thoroughly represented in the State contest, which took place that year.

In 1884, the schools exhibited specimens of their skill at the National Teachers' Association, which was held at Madison, Wisconsin.

The character of all this work was excellent, and the schools feel a just pride in their achievements.

The following named persons have completed the course of study, and graduated from the High School:

1878--Ada Duncan; 1879--Fred. Alexander, William J. Findley, James Loofbourow, George H. McCormick, Clarence E. Stafford, Mary Waddell, Mary E. Colton, Jessie F. Kephart, Emma Lamson, James Ruane, Anna O. Temple, F. Delia Young, Ernest L. Alexander,William Teagarden, Frank P. McGrew, Ed. J. Dickerson, Charles M.Reynolds; 1880--Gertrude F. Bacon, Bertha L. Temple, Edith L. Colton; 1881--Fred W. Fitch, Ida McKay, Jennie Richards; 1882--Jennie E. Barnett, Callie McWaid, Dora Talbot, Edgar W. Smith, Louis Graham; 1883--Lucy P. Batton, Jessie Findley, Grace Green, Frank O. Temple, Carrie Egbert; 1884--Mattie B. Alexander, Jessie Hunt, Ed. Hammond, Julia Joy, Birdie Northup, Louise St. Clair, Lizzie,Dufford, Nellie E. Gerberich, Edna Harris, Mary E. Kephart, Phoebe Talbot, Cora McFadden, Edward Willard.

In May, 1873, George Stafford, an excellent student in the High School, received an appointment to the Naval academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he graduated with honor, in June, 1877. Since graduation, he has been connected with the Pacific Coast survey. In August, of this year, (1884), he was detached from the U. S. S. Ranger, and is now awaiting orders from the secretary of the navy.

Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, March, 2022 from: "History of Cass County, Together with Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens", published in 1884, Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., pp. 904-910.