EDITH BROWN

Historically, as people pushed westward to new land for homesteads, they brought with them their Bibles and a few other possessions, Circuit riders were on the forefront of the movement.

Earlier settlers met for religious purposes in the summer. These were called "Camp Meetings" and might sometimes attract seven to eight hundred people. The need for social contact was as great or greater than the desire for religious edification.

Those meetings developed into similar meetings of my forebears and lasted maybe just a few days. The whole family would go and camp out together. I heard my grandparents talk about them. They probably just went for a day. When people were settling closer together they had home church meetings.

My family lived in Knox Township, Clarke County, Iowa just across the line from Decatur County. We did all our trading in Van Wert where we could buy everything, perhaps more than might be expected, for they had dry goods, coats, shoes and everything we needed. We always sold our eggs and sometimes butter, which, when people knew that it was Mother’s, sold very rapidly. Sometimes Dad sold apples, That was “trading" which term is not familiar or even appropriate now. At that time, this is literally what we did - traded our produce for merchandise.

he children’s education. The school was built first and then the church. At that time both the schools and churches were used for other meetings in addition to their intended use.

The first church I went to was at Round Knoll and since there is nothing left there I will give the description: in Long Creek Township, Decatur County, Iowa, 70 North, Range 26, west of the 5th principal meridian, tier 2, number 1, section 4. It was about three miles west of where we lived.

The church was built about the turn of the century. The people of the community assisted the carpenters in building this wooden structure. We were under the influence of the United Brethren, the German speaking Methodists, and they were “bruders" (brothers). That church didn’t stand very long. People began to go to Van Wert and other denominational churches in the vicinity. My grandparents always went to church some place and attended a lot of different churches so they knew a lot of people. The services were long, the children were restless, and Grandmother Brown shared cookies she had brought in her purse.

I had two brothers and when we were 8 and 9 our father bought a gentle, well trained horse. The horse had been trained to herd cattle. He didn’t have all the styles but he was the most comfortable to ride when he would single-foot. My brothers and I were to share the horse as we were to share everything. I liked to ride horseback better than they did.

Dad bought a second hand saddle when he was in the west, in Colorado. He had thought he wanted to herd cattle and tried other ventures but came back to farming and was happy doing it. The saddle was designed for working with cattle. It had a big, strong horn so you could tie a rope around it for holding and particularly for branding cattle. They had to brand them in those days because they ran loose on the range and the brand was the identification. The saddle was very heavy or so it seemed to me. Dad taught us to curry and brush the horse, put on a blanket, and then the saddle. From the time I was very young and physically small I could do all that.

That was my transportation to church at Round Knoll. We had Sunday school and worship services. My cousin who was only about 12 years old played the old pump organ.

I went to Knox Township School #7 or the Overton School through the lower grades, and then came to Osceola for high school. Dad brought us to town on Sunday nights and took us home Friday nights. I lived with Jennie Garris Andrus. After I graduated I went to junior college in Creston. I lived with Dad’s brother and his wife and worked for my board and room. They didn’t work me very hard. My aunt had lost her mother and wanted company.

At that time I joined the Methodist Church in Creston and taught a Sunday School class of about 15 girls in 8th and 9th grades. I wasn’t much older than they but they must have respected me because they didn’t giggle.

I graduated from two years of junior college and went on to Simpson for two years, graduating with a B.A. degree. I taught 2nd and 3rd grades in the Osceola school system for ten years. I had my Normal Training certificate but not specialized training for those grades. That didn’t seem to me to be fair to the youngsters so I went to U.N.I. for courses so it would appear on my certificate that I could teach in that area. Minnie L. Hertz was my roommate. I will never forget the heat at that time. We thought that was what hell must be like, it was so hot! The grass was dead and the heat came up to the dorm rooms which we were to keep locked, of course. It was stifling! Minnie worked in the bank, taught in the school system and went on to become principal of South Ward, She was very well liked.

During World War II there was a shortage of high school teachers.  Superintendent Larry Hagie and School Board President Ralph McGee found out that I had minors in history and English so they offered me a contract to teach in high school. I taught high school three years, one of those years in Michigan. I came back to Iowa because of Mother’s health.

I began teaching first grade at Chariton mid—term. That was when it first started that I did all my work after school and on Saturdays and, because I cared so much for these children and their education, I initiated conferences with parents. I didn’t know quite what to do at those meetings but they were successful. The parents liked the conferences so well that they wanted the superintendent to continue them when their children went on to second grade. Now they do it regularly and no one thinks anything about it but it was new then.

It was customary for the teacher to send an evaluation in the children’s folders when they passed to the next grade. I was always very careful about that realizing how much children change and how something I might say could be misinterpreted. I was very conscious of my responsibility toward each child and I didn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize their image, their future or their relationships.

I took advantage of adult education classes while I was in Charlton, woodworking, typing — no sewing or cooking — more manual courses which have come in very handy in keeping up my home independently in later years. I have always wanted to learn and took extra courses in school whenever I could. Mother told me that before I was three years old I would get the oatmeal box or some other package and ask what this or that letter was. One time she decided to End out if I was learning so she "tested" me. I knew all my letters by the time I was three years old. I asked her in later years why I wasn’t quicker, then, when I was in school. Now I am interested in speed reading that I see advertised. Being able to read a book in one sitting sounds good to me.

My parents moved to 301 South Park in Osceola in 1944. That was more than fifty years ago - it hardly seems possible. I always came home on weekends. The trains ran more conveniently then. The schedule fit my needs. When Dad wasn’t well I could catch a train about 5:30 in the evening, visit him in the hospital and return that same night. It was late when I got in but I could do it. It hurried me on Sundays to teach Sunday School and go to church then catch the train that left about 1:00; but in all those years I only missed it one time.

The last year I taught schedules had changed.  Trains only stopped about four places between the rivers. They stopped here but not in Chariton so for about six weeks I had to have someone get me and take me home. We are fortunate to have the service we do. We can take a bus north to Des Moines and a train east and west. Once in awhile I rode home with Mrs. Nelson Thornton who taught Girls’ Physical Education in Chariton. It was during the time they were widening Highway 34 and building bridges. Some of those trips involved detours, rough and rutted roads and a lot of time.

I taught the 1st grade Sunday School class in Osceola for many years when my nieces and nephews were little. When my other nephew lost his mother I went with him and taught 4th grade. When it was time to go to Bible School in the summer he informed me he knew quite a little about the Bible, At the end of the Bible School he said with some surprise that he had enjoyed that.

I quit teaching children when I had some hearing loss. I could hear adult voices but the children’s voices were quieter and sometimes they were too timid to speak up.  So I began attending adult classes and Bible studies. This was new to me. I had not attended Sunday School beyond the earliest grades; I’d always taught. However, I took it seriously because I realized that it would make a difference in what the students thought when they became adults, I believed that children should behave and they seemed to appreciate that. I know they do. They don’t miss the opportunity to test their limitations, but they feel more comfortable once they’ve been established, I spent the first six weeks of the school year studying that as well as subject matter. It was one of my top priorities.

While I was in Chariton I was active in the Wesleyan Service Guild which was attractive to working women. I regard that as the most enjoyable time in the church for me. The membership wasn’t only Methodist women but included those of other denominations. We met every month and every summer there was an annual meeting held in various places. Simpson College had facilities that met our needs and we met there several summers.

One summer all the Wesleyan Service Guilds in southern Iowa had what was called a "Tour with a Mission." We went by bus to Louisiana, but along the way we stopped where they had Methodist projects. The first place we stopped they were caring for children with special needs, We stopped at other places where there was a program for taking care of children, similar to our day care in these days, At that time black children were in one day care and white children in another. Now they don’t do that. There were also places where they cared for adults.

This was a pre—planned tour where at certain scheduled times we would have a program and dinner with local Wesleyan Service Guilds. One I remember was when the local Guild members went out in boats and caught crabs which were prepared for the evening meal by the local members. It gave me a funny feeling when I saw a crab crawling toward me but it went on past, walking on its side which I suppose is their way of walking.

The director of one group of black children said, "Everyone needs God, love and beauty," and I thought that was so nice.
Presently I belong to Clarke County Historical Society, IRSPA (Iowa Retired School Personnel Association), the local General Federation of Woman’s Clubs, a Genealogy group, Beta Xi chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, International, and P.E.O.

(Addendum by Fern:) There are certain people who become special to me, partially because of the many years and common experiences we have had. Edith is one of those for me, We taught Sunday School many years simultaneously which brought us together for meetings and training, We have learned together in Bible studies, one in particular was over the course of eight years, studying the "Genesis to Revelation" series, which name implies the content of the course.

As part of Key ’73 there were neighborhood groups that met weekly for study. Edith was in a group with me and as we were preparing for the trip Clifford and I would make to spend Christmas with our children, on a sudden impulse I asked if we might have communion together, which we did. Clifford was killed on that trip and I am sure I was fortified by that special moment the group had together. Every member of the group became more important and dear to me from that time forward. I will, never forget that communion.

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Last Revised April 28, 2012