This was a State office, and of course when there was a change of administration there was a new set of men all around. We next find Mr. Parvin appointed librarian of the State University in 1859, and he at once began to organize order out of chaos in that small nucleus of a great bookery.

Prof. Parvin seems to be a constitutional library builder, for in addition to the above, and also to a vast amount of labor and assistance given toward the library of the State Historical Society, we find that as early as 1844 he had actually commenced with the small beginning of three books to establish the Masonic Grand Lodge library of Iowa. Thus for thirtyeight years he had steadily and faithfully worked at that favorite project, and now lives to see this child of his own thought and indefatigable industry known and recognized as the largest, finest and most complete Masonic Library on this continent, or indeed in the world. Thus the name of T. S. Parvin is indissolubly linked with the rise and progress of three great libraries which give an Alexandrian fame to Iowa City.

The present librarian of the University, Mrs Ada North, was appointed State librarian at Des Moines by Gov. Samuel Merrill, Sept. 14, 1871; and she was re-appointed by Gov. C. C. Carpenter, May 1, 1872. On Nov. 1, 1875, she submitted a report to the legislature which consisted chiefly of a complete history of the State Library up to that time. [This report may be found in Vol. 1 of Iowa Documents, 1876.] When John H. Gear became Governor, it suited his political interests to make a change, and Mrs. North was superseded as State librarian by Mrs. S. B. Maxwell, July 1, 1878. In June, 1879, Mrs. North was appointed librarian of the State University, and came to Iowa City at the opening of the session in September, since which time she has filled the place well and satisfactorily. Mrs. North's father, Rev. N. M. Miles of Des Moines, graduated at Yale College in 1831, and Princeton Theological Seminary in 1834. She graduated at the Ohio Female College, near Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1859. Her husband was secretary to Governor William M. Stone, 1864 to 1868, and died in 1870.

CHAPTER VI.-PART 2.

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

First Schools and Colleges.--Public Schools.-Local History of the State University.-Johnson County People in other State Institutions.

FIRST SCHOOL.

The first school in Johnson county was established by Jesse Berry, in 1840, in a small frame building, situated on College street, Iowa City. This house was still standing, in October, 1882, being then in use by J. B. Schofield as a rag carpet weaving house. The building is sided with oak clapboards which were split and shaved by David Cox, Esq., who now lives in Pleasant Valley township, on the site of the old Poweshiek Indian village and Gilbert's trading house. [See diagram on page 207.] He also made the shingles in the same way. The original floor and the laths were also split lumber instead of sawed. The house is only one story high; stands on the north side of College street between Clinton and Capital streets; was used for some years as sheriff's office, and for other public purposes; is an interesting relic and landmark of the city's early days; and is probably the oldest house now standing in the city.

MECHANICS' ACADEMY.-[NOW, MERCY HOSPITAL.]

In 1841 the Mechanics' Mutual Aid Association was organized by the mechanics of Iowa City. James M. Ball was president, and Thomas Combe, secretary. They applied to the Legislature for a donation of land on which to erect a building exclusively for school and library purposes. They were given the half block next east of the city park, where Mercy Hospital now stands; and in 1841 the Association erected the twostory brick building, which now forms the front or westward of Mercy Hospital. The Association failed ultimately to comply with the terms of the grant, and hence the property reverted to the State. In 1860 the University board leased this building for a term of five years, for the use of the Normal department, at an annual rental of $300; but by an act of the General Assembly, March 26, 1866, it was donated to the University. When the building was erected, it was said to be the finest school building then in the territory of Iowa. The corner stone was laid on June 14, 1842. There was so much public interest and enthusiasm about it that the occasion was made a general gala day, as will be seen from the following newspaper report published at the time:

LAYING OF THE CORNER STONE OF THE MECHANICS' ACADEMY. "Tuesday last [June 14, 1842,] was a proud day for the members of the Mechanics' Mutual Aid Association of this city. Agreeably to invitation, the citizens assembled about 2 o'clock, in the temporary State-house, for the purpose of forming a procession and marching to the building, to wit

ness the ceremonies of laying the corner stone of the Mechanics' Academy. Business was suspended and all classes left their occupations, and devoted the afternoon to the recreations attendant upon the occasion.

"The procession formed about 4 o'clock, and after marching through the principal streets of the city, proceeded to the ground. At the head of the procession we noticed different clergymen of the city, next came the invited guests of the association, then the officers of the association, the teachers and children of the different schools, and a large concourse of citizens brought up the rear. The choir of the Methodist Protestant Church lent their aid in the entertainment."

The following was the announcement of the opening of the school: "The trustees of the Mechanics' Academy of Iowa City beg leave to inform the public that they have made such arrangements as will enable them to open the female department of the institution on the first Monday of June next [1843]. The services of an accomplished lady, favorably known as teacher, both here and elsewhere, have been secured, and so long as she remains principal of the female department, parents can have no excuse for withholding their patronage. The academy edifice is beautifully situated on the east side of the park, in the center of the city. It is entirely new, and the superiority of its size and style of architecture never fails to attract the favorable notice of strangers. Surrounded by prairie scenery too splendid for description, and favored by a pure and salubrious atmosphere, this institution enjoys advantages seldom combined. The trustees assure the public that every exertion will be made by the Mechanics' Mutual Aid Association, to render their academy the first and best literary institution west of the Mississippi.

IOWA CITY COLLEGE.

This is the next in order of time. There was an "academic mania” in Iowa City from about 1842 to 1845, and so many crazy starts were made that they fizzled each other out, and all came to naught at last. The fol lowing official report explains itself:

At a meeting of the board of trustees of the Iowa City College, held On the first Monday (3d day) of April, A. D., 1843, present, Rev. James L. Thompson, John M. Colman, Geo. B. Bowman, William C. Reagan, Edward K. Hart, Anson Hart, Augustus E. McArthur, Curtis Bates, John Demoss, Leonard Jewett, Peter H. Patterson, Robert Hamilton, Jesse Bowen, Stephen B. Gardner, and James P. Carleton, who were all duly sworn in pursuance to the charter, by Fernando H. Lee, a justice of the peace in and for Johnson county, territory of Iowa.

On motion of Stephen B. Gardner, the meeting was organized by appointing Jno. M. Colman, president pro tem, and James P. Carleton, secretary pro tem. On motion of P. H. Patterson, the meeting proceeded to an election of officers, Jesse Bowen and A. E. McArthur acting as tellers.

On the first ballot Rev. Jas. L. Thompson was elected president; on the first ballot Anson Hart was elected secretary, and on the second ballot Augustus E. McArthur was elected treasurer.

The officers having taken their seats, on motion, a committee was appointed to draft a code of by-laws for the government of the board, and required to report the same at the next meeting. John M. Colman, William C. Reagan, James P. Carleton, Jesse Bowen and Joseph Williams were appointed said committee. On motion of P. H. Patterson, it was decided that measures be adopted to procure as soon as practicable, a competent professor of languages; whereupon a committee was appointed for that purpose, consisting of Peter H. Patterson, John M. Colman, and Jas. L. Thompson, with power to make arrangements with the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in this city, for suitable rooms in said church, for college purposes, until such time as a college edifice shall be erected; said committee was also authorized to solicit donations either by the employment of an agent, or otherwise, as they may think proper, for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of the charter, and also to employ forthwith a male and a female teacher for the primary department of the college.

A committee, consisting of Rev. B. Weed and George B. Bowman, was appointed to lay before the Rock River Conference, at its next annual meeting, the charter of this institution, and the proceedings of the board, and to solicit the conference to take the institution under its patronage. On motion, a ten cent piece with the name of the president written across it was adopted as a seal for the present use of the board, and Jesse Bowen appointed to procure from an artist of this city, a permanent seal for the institution. It was ordered, that the secretary procure the publication in the papers of this city of the proceedings of this meeting, signed by the president and countersigned by the secretary. On motion, the board adjourned to meet on the last Monday in May next, at 1 o'clock P. M., at the office of Patterson & Carleton.

ANSON HART, Secretary.

JAMES L. THOMPSON, President.

SNETHEN SEMINARY.

In 1844 the Methodist Protestant denomination established a school at Iowa City with the above title.

A religious paper, called The Colporteur, was commenced to be published at Iowa City in November, 1844, and the first number of it speaks thus of the "Snethen Seminary:"

After the Rev. Mr. Talbot had contracted for the Mechanics' Academy, in Iowa City, for a common school department, as well as for a department to qualify youth to enter upon their collegiate course of study, the quarterly conference in the M. P. Church of Iowa City, in order to afford to young men the facility of completing their whole course of study without removal, resolved to establish a collegiate and theological

department in their meeting-house, both stories of which were to be fitted up for the purpose, and occupied till other necessary buildings could be obtained. It was also resolved to throw the seminary, thus organized, under the control of the annual conference.

The conference adopted an elaborate plan of organization and management, providing a preparatory, a collegiate, and a theological department, with a specially extensive curriculum for the latter. The managers appointed were:

Trustees.-William Patterson, John C. Coleman, Wm. B. Snyder, Thomas Snyder, treasurer; E. Metcalf, L. S. Swafford, John Conn. Professors.-Nicholas Snethen, president; Wm. K. Talbot, John N. Coleman, Ward D. Talbot, W. B. Snyder, of sacred music.

The same pauper contains report of $290 contributed for this seminary in small sums by members of the M. P.denomination in Illinois. But nevertheless it was a "weak sister," and never gained any very substantial foothold or fame as an institution of learning, and soon died out entirely. The M. P. denomination was a combination of Methodist doctrine with Congregational church polity—that is, Methodists who rejected the episcopacy or government by bishops.

INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND

Was established at Iowa City, January 10, 1853, with Samuel Bacon as principal. Mr. Bacon himself was a blind man; and it is remembered as a remarkable circumstance that he would go alone all over the city, would find any store or office he wished to, and could recognize persons he was acquainted with by their walk, even before hearing them speak. The legislature appropriated $3,000 per annum for the support of this institute, to which was added $25 admission fee for each pupil. By the judicious management of Mr. Bacon, a surplus of $5,000 was deposited in the treasury at the time of his relinquishing the charge of the institution. It was removed to Vinton, Iowa, in 1862.

Mr. Bacon afterward went to Nebraska and the State blind asylum at Nebraska City was established under his management in 1875. The writer hereof has often seen him going about the streets of that city entirely alone, just as he used to do here. His facility in this regard was a standing marvel to the people.

The following additional points are of Johnson county interest.

First Board of Trustees.-Robert Walker, of Johnson county, president; Geo. W. McCleary, of Johnson county, secretary; Robert Huchinson, of Johnson county, treasurer. Samuel Bacon, principal of the institution.

Number of blind reported in the State in 1859, 190; number of pupils in the institution, 36. From the report of Mr. S. Bacon, superintendent, made to the legislature in December, 1854, the following is taken:

"The course of instruction and division of time is as follows: The pupils rise at half-past 5 o'clock A. M.; geography from 6 to 7, breakfast and recess from 7 to 8, arithmetic and algebra from 8 to 9, recess ten minutes, one hour grammar and writing, ten minutes recess, one hour instrumental