Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Yesteryears, a publication of the Jefferson County Historical Society and Jefferson County Genealogical Society's April 1994 issue, published the following rules for teachers, as published in the November 23, 1878, Oskaloosa Independent, our friend and neighbor:
"The following sixteen rules are excellent guides, and by a closer adherence to them will seldom be occasion for resorting to any severe mode of punishment."
Authorship of the rules unknown, but quoted as found except for a few alterations!
"1.) From your earliest connection with your pupils, inculcate the necessity of prompt and exact obedience. 2.) Unite firmness with gentleness and let your pupils understand that you mean exactly what you say. 3.) Never promise anything unless you are quite sure you can give what you promise. 4.) Never tell a pupil to do anything unless you are sure he knows how it is to be done; or show him how it is to be done. 5.) Always punish a pupil for willful disobedience; but never punish unduly or in anger; and in no case should a blow be given to the head. 6). Never let your pupils see they can make you lose your self-command. 7.) If the pupils are under the influence of an angry or petulent spirit, wait till they are calm, then reason with them on the impropriety of their conduct. 8.) Never yield to a pupil because he looks angry or threatens or resorts to tears. Deal mercifully and justly. 9.) A little present punishment is more effective than threatening of a greater punishment should the fault be renewed. 10.) Never allow pupils to do at one time what you have forbidden under like circumstances at another. 11.) Teach the young that the only way to appear good is to be good. 12.) Never allow tale bearing. 13.) If a pupil abuses your confidence, make him for a time feel the want of it. 14.) Never allude to former errors if real sorrow has been evinced for having committed them. 15.) Encourage, in every suitable way, a spirit of diligence, obedience, perseverance, kindness, forbearance, honesty, truthfulness, purity and courteousness. 16.) Never speak in a scolding or fretful manner. Use tones of gentleness. Some teachers defeat their objective by using harsh and boisterous tones."
The Valley Falls Historical Society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22.
August 21, 2015
The Delaware Valley Fair, 1880s
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The story of a Valley Falls fair from the pages of a scrap book of newspaper articles dated 1938 compiled and saved by the late Sallie Blue, a Valley Falls teacher and librarian:
Former Fairs at Valley Falls—A Glimpse at the Record Book of 1880-84 when the Delaware Valley Fair Association was in its Glory.
We are indebted to Mrs. John Campbell, daughter of M. M. Maxwell—during his life one of the most enthusiastic boosters for county fairs, and in 1884 secretary of the Delaware Valley Fair Association, putting on fairs and races on what is now F. F. Hurst's wheatfield southeast of town—for the secretary's book containing the names of prize winners for the fairs of 1880-1884.
Checking over the list for '80 we note there were few exhibits of cattle—George Hensley and J. M. Huber, both of Meriden, being the biggest exhibitors; but when it came to horses and mules there must have been a demand for extra stable room. Horse breeders were present from Atchison, Leavenworth, Topeka, Oskaloosa, Winchester, Ozawkie, Pardee, Grove City (ever hear of a town of this name in Jefferson county—there was one then) besides the following from this place: Adam and J. H. Faulk, Dave German, I. C. Webster, J. J. Gardiner, Herm Newman, Ed. Farrar, Dick Simpson, Ed. Hutchins, Bob Marsh, Walter and Finley Ferguson, Wm. T. Booth, Chas. Hudspeth.
A good display of sheep were shown and among the owners were George Goodrich and son Harry.
In the swine department Park Murray apparently got most of the ribbons.
Apparently there was little attention paid to poultry in those days, but in '84 this division began to pick up and the name of Andrew Mitchell was at the top of the winners in his class.
In the display of farm and kitchen implements—a department the present fair should encourage—Doolittle Bros. & Judson had a display of hand made kitchen tinware, E. L. Weybright got a prize on a churn and farm wagon made by the "Delaware Manufacturing Co.," and V. P. Newman had an exhibit of harrows and plows made by the "Great Western Blacksmith Shop" —you may note Valley Falls was an industrial center in those days, why not now?
In the farm products department a difference was made in the classification of bottom and upland raised corn, but other than white and yellow there was no distinction—what would these men think now when Boone county White and Reids Yellow Dent are so carefully graded—to, say nothing of the "hybrids" but even so the following were good farmers in their day and believed in showing their neighbors how it was done; and such men deserve the sincere thanks and approbation of those who have profited by their early experiments and sacrifices, such men were M. M. Maxwell, Dave Smith, A. A. Murray, T. A. Hatfield, L. H. Gest, Ben Reppert, Geo. Reppert, Wm. Bechtel, John Corkadel, George Corkadel, George VanGaasbeek, Sam Washington, of Ozawkie; L. E. Stone, of Londale, (ever hear of this town in Jackson county ?).
In the fine arts department the ladies demonstrated their industry and ability in the line of knitting, worsted work on cardboard, crocheting, plain and fancy quilting, lacework, embroidery, wax-work, and painting in oil—a few of the contestants are still actively interested in the affairs of the present day. Among the names were Mrs. L. E. Stone, of Londale, Mrs. H. B. Schaeffer, of Oskaloosa, Mrs. John Carson and Mrs. Mary J. Graham, of Winchester, Mrs. L. H. Gest, Mrs. I. Friend, Mrs. M. S. Orr, Mrs. Albert Beland, Mrs. G. D. Ingersoll, Mrs. J. G. Waite, Mrs. D. Y. Gallison, Mrs. H. A. McCoy, Mrs. Allen Stockwell, Mrs. S. G. Walters, Mrs. Robt. Marsh, Mrs. E. A. Newman, Mrs. Albert Beland, Mrs. Dr. Hunt, Mrs. Mell Hefty, Mrs. J. H. Murray, Mrs. Henry Legler, Mrs. J. R. Mitchell, Mrs. A. A. Murray, Mrs. Mell Legler, and Misses Pauline Friend, Bertha Greutter, May Murray, Nellie A. Murray, L. E. Goodrich, Lula Goodrich, Blanch Beland, Lizzie Goodman, Etta Murray, Nellie Bishop, Willetta German, Mollie McDaniel, Nellie Grimes, Minnie Maxwell, Jessie Hughan, Ellen Summerfelt, Gertie Barnes, Mollie Gephart, Hattie Hayward, Lida Goodrich, Sadie Blair.
S.R. Shepherd, of Leavenworth, had on exhibition a Singer sewing machine, and D. M. Smith of Oskaloosa, was showing a Wilcox & White parlor organ (Suppose Charley Olden had come along and set a radio in operation?).
That there was some contest in beauty in those days is proven by four entries for the prettiest baby award—Mrs. Mary J. Graham of Winchester, was given first prize, but we'll lay even money that many in the crowd would have given the premium to either Mrs. E. Champion, Mrs. J. Bishop or Mrs. Sarah J. Tosh, who no doubt had just as lovely babies in the showing.
There were always a lot of special prizes offered in those days, all the way from butter, sorghum, honey, girls' dressmaking and baking ability, horseback riding, oil painting, to scrub horse races and footraces. Those who knew "Johnny" Dornblaser in his later years would never have picked him to win a 300-yard foot race against D. Bliss, of Oskaloosa, Joseph Inman, of Topeka, and Norte Gould in 1880, but that is what happened. In this department Miss Lida Goodrich won the prize offered for sponge cake in 1883; Mrs. Mell Legler won first on largest display of fancy work. Nola Webster won the horseback riding prize, with Minnie Piazzek a close second.
And of course they had horse racing. The names most prominent in these contests were George Wolf, of Topeka; G.W. Tanner and L.H. Sargeant, of Leavenworth; Jesse Crall, J.F. Doyle, W.H. Perkins and Thomas S. Towne, of Atchison; Burt Cirtwell, of Monrovia; Walt Johnson, of Menoken; A. Newell, of Oskaloosa, and of course J.J. Gardiner and I.C. Webster. As an extra inducement in the free-for-all trot, George Wolf offered a $25 prize for any horse beating the track record of 2:28, but George had no occasion to part with his money.
What a time they had in those days. Folks would come for miles, camp out and stay the entire three or four days, take in all the side shows, bet a little on the horse races, maybe try to pick the pea under the shell; have a good visit with old friends, and go home satisfied and resolved to make next year's exhibit bigger and better—everyone can have a better time at the fair today than then if each will come with the same mind. Why not try it out this year?
The Valley Falls museum is open at 10 a.m. Saturdays.
The story of a Valley Falls fair from the pages of a scrap book of newspaper articles dated 1938 compiled and saved by the late Sallie Blue, a Valley Falls teacher and librarian:
Former Fairs at Valley Falls—A Glimpse at the Record Book of 1880-84 when the Delaware Valley Fair Association was in its Glory.
We are indebted to Mrs. John Campbell, daughter of M. M. Maxwell—during his life one of the most enthusiastic boosters for county fairs, and in 1884 secretary of the Delaware Valley Fair Association, putting on fairs and races on what is now F. F. Hurst's wheatfield southeast of town—for the secretary's book containing the names of prize winners for the fairs of 1880-1884.
Checking over the list for '80 we note there were few exhibits of cattle—George Hensley and J. M. Huber, both of Meriden, being the biggest exhibitors; but when it came to horses and mules there must have been a demand for extra stable room. Horse breeders were present from Atchison, Leavenworth, Topeka, Oskaloosa, Winchester, Ozawkie, Pardee, Grove City (ever hear of a town of this name in Jefferson county—there was one then) besides the following from this place: Adam and J. H. Faulk, Dave German, I. C. Webster, J. J. Gardiner, Herm Newman, Ed. Farrar, Dick Simpson, Ed. Hutchins, Bob Marsh, Walter and Finley Ferguson, Wm. T. Booth, Chas. Hudspeth.
A good display of sheep were shown and among the owners were George Goodrich and son Harry.
In the swine department Park Murray apparently got most of the ribbons.
Apparently there was little attention paid to poultry in those days, but in '84 this division began to pick up and the name of Andrew Mitchell was at the top of the winners in his class.
In the display of farm and kitchen implements—a department the present fair should encourage—Doolittle Bros. & Judson had a display of hand made kitchen tinware, E. L. Weybright got a prize on a churn and farm wagon made by the "Delaware Manufacturing Co.," and V. P. Newman had an exhibit of harrows and plows made by the "Great Western Blacksmith Shop" —you may note Valley Falls was an industrial center in those days, why not now?
In the farm products department a difference was made in the classification of bottom and upland raised corn, but other than white and yellow there was no distinction—what would these men think now when Boone county White and Reids Yellow Dent are so carefully graded—to, say nothing of the "hybrids" but even so the following were good farmers in their day and believed in showing their neighbors how it was done; and such men deserve the sincere thanks and approbation of those who have profited by their early experiments and sacrifices, such men were M. M. Maxwell, Dave Smith, A. A. Murray, T. A. Hatfield, L. H. Gest, Ben Reppert, Geo. Reppert, Wm. Bechtel, John Corkadel, George Corkadel, George VanGaasbeek, Sam Washington, of Ozawkie; L. E. Stone, of Londale, (ever hear of this town in Jackson county ?).
In the fine arts department the ladies demonstrated their industry and ability in the line of knitting, worsted work on cardboard, crocheting, plain and fancy quilting, lacework, embroidery, wax-work, and painting in oil—a few of the contestants are still actively interested in the affairs of the present day. Among the names were Mrs. L. E. Stone, of Londale, Mrs. H. B. Schaeffer, of Oskaloosa, Mrs. John Carson and Mrs. Mary J. Graham, of Winchester, Mrs. L. H. Gest, Mrs. I. Friend, Mrs. M. S. Orr, Mrs. Albert Beland, Mrs. G. D. Ingersoll, Mrs. J. G. Waite, Mrs. D. Y. Gallison, Mrs. H. A. McCoy, Mrs. Allen Stockwell, Mrs. S. G. Walters, Mrs. Robt. Marsh, Mrs. E. A. Newman, Mrs. Albert Beland, Mrs. Dr. Hunt, Mrs. Mell Hefty, Mrs. J. H. Murray, Mrs. Henry Legler, Mrs. J. R. Mitchell, Mrs. A. A. Murray, Mrs. Mell Legler, and Misses Pauline Friend, Bertha Greutter, May Murray, Nellie A. Murray, L. E. Goodrich, Lula Goodrich, Blanch Beland, Lizzie Goodman, Etta Murray, Nellie Bishop, Willetta German, Mollie McDaniel, Nellie Grimes, Minnie Maxwell, Jessie Hughan, Ellen Summerfelt, Gertie Barnes, Mollie Gephart, Hattie Hayward, Lida Goodrich, Sadie Blair.
S.R. Shepherd, of Leavenworth, had on exhibition a Singer sewing machine, and D. M. Smith of Oskaloosa, was showing a Wilcox & White parlor organ (Suppose Charley Olden had come along and set a radio in operation?).
That there was some contest in beauty in those days is proven by four entries for the prettiest baby award—Mrs. Mary J. Graham of Winchester, was given first prize, but we'll lay even money that many in the crowd would have given the premium to either Mrs. E. Champion, Mrs. J. Bishop or Mrs. Sarah J. Tosh, who no doubt had just as lovely babies in the showing.
There were always a lot of special prizes offered in those days, all the way from butter, sorghum, honey, girls' dressmaking and baking ability, horseback riding, oil painting, to scrub horse races and footraces. Those who knew "Johnny" Dornblaser in his later years would never have picked him to win a 300-yard foot race against D. Bliss, of Oskaloosa, Joseph Inman, of Topeka, and Norte Gould in 1880, but that is what happened. In this department Miss Lida Goodrich won the prize offered for sponge cake in 1883; Mrs. Mell Legler won first on largest display of fancy work. Nola Webster won the horseback riding prize, with Minnie Piazzek a close second.
And of course they had horse racing. The names most prominent in these contests were George Wolf, of Topeka; G.W. Tanner and L.H. Sargeant, of Leavenworth; Jesse Crall, J.F. Doyle, W.H. Perkins and Thomas S. Towne, of Atchison; Burt Cirtwell, of Monrovia; Walt Johnson, of Menoken; A. Newell, of Oskaloosa, and of course J.J. Gardiner and I.C. Webster. As an extra inducement in the free-for-all trot, George Wolf offered a $25 prize for any horse beating the track record of 2:28, but George had no occasion to part with his money.
What a time they had in those days. Folks would come for miles, camp out and stay the entire three or four days, take in all the side shows, bet a little on the horse races, maybe try to pick the pea under the shell; have a good visit with old friends, and go home satisfied and resolved to make next year's exhibit bigger and better—everyone can have a better time at the fair today than then if each will come with the same mind. Why not try it out this year?
The Valley Falls museum is open at 10 a.m. Saturdays.
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