The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-08-22
OLD SETTLES, PICNIC.

VIII DEL LES flCN1Cs
Inc old settlers picnic held here on
Wednesday was one of the best at
tended and most enthusiastic affairs
OF the kind ever lheld in the county.
A large number of the old settlers
were present from all parts of the
county and they had splendid visit
and reunion while the young folks
chartered and played. Owing to uc-
avoidable circumstances the REVIEW
is obliged to omit its extended account
OF the picnic in this issue of the but we
promise our readers an account of the
exercises In our next issue, which will
be Of historic value to all who were
present and to all the old settlers of
the county. The REVIEW regrets this
greatly but prefers giving full account
which may we'll be filled with the au-
nails of the county.
Among the prominent old settlers in
attendance at the picnic was Mr.. Ben
F. Galland, of Deloit. This venerable
old settler has lived in Iowa for II
gears, and can give almost q complete
history of the state. He has perhaps
tramped over Iowa's hills hunting big
game. more than any other man in the
state. He speaks the Indian language
very fuently. He received most of his
education in the first school house ever
erected in the state, and we give a
short history of this building, taken
from the Montrose Journal of 1898:
1t was erected in the fall of 1880 by
DR. Galland, who was leader in all
enterprises tending to build up the
country and to promote the interests of
the inhabitants. The building was
erected at Nashville (now Galland) the
Indian name of which was Ah-wi-pe-
tuck, meaning the beginning of the
cascades or rapids 1t was l0xl2, con-
structed of hewed logs and was located
at point between the river and the
south side of the creek, the ground
now being within the Enclosure around
the government guard lock of the canal,
and between the northwest end of the
lock and tree standing alone some
twenty or thirty yards from the lock.
The floor was puncheon and the
chimney constructed of sticks and mud
on the outside OF the building, as was
the general custom then Large flat
rock, set on edge, formed the fre-proof
casing for the fire place, which was
three feet in depth and four feet wide,
being large enough to take in a large
backlog and forestick, the space be-
tween being filled with small wood.
The fire thus formed in this huge fire.
place was ample to keep the room
warm and those of the pupils now llv-
ing can remember of no inconvenience
or suffering from the weather. In
stead OF glass in the windows CREASED
paper was used through which the
light was filtered to enable the hardy
youngsters to pursue their studies. In
sash. superseded the creased paper.
The benches were long pieces of pun
cheon with slanting holes bored in the
ends into which sticks were put for
legs. The writing desks were con
structed OF pieces OF whip-sawed plank.
ten inches or foot wide, fastened
against the wall under the windows.
The few larger scholars interested in
learning the art of writing had to
either stand up at this desk or furnish
their own personal high stools.
After this building had passed out of
use as a school house Samuel Briefly
built story and half hewed log
dwelling house, using the old school
house as kitchen. Briefly afterward
moved onto farm about two miles
from town. His old dwelling house
was afterward used as place for hold
ing religious services and for school
taught by the Rev. Adds, a Cambelite
preacher. This was sometime in the
40's. The Old school house, still stand
ing, the door being open, was place
of refuge for stock in bad weather
The bailding finally decayed and was
torn down, the remains being used for
fuel by the people.