Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-05
First Teacher Of
Public School Here

George "A. Miller. father Of E. p. Mil
Ter, manager Of the Lennox Furnace
Company, is entertaining today the
first teacher Of public school in Mar
shalltown. In the person Of Pitts II.
Hopkins, Of Tecunseh. Neb. Mr.. Hop
kfns and Mr.. Miller are old Elmwood.
ILL.,. friends, and their visit is proving
a most pleasant one. Mr.. Hopkins is
accompanied by his daughter. Mrs. E.
H. Cowan, of Kansas City, Mo.
"Pitt" Hopkins, as his old friends
here knew him in the early days,
taught the first Marshalltown public
school that was ever. held, In a new
building. 24x50, that stood about where
the new Baptist church IS now situated.
or on what has been known in recent
years as the "Birchard corner" Sec
ond and State.
Mr.. Hopkins presided over the school
during the years 1867. He came here
in 1854, and engaged in the real estate
business. and was here until 1858. In
cidentally he probably entered more
land in Marshall county for purchasers
than any other one man, and In re-
calling the old days today Mr.. Hopkins
said that the records would show about
10000 acres Of land that were entered
by him for the early settlers at $1.2e
per acre. Much OF this acreage. too.
was in Marshall county. and the rest
In adjoining counties. Mr.. Hopkins
sold to G. NJ. Woodbury. the land where
the woodbury. block now stands. at
First avenue and Main. Woodbury. paid
5000 for the property in 1857.
Mr.. Hopkins speaks Interestingly OF
the early days, and recalls all the his
tory Of the Marietta war. He served as
a special deputy sheriff at the time OF
the election which decided the county
seat location.
When Mr.. Hopkins was engaged to
teach the Marshautown school DR.. r.
Howe Taylor was county superintend-
ent and the local school board COM
prised Dr. George Click. G. NJ Wood
bury, and William Johnston. the latter
father of Theodore Johnston.
Among his old pupils, who he re-
members, were Theodore Johnston.
Martha Webster. (now Mrs. ]. M.
Parker,) her sister Mary. who later
became Mrs. George Woolston and Is
now dead; their brother Byron. Milton
Parrett, and his brother Warren. By
ron Webster entered school for the
first time under Mr.. Hopkins and the
latter in recalling the fact today. said
he remembered the little checked app
ron that he wore.
Attic Theodore Johnston IS not mere
to defend himself. Mr.. Hopkins tells OF
what a time he had to break Theodore
of stammering. When he was embar-
raised Theodore used to stutter ter
ribly, according to the old teacher
Mrs. johnson came to me-" said MT
Hopkins, "and asked me to do some
thing for Theodore. She said the boy
didn't want to go to school because ne
suffered so. and she was AFRAID ina!
tho boy would be an ignoramuA
promised her to do what could, and
took special pains to interest Theo-
dore. and to break him of the STAN
meri4g habit He only stammered when
ha was embarrassed. and got the
children to promise mo that they
wouldn't laugh at him. 1t didn't take
long to get Theodore out Of the habit
and the progress he made In school
WA quite wonderful. He soon became
interested and was one. Of the best stu
dents had ahr
| Mr.. Hopkins is now 7apyears OF age
hut fs remarkably well preserved ane
remembers the old days here witt
much interest.