WILLIAM SHIRLEY, KOSSUTH COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT

This winter I have been working on a project for the Kossuth County Genealogical Society organizing all of the information the society has on country schools.  Kossuth County used to be dotted with country schools that were located every two miles or so and quite often we receive inquiries about locations of schools, teachers who taught at them, and students who attended them.  It was time to get all of the information that we have organized into one location.

As a part of that project, I kept running across the name of William Shirley who served as County School Superintendent from 1912 to 1940.  I thought it would be interesting to take a closer look at his life to both share with you and to include with the country school information.

SHIRLEY COMES TO SWEA CITY

Shirley first came to Kossuth County in 1906 to serve as superintendent of the new Swea City High School which had been built in 1903.  Born near Springfield, Illinois, Shirley had moved with his family to Minburn, Iowa, when he was 14 and he completed his high school education there.  After teaching for a year, he sought a civil engineering degree at the college in Ames.  He then taught for four years before accepting a position as principal at Waukee where he served until taking the job in Swea City.

Shirley was popular with the area citizens and well-suited for the position.  During the next six years, he worked tirelessly for the students under his care, always striving to increase the scholastic standards to provide a top-notch education.  In 1912 when then-serving Superintendent Sid Backus announced that he would not seek reelection, William Shirley decided to run for the position of Kossuth County School Superintendent.

William Shirley
Campaign Postcard

Handwritten message on each postcard

THE CAMPAIGN AND ELECTION

Both Shirley and Frank Sarchet, a teacher, announced their intention to run on the Republican ticket, necessitating a primary runoff.  Mr. Shirley hit the ground running and was often seen riding a motorcycle while campaigning.  He had the advantage of being the “candidate of north Kossuth” where he was well known.  His political advertising boldly stated that he represented a part of the county that was entitled to a county office.  He pointed out that the county attorney was from Whittemore, the Clerk resided in LuVerne, Wesley was the home of the Treasurer, the current superintendent was from Bancroft, and the auditor, recorder and sheriff lived in Algona.  Using print ads, letters, and postcards, Shirley outspent his opponent 2 to 1.  The spending paid off as he defeated Sarchet quite soundly – 1300 votes to 649.

Upper Des Moines-Republican, June 5, 1912

The Democratic candidate for the election was a teacher from the Fenton area, Margaret Dorweiler.  Shirley kept a steady pace of canvassing the county throughout the summer while Miss Dorweiler was on a European trip.  Once she returned in September, she conducted a remarkable campaign while still teaching full time.  The election results were actually closer than expected.  Shirley received 2207 to Dorweiler’s 1994 – a difference of 213 votes.  Keep in mind that in 1912 women did not have the right to vote so Margaret could not cast a vote in her own favor.  However, given the support received, she obviously was able to convince the Democratic male voters in the county that she was worthy of the position.

Portion of 1912 ballot showing
Candidates Shirley and Dorweiler 

THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT

The county superintendent’s office was located in a cramped office in the Kossuth County Courthouse.  The new superintendent settled quickly into his office and began his duties.  One of the first things he did was purchase a Kodak camera with which to take photos of every school building and yard in Kossuth County with the intention of leaving his successor a pictorial record of the conditions of the schools when Shirley took office.  What a prize that would be to have today!

He also hired a deputy superintendent who just happened to be his wife, Grace (Barger) Shirley.  The two had married in 1900 and had three children – Hale, Pearl and John.  Grace became an integral part of the superintendent’s office.  Her husband was often out of the office inspecting schools, conducting examinations and attending meetings leaving her to deal with much of the paperwork as well as unexpected callers who had business to conduct with the superintendent.  She managed the office with a pleasant and cheerful attitude.

Although he was quite loyal to the north part of the county it became apparent very quickly after the election that it would be necessary to move to Algona.  The family purchased a home on South Dodge Street and took possession April 1, 1913.  They would soon become active in many community activities and the Methodist Church.  Mr. Shirley served on many local committees including the one formed to assist with the placement of orphan train children who arrived in 1916.

CONDUCTING BUSINESS

Superintendent Shirley made it a policy to regularly visit the schools under his charge.  With over 150 schools in the county, that was quite an undertaking.  He was also in charge of hiring and monitoring all teachers, administering teacher and eighth grade student exams, and conducting graduation ceremonies and spelling bees, among many other duties.

Mr. Shirley was an imaginative educator.  One of the first things he did when he took office was order seeds from Washington, D.C. which he distributed to students to raise their own gardens.  When the war years arrived, the Superintendent organized a bean growing club to help raise navy beans for the troops.  He sent out postcards to every boy in the county asking them to commit to raising a certain number of acres.  He assisted them by providing the seed. 

The influenza outbreak of 1918 brought some challenges.  Approximately half of the schools in the county were closed due to the epidemic.  In November he contracted influenza and was absent for some time.  When he returned, he found that he was short ten teachers.  Some had left to find other employment and others were gone due to illness or death – Ethel Bailey, who taught in the Fenton area, died of influenza on December 11, 1918.  The teacher shortage continued throughout the war.

Every year the Kossuth County Teachers Association hosted an institute which the Shirleys helped to organize.  Teachers from across the county attended and were encouraged to socialize at the reception held as part of the event.  Local well-known educators such as Minnie Coate and J.F. Overmyer guided participants in workshops for each level – primary, elementary and high school – and speakers on various aspects of child development and educational methods made it an important event each year.

Plum Creek School #7
Located in Section 34, Plum Creek Township

Visiting schools was one of Shirley’s favorite duties.  He was often accompanied by a district director and would drop by a school to observe the teacher and students as they went through their day.  He took a personal interest in the children at each school and would often take some time to talk with them or quiz them on spelling words or arithmetic problems.

THE PASSING OF AN ERA

Outside of school, Shirley enjoyed hunting with friends, especially in Eagle Township near Swea City where he first settled in the county.  He and Grace also enjoyed traveling to visit their children.  Their oldest, Hale, became a doctor and settled in California; daughter Pearl married and lived near Washington, D.C.; and youngest son, John, was employed as an instructor at Michigan State University. 

Grace and William Shirley in 1938
Pictured on steps of
Kossuth County Courthouse

On the evening of Sunday, May 18, 1940, William Shirley sat down in his favorite chair and turned on the radio to listen to the news.  A massive heart attack took his life moments later.  His death sent a shock wave through the county where he had served over 27 years.  It was a double blow to his wife who not only lost her husband but also her job as deputy superintendent.

During his tenure many changes took place in education which included the superintendent position going from an elected position to one appointed by the supervisors and saw the consolidation of school districts.  William Shirley took them all in stride and did his best to provide Kossuth County children with the best education possible.

CAN YOU HELP?

If any of you have photos of any of the country schools that once stood in Kossuth County, the genealogy society would be most grateful to have a copy to add to its collection.  A digital copy can be emailed to kossgensoc@gmail.com.  We would be happy to scan and return any photo if you are unable to scan them yourself.  It would also be wonderful to obtain copies of other materials concerning students or teachers at country schools such as report cards, attendance records, lesson plans, or other data that you may be willing to share.  All materials will be returned to you after copying/scanning unless you wish to donate them.  Please feel free to contact us at the above noted email address if you have any information to share.

Until next time,

Jean

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