when men set themselves up for office who have never shown capability in any legitimate business of their own, and abused the Intelligencer because they could not control it, the citizens of the county would give it a still more liberal support. The paper was always Republican in politics, and "principles rather than men" seems to have been its guiding sentiment. Under Mr. Hildreth's management it always maintained a high moral tone. Every parent felt safe in placing it in the hands of his children. Specialist medical advertisements were scrupulously excluded from its columns, no matter what the money temptation might be to to procure their insertion.

On the 1st of October, 1870, after a period of over fourteen years of laborous editorial service in Charles City. Mr. Hildreth sold the Intelligencer and his entire printing establishment to Messrs. Dyke & Rowell, and retired permanently from the field of journalism.

Amidst the multiplicity of business which Mr. Hildreth found constantly upon his hands, often taking him away from home, he was ably assisted by his energetic and accomplished wife, who would take charge of all his correspondence, his editorial work, and his financial affairs. She was to him a helpmeet" indeed, and he always gave her credit for doing even more than her full share in promoting their prosperity.

Among Mr. Hildreth's contemopraries. during nearly fifteen years of editorial life in Iowa, may be mentioned your humble editor. Charles Al

drich, then of the Hamilton County Freeman; Frank M. Palmer and J. M. Dixon of the Des Moines Register; Clark Dunham of the Burlington Hawk Eye; L. D. Ingersoll of the Knoxville Journal; John Mahin of the Muscatine Journal; J. B. Howell of the Keokuk Gate City; Charles Beardsley and Lt. Gov. Needham of the Oskaloosa Herald; Perkins Brothers of the Cedar Falls Gazette; N. H. Brainerd of the Iowa City Republican: Lt. Governor Gue of the Fort Dodge North-West; Ed. Russell of the Davenport Gazette; Tom Drummond of the Vinton Eagle; Willis Drummond of the McGregor News; J. L. McCreery and Jesse Clement of the Dubuque Times; Frank M. Mills of the Des Moines School Journal; and many others who might be named; all of whom have left their impress upon the institutions, and habits and character of the people of Iowa.

CHAPTER XXVI.

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

N 1858 Mr. Hildreth was elected as a member of the State Board of Education, representing a District composed of the counties of Allamakee, Winneshiek, Howard, Mitchell, Floyd, Chickasaw, Fayette, Clayton, Bremer and Butler. [Elected with him on the same ticket, were Hon. Elias H. Williams, for Judge, and Milo McGlathery, for Prosecuting Attorney.]

This Board held its first session, under the new State Constitution, in the Senate Chamber of the Capitol at Des Moines, commencing on December 6th, 1858. The representation was by Judicial Districts, and the members of the Board were:

Ralph P. Lowe, Governor; ex-officio.
1st District Charles Mason.

Secretary-Josiah T. Tubby, pro tem. Afterwards. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., Permanent Sec'y. At subsequent sessions of the Board Samuel J. Kirkwood, Governor, was ex-officio member, and Nicholas J. Rusch, Lieutenant Governor, was President of the Board; while Thomas H. Benton, Jr., was continued as Secretary.

This State Board of Education held its biennial sessions in the Capitol at Des Moines, and had control of all the educational interests of the State except private or sectarian institutions. As

a member of this Board Mr. Hildreth held a prominent and leading position, and the impress of his mind and acts is still left upon the educational laws and institutions of the State.

Among the more important results of his legislative efforts in behalf of education was a law requiring the State University, at Iowa City, to be opened and free alike to young ladies as well as young gentlemen. This measure met with considerable opposition, both from the people and the press of the State-it being the popular opinion that it would never do to educate the sexes togethWhat an absurdity! As if man and woman were not created for each other.

er.

But, notwithstanding all the old fogy opposition, the law prevailed, providing that the State University shall be for the free education of the youth of Iowa, of both sexes, upon equal terms in all respects;" and to-day no legislator dare raise his hand or voice in favor of its repeal.

A few years later, when Mr. Hildreth was a

member of the Legislature, he was appointed by that body as chairman of a select committee to investigate and report the affairs of the University. He has frequently said that one of the proudest days of his life was when, by request of the President, he was permitted to stand up in the University Chapel, in the presence of more than two hundred young lady students and nearly as many young gentlemen students, and in the course of an address explain how it happened that those young ladies were permitted to enjoy such exalted educational privileges. When the exercises had closed, the grateful thanks tendered him by those young ladies, for his efforts in their behalf. repaid him a thousand fold for all that he had done for them. The officers and professors of the University assured him that the plan of co-education was working well-that a spirit of emulation and rivalry was awakened, which was profitable to both classes of students-and there was no difficulty in regard to morals and general deportment.