In the spring of 1851, just 5 years after the Territory of Iowa became a state a group of eight men assembled at the home of Joseph Beauchamp, in Grove Township, Davis County, Iowa, to organize a district school.  Those present were Ebenezer Wilson, John Lank, Joseph Beauchamp, Levi Beauchamp, James T. Brown, John J. Giles, and William Rader.  As a result of that meeting a sub-district was organized with Ebenezer Wilson, president, Thomas D. Brown, secretary, and John J. Giles, treasurer.  This formed the first school board on record for a new school.  A decision to build a frame structure over one made of logs was finally agreed upon.
 
Enthusiastically, they appropriated material for the new school house as soon as the location was approved.  One-half acre of land was leased by William Rader.  Township 67, Range 13, Section 1.  All material used was donated.  Levi Beauchamp and William Rader donated and made what was then known as the hewed frame.  James T Brown donated the walnut lumber sawed from beautiful, large logs which was used for siding and hand made shingles. 
 
In the summer of the same year, 1851, the first school house was built.  The foundation, measuring sixteen by twenty feet, was of white oak blocks.  The frames were native oak and hickory with siding of black walnut that was never painted.  This was covered with hand made shingles, and the floor was of white oak lumber.  Plastering was not used in the interior, a composition of mud filled in with brick between the studding formed the walls with ceiling made of lumber.  The room was heated with a cast iron, wood burning, box stove purchased at Keokuk, Iowa.  The stove was the first the boys and girls assembled had ever seen.  The patrons of the district furnished fuel, each one chopping and hauling a load as was needed.