Iowa Territory Historic Cache Traditional Cache

Isaac Galland was a most interesting man who covered lots of territory in his life and always seemed ready to take on a new role.  Most sources report his being born in Somerset Pennsylvania.  Durng his life he not only lived in his state of birth but also in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, New Mexico, Utah and California.

While he was chasing after yet another adventure, he also managed to build the first school house in Iowa Territory at  At-Wip-E-Tuck, afterwards known as Nashville and later yet as Galland.  Neighbors and friends helped construct the tiny, 10-by-12 foot building from logs split with hand tools.  Mud was used to hold the building together, to make  a chimney, and to fill the cracks.  Holes were cut in the logs for windows, and oiled cloth covered the openings so there would be some light in the small room.

Learning was a challenge, and students only attended during a few months each year.  After just a few years, settlers had moved away from the area and the school was closed.  The orginal Galland School was inudunated by the Mississippi River in 1913 with the completion of the Keokuk Dam.  Its exact location is not known, except it's probably under about 20 feet of water and 300-400 feet from the shoreline.