The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs on Thursday announced the recipients of more than $2 million in grants benefitting some 200 Iowa projects designed to "spark cultural and economic growth in historic downtowns, concert halls and, possibly, the studio of a future Grant Wood," according to Chris Kramer, acting director. "We’re proud to help Iowans make our state a culturally vibrant place to live, work and play."
The annual grants tap a pool of state and federal appropriations and help fund statewide projects ranging from public art through digitalization of newspaper archives to restoration of historic buildings.
One of the smallest ($1,000) grants --- but the only one directly benefitting Lucas County --- will go to the Lucas County Historical Society. We'll match it with $1,000 of our own funds to commission an original piece of music celebrating Lucas County's history. It will be composed for the Chariton High School band, but will belong to the historical society, and hopefully will premiere next spring.
This is new territory for us and we're learning as we go along about what's involved --- relying upon Daniel Scheetz, Chariton High School band director, who developed the concept and will coordinate the project.
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This is not the first composition to celebrate Lucas County; it's a minor tradition that dates back to 1859 when Emily Braden's "Chariton Polka" was published in the September edition of Godey's Lady's Book --- a widely circulated magazine for women of that time. There were some 40,000 subscribers nationwide when "Chariton Polka" hit the stands.
The composer, nee Emily Waterhouse, was born Oct. 2, 1837, in London and received there and in France what would have been considered then an exceptional education. She was the eldest daughter of George Waterhouse, a prosperous watch- and clock-maker, and Massey Gosden, his wife.
When the 1851 census of England was taken, the Waterhouse family was living in Clock House, Cranford, Middlesex.
Emily came with her family from England to Dubuque County, Iowa, in 1852, but her father died soon after. She married in Dubuque County on Dec. 10, 1855, Joseph Braden, of Chariton, also a native of London.
Joseph had arrived in Chariton from Dubuque during 1853 as an employee of the U.S. Land Office, which had been moved west from Fairfield during that year. He had emigrated from London to Dubuque during 1851 and gone to work as clerk and bookkeeper for Thomas Hart Benton Jr., then Iowa's superintendent of public instruction, but had moved quickly to the employ of the U.S. Land Office.
Once located in Chariton, Joseph returned to Dubuque County to marry Emily and the couple immediately settled together in Chariton. Joseph continued his employment with the land office until 1858, when all of Iowa's district land offices were consolidated in Des Moines. He then went on to become one of Lucas County's leading businessmen and public figures, principally known as a banker. Chariton's Braden Avenue is named after Joseph and Emily as is the Braden Subdivision.
The Bradens had no children of their own, but raised as their own daughter a niece, also named Emily and also born in London --- to Joseph's brother, George, and his wife, both of whom apparently died when Emily was a child. Emily Jr. married at Chariton Howard Culbertson, and they had several children.
Joseph Braden died during 1906, but Emily lived on until Jan. 22, 1922, when she died at the home of her niece, Emily (Braden) Culbertson, in Chariton and was buried beside her husband in the Chariton Cemetery.
Here's a portion of Emily's obituary, published in The Chariton Leader of Jan. 26, 1922, which gives some idea of talents, outlook and nature:
"Mrs. Braden was a woman of refinement, talent and keen intellect. Her educational training enabled her to come in contact with the best in life. Among her accomplishments was that of composing poetry and music, much of which was published, but some of her best work she would not allow to be published, preferring to keep it for her friends. Her best productions flowed from her pen and her heart after the death of her mother (in 1877) for whom she had a devoted love.
"Her long and alert life witnessed the coming and going of firm friends who were attracted to her by her sympathetic understanding, her wholesome wit, her intellectual insight and her ability to help in every time of need.
"She is among the few surviving early citizens of Chariton and the community who were active in formulating the contructive plans and policies of the city. Being such a worthy helpmate to her illustrious husband, she was enabled to make her life count effectively in all that was good for the upbuilding of her home community.
"She was a longtime member of the Historical Society of Chariton. Up until the time of her marriage she was a member of the Episcopal church, but since that time has been a faithful and energetic member of the First Presbyterian church, of which she was a member at the time of her death.
"For several years she was the efficient organist of the church, composing much of the organ music herself. She also taught a Sabbath school class for years and in every way walked hand in hand with her husband in church activity. When the cornerstone of the present edifice was laid, one of her poems written for the occasion entitled, 'From the Land of the Dead to the Land of the Living,' was placed by the stone."
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We have a number of artifacts in the historical society collection related to Emily, including the original published version of "Chariton Polka" and large bound volume of sheet music from the 1840s-1870s that was among Mrs. Braden's prized possessions.
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