Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 58

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864

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The author of this appeal was the Rev. Fred- erick Wyneken, "the patriarch and father of missions among German Lutherans in America." Under many hardships and privations, he had, for some years, traveled through the dense for- ests of Northern Indiana and Southern Michi- gan to bring the bread of life to his scattered brethren. He there saw their spiritual wants and misery and it touched his heart. That a greater number of missionaries was a crying need, he saw at once. To get assistance, he journeyed to Germany from Ft. Wayne, Ind., in 1841. There he sought to arouse interest by means of his lectures and mainly by his tract, "The Needs of German Lutherans in North America."

In the meantime, Loehe had taken steps to pre- pare young men for the service and to support the canse financially. In this way, the plan was carried out to establish a seminary at Ft. Wayne, Ind., to meet. these crying needs. In the latter part of August, 1846, the first eleven emissaries from Loehe, under the leadership of C. A. W. Roebbelen, arrived at Ft. Wayne. That was the beginning of Concordia Seminary, now at Spring- field, Ill .- a small and modest beginning, ill- deed ! The seminary was a house of fonr rooms, an upper room,-the largest of the fonr, -- served as a classroom. The Rev. W. Sihier, D.D., was the President ; his colleague was Prof. A. Wolter, and after his early death, Prof. A. Biewend. Under the guidance of God the aim of the in- stitution was reached, namely, to prepare men thoroughly for the ministry, and yet in the pos- sibly shortest space of time. The institution grew. New students were constantly enrolled, coming from Germany and from congregations already organized in this country.

In the conrse of the year 1847 the Rev. Loehe transferred the seminary to the then newly or- ganized Synod of Missonri, Ohio, and other States, as its sole property. An increase in the number of students necessitated the erection of inore buildings. There was also a change in the faculty. Biewend followed a cail into the min- istry and his place was filled by a man who, for forty-one years, faithfully sacrificed his gifts and strength in the interest of the institution and shaped the character stiil found in his schol- ars. This was the Rev. Prof. A. Craemer. Dr. Sihler was still looked npon as the first Profes- sor and President, but synodical duties and his labors in his growing parish allowed him less and less time to devote to the interest of the seminary. So its business came into the hands of Craemer, and he, himself a character, under- stood to perfection how to train characters and to exert such a telling influence on the seminary, that he has rightly been called "The Father of the Institution."

The members of the congregation at Ft. Wayne cordially welcomed the students of the seminary to their homes, and granted them this hospitality for fifteen years. It was a hard blow for both when the synod, in 1861, resolved to transfer the seminary to St. Louis, Mo.

In accordance with a vote of the synod, that the transfer be made by September first, the be- ginning of the new school year, Prof. Craemer

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HOME OF THE FRIENDLESS, SPRINGFIELD

CONCORDIA COLLEGE, SPRINGFIELD

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

and the students arrived at St. Lonis at the ap- pointed time, and he with his wife assumed the duties of steward, as he had already done with success In Ft. Wayne. Here both departments, the practical and theoretical-were under one roof, aud, if feasible, the students of both at- tended the same lectures. But already in 1871, on account of a lack of room, a new story was added to each of the wings of the seminary, and yet these additions proved adequate only for a short time. .

In Springfield, the capital of Illinois, at that time a town of some nine thousand inhabitants, stood a somewhat isolated building of the Illinois State University. This bullding with its real estate was offered to the Synod for sale. It could bouse 110 students and afforded the neces- sary room to relieve the congestion In St. Lonis. After several days of deliberations, the Synod decided to purchase the property. On Jauuary 4, 1874, the Rev. Prof. Kroening re- moved to Springfield with twenty-nine students of the preparatory school, and at the end of August of the next year, Prof. Craemer followed with 113 students of the seminary, fifty-tbree of wbom belonged to the Missouri Synod, three to the Wisconsin Synod, three to the Minnesota Synod, three to the Illinois Synod, nineteen to tbe Norwegian Synod, and two to the English Conference. Mr. Gustav Pfau acted as steward. And thus tbe so-called Practical Seminary, founded at Ft. Wayne In 1846 and transferred to St. Louis In 1861, had reached its third station and bere a new chapter of its history begins.

It was Craemer's last and most difficult period of activity. Indeed, the Rev. Henry Wyneken had already been called as second . Theological Professor, but entered upon his duties later. At the same time there was a vacancy in the con- gregatlon at Springfield, aud consequently Prof. Craemer had to look after Its affairs as well. Nevertheless, everything moved along smoothly in the institution. From five o'clock in the morn- ing untll bedtime, every hour bad its dnties. The economy and simple life, practised at the seminary, is well known. Anything not absolutely necessary was kept away. Very little attention was given to the care of the park and the build- ings and to the comforts In the latter. Craemer lived a very plain and frugal Ilfe, for he had become accustomed to it during his days of mis- , slonary labors in the virgin forests of Michigan, and his contentedness and self-sacrifice made its

impression ou the whole management. In the autumn of 1881 the undersigned was called. He arrived with his family on the third of Novem- ber and was installed In the chapel of the semi- nary, in the presence of the Board of Trustees, the Faculty, and the student body, by the Presi- dent of the institution, Prof. Craemer.

The enrollment was small at the time. The preparatory school had sixteen students, and the seminary about sixty. But from that time on the number of students doubled and tripled. At tbe opening of the institution in September, 1882, so many students entered that a roomy house was rented to lodge the overflow of stu- dents. In the following year tbe enrollment was even greater and the trustees were almost in sorry straits. Temporary quarters were quickly erected, and, in the meantime, some students lived in tents. In the following year the Synod decided to erect a third building, a plain, yet presentable and spacious frame building, witlı two classrooms, one large bedroom, and four study rooms. It was hoped that sufficient room had now been supplled, but soon it became evi- dent that it was not so. Every nook and corner was utillzed to shelter the students. A stranger who visited the institution at this time said:

"Very rarely would a person see such a spec- tacle as I saw it in Springfield. At my arrival the lectures were in full swing. The park and yard were vacant, no soul was to be seen. But at the ringing of the bell at ten o'clock, the doors of the lecture rooms opened and a long line of young men of varions ages came out, giants and short people, men with full beards and others with clean shaven faces, even negroes appeared, all carrying their books and writing utensils. With the permission of the professor, I attended one of the next lessons. There they quietly sat, the dear young fellows, packed to- gether from one wall to the other, listening to the professor's lecture. I almost envied the dear professors for the well-filled auditorinm. But I was taken with even greater surprise as I passed through the buildings and visited the dormitorles. Not only in tbe bedrooms was one bed placed next to the other, but also the halls were filled with the same. Notwithstanding the health of the students, as I was assured re- peatedly, was excellent, and their healthy appear- ance proved it. At noon the mess-hall presented the most interesting sigbt. How closely they sat and with what an appetite did tbose young

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

people eat! I was then suffering witb dypepsia and had not desired any food for several days. But at that sight my appetite returned."

The students of our seminary came from all parts of the world; the most of them were citi- zens of the United States, but also Canada, Ger- many, Russia, Poland, Scandinavia, Denmark, Australia sent their quota. Even negroes were not missing. The age of most students ranged from eighteen to thirty, and with the exception of such as eame from other colleges, had been previously engaged in other walks of life. Our students, without exception, had one alm, pur- sued one course, and all were under the same discipline aud leadership. It was a pleasure to Instruct them, and even if the gifts were very different, yet the zeal and love for study was the same with almost all.

Apart from the lessons several societies ex- Isted among the students, debating and literary societies, using either the German or English language exclusively, and musical societles; the older students upheld a society In the Interest of home inissions, called Collegium Fratrum, which showed great activity. Iu these days many an anniversary of some ecclesiastical event oc- curred, and it is self-evident that such days were not overlooked in a theological institutlou. Likewise it was a custom with the students to celebrate the birthday of the professors by some special festivity, combined with speeches, music and recitations. Iu the course of the year, the students gave one or more concerts, which the local congregation attended. It was a life of great mental activity that prevailed at the insti. tution. .

To be sure, the days of sadness were not missing. Many a dear scholar was taken from us by death. In the evening of January 30, 1884, our respected steward, Mr. Gustav Pfau, fell asleep in Jesus, and ten months later, on No- vember 11th, the flag at half-mast on the tower of the main building announeed, at an early hour of the morning, the unexpected departure of the honorable mother, Mrs. Dorothy Craemer, wife of our hoary Prof. Craemer. The memory of this noble woman, who served the church slx years In the mission for heathen and then twenty-two years as stewardess of our seminary, and who, until the hour of her death, had a motherly hand and heart for Indigent students, will ever remaln a blessed one. At two different times a virulent typhoid broke out among the

students, and quite a few of them fell victims to it In the flower of their youth. The graves of such students as died here are to be found in one row on the east side of Oak Ridge Cemetery, and are marked by siuall tombstones with their names.

It was feared that, after these visitations, the number of students would decrease. But God made a goodly number willing to fill tbe places of the ones called from the midst of their studies. Thirteen He called to IIimself, and gave us nearly one hundred to take their places. The preparatory school numbered alone ninety-nine students, more than formerly were in the whole Institution. Consequently, not only the study rooms, but also the bedroomus were overfilled. The Board of Trustees was forced to rent two dwellings nearby, at a great expense. The Syuod, therefore, resolved to remedy tbis condi- tion of affairs by erecting an adequate bullding with a sufficiently large chapel, two spacions lecture rooms, and lodging for about one hun- dred students. This bullding was the most beau- tiful and practical of all on the grounds. The erection of this edifice was soon begun, and Craemer saw his hope of many years now being realized and was highly pleased, as the walls of the building gradually eame to a finishi. But it was not granted him to see the beautiful building fully completed.

On the morning of April 2. 1891, the newly called professor, the Rev. Reinhold Pieper, of Manitowoc, Wis., arrived here with his family and was greeted by a delegation of the student body, as well as of the faculty, and by the chair- man of the Board of Trustees. Even though It was a gloomy, ralny morning and Craemer felt indisposed, yet he persisted In going to the depot. "What do you think?" he said, in his cheerful way, as he was asked whether he would accom- pany the reception committee to the depot in such weather; "what do you think? such old fellows as we are can't be hurt by a little rain!" But at the depot already, as we waited for the belated train, he complained of chills. On this day, the last session of the pastoral conference was just held, and Craemer, although he always enjoyed them, was glad this time when It ad- journed, for he felt sick. But in spite of the fact that no improvement of hls condition was notice- able afterwards, he attended to his duties with- out fail, delivered his lectures, and it seemed as If the sickness would be conquered by his iron

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

will-power. But it increased, bis strength failed bim, and he was becoming noticeably feehle. And now, Wednesday, April S, approached, on the afternoon of which the Rev. Prof. R. Pieper was to he installed in the beautifully decorated chapel of the new bnilding, which was soon to he dedicated. This was Craemer's last function. With great trouble be was taken bome after the ceremony. His illness increased day by day and in the night from Saturday to Rogate Sunday, May 3, about four o'clock, he fell asieep. "In Craemer a singularly powerful life came to its close. In him one of the spiritual heroes which God had given our Synod in its fathers, passed from our midst. In bis departure a mighty one in Israel had fallen." His age was seventy- eight 'years, eieven months and seven days. A large circle of friends attended bis funeral on Ascension Day, the seventh of May, a glorious spring day. The precious body was laid to rest next to his departed wife's grave in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

The decoratious of mourning were still adorn- ing the hulldings as the stately new building was dedicated. About 7,000 persons had arrived from far and near, to participate in the festivities. Three years later another roomy dormitory was erected, and thus there are four college buildings and five dwellings for the professors on the campns. They all are weli furnished, heated hy steam from a central plant and to a great extent electricaliy lighted. Great days of festivity were aiso the 13th and 14th of September, 1896, wben the institution celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. To commemorate the event a history of the semi- nary was published, entitied, "In Memory of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Practical Evangell- cal Lutheran Seminary at Springfield, III.," printed by Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo.

Six professors arc teaching in the institutlou, the sixth belonging to the Slovak Synod and in- structing the Slovak students. There are ahout two hundred students on the roster at present. Prof. R. Pleper is President. During its existence about 2,000 preachers of the Gospel have gradu- not only in almost all parts of the United States, but also beyond its boundaries, in Cauada, Brazii, Argentine, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark, and some have heen active also In the mission among the Indians, the Negrocs, and the Jews. Tims the little spront, planted sixty- four years ago, has thrived and, under God's

mercy and blessing, has grown to a stately tree. Who could estimate the blessings which have proceeded from this institution in propagating the Gospel? May it continue to flourish and thrive !

J. S. SIMON.

BETTIE STUART INSTITUTE.

(Contributed by Miss Margaret E. Brooks.)

Jniy 20tb, 1869, several citizens, desirous of organizing an institute for the higher education of girls in Springfield, held a meeting in the office of Mr. Jacob Bunn, and resolved to file a certificate with the County Clerk in accordance with the statute of 1855, by which notice was given that these citizens desired to organize au Institution of learning. A few days later, Au- gust 3, 1869, at a meeting in Mr. Bunn's office, the following certificate was ordered filed with the County Cierk :

"We, the undersigned, do hereby certify that we are desirous of associating together for the purpose of forming an academy or seminary of learning in the city of Springfield, III., under the style of Bettle Stnart Institute, for the pur- pose of teaching the following brauches of lit- erature and science therein : The rudiments of an English education, modern and ancient ian- guages, mathematics and the sciences, generally, music, painting, drawing and ail the various branches of learning usnally taught in first class female seminaries, and to be under the charge of five or more trustees to be elected under the provisions of the laws of the State of Illinois for the incorporation of academies.

(Signed ) "John T. Stuart, "Jacob Bunn, "J. C. Conkling, "J. A. Chestnut, "John Williams, "Geo. W. Chatterton. "A. W. French."

The iate Christopher C. Brown gave a large donation of property and money, and the school was opened September, 1869, at the corner of Fourth and Jackson streets. The donation em- braced the original home of Mr. Brown, and the institution was named in honor of his deceased Wife, a daughter of Hon. John T. Stuart. Mrs. Mary McKee Holmes, who had been conducting a

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

private school for girls on Sonth Sixth Street, be- came the first Principal and brought the school to a high standard of excellence. She was de- voted to the interests of the school and her mem- ory Is cherished by all of her pupils.

Il1 1SSS, the death of Mrs. Mary McKee Holmes left Bettie Stuart Institute without a Principal, and Mrs. Andrew M. Brooks was asked by the trustees to take the position. For this she was well qnallfied by her early education in litera- ture, science and art, and by her administrative abilltles which were of the highest order. The present prosperous condition of the Institute is due very largely to her careful oversight of its affairs. Her motherly counsel has been of In- valuable benefit to large numbers of young la- dies who have been under her care within the last twenty years. Her influence was not con- fined to the school, but in the First Presbyterian church, with which she was connected for more than fifty years, she was actively engaged in every good work, and the fragrance of her mem- ory pervades the entire community. At her death, March 25, 1909, her daughter, Miss Anne Hamilton Brooks, was chosen Principal, and under her direction the school has continned to grow both in numbers and in the standards re- quired of Its puplls.

The school will enter upon its forty-third year September, 1911. The Bettie Stuart Institute is situated on Fourth Street near the executive manslon, and In the most beautiful and eligible part of the city. The grounds are ample, and the building is commodlous and well ventilated.

The school Is under no denominational control, but It claims to be thoroughly Christian in all Its teachings and Influences, and combines a congenial home with thorough mental and moral discipline. Careful attention is given to social culture and to the morals and manners of the puplls.

One of the most charming features of the Bettle Stnart Institute and most remarked upon by them, is the home feeling that all pupils possess. There is perfect decornm, with but little of the restraint that seems to be the effect of rules. The pupils are apparently a law to themselves, moving earnestly, steadily, cheer- fully on In the round of duty.

It is the endeavor of the school to educate the young girls placed under their care, that they may mature into sound and healthful thinkers, agreeable conversationalists, accom-

plished members of soclety, and, more than all, into Christian women prepared for the earnest work of life.

Two hundred and fourteen young women have been graduated fromn this school and have gone ont to grace the community in their own homes.

The following compose the present Board of Trustees :

Hon. E. L. Chapin, President ; Rev. T. D. Lo- gan, Secretary ; Hon. J. W. Patton, Senator S. M. Cullom, George W. Bunn, Stuart Brown, John W. Black.

The following constitute the present Faculty and force of teachers (1911), with their respect- Ive departments :

Principal-Anne Hamilton Brooks.

Intermediate Department - Mary Emily

Brooks.

Vocal Music-Prof. J. B. Barnaby.

Instrumental Music-Alice Johnson Brooks.

English, Elocution and Painting-Margaret E. Brooks.

Greek, Latin and Mathematics-Andrew M. Brooks, Ph. D.

Primary Department-Frances Brooks.

French-Lillian Johann.

History, Science and German-Anne Hamilton Brooks.

Mandolin, Guitar and Violin-Elizabeth Glb. lin, also Director of Bettle Stuart Orchestra.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

LIBRARIES.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIBRARIES IN SANGAMON COUNTY-ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY-ORIGINAL ES- TABLISHMENT IN 1839-SUBSEQUENT CIIANGES AND PRESENT MANAGEMENT-STATE HISTORICAL LIBRARY ORGANIZED

IN 1889-EXTENT AND CHARACTER OF ITS COLLECTIONS-LINCOLN REC- ORDS-THE LIBRARY MADE A DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN 1903-LIBRARIANS -STATE LAW LIBRARY-SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC LI- BRARY-FIRST ORGANIZATION AND PRESENT EX- TENT-LIST OF LIBRARIANS-INSTITUTIONAL

LINCOLN LIBRARY, SPRINGFIELD

SIXTH STREET-EAST SIDE PUBLIC SQUARE, SPRINGFIELD

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

FRATERNITY, BENEFICIARY AND DISTRICT SCHOOL . LIBRARIES.

(By Jessle Palmer Weber, Librarian State His- torical Library and Secretary State Historical Society.)

Sangamon County, like other counties of Centrai Illinois, has a population of alert and Intelligent people to whom books and libraries are as necessary as schools and churches. Every family has individual tastes in literature, and the State, the City and the County have each attempted to supply the people with the means of cultivating these tastes.

Saugamon County is fortunate that it has within its borders the State Capitol, which con- tains the State Library proper and the State lIistorical Library, and thus, though there are no city libraries in the county except the Free Public Library of Springfield, (which bears the name of the Lincoln Library), the county has a iarger number of books in public libraries than any other county in the State, with the exception of Cook County, which has the great libraries of Chicago, and Champalgn County, which has the great libraries of the University of Iiiinois.

There are many private libraries in the city and county, but these, of course, do not come within the scope of this article. The late George N. Black was a noted book-buyer, and his library consisted of books on all subjects with special attention to history and Lincoiniana. Mrs. Susan Lawrence Dana has a fine library of standard literature, and she has given a great deal of attention to rare bindings. Mr. Logan Hay and Mr. Stuart Brown have pald much attention to the collection of books. Hon. L. Y. Sherman has most carefnily collected a fine library of books on State and western history and Lincolniana.

The Bettie Stuart Institute has a good library for the use of its students.

The Library of the Ursuline Convent is an ex- ceptional Library, because of the age of the in- stitution and because of the care the Sisters have taken in the selection of. books. Other educational institutions provide good working libraries of reference books for their students, but the principal libraries of the county are the Lincoln Library, which is the public library of the city of Springfield; the Illinois State Li- brary ; the Illinois State Historical Library ; the Supreme Court Library (State Law Library) ; and the Library of the Illinois State Museum of

Natural History. Brief accounts of these libraries are hereby given and, iu addition to these sketches, mention is made of some smaller and institutionai libraries, and the libraries of the district or country schools throughout the county.

ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY.

Located in the State Capitol ; has 53,000 vol- umes, 16,000 Unbound Volumes ; and 181 Period- icais.

The State Library was established February 22, 1839, by an act appropriating $5,000 for the purchase of a law and miscellaneous library for the use of the Legislature and the Supreme Court of Illinois, the library to be under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

On December 15, 1843, an act was passed which separated the law books from the mls- cellaneous collection, placing the latter under the control of the Secretary of State, who was thus made ex-officio State Librarian. The law books remained under control of the Supreme Court and formed the Illinois State Law Library. The law provides that books may be loaned to mem- bers of the General Assembly and their officers, during the session of the Legislature, and at any time to the Governor and officers of the executive department, and to Justices of the Supreme Court. The law further provides that any one who injures or faiis to return a book must pay three times its value, or the value of the set to which it belongs. Each member or officer of the General Assembly must present a clearance re- ceipt from the State Librarian before receiving his warrant from the State Auditor.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 58

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 864

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864