USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 41
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"We have carried the presidential succession "down to the latter date for the reason that Dr. Cobleigh's administration created an epoch in the history of the institution, in that he was successful in establishing the nucleus of an endowment upon which its friends could anchor their faith for the future. In other words, it was the bringing to fruition the labors of those who had gone before, and the close of his ad- ministration might be, not inaptly, styled the heroic period of the institution. Dr. Robert Allyn, an experienced educator and able finan- cier, the successor of President Cobleigh, in al- luding to the success of the endowment propo- sition of the latter, wrote: 'Then the dry land first began to appear, and it was solid, too, and will bear any structure built upon it.' Follow- ing Dr. Allyn (1863-74), twelve Presidents, in- cluding the present incumbent, elected in 1894, have administered the affairs of the college.
"The records of the Board of Trustees are a source of information of intense interest, as illustrating the high ideals entertained and the labors and sacrifices endured by the early pio-
neers, who systematically and in organized form, established this oldest college in the State, dedicated from its inception to higher education. Frequent all-day sessions of the board adjourned to 'early candle-light' and con- tinued until the candles had burned low in their sockets, show with what persistent zeal our fathers sought to promote the interests of this cherished enterprise.
"The completion of the original building in 1829 entailed a debt, which was augmented by minor improvements made necessary by the rapidly growing demands of the institution. In 1838 a loan was effected in the sum of $5,- 000 from the 'Bank of Illinois at Shawnee- town,' which, under order of the trustees, pro- vided that so much of the same as might be necessary to pay all pressing debts-estimated at $2,500-should be so appropriated and the residue applied on a building, the construction of which had been then authorized. The finan- cial straits to which the promoters of McKen- dree's interests were subjected seemed in no sense to diminish their enthusiasm for the con- sideration of any question which looked toward the enlargement of the scope of its usefulness.
"As already stated, a manual-training depart- ment was introduced in 1836, while legislation looking toward agricultural, normal, biblical and law departments, was seriously considered; none of these, however, took the form of per- manency, except the law school, which was founded by Governor French in 1858.
"Almost from the beginning the necessity of endowments was felt by McKendree's patrons, and some policy by which this deficiency might be met was made the oft-repeated subject of con- sideration. The scholarship plan was thought to be the most available and four separate at- tempts were made, all of which, except the last, proved abortive. The sales were made on time- notes, the large majority of which defaulted, and the institution was glad to get rid of the incumbrance on a basis of compromise, though a losing proposition. From the last effort $10,000 out of $20,000 was realized. .
"In the first ten years of its history more than a score of financial agents were appointed to solicit donations, sell scholarships and other- wise enlist the patronage of the public. In- deed, at a called session of the board, held in 1832, one Judah Ely, of Philadelphia, was ap- pointed an agent 'to solicit donations in Great
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Britain' for endowments, and the succeeding year Rev. Smith L. Robinson was appointed to travel 'throughout the United States' for a like purpose, while Rev. James Mitchell was constituted an agent 'to travel throughout Illi- nois and Missouri' for the same object. As to the question of Ely's ever having gone on his mission, the records are silent, nor is there any evidence of success in the case of either Robinson or Mitchell, though appointed to a territory which, educationally speaking, Mc- Kendree had pre-empted.
"A plan for building up the finances of the institution was devised by Rev. B. T. Kavan- augh which, but for unforeseen circumstances, might have proven eminently successful. It was for the college authorities to locate public lands for eastern capital-at that time eager for such investments-the college and the in- vestor to share equally in the results if, at the end of five years, the locations made should prove double the value of the original price of purchase. This at first met with decided en- couragement. Investments were made by some capitalists in Philadelphia and Washington, but the veto, by General Jackson, of the bill for a national road, which was expected soon to reach Illinois, and the subsequent collapse of the State banks, put a quietus on land investments. Some of these lands evidently vested, for sub- sequent legislation of the board signifies that they, as also certain other tracts near Lebanon -including those bequeathed by Bishop McKen- dree together with a large amount of brick which had been made for the contemplated new building, were ordered sold to relieve the tension of accumulated debts which imperiled the existence of the institution. Even after this action, debts still remained. Indeed, ev- ery administration, even to the present, inher- ited the legacy of debt-increasing and dimin- ishing by turns-until the last vestige of incum- brance was wiped out in 1895, with no proba- bility of so dire a foe ever again menacing the prosperity of the institution.
"Touching the money bequests of which the institution has been made the subject, some con- ception may be had of the burden added to its financial misfortunes when it is stated that in all cases-except as to the sum of $500, recent- ly vested-expensive suits at law had to be maintained against contesting heirs, wherein benefactions out of which the college should
have realized more than $50,000, yielded but lit- tle above one-third of that amount.
"The oft-repeated efforts to secure a new building finally culminated in the erection of a 'three-story brick structure, 44x64, under the administration of Dr. Wentworth (1846-50) with money raised by the late Dr. William Goodfellow.
"The jubilation over the new charter of 1839 has been dwelt upon, but, as an item showing the tendency of thought on certain questions at that early period, the substance of a certain preamble and resolutions by Rev. W. S. Mc- Murray and Rev. J. S. Barger, are here given. The preamble recites the fact that a university charter has been secured authorizing the estab- lishing of all manner of schools and depart- ments, by reason of which fact there might be those who would experience fear lest the or- ganization of a theological school might be ef- fected, 'contrary to the genius, the spirit and institutions of the Methodist Episcopal Church;' and it was:
"'Resolved, 1. That no such school should ever be established.
" '2. That the professors should be restrained from talking favorably of such departure.
"'3. That the advocacy of abolition would prove prejudicial to the interests of the insti- tution, and that if any member of the board, agents or faculty, should be found advocating that doctrine, it would be held as sufficient grounds to dispense with the services of such offenders.'
"These resolutions were all adopted except the second, thereby leaving the discussion of theological schools, by. the faculty, an open question. That a resolution forever prohibit- ing the organization of a theological school was adopted by a body of men so zealous in be- half of higher education, would, at first thought, seem paradoxical. Whatever may have been their motive, it is true that the number of those who ardently favor higher education and who feel that a candidate for the ministry-after completing a thorough classical education-can afford to dispense with a theological school, is increasing rather than diminishing. At all events, it may be said, no matter what induced the fathers to issue the perpetual injunction against a theological department, their succes- sors, time and again, sought its dissolution, and were only frustrated by lack of the means to
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inaugurate the innovation. Touching the reso- lution on the slavery question, it simply em- phasizes how acute the question of abolition had become at that time; a feeling that grew stronger with the lapse of time, since, nine years later, in rebuke of a rumor circulated against the faculty, the board found it neces- sary to pass the following resolution:
" 'Resolved, That there is no evidence that any member of the faculty is an abolitionist, but much proof to the contrary, and that we con- sider such reports slanderous.'
"As early as 1834 the board legislated for the establishment of a weekly periodical to be pub- lished in the interest of education. For the want of means, this movement failed to take form until 1847, at which time it was organ- ized with Davis Goheen, Benjamin Hypes and George L. Roberts as publishers and Dr. Eras- tus Wentworth as editor. It was an able paper, served an excellent purpose, but after its main- tenance for a few years, as an expensive lux- ury, it was transferred to the city of St. Louis and published as the 'Central Christian Advo- cate,' from which place it was eventually moved to Kansas City, where it is now issued by the Methodist Book Concern as one of the strong and influential journals of that denomi- nation, with Rev. Dr. Claudius B. Spencer, as editor.
"It will be noted that this sketch has had to do more particularly with the first few years' history of the college, incidentally touching upon subsequent matters because of their inti- mate connection with that period of struggle. That the pioneers of whom we have spoken had high ideals touching the future of the col- lege has been clearly indicated, and to the credit of their successors be it said, they have sought to maintain them. For a time, it is true, something in the way of commercial courses found footing; though, even then, the collegiate courses were insistently maintained as all-im- portant. In recent years, however, everything of a superficial character has been eliminated and the two college courses-classical and sci- entific-hold the attention of the students, with seventy-six per cent. of their number pursuing the classical. The present faculty has no in- clination to follow the much too common mod- ern method of short courses of study and the elimination of certain of the classics, on the theory that education should be 'practical'-
the latter term simply signifying that brain culture is to be commercialized, with the meas- ure of its merit expressed by the sign of the dollar.
"The early struggle to erect the second build- ing spoken of as having been brought to a suc- cessful issue, under the administration of Dr. Wentworth, has been followed by a new chapel and library hall combined, under Dr. Cobleigh's administration, a science hall under Dr. Allyn, and a new gymnasium under Dr. Chamberlin. Thirty-five thousand dollars of productive en- dowment is on the institution and it is expected soon to have $100,000 added, since $80,000 of the amount is already promised. That point reached, and the sure beginning will be effected toward making McKendree what was planned for it in the charter of 1839-an outcome which its more than seventy-six years of history warrant, and the sacrifices of its pioneer found- ers merit.
"The 104 subscribers to the original articles which called McKendree into being, comprised more than one-half of the population of Leba- non, a village located in a woodland strip, along an old Indian trail scarcely obliterated by the emigrant's wagon; to the east, a full 100 miles to the first settlement, and to the west, twenty miles, where St. Louis, a inere trading-post, was being built up by a brave lot of pioneers who had the prophetic feeling that it would one day become a city which would prove the gateway to the whole of the great southwestern country. It was this latter fact which inspired Bishop McKendree to feel that Lebanon was a most fit- ting place for a great institution of learning, and led him to give his lands toward establish- ing the institution which bears his name.
"A fitting question now is: 'What is the value, what the fruitage of all these labors?' The answer is found in the more than 9,000 young men and women who have gone out from this institution into various fields of endeavor, having finished, wholly or partially, its courses of study. The pulpit of every denomination- not excepting the Catholic; lawyers of national reputation; distinguished physicians and sur- geons; college presidents and professors and teachers in our public schools; the founders of colleges and newspapers and numberless edi- tors and statesmen; judges of our higher courts; generals of the army-two of whom have served their country in two hemispheres-as well, also,
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those who nave labored in less conspicuous but equally useful vocations, will furnish a list of names who can answer to roll-call as having felt the influence of McKendree's power."
THE BELLEVILLE ACADEMY .- The Belleville Academy Association was incorporated in 1821. Its building, a frame structure, stood about on the German Methodist Church site. Its object was to afford young men opportunities for high- er education. Among its early instructors was William Turner, whose love for Shakespeare led many to believe that he had been an actor. He was reticent about his former life.
ROCK SPRING SEMINARY .- One of the most effi- cient of the early educational institutions of the county was Rev. John Mason Peck's Rock Spring Seminary, located three miles west of Shiloh. It was established in 1827 and, in 1831, was removed to Upper Alton, where it was de- veloped into Shurtleff College. It began its work with twenty-five students, but in a few weeks. there were 100. Rev. Joshua Bradley, A. M., was Principal, and Rev. John Mason Peck, D. D., who was the founder, was Assistant Principal. John Messinger taught mathematics, and Hon. Ninian W. Edwards, Col. J. L. D. Morrison, Col. John Thomas, William S. Thomas and William H. Stewart were among the students.
INSTITUTION OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. -This old educational institution, long known as the Ladies' Academy of Belleville, has an in- teresting history. In 1846, the Rev. G. H. Ost- langenberg, a self-sacrificing Catholic priest, or- ganized into a school the children of the few Catholic families in that vicinity. This school he held in the basement of their little church. He had many difficulties, however, besides pe- cuniary ones. There were few children and there were very few competent teachers. The faithful priest had to work hard to make the expenses of the first school. The teachers had much to contend with; for they had to have almost as many classes as there were children. The children were of different nationalities- German, French, English, Irish, American, Bo- hemian. By patient perseverance and faithful- ness, Father Ostlangenberg overcame these dif- ficulties, and firmly established the school. Bishop Alton, who succeeded him, furthered the work, and, in 1857 took up a collection for the building of a convent and schoolrooms for the girls of the congregation. The building was
107 feet in front, forty feet deep, and thirty feet high-the middle part of the present "Institute of the Immaculate Conception." The cost of the undertaking was $8,437.09, of which $800 was contributed by citizens of Belleville, $5,000 by St. Peter's congregation, and the balance by the Sisters of the Mother House in Milwaukee, Wis., who also furnished teachers. In September, 1859, Sister Mary Jerome, the Superioress, with two Sisters arrived in Belleville, and they had not only to teach, but also to finish and furnish the structure out of their own means. In Octo- ber, 1859, they opened the school with seventy- five girls. The boys were in charge of a male teacher, and had their class-room in the base- ment of the old church. Soon afterward, a school-room for boys was built on the lot on which St. Peter's church now stands. From there it was moved in 1863 to the lot which is now the site of St. Elizabeth's Hospital. As the number of pupils increased, from year to year, more teachers and more room were need- ed. In 1863, the Sisters took charge of the smaller boys in the old church building, which was, by this time, divided into three large school-rooms. In 1879, the boys' school was re- moved to the schoolrooms of the St. Agnes Or- phan Asylum. The larger boys were put in charge of Clemens Willebrink, organist of St. Peter's Church. About 1876, a kindergarten was established with about sixty pupils. In 1880 or 1881, a school was opened for the Eng- lish children, boys and girls, in which the Eng- lish branches only were taught. Besides the regular school curriculum, pupils were instruct- ed in Bible history, the Catechism and singing. Gradually the institution increased in magni- tude, efficiency and importance and, in time, it became a favorite school with parents desirous that their daughters should have the best op- portunities for polite instruction. The board- ing school for young ladies, known as "the In- stitute of the Immaculate Conception," offered every advantage of similar institutions. Feel- ing bound to respond to the confidence reposed in them by parents and guardians, the Sisters gave their pupils a Christian and thorough edu- cation. The course of study pursued embraced the English, German and French languages, with all useful and ornamental branches taught to young ladies. Many ladies of Belleville and vicinity received their musical education in that historic institution.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
THE CONVENT OF NOTRE DAME is the successor of the "Institute of the Immaculate Concep- tion." During the night of January 5, 1884, the institute building burned down. This was one of the worst calamities that ever happened in Belleville; for Mother Jerome, several Sis- ters and a number of boarders lost their lives. The convent was rebuilt in modest style, but never regained the prestige it had had; and for a time the boarding school was closed. The Sis- ters devoted themselves to work in the parochial schools. Here they instruct pupils in music and the other arts. There are, at present, twen- ty-two Sisters in the convent, with Sister Ru- dolpha as Superioress.
OTHER CATHOLIC SCHOOLS .- St. Luke's Paro- chial School, of Belleville, is situated at Church and Anderson Streets. It is under the direc- tion of the Rev. James M. Gough and is con- ducted by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. A small building on the present church property was transformed into a school-house for this school. These two sisters taught until Septem- ber, 1889, when the school was transferred to its present quarters, where, since November of that year, the services of a third teacher have been required. The attendance steadily in- creased, and in September, 1872, a fourth teach- er was employed. The present attendance is about 275.
St. Mary's Convent is connected with St. Mary's church in West Belleville. It is located beside the church edifice, and is built in colo- nial style. Sister Rose is its Principal.
Besides those already mentioned, there are in the county the following Catholic schools: One at Cahokia, with two Sisters of the Precious Blood and seventy-five pupils; one at Centerville Station, with two Sisters of the Precious Blood and 110 pupils; St. Henry's, at East St. Louis, with six Sisters of Loretto and 360 pupils; St. Mary's, at East St. Louis, with five Sisters of St. Dominic and 286 pupils; St. Elizabeth's, at East St. Louis, with three Sisters of the Precious Blood and 198 pupils; Sacred Heart, at East St. Louis, with five Servants of Mary and 270 pupils; St. Joseph's, at East St. Louis, with four Ursuline Sisters and 177 pupils; a school at Freeburg, with three Sisters of the Precious Blood and sixty pupils; a school at French Village, witn three Sisters of Notre Dame and ninety-three pupils; a school at Leb- anon, with two Sisters of the Precious Blood
and sixty pupils; a school at Mascoutah, with five Sisters of the Poor, Handmaids of Jesus Christ, and eighty pupils; a school at Mill- stadt, with three Sisters of the Poor, Handmaids of Jesus Christ, and forty-nine pupils; a school at O'Fallon, with three Sisters of the Precious Blood and seventy-five pupils; a school at Pa- derborn, with secular teachers and fifty pupils; a school at St. Libory, with four Sisters of the Poor, Handmaids of Jesus Christ, and 156 pu- pils; and a school at Smithton, with two Sis- ters of the Precious Blood and sixty-five pupils.
THE HOWE LITERARY INSTITUTE .- Lyman Howe, an intelligent merchant on Bloody Island, East St. Louis, wishing to leave some useful and enduring memorial of himself, em- bodied in his will a bequest of $10,000 for the building of a church, or a school-house, or both, on Bloody Island. The custody and expenditure of that bequest were especially committed, with- out further instructions, to the executor of the ' will, Hon. John B. Lovingston, who, having been a business partner of Mr. Howe's, was in hearty sympathy with his liberal impulses and his enlightened public spirit.
Mr. Lovingston decided to appropriate the fund to the establishment of an educational in- stitution and proffered its control to the South District Baptist Association, which, after due consideration, accepted the trust. In October, 1871, an educational association was formed to take the enterprise in hand, composed chiefly of prominent citizens of St. Clair and Madison Counties, and was incorporated under the gen- eral law of the State. Of this association, Mr. Lovingston was elected President, and Rev. J. M. Cochran was made Corresponding Secretary and Financial Agent. Prominent members of the Board of Trustees and promoters of the enterprise at different times were: Marshall W. Weir, W. M. Anderson, Fred Merrill, M. T. Stookey, Warren Beedle, L. M. St. John, W. R. Begole, Charles Gooding, W. A. Darrow, G. W. Darrow, David Ogle, M. M. Stephens, John T. Lemen. The association determined to estab- lish at East St. Louis an institution to be known as the Howe Literary Institute.
Mr. Howe had not anticipated, and no one else had foreseen, how completely Bloody Island would be occupied by railways and thus rendered unsuitable for such an enterprise as he had projected. With the concurrence of the heirs and the executors of the estate, a decree
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
in Chancery was obtained, authorizing a change of location, and a site on the highest ground in East St. Louis, a mile and a half from the Eads Bridge, donated in part by Mr. Lov- ingston, was chosen. A building was erected, in spite of many financial obstacles, in 1873-74 and the school was opened in October, 1874, under the supervision of Rev. S. F. Holt, A. M., who had been elected President of the Institu- tion. The building, with its campus of about an acre, cost about $20,000. During the several years of hard times which followed, the insti- tute was involved in a continuous struggle, not simply for success but for its very existence. It never paid, and eventually it passed out of existence and, after considerable delay, its af- fairs were closed out.
THE BELLEVILLE KINDERGARTEN .- The Kinder- garten Association of Belleville was incor- porated under the Illinois State laws and or- ganized December 24, 1874. The first officers were Charles Becker, President; Henry Raab, Secretary; and Henry Kircher, Treasurer. The shareholders were: Charles Becker, Henry Raab, Herman G. Weber, Henry A. Kircher, Charles Merck, Jr., Fritz Knoebel, Louis Bar- tel, William Bang, Louis Pitthan, Joseph Fuess, Jr., William Mauss, Wilhelmina Geiss, Valen- tin Rhein, Gustavus Koerner, Sr., Jacob Bro- sius, F. H. Pieper, Sebastian Fietsam, James G. Bornman, Gustavus Heckel, Henry Brua, F. C. Riedel, Heinrich Schmitt, William Feickert, Louis C. Starkel, Hubert Hartmann, Philip P. Gundlach, C. Andel, August Tiemann, Edward Abend, H. W. Finck, Fidel Stolze, William C. Buchanan, George W. Siebert, G. F. Hilgard, Frederick Neuhaus, John Winter, August Fer- nau, Julius Liese, William Huff, Ernest Hil- gard, Dr. George Loelkes, Phillip Neu, William Eckhardt & Son, Joseph Wehrle.
The organization was started, kept alive, and held the public interest mainly by the efforts of Mr. Henry Raab, at the time Superintendent of Public Schools. The association furnished the lot and building on North Jackson Street, between B and C Streets, at a cost of about $5,000, raising $1,500 by subscription and $500 by a festival at Brosius' Park. The remaining $3,000 was raised by a mortgage on the prop- erty. The building was copied from the Mil- waukee Kindergarten Building.
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