Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 26

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972

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EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.

As early as 1843 there was some discussion of the need of a college for the upper Rock

River valley. A general convention of the churches of the northwest was held at Cleve- land, Ohio, in June, 1844, at which education re- ceived much attention. It was decided that a college and a female seminary should be founded in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, re- spectively. A resolution was adopted that the "exigencies of Wisconsin and northern Illinois require that those sections should unite in estab- lishing a college and a female seminary of the highest order-one in Wisconsin, near to Illinois, and the other in Illinois, near to Wisconsin." The delegates, upon their return, called a con- vention at Beloit in August, 1844. Three subse- quent conventions were held at Beloit, because it was believed from the first that the college should be located at that place. The resolution of the first convention, affirming the need of both college and seminary, was re-affirmed in these subsequent conventions, representing espe- cially the Presbyterian and Congregational min- istry and churches in all the region. The union of these two churches in this movement may be attributed to the fact that each was weak as it stood alone, and only in union was there strength. At the fourth convention, held at Beloit in October, 1845, that city was selected as the seat of the college, and a board of trustees was elected, to whom was committed the de- velopment of both institutions. Upon the orig- inal board were Rev. Aratus Kent and Hon. Wait Talcott. The charter for Beloit College was approved by the governor of the territory of Wisconsin, February 2, 1846. Middle college, the first building, was begun in the autumn ot that year.

ROCKFORD SITE CHOSEN.

Then began the discussion of a site for the seminary. Rockton and Rockford were rivals, and Rockford was given the preference. A call was issued for a meeting at the Methodist church, on Monday evening, November 3, 1845, to consider the location of the seminary. At this meeting it was resolved to attempt to raise the sum prescribed by the Beloit trustees as necessary, about $3,500, and a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions. Citizens pledged the required amount and the Forum of December 3 mentions, in a sketch of the city, that the trustees of Beloit College located the seminary at Rockford. A charter was granted

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

February 25, 1847, to the following gentlemen as incorporators : Aratus Kent, D. Clary, S. Peet, F. Bascom, C. Waterbury, S. D. Stevens, A. L. Chapin, R. M. Pearson, G. W. Wilcox, A. Ray- mond, C. M. Goodsell, E. H. Potter, L. G. Fisher, Wait Talcott, Charles S. Hempstead and Samuel Hinman. These same gentlemen were the in- corporators of Beloit College. Disasters affect- ing the business interests of the village prevented the fulfillment of the pledges which had been made and delayed the enterprise for a time, but it was never abandoned.

ROCKFORD SEMINARY FOUNDED IN 1851.

Meanwhile, June 11, 1849, Miss Anna P. Sill began a preparatory school, under the name of the Rockford Female Seminary. The recitations were held in the old courthouse building on North First street. Miss Sill came to Rockford from the East, with the expectation that her school would develop into the seminary which had been planned by the trustees of Beloit. While this preparatory school was not the sem- inary proper, it was its forerunner, and entirely under local management. The opening of this school apparently gave an impetus to the con- summation of the former plans for a seminary. The trustees were: Rev. L. H. Loss, Jason Marsh, Anson S. Miller, C. A. Huntington, S. M. Church, Rev. J. C. Parks, Bela Shaw, T. D. Robertson, E. H. Potter, Dr. George Haskell, Asa Crosby. The academic year was divided into four terms of eleven weeks each. During the first two years of Miss Sill's residence in Rockford she continued independently her pre- paratory school. But in 1851 the school was formally recognized by the board of trustees of Beloit College as the preparatory department of Rockford Female Seminary, under the charter which they had already obtained. Full prepara- tory and collegiate courses of study were de- fined, and, upon examination, fifteen were ad- mitted into the first collegiate class in Septem- ber of that year. The year 1851 is thus regarded as the date of the founding of the seminary, ac- cording to the original design. The recitations were conducted in the old courthouse building, already noted. The seminary had been granted full collegiate powers by its charter, but it was called a seminary, as was customary for such institutions at that time. Seven of this first class of 1851 graduated in 1854. The course then

covered three years, and was later changed to four years,

In 1850 the citizens again made pledges aggre- gating more than $5,000 for buildings, and the ladies pledged $1,000 for the beautiful grounds. This original subscription list is still in ex- istence, though eaten away in places. It was found among the papers of the late Charles H. Spafford. The word original is here used because the subscriptions of 1845-46 were apparently never redeemed. The list is probably the only one in existence. Thus by September 18, 1850, the seminary proper was assured as a perma- nent institution of Rockford, for the higher education of young women.

SEMINARY GROUNDS PURCHASED.

The present seminary grounds were purchased from Buell G. Wheeler. The land originally ex- tended to the river, but a portion was taken by the Chicago & Iowa Railroad. The deed to this property was found among Mr. Spafford's pa- pers, and apparently had never left his posses- sion. The reason therefor may be explained. Mr. Spafford was county recorder at the time; he was also a trustee of the seminary, and the treasurer of the board. The document would thus naturally remain in his possession. This deed and the original subscription list, previ- ously noted, were presented to the college in 1899 by Mr. Spafford's family, and are now among its permanent records.

The city of Rockford owes a debt of grati- tude to three of its early citizens for the very existence of Rockford Female Seminary, now Rockford College. At a critical moment in the formative period, Charles H. Spafford, Eleazer H. Potter and Dr. Lucius Clark mortgaged their homes and raised several thousand dollars to insure the success of the seminary. These gen- tlemen had faith in the future of Rockford, and appreciated the value of higher education.

On July 15, 1852, the corner-stone of the first building was laid by Rev. Aratus Kent, presi- dent of the board of trustees. After the ac- ceptance by the board of trustees of the financial pledges of the citizens of Rockford in 1850, it was deemed best that each institution should manage its own affairs. A provisional local board appears to have been created at this time, and in 1852 the seminary passed into the con- trol of a separate board of trustees. The first

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

formal appointment to the permanent faculty of the seminary was made in July, 1852, when Miss Sill was elected principal. In July, 1854, the collegiate course was divided into four depart- ments: mental and moral philosophy ; mathe- matics and natural science; history and English literature; ancient languages. The department of mental and moral philosophy was assigned to the principal. Miss Mary White was chosen teacher in mathematics and natural science. In 1854 work was begun on Linden Hall, the west- ern wing. It received its name from the resi- dence of one of its New England friends. From this place and from New York the larger part of the fund was obtained for its construction. In the fifties Miss Sill raised a large sum of money among her eastern friends, especially in Boston, for the seminary, apparently to raise a deficit. Up to September 8, 1854, Miss Sill had secured in subscriptions $3,659.67. This fact appears from a financial statement made by Charles H. Spafford. Linden Hall was first separate from Middle Hall, and then connected by a frame passage-way. In 1866 a second ad- dition, Chapel Hall, with its connecting cor- ridors, was begun, and completed two years later. In 1871 Linden Hall and Middle Hall were connected by a corridor. Of the first col- legiate class admitted in 1851, seven were grad- uated in 1854, eight in 1855, sixteen in 1856, ten in 1857, eleven in 1858, ten in 1859, eleven in 1860, and nine in 1861; a total of eighty-two in eight years. There were then three depart- ments : collegiate, normal and academic. Dur- ing that time there were eighty-five others who entered the seminary, but did not complete the course. Forty-one were in the junior class in 1861. The number who shared in the instruc- tion of the collegiate course during the first ten years was 206, and the whole number of pupils for a longer or shorter time connected with the institution, including the preparatory courses, from the beginning in 1849, to July, 1861, was 1,530. During this time there was contributed to the seminary from all sources the sum of $39,228. Many godly men and women have labored for the success of this Christian col- lege; and those of a later day have reaped the harvest. This chapter would be incomplete without a more specific reference to Miss Anna P. Sill and Rev. Aratus Kent.

BIOGRAPHY OF MISS SILL.

Anna Peck Sill was born in Otsego County, N. Y., August 9, 1816. She was the youngest of ten children, and inherited the intellectual and moral qualities of a long line of Puritan an- cestry. Her father, Abel Sill, a farmer, died in 1824, when Anna was seven years of age. Her mother was the eldest daughter of Judge Jede- diah Peck, who, it is said, was the first in New York to urge legislative action for the establish- ment of common schools, and the abolition of imprisonment for debt. Miss Sill was early in- clined toward the foreign missionary field, but when an opportunity came for her to go to India, she had become convinced that her mission was, in part, to prepare others for the field. Miss Sill opened a seminary for young ladies at Warsaw, October 2, 1843, and remained there until March, 1846. In the following August she was invited to take charge of the ladies' department of the Cary Collegiate Institute, in Oakfield, Genesee County, and taught there until the spring of 1849. At this time the location of a seminary at Rockford was again under consideration. Friends of the enterprise had heard of her success as a teacher. Among these was Rev. L. H. Loss, then pastor of the First Congrega- tional church. He invited her to come to Rock- ford and open a school for young ladies as pre- paratory to the prospective seminary. Miss Sill accepted the invitation, and arrived in Rockford May 24, 1849. Miss Sill and the seminary are thenceforth so vitally related that the life-story of one is the history of the other. In the summer of 1884, after thirty-five years of suc- cessful leadership, Miss Sill resigned, and retired to the more quiet but not less honored position of principal emerita. She accepted the situation as for the best interest of the seminary, with Christian fortitude, and lived five years after her retirement from active life. She died in her room in the seminary, June 18, 1889. She had lived a life of entire consecration. Self was laid on the altar of sacrifice, that it might be wholly consumed in the holy flame. When the path of duty became clear, she threw the enthusiasm of her strong and generous nature into the founding of a school for the Christian education of young women ; and it may be said that upon the thousands who came under her benign influence, "light from her celestial garments streams."

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

BIOGRAPHY OF REV. ARATUS KENT.

Rev. Aratus Kent was born January 15, 1794, a son of John Kent, a merchant of Suffield, Coun., aud a brother of Germanicus Keut, the first settler of Rockford. They belonged to the . family from which came the famous Chancellor Kent, of New York. Mr. Keut graduated from Yale in 1816, speut four years in theological studies iu New York, and was licensed to preach by the presbytery of New York, April 20, 1820. From November 21, 1822, until April 11, 1823, he was a student at Princeton Theological Seminary, and was ordained January 26, 1825, at Lockport, N. Y. Mr. Kent subsequently applied to the American Home Missionary Board "for a place so hard that no one else would take it." He was sent to Galena, Illinois, theu a mining city, where he immediately began his labors. His first years in the west were spent in home missionary work. October 23, 1831, he organized the First Presbyterian church at Galeua. His three children died in iufancy ; one in 1837, another in 1838, and a third in 1840. Mrs. E. P. Thomas, of Rockford, is an adopted daughter. Mr. Kent died November 8, 1869, at the age of seventy-five years.

Miss Sill was. succeeded by Miss Martha Hillard, now Mrs. Martha Hillard MacLeish, who was priucipal of Rockford Seminary from 1884 to 1888. Her genial personality did much to increase the social power of the school, both at home aud abroad, and the regret felt when her marriage caused her resignation was universal. Miss Anna Gelston was the next in the succession, 1888-1890; but her very fragile health compelled her to relinquish the task in two years. Miss Sarah F. Anderson, now Mrs. Sarah Anderson Ainsworth, became acting prin- cipal in 1890, and principal in 1891, a position she continued to occupy until 1896. Miss Ander- sou graduated from the normal department of the seminary in 1869, and for many years acted as financial secretary before she became prin- cipal, and her wise financial management forms one of the striking features of her administra- tion. The whole body of alumnae knew her well, and were deeply attached to her.

. SEMINARY BECOMES COLLEGE.

During the decade ending with 1892 several changes were made in academic policy and two

additional 1882 buildings erected. In a collegiate course of study was added to the seminary curriculum, and since then all students who have done the requisite amount of work, have received the degree of B. A. or B. S.

In June, 1891, the board of trustees decided to discontinue the seminary course, and iu June, 1892, the name of the institution was legally chauged from Rockford seminary to Rockford college in order that the title might represent the work done. The last seminary graduates belong to the class of 1895. Beginning with the class of 1896, all graduates of the institution have been college graduates.

PRESIDENTS OF ROCKFORD COLLEGE.

Wheu Miss Anderson resigned in 1896, Miss Phebe T. Sutliff was made president of Rockford College, and continued iu that office until 1901. Miss Sutliff's brilliant scholarship and her remarkable power as a lecturer will never be forgotten iu Rockford. She bent all her energies toward raising the standard of scholarship, and, as a result of her efforts, the whole tonc of the institution changed for the better in this respect.

On Miss Sutliff's resignation in 1901, Miss Emily K. Reynolds was elected president, but her health broke down before she had scarcely begun her work, and she was obliged to leave Rockford after only two or three mouths of residence. Even during this short space of time, however, she made her influence felt in establishing a system of self-government at the college, and in helping to beautify the college home.

On Miss Reynolds' resignation in 1902 Miss Julia H. Gulliver, was elected president. She was inaugurated October 18, 1902. John H. Sherratt, president of the board of trustees, presided. The principal address was delivered by President Hyde of Bowdoin College. Brief addresses were also made by President Gulliver and Jane Addams, of Hull House, Chicago, an alumna of the college. It was a great occasion, being the first time a president of Rockford College had been formally inducted into office.

In the evolution from a small preparatory school of sixty years ago to the fully equipped woman's college of today, the name of its presi- dent, Julia H. Gulliver, Ph. D., LL. D., stands preeminent. She was born iu Norwich, Conn., July 30, 1856. Her father was John Putnam

Leland & Gilmore.

Willis Gilmore

alice a. Gilmore

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Gulliver, D. D., LL. D., at one time president of Knox College, and later a professor at Andover Theological Seminary. Miss Gulliver wa's grad- uated from Smith College in 1879. She received her degree of Ph. D. from her alma mater, which in 1910 honored her with the degree of LL. D., with Julia Ward Howe. Miss Gulliver became head of the department of philosophy and Biblical literature at Rockford Seminary in 1890, and her connection with the institution since that time has been continuous, except a brief interval spent in study in Leipzig, Her work at Rockford College has been broad, con- structive and abiding. Above all, a sense of the beauty of Christian young womanhood has been held before the students in the chapel service conducted daily by the president.

President Gulliver is supported by a faculty of thirty-six instructors. One of these, Anna C. Behrens, A. M., head of the department of German, came to Rockford the same year as did Miss Gulliver, Edith C. Bramhall, Ph. D., head of the department of history and economics, has been connected with the college since 1900. Martha W. Nye, head of the department of mathematics, had been identified with her alma mater as an instructor since 1891, and registrar of the college since 1906. She died January 22, 1915, Miss Nye was succeeded as registrar by Lorena M. Church, A. M., who has for ten years been an instructor in English.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

John Barnes is president of the board; Ed- ward P. Lathrop, vice-president ; George O. Forbes, secretary ; Fred G. Shoudy, treasurer ; . Miss Emma Enoch is financial secretary.

All through its history Rockford College has been blessed in its trustees. They have been broad-minded men and women who have counted not life itself dear unto them in their devoted labors for the best interests of the institution. Progressive, clear-sighted, courageous, they have laid its foundations in heroic self-sacrifice ; they have reared its walls in honor. The present board worthily represents a long line of illus- trious predecessors. Whatever can be contrib- uted in the way of money, time, professional knowledge, business sagacity, and vital interest, is freely given,

GIFTS TO ROCKFORD COLLEGE.

The first accession to the connected group of buildings was Sill Hall. It was erected in 1SS6, and cost $15,000, which was given by Rockford citizens and alumnae. Adams Hall was erected in 1892 and cost $35,000. Of this amount $10,000 was contributed by Rockford citizens and $25,000 was the gift of John Quincy Adams of Chicago, a trustee of the college. Mr. Adams also showed his devotion to the college by a bequest of $50,000. Mr. Adams died in Chicago February 8, 1899.

When the college celebrated the fiftieth anni- versary of its founding, in 1899, at the com- mencement in June, William A. Talcott, then chairman of the board of trustees, announced several gifts in scholarships and additions to the endowment fund. Among the latter were a bequest of $10,000 from Judge Benjamin R. Sheldon, and one of $22,000 from Horatio Stone. Mr. Talcott was a generous supporter of the college. He and Mrs. Talcott founded three scholarships at the University of Chicago, with a provision that the beneficiaries be students of Rockford College in preference to other ap- plicants.

Early in 1907 efforts were made to increase the endowment fund, and to provide another dormitory. Andrew Carnegie was informed of the need and solicited for a contribution. A winter festival was held January 17-18. At the last session Mrs. W. A. Talcott read the follow- ing telegram: "Mr. Carnegie has mailed you a letter today saying that he will be glad to pro- vide the last half of the $70,000 required for the building and equipment of a dormitory and the required connection with the main building when $50,000 in cash or realizable securities have been collected and added to the endowment fund." Mrs. Talcott, on behalf of the trustees, announced that the gift would be accepted and that friends of the college would undertake to meet the conditions by raising $85,000. Mr. Carnegie stimulated other gifts to the building and endowment fund.

As the number of students increased the necessity for greater accommodations became imperative. A dormitory was completed in 1911, and named John Barnes Hall. Mr. Barnes had been a trustee of the college twenty-six years, and since the death of Mr. Sherratt, he had been president of the board of trustees. He had

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ministered to the college with a devotion that money could not buy, and the beautiful dormi- tory is his memorial. This fire-proof building was opened September 12, 1911, and cost $94,000. It is in the shape of a right angle, and, with the Main building and Sill Hall, encloses three sides of a quadrangle, not unlike the Oxford quad- rangles, with all their scholarly associations.

In 1911 the college abandoned its preparatory department. The preceding year the trustees dropped the first and second years from the preparatory course. Since that time all aca- demic students have been of collegiate rank.

SUCCESSFUL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN.

A spirited campaign was conducted in 1913 to increase the endowment. The North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, authorized to standardize colleges of the middle west, had placed the minimum endowment for first-class colleges at $200,000. Unless this sum could be raised Rockford would drop to second class. The endowment at that time was $105,000. The gift of Mr. Carnegie would increase it to $140,000, leaving a balance of $60,000. President Gulliver seized the psychological moment and invited the co-operation of the Chamber of Commerce and other citizens. R. A. Cassidy, of New York, assumed charge of the campaign and Mayor Bennett was chairman of the general committee. The preliminary meeting was held May 26, and the campaign was concluded June 12, when it was announced that Rockford College would have an endowment of $200,000, with a surplus of $451. The college also owns four cottages near the campus. One of these is Memorial Hall, a residence for students. It was given as a memorial to Ralph Emerson, Jr.

Rockford College is accorded first rank in scholarship with Smith, Wellesley and Vassar, as one of the sixteen leading women's colleges in the United States. It is the oldest college for women in the country with the exception of Mt. Holyoke, Mass. The college holds institu- tional membership in the North Central Asso- ciation of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Rockford students are given advanced credit by the Chicago, Wisconsin, and Michigan univer- sities and others of like rank. Its graduates are received as candidates for the master's degree in one year's time at Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Chicago, Wisconsin, Michigan and

Northwestern. It has sent out hundreds of graduates during its history, and has touched, for a longer or shorter period, the lives of thousands of girls, who have gone out as mis- sionaries, as teachers, as wives and mothers all over this land and to foreign countries. In Rockford the unusual number of cultured women show its moulding power.

CHAPTER XVI.

LECTURE PLATFORM CELEBRITIES.

INTELLECTUAL AWAKENING -- EARLIEST LECTURE ORGANIZATION AT ROCKFORD-YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION-MOST POPULAR LECTURERS OF THE DAY SECURED-E. P. WHIPPLE-HORACE MANN- GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS-HORACE GREELEY- HIS IMPRESSIONS OF ROCK RIVER VALLEY-PROF. JOSEPH EMERSON-BISHOP POTTER-CHANCEL- LOR LATHROP-JUDGE DOOLITTLE-OLE BULL- ADELINA PATTI-REV. E. H. CHAPIN-JOSIAH QUINCY-JOHN G. SAXE-JOHN PIERPONT- JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL-BAYARD TAYLOR-P. A. SHILLABER-PARKE GODWIN-JOHN B. GOUGH- PROFESSOR YOUMANS.

INTELLECTUAL AWAKENING.

There has been one movement in the history of the American mind which gave to literature a group of writers entitled to the name of a school. This was the great humanitarian move- ment, or series of movements, in New England, which began with the elder Channing, ran through its later phase in transcendentalism, and spent its force in the anti-slavery agitation and the enthusiasms of the Civil war. This movement was contemporary with the preach- ing of many novel doctrines in religion, sociol- ogy, science, education, medicine and hygiene. New sects were formed. There were Millerites, Spiritualists, Mormons, Swedenborgians and Shakers. This intellectual and moral awaken- ing found its expression in the lecture platform. The daily newspaper had not assumed its pres- ent blanket-sheet proportions, and the leaders

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of these various phases of new thought carried their message to the people in person.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 26

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 972

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972