History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 32

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Brink, McDonough
Number of Pages: 530

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" Let me here advert to the literary labors of the College in the four years of my connection with it. The work was assigned to the Professors, and the best methods of study, recitations and reviews in the older colleges were adopted ; a kind, but strict dis- cipline preserved ; examinations at the end of the terms, and the years, were instituted ; and these continued usually one week each. Exhibitions, by original productions, accompanied the examinations at the close of the terms, and at the anniversaries. General harmony prevailed. There were few cases of discipline, and those requiring dismission extremely rare. Study, cheerfulness, and good order were characteristics of the College. At sunrise and near sunset, for four years, I met the students in the Chapel for religious services. There were often seasons of spiritual refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The scriptures were read, a hymn was sung, and prayer offered. God was pleased to visit the institu- tion with several revivals of religion, and many students, as well as others, shared iu its blessings. Learning and religion mated well together. It happened to me not only to do the work assigned by the Trustees ; but where there seemed a want, there I applied my strength. It thus occurred that the first class in College read most of their College Greek with me. They read under my eye the whole of the first volume of the Majora, and the most of the second, excepting the tragedies, though they read the Medea, and twelve books of Homer's Iliad. Few classes in the older Colleges read more Greek than this. As it was found the powers of our College charter were too narrow, and as it seemed desirable to introduce Professorships in Sacred Literature, Ecclesiastical History

and Theology, as well as chairs in the other professions, it was suggested by me, that that end should be secured in the new char- ter, and it was agreed by the Trustees to ask of the Legislature power to establish ' professorships in all the learned professions,' and this power was generously and amply granted. When we had obtained the new charter, the senior class read, with me, one exer- cise in the Gospels a week exegetically. Our students studied so diligently, and the examinations were so satisfactory, that, on the graduation of this class, the college had taken a high literary rank in the State, and our number of students were about one hundred and twenty-two during the year. The members of the graduating class were R. F. Cunningham, H. H. Horner, J. Johnson, W. T. Lucky, J. Pierson, E. Robinson and W. Weer. Their examina- tions had been passed with credit. Their orations had been pre- pared, and in a grove hard by the college premises, over the road nearly in front of the college grounds, a stage had been erected, and here the exhibitious of the three lower classes had passed off well. The commencement day had arrived, a large crowd had assem- bled, the trustees and visitors were on the stage with the Faculty, the senior class one by one had made their addresses, the diplomas were distributed, the degrees conferred ; and now the first class in McKendree College had been admitted to the grade of Bachelor of Arts; and this, I think, was the first class admitted to that degree iu a Methodist college, north of Kentucky and west of Pennsylva- nia. This was in 1841. It was one-sixth larger than the first class graduated at the Wesleyan University. This was a joyous day in McKendree."

The new charter, to which Dr. Merrill refers, was approved Jan. 26, 1839. As the college is still governed in accordance with its provisions, it will be proper to give the names of the trustees to whom it was granted. They were William Wilson, Samuel H. Thompson, Thornton Peeples, John S. Barger, Benjamin Hypes, Hiram K. Ashley, Joshua Barnes, James Riggin, Nathan Horner, Benjamin T. Kavanaugh, Theophilus M. Nichols, Crispin Cunning- ham, John Hogan, Jesse Renfro, Benjamin Bond, and Alexander M. Jenkins. Dr. Merrill resigned Aug. 18, 1841, and Rev. James C. Finley, D.D., a graduate of Princeton, N. J, was chosen in his stead. Dr. Finley served until March 10, 1845, when Dr. Akers was invited to take the position. The college at this time was severely pressed financially, and Dr. Akers did not assume the active duties of his office. The institution was suspended from the autumn of 1845 to the autumn of 1846. Rev. Erastus Wentworth, D.D., a graduate of Wesleyan University, was elected President April 1, 1846, with a Faculty selected entirely from eastern col- leges. The first measure of the new Faculty was to provide a course of study with the ancient languages omitted. Those who completed this course were to receive the degree of "Bachelor of Science." Steps were also taken to provide for the erection of a more commo- dious building, and through the untiring efforts of the agent, Rev. Wm. Goodfellow, this object was accomplished. The ' Lebanon Journal," a newspaper in the interest of the college, was established in 1849. It served as an organ of communication between the friends of the college and the church, and was continued for several years, but never was a financial success. Dr. Wentworth remained in his office four years, and did much to make the college popular and to attract students to its halls. He was succeeded by Rev. Anson W. Cummings, D.D., who held the office for two years. Rev. Peter Akers, D.D., was chosen president in 1852, and served in that capacity five years. A new scheme for the endowment of the college by the sale of scholarships was devised i 1854, and agents were sent into the field, and labored strenuously to accom- plish the object designed. During Dr. Akers' term of office the

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

old college building caught fire, and was consumed. Dr. Akers appealed to the public to replace the loss, and the present college chapel was soon after begun. Dr. Akers resigned July, 1857, and Dr. Werter R. Davis, senior professor, acted as president until the spring term of 1858, when Rev. Nelson E. Cobleigh, D.D., by the election of the executive committee, was called to the position. His election was confirmed in the following June by the board of trustees. Dr. Cobleigh (1814-1874) was a graduate of Wesleyan University, had been Professor of Ancient Languages in McKen- dree College for the year 1853-4, and in Lawrence University, Wis., from 1854 to the spring of 1858.

Dr. Cobleigh signalized his entrance upon office by discarding all plans of endowing the college by means of scholarships, and resolved to appeal at once to the generosity of the public. He fixed the sum he proposed to raise at twenty thousand dollars, ($20,000) and prevailed upon the Southern Illinois Conference to assume the collection of one-half of this amount, while Lebanon and vicinity were to furnish the other portion. The preachers entered cheer- fully into the plan. Lebanon and the immediate neighborhood, through the earnest efforts of Dr. Cobleigh and the friends of the college, contributed twelve thousand dollars ($12,000). The Con- ference raised the promised $10,000 in notes which it agreed to make good. This work was completed in the year 1860, and is the most important financial scheme devised and carried into execution in the history of the college It relieved the institution from im- mediate pressure, and assured its permanence. Dr. Cobleigh resigned in 1863, and was succeeded by Rev. Robert Allyn, D. D., LL. D, who was the presiding officer of the college for eleven years.

Dr. Allyn, like several of his predecessors, was a graduate of Wesleyan University. He directed his efforts to the reduction of the debt of the college, and by donations and special arrangements with the creditors, he lessened it by the amount of somewhat more than $20,000. This reduction was effected by the self-sacrifice of the professors of the college. Several attempts were made during Dr. Allyn's administration to entirely remove the indebtedness of the institution, but they were only partially successful, and at his de- parture from the college, there still remained upon it a debt of $5,000. Dr. Allyn added to the buildings of the college a sub- stantial structure designed for gymnastic purposes, but which has since been converted to the use of the Commercial Department. Through his agency, the institution was opened to female students by vote of the Board of Trustees, June 9, 1869. The Scientific- Course was enlarged in June, 1874, by requiring from all candi- dates for the degree of " Bachelor of Science" two years of Latin and German.

Dr. Allyn was succeeded, in 1874, by Rev. John W. Locke, D. D., a graduate of Angusta College, Kentucky. Dr. Locke had been for twelve years Professor of Mathematics in Indiana Asbury University, and for a short time President of Baker University, Kansas. He held the office four years, during which time depart- ments were instituted for students of commercial science and of music. The bequests of Mrs. E. M. Riggins (1875) and of Dr. N. M. McCurdy (1876) increased the funds of the college, and established its financial affairs upon a better basis. The successor of Dr. Locke was Rev. Ross C. Houghton, D.D., educated at Union Col- lege, N. Y., and at the time of his election, June, 1878, pastor of Union M. E. Church, St. Louis, Mo. Dr. Houghton retained his pastorship, and visited the college at brief intervals, so as to keep an oversight of the management. As a condition of remaining, he insisted that the debt upon the college, amounting at that time to nearly $7,000, be paid, and six citizens of Lebanon gave their notes for $3,000 for that purpose. The whole sum not having been raised,

Dr. Houghton resigned the presidency, and Rev. Daniel W. Phil- lips, A.M., an alumnus of the college, was chosen to fill that office. The effort to remove the debt was continued without interruption, and the claim against the college, which had been so long a source of embarrassment, was paid in full Dec. 31, 1879.

Financial History .- The first important movement with reference to the endowment of the college was made April 14, 1836. Rev. B. T. Kavanaugh, D.D., agent of the board of trustees, was author- ized to sell perpetual scholarships for the sum of $500 each, and to enter or purchase lands for persons wishing to invest in real estate in Illinois, one half of the land thus entered or purchased to be held in the name of the donor, and the other for the benefit of the college. At that time the national road was in process of construc- tion, and it was confidently expected that when it was completed through Illinois, the value of lands would be enhanced one hundred per cent. within five years. Dr. Kavanaugh was so active in his agency that the board of trustees, Jan. 1, 1839, declared that the sum of $50,000 had been subscribed for the endowment of the col- lege, and required the agents to collect the money or secure the notes of the subscribers. But the veto of the National Road by Gen. Jackson annulled the prospect of any immediate advancement in the value of Illinois lands and the financial disasters which occurred throughout the whole country during the administration of Van Buren, produced despondency and prostration of enterprise in the West. The subscribers found themselves unable to pay principal or interest. Repeated duns alienated their good will, and embit- tered their feelings. Of the one hundred scholarships sold, only one was paid for in cash. Various compromises were made with the other subscribers, unsatisfactory to themselves and ruinous to the college. Those who had invested their money in Illinois lands were also disappointed in their expectation of sudden riches and disposed to complain. Of the $50,000 subscribed, it is believed that scarcely enough was ever realized by the college to pay the expenses of the agent. A sad commentary upon the policy of taking notes running for a term of years without any security for payment except the signature of the giver.

The next attempt to endow the college was made in 1854. The sale of scholarships for this purpose was still common with college authorities, and it is not strange that recourse was had to this method again. A committee, consisting of Rev. James Leaton, D. D., Rev. Wm. L. Deneen and Judge Wm. H. Underwood, reported a plan to raise $100,000. The scholarships were to be perpetual and transferable only to the college, and none were to be entitled to tuition on these scholarships, except members of families of the owners. These articles were unfortunately so modified by the board of trustees as to make the scholarships transferable to any party, and to allow the owners to sell, rent, or loan them to whom they pleased. This change in the original plan has proved very injurious to the college. Scholarships for three years were sold at $30; for seven years at $50; and for twenty years at $100. Five hundred and ninety-six (596) of these scholarships were sold by eight agents. Only about one tenth of the aggregate value of the scholarships was received in cash. Notes were given for the rest, many of which could not be collected. The late Gov. French report- ed after a careful examination, that the college had paid one dollar and two cents for every dollar it had received from the sale of these scholarships. The failure of this plan, as in the former case, arose from selling scholarships to men who did not secure their notes, and were unable to meet their obligations themselves. The cash col- lected, barely paid the salaries of the agents, and the expenses of advertising. The college has suffered sorely from the results of this ill-advised scheme. Its only beneficial effect was to bring some stu-

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

dents to the college who but for the possession of a scholarship would probably never have thought of seeking an education. Neverthe- less the failure and folly of these schemes are not by any means pe- culiar to McKendree College. Very many of the literary institu- tions of the U. S. founded by benevolent effort have had a similar or worse experience. The chosen nation had to journey for long years through the wilderness, and men and the institutions of men do not escape a similar fate. The creation of a permanent fund for the endowment of the college is due to the efforts of Dr. N. E. Cobleigh. Through the exertions of himself and the friends of the college, the sum of $22,000 was raised in notes, and when notes proved worthless new donations were sought to replace them Most of them were good. The management of this fund has been in the hands of careful men, such as Gov. French, Wm. Nichols, H. H. Horner, G. W. Seaman, Luther Brown, Henry Seiter and others. To this permanent fund there was added the sum of $2500 in 1866, from the centenary collections of the southern Illinois Conference, and land of nearly the same value. In June, 1872, another plan was devised to increase this fund by donations payable in ten annual instalments. From this source a small revenue is derived. Mrs. Elizabeth M. Riggin (1805-1875) willed to the col- lege property valued at $23,000, of which a little more than half was immediately available. Dr. Nathaniel M. McCurdy (1799- 1876) of Vandalia, Ill., left to the college, moneys and stocks of the aggregate value of $25,000, from which, however, the institution will not derive an income for some time to come. The college has therefore an endowment of seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) of which only about one half is at present yielding interest. The income from this fund, and the fees charged for tuition, constitute the means by which the salaries of the faculty are paid, Of the money given to the college for the erection of buildings, the pay- ments of debts, and for endowment, more than $60,000 have been contributed by Lebanon and vicinity.

GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS.

The park in which the college buildings are located, consists of seventeen acres. The ground is high and rolling, and the charm of the natural scenery is felt and acknowledged by all visitors. Seen in its full beauty during the commencement week in June, it presents a picture of rare attractiveness. No where, it should seem, could be found a fitter spot, where young and ardent minds might be brought into communion with " The dead but sceptered sover- eigns, who still rule our spirits from their urns." It is, indeed, a Mecca to those, who in their early days have trodden its walks and reclined beneath the shadow of its noble forest trees. The build- ings of the college are plain and substantial, and well adapted for the purposes for which they are erected The main building consists of three stories, two of which furnish eight large and commodious rooms for recitations and lectures, while the third is devoted to the halls of the two literary societies of the young gentlemen. The chapel consists of two stories, the upper of which contains the au- dience room, which is one of the largest in the state; the lower is divided into two departments, which contain the library, the cabi- net and the hall of the young ladies' literary society. The com- mercial hall contains but one story, and is the most elegantly finished on the grounds.

LIBRARIES.

The libraries of the College contain between 7000 and 8000 volumes, and many hundred pamphlets. The books have been largely obtained by donation, and consequently are of a very diver- sified character. The largest single donation came from Rev. Robert Emory, D. D., of Dickinson College, Penn. The standard

works of history and reference have been purchased. A fund is very much needed to make the library what it ought to be. A collection of so many books cannot well be made without contain- ing some rare volumes. Among books not often found in American libraries we may mention the "Institutes, Political and Military, of Timour, otherwise called Tamerlane's, in Persian and English. Edited by Joseph White, B. D., Oxford, 1783;" "The Flowers of Persian Literature, in Persian and English. Edited by S. Rous- seau, 1801;" " Arabic Proverbs, or the Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians, Illustrated from their Proverbial Sayings Current at Cairo. In Arabic and English. By John Lewis Burck- hardt. London, 1830." These books, with some Persian MSS. were given to the College, at the request of Col. R. M. Moore, A. M., by Rev. Rufus Spaulding, missionary to Africa, in 1834. The oldest book in the library is "Julii Cæsaris Scaligeri, viri clarissimi Poetices Libri Septem," printed in 1561. A copy of Edward Everett's Works, presented by himself, and containing his autograph, should not be unnoticed.

LITERARY SOCIETIES.

There are three literary societies. Two of these are for young gentlemen-the Philosophian, founded in 1837, and the Platonian, founded in 1849. The exercises of these societies are of the highest utility in preparing young men for professional life. Many, who have since distinguished themselves at the bar, in the pulpit, and before public assemblies, have borne testimony to the benefits de- rived from their youthful training here. The halls of these socie- ties, in their size and in the elegance of all their appointments, are equalled by few in the United States They are the pride of the College. The Clionian Society, founded in 1869, is designed to furnish young ladies the same advantages as the other societies offer to young men.

CABINET.

The cabinet contains a very large number of specimeus, carefully arranged and labelled. The specimens were chiefly obtained from the Mississippi Valley and the Rocky Mountains, but by exchanges and donations nearly all parts of our country are represented, as well as portions of South America and the Old World. President, Phillips procured from Dr. George Vasey, M. S., Botanist, a bota- nical collection of about 6000 species, representing the flora of America with many foreign plants. He has also purchased for the College a collection of mounted birds, representing the species found in Southern Illinois. Rev. P. T. Wilson, of the class of 1862, while a missionary in India, made a collection for the College, embracing a full assortment of marble images of the numerous gods worshipped there, a few birds of the richest plumage, a musk deer, a Himalaya mountain goat and deer, a stuffed cobra di capello and other specimens of minor interest.

ALUMNI.

The roll of Alumni of the College contains the names of nearly four hundred persons, many of whom are in high offices of trust in Church or State, while others in private stations are exerting an influence not less important, if less prominent. They may be found from Boston to Portland, and from St. Paul to Tallahassee and Los Angeles. They are especially numerous in the legal profession, in which they are winning for themselves honor and wealth. An equal number perhaps may be found engaged in proclaiming to their fellow men the teachings of the Master. Others are physicians, professors, editors, congressmen, judges, ministers to foreign courts, or missionaries to distant lands. In the war the sons of Mckendree nobly responded to the call of their country in her hour of need. They were to be seen in all ranks from Major-General to the com-

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

mon soldier, and the story of their services forms an honorable chapter in the history of the College and of the country.

Appended is a list of the Presidents and Professors, with a state- ment of the time of their services in the institution :

PRESIDENTS OF THE COLLEGE AND PROFESSORS OF MORAL AND MENTAL

SCIENCES.

ACCESSUS.

EXITUS.

1833 Rev. Peter Akers, M.A., D. D.

1835

1835 Rev. John Dew,

1837

1838

Rev. John W. Merrill, M. A., D.D .. 1841

1841 Rev. James C. Finley, M.A., D.D 1845

1845 Rev. Peter Akers, M. A., D. D .. 1846

1850

Rev. Anson W. Cummings, M.A., D.D.

1852

Rev. Peter Akers, M. A., D. D.

1857

1858

Rev. Nelson E. Cobleigh, M.A., D.D.

1863

Rev. Robert Allyn, M.A., D.D,

1874

Rev John W. Locke, M.A, D.D

1878

Rev. Ross C. Houghton, M.A., D.D

1879

Rev. Daniel W. Phillips, M.A.

ANCIENT LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE.

1836

Annis Merrill, M.A 1841

1841

Rev. J. C. Finley, M.A

1844

H. H. Horner, M.A 1845

1845

Rev. G. L. Roberts, M.A. 1846

1846

Rev. Spencer Mattison. M.A 1852

1852 1853

Rev. N. E. Cobleigh, M.A., D.D. 1854

1854

Rev. G. G. Jones, M.A 1857

1857

Samuel W. Williams, M.A

1858

Albert A. Scott, M A

1860

1863 Rev. James C. Finley, M.A., M.D 1865

LATIN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE, AND HISTORY.

1858 Samuel H. Deneen, M.A., Ph.D.

GREEK LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE, AND GERMAN.

1863

William F. Swahlen, M A., Ph. D.

MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

1836

James W. Sunderland, M.A., LL.D.

1845

John L. Scripps, M.A

1846

Rev. A. W. Cummings, M.A., D.D. 1850

1851

Rev. R. Z. Mason, A.M., LL.D 1854

1854 Rev. E. C. Merrick, M.A 1855

MATHEMATICS AND ASTRONOMY.

1855

R. M. Moore, M.A 1866

1866

O. V. Jones, M.A

1879

Joseph Harris, M.A.

NATURAL SCIENCE.

1851

Rev. James Leighton, M.A., D.D .. 1852

1854

kev. Werter R. Davis, D.D. 1858

1858

Rev. Franklin O. Blair, M.A.

1871

Rev. Evan E. Edwards, M.A., Ph. D. 1879

1879

Lucy J. Rider.

PROFESSOR OF LAW.

1861

Hon. A. C. French, LL.D.

1865

H. H. Horner, M.A.

INSTITUTION OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. LADIES' ACADEMY, BELLEVILLE, ILL.

The History of Catholic Education in Belleville dates from the year 1846, when we find an humble, self-sacrificing Catholic priest, Rev. G. H. Ostlangenberg, gathering around him the children of the few Catholic families of Belleville in the basement of their little church, thus laying the foundation of the present parochial schools of St. Peter's congregation. Many were the difficulties to be surmounted. Few children-most of them from the locality-scanty means, want of competent teachers. Early settlers feelingly relate

how the good priest had to work in order to defray the expenses of the first school. But also the teachers had their difficulties : among the children there had to be almost as many classes as there were children; and, what was still more annoying, among them were representatives of almost every nationality :- German, French, English, Irish, American, Bohemian. Yet the zeal of Father Ost- langenberg was undaunted. Notwithstanding all the difficulties he kept up his school until he left Belleville, and attained the end sought after in establishing it. Most of the pupils of his school have done well in life, and remained faithful to the church.

His successor, the present Right Reverend Bishop Alton, being likewise interested in the education of the children, thought it ex- pedient to procure members of a religious community for the ac- complishment of this task. In the year 1857, he took up a collec. tion for the building of a convent and school-rooms for the girls of the congregation. The building was to be 107 feet in front, 40 feet deep, and 30 feet high-the middle part of the present "Institute of the Immaculate Conception." It cost $8437.09, of which about $800.00 were contributed by liberal citizens of Belleville, about $5000.00 by St. Peter's congregation, and the balance of $2600.00 by the Sisters of the Mother house in Milwaukee, Wis., to whom the Reverend Pastor had applied for teachers for his schools. In September, 1859, two Sisters, with Sister Mary Jerome, as Supe- rioress arrived in Belleville. The day of their arrival was a day of great joy among the parishioners. But the good Sisters had not only to teach ; they had also the arduous task of finishing the structure, and furnishing the same, out of their own scanty means. They opened school in the new building, in October, 1859, with seventy-five girls. A male teacher had charge of the boys, who had their class-room in the basement of the old church.

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History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 32

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Brink, McDonough Number of Pages: 530

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Brink, McDonough
Number of Pages: 530