USA > Illinois > Ogle County > Mount Morris > Mount Morris : past and present, an illustrated history of the village of Mount Morris, Ogle County, Illinois > Part 11
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ROCK RIVER SEMINARY
cially. There seems to have been no lack of students, the great difficulty be- ing the want of sufficient accommoda- tions for those who desired to attend. During his administration, a large num- ber of young men received their edu- cation at this institution, remaining sev- eral years after they entered, until they graduated.
In March, 1845, in consequence of ill health, Prof. Pinckney left the institu- tion temporarily in charge of Prof. S. R. Thorpe, his able and efficient assistant, for the remainder of the term. At the end of that term Prof. Pinckney and P. Judson, secretary of the board, were appointed to secure the services of Dr. J. C. Finley, formerly of McKendree College, who became principal and re- mained in charge about a year, when Prof. Pinckney again resumed the po- sition.
In 1847, Prof. Pinckney was elected a member of the Constitutional Conven- tion, and, during his absence, left Prof. Fellows in charge of the Seminary.
August 21, 1847, Rev. Carmi C. Olds was elected principal of the Seminary, who continued until March 6, 1850, when he tendered his resignation, and Prof. S. M. Fellows was elected acting principal for the balance of the term. May 7, 1850, Prof. Pinckney, J. J. Beatty and Enoch Wood were appointed a com- mittee to make arrangements in regard to the formation of a new faculty.
June 26, 1850, Prof. D. J. Pinckney was again elected principal; but as he could not take full charge of the Sem- inary until the commencement of the winter term of 1850-51, on the 29th of July, Prof. S. M. Fellows was appointed acting principal for the fall term of 1850.
The old Seminary building was no longer large enough to accommodate the large number of students who flocked to this institution, which had become the leading literary institution of Northern Illinois, and it was necessary to enlarge it or erect a new one. At a meeting of the Board of Trustees, September 9, 1850, action was taken, and the follow- ing resolution adopted:
Resolved, that we advertise in the Mount Morris Gazette to receive pro- posals for stone and brick work, and
other materials, for the walls of a new Seminary building, forty by one hun- dred and twenty feet, four stories high, until the 1st of October, 1850.
Prof. D. J. Pinckney, Enoch Wood and A. C. Marsten were appointed a com- mittee to make a plan of the building.
May 12, 1851, the executive committee was authorized to close a contract with Jacob Myers for the erection of the walls of the new Seminary building, and work was commenced soon afterward.
June 7, 1851, the scholarship system was adopted for the purpose of endow- ing the Rock River Seminary. The
JACOB M. MYERS was the contractor who built the four-story stone building now known as "Old Sandstone." The building was started in 1853 but was not completed until 1855 because of a lack of funds. Mr. Myers was assisted with the mason work by his brother, Jonathan Myers. Daniel Fager, son-in-law of Jacob Myers, made the "hoist jack" which was used to hoist the stone and mortar for the building. The stone used for the building was quarried at Pine Creek. Mr. Myers came to Ogle County in the spring of 1837 from Boonsboro, Md., with his wife and five children, and settled at West Grove, west of Mount Morris. Be- sides "Old Sandstone," he also built the original Pine Creek mill in 1845, and the little stone church at West Grove. Mr. Myers was born in Berks County, Pa., April 18, 1799, and died at West Grove, Aug. 26, 1877. His wife, who was Eliza- beth Gloss, died April 6, 1877.
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
THIS PICTURE of Rock River Seminary was taken about the year 1857, on the occa- sion of some kind of a celebration, as indicated by the large crowd gathered in front of the buildings. Note the fence which enclosed the campus at that time. The building on the right was the original building erected in 1839, and was torn down many years ago, to make room for a girls' dormitory.
scholarships were to be made perpetual, and sold for $60. Messrs. Pinckney, Crews and Wood were appointed a com- mittee to draft a plan for issuing them, and make the necessary preparations for doing so.
March 1, 1852, it was ordered that the "Botanical Garden, containing thirteen and a half acres, be surveyed, divided into forty-eight lots, and recorded as an addition to the town of Mount Morris."
December 30, 1852, the trustees re- solved to apply to the Legislature for an act of incorporation as a university; appointed Messrs. Pinckney, Fellows and Little to draft a charter, and re- quested Mr. Pinckney to go to Spring- field in the interest of the movement, which he did, and secured the passage of an amendment conferring university privileges upon the institution.
In January, 1853, Mr. Pinckney re- signed as principal, and Prof. George L.
Little was elected. He was succeeded by Prof. Spencer S. Matteson, at the commencement of the fall term, who died in November, 1853; and Prof. Pinckney again assumed active control of the school.
The records of the Board of Trustees thus far do not indicate the progress of the new building, but it had been pro- gressing, for on the 28th of June, 1854, it was estimated that $6,000 would be sufficient to complete it, and the fol- lowing resolution was unanimously adopted:
"Resolved, that we raise twelve thou- sand dollars on well secured pledges, to be appropriated to the payment of the debts of the R. R. Seminary, and to the finishing and furnishing of the new building. Provided the said sum of twelve thousand dollars shall be thus pledged and secured by the 20th day of September next."
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ROCK RIVER SEMINARY
In June, 1855, Prof. Pinckney re- signed, and his active connection with the institution ceased. For more than thirteen years he had devoted his time, energies and money to advance the prosperity and usefulness of Rock River Seminary, and had been its principal most of the time during that period.
During Prof. Pinckney's long and suc- cessful administration the Seminary ex- erted a powerful influence in moulding the destinies of the comparatively un- known Northwest, which will continue to be felt through all coming genera- tions. It is stated he never expelled a student from the institution, and he enjoyed to a remarkable degree the respect, confidence and affection of his pupils, and the esteem of his associates. Although he was no longer connected with the Seminary as its principal, he remained a member of the Board of Trustees until 1858.
Prof. Pinckney was succeeded as principal by Prof. W. T. Harlow, who was elected in June, 1855, and soon after, the school was opened in the new building.
June 25, 1858, an arrangement was made with Profs. Harlow and Pope to take the educational and boarding de- partments on their own responsibility, employing and paying their assistants, they to return the buildings at the end of the year, in good condition.
June 23, 1859, the executive commit- tee was authorized to "confer and ne- gotiate with any stock company that may be formed, for the purpose of pur- chasing and running the Seminary as a stock concern." On the same day, the contract with Messrs. Harlow and Pope was renewed for another year.
June 28, 1860, the Board resolved to "let Profs. W. T. Harlow and W. S. Pope have the institution on the same terms for the coming year as they have had it in the past."
June 28, 1865, Prof. Harlow resigned as principal, and Profs. John William- son and O. F. Matteson were elected associate principals.
October, 1867, Rev. J. M. Caldwell was elected principal for one year, and he was re-elected in 1868, upon condi- tion that he employ and pay his asso- ciates.
June 23, 1869, the entire faculty hav- ing resigned, Prof. Brush, of "Upper Iowa University," was elected principal, "he to select his own assistants," but did not accept the position and on the 22nd of July, Rev. R. H. Wilkinson was elected, who served until June, 1870, when he resigned; and on the 28th of September following, a contract was made with Rev. S. H. Adams to "run the Seminary according to the provi- sions of the charter; and to have all the revenues from the same," until said revenue reaches the sum of $4,000, with elaborate provisions for the disposition of any surplus that might accrue in ex- cess of that amount. June 21, 1871, John Williamson and Sarah H. Steven- son were requested to assume control of the institution, but it does not appear that they complied. The school was suspended and no further meetings of the Board are recorded until May 7, 1873, when the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the executive commit- tee be authorized to make, in connec- tion with R. R. Hitt, such arrangements with Wm. Harrison or some other per- son or parties, as will "secure the open- ing of the school and running the same, without incurring expense or liability to the Trustees."
At this meeting there were present F. G. Petrie, M. T. Ellingwood, H. J.
PROF. JOHN WILLIAMSON, together with Prof. O. F. Matteson, were associate principals of Rock River Seminary from 1865 to 1868, following the regime of Prof. W. T. Harlow.
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Farwell, W. H. Atchison, A. Newcomer and F. B. Brayton.
September 16, 1873, the executive committee reported that "they, to- gether with R. R. Hitt, had secured the services of N. C. Dougherty, as princi- pal, together with a full and competent faculty, under whose management the school had been opened with the most satisfactory results," and recommended that they be elected and confirmed.
Accordingly Prof. N. C. Dougherty was elected principal; R. Arthur Ed- wards, professor of Latin and Greek; Miss Lottie M. Smith, preceptress; Miss Maria Hitt, teacher of music.
In 1878, the Board of Trustees con- sisted of F. G. Petrie, president; Fred- erick B. Brayton, secretary; Hon. Robert R. Hitt, N. C. Dougherty, (ex officio), Andrew Newcomer, Rev. Richard Ed- wards, Rev. W. H. Tibbals, Rev. W. A. Burns, B. F. Sheets, Capt. John W. Hitt, Chas. Newcomer, Isaac Rice and Jack- son Farwell.
The faculty consisted of Newton C. Dougherty, principal; Richard A. Ed- wards, instructor in Latin and Greek; John H. Parr, instructor in natural sci- ence and mathematics; Florence Farns- worth, instructor in reading and gram- mar; Edward L. Wells, instructor in the science and art of teaching; Florence Brayton, instructor in instrumental mu- sic; Lillian D. Brayton, instructor in penciling and painting.
Toward the close of the principalship of Prof. Dougherty, the seminary bore the appearance of prosperity, but an expensive faculty was too much of a burden upon the financial resources of the institution, and the school finally closed down in 1878 for that reason. Then, too, the Methodists had estab- lished at Evanston a much larger and better-equipped school known as the Northwestern University, which en- croached very seriously upon the terri- tory from which the seminary had drawn her students. The heavy mort- gage upon the property of the seminary finally ended the administration of the Methodists. To satisfy the creditors the property was sold, Hon. R. R. Hitt being the purchaser. Mr. Hitt kept the seminary property in his possession for
some time, but finally disposed of the two old buildings and campus to Elder Melchor Newcomer for the sum of six thousand dollars. The two blocks west of the present campus, now known as the Seminary Addition, Mr. Hitt had platted and sold in lots.
Thus ended the career of the re- nowned and time-honored Rock River Seminary, after a checkered but influ- ential life of forty years.
The following extract from a histori- cal sketch, contained in the catalog of the Institution for 1874 was written by Robert R. Hitt:
"The country was then very sparsely settled-a wide region of far-sweeping prairies, with winding strips of wood- land following the course of the streams -the few people scattered here and there were mostly persons with narrow means, working diligently to open farms, living in small, inconvenient, temporary houses, with the pressure of necessity-clothing, food, the improve- ment of land, their stock and crops-to divert their attention from the future value of education to their sons and daughters. They generally possessed more individual energy and force of character than is found in the average citizen nowadays, and responded readily to the appeals of the agents of the Semi- nary and the enthusiastic Methodist circuit riders, who entered upon this cause as heartily as they do upon every other good thing. The students who came were, many of them, crude and awkward beginners; a few were ad- vanced by previous advantages in the east, but they were generally of good families, and their education in the school was preceded and supplemented by home and social education, render- ing it ten-fold more valuable. They grew up with the spirit of the period upon them, the energy characteristic of a new country, and, as a result, there is a surprising proportion of those whose names occur as students in the catalog of those days who have risen to distinction as clergymen, lawyers, mer- chants, politicians, editors, influential and substantial citizens, or accom- plished, useful and honored women. Among those who appeared in the first catalog were Dr. Augustus H. Ankeny,
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ROCK RIVER SEMINARY
CONGRESSMAN ROBERT R. HITT was probably the most distinguished citizen that Mount Morris ever produced. His father was Rev. Thomas S. Hitt, a Methodist minis- ter, who brought his family to Mount Morris in the fall of 1837. Robert, the second son, was born at Urbana, Ohio, Jan. 16, 1834, and was therefore only three years of age when he arrived here. He received his first learning under A. Quinby Allen in a private school. He attended Rock River Seminary in Mount Morris, and later grad- uated from Asbury Academy, Greencastle, Ind., in 1855.
He began his career as a law reporter and newspaper writer in Chicago in 1857. He became an adept shorthand reporter and reported the famous Lincoln-Douglas debate in 1858. In 1868, he made an extensive tour of Europe and eastern countries. In 1873, when Rock River Seminary was in financial trouble, he purchased the property and gave financial support. Later he sold it to Melchor Newcomer and it became a Dun- kard institution. In 1874, he was appointed by Pres. Grant to be first secretary of the American Legation at Paris. Under Pres. Garfield, he was appointed Assistant Secre- tary of State, under Secretary Blaine. In 1882, he was nominated by the Republicans for Representative in Congress from this district and was elected in the fall election by a large majority over his Democratic opponent, J. S. Ticknor. He took his seat in December, 1882, and was continuously elected thereafter until his death in 1906. For a number of years he was chairman of the important committee on Foreign Affairs.
In 1874, Mr. Hitt married Miss Sallie Reynolds of Lafayette, Ind., and they had two sons, Robert Reynolds and Wm. Floyd. He passed away Sept. 20, 1906, at the age of 72 years, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery. Mrs. Hitt is still living in Washington
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later a leading and wealthy citizen of Clinton, Iowa; T. C. Ankeny, of Viroqua, editor of the Wisconsin Independent; Rev. Jno. Emery Clark, a well-known Methodist educator; John B. Cheney, afterward a brilliant lawyer; Albert Deere, the manufacturer of the Deere plow, at Moline; Prof. S. M. Fellows, long a teacher here, a man of great worth and thorough scholarship; Rich- ard N. Hamilton, of Chicago; James C. T. Phelps, William J. Mix of Oregon; Rev. Wm. R. Irvine, Hon. James D. Turner, Gen. W. H. L. Wallace, after- ward a prominent lawyer, a soldier of distinction in the Mexican war, and in the Civil War rising to the rank of a General officer, fell gallantly fighting at Shiloh; Gen. M. R. M. Wallace, brother of the preceding, who became Judge of the Cook County Court; Capt. John F. Wallace, another brother, who served in the army and died at Galveston, Texas. Among the ladies, Margaret C. Hitt, wife of Hon. D. J. Pinckney; Helen M. Judson, wife of Gov. Jno. L. Beveridge; Elizabeth Reynolds, wife of Hon. L. P. Sanger. Scores of others, equally well known and honored, might be men- tioned from the 156 names in the first catalog."
Since the writing of the foregoing in 1874, some of the persons mentioned advanced to still more prominent posi- tions. In addition to those already men- tioned must also be added the former member of Congress from this District, Hon. Robert R. Hitt; John W. Hitt, for many years a prominent citizen of Mount Morris; Robert S. Hitt, of Chi- cago; Dr. Benj. G. Stephens, who died in Mount Morris many years ago; Al- mira M. Robertson, later Mrs. A. M. Bacon of Oregon; Ann E. Swingley, later Mrs. J. C. Phelps of Oregon; John Hitt, Deputy Collector of Customs at Chicago over thirty years; James Mar- tin, afterwards a professor in the insti- tution, and later principal of a semi- nary near Sacramento, Cal. During later years when Prof. Pinckney was principal, a great many other promi- nent men attended the seminary, among whom were Gen. John A. Rawlins, Sec- retary of War under President Grant; Gov. John L. Beveridge; Senator Shelby M. Cullom; Hon. G. L. Fort, member of
Congress; Hon. James H. Beveridge, ex-State Treasurer; Hon. Henry L. Magoon, at one time member of Con- gress from Wisconsin; Rev. Dr. Fowler, editor of the Christian Advocate and Journal, New York; Daniel H. Wheeler, afterward professor at Cornell College and Northwestern University at Evans- ton, and later editor of the Methodist at New York; Hon. Moses Hallett, after- ward United States Judge in Colorado; John V. Farwell, a partner in one of the largest wholesale dry-goods houses in Chicago; Congressman George W. Curtis, of Iowa; James H. Cartwright, Chief Justice of Illinois; John P. Hand, Justice Supreme Court of Illinois; Judge Theodore D. Murphy, Woodstock, Illi- nois; Judge Edmund W. Burke, Chi- cago; Judge Lucien C. Blanchard, Os- kaloosa, Iowa; Judge Reuben C. Bassett, Seneca, Kansas; Gen. Smith D. Atkins, Freeport, Illinois; Prof. Fernando San- ford, Leland Stanford University, Cali- fornia; and many others who achieved success, but cannot readily be traced.
STUDENTS REUNION OF 1886
TN December, 1885, after the institu- tion had been under the control of the Brethren for several years, a num- ber of the citizens of Mount Morris, who still harbored a warm affection in their hearts for the old school, conceived the idea of having a reunion of the alumni of the seminary, together with all those who attended from its origin in 1839 to the close in 1879. The plan received enthusiastic support, and the reunion, which occurred in June, 1886, was a great success. The first move toward the carrying out of the project was the calling of a meeting in Febru- ary, which resulted in the appointment of the following officers: Hon. R. R. Hitt, president; A. W. Brayton, treas- urer; Dr. W. T. Speaker, secretary. As many names and addresses of old stu- dents and teachers were obtained as possible, and a circular issued, request- ing names and addresses of others. This circular was sent to about three hun- dred persons, and from this small nu- cleus the whereabouts of more than sixteen hundred of "Old Sandstone's" graduates and students were learned.
STUDENTS REUNION OF 1886
UD
THE BUILDINGS of Rock River Seminary as they appeared in the seventies. The building at the right was the first permanent structure erected in Mount Morris and was built in 1839 by James B. McCoy. The stone building on the left was built in 1853 by Jacob M. Myers.
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
From north and south, east and west, came letters conveying the names and addresses of farmers, merchants, clergy- men, governors, senators, legislators, judges, bishops, poets, and men and women occupying the most prominent and enviable positions in life. Also missives from across the briny deep told in tender and loving words of the deep regrets, and the longings to be present with that noble band of boys and girls, students of "Old Rock River Seminary." From the flattering results obtained from the first circular, com- mittees were appointed to carry for- ward the completion of, and arrange dates for, the grand reunion. The twenty-ninth and thirtieth days of June and the first day of July, 1886, were the days selected for the occasion, with a program filled with many rare treats.
Not less than 7,500 students went out into the world from the shades of "Old Sandstone" since its foundation. Out of this number, 365 names were enrolled on the secretary's book at the reunion, and their owners answered "present" at the "roll-call" during "chapel exer- cises." Mount Morris gave the visitors a royal welcome. Wesley Street was gaily decorated with evergreens and flags, and the "Welcome," in huge let- ters, stretched entirely across the street, showing due appreciation of the event. A large flag was also stretched above the stile at the east entrance of the col- lege campus. In the southeast corner of the beautiful grassy campus, under the foliage of large spreading maples, seats were erected for a thousand peo- ple, and a stage that would accommo- date a hundred.
The programs of the three days were participated in by scores of men who possessed great ability. Thousands of people gathered each day to hear them relate tales of their old college days, and tell of the pleasures, as well as the hardships, of the days spent in acquir- ing knowledge within "Old Sandstone." Among the old students who gave the longest and most interesting speeches were Hon. John Hitt, of Chicago; Col. B. F. Sheets, of Oregon; and Hon. R. R. Hitt. Later in the summer, there was published a 56-page booklet, containing
a complete report of the proceedings of the three days, also the letters of regret sent in to the secretary, and the entire roll of all the old students who attended the reunion.
The reunion was a grand success, and the pleasure and profit afforded by the three days spent in talking over "auld lang syne" will not be forgotten by those present while life lasts. And may it be likewise with "Old Rock River Semi- nary!"
LEGAL TRANSACTIONS
T HE abstract of title of the Seminary property covers a large number of transactions which show the financial difficulties which the Seminary had during the period of its existence.
The original entry on all of the land on which Mount Morris is located, in- cluding the Seminary property, was made on August 17, 1841, and it ap- peared on the abstract as follows: "United States to Anthony Pitzer. The Auditor of the State certifies to the County Clerk of Ogle County that said Anthony Pitzer on August 17, 1841, entered the East 1/2 of the South East 1/4 of Section 27 in Township 24 North, Range 9 East of the 4th P. M., contain- ing 80 acres."
It appears that the government sur- vey of this part of Ogle County had not been completed when the original set- tlers arrived here and they simply made their claims as squatters, and legal titles were not issued until later. This land which was entered in the name of Anthony Pitzer, who was one of the trustees of Rock River Seminary, doubt- less was originally claimed by Nathaniel Swingley and Samuel M. Hitt, and they probably donated the claim to Rock River Seminary.
The incorporation of Rock River Seminary as recorded, dated February 18, 1841, was authorized by a Special Act of the Illinois State Legislature. The first and second sections of the act to incorporate are as follows:
"Sec. 1. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Illinois Represented in the General Assembly: That John Clark, Leander S. Walker, Thomas S. Hitt, Jacob B. Crist, C. Burr Artz, Sam- uel M. Hitt, John Wallace, Nathaniel
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LEGAL TRANSACTIONS
Swingley, Anthony Pitzer, James J. Beatty, and their successors in office, be, and they are hereby created a body politic and corporate under the name and style of 'The Rock River Seminary,' and henceforth should be styled and known by that name; and by that name and style to remain and have perpetual succession; the number of trustees shall not exceed twelve, exclusive of the principal or presiding officer of the Seminary, who shall ex-officio be a member of the Board of Trustees.
"Sec. 2. The object of said corpora- tion shall be the promotion of the gen- eral interest of education, to qualify the youth of our country to engage in the several employments and profes- sions of society, and to discharge hon- orably and usefully the various duties of life.
"The entire 80 acres which had been transferred from the government to Anthony Pitzer was deeded October 18, 1842, to Rock River Seminary with the following provision: 'To have and to hold said premises unto the said party of the second part and their successors forever for a Seminary of Learning un- der the supervision and control of the Rock River Conference of the Metho- dist Church."
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