USA > Indiana > An illustrated history of the state of Indiana: being a full and authentic civil and political history of the state from its first exploration down to 1875 > Part 33
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The Black Hawk war, which in the year 1832 raged so fear- fully in Illinois, and which spread such consternation through- out the western settlement, began to alarm these new comers, and Mr. Norcross "pulled up stakes," and with his family returned to his native State, where he remained until there was no longer any danger to be apprehended.
This was a trying time with the two brothers and their families, who were thus left alone in the wilderness. When we take into consideration that Black Hawk, himself so heart- less and blood-thirsty, was daily increasing his force by acces- sions from the restless and disaffected of the western tribes, and that he had received encouragement from the British in Canada, it is no wonder that these families, so destitute of means of defense, and so far from material aid, should be terror-stricken at the rumors that occasionally reached their ears. The facilities for getting war news were not so good as they are now. Then the western lightning had not been taught to carry messages, nor had that animal, so peculiarly domestic, the Iron Horse, been introduced into the wilderness. There was not even, at that time, a government mail carried on horseback through the western settlement to give informa- tion from the seat of war. Weeks, or even months, might intervene without knowing how many white families had been made victims of the savage butchers, and then they would
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only get the news from some wanderer, on his return from a western trapping or fur-buying excursion, as he might chance to come that way. Thus, these pioneers were liable to be in constant fear, for they knew not but that the next news would be brought by the dusky warriors themselves, who would deal out death to them before they could have an opportunity of escape.
In the years 1834-35-36, immigration set in rapidly. Among the first settlers were Adam Miller, Charles Bennett, Thomas W. Van Horn, David Bennett, Solomon Johnson, Solomon Sparks, Mason Powell, R. C. Bennett, Sen., Isaac Covert, Wm. Covert, Adnah Hall, Thomas T. Smith, Bowen Hale, James Scott, Wm. H. Parmalee, Wm. McDole, Abram McDole, Wm. Priliaman, Solomon Kemp, John A. Deam, Chads Chalfant, James Guthrey, Gabriel Markley, John Markley, Daniel Mil- ler, Michael Miller, Joseph Logan, Elim Hooker, and a few others.
The following sketch of pioneer life in Wells county, from the pen of Mr. Burwell, we quote entire. It is interesting and truthful. Concerning the early settlers, he says: "They settled in different parts of the county, or, rather, within the limits of the county, for the county was not yet organized. That was, indeed, a time that tried men's souls. If we will but reflect on the condition of affairs then, and consider the privations these early settlers had to suffer, we will readily see how unjust, and almost criminal it is for us to complain of our condition now, surrounded as we are by the bounties of a kind Providence. Then they had to go fifty or sixty miles to mill, carry their grists on horses through the trackless wilderness, and would be from five to eight days in making the trip, of course camped out at night, and very often awakened from their dreams by the approach of wolves and other wild animals in pursuit of prey. During their trips for provisions, their wives were left at home to superintend affairs; hoed the corn and potatoes, and attended to other no less arduous work by day, and passed sleepless nights in watching and protecting their little ones from the jaws of hungry wolves and panthers whose howls and screams they nightly heard around their
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
cabins. A few of those brave women are present to-day, sur- rounded by stout, middle-aged sons and daughters, who were then the objects of their solicitude.
" It is hard for the present generation of people, surrounded as they now are by all the improvements, comforts and luxu- ries of our civilization, to realize that the old settlers suffered and endured the many hardships that they can tell about. When they would run out of bread-stuffs, and their neighbors had none to lend them, they would pound up their corn in a wooden mortar which was improvized for the purpose, and some of them will now tell you of having lived for months on bread made from meal prepared in that way. The fine part was made into bread and the coarser into hominy. They could not go off to mill at any time. It must be remembered that there were no roads in those days, and the streams were not bridged; so that it was sometimes not only inconvenient, but extremely dangerous, to go fifty miles to mill. James Guthrey had a son and horse drowned crossing the Limberlost, on his way to Greenville to mill."
The history of Wells county politically, dates back to the first of May, 1837, a little more than thirty-seven years. At this date, the legislature of the State provided for the incor- poration of the county, with a regular jurisdiction. The first circuit court met at the house of R. C. Bennett, on the nine- teenth day of October, 1837, Hon. C. W. Ewing, presiding. The county seat was permanently located at Bluffton, in 1838. For many years it was a small hamlet, but, after a long and severe struggle, it has become a prominent business center, with ample railroad communication with the surrounding country. Bluffton has the appearance to-day of a substantial, well built town. The streets are regularly laid out, and are for the most part graded and graveled, and provided with substantial sidewalks. The court house is located in the busi- ness center of the town, and although a little out of style, is still useful and durable. The schools and school buildings are the pride of the town. The county is new, and only par- tially developed, but a majority of the farmers are already wealthy. The people are beginning to cultivate a spirit
MONROE COUNTY. 467
friendly to all kinds of public improvements. The soil is rich in agricultural resources, and there is every prospect of a con- tinuous rapid growth in all the industries and professions rep- resented in the county.
CHAPTER LXI.
MONROE COUNTY - THE INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.
O UR sketch of Monroe county is made shorter than was at first designed, on account of the importance of the State university, which is located at Bloomington, in that county.
The soil of the county is well adapted to all kinds of grain indigenous to the State. There is an abundance of valuable timber in many parts of the county, for which there is a ready market. The surface of the county is well watered with num- erous beautiful springs and small streams. The western portion of the county abounds in coal and iron ore of a superior quality. These inexhaustible mineral deposits are now comparatively dormant, awaiting only increased railroad facilities to awaken a commercial activity over them. There is an abundance of excellent building stone in the county, and several quarries are now working a large number of hands profitably in supplying the adjacent towns and cities with stone for building purposes. There are already ample railroad facilities for nearly all parts of the county. The farmers find a ready and profitable market for their produce. Most of them have become wealthy, and nearly all of them are in good circumstances.
The educational facilities of the county, in reference to the public schools, as also the higher branches of education, are without a parallel in the State, which is due, no doubt, to the beneficent influences of the State university. Every school district in the county has six good, substantial and well- arranged school houses, conveniently located; and it is ac-
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
knowledged that, in point of healthfulness, Monroe county is not surpassed by any other portion of the State.
Bloomington, the county seat of Monroe county, is a pros- perous city, of over 3,000 inhabitants. It is located on the line of the Louisville, New Albany, and Chicago railroad, and is the commercial centre of a large and prosperous district of country. Naturally a pretty site, it is rendered artistic and beautiful by well directed good taste and enterprise. The principal streets are handsomely graded and macadamized; the side walks are well improved, and highly ornamented with shade trees; the private residences and business houses are attractive and elegant; the public buildings are handsome, commodious, and of the best style of architecture. Such is the beautiful little city in which the
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
is located. This institution has not reached as high a place in the State and nation as its friends desire it to reach, but it has done, and is still doing, a grand work, and is destined, as we shall see, to fill a higher station, as the educational growth of the State advances.
We give, following, a somewhat lengthy history of the origin and growth of the Indiana State University, which has been compiled from sketches furnished by Rev. Dr. Cyrus Nutt, president of the institution, and others:
As early as 1802, Congress made a grant of a township of land in Gibson county, and, in the year 1816, another in Monroe county, for the support of a seminary of learning. In 1807, an act incorporating the Vincennes University passed the legislature, and the township of land in Gibson county was placed in the market by the trustees of this institution. The sale of land being slow, and proceeds small, and the board failing to meet, the institution was supposed to be dead, and treated as such.
The trustees of the Indiana Seminary were appointed by an act of the legislature, passed in 1820, and the board met in June following, at Bloom- ington, and selected the site for the institution. This was the same as that upon which the university now stands.
In March, 1822, the contract was made for the erection of the seminary building, but it was two years from this time before the building was ready to be occupied, and then it was only in an unfinished condition. The first session was commenced with about twenty students, in the spring of 1825,
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INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.
with but a single teacher, Rev. Baynard R. Hall, and he at a salary of one hundred and fifty dollars per year. The academic year was divided into two sessions of five months each. In this way the school continued for two years, when, in May, 1827, John H. Harney was elected professor of mathematics, natural philosophy and astronomy, at a salary of one hun- dred and fifty dollars per session, that of the principal having been raised to four hundred dollars per year. The success of the institution thus far caused the legislature to designate it with the name, " Indiana College," in the year 1828. At this time, Dr. D. H. Maxwell was the president of the board of trustees. and the first faculty of the college was organized as fol- lows : Rev. Andrew Wylie, D. D., president of Washington College, Pa., was chosen president and professor of mental and moral philosophy and belles letters : Rev. John H. Harney, A.M., professor of mathematics and natural philosophy; and Rev. Baynard R. Hall, A.M., professor of ancient languages. In the year 1828, the trustees adopted measures for the sale of the college lands in Gibson county, and for the erection of a new college building. This building, which was completed in a few years, was a brick structure, eighty feet long, thirty wide, and three stories high, and was burned in 1854.
The career of the institution, under the leadership of Dr. Wylie and his efficient assistants, was very successful until some time during the years 1831-2, a personal difficulty grew up between the president and members of the faculty, which, to a great extent, jeopardized the interests of the college. The trustees first attempted a reconciliation, but, failing in that, they declared the chairs of Harney and Hall both vacant. Beaumont Parks, A.M., was elected in the place of Hall, and Rev. E. N. Elliott, A.M., in that of Harney. In 1836, Prof. Elliott resigned to accept the presidency of a college in Mississippi, and his place was filled, temporarily, until the next meeting of the board, when two professorships of mathematics were estab- lished; one of pure mathematics, and the other of natural philosophy. The first of these was filled by James F. Dodds, the latter by Rev. T. A. Wylie. At the same time the board divided the chair of ancient languages, and to Prof. Parks was assigned Latin language and literature; and A. W. Rut- ter was elected to the chair of Greek and modern languages.
The Indiana College was re-organized by an act of the legislature in 1839, the name was changed to Indiana University. It was endowed with uni- versity powers and a new board of trustees, with authority to establish such departments as the funds of the institution would justify, were appointed.
This new board re-elected the old faculty, but soon after the chairs of Profs. Dodds, Parks and Rutter were declared vacant, and were afterwards filled by the election of Jacob Ammen, from the West Point military ac- ademy, to the chair of mathematics; and John I. Morrison to the chair of ancient languages ; and also M. M. Campbell as adjunct professor of lan- guages and principal of the preparatory department.
Professor Ammen retained this position until the thirtieth of June, 1843, when he resigned. Prof. Morrison resigned during the same year, but Prof. Campbell continued in charge of his department for thirteen years.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
He was succeeded by James Woodburn, who served in that position until his death in 1865.
The chair of ancient languages was, at the next meeting of the board, filled by Daniel Read, of the Ohio University, and that of mathematics by the Rev. Alfred Ryors, of the same university, and thus the faculty remained for four years, when Prof. Ryors resigned, and Charles Marshall, of Vir- ginia, was elected in his stead.
President Wylie, after having discharged the duties of that office for twenty-three years, died on the eleventh of November, 1851. The presi- dency was filled by Prof. T. A. Wylie, until January, 1853, when the Rev. Alfred Ryors, who had previously been elected, entered upon the duties of the office. At the close of this year the faculty was again re-organized. The Rev. Wm. M. Daily, D.D., was elected president; and Rev. Alfred Ryors, D.D., was elected to the chair of mathematics, but resigned, and Rev. Robert Milligan, A.M., was chosen to fill his place.
The administration of Dr. Daily was marred by much discord. Charges were at times preferred against him, and, pending one of these trials, he resigned. His term of office was five years and six months. Prof. Milli- gan filled the chair of mathematics from 1852 to 1855, and was transferred to that of natural science, left vacant by the resignation of T. A. Wylie, and the chair was filled by the election of Rev. Elisha Ballentine, A.M., of Richmond, Virginia. In 1856, Daniel Read resigned the chair of ancient languages. It was filled by Prof. Ballentine; and Prof. Daniel Kirkwood, who was then president of the Delaware College, was appointed to the chair of mathematics and civil engineering. Prof. Milligan resigned the professorship of natural science in 1855, and Prof. T. A. Wylie was elected, and after a two years' absence in the Miami University, returned to his for- mer position. Dr. Daily resigned the presidency in 1859, and was suc- ceeded by Dr. J. H. Lathrop. Soon after this another professorship was established, " the chair of English literature," and Rev. H. B. Hibben was elected to fill it. Dr. Lathrop resigned in July, 1860, and the Rev. Cyrus Nutt, D.D., then acting president of Asbury University, was elected presi- dent, and he has continued to fill that office ever since. In 1863, Prof. Ballentine resigned the professorship of ancient languages, and Prof. Wylie was transferred to that chair, his place being filled by Col. Richard Owen, M.D., LL.D. Prof. Kirkwood resigned his place, accepting the chair of mathematics of the Washington and Jefferson College, Pa., where he remained two years, after which he returned to his old position. Prof. Kirkwood's place was filled during his absence by C. M. Dodd, A.M.
In 1867, three new chairs were established. The department of ancient languages was divided, the chair of Latin language and literature, and the chair of Greek language and literature established. Prof. Dodd was transferred to the chair of Latin, and Prof. Ballentine was re-elected to the chair of Greek. The department of natural science was also divided, and two chairs established, one of natural philosophy, and another of natural science and chemistry. To the former T. A. Wylie was assigned, and Richard Owen to the latter. The professorship of English literature and
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INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.
the theory and practice of teaching was established, to which G. W. Hoss, LL.D., was appointed in 1868. The chair of modern language was estab- lished in 1867, but was not filled for two years, when John A. Renbelt, D.D., was chosen for it, but, holding it one year, he resigned, and was suc- ceeded by H. B. Boisen. The military department was organized in 1868. and Eli Long, Major-Gen. in the United States Army, was given the pro- fessorship. Long resigned in 1869. Civil engineering was added to the department, and Col. James Thompson, a graduate of West Point, was elected to the chair, and continues to hold it to this time.
James Woodburn died in 1865, and Rev. A. Atwater was appointed tutor, but the regular preparatory department was soon after abolished, and Atwater was elected professor of the Latin language and literature, a posi- tion which he has held since, with the exception of a year or two. The preparatory department being abolished, it was found necessary to employ tutors to bring forward such students as were ready for the freshman class with most of their studies, but behind in Greek and Latin. Scott Butler, A. M., served in this department from 1868 to 1871, and was succeeded by Alexander Kirkpatrick, A. B., and Samuel Tilly, A. B., and they by T. H. Mallow, A. B. Mallow died in 1871, and was succeeded by W. R. Hough- ton, A. B., who still continues to hold the position.
Prof. Hoss resigned his professorship in 1871, and his place was filled by Rev. John L. Gay, A. M., but he resigned in 1872, and was succeeded by Rev. George W. Parrott. Parrott resigned in 1873, and Prof. Hoss hav- ing been re-elected, resumed the duties of the office on the first of Jan- uary, 1874.
But, aside from the changes in the faculty of the university, which have been frequent, we must refer to its various relations to the legislature and people of Indiana.
The donation of a township of land in Gibson county for the Univer- sity of Vincennes, the organization of a board of trustees, the attempt to sell the land, and the supposed death of that corporation, have already been mentioned. After the board of trustees of the Vincennes University had thus failed to perform the functions of the corporation, the legislature passed an act authorizing the sale of the land and an appropriation of the proceeds to the Indiana State University. After this land had all been sold, and the board of trustees of the Vincennes University had slept for forty years, they began to awake and make an attempt to reinvest them- selves with the property which formerly belonged to them. Reorganizing the board and filling its vacancies, they proceeded to bring suits against the purchasers of the college lands, for their recovery. But the State had sold the lands to these defendants, and would be liable to them on her warranty in case they were thrown out of possession, so the legislature passed an act authorizing the board of trustees to sue the State directly, and thus settle the matter without putting the holders of the lands to the eyvense and annoyance of defending their titles. Suit was accordingly bought in the circuit court of Marion county by the trustees of the Vin- c ines University, and was lost. They appealed from this decision to the
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
supreme court of the United States, and the decision of the court below was reversed. Judgment was accordingly given against the State for sixty thousand dollars. To have paid this would have almost exhausted the endowment fund of the State University, but Congress happily came to her aid with a donation of twenty-three thousand and forty acres of land, and the State also assumed the judgment in favor of the Vincennes Uni- versity, thus preserving the endowment fund of the State University intact.
The State University having thus passed the ordeal of this suit, it was for a few years thought her final success was insured. But soon another misfortune overtook her. In April, 1854, the college building which had been erected about twenty-five years before, with all its apparatus and libraries, was destroyed by fire. That this fire, occurring at a season of the year when there was no fire kept about the building, it was supposed to be the work of an incendiary. The libraries then in the building were the college library and the libraries of the two literary societies, contain- ing, in all, about nine thousand volumes, many of the books being rare .and valuable. These were dark days for the friends of the university, and it was even thought, by many, that the institution was lost. The faculty and trustees, however, decided to continue recitations, and measures were taken for the erection of a new building. The citizens of Bloomington and Monroe county rallied to the rescue, generously donating ten thousand dollars to aid the cause. The remainder of the money necessary for the completion of the building was borrowed from the sinking fund of the State, and thus the work went on until the confidence of success again lighted the countenances so recently marked with despair, and a magnifi- cent new building arose, "Phoenix-like," from the ashes of the old, the finest and best university building at that time in the West.
A tuition fee of eighteen dollars per year in the preparatory department, and of thirty dollars per year in the collegiate, was required until 1838, when the legislature provided for the admission of two students from each county free. In 1860 the doors of the institution were thrown open to all alike, and since that time no tuition fee is required of any student in any of the departments of the university, thus complying with the spirit of that constitutional provision, which says, "It shall be the duty of the general assembly to establish a public school system, embracing a regular gradation from the primary school to a State university, in which tuition shall be FREE and equally open to all."
Another step onward was taken in 1867. Though a long time coming, it is, perhaps, of as much importance as any. This was a step that the growing sentiment of the people demanded for the equal education of women, and was no less than the complete breaking down of the barrier that kept the female sex entirely out of the college from its beginning to that time. "By one fell swoop the old prejudice against the co-education of the sexes was swept away, and the doors of the institution opened to the daughters of the State, as it had been to the sons before, and they are now invited to come and drink of the crystal fountains of knowledge and
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INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.
to enjoy all the rights and privileges that are enjoyed by the 'lords of cre- ation.' And come they do, and right well do they cope with the young men in the ascent of the hills of science. Several young ladies have already graduated from this institution, and experience proves that the co-education of the sexes is a real benefit to all."*
In this connection it is, perhaps, proper to notice, briefly, some of the causes that have operated against the success of the university, as well as against the advancement of the high educational facilities of the State. The first board of trustees of the Indiana State University, unfortunately for the interests of the institution, was a close corporation, the vacancies in the board being filled by themselves, instead of being filled by the legis- lature, or, as they now are, by the State board of education; hence the religious denomination, or sect, which had the supremacy at first, would perpetuate the supremacy through all time; and thus the institution be made substantially sectarian. Such was practically the result during the first ten years of its history. This was the source of many complaints from the Methodists, Baptists, and other denominations, not represented in the faculty, who were members of the Presbyterian church exclusively. The murmurs against this exclusiveness were long and loud, as it was per- sistently continued. This dissatisfaction with the management of the State University finally culminated in the withdrawal of the support of the denominations who could not obtain representation in the faculty, and the establishment of several sectarian colleges in different parts of the State. In 1836, Franklin College was established at Franklin, by the Bap- tists, the Northwestern Christian University, at Indianapolis, by the reform- ers, was established at a later period; as also the Christian Union College, at Merom, by the New Lights. The Indiana Asbury University was estab- lished at Greencastle, by the Methodist in 1839.
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