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 34
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The Indiana Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, seyeral years before they resolved to establish a university of their own, by con- ference action, tendered the support and patronage of the denomination to the Indiana College, provided the general assembly would so modify the organization thereof as to make the trustees elective by the legisla- ture; or, if the trustees would place a Methodist in the faculty of the uni- versity. These requests were steadily denied until 1836, after the confer- ence had selected Greencastle as the location of the university, for which the legislature had just granted a charter. Then the authorities of the State college elected Augustus W. Rutter, A. M., a Methodist, who was professor of languages in Alleghany College, Pennsylvania, to the chair of political economy and modern languages. But this liberality came too late, for the denomination had a college of its own. For the same reason the legislature withheld all financial support for thirty years, and the State university made no progress. Had a more liberal course been pursued from the beginning, all the denominations would have rallied to the State university, and instead of having sixteen colleges, Indiana, to-day, would
* Indiana Patriot.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
have but one grand university, fully equaling, if not excelling, that of Michigan.
It should be observed, notwithstanding, that the Presbyterians were not more to blame in this case than any other church would have been in like circumstances. "Anxiety for their own creed makes any church an unsafe guide in questions involving conflicting interests. The highest prosperity of the common school system, as well as all other American institutions, will be found when fartherest removed from all religious intermeddling."
LAW DEPARTMENT.
A law professorship was created in 1835, and Judge Blackford was elected to the chair, but he declined to accept, and no one was found to take the place until 1840, at which time it was accepted by Hon. David McDonald, LL. D. Judge McDonald remained in this position for twelve years. In 1847 the law faculty was increased by the election of Hon. William T. Otto, LL. D. This department was marked with great success under the charge of these able jurists until 1852, when they both resigned. Hon. James Hughes succeeded to the chair of law, and held the position from 1852 to 1855, when, being elected to Congress, he was succeeded by Hon. James R. M. Bryant, who filled the professorship for six years. Bry- ant was succeeded by Hon. George A. Bickwell, LL. D., who filled the chair from 1861 to 1870, when he resigned.
This department was re-organized in 1869, by establishing another chair, and by making tuition free. The law professors had, previous to this time, depended upon tuition for their compensation, and this was so small that the term only lasted for three months, but now the law professors are paid salaries, and the term lengthened to six months; Hon. John W. Pettit, LL. D., was employed in connection with Judge Bicknell. Both these resigned in 1870, and were succeeded by Hon. Samuel E. Perkins, LL. D., and Hon. B. E. Rhoads. Two years later, Judge Perkins resigned, and was succeeded by Hon. Deland R. Dekles, who served one year and was succeeded by Hon. D. W. Lafollette. He also served one year, and was succeeded by Hon. Cyrus F. McNutt.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
The departments of instruction are as follows:
First-The school of Mental, Moral and Political Philoso- phy, Cyrus Nutt, D. D., LL. D., Professor. In this depart- ment are taught mental philosophy, embracing the human intellect, sensibilities, and will; moral science, including the theory of morals, and practical morals; the former embracing the moral sense, the grounds of right and wrong, the nature of virtue, the authority of conscience, the rules of moral
CLEM. STUDEBAKER. ESQ.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
conduct, and the sources from which they are derived, and the nature of moral obligations; the latter, or practical morals, embraces the duties which we owe to ourselves, viz .: self-sup- port, self-protection, self-control, and self-culture; the duties we owe to man, justice, veracity, and benevolence; justice in regard to life, liberty, property, character, and reputation; veracity, in respect to the past, present and future; embracing lying, promises, contracts, and oaths; duties arising from the constitution of the sexes, the law of chastity, the law of marriage, the rights and duties of parents; the rights and duties of children; benevolence, its nature and obligation; benevolence to the unhappy, to the wicked, to the injurious; and lastly, the duties which we owe to God, obedience, love, and worship. Political philosophy, embraces civil polity, constitution of the United States, political economy, interna- tional laws. The evidences of Christianity are also taught in this department. Text-books are used, accompanied by lec- tures by the president, who has charge of this department.
Second-The school of Natural Philosophy, Theophilus A. Wylie, D. D., professor. In this department are taught descriptive geometry, mechanics, the nature and laws of light. heat, and electricity, the laws of motion, statics, dynamics. hydrostatics, hydro-dynamics, pneumatics, acoustics, optics, and astronomy. While text-books are used, the larger part of the instruction is given by lectures. The great laws of matter are clearly and beautifully illustrated by experiments, for which an extensive apparatus furnishes the requisite facilities, thus rendering their comprehension easy, and their acquisition attractive to the student.
Third-The school of Natural Science, Richard Owen, M. D., LL. D., professor. Thos. S. Van Nuys, M. D., professor of analytical and practical chemistry. In this department are taught botany, physical geography, anatomy, physiology, hygiene, zoology, mineralogy, geology, and chemistry. In- struction is given by lectures, accompanied by the use of text- books. Facilities for illustration are furnished by one of the largest and best museums in the United States; containing specimens of almost every genus and species of the vegetable
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INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.
and animal kingdoms, together with a very extensive collection of specimens in mineralogy and geology. In 1867, the cele- brated cabinet of Dr. David Dale Owen, of New Harmony, which was reputed by scientific men as fully equal, in the number, variety and volume of its specimens, to any in the country, was purchased by the trustees and transferred to Bloomington. This cabinet is now scientifically and tastefully displayed in the new college building. Another large addi- tion to the museum has recently been made by the purchase of the Ward specimens in palaeontology, which are exceed- ingly rich and varied.
The chemical apparatus is extensive, and admirably adapted to experimental illustrations, and all kinds of chemical anal- ysis. A full course of experiments is given to the classes in this department. No institution in the country is better pro- vided with facilities for an extensive and thorough course of instruction in the natural sciences than the Indiana State University.
Fourth-The school of Mathematics, Daniel Kirkwood, LL. D., professor. In this school are taught algebra, geometry, (plane, solid, and spherical,) plane trigonometry, spherical trigonometry, surveying, navigation, analytical geometry, dif- ferential and integral calculus. In addition to the full course of recitations, lectures are delivered from time to time on these various branches and their applications taught in con- nection with their theories.
Fifth-The department of the Greek Languages and Lit- erature, Elisha Ballantine, A. M., professor. In this school are taught Greek grammar, Greek reader, Greek compositions, Xenophon's anabasis and cyropedia, Herodotus, Homer, Thu- cydides, Demosthenes, Xenophon's memorabilea, Sophocles, Eurepides, Greek prosody, antiquities and mythology. Thor- ough instruction is given in the structure of this language, with constant attention to the accents and grammar.
Sixth-The school of Civil Engineering and Military Sci- ence, Colonel James Thompson, U. S. A., professor. In this school are taught practical surveying, with operations in the field, and instructions in regard to the use of the theodolite
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
and the other instruments used in civil engineering. The students in this department are also taught mechanical draw- ing, and the theories of the construction of bridges, railroads, turnpikes, etc., and the various styles and kinds of archi- tecture.
Practical instruction in military drill in the school of the soldier, and that of the company, is also furnished in this department. Those in this military school drill twice a week, which, in addition to giving them a knowledge of the manual of arms and military tactics, tends greatly to promote their physical development, giving them a graceful bearing, as well as firmness of muscle and general good health.
Seventh-The school of the Latin Language and Literature, Amzi Atwater, A. M., professor. In this school are taught Latin composition, and the elements and structure of the Latin language, and the following classical authors are read, viz .: Cicero, Horace, and Tacitus; Roman antiquities and mythology are also studied.
Before entering this department, the student must have mastered the preparatory course in Latin, consisting of Latin grammar, the elementary exercises of rendering Latin into English, and English into Latin; Latin reader, Latin prose composition, Cæsar, and Virgil. Direct reference is had con- stantly to intellectual discipline which the study of the classics furnishes the student, and to perfect him in his command of the powers and resources of his vernacular tongue.
Eighth-The department of English Literature and Elocu- tion, Geo. W. Hoss, LL. D., professor, and Sarah A. Morrison, A. M., assistant professor of English Literature. In this school are taught English composition, rhetoric, philosophy of rhetoric, logic, criticism, sentential analysis, English litera- ture, art of discourse and elocution. In logic, rhetoric and art of discourse, practice, as well as theory is required. Especial attention is given throughout the course in this department to criticisms in English; and in the daily recita- tions and exercises, every effort is made to render these studies of practical utility to the student, in giving him perfect com- mand of the English language. Classes are formed in elocu-
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INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.
tion, and daily lessons are given in vocal culture and delivery.
Ninth-The school of Modern Languages and History. In this department are taught German grammar, German com- position, the translation of German into English, and of Eng- lish into German; French grammar and composition, and the translation of French into English, and of English into French. The students daily practice conversation in these languages in connection with the professor. The most distinguished Ger- man authors are read; and selections from the best French writers are read and translated. General history, ancient and modern, is studied, with daily recitations throughout the fresh- man year.
Tenth-The preparatory school, Walter B. Houghton, A. M., and Miss S. May, professors. In this department are taught English grammar, arithmetic, geography, orthography, sentential analysis, English composition, history of the United States, book-keeping, algebra, (elementary and higher), geom- etry, Latin grammar, Latin reader, Latin prose composition, Cæsar, Virgil, and Cicero's orations.
A change has recently been made in the studies requisite for admission to the freshman class in the university. One year more of mathematics, and one year less of Greeks are now required in the preparatory course. This modification adapts the collegiate course of the university to the course of study in the best class of high schools in the State. The student who completes the high school course and passes satisfactory examinations, is entitled to enter the freshman class in the university without further examinations; and he is not com- pelled, as heretofore, to spend two years in some private acad- emy or preparatory department of some college, in order to bring up his studies in Greek. Thus the public system of education of Indiana is consolidated and harmonized; and a ,complete gradation of schools is established, in accordance with the provisions of the State constitution, from the pri- mary, intermediate, and high school, to the university, in all of which, tuition is free.
Eleventh-State geological, mineralogical and agricultural reconnoissance, Edward T. Cox, A. M., State geologist. By
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
an act of the general assembly, passed in 1861, the State geol- ogist is made, ex officio, a member of the faculty of the Indiana State University, and one of the stated lecturers. He is also required to present to the cabinet of the university a duplicate of all the specimens in geology and mineralogy collected in the State of Indiana.
Twelfth-The Law School. Faculty: Cyrus Nutt, D. D. LL. D., president; Hon. B. E. Rhodes, A. M., and Hon. Cyrus F. McNutt, law professors.
This department now occupies the commodious and beauti- ful room prepared for it in the new edifice, just completed. The course of instruction begins on the seventeenth of Sep- tember, and closes on the last Thursday before the fourth of July in each year. The year is divided into three sessions corresponding to the sessions of the collegiate department. Moot courts are held every Wednesday and Saturday, in which all the students are exercised in the preparation of papers and pleadings, the rules of practice, forms of record and in the discussion of legal questions. Tuition is free for all. The contingent fee is three dollars per session. Students of the law department are allowed to attend lectures and recitations in the university, under the direction of the faculty of arts. Students receive the degree of bachelor of laws after an attendance of not less than two years, provided they pass the requisite examinations. Connected with this department, there is a large and valuable law library, containing the works of the best writers upon jurisprudence, together with English reports, and the reports of the supreme court of the United States, and the reports of the supreme courts of most of the States. To this library the students have free access.
If we have made a longer chapter on the Indiana State University than its importance, compared with other interests of the State, demands, we have done so in the hope that it may awaken a more general interest in its welfare. This is. much needed. The medical department of the university is located in Indianapolis, and will receive due notice in our sketch of Marion county, in a succeeding chapter.
CHAPTER LXII.
HENRY COUNTY - HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
H ENRY county was first settled in 1818-19. In the latter year Asahel Woodard, Andrew Shannon, Allen Shep- herd, a Mr. Whittinger, David Cray, George Hobson, and Wm. Shannon, settled in what is now Henry township. Mr. Woodard erected his log cabin just north of the site of the present town of New Castle, within a few yards of his residence. The Whittingers and Mr. Cray built a "log residence " not many yards from the site where Joshua Holland's house was afterwards erected. Allen Shepherd settled nearly two miles north by east of New Castle, on what was afterwards known as the Huddleson farm, and his "elegant residence,* erected fifty-five years ago is still standing." Andrew Shannon located just north of Shepherd, and near the present site of the Hern- ley mills. George Hobson settled on the farm afterwards owned by Judge Elliott, about a mile and a half southwest of New Castle. William Shannon settled on what was afterwards known as the Holloway farm, four miles southwest of New Castle. Following these came Joseph Hobson, who settled near the Elliott farm, two miles southwest of New Castle. It was at his house that the first county courts were held. " George Hobson, Andrew Shannon, Mr. Whittinger, and D. Cray," says Mr. Pleas, "brought their families with them, and made their cages afterwards. Mrs. Ashel Woodard and Mrs. William Shannon arrived on the thirty-first of July following, and Mr. Woodard planted about two acres of corn, the first crop, he thinks, ever raised by a white man in this county. He planted an old Indian field or clearing, and although culti-
* From Mr. Pleas' narrative.
31
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
vated with the hoe alone, he thinks he never saw such corn before or since." Thus was commenced the settlement of Henry county. The record is a simple one, yet full of mean- ing, and the same plain story can be told of the first settlement of nearly every county in the State. These were the pioneers of pioneers - those who felled the first trees of the forest, and tilled the first patch of ground, and built the first rude log cabins; and then there were the other pioneers who followed and increased the settlement, bringing with them new hopes, new ideas, new energies, new resolutions that braced up the weary original settlers. Then there were the long, cold, cheer- less winters, with a scarcity of clothing and provisions; with sick infant children, that were often laid away, after death, in the snow-covered earth, with only the little mound to mark their graves among the tall trees; with absent husbands and fathers, and lonesome nights, when the beating hearts of fore- boding wives and mothers longed for the return of paternal footsteps, or chilled as the dismal howl of the hungry wolf floated on the midnight winds. And then there were toiling men, brave men, and indeed great men, the greatest men this State has ever had - pioneer men - who through the "dark days " of want, privation, hardship and peril, worked on, and opened the way for the glorious civilization that followed them so closely. Such was pioneer life in Indiana, and it is scarcely necessary to repeat the same story in these short county sketches.
Henry county was organized by an act of the legislature, adopted in February, 1821. Lawrence Brannon, and John Bell, of Wayne county, John Sample, of La Fayette, Richard Biem, of Jackson, and J. W. Scott, of Union, were appointed as commissioners, to meet at the house of Joseph Hobson on the first Monday in July, 1821, for the purpose of locating the county seat. The first county election was held in 1822, and resulted in the election of the following officers: Jesse H. Healy, sheriff; Reme Julian, clerk and recorder; Thos. R. Stanford, and Elisha Long, associate judges; Allen Shepherd, Wm. Shannon, and Samuel Goble, commissioners.
New Castle was chosen the county seat of Henry county,
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HENRY COUNTY - HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
and in February, 1823, the county commissioners ordered that " the agent of Henry county shall offer for sale, to the lowest bidder, in the town of New Castle, the building of the court house of Henry county of the following dimensions, to wit: being logs twenty-two by eighteen feet, each log to face not less than twelve inches at the little end, being seven inches thick, twelve rounds high, with a cabin roof to consist of eleven joists, to be four inches by nine, the joists to be eight feet nine inches from the floor," etc. In the following May, however, the commissioners ordered that the plans for the court house should be changed so as to make the building larger.
New Castle, the county seat of Henry county, is pleasantly located in the center of the county. It was first laid off in 1822. After the usual pioneer struggles, the town grew in population and importance, and in 1833 it contained about three hundred inhabitants. It has now a population of about two thousand five hundred, and is a flourishing business center. It has excellent educational facilities, and contains within it the elements for an extensive future development.
Knightstown, a thrifty village, is pleasantly situated on Blue river. It was first platted in 1827, and is now one of the most enterprising villages in the county. In educational matters it has excelled. The Knightstown academy building is a com- modeous structure, capable of accommodating nearly four hundred pupils. The graded school at this town is also a flourishing and efficiently managed institution. The popula- tion of Knightstown is over two thousand. There are several enterprising and prosperous villages in the county. In the rural districts the scene is fully as refreshing as in the villages. The farmers have all put aside their pioneer habits and have taken on the modern regime. They are nearly all either wealthy or in comfortable circumstances. The county has good railroad facilities, and with a productive soil, its future material progress is guaranteed. The area of the county is about three hundred and ninety square miles. The surface is well watered, and the soil adapted to all kinds of grain indi- genous to the State.
CHAPTER LXIII.
CARROLL COUNTY - HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
H ENRY ROBINSON and his son, Abner Robinson, were the first settlers of Carroll county. Others followed close in their footsteps. The Robinsons built their cabins in the winter of 1824-5, and, in the fall of 1825-6, the settle- ment had reached quite a neighborhood. There is a long train of interesting pioneer reminiscences connected with the early experiences of the Robinsons, and those who settled in the county about the same time. These would afford a narrative full of romance and interest, and full of evidences of the great energy and perseverance of those early settlers. But we have no space for this narrative. Carroll county was organized by an act of the general assembly, in 1828. The commissioners appointed for the purpose selected the site of the present city of Delphi for the county seat. It was first given the name of Carrollton, but was soon after changed to Delphi. The sale of lots took place on the eleventh day of August, 1828, but land was not very valuable then, and the lots went off at a low price. So little enthusiasm was manifested at the sale, that it was decided to dispose of only part of the town lots, and await a more profitable season for the sale of the others. Not long after the sale a Presbyterian church was organized at Delphi, and the residence of Henry Robinson was used as a place of worship. In the fall of 1828, a large number of new settlers arrived, and the little town began to show evidences of growth and prosperity.
The fall and winter of 1828-9, were unusually dry. "The merchants shipped their goods from Cincinnati for the Wabash on steamboats, which could proceed no further than the rapids
484
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JOHN M. STUDEBAKER, ESQ.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
below Vincennes, at Mount Carmel." From that point they were conveyed to Delphi on wagons, " very much to the injury of the merchants, and the disappointment of the people." Early in the year 1830, Mr. Henry Robinson's mill was put in operation. During that year the summer was exceedingly dry and sickly .* The county improved rapidly, but, unfortu nately for Delphi, as it first came into notice that season, the unusual amount of sickness gave it a bad name, from which it did not recover for many years. This idea, however, has long since been lost in the general and well-founded reputation of the present Delphi for healthfulness.
At the first meeting of the Old Settlers' Society of Carroll county, held in 1855, the following list of the names of the early settlers of the county was obtained. It gives their names, their native States, age at that time, and the date of their settlement in the county :
Name.
Where Born. Age.
Date of Settlement.
Abner Robinson.
Ky.
54
Dec. 31, 1824.
William McCord.
Va. 59
Feb. 6, 1827.
James Odell .
Ind. 44 Feb. 1825.
Thomas Gillam, Sen
Penn. 68
April 4, 1829.
John M. Gillam
Penn. 69
Mar. 4, 1829.
Thos. Sterlin
Penn. . . . 54 Mar. 3, 1825.
John Little N. C. 66 Nov. 6, 1826.
John M. Ewing
Penn. 58 April, 1827.
Daniel McCain
Ohio 55
April, 1826.
William Hughes
Va
68 Feb. 1829.
Adam Porter Va 50 Nov. 1829.
Aaron Gregg.
Ohio. 53
Oct. 1830.
William McCain
Ohio. 52 Dec. 10, 1828.
John W. Gillam
Ind. 44 April 1, 1827.
Isaac Robbins.
Ohio 39 Oct. 1828.
William B. Givins Va 37 April, 1829.
Henry M. Graham
Ind 38 Jan. 6, 1829.
John B. Milroy
Ind. 35 Dec. 1826.
John Archer
Ohio. 40 April, 1831.
* James Harvey Stewart's compilation.
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CARROLL COUNTY - EARLY HISTORY.
Joseph Cox Ky
37
April, 1829.
John Barr
Ohio
47 . Sept. 1831.
Isaac Jackson
Va
40 Oct. 1827.
Jas. F. Givins
Ind 28 April, 1827.
George Royster
Ind
29 Jan. 1830.
James H. Stewart
Ky
46 Apr. 10,1830.
Andrew Burntrager Va.
55 Sept. 1829.
Enoch Stancel Ohio 49 Nov. 1830.
David Baum
Penn
50 April, 1825.
Noble Conklin
Ohio
48 Oct. 1830.
Jas. McDowell
N. C.
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