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 39
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establish the complete circle of schools comprehended in the representative university.
On November first, 1848, a medical college was organized, with a large corps of learned and experienced practitioners retained as its faculty. This department of the university was con- tinued with energy and success during three years, having its seat of operation at Indianapolis, under the conviction that facilities for medical learning could be had more advan- tageously in the midst of a large population. During this period, abont fifty persons, having completed satisfactorily the prescribed course of lectures and examinations, were grad- uated into the medical profession.
A department of law was established in July, 1846, with Hon. R. W. Thompson, professor elect, at its head, and has been continued, with occasional interruptions and varying encouragement, until the present year (1875). An aggregate of fifty-six have completed the entire course usually required for practice in the legal profession. Many of them have proved their ability by the eminent positions an intelligent people have awarded them as a popular recognition of their merit. Because of limited funds, the university has, how- ever, been devoting its strength chiefly to intellectual culture. This, with Biblical literature, embracing under the term the Hebrew language and Old Testament criticism and exegesis - also the Greek Testament with criticism and exegesis -has received greatest attention, and hereafter to this class of instruction will the resources of the university be particularly devoted. In this field of endeavor has it achieved its enviable reputation among the institutions of the continent. Such, doubtless, will be the policy of the future, exclusively. Since the State has undertaken to supply the demand for medical and legal knowledge, and from its treasury for this purpose appropriates liberal sums annually, it is deemed to be the dic- tation of wisdom that this institution of the church should have a more exclusive consecration to that which is disciplin- ary and non-professional. It is proposed, however, in any event, that the work of Biblical instruction shall receive increased attention. This comes legitimately within the pur-
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pose and intent of the founders, and accords strictly with the requirement of the church under whose patronage it comes. To this extent and in this way may its work be deemed pro- fessional.
Two departments of instruction are provided for, the pre- paratory and collegiate. The former extends through a period of two years. The course of study consists of the elements of the classic languages, and the mathematics, including algebra, complete. This part of the course is fully equal to the requi- sites for admission into first-class New England colleges. To these are added Latin, prose composition, rhetorical lessons, American history, and American antiquities. The condition of public education is such, that to discontinue the department of preparatory study, would be disastrous to the interests of higher education. It is a singular fact that the high schools of the country furnish very few students to collegiate classes; once graduated from the comparatively limited courses there pursued. they at once enter their respective avocations of life. The Indiana high schools usually make no provision for instruction in the Greek language, for the reason, probably, that the masses of the people have not and do not require it. Every aspirant for a thorough higher education, however, wishing to have an acquaintance with that branch of learning, the university has not sympathized in the least with the sug- gestions of some of the leaders of public school education of the State, to dispense with this language from the requirements of collegiate preparation. It has been believed, rather, that to act under this suggestion would be to reduce disastrously the standard of mental culture, and discriminate far too greatly against the dignity and real worth of classic learning. It is believed also that to abate such preparatory classic require- ments, would be to deter effectually many from an extended course of study, especially in the classics, who otherwise would be influenced to pursue it. Certain it is, that the proposed plan does discriminate, in the popular interpretation, to a very great extent, against a liberal classical education. The decision and sufficient proof is, as it seems to the greater number of collegiate educators, the facts connected with those seats of
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collegiate learning where the suggestions alluded to have been adopted, and have been carried into practical effect. It has been thought advisable, therefore, as a wise economy of resources, that the faculty retain under their own exclusive management a preparatory school, adapting its course precisely to that required for the advanced classes.
The collegiate department embraces a full four years curri- culum, and consists of nine professorships: the mental and moral, natural science, Greek language and literature, Latin language and literature, belles-lettres and history, modern lan- guage and Hebrew, mathematics, civil law, and Biblical litera- ture. Provision is made for instruction in the Anglo Saxon, in connection with the chair of belles-lettres and history. In connection with the chairs of Greek, Latin, and modern lan- guages, instruction is afforded in the Sanskrit, Spanish and Italian languages. Physics is taught in connection with the natural sciences. It is understood that a donation of $25,000, by Robert Stockwell, Esq., in the latter part of 1874, is expressly for the support of a professor of systematic and prac- tical divinity. This fact, together with the large demand exist- ing for instruction in these branches of study, will, no doubt, result in the creation of the proposed chair at the earliest meet- ing of the board of trustees, which will occur in June, 1875.
The course of study in all the professorships, respectively, is remarkable for the fact that nearly everything has been excluded that is not of a strictly educating character. It is the aim to supply facilities whose use shall result in substan- tial discipline. The faculty and board of trustees agree fully in the policy which should be pursued in executing the educa- tional trust committed to them. They are of the conviction that he who is disciplined into ability to control the attention, and to think closely, can himself gain knowledge to any extent the exigencies of life may require. They have, therefore, con- structed the work of the departments with the view of pro- moting sound discipline, leaving the accumulation of knowl- edge to the discretion and industry of the student, after he shall have taken his graduation. The result is that the meta- physical philosophy, the classic languages, and mathematics,
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constitute a very large part of the undergraduate requisites The prescribed sciences are, for this reason, taught with the use of such authors, or texts, as treat their respective subjects under profound and exhaustive methods. They are encour- aged to continue this plan of instruction by the success which has uniformly attended its practical operation in every period of the institution's history.
Many scores of eminent men are numbered among the alumni, who have gone from its halls at the several commence- ments. These are represented in the public trusts, both civil and political, and equally in the responsible and successful industries of the country. The university has become distin- guished as the educator of many of the most eloquent of ora- tors; also many of the most efficient and reliable workers in both the church and state. In all these regards the institution has cause of congratulation, and can confidently point to the men educated under its direction -their learning-their character -- their power-their work, as the unquestioned proof of the excellence of its educational processes. No insti- tution of learning in the entire country has made for itself a more brilliant record. In the respect of its educated men, strong and efficient in their respective spheres, Asbury Uni- versity holds a high position among the colleges of the con- tinent -the peer of the best-superior to most. Such is the meed of distinction the impartial discriminator yields, as justly due to the wise adjustments and thorough application of a well selected means of scholastic discipline.
The endowment of the university is $212,000, the greater portion of which is profitably invested. Of this amount, $75,000 are the gift of Robert Stockwell, Esq., of La Fayette, and consisted of first mortgage bonds of the Indianapolis, La Fayette, and Chicago railroad, with two thousand dollars accrued interest in addition. Fifty thousand dollars, and the two thousand dollars interest, by the direction of the donor, go into the general fund for endowment purposes; twenty-five thousand dollars, was a special direction, and is intended to be the nucleus of a foundation for a theological department; the balance of the fund, one hundred and thirty-five thousand
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ASBURY UNIVERSITY.
dollars, was procured, with possibly very small contributions excepted, by the sale of scholarships. Early in the history of the institution, an attempt was made to make sale of scholar- ships at the rate of five hundred dollars each, with the hope that, by such sales, the necessary amount could be quickly secured. This proved a failure, the cost of the certificates being greater than the friends of the university could, at that day of comparative poverty in the development of the country, afford. In 1844, a plan was devised, adapted better to the ability of the people. Under this plan, certificates of tuition in perpetuity were issued for one hundred dollars. At a later period still, certificates running through twelve years were issued for fifty dollars; six years, or one full course, prepara- tory and collegiate, for twenty-five dollars. At these rates of cost, severally, scholarships were taken, amounting in the aggregate, in 1858, in cash and productive notes, to seventy- five thousand dollars. In the year 1866, marking the centenary period of the Methodist Episcopal Church as an organized body in the United States, a vigorous effort was again made to increase the funds of the institution. Appeals were made directly to the people for their contributions, by agents of the Indiana conferences, who, in prosecuting their work, canvassed the entire State. Scholarships were issued, meanwhile, to any contributors who desired to use them, and whose contributions were sufficiently large to meet the conditions of their sale. The sum realized through this plan of operation amounts, in cash and notes, to sixty thousand dollars. Small portions of the fund are not yet productive, and the productive portions are realizing for the purposes intended at different rates. The whole, however, is sufficient to yield an income equal to the essential demand of instruction. Having confidence in their ability to maintain their endowment and increase it in propor- tion to any enlarged requirement that in any probability will arise, the board of trustees, at their annual meeting in June, 1874, declared that TUITION SHALL BE FREE TO ALL. This provision of free tuition applies not alone to students in the regular classes of the university, but equally to all who are candidates for those classes in its preparatory school. To date
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(collegiate year, 1874-5), four hundred and twenty-four are availing themselves of these liberal allowances, and the num- ber is very rapidly increasing.
On December fifth, 1837, Rev. Joseph A. Tomlinson was elected to the chair of mathematics, and at the same meeting of the trustees, Rev. Cyrus Nutt was made professor of ancient languages, and principal of the preparatory department. Rev. Mr. Tomlinson declining to accept the chair of mathematics, it was tendered to Rev. Mathew Simpson, who also declined the position. The presidency was tendered to Mr. Tomlinson in 1838, but, declining to accept which, it was offered, in 1839, to Mathew Simpson, who accepted the position, and served nine years in that capacity. During these nine years the institution was permanently endowed by the sale of scholar ships, and by donations to the amount of $50,000.
In 1840, the faculty consisted of the president and the pro- fessors of mathematics and natural science, the Latin and Greek languages, and two tutors. The course of study was made equal to the older institutions, and was quickly brought up nearly to its present status, but little having been added since, except to the departments of English literature and natural science.
Mathew Simpson, D.D., came to the presidency of the uni- versity in 1839, was elected editor of the Western Christian Advocate in 1848, and bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1852. In his administration he was positive and strict, yet kind and gentle, his most severely disciplined students generally loving him best, because brought to re- pentance and reformation by his kind and firm exercise of authority. No man has been more popular, both among the students and citizens.
Lucian W. Berry, D.D., succeeded to the administration in 1849. He came directly from the active itinerant ministry. He was strong in the pulpit and in extemporaneous discourse on the rostrum. He was known particularly for his wonderful power in exhortation. He was exact in the tone of the dis- cipline he executed in the university, and precise in his own moral and Christian conduct. In the later years he became
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sensitive to a fault by reason of protracted physical suffering. He went to the presidency of the Iowa Wesleyan University in 1854, and presently died in an attempt to establish an in- stitution of learning of high grade in Missouri.
Daniel Curry, D.D., succeeded Dr. Berry as president of the university, in 1854. He was strict, fearless, almost rash, inflexible, estimating expediency as nothing in the alternative of right. He would compromise with no shadow of wrong, and his will was unconquerable. He was the man to quell a rebellion, at the same time that he was the very man under whom a rebellion would be most likely to occur. Dr. Curry resigned his position in the University in 1857, having held it for only three years, and, within a brief period, was elected editor-in-chief of the Christian Advocate, in New York.
Thomas Bowman, D.D., was president in 1858. A man of tact, affable, versatile, of unusual ability to utilize resources, exerting influence kindly, yet powerfully, he presided with great success over the work of the institution for fourteen years. In 1872, the general conference of the Methodist Epis- copal Church gave him an election to the episcopacy, where he executed duty as properly as in the narrower sphere of the presidency. Take him, all in all, though not the most learned nor eloquent, yet, in the judgment of a discriminating public sentiment, Bishop Bowman overranks any of his predecessors in the elements of popular character and of efficiency in work.
Many men of note have had part in the work of the univer- sity, either as trustees, agents, or in other positions of respon- sibility. Isaac Owen deserves very honorable mention. A man of energy and steady faith, he successfully sold scholar- ships, at one hundred dollars each, for the endowment of the institution. He was without a liberal education, but self- educated in theology, and a ready and constant reader of the scriptures in Greek, eccentric and unpolished, yet commanding great respect. In terms not greatly dissimilar should allusion be made to Samuel C. Cooper, Daniel DeMotte, and Aaron Wood, who, in the agency of the institution, did excellent service. In the list of men who have honored the university by their attentions and counsel, the names of Calvin Fletcher,
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Joseph A. Wright, Tilman A. Howard, Austin W. Morris, Alfred Harrison, F. C. Holliday, John L. Smith, Henry S. Lane, Williamson Terrell, John Ingle, W. C. DePauw, Asa Iglehart, David McDonald, John A. Matson, T. J. Sample, S. W. Parker, G. M. Beswick, E. G. Wood, Allan Wiley, Bishop Ames, John Wilkins, Isaac C. Ellston, Bishop Roberts, A. C. Downey, W. H. Goode, Calvin Rutter, D. L. Southard, Will. Cumback, and many more ranking among the nobility of the State.
· Among the alumni should be named: James Harlan, dis- tinguished for his career in public life; Newton Booth, governor of California and United States senator; Thomas Goodwin, W. H. Larrabee, Joseph Glenn, James P. Luse, W. H. Barnes, Henry Benson, George B. Jocelyn, Oliver S. Munsell, George W. Hoss, Samuel Lattimore, Philip Gillette, and many others in literature, authorship, and the practical professions. Many represent the university in the learned professions and in political life; many are in military life. During the period of the great rebellion, the classes of the university were nearly deserted, by students volunteering. The same was substan- tially true in the Mexican war. Among the distinguished specialists, it is but just to mention Elkanoh Williams, of Cincinnati, who stands quite at the head of the celebrated oculists.
Not invidiously, but as justly indicating the notable legal record of very many of the alumni, may be mentioned the names of Albert G. Porter, James McIntosh, Daniel W. Voor- hees, John W. Roy, John Hanna, John S. Torkington, Wm. P. Hargrave, H. C. Gooding.
A very large proportion of the alumni have entered the work of the Christian ministry, chiefly as it is prosecuted under the methods of the itinerancy in the Methodist Epis- copal Church.
CHAPTER LXXV.
CONCLUSION OF COUNTY SKETCHES.
TT was our original intention to make the sketches of the counties merely descriptive, except those in which are located the oldest landmarks of pioneer life, as with Allen, Tippecanoe, Vigo, Knox, Clarke, and other counties. The following are descriptive sketches of the counties not men- tioned in the preceding chapters:
ADAMS COUNTY.
THIS county was named in honor of President Adams. The surface is level, being beautifully undulating in some quarters. There are no barren lands, and but little wet prairie. There is a considerable portion of bottom lands, but the greater por- tion of the county is upland, heavily timbered. In some of the wet prairies of this county we find the water-shed from which the waters run both toward the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi. In these swampy sections are definable traces of beaver dams. The soil is mixed clay and marl, and is said to improve with continued cultivation. Timber was originally in abundance, consisting of oak, hickory, buckeye, ash, beech, elm, lynn, walnut, sycamore, poplar, and cottonwood. The principal water courses are the Wabash and St. Mary's rivers. In this county they are about equal in size, their average breadth being about one hundred and fifty feet. The St. Mary's was formerly navigated by flat boats, but is now obstructed with mill dams.
This county has made good progress in agriculture, com- merce and education. Decatur is the county seat, and is but
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twenty-one miles from Fort Wayne. It is a flourishing city. with excellent incorporated schools, substantial buildings, well kept streets, and thriving commercial interests, with good railroad facilities.
BLACKFORD COUNTY.
BLACKFORD county was named in honor of Judge Blackford, one of the pioneer judges of Indiana. The surface of this county differs but slightly from that of Adams. It is quite level, and in some places gently undulating. The soil is good and well adapted to the cultivation of wheat, rye, corn. oats. potatoes, etc. The exports consist of wheat, cattle, horses, and hogs. The soil is well watered by the Salamonie and Lick creeks, the former a splendid manufacturing stream. With the exception of the wet prairies, the surface was principally all upland, heavily timbered with oak, ash, beech, poplar, sugar tree, walnut, hickory, cherry, etc. The first settlement in the county was made in 1835, by Mr. John Blount. In 1837, a colony of emigrants from Vermont settled in the county, and laid off the town of Montpelier, named in honor of the capital of their native State.
Hartford City is the county seat of Blackford county, and is one of the most enterprising towns of northeastern Indiana. It has ample railroad facilities, bringing it in direct com- munication with Indianapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati, Toledo, and all the great commercial centers of the northwest. This place affords a splendid opportunity for the investment of capital and skilled labor. Generally speaking, the county has made good progress in agricultural pursuits, in commerce, and education. The schools are excellent. Land is cheap and productive, and there are many inducements for new settlers to locate in Blackford county.
Montpelier, another incorporated town in this county, is, if possible, still more enterprising than Hartford City. While second to the latter in population, it is fully up in commercial industry, and is destined to be the leading commercial and manufacturing mart of the county.
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BENTON COUNTY.
BENTON COUNTY.
THIS county was named in honor of Thomas H. Benton, a Missouri senator. The surface of the county may be described by saying, that it is one grand continuous prairie, being an extention of the grand Illinois prairie. The soil is exceedingly fertile. Many parts were originally very wet, but a system of drainage has been adopted which will ultimately result in bringing nearly all the surface into cultivation. Pine creek is the only stream worthy of mention. It runs southerly, and empties its waters into the Wabash river. The northern por- tion of the county is watered by tributaries of the Iroquois river. Stock raising is one of the principal industries of the county. The county is excellently adapted to grazing, and some of the finest droves of cattle produced in the west are annually shipped from this county to the eastern markets.
Oxford, formerly the county seat, is situated in the south- eastern part of the county, and on a high prominence over- looking the surrounding country. Although not a very large town, it is rapidly developing, and will soon become an impor- tant commercial centre. Its schools are well provided with suitable buildings and efficient teachers, and are in a state of prosperity. The schools of the county, for the most part, are equal to the average. Oxford has good railroad outlets, being situated on the LaFayette, Muncie and Bloomington railroad, and is within two miles of the junction of this road with the C. L. & C. railroad, for Chicago and Cincinnati.
Fowler, the present county seat, was first laid out in Feb- ruary, 1872, by Moses Fowler and Adams Earl, Esqrs., of LaFayette. Originally covering a plat one-half mile square, it has since been increased to one mile square. It is situated exactly in the centre of the county, and on the Cincinnati, LaFayette and Chicago railroad, or what is popularly called the " Kankakee Route." The county seat was removed from Oxford and located here in 1874, after a bitter legal litigation with the former place.
The first court was held in December, 1874, in the new and elegant court house, mainly built by private means and enter-
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prise. The town is improving rapidly, and already possesses a number of prominent business firms, a bank doing a thriv- ing business, a fine hotel, a newspaper office, a large and com- modious graded school building, and two church edifices.
Earl Park, located northwest of Fowler, on the same road, is another fast growing town. This town was laid out by Adams Earl and A. D. Raub, Esqrs., and bids fair to take rank with the foremost towns of this section of the State. The streets are beautifully laid out and graded; they are eighty feet wide, and have a row of fine shade trees bordering on each side and through the centre, a feature rarely met with in the west, and which will ultimately render these streets beautiful and pleasant beyond description.
BROWN COUNTY.
BROWN county was named in honor of General Jacob Brown, one of the heroes of the war of 1812. The surface is generally hilly, but the hills are interspersed with many bottoms, consti- tuting about one-third of the whole surface. Originally the hills were covered with an abundance of excellent timber, con- sisting of white ash, chestnut, oak, and hickory. In the bottoms it was walnut, poplar, sugar tree, hackberry, cherry, buckeye, elm, etc. Corn is the staple production in the bot- toms, while wheat, oats, grass, etc., grow well on the hills.
Nashville, the county seat, is a small town, but contains in and around it the elements of prosperity. Within the last few years its schools have been placed on a sound footing, and are now a credit to the place. Its commercial interests are grow- ing rapidly. The county is, in one sense, a wealthy one. The farmers are rapidly gaining an independence, improving their farms, houses, etc. The county schools are rapidly improving.
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