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 1879 > Part 41
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The endowment of the university is $212,000, the greater portion of which is profitably invested. Of this amount, $75,000 arc 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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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
(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 elceted 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. IIe was strict, fearless, almost rash, inflexible, estimating expediency as nothing in the alternative of right. Ile 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 cach, for the endowment of the institution. IIe 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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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
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. II. 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. HI. Larrabee, Joseph Glenn, James P. Luse, W. II. 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, Win. 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- ~pal 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.
TINIs 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 thic 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, aslı, 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 cqual in size, their average breadth being about one hundred and fifty fect. 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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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
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 pioncer 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 crecks, the former a splendid manufacturing stream. With the exception of the wet prairies, the surface was principally all upland, heavily timbered with oak, ash, becch, 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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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
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. Ranb, 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.
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
THIS county was named in memory of the unfortunate Colonel William Crawford, the land agent of General Wash- ington in the West, who was captured by the hostile Indians and burnt at Sandusky, in 1782. The surface of this county is
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DAVIESS COUNTY.
very uneven and broken. Blue river is the only stream of importance. Along this river the soil is excellent, but in the interior it is not so good. Oak and poplar timber is found in great abundance. The principal agricultural productions are the same as those of the other counties. Coal and iron ore abound in the western part of the county. Blue river affords many fine mill sites, most of which are improved; but the chief object of attraction in the county is the celebrated Wyandotte cave. It has been explored for over nineteen miles. Its greatest height is two hundred and forty-five feet, and greatest width three hundred feet. It is located on the border of Harrison and Crawford counties, or near the border of the former, in Jennings township, in the latter county.
Leavenworthi, the county seat, is on the Ohio river. Its growth has been substantial rather than rapid. It has good schools, and its public improvements are increasing in value and usefulness.
DAVIESS COUNTY.
THIS county bears the name of Colonel Daviess, who fell in the battle of Tippecanoe. The soil of the county is varied, but rich, and well adapted to the growth of articles usually cultivated in the West. The White river bottoms have a rich, black loam, in some places slightly sandy, which produces magnificent crops of corn and other grain. These bottoms were originally heavily timbered, and along the west fork, arc from one to two miles wide; on the cast fork, about half that width. The northeastern portion of the county is rolling, and heavily timbered; the northwestern portion is level and inter. spersed with prairies and skirts of timber; the centre is level barrens; the south and east, rolling, with formerly heavy tim- ber. Formerly, this county presented some magnificent forests of walnut and beach, and other timber.
Washington is the county seat of Daviess county. It is a small town, but full of life and thrift, surrounded by a rich and fertile district, with good railroad facilities; in the near future it cannot fail to grow and prosper. It has good incor-
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IHISTORY OF INDIANA.
porated schools. The district schools of the county are fully up to the average.
DEARBORN COUNTY.
DEARBORN county was named in honor of General Henry Dearborn, at that time secretary of war. The bottom lands on the Ohio, Miami and Whitewater rivers, about fifteen thou- sand acres in all, and the west and northwest portions of the county, are level and slightly undulating; the other portion of the surface is broken and hilly. The land in the vicinity of the rivers and creeks, both in the bottoms and on the hills, is rich and fertile, being unsurpassed in valne for agricultural purposes in the State. The interior is well adapted to hay, wheat, etc.
Lawrenceburgli, the county seat, is located on the Ohio river, and on the Ohio & Mississippi and Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Chicago railroads. It is quite an important railroad station, and a growing commercial centre. Its educational facilities are good. Dearborn county has made considerable progress in agriculture and commerce.
DECATUR COUNTY.
This county bears the name of the gallant Commodore Stephen Decatur. The surface is level and slightly rolling. There are no prairie lands. The bottoms are not extensive, but very fertile. On some of the streams the land is hilly. The soil of the upland is a rich, black loam, and the timber consists mostly of ash, poplar, walnut, sugar tree, oak and beech. Along the cast and south borders of the county there are some wet lands, well adapted to grass, but not good for growing grain. The stone quarries of Decatur county afford substantial profit. The building stone of the county is inex- hanstible, and is being raised with good commercial results. The citizens of the county are a thrifty, intelligent set of men, awake to their own interests, and constantly developing the great resources of their county.
Greensburgh is the county scat. It is located on the Indi-
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DELAWARE COUNTY.
anapolis, Cincinnati & La Fayette railroad, and, enjoying the productions of a rich agricultural region, blessed with ener- getic citizens, it is growing rapidly. Already it is a flourish- ing place, having excellent schools and good public improve- ments.
DE KALB COUNTY.
THIS county was named in honor of General De Kalb, a Revolutionary officer of German descent, who was killed in the battle of Camden. The surface of the county is gently undu- lating, and, with the exception of some low, wet lands, was originally covered with timber. The St. Joseph runs about twelve miles through the southeast corner of the county, while the other portions are well watered by Cedar creek and its tributary streams. The timber is of an excellent quality, and the soil cannot be excelled by any land in the State. It is being extensively cultivated, with good results for the husband- man.
The county is divided into nine townships, Union being the centre, in which is located Auburn, the county seat, a small but thrifty town. It is located on the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw railroad. The county is young, but in a very flour- ishing condition.
DELAWARE COUNTY.
Tms county was given its present name on account of its being the home of a large tribe of the Delawares. The surface is quite level, with but slight undulations. Small, wet prairies abound in the county to one-twelfth of the extent of the surface; but these, besides affording good pasturage, are tillable with the slight expense of drainage. Timber was formerly very plenty in this county, and of the best quality. Almost every foot of land in the county is adapted to farming. White river in the centre, Mississinewa in the north, Buck creek, and their numerous tributaries, supply the county abundantly with water power.
It was in this county where the Prophet, brother of Tecum-
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
sch, resided, and there, until it fell by decay, swot Ine post at which he caused his enemies, whites and Indians, to ve tor. tured. David Conner, an Indian trader, was the first white man to settle in the county; others soon followed, and all have become independent and wealthy.
Muncie is the county seat. It is a city of about four thou- sand five hundred inhabitants, an enterprising commercial and manufacturing centre. It is located on the C., C , C. & I. and Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati railroads. Having all the advantages of a rich agricultural section around it, and being in direct communication with all the great cities of the north- west by railroad, it will undoubtedly continue to prosper, and will ultimately attain to considerable importance. It has excellent schools. Indeed, the schools in the whole county are well conducted.
DUBOIS COUNTY.
Tius county was named in honor of Toussant Dubois, who had charge of the guides and spies in the Tippecanoe cam- paign. The northwestern portion of the county is undulating; the other portions level, and about one-fifth of the whole is in the bottoms of White river, Patoka and other streams. A greater portion of the county has an excellent soil. Consid- crable portions of the surface are subject to inundation with the spring and fall freshets. There are no prairies in the county. Timber was originally abundant, consisting of wal- nut, sugar, beech, hickory, poplar, and white and black oaks. The staple productions of the county are hogs, cattle, horses, corn, etc. Among the material resources of the county, coal is abundant, and is already being mined with success. Coal mining is destined to become one of the great industries of the county, and will be conducted without injury to agricul- turc.
Jasper, the county seat, is a small but enterprising town. The county is making considerable progress in agriculture, mining and education.
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FAYETTE COUNTY
FAYETTE COUNTY.
'fms county was appropriately named in honor of the dis- tingnished General La Fayette. The surface of the county is divided nearly in the centre by the west fork of White- water, which is a very serviceable stream for manufacturing purposes. The surface of the county is rolling in the cast and sonth, and level in the north and west, with a large pro- portion of bottoms, and every part of the county is susceptible of profitable enltivation. The forests were originally dense and valuable, consisting principally of walnut, poplar, sugar, becch, hickory, oak, etc. The soil is very productive, and the labors of the husbandman are attended with substan- tial rewards. The farmers of Fayette county are nearly all wealthy. They have good residences, their farms are well improved, good school buildings grace every district, and a general thrift pervades the whole county.
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