Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical, Part 62

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed. cn
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, F. A. Battey & co.
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Indiana > Brown County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 62
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 62
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 62

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Written Arithmetic, Geography with the use of maps and globes, and English Grammar. 4.00

Natural Philosophy, Algebra and Physiology 4.50

All tuition will be required in advance. No deduction in price will be made for ab- sence, except in cases of protracted illness. We hope the patrons of this school will con- tinue their patronage, as we have been at considerable expense in fitting up the school- room with maps, &c., making it more interesting for our students.

H. D. RIDDILE, Teacher.

THE BLOOMINGTON FEMALE COLLEGE.

The school law of 1852-53 provided for the sale of county seminaries, and the transfer of the proceeds to the common school fund. It is stated that the Methodists of Bloomington, who had talked for some time of founding an academy or seminary of their denomination, purchased the old seminary at auction ; but, becoming alarmed regarding the title to the lots upon which the building stood, annulled the purchase before the deed was signed. They immediately founded the Bloomington Female College, however, their church being used for that purpose. Rev. T. H. Sinex became the first President. The following was his advertisement in 1855 :

BLOOMINGTON FEMALE COLLEGE AND ACADEMY .- The fall term of this institution will commence on the 20th of September, and continue thirteen weeks.

TUITION.

In Primary Department, 1st Class, embracing Orthography, Reading and Writing, per Term. .$3.00 In Primary Department, 2d Class, embracing the above and Mental

Arithmetic and Primary Geography ... 3.50

In Academic Department, 1st Class, embracing Geography, Arithmetic,

English Grammar, History and Analysis .. 4.50

In Academic Department, 2d Class, embracing the above with Natural Philosophy 5.00

In Collegiate Department

6.00

Music, including use of Instrument to practice ..

Tuition bills payable in advance. THOMAS H. SINEX, President. 8.00 Sept. 8, 1855.

. . In 1856, immediately after the spring session, Rev. Sinex severed his connection with the college, and was succeeded by Rev. M. M. Tooke. In 1857, the courses of study, etc., were as follows :

476

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.

FACULTY.

Rev. M. M. Tooke, A. M., President, Professor of Intellectual and Moral Science; Samuel L. Bankley, A. B., Professor of Ancient Languages and Mathematics; Mrs. L. P. Tooke, M. P. L., Adjutant Principal Teacher of Modern Languages and Ornamental Branches; Miss Sarah A. Purdy, M. P. L., Teacher of Natural Science, and Assistant Teacher of English Branches ; Edmond Jaeger, Professor of Instrumental and Vocal Music.

COURSE OF STUDY.

Primary .- Orthography-spelling ; reading-first, second and third Indiana readers ; and exercises in mental arithmetic.

Model School .- Orthography, reading, elementary grammar, mental arithmetic, pen- manship, primary geography and history.

Academic .- United States History, elements of physiology, geography completed, com- position-Parker's exercises, analytical grammar and arithmetic, continued.

COLLEGIATE DEPARTMENT.

First Year .- Analytical grammar completed, anatomy and physiology completed, com- position continued, elementary algebra, ancient history, botany, modern history, elements of the French and Latin languages and orthographical parsing.

Junior Year .- Algebra completed, natural philosophy, domestic economy, chemistry, rhetoric, natural theology, geometry, logic-French and Latin, elective, with the ele- ments of Greek, also elective.

Senior Year .- Geometry completed, evidences of Christianity, science of government, plane and spherical trigonometry, German, elective, mental philosophy, geology, physical geography, elective, moral philosophy, elements of criticism, astronomy, Latin and Greek. Weekly exercises in composition, oratorical readings, etc., will accompany the whole course.

EXPENSES.

Tuition in primary department, per term. $3 50

Tuition in model school, per term. 5 00

Tuition in academic, per term. 6 50

Tuition in collegiate department, first year. 8 00

Tuition in collegiate department, junior year. 10 00

Tuition in collegiate department, senior year. 11 00 For incidentals and janitor's fees-each term 50

Vocal music through the course, free of charge.

EXTRAS.

Oil painting.

$12 00

Music on piano. 10 00

Lessons on organ. 8 00

Lessons on guitar. 8 00

Use of instruments, each .. 2 00

Drawing, crayoning and painting, each.

2 50

Monochromatics and tissue flowers, each.

3 00

Pellis, floral work.

5 00

Raised embroidery, in worsted and common

2 00

Spanish and Italian languages, each.

6 00

Gymnastics, and ornamental penmanship and bookkeeping ....... 5 00

Music on the piano, organ, etc., extra penmanship, bookkeeping, painting in oil and water colors, may, with the consent of the faculty, be substituted for those studies desig- nated in the course as elective.

A large college boarding house was kept on Sixth street, between Walnut and Washington. In 1858, Rev. A. D. Lynch succeeded Rev. Tooks as President of this college. He continued with satisfactory suc- cess until about the breaking out of the last war, when the college was permanently closed.

THE INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.

An early act of Congress provided for the reservation of two town- ships in each State to be devoted to school purposes, and in accordance

477

BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY.

with this provision the General Assembly of Indiana passed an act, ap- proved January 20, 1820, appointing a Board of Commissoners to locate the two townships in Indiana, and appointed Trustees to superintend the sale thereof, and the appropriation of the proceeds for the establishment and maintenance of a State Seminary. In accordance with this act of the Legislature, the Commissioners appointed selected the present town - ship of Perry, Monroe County, as one of the two townships, and made ar- rangements to erect the necessary buildings on the present site of the State University. In 1822, the Trustees let out the building of two seminary houses, one to be used as a dwelling for a teacher, and the other for the State Seminary. William Snodgrass was to furnish shingles at $4 per thousand ; John Robinson to deliver brick at $4.75 per thousand ; John Wright, father of Gov. Joseph A. Wright, to do the stone work, and lay the brick in good mortar, made of well sifted dirt and plenty of good lime, at $4.25 per thousand. Edward and John Borland, Samuel Hardesty and David Kello, engaged to do the carpenter work of the small house, which was to be the size of W. D. Mccullough's house, which he had rented to Thomas Allen, of Kentucky, except to be four feet longer. These buildings were both erected. On the 20th of November, 1824, the Trustees elected Rev. Banard R. Hall, the first and only teacher of the seminary, to open school as early as practicable in the following spring, at a salary of $250 per year, with the promise of an additional sum if the funds of the seminary would admit. The tuition fee of students was fixed at $2.50 per session, and two sessions were established for each year. On the 15th of May, 1827, the board elected John H. Harney teacher pro tempore of mathematics, natural philosophy and astronomy, with a salary of $150 for the first session of five months, $40 to be paid in advance. On the 2d of November following, upon the advice of the Honorable Board of Visitors, he was elected permanent Professor at a salary of $400 and $40 house rent, with the promise, if the initiation fees of the students amounted to more than $100 per year, to divide the overplus between the teachers to such amount as would not make their salaries more than $6 00.

THE INDIANA COLLEGE.

At the session of the Legislature in 1827-28, an act was passed to transform the State Seminary into the Indiana College, and Edward Bor- land, Samuel Dodds, Leroy Mayfield, Jonathan Nichols, James Blair, David H. Maxwell, William Banester and William Lowe, of Monroe County, Seth M. Levenworth, of Crawford County, and William Dunn, of Montgomery County, were appointed to make the alteration and estab- lish the new institution in accordance with the provisions of the enact- ment. On the 5th of May, 1828, the above named Board of Trustees met in the seminary building at Bloomington, elected Dr. D. H. Max- well President of the board ; Rev. P. M. Dorsey, Secretary ; and James Borland, Treasurer, and on motion of Mr. Dunn, proceeded to the elec- tion of the officers of the new " Indiana College." Rev. Andrew Wylie, D. D., of Washington County, Pennsylvania, was unanimously chosen Presi- dent of the college; B. R. Hall, Professor of languages ; and John H. Harney, Professor of mathematics and natural philosophy for one session, at a salary of $400 per year, with the addition of $40 to Harney for

478

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.

house rent. The following is a copy of an allowance made to Joseph A. Wright, afterward Governor of Indiana :

MAY, 12, 1828.

Ordered, That Joseph A. Wright be allowed for ringing the college bell, making fires in the college building during the last session of the State Seminary, $16.25; also for lock, bell-rope and brooms $1.37}, and that the Treasurer of the late State Seminary pay the same.

In the fall of 1828, President Andrew Wylie, having accepted the position tendered him by the Trustees, arrived in Bloomington, and the occasion was considered of much importance ; a torch-light procession and public illumination was given in his honor. President Wylie's connec- tion with the college proved very advantageous, not only to that institu- tion, but to Bloomington and Monroe County. He was famed for his learning all over the East and South, and soon students from distant States came to Bloomington to place themselves under his instruction. But the sudden and permanent popularity of President Wylie led to bitter jealousy on the' part of Profs. Hall and Harney, who no doubt envied him his good fortune, and wished for the possession of his place and hon- ors. The unpleasantness ceased with the permanent departure of Hall and Harney, in 1832. The college flourished greatly under the man- agement of President Wylie, and its influence was soon felt upon the com- munity. People of culture and refinement came to reside in the town ; churches grew strong, and shed their influence abroad, and the presence of superior intellectual and moral culture gave a tone to Bloomington so- ciety that had a marked effect upon youth, and made the town justly famous throughout the State.

THE STATE UNIVERSITY.

In 1838, an act was passed by the Legislature to establish a univer- sity in the State, and John Law, of Knox County, Robert Dale Owen, of Posey County, Richard W. Thompson, of Lawrence County, Samuel R. Hosovuer, of Wayne County, P. C. Dunning, James Blair, Joshua O. Howe, Chesley D. Bailey, William Turner and Leroy Mayfield, of Mon- roe County, were appointed Trustees to make the change from Indiana College to Indiana University. The Board of Trustees met on the 24th of May, 1838, elected Paris C. Dunning, President of the board, and James D. Maxwell, Secretary, and made such changes as they deemed necessary. A new building was erected of brick, and the course of study was widened. Andrew Wylie, D. D., served as President until his death in 1851, when, for two years, Theophilus A. Wylie, Daniel Reed and Alfred Ryors acted as such. In 1853, William M. Daily was appointed President, serving as such until 1858, when, owing to serious trouble which arose, he resigned. On All Fools' Day. 1854, the college build- ing was destroyed by fire, which loss embarrassed the institution very much, as not only were the recitation rooms gone, but a valuable library of rare works was burned. This was no doubt the work of an incendiary. The citizens immediately went to work to raise funds for a new building. They received a meager sum from the State, and in 1859 completed the present college building. on the old campus south of town. After the resignation of President Daily, in 1858, T. A. Wylie acted as such for a year, and John H. Lathrop for a year, or until 1860, when Cyrus Nutt

479

BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP AND CITY.

was appointed, the latter serving from 1860 to 1875. In the last-named year, Lemuel Moss, D. D., LL. D., was chosen President, in which ca- pacity he is still serving. A detailed history of this university cannot be given in this volume ; neither can suitable or merited personal sketches be written of the many eminent men who have been connected with it, or who have gone as students from its halls to honored positions in almost every State in the Union. It is appropriate, however, to say that the institution has been the soul of Bloomington. A majority of the older citizens are graduates or under-graduates, and their children and grand- children are now treading in their footsteps.

The fine brick building, erected on the old campus late in the seventies for the scientific department, was destroyed by lightning in July, 1883. The loss is said to have been $300,000. The library of 12,000 volumes, the Owen collection of fossils, etc., and other valuable articles were de- stroyed. In 1883, the Trustees of the University purchased a tract of twenty acres in Dunn's Woods, fronting Fifth street, and made prepara- tions to erect thereon two brick buildings, one for the main university ed- ifice, and another for the scientific department. The estimated cost of each building is about $60,000. The old building is to be used as a pre- paratory department. The twenty acres cost $6,000. This is the sit- uation at present (October 20, 1883).

THE CHUCHES OF BLOOMINGTON.

The Presbyterian Church of Bloomington was organized September 26, 1819, by Rev. Isaac Reed, the first members being Henry Kirkman, Mary Kerkum, David H. Maxwell, Mary D. Maxwell, John Ketchum, Elizabeth Ketchum, Elizabeth Anderson, Elizabeth Lucas and Patsey Baugh. The church was organized at the old log court house which stood where the jail now does. The first three baptized were the children of Dr. Maxwell-Martha Ann, James Darwin and Samuel Franklin. The first regular minister was Rev. David C. Proctor, who assumed the charge in 1822, preaching three-fourths of his time at Indianapolis, and the remainder at Bloomington. In 1825, he was succeeded by Rev. B. R. Hall, Principal of the State Seminary (now the University). Andrew Wylie, D. D., supplied the church from 1830 to 1834. He was Presi- dent of the Indiana College, into which the State Seminary had been transformed in 1828. Rev. Ranson Hawley served from 1834 to 1841; Rev. W. W. Martin, from 1843 to 1845; Rev. Alfred Ryors, from 1845 . to 1847 ; Rev. Levi Hughes, from 1847 to 1851; Rev. Thomas Alex- ander, from 1851 to 1853 ; Rev. F. H. Laird, from 1855 to 1856; Rev. Lowman Hall, from 1856 to 1857 ; Rev. T. M. Hopkins, from 1858 to 1869; Rev. A. Y. Moore in 1869. The first church was erected in 1826, and the last, the present one, in 1859-63.

In June, 1852, the Second Presbyterian Church was organized with a membership of eleven, eight of whom had been connected with the other church. Rev. Bishop became stated supply of the church, and con- tinued with it until 1867. Rev. Elisha Ballentine, after 1×54, supplied the pulpit during the absence of Rev. Bishop. Rev. Ballentine served from 1867 to 1869 without assistance.

In April, 1870, the First and Second Churches were united under

480

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.

the pastorate of Rev. A. Y. Moore, and were called the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church. Thus the church remains at present with a mem- bership of about 250. Since the organization of the church in 1819, there have been received into its communion through the First, Second and United organizations, 812 members. Twelve ministers of the Gospel have gone forth from the church.

The United Presbyterian Church of Bloomington is composed of three branches -- the Associated Presbyterian (Seceder), the Associated Reformed Presbyterian (Union), and the Reformed Presbyterian (N. L. Covenanter), which were separately organized in 1×33, 1834 and 1838 respectively. The three branches remained apart until 1864, when the Associate Reformed under Rev. William Turner and the Associate under Rev. John Bryan came together and formed the United Presbyterian congregation. In 1869, the Reformed congregation, under Rev. T. A. Wylie, came into the union. The early accounts of the separate branches are meager. The members were mostly from North Carolina, having left there owing to their abhorrence to slavery. They were largely farmers and were scattered outside of the county seat. At the time of union the mem- bership was about 200. It is now nearly 250. Their church, in the northern part of the city, was built early in the seventies. Rev. W. P. McNary became pastor in 1870.

The Methodists organized their class at Bloomington in 1820, and built their church about six years later. Among the early members were Joshua O. Howe and wife, Daniel Rawlins and wife, Benjamin Freeland and wife, Samuel Hardesty and wife, Ebenezer Shepard and wife, Mrs. Wright, Jonathan Legg and wife, Naomi Otwell and family, James H. King and wife, Abraham Pauley and others. The Wrights did the brick work on the old church. Elias Abel wheeled mortar. The build- ing cost about $600. In the forties, it was sold to the Baptists, and in the sixties to the Catholics, who yet own it. In about 1846, the Method- ists erected a new church. Rev. Owen was pastor at the time. It was the early custom in this church to have a door-keeper, and instead of a bell a great tin horn called to the house of worship. Other members in early years were the families of John S. Watts, Benjamin Neeld, J. D. Robertson, C. G. Ballard, J. S. Jones, W. E. Waugh, Zimri Worley, John Henry, G. W. Moore, J. W. Throop, C. P. Hester, B. F. Crary, W. F. Browning, J. W. Davis, Wesley Robertson, and others. The present church was built about 1873 and cost about $12,000.

The Christians, or Campbellites, organized a class not far from 1820, and built a church late in the twenties. The families of Haws Arm- strong, David Batterton, William Armstrong, Eli Lee, George Isominger, Johnson Mccullough, D. C. Smith, D. Eckles, J. W. Hardin, John P. Rader, William A. Clark, Thomas N. Williams, D. F. Tilford, and many others were members. They have had two houses since.

The Baptists started a small class at a little later period, the leading members being the Fosters, the Stones, the Vanoys and others. They built a brick church also, but were not as strong as the other three de- nominations. In 1861, the following statistics of the four churches- Methodist, Presbyterian, Christian and Baptist-were ordered prepared by the Bloomington Ministerial Association :

481

PERRY TOWNSHIP.

CHURCHES.

No. Sittings.

Av. Congregation.

Members.

Prayer Meetings.

Attendance.

Sabbath School.

O. S. Presbyterian

350

200

105

N. S. Presbyterian ..

225

150

U. Presbyterian (Prof. Wylie's)

300

100

U. Presbyterian (Mr. Turner's)

500

250

225

100

125

Methodist.

500

300

230

.50

130

Baptist.

250

Christian

409

200

175

100

Totals

2525

1200

916

280

540

Counting the number from the country attending the above churches, as about equal to the statistics of Mr. Turner's church, we have in Bloomington, church sittings, 2,025; attending church, 950; members, 690; prayer meetings, 7; attendance, 180; and in Sabbath school, 405. Taking the population of Bloomington as 2,200, and counting of this number 600 for the children, we have as not usually attending church 640; not members of church, 900; children not in Sabbath school, about 200. Surely, if these statistics approximate the truth, there is much ground still to be occupied.

Other religious classes have been organized since then. The Cath- olics have a small organization, and have a handsome brick church west of the railroad, on Sixth street. The colored people have two small brick churches in the city. Bloomington may be compared to Oberlin, Ohio, in the number of its colored population, and in many other respects- such as churches and schools. The city contains over 100 colored peo- ple, many of whom are well educated and well mannered.

PERRY TOWNSHIP.

TIMBER, SOIL, ETC.

T HERE is no better soil in the county than in some portions of Perry Township. That fine, small stream, Clear Creek, has its source with- in its limits ; and along many of the smaller branches are heavy deposits of mingled silica and alluvium, which constitute the basis of the very best soil for all the cereals, and for grass-especially timothy and clover, the staple grasses of the Mississippi Valley. There is no better soil in the State for wheat than in a few places in Perry Township; but corn re- quires more alluvium than the surface generally affords, though here and there are fields which much resemble the black corn-fields of Illinois, Iowa and Northern Missouri. Springs of good water abound. In the eastern part, a few are slightly impregnated with sulphur. As the early settlers did not have wells as we do now, they usually located where some

482

HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.

good spring promised an abundant supply of good water. Perry had many of these springs.

THE SEMINARY TOWNSHIP.

Township 8 north, Range 1 west, was one of two in the State of Indiana, devoted by Legislative enactment to special school purposes. The Indiana State University was then unknown, and its future place in the social system of humanity was unthought of. In the year 1820, the General Assembly of Indiana, in pursuance of an act of Congress, selected two full Congressional townships-one in Gibson County, and the other in Monroe County-to be used in founding and maintaining two State Seminaries. The selection was made through the medium of commissions appointed by the State Legislature, such officers being required to locate the townships, and carry into effect other provisions specified. This was done, Perry Township, or as it was only known then, Township 8 north, Range 1 west, being the one selected in Monroe County. Trustees were appointed to superintend the erection of the necessary seminary buildings -two, one for the school, and the other for the Principal to occupy. This work was done in 1822, four sections of land on the north side of the township being reserved for the grounds, etc., of the seminary. The sections thus reserved were all of No. 4, No. 5, the west half of No. 3, the east half of No. 6, the west half of No. 9, and the east half of No. 8, making in all four full sections. These sections were reserved from sale, and squatters were not permitted to make improvements, such as clearing the land, erecting buildings, planting crops, etc. It was different, however, on the remainder of the township. The citizens were, of course, aware that at some future day the lands of the township, except perhaps the reserved sections, would be thrown into market and sold in parcels to suit purchasers for the highest price that could be obtained. None of the land was remote from the county seat, and much of it was near, and, in addition, the rapid growth of Bloomington, the location of a State Seminary there and the appearance of educa- tors and citizens of unusual culture, caused the soil of Perry Township to be greatly coveted, and early in the twenties its bounds were invaded by an army of eager squatters, who, regardless of the fact that they had no right there, went to work erecting buildings in which to live, cutting down the forests to get fields for agriculture, constructing mills, etc., etc., as if the land were already their legal property. The years passed, but still the lands remained unsold, though quite numerously occupied. The squatters continuously clamored for the sale to be made, and at last, in 1827, the Legislature provided for the appraisement of the land and for its appearance in market. This caused the squatters to become anxious. Several of them had made quite extensive improvements in clearing and building, and the sale meant that their claims should be subjected to the competitive bids of speculators, prospective residents and themselves. The speculators, for instance, could bid on a squatter's claim, and, if willing to buy the improvements which the law of pre-emption required of him, could run the farm above the price which the squatter himself was willing or able to give, and could secure the home of the settler in spite of all that he could do. Nothing serious, however, was done, though there was some sharp competition for tracts of land of superior quality, or of favor-

483

PERRY TOWNSHIP.

able location. The appraisement of the land was made by James Bor- land, in June, 1827.

The rating of the land was done in June, 1827, as will be seen from the following certificate of Mr. Borland :

I hereby certify that the above is a plat of the Reserve I Township of seminary land in Monroe County as rated by me agreeably to an act of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, approved January 25, 1827.

Given under my hand this 15th day of June, 1827.

JAMES BORLAND, Commissioner.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical, Part 62

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed. cn Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, F. A. Battey & co. Number of Pages: 814

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed. cn
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, F. A. Battey & co.
Number of Pages: 814