USA > Indiana > Johnson County > Franklin > Franklin College, Franklin, Ind. : first half century jubilee exercises, June 5 to 12, 1884 : addresses, historical, biographical and statistical matter, poem, hymn, general catalogue, etc > Part 8
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There was also a graduating class of three at the Commence- ment of 1850. They were Timothy H. Ball, of Crown Point, Arthur Brittan, of Lafayette, and James H. Vawter, of Vernon. Of these, T. H. Ball has been most of the time since 1850 in
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his old home in the capacity of preacher, teacher and author, having been a prominent man in the Baptist ranks in the northern part of the state. He has published three books; the first, entitled, " Lake County from 1834 to 1872," was pub- lished in the latter-named year. The second is entitled, " The Lake of the Red Cedars." These volumes evince a very pleas- ant style of authorship, and to denizens of the northwestern part of the state must be especially interesting. They are each books of about 360 pages, 16mo.
Mr. Ball's third volume is entitled, "Clarke County, Ala., and its Surroundings." Besides being a history of Clarke County, it contains historical information of the Southwest in general. It is a book of 782 pages, and is spoken well of by the leading Alabama authorities. In the preparation of this work Mr. Ball spent some years in Alabama, being principal, the last of these years, of the West Bend Academy at Coffee- ville, Clarke County, Ala. Besides these books, Mr. Ball has writ- ten poetry rather extensively. He also has published two pam- phlets, and has the manuscript ready for two other books and another nearly ready. Returning from Alabama about a year ago, he resumed pastoral, missionary and Sunday school work in Lake County, where he expects to remain the rest of his life. He is one of the sixty delegates from this state to the International Sunday-school Convention, which meets in Louis- ville to-morrow, June 11th.
The other two members of this class adopted the legal pro- fession. Arthur Brittan was from Lafayette. The old alumni roll gives his occupation as lawyer, and his address as Wyoming Valley, Wis. ; and this is absolutely all we have been able to find about him. The oldest inhabitants of Lafay- ette don't seem to know anything about him, and even a Wis- consin postmaster has kept my two-cent stamp and failed to answer my inquiries concerning him.
James H. Vawter was a brother of our late fellow-townsman, D. G. Vawter, and father of the late Mrs. Lillie Banta. His home was always at Vernon, where, in the practice of his pro- fession, that of lawyer, he was highly respected and success- ful. He seems also to have developed popular gifts as a poli- tician. He was for four years clerk of the Indiana State Sen-
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ate, and at the time of his death, in June, 1867, he was the member of that body from Jennings and Jackson Counties. having been elected in 1864. He also was a victim of con- sumption.
After this class there was an interval of five years without a graduate, and then went out James D. P. Hungate and Phile- mon C. Vawter. Being a very young student myself at that time, I remember to have looked with considerable awe on these men, as having attained a dizzy height not often reached by mortals. They were both earnest, industrious, quiet, dig- nified students. I remember to have almost envied Hungate his ability to subsist on three to four hours' sleep in the twenty-four. And I remember to have learned of Vawter some very valuable lessons in " Batching." Some things we learned in those days about the culinary art that I have never yet found a woman that fully understood or appreciated. J. D. P. Hungate entered the ministry, and, so far as my infor- mation goes, has been actively engaged in that profession ever since. A considerable portion of his pastoral life has been in Illinois. He is now located at Eldorado, Kan. In the absence of definite information, my impression is that his pastorates have been successful.
P. C. Vawter became Principal of the Lafayette High School, his older brother, A. J., being superintendent of the schools in that city. As evidence of the fact that they were greatly be- loved by their pupils, I learn from my partner, who was one of them, that they abbreviated the names Achilles J., and Phile- mon C., into "Apple Jack" and " Pie Crust." Early in his resi- dence in Lafayette P'. C. Vawter became Surveyor of Tippeca- noe County, which office, by successive elections with changes of political parties in power, he has held to the present time- a fact which in itself is sufficient evidence that he has been both faithful and accurate. For many years past he has lived in or near Chauncey, and has combined farming with his work as surveyor. He is a maternal uncle of our worthy President.
The year 1856 added three more to the list of alumni. They were Jeremiah Brumback, Francis M. Furgason and Daniel Trickler. Brumback and Trickler were Ohio men, and came
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over here from Granville on account of their attachment to Dr. Bailey, entering the Sophomore class in September, 1853.
After graduation Brumback was first tutor, then Professor of Mathematics, and still later, Professor of Latin and Greek, con- tinuing in the Faculty until the suspension of the College in 1864. He was also elected treasurer on tutor Dame's resigna- tion in June, 1856, and held that office until September, 1859. After the suspension he began the study of law, and early in 1865 he located in Indianapolis. In the spring of 1-66 he went West, confident of making a fortune in a mining company in Idaho, but the profits, as in many another venture of the kind, were all losses ; and, after exhausting all his accumulated re- sources, he again turned his attention to the law, locating at Boise City, and soon becoming one of the leading attorneys of the territory. His son Virgil, whom many of us remember as a little child, graduated four years ago at the Nation's academy, at West Point, and at once took rank in the army as lieutenant. Furgason occupied the position of tutor in the college from the time of graduating until the autumn of 1863. He was also treasurer from September, 1859, until April, 1864. After the suspension of the college, he taught a private school one win- ter in the North building. He was engaged for some years in mercantile business in Indianapolis, and then went West, locating in Kansas City, Mo. Part of the time since locating there, he has been engaged in teaching ; is now an insurance agent of the better class. He is a leading member of the Calvary Baptist Church of that city, and the principal manager of one of the principal charities of the city. By his affable manners and genial Christian manhood, he has won in every place he has resided many warm friends, especially among the children and young people. As Superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Franklin Baptist Church, he secured a larger attendance than the school has ever had since, although the membership of the church was then comparatively small, and the popula- tion of the town much less than now. After leaving college Trickler taught for two and a half years, in order to pay in- debtedness incurred in completing his college course. He was not a beneficiary. While in college he was licensed to preach by the East Franklin Baptist Church, in February, 1855. In
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October, 1858, he entered on the work of the ministry as mis- sionary in the Strait Creek Association, Ohio, where he was brought up. He was ordained the month following, viz, November, 1858. He continued his labors in the capacity of missionary for twelve years, and, without speaking specific- ally of the feeble churches strengthened, houses built or re- paired, or new organizations formed, it is fair to say, in gen- eral, that, during these years, as a result of this missionary work, the entire association took on increased life and power. During this period, viz, in 1864, he spent five months in the Union army, his salary being continued by the Missionary Board at home.
In April, 1872, he became pastor of the Newmarket Church, Ohio, and that relation was continued for seven years, and seems to have been very prosperous. In addition to the marked spiritual development of the church, a new house of worship was built, which is often designated as " the model," and is pronounced by some of the traveling brethren, such as Allen and Rhoads, the best village house in Ohio. After the close of this pastorate he accepted, in February, 1879, the pas- torate of the young church at Coshocton, which had a very small membership and a debt of $1,300. The debt has been cancelled, and the membership much more than doubled, but still Brother Trickler is not satisfied. It will be observed that the more than twenty-five years he has been actively engaged in the ministry, have all been spent in the same Association where he was brought up-a pretty good testimony that his charac- ·ter and work have borne acquaintance well.
There was no graduating class in 1857, but at the con- mencement in June, 1858, there were three regulars, William Hill, Abram B. Martin and Jeremiah H. Smith; and one scientific, Francis G. Lukens. Hill and Smith were ministe- rials, and during the latter years of their college course were somewhat noted for their disposition to discuss doctrinal questions. After some years of experience in the ministry they became associated in the management of the Ladoga Seminary, in which they had a good degree of success. In 1867 they came to Franklin, bringing with them many of their Ladoga students, and opened a private school in the college
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buildings under the name of Franklin College, with the avowed purpose of resuscitating the college, which had been then suspended for more than three years. Their contract with the Board of Trustees provided that at any time the said Board might deem it advisable to resume operations in their own name and under their own management, their lease to Hill and Smith might be terminated. For this self-sacrificing scheme these men deserve great credit. Taking hold of the enterprise in this way. at a time when there was no sign of life in it, they conducted a successful school for two years, with the various departments well manned and womaned (for it was they who introduced women into Franklin College), and then gracefully turned the whole over to the Board, which resumed charge of the department of instruction in Septem- ber, 1869. Both these gentlemen were offered positions in the employ of the Board, but Prof. Hill chose to try his fortunes in other fields. Some time after he entered the medical pro- fession, first as an Eclectic, but subsequently he adopted Homeopathy, in which faith he has been practicing for several vears past. At present he is located at Greencastle.
In connection with his teaching here, Prof. Smith became pastor of the First Baptist Church, which position he held for two years. He then accepted a temporary agency for the college. But after working at that for a few months he went into the boot and shoe trade, a business for which he had been trained in his youth. After continuing in this business for several years, he again turned to the ministry in which he has been laboring successfully, mostly in the State of Ohio. His present pastorate is at Chardon, that state.
Of A. B. Martin we remember that as a student he was one of the men that combed his hair, and wore clean clothes, and had his cravat tied on just right, and blacked his boots, and was an industrious, earnest man. Of Lukens, we remember that he was not quite so precise in all these respects pertain- ing to personal appearance, but he was a royal, good fellow, nevertheless, and sometimes taught geography singing-school. After leaving college both these men went to their farms- Martin near Delphi, and Lukens near Niconza. Martin has continued to cultivate the paternal acres successfully to the
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present time, being a leading man in his neighborhood and church. I have in my hand a letter from Lukens, which breathes so contented and happy a spirit that I will read it as it is written :
' Your unexpected letter came to hand a short time ago; I was glad to hear from you.
" In answer, I will give you a brief sketch of my uneventful but favored and pleasant life since I left Franklin College. I sold books the first summer or two, in connection with taking care of the farm; in the winter, taught school .. During the war period I was at home taking care of farm ; was a member of Union forces at home, and teaching. I then sold the History of the Rebellion ; then engaged in the pork business for a season ; then in the grain business. I then sold fruit trees in this state and Missouri.
"I took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial Col- lege. In the spring of 1869 I went to Topeka. Kan., and engaged in merchandising. Up to this time I had been teaching school in winter seasons, and was quite successful ; taught five or six terms in home district. I had many places of trust in business offered, but preferred a more free life. I continued in business in Topeka five years, and was sue- cessful ; was one among the first members of North Topeka Baptist Church, and was deacon of same when I left for this state. I had worked in Sabbath-school as teacher in Metho- dist. Congregational and Baptist sehools; had plenty of friends and a pleasant life in Topeka. I then returned to my old home in Indiana, where I have spent the remaining years up to the present on a pleasant little farm, working in Sabbath-school and church according to my ability ; am now a member of Niconza Baptist Church, acting as deacon of same.
" I have been a teetotal abstainer, an enemy of tobacco and all intoxicants, and used my influence against the use of them. I have a wife and two bright little girls that cheer me along the path of life. F. G. LUKENS."
In 1859 there were no graduates.
In 1860 came the class of classes. Dr. Bailey said it was the best class there was, or words to that effect. There were four of us, Simpson Burton, Casabianca Byfield and Barnett Wallace, regulars, and Tyre L. Hanna, scientific.
Burton was our preacher, though most of his active life was spent in teaching. Soon after graduating he commenced
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teaching at Mitchell, and also collecting funds for completing the building for the Mitchell Seminary. In the fall of 1861 he began his work as Principal of that institution, which position he held for eight years. Part of the last year of his life also he taught in the Ladoga Seminary. A Mitchell paper said of him : " As a teacher he was eminently success- ful. and is and will ever be tenderly remembered by his many pupils."
In June, 1864, he received ordination in the Mitchell Baptist Church, in the organization of which body he had been an active participant. In 1868 he removed to Bloomington and became pastor of the Baptist Church there, and this relation was maintained most of the remaining four years of his life. In the midst of his years he passed over to the majority on December 6, 1872, at the age of thirty-nine, at Bloomington. He was buried at Mitchell. The paper above quoted says farther of him: "He was an active Christian and loved to work for Jesus, and was willing to do anything that promised good results." Also : "He will be gratefully remembered by many for his services among sick and wounded soldiers during the War of the Rebellion."
Byfield, you know, was always genial. While a student he was more of a society man than some of us, and most every- body liked him. He was to be our lawyer, and began the study of that profession soon after graduating, and in due time opened office in this place. In 1863 he formed a partnership with T. W. Woollen. This partnership lasted two years, when it was dissolved, Woollen becoming cashier of the First Na- tional Bank, and Byfield cashier and book-keeper of the then new and capacious New York Store, the rooms now occupied by McNaughten. After remaining there for two years, he formed a partnership, in 1867, with D. D. Banta, which lasted until 1870, when Banta, being elected Judge of the Circuit Court, Byfield was again left alone. But, in about a year, Judge Woollen having been superseded, in the bank by a man who afterward ventured in the margins of things, the old firm of " Woollen & Byfield " was renewed, and continued until 1873, when Byfield, with D. W. Howe, formed a new law firm in In- dianapolis. The following year (1874) he was elected City Attor-
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ney of the capital of the state, which position was held two years, the partnership with Howe continuing; but, in 1876. Howe having been elected Judge of the Superior Court, Byfield entered into a new partnership with Judge Howland, and this firm continues to the present day. This chum of ours has been nearer a seat in the National capital than any other alumnus of this institution. Indeed, all he lacked of becom- ing a member of Congress was the simple matter of a few votes.
Hanna was our scientific. He was for two or three years my most intimate associate. I roomed with him, walked with him, talked with him, and we were mutual confidants in our Jove affairs ; and yet it seemed to me I never got very well ac- quainted with him. Yet I believed in him, and do believe in him, as a large-hearted, noble sort of man. He has been a busy man since leaving college, so busy that he never took time to get married until less than four years ago. He has been a farmer, perhaps without hardening his hands, a stock trader also, and an extensive merchant in Waveland. doing in some years, I think, a larger business than any of our Franklin merchants have been in the habit of doing. At one time he was induced to run for County Commissioner, and. being on the right side (as Byfield was not, you know), he was elected. In this capacity it is fair to presume he served his county, Montgomery, well. The upshot of the matter is, it is probable that T. L. Hanna comes nearer being a wealthy man than any other alumnus of the college So, with- out stopping to detail the deeds of the rest of the class, our pre-eminence seems clearly made out. For what other class has come so near having a Congressman? What other class has had a County Commissioner? and what other class has had a wealthy man ? Probably we should not have been betrayed into this exhibition of vanity and self exultation had it not been constantly in mind that our next theme must be the class of '61. On account of the extreme modesty of some of the alumni, it has been difficult to obtain information from them to embody in these sketches. One said, " Please only mention my name: my career has not been satisfactory to myself." Others have failed to respond at all. but the '61 boys
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never give any trouble of that kind. They always did, and always will, embrace every legitimate opportunity to get their names in the papers or before the public in any other way. And their experience proves pretty clearly the prin- ciple that the people are inclined to take a man at his own estimate of himself. They have assumed that they were as big and as smart as anybody, and as people did not know any better, it has come to be regarded as a fact. After all, we can't help ourselves feeling a sort of elder brotherly pride in the boys. There is Dr. Benjamin Franklin Adkins, A. M., M. D., who was always a clever, straightforward sort of man. He became promptly an Æsculapian of the regular type, and has stood consistently by his colors to the present day. He was located for quite a number of years at Aurora, where he com- manded a good practice and the respect of the profession and the people. From there he moved to New Ross and went into a general practice of medicine, and also became proprietor of a drug store. About eight years ago he moved to Indian- apolis, retaining control of the store at New Ross. Locating toward the northern part of the city he commanded a respect- able practice, in which he continued until about three years ago, when he moved again to New Ross, where he is now to be found, doing well whatever he undertakes.
The Hon. George Washington Grubbs, A. M., LL. D., on leaving the classic halls, entered the army as a private, and, in connection with his comrade Morgan, began at once to industriously study military tactics. They were soon trans- ferred to commands among the colored troops, where Grubbs made an excellent record as a soldier and attained the rank of Major. At the close of the war he began the study of the law, and located for its practice at Martinsville, where he has long held a leading position "at the bar." He was for one term a member of the Indiana State Senate, in which body he also developed decided leadership. As author of the ‘ libel bill which became part of the statute law of the state, and which bears his name, he has become known all over the state, as well as beyond it.
We next take a view of William Henry Harrison McCoy, A. M. His first post-graduate work was teaching district
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schools in Clark County, where first and last he taught six terms of four to six months cach. In the spring and summer of 1862 he was Principal for four months of the Seymour Public Schools. In the spring and summer of 1864 for four months he filled the position of Professor of Mathematics at Moore's Hill College. In the fall of 1866 he was for four months Professor of Mathematics at the Eleutherian College, Jefferson County. The following winter, spring and summer he was Principal of the Dupont public schools for cight months. The next three years into 1870 he was Principal of the Vernon public schools. In 1863 and 1865 he farmed the paternal acres. In 1864 he sold dry-goods for L. P. Lathrop, in Greensburg. Fourteen years ago he came to Franklin and became partner in the drug-store with E. Jeffery. After two years in this trade he sold out. (I think he was a little troubled with conscientious scruples about the whisky part of the trade.) He next bought the lower hardware store, which he operated for two years. From this he went again to the farm in Clark County, and, till less than two years ago, has gloried in the title of " Honest Granger." Whether, when he loaded his wagon, to market his products, the best of the corn was placed on top of the load, or the best of the wheat in the mouths of the sacks, or the best potatoes in the tops of the barrels, we have not been informed. This, however, we can say, that while W. H. McCoy is not the wealthiest man of our alumni, he has not been surpassed by any, either in his enthusiasm or his gifts for Alma Mater. During his years of teaching he had accumulated quite an equipment of chemical and philosophical apparatus, worth as much as two hundred and fifty dollars. When impaired health obliged him to relin- quish teaching for more active pursuits physically, he donated the whole outfit to the college laboratory. He also, at the beginning of the present college organization, subscribed one thousand dollars to the capital stock, and in due time paid it, principal and interest, like a Christian A year ago last November he again moved to this place, and became partner with Mr." Alexander in the hardware store, where he may still be found.
The Rev. Thomas Jefferson Morgan, D. D., went from college
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into the profession of arms. As indicated awhile ago, he was soon transferred from the white ranks to a command among the colored troops. On account of skillful leadership, meritorious conduct in battle. good fortune, or self-assertion, or all com- bined. he came out at the close of the war with the title General prefixed to his name. After the close of the war he entered the Baptist Theological Seminary at Rochester, N. Y., and took the full three years' course, graduating in May, 1868. Part of this time he was Chaplain of the New York House of Refuge at Rochester. During this course he seems to have impressed the management of the seminary with his ability to influence men, for he was, soon after graduation, appointed Corresponding Secretary of the New York Baptist Education Society, connected with the institution. On quitting that position, he accepted the Presidency of the Nebraska State Normal School, at Peru, that state. From there he went to Chicago to the Chair of Church History in the Baptist Theo- logical Seminary located near that city. After several years of successful labor in that position he resigned to accept the Presidency of the New York State Normal, located at Potsdam, about three years ago. He held that place for two years, and accepted a like position in Providence, R. I., which he still occupies. .
The Rev. John Williamson Potter, A. M., is the biggest man the college has ever graduated. During the fall and winter of 1861, 1862 and 1863, he taught a private school in the basement of the Baptist Church at Greensburg. He was ordained to the ministry in May, 1863. Soon after his ordination he went West, and during the fall of that year taught school in East Des Moines, Ia., and, following that, something more than five months at Rising Sun, east of Des Moines He returned home in June, 1864, and in October following accepted the charge of a private school at Aurora, which he continued to conduct for three years, till the failing health of his father seemed to make clear his duty to leave the school-room and undertake the management of his father's farm. This he did, and the father a few years ago died, leaving him sole heir of the said farm, which places him in a very comfortable situation financially. In connection with his farming, Potter has been somewhat
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