USA > Indiana > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Indiana > Part 30
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The writer entered Franklin College in September. 1886. to remain as a student for six years. In the first year the old North and South buildings were the only college structures on the campus, save the woodshed and other outbuildings. The buildings were antiquated and much in need of repair and fresh paint. The class rooms were poorly lighted and heated, and
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the overworked janitor could seldom make his rounds. In the North build- ing Doctor Stott's class rooms, the music and art rooms were on the first floor; Professor Hall's class room and the boys' dormitories were on the . second floor ; the chapel, the Periclesian hall and Miss Thompson's room were on the third floor ; and the Athenian hall and a "frat" hall was in the attic. In the South building Professor Owen held forth on the first floor; Pro- fessors Chaffee and Williams, with Janitor Zoda, occupied the second; and on the third were Professor Moncrief's history room and the Webster hall. There were no athletic park, no gymnasium, and but the beginnings of a library. But students of that day will assert that Stott, Hall, Thompson, Chaffee, Owen, Moncrief and Williams made up a faculty team whose effect- ive teaching strength has never been surpassed in the history of Franklin College.
With the year 1888 began the work of improvement of the college property. Stott hall (the central building connecting the old North and South buildings) was then begun, but the work progressed slowly, and it was not finished until 1895. In 1903 the old buildings were entirely remodeled and improved, through the generosity of A. A. Barnes, of Indianapolis, and Grafton Johnson, of Greenwood. In 1904 the library building, Shirk hall, was completed with funds provided by the Shirk family of Lafayette, to whom the college is indebted for many benefactions. The girls' dormitory, the gymnasium and the heating plant were completed in 1908, the last named building being erected in large part from funds contributed by Johnson county citizens. The dormitory and gymnasium were built from the general funds of the college and the action of the board in diverting endowment to this use met with much criticism in the state. The action is justified, perhaps, in the imperative demand for these improvements and from the fact that the "Dorm" is now yielding an income of about four per cent. on the "invest- ment."
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On September 17, 1907, the old Franklin College Association passed out of legal existence, and Franklin College of Indiana was incorporated, suc- ceeding to all the property rights of the old joint-stock association. The new incorporation was to have a self-perpetuating board of twenty-four direc- tors, eight of whom should be elected annually for a three-year term. In June, 1908, the college was admitted to the retiring allowance system of the Carnegie Foundation, and under this arrangement Prof. F. W. Brown, David A. Owen, Rebecca J. Thompson and Columbus H. Hall, and ex- Treasurer Barnett Wallace enjoy allowances. In this step. Hon. Robert A.
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Brown was the prime mover, and was the special representative of the board in giving to the college this fortunate opportunity.
Three financial campaigns ought to be briefly noted. The first under the Rev. Norman Car, who became financial secretary in 1883, was an effort to secure $50,000 endowment by May 1, 1892. In this campaign John D. Rockefeller gave $10,000 and the friends of the college $40,000. In the "Business Men's Campaign," inaugurated December 20. 1897, and carried to a successful conclusion June 1, 1899, $75,000 was added to the endow- ment, Mr. Rockefeller's contribution being $15,000. Milton Shirk, of Peru, D. M. Parry, of Indianapolis, W. N. Matthews, of Bedford, A. J. Thurston, of Shelbyville, and many others contributed largely in this movement. At the end of twenty years of earnest effort Rev. N. Carr resigned. his last work being the completion of the Greek professorship, endowed with $20,000. The place of "financial secretary" is a difficult one to fill, and naturally Mr. Carr's methods met some criticism, but no friend of the college questions the unflag- ging zeal and persistent effort he put forth for Franklin College for a score of years. The recent movement to raise the endowment to the half million mark, under the leadership of Dr. Myron N. Haines, was only partially suc- cessful. In this campaign, closing July 1, 1913, the General Education Board pledged $75,000 on condition that the college procure pledges for $325,000, but the total sum raised from all sources aggregated about $300,000. The financial problems recently confronting the board are not yet worked out, and their history must be reserved to a later period.
COLLEGE ORGANIZATIONS.
Today the Greek-letter fraternity is the controlling factor in college life, but in the early history of Franklin College the literary societies furnished the means of social intercourse and gave to their members a training in public speaking that no class room work can ever give. Especially in the eighties and nineties did the literary societies flourish both in numbers and influence.
The Periclesian Society was founded on January 1. 1853, but was disorganized in 1861 by its membership leaving the institution as volunteers in the great war. Its activities were resumed in 1871, and the "Beacon" again gave forth its light on every Friday evening. Afternoon business meet- ings were conducted with scrupulous observance of Roberts' rules of order, and most students in its membership became proficient in parliamentary rules and skillful in handling debatable questions on the floor or from the chair. The evening entertainment was varied with declamations, essays, "medleys,"
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original stories, papers on current events, "eulogies and invectives," and orations, but interest centered chiefly in the debates, which were carefully prepared and delivered with much earnestness. All the exercises were care- fully "censored," and mistakes in grammar, in delivery and general deport- ment were ruthlessly pointed out in the "criticisms" at the close. The social half-hour was usually interrupted by the janitor's round promptly at 10 o'clock with the order of "lights out."
The constitution of the Periclesian Society is of record in the clerk's office (record 5, page 161) and contains the unique initiation ceremonies of the society. It is required that "candidates for admission to ordinary mem- bership, after being proposed and having received the unanimous suffrage of the society, shall obligate themselves by taking the following oath of allegi- ance: 'Mr. B -- , do you solemnly affirm in the presence of the Almighty Creator that you will ever while a member of this social body support the spirit of the constitution and laws, and submit to the penalties of the same; that you will use every reasonable effort to advance its interests and make it a source of pleasure and improvement?' After which he shall sign this con- stitution and be presented to the society and welcomed to all her privileges. Members shall rise to their feet when a newly initiated member is to be pre- sented, salute them respectfully, and resume their seat." This constitution is signed by E. E. Simpson, J. D. P. Hungate, U. Mullikin, G. W. Clark. P. K. Parr and F. M. Furgason.
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The Webster Society was also organized in 1853 and was for eleven years exclusively a society for men, as was also the Periclesian. In 1864 it sus- pended its meetings, to be revived in 1873 as a ladies' society. In 1877 it received a number of men who withdrew from the Periclesians and has con- tinued its organization ever since. The rivalry between it and the Periclesian Society was quite keen, and new students were "spiked" with great energy and ingenuity. In its later years it was known as a "barb" organization for the reason that its members were not identified with any Greek-letter "frats." College politics was usually divided along the lines of "Greek" and "Barbar- ian."
The Athenian Society was organized by former members of the Pericles- ian Society in 1884 and prospered for a decade, but was compelled to dis- band in 1896. The Ofer Gans followed with a brief existence, and the most recent organization of the kind was the Linconia, founded in March, 1908.
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GREEK-LETTER FRATERNITIES.
The oldest and most influential of the college fraternities is the Phi Delta Theta, founded at Miami University in 1848. Indiana Delta Chapter was instituted in Franklin College on April 20, 1860, the charter members being David D. Banta, William T. Scott, Thomas J. Morgan, George W. Grubbs and Casabianca Byfield, all of whom lived to fill places of distinction. Among prominent men who have been members of the local chapter are Dr. Columbus H. Hall and Prof. David A. Owen, long connected with the fac- ulty; Congressman William S. Holman and Francis M. Griffith, Gen. T. J. Morgan, at one time United States commissioner of Indian affairs; Hon. Robert A. Brown, ex-clerk of the supreme court; Prof. C. E. Goodell, of Denison University; Rev. Cassius M. Carter, LL. D., now of Los Angeles; Prof. J. T. C. Noe, of Kentucky State College; Hon. G. M. Lambertson, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Prof. John W. Moncrief, of Chicago University; Alva Otis Neal, state high school inspector; Frank Martin, deputy state auditor. The Phi Delts now own a fine chapter house at the corner of Madison and Jackson, and find the same a real home for the active chapter and a pleasant social center for the local and visiting alumni.
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Sigma Alpha Epsilon was founded in 1856 at the University of Alabama, and Indiana Alpha was installed in Franklin College February 14, 1892. Its founders were James M. Berryhill, C. D. Hazelton, J. M. Batterton, J. H. Howard, Hugh Miller, Henry W. Davis, F. D. Johnson, John A. Hill and Edgar Burton. The chapter has thrived and has filled a worthy place in the college life.
Pi Beta Phi Fraternity was founded at Monmouth College of Illinois in 1867, the first organization of college girls under Greek bands. Indiana Alpha Chapter was instituted in Franklin .College January 16, 1888. Pro- fessors Zeppenfeld and Palmer have long been active in support of the local chapter; of the other alumni members Emma Harper Turner, former grand president of the fraternity, has brought honor to the chapter.
Alpha Gamma Alpha, a local fraternity, was instituted in Franklin College, January 31, 1896, and at once took high rank among the social organizations. Its charter members were Mary Payne Beck, Sybil S. Taylor, Jessie Upjohn Waldo, Jennie Merrill, Elizabeth Ward and Nellie Miller White. This organization became, in September, 1912, a chapter of the national sorority, Delta Delta Delta, giving its members a better standing and a wider influence.
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Phi Alpha Pi, a local fraternity, was organized October 30, 1909, and has made a good record, especially striving to excel in scholarship, an example which has stimulated the other fraternities to do better class work and limit somewhat their social activities.
PRESIDENTS OF THE BOARD.
The following have served as president of the board of directors: Sam- uel Harding, 1835-36; John L. Richmond, 1836; Lewis Morgan, 1836-39; Jesse L. Holman, 1839-42 ; Lewis Hendricks, 1842-43 ; E. D. Owen, 1843-44; George C. Chandler, 1844-51; John S. Hougham, 1851-53; Silas Bailey, 1853-59; Judson R. Osgood, 1859-62; A. S. Ames, 1862-63; Isom W. San- ders, 1863-68; I. N. Clark, 1868-71 ; J. S. Boyden, 1871-72; R. W. Pearson, 1872-74; Grafton Johnson, Sr., 1874-76; James Forsythe, 1876-77; James L. Bradley, 1877-1891 ; J. T. Polk, 1891-1898; A. J. Thurston, 1898-1913; Grafton Johnson, 1913.
Of the other officers of the board two deserve especial mention, Dr. Barnett Wallace, treasurer of the board from 1867 to 1909, the longest term of service of any officer or teacher connected with the school; and Rev. Norman Carr, secretary, whose services are elsewhere spoken of.
The present board of directors consists of the following named :
Class I, term expires June, 1914-Arthur J. Thurston, Shelbyville; Will A. Burton, Franklin ; Clarke R. Parker, Terre Haute; Arthur Jordan, Indianapolis; Louis E. Endsley, Lafayette; Henry C. Barnett, Franklin; Nathan M. Jennings, Franklin ; E. L. Branigin, Franklin.
Class II, term expires June, 1915-Greene V. Woollen, Indianapolis ; Henry Eitel, Indianapolis ; Grafton Johnson, Greenwood; W. A. Waldo, Mun- cie; Ezra Mattingly, Washington; A. Z. Polhamus, Fort Wayne; William A. Guthrie, Dupont : William E. Morris, Cumberland.
Class III, term expires June, 1916-Albert A. Barnes, Indianapolis; Elmer E. Stevenson, Indianapolis; Joseph H. Shirk, Peru; Joe Moss, Linton; Elmer U. Wood, Columbus ; Henry P. Klyver, Franklin ; M. J. Voris, Frank- lin.
FRANKLIN COLLEGE PRESIDENTS.
Rev. George C. Chandler, D. D., 1844-50; Rev. Silas Bailey, D. D., 1852-62; Rev. H. L. Wayland, D. D., 1870-72; Rev. William T. Stott, D. D., 1872-1905 ; Elmer Burritt Bryan, LL. D., 1905-09; Elijah A. Hanley, D. D.,
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19II. Rev. William T. Stott also served as acting president in 1869-70. and Melvin E. Crowell, A. M., as president pro tempore from 1909 to 1911.
TEACHERS OF THE INDIANA BAPTIST MANUAL LABOR INSTITUTE.
Albert Freeman Tilton, 1837-40; Rev. A. R. Hinckley, 1837-38: Will- iam J. Robinson, 1841-43; Julia Robinson, 1841-43: Mrs. A. F. Tilton, 1842-43: Rev. George C. Chandler, 1843-44; William Brand, 1843-44. In 1836 Rev. Byron Lawrence taught a private school for three months in the original school building, and in 1841 rooms were rented to Thomas J. Cot- tingham to conduct a private school.
FRANKLIN COLLEGE PROFESSORS.
Rev. William Brand, D. D., 1844-55, languages and mathematics ; Rev. John W. Tisdale, A. M., 1846-47, mathematics: Jonathan Berry. 1847-48. mathematics ; John S. Hougham, LL. D., 1848-63, mathematics and natural philosophy : Mark Bailey, A. M., 1853-58, mathematics ; Jeremiah Brumback, A. M., 1858-64. mathematics : Rev. William Hill, A. M., 1867-69; Rev. J. H. Smith, A. M., 1867-69; Rev. William T. Stott, D. D., 1869-70, natural science, 1872-1905, mental and moral philosophy; Rev. Francis W. Brown, A. M., 1869-72, languages, 1887-1908, Latin; Rev. J. E. Walter, A. M., 1869-73, . mathematics: Rebecca J. Thompson, A. M., 1873-74. his- tory and natural science. 1874-1911, mathematics: Rev. T. R. Palmer, D. D., 1875-76; John W. Moncrief, A. M., 1875-79, Greek, 1881-94, history ; Rev. Columbus H. Hall, D. D .. 1875-76, natural science, 1876-79, Latin, 1879-1912, Greek, vice-president. 1885-1912; G. E. Bailey, Ph. D., 1878-79, science; Arthur B. Chaffee, A. M., 1879-1887. Latin, 1887-89, chemistry and physics: David A. Owen, A. M., 1881-87, science, 1887-1909, geology and botany: William J. Williams, A. M., 1885-87, peda- gogy; Wellington B. Johnson, A. M., 1889-99, chemistry and physics ; Charles E. Goodell, A. M., 1894-1900, history ; William E. Henry, A. M., 1894-97, English ; Jeannette Zeppenfeld, M. S., 1895-1914, modern languages: Rev. E. S. Gardner. A. M., 1897-05, English : Melvin E. Crowell. A. M., 1899- 1914, chemistry and physics; Augustus Raymond Hatton, Ph. B., 1900-01, history : Arthur P. Bestor, A. M., 1901-04, history : Minnie Bruner, 1900-14. music : Charles N. Peak. A. B., 1904-05. history : William H. Allison. Ph. D., 1905-08. history: Joseph H. Robinson, A. M .. 1905-07. English: Arthur Train Belknap. A. M., 1907-1914, English: Bertha M. Miller. Ph. B., 1907-
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08, domestic science; Howland C. Merrill, A. M., 1908-1914, Latin; Charles M. Phillips, A. B., 1908, English Bible: Electa A. Henley, 1908, domestic science; Herriott Clare Palmer, A. M., 1908-1914, history ; Fred W. Clark, B. S., 1909-14, physics and chemistry : John William Adams, B. S., 1909-January, 1911, biology ; Frederick H. Hodge, A. M., 1910-14, mathe- matics; Charles A. Deppe, A. M., 1910-14, biology; Frank Dewitt Simons, Ph. D., 1910-11. education ; Howard C. Tilton, A. M., 1911-14. education.
INSTRUCTORS.
George H. Keith, 1847-48, preparatory department; Achilles J. Vaw- ter. A. M., 1848-49, preparatory department ; John W. Davis, A. M .. 1848, languages and mathematics: Jeremiah Brumback, A. M., 1856-58, mathe- matics ; Francis M. Furgason, A. M., 1856-64; Barnett Wallace, A. M., 1860- 64; Rev. Frank J. Martin, A. M., 1863-64; Mrs. M. A. Fisher, 1869-72, preparatory department; A. J. Teed, A. M., 1871-72, mathematics ; John W. Moncrief, A. M., 1872-75, languages : E. S. Hopkins, A. M., 1873-74: Mrs. Theodosia Parks Hall. M. S., 1874-75, Latin and English : David A. Owen, A. M., 1879-1881, geology and chemistry ; Arthur B. Chaffee. A. M., 1884- 87, analytical chemistry ; John W. Moncrief, A. M., 1884-87, German and French; James M. Dungan, 1887-80. 1881-1896, music; James D. Bruner, A. M., 1887-89, modern languages: Lucia M. Wyant, 1887-89, elocution; Myrtle Burdick, 1888-89, pedagogy; Charles E. Goodell, A. M., 1889-90, modern languages: Rev. Eugene S. Gardiner. 1890-92, modern languages; Jeannette Zeppenfeld. A. M .. 1890-1895, modern languages: Henry E. Coblentz, A. B., 1894-95, English ; Augustus R. Hatton, A. M., 1898-99, his- tory ; Bertha M. Miller, A. B .. 1906-07, domestic science; James R. Ormsby, A. B., 1906-07, oratory ; E. A. Spauding, A. B., 1909-10, biology; Paul Van Riper. A. M., 1911-14. education : Mary W. Cross, A. M., 1912-13, English.
ART INSTRUCTORS.
Mrs. M. L. Wagner Debolt, 1867-69; Mrs. M. M. McPherson, 1869-72; Mrs. Arabella R. Stott, 1872-1898; Binnie Ream Goode, 1908-10.
INSTRUCTORS IN MUSIC.
Minnie Bruner, 1894-1901 ; Clarke R. Parker, 1897-01 ; Alice F. Evans, 1901-02 ; Jessie D. Lewis, 1902-08, 1910-14; Bertha Dakin Smith, 1908-1910.
PHYSICAL DIRECTORS.
John L. Goheen, 1909-10; Byron S. Whitney, 1910-12; John M. Thur- ber, 1912-14.
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CHAPTER X.
CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
In the early history of the Christian church of Johnson county many efforts were made to unify the services, and because of the scattered popula- tion many communities united in the worship of God in the district school houses. The early statutes had made provision for the erection of school houses and provided that all inhabitants should be free to use the same for purposes of religious worship, for meetings of Masonic lodges and for the holding of schools, and for the first ten or fifteen years of the county's history nearly every community held its religious worship in its local log cabin school house.
After the court house was built in the city of Franklin it became for many years the meeting house of the various religious bodies and not until the erection of the Presbyterian church in that city was any denomination provided with a separate house of worship. Nor only did the state and county make such provision for the holding of religious services of all creeds, but several public-spirited citizens of the county donated lands and the neighbors erected buildings thereon for the holding of religious services by the members of the different creeds, and in the beginning many of these meetings held in these log houses were visited by intinerant preachers who were obliged to hold their services, if their visit was timed on a week day, at the noon hour when school was not in session. In other communities, particular religious bodies were recognized, as for example, the site now occupied by the Hurri- cane Baptist church was conveyed by Samuel Overstreet as trustee for the Methodists, to Stephen Tilson, as trustee for the regular Baptists, and to Andrew McCaslin as trustee for the United Brethren, and it is fairly certain that all these denominations met for worship in the same house.
The first Sunday school in the county was a union Sunday school organ- ized by the members of the Presbyterian and Baptist churches in the year 1826. Samuel Herriott, then the clerk of said county and the most prominent citizen of the village, was chosen superintendent, but Mr. Herriott declined to act, stating that he was not a praying man and that someone should be chosen who would be able to open the school with prayer. Wassen McCaslin,
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a Presbyterian, was made superintendent and William Robinson, a Methodist, was his co-superintendent. This Sunday school was held in the second story of the old log court house and prospered until about the year 1832. At that time the Presbyterian leader of the school insisted that the catechism of his church should be taught in the Sunday school, but other members of the school, we should imagine the Baptists, insisted that only the Bible should be the subject of study, and this led to a division and the Presbyterians started a Sunday school of their own.
What we have said would indicate a very happy spirit of common fellow- ship between the different faiths, but the road was not always smooth. It was remembered by Simon Covert, of Hopewell, that when the first Sunday school celebration of the county was held in the town of Franklin, on the Fourth of July, 1828, a parade was had and after the Sunday school scholars marched down Jefferson street in procession to the court house and a hymn was sung, no one was present who could preach a sermon or deliver an ad- dress. It being learned that the Rev. James Havens, a pioneer Methodist preacher, was at the hotel then run by John Smiley, where the Franklin Na- tional Bank is now located, Mr. Covert was deputized to wait upon the preach- er and ask him to come over and address this union Sunday school. Mr. Havens curtly replied, "No, I fear that the Presbyterians will be greatly in the way in my work in this region," and the Sunday school celebration was obliged to disperse without the services of a preacher for the occasion.
It is a matter of some doubt as to just what faith was first represented by preaching in Johnson county. John P. Barnett, who came to the county in 1821, was a Baptist preacher, and in 1823 a Baptist church was planted in Blue River township. Early in the history of Nineveh township a Baptist church under the preaching of Mordecai Cole was organized at the house of Daniel Musselman, and when Richardson Hensley, after whom Hensley township took its name, moved to the neighborhood of Indian creek, a Baptist church was planted in that neighborhood. In 1823 the Rev. James Scott, an itinerant minister, unlearned in the books, but of unbounded zeal, came on horseback to the White River country and began his ministry there. His first sermon was preached from the door of a cabin built near the bluffs of White river, the women of his congregation seated within and the men lounging upon the earth or leaning against trees without. The first sermon preached in Union township was at the house of Peter Vandivier in 1827 by Elder William Irving, and in 1831 Elder James Ashley preached at the Utter- (20)
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back neighborhood and in the following year a Baptist church was organized in that neighborhood. The first Presbyterian church in Union township was organized at the Shiloh church by James Young, Jacob Banta and Cyril Winchester.
It has often been said that the first sermon preached in the town of Franklin was at the home of David W. McCaslin in the month of December, 1823, but from a letter written by Rev. James H. Johnston and read at the semi-centennial celebration of the Presbyterian church at Franklin it is cer- tain that the first religious services were held in the last week of December, 1824. The Rev. Mr. Johnston says :
"The first time I passed through Franklin was in the last week of December, 1824. I reached Madison, in Jefferson county. on the 9th day of that month. I preached on the first Sabbath that I spent in this state some thirteen miles north of Madison, preached the next Sabbath at Madison, then started for the interior of the state in a direct course to Indianapolis. I reached James Young's, at the forks of Sugar creek and Young's creek, early Friday evening or early enough on Saturday to have word circulated for preaching at his house on the Sabbath and sent an appointment to Frank- lin for preaching there on Sabbath evening."
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The first sermon preached in Pleasant township, according to the Rev. Isaac Read, was delivered by the Rev. George Bush at the house of J. B. Smock. To understand the condition of the religious life of that early day it is necessary to take into account not only the physical conditions of living. but the moral and spiritual relations of the people. When the first church was built in the county there were not to exceed one hundred voters within the boundaries of the county. Not a single inhabitant was to be found in the township of Hensley and Union, but one man lived in Clark, perhaps a half dozen in Pleasant, not to exceed thirty voters in the White River country. thirty or forty voters in the neighborhood of Edinburg and a few families in Nineveh. The settlers were all very poor. without money, and had settled in a wilderness which required all their courage and energy to conquer. The moral conditions were not of the best. While the majority of the pioneer settlers were from good families of Kentucky and came here to establish permanent homes, there was a considerable element of the rough and vicious class which is ever found in frontier life. The spirit of the times was not favorable to the reception of the Christian doctrines. As is pointed out in another connection, the spirit of turbulence and disorder was rife, neighbor- hood quarrels and affrays were matters of every-day occurrence, and it was
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