History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 56

Author: Bradsby, Henry C
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co.
Number of Pages: 1032

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Work on the building commenced in 1867, and the corner-stone laid August 13 of that year; Senator Morton and Dr. Richard Ed- wards, of Illinois, made addresses. The building was completed at the close of the year 1869, at a total cost of $189,000, to which were soon after added improvements costing $25,000.

The first board of trustees were Hon. John Ingle, Jr., Hon. R. W. Thompson, Judge W. C. Hannah, Timothy Nicholson and Mil- ton B. Hopkins. First officers were: John Ingle, president of the board; R. W. Thompson, secretary; W. R. McKeen, treasurer. First faculty of the school were: W. R. Jones, president; Nathan Newby, instructor in mathematics; Mrs. Amanda P. Funelle, in- structor of geography and methods of primary teaching, and Miss Mary A. Bruce, instructor in English grammar and composition.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

The school opened January 6, 1870, with less than a score of stu- dents, and for the first two terms the average enrollment was fifty- three, and the total was sixty-six. From this beginning a rapid growth went steadily along until the total enrollment for the year preceding its burning was 769 different pupils in all grades and rooms. The total number of students from opening to burning being about 5,000. In June, 1879, president Jones resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. George P. Brown. He in turn was suc- ceeded in September, 1885, by Mr. W. W. Parsons, the present in- cumbent, who was a graduate of the school, then one of the profes- sors and finally president.

Building Burned .- The Terre Haute Express, April 10, 1888, describes the burning of the State Normal Institute: The fire was first noticed about 9 o'clock on the morning of the 9th, a few minutes after the school hour commenced. In nine minutes the entire fire department was on the ground fighting the fire bravely, but at that moment the flames were seen bursting through the win- dows of the mansard roof. The wind was very strong. The fire- men in a few minutes found the entire upper floor ready to fall in, and they drove the people from the building as quickly as possible, and even then some narrow escapes were made. By noon nothing but the blackened threadbare walls of the splendid building remained. Fortunately for the surrounding buildings, just when the flying sparks threatened most, a heavy rain set in, as though it pitied the heroic efforts of the firemen and would aid them. Presi- dent Parsons was among the first who discovered the fire, and his presence of mind in going to every recitation room and quietly notifying them, prevented all confusion of the 618 students that were in the different recitation rooms. There were also four rooms on the first floor of the building, these ranged from six to twelve years of age. These were all quietly taken out before they knew what was going on. Two accidents are noted: Frank Federson, of the chemical company, was struck by falling slate on the back of the hand, cutting the leaders and breaking his arm. William Hultz, a bus driver, who was assisting his brother, O. B. Hultz, the school stationer, to remove his stock, was penned in the building. He finally made his escape, only with the loss of most of his hair and eyebrows and a scorched moustache; total loss, $225,000; no in- surance. The building originally cost $189,000 exclusive of furni- ture worth $25,000. All the important school records were burned, and the library valued at $6,000, there was but one volume saved. Prof. B. A. Everman had a large collection of natural history speci- mens which he had been treasuring for years all consumed. He saved most of his books, but his collection of fishes alone, the

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labor of many years, while invaluable to him, would probably have sold for $3,000 or $4,000. One collection, gathered only the year before, by the assistance of Prof. O. B. Jenkins, had been transferred to the institute only the day before the fire. The conclusion was that the fire originated from a burning flue. Immediately after the fire Trustee Joseph Gilbert telegraphed for all the members of the board. At noon Mr. Murray Briggs arrived from Sullivan. At the meeting of the board in the afternoon were present: Gilbert, Briggs, of the normal board; Boland, Scudder and Richardson, of the city board; Superintendent Wiley, President Parsons, President Men- denhall, Secretary C. M. Thompson, E. Gilbert, J. W. Landrum, Judge Carlton, Architect Vrydaugh, and other citizens. Mr. Briggs was made chairman, and Superintendent Wiley, secretary. The first question was securing temporary quarters for the school. The Baptist, Congregational, Christian and Centenary churches offered their Sunday-school rooms. President Mendenhall tendered the third floor of the Polytechnic, Mr. Gilbert offered the draughting rooms of the Phoenix Works, and the city board tendered the second story of the high-school building.

The question of rebuilding then came up. The general opinion was that to wait until the legislature met would be fatal, for there was and would be great rivalry, for the school architect Vrydaugh, the designer and superintedent said that $100,000 would place the school in nearly as good condition as before. It was at once deter- mined to raise $50,000, and commence immediately rebuilding. A. committee of five was appointed to confer with the county commis- sioners and city council-looking toward an appropriation of $25,- 000 from each body; the committee appointed: Mayor Kolsem, R. S. Tennant, W. R. McKeen, William Mack and T. C. Mendenhall. There was school the next day. The churches and high-school build- ing, and rooms offered by the Rose Polytechnic Institute were availed of, and the frightened brood was once more gathered together, and the work went on. The work of rebuilding proceeded as quickly as were the work of the teachers was resumed. Men were clearing away the debris of the fire before it had time to cool. The walls, as suggested by Architect William Vrydagh, stood intact. These were used, and the opportunity of adding certain changes and en- largements was taken advantage of, and, Phoenix like, arose from the ashes enlarged and beautified, and stands there in its grandeur and beauty, one of the finest public buildings in the State.

School in the new building commenced September 17, 1888, with the school year. The building, though not completed, was ad- vanced far enough for the school to take possession of it. The work of the year was accordingly begun in the new building. After the

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opening the work has continued, and is now completed. The entire basement was fitted up for school purposes, the heating apparatus being in a separate building erected for it, thus giving a larger amount of room for the work of the school than the old building contained.

The structure is worthy of the grand purpose for which it is de- signed. Its outward appearance is imposing, and its inner arrange- ments seem to be admirably adapted to the wants of the school. The promptness with which the city of Terre Haute and the State of Indiana responded to the call of the normal school in its hour of need is worthy of all commendation. It is one of those indications of the popular interest in education that are so cheering to the heart of every true philanthropist.

While the new building is not so high by one story as the old, there is in it, by reason of placing the heating apparatus in a sep- erate building, considerably more available room for school pur- poses. It cost less, but is thought to be architecturally much supe- rior, and is, in its internal structure and arrangement in every way, better adapted to the needs of the institution. Through the liber- ality of the city of Terre Haute, which gave promptly $50,000, to aid in the restoration of the building, and the appropriation by the last general asembly of $100,000 for the same purpose, the insti- tution finds itself to-day in the possession of more ample and suitable quarters than it has heretofore enjoyed; with a library superior to that lost by the fire; with better furniture for the building, and with more and better apparatus, appliances and materials of all kinds for all departments of its work.

The State Normal School, then, undertakes to fulfill the purpose of its organization by (1) leading the student to acquire a thorough knowledge of the branches required to be taught, the professional aspects of the subject receiving attention during this study; (2) giving a comprehensive knowledge of mind; (3) the study of the history and science of education, and (4) a system of instruc- tion in methods, and an extended period of observation and actual teaching in the training schools connected with the institution.

The growth of the institution from year to year since opening is given in the following enrollment: 1870, 66; 1870-71, 135; 1871- 72, 153; 1872-73, 228; 1873-74, 304; 1874-75, --; 1875-76, 227; 1876-77, 282; 1877-78, 450; 1878-79, 472; 1879-80, 454; 1880- 81, 588; 1881-82, 529; 1882-83, 640; 1883-84, 646; 1884-85, 705; 1885-86, 789; 1886-87, 769; 1887-88, 789; 1888-89, 806.

Board of trustees: Murray Briggs, Barnabas C. Hobbs, Dr. B. F. Spann, Harvey M. La Follette and Isaac H. C. Royse. Officers of the board: Murray Briggs, president; Isaac H. C. Royse, secretary.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Clerk and librarian: Helen L. Gilbert. Faculty: William W. Par- sons, president history and science of education ; Howard Sandison, vice-president mental science and methods; Nathan Newby, mathe- matics; Michael Seiler, geography ; Albert E. Humke, reading: Al- pheus McTaggart, Latin; William B. Woods, grammar, composition and literature; Barton W. Evermann, biology and geology; Elwood W. Kemp, history ; Mrs. Carrie B. Adams, music ; George W. Thomp- son, penmanship and drawing; Robert G. Gillum, physics and chemistry. W. W. Parsons is president of the institution, assisted by a large and efficient corps of teachers.

St. Mary's of the Woods, Academic Institute .- This institution for the education of females is conducted by the Sisters of Provi- dence. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the county. It is pleasantly situated about four miles west of Terre Haute on the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad. It has ample grounds and is in the open healthy country. The school has its own railroad station. The motto is: "Knowledge and Virtue United." It is one of the prosperous Catholic institutions of the country. Its first graduating class was one young lady in 1860. Now it averages each year about eight " sweet girl graduates."

Away back in 1840-fifty years ago-St. Mary's Academic In- stitute began in its small existence, October 22, of that year Joseph Thralls and family invited the Sisters to occupy a part of their log cabin, and five Sisters of Providence, who had just arrived from France, by invitation of Bishop Brute, accepted the offer and opened a school. Nothing could be more humble than this primi- tive cabin school in the woods. This little band of five Sisters is now in this country grown to be 500, and at St. Mary's of the Woods the little log cabin has grown to the present elegant brick and stone-trimmed edifices that are quite an interesting vil- lage, and to all has just been added a new and elegant convent church that was built somewhat in honor of their fiftieth anniver- sary here-a memorial of the arrival of Mother Theodore and her four companions. Under the order of the Sisters of Providence are now 10,000 children where were once the few of the neighborhood around St. Mary's. This is the mother house of this order. It was appropriately named "St. Mary's of the Woods" in honor of the birthplace of the founder of the order, "Ste. Marie des Bois." The hardships, the trials and the triumphs of these poor and gentle women are a part of the pioneer history of Vigo county.

St. Joseph's Parochial Catholic School is on Fifth street, west side, and the church and school buildings occupy the block between Ohio and Walnut streets. The female academy is the old first brick school-house built in Terre Haute, by stock subscrip-

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

tions. This was purchased and made a Catholic school in 1862, and placed in charge of the Sisters of Providence. The building was remodeled and largely added to, and is the girls' academy attached to St. Joseph's church. In 1888 the large brick school building was completed. This is the boys' school, and adjoins St. Joseph's church on the north. Both these schools are in charge of the Sis- ters, and in the two are 175 pupils, and seven teachers.

St. Benedict's German Catholic School is adjoining the church at the corner of Ninth and Ohio streets. The building was erected by the church in 1887. This is also under the care of the Sisters of Providence, and lias an attendance of 175 pupils and four teachers.

St. Patrick's Day School .- This is called a day-school to distin- guish it from the other Catholic schools that receive girl boarders. It is at the corner of Thirteenth and Poplar streets; has an at- tendance of 190 pupils-built in 1882; four teachers-Sisters of Providence.

The German Lutheran Parochial School was commenced in 1858 in the basement of the old Evangelical-Lutheran frame church on the corner of Swan and Fourth streets. When the church was removed to its present quarters on Poplar, between Sixth and Seventh, the school was provided its present rooms in the south part of the church building and parsonage. The school has an en- rollment of 80 pupils-one male teacher.

JillianMack

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXX.

WAR.

VIGO COUNTY IN WAR -TAKEN PART IN EVERY WAR SINCE THE REVO- LUTION-WAR OF 1812-BLACK HAWK WAR-PROPHET'S WAR-MEXICAN WAR-CIVIL WAR.

T THE western pioneers have been described as every man going around with his "arms full of fight." And little Vigo was disposed to always stand at the head of the class.

The nucleus that made the first settlement came of the Indian war of 1812 and the war with England of 1812-15. There were but very few of the pioneers but that in their old age was fond of telling over again the stories of marches, battles and skirmishes either with the savages or the invading foreigners.

The oldest military organization of which we have any account was the " Wabash Greens." October 22, 1823, the following, which explains itself, was issued:

The Wabash Greens will meet at the house of Captain N. Huntington, Novem- ber 1, thence proceed in martial order to the battle-ground of Tippecanoe and collect the bones of the American heroes who fell in that engagement, in as decent a manner as possible inter them, and erect some temporary preservation around the grave.

(Signed) ELISHA M. HUNTINGTON, Company Judge Advocate.

This sacred duty was performed, and the exposed bones of the heroes were collected and tenderly buried. It was a patriotic im- pulse on the part of the Wabash Greens, and posterity will ever thank their memories.

Mexican War .- Vigo county sent two companies to Mexico to take part in that war. Company F, United States Regulars, was enlisted in Vigo under Phil Harney, and went to Mexico. All the officers of this squad were of the regular army. The larger part was from this county, but there were men from Parke, Fountain and Clay, and probably others. Of the survivers in Terre Haute is John Smith, who is drawing his pension as Mexican war veteran. This com- mand went out in 1846.

A company of volunteers for that war went the next spring, 1847, under command of Capt. Cochran; first lieutenant, Coles; second lieutenant, John W. Mullen; third lieutenant, Jonathan Lee.

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HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.

Of the survivors of this company is James Alexander Manning, whose father, William C. Manning, came to the county in the early thirties. The most of this company was Vigo county men, a por- tion was from Clay. When filled, the command went to New Al- bany, and shipped by steamboat to New Orleans. The company was first under Gen. Taylor, and then sent to reinforce Scott in his attack on the City of Mexico, but reached that place after the capit- ulation. Of the survivors are John McCrosky, Youngstown; Ad- dison Curry, Terre Haute; John Bogart, near Terre Haute, and Edmund Watson and William Rector, of Clay county.

War of 1861-65 .- Fort Sumter was fired upon April 12, 1862. The Confederate army, under Gen. Lee, surrendered at Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865. Four years of internecine war, less only three days; in all, on both sides, over 3,000,000 of men, directly or remotely, engaged therein. It is now approaching the life of a generatien since the sun rose on that portentous day of April 12, 1861.

In common with every community of the country, Vigo county did its share toward fighting out the long and bloody war. It was quick to respond to the call to arms. The Fort Harrison Guards was a military organization composed of the young men of the city, that had been in existence some time. This was so much material ready at a moment, as it were, to go to war. When the hour ap- proached, and all knew that it was inevitable, this company notified the governor that in case of necessity they were ready to go to the defense of the country at a moment's warning. It was this com- pany's prompt action that to a great extent gives the county the right to claim the first completed organization to form in the State, and offer its services to the governor; Capt. Jabez Smith, Com- pany D. The order of forming the first companies to go was as follows: Harrison Guards, Vigo Guards, Terre Haute Guards. The latter were ordered to Camp Morton, April 23, 1861. The quota was filled on their arrival, and they returned to Camp Vigo, where it went into camp with nine other companies, June 7, 1861. The ten companies were mustered as the Fourteenth Regiment three years, and went to Indianapolis the last of June, and then to the seat of war.

The next was Company C, in Col. Wallace's Eleventh In- diana Regiment, mustered in August 31, 1861, for three years; Jesse E. Hammel, captain. The regiment had 11 killed and 52 wounded at Shiloh; from there to Corinth, Memphis, Helena and Camden, White River. Col. Maginnis on Wallace's promotion succeeded him, and on his promotion Daniel McCauley became col- onel; were at Milliken's Bend, then to Carthage, near Grand Gulf,

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Ft. Gibson, Champion Hill, where 167 men were killed, wounded and missing ; then to Vicksburg, Jackson, New Orleans, up the Teche, Algiers, Madison; returned to New Orleans, thence to New York and Indianapolis ; veteraned and went to New Orleans in May, 1864, then to Fortress Monroe; joined the Army of Virginia; had 81 killed, wounded and missing at the battle of Opequan ; mustered out July 7, 1865. No regiment saw more or harder service than this one. It marched during service 9,318 miles. This county also recruited the first regiment in the State.

The Fourteenth Regiment was organized at Terre Haute, June 7, 1861, 1,134 strong ; Col. Nathan Kimball; marched to western Vir- ginia July 5, 1861, and was in reserve at the battle of Cheat Mount- ain; was at Cheat Mountain, in several skirmishes, in Western Virginia; October 3, 1861, engaged at Green Briar, and lost 17 men killed and wounded; was engaged at Winchester, Va., on March 22 and 23, 1862; Gen. Shields being wounded on the twenty-second, the command of the division devolved upon Col. Nat. Kimball of this regiment; Col. Harrow in command of the regiment; it lost at Winchester 76 officers and men killed and wounded. The regiment participated in all the engagements and skirmishes up the Shenandoah, when "Shields' Greasers," as they were called, were ordered to report to the commanding officer at Fredericksburg; remained at Fredericksburg all night, and were then ordered to return to the Shenandoah valley and assist in the repulse of Stonewall Jackson, who had driven Gen. Banks from the valley; from thence were ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, at Harrison's Landing; was engaged at Turkey Point, losing 23 men killed and wounded; was afterward in the Maryland campaign; was at Antietam; went into the fight with 320 men and 24 officers, and lost 10 officers and 171 men killed and wounded, and 1 missing; was afterward at Fredericksburg in the "forlorn hope," where the dead of the Fourteenth lay nearest the rebel works; was at Chancellorsville; at Gettysburg they lost 123 officers and men killed and wounded; went to New York City to suppress the threatened riots; afterward rejoined the Army of the Potomac, and fought at Bristol Station and Mine Run; was in the battles of the Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, Po River, Spottsylvania, Tollopotumus and Cold Harbor, and there the veterans and recruits numbered 124 men and 1 officer; the colonel of the Twentieth Indiana was there transferred to the Twentieth. On May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania, in the celebrated charge of the Second Corps, Col. John Coons, of this regiment, was killed; after consolidation, advanced on the Weldon Railroad to Stony Creek; was in the battles on the left of Petersburg; at Pebles' House and Hatchers' Run,

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October, 1864, and in all the engagements on the left from Hatchers' Run to the fall of Richmond; was in the advance division of the Second Corps, which was the directing corps of the Army of the Potomac, in the pursuit of Gen. Lee, participating in all the engage- ments up to the surrender of the Army of Virginia; was engaged at Clover Hill, April 9, 1865, after which the regiment marched to Washington City; was ordered west on June 14, 1865; arrived at Louisville June 21, 1865, and was mustered out July 15, 1865, having 390 men and 23 officers present for duty.

The Seventh Indiana Battery was organized December, 1861; Samuel J. Harris, captain; moved to Kentucky; from thence to Nashville, Tenn .; made a forced march to Shiloh; was at the siege of Corinth; from thence back to Louisville, Ky., participating in the whole campaign under Maj .- Gen. Buell, from Louisville to Nashville; present at the battles of Perryville, Ky., and Stone River, Tenn. ; through the campaign under Gen. Rosecrans to Chattanooga ; at the battles of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge; moved with Sherman's army, May, 1864; participated in the different engage- ments of that campaign, which resulted in the capture of Atlanta, Ga .; moved back to Chattanooga, and there remained doing garrison duty up to the date of consolidation. The original organization was mustered out of service December 7, 1864. The records of the battery being taken by the officers, there is left no data from which to give the number of casualties, or when they occurred. Reorganized and mustered out as veterans in August, 1865. William Stokes, captain.

Eighth Indiana Battery was organized December 13, 1861. All recruits for this company were from Vigo county; left Indianapolis for Kentucky January 7, 1862, and reported to Gen. McCook; transferred from Gen. McCook's to Gen. Nelson's division; moved to Nashville, Tenn .; the First United States Artillery in the city ; transferred to Gen. Wood's division; made a forced march to Shi- loh, arriving opposite Pittsburg Landing Sunday evening; from thence to the siege of Corinth, having several skirmishes with the enemy; from thence to Tuscumbia, Ala., and Deckered, Tenn .; engaged Forrest's cavalry near McMinnville, Tenn., August, 1862, with artillery alone, cutting his command in two, killing and wound- ing several men and horses, also capturing many shotguns, etc., from the enemy; moved from thence to Mumfordsville, Ky .; engaged the rebels there, holding the town after the surrender of Col. Wilder in September, 1862; marched from thence to Louis- ville, Ky .; from thence followed the enemy, skirmishing every day to Bardstown, Ky., losing several horses, reaching Nashville in November, 1862; had several sharp engagements with the enemy

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while gathering forage through the country; was at the battle of Perryville; moved from Nashville December 21, 1862; skir- mished with the enemy up to the night of the 30th; was in the battle of Stone River; lost 1 man killed, 16 wounded and 4 capt- ured; moved with Gen. Rosecrans from Murfreesboro June 24, 1863; participated in the skirmishes of that campaign to Chatta- nooga; was in the First United States Artillery, and fired the first gun in said town September, 1863; was at the battle of Chickamauga; lost 2 men killed and 7 wounded, also 2 officers wounded, and 7 men captured, 43 horses wounded; was at the battle of Missionary Ridge November, 1863; did garrison duty at Chattanooga, Tenn., up to March, 1865, when consolidated with the Seventh Indiana Battery. After consolidation the two batteries were doing garrison duty at Chattanooga and Sweetwater, Tenn. There were fifteen veterans of the Fifth Indiana Battery transferred to the Seventh, who participated in all the principal campaigns and battles of the Western army. The three commands left the State in 1861, numbering 460 men and officers, and returned with 186 men and officers for muster out.

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History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections, Part 56

Author: Bradsby, Henry C Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co. Number of Pages: 1032

Author: Bradsby, Henry C
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : S.B. Nelson & co.
Number of Pages: 1032