USA > Indiana > The Indiana gazetteer, or topographical dictionary of the State of Indiana, 1849 > Part 4
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
43
GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE.
open to all." These requisitions of the Constitution on the Legislature, which the members are bound by oath to support, do not leave the establishment of free schools to them as a choice, but make it incumbent upon them as a duty; and no citizen of the State who for the last thirty-three years has known, or ought to have known, the injunctions of the Constitution, has any right to ask them to be violated. He may leave the State if he pleases, but while here, if he attempts to induce his rep- resentative to be guilty of perjury, he is an accomplice in the crime.
The tax for a free school system, when properly ap- propriated, is, without question, the most important and valuable that is ever levied on the citizen, for it is re- turned to him four-fold, by creating an intelligent and moral community, and thereby increasing the value and security of property, and diminishing the expense of crime and pauperism. The cost of vicious legislation and absurd schemes, which a well informed constituency would not endure for a moment, has been five-fold the expense of giving a good education to every child in the State; but nothing of this kind will be required to effect the objects enjoined by the Constitution. The lands donated by Congress for a State University, the fines assessed on criminals, which are to be applied for the benefit of county seminaries, and the thirty-sixth part of the whole land in the State reserved in the several townships for the use of common schools, would, if well managed, do much to maintain a good system; and if to these a suit- able tax were added, the whole would be much more likely to be well attended to. In many parts of the State this is now done, and voluntary contributions are obtained in addition, so that with the public funds on hand, the means of education are extended to most of the youth in the vicinity. The inducements for the best emigrants to purchase and settle in such neighborhoods, adds so much to the value of real property, that the owners might adopt this course even as a speculation.
It is much to be regretted, however, that in large por-
44
INDIANA GAZETTEER.
tions of the State a less liberal course has been pursued, and by the census of 1840, it appears that one-seventh of the whole adult population were at that time unable to read, and probably near one-half of those who can read, do so very imperfectly. Of the children under twenty and over five years of age, amounting at that time to 273,784, only 48,189 were then attending the primary and common schools; 2496 only were attend- ing the academies, and 322 the colleges. This would make only about eight weeks a year for each, if all at- tended a part of the time, and the schools were kept up forty weeks in the year. Of course, some children at- tend school much more, and others less or none at all, so that much too large a portion of the rising generation is uneducated.
The industry and enterprise required even from the children of the early settlers, have frequently enabled them to become useful and respectable citizens with but little instruction from schools. But when the children of the second generation, with more leisure and means, are left without education, the consequences can scarcely fail to be very injurious, and the time has now come when every intelligent and patriotic citizen of the State has high and important duties to perform in introducing such intellectual and moral instruction as will secure to future generations the benefits and privileges of our free institutions.
The legislature of the State has provided for the or- ganization of the State University at Bloomington, for county seminaries in the respective counties, and for the organization of common schools, distribution of school funds, and raising taxes to build school houses, where districts shall choose to do so; but the regulations have been so inefficient that funds have been often wasted; there have been no sufficient provisions to secure good teachers, and much the best schools in the State are those that have been created by private liberality, and which derive no benefit from the general law.
An act was passed by the last legislature to increase
45
GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE.
and extend the benefits of common schools, by which a tax of ten cents on the hundred dollars, a poll tax of twenty-five cents, and a tax on Insurance companies, may be annually assessed for common school purposes. Although the voters of the State, by a large majority, voted last year for the establishment of free schools, and although the Constitution requires them, yet the law is not to take effect except in counties where the majority of the voters shall again give their suffrages in its favor. There is evidently a great improvement in public opinion as to the importance of education ; but the politicians of the State are still far behind the spirit of the age. Under the present law, it is much to be feared that where its benefits are most needed, they will not soon be enjoyed.
The following is a brief history and description of the principal Literary Institutions in the State, so far as they could be obtained.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY, BLOOMINGTON.
Before the organization of the State government, a township of land in Gibson county was granted to the Territory for the endowment of a College; about 4000 acres of this township was sold by the authority of the Territorial Legislature, and the proceeds were applied for the benefit of the Vincennes University. In 1816, a se- cond township of land, lying in Monroe county, was granted by Congress to the State, which, with the unsold part of the other township, was directed to be held by the State in trust for the purpose of establishing a College or University.
In execution of this trust, the legislature appointed a Board of Trustees, and authorized them to sell a portion of the lands, erect a building, and establish a Seminary, which took place in 1824. After some time, a second instructor was added, and in 1829, a College was organ- ized under a President and two Professors, who consti- tuted the Faculty. In the winter of 1838, the institu- tion was chartered as an University, and in 1842, a law department was established.
46
INDIANA GAZETTEER.
Meantime, the number of Professors was increased ; a Library and Chemical and Philosophical apparatus pro- cured, and three additional buildings erected. To defray the expense in making these improvements, the remain- ing lands were sold and the surplus of the money accru- ing from the sale was vested in a fund, amounting to about $80,000, which is managed for the University by the State. The interest yielded by this fund, and the tui- tion fees, have so far sustained the University, though the privilege of being instructed gratuitously has been granted by the legislature to two students from each county that may choose to send them.
The institution has not the zeal of any particular body of Christians to rely on for support, being conducted on the most liberal principles. Yet it has steadily advanced from one degree of prosperity to another, until it has attained its present eminent station of honor and useful- ness.
The present officers of the corporation are,
DAVID H. MAXWELL, President. JOSEPH M. HOWE, Treasurer. JAMES D. MAXWELL, Secretary.
Faculty.
Rev. ANDREW WYLIE, D. D., President and Professor of Moral and Mental Philosophy and Belles Lettres.
DANIEL READ, A. M., Professor of Languages.
Rev. THEOPHILUS A. WYLIE, A. M., Professor of Natural Philosophy. Rev. ALFRED RYORS, A. M., Professor of Mathematics and Civil En- gineering.
Hon. DAVID McDONALD and Hon. WILLIAM T. OTTO, Professors of Law.
M. M. CAMPBELL, A. M., Principal of the Preparatory Department.
The number of students in 1S48 were,
Seniors,
6
Juniors,
-
12
Sophomores,
21
Freshmen,
- 20
Scientific and Irregular, -
39
Preparatory Department,
50
Law Students, . - - 29
177
47
GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE.
The whole number of graduates from 1830 to 1848, inclusive, was 115; of these fourteen are in the ministry.
The whole course of study in the College proper occu- pies four years. The winter session begins the first Mon- day of November and ends the last Wednesday of March. The summer session begins the first Monday in May and ends the last Wednesday in September. There are vacations through the months of October and April. Each of the four classes attends three recitations a day.
The fees in the College proper are $24 a year-in the Preparatory department, $17-in the law depart- ment, $20. Students can board and lodge in pri- vate families at from $1.25 to $1.50 per week. Bloom- ington is beautifully situated ; the neighborhood is favor- able to health, and to the promotion of good morals.
HANOVER COLLEGE.
This institution is located at Hanover, a pleasant vil- lage, with about 300 inhabitants, delightfully situated on the Ohio River bluffs. It is six miles below Madison, one mile from the river, and occupies a position of great beauty and salubrity.
The College was originally established under the pa- tronage of the Presbytery of Indiana, (then including also the whole State of Illinois,) and was primarily de- signed to raise up ministers of the gospel to supply the great and increasing demands of the west. Many of the ministers who had come out from the east to what was then a wilderness, had either fallen victims to the " seasoning," or had returned whence they came, and the few disheartened survivors became satisfied that a supply could only be obtained by raising them on the ground.
The institution owes its establishment once and again, and much of all its usefulness, to the zeal, energy and self-denial of Rev. John Finley Crowe, D. D., the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Hanover. It was first opened by him as a grammar school, January Ist, 1827, in a log cabin, 16 by 18 feet, with six pupils, all sons of elders in the church. One of these is now one of the most distinguished scholars in the west, and two
48
INDIANA GAZETTEER.
others are among the most useful and successful minis- ters in Indiana. The number shortly increased to twenty, of whom fourteen soon became professors of religion. The log college was now too strait, and the stone church was occupied until a suitable building could be erected. This was effected only by great labor and exertion on the part of the teacher and students. Aided by a few with money, and by many with contributions of labor and materials, an excellent two story brick seminary, 25 by 40 feet, and worth $1000, was erected in 1828, at a cost, in money, of about $400. The succeeding winter it was chartered by the legislature under the title of Hanover Academy, and the ensuing fall the superin- tendence was surrendered by the Presbytery to the Synod of Indiana. From the beginning the manual labor system had prevailed, and the students, with few exceptions, had paid a great part of their expense by their labor. Hon. Williamson Dunn and Mr. Crowe now gave each fifty acres of land, to form a Manual Labor Farm; many shops were soon added, and the sys- tem was conducted by the Board of Trustees for several years on a large scale, and at an ultimate loss of many thousands of dollars.
The object, from the first, being to furnish a supply of ministers for the great west, in IS30, Rev. John Mat- thews, D. D., of Shephardstown, Virginia, became con- nected with Hanover Academy as Professor of Theology. Dr. Matthews was very comfortably settled in Virginia, and occupied a high position in the church when invited to the infant seminary. He gave the matter a conscien- tious examination, deliberately made the exchange, and from that time to his death, in 1848, he was connected with the Indiana Theological Seminary, first at Hanover, then at New Albany. An example more worthy of imi- tation on the part of eminent clergymen in the older states, than it has received.
The present College edifice, three stories high, 40 by 100 feet, was erected in 1832, and contained, besides a chapel, lecture, and other public rooms, a large number of dormitories for students-a plan soon abandoned, as
49
GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE.
much inferior to the present one, of scattering students among families. The third story was taken off in 1837, on account of severe damage which the edifice received from a violent tornado. In the winter of 1832, a col- lege charter was obtained from the legislature, against strenuous opposition from the friends of the State Uni- versity at Bloomington. A similar application had been defeated the previous year by the same opposition, from a mistaken belief that there was not room for two insti- tutions. Hanover College was, therefore, the first De- nominational College in the State.
Rev. James Blythe, D. D., was the first president, and held the office from 1833 to September, 1836. Under his presidency, the manual labor system was in the full- est operation, and the number of students rose in 1835 to 230, the highest number the College has ever had. His successors have been Rev. John Matthews, D. D., pro tem., (1836-37) Rev. Duncan Macauley, D. D., (January-August, IS38,) Rev. E. D. McMaster, D. D., (1838-43,) Rev. Sylvester Scovel, September, 1846. The institution had never been endowed, and by the failure of the manual labor system, the commercial dis- asters of the country, and the desolating effects of the tornado above alluded to, a heavy debt was incurred, which ultimately reached $15,000, and caused great em- barrassment, until it was liquidated in 1842, by the exer- tions of president McMaster. For several years, the attendance during the year ranged from sixty to seventy, and the institution was only kept up by great privations and sacrifices on the part of the Faculty. In December, 1843, the charter was surrendered to the legislature through the influence of president McMaster, and a new one obtained for a University at Madison. The institu- tion was continued by Dr. Crowe and others, at Hano- ver, for a year, under the old academy charter, (revived for the purpose by the legislature,) until a new college charter was procured, of a more advantageous character in some respects, than the old one. By its provisions, the College is under the care of the Synod of Indiana, by whom
1
50
INDIANA GAZETTEER.
one-half of the trustees are appointed. The number of students at this time was about seventy.
The College continued without a president until No- vember, 1846, when Dr. Scovel entered on the duties of the office. Shortly after it was visited by a general and powerful revival of religion, in which about thirty stu- dents were added to the College, and in all about 100 persons were added to the churches of the village. This revival has continued with scarce an intermission, from that time, and is now prevailing in the College to a con- siderable extent.
A plan of endowment was speedily adopted, by which about $25,000 have been secured, with an encouraging prospect of making up the amount to $50,000. A very valuable library has also been recently procured by the liberality of the friends of the College, and also an excel- lent chemical apparatus, and geological cabinet.
Number of students for the last six years as follows :
1844, (one session)
72
1847, 104
1845,
89
1848, -
159
1846, 87
1849, (propably) - 200
The Faculty consists of the following :
Rev. SYLVESTER SCOVEL, D. D., President and Professor of Moral and Intellectual Philosophy and Evidences of Christianity.
Rev. JOHN FINLEY CROWE, D. D., Vice President, and Professor of Logic, Rhetoric, History, and Political Economy.
S. H. THOMSON, M. A., Professor of Mathematics and Natural Science. M. STURGUS, M. A., Professor of Greek, Lutin, and Alumni Professor of English Literature.
G. M. MCLEAN, M. D., Professor of Chemistry and Natural History.
A. C. K.vox, Adjunct Professor of Greek and Latin, and Teacher of German and French.
The institution is a Presbyterian Church College, and conducted on christian principles. All the students are required to recite regularly in the Bible, and all the Cal- vinists and sons of Calvinistic parents, also, are required to recite regularly in the shorter catechism. The Greek Testament is also a part of the regular College course. Quarterly reports are made to the parents or guardians, of every pupil's conduct and progress in study.
The number of the Alumni is 100; of these more than
51
GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE.
one-half are ministers of the gospel, or Theological stu- dents, chiefly Presbyterian ; besides a large number who pursued their preparatory studies here, but did not gra- duate. At least 100 ministers have been trained in this institution.
The present number in attendance is 145. The an- nual expenses of a student, exclusive of books and cloth- ing, should not exceed $100. A considerable number defray a great part of their expenses by their labor. The surrounding population is moral and religious. There are churches of the Presbyterian and Methodist denominations in the village, and Seceder and Associate Reformed churches in the immediate neighborhood.
The sale of intoxicating- liquor has always been prohi- bited in the township, and cannot be procured nearer than six miles.
INDIANA ASBURY UNIVERSITY.
The Indiana Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at its session in 1836, determined to found a University. The citizens of different places in the State being desirous of obtaining the location of the University, subscribed large amounts for this purpose. The largest subscription having been procured at Green- castle, and also the place being deemed, from its favor- able position and acknowledged healthfulness, preferable to any other offered, the location was accordingly made at this place.
A large amount was subsequently subscribed, in differ- ent parts of the State for purposes of building and en- dowment. A considerable part of this was rendered worthless by the embarrassments of the times that soon followed. For awhile it was doubtful whether the insti- tution could soon be permanently founded or not. That doubt has passed away in the success of the present en- dowment plan. One hundred thousand dollars worth of scholarships has been been sold for the permanent endow- ment of a Faculty of Instruction. This fund is in pro- cess of collection and investment, which it is expected
52
INDIANA GAZETTEER.
will soon be finished. The University was chartered by the legislature at the session of 1836-7. The charter was amended at the session of 1846-7.
The Literary department of the University was opened in the summer of 1837, by Professor Nutt. In 1839, Rev. M. Simpson was elected the president, to whose talented administration, skilful and vigilant management at home, and eloquence and industry abroad, is greatly owing the present success of the University. In 1848, Dr. Simpson was, by the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected editor of the West- ern Christian Advocate, and resigned the presidency. At the next meeting of the Board of Trustees, Rev. E. R. Ames was elected president, but did not accept the office.
At a called meeting of the Board, November 1, 1848, the Central Medical College of Indiana was made a part of the University, and a Medical Faculty of seven mem- bers elected.
The Literary and Medical Faculties of the University at present are as follows:
Literary Faculty.
WILLIAM C. LARRABEE, A. M., Professor of Mathematics.
JOHN WHEELER, A. M., Professor of Latin.
CHARLES G. ,DOWNEY, A. M., Professor of Natural Science.
CYRUS NUTT, A. M., Professor of Greek.
JOSEPH TINGLEY, A. B., Tutor.
LYNCH, Tutor.
Medical Faculty.
L. DUNLAP, M. D., Surgery and Surgical Anatomy.
J. S. BOBBS, M. D., Anatomy, General and Special.
R. CURRAN, M. D., Physiology and General Pathology.
T. W. COWGILL, M. D., Theory and Practice of Medicine.
J. S. HARRISON, M. D., Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Medical Ju- risprudence.
G. W. MEARS, M. D., Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children. C. G. DOWNEY, A. M., Chemistry and Pharmacy.
Since the first opening of the institution, fifty-nine young men have graduated.
53
GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE.
The number of students in the different years is as follows :
1839,
85
1844,
177
1840,
123
1845,
161
1841,
134
1846,
171
1842,
127
1847,
237
1843,
167
1848,
295
FRANKLIN COLLEGE.
This College is located at Franklin, Johnson county, Indiana. The College buildings are two; one a three story brick, eighty feet by forty, and a small frame ap- propriated to the junior students. They are situated on the east side of the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad, on a beautiful eminence, which commands a full view of the railroad and the town. The College is within one hour's ride of Indianapolis, and four from Madison. It was chartered in 1835, under the name of the Indiana Baptist Manual Labor Institute; but its name has since been changed to that of the Franklin College. The number of students in actual attendance will average one hundred.
Its Board of Instruction consists of a President, two Professors, a Tutor, and a Principal of the Preparatory Department. It is sustained principally by the donations of its friends. For a few years past its progress has been rapid, but it will be still more so, if the liberality and enterprise of its patrons keep pace with the march of intellect and the spirit of the age. Its moral and reli- gious character is deservedly high, and it offers the strongest inducements to all who wish to form good habits, and at the same time acquire a sound education.
ST. GABRIEL'S COLLEGE,
At Vincennes, under the control of the Roman Catho- lics, has a charter from the State and valuable buildings, but is not now in operation. It is expected that it will again receive pupils before the end of the year. There is, however, at Vincennes, a Theological Seminary, under
54
INDIANA GAZETTEER.
the care of the Rev. J. B. Chasse, and they have also a library for the use of their clergy, containing about 10,000 volumes.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC,
Also under the direction of the Catholics, is near South Bend. The Society of Priests, who manage it are called Priests of the Holy Cross.
The terms of tuition in the common branches for boarders are $100 per annum; for half boarders $40. For classical course, with the higher branches, $20 more. The French, Spanish, German, and Italian, are taught for an extra charge of $12. The Priests having charge of the institution are Rev. EDWARD SORIN, Superior; Rev. FRANCIS COINTETT, Rev. FRANCIS GOUESSE, Rev. E. DELISLE.
The Sisters of Providence, twenty-six in number, with ten novices and ten postulants, have academies for the instruction of females at St. Mary's in the Woods, in Vigo county, at Vincennes, at Madison, at Fort Wayne, at Jasper, and at Terre Haute, and another will soon be established at Evansville.
FRIENDS' BOARDING SCHOOL.
This institution is situated about half a mile west of Richmond, in Wayne County. It is built of brick, four stories high, and is intended to accommodate about 400 pupils, when completed. About two-fifths of the design is finished, which embraces all west of the. centre build- ing. This part will accommodate eighty pupils, an equal number of each sex. There is attached to it a farm of 130 acres, which affords provisions for the school and labor for the young men attending it. The institution is devoted exclusively to the education of the children of Friends, and all that attend it board in the building. It went into operation in the summer of 1847. The course of study embraces those sciences which are usually includ- ed in a good practical English education, and instruction is also given in the Latin, Greek, and French languages.
55
GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE.
There is belonging to the school a well selected library, of more than 700 volumes, and a good Philosophical and Chemical apparatus.
INDIANA MEDICAL COLLEGE.
The Medical Department of the Laporte University was organized in January 1841, and a course of lectures given by Drs. G. A. Rose, Daniel Meeker, J. P. Andrew, and F. W. Hunt. They commenced with about twelve students, and during the ensuing summer a building was erected capable of accommodating 150 students. The session of 1842 proceeded under the same Faculty, with the addition of J. B. Niles, A. M., as Professor of Che- mistry, and twenty-seven students. After some changes of the Faculty during the next three years, in which, for a time, Dr. W. J. Holcombe and Dr. Brown, of Kala- mazoo occupied chairs, a reorganization was effected in 1845, by Drs. Meeker, Richards, Shipman, Knapp, Hard and J. B. Niles, Esq., and the present name was assumed.
At the close of the session of 1846-7, the chair of Materia Medica, previously held by Dr. Knapp, was va- cated by the trustees, and Dr. E. Deming, of Lafayette, appointed; and Dr. Higby also became one of the Faculty. The number of students was 104. Graduates twenty-seven.
The session of 1848-9, commenced under the same Faculty, with 100 students. The new College edifice has been completed ; large additions have been made to the Anatomical Museum, as well as to the Surgical appa- ratus, with drawings and other facilities for illustrating the demonstrative branches of Medical science. The Chemical apparatus is very good, and the experiments for illustrating that branch usually performed before the classes, are numerous, accurate, and satisfactory.
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.