USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 7
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The work and statesmanship of Isaac E. Crary have thus far been con- sidered in his legislative capacity, as a member of the constitutional con- vention of 1835 and as an unseated member of the first session of the Twenty-fourth Congress, but his subsequent labors and achievements in executive statesmanship were no less brilliant and far-reaching in in- Hnence.
Having created the office of superintendent of public instruction, as. a further service to the cause of education, Mr. Crary sought a fit man to fill that office, and from the great mass of the unknown, he selected Reverend John D. Pierce and seenred his appointment as such officer to execute the great educational work he had laid out and began. Mr. Crary not only created the office but he also created the officer, and thereby made the great achievement of John D. Pierce a possibility. Undoubtedly had it not been for his acquaintance with Mr. Crary, John D. Pieree would never have been known as an educator. Michigan and the world are indebted to the influence and sagacity of Isaae E. Crary for the great achievements of John D. Pierce in the educational domain.
Mr. Crary was a member of the first board of regents of the state university and served from 1837 to 1844. Ile helped locate, organize, open and govern the university during its early struggle for existence. He was the only man on the original board of regents who had made
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schools and colleges a special study,2+ and he rendered invaluable serv- ices in preparing the curriculum of study and providing for the teach- ing department.25 He was a co-laborer with Mr. Pierce for four years in establishing and building up this institution, and as a regent, he labored for the university for years after Mr. Pierce had retired from office.
In 1842, Mr. Crary was a member of the state house of representatives and as the chairman of the committee on education, he prepared and made a report which being adopted by the legislature protected the uni- versity funds and retained the supervision of the department of public instruction over the institution and saved it from threatening danger. Mr. Crary was also a member and speaker of the same house in 1846, and here again he labored to build up, and to perfect the public school sys- tem of the State.
The Marshall Union School was one of the first graded schools organ- ized in the State. Isaac E. Crary as a leading member of the old, and as the most influential member of the new, school board, rendered serv- ices which few men could render in organizing, opening, and putting that school in successful operation and in developing the union school system. He was one of the great leaders in the evolution of the present day high school system, out of the primary, graded and union schools of his time, which now at publie expense, performs the work of the old time private teacher, academy, seminary and branches of the university.
Mr. Crary was a leading member, president pro-tem and chairman of the committee on judiciary department in the constitutional convention of 1850. Here again his wisdom and influence were felt in expanding and perfecting the great school system which he had established in Article X of the constitution of 1835. John D. Pierce was also a lead- ing member of this convention and here the two great apostles of pub- lie instruction of Michigan were able to provide for their long cherished free school system, which was unattainable at an earlier date. Isaae E. Crary, as we have seen helped to formulate the only two constitu- tions this State ever had, and he left the impress of his influence upon both instruments.
Mr. Crary was a member of the state board of education from 1850 to the time of his death, May 8th, 1854. His commanding influence as leader and executive officer was felt in the organization, opening and putting of our first normal school at Ypsilanti. It will be remembered that at that time, normal schools were somewhat unusual, that this was the first sehool of the kind established in the west and that many questions came up for solution.
While the separate department of public instruction was borrowed from the Prussian system, the tenure of educational lands from the constitution of New York, 26 and the mode of administering public school funds from the constitution of Connecticut.27 Mr. Crary combined these wise measures and founded a composite public school system in Mich-
24 History of the University of Michigan, Hinsdale and Demmon, p. 30.
25 History of Higher Education in Michigan, MeLaughlin, p. 39.
26 New York Constitution of 1821, Section 1 of Article VII.
27 Connecticut Constitution of 1818, Article VIII.
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igan, which has never been exvelled and which has since been universally adopted and will be followed as a precedent for centuries to come.
The original documents show that Mr. Cravy formulated the legisla- tion and founded the public school system of Michigan, that he was the leading organizer of our high school and normal school system, and that he was the most competent and influential regent in organizing the university, and yet, how many of his nncounted beneficiaries give him credit for his great publie services? Has not the distinction due him been awarded to another ?
Why has John D. Pierce in recent years been so generally called the founder of the publie school system of Michigan ? This honor does not ap- year to have been awarded him during the lifetime of Mr. Crary. An able artiele appeared in the Democratic Review of July 1838, upon the publie school system of Michigan, citing Hon. Lucius Lyon,28 a member of the constitutional convention of 1835 and the United States Senator from Michigan as anthority. That writer gave a complete outline of the system and praised Mr. Pierce for his work in organizing the schools under such a system, but he did not give to him the position of founder of such system.29 The reserved and reticent Isaac E. Crary, so far as I have been able to find, has left no written account of his great life- work. John D. Pieree, long after Mr. Crary's death, published his ver- sion of their joint and several labors. It is usual for autobiographers to make their subjects prominent. While with justifiable egotism Mr. Pieree expressed an honest pride in his part of the work. he did not, however, claim to be the founder of the school system of Michigan, and his paper clearly established the fact that Mr. Crary was the founder. Mr. Pierce gave Mr. Crary equal credit with himself, as a private citizen, in approving the Prussian system of an independent department of pub- lie instruction in the state government, and also approving the mode of vesting the title of the primary school and university lands in the State as trustees for such schools and university.30 Mr. Pierce gave Mr. Crary the exclusive eredit as a member of the Constitutional Conven- tion, of drawing, reporting, and securing the adoption of the article on education in the constitution of 1835. Ile also gave Mr. Crary, as a member of Congress, the exelusive credit of drafting the several ordi- nanees for the admission of Michigan into the Union. Mr. Pierce gave Mr. Crary the exclusive credit of converting the educational ideals, which they had discussed and jointly approved, into enduring eonstitu- tions and effective statutes. He also gave Mr. Crary the exclusive credit of securing his appointment as the first superintendent of public instrue- tion in any constitutional government.#1
Upon receiving his appointment, Mr. Pierce commenced his work in the educational field. He filed his first official report and presented the accompanying measure to the legislature on the fifth day of January, 1837,32 measures were passed and approved March 18th, 20th and 21st,
28 For sketch, see Vol. XIII, p. 325, this series.
29 2 Democratic Review, p. 370.
30 Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections, Vol. 1, p. 37.
31 Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections, Vol. 1, p. 39.
32 Public Instruction and School Laws of 1852, p. 33.
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1837.33 These dates show that Mr. Crary had laid the foundation, and had secured the funds for the public school system, long before Mr. Pierce began his work in the field of public instruction. Prior Tempore Prior Jure.
A local editorial published two days after his death says: "In 1835, General Crary was elected from this county, a member of the constitu- tional convention. He was in that body, chairman of the committee on education, and had drafted Article X of the constitution, which pro- vides for the appointment of superintendent of public instruction ; made it imperative on the legislature to encourage the promotion of intellec- tual, scientific and agricultural improvements; made the proceeds of all the lands that had been, and should be granted to the State for the support of the schools a perpetual fund, the interest of which was to be inviolably devoted to the support of schools; provided for a system of primary schools and for the establishment of libraries, and made the funds arising from rent and sale of lands granted for the university also a perpetual fund. These educational provisions were greatly in advance of the times. Gen. Crary had made the subject of education a study, and the State is indebted to him for the wisdom, which has re- sulted so greatly to the benefit of our people, in the consolidation of the school fund and the establishment of the school system. His interest in the subject never flagged. He was as devoted to the subject and to the system in which he was intrumental in establishing, at the day of his death, as he was when he drafted the provisions of the constitu- tion. He has been constantly connected with the system, too, as a legis- lator, as a member of the board of regents, member of the board of education, of which he was president, and of the school inspector, moderator and director in the district where he resided. He was one of the founders of the Union School of the village and had charge of the location and erection of the building. In all these capacities he showed a zeal in the cause which never tired, a spirit of devotion in the interest of the rising generation which commanded the respect and won the esteem of all."3+ This article gives an impartial summary and a just estimate of his public services, and it clearly indicates that Isaac E. Crary was regarded by his contemporaries as the founder of the public school system of Michigan.
II. JOHN D. PIERCE
The Organizer of the Public School System of Michigan
John D. Pierce was the organizer of the public school system of Mich- igan. The original documents must also determine the truth of this proposition. The constitution of 1835 provided for the appointment of a superintendent of public instruction, "whose duties shall be prescribed by law." Section three of an act of the legislature approved July 26,
33 Laws of 1837, pp. 102, 116-209.
34 Marshall Statesman, May 10, 1854, Vol. XV, No. 37.
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1836, entitled. "An act to define the duties of the superintendent of public instruction and other purposes" contained the following pro- vision he shall "prepare and digest a system for the organization and establishment of common schools and a university and its branches."35 Governor Mason in his annual message to the legislature, January 2, 1837, said "The superintendent of public instruction will report to you a system for the government of the University of Michigan and for the organization of the public schools of the state."36 The superintendent's report was made to the legislature Jannary 5th, 1837,37 and it discussed plans and prices for the sale of primary school and university lands, modes of investing the money, and it also recommended and explained plans for the organization of the primary schools and university of the State.38 It submitted three bills to the legislature providing for such plans. The first measure, approved March 18th, 1837, was entitled "An Act to provide for the organization and government of the University of Michigan."39 The second measure, approved March 20th 1837, was entitled "An Act to provide for the organization and support of primary schools."40 The third measure approved March 23rd, 1837, was entitled "An Act to provide for the disposition of the University and primary school lands and for other purposes."+1 These several acts were amended in June, 1837, and the amendatory acts contained the same titles.+2
These titles indicate the scope and purpose of the statutes, and Mr. Pierce's official life was spent in carrying out their provisions. These statutes provided for the organization of the common schools and the state university. They authorized and required the superintendent of public instruction to sell primary school and university lands, and to use the proceeds in the organization of the primary schools and the university. Mr. Pierce's authority and official work were confined to the field of organization of a public school system out of materials already furnished, and upon a foundation already laid by Mr. Crary. Ex-Super- intendent of Public instruction, Francis W. Shearman, a co-temporary and neighbor of both Mr. Crary and Mr. Pierce and for a time asso- ciated with Mr. Pierce as editor of the Journal of Education, declared in the presence of the writer, that Isaac E. Crary was the founder and that John D. Pierce was the organizer, of the public school system of Michigan, and in his historie sketches of such system, he outlined the evidence and detailed the fact which supported such classification.43 Professors Ten Brook, MeLaughlin, Hinsdale, Demmon, Gower, Sill,
35 Laws of 1836, p. 50.
36 Governor's Annual Message, 1837, p. 12; Public Instruction and School Laws of 1852, p. 22.
37 Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1880, p. 302.
38 Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1880, p. 23.
39 Laws of 1837, p. 102.
40 Laws of 1837, p. 116.
41 Laws of 1837, p. 209.
42 Laws of 1837, pp. 308, 316, 324.
43 Report of the Superintendent of Publie Instruction for 1850, p. 56 et sequitor ; Public Instruction and School Laws of Michigan, 1852, pp. 12-15, 29-37; Report of Superintendent of Public Instruction for 1880, p. 300 et sequitor; Rust's His- tory of Calhoun County (1869), p. 41; Evart's History of Calhoun County from 1830-1877, p. 25.
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Putnam and other discriminating writers, relying upon the original documents for authority, also detail facts which lead clearly to the same distinction.
The organizer of a great public school system is not without honor. A Cornell, a Rockefeller or a Stanford can endow, but it requires the wisdom and the genius of a White, a Harper, or a Jordan to success- fully organize a university. Alexander Hamilton could formulate, but only a John Marshall could interpret the Federal Constitution and make it a living force. John D. Pierce was a constructive statesman but his fame as such depends upon his achievements in behalf of our system of homestead exemptions, as disclosed by the debates and journal of the constitutional convention of 1850, but not as the founder of our public school system in 1835. This will be more fully referred to here- after.
It is conceded by all that Mr. Pierce entered upon his educational work at a later date, and that he used the materials already provided and built upon the foundation already laid by Mr. Crary. With these facts admitted, and with the original documents extant, what a marvel it is, that the title of the founder has been withheld from Mr. Crary, and that it has so generally been awarded to Mr. Pierce. One writer says: "Rev. John D. Pierce aided by Hon. Isaac E. Crary, was the founder of our educational system."++ The record shows that Hon. Isaac E. Crary was the founder, subsequently John D. Pierce was the organ- izer of such system. The biographers of Mr. Pierce-Part II., entitled "John D. Pierce was the founder of the Michigan School system"-say, "Some people hold that Mr. Crary never received his due recognition for the share he had in the establishment of our school system, and that he, rather than Mr. Pierce, should get the credit for the plan. A good deal of investigation has persuaded us, that there is no real ground for such belief."45 That conclusion could not have been founded upon the original documents. Another writer says: "John D. Pierce is conced- ed, and justly, to have been the founder of the Michigan school sys- tem. "'46 Others, among whom are men of eminence, have embraced and proclaimed the same historical heresy. Did these writers examine Article X of the constitution of 1835 and the authentic records cited? Is it true in fact, that history is merely an accedited fable? This continent was discovered by the enterprise and genius of Christopher Columbus, and yet it unjustly bears the name of a subsequent explorer. I submit that the records of the constitutional convention of 1835 and the his- tory of the first session of the 24th Congress, together with the legisla- tive records of 1836, and 1837 of this State, not only disprove the quotations above made, but that they establish beyond all controversy, that Isaac E. Crary was the founder of the public school system of Michigan, and that such a system was founded long before John D. Pierce entered upon his educational career, or had any official existence.
After his appointment to office, Mr. Pierce commenced the work of organizing the public schools and the state university, out of the ma-
44 Michigan Pioneer and Historical Coll., Vol. V, p. 45.
45 Life of John D. Pierce, p. 80.
46 Michigan as a Province, Territory and State, Vol. III, p. 221.
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terials furnished him, and upon the foundation already laid and ac- cording to the plans outlined in Article X of the state constitution. He threw his great soul and magnetie influence into the work. He in- spired governors, legislators, school officers and people with his own earnest enthusiasm, and he was accepted and followed as prime leader in the enterprise. He drew the primary school law of 1837, borrowing freely from the public school system of New York, and from other states. + Ile formulated bills for the re-organization of the state uni- versity and for the management and disposition of educational lands. He had the fifty years of experience of Thomas Jefferson in the evolution and establishment of the University of Virginia before him as an aid. It will be remembered that Jefferson was not only the father of the University of Virginia, but he was also the father of the American sys- tem of state universities. The official reports of Mr. Pierce were able and convineing, and his recommendations were promptly adopted by the legislature. He was a gifted and successful organizer, and for fonr years and a half in that capacity Mr. Pierce rendered invaluable serv- ices to the State and to the cause of education.
Isaac E. Crary was known in public affairs in his native State before coming to Michigan. Dr. Bushnell, in his lectures on llistorie Persons of Connecticut, comments upon Mr. Crary's public life and then adds, "He has now gone to help found a new state in the west."48 Mr. Crary studied at Amherst, 19 and he graduated at Washington College, now Trinity in 1827.50 He was a sound thinker, a close observer, an able lawyer, and a close student of sociological and governmental affairs.51 He had devoted much time and thought to the schools and colleges and had made much research in educational and kindred subjects. The large collection of pamphlets, papers, reports, letters and addresses by sehol- ars and statesmen, upon these subjects and the collection of college catalogues made by Mr. Crary and now in the possession of the writer, clearly show that he was deeply interested in these subjects and that he was far in advance of his time. He studied the Prussian system of publie instruction before he commenced his great work. Cousin's32 Digest of that system had been translated and published in this country and at this time, was being examined and discussed by progressive educators and thinkers throughout the country. 53
47 Revised Statutes for New York for 1829, Chap. XV.
48 Mich. Pioneer and Hist. Coll., Vol. XIV, p. 286.
49 Catalogne of Collegiate Institute, Amherst, Mass., 1823, p. 91.
50 History of the University of Michigan, Hinsdale and Demmon, p. 174.
51 Mich. Pioneer and Hist. Colls., Vol. XIV, p. 285.
52 Vietor Cousin was a Frenchman, born in Paris, Nov. 28. 1792, who taught and lectured in the Sorbonne. In 1831 he was commissioned by the government to visit cities in Germany for the purpose of studying their educational systems. This resulted in a series of reports to the minister, published as "Rapport sur Petat de l'Instruction Publique dans quelque pays de l'Allemagne et particuliere- ment en Prusse." They were translated by Mrs. Sarah Austin in 1834 and spread about the United States. He took part in the polities of his times, was apparently in sympathy with the monarchy under certain constitutional safeguards. The last few years of his life were spent quietly at the Sorbonne. He died at Cannes, Jan. 13, 1867. He bequeathed his library to the Sorbonne.
53 Report of John A. Dix, Commissioner of Common Schools of New York, 1836-38.
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Perhaps no man in the territory in 1835 was better equipped to take charge of the educational interests of the people that Mr. Crary,54 and the convention, recognizing the fact, readily followed his leadership and promptly adopted his measures. Traditions tell us that after his election as delegate, (April 4, 1835) until the convention met May 11, 1835, Mr. Crary devoted his time in preparing himself for his work in convention. He made careful research and sought light and information from all available sources. It was during this period that the well-known con- versation was had with Mr. Pierce sitting on a log north of the old court house in Marshall. Isaac E. Crary laid the foundation of the public school system in Michigan, broad and deep in the adamant of the constitutional enactment and cemented it with congressional com- pacts, long before John D. Pierce entered the educational field. If John Harvard by donating seven hundred pounds sterling and a library of' three hundred volumes to a struggling institution-if Elihu Yale by con- tributing five hundred pounds sterling to another institution-if Ezra Cornell by giving five hundred thousand dollars to establish "an in- stitution where any person can find instruction in any study," and if Leland Stanford by providing a few million dollars to endow still an- other institution, are entitled to be called founders of the institutions respectively bearing their names; why should not Isaac E. Crary who secured the primary school funds now amounting to nearly six million of dollars, and who obtained the endowment fund of the state univer- sity now amounting to over half a million dollars, be awarded the dis- tinction of being the founder, not only of the primary and secondary schools of the State, but also of being the founder of the University of Michigan ?
While the fame of Isaac E. Crary for two-thirds of a century has been dimmed by the grotesque fabrications, sarcastic abuse and dramatic ridicule of Thomas Corwin,55 have not his own beneficiaries treated him more unjustly, and more ernelly than did his great political antagonist in 1840? Have not the people of Michigan overlooked his achievements and ignored the fame of her most useful statesman, and by common accord awarded another the honor due him ?
A casual observer, in comparing the work of these two great men, might well consider Isaac E. Crary as the architect and John D. Pierce as the builder of our educational structure. Mr. Crary was more than the architect, he not only laid the foundation and drew plans and speci- fications, but as regent of the university, member of the local school board and as member of the state board of education, he rendered invalu- able services in building and developing our great university and in establishing and perfecting our grand system of normal and high schools. He provided for school libraries and for instruction in agriculture in the constitution of 1835 and for free schools in the constitution of 1850. Mr. Crary was therefore both architect and builder. He labored in the educational field long before Mr. Pierce entered it and he toiled years after Mr. Pierce had retired.
54 History of Higher Education of Michigan, by MeLaughlin, 150.
55 Thomas Corwin, for sketch, see Vol. XIV, p. 280, this series. This attack was made upon Crary in the House of Representatives, Feb. 15, 1840.
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The influence of Mr. Crary's statesmanship has affected more lives, controlled more destinies, diffused more knowledge, created more living institutions, and has advanced and enlightened civilization more than that of any other citizen of Michigan. Every rural schoolhouse, every high school building, every normal school edifice and every university hall not only in Michigan, but also in other states copying his system, and every agricultural college in the Union are the results, and existing monuments of his life work. Today three fourths of a million of school population of this State are receiving or are entitled to receive the benefits of the primary school fund which he secured for them. To-day myriads of high school, normal school and university students in this and other states are receiving benefits of his policy. Every person, living or dead, who has ever received instruction in any of the publie schools of Michigan or in any other states adopting his system, is a debtor to him. The numberless millions of children and students of the future, who shall receive instructions in any of these public schools, will be under lasting obligation to him. Mr. Crary's beneficent purposes, and his exalted ideals were revealed in his address dedicating the first state normal school edifice by these words, "I do dedicate this building to the People of the State of Michigan, and to promote the great cause of education-the eanse of man-the cause of God." 56 Shall we not preserve the perishable traditions of his fame and make them immortal ?
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