History of Cincinnati, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 47

Author: Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, O., L.A. Williams & co.
Number of Pages: 666

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The year 1833 was a notable period in the history of education in Cincinnati. About this time the College of Teachers was founded, to which a full notice will be due presently. About the same year a popular female semi- nary was kept on Third street, east of Broadway, by the celebrated novelist, Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz, and her husband, a French gentleman of some culture and ability. At this time was also maintained here the cele- brated young ladies' school of Miss Catharine Beecher, who had recently been principal of a successful seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, but had come west with or soon after her father, and established this school with her sister Harriet, afterwards Mrs. Stowe. 'Their Female

Academy was on the subsequent site of St. John's Hos- pital, and was on a plan quite similar to that of later institutions of the kind. After a few years' teaching here they retired-one to marry Professor Stowe, and the other to become a missionary for female education for the west. The school was then placed in charge of Miss Mary Dutton, who had been an assistant of Miss Beecher at Hartford, and then here. She had after a time to give up the building for other purposes, and thought best to abandon the school. She went to New Hampshire, and there maintained a flourishing school for many years.

Another distinguished personage comes to the front in 1836, in the simple mention, in the Directory of that year, of "O. M. Mitchel's Institute of Science and Lan- guages, corner of Broadway and Third." The dis- tinguished astronomer, orator and soldier was making his humble beginnings then.

Shortly before this, in 1835, the city had been visited by another remarkable person, an Englishwoman, then in the fullness of her strong and brilliant energies, who appears to have made the most of the opportunities which Cincinnati afforded her for observations of things in the great American Republic. She gave an elaborate chapter in her subsequent book to Cincinnati; and in that occurs the following paragraphs, which are mostly germane to our prese nt topic. They are the words of Harriet Martineau :

The morning of the nineteenth shone brightly down on the festival of the day. It was the anniversary of the opening of the common schools. Some of the schools passed our windows in procession, their banners dressed with garlands, and the children gay with flowers and ribands. A lady who was sitting with me remarked, "this is our populace." I thought of the expression months afterward, when the gentlemen of Cincinnati met to pass resolutions on the subject of abolitionism, and when one of the resolutions recommended mobbing as a retribution for the discussion of the subject of slavery, the law affording no punish- ment for free discussion. Among those who moved and seconded these resolutions, and formed a deputation to threaten an advocate of free discussion, weere some of the merchants who form the aristocracy of the place; and the secretary of the meeting was the accomplished law- yer whom I mentioned above, and who told me that the object of his life is law-reform in Ohio! The "populace" of whom the lady was justly proud have, in no case that I know of, been the law-breakers, and in as far as the "populace" means not "the multitude," but the "vul- gar," I do not agree with the lady that these children were the popu- lace. Some of the patrons and prize-givers afterward proved them- selves "the vulgar" of the city.

The children were neatly and tastefully dressed. A great improve- ment has taken place in the costume of little boys in England within iny recollection; but I never saw such graceful children as the little boys in America, at least in their summer dress. They are slight, ac- tive and free. I remarked that several were barefoot, though in other respects well clad ; and I found that many put off shoes and stockings from choice during the three hot months. Others were barefoot from poverty-children of recent settlers and of the poorest class of the community.

We set out for the church as soon as the procession had passed, and arrived before the doors were opened. A platform had been erected below the pulpit, and on it were seated the mayor and principal gentle- men of the city. The two thousand children then filed in. The report was read, and proved very satisfactory. These schools were established by a cordial union of various political and religious parties; and noth- ing could be more promising than the prospects of the institution as to funds, as to the satisfaction of the class benefited, and as to the con- tinued union of their benefactors. Several boys then gave specimens of clocution, which were highly amusing. They seemed to suffer under no false shame and to have no misgiving about the effect of the vehc- ment action they had been taught to employ. I wondered how many

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of them would speak in Congress hereafter. It seems doubtful to me whether the present generation of Americans are not out in their calcu- lations about the value and influence of popular oratory. They ought certainly to know best; but I never saw an oration produce nearly so much effect as books, newspapers, and conversation. I suspect there is a stronger association in American minds than the times will justify between republicanism and oratory; and that they overlook the fact of the vast change introduced by the press, a revolution which has altered men's tastes and habits of thought, as well as varied the method of reaching minds. As to the style of oratory itself, reasoning is now found to be much more impressing than declamation, certainly in Eng- land, and I think also in the United States; and though, as every American boy is more likely than not to act some part in public life, it is desirable that all should be enabled to speak their minds clearly and gracefully. I am inclined to think it a pernicious mistake to render de- clamatory accomplishment so prominent a part of education as it now is. I trust that the next generation will exclude whatever there is of in- sincere and traditional in the practice of popular oratory, discern the real value of the accomplishment, and redeem the reproach of bad taste which the oratory of the present generation has brought upon the people. While the Americans have the glory of every citizen being a reader, and having books to read, they cannot have, and need not de- sire, the glory of shining in popular oratory, the glory of an age gone by!

Many prizes of books were given by the gentlemen on the platform, and the ceremony closed with an address from the pulpit which was true and in some respects beautiful, but which did not appear alto- gether judicious to those who are familiar with children's minds. The children were exhorted to trust their teachers entirely ; to be assured that their friends would do by them what was kindest.

IN EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FORTY-ONE

the city had besides, the public schools-which had ten districts, with nine buildings, sixty teachers, and about forty thousand children-the Cincinnati college, Wood- ward college, Lane Theological seminary, the St. Francis Xavier Theological seminary, the Cincinnati Law school, and the Medical college of Ohio. In these were gath- ered about four hundred students, while fifteen hundred more were in the academies and seminaries, and five thousand in the parochial and private schools-about seven thousand in all not in the public schools. The College of Teachers was still doing very able and hopeful pedagogic work.

THE WESLEYAN FEMALE COLLEGE.

The original impulse which led to the organization of this still excellent and flourishing institution, was received from a series of articles in the Western Christian Advo- cate, in the fall of 1840, by Dr. C. Elliott, descriptive of his travels in the east, and calling the notice of the de- nomination strongly to the need of female education. From time to time, for many months, he continued to press the theme, until, on the fourth of May, 1842, a special meeting of Methodist preachers in Cincinnati was held at the office of the Advocate, to consult, as explained by Dr. Elliott, "on the expediency of taking measures to establish in this city a female institute of the highest pos- sible grade." It was resolved that a public meeting should be called to consider the practicability of estab- lishing in Cincinnati such an institute; and a committee of fourteen, headed by Dr. Elliott, was appointed to report a plan for it to the general meeting. On the twentieth of May the meeting was held in Wesley chapel. The main points of the plan reported by the committee are as follows :

The contemplated institution should embrace all the branches of fe- male education, from the highest to the lowest ; to such a degree as not to be exceeded, if possible, by any similar institution in the whole world. It should comprehend the following departments :

I. The common English department, embracing all those branches comprised in a thorough course of primary instruction.

2. The collegiate department, which should eomprise a good colle- giate course of instruction adapted particularly for females.

3. The normal department, in which pupils will be prepared to be- come efficient teachers for schools of every grade, particularly the com- mon schools and female academies.

4. The department of extras, in which those various branches not necessary for all, yet useful for some, should be taught.

A list of branches to be taught was recommended, which was prepared on a very liberal and enlightened scale for that day, embracing Hebrew and Greek among the languages, a pretty full course in the natural sciences, and an excellent range of Biblical studies. The plan further prescribed:

The following are some of the general principles, or characters, which should designate the institution :

It should be a Methodist institution to all intents and purposes, so that the principles of Christianity, as taught by the Methodist Episeo- pal church, would be constantly inculcated, and a full course of sound Biblical instruction should be learned by all; and all Methodist children should, without exception, go through this course thoroughly, in view of their becoming good Sabbath-school teachers after they leave the insti- tution, and as far as their services are needed while they continue in it. Yet children whose parents do not approve it need not commit our cat- echisms nor receive our peculiar views; but they must conform to our mode of worship and general regulations.

The ornamental branches, as music, painting, etc., will be pursued in reference to utility and the practical purposes of life, and in accord- ance with just but enlightened views of the pure religion of Christ.

It will be desirable that the institution should furnish all the aid in its power toward the education of poor female children and girls, both for their individual benefit and the good of the public, in preparing them to be efficient teachers.

The remaining paragraphs of the report affirm the necessity of a boarding-house, while admitting the attend- ance of children of the city as day pupils; set forth the advantages of Cincinnati for such a school; express a feeling of reliance upon receipts for tuition for the pay- ment of teachers, while provision should be made for the education of poor girls; declare the necessity of such an institution to the Methodist church in Cincinnati, and the pecuniary ability of its members to provide for it; and call for a meeting of members and friends of the church, to adopt "immediate measures toward the com- plete and speedy establishment of a high female literary institute."

This clear and intelligent report, in which the seeds of so many excellent things in female education were con- tained, was probably direct from the head, heart and hand of the enthusiastic Dr. Elliott, although signed by every member of the committee of fourteen. It was promptly adopted, and a committee of twenty-three was appointed, without the intervention of another meeting, to establish the school. Bishop Morris was chairman of the committee, and the following named gentlemen, in part representing their several churches, were the remain- ing members:

Wesley Chapel-J. L. Grover, W. Neff, J. Lawrence. Fourth-street-W. Herr, J. G. Rust, H. DeCamp. Ninth-street-G. C. Crum, W. Woodruff, A. Riddle. Asbury-W. H. Lawder, S. Williams, G. W. Townley. Fulton-M. G. Perkiser, Burton Hazen, M. Litherberry. W. H. Raper, J. F. Wright, L. Swormstedt, C. Elliott, L. L. Hamline, W. Nast, A. Miller.

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The same year a small house on Ninth street was rented from Mr. Woodruff, of the committee; but it soon became too strait for the demands of the school, and the next year a large and beautiful building, the residence of Mr. John Reeves, on Seventh street, was obtained for its purposes, and another building was erected upon the grounds for occupation by the pupils. The Rev. P. B. Wilber, M. A., of Virginia, was engaged as principal; his wife, Mrs. C. Wilber, as governess; Miss Mary De Forest, assistant; Miss Emeline Tompkins, assistant in the primary department; W. Nixon, professor of Music. A thorough course of study was announced for prepara- tory and classical departments, extending through six years. The second session of the college, under these auspices, began in the new buildings in February, 1843, with a large increase of students, to whom many more were added at the opening of the spring session. Mean- while, during the winter, the State legislature had granted . the college a charter, with all the powers and privileges necessary for an institution of the highest grade. Two more assistants, Miss Stagg and Miss Harmon, were added to the teaching corps, and arrangements for the purchase of philosophical and chemical apparatus were made. The year closed with highly commendatory re- ports from the examining committees, composed from the leading citizens of Cincinnati. Their good words for the infant college were published in the city papers, and did much to popularize the institution, as did also a pub- lished letter from Professor Merrick, in eulogy of the school.

The college continued to prosper. The year 1844-5 closed with especial brilliancy. Rev. Mr. Finley, in his Sketches of Western Methodism, to which we owe the materials of this preliminary sketch, says :

The commencement exercises of 1845 constituted a brilliant era in the history of the institution. They were held in the Ninth Street Methodist Episcopal Church, which was crowded in every part. B. Storer, esq., delivered an eloquent address before the Young Ladies' Lyceum, after which graduates read their compositions and received their degrees as mistresses of English and classical literature. The plan of the original proprietors [projectors?] was now no longer an ex- periment, and the female college from this point started out on its high and glorious career.

It was presently necessary to provide further accom- modations for the large numbers of pupils that flocked in from all parts of the country. A desirable property was offered on Vine street, between Sixth and Seventh, ex- tending through to College street-a large and already tastefully ornamented ground, occupied as the residence of Mr. Henry Starr. It was purchased, and a spacious edifice erected thereon, sufficient for the reception of five hundred pupils. (This was nearly the site of the fine structure since erected and containing the public library. It is now occupied by the printing department of the Daily Enquirer.) In this the college took a new de- parture of prosperity, and in a few years the need was felt of still another building, which was put up and ad- ditional grounds secured. In 1851 the school had four hundred and thirty-seven pupils, from nearly all parts of the Union. Principal (then president) Wilber and Mrs. Wilber were still in charge, with fifteen assistants in the various departments of teaching.

The Hon. J. P. Foote, in his book on the Schools of Cincinnati, published in 1855, thus bears testimony to the worth of the young college :

It has had since its foundation a uniform course of prosperity and usefulness, its greatest defect being caused by the high reputation which it has acquired, which brings more pupils to seek admission than can be accommodated, and, notwithstanding the want of room, the desire to receive as many of those who are anxious to obtain the advan- tages of the institution induces the managers and principals to receive sometimes too many; and though the extent of the buildings has been increased, the need of a further increase continues. Rev. and Mrs. Wilber were still in charge of the school, which had now four hundred and forty-two pupils.

The report of the committee on education, made to the Cincinnati annual conference in September, 1880, thus speaks of the college:

This institution has been in successful operation thirty-eight years. It has educated a large number of influential ladies, who, by their success in life, have reflected the highest honor upon the college. Some of these have distinguished themselves in the field of literature, others in the profession of teaching, and many more in useful departments of home life. This oldest college for women still offers, as in the past, every advantage for thorough and finished scholarship. The teachers are experienced and accomplished. They reside in the college, and devote their entire time to the care, culture, and improvement of the pupils. Especial attention is given to the selection of instructors, not only in regard to superior scholarship, but also to personal character and adaptation to secure the love and confidence of the students.

JOSEPH HERRON.

Among the noted teachers of the middle period of the history of Cincinnati was he whose name heads this section-the proprietor of a seminary for boys, which enjoyed considerable celebrity here for many years. A daughter of his, Mrs. Lucy Herron Parker, now a teacher in Chillicothe, Ohio, kindly sends us the following notice of her honored father :

Joseph Herron, A. M., was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, and came to Ohio with his father, who settled in Clermont county in 1816. Having gone as far in his studies as the public schools of that time could take him, he taught in that county from the age of seventeen to twenty-one, applying himself diligently all the while to master the higher branches of learning. In 1829 he went to Cincinnati, and taught in the public schools until 1837, when he was appointed principal of the preparatory department of the old Cincinnati college, whose building was destroyed by fire in 1845. He then opened a pri- vate school for boys and young men-Herron's seminary, which aver- aged two hundred pupils, and which lie conducted successfully for eighteen years, until the time of his death in 1863.

He was thus a leading educator of the youth of this city for thirty- four years, and I doubt if any other instructor has rendered such long service in that city. During this time hundreds of those who are now prominent business men and influential citizens were his pupils, and could testify to his ability and fidelity as a teacher, especially in the linc of moral education.

He was for many years one of the directors of the Young Men's Bi- ble society, for a long time secretary of the Relief Union, for ten years superintendent of the old Bethel Sabbath-school; was one of the char- ter trustees of the Wesleyan Female college, and continued to be a trustee until his death. In all these works he was associated with the best citizens of Cincinnati, many of whom remember how active and useful he was in every enterprise which had for its object the real pros- perity of the city and the highest welfare of the people.

IN EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY

it was estimated that there were probably fifty private academies and schools in the city, with at least two thou- sand five hundred pupils. The three colleges of the city were the Cincinnati, the Woodward, and St. Xavier. The medical schools were the Ohio, the Eclectic, the Physio-Medical, and the College of Dental Surgery, with

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a total number of students amounting to about four hun- dred and fifty. The sole law school was a depart- ment of Cincinnati college, and had an average member- ship of thirty. Five theological schools were regularly established, and two of them in full operation -- Lane seminary (New School Presbyterian), and the Presbyter- ian theological seminary (Old School). Three others- the seminary of St. Francis Xavier (Catholic), another Roman Catholic theological seminary, and a Baptist in- stitution at Fairmount had been founded, but not yet formed their classes. There were also four business schools. The principal academies and private schools were the Young Ladies' Literary Institute and Boarding School, kept on Eighth street by the Sisters of Notre Dame, and the Ursuline Academy, both Catholic; the Wesleyan Female College, then on Vine street; the Cin- cinnati Female Seminary, Herron's Seminary for Boys, St. John's College (with college classes not yet formed), Lyman Harding's and Mrs. Lloyd's Seminaries for Girls, and the Classical Schools for Boys kept by E. S. Brooks and Messrs. R. and H. H. Young. The Catholics had also thirteen parochial schools, with an aggregate attend- ance of four thousand four hundred and ninety-four, and forty-eight teachers. The public schools numbered nine- teen, with one hundred and thirty-eight teachers, and twelve thousand two hundred and forty pupils; and there were also three colored schools, with nine teachers and three hundred and sixty pupils. The whole number of schools of all kinds was reckoned at one hundred and two; teachers, three hundred and fifty-seven; pupils, twenty thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven. The Central High School had been established shortly be- fore. The cost of public instruction for the preceding academic year was sixty-seven thousand eight hundred and eighty-four dollars-four hundred and ninety-two dollars per teacher, or five dollars and fifty cents a pupil.

THE CHICKERING INSTITUTE.

The Daily Gazette for September 17, 1877, contains the following historical sketch of this renowned institu- tion :

It is thirty-three years since the principal of the well-known Chicker- ing Institute first commenced his carcer as principal of one of the gram- mar schools of New England. Here he taught with marked success as principal of grammar and high schools for eight years. At the expira- tion of this time, on account of a generous offer made by Miles Green- wood, esq., he was induced to come to Cincinnati. This was in the autumn of 1852. After about eighteen months spent in private tutor- ing, Mr. Chickering opened a private school in the beautiful village of Avondale. Inducements were offered for him to establish his school in the city, and in September, 1855, "Chickering's Academy" was opencd in the George street engine house, commencing with an attend- ance of thirty-seven, which, during the year, increased to fifty-one. The second year the school record showed an attendance of seventy-six. Each successive year the attendance continued to increase until the year 1859, when it was determined to build for the better accommodation of pupils. The site of the present building was purchased by the principal, and "Chickering's Academy" changed its naine to " Chick- ering's Institute," with a full graded course of classical and scientific studies. The first year in the new building the school numbered one hundred and fifty-five, and within two years the numbers increased so rapidly that it was found necessary to add another story to the building. Ever since that time the school has had a most successful primary de- partment for young boys. The whole twenty-five years of the school's history has been one of remarkable success in every respect. During the past sixteen years the catalogue has shown an average attendance

of two hundred and fifteen students per annum. It is not only one of the largest (probably the very largest) private schools for boys in this country, but it is also one of the best managed and conducted in every particular.

The catalogue of 1880 showed an attendance of two hundred and fifteen for the previous academic year. Graduates since 1855, two hundred and twenty; awarded diplomas since 1864 (when they were first given), one hundred and seventy-one; entered Eastern colleges or scientific schools since 1864, ninety-six; entered western colleges, thirty-three. Fifteen teachers are employed, among them Professor W. H. Venable the historian and poet, Mrs. Kate Westendorf the elocutionist, and other well-known persons. During the twenty-seven years of the history of the institute, Mr. Chickering has expended nearly four hundred thousand dollars upon its buildings, cabinets, and current expenses-a remarkable financial record, truly.

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History of Cincinnati, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 47

Author: Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Cleveland, O., L.A. Williams & co. Number of Pages: 666

Author: Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, O., L.A. Williams & co.
Number of Pages: 666