History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 78

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826

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HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

Miss Bridges became principal in 1836, and re- mained such, with her corps of teachers, until 1841.

During the first eight or nine years of the early history of this school its managers were compelled to rent school rooms and buildings for their pur- pose wherever they could get them; and thus it was that the school was kept in various parts of town. It was not until 1836 that they were ena- bled to purchase six lots where the building now stands, of Grove Case, and in 1837 the main build- ing (frame) now known as the Granville female college was erected. March 14, 1836, the school was incorporated by the legislature, section first reading as follows:

"Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Ohio: That there shall be, and hereby is established, in the town of Granville, in the county of Licking, an institution for the education of youth in the various branches of useful knowledge, by the name of 'Granville Academy,' and that Rev. Jacob Lit- tle, Samuel Bancroft, Spencer Wright, Knowles Linnel, Leon- ard Bushnell, William Smedley, Timothy M. Rose, Henry G. Bancoft, Ebenezer Crawford, Edwin C. Wright and William W. Bancroft, and their successors, be, and they are hereby ap- pointed, trustees of said institution, and made a body corporate and politic, with perpetual succession, to be known by the name and style of 'Trustees of Granville Academy.""

Other sections followed, but space cannot be al- lowed for them. These trustees 'held their first meeting May 26, 1836, and organized by electing Rev. Jacob Little, president, W. W. Bancroft, sec- retary, and Samuel Bancroft, treasurer.

Board, in those days, could be had for eighty- seven and a half cents per week, and the tuition was four dollars and twenty-five cents per quarter.

Upon the expiration of Miss Bridges' term as principal in 1841, Mr. H. R. Gilmore was elected and served one year. August 4, 1842, Miss Han- nah O. Bailey was elected principal, assisted by Miss Hamlin.

The domestic labor system for students did not work according to the expectations of its friends, and in this institution it was accordingly abandoned February 9, 1844.

February 11, 1845, William D. Moore rented the academy buildings for three and a half years, at the end of which time he re-rented and continued principal of the school until 1854. May 9th of this year a contract was made with William P. Kerr, the present principal of the college, and from that

time to the present, with the exception of five years. between 1872, and 1877, when it was conducted by others, he has had charge of the college as prin- cipal and manager.

Very early in its history this school was merged into a female academy, the male department being abandoned. Its projectors determined it should become a first class college for the higher education of women. One of its by-laws required that every teacher should be a consistent Christian, the great purpose of its founders being to advance morality and religion. It was established on the Mt. Hol- yoke plan, and so continued until 1845, when, under Mr. Moore, it was conducted on the boarding-house plan, and has so continued to the present.

The contributors to the erection of the main building in 1837 were citizens of Granville and largely by those who made their money by hard work. This building is quite large, four stories in height and a basement. An addition of brick was made about 1864-5, and the institution will easily accommodate one hundred students, as regular boarders and lodgers, and fifty or seventy- five additional, without lodging. Recently a steam heating apparatus has been placed in the basement, which works to a charm, and the atmosphere of the great building, including all its private and public rooms and labyrinth of halls, is continually kept a pleasant summer temperature, making it a most comfortable and desirable home for the young ladies from all parts of the country who at- tend the college. The first floor of the main build- ing is occupied by the dining room, the parlors, reception rooms and dwelling rooms of the prin- cipal and his family; the second and third floors are principally occupied by the students, their rooms being generally fifteen or twenty feet square, all nicely furnished and finished, and occupied generally by two students each. A few rooms on the second floor of this building are also used as school rooms, the primary school room having its location here. The brick addition is mainly occu- pied by the gymnasium, in charge of an efficient teacher, a chapel and recitation room. Every pro- vision seems to have been made for the health, comfort and thorough training of the inmates in all that goes to make up the sum of human happi- ness. It is probably one of the most complete

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and thoroughly equipped institutions in the coun- try for the purposes for which it was designed. The principal, W. P. Kerr, has been untiring in his devotion to the interests of this institution, and it is mainly due to his persevering efforts that the in- stitution has been brought to its present proud position among the educational institutions of the State. His attainments in scholarship are of a high order; he is genial, and social, and a pure minded Christian gentleman, to whom parents may safely trust the education of their daughters.

The following embraces the course of study in the various departments of the institution:

PRIMARY DEPARTMENT .- Reading and pronunciation, writ- ten arithmetic, familiar science, spelling and defining, geogra- phy, grammar, mental arithmetic, map drawing, penmanship.

PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT .- Written arithmetic, physical geography, Latin reader, English grammar, United States his- tory, Bible -- Genesis, analysis, Latin grammar, composition, penmanship, algebra.

CLASSICAL DEPARTMENT-FIRST YEAR-FIRST TERM .- Laun reader, algebra, physiology, Bible-Exodus.

SECOND TERM .- Latin reader, algebra, book-keeping, jour- neys of the Israelites.

THIRD TERM .- Cæsar and Latin prose, algebra, botany, Joshua and Judges.

SECOND YEAR .- FIRST TERM .- Caesar and Latin prose, geometry, natural philosophy, Bible-reign af Saul.

SECOND TERM .- Cicero and prose composition, geometry, English history, the reign of David.

THIRD TERM .- Cicero and prose composition, trigonometry, rhetoric, English history, the reign of Solomon.

JUNIOR YEAR .- FIRST TERM .- Virgil, outlines of history, logic, Bible-history of Israel.

SECOND TERM .- Virgil, outlines of history, chemistry, his- tory of Judah.

THIRD TERM. - Virgil, outlines of history, geology, captivi- ties.

SENIOR YEAR .- FIRST TERM .- Horace, moral philosophy, astronomy, Bible-prophesies.

SECOND TERM .- Horace, mental philosophy, evidences of Christianity, the gospels.

THIRD TERM .- Mental philosophy, Butler's analogy, English literature, Acts of the Apostles.

The course of study may be pursued entire or

in part, according to the wishes of parents and guardians, or the circumstances of the pupil.

German, Greek, French, music and art are op- tional.

During the course, exercises in reading, spelling and penmanship, reviews of common English branches, and weekly exercises in composition and the Bible are required of all.

One of the most important departments in this

college is the musical, at present in charge of Professor G. H. H. C. Lowery, M. A., a graduate of the London, Heidelberg and Paris conserva- tories-a gentleman who has made music a lifetime study, who has perfected himself under the best masters in Europe.

GRANVILLE FEMALE INSTITUTE -This institu- tion was established aboutt 1832, by the Baptist society, the preliminary steps being taken by Mr. Charles Sawyer, then a resident of Granville. He was foremost in contributing of his own means, and obtaining means from others for the erection of the seminary Building and boarding-house-two large frame buildings, occupying beautiful grounds on Main street, in the western part of the town. The following advertisement regarding this college appears in the Newark Advocate of March 2, 1833:

"GRANVILLE FEMALE SEMINARY .- In establishing this seminarv, it is the object of the trustees to build up a first rate school, suited to the wants of the west. They are happy in now being able to inform the public that they have appointed Mr. James W. Poland, of Massachusetts, who, aided by com- petent female teachers, is expected to take its superintendence about April Ist. Until the arrival of Mr. Poland, the school, now in successful operation, will continue under the care of Mrs. Gear. Next quarter will commence Monday, March 4th."

The above is signed by William S. Richards, chairman of trustees, and James Berry, recording secretary. It is also endorsed by John Pratt, principal of the Granville institution, and Paschal Carter, professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, in the same institution.

Those who assisted Mr. Sawyer in completing the buildings, were Messrs. Luther Woods, Allen Sinnet, D. M. Shepardson and Alanson Sinnet.

The teachers under Mr. Poland were Miss In- graham and Miss Isabella R. Clarke, of Massachu- setts; the latter becoming superintendent in 1835. Miss Maynard and Miss Trimble were employed the next year, and Messrs. Moore and Converse were also principals one year. Dr. Burton had control of this school one or two years, and Mans- field French was principal, following Mr. Burton.

About 1840 Rev. Alva Sanford obtained posses- sion of the property, and changed the name and influence of the school, he being an Episcopalian. He called it the Episcopal Female seminary, and continued to conduct the school with a consider- able degree of success for fifteen years. At the

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GRANVILLE FEMALE COLLEGE

CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC.

AND

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end of this period Solomon Sanford assumed con- trol of the institution, continuing its principal, however, only about a year. Under control of the Sanfords the school flourished, and was a great help to the Episcopal church. In 1856 Rev. C. S. Doolittle and Joseph Lindley became proprietors, and conducted the school about three years, when they concluded to move it to Mansfield, Ohio. This seemed to be at the time an unfortunate move for the school, and especially for the Episcopal church. The buildings were closed for a time. In 1860 Rev. N. S. Buxton and wife opened a ladies' female institute in the basement of the Baptist church, with the thought, probably, of reviving the Baptist seminary which had been re- placed by the Episcopal. This school continued about two years, when Rev. M. Stone purchased the seminary buildings, and opened a school, when both schools were consolidated under Mr. Stone, and came again under control of the Baptist de- nomination, where it has ever since remained. The name was again changed to the Baptist Female seminary.

Mr. Stone gave good satisfaction as an instructor, but circumstances rendered it necessary for him to dispose of the property, which he did to its pres- ent proprietor, Rev. D. Shepardson, D.D., who be- came principal in 1867. Dr. Shepardson changed the name of the college to the Granville Female seminary.

DENISON UNIVERSITY. - This institution was organized at Granville, Ohio, December 13, 1831, as the Granville Literary and Theological insti- tute, and incorporated February 3, 1832. Its first professor and president was the now venerable and highly esteemed John Pratt, D. D., who continued to occupy a position in its faculty until 1859, and now lives on a farm near the former site of the col- lege, honored by all who know him.

The school was at first organized on the man- ual-labor idea, and was located on a farm of some one hundred and thirty-five acres, about one mile southwest of the village-the farm, valued at three thousand three hundred dollars, having been given by the Baptist church and citizens of Granville as an inducement to locate the school there. In 1837 Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D., then secretary of the American Baptist Home Mission society, was

called to the presidency, and moved to Granville, administering the affairs of the school to the great satisfaction of its friends until 1844, when he died. In 1845 the name was changed to Granville col- lege, and in 1846 Rev. Silas Bailey, D. D., LL. D., was called to the presidency.

At a meeting of the trustees in August, 1833, the institution was organized into four depart- ments, viz .: Preparatory, English, collegiate and theological.

The "manual labor system" adopted by this college was persevered in for some years. The students were required to be daily occupied with some kind of work, either on the farm or in some mechanical pursuit; the trustees early "resolved, as soon as practicable, to furnish them with work and the instruments for performing it, and to pay them the value of their labor."

In addition to Rev. John Pratt, who was then professor of moral philosophy, the first faculty consisted of Pascal Carter, A. M., professor of mathematics and natural philosophy; Asa Drury, A. M., professor of languages, and A. H. Frink, A. M., principal of the preparatory department.

In the spring of 1832, the buildings of the in- stitution were destroyed by fire, which caused some embarrassment, but new and more commo- dious buildings were promptly erected during the ensuing summer.

In the Baptist Weekly Journal of November 29, 1831, published in New York city, Dr. Jonathan Going writes as follows regarding this institution:

"With such a corps of teachers as President Pratt, professors Carter, Drury and Frink (I speak from personal acquaintance with these gentlemen, except the last named), with a hundred pupils, including already a dozen regular college students; in a location so delightful and healthy, in the heart of the great and growing State of Ohio, where expenses are so small, and with arrangements for manual labor in agriculture and various branches of mechanic arts, which will at once diminish these, and promote health of body and mental vigor, it requires no spirit of prophecy to predict the future prosperity of the insti- tution. I am persuaded, indeed, that it presents even now facilities for acquiring a thorough education inferior to none in the western valley, while it promises in future to hold respecta- ble rank among similar institutions, which happily are rising into importance at different points."

During its early history the college was greatly straitened in its finances, and for years passed through the trials and vicissitudes incident to young institutions in those times. In 1852 Dr.

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DENISON UNIVERSITY.

Bailey resigned, and in 1853 Rev. Jeremiah Hall, D. D., was elected to the position.

In 1855, the location of the college was changed to the present elevated and beautiful site just north of the village, and its friends rallied and erected a new building which is four stories high, one hun- dred and thirty-three feet by eighty-three feet deep in the middle, with wings forty-five feet deep. It contains, besides recitation rooms and society halls, thirty-three suites of rooms (sitting room, bedroom,

and two closets), and accommodates sixty-six stu- dents.

In the following year (1856-7) a frame building. three stories in height, was erected. The present grounds contain twenty-four acres, nearly half of it being a grove of old forest trees.

From this time the school entered upon a new career of prosperity. The Baptists of Ohio began to rally around it, students came to it, and it was enabled to take an important place among the edu-

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cational institutions of the State. In 1853 the entire assets of the college, including all endowments, amounted to only thirteen thousand seven hundred and seventy-two dollars and sixty-five cents; but in 1856 William S. Denison, of Adamsville, gave ten thousand dollars toward the endowment, and in his honor the name was changed to Denison univer- sity.

In 1863 Dr. Hall resigned, and Rev. Samson Talbot, D. D., was elected to the presidency, and continued to discharge the duties of the office, to the great satisfaction of the trustees and patrons, until his sudden and lamented death in 1873. In 1869-70, the second building (that on the right hand in the cut) was erected, still larger in dimen- sions than the former. It contains a chapel, nat- ural history room, and accommodations for seventy- two students. In 1863 the Baptist convention of Ohio undertook to raise an endowment of one hundred thousand dollars, which was completed in 1867, and the full amount has thus far been pre- served intact, an income of six per cent. on the amount being available, annually, for the payment of salaries of professors. In 1872-3 another fund of seventy-five thousand dollars was raised and is held in like manner. These funds are largely due to the intelligent munificence of E. E. Barney, E. Thresher, and W. P. Huffman, of Dayton, J. M. Hoyt, of Cleveland, and other noble brethren scattered throughout the State.

In 1875 Rev. E. Benjamin Andrews, A. M., was elected president, and continued in the office until 1879, when he resigned, and Rev. Alfred Owen, D. D., was elected to succeed him.

In 1877 W. H. Doane, musical doctor, of Cin- cinnati, donated to the college the sum of ten thousand dollars, for the purpose of erecting a building for the library and cabinet. This building was dedicated at the commencement in 1878. It is substantial and beautiful; and is believed to be as well adapted to its purpose as any such building in the country. It is called "Doane Hall."

There is.on the premises (unrepresented on the cut, hidden by Doane Hall), a wooden building originally erected on the farm above referred to, but removed to the present site and now appropri- ated to a gymnasium and armory for the use of the students. The present value of the buildings

and grounds is about seventy-five thousand dollars, and the endowment at the present time, with no debt, about one hundred and seventy-five thou- sand dollars, making the total value of the proper- ty two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, besides the library and apparatus.

The university library contains ten thousand volumes, and with the two society libraries makes the whole number of volumes available to the stu- dents at least founteen thousand.

The university library, in Doane hall, is open in term time, daily, except Sundays, for the use of the members of the college classes. The college reading room, open every forenoon and evening, is supplied with the choicest daily and weekly papers, and with the best English and American magazines and reviews.

The cabinet contains a choice selection of shells, and a full series of specimens for illustrations in geology, mineralogy, Zoology, and archaeology. During term time it is open daily, except Sundays, to students and visitors. Students have the use of the university library, as well as the cabinet, free of charge. Both library and cabinet are re- ceiving constant accessions.

There are two college literary societies-the Calliopean, founded in 1834, and the Franklin, founded in 1843. They publish a bi-monthly pa- per, the Denison Collegian, devoted to literary themes and college and town news. There is a literary society connected with the preparatory de- partment-the Ciceronian. The society of Alumni was organized in 1859, and the Reading Room and Lecture association in 1873.

The aim of instruction has been, from the first, to secure the greatest accuracy and thoroughness. The graduates of the university have taken rank with any others in the professional schools where their studies have been continued, and in society.

The charter, amended in 1867, vests the man- agement of the university in a board of thirty-six trustees, to be chosen exclusively from members in good standing and full fellowship in regular Baptist churches of Ohio, who shall hold their office only so long as they retain such membership and con- tinue to reside in the State-five, at least, to be resident freeholders of Licking county. These are divided into classes of twelve each, the term

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of office being three years. The following is the present board of trustees-term expires June, 1881: Honorable J. M. Hoyt, LL. D., Cleveland; D. Shepardson, D. D., Granville; Honorable T. W. Ewart, LL. D., Marietta; Rev. L. G. Leonard, D. D., Bucyrus; Rev. M. Stone, D. D., Lebanon; G.'R. Sage, esq., Cincinnati; Rev. S. B. Page, D. D., Cleveland; E. M. Downer, Granville; Rev. G. W. Lasher, D.D., Cincinnati; J. B. Thresher, Dayton; Rev. H. L. Gear, Xenia; William Baker, Toledo.

Term expires June, 1882 .- E. Thresher, LL. D., Dayton; R. A. Holden, Cincinnati; E. E. Barney, LL. D., Dayton; Rev. D. A. Randall, D. D., Cleveland; Rev. A. Darrow, Cambridge; J. H. Tangeman, Lockland; E. E. Bryan, M. D., Gran- ville; Rev. N. S. Burton, LL. D., Akron; Rev. S. W. Duncan, D. D., Cincinnati; Hon. J. B. Jones, Newark; L. D. Myers, Columbus; Ziba Crawford, Dayton.

Term expires June, 1883 .- Rev. W. C. P. Rhoades, Granville; Rev. C. D. Morris, Toledo; G. F. Davis, Cincinnati; D. M. Shepardson, Gran- ville; W. H. Doane, Mus. Doc., Cincinnati; Rev. I. F. Stidham, Columbus; W. P. Huffman, Day- ton; Rev. H. F. Colby, Dayton; J. W. King, Xenia; Rev. F. Clatworthy, Norwalk; J. D. Rocke- feller, Cleveland; M. E. Gray, Painesville.

These men are generally faithful to their trust, and give their best thought and most earnest at- tention to the affairs of the college. Twenty-one of them were present at the last meeting, and their deliberations were marked by great unanimity of thought and purpose.

The faculty is composed of men most of them long tried and found to be thoroughly prepared for and interested in their work. Dr. Owen, the president, has won the high regard of his col- leagues and the entire confidence of the board, as well as the respect and esteem of students and citizens. There is to be no change in the corps of instructors for the coming year. The faculty consists of the following able men :

Rev. Alfred Owen, D. D., president; Maria Theresa Barney, professor of intellectual and moral philosophy; Almon U. Thresher, A. M., professor of rhetoric and English literature; Lewis E. Hicks, A. M., professor of natural sciences;

John L. Gilpatrick, A. M., Benjamin Barney, professor of mathematics and physics; Charles Chandler, A. M., professor of the Latin language and literature; Rev. Richard S. Colwell, A. M., professor of the Greek language and literature: John W. Moncrief, A. M., instructor in Latin, Greek and history (English and Greek,) and prin- cipal of preparatory department; Bunyan Spencer, A. B., instructor in Latin, Greek and history (United States and Roman); Leverette E. Akins, A. B., instructor in English grammar, elementary physics and mathematics; Professor Charles Chan- dler, librarian; Professor A. U. Thresher, curator of buildings and grounds.

The next anniversary closes fifty years of edu- cational work at Granville-a fact of no mean im- portance. Few institutions in the land can point to a fairer record. It is doubtful if more has been done, with equal resources, anywhere on the conti- nent. The college has had, from the first, a well- earned reputation for careful training and thorough scholarship, which it hopes to maintain in all time to come.

This semi-centennial will be appropriately ob- served. A committee of the trustees is appointed, and the co-operation of alumni and students is specially invited, that the end of fifty years may result in such awakened enthusiasm and hope as will bear the work forward both in attempting and accomplishing greater things in the future.

The following extract from the report of the committee appointed in 1878, to examine the finan- cial condition of the college, will be found inter- esting in this connection :

"The committee appointed to prepare a statement as to the history and condition of the funds of the university, present the following. In submitting their report, the committee offer as prefatory, and as being necessary to its completeness, the substance of a paper prepared by Dr. Talbot in 1863. which presents an exhaustive and complete exhibition of the finances of the college from its origin to the date of that paper. This exhibit divides those thirty-two years into two periods; The first extending from the origin of the college in 1831 to 1853; the second from 1853 to 1863.

"It was ascertained that the entire assets of the college in 1853, including all endowments, were only thirteen thousand seven hundred and seventy-two dollars and sixty-five cents. At the end of the second period in 1863 the entire endowments of the college were estimated at fifty thousand dollars. Dr. Tal- bot was appointed president of the college at the June meeting of the trustees in that year. The college was at that time in a very precarious condition. The country being in the midst of

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 78

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr. Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages: 826

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826