USA > Tennessee > History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present : together with an historical and a biographical sketch of from twenty-five to thirty counties of east Tennessee, V.2 > Part 1
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.
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 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
Gc 976.8 H63e v. 2 1686533
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01712 9971
HISTORY
TENNESSEE
V. 2.
FROM THE EARLIEST TIVE TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH AN ERSTENMAL AND A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF FROM TWENTY-FIVE TO TIIRIN COUNTIES OF HAST TENNISFRE, BESIDES A VALUABLE FUND OF NOTES, OPIGISAL OBSERVA- TIONS, REMINISCENCES, Erc., ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
CICLO AND NASHVILLE: THE GOODSHELD FULLISHING CO ... 1887. . ,
882 : 3552
1
444
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
by medical men, but nothing definite was accomplished until the latter part of 1850, when an address was presented to the trustees of the uni. versity by prominent physicians of Nashville asking privilege to establish a medical department with entire independence of management. This was granted. The board then elected the following corps of instructors: John M. Watson, M. D .. obstetrics and diseases of women and children : A. H. Buchanan, M. D., surgery; W. K. Bowling, M. D., institutes and practice of medicine; C. K. Winston, M. D., materia medica and phar. macy; Robert M. Porter, M. D., anatomy and physiology; J. Berrien Lindsley, M. D., chemistry and pharmacy. Winston was chosen presi- dent of the faculty, and Lindsley, dean. A lease of the university build- ing was made for a term of twenty-two years, which has since been twice extended, the last time in 1875, making the lease expire in October, 1905.
1686533
The first class, numbering thirty-three, was graduated in February, 1852. The institution immediately took rank with the first medical schools in the United States, both as to the excellence of its training, and the number of students. In 1857 there were 137 graduates, and in 1861, 141. Its alumni in 1880 numbered 2,200. In 1874 the Vanderbilt University adopted the faculty of the medical department of Nashville University with the agreement that students matriculating in the former institution shall be graduated under its auspices, and receive its diploma, while the matriculates of the latter shall be graduated as before.
In 1853-54 a portion of the land still remaining was sold and new buildings were erected a short distance from the old college. In the fall of the latter year the literary department was re-opened with an attend- ance of forty pupils, and three graduates at the end of the year. In 1855 it was united with the Western Military Institute, of which Gen. Bushrod R. Johnson was superintendent. It was conducted on the military plan until the breaking out of the civil war, when the buildings were used as a hospital.
After the close of the war the trustees of the university located the Montgomery Bell Academy in the buildings of the literary department. of the university. This school was founded by the bequest of Montgom- ery Bell, a prominent iron manufacturer, who left $20,000 for that pur- pose. "By the will of the founder, gratuitous instruction is given to twenty-five boys, not less than ten nor more than fourteen years of age, 'who are unable to support and educate themselves, and whose parents are unable to do so.' from the counties of Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery and Williamson, Tennessee." The academy continued to occupy a portion of the university building until 1581. when a separate building was
:
-----
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyoftenness02good_0
P
TENNESSEE UNIVERSITY, KNOXVILLE.
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE. 4.15
oreeted for it, to make room for the increasing attendance of the norm! college.
This latter institution was the re-habilitation in a more vital form of the literary and scientific departments of the university, giving them & larger and more comprehensive sphere in the direction of popular educa. tion in the South. Its establishment was accomplished through the aid granted by the trustees of the Peabody Fund, whose aim it had been from the first to assist the cause of education in the South by providing trained teachers rather than by direct support of schools. It was there- fore determined to establish one or more thoroughly equipped normal colleges. In 1867 Dr. Lewis proposed to give $2,000 to aid a rormal school in Tennessee, if one should be established. For various reasons this could not then be accomplished, but $800 and $1,000 was granted to Fisk University and the Lookout Mountain school, respectively, both of which organized normal departments.
In 1873 a bill for the establishment of a State normal school was presented to the Legislature, and passed three readings in the Senate aud two in the House, but was defeated for want of time at the close of the session. This bill made provision for supplementing $6,000 annually from the Peabody Fund by an appropriation of an equal amount from the treasury of the State. At the next session of the General Assembly a similar bill was introduced, but it failed in the Senate. A bill withont su appropriation clause was then prepared; this became a law in March, 1975. It merely provided for the appointment of a State board of education with authority to establish a normal school or schools, but without any means of accomplishing it. The University of Nashville, however. promptly tendered to the board its buildings, grounds and funds, with the exception of those appropriated to the medical college; which propo- sition the trustees of the Peabody Fund supplemented by an offer of $6,000 a year for two years. These offers were accepted.
With a temporary fund of $1,200 thus secured the normal college was formally opened by the State board of education at the capital Decem- ber 1, 1875, with Eben S. Stearns, LL.D., as president, assisted by a corps of teachers of the highest qualification. Although the school opened late in the season and the project was wholly new to most of the people, no less than fifteen candidates presented themselves for examina- tion, and before the first term of ten weeks had closed forty-seven had been admitted. At the end of the school year the number had increased to sixty. It continued to grow in popularity and flourished beyond ox- pectation. The State, however, failed to make any appropriation for its support.
28
446
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
In his report in 1879 Dr. Sears says of the institution: " The funds on which we relied for its support from the State, and in part, also, from the university, have failed us. Besides, as a part of the college building is still occupied by the Montgomery Bell Academy, which is in charge of the university trustees, the normal college has already out- grown its narrow accommodations, and its numbers are rapidly increasing. Representations of our necessities were made during a visit of three weeks last year, both to the same board of education and to the trustees of the university, neither of which felt authorized to give any hope of relief. Since that time the Legislature has met and declined to make any appropriation. It has, therefore, become a serious question whether some change, possibly involving a removal, shall not be made, to secure ample accommodations and better support for the future."
The State of Georgia was desirous of securing the normal college, and made liberal offers to the trustees of the Peabody Fund. Arrangements for the transfer of the institution had been nearly completed, when the trustees of the University of Nashville made the following proposition : To remove the Montgomery Bell Academy and turn over the buildings occupied by it to the normal school; to appropriate $10,000, to be raised by mortgage on the property, or otherwise, and to be expended in im- provements or the purchase of apparatus; and to appropriate the interest on $50,000 of Tennessee bonds held by the university. provided enough be reserved to pay the interest on the $10,000 borrowed. The citizens of Nashville also raised by subscription a fund of $4,000 as a guarantee that the Legislature of 1881 should make an appropriation for the benefit of the college. These efforts prevented the removal of the institution and secured its permanent location at Nashville.
On April 6, 1881, $10,000 was appropriated for its support by the General Assembly. It was provided that one pupil for each senatorial district in the State should be admitted upon proper recommendation, and that such pupil shall receive at least $100 per annum for two years out of the funds of the school; $2,500 was at the same time appropri- ated for scholarships for colored students. Two years later this amount was increased to $3,300, and that part of the former act requiring a portion of the annual appropriation to be used in paying scholarships was repealed. The colored students are educated in the normal depart- ments of Fisk University, Roger Williams University, Knoxville College and the Central Tennessee College. The normal school is now known as the Tennessee State Normal College of the University of Nashville, the chancellor of the university being the president of the college. The college buildings, situated in the center of the campus sixteen acres
417
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
in extent, are among the finest and best appointed in the South. The college proper is a stone structure, having a center building and two wings about 225 feet front and 110 feet depth in the center, and 60 feet depth in each of the wings. The building is two stories high. An ele- gant chancellor's residence was added a few years ago.
Since its organization the institution has been under the direction of Dr. Stearns, who has conducted it with signal ability, and has retained the implicit confidence of all interested in its success. The following is the present faculty: Eben S. Stearns, D.D., LL. D., president; Julia 1. Sears, L.I. ; Lizzie Bloomstein, L. I .; Benjamin B. Penfield, A.M .; Mary I. Cook, L.I., B.A .; Julia A. Doak, John L. Lampson, A. M .; William C. Day, Ph. D. ; John E. Bailey, teacher of vocal music; Mary E. W." Jones, lady director of gymnasium; George H. Hammersley, gentleman director of gymnasium; Hon. William B. Reese, lecturer on common and civil law; Julia A. Sears, librarian.
The first State board of education consisted of Gov. Porter, ex officio president; J. B. Lindsley, secretary: Edwin H. Ewing, Samuel Watson. R. W. Mitchell. L. G. Tarbox and J. J. Reese. The present board is as follows: Gov. William B. Bate, ex officio president; Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley, secretary and treasurer; Hon. W. P. Jones, M. D., Supt. F. M. Smith, Prof. Frank Goodman, Hon. Leon Trousdale, Hon. Thomas H. Paine.
The establishment of East Tennessee College* in the place of Blount College has already been noticed. The trustees of the new institution met in 1808 and organized, retaining Carrick as president. His term of service, however, was short, as he died the following year. No immediate steps were taken to supply his place, nor was anything done toward the erection of a new college building, from the fact, doubtless, that the trustees had no available funds and that there was no immediate prospect of realizing a revenue from the land grants. Lotteries were popular institutions in Tennessee at that time, and the Legislature of 1810 author- ized a lottery scheme for the benefit of East Tennessee College, appoint- ing Hugh L. White, Thomas MeCorry, James Campbell, Robert Craig- head and John N. Gamble trustees for the purpose. The trustees put forth an advertisement in which they "flatter themselves that the scheme will be satisfactory to all who wish to become adventurers with' a view to better their circumstances. When the object to be attained by the lottery is considered, it is believed every individual will be anxious to become an adventurer. It is not designed to retrieve a shattered fortune, nor to convert into cash at an extravagant price property that is
*Condensed from the historical sketch by Col. Moves White.
4448
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
of no use, but it is intended to aid the funds of a seminary of education, where youth of the present and succeeding generations may have their minds prepared in such a manger as to make them ornaments to their families and useful to their country as will enable them to understand their rights as citizens, and duties as servants of the people."
This scheme proved a failure. A sufficient number of tickets wero not sold, and no drawing occurred. Meanwhile, Hampden Sidney Academy had been established for Knox County, and its trustees, by private subscription, had succeeded in raising sufficient funds to justify effecting an organization. However, it was not until January 1, 1517, that the academy opened its doors for the reception of pupils. In Octo- ber, 1820, the trustees of East Tennessee College decided to put that institution into operation again, and an agreement was entered into whereby the academy and college were united, D. A. Sherman, the principal of the academy, becoming president of the college. He was a graduate of Yale, of the class of 1802, and for several years afterward a tutor in that institution. During his presidency of the college, he was assisted by Daniel E. Watrous, James McBath and David S. Hart, the last named, the first graduate of East Tennessee College, taking his de- gree in 1821. Mr. Sherman, on account of failing health, withdrew from the college in 1825, and Samuel R. Rodgers and James McBath contin- ued the exercises as tutors in charge for one year.
In 1826 the trustees, having obtained permission to select another and more eligible site than the Poplar Spring, purchased of Pleasant M. Miller, for the sum of $600, Barbara Hill, so named, in honor of Barbara Blount, the daughter of William Blount. They proceeded to erect the center college building and three one-story dormitories back of the college, so arranged as to make a square of the campus. The trus- tees then succeeded in securing as president the Rev. Charles Coffin. of Greeneville College, a man of great worth and elegant classical attainments. About this time considerable popular opposition toward colleges was manifested, and those institutions suffered accordingly. Dr. Coffin, how- ever, prosecuted his labors for several years in the face of the greatest difficulties and embarrassments, with unremitting energy and assiduity, but popular prejudice increased. In 1832, worn down with excessive lahor and anxious care, he was compelled to resign the presidency, and the next year was succeeded by James H. Piper, of Virginia, an alumnus of the college of the class of 1830. At the end of one year he resigned the presi- dency in despair. It is said that he was the ambitious youth who aspired to carve his name above that of the father of his country, on the natural bridge.
1
110
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
He was immediately succeeded by Joseph Estabrook, a graduate of Dartmouth. He at once secured a corps of able assistants, and soon suc- recded in raising the college from almost total prostration to a respecta- ble rank among the educational institutions of the country. In 1537 the college was organized into regular classes, and the first catalogue was published. By an act of the Legislature in 1840, the name of East Ten- nessee College was changed to that of East Tennessee University, and greater power and more extended privileges were granted. Soon after the sale of a part of the land belonging to the institution enabled the trustees to make some important and long needed improvements. They contracted with Thomas Crutchfield, Esq., of Athens, who had built the main edifice, to erect the two three-story dormitories, and the two houses and appurtenances on the right and left slopes, originally intended to be used as dwellings by the professors, but which an increasing demand for room has required to be appropriated to other purposes. The final set- tlement of the commissioners, James H. Cowan and Drury P. Armstrong, with the contractor, July, 1848, exhibits as the total cost of the improve- ment the sum of $20,965.18.
At this time the college was just entering upon a decline, which was hastened by the resignation of President Estabrook, in 1850. This de- cline was due to the same causes that compelled the suspension of the University of Nashville-the multiplication of colleges and denom- inational schools throughout Tennessee and the entire South. The trustees, appreciating the necessity, called into requisition the great name and extensive personal popularity of the Hon. W. B. Reese, who had a short time before resigned his seat upon the supreme bench. Judge Reese assumed the presidency in the fall of 1850, but even his great learning, industry, and influence were not sufficient to stay the decline: and after having graduated an even dozen students, he resigned at the end of the third year of his presidency. The trustees experienced con- siderable difficulty in securing a satisfactory successor. Rev. George Cook was finally elected and accepted. He was a native of New Hamy- shire, a graduate of Dartmouth, and had been for several years the prin- cipal of a flourishing female seminary in Knoxville. As a majority of the professors had resigned with the president, the vacancies had to be filled, and the formal opening of the university was postponed from the fall of 1853 until the beginning of the summer session of 1854. The cholera prevailed with considerable violence and fatality in Knoxville in the following September, and the fear of its recurrence deterred the sta- dents from returning at the opening of the winter session.
An attempt was then made to organize a medical department. but a
-
450
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
sufficient number of competent physicians could not be obtained to fill the chairs. After this failure an agreement was entered into with the Western Military Institute to consolidate that institution with the uni- versity, but Nashville offered greater inducements, and it went there. President Cook next recommended the establishment of an agricultural department, but before the result of his last proposition was learned, he resigned in despair in 1857. During the following year the exercises of the university were suspended, and another unsuccessful attempt was made to establish a medical department.
On the 20th of March, 1858, the head of Burritt College, Van Buren County, Tenn., was elected, president of the university, and under his charge the university was formally reopened in September following. At the close of his second year he resigned, and the vacancy thus caused was filled by the election of Rev. J. J. Ridley, of Clarksville. Owing to the untiring efforts of the retiring president the next session opened with a largely increased attendance. The first important action taken by the new president was to secure the adoption of a resolution extending gia- tuitous education to candidates for the ministry of all religious denom- inations.
A military department was again organized and rigid discipline adopted in the management of the university. But just as the institu- tion was again in successful operation the civil war came on. Students enlisted and instructors resigned. In a short time general demoraliza- tion pervaded the whole institution. A portion of the university build- ings was soon demanded by the military. On February 7, 1862. the president unconditionally resigned. The buildings and grounds were used by the Confederates and Federals in turn; and after the close of the war the United States Government paid to the trustees, in the way of rents and damages, the sum of $15,000.
July 10, 1865, the board of trustees, as a preparatory step toward reorganizing the university and resuming exercises therein, unanimously elected the Rev. Thomas Humes president, who at once addressed him- self to the task before him. The university buildings. in consequence of their having been occupied for several years by the army, were not in a condition to be used for college purposes. Without waiting for the nec- éssary repairs to be made, in the spring of 1866 President Humes resumed exercises in the buildings of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum. In September, 1867, the work of instruction was resumed in the college buildings.
In accordance with the provisions of an act of Congress, approved July 2, 1862, making endowments for industrial colleges to the several
451
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
States, the Legislature of the State in January, 1969, appropriated upon certain conditions, the agricultural fund to East Tennessee Univer- sity. In June, 1869, the trustees organized the Tennessee Industrial College, and in September of the same year it went into operation. Its endowment from the United States was invested in 396 State of Tennes. see bonds of $1,000 each, bearing 6 per cent interest, the payment of which for several years was much delayed. Notwithstanding this serious obstacle, the success of the institution was very gratifying. A fine farm situated about three-fourths of a mile from the university was purchased for its use; new buildings were erected, and an excellent chemical labor- atory was provided and equipped. In 1979 the name of East Tennessee University was changed, by an act of the Legislature, to the University of Tennessee. At the same time the governor was authorized to appoint a board of visitors to the university, three from each grand division of the State, and other legislation connecting the university intimately with the public school system of the State. Since that time a full university organization has been adopted. The courses of instruction have been enlarged and multiplied, and the university now offers excellent advan- tages for both general and special study.
The medical department was organized as the Nashville Medical Col- lege in the summer of 1876. It was founded by Drs. Duncan Eve and W. F. Glenn, who drew from the faculty of the medical department of the University of Nashville and Vanderbilt University Drs. Paul F. Eve. T. B. Buchanan, George S. Blackie, W. P. Jones and J. J. Abernethy. The first session of this institution commenced on March 5, 1877, and was attended with brilliant success from the first. In the spring of 1879 a dental department was established, being the first dental school in the South. During the same year an overture was received from the trust. ees of the University of Tennessee to become their medical department and such an agreement was effected.
The following is the present faculty: Hon. William P. Jones, M. D., president of faculty, professor of mental diseases and public hygiene; Duncan Eve, M. D., dean of the faculty, professor of sur- gery and clinical surgery; William F. Glenn, M. D., professor of physi- ology, genito-urinary and venereal diseases; J. Bunyan Stephens, M. D .. professor of obstetrics and clinical midwifery: Deering J. Roberts. M. D., professor of theory and practice of medicine and clinical medicine: Paul F. Eve, M. D., professor of general, descriptive and surgical anat- omy; William D. Haggard, M. D., professor of gynecology and disease- of children; Woodford M. Vertrees, M. D., professor of materia medica and therapeutics . William E. MeCampbell, M. D .. professor of me lio il
152
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
chemistry and toxicology; William G. Brien, M. D., LL. D., professor of medieal jurisprudence; John G. Sinclair, M. D., professor of diseases of the eye, car and throat; James Y. Crawford, M. D., D. D. S., professor of prophylactic dentistry and oral surgery; Paul F. Eve, M. D., William E. MeCampbell, M. D., demonstrators of anatomy.
At the close of the session of 1882-83 Dr. Humes resigned the pres- idency of the university. The trustees thereupon determined to leave the presidency unfilled for the ensuing year, and gave power to the faculty to elect from their body a chairman clothed with the authority and charged with the duties of a president. So satisfactory was this arrange- ment that it has since been continued. The following are the faculty and officers of the. university: Eben Alexander, B. A., chairman of the faculty; Hunter Nicholson, A. M., professor of natural history and ge- ology; Eben Alexander, B. A., professor of ancient languages and litera- ture; Samuel B. Crawford, M. A., professor of military science and com- mandant of cadets; Rodes Massie, A. M., D. L., professor of English and modern languages; John W. Glenn, A. M., professor of agriculture, horticulture and botany; William Albert Noys. Ph. D., professor of chemistry and mineralogy; William W. Carson, C. E., M. E., professor of mathematics; William Everett Moses, B. S., adjunct professor of chem- istry; Samuel B. Crawford. M. A., adjunct professor of mathematics: Thomas Oakley Deaderick, M. A., adjunct professor of ancient lan- guages; William Gibbs McAdoo, M. A., adjunct professor of English and history; Lewis Conner Carter, C. E., instructor in applied mathe- matics; John Newton Bogart, M. A., instructor in sub-collegiate classes; William Isaac Thomas, M. A., instructor in modern languages and nat- ural history; Gustav Robert Knabe, Mus. D., instructor in vocal and instrumental music; Hunter Nicholson, A. M., librarian; Robert James Cummings, farm superintendent; Hon. John L. Moses, president of the board of trustees; Robert Craighead. secretary and treasurer. Trustees: Hon. William B. Bate, governor of Tennessee, ex officio; Hon. John Alli- son, secretary of State, ex officio; Hon. Thomas H. Paine, superintend- ent of public instruction. ex officio; Rev. Thomas W. Humes. S. T. D .. Hugh L. MeClung, William K. Eckle, Hon. O. P. Temple. Frank A. R. Scott, Robert H. Armstrong, Hon. John Baxter*, B. Frazier, M. D .. William Rule, S. H. Smith, M. D., R. P. Eaton, M. D., H. L. W. Mynatt, Charles M. McGhee, Hon. D. A. Nunn, Edward J. Sanford. W. A. Hen- derson, Esq., Hon. J. M. Coulter, Rev. James Park, D. D., James D. Cowan, C. Deaderick, M. D., John M. Boyd, M. D., Hon. John L. Moses. Hon. George Brown, A. Caldwell, Esq., John M. Fleming. Esq., J. W.
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.