USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > History of Nashville, Tenn. > Part 42
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In November, 1828, the Western Statesman, published at Bolivar, Tenn., concluded an article on seminaries of learning as follows: " While our Legislature are forwarding schemes for the aggrandizement of the Nashville University, surely it would not be deemed presumption in us to ask them to think of the interests of an institution south of the Hatchie, in no respect inferior save in funds and patronage."
In reply to this the Nashville Whig said:
" Would it were true that the Legislature had been zealous in efforts to build up and sustain our university! So far from it, however, its claims are scoffed at by the leading members of that body, and it was with great difficulty that its friends could secure for it even the change of name which it was thought would give it a more dignified and imposing aspect, and might lead to a petition for legislative aid. No; the Legislature of Tennessee has not, we believe, done any thing for the University of Nashville except to take care of its funds, or rather to leave them in the care of people who thought they had more need of them than any litera- ry institution could possibly have. We should be happy to see our Leg- islature engaged with energy in the great cause of education; and we should have no objection to see them begin the good work by extending patronage to the academy at Bolivar, or any other place that might be deemed more important or more deserving of notice than our proscribed city. But we do protest against every effort to bring forward one institu- tion by attempting to excite an unfounded jealousy against another equal- ly valuable. If they have a seminary south of Hatchie in no respect in-
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ferior to our university, we are heartily glad of it, and we hope it may be cherished and sustained and rendered eminently useful; but we likewise hope that our friends in the western district will not be annoyed at the prospect of any undue and'disproportionate aggrandizement of the insti- tution at this place."
The Memphis Advocate paid its respects to the University of Nashville in the following effusion, which may not inappropriately be looked upon as one of the curiosities of literature:
" We are told by the friends of this seminary that its prosperity should be dear to every citizen of Tennessee. Why should it be so? Men hold that dear which benefits them. Does the University of Nashville benefit every citizen of Tennessee? Does it benefit, or is it likely to benefit even a majority of our citizens? We think not.
" The university is, we admit, sufficiently adapted to the advancement of science, and more than sufficiently adapted to the advancement of mere learning. But it ought never to be forgotten that the benefit of a free people results much more from the diffusion than from the accumulation of intelligence. It ought not for a moment to be lost sight of that if equal- ity be really, as our fathers believed, a better political basis than grada- tion, the equalization of knowledge, and not its mere increase, should form the primary object of our exertion.
"Now, has the University of Nashville, has any university, a tendency to spread and equalize knowledge among our citizens? Quite the con- trary! The tendency of every thing resembling a university is to lavish still more points of superiority upon those who from birth or other acci- dents already possess far too many; to raise still higher on the scale of social importance those whose position is already far too elevated to be consistent with the prosperity of their fellows.
" Well, indeed, may the gentlemen of Nashville sing praises to their college! Well may they proffer their tens of thousands in its support ! For it is in the pervading and pestiferous effects of colleges that their gentility takes its origin and finds its support. But we who can as little boast of the genteel blood that flows in our veins as of the tens of thou- sands of dollars that lie in our coffers, we should take leave to act accord- ingly; we shall take leave to denounce the University of Nashville and every such institution within our Union, as noisome to our well-being, as conspirators against the equality on which our Government is based, as traitors to that cause in support of which our fathers pledged their sacred honor.
" In whom think you, ye nabobs of Nashville-in whom think you the sovereignty of this nation is vested? Is it vested in you, the minor-
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ity who have contrived to make yourselves rich ? or is it vested in us, the majority whom you have contrived to make poor?" etc.
All of this was so extremely absurd as to be intensely amusing to the " nabobs of Nashville." To be consistent in its absurdity the Advocate was compelled to antagonize all universities and colleges as educating the few instead of the many; while at the same time it was also compelled to make an argument against educating anybody, for to educate one in the least above his fellows was to commit treason against that equality " in support of which our fathers pledged their sacred honor." But it is doubtless true that it was owing in part to the animosity evinced in such articles, and by the jealousy of the numerous other similar institutions that were established in Tennessee and the adjoining States that caused the attendance upon this university to gradually diminish after 1836, and to finally cease altogether in 1850. The battle was bravely fought by the au- thorities of the institution until there was no further wisdom in keeping up the struggle.
Following are the numbers of students in attendance, and graduates, from the time Dr. Lindsley took charge in 1824 to 1850: 1825: Students, 43. 1826: Students, 72; graduates, 7. 1827: Students, 83; graduates, I2. 1828: Students, 72; graduates, 16. 1829: Students, 49; graduates, 7. 1830: Students, 72; graduates, 8. 1831: Students, 94; graduates,
1833: Students, 65; graduates, 22. 1832: Students, 72; graduates, 8. 1835: Students, 102; gradu- 15. 1834: Students, 84; graduates, IO.
ates, 20. 1836: Students, 118; graduates, 18. 1837: Students, 102; graduates, 12. 1838: Students, 80; graduates, 19. 1839: Students, 80;
graduates, 19. 1840: Students, 79; graduates, 23. 1841: Students, 79;
graduates, 16. 1842: Students, 89; graduates, 14. 1843: Students, 78;
graduates, 25. 1844: Students, 78; graduates, 25. 1845: Students, 80; graduates, 22. 1836: Students, 72; graduates, 18. 1847: Stu- dents, 74; graduates, 21. 1848: Students, 68; graduates, 23. 1849: Students, 56; graduates, 20. 1850: Students, 39; graduates, 15.
Following are the names of the various members of the faculty of this institution previous to 1850:
Ancient Languages: Rev. William Hume, 1808 to 1816; Nathaniel Cross, A.M., 1826 to 1831; Consider Parish, 1831 to 1833; Abednego Stephens, 1835 to 1838; Nathaniel Cross, A.M., 1838 to 1850.
Mathematics and Natural Philosophy: George W. McGehee, 1824 to 1827; James Hamilton, A.M., 1827 to 1829; John Thomson, A.M., 1830 to 1831 ; James Hamilton, A.M., 1831 to 1835; Abram Litton, A.M., 1835 to 1838; James Hamilton, A.M., 1838 to 1849; Alexander P. Stew- art, A.M., 1849 to 1850.
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Chemistry: George T. Bowen, 1826 to 1828; Gerard Troost, M.D., Mineralogy and Geology added, 1828 to 1850.
French Languages and Literature: Nicholas S. Parmantier, 1832 to 1835.
Modern Languages: Alexander S. Villeplait, 1838 to 1842.
In the fall of 1850, as there were no applications for admission into the university, on account of the prevalence of the cholera at that time, Dr. Lindsley resigned and the institution was closed. Almost immediately afterward, however, a few distinguished medical gentlemen organized the Medical Department of the university. The establishment of this depart- ment was contemplated from the first by Rev. Philip Lindsley, but for many and various reasons was delayed. But on October 22, 1849, Dr. J. Ber- rien Lindsley began active operations in its behalf, and about this time' succeeded in forming a medical club, which by the power vested in the trustees of the university was converted into the medical faculty. Dr. Charles C. Winston and Dr. A. H. Buchanan were active in the or- ganization of this department, as was also Dr. W. K. Bowling. The trustees of the university approved of the plan for a medical department on October 11, 1850, and a faculty for the department was thereupon elected.
The literary department of the University of Nashville was reorganized in 1853, with the intention of admitting students into all the regular col- lege classes October 2, 1854. A new building was erected for the use of this department, the corner-stone of which was laid with appropriate ceremonies April 7, 1853. The building erected is a fine stone one, and cost $45,000. The literary department was opened in 1855, with Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley as Chancellor of the university, elected to that position by the unanimous vote of the trustees; and Colonel Bushrod R. John- son, Superintendent. Colonel Johnson was at the time Superintendent of the " Western Military Institute," a college incorporated in 1847 by the State of Kentucky. It was quite prosperous in that State for seven years, and was at the end of that period closed on account of a great amount of sickness among the students. Tennessee then manifested much interest in the fate of the institution, and it was proposed to remove it to this State. The Kentucky charter was therefore abandoned, and a new one secured from the Legislature of Tennessee. A temporary loca- tion was effected at Tyree Springs, which it was hoped would become permanent; but in the meantime numerous places offered inducements for the establishment of the institution, and among them Nashville, the result being a union of the institute with the University of Nashville. The collegiate department, thus constituted, opened in the new building
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in 1855 with forty students. The building is one hundred and fifty-four feet long and fifty-four feet wide. The course of study comprised the full mathematical course, ancient and modern languages, natural sciences, ethics, and belles-lettres. The department was conducted until the break- ing out of the war, with the following numbers of students in attendance : 1855, 40; 1856, 154; 1857, 211; 1858, 202; 1859, 154; 1860, 152. The graduates numbered for the same time as follows: 1855, 3; 1856, 10; 1857, 2; 1858, 4; 1859, 10; 1860, 13.
During this period the faculty of the Collegiate Department consisted of the following professors: Chancellor of the university: J. Berrien Lindsley, A.M., M.D. Superintendent and Professor of Natural Philos- ophy and Engineering: Colonel Bushrod R. Johnson. Commandant and Professor of Geology and Chemistry: Lieutenant-colonel Richard Owen, 1855 to 1858. Mathematics: James F. Hamilton, A.M., 1855. to 1858. Natural philosophy was added to this chair in 1858, and Pro- fessor Hamilton remained in it until the close of the school. Ancient Languages: Marcus McGarry, A.M., 1855 to 1856; John H. Stewart, A.M., 1856 to 1860. Modern Languages: F. L. J. Thyssens, 1855 to 1859; J. G. Anglade, 1860. Mental and Moral Philosophy: Rev. J. W. Hoyte, A.M., M.D., 1858 to 1860.
During the war Chancellor Lindsley successfully watched and cared for the buildings of the university, they being used by the United States military authorities for a hospital. In 1867 Dr. Lindsley organized Montgomery Bell Academy, in accordance with the designs of Montgom- ery Bell, well known to all Tennesseeans as the pioneer in the develop- ment of the iron interests of the State. Mr. Bell bequeathed $20,000 for the founding of an institution in which twenty-five students, from the counties of Davidson, Montgomery, Dickson, and Williamson, should be educated free of expense. This academy, in connection with the State Normal College, occupied the fine building of the university. By the time this department of the university was opened, in 1867, the fund bequeathed by Mr. Bell had increased to $46,000. The officers of the Board of Trustees for this year were: John M. Lea, President; A. V. S. Linds- ley, Secretary and Treasurer. The faculty was composed as follows: Chancellor, Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley; Professor of Latin, M. S. Snow, A.M .; Professor of Natural Science, George S. Blackie, A.M., M.D .; Professor of Greek, F. N. Judson, A.B .; Professor of Mathematics, A. D. Wharton, A.M., together with three instructors in the grammar school.
For the sessions of 1870-71 the Chancellor of the university was E. Kirby Smith, who filled the chair of natural history and geology; Gen- eral Bushrod R. Johnson, Principal of the college and Professor of Ap-
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plied Mathematics and Engineering; A. D. Wharton, Principal of Mont- gomery Bell and Professor of Mathematics; R. H. Willis, Professor of Greek; J. A. Cunningham, Professor of Latin; W. A. Obenchain, Pro- fessor of Modern Languages; J. W. Yeatman, Professor of Physics and Chemistry; S. M. D. Clark, Principal of grammar school. Montgom- ery Bell Academy was the preparatory school of the university, and con- sisted of a high school and a grammar school, each of which had a three years' course of study. The collegiate course of study consisted of the usual four years' course. In this course that year there were-thirty- two students; in the high school, eighty-five; and in the grammar school, one hundred and fifty-four-a total of two hundred and seventy- one. In the Law and Medical Departments there were two hundred and eleven students, making four hundred and eighty-two in all.
Since that time the faculty of the university has been as follows: Chancellor: E. Kirby Smith, 1871-75; Eben S. Stearns, S.T.D., 1875- 87; William H. Payne, Ph.D., LL.D., 1887-90. Principal of Collegi- ate Department and Professor of Applied Mathematics: General Bush- rod R. Johnson, 1871-74. Professor of Mathematics and Commandant of Cadets: F. W. Price, 1874-75.
The professors in Montgomery Bell Academy have been as follows: Principal and Professor of Natural Science: A. D. Wharton, 1871-74; Joseph W. Yeatman, M.A., 1875-86; S. M. D. Clark, M.A., 1887. An- cient Languages: J. A. Cunningham, 1871-75; S. M. D. Clark, M.A., 1876-86. Mathematics: William R. Garrett, M.A., 1876-90. English : Priestly H. Manning, 1882-85; William S. Graham, 1885-86. Upon the inauguration of the present Chancellor, William H. Payne, A.M., in 1877, the academy was reorganized, and since then the following has been the arrangement of the professorships: Classics, Book-keeping, and Commercial Law: S. M. D. Clark, M.A., 1887-90. Natural Sci- ence and English, Priestly H. Manning, L.I., 1887-90. Grammar: W. S. Graham, L.I., 1887-90. Primary Department: Miss Grace Wing, 1887-90. Elocution: John M. Loury, M.A., 1887-90. German: Miss P. Gattinger, 1887-90.
The State Normal College is one of the important departments of the Nashville University. The first attempt to establish a normal college in Tennessee was made by Robert Hatton, in the Legislature of 1855-56. His bill for the establishment of such a school passed his own body of the Legislature, and failed in the Senate by only one vote. The next effort in this direction was in 1873, and was made by Dr. W. P. Jones while State Senator from Davidson County. This bill passed in the Senate, but was defeated in the House for want of time for its consideration at
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the close of the session. At the next session of the Legislature Dr. Barnas Sears and the State Teachers' Association requested Ex-senator Jones to prepare a bill similar to that which had come so near passing the previ- ous session, and have it introduced. The Ex-senator complied with the request, and labored to secure its enactment; but it failed in the Senate. These two bills provided for supplementing an annual appropriation of six thousand dollars from the Peabody Fund with an equal amount from the treasury of the State. Upon the failure of the second attempt, Dr. Jones wrote to Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley, suggesting the possibility of his securing the passage of a bill without an appropriation. The attempt was made by Dr. Lindsley, and, as a result of his efforts an act was passed March 23, 1875, and was approved on the same day. Since its organization in 1865, the State Teachers' Association had been persistent and indefatigable in bringing to the attention of the public the necessity of a normal school as the consummation of the public school system of the State. But as the State failed to provide the funds necessary for a full development of the work of the Normal School, the University of Nashville proposed to suspend its Literary Department and devote its buildings, grounds, and funds to the Normal School, except that portion of its funds appropriated to the Medical Department. This proposition was promptly supplemented by the trustees of the " Peabody Education Fund," through their agent, Dr. Sears, his offer being to contribute six thousand dollars per year for two years.
Grounds, buildings, and funds to the amount of $12,000 being thus obtained, the college was organized, and was inaugurated with appropri- ate ceremonies December 1, 1875. The present value of buildings and grounds alone is $120,000. Fifteen candidates presented themselves for examination; and before the close of the first term of ten weeks forty- seven had been admitted. At the close of the school year the number had increased to sixty. The building occupied by this Normal School is a fine two-story stone structure in the Gothic style of architecture, con- sisting of a center building and two wings, about two hundred and twen- ty-five feet front, one hundred and ten feet deep in the center, and sixty feet deep in each of the wings. The school has been until recently known as the Tennessee State Normal College, or the Literary Department of the University of Nashville. It is under the patronage of the "Peabody Fund," from which it annually receives ten thousand dollars.
The other buildings are Lindsley Hall, occupied by the chemical lab- oratory, the general library, two society halls, and twenty furnished rooms for students, and the Ewing Gymnasium, one of the best-equipped insti- tutions of its kind in the South.
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The Peabody Board has endowed this school with one hundred and fourteen scholarships, worth two hundred dollars each, and good for two years.
The attendance is now three hundred and sixty, having more than doubled in the past two years. The faculty consists of seventeen in- structors and lecturers.
The Normal College was called the State Normal College until 1889, when the name was changed to the Peabody Normal College. The in- structors and professors since 1875 have been as follows: Normal De- partment: Miss Julia A. Sears, 1875-87. Since then Miss Sears has been Professor of Mathematics. Normal Department: Miss Emma M. Cutter, 1875-81. Miss Lizzie L. Bloomstein was Instructor in this de- partment until 1887, since which time she has had the chair of Geogra- phy and History. Benjamin P. Penfield, A.M., became Instructor in 1883, and since 1887 has been Professor of Psychology and Physiology. John L. Lampson, B.A., became Instructor in 1882, and since 1887 has been Professor in Latin and Greek. Julia A. Doak became Instructor in 1883, and since 1887 has been Professor of Mathematics. John E. Bailey had charge of instruction in vocal music from 1876 to 1889. The present instructor in vocal music is Mrs. M. E. Cheney.
The most interesting event that has recently taken place in connection with this Normal College was the visit of the Peabody trustees on No- vember 21, 1889. The trustees present were Ex-president R. B. Hayes ; Rt. Rev. H. B. Whipple, Bishop of Minnesota; Ex-governor James D. Porter, of Tennessee; Dr. Samuel A. Green, of Boston; and Dr. J. L. M. Curry, of Richmond, agent of the Peabody Fund. The committee came with power to act on the recommendation of the President, and appropriated $17,300 for the use of the college, $12,000 of which was for a building for a model school, which is now in process of erection. This was the first time that any of the trustees outside of Tennessee had visited the institution. Short addresses were made by each of the trust- ees present, and Mrs. Cheney sung a solo, all of which were highly ap- preciated and enjoyed by the students.
Chancellor Stearns showed great wisdom in the organization of this new institution, persevered amidst obstacles that would have disheartened most men, and at his death in 1887 left a school which will ever be a monument to his wisdom and fidelity. On his death, Dr. J. L. M. Cur- ry, authorized so to do by the Peabody Board, called to the presidency of the college William H. Payne, A.M., then Professor of the Sciences in the University of Michigan, and an experienced educator, who is still in the office.
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Reference has been already made to the origin of the Medical Depart- ment of the university. It was established October 11, 1850. The first faculty was as follows: John M. Watson, M.D., Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children; A. H. Buchanan, M.D., Pro- fessor of Surgery; W. K. Bowling, M.D., Institutes and Practice of Medicine; C. K. Winston, M.D., Materia Medica and Pharmacy; Rob- ert M. Porter, M.D., Anatomy and Physiology; J. Berrien Lindsley, M.D., Chemistry and Pharmacy. By arrangement with the trustees of the university, the faculty of the Medical Department were given exclu- sive control of their own department, and the college building was se- cured by lease for twenty-two years. The first course of lectures com- menced on the first Monday in November, 1851.
The government adopted for the college was that there should be two officers-a President and a Dean. The latter was really the more impor- tant of the two. His duty was to manage the institution at home and represent it abroad. He appointed all operatives, and was the sole cus- todian of the building. He also managed the public funds. When the fees and other resources of the Dean were insufficient to pay the expenses of the institution, the deficiency was made up by a pro rata assessment upon each professor. Charles K. Winston, M.D., held the office of President of the Faculty from the beginning of the institution until 1872.
J. Berrien Lindsley, M.D., held the office of Dean the first six years, when he resigned. Paul F. Eve, M.D., then held it two years, and W. K. Bowling ten years; and though re-elected unanimously on October 30, 1867, tendered his resignation, to take effect April 1, 1868. Dr. Lindsley was then elected to the position and held it until 1872.
The faculty of the Medical Department up to 1874, when it was adopt- ed by Vanderbilt University (and thus became the Medical Department of each of these universities ), was as follows: Obstetrics, and Diseases of Women and Children: John M. Watson, M.D., 1851-67; William T. Briggs, M.D., 1867-68; Charles K. Winston, M.D., 1868-73; William 'L. Nichol, M.D., 1873-74. Surgical Anatomy and Clinical Surgery: Paul F. Eve, M.D., 1851-74. Theory and Practice of Medicine: W. K. Bowling, M.D., 1851-73; Thomas L. Maddin, M.D., 1873-74. Ma- teria Medica and Medical Jurisprudence: Charles K. Winston, M.D., 1851-67. Materia Medica and Therapeutics: John H. Callender, M.D., 1867-71; William L. Nichol, M.D., 1871-73; Thomas Menees, M.D., 1873-74. Anatomy and Physiology: Robert M. Porter, M.D., 1851-54; Thomas R. Jennings, M.D., 1857-66; Thomas B. Buchanan, M.D., 1866-74. Surgical Anatomy: A. H. Buchanan, M.D., 1854-66; Will- iam T. Briggs, M.D., 1866-68; Van S. Lindsley, M.D., 1868-74. Chem-
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istry and Pharmacy: J. Berrien Lindsley, M.D., 1851-73; James M. Saf- ford, M.D., 1873-74.
Since 1875 the officers of the Board of Trustees have been as follows: President: Edwin H. Ewing, LL.D., 1875-84; Hon. Alexander J. Por- ter, 1884-87; James D. Porter, 1887-90. Secretary and Treasurer: A. V. S. Lindsley, 1875-84; Edward D. Hicks, 1884-90.
The Nashville Female Academy was one of the first institutions of its kind in the United States. A number of gentlemen associated themselves together for the purpose of its establishment early in 1816. These gen- tlemen were: Joseph T. Elliston, James Jackson, James Hanna, John Baird, Stephen Cantrell, Wilkins Tannehill, John C. Beck, James Trim- ble, Samuel Elam, Thomas Claiborne, Thomas Childress, Thomas J. Read, John Childress, Elihu S. Hall, Robert Searcy, David Irwin, James Porter, John Nichol, John P. Erwin, Willie Barrow, Felix Grundy, Geo. M. Deaderick, John C. McLemore, Robert Weakley, and Robert Whyte.
For the use of the proposed academy, these gentlemen, on the 4th of July, 1816, purchased three acres of land of David McGavock, the land lying on the south side of the town, and costing $1,500. Contracts were entered into for building part of the academy house, which was ready for occupancy in July, 1817. On the 2d of this month the trustees of the academy announced that they had at length succeeded in securing suita- ble teachers for this school, from which so much was expected (and from which so much was realized) .. The teachers selected were Dr. Daniel Berry and his wife, of Salem, Mass., who were recommended by some of the leading citizens of that State as possessing superior qualifica- tions. Dr. Berry and lady, the trustees said, had arrived, and their bear- ing and manner had very highly and favorably impressed the trustees, who were happy to add their approbation to that of the citizens of Mas- sachusetts.
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