The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 67

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050

USA > Wisconsin > Waukesha County > The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc > Part 67

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Resolved (1), That the school be under the supervision of the Bishop of the diocese.

Resolved (2), That the Bishop of the diocese, the President of Nashotah House and the Rector of the parish, be a Board of Visitors to the institution, and the plan and manner of conducting the school be such as they shall approve.

Resolved (3), That the Board of Visitors be a committee for the selection of proper teachers for the school.

Resolved (4), That the Rev. Mr. Peake and Dr. J. M. Lewis he a committee to draw up a statement of the principles embraced in the above resolutions, and report the necessary steps for procuring a charter.

E. S. PEAKE, Secretary.

The above is a transcript of the minutes of the first meeting held for the establishment of a diocesan school for girls in Wisconsin. The founders wished an institution of the highest

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

order, and interested a number of gentlemen in the enterprise. Among the laymen, the larg- est contributor was John S. Rockwell, and this fact secured the establishment of a diocesan school in Oconomowoc, in preference to other places in the State, which proved fortunate for it, as a finer location in any State cannot be found. A charter was obtained by act of Legisla- ture in January, 1856. The following is the legislative enactment which chartered the Ocono- mowoc Seminary :

SECTION 1. That Jackson Kemper, Azel D. Cole, William H. Warner, Talbot C. Dousman, B. R. Hinckley, E. W. Edgerton, A. H. Whitney, D. Henry Rockwell, Thomas Salton, George W. Pugh, James Luck, James M. Lewis, Samuel Dodge, John S. Rockwell, A. L. Prichard, L. Wilson Davis, together with such persons as may here: fter become associated with them, are hereby created a body politic and corporate, with perpetual succession, by the title and name of " Oconomowoc Seminary," by which name they and their successors shall be known, and shall have power to sue and be sued, to contract and be contracted with, to plead and he impleaded, defend and he defended, in all courts of law and equity ; and, further, shall have power to borrow any sums of money for the purposes of said corporation, not exceeding the corporate stock of said corporation, may have and use a common seal, and shall have power to receive as a gift and to purchase and hold any real estate or personal property, consistent with the interests of the institution, and the same to sell and convey, or otherwise lawfully dispose of, at pleasure. Any three of the above-named persons may call a meeting of said corporation, to be held at Oconomowoc, where said corporation is hereby located, by giving ten days' notice thereof, by posting up notices in three public places in said village. The stock of said corporation shall he divided into shares of $100 each, which shall be deemed personal property, and shall be transferable on the books of said corporation, in such manner as shall be provided by the by-laws of the same, and any person holding one or more shares of such stock, and subscribing to the by-laws and constitution of said corporation, shall be a Trustee and have one vote for each share so held at all meetings of said corporation for the transaction of business ; and any per- son paying to said corporation a sum not less than $5, and subscribing to the constitution and by-laws of the same, shall be deemed a member thereof.

SEG. 2. The Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Wisconsin shall be ex officio Presi- dent, and shall preside at all meetings of said corporation. The Vice President shall be a presbyter of said church and diocese and shall be elected by the Board of Trustees at their annual meeting, and shall act in the absence of the President. The Rector of " Zion Church " shall be ex officio Secretary, and shall keep a correct record of all the proceedings of said corporation.

SEC. 3. The President, Vice President and Secretary shall constitute and be a Board of Visitors to said sem- inary, who shall appoint requisite teachers, prescribe the course of study and discipline, and confer such degrees as are usual in institutions of learning, and issue and grant diplomas for the same.

SEG. 4. There shall be an annual meeting of the Trustees, at which meeting they shall elect a Treasurer, who shall receive and disburse the funds of the corporation, and issue certificates of stock to such persons as shall be entitled to the same : they shall also elect an Executive Committee of five from their own body, designating the Chairman thereof, which committee shall execute the resolutions of said Trustees, and manage generally the busi- ness affairs of said corporation. Said Trustees may also hold special meetings, to be called by the Executive Com- mittee or by the President, upon the application of any five members of said corporation, in the manner as may be prescribed in the by-laws ; and said Trustees are hereby authorized to make such by-laws as they may deem neces- sary to carry out the provisions of this charter, with full power and authority to execute the same, provided the same be not inconsistent with the laws and constitution of this State.

SEC. 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

Approved January 25, 1856.

The school opened in the following autumn. Some money was subscribed in Oconomowoc toward the purchase of property, but the most liberal donor was J. S. Rockwell, and, from time to time, he enlarged and improved the building, which was purchased by the Trustees of Dr. J. M. Lewis. While he lived, he gave generous aid to the school by liberal patronage, and at his death the institution lost one of its most valued friends.

Bishop Kemper, who was President of the Board of Trustees, was a liberal benefactor of the school, purchasing several trusteeships and bestowing them upon the clergy. The Board was increased in members yearly, from among prominent clergymen and laymen in the State. The Executive Committee was composed of gentlemen residing in and near Oconomowoc, viz .: J. S. Rockwell (until his death), D. W. Small, James Luck, D. H. Rockwell, Talbot C. Dous- man, William H. Warner, M. D., and, later, Daniel Jones, of Watertown. Rev. A. D. Cole, D. D., Vice President of the Board of Trustees, was always active in furthering the interests of the school, and never absent from the meetings. The venerable Bishop took the deepest interest in its welfare, which he evinced by donations to its fund, by frequently visiting it and by always presiding at the annual commencement exercises.

By the terms of the charter, the Rector of the parish was Rector of the school. The first five years, Rev. L. W. Davis was Rector ; he was succeeded by Rev. Lyman Phelps, who

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

occupied the position three years, when Rev. Ezra Jones became Rector, and continued to be for four years.

The first Principal of the seminary was Mrs. Camelia Mason, who remained in charge for three years, when she was succeeded by Miss Grace P. Jones, still at the head of the institution, who entered upon her duties in September, 1859.

On February 3, 1863. Mr. Rockwell, the kind friend and patron of the institution died, after which, the Trustees, from time to time, tried, by repeated appeals to parishes and individ- uals, to raise an efficient sum to pay the indebtedness on the property, due to the administrators of Mr. Rockwell's estate. Failing to accomplish this, they discussed, in a meeting held on the 2d of December, 1867, the expediency of transferring the property to Miss Jones, and the fol- lowing resolution was passed by a unanimous vote :

Resolved, That the Executive Committee of the Oconomowoc Seminary be hereby anthorized to convey to Miss Grace P. Jones all their interest in the present seminary lots and property, under such conditions as they shall deem proper.

Before January 1, 1868, Miss Jones came into full possession of the property, and, in the following spring, made many improvements on the grounds and additions to the buildings, which had been long needed. Since that, she has, from time to time, improved the place, until one no longer recognizes the original seminary of 1859.

Miss Jones has continued the work of the school, not essentially changing its character, but advancing as the demands of the times require, and constantly laboring to bring it up to a higher standard. There is thorough instruction in every branch of study. Girls are received into a Christian home and put under a course of training to fit them for useful and accomplished women.

The institution has accommodations for thirty boarding pupils. A more delightful spot than this for a school cannot be found. Nature smiles in fullest loveliness. The surround- ings are charming-changeful yet restful, in lake and wood and hillside-while the clear, bracing atmosphere gives health and pleasure to all who seek it. The internal arrangements of the seminary are pleasant and cheerful, with the air of home pervading the whole. The grounds are situated on Fowler's Lake, and boating in summer and skating in winter are pleas- ant features of recreation hours.

During Miss Jones' principalship, seven classes have graduated in a full course of study, and a larger number have pursued a partial course. The institution is a permanent one, and no effort will be spared to make it among the best of the land.

CARROLL COLLEGE.

Our American population, as it moves westward into new Territories, carries with it the love of religion and of a sound education, which has so long characterized it in its Eastern home. Knowing that the greater number of those who seek a high grade of intelligence could not return to the institutions whose benediction rested upon their fathers, they early began in this, as in all the Western States, earnest efforts to add to the system of common schools those of a higher grade, even to the college.

Carroll College was one of the fruits of these efforts. Christian men, in and out of the ministry, in connection with the Presbyterian Church (old school), set the enterprise on foot. It is said to have been born in the basement of the Pastor's residence at Cambridge. It was first chartered by the Legislature of the Territory of Wisconsin as "The Prairieville Academy," February 19, 1841. It was first conducted in what is now known as "The Old Female Seminary, or Old Prairieville Academy Building," on Wisconsin avenue. The first Board of Trustees appears to have been constituted January 1, 1844, with Peter N. Cushman, Chairman, A. W. Randall, Secretary, Morris D. Cutler, Treasurer, and Barzillai Douglass, Collector ; William A. Barstow and Edmund D. Clinton were also members of the board, as well as J. Y. Watson, C. R. Dakin, C. Burchard, W. P. Sloan, N. Walton and S. Cummings. In 1846, upon petition of the trustees, the name of the institution was changed into that of " Carroll College,"

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

and appropriate changes made in the charter by the Legislature. The name was in honor of a wealthy and benevolent gentleman in Brooklyn, N. Y. This was really the beginning of Carroll College.

Thus constituted, Eleazer Root was appointed Professor of Languages and Rhetoric, and Henry Barnes, Professor of Mathematics. Soon afterward, Rev. John W. Sterling was appointed Professor of Ancient Languages, and Abraham Miner, Professor of Moral Philosophy. Rev. Dr. Youmans appears to have acted for a short time as President. Measures were at once set on foot to raise funds for building purposes, Professor Sterling going East for that purpose, and Professor E. Root laboring in this State. For a time, Rev. J. Buchanan also acted as agent, going East for funds. The salaries of the Professors were fixed at $500 for the first two years, to be then increased to $800 for each. When 1849 arrived, $6,000 had been raised or subscribed, and M. D. Cutler and C. R. Dakin and other trustees gave tracts of land for the use of the college. George W. Lawrence, R. W. Wright, Jacob L. Bean and W. L. Ward, in the meantime, were chosen trustees. The board had placed the institution under the fostering care of the Presbytery of Milwaukee.

In 1850, the Presbytery recommended the appointment of Rev. John A. Savage, of New York, as President and as fiscal agent, which was done. He accepted the position, and entered at once with energy upon its responsible duties. During this year, also, A. C. Nickell, A. G. Hanford and William H. Watson, of Milwaukee, were chosen Trustees. For eleven years, Dr. Savage was President, and for thirteen, fiscal agent. In every direction, and by every honor- able means, did he labor to secure the endowment needed to render the institution permanent. But it was necessary, or deemed so, to keep a full corps of Professors, and the efforts to obtain means for their support appear to have crippled the other object. The Presbyterian Board of Education gave substantial aid, and something was obtained from the State, in view of the normal work done by the college.

The college building was ready for use by January, 1853, and the basement of the Presby- terian Church was fitted up for the Preparatory Department. President Savage was assisted at different times by such able instructors as Revs. L. I. Root, William J. Monteith, Lowman Hawes, Edward P. Evans, Charles D. Pigion, Jesse Edwards and Sidney A. Bean. For a time, also, Andrew Watson (now reverend) acted as tutor. From 1857 to 1860, Rev. Oscar Park, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, gave instructions in some branches, for which the trustees expressed hearty thanks, and voted him a perpetual scholarship. Among the assistants of Prof. Savage on the Board of Trustees, besides some of those already mentioned, are found the names of Jason Downer, William P. Lynde, I. A. Lapham, all of Milwaukee; C. J. Pettibone, of Portage ; J. D. Rexford, of Janesville; Alfred L. Castleman, M. D., and H. N. Davis, of Waukesha.

In 1857, the first class graduated with the degree of A. B., and, for four successive years, classes were sent forth from Carroll College, which would have been an honor to any institution of learning in the land. It is worth giving their names : Class of 1857, Irving M. Bean, C. D. W. Gage, George W. Burchard, Moses Bryant, Jr., and Andrew Watson. Class of 1858, John H. Carpenter, John P. Story, Charles L. Thompson and S. M. White. In 1859, J. K. Bengster, John Hinton, Louis A. Proctor and H. K. Smith. In 1860, Franklin Dolph, Thomas S. Johnson, William B. Marsh, Edward Savage and Frederic Wardrobe.

From 1852, the college passed under the care of the Synod of Wisconsin-the proper suc- cessor of the Presbytery of Milwaukee. Regular collegiate instruction ceased with 1860. After having been closed for two years, Dr. Savage still acting as fiscal agent, the college was re-opened in 1863, upon a somewhat different plan. Ladies were admitted to its privileges, and a female teacher employed. Rev. William Alexander was appointed President; Rev. C. C. Hersman, Professor, and Miss Julia M. Willard, Assistant. With some success, much hard work, and many difficulties, this plan was carried on for two years. For a part of the time, Rev. David Hull was chosen fiscal agent at a salary of $1,000 per annum ; but the historian did not learn of much success in the raising of funds. At least, no beginnings appear to have

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

been made upon a permanent endowment. Money and lands were given for perpetual and for single scholarships, by individuals and by churches, East and West, during all the preceding years ; but never in large enough sums, single or in the aggregate, to more than sustain the run- ning expenses.

From about 1860, death and removals had made necessary the appointment of new men as Trustees, and while George W. Allen, of Milwaukee, and A. P. Waterman, of Beloit, were added from abroad, the active work at home fell upon William R. Williams, R. B. Hammond, M. S. Hartwell, Henry Davis, John Forbes, Edward Chester and O. Z. Olin, to whom Rev. C. L. Thompson, an alumnus of the college, was soon added.

During 1865, occurred another interregnum in the course of instruction. In March, 1866, began a renewed and earnest effort to resuscitate the college. Walter L. Rankin, of New Jersey, a graduate of Princeton College, was invited to take charge and conduct such a school as seemed best under the circumstances. He began with only fifteen pupils, but in one year the number had reached sixty, and continued to increase till the rooms devoted to the school work were filled. Edward Rankin and others were called in to assist, and all that the most thorough instruction and faithful administration of the institution could do was done. In the mean time, Rev. C. L. Thompson was appointed fiscal agent, and through his zealous efforts, together with some efficient help from Rev. John C. Rankin, of Basking Ridge, N. J., father of the Principal, a debt of $3,000 was lifted from the institution. During these five years, Rev. J. H. Barnard was an active member of the Board of Trustees, and Vernon Tichenor and William A. Nickell began a long and faithful service. But the tuition charged for instruction was necessarily low, and even a full school was unable to afford the salary needed by the Principal and his assistants.

Therefore, in 1870, renewed efforts were put forth to secure a permanent endowment. Prof. W. L. Rankin, who was also President of the Board of Trustees, acted as fiscal agent during his summer vacation, after which Rev. William C. Turner was chosen to that position, and appears to have worked hard. Subscriptions to the amount of $5,000 were secured by him ; but as this was the limit of his apparent ability to raise funds, and as these subscriptions were conditioned upon the raising of- $15,000, he resigned his position at last, and the effort was abandoned.

In 1871, Prof. Rankin felt compelled to resign his position.

A year and a half passed, during which Rev. W. D. Lummis, assisted by his wife, con- ducted the instruction in the college.

In 1873, forty citizens of Waukesha and Milwaukee, appreciating the noble work done by Prof. W. L. Rankin, agreed to give $10 a year, each, for three years, in order to secure him a definite salary, if he would return. John Beveridge, of New York, also left a legacy, which enabled the Trustees to pay some debts which had accrued, and also materially repair the col- lege building. Prof. Rankin returned, and opened with a large school, which increased till the rooms were well filled. Chiefly by his efforts, the three years' subscription was increased to four years, and the number of subscribers increased to nearly one hundred. With able assist- ants, at different times, such as Mr. G. W. Howard, Miss Lillie Camp, Miss Alice Perry, Mrs. Mary Wolcott, Miss Kittie North, Miss Louie Park, and Dr. Hugo Philler, an admirable school of high grade was sustained until the summer of 1879, soon after which Prof. Rankin resigned, in order to accept a position as Principal of the Preparatory Department of Lake Forest University.

During this period, the efforts to secure endowment were renewed upon a different basis, and a real commencement made. The Board of Trustees adopted a resolution, that, in view of the growth of other colleges since this one was founded, and of the greatly increased funds now needed to sustain such an institution, in competition with the State University, and especially in view of the great demand in the whole Northwest, for academies of high grade, it would best subserve the interests of a Christian education, if we abandon all effort, at present, to obtain a full collegiate endowment for Carroll College, and, instead, put forth

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earnest efforts to secure, as early as practicable, an endowment for an academy, after the model of Phillips Academy, at Andover, Mass.

This action, substantially as above, was approved by the Synod of Wisconsin, and the board was advised to appoint a fiscal agent to visit the churches of this and other synods, to obtain $25,000, as a beginning.

The great financial depression of 1873-79, threw a damper upon the new hopes enter- tained by the friends of Carroll College. However, several hundred dollars were realized for endowment from the ten-dollar subscription referred to ; and in April, 1876, the board appointed Rev. T. G. Watson, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, and Secretary of the board, its fiscal agent; and, the church consenting to his absence for one month, he visited the churches of Janesville, Beloit, Fond du Lac and Beaver Dam, besides canvassing for a week in Waukesha Village. The result was that there is now about $2,000 held by the board, and invested as an endowment fund. But the hard times made it imprudent to extend the effort by seeking a paid agent to carry it on.

Prof. George H. Reed, has now taken charge of the college, and is faithfully carrying on the grammar school and high school departments, as has been done during the past eight years. Besides preparing quite a number for college, many have graduated with a fair education, who did not expect to pursue their studies further ; and a noble work has been done in pro- viding competent teachers for the common schools of the county. A much greater work will be done when the wise and good men are found who will build a grand monument for themselves by giving to Carroll College a liberal endowment, which it truly deserves.

Vernon Tichenor is President of the Board of Trustees, and Revs. T. C. Kirkwood, B. G. Riley and C. W. Camp, and Messrs. John S. McDonald, J. K. Anderson, Edward. Porter, Richard Street, W. D. Bacon, M. S. Griswold, A. V. B. Dey and Willard Farr are among the newer, acting and active trustees.

GENERAL EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.

The general supervision of the educational interests of Waukesha County have always been in remarkably good hands. Several of the ablest and most conscientious educators in the State have devoted themselves, at various periods, to the schools of the county, and the results of these labors are plainly apparent. During many years, it was the custom of Superintend- ents, as long as the publishers would do so gratis, to publish every week lengthy reports of their doings and of the condition of the schools visited. This stimulated teachers and scholars alike to deserve the best possible report, and all awaited eagerly the next issue of the papers, always showing the reports with pride to their friends.

The first schoolhouse, elaborately described elsewhere, was erected in 1837, at what is now Waukesha, and, during that fall and winter, William T. Bidwell taught a school with twenty- odd scholars in it. That was the first public school in what is now Waukesha County, though, a year or two before, small private schools were taught at the homes of John Weaver, in Lisbon, and Nathaniel Walton, near Waukesha.

Forty years have wrought a wondrous change in the matter of educational facilities in every part of the county. That change cannot be made more striking than by a jump from an imaginary picture of the first tamarack schoolhouse, with its rude seats, scant furniture and comparative absence of school-books, to the report for 1879 of County Superintendent Howitt. In making his report to the Board of Supervisors for that year, he says :

" Your attention is first called to general statistics. Number of joint districts with school- houses in the county, 43 ; number of regular school districts, 84 ; total, 118. Number of parts of districts, 103 ; number reported, 103. Number of male children as reported, over four and under twenty years of age, in the county, 5,455; females, 5,155; total number of male and female children over four and under twenty, 10,610. Number of days school has been taught by a qualified teacher, 18,627. Number of pupils over four and under twenty years of age who have attended public schools, 6,713 ; under four years of age, 13; over twenty years of

BJGos PEWAUKEE.

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

age, 23; total number of pupils who have attended public school, 6,749; private school, as reported, 202, and, if Carroll College were included, it would make over 7,000 pupils who have received instruction during the year in the county. During the coming year, it is expected the number will be increased, as the compulsionary law will be in force, and to which the attention of district boards, patrons and teachers is respectfully called. In relation to this law, I deem it not necessary to make any comment in this report.

"Number of private schools in the county, 11. Number which are denominational, 9. Number of teachers engaged, 17. Number of days school has been taught, 700. Number of pupils who have not attended a district school during the year, 187. Number of daily attend. ance, 202.

" The following is the official report of Pewaukee High School : Number of teachers employed, 1; number of pupils not over twenty years of age, 88; number over twenty years, 1; whole number of pupils registered, 89; average daily attendance, 33; number of days of high school, 160 ; number of pupils in natural sciences, 21; amount actually expended for instruction, $600.

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The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 67

Author: Western Historical Co., pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050