Part 3

History and General Catalogue of

LaGrange Collegiate Institute,

Situated at

Ontario, LaGrange Co., IND.

1872:Printed and Published by Sweet & Bayliss, LaGrange, Indiana

Part 3

LAGRANGE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE

OUR CATALOGUE

The accompanying Catalogue is drawn chiefly from the School Records preserved by our present Principal. So far as we can learn, no other such Record of attendance at this institution is extant. We have obtained partial lists of pupils of Messrs. Baxter and Steele, and a few other names, which will be found at the close of the Catalogue. Other facts are added from personal knowledge, supplemented by an extended and laborious correspondence.

During the 22 years embraced in the Catalogue we have enrolled the names of 1471 different students.

Approximately; Of this number,

300, or 20 per cent. were residents of Ontario and vicinity.

900, or 60 per cent. were residents of LaGrange County.

1250, or 84 per cent. were residents of Indiana.

while 220, or 14 per cent. came from beyond the limits of the State.

The column of "Subsequent Residences" reveals the fact that but 400 of the 900 residents of this county (referred to above) have sought permanent homes within the county, and that 500 of our students (one third of the whole number) are residents of other States. Indeed we can trace them to 21 States and 5 Territories. In the main, they have been borne upon the tide of emigration westward, into Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, California, and Oregon.

We have placed a star (*) upon nearly 150 names- on tenth of the whole number. It is probable that others whose career since they left us, we have been unable to trace, have finished their life work, so that the percentage of deaths may safely placed at about 12 1/2 per cent.

The record of patriotism, as indicated by the letter S is very incomplete. It embraces the names of but a few who enlisted in the army after their connection with us had ceased.

Drawn, as our patronage has been, chiefly from the rural districts, the record of employments naturally points to "Farming" as the leading occupation of those who have been with us. It is not yet time to report the business success of those who have received so large a part of their mental outfit from us. One third of the number have so recently left us, that they can hardly have chosen their life work. As we look over the list of those who were educated with us, we discover a general prosperity that is truly gratifying. There are marked instances of eminent success in almost every honorable and useful calling. The President of a neighboring College refers to this institution as the scene of his early toils, both as student and as assistant teacher. Two Professors in neighboring Medical Colleges claim to have received their entire classical training from us. A member of Congress from Iowa was a faithful and successful student with us twenty-three years ago. Chicago and Toledo report among their successful wholesale merchants a goodly number of our graduates. And if Lawyers, Physicians and Clergymen whom we have nurtured, are not numerous, they are at least useful- some of them eminent. One instance of alleged crime awaits investigation in a neighboring county, about the only instance, so far as we now recollect, in which the law-abiding character of any one of our alumni has ever been in question before a court of justice.

PERSONAL.

Of the 41 Trustees whose names we have reported, 21 have died, and 11 others have closed their connection with the Board by resignation. One of the original members, Joshua T. Hobbs, is still living. Two of the present Board received their appointments in 1841 and 1852 respectively. The others have been elected within the last twelve years.

Of Nathan Jenks we have spoken elsewhere.

George Mallow was born in Germany, but spent his mature life in this village. He contributed $300 to our funds in 1861 and added $500 in 1867.

Amos Davis was a native of Virginia, but emigrated to this county in 1836. He gave $250 for the general purposes of the institution in 1867, and with his time and influence aided essentially in raising the Endowment.

Rev. Stephen Thompson was a native of New Jersey, and a graduate of Princeton College. For many years he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Connecticut Farms, N. J. Removing to this country in the decline of his life, he entered with great enthusiasm into the College enterprise, both as a friend and counselor of both teachers and students. He is still remembered as an interesting lecturer on scientific and educational themes, and as an able preacher of the gospel.

Rev. Julian Steele who took charge of the Institute October, 1840, was a native of Bethlem, Ct., a graduate of Yale College in 1811, and a graduate of Andover Theological Seminary in 1814, and for a period of 23 years, the pastor in succession of Presbyterian Churches in East Bloomfield, Warsaw, and West Bloomfield, N. Y. In 1838 he came to White Pigeon, Mich., where he preached one year. He died February 20, 1849.

In our list of Assistant Teachers, two names occur to which we may be allowed to make especial reference. Messrs. Warren and Lewis remained with us three years each, winning the devoted attachment of their associates and pupils, and the respect of the community generally. Following the star of empire, the former "preaches the Word" at Granville, Illinois and the latter has sought a new home in Nebraska.

HOW FAR HAS THE INSTITUTE REALIZED THE DESIGN OF ITS FOUNDERS?

Answer. It has no "Collegiate" or "Theological Department," and is not technically a "Manual Labor" School. One of the contemplated "Departments" only has been organized. As an academy it has done its work and achieved its success. Incidentally, but very imperfectly, it has secured some of the other desired results. It has certainly given female students as good opportunities as males. The "shorter and irregular course" has been the prevailing one. Several graduates of our Bible Class have been regularly approved as ministers of the Word. One of our early students has spent a quarter of a century as a missionary to China, and one of assistant teachers labored for several years in like capacity, at "Ur of the Chaldees." Our testimony in favor of "Human Rights" has never been wanting. In the village of Ontario intoxicating liquors have never been sold, but in defiance of both law and public sentiment and our churches have been favored with Revivals of religion, in the blessings of which our students have largely shared. Our teachers have always acted in harmony with the religious community in which the Institute is located, though in some instances belonging to communions not here represented. The founders were doubtless disappointed. They should have counted the cost of the proposed undertaking. The investment has, however, proved a good one. "They planted more wisely than they knew."

IS THE LAGRANGE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE A PERMANENT NECESSITY TO THIS COMMUNITY?

In view of the facts above recorded we can safely answer, 'Yes.' The older students of this and the adjacent counties can profitably be brought together for further instruction and discipline, while the farming interest will best harmonize with the methods of an institution which adopt no fixed course of study. We must continue to supply teachers for our Common Schools and train for the business of life the multitudes who do not aspire to a collegiate course, though not satisfied with the educational facilities offered by our Common Schools. The Academy is the missing link dropped from our chain of educational instrumentalities, in our attempt to remove them from New England to the West. We have no well endowed institutions of this order. Many of the so called Colleges are chiefly engaged in doing the work which is appropriately ours. Skeleton classes in Western Colleges point to demand their establishment and endowment. The tide of educational sentiment is strongly setting in this direction, thus clearly indication a mission for us. The Principal of this institution has just witnessed the graduation of two of his pupils from a neighboring college, and has since been greeted by members of three other institutions who have returned to spend the Summer vacation at their several homes, almost under the shadow of the Academy in which the fires of their educational zeal were first enkindled. Can we desire a work better in kind than we are doing? With better facilities we could easily secure much more desirable results.

IS THE INSTITUTE ON A SAFE PECUNIARY BASIS?

The Endowment secures its continued existence, but does not encourage us to undertake anything very unlike what we are now accomplishing. Our buildings can accommodate 25 or 30 students with rooms, and furnish fair facilities for conducting a school of 80 pupils. But we have an inferior Philosophical and Chemical Apparatus, and a small Library, and our income is too small to support an adequate Board of Instruction. Patiently we toil and wait, believing that from their abounding wealth some of those whose business talents were here quickened to a new life will gladly furnish the needed facilities for doing a higher and better work. Will not some one find his highest gratification in taking the Institute under his nurturing care, and thus transmitting his name laden with fruits and honors to the remotest posterity?

TRUSTEES

TEACHERS

Principals.

Assistant Teachers.

Teachers of Instrumental Music.

Miss Sophia Wells

Miss Mary Abbott

Miss Martha Farrand

Miss Julia B. Patch

Miss Manetta Martin

The copies from this publication were collected by Barbara Henderson.

Thanks to her for all her hard work! This allowed the County Coordinator to transcribe the information.