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S'lORY (/A" a: A A':: TON 



vi ;' 'v/.V u: /» V ■" .■■/"*;. " 



FRANCES E. W«L1.AHD. 






■ ■-'i T« . ."U" .ci- n '".:'v;i;iNi; A.-'-.-ci".' 'if'.N. 
"'.:. ! Xi?;i.\ f I., ^-''.v ;.i, 

1 -^r. 



COPYRIGHT I Hq I. 

BY 

FRANCES E. WILLARD 









• • 



TO 

Orrington Lunt, 

THE 

Discoverer of Evanston, 

AND TO 

Kx-Governor John Evans 

whose name our visage bears, 

this humble record 

of its past 

IS 

Dedicated 



THIS HAS KEPT EUANSTON FREE FROM 

SALOONS AND MOTEL BARS FOR 

WELL-NIGH FORTY YEARS. 



"No spirituous, vinous, or fermented liquors shall be 
sold under license or otherwise, within four miles of the 
location of said University, except for medicinal, mechan- 
ical, and acramental purposes, under penalty of twenty - 
five dollars for each offense, to be recovered before a?iy 
fustice of the Peace of said County of Cook." — From 
Charter of Northwestern University. 



«K. 



i ■ i 



Jhurofcuctorg, 



Evanston is now the most popular as well as the 
most populous suburb of Chicago, and the literary 
center of the great Northwest. The date of its christen- 
ing is February 3, 1854, and its thirty -seventh year has 
already ended. Four years after the village was named 
and platted, and when it numbered hardly more than 
five hundred inhabitants, my parents came here to live; 
\ here their three children were graduated, and from 
;V here three of the five who constituted our family have 
1 been laid to rest in Rosehill Cemetery. 

. But very likely it would never have occurred to me 
* * to try to put on record the history of the town that 

C* has been my home since I was eighteen years of age, 

had not Rev. Dr. Ridgaway, President of Garrett Bibli- 
cal Institute, asked me to speak to the students on the 
anniversary of Mrs. Garrett's (the founder's) birthday 
in 1886. For that occasion I wrote a familiar sort of 
' ' retrospect, ' ' and out of it has grown this "more 
extended yet wholly informal account of the origin, 
history and present condition of our well-beloved town. 
I speak as one of the earliest pioneers who yet sur- 
vive in Evanston. No professor in Institute or Uni- 
versity carries his experience of local chronology back- 
ward to a period of antiquity so remote as the spring 



6 INTRODUCTORY. 

of 1858, at which date I cast in my lot for all the rest 
of the time, with this Methodist Cambridge of the 
prairies. The University was but three years and a 
half old then, the Garrett Biblical Institute some six 
months older. Not a building now pertaining to either 
institution was visible save the preparatory depart- 
ment, which, shorn of half its present glories, stood, 
in glaring white, on the corner facing the home of Mr. 
T. C. Hoag, and was, in and of itself, "the univer- 
sity. * ' The campus was bare of fences or buildings as 
the aborigines had left it, and traces of an Indian trail 
were noted by antiquarian eyes along the shore. 

Several animate abridged editions of the rise and 
progress of Evanston are still accessible to the student 
of local history. All of it they have seen and part of 
it they have been. ' c On the ridge ' ' they have lived 
anywhere between forty and fifty years, having at an 
early day drawn up their feet out of the swamps on 
either side, by which less hardy pioneers had been dis- 
couraged, and planted them upon the firm vantage- 
ground of what later comers have developed into 
Evanston's most aristocratic street. 

We will not try to penetrate the legendary period 
still more remote, when Indians skimmed the great 
lake in their skiffs, and wigwams wafted their smoke 
to the skies from among the trees that crown the col- 
lege campus. After the Indian, came, in the inevita- 
ble order of evolution, the hunter and trapper, the 
soldier and trader; but all these periods, well accentu- 



INTRODUCTORY. 7 

ated as they are in Chicago's history, left small im- 
press on the wilds of Evanston. It is the pioneer who 
built a home and tilled the peaceful acres his industry 
had won with whom all actual history begins. 

Let us try lo picture to ourselves that early day 
when there was no Evanston, but when the headland, 
now surmounted by our lighthouse, gave to the terri- 
tory as far south as Graceland Cemetery the name 
" Grosse Point/ ' and from the ridge to the lake was 
one truly "dismal swamp," without a road, and but 
faintly humanized here and there by the home-hearth 
of a log cabin. 

The first road across the swamp was built at Rose- 
hill by Mr. Samuel Reed, who still dwells among us, 
the almost immemorial " pathfinder,' ' or roadmaster 
of this region. A local chronicler gave to the public 
some time ago an account of the Reed family and its 
early experiences, which may fairly be taken as a type. 
Their log house was on the ridge, nearly opposite 
the present site of the South Evanston railroad sta- 
tion. It was surrounded by water a good share of the 
time, and an old-fashioned cradle in which Mrs. Reed 
had rocked her first-born was used by her boys as a 
boat in which to go duck-shooting. In ranging over 
to the lake shore to look after his cattle, Mr. Reed was 
wont to wade through water up to his waist. Game 
was abundant and the enterprising housewife arranged 
a trap near by with a rope tied to her kitchen window 
from which it could be sprung. In this ingenious 



8 INTRODUCTORY. 

fashion she did her marketing almost as conveniently 
as modern matrons do by telephone; twenty-one prairie 
chickens at one fell swoop having become her prey. 
She used to see the agile deer go by in herds, and one 
day, by way of reprisal, a big wolf slipped into her 
barn-yard and before a gun could interrupt his mad 
career had snatched a squealing pig away. Mrs. Reed 
laughingly describes her little home with its loose 
board floor, and its roughly-chinked crevices through 
which the wind was wont to whistle, and tells of 
climbing the ladder to the loft on winter mornings and 
brushing the snow off her children's bed before she 
awakened them. 

This enterprising woman planted an apple tree near 
her house over forty years ago that usually furnishes 
its thirty-bushel quota of choice fruit and is the only 
landmark of those good old times. 

A picture like this shows at first glance how long 
is the road of progress that has been trod, with some- 
times halting, sometimes striding steps, by our lov- 
able old town. A few of these fast- fading daguerreo- 
types I hope to preserve in these pages, to be pointed 
out to visitors and future comers, along with the queer, 
gnarled oak and the bowlder with a history on the 
college campus, the university buildings and the 
Sheridan Road. 



preface. 

The only satisfaction that I have in contemplating 
this desultory piece of work is that, as a loyal Evans- 
tonian, and pioneer pilgrim to this human oasis, I 
have helped to preserve some dates, facts and person- 
alities for the use of that staid and dignified individ- 
ual who will in due season materialize, i.e., "The 
Future Historian.* * 

Finally, to "Evanston proper/ ' Evanston South, 
North and West, Evanston as she was, and is, and is 
to be, let me offer the humble and earnest good wishes 
of her affectionate and loyal daughter, 




Rest Cottage, /8pi. 



(Contents. 



Pages. 

Dedication - - - - - 3 

The Prohibitory Clause .... 4 

Introductory - - - - - - - 5 

Preface ------- 9 

evanston as it is - - - - - 13 

Earliest Memories - - - - - • 19 

Discovery and Purchase of Evanston - - 25 

Garrett Biblical Institute 28 

Origin of Northwestern University - - 43 

Preparatory Department, 53 — Science Hall, 54 — Dearborn Observatory, 55 

Northwestern Female College and its Evolutions 57 
Corporate Records - - - - - 67, 71, £0 

The Methodist Women's Centenary Association - 83 
Evanston's Churches - 88 

Congregational, 90— St. Mark's Episcopal, 99— Presbyterian, 104— Ger- 
man Evangelical Lutheran, 112— First Methodist, 114— Baptist, 137— 
Emmanuel M. E- Church, 140 — Other Churches, 141. 

Evanston Township High School - - 143 

Our Literary People - - - - 148 

Evanston Societies ----- 150 

Secret Societies, 158— Temperance Societies, 159— Literary Societies, 
159— College Fraternities, 159— Church Societies, 160. 

Evanston's Waterworks ... - 162 

Evanston and Temperance ... - 166 

Evanston in the War .... 176 

Evanston in Politics - - - - 185 

A Student's Point of View - 191 

Letters from Deans Bancroft and Sandford • 197 

Our Libraries ------ 205 

The Desplaines Camp Ground - - - 210 

Personalia - - - - - - 213 

Orrington Lunt, 213— Gov. John Evans, 21^— Maj. Edward H. Mulford, 
219 — L. L. Greenleaf, 224— Luella Clark, 227— Dr. John Dempster, 228— 
Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Kidder, 231— The Hannisterp, 236— Rev. Dr. Henry 
Bannister, 240 — Rev. Dr. Francis D. Hemenway, 250— Rev. Dr. Ray- 
mond, 279— Bishop Simpson, 264— H. B. Ridgaway, D.D., 272— Rev.C.F. 



CONTENTS. 

Bradley, D. D., 278— Rev. Milton Terry, D. D., 278— Rev. Dr. Chas. W. 
Bennett,279— Prof. Charles Horswell, Ph.D., 282— Prof. Nels. E. Simon- 
sen, A.M. , 283— Clarke T. Hinman, D.D. , 283— Bishop Foster, 286— E. O. 
Haven, D. D., 295— C. H. Fowler, D. D., 297— Oliver Marcy, 1,1,. D., 298 
—Rev. Joseph Cummings, D. D., 299— Henry Wade Rogers, IX. D. , 309 
— D. Bonbright, LL. D., 312— J. F. Kellogg, A. M., 314— H. F. Fisk, 
D. D., 315— Prof. R. L. Cumnock, 317— Prof. Robt. Baird, 318— Prof. C.W. 
Pearson, 319— Prof. R. D. Sheppard, 320— Prof. A. V. E. Young, 320— 
Prof. C. S. Cook, 321— Prof. G. W. Hough, 321— Prof. J. T. Hatfield, 323 
— Prof. E- H. Moore, 324— Deans of the Woman's College, 324— Other 
University People, 328— Bishcp Thomson, 331— Bishop Harris, 334— 
Edward Eggleston, 337— Father Wheadon, 342— Wm. Deering, 345— 
Wm. F. Poole, 347— Rev. Robt. W. Patterson, 352— Orange Judd, 353— 
Wm. S. Lord, 355— The Kirk Family, 356— Bishop Ninde, 360— John B. 
Finch, 361— Lorado Taft, 362— Some Former Evanstonians, 363— Some 
Women of Evanston, 365 — Elizabeth Boynton Harbert, 366— Emily 
Huntington Miller, 368— Mrs. Kate Queal, 368 -Mrs. Mary B. Hitt, 
369 — Mrs. F. P. Crandon, 370— Miss Nina C. Lunt, 371. 

Silhouettes ------ 373 

C. G. Ayars, 373— H. L. Belden, 373— Gen. John I,. Beveridge, 373— 
Prof. H. L. Boltwood, 374— L. H. Boutell, 375— Dr. M. C. Bragdon, 375 
—A. J. Brown, 375— D. H. Burnham, 375— A. Burroughs, 376— H. W. 
Chester, 376— Dr. E. H. Clapp, 376— Dr. E. P. Clapp, 377— W. P. Cra- 
gin, 377— F. P. Crandon, 377— Jas. Currey, 378— Dr. N. S. Davis, 378— 
Simeon L. Farwell, 379— J. R. Fitch, 379— Volney W Foster, 380— Gen. 
Wm. Gamble, 381— C. J. Gilbert, 381- M. W. Harrington, 382— C. G. 
Haskins, 382— Dr. H. B. Hemenway, 383— A. Hesler, 383— I. R. Hitt, 
383— T. C. Hoag, 384— Holmes Hoge, 385— G. W. Hotchkiss, 385— Hon. 
H. B. Hurd, 386— Lewis Iott, 387— M. B. Iott, 387— S. A. Kean, 387— J. 
H. Kedzie, 388— M. D. Kimball, 388— Prof. H. H. Kingsley, 388— J. B. 
Kirk, 389— M. M. Kirkman, 389— O. E. Locke, 390— Thos. Lord, 390— 
Dr. O. H. Mann, 390— D. S. McMullen, 391— O. H. Merwin, 391— G. 
W. Muir, 392— C. R. Paul, 392— W. B. Phillips, 392— Prof. Chas. Ray- 
mond, 392— C. H. Remy, 394— Geo. F. Stone, 394— Allen Vane, 394 — 
Dr. E. H. Webster, 394— T. K. Webster, 395— Col. E- S. Wheeden, 395. 

Appendix ------ 396 

Natural History of Evanston, 396— University, 400 — College Cottage, 
403— Institute, 403— Withington School, 404— Mary B. Willard Kinder- 
garten, 405 — Schools, 405-6 — Newspapers, 406— Authors and Journal- 
ists, 407-13— Postoffice, 414— Business Men's Association, 415— Citizens 
League, 416— Y. M. C. A., 416— G. A. R , 417- Lighthouse, 418— Life 
Saving Station, 418— Wreck of Lady Elgin, 419— The First Grave at 
Rosehill, 420— Railroads, 420— South Evanston, 422. 



JHlustrations. 



PORTRAITS. 
Orrington I^unt Frontispiece 



Bannister, Rev. H 33 

Bannister, Mrs. Dr 236 

Brayton, Dr. Sarah 197 

Bennett, Rev C. W 278 

Beveridge, Gen. John I,. . . . 210 

Bonbright, Prof. D 315 

Childs, Sarah Roland 197 

Cuinmings, Rev. Jos 299 

Deering, Wm 166 

Dempster, Rev. John 33 

Delano, Rev. H. A 142 

Donohue, Rev. M 142 

Evans, Dr. John 216 

Eggleston, Edward 352 

Fisk, Rev. Herbert 315 

Foster, Bishop 334 

Foster, Volney 205 

Fowler, Rev. C. H 47 

Garrett, Mrs. Eliza 28 

Greenleaf, h. I* 352 

Hamline, Mrs. Bishop .... 236 

Harris, Bishop 334 

Hatfield, Prof: J. T 315 

Haven, Rev. K. 47 

Hemenway, Rev. Dr 33 

Hinman, Rev. C. T 47 

Hitt, Mrs. I. R. 365 

Hillis, Rev. N. D 142 

Hoag, T. C 210 

Hurd, Hon. H. B 166 

Jones, Prof. 35 2 



Jones, Rev. S. F 142 

Kean, S. A 210 

Kedzie, J. H 166 

Kidder, Rev. Dr 33 

Kidder, Mrs. Dr 236 

Kidder, Kathryn 233 

Kirk, James S 357 

Kirkman, M. M 205 

Little, Rev. Arthur W 142 

I/>rd, W. S 205 

Marcy, Prof. Oliver 315 

Marcy, Mrs. Oliver 365 

Miller, H. H. C 166 

Miller, Emily H 365 

McCrillis, Dr. Mary 197 

Noyes, Prof. H. S 47 

Patterson, Rev. R. W 352 

Poole, W. F 205 

Raymond, Rev. Miner .... 278 

Ridgaway, Rev. H. B 278 

Rogers, Prest. H. W 309 

Robinson, Jane Bancroft ... 197 

Simpson, Bishop 334 

Studley, Rev.W. S 142 

Terry, Rev. Milton 278 

Thomson, Bishop 334 

Whittlesey, Rev. N. H 142 

Wheadon, Rev. E. D 210 

Willard, Madame ....... 236 

Willard, Katherine 233 

Willard, Mary B 365 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PRIVATE RESIDENCES. 



Heck Hall (Garrett Biblical 

Institute) 52 

University Hall 43 

Memorial Hall (G. B. I ) . . . 52 

First M. E. Church 88 

First Congregational Church 71 

First Baptist Church 88 

St. Mark' s Episcopal Church . 104 

First Presbyterian Church . . 104 

High School 71 

Preparatory School 52 

University Gymnasium .... 52 

Observatory 52 



Northwestern Female College - 57 
Northwestern College for 

Ladies 64 

Science Hall 52 

Rest Cottage . 384 

Home of Dr. M. C. Bragdon . 375 

Home of John Kirk 389 

Home of F. B. Norton, site of 
former Home of Dr. John 

Evans 375 

Home of late Andrew Shu- 
man and formerly of Bishop 
Thomson 389 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 

THE STORY OF EVANSTON BY AN 

" OLD TIMER/' 



lEbansrton as it te. 



History-writing is a dissecting process ; therefore, 
before tearing apart the petals, let us mark for a mo- 
ment the flower as a whole ; let us have a glimpse of 
Evanston as the June sun finds it now. Of course the 
Evanston shore has its ice-bound days and its nights 
when thunderous waves beat ceaselessly. But the 
picture that is bright on memory's walls for those who 
no longer call Evanston their home, is not of these. 
It is of a quiet city that still prefers to call itself a 
village ; kissed on one cheek by Michigan's waves, 
fanned from behind by prairie breezes, jeweled with 
happy homesteads set in waving green, and wreathed 
about with prairie wild flowers, a town as comely as a 
bride, even to strangers' eyes. The peculiar glory of 
the village is its trees — its long avenues bordered with 
wide-spreading elms and maples and grand old oaks, 
that stood proud sentinels over Indian wigwams in 

ages past. Broad streets bordered with parks and 

(13) 



14 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

walks that run by unfenced velvet lawns, tell of free- 
dom and peaceful security. A large fountain plays on 
the public square, and about a small park a block or 
two away are clustered three churches and a fine club 
house, while the stately Methodist spire is not far to 
seek. The college campus by the shore is still a grove 
of massive oaks amid which stand the noble buildings 
of the university. Winding along the beach, by the 
jaunty boat house and life-saving station, skirting the 
campus, runs the famous new driveway from Chicago — 
Sheridan Road — which, half a mile north of the col- 
lege halls, passes the waterworks and lighthouse and 
leaves Evanston to pursue its winding way to Fort 
Sheridan. Count half a dozen blocks of stores, half 
a score of smaller churches, four spacious public 
school buildings and a fine high school, and fill in the 
rest with comfortable and often palatial homes for 
about twelve thousand people, and you have a faint 
outline of the picture which Evanstonians love. 

Evanston ; how wholly unexceptionable is this 
familiar designation ! Suppose it had been Evanstown, 
as some profane ones have been known to write it, or 
Evansville, as my letters are not un frequently ad- 
dressed — the choiceness would be gone. I*et us 
applaud the rare discernment that invented a name 
not then borne by any town on earth and since then 
by but one, — Evanston, Wyoming, — doubtless named 
in honor of cur own. Consider, too, the wise adapt- 
edness of the university's cognomen. It was then 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 5 

embodied prophecy ; it is embodied history now. Men 
of more restricted vision planned a " Chicago " and a 
" Lake Forest " University, but our trustees looking 
with prescient gaze adown the future's mystic maze, 
saw "all the wonder that should be" in that "long 
result of time," of which we have seen nearly forty 
years, and wrote, not ' * Excelsior ' ' but ' * Northwest- 
ern " on their banners. Mighty as the word was then, 
it is an hundredfold more mighty now. The old 
Northwest stopped with Minnesota, Iowa and Kansas ; 
the new Northwest stretches to Puget Sound and the 
Pacific Sea. But iron links now tie those gigantic 
young commonwealths "where flows the Oregon" 
to the electric city beside Lake Michigan. North- 
western's vigorous sons and dauntless daughters 
are out yonder ; I have found them as far away as my 
adventurous feet have wandered, and always they 
were preaching, teaching, toiling to lay broad and 
deep foundations for Christianity, for education and 
for the protection of the home. 

Figure-heads have their value as character lessons, 
and enshrined history tells upon a town. When I 
visited Concord, Mass., it pleased and instructed me 
not a little to find its whole heroic story " writ large " 
on bowlder, tablet and emblazoned window, for the 
wayfaring man's especial benefit. 

As a rule our college buildings have names that 
are significant. That noble pile called University Hall 
might well bear the name of some great light once 



l6 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

with us, but now passed to holier regions, and the 

"Woman's College " will no doubt become " 

Hall " some day ; while Science Hall should be called 
after him (or her) who built it, whenever that modest 
name shall be divulged.* Garrett Biblical Institute 
forever enshrines the memory of an earnest-hearted, 
Christian woman, Mrs. Elizabeth Garrett, whose hus- 
band was mayor of Chicago in 1843-46, and who 
willed her fortune to the training of theological stu- 
dents in a day when our church lacked facilities in 
this regard more than in any other. Barbara Heck, 
" Founder of American Methodism,' ' was honored by 
associating her name with Heck Hall in 1866, the one 
hundredth year after her "call " to Philip Embury, the 
neglectful young preacher in New York City, who 
had "fallen away" until her expostulations aroused 
his conscience. Memorial Hall enshrines in the rich 
but chastened light of its great windows three of 
Evanston's most hallowed names : — Dempster, Ban- 
nister, and Hemenway, of the Institute, and two of our 
honored citizens, Queal and Button. The Dearborn 
Observatory, built by Hon. J. B. Hobbs, reminds us of 
a prince in our Israel, and I hope the name of L. I*. 
Greenleaf, the past, and William Deering, the present 
Mecaenas of our town, may yet be associated with the 
institution they have done so much to build. 

Significant figures rather than ciphers are good 



• Daniel Payerweather, of Brooklyn, N. Y. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 7 

means by which to designate a street. Thus we have 
"Orrington avenue/ ' for the discoverer of Evanston, 
and our chief business thoroughfare is named for Dr. 
N. S. Davis, once a resident here, and for well nigh 
half a century the chief physician in the northwest. 
We have already Greenleaf avenue ; while Hinman 
avenue enshrines the memory of our university's first 
president. I would we had Noyes avenue, rather 
than street, for that great man who bore the brunt of 
battle as * ' acting president of the university ' ' for 
many years, and laid his life upon its altar. Surely, 
too, the names of Bishops Simpson and Harris, Fowler, 
Thompson and Ninde, all of whom have been resi- 
dents here, and all connected with our institutions, 
should be, as that of Bishop Foster already is, per- 
petually associated with our municipality, if not with 
our university nomenclature. Chicago avenue, a 
name of small appropriateness, will, probably, one 
day be exchanged for some other that embalms more 
of local history, and it would be well if, in addition to 
Hamilton, Botsford and Brown, other honored names 
of Evanston 's heroic fathers, including Judges Good- 
rich and Hurd, and those later but not less devoted 
trustees, the lamented Robert J. Queal and James S. 
Kirk, might be preserved perpetually here. I am glad 
there is a Judson avenue, recalling that wise and witty 
chief, whose mind had the rare scintillant quality and 
whose manner the quaint originality that is so un- 
forgetable and so refreshing. But Rev. Philo Judson, 



18 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

the man who at sixty-nine years of age had not a gray 
hair ; whose constant cheer carried him so many years 
as a circuit rider through the wilds of Illinois, making 
hard work perpetual holiday; whose powers of observa- 
tion were so keen that in his last agonizing illness, 
being unable to turn his head that he might look out 
of the window, he had a mirror brought that he might 
watch the falling snow — he merits a chapter by him- 
self. 

I am sincerely glad we have the " Haven School " 
in memory of Dr. Otis Haven, that bright and broth- 
erly intelligence, beloved by all of us as few men are, 
who passed away in the glorious morning of his prime 
and left no voice behind that was not charmed to speak 
his praise. 

For the rest we have Wesley avenue and Wesley 
public school, as a town with Evanston's traditions 
could hardly be pardoned if it had not ; and Asbury, 
for the first Methodist bishop in America. 

For patriotism we have Washington, Lincoln and 
Colfax streets, — the last two furnishing indications 
altogether accurate concerning Evanston's prevailing 
politics ! —while honored early settlers will be forever 
associated with our classic suburb by such streets as 
Mulford and Grain, Benson and McDaniel, Kedzie and 
Lyons. 



Earliest memories* 



The first schoolhouse and church of our little 
pioneer settlement was a log cabin of small dimensions 
which stood near where Mr. Charles Crain now lives, 
in South Evanston. The school teachers were hired 
by individual subscriptions, the ministers were Meth- 
odist itinerants, and they all ' * boarded around. ' ' The 
first quarterly conference of the M. E. Church in 
Evanston was held in this house in July, 1854. The 
preaching and teaching, the frolics and spelling bees 
that came off in that old log schoolhouse recall the 
frontier stories familiar to us all as among the most 
redeeming features of the olden time. Speaking of 
this historic cabin, Mrs. John L. Beveridge says : 

" The first Sunday we went there to church [1854] the con- 
gregation numbered fourteen people, young and old, men and 
women. My mother, myself and Mrs. John A. Pearsons, I 
think, were the only women that had on bonnets such as ladies 
wear now ; the rest had on large sun-bonnets and were dressed 
in primitive style. A Methodist minister who came through 
from Vermont, on his way to Minnesota, was appointed by the 
presiding elder as our pastor. His name was characteristic of 
everything about him — John G. Johnson. He was a tall, lank 
individual, dressed in dark blue cotton overalls, with large 

(19) 



20 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

patches of new cloth on each knee, while the rest of the cloth 
had been washed until it was almost white. He always carried 
a big blue cotton umbrella, bulged in the center.' ' 

Mr.B. F. Hill, now of Llewellyn Park, our newest 
suburb, has written a very interesting sketch of his 
residence in this locality, goingback even so far as , i836. 
I must give some of his words just as he wrote them : 

" Following the lake shore north as far as Mr. Westerfield's 
present residence, we came to a tavern kept by Joel Stebbins. 
This building, I think, tumbled off into the lake about 1838. 
Mr. Stebbins afterward built a log house on the Ridge, or 
Green Bay road, as it was then called, a little north of Mr. 
Bailey's greenhouse. Traces of this house are still to be seen. 
Proceeding north from the Hathaway place, we came to the 
lake shore, a little south of the ravine which enters the lake 
just south of the Swedish theological school. This ravine was 
afterward known as Hazzard's Glen, taking its name from 
Captain Hazzard, who settled there, sailing summers and 
residing in his house winters. The old road along the 
lake shore has long since been washed away, and the more 
classic character of the present inhabitants is shown in the 
changed name of the old ravine, which students and profess- 
ors now call ' the Rubicon.' 

* ' Grosse Point was the name given to the point at the head 
of the Ridge more than a century ago, and it might properly 
be so called to-day out of respect to the Indians and pioneers. 
This was the burial place of the Indians — a sacred spot to them, 
where they were wont to meet annually from time immemorial, 
to mourn their departed. To this day I walk over this spot in- 
stinctively feeling that I tread on sacred ground. The land 
belonged to the Pottawatomics, though well known to the Chip- 
pewas who now inhabit the north of Michigan. 

"From the Mulford place where the old Kirk homestead 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 21 

now stands up past Grosse Point to Stebbins' tavern, there 
were no houses, and the road was scarcely more than an Indian 
trail, though wagons did pass through. Three brothers of us, 
of whom I was the youngest, had occasion to go along this 
way. A little south of the spot where Mr. Bailey's house now 
stands, the body of an Indian had been deposited, sitting up- 
right in a little pen aboutlsix feet long by four wide. His dog, 
gun and tomahawk were placed with him, it being expected 
that he would find abundant use for them upon his entrance 
into the happy hunting-grounds. As we neared this spot our 
pulses quickened, and we could not forbear glancing at the, to 
us, awful object. To our horror the flesh had crumbled from 
the face, leaving the teeth exposed. This proved too much for 
our bravery, and we broke into a dead run. It was a long time 
before I conquered my fears enough to go along this road any 
other way than on the run, always looking back, in the fear and 
expectation of being followed. 

" When Mr. Stebbins had completed his new log house and 
got in a full supply of whisky, he was ready for business, and 
business began. All the ' claim meetings/ elections and meet- 
ings to transact public business were held here. I recall going 
many times with my father to these gatherings, and the im- 
pressions left upon my youthful mind by seeing the drinking 
and the conduct resulting therefrom were all the temperance 
lectures necessary for me." 

At a meeting of the university trustees March 28, 
1854, it was directed that the Chicago & Milwaukee 
railroad be requested to locate the station at Evanston 
on a line west of Davis street, on the small ridge -Car- 
ney farm. This land was bought of the Carneys 
October 7, 1853, by Messrs. Brown, Hurd and Benson. 
The plat of ground, showing the depot where it now 



22 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

stands, dated July 20, 1854, an d recorded July 27, 
1854, is still in existence. A. J. Brown deeded the 
depot grounds, and the right of way, consisting of 
about seven acres, was then staked out, April 15, 1854. 
At that time Mr. John A. Pearsons occupied an 
old log house near where the Congregational church 
now stands, and he was one of the first to build a new 
house after the University had platted the village. In 
April, 1854, Rev. Philojudson bought a little house 
on the ridge, where Mr. B. F. Hill now lives, and be- 
gan to build a larger house beside it. During that 
summer he bought the lumber in Michigan for the 
building of Dempster Hall. Mrs. Governor Beveridge, 
Mr. Jiidson's daughter, gives this interesting reminis- 
cence concerning the erection of that pioneer building 
— the beginning of Evanston's fame as a theological 
Mecca : 

"My father came in one morning and said he had a propeller 
and a schooner both loaded with lumber lying off the point just 
above here. The lumber had all to be landed, and he had sent 
around to call out all the farmers and had succeeded in getting 
forty five men together, who would want dinner. There were 
no markets near ; but we sent out a boy with a horse, who 
bought up all the bread and early lettuce and a few radishes. 
We all went into the kitchen and fried and broiled and cooked 
all the morning, and at noon we got out the farm-wagon and 
filled two or three clothes-baskets with dishes and drove up to 
where old Dempster Hall afterward stood. Part of the cargo of 
wet timbers lay there on the knoll and the men stood in the 
lake, barefooted, some wet to their shoulders and some wet to 
their waists, getting that lumber ashore. We spread the plates 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 23 

along the timbers, and the men came out while we served then- 
dinner. Then, gathering up the dishes, we went to the house 
and cooked again the whole afternoon. At six o'clock we 
were back to serve their supper. Those men worked for 
thirty-six hours without lying down, to get that lumber ashore 
and up the bank. This was the first picnic in Evanston. 

" The Institute was soou begun, and not long afterward Mr. 
Danks' hotel, which has since grown to be the Avenue House ; 
my husband's house, on Chicago avenue, was next. My father's 
house was the first built in Evanston, but his property was 
not then included in the village plat, though it now is, so that 
ours was the first residence built in the village plat. We got 
into our house early in December, 1854. In the spring Mr. 
Pearsons moved into his new house. Then came the building of 
the railroad, which was in operation by the next year, and the 
opening of the hotel, and the moving in of several other fami- 
lies. A year or two afterwards the Willards made their home 
on the spot where Mr. William Deering has since built. Next 
to my father's family and our own, came Judge Hurd, ' up on 
the ridge.' Then Dr. Evans followed, building by the shore, 
on the site where Mr. L. D. Norton's house now stands. 

" Dempster Hall was, of course, full of students, and when- 
ever there was a case of sickness, or any accident happened, it 
was the custom to send for Mrs. Pearsons or Mrs. Beveridge, for 
we were ..the only two women here who could go ; and so it 
happened that our names were like household words to the first 
students of Evanston, who are now scattered all over the world 
as Methodist preachers. 

" The first visit I paid in Evanston was to return a call that 
Mrs. Pearsons made on me, * up on the ridge.' When I re- 
turned it, I came in a farm-wagon, with my feet laid across a 
board to keep them out of the water, so deep was it across the flat 
of land on which the depots are now built. 

" Early in the winter of 1854, when the Institute building 



H 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 



was completed and dedicated, ourservices were carried on there. 
Previous to this, the church had been moved from the old log 
schoolhouse into a little room over a store which had been 
built on Davis street by my father. The building was known 
as Colvin's store, and stood on the corner now occupied by Mr. 
Garwood's drug store. The identical building still stands a few 
hundred feet west, facing Orrington avenue, and is used as a 
barber shop. My father had fixed the upper room tor a con- 
gregation of forty people, and gave the use of the room and 
furnishings to our little church, which had grown to A>urteen 
or fifteen members." 






Utecoberg an) ^urrijase of I&banston. 



How did this particular site come to be selected for 
the University, and consequently for our university 
town ? By way of answer, I give this curious narrative, 
from the lips of the discoverer, the Christophero Col- 
ombo of these classic shades, the man but for whom 
our village would have been located at Jefferson, 
where the county poorhouse is established ; I refer to 
that indomitable "Father of Evanston," Orrington 
iAint. He says : 

"The executive committee were always favorably inclined 
to go north of the city, to some point on the lake shore, for a 
location. There was no railroad built at that time, but one was 
being surveyed — the Chicago & Milwaukee. The committee 
made several trips, as far north as Lake Forest, but all seemed 
too far from the city, excepting Winnetka, which was satisfac- 
tory ; but on trying, we found the site could not be bought at 
any such price as we could afford, being owned by several 
parties. The present Rosehill was recommended by Kon. W. 
B. Ogden, but we found the same objection. It will be remem- 
bered that in going north, the travel was over what is now the 
Ridge road ; between that and Chicago avenue there was a wet, 
almost impassable slough or swamp, and so, in going north, we 
passed by the lake shore part, without knowing there was any 
suitable ground for our purpose. 

"After several trips we gave up the idea of finding a suitable 

(25) 



26 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

place on the lake shore at the price we could afford. The com- 
mittee then went out to Jefferson, west of the city, where we 
obtained options for the purchase of John Gray's and other 
farms on the ridge, and were about to close the trade. But I 
had such a strong prejudice in favor of the lake shore, that I 
could hardly give it up. I one day embraced an opportunity to 
come again to this locality with a friend, and while he was en- 
gaged with his business, I took a stroll over to the shore, 
through the wet land ; I well remember walking over logs or 
planks on a portion of it. In looking south, it was wet and 
swampy. Looking north, I noticed the large oak forest trees. 
The thought first struck me that here was where the high and 
dry ground began ! I wanted to look at it, but it was so near 
night that I gave it up ; but on the way back, I began to think 
possibly this might be the place we were seeking for. It con- 
tinued in my dreams all that night, and I could not rid myself 
of the fairy visions constantly pressing themselves upon my 
thoughts, — fanciful, beauteous pictures of the gentle, waving 
lake, its pebbly shore and its beautiful bluffs. These impres- 
sions settled it in my mind that I would not vote to accept the 
options for Jefferson, until the committee should make another 
trif) north. They were to meet that morning, to close the 
trade. In accordance with my request, the matter was laid 
over, and a number of the committee went to examine the 
property. It was a pleasant August day. We drove into what 
is the present campus, and it was, in its natural condition, just 
as beautiful as now. We were delighted and some of the 
brethren threw up their hats, shouting, 'This is the place ! ' " 

Dr. J. H. Foster, the owner of this tract, was at 
first unwilling to sell on any terms, though he said 
the land was worth fifteen or twenty dollars an acre. 
He was finally induced to make a price, which was ac- 
cepted and was as follows: twenty-five thousand dollars 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 27 

for the site (about seventy -one dollars an acre), one 
thousand dollars cash, balance in ten years, at six per 
cent interest, the trustees to execute their bond for 
the payments, secured by mortgage on the land, and 
guaranteed by the legal trustees present individually; 
any portion of the land to be released from mortgage 
from time to time, provided that one hundred dollars 
per acre should be paid for such release ; all taxes and 
interests being paid. Mr. Lunt, in speaking of the 
transaction, recently remarked: "I well remember 
when I called on Dr. Foster and notified him of the 
acceptance of this proposition, that his countenance 
fell, showing that he was not really pleased with the 
transaction." 

Orrington I^unt was a Maine man at the start and 
has been a "main" man ever since. I have often won- 
dered if a love of the sea, which is the natural inherit- 
ance of those born, as he was, almost in sight of its 
billows, may not have confirmed in him, whose Chi- 
cago home was on the lake shore, the purpose to per- 
sist, as his associates did not, in the effort to discover 
a lake shore rather than an inland Kvanston. 



(Barrett ISifclical imtitutt. 



Two important streams of influence united to form 
our theological seminary, each of which might be 
traced almost indefinitely by the curious historian. 
The most direct we shall follow back to March 5, 1805, 
when, near Newburg, N. Y., Eliza Clark was born. 
At the age of twenty she was married to Augustus 
Garrett and in 1834 came with her husband to reside 
in Chicago, then a small town of about 400 inhabi- 
tants. Mr. Garrett acquired quite a fortune and was 
one of the early mayors of the city. In the year 1839 
under the pastorate of Rev. Peter R. Borein, there 
was a great religious revival in the First Methodist 
Episcopal Church. As a result of this many were re- 
ceived into the church, and among them Mr. and Mrs. 
Garrett. After her husband's death in 1848, Mrs. 
Garrett, a lady of beautiful character and earnest piety, 
desired to devote a large portion of her property to 
religious purposes, and consulted trusted advisers with 
this intent. Among those to whom she applied was 
her attcrney, Hon. Grant Goodrich. When he sug- 
gested the founding of a theological school she said 
that * ' such a purpose had for some time been the sub- 
ject of her thoughts.' ' Rev. John Clark, her pastor, 

(28) 




MRS. KI.I/A C1AE4KKTT. 



r 



A CLASSIC TOWN 29 

Rev. Dr. Daniel P. Kidder, and Rev. Hooper Crews, 
independently gave her the same counsel. A small 
book on Ministerial Education by Rev. Dr. Stephen 
M. Vail, also influenced her decision. In December, 
1853, her will was signed, as drawn up by Judge 
Goodrich, bequeathing the larger part of her property 
to found the Garrett Biblical Institute. The income 
of the estate being seriously impaired by financial fires 
and incumbrances, Mrs. Garrett would only accept 
$400 per year for her own support, that as much as 
possible might be applied to clear it. 

Turning now to the other important source, we no- 
tice that among the missionaries sent by John Wesley 
to America was a Scotchman named James Dempster, 
who had been educated in the University of Edin- 
burgh. To a son, born to him in Florida, N. Y., Jan. 
2, 1794, he gave the name of John. Converted at the 
age of eighteen at a camp-meeting, John Dempster 
responded to a call to the ministry, and during the 
next thirty years experienced all the vicissitudes of a 
Methodist minister's life. He was a circuit rider in 
the Canadian wilderness, a pastor of important 
churches, a presiding elder, a missionary to Buenos 
Ayres and a popular preacher in New York City. 
Meanwhile he had always been a diligent student and 
had made himself familiar with Latin, Greek, Hebrew, 
philosophy and natural science. He would rise 
regularly at four o'clock in the morning for study. 
His observation, especially that as a presiding elder, 



30 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

wrought in him the profound conviction that the 
Methodist Church stood in pressing need of theolog- 
ical schools, and to the founding of these he resolved 
to devote all his powers. He was widely known in 
the church as an able preacher, a scholar of varied 
accomplishments, and particularly as a metaphysician. 
With little encouragement and in the face of strong 
opposition Dr. Dempster began the work of the first 
theological seminary of the Methodist Episcopal 
church at Newbury, Vermont, in the year 1845. 
Closely associated with him in the new movement 
were Professors Osmon C. Baker, Charles Adams and 
Clark T. Hinman. In 1847 this Biblical Institute was 
transplanted to Concord, N. H., and ultimately be- 
came the School of Theology of the Boston University . 
To show the spirit of the man and the good fight he 
fought, I transcribe his own references to the conflict 
from a letter found among his manuscripts. It is 
dated June 27, 1856, and says : " For the last twelve 
years I have, from an overwhelming sense of duty, 
been occupied in an enterprise in the face of fierce and 
persistent opposition on the part of at least two-thirds 
of our entire ministry. Some of the highest digni- , 
taries of the church have exerted official influence to 
embarrass and subvert the enterprise. Many friends 
of my tenderest remembrance forsook me for having 
allied myself to this cause, and even transferred their 
hostility from the cause to him who advocated it. To 
insure success to this persecuted enterprise I found 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 3 1 

such devotion to its interests indispensable as involved 
the almost total neglect of private friendships and the 
interchange of kindly courtesies.' ' 

Such was the history and spirit of the man who, 
seeing his first school well established at Concord, 
turned his face westward to found similar institutions 
in the Mississippi Valley and on the Pacific Coast. 
Filled with this purpose he accepted the presidency of 
the college at Bloomington, 111. Upon coming west, 
however, he learned of Mrs. Garrett's generous pro- 
visions and was invited by those who represented her 
to co-operate in carrying out her plans. 

The day after Christmas, 1835, a meeting was 
called of those favoring higher education for Methodist 
ministers, in the old Clark street church, Chicago. Rev. 
Philo Judson presided, and Dr. Dempster, then on his 
way to Bloomington, addressed the meeting. The next 
day the organization of a Biblical Institute Association 
was effected, with five directors * to act as trustees for a 
period of five years or until a charter for a permanent 
institution should be obtained. Two days later it 
was agreed between this directorate and Dr. Dempster 
that they were to provide a building at Evanston and 
$1,600 a year, and he was to serve as professor, secure 
two associates, and collect such additional funds as 
should be necessary for current expenses. A sub- 



* These directors were Grant Goodrich, Orrington Lunt, John Evans, 
John Clark and Philo Judson. 



32 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

scription was immediately taken.* In April of the 
next year a contract was let for the building, and in 
July the Revs. William Goodfellow and Wesley P. 
Wright were elected to professorships. In January, 
1855, the new building, known in later years as 
Dempster Hall, was formally dedicated. Mrs. Gar- 
rett was among those present. The Chicago friends 
drove out in sleighs. The term inaugurated began 
with four students and closed with sixteen. 

The charter of the Garrett Biblical Institute is 
dated Feb. 15, 1855. The incorporators are Orring- 
ton Lunt, John Evans, Philo Judson, Grant Goodrich 
and Stephen P. Keyes. The first meeting of this 
board occurred June 22, 1855. Judge Grant Good- 
rich was elected president, and Mr. Orrington Lunt, 
secretary ; the former retained his office until his 
recent decease, and Mr. Lunt continues to devote him- 
self unsparingly to the arduous duties of secretary and 
treasurer. 

The first term under the new organization opened 
Sept. 23, 1856. 

Dr. Dempster was formally constituted professor of 
systematic theology ; Dr. Daniel P. Kidder, professor 
of practical theology ; Dr. Henry Bannister, professor 



•The following are the sums of $100 and over. 
Orrington IyUnt, - £300 Grant Goodrich,- $100 Geo. H. Bliss, - $100 
John Evans, - - 300 Philo Judson, - - 100 A. S. Sherman, - 100 
Daniel P. Kidder, - 300 J. K. Botsford, - - 100 L. L. Hamline, - 100 
A. J. Brown, - • 100 F. H. Benson, - - 100 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 33 

of Greek, Hebrew and Sacred Literature, and Rev. 
John K. Johnston, principal otthe preparatory depart- 
ment. Rev. Obadiah Huse was appointed house 
governor in charge of the school building. 

Dr. Kidder, a graduate of the Wesley an Univer- 
sity, had been a missionary in Brazil, and also for 
twelve years corresponding secretary of the Sunday- 
school Union and Tract Society of the M. E. church. 
Of his seven publications those on " Homiletics M 
and "The Christian Pastorate* ' are the most note- 
worthy. 

Dr. Bannister was graduated at the Wesleyan 
University and the Auburn Theological Seminary, and 
had taught for eighteen years before coming to Evans- 
ton, chiefly in the Oneida Conference Seminary. 
Professor Johnston was a graduate of Dublin Univer- 
sity. 

The history of the thirty-seven years since this sem- 
inary opened its beneficent doors can not be attempted 
here. Many references to it and especially to its 
trustees and faculty will be found in the following 
pages. 

Tabulated lists of its trustees and professors have 
been formed from official sources, and will not only be 
convenient for reference, but prove suggestive to the 
older friends of the Institute. 



34 A CLASSIC TOWN. 



TRUSTEES. 



Hon. Grant Goodrich, 1855 — 1889. 

Mr. Orrington Lunt, 1855 — 

Hon. John Evans, M.D., 1855 — 1859. 

Rev. Philo Judson, 1855 — 1861. 

Rev. Stephen P. Keyes, 1855 — 1865. 

Rev. Luke Hitchcock, D.D., 1859 — 

Rev. Thomas M. Eddy, D.D., 1861 — 1869. 

Rev. Hooper Crews, D.D., 1861 — 1871. 

Mr. John V. Farwell, 1866 — 1871. 

Rev. E. H. Gammon, 1869 — 

Rev. Charles H. Fowler, D.D., 1871 — 1879. 

Mr. Albro E. Bishop, 1871 — 1880. 

Rev. S. Hawley Adams, D.D., 1879— 1884. 

Mr. William Deering, 1880 — 

Rev. Robert D. Sheppard, D.D., 1884 — 

Hon. Oliver H. Horton, LL.D., 1889 — 

FACULTY. 

Rev. John Dempster, D.D., 1854 — 1863. 
Rev. William Goodfellow, A.M., 1854 — 1856. 
Rev. Wesley P. Wright, A.M., 1854— 1856. 
Rev. Daniel P. Kidder, D.D., 1856- 1871. 
Rev. Henry Bannister, D.D., 1856 — 1883. 
Rev. John K. Johnston, A.M., 1856 — 1857. 
Rev. Francis D. Hemenway, D.D., 1857 — 1884. 
Rev. Miner Raymond, D.D., LL.D., 1864 — 
Rev. William X. Ninde, D.D., 1873- 1884. 
Rev. Henry B. Ridgaway, D.D., LL.D., 188 1 — 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 35 

Rev. Charles F. Bradley, D.D., 1883— 
Rev. Milton S. Perry, D.D., 1884— 
Rev. Charles W. Bennett, D.D., LL.D., 1884— 
Robert L. Cumnock, A.M., 1884 — 

The bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
constitute an official Board of Council and no professor 
can be elected without their approval. 

Dr. John McClintock was elected to the chair of 
Ecclesiastical History in 1856, but did not accept it. 
From 1 86 1 to 1865 Bishop Simpson was nominally 
president of the Institute, but his relation was not an 
active one. Professor Cumnock's connection with the 
Institute dates back to 1869, from which year he 
served as instructor until his election to a professor- 
ship in 1884. The Revs. Moses S. Cross, B. D., 
Milton S. Vail, A. M. and Charles Horswell, B. D.,* 
have been regularly appointed instructors in Element- 
ary Greek and Hebrew. From 1879 to 1884 Dr. 
Ninde occupied the President's chair most acceptably. 
Since that time the position has been ably and suc- 
cessfully filled by Dr. Henry B. Ridgaway. 

Heck Hall, a substantial and commodious dormitory 
costing sixty thousand dollars, was built in 1866-67, 
when Rev. Dr. James S. Smart was financial agent, and 
his efforts were nobly seconded by the Ladies' Cen- 
tenary Association, of which Mrs. Bishop Hamline 
was president, and Miss Frances E. Willard corre- 



*Now adjunct professor. 



36 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

sponding secretary. I think Miss Willard regards 
this work as her introduction to public life. It is not 
unfitting here to make grateful acknowledgment of 
the large part women have borne in the support of the 
Institute. Its founder is the first of a noble succes- 
sion. Mrs. Cornelia A. Miller's generous endowment 
of the chair of Practical Theology by the gift of thirty 
thousand dollars has linked her name forever with that 
of Mrs. Garrett. It was appropriate that the new hall 
built so largely by the efforts of the ladies should bear 
the heroic name of Barbara Heck. Another revered 
name, that of Mrs. Sarah Stewart, has been, by the 
liberal gift of her sons, assured of perpetual remem- 
brance among those of the school's benefactors. 
Other names, which can not yet be recorded, will soon 
prove their claim to a place in this goodly list. 

All the liberal friends who have contributed to the 
prosperity of the seminary can not be mentioned here ; 
but the constant devotion of the trustees and their 
wise administration commands the admiration and 
gratitude of all concerned. It is fitting to make 
special mention of Judge Grant Goodrich, who for 
thirty-five years devoted unremitting attention to its 
welfare ; and to Mr. Orrington Lunt, who throughout 
the same period, as secretary and treasurer, has made 
the interests of the Institute of equal importance with 
those of his own family. A worthy successor to Judge 
Goodrich in the presidency of the board has been 
found in Mr. William Deering. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 37 

We quote from a historical sketch by Judge Good- 
rich some interesting facts concerning the finances of 
the school. 

"The financial history of the Institute has been one of 
marked vicissitude, but under the unremitting labors and skill- 
ful management of the trustees, the generous liberality of the 
church, and the blessing of God, it has been one of marvelous 
success. The endowment left by Mrs. Garrett was in real 
estate, most of it in the business part of Chicago. When it 
passed from the executors of Mrs. Garrett to the trustees it 
was mostly unproductive. The trustees put as much of it as 
possible under ground rents, in which they were satisfactorily 
successful, but the financial embarrassments of 1857 compelled 
the lessee of the most valuable part to give up his lease in the 
succeeding year. In i860 the Wigwam in which Mr. Lincoln 
was nominated, was erected upon it at a comparatively nominal 
rent. This building was afterwards purchased and converted 
into business tenements, but was burned in 1867. In 1870, a 
block of brick stores was built upon it at a cost of $65,000, 
which with $25,000 assumed in the erection of Heck Hall, and 
$2,000 paid on the purchase of the Wigwam, constituted an 
indebtedness of $92,000. This building, with two other brick 
stores, was swept away in the great fire of October, 1871, leav- 
ing most of the property not only unproductive, but incum- 
bered with the whole debt of $92,000. This great calamity left 
the financial affairs of the institution in a most deplorable con- 
dition ; but by the generous liberality of the entire church in 
its contributions for the relief of the suffering brethren of 
Chicago, the Institute realized as its share $62,500, and the 
trustees, as the only means of paying the debt and securing the 
support of the school, erected in 1872 a larger building at a cost 
of $110,000. For the ensuing year the property yielded an in- 
come of $25,000, but the panic of 1873 so bankrupted lessees 



38 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

and depressed rents that in 1878 we had run behind $1,500, and 
the estimated deficiency for the ensuing year was $5,000. 
The trustees called the faculty together, and having submitted 
the financial condition, informed them that they had resolved 
to sell none of the property and contract no liabilities for the 
current expenses of the school ; that the only way it could be 
continued was by an appeal to the church for relief, and if 
that failed, the school must be closed until its endowment 
could be relieved of incumbrance. A meeting of the friends 
of the institution was then called, and it was resolved to make 
an appeal to the church to cancel the indebtedness and in- 
crease the endowment. The faculty generously contributed 
one-fourth of their salaries, but little progress was made until, 
by appointment of the Rock River Conference in 1879, the 
services of the Rev. W. C. Dandy, D. D., were procured. He 
entered upon the work with a thorough appreciation of its im- 
portance, and prosecuted it with an intelligent zeal, an earnest 
but kind persistency, which gave him a wonderful success, not 
only in obtaining pecuniary relief, but in awakening an interest 
in behalf of ministerial education in the church at large. 
Among the numerous gifts obtained during this period was the 
noble benefaction of Mrs. Cornelia A. Miller, of Joliet, of 
thirty thousand dollars for the endowment of the chair of 
Practical Theology. Through Dr. Dandy's labors and the 
fortunate sale of some riparian rights, we are able to make the 
gratifying announcement to the church that all the debts of 
Garrett Biblical Institute have been paid. Reliable progress is 
also being made towards a handsome increase of the endow- 
ment, and the income will be adequate to meet all current 
expenses, unless an unforeseen depreciation in rents should 
occur. It is earnestly hoped that as the wants of the school 
are constantly increasing, the worthy example of Mrs. Miller 
will be followed by others, that thus the Institute may be 
placed fully abreast with all the requirements of the age." 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 39 

The history of the beautiful Memorial Hall is 
officially given as follows : 

"The building originated with the Centennial year of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, 1884, as Heck Hall had with the 
Centenary of American Methodism', 1866. 

" Three of the professors, feeling the need of such a struc- 
ture, pledged themselves to the amount of eight hundred 
dollars when it should be undertaken. There was no further 
movement until the sp ring of 1885. The President, Dr. Ridga- 
way, received from Rev. B. H. Gammon, a member of the 
Board of Trustees, the generous pledge of five thousand dollars 
toward the object. Soon after, at the annual May meeting of 
the trustees, Mr. Wm. Deering, another member of the Board, 
pledged an additional five thousand dollars; whereupon the 
trustees, in their corporate capacity, promised six thousand 
dollars, or one-fifth of the cost, provided it should not exceed 
thirty thousand dollars. With these subscriptions for a be- 
ginning, the work of raising subscriptions was steadily pros- 
ecuted, until, in the spring of 1886, it was thought the amount 
of subscriptions justified contracting for the building. 

"The contract was accordingly made after plans and speci- 
fications by W. W. Boynton, Esq., of Chicago. These plans 
were worked out from drawings by Prof. Charles F. Bradley, 
who had embodied* the result of observations in some of the 
halls in the east. 

"Ground was broken for the foundation by the venerable 
Judge Goodrich, president of the Board of Trustees, on Thurs- 
day, May 13, in the presence of the trustees, official visitors,- 
members of the faculty and a large number of friends. 

"The building is made of red pressed brick with a founda- 
tion of gray limestone, and with trimmings in buff Bedford 
stone and red terra cotta; the whole length, including apse, is 
one hundred and fifteen feet, and average width, sixty feet It 
stands facing the south, with the entrance by the base of a tall 



40 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

tower, in the open belfry of which at some time it is purposed 
to place a bell or chime of bells. The architecture is peculiar, 
but might be called Romanesque in its general outline." 

"It was dedicated with appropriate services on May io, 
1887, Bishop C. D. Foss, D. D., LL. D., preaching the sermon, 
and Bishop S. M. Merrill, D. D., LL. D., performing the dedi- 
catory services. 

"It contains fine large lecture rooms, library, reading-room 
and chapel, besides offices for the president and professors. 
The spacious and beautiful chapel contains rich memorial win- 
dows of exquisite coloring and appropriate designs. The plans 
for these are mostly due to the painstaking care and critical 
taste of Prof. C. W. Bennett. They commemorate the deceased 
professors, Doctors Dempster, Bannister and Hemenway, Bish- 
ops Simpson and Wiley, the Reverends Hooper, Crews, A. G. 
Button, and S. G. Lathrop, Judge Goodrich and Mr. Robert F. 
Queal. The donors of these windows were the Alumni, the 
First Methodist Episcopal church of Evanston, the Cincinnati 
and Rock River Conferences, Mrs. A. G. Button, and Messrs. 
H. N. Higinbotham and Wm. H. Craig." 

Biographical sketches of the presidents and pro- 
fessors will be found elsewhere in this volume with an 
account of the important contributions made by sev- 
eral of them to theological literature. It is worthy 
of notice that most of the bishops and leading men of 
the church have been brought to Evanston to lecture 
before the students of the Institute, and that the annual 
lecture course is greatly enjoyed by many of our citizens. 

In all, up to 1891, five hundred and twenty-four 
have been regularly graduated from the Institute, but 
over twelve hundred have received instruction dur- 
ing these thirty-seven years. The Alumni are min- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 4 1 

istering in all parts of the church, about thirty having 
gone into foreign mission fields. Thirty-four have 
received the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Among 
those who have been appointed to official position are 
Bishop Charles H. Fowler ; the General Conference 
Secretaries, Doctors James S. Chadwick, William A. 
Spencer, and Joseph C. Hartzell ; the college presi- 
dents, Wm. H. H. Adams,* Thomas F. Berry,* Ed- 
mund M. Holmes, Thomas Van Scoy, Horace N. 
Herrick and Joseph H. Sparling ; the professors, F. 
Wm. Heidner, J. Riley Weaver, John Poucher, Henry 
J. Crist, Benton H. Badley, Robert D. Sheppard, 
Nathan Burwash, Melville C. Wire, Eli McClish, 
George E. Ackerman, Charles F. Bradley, George T. 
Newcomb, Edward L. Parks, John J. Garvin, Edward 
Thomson, Nels E. Simonsen, George H. Horswell, 
William H. Crawford, Charles Horswell, Gerhardt C. 
Mars and William Rollins. It is significant, as show- 
ing the radiating influence of the seminary, that 
twelve of the above are teaching in some department 
of theology. Our journalists are Oliver A. Willard, 
William S. Harrington, Charles H. Zimmerman and 
Charles M. Stuart. The preachers and pastors sent 
out, constitute a noble army, whose work is of the 
utmost importance, but it seems impossible to name 
any without making unfair distinctions. The dis- 
tinguished need no record here. 

The founding of the Norwegian-Danish Theologi- 

♦Deceased. 



42 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

cal Seminary and its affiliation with the Institute as a 
department, has been accomplished under the wise ad- 
ministration of Principal Nels E. Simonsen. It has 
an excellent building and an encouraging attendance, 
and is doing admirable work. 

The growth of the past ten years has been rapid 
and gratifying, and the standard of instruction has 
been steadily advanced. The attendance for the year 
1889-90 was one hundred and eighty-six, includ- 
ing twenty in the Norwegian- Danish department. 
With twenty-six students in the Swedish theological 
seminary, our neighboring school, the total of two 
hundred and twelve places Evanston as a theological 
centre in the front rank. Together with the four other 
Protestant theological seminaries of Chicago, a strength 
in numbers of over five hundred students and an aggre- 
gate of ability in theological instruction is secured, 
such as would surprise those who know Chicago only 
as a commercial city, and gives assurance of immeas- 
urable Christian and educational influence. 

The material equipment of our Evanston theolog- 
ical school in buildings, library and endowment is gen- 
erous if not wholly adequate. Its faculty includes 
men of ability, learning, and distinguished reputation: 
Its alumni are exerting a wide and extending influence 
in the Methodist Church in all lands. Its history, 
location and present prosperity justify large expec- 
tations for its future.* 



•For the foregoing I am indebted to Rev. C F. Bradley.— F. E. W, 



©right of Nortfjtoestem ©nibersitg. 



Our great institution, the University, always the 
central figure of Evanston's lengthening and varied 
panorama, has had a growth notably slow and sure. 
The men who laid its strong foundations and im- 
parted to it their own exact and masterful character, 
were in no hurry to have it become famous. They had 
studied the institutions of the Old World and knew 
that a century is of small account in the growth of a 
great seat of learning. The banyan tree is perhaps 
its truest emblem — sending its roots deeply into the 
soil, spreading them out far and wide, while its broad- 
ening canopy does not outgrow its hidden basis of 
supply, and when its life force warrants the new vent- 
ure, not before, sending out strong arms, which, 
striking downward, take fresh root and hold in gigan- 
tic steadfastness the whole, great tree. A strong 
financial groundwork has always been beneath the 
gradually growing structure that gives to Evanston 
its fame, and is, as it will always be, its chief deter- 
minative force. 

In the order of evolution, University and Theo- 
logical School preceded Evanston and gave it being. 

(43) 



44 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Were this not true, our little burg could not boast of 
fourteen Doctors of Divinity ! But Evanston began 
in a prayer- meeting, and I can prove it. On the 31st of 
May, 1850, half a dozen earnest Christian men met by 
appointment, in the law office of Hon. Grant Good- 
rich in the city of Chicago. Their object, often 
talked and prayed about before, was the founding of 
a university that should be a fountain of Christian 
scholarship for the northwest. Rev. Zadoc Hall, 
pastor of Indiana Street M. E. Church, led in prayer, 
and if others did not pray audibly I know that Richard 
Haney, pastor of Clark Street M E. Church, and 
Rev, R. H. Blanchard, pastor of Canal Street M. E. 
Church, were lifting up their hearts to God as they 
knelt there together, and I am equally sure that this 
was true of Judge Goodrich, Orrington Lunt, John 
Evans, J. K. Botsford, Henry W. Clarke and Andrew 
J. Brown, the chief laymen with whom Chicago was 
then blessed in the M. E. Church. So, as I said be- 
fore, our town began in a prayer-meeting, and that fact 
prophesied its beautiful career. 

Mr. Lunt gives the following statement in relation 
to this first meeting and other preliminary steps in 
this great movement • 

" Grant Goodrich was called to the chair, and Andrew J. 
Brown appointed secretary. Addresses were made by Rev. 
Richard Haney and Dr. Evans, after which the following pre- 
amble and resolutions were offered, and unanimously adopted : 

"Whereas, The interests of sanctified learning require the 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 45 

immediate establishing of a university in the northwest, under 
the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; be it 

"Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to prepare 
a draft of a charter, to incorporate a Literary University, to be 
located at Chicago, to be under the control and patronage of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, to be submitted to the next 
General Assembly of the State of Illinois. 

"Resolved, That said committee memorialize the Rock River, 
Wisconsin, Michigan, and Northern Indiana Conferences of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, to mutually take part in the 
government and patronage of said university. 

"Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to ascer- 
tain what amount can be obtained for the erection and endow- 
ment of said Institution. 

"At the next meeting, Dr. Evans, on the part of the com- 
mittee, reported a draft of a charter, which, on examination, 
was adopted. It was substantially the same as the present 
charter. 

"Pursuant to public notice for the purpose of organizing the 
Northwestern University, a meeting was held at the Clark 
Street Church, in the city of Chicago, on the 14th day of June, 
185 1. To fill the place of En Reynolds, Dr. N. S. Davis was 
elected. A ballot for officers resulted as follows : John Evans, 
president; A. S. Sherman, vice-president; Andrew J. Brown, 
secretary ; J. K. Botsford, treasurer. The Presidency of the 
Institution was established, with a salary of one thousand two 
hundred dollars ; the person occupying the Presidency was also 
to be professor of moral philosophy and belles-lettres. A Profes- 
sorship of Mathematics, one of Natural Sciences, and another 
of Ancient and Modern Languages, were established. 

" It was resolved at that meeting that a Preparatory Depart- 
ment should be established ; it was to be located in Chicago, 
and the executive committee was given power to purchase a 
site for the same. This committee opened negotiations with 
the Universalist Church of Chicago, for the purchase of eighty 



46 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

feet on Washington street, but the offer of four thousand eight 
hundred dollars for both lot and church was not accepted ; they 
wanted five thousand five hundred dollars." * 

There were no schools to prepare for college or 
university at that time in the city of Chicago, no 
high schools or anything of that kind ; and it was 
thought best to commence with an academy or pre- 
paratory school in Chicago. John Evans and O. 
Lunt were appointed committee to search for a site for 
a preparatory building. They finally hit upon the 
block now occupied by the Grand Pacific hotel. The 
owner, Mr. P. F. W. Peck, asked eight thousand dol- 
lars for it— one thousand dollars cash and the rest 
on two years* time. The trustees had no money as 
yet, so to raise the one thousand dollars cash the fol- 
lowing men showed their loyalty to the cause by sub- 
scribing the money : O. Lunt, two hundred and fifty 
dollars ; Dr. John Evans, two hundred and fifty dollars; 
J. K. Botsford, two hundred dollars ; A. S. Sherman, 
two hundred dollars ; Grant Goodrich, one hundred 
dollars ; George F. Foster, one hundred dollars ; A. J. 
Brown, fifty dollars ; Dr. N. S. Davis, twenty-five 
dollars. 

The trade was closed by Dr. Evans, who took a 
deed of the land in his own name, and gave Mr. Peck a 
mortgage, and the trustees became personally respon- 



* Tin* same property was bought by Mr. I<unt and Dr. Evans about five 
years afterward for thirty-two thousand dollars. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 47 

sible. This property is still in the possession of the 

University. Mr. Lunt recently remarked : 

• 

This was the smartest thing we ever did. There was noth- 
ing particularly smart in the purchasing, but the smart thing 
was in the keeping of it, for it is now worth about a million 
dollars. 

At the next annual meeting the plan of having a 
preparatory school in Chicago was abandoned, so that 
the land was never used for a university building. 

Soon after this purchase, a subscription paper was 
circulated, to raise funds for the university, and to 
erect a preparatory building. That subscription 
amounted to about twenty thousand dollars ; the names 
and exact amounts will be found in the appendix at the 
end of this book. 

At a meeting held October 1, 1852, Rev. Philo 
Judson was appointed agent for the university, to so- 
licit funds. At the third annual meeting, June 22, 
1853, Rev. Clark T. Hinman, trustee from the Michi- 
gan Conference, was elected president of the univer- 
sity. He was decidedly in favor of beginning a 
university proper, instead of a preparatory, in Chicago. 
At the next annual meeting he was formally elected 
professor of moral philosophy and logic. Rev. Dr. 
Abel Stevens was elected professor of rhetoric and 
English literature, but did not accept. Rev. Dr. Wm. 
D. Godman was made professor of Greek, and Henry 
S. Noyes, of mathematics. At the latter meeting the 
agent reported the estimated valuation of the university 



48 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

property at $191,000, with liabilities of $32,000. Per- 
petual scholarships had been sold to the amount of 
$90,000, but this amount was never all collected. 

At a meeting of the executive committee, held 
March 15, 1855, a committee of five, consisting of Dr« 
N. S. Davis, John Evans, O. Lunt, Grant Goodrich and 
Philo Judson, were appointed to correspond and make 
preliminary arrangements for the election of a presi- 
dent at the approaching annual meeting of the Board, 
Dr. Hinman having died. 

It was resolved that the university be opened on the 
first day of the following November, and the committee 
was appointed to procure plans and estimates for the 
building, and report at the next meeting of the Board. 

It was in the fall of 1869 that the preparatory was 
first opened to ladies. There were less than twenty 
the first year, but the experiment finally resulted as 
favorably as its warmest advocates could wish. In 
the fall of 1 87 1, owing to the large increase of lady 
students through the connection of the Evanston Col- 
lege for Ladies with the university, the first lady 
teacher was employed. Mrs. Lizzie Winslow was the 
person upon whom the honor was conferred. In 1889 
we had three — Miss Harriet Kimball, Miss Leila 
Crandon and Miss Ada Townsend ; and the young 
lady students in the department numbered 161 ; young 
men, 436. 

During the summer of 1871 the preparatory build- 
ing was moved to 'its present site, and greatly enlarged 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 49 

and refitted to meet the new demands, for which, as it 
was, it was entirely inadequate. 

In 1873 Prof, (now Dr.) Herbert F. Fisk succeeded 
Rev. Mr. Winslow, and the subsequent years of pros- 
perity bear everywhere the impress of his strong 
personality and hard work. 

The University museum, a monument to the de- 
voted labors of Dr. Oliver Marcy, deserves more than 
a passing mention, but must be seen to be understood 
and appreciated. From the time of its origin, under 
Robert Kennicott, in 1857, to the present hour, it has 
been steadily growing, mostly through the contribu- 
tions of graduates, who delight thus to show their 
love for their alma mater and for the revered doctor who 
has lavished his days and years upon the great col- 
lection. 

In 1873 it was thought wise to erect the first per- 
manent building of the noble group that makes our 
otherwise commonplace village a ( 'classic town. M The 
best models on both sides of the water had been 
studied; Chicago's then chief architect, G. P. Randall, 
was chosen to superintend the work, but it is well 
known that Dr. Bonbright was the good genius of the 
building that elder Evanston was wont to call "a 
poem in stone," but which technically bears the proud 
designation of "University Hall." If there is any- 
where a fairer or more noble single structure, devoted 
to scholastic purposes, "old timers" would be glad to 
have it pointed out. Already the university had re- 



50 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

joiced and sorrowed over the gain and loss of three 
great presidents, Drs. Hinman, Foster and Cummings, 
sketches of whose lives will be found among the Per- 
sonalia. The former died after having been at the 
head of affairs but a brief period ; the latter, great and 
gifted, resigned in i860 and returned universally be- 
moaned, to New York city, whence he had come. 
Thereafter for nine years (i860 to 1869), Prof. Henry 
S. Noyes had the title of " Acting President," and 
during his incumbency the beautiful new hall aforesaid 
was built and dedicated, a number of distinguished 
men participating in the exercises. 

Prof. Noyes had the department of mathematics, 
in which his acquirements reached the height of 
genius, and, unlike most men of that stamp, he was 
equally good in mathematics applied to everyday 
affairs. Nobody better understood the potential 
value of real estate, or planned more wisely for build- 
ing up the finances of the university, which was be- 
loved by him as if it were his child. During his 
period of management the Snyder farm was added to 
the real estate basis of the enterprise. He attended to 
the leasing of property, opened new streets, collected 
debts ; indeed, looked after every detail with the 
scrupulous exactness which was one of his most pro- 
nounced characteristics ; conciliated everybody with 
whom he dealt, so that to this day I have never heard 
a harsh word spoken of him ; went to the city to end- 
less executive committee meetings, for the institution 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 5 1 

had then no office here save in his study, and no 
quorum of its trustees nearer than the office of Judge 
Goodrich. Few sights were more familiar on our streets 
than the bay horse and light covered buggy, in which 
at all hours and in all weathers, that indefatigable 
man fulfilled the duties of business factotum to the 
university. Beside these he carried his full comple- 
ment of heavy college classes, attending to the cease- 
less hospitalities incumbent upon the president, main- 
taining discipline, pronouncing baccalaureate addresses 
that were gems of classic thought and diction, present- 
ing the diplomas in sonorous L,atin, greeting everybody 
with a brother's hand of kindness at the levee, and 
never missing a church prayer-meeting in all those 
crowded years. If his mental processes had not been 
lightning-like, his temper perfect and his physique 
phenomenal in power, this remarkable man could never 
thus have wrought. What wonder that under such 
pressure his health began to break! I met him in 
Paris in the spring of 1870, whither he came with 
Mrs. Noyes and their only daughter, Maggie, hoping 
for recuperation. But disease had gone too far, and 
on May 24, 1872, the whole town sorrowfully followed 
him to his rest in Rosehill Cemetery. No one ever 
connected with the institution has placed upon it a 
more skillful hand or at a time when it was more plas- 
tic to his touch. "To the last syllable of recorded 
time" that honored name should be associated with 
Northwestern, and doubtless it will some day be per- 



52 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

manently connected with some building of the growing 
group upon the college campus. 

Rev. Dr. E. O. Haven, later known still more 
widely as Bishop Haven, was elected to succeed Prof. 
Noyes, in 1869, and resigned in 1872. 

Rev. Dr. Charles H. Fowler, now a bishop of 
the Methodist Church, was elected president of the 
university in 1872 and resigned in 1876, after which 
Dr. Oliver Marcy, professor of natural history, was 
acting president until 188 1 . From that time until May 
7, 1890, Rev. Dr. Joseph Cummings ruled in love and 
wisdom over this now great institution, and impressed 
upon it his strong personality ; lavishing in its interest 
the best thoughts and unsparing labor of his days and 
nights. Short personal sketches of these noble men 
will be found in the chapter devoted to those salient 
Evanston personalities which circumstances have 
brought within my individual ken. 

When we consider the grain of mustard-seed planted 
in that Chicago lawyer's office forty years ago, the old- 
timer looks with a feeling very like admiration on state- 
ments like this, which recently appeared in a leading 
newspaper : 

"Northwestern University now has an endowment of nearly 
$3,000,000, largely productive, and a total attendance of 1,692 
students, with 112 professors and instructors. It has a large 
equipment of buildings and implements of instruction, with its 
departments of letters and theology situated directly upon the 
shore of the lake, in an ideal campus of fifty acres, chiefly 



v5jgj» 


B>' , t5 ; 'l 1 'I li 




PMii 


luJH 


f iiltpMj urn 





i. SCIENCE HALL.— 3. OBSERVATORY— j. PB.EVV?. ia CWi *K.*WW\j, 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 53 

grove land of ancient white oak. Its standards of admission 
are high, and yet they are advanced almost annually. It 
admits women to all departments, and they do good work. Its 
several colleges are liberal arts, law, medicine, theology, den- 
tistry, pharmacy, fine arts, music and oratory. Its founders 
bought farm lands, platted the village, now of 10,000 people, 
and secured in its legislative charter two remarkable benefits : 
(1) that no property it might acquire should ever be taxed; (2) 
that no intoxicating liquor should ever be sold as a beverage 
within four miles. In both cases prohibition has prohibited." 

THE PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT. 

At the annual meeting of the trustees in 1857 ** 
was voted that the use of a portion of the university 
building be granted for an academic institution, 
such as should meet the approval of the faculty of 
the university. This was the beginning of the prepar- 
atory school which now overcrowds the whole of the 
building which was then the 'University,' and 
whose 671 students in 1891 are a convincing argu- 
ment for new and larger quarters in the near future. 

For nine years the college and preparatory school 
were under the same faculty. But in 1 866, Prof. Kistler 
made out separate courses of study for the preparatory, 
and in the fall of that year it started in its new life. 
Both departments continued in the old building until 
the university moved into its present quarters, in 
1873. Prof. Kistler, in addition to his work in the uni- 
versity, had charge of the preparatory and continued 
his work there for two years, achieving a grand success 



54 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

in getting the department fairly on its feet. At the end 
of that period, finding the double work too hard, he 
resigned his position in the preparatory school, and 
Dr. D. H. Wheeler, acting president of the university, 
was put in charge. Almost at the commencement of 
this school year the management of the department 
was left to Rev. Geo. H. Winslow, who had been an 
instructor in the department since its organization, 
and at the close of the year, on Dr. Wheeler's recom- 
mendation, he was elected principal. This position 
Mr. Winslow held for four years, during which time 
the attendance more than doubled. (1869-73.) 

SCIENCE hali,. 

Science Hall as a feature of the university, had its 
inception in the recognition on the part of the faculty 
and trustees that the most pressing need of the insti- 
tution was for proper facilities for laboratory instruction 
in physics and chemistry, in order that these depart- 
ments might be brought up to the standard demanded 
of higher institutions for scientific education. The 
next step, a very important one, was taken by the 
energetic agent, who bestirred himself and found a 
liberal friend of the institution to make the gift of 
forty-five thousand dollars to be devoted to this spe- 
cific purpose. The building, especially designed from 
the start for the accommodation of these departments, 
was begun in the spring of 1886. It was first used for 
class work in April of the following year. At the pres- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 55 

ent time it provides for each of the two departments a 
lecture room, apparatus room and professor's room ; in 
addition for physics, a general laboratory, five smaller 
rooms for special work, and a workshop ; for chemis- 
try two laboratories, an assistant's room and store 
rooms. The two laboratories contain together fifty- 
eight individual work tables. This provision, three 
years ago, was considered a liberal one. At the pres- 
ent time it is not equal to the demand. 

# 

DEARBORN OBSERVATORY. 

In June, 1889, ^ e telescope and other astronom- 
ical apparatus belonging to the Chicago Astronomical 
Society were permanently remounted in the elegant 
new observatory building which stands on the north 
campus of the university, a monument to the gener- 
osity of Hon. James B. Hobbs. This apparatus had 
been in use by the Chicago University since 1864, but 
when that institution lost its realty by the foreclosure 
of a mortgage, the Astronomical Society found it nec- 
essary to find new quarters, and the dome on our 
campus is the result of liberal offers from our univer- 
sity and of a generous gift by Mr. Hobbs. 

From 1877 to 1882, Mr. S. W. Burnham, now at 
Lick Observatory, used the great equatorial a portion 
of the time, for double star observation. During this 
period he discovered more than four hundred new 
double stars, and made micrometrical measurements 



56 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

of about thirteen hundred double stars previously 
known. 

Since 1879, the genial and devoted astronomer, 
Prof. Geo. W. Hough, has been director of the Dear- 
born Observatory, and the present almost perfect 
building was constructed under his supervision. His 
special work with the great equatorial has been a con- 
tinuous and systematic study of the planet Jupiter, 
and the observation and discovery of difficult double 
stars, of which he has discovered about three hundred. 



ft ft 



ft 



* * 



•& 



A'-'yp* 




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ft -^ ' 5 







Cfje Northwestern J^maie <&o liege antr 

its iEboiutions, 



The "higher education of women" -is now so 
much a matter of course that when a ' ' university 
girl ' ' leads her class in Greek or mathematics or wins 
the prize in an oratorical competition it surprises no 
one ; but it was a new idea in 1855. A woman's col- 
lege course equal to that arranged for young men was 
unheard-of, except at Oberlin and Antioch, Ohio. 
Vassar was unknown, and the Harvard annex would 
have been looked upon as an impiety. The founders 
otour university, although they were keer.- lighted be- 
yond their contemporaries among Chicago's Christian 
men, had not perceived what Goethe's prescient eye 
had seen so long before, that ' ' the ever-feminine draw- 
eth on," and no provision had been made for women in 
their far-reaching plans. Even good Mrs. Garrett, 
while she made mention in her will of doing something 
for women's education, conditioned this upon a con- 
tingency so remote that it is practically certain never to 
arrive.* Yet Evanston was to be the classic suburb of 
Chicago, the western Athens, with its face to the 



* Viz.: A financial excess in the treasury of the Biblical Institute. 

(57) 



58 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

future and its keynote caught by college towns 
along the opening ways of civilization. How much 
it meant then, that at the very beginning of the 
active educational movement here, even on October 
2 9> J 855, the " Northwestern Female College " quietly 
took its place as one among a trio of schools, founded 
in the name of Christian education, and having the 
whole northwest as their territory of supply ! Evans- 
ton has thus been, from its first hour, a paradise for 
women. Here they began to study Homer and Horace 
while the Indian's trail was yet visible along the 
shore ; here they wrought out intricate problems in 
calculus when Greenwood avenue was an unexplored 
morass. With no forceful business men back of the 
enterprise ; no real estate basis ; no distinguished 
names adorned with " lunar fardels" to lend prestige 
to the movement, it moved all the same ; it came, not 
welcome over-much, and came to stay. 

Mrs. John L,. Beveridge, in a bright reminiscent let- 
ter, has mentioned that in 1854 she began to gather a 
few children in a school, when a young man whom she 
had met at Rock River Seminary, Mt. Morris, asked her 
to let him undertake the tiny enterprise, and opened a 
preparatory department in that room over Colvin's store 
where the early church assembled ; from this nucleus 
rapidly developed a college for women. This young 
man's view r s were met with disgust and scorn by many 
good, influential and wealthy men. They said that 
academies and seminaries for girls were very well, but 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 59 

to associate the sacred name of * * college ' ' with the un- 
scholarly name of woman was to cheapen and degrade 
an appellation pertaining always and only to institu- 
tions for the education of men. Besides, it was a 
foregone conclusion that girls had not the intellect to 
grasp live mathematics and dead languages. Had not 
the young educator been gifted with a rarely resolute 
and liberal mind, he would not, at twenty-three years 
of age, have begun speaking here in Illinois, on Sun- 
day evenings, whenever the pastor would permit, upon 
that unpopular theme, the higher education of women ; 
he would not have gone, as he finally did, before the 
ever wide-awake Rock River Conference with his 
plans. Several of the ministers fell in with his views, 
urged him to "go up to Evanston," and promised 
influence and pupils. Beyond this he did not ask for 
aid, believing that while it is desirable to have educa- 
tional institutions under the patronage of the church, 
they should be self-supporting. The young man came 
to Evanston, and was taken by Rev. Philo Judson to 
see the fine block on Chicago avenue, between Lake 
and Greenwood streets, which he selected and bought. 
When the trustees were chosen from Rock River 
Conference and from good men in Chicago, a difficulty 
arose as to the selection of a name. Northwestern 
Female College was the young founder's choice, even 
he not having then perceived the absurdity of the 
word " female* ' as involving a generalization whimsi- 
cally indeterminate. 



60 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

This young man's name was William P. Jones, 
and of the three buildings that climbed above the 
aboriginal groves of Evanston thirty-five years ago, 
or thereabouts, the most expensive and ambitious was 
the one built by him. He had no money, but his 
generous brother, Col. J. Wesley Jones, who loved 
and believed in this courageous educational pioneer 
with a chivalric devotion beautiful to see, came to the 
front with the necessary funds. Bishop Simpson, a 
lifelong friend of the young founder, and a noted 
champion of women's rights, dedicated the " Female 
College/ * Special trains were run from Chicago to 
the new village on this occasion, three hundred friends 
of the infant enterprise thus testifying their faith in 
its success, — among them John L. Scripps, then editor 
of the Chicago Tribune, Chas. L,. Wilson, of the 
Chicago Journal, many pastors, and earnest-hearted 
women not a few. This was on December 20, 1855, 
several months after the school began. 

One year from the day of moving into the new 
college came the burning of the building, caused by 
defective heating apparatus. The insurance also was 
lost, as repairs on the furnace had been made only a 
week before, and the insurance companies were not 
satisfied in regard to them. To add to these troubles, 
Professor Jones was taken violently ill with inflamma- 
tory rheumatism caused by exposure in his heroic 
efforts to save the building. The school continued, 
however, temporary rooms having been kindly offered 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 6 1 

by the university professors, and the teachers cheer- 
fully doing additional work. When the term closed, 
the " Buckeye,' ' a tavern building on the ridge, was 
secured, where the pupils boarded, and the school was 
opened February 25, 1857. 

On the first of May Professor Jones went to Chica- 
go for the first time after his long illness to engage 
materials for the new building. He was thin and pale, 
but full of enthusiasm and hope. Two weeks after 
the fire, a committee had waited upon him, bringing a 
proposition to start another college on the ridge, but 
it was a movement not in reality friendly to him. 
They said : "You are very ill. It is probable you 
can not live. You have lost everything in the fire. 
Your plans must be given up.' ' He replied: " It is 
true I may die, but I do not expect to ; I fully intend 
to rebuild, and I will not give up mypla?is." He then 
sent for his brother Wesley, who went immediately to 
Springfield and secured a charter from the legislature 
then in session. The other scheme was abandoned, 
and the "old original" college went on, its founder 
and his friends working with so much vigor that he 
moved into the second building,* five stories high and 
fitted up as both home and college for the pupils, nine 
months after the first one burned. The term opened 
with a large attendance, in September, 1857, and the 



♦The original section of this building has disappeared, but the " add! 
tion," as we called it, now stands on Church street, one door west of the 
home of Mrs. Marie Huse Wilder. 



62 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

enterprise continually prospered. In the winter of 
1862 came a second attack of inflammatory rheumatism, 
involving the heart, and Professor Jones was ordered 
abroad for a year. Then came the same good brother 
to his aid, and, through influential friends, secured for 
him from President Lincoln the appointment of consul 
to Macao, China. Thither he sailed, with his wife 
and two babies, October 25, 1862. 

During the interregnum Mrs. Lizzie Mace Mc- 
Farland became lady principal of the Female College. 
Miss Luella Clark was teacher of " Belles-lettres, ' ' 
and I led the young women in what Oliver Wendell 
Holmes calls " barn-door flights" of natural science, 
while Rev. and Mrs. Jones, parents of the college 
proprietor, conducted home affairs. After two years 
Rev. Dr. L. H. Bugbee came, in 1865, and was presi- 
dent until 1868 ; building up the institution into prom- 
inence and power. 

In 1868 Professor Jones returned, and continued at 
the helm until 187 1, having with him as associate 
principal and acting president, Prof. A. F. Nightin- 
gale, an educator of the first rank, under whom the 
institution went prosperously forward. 

But, meanwhile, the arrest of thought had come 
to many women's minds in Evanston. They knew 
that Mrs. Eliza Garrett had hoped the fortune left by 
her might some day warrant the founding of a college 
for women ; they knew this was not likely to occur, 
as the theological school rightly demanded all the 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 63 

money given by that elect lady of Methodism, and 
needed much more. Their work in building Heck 
Hall had given them knowledge of their own powers, 
and Mrs. Mary F. Haskin, always one of our most 
public-spirited women, was led to speak out the pur- 
pose she had long cherished : * ' The next work of 
this kind that we do will be for girls/ ' She did not 
fail to recognize the invaluable pioneer work done by 
Professor Jones, but felt that no private enterprise 
could measure up to the occasion. Mrs. Haskin went 
first to Mrs. Bishop Hamline, of blessed memory, who 
pledged her interest and co-operation. Rev. Dr. Ban- 
nister, president of the Board of Trustees of the North- 
western Female College, was the next one visited, and 
he said in his hearty tones, ' ' It is just the thing to do. ' ' 
So a meeting was called in September, 1868. Mrs. Ham- 
line presided, and an " Educational Association M was 
formed, of which Mrs. Haskin was made president. 
In 1869 this society petitioned the town authorities 
to set apart as a site for the new college one of the 
chief parks of Evanston, which was generously done 
by the village board. A charter granting the power of 
conferring diplomas and degrees was secured from the 
legislature in 1869 through the efforts of Hon. Edward 
S. Taylor, and fifteen ladies were chosen trustees.* 



•The original board of trustees consisted of Melinda Hamline, Mary F. 
Haskin, Caroline Bishop, Elizabeth M. Greenleaf, Harriet S. Kidder, Mary 
Thompson Hill Willard, Harriet N. Noyes, Cornelia IyUnt, Maria Cook, 
Margaret P. Evans, Sarah J. Hurd, Annie H. Thompson, Mary J. K. 
Huse, Abby I#. Brown and Virginia S. Kent. 



64 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

On Feb. 13, 1870, (soon after my return from two 
years and a half of foreign study and travel), I was 
elected president of the new college, for these women 
had the courage of their convictions and believed 
a woman had as good right to be president as 
they had to be trustees of an educational institu- 
tion of high grade. Its name was ' ' Evanston Col- 
lege for Ladies," and through the influence of Rev. 
Dr. Haven, the new president of the university, Pro- 
fessor Jones consented to merge the old school in the 
new, surrendering his charter to the ladies' board, who 
in return agreed to perpetuate the history of the 
Northwestern Female College, and to adopt its alumnae 
as their own. On the day of the 16th annual com- 
mencement (June, 1870), the work of the old col- 
lege ended and the transfer was completed. The 
new college was opened with 236 pupils, in the 
buildings of the old, in September, 1871. On 
June 3d of that year the ground was broken 
for the Evanston College for Ladies, and on "the 
women's Fourth of July" its corner stone was laid. 
That ' ( Fourth ' ' was one of the most memorable 
days in the annals of our village. Ten thousand 
persons came up from the city to witness the Zouave 
drill, regatta, base- ball match, and other entertainments 
provided by the ladies, also to hear the address of 
United States Senatoi Doolittle, and witness the laying 
of the corner stone. About thirty thousand dollars 
were subscribed that day, Governor Evans, who had 



1 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 65 

come from Colorado, leading off with a gift of ten 
thousand dollars. Rev. Obadiah Huse and I,. I,. 
Greenleaf had already subscribed like sums. But on 
October 9, 1871, the greatest fire of modern times 
devastated Chicago, and shriveled the subscriptions of 
Chicago men. Still the college went on, a self-sup- 
porting institution, in the old buildings, established its 
own departments, of art, of music, a preparatory school, 
and adopted a Kindergarten founded by Edward 
Eggleston during his sojourn in Evanston. From the 
first the older students of the college paid tuition and 
recited in the university, which, since 1869, has been 
open to women, Dr. Haven making this a condition of 
accepting the call to become its president. 

In 1872 the first and only commencement exercises 
were held in the M. E. church, and diplomas given to 
a graduating class of six ; and the degree of A. M. 
was bestowed on Mrs. J. F. Willing. 

June 25, 1873, by an agreement between the two 
boards of trustees, the Evanston College for Indies 
became the Woman's College of Northwestern Uni- 
versity ; four of its trustees being added to the Uni- 
versity board,* and its president becoming Dean of the 
Woman's College. An Aid Association had been or- 
ganized by the ladies, Rev. Obadiah Huse having 
suggested the plan and given the first money for car- 
rying it out. College Cottage was built, and is not 



♦Mesdames Willing, Mary Bannister Willard, Queal and Miller. 



65 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

only a benevolent but a self-supporting institution, in 
which some of the best scholars that Evanston has 
produced have had their home. Dr. D. K. Pearsons and 
Isaac R. Hitt have helped on this enterprise, and the 
committee of ladies has had, throughout the years, 
no more steadfast central figure than Mrs. John A. 
Pearsons. 

The Conservatory of Music has been, since 1877, 
under the management of Prof. Oren E. Locke. Pre- 
vious to his coming it existed chiefly on paper. He 
established four courses of study for pianists, vocal- 
ists, organists and performers on orchestral instru- 
ments. The largest number of pupils thus far has 
been 200, from almost every state in the Union. 

The art school, which also finds its home in the 
Woman's College, was long under the care of Miss 
Catharine Beal ; but this talented lady has resigned, 
and Miss Eva Hutchison, who has already made a 
name for herself, will hereafter be at the head of this 
important department. 

The following ladies have been deans of the 
Woman's College: Miss Willard, Miss Eilen M. 
Soul6 (now Mrs. Prof. Carhart, of Ann Arbor), Mrs. 
A. E. Sanford (of Bloomington, 111.), Miss Jane M. 
Bancroft (now Mrs. George Robinson, of Detroit), 
and the present dean, beloved by all her great 
household of girls, Miss Rena M. Michaels. The 
number of ladies in the college increases yearly, and 
at present is about seventy-two. 



Corporate Hwortrg. 



Away back in 1850 they had a town hereabouts 
called " Ridgeville, M mustering at the first election, 
on the second of April in that year, ninety-three 
votes, Edwin Murphy being the first supervisor. The 
postoffice of this now mythical center was ' ' down to 
Major Mulford's," he being also a tavern keeper and 
justice of the peace. At a special meeting the new 
city fathers voted down a proposition that one hun- 
dred and seventy-five dollars must be raised to meet 
township expenses that year. I,ater on they seem to 
have thought better of it and voted two hundred dol- 
lars for general expenses and a survey of the * * Ridge 
Road." The first recorded township assessment was 
in 1853, at which time its taxable property was esti- 
mated at six thousand dollars. We find familiar names 
on the old tax list : George Huntoon, Eli Gaffield, 
William Foster, Paul Pratt, Mrs. Pratt, O. A. Crain, 
Charles Crain, and others. In view of the " peace 
and good neighborhood " for which Evanston has 
been remarkable, such a form of oath as was required a 

generation ago strikes us oddly enough : 

(67) 



68 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

" Peter Smith, having been elected clerk of the town of 
Ridge ville, made the following affidavit before B. Bennett, J. 
P., on the 9th day of April, 1853 : ' I do solemnly swear that I 
have not fought a duel, nor sent or accepted a challenge to 
fight a duel, the probable issue of which might have been the 
death of either party, nor in any manner aided or assisted in 
such duel, nor been knowingly the bearer of such challenge or 
acceptance since the adoption of the constitution, . . . nor 
will I be during my continuance in office ; so help me God.' " 

The village of Evanston; was laid out and platted in 
the winter of 1853-54, under the superintendence of 
Rev. Philo Judson, the university agent, who did very 
effective work in church and state. The plat was 
dated July 20, 1854, and recorded July 27, 1854. Tb e 
streets were laid out during the winter and spring, and 
the agent was authorized to sell lots one-fifth down, 
and the balance in five annual payments. 

Our town of Evanston, as distinct from the village 
aforesaid, was not organized until 1857. George Rey- 
nolds was the first supervisor, holding that office until 
1863. He built our first hotel, the Reynolds House, 
which was to the primitive Evanston what the Ave- 
nue House or French House is to the elegant Evans- 
ton of to-day. He built "Swampscot," as we used to 
call it, my own early home that once stood where 
William Deering's beautiful residence stands now. 
Edwin Haskin was the next supervisor, George F. 
Foster, Edward S. Taylor, E. Haskin again, George 
Reynolds again, Eli Gage, H. A. Grover, H. Hum- 
phrey, James Curry, George Hun toon, Jr., Max Hahn 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 69 

and James McMahon having severally filled the office. 

Brother J. B. Colvin, who was the first " store- 
keeper * ' of whom I have cognizance, and whose 
anything-and-everything shop stood where Garwood's 
drug store now gleams resplendent, was our first town 
clerk. The others were J. W. Clough, L. Clifford, 
Edwin A. Clifford, Captain J. R. Fitch, H. M. Walker, 
George Ide, and Harry Belden, who is the present in- 
cumbent. 

Not until December 29, 1863, was the village incor- 
porated. The first trustees were chosen January 6, 
1864 ; Mr. H. B. Hurd, president of the board. Brother 
John Fussey, the good and quaint-speaking class 
leader, whom old settlers thought so much of, was 
commissioner of streets, and reported in the following 
August the expenditure of ninety-seven dollars and 
twenty-five cents, the first record of a corporate effort 
to ameliorate our lot — or lots ! The total valuation of 
property was then one hundred and twenty-five thou- 
sand four hundred and eighty dollars. The presi- 
dents of the board from that day until the village or- 
ganization was completed were E. Haskin, J. F. 
Willard, EH Gage, E. R. Paul, J. I,. Beveridge, H. G. 
Powers, and C. J. Gilbert. 

Our wise men decided to evolute once more, and a 
village organization was voted April 5, 1873. C. J. 
Gilbert was made first president, and the other mem- 
bers of the new board were H. G. Powers, layman 
Gage, William Blanchard, Wilson Phelps, and Oliver 



7 o 



A. CLASSIC TOWN. 



A. Willard ; with Charles K. Bannister, clerk. Other 
presidents were O. Huse, Dr. N. S. Davis, J. M. Wil- 
liams, Thomas J. Frost, T. A. Cosgrove, J. J. Parkhurst, 
C. H. Remy, M. W. Kirk, James Ayars, H. H. C. 
Miller and Dr. O. H. Mann, the present incumbent ol 
that office. Mr. Miller was the first president elected 
by the people, the others having been chosen by the 
members of the board. Mr. Miller served three terms. 




©ur Public $ci)ool0. 

It will doubtless be a matter of surprise to the boys 
and girls in the Evanston schools of to-day to learn 
that some of their fathers and mothers took their first 
steps in knowledge in a cemetery. L,ong before the 
town of Evanston was organized, a school had been in 
operation in an old log schoolhouse which stood on the 
east side of the Ridge road, as it was then called, and 
just south of the present Crain Street. This lot, an 
acre in area, had been deeded to the town by Henry 
Clark, grandfather of our townsman, F. W. Clark, for 
the rather incongruous use of educational and burial 
purposes. As such it was held in trust by the township 
trustees ; and the school treasurer, in addition to pay- 
ing the teachers salary, had, as his official business, 
the further duty of selling lots in the cemetery. This 
schoolhouse did service for many years. It was not an 
uncommon thing in wet seasons for children to have 
to be carried on horseback from the east side of the 
town to the schoolhouse, as the region lying along 
Benson and Maple avenues was frequently under 
water. 
Soon after the town of Evanston was projected, 

about 1855, District No. 1 was organized. As the old 

(71) 



72 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

log house fell outside of the district, a new building 
had to be provided. Accordingly a one-story building 
was constructed about on the site of J. F. Tait's wagon 
shop, just beyond the Haven school on Church street. 
This building still stands, though removed and en- 
larged. At present it is located on Orrington ave- 
nue, just north of the police station, and is occupied 
by a laundry. It is a pleasant thought, and one 
that should encourage the promoters of educational 
facilities among us, that this structure, the first nur- 
sery, in our district, of the young plant that has since 
attained such vigorous growth, has thus never been 
diverted from its original lofty purpose — that of ele- 
vating and purifying the community of Evanston. 
Our district was growing then as now, and better 
educational accommodations had to be provided. 
Accordingly, the Benson avenue building was erected 
about i860, was located in the precise geographi- 
cal center of the district, and in its construction the 
district first contracted a bonded debt. The building 
consisted at first of the main upright. Afterwards a 
wing was added to the rear, and in 1870 the north 
and south wings were added at an expense of about 
three thousand seven hundred dollars. During the 
same year the district bought the lots on which 
the Hinman avenue building and the north ridge 
school now stand. Of the buildings originally erected , 
the north ridge school remains, while the Hinman 
avenue building was removed in 188 1 to make place 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 73 

for the more commodious structure which now orna- 
ments that lot. The old building after its removal 
stood on Benson avenue and was used as the Second 
Baptist church until its destruction by fire on the 
14th of September, 1889. 

About 1879 as more room was needed, some people 
of the village advocated the plan of building all the 
schools of the district in one locality. The ground 
whose purchase was contemplated, is the block- just 
south of the Baptist church, known as the Lakeside 
property, and formerly a beautiful park, in the midst 
of which stood the Northwestern Female college. A 
special election was called for the purpose of decid- 
ing the question of purchase. The opponents of the 
plan carried the day, urging as an objection the 
danger to children of the west side arising from their 
crossing the railroad track, and a further objection to 
buildings of two or more stories, which would have to 
be erected. Upon the rejection of this plan, almost 
immediately measures were instituted for the construc- 
tion of the Hinman avenue and Wesley avenue build- 
ings, which were erected respectively in 1881 and 
1882. These buildings are models of convenience and 
excellence, and will stand for years to come as monu- 
ments of the wisdom and good taste of the board 
under whose direction they were built. 

The Benson avenue building* served its day and 

♦This building, of more historic interest than any other school edifice 
we have, now stands at the corner of Maple avenue and Foster street. 



74 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

generation well, till the omnivorous railroad forced 
its removal, and in 1888, our elegant Haven school, a 
noble building, named after a noble man, was built in 
the anticipation that it would furnish sufficient room 
for years to come, but it may be worthy of mention 
that such has been the phenomenal increase in our 
school population that our buildings to-day are hardly 
capable of containing the pupils in actual attendance. 
So much for our buildings. Evanston seems to 
have furnished little or nothing in the line of anecdote 
or personal reminiscence among her teachers. Mr. and 
Mrs. W. L. S. Bayley and Mrs. Wilbur were the most 
notable, of earlier annals ; Frances E. Willard and 
Mary Bannister Willard, carried on the school in 
1862, and Mary E. Willard, of " Nineteen Beautiful 
years,' ' " supplied 1 ' for Mrs. Wilbur a few weeks. 
The names of Jenny I,. Wells (now Mrs. Thomas 
Craven) and Miss Mary Woodford (now Mrs. Merrill) 
should also be included, with affectionate memory, in 
the enumeration of Evanston's earlier public school 
teachers. Among our later principals and superin- 
tendents may be mentioned Mr. Hanford, who was 
shot some years ago in Chicago by Alexander 
Sullivan. Mr. Charles Raymond was superintend- 
ent from 1869 to 1873. He was succeeded by Mr. 
Otis E. Haven, under whose nine years' admin- 
istration the schools were brought to their utmost 
efficiency. Superintendent Haven was a born teacher, 
and to rare executive ability united an earnestness and 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 75 

conscientiousness which never flagged, and personal 
qualities which endeared him alike to associates and 
pupils. The high school was organized by Professor 
Haven, and, in lieu of other accommodations, was 
held in Lyons Hall. The high school was a great 
success, and did very efficient work, maintaining so 
high a standard as to prepare pupils for many of the 
Western colleges. Among Professor Haven's associ- 
ates in this school may be mentioned Professor E. J. 
James, at present of the University of Pennsylvania, a 
young man who is rapidly gaining a national reputa- 
tion as a political economist. On the organization of 
the Evanston township high school, in 1883, our vil- 
lage high school was merged in that, and thus sur- 
rendered up its individual being. The history of our 
present high school under the efficient management of 
Professor H. L. Bolt wood is too well known to need 
comment. In 1882 Professor Haven gave up school 
work to enter upon the study and practice of medicine, 
which he had long had in contemplation as his life 
work. He was succeeded by Mr. George S. Baker, 
under whose supervision there was no lack of earnest 
work, and during his four years of superintendence 
our schools enjoyed a period of great prosperity and 
usefulness. In 1886 Mr. Baker resigned, and took up 
the practice of law, since which time the superintend- 
ence of schools has been in the very efficient hands of 
Mr. H. H. Kingsley, who is universally esteemed. 
There are twenty-five teachers in the public schools, 



76 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

all, with the exception of Superintendent Kingsley 
being ladies. A list of their names will be found in 
the appendix. The number of pupils in the schools, 
by the last report, is i,iii, of whom 589 are boys and 
522 girls. 

As to the financial management of our schools, 
much might be said both of commendation and other- 
wise. While there may be no charge of mismanage- 
ment, there are certain indications that great lethargy 
and " masterly inactivity n must have prevailed at 
some time. All the records of the district previous to 
1872 were burned in the Chicago fire. Since that time, 
however, the records have been kept in perfect shape. 
When the board of education came together in 1879, 
they found eight thousand dollars in bonds due in 1880. 
Of these bonds there was no record of when, why, or 
how they were issued. It was not even known whether 
or not they were legal. All that could be learned 
about them was traditional, and the only satisfactory 
explanation of their existence was that they must have 
been the old Benson avenue school bonds, issued back 
in i860, and that, when they became due in 1870 they 
were called in and new issue made to cover the 
old. Their legality, however, was not disputed. 
Messrs. A. N. Young and Simeon Farwell were 
then on the board, and it is due to their clear- 
headed financial management that the matter was 
promptly and satisfactorily settled. Under the direc- 
tion of these men a tax of four thousand dollars was 



tMtammt 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 77 

spread on the district. As to the other four thousand 
dollar bonds, arrangements were made with Preston, 
Kean & Co., to take them up and carry them for one 
year, Messrs. Young and Farwell giving theirpersonal 
guarantee to secure the bankers against loss. They 
made no mistake in their faith in the people of the dis- 
trict, and in 1881 a further tax of four thousand dol- 
lars was levied, which wiped out the balance of the 
debt. Since 1880, the board have displayed great dis- 
cretion and energy in the management of school mat- 
ters. There are no bonds on the market that command 
a higher premium among bankers than those of Dis- 
trict No. 1, Evanston, and the credit for this excellent 
financial standing is cheerfully conceded by his col- 
leagues on the board to be due to Mr. A. N. Young, 
whose sound judgment in matters of finance has al- 
ways dictated a wise and vigorous policy of manage- 
ment, and whose energy and ability have been untir- 
ingly devoted to the best interests of the schools 
during his ten years' service on the board. 

Evanston has been blest in her board of educa- 
tion in the fact that good men have always been 
obtainable and willing to give their best service to the 
people. No man, actuated by selfish motives, has 
ever gained a position on this board. It has always 
been nonpartisan, and a policy of concession, peace, 
and harmony has prevailed. The list of its members 
includes many of our best known and most influen- 
tial citizens. 



78 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

It will doubtless be of interest to our taxpayers to 
know a bit of unwritten history. By the famous " Or- 
dinance of 1 787," organizing the Northwest Territory, 
provision was made to foster the cause of education 
by a grant to each township of one quarter of section 
16 in that township, to be held in perpetuity for a 
school fund. By an act of May 20, 1826, in case any 
section 16 were not available, an equivalent amount 
might be set off from some other section. In Evans- 
ton township, section 16 lies in Iyake Michigan. Ac- 
cordingly there was assigned to Evanston, in lieu of 
the submerged section, the east half of the southwest 
quarter and the south half of the southeast quarter of 
section 12 — a total of 153 48-100 acres. The act con- 
firming this grant was approved July 28, 1845. For 
some unaccountable reason, whoever had the adminis- 
tration of this property sold it in 1846 at the munifi- 
cent rate of one dollar and tweyity-jive cents an acre y real- 
izing from the sale a total of one hundred and ninety- 
one dollars and sixty-eight cents. This amount was 
held in trust by the school treasurer for several years 
as a school fund, but was lost sight of along with all 
the other funds of the township, on the occasion, too 
fresh in our minds, when one of our treasurers sud- 
denly disappeared, leaving no clew as to his where- 
abouts or future movements, and ' * Ilium fuit ' ' occupied 
its place in the treasurer's safe. Nothing could be 
more condemnatory than the short-sighted policy 
which dictated the sale of the property. By its dispo- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 79 

sition Evanston lost what would now, be a magnificent 
school fund. The land referred to lies in the north- 
western part of our village and at a moderate estimate 
is worth a thousand-fold its original selling price, and 
the income from its rental would serve very materially 
to decrease our taxes. Perhaps, after all, the loss of 
this fund has been a means of grace to us. The state 
of our union which has the most generous school fund, 
is notorious as having the poorest schools. People 
appreciate most what costs them most, and doubtless 
the Evanston schools would not be enjoying their 
present high standing and the cordial support and 
sympathy of the people of the village, were it not for 
the very generous taxes which they have been called 
upon to contribute, and to the call for which they 
have responded with such unfailing liberality.* 



* Professor Kingsley has kindly contributed the foregoing article, 
except the allusion to himself, which is my own. 



&i)e (ffirobe Sbtfyool. 



Among the unique institutions of historical Evans- 
ton was the " Grove School," where no grove now 
remains. The building dedicated to its use still 
stands on Hinman avenue, just around the corner 
from the home of Rev. Dr. Raymond. 

January 6, 1864, is the date of its beginning, and 
my cousin, Miss Minerva Brace (later Mrs. Norton, 
associated with the Woman's College), was its first 
principal. Her assistant was Miss Susan Warner, 
long a missionary in Mexico. They systematized the 
school, arranged the course of study, and made things 
easy for their successors, who were, in later years, 
Misses Kate Kidder, Kate Jackson, Anna Fisk, Emma 
B. White, and myself. We had the children of the 
well-to-do class for our pupils, the school having been 
founded by Edwin Haskin, Esq., for the good of his 
own six young folks, his neighbors sharing its ad- 
vantages. 

A letter from Mrs. Norton adds the following 
points : 

" In the autumn of 1863, besides tne University and Female 

College, the educational facilities of Evanston were confined to 

two small rooms on the first floor of the old public school build- 

(80) 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 8 1 

ing, on Benson avenue, each presided over by a young lady, with- 
out opportunity for the proper grading of the pupils, and with 
little or nothing in the way of apparatus and teaching helps. 
Mr. Haskin then owned and occupied the dwelling which was 
formerly the home of Bishop Simpson, and south of which Hin- 
man avenue was undeveloped. Great forest trees stood on the 
northeast and southeast corners of Davis street and Hinman 
avenue, reaching to the end of the sand belt south of the point 
where now stands the elegant home of Mr. Stockton. 

" Mr. Haskin determined to found a school which should 
afford to his own and other children the advantages he desired 
for them. Some of those monarchs of the forest had to be 
cut down to clear a site for the building, but others remained, 
giving the name to the ' Grove School.' Here the new school 
was opened early in January, 1864. Rev. Dr. Bannister, Mr. 
John Clough and Mr. Haskin were the directors." 

Fred. D. Raymond, one of my pupils in those days, 
adds fact and spice to this effect : 

"There were two rooms in the building, one upstairs and 
one down. The older scholars were above, the younger below. 
There is not much difference in the ages of those of us who are 
here, alive, to-day, but a year or two then meant the difference 
of a flight of stairs. Among those upstairs were Ella Bannister, 
Lizzie White, Alice Judson, Rebecca Hoag, Annie Marcy, 
Charlie and Walter Haskin, Addison DeCoudres, George Brag- 
don, Henry Ten Byck White, Will Somers, and Frank Denison, 
who was killed by the cars one evening on his way home from 
school. I was admitted to the upstairs grade. Among those 
downstairs were Frank and Lewis Haskin, Will Evans, Joe 
Somers, Evarts and Harry Boutell, Lou Bannister, Eda Hurd 
and Delia Ladd ; and I must pause here long enough to say 
that if the artistic work of the last two girls were still on the 
blackboards, Mrs. Cayzer, the present occupant of the house, 



82 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

would leave the wall-paper off that its beauties might be 

seen Questions were written on the board by the 

scholars in turn for the teacher to answer. I remember won- 
dering at Lizzie White's daring, when one day she wrote on 
the board for Miss Kate Kidder to answer, 'What makes 
dimples ? ' but Miss Kate's dimples were only a little deeper 
and her eyes a little brighter, if possible, as she good-naturedly 
said that she really did n't know. 

" The boys had their special friends and the girls had their 
secrets, and generally I suppose we behaved twenty-five 
years ago just about as our children behave to-day. None 
of the other houses on the block had then been built, so 
that our playground extended as far north as Davis street, 
and as far east as Judson avenue. The same peculiarly 
deformed tree is still standing in Mr. BoutelPs back 
yard, which formed the favorite roosting place for the girls 
during recess, while the boys indulged in more boisterous 
pastimes. A sort of rivalry, not any too generous, perhaps, 
existed between our boys and the public school boys, and once 
we all went over there to give them battle with snowballs. 
Ad DcCoudres, who. was our biggest boy, was our leader, and 
as he was almost as big as he was good-natured, he had no 
great difficulty in inducing the rest of us to go on to victory 
under his protection. 

"At the end of one year I left and went into the Pre- 
paratory School. I do not remember that the Grove school 
long survived my departure." 

After about four years of successful work this 
school fulfilled its mission and in the interest of the 
public schools was peaceably and permanently closed. 



&i)e iHertjotrtst fflSaomen'a ataitenarg 

Association* 



In 1865 appeared upon the scene in Evanston a 
striking personality. Tall, and of large, strong frame, 
furnishing a symmetrical pedestal for his massive 
head, cliff-like brow with eager eye, aggressive nose 
and kindly, smiling lips, the Rev. James S. Smart, of 
Michigan, was somebody to notice as one passed by. 
Garrett Biblical Institute was still housed, after ten 
years of vigorous life, in the plain, wooden structure 
on the lake shore, later known as " Dempster Hall," 
burned down in 1879, and now succeeded by the Swed- 
ish Theological Seminary. Brother Smart, as we 
called him, (now Rev. Dr.,) had been made financial 
agent of Garrett Biblical Institute in the hope that his 
immense energy might lift and his rare ingenuity coax 
the enterprise out of the financial ruts into which it 
had fallen. I*ike the sensible man he is, it forthwith 
occurred to Brother Smart to call the women to his 
aid. He took account of the fact that 1866 was to be 
the centennial year of Methodism. He proclaimed 
the discovery that Barbara Heck, that earnest-hearted 
Irish woman, went to Philip Embury, the first Meth- 
odist preacher on our shores, when he had proved 

(83) 



84 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

recreant to his duty and was playing cards with a 
group of reckless comrades in New York city, and 
saying to him, " You must preach to us lest we all go 
to hell together," gave him his effectual call and 
became what Dr. Abel Stevens calls her, the 
" Foundress of American Methodism." He declared 
that in honor of this intrepid woman, faithful 
among the faithless a hundred years before, the con- 
templated building should lift its walls upon our well- 
beloved university campus, and in September, 1865, in 
the old Clark street church, Chicago, he convened us 
loyal Methodist sisters to listen to his plan and plea. 
Suffice it that our enthusiasm was equal to the good 
man's hopes. Such women as Mrs. Bishop Hamline 
(then newly arrived among us), Mrs. Governor Evans, 
Mrs. Dr. Kidder, Mrs. George C. Cook, Mrs. J. K. Bots- 
ford, Mrs. William Wheeler and a score of their asso- 
ciates, said, ' * l^et us arise and build. ' ' They associated 
themselves under the name of " The American Meth- 
odist Indies' Centenary Association, ' ' and looked about 
for a feminine factotum of the new enterprise. It has al- 
ways been my private opinion that Brother Smart de- 
sired to import from the wilds of his ever-favorite 
Michigan that elect lady of so much good work, Miss 
S. A. Rulison, but in this he was promptly overruled 
by valiant friends of a young woman who was at that 
time teaching in the Grove school, and whose defend- 
ers declared that* 'come what' would or wouldn't, 
Frank Willard should have that place ; she was a 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 85 

home institution, and no alien need apply." Brother 
Smart, though disappointed in the selection, was most 
considerate and kind toward the wholly inexperienced 
corresponding secretary with which his new enterprise 
was provided, the executive committee standing as 
follows : Mrs. Bishop Hamline, president ; Mrs. Rev. 
Dr. C. H. Fowler, recording secretary ; Frances E. 
Willard, corresponding secretary; Mrs. E. Haskin, 
treasurer ; besides Mrs. Dr. Tiffany, Mrs. Dr. Ray- 
mond, Mrs. George C. Cook and Mrs. William 
Wheeler. Our first move was to prepare an appeal, 
couched in all the eloquence that we could muster, 
which was sent with a personal letter from the ' * Cor- 
responding Secretary " to the wives of the eight 
thousand Methodist ministers then included in our 
Zion — though we " hypothecated the bonds" in 
many instances, as the humorous replies of the young 
dominies revealed. Articles by scores were sent to 
the white-winged Advocate family throughout the na- 
tion, all of which were most courteously printed, and 
every paper published by our church was sent me gra- 
tuitously, for which collection my good father ar- 
ranged a unique framework of a file, taking a great 
interest in the arrangement of my first visible "office.* ' 
He it was who kept my books and looked after my 
financial responsibilities, else I am sure I should have 
fallen into speedy disgrace, never having had a head 
for figures, except figures of speech. Our honored 
townsfolk, Mr. and Mrs. Simeon Farwell, had recently 



86 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

removed to Evanston, living just across the street from 
our new M. E. church, and with these generous friends 
I spent the winter of 1866, our own home, one block 
east, having been sold soon after my sister Mary left 
us, and Rest Cottage not being yet sufficiently settled 
for so large an enterprise as our * 'Cen-tett-ary,' ' as gain- 
saying friends were wont to call it. Many a " bee " 
we made at the Farwell house, my church friends and 
Grove school pupils gathering to help me and trundling 
off packages to the postoffice by the wheelbarrow load. 
Dr. Abel Stevens, our famous church historian, wrote 
a delightful book, at the request of our association, 
which he entitled, " Women of Methodism/ ' and dedi- 
cated to Mrs. Bishop Hamline and me. Brother Smart 
had a certificate prepared for all our members, donors, 
etc. , in which was inserted the amount given, certified 
by Mrs. Hamline and the corresponding secretary, 
Miss Kate Kidder acting in this capacity when, in the 
autumn of 1866, 1 went to Lima, N. Y., as preceptress 
of Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. This certificate I 
come upon occasionally in these days in Methodist 
homes, and smile to note what Brother Smart regarded 
as a chef d'ceuvrc, representing a library adorned 
with portraits of Wesley and Francis Asbury wherein 
Eliza Garrett presents a lengthy roll containing his 
gospel commission to a mild-looking young man of 
slight figure and noticeably ample brow. We had no 
visions in those benighted days of lovely Rev. Mary 
Phillips, the first lady graduate of the generous Insti- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 87 

tute, nor of Rev. Eliza Frye and other ladies who have 
held their own so nobly as theological students in 
these broader years. Our efforts to collect money were 
measurably successful, but as Brother Smart could put 
no patent on his new idea, every separate educational 
enterprise of Methodism seemed suddenly possessed to 
enlist the efforts of women, hence our territory steadily 
decreased, and though kept in countenance by the 
great " Centennial Committee," it also and equally 
countenanced all the other sets of women, therefore we 
were somewhat put to confusion, although we were 
particularly careful not to say so. In all the philan- 
thropic tintinnabulation of that year we kept trying to 
be heard, and in the din we literally "drummed up" 
about thirty thousand dollars. Heck Hall was built, 
the corner stone being laid by Bishop Thompson, who 
delivered one of his classical addresses on the occasion, 
and Brother Smart read the paper prepared by me, as 
corresponding secretary, while I stood by in modest 
meekness, for woman's hour of utterance was not yet 
come. The dedication occurred in 1867, Rev. Dr. 
Eddy and Gen. Clinton B. Fisk participating, and the 
" American Methodist Ladies' Centenary Associa- 
tion ' * passed out of sight and out of mind. But I have 
often thought that through the widespread organiza- 
tions of women in that memorable year of 1866, tens 
of thousands first learned their power in organized 
and widespread movements. 



lEbanaton'a hurdles. 



It was a very interesting and curious thing to see 
the various branches of Zion begin to sprout as our 
village increased. For many a happy year we had 
said : " Behold how good and how pleasant it is for 
brethren to dwell together in unity," and rejoiced in 
the catholicity of spirit that set Episcopalian and Qua- 
ker side by side in a Methodist meetinghouse. To be 
sure, in all this halcyon period, distinctive doctrinal 
features were so wisely held in abeyance that no one 
could feel himself estranged or his own tenets criticised. 
All of us alike believed in " the faith that works by 
love and purifies the heart ; ' ' all believed in God, in 
duty, in rewards for right living, and punishments for 
wrong, not based on favoritism or on vengeance, but 
as the inevitable outcome of the laws written in our 
members and our minds and reflected on the shining 
mirror of the Bible's open page ; and all believed in 
One who came to show us what God's heart is like, the 
Ideal Man, the Incarnate Deity, the World's Redeemer. 
But for questions of method, then, we might have 
stayed together, and while we did stay, we were most 
kindly affectioned one toward another, and when any 
went it was with the blessing of those who remained 

(88) 



v 






A CLASSIC TOWN. 89 

and a building lot from the Methodist university, and 
help from the Methodist brethren to begin their new 
enterprise. For we all recognized the fact that one 
church will not yet contain all who accept Christ's 
gospel, though I think we almost all believed the 
broader generalization of divine truth that is yet to 
be universally accepted and will bring humanity to 
the blessed estate of " one fold and one Shepherd." 

Each of the denominations stands out like an in- 
dividual, or, better, each typifies a temperament. To 
my imagination handsome Pope Pius IX, as I have 
seen him, robed in his dazzling pontificals and cele- 
brating mass at the high altar of St. Peter's, incarnated 
the Catholic church ; conservative Dr. John Hall, 
erect and noble, in the stately pulpit of his million- 
dollar church in New York city, incarnated the Pres- 
byterian ; cultured Dr. Phillips Brooks, at Trinity 
church, Boston, the Episcopal ; clear-cut, scholarly 
and eloquent Dr. Richard S. Storrs, in his plainer 
Brooklyn church, the Congregational ; Spurgeon, in 
the great people's tabernacle in London, the Baptist ; 
and Bishop Simpson, before the Ecumenical Council 
of his church, the Methodist. Very likely the most 
loyal members of these different communions would 
accept the characterization thus suggested. As to 
temperaments, let us say that the Methodist stands 
for the sanguine ; Congregational for the nervous (in 
a good sense, of course); Presbyterian for the bilious 
(still in a good sense) ; Baptist for the sanguine-bilious; 



90 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Catholic and Episcopalian for the aesthetic. Far be it 
from me to adopt the profane but witty bon mot of an 
English reviewer, who characterized the High, Broad 
and Low church parties of that realm as Attitudina- 
rians, I^atitudinarians and Platitudinarians. It seems 
to me the jubilee singers showed a better appreciation 
of the eternal fitness of things when they vociferated 

Methodis' and Bap t is' jus' gone along, 

for these two churches are pre-eminently fraternal, and, 
in one sense or another, both are dedicated to cold 
water. The natural affiliations of the Congregational 
and Presbyterian faith and practice were clearly illus- 
trated when the two set up housekeeping together in 
Evanston. 

OUR CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 

The first thing I can recall about this favored branch 
of the church universal, probably the most thoroughly 
American in its genius and methods of any that can be 
named, is that Rev. Dr. S. C. Bartlett was advertised, 
sometime in 1859, to speak in the university chapel on 
Sunday afternoon. Though Dr. Foster's morning lect- 
ure, the regular church service, and Sunday-school at 
two o'clock, had been already an ample portion for a 
young student who carried eight solid studies on five 
days of the week and was devoted to the work of the 
" Minerva " Literary society of her college, I neverthe- 
less went to hear this already celebrated man. Even 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 91 

had he been less well known, the " leanings " of my 
nature would have carried me to this first service of the 
Congregationalists, for during the five years that they 
were students at Oberlin, Ohio, my parents had be- 
longed to Rev. Dr. Charles G. Finney's church ; he 
was the first minister to whom I, as a child, had ever 
listened ; my mother had joined the Congregational- 
ists of Janesville, Wis., under the pastorate of Rev. 
Henry Foote, and in 1857 with m Y sister I had been a 
student of Milwaukee Female college, where we at- 
tended Plymouth church, Rev. Z. M. Humphrey, 
pastor, and rejoiced in the Bible class instructions of 
his gifted wife, who, had she lived in a more enlight- 
ened age, would have been a preacher like her hus- 
band ; indeed she is in these last days. 

On this first Congregational day in Evanston an 
observant school girl, " watching out ' ' to learn all that 
she could, and especially fascinated by individualties 
pronounced and noble, saw standing up in the little 
pine pulpit of our small university chapel, with a 
group of thoughtful folks before him, Dr. Bartlett, 
now and for many years president of Dartmouth 
college: 

A more thorough New England type was never 
transplanted to the west ; he was pure nerve, with just 
enough muscle to serve as insulator. That mountain- 
ous brow, thatched with brown hair; that eagle-beak 
nose ; those thin, mobile lips ; blue eyes, flashing like 
electric lights — made up a human galvanic battery the 



92 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

shock of whose thought was a stimulus to the intel- 
lect such as across the wide space of thirty years must 
remain with all who then received it. 

Dr. Bartlett never spoke after that day without 
crowding the chapel with students ; for, unlike most 
ministers, he spoke, although at the same time he read 
his manuscript. But the vibrant vigor of his tones ; 
the quick, yet graceful, action ; the intense counte- 
nance ; the martial music of his balanced periods ; all 
held us as closely to his thought as if no film of a pa- 
per intermediary intruded between his mind and ours. 

Sometimes Rev. Dr. Fisk, who, like Dr. Bartlett, 
was a professor in the Congregational Theological Sem- 
inary, at Chicago, came out to preach ; and him we 
also liked — another typical New Englander with its 
iron in his blood and its granite in his backbone — 
though he was not an orator so striking as his confrere. 
Rev. Fred Beecher came, and to him we young Meth- 
odists were also attracted by his youth, his mingled 
culture, and offhandedness; — besides, he was " Henry 
Ward's" nephew, and who was quite so magnifique in 
all America as that great and brotherly soul ? 

It stood to reason, then, that we were glad our Con- 
gregational friends had set up housekeeping by them- 
selves among us, for the advent of their men of power 
gave an added intellectual impetus to our ways of 
thinking on religion, and was thus in line with the 
splendid teachings of our own Simpson, Dempster, 
Foster, and the rest. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 93 

The records say that on the eighth of December, 
1859, an ecclesiastical council met and organized the 
First Congregational church of Evauston. At this 
meeting Rev. Dr. Wolcott preached the sermon, and 
Rev. Dr. W. W. Patton offered prayer. Eight women 
and three men made up the church, and their names 
were as follows : Mrs. M. T. Earle, Mr. and Mrs. 
Isaac D. Guyer, Miss Charlotte A. Kellogg, Mrs. 
Hannah Iy. Pojter, A. G. Sherman (clerk), Mrs. S. A. 
Sherwood, Mrs. William G. White, Silas S. Whitney, 
Anna C. Winfield, Harriet C. Wood. Just here would 
naturally come in the letter of Mrs. Judge Stacy ( nee 
Kellogg), once teacher of music in the Northwestern 
Female College, in which she tells me of her "charter 
membership," and reveals the fact that she was the 
first organist of this new church. Miss Hattie Wood 
was a student at the college and classmate of my sister 
and myself. Mrs. Porter was our Professor Godman's 
mother-in-law. I wonder if Mrs. Earle was not the 
wife of Parker Earle, the temperance lecturer, who 
then lived in a modest cottage about where Mr. Francis 
Bradley and family have so long had their beautiful 
home. 

It seems curious that all of this pioneer eleven 
should have moved away within a few months after 
the formation of the church, from a town that had 
hardly more than five hundred inhabitants, but so it 
was. No pastor had been settled, and there was an 
interregnum of six years or more until the Bradley 



94 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

family appeared upon the scene, in 1865, in whose 
house the first weekly prayer-meeting of the new 
church was held November 6, of that year. Sev- 
eral other families soon joined them, and by April 1 
of 1866, it was decided to hold meetings in the uni- 
versity chapel. Sunday services began June 1, 1866. 
An independent church was formed, and the Rev. 
James B. Duncan, of the Canada Presbyterian persua- 
sion, was invited to become its pastor at a salary of two 
thousand dollars per year. He accepted the call and 
began his labors in July, 1866. The church was form- 
ally organized on the first of August following, the 
services taking place in the Baptist church, then located 
at the northeast corner of Hinman avenue and Church 
street. Rev. Mr. Duncan was, on the same evening, 
installed pastor. A Sunday-school was organized on 
the nineteenth of the same month. The society pur- 
chased a lot on the southeast corner of Chicago 
avenue and Lake street and erected a church edifice, 
aided liberally in the enterprise by the people of the 
town and by the Northwestern University. This 
church was styled the Lake Avenue church, from its 
location. 

But this enterprise had been carried on by Presby- 
terians as well as Congregationalists, and in 1868, the 
latter swarmed into a separate church, whose edifice 
was begun in November of that year, and within 
about two years it was completed and had a fine 
organ, the total expense being nearly twenty-five 



A CI^SSIC TOWN. 95 

thousand dollars. The beautiful site on Hinman 
avenue was intended for a village park but was given 
by the university to this new church. 

The trustees of the church were Francis Bradley, 
John M. Williams, Heman G. Powers, Julius White, 
and Samuel Greene. On September 19, 1869, public 
services began in the new lecture room, and a Sunday- 
school was organized. Prof. F. D. Hemenway, D.D., 
of Garrett Biblical Institute, supplied the pulpit for a 
few months before a pastor was settled. Rev. Edward 
N. Packard, of Brunswick, Maine, a graduate of Bow- 
doin college, assumed this relation January 1, 1870, 
and the church was dedicated January 9. Rev. Dr. 
Bartlett preached the sermon, and President E. O. 
Haven made an appeal for the removal of the floating 
debt, which resulted in clearing it away by raising- 
five thousand dollars. The installation occurred Jan- 
uary 13, when Rev. Dr. Fisk preached the sermon, 
Rev. Dr. Patton gave the pastor's " charge," Rev. E. 
F. Williams and Rev. Dr. L. T. Chamberlan gave 
the " right hand of fellowship to church and pastor 
respectively," and Rev. Dr. J. E. Roy the address to 
the people. 

The nine years' pastorate of Rev. Mr. Packard is 
most pleasantly remembered by Evanstonians, not 
only by reason of that scholarly and genial man's 
own sturdy hard work in his church and his brotherly 
interest in every good thing for which the villagers 
were striving, but because of the noble, gracious pres- 



96 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

ence of Mrs. Packard, a strong, clear-headed woman, 
who did not a little to help forward the interests of 
church and community in general. We all bemoaned 
their going, but they thought it best to accept the 
invitation to Dorchester, Mass., and went there in re- 
sponse to the earnest call of the historic old * l Sec- 
ond Congregational church/ ' in the spring of 1879. 

The next pastor was Rev. A. J. Scott, a brilliant 
young graduate of our university, who had been a 
Methodist minister and came at first as a supply, but 
was installed November 6, 1879, and remained for 
about six years and a half, resigning the pastorate 
June 28, 1886. Meanwhile, in 1883, the church was 
enlarged, repaired, and its seating capacity increased 
one-third at a cost of thirty-two hundred dollars ; but 
on the night of November 23, 1884, it was destroyed 
by fire. The zeal and wealth of the people combined 
to rebuild promptly; December 6, 1885, worship was 
commenced in the basement of the present handsome 
edifice, and April 11, 1886, the new church was dedi- 
cated, its cost, with the organ, being about fifty thou- 
sand dollars. 

On the thirty-first day of March, 1887, the church 
and society voted unanimously to invite Rev. Nathan 
H. Whittlesey, of Creston, Iowa, to become their pas- 
tor, and he was installed June 7, 1887. Brother Whit- 
tlesey is a man of exact thought, ready expression, and 
outspoken opinion, and has the record of a hero on the 
temperance question during Iowa's great prohibitory 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 97 

campaign and harder battles for the enforcement of 
her law. 

Two experiences of my life especially endear 
this church to me. Returning from Europe in the 
autumn of 1870, the very first invitation to make use of 
what I had there learned came from my earnest sisters 
here. They asked me to speak of my observations on 
missionary countries : Greece, Turkey, Asia Minor, 
Egypt and Palestine. So I prepared a little address 
entitled "The New Crusade," and stood up before 
them in an afternoon meeting to make the first speech 
of my life outside of a students and teacher's exer- 
cise, —the paper shaking in my hands so that I had no 
small ado to read it. Soon after, my Methodist friends 
in Chicago invited me to give the same address before 
the local Woman's Foreign Missionary society of Cen- 
tenary church, and other church societies went on 
doing so until (usually in the pleasant company of 
Mrs. Mary H. B. Hitt, and sharing the exercises with 
her) I had repeated the operation about thirty times. 
Albro E. Bishop, then its leading member, having heard 
me at Centenary M. E. church in the spring of 1871, 
generously came to Evanston to see me, urged me to 
go upon the platform, and introduced me there under 
most favorable circumstances, and from that time dates 
my public work. 

The other meeting was soon after my election as 
president of the Evanston College for Indies (Febru- 
ary 14, 1871), when Mrs. Mary F. Haskin. presided, 



98 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

and Dr. Haven and I sang the praises of the new 
venture in women's education, which was so thor- 
oughly undenominational that our Congregational 
sisters were foremost in its every good word and work. 

The membership of this grand church in Evanston 
is three hundred and fifty ; Sunday-school, three hun- 
dred and six ; its officers are all men, the present 
trustees being J. H. Kedzie, J. M. Larimer, Nelson 
DeGolyer, W. H. Brown, and Frank Gould. Its Sun- 
day-school officers are also men, as shown by the follow- 
ing complete list of superintendents since its begin- 
ning : 

Mr. Francis Bradley, Mr. L. H. Boutell, Mr. 
Charles Dutton, Rev. E. N. Packard, Mr. George 
F. Stone, Mr. H. W. Chester, Rev. A. J. Scott, Mr. 
E. D. Redington, Hon. Burton C. Cook, Mr. A. K. 
Brown. But among its teachers twenty are women 
and nine men. Its work is chiefly done by women, 
as the "Directory of Societies" abundantly illus- 
trates, in which, among the five societies enumerated, 
Christian Endeavor, Home Missionary, Foreign Mis- 
sionary, Young People's Missionary and Light Bearers, 
there are twenty- five names, all but four being the names 
of women. Some day, in this and all other churches, 
the proportion will be more equitably maintained be- 
tween labor and power. A noble beginning in this 
direction has been made recently by the Congrega- 
tional Theological Seminary in Hartford, Conn., which 
publicly announces that all its privileges are hence- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 99 

forth open to women. Heaven bless the church of 
the Puritans in Evanston. Its morale is excellent, its 
spirit progressive ; long may it liberate ! 

OUR EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

As everybody knows, John Wesley never left the 
Church of England, and did his best to have no 
schism. He went to the Bishop of London and asked 
him to send out a lt shepherd and bishop' ' to the 
struggling groups of gospel Christians organized in 
America, and not until that prelate somewhat loftily de- 
clined, did the Father of Methodism authorize Thomas 
Coke to go over and ordain Francis Asbury, the first 
Methodist bishop. Naturally enough, with antece- 
dents of this sort, there is much in common between 
the two communions. 

My father was one of the most pronounced and 
loyal Methodists I ever knew, but when, in the old 
days of our life in Wisconsin, the circuit preacher had 
an appointment elsewhere, we children went with him 
to Trinity church, Janesville, of which that gracious 
old saint, Rev. Dr. Ruger, was rector so long. There 
I first learned to repeat the Apostles' Creed, to revere 
the litany and to love the music of the organ. 

Our Episcopal friends remained with us here 
in Evanston until the spring of 1864, when the 
Rev. John Wilkinson, chaplain to Bishop White- 
house, gave notice in the chapel of the univers- 
ity that a church would be organized in the M. 



IOO A CLASSIC TOWN. 

E. church building on April 20. The same gen- 
tleman conducted the first service in the same 
building on the third Sunday in May. At the pre- 
ceding meeting a constitution had been adopted and 
signed by the following persons : A. G. Wilder, John 
A. Lighthall, H. B. Hurd, D. J. Crocker, John 
Lyman, J. H. Kedzie, F. M. Weller, P. G. Siller, H. 
C. Cone, J. S. Haywood, William C. Comstock. 
Charles Comstock was elected senior warden, and D. 
J. Crocker, junior warden. 

Concerning this infant church, a lady who has 
been devoted to its fortunes from the beginning 
writes me as follows in response to an earnest request 
for facts: 

" I remember that the Methodist church was very kindly 
offered to us and accepted at least twice for special services, 
many of the students and others joining with us in the 
responses. Our first regular services were held in the univer- 
sity chapel. I remember the little melodeon we used was 
carried every week to and from the Avenue House, where our 
lady organist boarded, and that Will Comstock acted the part 
of sexton and chorister combined. The Comstock carriage was 
in request to gather up the singers for Saturday night rehearsal. 
Those were certainly the days of small beginnings. I think 
there were only three or four families who were really our 
people when the parish was organized. 

"Rev. Mr. Holcombe was minister in charge. In tLe spring 
he accepted a call to Wisconsin and left us. We had no further 
services until the following August. In the meantime our 
church was built and paid for, and in August, 1885, was conse- 
crated. Our diocesan convention was then in session in Chi- 



» m 



A CLASSIC TOWN. IOI 

cago. The convention adjourned, and with Bishop Whitehonse 
all the members came up to the consecration of our little 
church. There was also a very pleasant reception given for 
them on the grounds of one of our members. Our first rector, 
Rev. John Buckmaster, had just come to us. He remained two 
years. Afterwards we had Rev. Mr. Lyle, Rev. Mr. Barrow, 
and Rev. Mr. Abbot, the latter remaining four years. Rev. Dr. 
Justin, to whom you refer, was a very kindly, genial and excel- 
lent man, and most interesting in his accounts of his travels in 
Scandinavia and elsewhere, but he was not our rector, only min- 
ister in charge for a short time ; a great worker, too, yet I 
hardly think his work left much lasting trace upon the church. 
The one who, it seems to me, did the most to raise the whole 
tone of church life and worship, was Rev. J. Stewart Smith, who 
was our rector from 1876 to 1880. One advance made then, I 
for one regret we have lost. The seats in our church were for 
a few years free. Perhaps it was the coming into the parish 
afterwards of so many who had always been used to the pew 
system which made the other, and as I think better, seem im- 
practicable to some. After Mr. Smith, came Rev. Dr. Jewell 
and Rev. Mr. Hay ward, for both of whom I have a high regard, 
and both of whom, I think, did much good and lasting work 
in the church, especially in the work of instruction and churchly 
life. Now we feel ourselves so happy and blessed in our pres- 
ent rector, Rev. Arthur W. Little, that we can hardly be 
thankful enough. And I can not but feel that we have come 
to a new era of real growth and prosperity when our church 
life, sending its roots deep down into the eternal verities, 
will, I hope, bear not fair flowers only, the external features 
of a noble and reverent worship (and they are a part of God's 
plan), but also abundant fruit of good works which shall be a 
beneficent influence through time and beyond. 

"The Woman's Guild, which is at the same time the parish 
aid society and a branch of the Woman's Auxiliary, our gen- 
eral missionary organization, has done faithful and excellent 



102 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

work, as have also, at times, the Men's Guild and the St. 
Andrew's Society. Recently the young girls have united under 
the name of St. Margaret's Guild, and are doing their share in 
the work of the Master." 

The original church building on Davis street be- 
tween Ridge and Oak avenues was erected in 1865, 
the lot having been given by the university. The 
consecration occurred in September, 1865, when Rev. 
John W. Buckmaster became the first rector. The 
first confirmation was administered by the assistant 
bishop of Indiana to ten persons, March 26, 1866. The 
second rector was Rev. Thomas Lyle, of Philadelphia, 
who took charge of the parish May 26, 1867, Mr. 
Buckmaster having resigned April 1, 1867. The sec- 
ond Episcopal visitation was made April 19, 1868, by 
Bishop Henry J. Whitehouse, of Illinois, who con- 
firmed four persons. During the summer of 1868 the 
church building was enlarged, the belfry added, and 
a bell procured. During the years 1868 and 1869 the 
parish more than doubled its membership. The rec- 
tors in succession after Dr. Lyle have been as follows : 

June 7, 1869, Rev. A. J. Barrows. 
September, 1870, Rev. J. P. Justin. 
April, 1872, Rev. C. D. Abbott. 
February, 1876, Rev. J. Stewart Smith. 
May, 1880, Rev. Dr. Fredericks. Jewell. 
February, 1886, Rev. Richard Hay ward. 
November, 1888, Rev. Arthur W. Little, the pres- 
ent rector. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. I03 

Rev. James Stewart Smith, B. D., deacon, for some 
time assistant to Rev. Edward William McLaren, 
D. D., rector of Trinity parish, Cleveland, O., and 
after the elevation of the latter to the episcopate, 
minister in charge of that parish, was advanced to the 
priesthood to enter upon his labors as rector of St. 
Mark's parish, Evanston. 

This was the beginning of a new order of things 
wherein was a striking contrast to the old. The change 
was a marked advance in catholic teaching and prac- 
tice, and the work thus earnestly begun has been faith- 
fully increased and widened by Mr. Smith's successors. 
The trend of this movement has steadily been in har- 
mony with that of the catholic revivalists of the An- 
glican Church, and St. Mark's has been highly favored 
in the men who have been her pilots in this reform. 
The enthusiasm and tact with which Rev. Stewart Smith 
inaugurated and planned, were confirmed and strength- 
ened by the scholarly eloquence and firmly-guiding 
hand of Dr. Jewell, and these talents are now com- 
bined in one whose foresight and energy augur well 
for the future of the parish,— Rev. Arthur Little. 

This church, very small at first, has been enlarged 
four times, once by lengthening toward the street, once 
by adding the bell tower, then the east side or aisle, 
and lastly the west side or aisle and the organ loft with 
the organ. 

And now, as a sequel to all this, comes the white 
building of stone which stands in its completed maj- 



104 A CI^SSIC TOWN. 

esty on the corner of Ridge avenue and Lake street. 
The lot was purchased some time ago by the church, 
and the edifice itself cost forty -five thousand dollars, 
and was formally opened for public worship on Easter 
Sunday of 189 1, which was the greatest day ever yet 
seen in Evanston for this branch of the universal 
household of faith. 

All hail to the leisurely graces of our Episcopal 
church ; long may it live ; long may it lucubrate ! 

OUR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

It was in the year 1866 that the Evanston Congre- 
gationalists and Presbyterians together launched their 
ship and added one more to the glorious fleet that 
sails under the cross as an ensign. After two years of 
peaceable companionship, the Presbyterians went their 
way, the sister denomination paying them for one-half 
of their joint property. In this case, as heretofore, 
the university gave a building lot ; this was ex- 
changed for one occupying the corner of Chicago 
avenue and Lake street, where the present com- 
modious church edifice of the Presbyterians is located. 
During the period of union, Rev. James B. Duncan, 
of the Canadian Presbyterian church, was pastor, 
serving acceptably. On July 27, 1868, the First 
Presbyterian church of Evanston was organized in 
the building erected by the two societies, by the 
help of both university and town, as in all other cases. 
Thirty-eight persons, twenty-four of them women, 




r 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 105 

gave their names as members that day, and all but 
three of these belonged to the two-fold church, now 
resolved into two. Brainard Kent, George E. Puring- 
ton, Lewis M. Angle and A. L. Winne were chosen 
and ordained " ruling elders." In October of that 
year Rev. Geo. C. Noyes (a cousin of Professor Noyes, 
then acting president of the university), was called to 
the pastorate. He had already served the Presbyterian 
church at La Porte, Ind., ten years. The life of this 
remarkable man, from this time until his death, Janu- 
ary 14, 1889, in the fifty-sixth year of his age, was the 
text upon which his church is the fitting commentary. 
A memorial volume relating to his character and work 
is before me as I write, of which his intellectual and 
benignant countenance furnishes the attractive frontis- 
piece. In this memorial the great and good have vied 
with each other in honest praise of an almost ideal pas- 
tor. Certainly no other, of the score that have come 
and gone in Evanston's various churches, approached 
Dr. Noyes in the impress of his mind and heart upon 
our people. Doubtless his long residence, so much ex- 
ceeding that of any other minister, is a leading factor in 
this result, but it may readily be doubted if many others 
had the intersphering nature that would lead them to 
lend a hand in enterprises so varied, as those that shared 
the beneficent activities of this vigorous personality. 
Indeed, there was no movement for the good of Evans- 
ton, and none for the greater influence of the powerful 
presbytery of which he became the leading spirit, into 



106 A CI^SSIC TOWN. 

which Dr. Noyes did not throw the momentum of his 
well poised mind and the warming influence of his 
opulent heart. No matter who was negative, he 
always took a positive but never an antagonistic 
position toward every enterprise. I think no other 
death, unless it be that of Dr. Otis Haven, in all the 
years I have been an Evanstonian, ever drew forth so 
many expressions of sorrow, or from quarters so va- 
rious, including the wide gamut that separated our 
municipal council from the freshman class of our 
university. Beside this valiant servant of Christ 
there stood, during the first twelve years of his 
Evanston pastorate, a wife strong and capable as she 
was winsome and tender. I shall never forget, nor 
will any who shared her blessed help, that face so full 
of inspiration, that voice vibrant with sympathy, that 
hand outstretched in deeds of love. In the early 
work of our woman's college and of the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union, Mrs. Noyes was ever- 
more my friend and helper. When the shadow of 
disease came over her beautiful life, how bravely did 
the strong man respond to the heavenly voice that 
called to him out of the cloud, "I love thee, I love 
thee, pass under the rod." Indeed, who of us could 
help thinking, as his kind face, always half-way be- 
tween a smile and a tear, illumined the literary and 
musical, social and religious life of Evanston, that, 
had his own heart been less lonely, he might have 
been less mindful of those about him. Differing from 



A CLASSIC TOWN. IO7 

him in several of my most cherished articles of phil- 
anthropic and reformatory faith, I rejoice to remember 
that we never exchanged any except most consider- 
ate words, and to cherish the New Year card for 1889 
that he sent the very week of his death * * by the hand 
of his son David,' ' in response to one from me. I 
rejoice to recognize the faithfulness of his devoted 
sister to a brother so noble, and of those loving chil- 
dren to a father so tender and true. His church has 
had, as it deserved, the reverence of all Evanston for 
its splendid loyalty to one who gave it his whole 
heart. Theirs were no ordinary relations as pastor 
and people, and came nearer realizing the ideal than 
often falls to earthly lot. In writing of Dr. Noyes I 
have felt as if writing of his church, so strongly were 
their identities blended. No review by any other pen 
can approach in value that given to his people by Dr. 
Noyes on the eighteenth of November, 1888, and enti- 
tled "A Twenty Years' Pastorate.' ' I quote the 
annals of church history and work : 

"So quickly have the twenty years of my life here passed 
by that it seems but a little while since, one rainy Saturday 
afternoon, November 21, 1868, I arrived in Evanston a stranger, 
to begin my work, all unknowing what these years had in store 
for me of joy and sorrow. When I came it was to a little 
church standing on this lot. The building was of wood, capa- 
ble of seating about two hundred and fifty persons, without any 
lecture or Sabbath-school room. The church, which had been 
organized four months before by Dr. Patterson and Rev. Jas. T. 
Matthews — the former little thinking then, I am sure, that it 



108 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

would afterward become the welcome and happy home of him- 
self and his family— numbered thirty-eight members. 

"Since the organization of the Congregational church in 
1869 there have been seven other churches organized within 
the village. Twenty years ago there were five, and I believe 
only five, in the whole town, and not in the village of Evanston 
alone. Now there are twenty-one, of which eight are Method- 
ist, so this denomination maintains, though not in such a 
degree as formerly, its ascendency. 

"In 1870 we enlarged our own church edifice, adding a 
hundred sittings to the main audience room, and a pleasant 
lecture room. This building, with all its contents, was de- 
stroyed by fire in the early Sabbath morning of May 2, 1875. 
The work of rebuilding on the same site was begun almost im- 
mediately, so that we were able to hold our first service in the 
lecture room — a Christmas service— on December 26 of the 
same year. On July 26, 1876, the nation's centennial year, this 
house was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. The 
cost of the edifice was about twenty-five thousand dollars, in- 
cluding all its appointments, but not including the lot. 

" In the interval between the destruction of the old and our 
entering the new house of worship, the homeless flock, though 
generally offered hospitality by all our sister churches, yet 
found it best suited to their convenience to meet in Lyon's hall. 
Those were days of peril, and days, too, of trial. At the time 
the necessity was laid upon us to build, the whole community 
was suffering, and our people not less than others, from severe 
and protracted financial depression. The prevailing tone in 
business circles was one of despondency. The devastating 
Chicago fire, by which some of our people were financially 
ruined and all of them crippled, had occurred only three and a 
half years before, and none of them had recovered from that 
fearful blow. But harmony in council, unity in effort, brave 
hearts and self-sacrificing Fpirits, with the rich blessing of God 
crowning all, brought us safely through. We were obliged for 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 109 

a time to carry a burden of debt, which, however, was entirely 
canceled in 1883. 

" During these twenty years it has been my privilege to wel- 
come to the communion of this church six hundred and eight- 
een persons by letter and three hundred and forty-five on 
confession, making a total of nine hundred and sixty-three. If 
we had suffered no losses by removal and death in all these 
years, our membership would now amount to one thousand and 
one. The average annual addition has been a little more than 
forty-eight, while the average annual addition on confession 
has been seventeen and oue-fouith. The great joy has been 
mine to place the sacramental sign and seal of the covenant 
upon the brow of one hundred and forty-five children. Twenty- 
seven have come into the church, seventy-eight are still too 
young to come, leaving twenty-two whose parents have moved 
elsewhere with them, unaccounted-for. During these years 
seventy-five couples have stood before me to take upon 
themselves the sacred and inviolable vows of marriage. A 
group of one hundred and fifty newly wedded people, if they 
could all be brought together, ought to be surely a very happy 
company. 

" Passing now to speak of our contributions for benevolent 
objects and for the support of our own church work, I am 
sorry that I have not the full record of what we have done. I 
can only present the figures from 1883, when we first adopted 
the plan of systematic giving, to 1887, inclusive. During this 
period of five years our contributions to the boards and other 
benevolent objects aggregate twenty-three thousand one hun- 
dred and thirteen dollars, or a yearly average of four thousand 
six hundred and sixty-two dollars ; and for our church support 
an aggregate of forty-one thousand five hundred and thirty- 
eight dollars, including the payment of a debt of seven thou- 
sand dollars. All our contributions for the past five years not 
including the year now closing, amount to sixty-four thousand 
six hundred and fifty-one dollars, or a yearly average of twelve 



IIO A CLASSIC TOWN. 

thousand nine hundred and thirty dollars. Before the 
adoption of the plan of systematic giving, our annual con- 
tributions were not nearly so large as they have since been. 
Probably the aggregate of all our contributions for the fifteen 
years not included in the statement just made would amount 
to one hundred and ten thousand dollars, making for the whole 
twenty years a grand total of one hundred and seventy-four 
thousand dollars, or a yearly average of eight thousand two 
hundred dollars. How much outside this sum individual mem- 
bers of the congregation have given to all good causes and ob- 
jects, only He knows who ever watches what is done and all 
that is done by everyone in his or her ministrations to the per- 
sons and causes which are needy and worthy. 

" A delightful spirit of peace and harmony has so prevailed 
among us that it has never been once broken or interrupted. We 
began with thirty-eight members and we have now somewhere 
from four hundred and fifty to five hundred, and have besides a 
goodly, proper and prosperous child of our love in the South 
Evanston Presbyterian church, organized with fifty members 
three years ago the 28th of last June, and numbering now 
nearly or quite three times as many. In our Sabbath-school, 
larger now than ever before, we are well officered and well 
equipped for doing more faithful work than at any time in 
the past ; the same is true of our Bethel school, which offers 
an enlarging field for missionary work, and where many of our 
young people are doing a faithful service that is worthy of all 
praise ; our Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, 
which is stronger than ever ; our woman's missionary soci- 
eties and Young Ladies' Society and Children's Mission 
Band — all working by little and little to carry the blessed 
gospel to those who have it not ; our Ladies' Church Asso- 
ciation, diligent as Dorcas in providing garments for the poor 
missionaries and their families ; and our kitchengarden, 
where, yesterday forenoon in the lecture room below, were 
gathered, as they will be every Saturday, eighty-four poor girls 



A CI^SSIC TOWN. Ill 

who are taught how to sew and make their own garments, 
while, in addition, twenty- four of this number are taught to 
do kitchen and housework ; in all these organized, and in 
manifold private and unobserved ways, we are trying to do the 
work which belongs to us as a church of Jesus Christ" 

With the month of April, 1890, came the young 
and devoted pastor, who is to be the Elisha succeeding 
this ascended Elijah, — Rev. N. D. Hillis. He brings 
with him an accomplished wife, who is no less con- 
secrated to the work of the Lord. 

The church manual gives the name of H. E. C. 
Daniels as Sunday-school superintendent, a name that 
is fragrant with the love of the young people and chil- 
dren, to whom he is like a second pastor, and of Mrs. 
Bancroft, who has the infant class, and of whom it is 
said " nobody in the church is a greater success than 
she ; to lose her would be nothing short of a calamity. ' ' 
The present ruling elders of the church are : Thomas 
Lord, H. C. Hunt, O. L. Baskin, A. B. Hull, William 
H. Lewis and H. J. Wallingford. 

Probably the most distinguished name ever on the 
church list is that of the late Mrs. Jane C. Hoge, 
of Chicago, who shares with Mrs. Mary A. Livermore 
the distinction of having stood at the head of all those 
" women of the war," whose record in caring for the 
wounded is as glorious as that of our soldiers on the field. 

Our Presbyterian church has now five hundred 
members, and four hundred and fifty-five in its Sun- 
day-school. Its church property is valued at twenty- 
five thousand dollars. Born of a heroic epoch in 



*■ 



112 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

church history ; nurtured in classic halls ; and sturdy 
in the faith, may this magnificent denomination 
broaden out to the full meaning of the words "there 
is neither male nor female in Christ Jesus," so that in 
its household of faith there shall be no official service 
which women shall not be called upon to share. 
Heaven bless that branch of the great Presbyterian 
church with whose presence our town is favored. 
Long may it live and love and learn, and learned be! 

THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

The German Evangelical Lutheran Church was 
founded in 1874 by Rev. Edward Doering, pastor of the 
Lutheran church at Glencoe, 111. In June, 1872, Rev. 
Dr. Reinke, pastor of one of the Lutheran churches 
of Chicago, began preaching to a small number of 
Germans who assembled in little cottages about once 
in four weeks. Most of the Germans who came to 
Evanston were from Mecklenburg, a rich country it is 
true, but at that time still subject to the oppressions of 
landlordism. Poverty and ignorance were the natural 
consequences. Many could not even write their own 
names. How difficult the religious work was among 
such people, how difficult to gain their confidence and 
elevate them to a higher plane, may be imagined. Dr. 
Reinke, however, succeeded in awakening the dor- 
mant soul of a small number, who finally organized 
in a small room of a little cottage, somewhere in the 
neighborhood of the present gas works. In 1874 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 113 

Rev. Mr. Doenng, who had been sent to take cnarge of 
the Lutheran church at Glencoe, began preaching here 
every two weeks. After a few years of his ministry 
the little congregation, mostly poor people, built *a 
small chapel on Florence street, on the very verge of 
the prairie. Those principally interested in the church 
work then, were Wm. E. Suhr, Aug. P. Handke, G. 
Glaser, Martin Becker, C. Randt and Henry Witt. 
The work progressed slowly, when, in August, 188 1, 
Rev. J. A. Detzer was called as pastor of this church 
and of that at Glencoe, which place Rev. Mr. Doering 
had vacated to go to Portland, Oregon. There were 
only twenty-three members enrolled here at the time. 
Mr. Detzer immediately established a German school 
with less than a dozen children, in the attic of a little 
cottage at the foot of Greenwood street. His work 
having increased greatly, he gave the school in charge 
of Mr. H. Fenchter in 1885. In 1886 Mr. Martin 
Bittner was called, and is still the teacher. 

In 1884 the church purchased a lot on the corner of 
Greenwood street and Wesley avenue, upon which they 
built a neat little schoolhouse, which was also to serve 
as a dwelling for their pastor. The school prospered, 
and with it the congregation, so that in the course of 
another year the old chapel began to be too small and a 
new church became indispensable. It seemed a great 
undertaking and promised a hard struggle, but with the 
help of God they were able to dedicate their new church 
on the 21st of November, 1886. The building is quite 



mm ^B 



114 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

a handsome structure, and has a capacity of about five 
hundred. The congregation now numbers over sev- 
enty voting members, and over two hundred and fifty 
communicants, and the school seventy-four pupils. 
These good friends have seen many dark and stormy 
days, but God has been with them, and is prospering 
them both externally and internally. May the time 
not be distant when women will vote within its sacred 
walls. 

OUR METHODIST CHURCH. 

Our Methodist church virtually began with that 
kneeling group of ministers and laymen who met in 
Judge Goodrich's office May 31, 1850, to take the 
initial steps toward founding the Northwestern Uni- 
versity. But the first quarterly conference for Evanston 
was not held until July 13, 1854, at the log school- 
house in the town of Ridgeville, eighteen years after 
Mr. Hill's family first appeared upon the scene and a 
still longer period after Major Mulford and his family 
spied out the land. Those present at this church 
conference were Reverends Philo Judson and J. G. 
Johnson, traveling preachers ; George W. Huntoon, 
class leader ; James B. Colvin, John L. Beveridge, and 
A. Danks, elected stewards ; Abraham Wigelsworth, 
Sunday-school superintendent. This school was rep- 
resented as having eighty-four children, thirteen offi- 
cers and teachers, and one conversion. 

The second conference was held Jan. 24, 1855, ft^d 



A CI^SSIC TOWN. 115 

Rev. P. W. Wright, then a teacher in Garrett Biblical 
Institute, was appointed by the elder as preacher in 
charge. 

The church now met in a comfortable room over 
Colvin's store, and Mr. Judson, the owner of the 
building, made no charge for rent. Garwood's drug 
store now stands on the same site, and the original 
building is behind Garwood's, on Orrington avenue, 
and is occupied by a barber shop.* Its general form 
and appearance remain unchanged. 

No record oi gifts for benevolent purposes occurs 
until the fourth quarterly conference held by the 
church. It then took a creditable position by sending 
nine hundred and twenty dollars for missions, and three 
hundred and twenty dollars for tracts, and raising four 
hundred and seventy-four dollars for the support of 
preachers. 

Having vitality enough to give, it had enough to 
live, and not at a " poor, dying rate," either, but to ask 
for a regular pastor, who was appointed December 22, 
1855, in the person of that genial soul, " Father Sin- 
clair.' ' He was one of the pioneers of the west, — a 
model specimen of the Methodist preacher, tall, of 
dignified bearing, well dressed, and always wearing 
the spotless white tie now quite generally forsworn 
by all but bishops. His iron gray hair, smooth-shaven 
face and genial smile were good to see. Accosted on 



* This building is now removed to 311 Ashland avenue. 



Il6 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

the train by a stranger, with the words, "Are you a 
professor in the new Methodist Heavenston ? M he dryly 
answered, " Yes — professor of religion. n 

His * Official board ' ' was as follows : Rev. Philo Jud- 
son, Rev. Dr. Dempster, Professor Wright, J. McNulty 
and F. B. Harris, local preachers ; Leander Clifford, 
J. W. Klapp, exhorters ; Professor Noyes, James B. 
Colvin, John L. Beveridge and A. Danks, stewards ; 
S. R. Cook, local elder. 

The next spring a church edifice was reared on the 
north side of Church street, between Chicago and 
Orrington avenues, and it was dedicated July 27, 1856, 
the sermon being preached by Dr. Dempster, while 
Professor Godman and Rev. John Sinclair, pastor, 
assisted in the services. The next fall (1857), Rev. 
A. L. Cooper, of Vermont conference, a student in 
our theological school, and an amiable and excellent 
man, was appointed pastor. He was followed in the 
autumn of 1858, by Rev. C. P. Bragdon, of Rock 
River conference. The coming of Brother Bragdon 
and his family was a notable event in the history of 
early Evanston. Our new pastor and all belonging to 
him were greatly beloved. To him some of us young 
people are glad to remember that we gave our names 
as " members on probation." He served us faithfully 
and was a blessed presence in our homes during the 
two years that he remained with us, but consumption, 
the disease against which he had battled long and 
bravely, overcame him in the winter of 1861 (January 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 117 

8), and he left us with the wonderful legacy of his 
spotless life and the memorable words in life's last 
hour, " Christ is my Malakoff." 

Brother Bragdon's ministry was followed by that 
of Rev. R. K. Bibbins in i860. Rev. J. R. Goodrich 
came in 1861, and was especially endeared to us by 
the Christian courage with which he received the 
awful tidings that his only son had been instantly 
killed in battle. 

In 1862 came Rev. Dr. Tiffany, whose pastorate 
stands out clearly by reason of his culture, elegance, and 
eloquence, and his wife's genius for geniality. The 
doctor was esthetic ; flowers on the pulpit were a joy 
to him ; and I remember the pleasure it was to me to 
gather the prettiest ones from our garden, which Mr. 
William Deering's rare conservatory has replaced, and 
to take them to the church on Sabbath mornings. 
One day, however, our tasteful pastor came to select 
them for himself, and made a bouquet so much finer 
than I had ever seen evolved from such raw material 
as we could furnish, that I quite lost heart in my en- 
deavors. The doctor could not put up with the bare- 
ness of our " old church," as we called it, which was 
accordingly enlarged by means of a transept, and deco- 
rated within, according to his wishes. The present 
parsonage was also built during his stay, Rev. O. 
Huse and my father being the prime movers in that 
enterprise, if I rightly remember. The church had 
one hundred and seventy-five members at this time, 



Il8 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

and by the addition of the transept, accommodated 
six hundred persons, — that is, it could seat almost all 
the village, and had need to do so, as there was no 
other public assembly room for miles around. 

Rev. Dr. Miner Raymond, who had lately come 
among us as the successor of Rev. Dr. Dempster in 
the chair of systematic theology, became our pastor 
when Dr. Tiffany went east in 1865. This man, great 
in the perfect simplicity and sincerity of his character 
and universally endeared to church and world's people 
alike, it would be presumptuous to sketch in the small 
space at my command. He is probably the most 
childlike and philosophical nature among us. 

Of our prayer meetings Dr. Raymond has been a 
central figure ever since he was our pastor. His be- 
nign presence, earnest tones, and clear putting of the 
truth from philosophic, psychologic and theologic 
points of view, have been especially helpful to persons 
of speculative quality of mind, and many a time have 
lifted them aloft, where, above the clouds of interro- 
gation, shines the bright sun of faith. 

As an instance of the intense loyalty during the 
war, of this now intensely Republican church, take 
from its records the following extract : 

"Thomas Morris Green, recommended from the church 
south, was examined by the quarterly conference on his pro- 
fession of loyalty to the government, and his belief of the anti- 
slavery doctrines of the M. E. church, and also assenting to 
all the doctines and usages of the M. E. church, this conference 
voted unanimously to give him license as a local preacher." 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 119 

Our next pastor (1868) was Rev. Dr. Dandy, a 
clear-cut reasoner and admirable man of business, 
under whose supervision the present handsome brick 
church was projected, the corner stone being laid July 
4, 1870, at which time Dr. Dandy was presiding elder 
and Rev. Dr. James Baume, pastor. This man of 
apostolic demeanor, sweet spirit, and lofty Christian 
faith, after many years in India, remained in the pas- 
torate at home for many more, then returned to India, 
and is still a successful missionary there. 

The old wooden building, after about sixteen years 
of service that had hallowed it in theeyes of those who 
had gone in and out at its portals, was deserted for the 
larger structure which is now our church home. 
Later it was moved to the corner of Sherman avenue 
and Church street, where, with the legend, " Norsk- 
Dansk Kirke," above its doors, it still echoes, though 
in a foreign tongue, the same sweet songs and old, old 
story. Dr. Kidder and William H. L,unt were prime 
movers in selecting the site and helping forward the 
building of our present church, which was dedicated 
on a memorable Sabbath, by that famous debt-ex- 
tinguisher, Rev. Dr. B. I. Ives. Time would fail me 
to tell of all the notable gatherings within its hospi- 
table walls, or the great and good men and women 
whose kind voices have been heard there. 

In 1872, Rev. Dr. M. C. Briggs came to us from a 
leading church in Cincinnati, and it was during his 
stay that we dedicated the auditorium of the new 



^m 



1 20 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

church, after three years passed in the basement. In 
Dr. Briggs we had a pronounced character. He 
was an " out-and-outer,' ' and had the mental ability 
to back up his positions. We have never had before 
or since a pastor so strictly Methodistic. He turned 
not only to the law and the testimony, but to 
the discipline, and gave but little peace to the easy- 
going violators of rules they had solemnly covenanted 
to obey. The doctor was an admirable preacher to 
children, and usually reserved especially for them the 
first five minutes of each morning sermon. He was a 
strict constructionist of Sabbath law, and ceased not to 
admonish and reprove from the pulpit, in a wise and 
impersonal way, until I believe there were fewer Sun- 
day papers taken by our members than at any period 
before or since. He was a strong, determined man, 
physically, as well as mentally and morally. Of him 
it might be justly said/* he stands four square to every 
wind that blows.' ' Erect, vigorous, wearing a single- 
breasted coat of clerical cut, yet a real " fighting par- 
son " (in a good sense), nobody expected to control 
his utterances. Happily he was not ambitious, and 
being somewhat lethargic in mood, he kept, as still he 
keeps, the even tenor of his way, being now and for 
many years past, a California preacher, greatly re- 
spected and widely useful. 

In 1875 Rev. Dr. J. B. Wentworth became our pas- 
tor, — that man of mind so logical and method so judi- 
cial that, had he been a lawyer at the bar, or a judge 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 121 

upon the bench, he would have made a maik as deep 
and clear as he has made in the pulpit. Everything 
moved on like clock-work under his firm guidance and 
keen gaze, his quiet urbanity of manner and solid 
qualities of thought and character securing the sincere 
esteem of all concerned. 

Next came Rev. Dr. Robert Hatfield, from 1875 to 
1878. His reputation introduced him to us in a louder 
voice than had that of any predecessor. For many 
years we had been reading his spicy letters in the New 
York bidependent; we knew his record in Brooklyn as a 
valiant anti-slavery preacher and devoted adherent of 
the party and the army that together saved the Union. 
We knew his fearless assaults upon the theater-going 
and other popular customs of Chicago, the Paris of the 
West. We knew him as a radical indeed, in whom 
was no guile, but a great deal of grace. 

In the autumn of 1880 Rev. A. W. Patten became 
our pastor. It was the first time that an alumnus of 
our institutions had been called to preside over the 
church to which all his former teachers belonged, but 
this young man proved himself equal to his difficult 
task. He had none of Dr. Briggs* downrightness, or 
Dr. Hatfield's touch-and-go directness. He was quiet, 
kindly, unexceptionable. He did the right thing, at 
the right time, in the right way. Without salient 
traits of character, he was rarely symmetrical in word 
and deed, preached thoughtful, scholarly sermons, 
built up the church and had the universal good will. 



^ 



122 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Of him one may justly quote the famous line, " And 
thus he bore without abuse the grand old name of 
gentleman." On a certain bright summer day our 
people gathered by invitation, in the beautiful church, 
and down the aisle to the marriage altar walked our 
immaculate young pastor with Miss Ella Prindle, our 
prima donna of the choir and unexcelled graduate of 
the university, on his arm, whereupon we all thought 
him tenfold wiser and more admirable than he had 
ever been before ! 

A dozen years ago our church had what we used 
to call "an everlasting debt," and people verily be- 
lieved it would have been sold under the hammer but 
for the heroic work of its women, led by Mrs. Dr. 
Marcy, who was for three years a figure no less famil- 
iar than pastor or sexton. As she sat at the receipt of 
custom, in the upstairs vestibule, on Sunday mornings, 
all who had a heart to do so left their contributions in 
her hands. She began this work in June of 1876 and 
ended it in June of 1879, having in this interval raised 
about ten thousand dollars. This remarkable woman, 
full of originality in thought and expression, and 
known throughout Methodism as a writer in verse and 
prose, and as a speaker who can make even a prosy 
theme poetic, is now raising ten thousand dollars for 
the Bohemian mission in Chicago, under the auspices 
of the Woman's Home Missionary Society. Bishop 
Harris introduced Mrs. Marcy to a group at one of the 
sessions of Rock River conference with these words : 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 23 

" There's the woman who sat three years in the vesti- 
bule of Evanston M. E. Church, and would n't let any of 
us in unless we paid. ' ' Although the large sum named 
was mostly made up by these pledges, the committee of 
women, of whom Mrs. Marcy was chairman, and Dr. 
Raymond's sister, Mrs. Peck, was financial secretary, 
raised a considerable fraction thereof by festivals, 
harvest homes, concerts, and a Fourth of July restau- 
rant in the university grove. Other leading women in 
these enterprises were : Mrs. Dr. Bannister, Mrs. Dr. 
Hatfield, Mrs. T. C. Hoag. Lyman J. Gage, the cel- 
ebrated Chicago banker, then a member of our 
church, named Mrs. Marcy as chairman of the com- 
mittee on our " Church Debt," and he with Dr. N. S. 
Davis, J. B. Kirk and others of like spirit, stood by her 
nobly from first to last. But the women helped to 
pay that debt, and yet these devoted and valiant 
daughters of the church have not one word to say, 
when the " powers that be" decide whom we shall 
have for a preacher, what his salary shall be, and 
other like questions of vital moment to the church 
enterprise we have in hand. 

The debt on our church was as follows : mortgage 
debt, eighteen thousand dollars ; floating debt, ten 
thousand dollars. The trustees cleared off the former, 
Mrs. Marcy's committee, the latter. For the marked 
improvement by which the auditorium has been reno- 
vated and the spire completed, we must thank our 
next pastor, Rev. Dr. S. F. Jones. 



124 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

It was over eighteen years from the laying of the 
corner stone to the completion of the spire, — a fact 
suggesting the slow growth of European cathedrals, — 
but in 1888 we had a church complete and also incum- 
brance-free. Who that recalls the impressive appeals 
of Dr. Benoni J. Ives, that matchless " dedicator " and 
debt raiser, would have dreamed that we should so long 
wander in the wilderness ? That man would draw tears 
from the frescoes and tiling of an unpaid-for church. 
On dedication day he did, to my certain knowledge^ 
lead many an impecunious soul to the very verge of 
bankruptcy by his impassioned appeals. My own case 
is one in point. Without a cent in my pocket or the 
least idea where I could get one, I pledged one hun- 
dred dollars, to the consternation of all whom I held 
dear. But the very next week came my first invita- 
tion to lecture for that amount (at Pittsburgh, Pa.). 
A member of our official board got me a pass there 
and back, and my check for the amount was in the 
treasurer's hands in less than ten days from the time 
the pledge was given ! In 1882 all our church debts 
were cleared away, and may they ever thus remain. 

Our next pastor (October 1883) was R ev - (now Dr.) 
Lewis Curts. He found the church with a member- 
ship of over six hundred and holding property worth 
about seventy thousand dollars. Brother Curts was a 
man in his early prime, of fine, robust physique, clear, 
cheery countenance with truth-telling eye, complexion 
pure as a child's, and a voice strong and sweet as a 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 25 

silver trumpet. Sturdiness of mind and purpose were 
his salient traits and he was one of the upright in heart 
that did us good and not evil in all the days of his 
somewhat difficult pilgrimage. His wife was a help 
who proved herself meet for the occasion,— an indi- 
vidualized woman of strong character and pronounced, 
but most considerately uttered views. 

Following him in this distinguished procession, 
came Rev. Dr. Sylvester F. Jones, in 1885. 

The fact that his politics were in accord with those 
of the majority, whereas those of Dr. Curts were 
not, — the latter being a political prohibitionist, — was 
a point in Dr. Jones' favor from the first ; bat it was 
something far deeper than politics that held him in the 
universal esteem and favor of his congregation through 
five years, — the longest period allowed even under the 
new itineracy rules. He, too, in his more conserva- 
tive way, is a friend to the temperance, woman and 
labor movements, — that splendid trinity of reforms in 
which the cause of Christ and of humanity are so pal- 
pably enshrined in these days of rapid transit in 
opinions as well as in avoirdupois. Brother Jones is a 
man of remarkably fine fiber, physically as well as 
mentally and in heart. Of refined and attractive per- 
sonal appearance, cultivated tones, rare polish in style 
and in delivery, a close student and an earnest Chris- 
tian, he is a preacher much sought after and a pastor 
much beloved. When there is a bereavement in the 
home, this tender and sympathetic nature fills the 



^^^ 



126 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

ideal of his sacred office beyond almost any one else 
that can be named. 

Mrs. Jones is a woman of unusual native powers 
and rare accomplishments, — her husband's true correl- 
ative. 

In the long interval between October, 1884, when 
Brother Curts left us, and March, 1885, when Brother 
Jones arrived, we had as our pastor Rev. Dr. Henry B. 
Ridgaway. This new president of famous old "Gar- 
rett " had come to Evanston in 1882 from such leading 
city churches as St. Paul's in Cincinnati and St. Paul's 
in New York ; had made the Oriental as well as Euro- 
pean tour, and written an admirable book. A Balti- 
morean by birth and breeding, a graduate of that most 
historic among Methodist colleges, —Dickinson, at Car- 
lisle, Pa., — Dr. Ridgaway came into his own when he 
came to the Athens of his church. We had all known 
him long, not only through the church press, but 
through the family of his aunt, Mrs. Sarah W. C. 
Bragdon, and the reputation of Professor Merritt Cald- 
well, of Dickinson, his father-in-law, who, dying in 
the zenith of his gracious fame, left a long twilight of 
tender memories. 

Our present pastor (1891) is Rev. Dr. W. S. Stud- 
ley, who comes to us from Ann Arbor, Detroit, Brook- 
lyn, Boston and " all along shore," — a gifted, schol- 
arly and way-wise pastor and a genuine brother-man, 
already dear to us. He and his wife have seemed like 
"our own folks from the first day." Evanston is 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 27 

always pre-eminently loyal to her ministers and their 
families, — that is one of our best traits ! 

Our Methodist church has always been remarkable 
for the continuous presence and work of its regularly- 
appointed pastors, supplies being almost unknown. 
This fact is the more notable because the current 
church directory gives the names of thirteen doctors 
of divinity, besides three other ministers, all of them 
abundantly able to supply the pastor's place should 
circumstances render this necessary. 

Since the foundation of our church in 1854 we have 
had fourteen regular pastors ; and a recent enumera- 
tion showed seven hundred and forty-two members, 
besides thirty- three on probation, five hundred and 
thirty in the Sunday-school, forty of whom are teach- 
ers. The church property is valued at seventy-five 
thousand dollars. We have had six Sunday-school 
superintendents, — F. H. Benson, Warren Taplin, E. S. 
Taylor, Edward Eggleston, H. F. Fisk, Harvey B. 
Hurd, John F. Miller, William T. Shepherd, and F. P. 
Crandon. We have had two women as assistant super- 
intendents, — Mrs. Dr. Marcy and Mrs. Dr. Raymond. 
The position of infant class teacher — probably the most 
influential office in the whole list — was filled for many 
years in a remarkably successful manner by that beloved 
and lamented pastor of the juveniles, — Mrs. Kate E. 
Queal. Her chief predecessors were Mrs. Benson, 
and Miss Wells (afterwards Mrs. Thomas Craven). 



128 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Our choristers' list begins with the honored name 
of John A. Pearsons (who raised the tune with a fork 
at that remote period of antiquity when " our choir " 
occupied the right hand amen corner of the old church 
among the trees ; and I was alto singer !). O. H. Mer- 
win held the position longest. % His engagement ran 
from 1869 to 1884. He had a chorus choir, the num- 
ber varying from twenty-five to sixty. The organists 
during that time were H. A. Cooper, M. S. Cross, and 
W. H. Cutler, the present incumbent. Many attract- 
ive entertainments were given by the chorus, such as 
the concert in 1878, at which Annie Louise Carey 
(Raymond) was the chief attraction, and the oratorio 
of the "Messiah" given in the following year, with 
Myron W. Whitney as the bass. Professors O. E. 
Locke and W. H. Cutler succeeded to the manage- 
ment of the choir, both being accomplished or- 
ganists. 

Of class leaders we have rejoiced in a rich variety. 
Among the pleasant pictures of the past, I cherish, in 
common with scores besides, that of the fragile figure, 
silver hair, blue eyes, and smiling mouth of Mrs. 
Melinda Hamline. I may not, in these brief pages, 
name the consecrated faces that rise before memory's 
eye when I think of those groups of earnest young 
girls and boys and thoughtful men and women cluster- 
ing about the leader in the quiet, restful atmosphere 
of those dear old rooms, while we each testified to the 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 29 

power of the indwelling Christ or sang Charles Wes- 
ley's hymn : 

Refining fire go through my heart. 

Illuminate my soul ; 
Scatter thy life through every part 

And sanctify the whole. 

No Methodist can De a stalwart who neglects the 
formative force of the class meeting upon his char- 
acter, especially in early years. All class leaders 
are, by virtue of their office, part and parcel of the 
" Official Board " and the " Quarterly Conference," and 
I am told that it has not been unusual to see women in 
both here in our Evanston Methodist Episcopal church. 
But those two meetings are the units of power out 
of which go forth all church authority. The "lay 
delegates ' ' to our great General Conference are chosen 
by the delegates sent from quarterly conferences to an 
electoral conference ; women are members of the quar- 
terly conferences ; their vote at many an electoral con- 
ference determines who shall go to General Conference, 
but, when duly elected and certified as delegates to the 
General Conference, women are turned from its door. 
O tempora ! O mores ! 

Of noteworthy events, our church has witnessed 
many. Commencement exercises were held in the 
white, green-blinded church in the grove, when young 
hearts beat pit-a-pat as the long procession in white 
muslin moved up the aisle, with Professor Jones at its 



130 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

head, and slowly climbed to the great, pleasant plat- 
form, redolent of evergreen branches, festoons and 
arches of greenery, brightened by flowers. There I 
"took my diploma* ' by proxy of my sister Mary, 
being very ill at home, and opening it nervously when 
she brought it to me, tossed it out of the window be- 
cause it was " in blank,* ' my teachers being too busy 
to sign their names till later on. There the first 
man of national distinction I ever saw, Benjamin F. 
Taylor, that heavenly-minded poet, lectured in the 
spring of 1858. His subject was "Words," and 
his words were to my fancy like a river of gems with 
flowers between. Edward Eggleston walked into that 
same church one evening, before a large audience, in- 
troducing his friend, Theodore Tilton, editor of the 
New York Independent \ whose lecture on equal suffrage 
convinced everybody whom I ever heard speak of it, 
and made thoughtful circles to become what they have 
ever since been here, — so solid " for that great reform " 
that I heard a new pastor wittily remark that " he did 
not know, until he got acquainted, that woman's ballot 
was sacred as an article of faith to the women of 
Evanston." 

The only commencement exercises ever held by the 
Evanston college for ladies before it was merged in 
the university, had the basement of our unfinished 
new church as their arena and took place in June, 
1872. Our board of women trustees was on the plat- 
form; Mrs. J. F. Willing, preached the baccalaureate. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. I31 

We gave her the degree of A. M., and it fell to me as 
president to present diplomas to our five " sweet 
girl graduates.* ' 

The first exercises in our new church (lecture 
room) came off just as soon as it was finished, August, 
1 87 1, and consisted of a farewell to Dr. Kidder and 
family who then left us to go to Madison, New Jersey, 
where the doctor had been elected professor in Drew 
Theological Seminary. Our chief citizen, Mr. L,. L. 
Greenleaf, presided and made the presentation speech, — 
for there were handsome gifts, contributed to by high 
and low so as to represent the entire village, — and Dr. 
Kidder responded in his usual polished style. Here 
lectured Emily Huntington Miller, and here I gave 
my first Evans ton temperance talk. 

In the great church above, the Rock River con- 
ference, presided over by Bishop Merrill, met in 1886. 
There the general executive committee of the W. F. M. 
S. was held in 1885 : there Francis Murphy held one 
of his pledge-signing campaigns in 1884, and the W. 
C. T. U. and Citizens' League have had great mass 
meetings ; there the grand commencement exercises 
of later years have been held ; the concerts, " chil- 
dren's days,'' ai.J lectures by a long list of distin- 
guished men and women have been held in lecture room 
and church. I recall those of Wendell Phillips, Anna 
E. Dickinson, John B. Gough, Henry Ward Beecher, 
Edward Everett Hale, Gilbert Haven, Joseph Cook, 
Richard Proctor, Gen. Lew Wallace, James Whit- 



132 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

comb Riley, Mary A. Livermore, George Kennan, 
Albion W. Tourgee, Henry M. Stanley, and the 
notable Shakspeare- Bacon controversy between Hon. 
Ignatius Donnelly and our own Prof. Charles Pear- 
sons, in which we think the Evanstonian came out 
ahead. 

As the largest auditorium in Evanston, our church 
was in request for the recent Washington centennial 
exercises, and in its character of ' * the mother of 
churches," as Mrs. Dr. Marcy very properly says, all 
our people feel at home within its ample and hospitable 
walls. Many a bright speech has that same lady made 
here and many a delightful hymn of hers have we 
sung, — also of Mrs. Emily J. Bugbee's (now Mrs. 
Johnson). 

Probably no officer, and few men, have been con- 
nected with our church so long as T. C. Hoag, who 
became church treasurer in the fall of 1858, and has 
held that office continuously since then, and has been 
a member of the board of stewards during that time,^- 
a period of about thirty-three years. 

In earlier times our * 'church sociable' ' was the most 
representative gathering of the kind that the village 
could furnish ; rich and poor, students and towns- 
people, met here on common ground, these gatherings 
being held in the houses of our church members 

They were most informal and generally most 
agreeable, though the students sometimes complained 
that by reason of their numbers they were apt to be 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 33 

« 

relegated to the rank of " wall flower.' ' My merry 
sister Mary came home one night and said, "That 
solemn ' Bib'* named haunted me half the even- 
ing with this theological conundrum : ' Miss Mary, 
what, in your judgment, is the exact dividing line that 
separates sin from holiness ?' ' She said that at another 
sociable an unlettered old member whispered dryly, as 
he saw her for a moment sitting alone, "Yerlosin* 
time ! " Some mischievous maidens I wot of in families 
of the professors made bouquets of a deceiving nature, 
having a pin concealed, thorn-like, among the flowers, 
and offering certain unsophisticated theologues a 
chance to smell the winsome posies, playfully admin- 
istered to each proboscis a prick of the unseen pin. 
We used to promenade in the open air in pleasant 
summer weather ;— that was an enjoyable feature of the 
sociable to the young folks ; — and we used to take up a 
collection out of which much fun was had. As to re- 
freshments, I do not remember whether we had them 
or no, but our feasts of reason — they never failed. 

The Sunday-school of those days was so primitive, 
compared with the full-blown glories of Brother Cran- 
don's model establishment, that I am abashed by my 
comparative study of the same. The first real * ' gospel 
song " book I ever saw was introduced under Mr. Ben- 
son's superintendency, and in it I first learned " Sweet 
Hour of Prayer. ' ' The * * International Lessons ' ' were 



* Short for " Biblical Student." 



134 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

unheard-of; — indeed, we old-timers still claim that our 
Edward Eggleston, who introduced into Evanston the 
first kindergarten of which we ever heard, also sug- 
gested the International method ; - 1 think it was at a 
Sunday-school convention in Indianapolis. 

We had Christmas festivities ; and people brought 
their own home gifts and hung them on the tree, 
which was n't a good plan. The modern method of 
giving rather than receiving, on the part of those 
called "well-to-do," is much the best, but when 
Edward Bellamy's "brotherhood" idea comes in, 
which is simply Christianity applied, we shall, accord- 
ing to my notion, have a far higher evolution of the 
Day of days ! Who that saw it will forget the Christ- 
mas-tree in the old church, when, as we all sat silent 
and expectant, Santa Claus dashed in, encased in 
buffalo robes and behung with sleighbells, to take 
the place by storm, — said Santa Claus being no other 
than handsome Charlie Bannister, of auld lang syne. 

What "watch nights" were those when we began 
at seven and closed at twelve, with thrilling sermons, 
tender testimonials, and everybody kneeling in con- 
fession and consecration as the bell tolled the mid- 
night hour ! One's spirit grew at those seasons faster 
than corn in July. 

Three notable revivals, conducted by three women 
evangelists, and three conducted by men, stand out in 
bold relief upon the records of our church. In 1865 
Mrs. Phoebe Palmer, assisted by her husband, held 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 35 

meetings for several weeks that proved to be 01 lifelong 
benefit to some of us. Mrs. Maggie Van Cott, of 
New York city, in the winter of 1872, during the pas- 
torate of Rev. James Baume, did a noble work here. 
To memory she stands there still, upon the vestry room 
platform, with glowing face, upturned, inspired, and 
beautiful. A third figure comes to view, "in my 
mind's eye, Horatio," standing on the same platform 
of the dear old lecture room, under the odd little chan- 
delier, — Mrs. Iy. O. Robinson, who, one Sabbath, 
preached in the large auditorium a sermon so full of 
pentecostal power that everyone knew those walls 
had seldom resounded to the tones of a voice so 
potent or to a plea the tenderness of which was so pre- 
vailing. It was like the magnanimity of Dr. Ridga- 
way, in introducing the woman-preacher on that morn- 
ing, to say, "Listen to her with grateful hearts that 
God has raised her up to speak while we men keep 
silent on the principle that ' the poor ye have always 
with you T " 

What other church has developed such a woman as 
she and Mary T. Lathrap, Jennie F. Willing and other 
preachers that we might name ? "By their fruits ye 
shall know them," and the gospel movement that 
radiated forth from Susanna Wesley's son John and 
was sung by her son Charles, has by its fruits fulfilled 
that broadest declaration of the universal church : 
" There is neither male nor female in Christ Jesus.' ' 
Other remarkable figures of women have lent an 



1 36 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

added sanctity to this typical church, by us so much 
beloved. Sarah Smiley came in 1873, tna * mystic- 
natured saint " whose soul is like a star and dwells 
apart.' ' Mrs. S. M. I. Henry, national evangelist of 
the W. C. T. U., Mrs. Jennie F. Willing, Miss Belle 
Leonard, Mrs. Stroud-Smith, of England, Mrs. Han- 
nah Whitall Smith, whose book, "The Christian's 
Secret of a Happy Life," has been translated into 
twelve languages, Mother Stewart, of Ohio, Rev. 
Anna Shaw and Miss Mattie Gordon, of Tennessee, 
have all expounded God's Word in the First Method- 
ist Church, Evanston. Probably not another in 
America has echoed so many of the voices that help 
to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy, "The Lord gave the word, 
the women that publish the tidings are a great host." 
Three other evangelists, Rev. Charles Uzzell, Mr. 
Yatman and Rev. B. Fay Mills, have also labored here. 
The former is held in affectionate and grateful remem- 
brance by reason of the rare results that yet remain. 
Mr. Yatman I have never seen, but hear him every- 
where spoken of with high regard for his earnest and 
remarkably successful efforts to enlist church members 
and unbelievers alike, in the study of God's word. 
Brother Mills, that brother indeed, is undoubtedly the 
greatest evangelist who ever blessed our village and 
our homes in the Redeemer's name. His were Cl union 
meetings ' ' in the broadest and best sense of those 
words, bringing a harvest of souls into all the frater- 
nizing churches of Evanston. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 137 

■ 

In the foregoing sketch I have not meant to be in- 
vidious, only to give an outline of what I know about 
myj^wn church home since girlhood days. Because it 
grew up with the university it is the chief church of 
Evanston, hence, perhaps, entitled to more space, but 
the reason first stated may sufficiently excuse the 
length of this account, viz., I know about its history. 
God bless the M. E. Church of Evanston — long may it 
lead ! 

OUR BAPTIST CHURCH — ITS ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION. 

Our Baptist friends were on a vantage ground from 
the beginning, and were the first to swarm from the 
old hive. This they did April 24, 1858, about four 
years after the first Quarterly Conference of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church was held (July 13, 1854, at the 
log schoolhouse in the town of Ridgeville, later called 
Oakton). 

The chapel of our university was the place in 
which they organized and where they worshiped " off 
and on M for nearly ten } r ears, their church being ded- 
icated Feb. 16, 1865. At that first meeting six per- 
sons were received as members, viz.: Major and Mrs. 
Mulford, Mrs. Iglehart, Mrs. Julia Burroughs (now at 
more than ninety, our oldest resident), Mrs. Wester- 
field and Moses Dandy. 

The moderator at this meeting was Major E. H. 
Mulford, the most prominent figure that looms up in 
the early history of this neighborhood, he having be- 



I38 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

come a resident of Chicago in 1825, and pre-empted 
two sections of land from the United States govern- 
ment at one dollar per acre, and having been the first 
justice of the peace in Cook county. Until his death 
the major was a deacon of this church. Its first trus- 
tees were N. P. Iglehart, E. H. Mulford, Joseph I,ud- 
lam, Moses Dandy and Mr. Trumbull. 

Near the old Mulford place (now the Kirk home- 
stead) at Oakton, the Iglehart family had erected a 
building on their lot, known as "Oakton chapel/ ' and 
there a Sunday-school was conducted with Mrs. Igle- 
hart as superintendent. Indeed, this noble Christian 
matron was justly known as the " Mother of the Bap- 
tist church," and in the handsome edifice that has long 
been its home, a marble tablet attests the veneration 
and gratitude that glorify her sacred memory. 

Though the Fox River association had received 
this brave little church into full membership in the 
first year of its history, its fortunes and pastorates 
were varied, and its small life barque rode the uncer- 
tain waves with a vigor and a vim best explained by 
its Baptist birth and destiny. Once for a few months 
(in 1863, when war's alarum dulled " the sound of the 
church-going bell"), its twinkling taper was ex- 
tinguished as far as public services were concerned, 
but meetings for prayer were resumed the next spring 
and a revival breeze sprang up that wafted it along 
more swiftly than before. A new church edifice was 
dedicated by Rev. Dr. Everts, then Chicago's Baptist 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 39 

Boanarges, Feb. 16, 1865. It stood about where our 
present President of the Council Miller's pleasant 
home now stands, and was removed afterward to serve 
as the chapel of the elegant new church, dedicated ten 
years later, Nov. 21, 1875. 

In all the early years, the baptismal services of this 
denomination gathered our entire village on lake shore 
and pier. I remember standing there to watch the 
solemn scene in reverent mood, remembering the bap- 
tism of my brother Oliver in Rock river at Janesville, 
Wis., many years before, — for it was in my blood to 
believe this was the true and only way, my grand- 
father Willard having been forty yea*rs pastor of one 
Baptist church at Dublin (near Keene), N. H., and 
both my parents having sacredly observed the rite 
after this manner. Indeed, it took a winter's study 
of the Bible and Rev. Dr. Hibbard's (Methodist) trea- 
tise on baptism to make me conclude that not the 
method but its spirit was the essential quantity, and 
to be contented to be " sprinkled,' ' as our Baptist 
brethren say. 

- In the thirty years of its history our Baptist church 
has had this list of pastors regularly installed : Rev. 
Ira F. Kinney, Rev. I. S. Mahan, Rev. W. J. Leon- 
ard, Rev. M. G. Clark, Rev. F. L,. Chapell, Rev. G. 
R. Pierce, Rev. Fred Clatworthy. 

All these have been good men and true, but it is 
not, perhaps, invidious to say that the last-named 
pastor held not only his own people but the wide con- 



I40 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

stituency of church-going Evanstonians with the grip 
of that one inexorable power called Love. He was a 
radical, and yet was never dubbed a "crank"; he 
was an enthusiast, and yet was never named "fa- 
natic" because he held his blessed hobbies well in 
hand and gave to every other rider his right of way. 
In speaking of him and his admirable wife, it seems 
to me we should pay the deserved compliment of ac- 
centing their name en the last syllables. 

In the regrettable departure of this gifted man, our 
Baptist church is to be congratulated on securing his 
friend and classmate, Rev. H. A. Delano, of South 
Norwalk, Conn.", who is among the foremost young 
men of that communion in pulpit power. The church 
has almost doubled in strength, in missionary enter- 
prise, and in all its departments of work ; has had an 
accession of one hundred members, and has raised, 
since the present pastorate, of a year and a half, over 
ten thousand dollars for outside work. This sisterly 
church, progressive in its spirit and tolerant in its 
tone, now numbers nearly three hundred members, 
three hundred in its Sunday-school, and owns a church 
property valued at forty-five thousand dollars. Long 
may it lave ! 

EMANUEL M. E. CHURCH, 

On the corner of Greenwood Boulevard and Oak 
Street, was organized, September, 1890, with twenty- 
seven members. (Sunday-school, prayer and class 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 141 

meetings were first held, April, 1890, the Sunday- 
school having been organized May, 1889. ) The pas- 
tor is Rev. Dr. S. F. Jones and the trustees are Harvey 
B. Hurd, William H. Jones, Frank P. Crandon, David 
B. Dewey, D. R. Dyche, John B. Kirk, H. H. Gage, 
J. J. Shutterly, Charles G. Haskin. The present 
membership (June, 1891,) 138; Sunday-school, 163; 
Epworth league, 40. The church edifice will be of 
Ashland stone and Gothic architecture ; (Root and 
Burnham, architects). Estimated cost, $60,000. 

OTHER CHURCHES. 

The Roman Catholic parish was established in 
1866, by Right Rev. James Duggan, Bishop of Chi- 
cago, with about eighteen members. Father Donohue, 
the first resident pastor, began his labors in 1872. 
The present membership of the parish is eight hun- 
dred. A new church building will soon be erected to 
accommodate the many parishioners, the corner-stone 
being already laid. 

The Norwegian Methodist church was organized 
in 1870 by Rev. A. Haagenson, with about twelve 
members. The present pastor is Rev. E. M. Stange- 
land, and the present membership sixty, with a Sun- 
day-school of seventy members. Their church prop- 
erty is valued at about three thousand dollars. 

The Swedish Methodist church was organized 
about 1874. This pulpit was supplied by students for 
several years. The first resident pastor was Rev. 



142 A CI^SSIC TOWN. 

Frederic Ogien, who came in 1877. R ev - N. O. 
Westergren is now the pastor, and the present mem- 
bership is one hundred and seventy. The church 
property is valued at five thousand dollars. 

The Free Methodist church was organized about 
188 1, and now has a membership of forty- five ; Rev. 
J. D. Kelsey is the pastor, and the church property is 
valued at eight thousand dollars. 

The African Methodist church was organized in 
1882 by Rev. George H. Hann, with three members. 
This society owns a house of worship on Benson 
avenue and has ninety members at the present time, 
with Rev. Mr. Dawson pastor. 

The Second Baptist church (colored) was organized 
in 1883 with twenty members. It has a present mem- 
bership 01 sixty-three, but is without a resident pastor 
at this time. The church building was burned, but 
was rebuilt during 1890. 

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church was 
organized in 1888, by Rev. S. A. Sandahl of Lake 
View, with thirty-four communicants. Rev. J. Edgren, 
the present incumbent, is the first resident pastor. 
The church has at this time one hundred and forty- 
five communicants, and church property valued at 
about four thousand two hundred dollars. 




A group OF EVANSTON PMTOR5, 



lEbansrton &otonsrt)ip f^tgi) £<1)Ooi. 



In the fall of 1881, a movement was started to 
establish in Evanston a Township High School in 
place of the village high school opened under Dr. 
Otis E. Haven in 1875. South Evanston had always 
sent a considerable number of tuition pupils to Evans- 
ton, and Rogers Park had been well represented 
among our pupils and graduates. The geography of 
the town, lying, as it does, along a single line of rail- 
road, with numerous stations, makes a central high 
school easy of access. William Blanchard, N. W. 
Boomer and Professor William P. Jones were among the 
more active in promoting the movement, which was 
duly proposed to the people, and received a large ma- 
jority of votes. It was organized under the state law, 
and was the fifth of its class to go into successful 
operation. The question of location excited considera- 
ble discussion, and the present site was chosen as a 
compromise among several conflicting views. Its 
principal defect is its proximity to the railroad, and 
the consequent interruptions to school work during 
the frequent passage of trains. 

The building was erected during the summer 

of 1883, and was formally dedicated for school 

(143) 



144 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

purposes August thirty-first. The township trus- 
tees, who by law constitute the board of edu- 
cation for a township high school, were William 
Blanchard, S. D. Childs and S. B. Goodenow. Henry 
L. Boltwood, a graduate of Amherst College, who or- 
ganized, and for eleven years taught the first township 
high school in Illinois, at Princeton, in Bureau County, 
was called from the township high school in Ottawa, 
to take charge of ours. He had as assistants, Lyndon 
Evans, a graduate of Knox college, Miss Eva S. Ed- 
wards and Miss Ellen Lee White, who were in the 
Evanston village high school, and Miss Mary L. Banie, 
who came with him from Ottawa. The school opened 
with one hundred and seven pupils, and the total en- 
rollment for the year was one hundred and thirty-nine. 

On the 20th of December, 1883, the school building 
narrowly escaped destruction by fire, which caught 
from a defective flue. Half the interior of the build- 
ing was destroyed by fire and by water. The pupils 
behaved admirably, and school was resumed after a 
two weeks' vacation, in the uuconsumed half of the 
building. 

In consequence of a change in the course of study 
extending it from three years to four, the first graduat- 
ing class was small, numbering but five. 

In the second year the enrollment was one hundred 
and fifty-five. Drawing was introduced into the 
course, and typewriting was introduced as a volun- 
tary study. More than forty took this some part of 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 45 

the year. An industrial exhibit of the pupils' handi- 
work in drawing, wood carving, cooking and needle- 
work was held near the close of the year with such 
success that it has been repeated annually, with in- 
creased attendance and interest. Twelve pupils 
graduated. 

In 1885-86 the enrollment reached one hundred and 
seventy one, and an additional teacher was employed. 
Fourteen pupils graduated. 

In 1886-87 the enrollment was one hundred and 
seventy-seven, and a sixth teacher was added. In 
this year wood-work was added to the school course 
as a voluntary branch. Over twenty lads took this 
branch and were regularly instructed by a skilled 
workman. The graduates numbered sixteen. 

In 1887-88 the enrollment reached one hundred and 
eighty-five, and the graduates numbered nineteen. 
The introduction of drawing into the lower grades en- 
abled us to enlarge and greatly improve upon our for- 
mer work. The graduates numbered nineteen. 

In 1888-89 the enrollment was one hundred and 
eighty-five, and the graduates numbered fifteen. 

The school year of 1889-90 opened with an increase 
of nearly twenty-five per cent above the preceding 
year. Two hundred and sixteen have been enrolled 
up to date, and the graduating class will probably 
considerably exceed in numbers any of the pre- 
ceding classes. The increased number obliged us to 
seat our large hall which now contains two hundred 



I46 A CLASSIC TOWJT. 

and five single desks. A new hard coal furnace was 
added, and the large lower room where the school 
formerly assembled is divided into two large recitation 
rooms. French, which had been dropped because of 
the small number desiring instruction, has been re- 
stored to the course. 

The school has four times competed for honors in 
the competitive state examinations, and has twice 
taken almost everything competed for. One year, on 
twelve sets of papers presented, it took eight first 
prizes and two second prizes, with a general prize for 
the highest averages. The prize money, amounting to 
nearly one hundred and fifty dollars, was expended 
mostly upon pictures and books. The school is well 
equipped with library and apparatus. 

Special stress has been laid upon Literature and 
History, with good results. The sciences are taught 
practically and by laboratory methods. Our diploma 
admits to Amherst and Smith colleges, to our State 
University, the Northwestern University and to Ann 
Arbor. 

Few communities have better material with which 
to build a school, and a public more generally in sym- 
pathy with good education. There would be a 
proof of great weakness somewhere if the school failed 
to have a good record. 

Of the eighty-one graduates, thirteen have taken 
the Classical course, thirty the Latin Scientific, 
twenty-one the Modern Language, and the other 



A CLASSIC TOWN. I47 

seventeen the three years' English course. The school 
is now represented by its graduates iu Harvard, Yale, 
Amherst, Williams and Smith colleges ; iu the Boston 
Polytechnic School, and in our State University ; be- 
sides nine who are now iu the Northwestern Uni- 
versity. Several have entered college without com- 
pleting the high school course. 

Of the eighty-one graduates, twenty-seven were 
boys. This proportion is far in excess of some high 
schools in our state. Of the present enrollment of 
two hundred and eleven, there are eighty-seven boys 
and one hundred and twenty-four girls. 




©ur ILiterarg people 



" The ink of the scholar is more sacred than the 
blood of the martyr ; M so Mohammed said, and he 
ought to know, for he had considerable experience 
with both fluids. Accordingly, Evanston ought to be 
at least a match with Mecca for sacredness, for the 
amount of scholarly ink which has been put to paper 
by Evanston pens will compare favorably with that of 
any other community of its size and age in the world. 

A university is the magnet of thinkers, whether 
they are of large or less degree. " Atmosphere M 
counts for more than any other one feature of environ- 
ment, whether it be an atmosphere actual, artistic or 
psychological. And from the first this has been the 
highest charm of Evanston. Something that said at 
first, and with gentle, quiet, but tireless insistence, 
has kept on saying ever since, that not achievement, 
and not wealth, but always character is the final factor 
that classifies humanity. Upon this truth concerning 
atmosphere all literature is builded ; it is the force 
that swings Shakspeare in his sunlike orbit as well as 
lights the tallow dip in the peasant's window of mere 
talent or the pineywood match of "the casual con- 
tributor.' ' So literary people, be they great or small, 

(148) 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 49 

or lilliputian, hover by instinct around a center of 
1> >oks and thought and character. There are not less 
than thirty persons in our Evanstons — " proper " and 
otherwise —who have written books of their own, — such 
a3 they are. Some of us have perpetrated only one, 
but the worst offenders have gone well up to one dozen, 
and the end is not yet. Journalists here find congen- 
ial soil and flourish like the green bay tree. It is safe 
to predict that the coming thirty-five years will show 
ten times as much work of this kind as the past thirty- 
five can show. The history of the university up to 
the present has been the story of a constant struggle, — 
successful, it is true, but none the less absorbing and 
exhausting. When a professor has to instruct classes 
each day in four different languages, he is more likely, 
when his day's work is done, to look around for a 
feather-bed than for a quill. The past has been a 
period of pioneering, of hard work, of long hours, 
short purses and no leisure. This is true, not only 
of the university, but of the whole village, and in 
fact, of the whole west. But these things are gradu- 
ally changing for the better ; and yet we have no rea- 
son to complain or be ashamed, but rather have every 
reason to be proud ; in testimony of which we submit 
the long list of Evanston authors and their books, 
which appears in the appendix of this volume. 



Hbanston Societies. 

Ours is certainly a sociable community, if the num- 
ber and variety of its societies is a criterion. Verily, 
we must be a community of " jiners," for there are in 
active operation among students and townspeople, over 
one hundred and twenty-five different societies, includ- 
ing the churches and their benevolent organizations. 
The rapid evolution which has brought about this result 
is but a type of the growth of the whole town. The 
glories of the Evanston Club, in its beautiful home on 
Chicago avenue and Grove street, are but the symbol 
of a score of great things that have grown from small 
beginnings in these thirty-five years. 

IOTA OMEGA. 

It is clearly my impression that the first literary soci- 
ety ever organized in Evanston, outside the colleges, 
was the "Iota Omega," (otherwise "Independent 
Order"), in February, i860. This was composed 
wholly of young women, their motto being "No 
others need apply." We met at "Bannister House," 
as some of us used playfully to term that popular 
headquarters of intellectual enterprise. Thence we 
marched over in procession, with brooms on shoulders, 

(ISO) 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 151 

dust-pan in hand and scrubbing brush alongside, and 
took possession of the upper front room of a house 
long ago transformed by Mrs. Chapin into a delightful 
home. 

We took symbolic names copied verbatim from a 
yellow old " roll-call " in my possession. 

We had fines, — set forth as follows in Mary Bannis- 
ter's graceful chirography : 

" For tardiness, one cent; for absence, five cents; for letting 
out secrets, one dollar; for voting both ways, one cent; for 
withdrawing membership from the society, two dollars." 

We learned the manual alphabet and our gyrations 
were the despair of our student friends as we kept a 
dumb show of saying whatever we would " unbe- 
knownst' ' to their high theological dignities. We 
had a constitution from which this is an extract : 

"Whereas, we, the undersigned, are greatly grieved in spirit 
and bowed down in dust by heaviness of mind, we do earnestly 
desire and crave communion with cur companions in the flesh, 
and in so doing expect to receive into our hearts joy and conso- 
lation, and at the same time to excite the curiosity of the 
young men, who are all to be kept out, and whereas we would 
profit our souls by receiving instruction, ergo, etc." 

I was president and Mary Bannister secretary of 
the society. From our " minutes " the following tid- 
bits are selected : 

"The council voted upon badges, that the president should 
wear a white rosette, the secretary a blue one, the treasurer a 
red one, and the rest straw-colored ones. 



152 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

"Kate M. Kidder motioned that all members of the I. O. 
'always conceal any hard feelings they have towards each 
other.' Carried unanimously. 

" The president then agreed to pay fines enough in advance 
to purchase a book for treasurer's accounts. 

" Mary E. Willard motioned the society go to prayer-meet- 
ings on Thursday evenings. Not carried. 

" A committee was selected to propose a question for debate 
at the next meeting. The following was soon decided upon : 
" 'Resolved, That the husband and wife are equal in power.' " 

But the Iota Omega society erelong paled its in- 
effectual fires before the dawning glories of "The 
Reading Circle " (in 1861). 

Here was richness indeed. Debate that sent the 
plummet line down to the origin of evil and up to the 
New Jerusalem ; free will versus necessity ; abolition, 
woman's rights, and every other great issue, past, 
present and to come, were dealt with, and in no gin- 
gerly fashion, either. 

Enough has been said to give an idea of the fun 
and frolic of former Evanston, which, it may be 
truthfully remarked, was interspersed with such fes- 
tivities as choir meeting, Sunday-school teachers , 
meeting, and an occasional boat ride, the best part of 
which was the singing of hymns to the rhythm of the 
summer waves and in the witching moonlight. 

All these good times which we enjoyed every bit 
as well as our younger brothers and sisters do their 
Country Club, centered in the Bannister, Stewart, 
Kidder, Bragdon and Ludlam homes, and in our own 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 53 

" Swampscot " by the lake, but moot of all at " Mary 
B's." In the midst of these festivities (?) came a note 
to each individual of "our set " from another "on 
the ridge,' ' — then the almost exclusive inheritance 
of the financially well-to-do. This communication 
set forth the fact, in courteous phrase, that we were 
invited to join what has since evolved into the Eclectic 
and afterwards the " Social " club, and taken perma- 
nent form in the elegantly housed Evanston club, on 
the cherished old site of the I,udlam homestead, — a 
landmark for whose loss old-timers can hardly be con- 
soled, even by the intricate magnificence of the new 
edifice. 

This old-time invitation caused a "state of mind " 
among our militant young Methodists, for by it we 
were informed that " at the fourth meeting of said club 
we had been invited to join." I very well remember 
saying to Miss Amelia Shackelford (now Mrs. Wm. 
K. Sullivan), one of the favorite friends of that hal- 
cyon period : " Fourth meeting indeed ! Why did n't 
they ask us to the first, and let us have a hand in set- 
tling the whys and wherefores of the new society ? " 
This was the general feeling, and in the foolish vanity 
and crudity of youth, we sent back word that " while 
we appreciated the kindness that prompted an invita- 
tion to the fourth meeting of their society, we did not 
see our way clear to join, etc. 

Many a time, in wiser and less opinionated years, 
I have wondered if we might not have done each other 



154 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

good, the two sets of young people now not so young, 
and have always been sincerely glad that, going our 
several ways, we yet maintained the kindliest personal 
relations. 

The little "Iota Omega" was followed by the 
large " Eclectic, ' ' of which our townsman, J. H. 
Kedzie, gives the following account : 

" Evan stem's ' four hundred first families' were the four 
hundred first arriving on the ground. The Eclectic club, 
though limited in membership by the limited seating capacity 
of our parlors, had no restrictions except territorial ; member- 
ship, for convenience, being confined to residents of the West 
side. 

" The objects of this club, like all clubs that have lived and 
died in Evanston, were twofold, — intellectual improvement and 
social enjoyment. 

"The commencement in 1864 was spontaneous and quite 
informal. 

"A few families were invited to meet at the house of Mr. C. 
Comstock for the purpose of listening to the reading of a few 
selections by Mr. Page. Rev. John Wilkinson, who was spend- 
ing that winter in Evanston, with his wife, took an active in- 
terest in the readings thus commenced. An organization was 
formed, at first called simply the Reading club, with Mr. Page 
as president. 

" The meetings were held regularly every Monday evening, 
at the houses of the different members in alphabetical order. 
The exercises consisted of two readings, one by a lady and one 
by a gentleman each evening, also in alphabetical order. Each 
reading was not to exceed half an hour, and the rest of the 
evening was devoted to music, conversation and refreshments. 
Sometimes a whole evening was devoted to music, sometimes 
to a Shakspearean play, sometimes to story-telling, sometimes 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 55 

to a scientific discussion, sometimes to tableaux, and once, at 
least, to the trial of a member for ' high crimes and misde- 
meanors. ' 

"These delightful meetings were continued with only a 
short summer vacation, for fifteen years. Why should they 
ever have ceased ? Were not the exercises sufficiently attract- 
ive ? No one will say they were not, and still this institution 
has gone to join the days before the flood. Other attractions 
came with more of novelty, but less of quiet, inexpensive en- 
joyment and impiovement. Some of the members died, some 
moved away, but their places might easily have been supplied 
by newcomers. Still, the club has passed away, but not 
without leaving an honorable record, full of pleasant memories 
that will live so long as a single member shall survive. 

"Among the families connected with the club were those of 
* C. Comstock, S. Goodenow, A. Shuman, H. B. Hurd, J. J. 
Parkhurst, George Watson, R. S. King, W. Blanchard, L. C. 
Pitner, G. W. Smith, George Lord, J. H. Kedzie, Thomas Lord, 
George Purington, Thomas Cosgrove, J. M. Lyons, C. J. Gil- 
bert, C. L. Way, Charles E. Brown, J. B. Adams, H. W. Hins- 
dale, N. G. Iglehart, W. C. Comstock, C. S. Burch, and a 
number of others whose names I do not at this moment recall." 

It is to Mr. L. H. Boutell that we are indebted for 
an account of the next society that brought together 
the Evanston clans : 

" The Philosophical Society originated in a suggestion made 
by Dr. Bannister. At his request, several gentlemen met in the 
room of Professor Kistler, in the university building, ' to con- 
sider the subject of forming a society for mutual improvement 
in science and general knowledge. ' On the evening of October 
22, 1866, the Evanston Philosophical association was organized, 
a constitution and by-laws adopted, and the following officers 
chosen : President, Dr. Henry Bannister ; vice president, H. 



156 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

B. Hurd ; treasurer, Professor H. S. Noyes ; secretary, L. H. 
Boutell. 

" The original members of the association were Henry Ban- 
nister, Henry S. Noyes, Francis Bradley, W. J. Leonard, Daniel 
P. Kidder, Daniel Bonbright, Oliver Marcy, Louis Kistler, Leo 
P. Hamline, Lucius H. Bugbee, L. H. Boutell, R. S. Greene, J, 
H. Kedzie, H. B. Hurd, F. D. Hemenway, James B. Duncan, 
P. B. Shumway, M. Raymond, Edward Eggleston. 

" For the first year, the meetings were held in the mathe- 
matical room of Northwestern University. After that they 
were held at the residences of the members, until the fall of 
1871; and from that time on they were held at the rooms of the 
public library. Special meetings, to which the public were in- 
vited, were occasionally held in other places. 

"The regular meetings were held once a month, from Octo- 
ber to June ; but special meetings were frequently called, gen- 
erally two weeks after the regular meeting. The work of the 
society consisted in the presentation of original papers on 
topics of philosophical, scientific, or literary interest. These 
papers and discussions took a wide range, and many of them 
were of a high order of merit. 

" The association kept up for a time a course of free public 
lectures. Whenever the papers to be read were of sufficient 
general interest to warrant it, the public were invited to attend 
the meetings. The first village paper was started under the 
auspices of this society. 

" The last meeting of the association was held February 13, 
1882. Various causes, needless to enumerate here, led to the 
discontinuance of the meetings. During the sixteen years of 
its life it exerted a stimulating and elevating influence, not only 
upon those connected with it, but upon the entire community. 
Not the least of Dr. Bannister's many titles to honor and affec- 
tionate remembrance is the fact that he was the originator of 
the Evanston Philosophical association. 

The presidents of the association were Henry Bannister, 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 57 

Oliver Marcy, Francis Bradley, L. H. Boutell, F. D. Hemen* 
waj*, Andrew Shuman, D. H. Wheeler, N. S. Davis, M. Ray- 
mond, N. C. Gridley, J. G. Forest, H. S. Carhart, C. W. Pear- 
son, H. F. Fisk. The secretaries were L. H. Boutell, F. D. 
Hemenway, E. N. Packard, C. W. Pearson, Robert Baird, L. E. 
Cooley, H. G. Lunt, John H. Hamline, David Cavan, James S. 
Murray, C. A. P. Garnsey. 

Then came the " Pro and Con Club " organized by 
Mrs. E. B. Harbert in the interest of equal suffrage, 
and attended by Governor and Mrs. Beveridge, Judge 
and Mrs. Bradwell, Madam Willard and other progress- 
ive spirits. The education growing out of this society 
has illustration in the following paragraph, from Miss 
Anthony's " History of Woman's Suffrage " : 

"It was decided to celebrate the Centennial Fourth of July 
(1876) in some appropriate manner. Under the auspices of Mrs. 
Harbert this was done at Evanston. The occasion was heralded 
as 'The Woman's Fourth,' and programs were scattered 
through the village. The auditorium of the large Methodist 
church was tastefully decorated with exquisite flowers ; flags 
were gracefully festooned about the pulpit, and all the appoint- 
ments were pronounced artistic by the most critical. Of Mrs. 
Harbert' s oration we give an extract : 

" ' Because our lake-bordered, tree -fringed village was once 
her home, I lovingly trace first on Evanston's scroll of honor 
the name of Jane C. Hoge, while just underneath it I write that 
of our venerable philanthropist, who was the first woman in 
these United States to receive the badge of the Christian com- 
mission, Mrs. Arza Brown.' " 

In the University the first literary society was the 
Hinman, and in the Northwestern Female College, the 



158 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Minerva. While Dr. Haven and I were at the helm in 
University and Women's College, the literary societies 
— Hinman and Adelphic in the college classes, the 
Philomathean and Euphronian in the preparatory — 
were open alike to gentlemen and ladies. This helped 
to keep out secret orders and greatly stimulated the in- 
terest of our young people in all the rhetorical exercises 
both within and outside of the literary societies. I 
have never known so keen and sustained devotion to 
composition, debate, speech-making and the study of 
parliamentary usage, as during this interval. But in 
1874 a different policy was inaugurated, and the Os- 
soli society for young women gathered them again 
into a separate literary community, as the Eugensia 
did later in the Preparatory Department. The Greek 
letter fraternities which have absorbed so much of the 
life of the old literary societies, and whose only secret, 
so far as I have learned, is that they have no secret, 
began in 1864 with the Phi Kappa Psi for young men, 
and in 1881 with the Alpha Phi for young women. 
Now the college has chapters of the Sigma Chi, Phi 
Kappa Sigma, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Upsilon and Phi 
Delta Theta, while the Alpha Phi shares the field 
with Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, and Kappa 
Alpha Theta. 

SECRET SOCIETIES. 

Masonic. — Evans Lodge, No. 524, F. and A. M.; 
Evanston Chapter, No. 144, R. A. M.; Evanston Com- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 159 

mandery, No. 58, K. T.; Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 
28, A. F. and A. M. 

/. O. O. F— Evanston Lodge, No. 673, Canton 
Delta, No. 34, R. M. 

I. O. C. F. — St. Charles Court, No. 44. 

I. O. F. — Court Evans, No. 97. 

United Order of Honor, — Crescent Lodge, No. 72. 

Royal Arcanum. — Covenant Council, No. 558. 

Royal League. — Northwestern Council, No. 149. 

National Union. — Unity Council, No. 141. 

G. A. R. — John A. Logan Post, No. 540. 

Knights of Labor. — Ridgeville Assembly, No. 73 2 8. 

TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES. 

Independent Order of Good Templars. — Willard 
Lodge. 

Woman* s Christian Temperance Union. 

Willard W. C. T. U. 

Young Merts Christia?i Association. 

LITERARY SOCIETIES. 

Village. — Chautauqua Circle, Legensia, Woman's 
Club, Browning Club. 

College. — Adelphic, Hinman, Euphronian, Philo- 
mathean, Ossoli, Eugensia, Twentieth Century Club. 

COLLEGE FRATERNITIES. 

Alpha Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Gamma, Delta 
Upsilon, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, 



l6o A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Phi Delta Theta, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Kappa Sigma, 
Sigma Chi. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Evanston Club, Evanston Boat Club, Evanston 
Country Club, Evanston Cycling Club, Evanston 
Township Improvement Association, Benevolent So- 
ciety of Evanston, Idlewild Club, Arlington Club. 

Here is a partial list of Evanston societies — more 
than a hundred in all — and even this does not include 
the score or so of tennis, whist and fair weather social 
clubs of a more or less evanescent existence : 

CHURCH SOCIETIES. 

Baptist. — Emanuel Club, Seed Sowers, Woman's 
Foreign Missionary Society, Woman's Home Mission- 
ary Society, Young People's Society of Christian En- 
deavor. 

Second Baptist. — Ladies' Aid Society. 

Congregational. — Ladies' Home Missionary Society, 
the Light Bearers, Woman's Foreign Missionary So- 
ciety, Young People's Missionary Club. Young Peo- 
ple's Society of Christian Endeavor. 

St. Mark's Episcopal.— Queen Bertha's Guild, St. 
Mark's Guild, St. Andrew's Brotherhood, St. Mar- 
garet's Guild, the Women's Guild, the Altar Com- 
mittee, the Woman's Auxiliary. 

German Evangelican Lutheran. — Young People's 
Society. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. l6l 

First Methodist. — Ladies' Aid Society, Mission 
Band, Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, Woman's 
Home Missionary Society, Young People's League, 
Young Ladies' Missionary Aid Society. 

Norwegian Methodist. — Ladies' Sewing Society. 

Presbyterian. — Ladies' Church Association, 
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, Woman's Home 
Missionary Society, Young Ladies' Missionary So- 
ciety, Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. 

Roman Catholic. — Catholic Order of Foresters, 
Ladies' Rosary, Sisters of Charity, St. Vincent de 
Paul, Young Men's Sodality, Young Women's Sodal- 
ity, Boys' Sodality, Girls' Sodality. 

Swedish Evangelical Lutheran. — Bible Tract So- 
ciety, Young People's Literary Society, Woman's 
Benevolent Society. 




Ebanston's JSiaterlDorfcs. 



Our waterworks system grew out of an annexation 
movement in 1873, by which the village of North 
Evanston was added to Evanston proper. By this 
means the value of the assessed property was raised 
to two million dollars, which permitted the united 
corporation to raise a loan of one hundred thousand 
dollars. 

Bonds in the sum of eighty-six thousand dollars 
were issued and the money formed the original water 
fund, with which the plant was put into operation. 

A Holly engine with a pumping capacity of two 
million gallons of water daily, together with the 
necessary boilers and other apparatus, took up twenty- 
five million dollars of the fund. 

A handsome building was put up on land donated 
by the Northwestern University, and the rest of the 
fund was put into a modest system of mains, which 
was considered sufficient for the time. The new 
engine was started in the month of November, 1874, 
if my memory serves me rightly, and secured a suffi- 
ciently ample supply of water from an iron crib located 

* This nkrtch was contributed by S. B. Pceney, Chief Engineer and 
gupcriulrudcut, 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 63 

on the pier. Two years later it became evident that the 
supply of water for the pumps was not sufficient, and 
an iron inlet pipe, sixteen inches in diameter, was 
run out into the lake one thousand six hundred feet. 
Through this the Holly engine pumped into a well 
twenty-six feet deep and of a diameter of fifteen feet. 
A few years ago a succession of hot spells demon- 
strated the fact that Evanston had again grown 
beyond the supply of water, and a new engine was 
contracted for with the Holly company having a ca- 
pacity of five million gallons every twenty-four hours. 
This engine was completed last winter, but not used 
regularly until last summer, the old pumps being 
adequate for all ordinary emergencies. The new 
pump is of the compound order, is of the Gaskill 
make, and cost eighteen thousand dollars as it stands. 
It has a capacity beyond what the village can now 
use, and also beyond what the inlet pipe can supply. 
The two pumps running together will have a nominal 
capacity of seven million gallons of water daily, 
whereas not more than three million per diem can 
pass through the inlet pipe. It will be readily seen, 
therefore, that a new inlet pipe is one of the necessi- 
ties which must be provided for in the near future, 
though it now furnishes all the village can use, unless 
in case of some big fire. The figures show that the 
consumption of water has risen from six hundred and 
eleven thousand four hundred and thirty-nine gallons 
August 1, 1875, to one million nine hundred and sixty- 



164 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

one thousand one hundred and seventy-nine gallons 
July 25, 1889. That this vast amount of water is 
supplied economically is shown by the report made to 
the board of trustees, by which it appears that during 
the month of July fifty-eight million one hundred and 
seventeen thousand five hundred and ninety-seven 
gallons of water were pumped, or an average of one 
million five hundred and fifty-two thousand one hun- 
dred and eighty daily. The coal burned averaged 
three thousand two hundred and ninety-three pounds 
daily, costing one hundred and ninety- one dollars and 
thirty-three cents for the month. The average total 
cost of pumping each million gallons of water was 
only ten dollars and fourteen cents, of which three 
dollars and ninety-six cents was for coal. These 
figures, I think, speak for themselves, and show con- 
clusively how carefully and economically the water 
system of Evanston is managed by the trustees elected 
by the people. 

The waterworks system of Evanston, according to 
the inventory submitted to the trustees by Mr. C. J. 
Gilbert, one of the best friends of the waterworks, on 
his retirement from the board, shows that the whole 
cost to that date had been one hundred and sixty-eight 
thousand three hundred and thirty -nine dollars, or, 
adding the assessments for the extensions to be made 
in the spring and summer, one hundred and ninety- 
two thousand and forty dollars. 

The property belonging to the water system in- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 65 

eludes sixteen hundred feet of inlet pipe, with crib, 
piers, well, well house, engine house, boilers, Holly 
engine with two million gallons daily capacity, Gaskill 
engine with a daily capacity of five million gallons, 
engineer's residence, one hundred and twenty- two 
hydrants and ninety-seven thousand four hundred and 
ninety-five feet, or more than eighteen and one-half 
miles of water mains, besides the usual valves and 
connections. 

The first superintendent of the works was George 
Story, who was in charge for six months, and was 
succeeded by Ira A. Holly, who remained at the head 
for two years. John Ebert was the chief engineer for 
three years, and Jones Patrick for five years. My 
assistants are Robert F. Grahame, second engineer ; '**"*+< 
Charles E. Bendixson, third engineer. 

Evanston has every reason to be proud of its sys- 
tem of supplying an abundance of pure water, and 
has, through its various boards of trustees, demon- 
strated its claims as a comfortable and progressive 
place of residence, fully abreast of the times, and a 
worthy suburb of the great city with which it is so 
intimately connected. 



Sbaneton antr temperance. 



There is a celestial Evanston, there is a terrestrial 
Evanston, and there is a diabolical Evanston. They 
intersphere at every point and every moment of the 
day. But we all think the celestial Evanston is in the 
ascendency, and one of my reasons for the belief that 
is in me is Evanston's noble stand against the evil of 
strong drink. The happiest thought of those good 
men who founded our classic village was to incorporate 
in the university charter a provision that no intoxicat- 
ing liquors should ever be sold within four miles of the 
college campus. The very announcement of this fact 
was the magnet to draw hither a class of people who 
were total abstainers and who desired for their chil- 
dren the surroundings of sobriety.* Owning most of 
the land on which original Evanston was located, the 
university trustees placed a clause in every deed of 
transfer, declaring a lapse of title in case intoxicants 
were ever vended. Moreover, so soon as the village 
was incorporated a local ordinance was passed in har- 



* The devotion of Kvanstonians to no-license was forcibly illustrated in 
1869 when they refused the substantial benefits of an admirable city char- 
ter lest it might at some time involve the danger of local legislation favcr- 
able to the saloon. 

(if/}) 




J. H. KKIHC1K 






A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 67 

mony with the university charter, and now that Ev- 
anston has become a municipality of twelve thousand 
souls, the provisions of this ordinance have been 
steadily strengthened until it is iron-clad. Hence it 
has come about as the result of honest hard work ac- 
cording to a plan, that Evanston is the ideal temper- 
ance town of the great Northwest, for it never had a 
legalized saloon or bar-room ; its costly club house ex- 
plicitly declares in its by-laws against the use of in- 
toxicants within its walls, and the sentiment of the 
town is so strong in favor of prohibition that the sub- 
ject of granting licenses has never yet come up in the 
local elections. 

Judge Hurd gives me this interesting incident : 

" One of the notable epochs in the history of Evanston was 
our contest over the exclusion of the sale of liquor within the 
four-mile limit. For a time there was a determined effort to 
break down the limitation, and, as we understood, this was 
supported by the liquor league in Chicago. Many suits were 
brought, fines inflicted, and some paid, until the disputants 
agreed to take a case to the Supreme Courc, and settle the 
validity of the law, which was done ; and the case, ' O'Leary vs. 
Cook County/ is the leading case in the Illinois reports on that 
subject. One of the lawyers engaged in that litigation on the 
part of the liquor men was the afterward famous Gen. Mulli- 
gan ; and on the part of the university, Governor John L. Bev- 
eridge. I took some part in these suits after these men had left 
for the war, and argued the case in the Supreme Court. There 
was a funny incident connected with this argument, namely, 
that the attorney on the other side was so drunk that I had to 
submit his side of the case to the court as well as my own ! In- 



1 68 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

asmuch as the question was whether such a law was germane 
to the establishment and maintaining of the university, I was 
greatly tempted to put my antagonist in the case as a part of 
my argument. The court may have done that for me in his 
personal summing up of the case." 

Mrs. Julia Atkins Miller, an early valedictorian 
of Northwestern Female College, writes of the follow- 
ing occurrence, about the year 1858 : 

"When a midnight raid was made on the liquor saloon, 
on the ridge near the railroad crossing, I was suspected of 
knowing who were the maskers, but I did not. It was the only 
effort of which I ever heard, to establish a liquor saloon within 
the limits of the ccrporation." 

Away back in i860, Dr. Charles Jewett, of New 
England, lived here, and gave us admirable scientific 
temperance lectures ; and Parker Earle, a leading offi- 
cer among the Sons of Temperance, sometimes spoke 
before his fellow-citizens, always to excellent accept- 
ance. 

About this time, L. L. Greenleaf and family be- 
came residents of Evanston. Mr. Greenleaf was the 
western representative of Fairbanks & Co., St. Johns- 
bury, Vt., and knew the blessedness of living out- 
side the sickening atmosphere of the saloon. He 
knew also that moral suasion must go hand in 
hand with prohibition. Through his influence a 
"Temperance Alliance" was formed, which met 
in his own and other chief homes of the village, 
for several years. But not until the great era- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 69 

sade of 1873-74, did temperance sentiment crystallize 
into an organic force that was steadily and strongly 
felt. On March 17, 1874, under the divine influence 
of that wonderful uprising, a few earnest Christian 
women met in Union Hall, and formed what was called 
the " Women's Temperance Alliance.' ' Among their 
objects were the prosecution of violators of the uni- 
versity charter law, the circulation of the pledge, and 
the visiting of all places within the four-mile limit 
where liquors were secretly sold or gaming was car- 
ried on. The first president was Mrs. A. J. Brown, 
and the following are the names of some of the 
ladies present at these initiative meetings, who per- 
fected the organization, and determined the policy 
of the society and its methods of work : Mrs. Rev. Dr. 
Noyes, Mrs. Edward Russell, Mrs. Dr. O. Marcy, Mrs. 

A. P. Wightman, Mrs. Francis Bradley, Mrs. Arza 
Brown, Mrs. Charles E. Brown, Mrs. Emily Hunting- 
ton Miller, Mrs. John E. Kedzie, Mrs. T. C. Hoag, 
Mrs. Helen E. Hesler, Mrs. J. F. Willard, Mrs. Mary 

B. Willard, Mrs. Rev. F. I,. Chappell, Mrs. Dr. 
Fisk, Mrs. Caroline F. Corbin, Mrs. M. C. Van Ben- 
schoten. While this organization was being com- 
pleted here, thousands of like societies were rapidly 
forming all over the country. 

May 1, 1875, the society changed its name to 
"Woman's Christian Temperance Union, " and fell 
into line with the ever lengthening ranks of the 
national organization that now numbers ten thousand 



170 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

local auxiliaries, and the World's W. C. T. U. now 
represented in forty different governments. Circula- 
tion of the pledge, house-to-house visitation, public 
meetings, — indeed all the usual methods were faith- 
fully employed. But the person who deserves special 
mention for enthusiasm and untiring devotion to 
the work, is Mrs. Arza Brown. Although then 
eighty years of age, she went fearlessly to the 
most forbidding places ; she searched diligently the 
statutes concerning the liquor traffic, and, by the 
concise manner in which she presented the results of 
her investigations before the association, aided largely 
in the elucidation of judicial questions. To all of this 
she added the impulse of fervent prayer. The Chris- 
tian men of the town lent their ready aid and encour- 
agement. Dr. Briggs, pastor of the M. E. Church at 
that time, was an ardent temperance man. Dr. N. S. 
Davis, then a resident here, was always ready with 
his help at the public quarterly meetings, held in the 
different churches. Rev. Mr. Packard, of the Congre- 
gational church, lent active aid and hearty sympathy 
in the movement, Rev. Mr. Chappell, the Baptist 
minister, spoke for us at our public meetings. Many 
pleasant thoughts return to the pioneers in this good 
cause, as the past comes up again, — thoughts of kind 
words and helpful deeds and memories of unrecorded 
names of those who at the time could not have real- 
ized the help they gave to the trembling hands at the 
helm of the new ship W. C. T. U. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 171 

February 23, 1875, Mrs. S. M. I. Henry organized 
the Star Band of Hope, whose first president was Eben 
P. Clapp, now one of Evanston's physicians. Mrs. 
Andrew J. Brown was secretary and the presiding 
genius always. A simple form of military drill was 
introduced, conducted by Captain Julian R. Fitch. 
Evanston ladies met in large numbers to make caps 
and belts for the young ' 4 soldiers fighting for good 
habits." There was a " Girls' Brigade " connected 
with this Cold Water Army, of which Mrs. Ed. Rus- 
sell,* always an ardent temperance woman, was chief. 

This Band of Hope lasted five years, and tided 
scores of bright boys over the danger-shoals that all 
must pass in getting their life-craft launched far out 
upon the deeper waters of confirmed good character. 

In September, 1879, a Sunday afternoon temperance 
meeting was started by the W. C. T. U. under the in- 
spiration of Mrs. M. M. Conwell, who was then acting 
president. Its meetings were held for some time in 
the waiting-room of the old Northwestern depot, 
later in a rented store, corner of Davis and Maple 
streets, and now they have been regularly maintained 
for years in Union Hall. Here hundreds of men have 
signed the pledge and sought the Lord ; and here all 
phases of the reform have been ably discussed from 
the standpoint of Christian discipleship and Christian 
patriotism. At this meeting, started by Mrs. M. M. 



* Mrs. Russell was Deputy Grand Chief Templar in 1875. 



172 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Conwell, Frank P. Crandon, Esq., made the first ad- 
dress, standing on a dry goods box in the railroad sta- 
tion, and I made the second, by way of celebrating 
my fortieth birthday. People who never went to 
church flecked like doves to their windows, and ac- 
complished musicians among our young folks furnished 
the music. 

It should be mentioned that Mrs. Leander Clifford, 
one of our most revered pioneers, was associated with 
the earliest movement to establish these Sunday after- 
noon meetings, which continue to the present time 
with unabated interest. 

Meanwhile a Young Woman's Temperance Union 
was formed by Anna' Gordon and Edward Murphy, 
during the meetings held here in 1885, by Francis 
Murphy, the blue-ribbon evangelist. This had as its 
chief spirit Miss Mary McDowell, now a national 
worker, who for several years did excellent service in 
emphasizing the social features of the temperance 
movement. It also maintained a kitchen garden for 
girls. Miss Anna Gordon's Loyal Temperance Legion 
has since been organized and has become a prime 
favorite among the children of Evanston. Probably 
no two persons in the town receive so many warm- 
hearted greetings on the street, as when red-cheeked 
girls nod and bright-eyed boys lift their caps to Anna 
Gordon who has gathered so many of them into her 
Bands of Hope, and to Mrs. Walker, teacher of the 
Free Kindergarten. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 73 

In the winter of 1885 Mrs. Mary Bannister Willard, 
with the true missionary spirit, trudged through cold 
and snow and succeeded in raising funds enough (in 
the form of fifteen-dollar scholarships) to establish 
what the W. C. T. U. has since christened the " Mary 
B. Willard Free Kindergarten. M Its motto is " Give 
us the children until they are six years old, and we 
will risk the rest of their lives.' ' Mrs. Hester E. 
Walker has had the school in charge since its begin- 
ning, and by her unselfish devotion has endeared her- 
self to all the children's hearts and won over many a 
desolate and careless parent to a better life. 

The "Good Time Club " of girls, organized to 
illustrate the truth that the best of good times con- 
sists in doing good to somebody else, was organized 
by Mrs. Addison DeCoudres and helped to confirm in 
the pleasant ways of philanthropy many young girls 
of Evanston. 

It has been the latest work of the W. C. T. U. to 
organize the colored women of Evanston into a local 
auxiliary. They were invited to belong to the origi- 
nal society, but preferred to form one by themselves, 
and they have been kind enough to name it the Willard 
W. C. T. U. 

The list of our W. C. T. U. presidents from 1874 
to 1890 is as follows : Mrs. E. E. Marcy, Mrs. Mary 
Thompson Willard, Mrs. W. E. Clifford, Mrs. Francis 
Bradley, Mrs. A. J. Brown, Mrs. Mary B. Willard, 
Mrs. Mary H. Hull, Mrs. William Bradley, Mrs. Ger- 



174 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

trude M. Singleton, Mrs. Lucy Prescott Vane. Along 
with these should be named Mrs. T. C. Riley, treasurer, 
and Mrs. Jane Eggleston Zimmerman, superintend- 
ent, of the Sunday meeting, as among the pioneer 
* ' stand-bys" ' ' of the society. 

In 1886, a lodge of Good Templars was organized 
by Mr. and Mrs. John B. Finch ; it is doing excellent 
work and has fitted up headquarters on Davis street. 
Its chiefs have been Mrs. Franc E. Finch, Mrs. C. A. 
Warner, Mrs. E. A. Warner, Rev. Frank A. Scarvie. 
It is named the Willard Lodge. 

The pastors of all our churches, including the 
Catholic, have been, so far as I know, * * ensamples to 
the flock* ' in their total abstinence principles, and 
almost without exception champions of prohibition ; 
certainly all have believed in it for Evanston. There 
is hardly a distinguished temperance speaker in Amer- 
ica who has not addressed audiences here, and at one 
time the heads of the World's Good Templar Lodge, 
of the W. C. T. U., and of the National Prohibition 
party, had their homes here, while Chicago has become 
the headquarters of the National W. C. T. U., with 
the largest temperance publishing house in the world ; 
and Rest Cottage, Evanston, is a branch of the Na- 
tional W. C. T. U. office in the city. 

The late President Cummings of our university, 
was one of the most solid temperance men in Chris- 
tendom, along political as well as legal and moral 
suasion lines, and the chief citizens of Evanston have 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 175 

stood staunchly for the enforcement of our prohibition 
ordinances. The Law and Order society was formed 
at the suggestion of Rev. Dr. Bannister in 1883. Dr. 
D. R. Dyche has always been the president and 
moving spirit. To this good man and his coad- 
jutors Evanston owes more than can be told. The 
municipal officers are in hearty sympathy with the 
law, and although Chicago is but eleven miles away, 
and enforcement can not be made perfect, it is never- 
theless true, that, in the main, prohibition properly 
prohibits in ' * Evanston proper, ' ' and no single feature 
of our town is more appreciated by our people. 




<#banston in tf)r &23at. 

No town in America met the shock of the Civil War 
more bravely than our own. I well remember the 
Snnday morning just after the defeat at Bull Run 
when Julius H. White (afterward General), one of our 
leading business men stood up on the cushion of his 
pew at the front of the old church, after the benedic- 
tion was pronounced, and in a voice of intense earnest- 
ness called for a " war meeting M the next evening in 
that same church. Nothing could have been more 
incongruous with the soft air of that spring day or the 
sweet peace of our idyllic village. A war meeting in 
Evanston ! The congregation walked homeward in 
the solemn hush of a great sorrow; there were so many 
young men in Evanston, dear by ties of kindred or of 
heart to almost every home, and if there must be war 
then they must go ! Perhaps the most fervent prayers 
that ever went up to God for courage and for resigna- 
tion pierced the sky that Sabbath day, when the sun- 
shine was so golden and the great lake so blue and 
calm. Monday night came, and it seemed as though 
the entire village had congregated at the church. The 
grave faces of Dr. John Evans, of Rev. Dr. Dempster 
and of acting President Noyes were at the front with 

those of other professors from the eldest to the most 

(176) 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 177 

youthful ; three gallant figures who were afterwards 
generals, White, Beveridge and Gamble, that night 
placed their names upon the muster roll; students vied 
with each other in signing the patriot's pledge while 
the most stirring airs were sung by the Ludlam fam- 
ily, Robert Bently, Frances Harvey, Jenny Wheeler, 
and others, Miss Kellogg presiding at the organ. Be- 
sides the three who became generals, Beveridge, 
White and Gamble, (Major) Edward Russell, Harry 
Pearsons, Alfred and William Bailey and many others 
signed that night. General Beveridge raised a com- 
pany and joined the 8th Illinois Cavalry. General 
White opened a recruiting office in the city, resigned 
the office of collector of customs and.took the field at 
the head of the 37th Illinois Infantry, a regiment of 
one thousand men, among the officers of which were 
Gen. John C. Black and his brother William P. Black, 
both now well known. Henry M. Kidder enlisted 
and became colonel. To secure a complete record I 
have made many efforts, but find our veterans unwill- 
ing to discourse upon the theme. 

The following extract from the journal of my sister 
Mary, gives a graphic picture of the situation as real- 
ized in a typical Evanston home : 

" April 14, 1 86 1 . — News came yesterday of the evacuation — we 
don't like to say the surrender — of Fort Sumter by Major Ander- 
son. When I think of all the blood that must be shed, of all the 
treasure that must be expended to retrieve the honor of my na- 
tive land, it almost takes away my breath. Think of the thou- 



178 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

sands of men, living at home and in peace to-day, who must 
fall in the strife ! How it hurts me to remember that every man 
of them is somebody's husband or father, somebody's brother 
or son ; and that while they yield up their lives on the battle- 
field, the dear ones at home are many of them going to meet 
death by a longer path, and one just as painful to tread,— the 
path where mourners walk clad in their sable robes. 

"April 20. — Oliver has succeeded in getting up a great war 
enthusiasm in the minds of his two sisters this morning, by 
reading exciting passages from the daily papers and ' interlard- 
ing ' them with frenzied speeches of his own. At last Frank 
and I broke forth with one accord into singing the * Star Span- 
gled Banner/ which, by the aid of his melodious (?) voice, was 
rendered in a style that seemed peculiarly exciting to his im- 
agination ; so much so that, when we came to the chorus of the 
last verse, he rushed into the closet for a broom, which he 
waved frantically to and fro to symbolize to himself the fact, as 
I suppose, that the glorious banner did yet wave ' o'er the land 
of the free and the home of the brave.' While this amusing 
scene transpired, I thought, with a sad heart, ' Will my brother, 
my only brother, go to the war ? ' But who are we, that our 
hearts should not be broken as well as other women's hearts ? 

" April 23. — This evening we went to a war meeting at the 
chdrch. When the ' Star Spangled Banner ' was sung, as I 
joined in the chorus, I was half wild with enthusiasm, though 
I stood there so quietly. Above the pulpit hung the national 
flag, arranged in graceful folds around a portrait of Washing- 
ton, who looked serenely down upon us, as if confident that we 
would not desert a cause in which he thought no sacrifice too 
dear. Several speeches were made, and there was a call for 
those who were willing to volunteer to come forward and sign 
the muster-roll. I shall never forget the scene that followed. 
Rapidly they went ; young men whom we all know and 
esteem ; students in college and in theology ; men who had 
wives and daughters looking after them, with smiles of pride 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 79 

on their lips though there were tears of sorrow in their eyes ; 
and beardless boys, with their slight forms and flushed young 
faces. Cheer after cheer went up from the excited audience as 
each one took the pen and wrote his name as a volunteer in the 
army that goes to save the Union. One young man told us 
that he did not join here, because, although he came last week 
from a distant town to enter college, ' he would throw books 
aside and return home to-morrow to go with his father and his 
brothers to the field.' Dr. McFarland was loudly applauded. 
He said that ' he was a Virginian, and he should start for his na- 
tive State to-morrow to join with his relatives, who are all loyal, 
in fighting for the Union. He said his mother was buried there, 
and he meant that no traitor should set his foot upon her 
grave.' I am afraid that we didn't realize how solemn was the 
scene ; how eternal destinies were being fixed that evening by 
a mere penstroke. God pity the man who is not prepared to 
die before he joins the army. Oh ! if we could have known 
the agony that will result from what was done then in the church 
we love so much, and where we have worshiped so peacefully 
together, I know we should have filled the house with sobs, and 
tears would have fallen like the rain that beat against the win- 
dows as though nature herself were grieving. A large fund was 
immediately subscribed for the support of the families of poor 
men who will go into the army. The liberal subscriptions 
showed plainly enough the patriotism which glowed in each 
heart. It seemed very generous to hear Dr. Evans give his name 
for hundreds of dollars, and hardly less so when seamstresses, 
and young ladies who support themselves by teaching, pledged 
themselves for the payment of smaller sums. 

" War ! What a new meaning has the term for me since the 
fall of Fort Sumter only a few days ago ! Truly 

" 'We are living, we are dwelling 
In a grand and awful time ; 
In an age on ages telling ; 
To be living is sublime.' " 



180 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

From Rev. Liston H. Pearce, graduated in 1866, we 
have these anecdotes : 

"It was war times and we were a patriotic set, at least 
most of us. But there was White from Baltimore. He 
could neither conceal his Southern sympathies nor control his 
temper. One evening as we came up from supper where the 
discussion had been heated, he became exasperated, and cried, 
' Then down with the stars and stripes, and up with the pal- 
metto ! ' There was instantly a rush made for him with shouts 
of ' To the lake with him ! ' But he held his pursuers at bay on 
the stairs. In the tumult, he cried, 'I'm for the country when 
she is right,' to which Fowler, now the reverend bishop, shouted 
back, ' We're for our country, right or wrong ; if she's wrong, 
we'll right her.' W. went at last to his room a wiser if not a 
better man. 

" It was about the commencement of the last year of the 
war, though we did not know it. Things looked dark. Stu- 
dents were dropping out of the university and entering the 
army. At last a number of the boys resolved that they would 
form a university company if Professor Linn would go as 
captain. I chanced to be Linn 's room-mate at Auntie Bragdon's, 
and was commissioned to make the proposition to him. I shall 
never forget how serious and thoughtful he was when he said 
it must be the voice of God and his country, and he would go. 
1 Old timers ' at Evanston will remember how we marched off 
to the war and how we came back, some in coffins, and among 
them the brave, noble, generous Linn. In the company of 
which he was captain, went Henry Meacham, I. W. McCaskey, 
Charles Bragdon and many others." 

Mrs. Julia Atkins Miller, valedictorian of the class 

of i860, writes : 

" You must well remember the spirit of patriotism that pre- 
vailed in Evanston when Bishop Simpson preached the sermon 



A CLASSIC TOWN. l8l 

after the fall of Fort Sumter. Bunting could not be procured at 
any price in anything like sufficient quantity to meet the de- 
mand. It must be manufactured for the entire country. Dr. 
Charles Jones happened to think of an old flag, then stored in 
Chicago, belonging to his brother Wesley. He brought it to 
Evanston, torn and mouse-eaten, as it was. I worked all day 
making over that old flag. Perhaps you recall the enthusiasm 
exhibited by the university students that evening when they 
saw it floating on the college building during their sunset walk ! 
I need not tell you how elated Professor and Mrs. Jones were 
when our flag was the first to wave." 

From Mrs. Dr. Kidder' s Journal : 

"It was an Bvanston woman who suggested a movement 
that would have rolled into Abraham Lincoln's office a petition 
with more names of women than were ever before attached to 
any paper, if his official pen had not anticipated its advent and 
issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Mrs. Hyde, her heart 
too deeply burdened with sorrow to bear it longer alone, came 
to see me and ask if we women, who had not such cares as 
engrossed all of her time, would not put into circulation a peti- 
tion and let it come before the president as the voice of the 
women of the land. A few other women were consulted and a 
petition was prepared. Copies of it were sent to religious 
newspapers of different churches requesting its publication, 
accompanied by a note, asking women who should read the 
petition to cut it from the paper, attach it to a blank, obtain 
signatures, and when filled, forward it to a place specified ; all 
to work as speedily as possible. A considerable number of 
papers commended the movement, women gladly circulated 
the petitions, and many had been returned to the offices 
named. The Northwestern Christian Advocate in Chicago 
reported that a mammoth roll, almost beyond the capacity of 
a man to carry, was being daily added to the petition. Senator 



l82 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Harlan had been engaged to see that the petition was presented 
to the President, when lo ! the Emancipation Proclamation 
sounded through the length and breadth of the land." 

Major Edward Russell says that all who went from 
here were in the Army of the Potomac during the 
war. He adds the following : 

" The fight at Gettysburg commenced by the Eighth Cav- 
alry, the Evanston regiment, under the command of Major 
Beveridge. After the battle commenced and got fairly along, 
our brigade was placed at the enemy's right, our left in a com- 
manding position, where we could see everything. It was a 
splendid sight to see one side charge across the valley in front 
of Seminary Ridge, and then the other charge in turn. 

" In our regiment were Gov. John L Beveridge, who was 
commander ; Capt. Joseph Clapp ; Lieut. Harry Pearsons, 
Alfred Bailey, W. R. Bailey, Edwin Bailey, George W. Hun- 
toon, George Hide, George Kirby, K. S. Lewis, James Milner, 
Charles McDaniel, Charles Pratt, George H. Reed, Peter 
Schiitz, James A. Snyder, Charles Smith, A. P. Searle, C. P. 
Westfield, Harry and Will Page, Charles Wigglesworth, O. C. 
Foster, E. R. Lewis, Philo Judson, J. D. Ludlam, also Dr. W. 
A. Spencer, who is now one of the secretaries of the Church 
Extension Society of the Methodist church.' ' 

Evanston* s war record has as its sequel the efficient 
activities of the John A. Logan Grand Army Post. 
By means of frequent lectures and entertainments they 
keep alive the sense of old time comradeship. Prob- 
ably their most notable exploit was a magnificent 
reception given to Mrs. General Logan, in the 
First M. E. church, October 24, 1889. 

We can not better close this chapter than with the 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 183 

following summary of the history of the post, and a 
soldier-preacher's unique comment on it : 

" Gen. John A. Logan, Post No. 540, Department of Illinois 
G. A. R., was organized October 21, 1885, under the name of 
Gamble Post. The name was changed on the death of Logan. 
Its commanders who now rank as Post Commanders are Eli R. 
Lewis, William H, Langton and E. S. Weeden. Present com- 
mander, J. W. Thompson. Number of members, one hundred 
and eight. It has on its roster many distinguished citizens, 
amongst whom might be named Gen. John L. Beveridge, 
Judge David T. Corbin, Chaplain W. A. Spencer, Professor 
William H. Cutler, Frank P. Crandou, D. B. Dewey, P. N. 
Fox, Holmes Hoge, W. S. Harbert, Dr. I. Poole, H. A. Pierson 
and Gen. Julius White. Many others might be added did 
space permit. Evanston was well represented in the War of the 
Rebellion, but the Eighth Illinois Cavalry probably stands 
highest amongst the organizations prominently represented 
from our village. J. W. Thompson." 

" The above is Brother Thompsons own ; 'tis the best he 
could do from his resources. It is worth while to say of him, — 
Thompson, — that he is one of the bravest and purest men I 
have ever known. H. A. Delano. " 

I have this testimony from one of these brave 
soldiers: 

'* The ladies of Evanston, during the entire period of the 
war, were active in aid of the soldiers in the field in various 
ways, holding frequent meetings, sending hospital supplies, 
such as bandages, lint, hospital garments, mittens and bed 
clothing, and in assisting the Sanitary Commission in Chicago; 
one of the citizens of Evanston, Mrs. A. H. Hoge, having been 
distinguished for her great and invaluable services as a member 
of the Sanitary Commission. 



184 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

"The great fair held in Chicago in aid of the Sanitary Com- 
mission was largely conducted under the auspices of these 
ladies, and it was to this fair that Mr. Lincoln gave the original 
draft of the Emancipation Proclamation. It was sold at the 
fair to Hon. Thomas B. Bryan, who paid three thousand dollars 
for it, and gave it back subsequently to the Soldiers* Home in 
Chicago, which institution grew out of the Sanitary Fair, having 
been established partly by funds which the Sanitary Fair had 
produced, and partly by the aid of the State. The Emancipa- 
tion Proclamation, being the property of the Soldiers' Home, 
thus acquired, was in its possession at the time of the great fire 
in 1 87 1, and was destroyed in the rooms of the Historical So- 
ciety, where it had been deposited for safe keeping." 




fEbanston in politics. 



At my request Hon. Edward S. Taylor Has, with 
his usual kindness of heart and felicity of pen, treated 
this subject. 

Mr. Taylor, as everybody knows, has represented 
us in the legislature, and has been for years secretary 
of the Lincoln Park Association ; he has had a hand, 
too, in that successful undertaking, the Sheridan road. 
He says : 

" Bvanstou has not been forgotten in the past in the dis- 
tribution of public offices. Again and again have her citizens 
been called to positions of honor and trust. 

"Julius White more than thirty years ago became a resident of 
our town, and the hospitality of his house is a pleasant memory 
of those early days. A social event of that date, well remem- 
bered by man}', was the visit of Abraham Lincoln to Evanston 
as the guest of his old friend, Julius White. In i86r Mr. White 
was appointed by Mr. Lincoln collector of the port of Chicago, 
perhaps the most honorable of the presidential appointments 
in the northwest. 

"Soon after the breaking out of the war, Mr. White re- 
signed his office and organized the Thirty-seventh regiment of 
Illinois. At the close of the war, he bore the commission of a 
major-general of volunteers. 

"General White was elected a member of the board of 
county commissioners organized under the constitution of 1870, 
and became its first president. 

u In 1872 General White was appointed by President Grant, 
minister to the Argentine Republic. He resigned this mission 

(1S5) 



1 86 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

in 1875, and thereafter until his death resided in South Evanston, 
and was one of the most enterprising and efficient promoters 
of that suburb. 

" In 1S63 Dr. John Evans, an esteemed friend and neigh- 
bor, after whom our village was named, removed from our 
midst to Denver, having been appointed by President Lincoln 
governor of the territory of Colorado ; although Evanston lost 
him as a citizen he remained bound to our people by his official 
ties, the trustees of the Northwestern university having re- 
tained him as the president of the board. His munificent 
contributions to the university will ever endear him to our 
citizens. He still resides in Denver, and is identified with 
many of the railroad and mining enterprises of the Centennial 
State. 

"Again did President Lincoln call upon Evanston to fur- 
nish the right man for the right place ; in 1862 he selected es 
consul to China, one of our earliest acquaintances here, 
Prof. W. P. Jones, the founder and for many years president of 
the Northwestern Female College, the bud which blossomed 
into the present Woman's College, an annex to Northwestern 
University. It was during his residence in the celestial king- 
dom that the old Chinese wall, which prohibited intercourse 
with other nations, was broken down, the portals of the 
ancient empire opened, and the wealth of its early civilization 
blended with the progress and thought of modern times. 
While in China Mr. Jones was sent on a special mission to 
Pekin, which resulted in a settlement of the difficulties growing 
out of the opium war and the destruction of American property 
at Canton. Rev. Dr. Talmage once said of Mr. Jones' work as 
consul at Canton : ' No account of his life in China, and effort to 
do good to these people would be complete without a record of 
his efforts to have the surplus of the indemnity paid by China 
to the United States repaid to China in a way that would render 
to her the greatest and most permanent advantage.' 

<c Returning to this country, Professor Jones connected htit - 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 87 

self with the Chicago press ; but longing for his chosen vocation, 
that of a teacher, he assumed the presidency of the Fremont 
Normal School, Fremont, Nebraska, where, in the midst of his 
years of usefulness, he received the final summons, leaving the 
precious memory of a life devoted to the elevation and better- 
ment of mankind. 

" For twenty-two years consecutively (with the exception 
of the thirty -third general assembly from 1883 to 1885) Evans ton 
has had a representative in the state administration— either in 
the executive or legislative department In 1866 Edward S. 
Taylor, who had for three years represented Evanston in the 
board of supervisors, which at that time was charged with the 
administration of the county affairs, was elected a representa- 
tive in the twenty-fifth general assembly, and re-elected to the 
twenty-sixth general assembly in 1868. 

"During his term in the legislature the park system of 
Chicago was inaugurated, with which he has since been iden- 
tified. Mr. Taylor is at present a member of the state board of 
equalization from this, the Fourth congressional district. 

"John L. Beveridge, Esq., our honored neighbor, was one 
of the earliest settlers here. In 1861 he enlisted a company in 
Evanston, for the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and subsequently 
organized the Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry ; he emerged from 
the service in 1865, having worthily worn successively the em- 
blem of a captain, major, colonel and brigadier-general. In 
1868 he was elected sheriff of Cook county, but having no 
warrant to hang any one during his term, he was not subse- 
quently elected chief executive of the republic. 

" In 1870 Gen. Beveridge was elected to the state senate 
and after serving a portion of his term resigned, having been 
elected in 1871 member of Congress from the State at large. In 
1872 General Beveridge was elected lieutenant-governor, and 
by virtue of his office became president of the senate ; by the 
election of Governor Oglesby to the United States Senate, Gen- 
eral Beveridge became governor and served in that position the 



188 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

unexpired term of three years. In 1882 he was appointed by 
President Arthur sub-treasurer, which office he held until the 
accession of Mr. Cleveland. Since his retirement from the 
position of sub-treasurer Governor Be veridge has held no official 
position but has been engaged in banking, — and was at one time 
president of the Lincoln National Bank. 

"In order that Evanston might again be identified with 
state affairs, the late Andrew Shuman, Esq., well known as 
editor of the Chicago Journal for many years, was elected 
lieutenant-governor in 1876, and presided over the state senate 
during the terms of the thirtieth and thirty-first general assem- 
bly. It is well remembered that in his administration as 
president of the senate his uniform courtesy and dignity gave 
a charm to its sessions. Mr. Shuman served a term as commis- 
sioner of the penitentiary by appointment of Governor Oglesby. 
Governor Shuman, as we Evanstonians were pleased to call 
him, retired from the editorial chair seeking rest to revive the 
energies exhausted by thirty-three years of continuous journal- 
istic service. But alas ! this precaution came too late. 

"In 1880 John H. Kedzie, Esq., was selected as a repre- 
sentative in the thirty-second general assembly ; after his 
retirement in 1882, the people of the district which comprised 
the towns of North Chicago, Lake View and Evanston, gave 
Evanston a rest for two years. In 1884 Harry S. Boutell was 
elected to the thirty-fourth general assembly. Harry had 
grown up in our midst, was a graduate of the Northwestern 
University and was equipped both by nature and acquirement 
for the position to which he was called. He was the peer of 
any in that general assembly in debate and excelled all as a 
brilliant speaker. In 1886. C. G. Neeley was elected to the 
thirty-fifth general assembly. He was heard upon most of the 
important questions which were discussed by that body, and he 
rarely spoke without saying something. Mr. Neeley is now 
one of the assistants to State's Attorney Longenecker, and has 
charge of all trials in one branch of the circuit court. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 189 

"George S. Baker, for several years at the head of our 
public schools in Evanston and subsequently a member of the 
bar, was elected in 1888 to the thirty-sixth general assembly. 
During the session Mr. Baker acquitted himself creditably; the 
people of Evanston are in a large measure indebted to him for 
the law which makes the Sheridan road a possibility. It would 
subserve the public interest if he were returned to the next 
general assembly.* 

"Harvey B. Hurd, Esq., who came here before Evanston 
was, is not unknown in public life. In 187 1 he was one of a 
commission of three to revise the laws after the adoption of the 
present state constitution. On account of his fitness his asso- 
ciates on the commission burdened him with the work. The 
result of his labors is embodied in a volume known throughout 
the state as ' Hurd's Revision.' He has been for many years a 
professor in the law department of the Northwestern University. 
He served by appointment for a short term as a member of the 
board of county commissioners. 

" Mr. Hurd is a devoted believer in drainage, and his self- 
sacrificing spirit in endeavoring to provide adequate drainage 
for our village for the next hundred years, marks him as one of 
our most enterprising and public-spirited citizens. 

11 W. N. Brainard, a long time resident here, is perhaps 
one of the most widely known of our citizens. He was 
at one time a canal commissioner, and subsequently a most 
efficient member of the board of railroad and warehouse com- 
missioners ; he has recently contributed to the Chicago press 
several very readable articles on early life in California, replete 
with personal reminiscences. 

"James H. Raymond, Esq., well known to us all, a gradu- 
ate of Northwestern University, was for a time secretary of the 
railroad and warehouse commission, and he largely aided in 
framing the rules of that board. He is now engaged in the 



•Hon. Geo. S. Baker is still representing us at Springfield, May, 1891. 



I go A CLASSIC TOWN. 

practice of patent law, and as we are informed is doing a large 
business. 

11 Formally years Mr. Daniel Shepard (familiarly known as 
Dan) was identified with our village. He has been for 
time without mind secretary of the Republican state committee, 
and what he does not know about politics is not worth knowing. 
He is probably as well posted as any man in this country on its 
politics and public men. Dan is said to be tongue-tied ; he was 
talkative early in life, but when he became a man he put away 
childish things and adopted the idea that 'silence is golden.' 
Though afflicted as stated, his eyesight and hearing are unim- 
paired ; he can gather more and impart less than any one we 
know. It is this faculty coupled with a wonderfully retentive 
memory that makes him the general he is. To Mr. Shepard 
more than any other was the lamented Logan indebted for his 
election to the senate in 1885, such election being assured by the 
election of a Republican representative in an overwhelmingly 
Democratic district, through tactics admirably planned and 
successfully executed under Mr. Shepard's personal direction. 

"Judge Walter B. Scates, who resided in our village for 
several years preceding his death (which occurred three years 
ago), was at one time chief justice of the supreme court of Illi- 
nois. He, with another, compiled the statutes of Illinois after 
the adoption of the constitution of 1848, known as the 'Scates 
and Blackwell revision.' In 1S66 President Johnson appointed 
him collector of the port of Chicago. 

" Hon. Burton C. Cook, now residing in a lovely home 
overlooking the lake, was, before he became a resident of 
Evanston, a long time in public life. He was a member of the 
state senate from 1852 to i860. He was a member of the peace 
conference in 1861, by appointment of his old friend President 
Lincoln, and was representative in the thirty-ninth, fortieth 
and forty-first congresses, from 1864 to 1870. 

" So far as I recollect the above embraces all who have 
borne the burden of official life." 



& j&ttrtrent' » point of ITteto. 



Among the students of that elder day none were 
more esteemed than the two Strobridge brothers. 
They were strong in body and mind, self-supporting, 
genial, and devotedly in earnest. The elder brother 
is Rev. Dr. George E. Strobridge, now pastor of a 
Methodist Episcopal church in New York City. The 
younger, Rev. Thomas R. Strobridge, is pastor of the 
church in Princeton, Illinois. Mrs. M. M. Con well, 
known as the founder of our Union Hall Gospel Meet- 
ing, at the time of starting which she was president 
of Evanston Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 
is the mother of these two gifted and useful ministers ; 
and their sister, Mrs. B. F. Foster, is with us active 
in every good work. 

I wrote Rev. T. R. Strobridge for his experience, 
which is typical and will greatly encourage our young 
people who are " working their way." 

He says : 

"My going to Kvanston in 1861 I have always considered as 
a turn in the course of my life for which I could claim a 
providential guidance. Those were days of simplicity, com- 
pared with the present state of that renowned educational 
center ; days in which the fair present and mpre prosperous 
future were in anticipation. 

(19D 



192 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

" I was a clerk in a store in Cincinnati when Mr. Lincoln, in 
1861, passed through that city on his way to Washington. I 
can see myself yet as I walked across the city beside his car- 
riage, looking up into his good but homely face, while he stood 
bowing to the crowd, with his hand on a board that had been 
torn from a fence and laid across the carriage for his support 
On that day I went back to my employer, Mr. Shillito, the 
Marshall Field of Cincinnati, and told him that I was going to 
study for the ministry. He asked me if we had any creditable 
institutions in the Methodist Episcopal church for giving the 
necessary training to young men. I told him I knew of one, 
located at Evanston, Illinois, called the Garrett Biblical Insti- 
tute, to which I was going. He was a strong Presbyterian and 
kindly offered to send me to an institution in that denomina- 
tion, where he would pay the bills if I would enter that 
ministry. My poverty made this a tempting offer, but my 
father, up to his death, had been an official in Wesley Chapel, 
Cincinnati, and I had read what my Scotch grandfather called 
'Flatcher's Chacks.' So the financial temptation was over- 
come, and with ten dollars, which my employer gave me, as he 
said, 'For Christ's sake,* I paid my fare to Chicago, reaching 
Evanston early in May, 1861. My brother George had been 
there since the previous March. I had fifty dollars in my 
pocket which Rev. J. J. Mitchell had raised for me in the 
official board of Wesley Chapel without my knowledge, and 
on the recommendation of that board (required of us as intend- 
ing students of the Institute) I at once became a boarder with 
the other ' bibs ' in Brother A. C. Laugworthy's ecclesiastical 
hotel, at one dollar and seventy-five cents a week, for which 
amount I always felt assured Brother Langworthy rendered me 
a full equivalent. 

" Evanston was then a village with a few plain stores, com- 
fortable dwellings, a postoffice and one church, — an oblong, 
wooden structure, with papered walls and plain furniture. It 
stood on Church street in a grove, near the corner of Orrinsj- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 193 

ton avenue. Those were happy days, when we knew every 
one in the town, and all the Christians in the place filled up the 
"meeting house" during the pastorates of Brothers Tiffany, 
Bibbins, Dandy and Raymond, the latter of whom took Dr. 
Dempster's chair in the Institute, and gave us for three years 
strong and eloquent sermons, in which the students of Watson 
could see whence came the line of thought and the helping 
inspiration. A variety of pulpit ministration was furnished us 
by the distinguished visitors who tarried over the Sabbath. 

"At the time I became a citizen of Evanston there were, 
besides the church, but four public buildings, — the public school- 
house, the female college, presided over by Professor Jones, 
the frame building which stood opposite T. C. Hoag's home 
and bore the proud name of ' Northwestern University, ' and 
a building of similar proportions and dignity, located about 
half a mile farther north on the lake shore in the grove, which 
was the only Institute building, and within whose accommo- 
dating walls were the chapel, library, recitation rooms and the 
" biblical hotel " aforesaid. Here with about seventy students 
I was soon at home, trying to carry five studies. When I first 
took my seat in the chapel and swept my gaze about me I was 
amused at the coats of many colors which the students wore. 
But I grew sober as I observed the central figure upon the 
platform, — an aged man, not large of stature, with a genial, 
thoughtful face, wearing the same kind of a garment, made of 
dark red, figured calico. This was Dr. Dempster, whom I fre- 
quently saw afterwards working at his wood pile. There sat 
also Dr. Bannister, whose sturdy form, strong face and noble 
character were in perfect harmony ; Dr. Kidder, whose erect 
carriage denoted the courteous gentleman and methodical stu- 
dent; and Professor Hemenway, accurate, clear, industrious, 
and upright in form as in soul. He was my instructor and 
class leader. We met at his home. My brother George, Miss 
Katie Kidder, Miss Frances E. Willard and her sister Mary, 
who was so soon to end her "nineteen beautiful years," to- 



194 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

gether with other earnest-hearted young people, often gathered 
at his home to profit by the professor's spiritual counsels and 
elucidations of the Word. 

The fall of 1861 found me with an empty purse and a full 
conviction that I needed a better basis of college training as a 
foundation for a biblical finish. As the Northwestern University 
offers its advantages to students for the ministry free of charge, 
I turned my ambitions in that direction. I was fortunate 
enough to take the place of J. O. Foster as chore boy in Dr. 
Kidder's family, my work being considered an equivalent for 
my shelter and board. Here I remained for nearly two years, 
making myself useful in the garden, barn and at the wood 
pile. I was then under the superintendence of Professor 
Noyes, acting president of Northwestern University. He was 
above the medium stature, and slightly lame by reason of a stiff- 
ened knee. I can see that fine face now. His eyes were large 
and blue, his forehead high and correspondingly broad, and 
never did clay yield better to the moulding touches of thought 
and generous impulses from within, than it did in his benig- 
nant countenance. His coadjutors were Professor Bon bright, 
whose knowledge of the labyrinthine relations of the Latin 
subjunctive was truly marvelous in my eyes. Although he is 
rarely gifted as an instructor, his success in certain cases when 
he would impart a knowledge of that mood was, if my memory 
serves me now better than then, a little doubtful in some 
cases ! Professor Marcy, in the prime of his power, was soon 
placed over the scientific department. I used to think in those 
days that we were especially favored as pupils in having such 
willing and able instructors, and our classes being small, we 
received more individual attention than would have been 
possible in large and crowded institutions. 

" When I left Dr. Kidder's I went to housekeeping with sev- 
eral other bachelors in the top story of the University building, 
now used as a preparatory department, having been moved up 
to the classic grove, My domestic companions were my 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 1 95 

brother George, Robert Bently, L. H. Pearce and James 
Swormstedt. My brother and I were janitors of the building, 
for which we received two dollars per week. Upon this we 
lived. Our supply of meat was rather limited and our supply 
of meal mush was rather large. Miss Rebecca Hoag made us 
welcome visits with pastry, which her generous mother had 
prepared and sent. For two years we thus and there subsisted. 
When we heard Mr. Lincoln's last call for troops, the summer 
vacation being near, we made up a company among the stu- 
dents, and taking Alphonso C. Linn, one of our tutors, as captain, 
we went into the army and remained in the service until the 
war closed in 1865, which gave us six mouths' military experi- 
ence. Our noble captain, however, never returned, having died 
of typhoid fever. Upon coming back in the fall, George 
became a tutor in the university, and I, having broken a colt 
of Dr. Kidder's, began on the Sabbaths my first pastoral labors, 
riding over to Bowmanville. This enabled me to occupy a 
room in Heck Hall, which was opened in 1866, and to take my 
meals at the hotel. I graduated at the university in the spring 
of 1867. I then went to New York City, where I labored in 
the city mission work and attended the Union Theological 
Seminary, but the more I heard of Calvinism the less I liked 
it I was very grateful, however, to those who permitted me 
to attend the lectures of Dr. William T. Shedd, Dr. Edward 
Hitchcock and Dr. Smith, in that worthy institution. I re- 
turned to Evanston and graduated at Garrett Biblical Institute 
in 1868. The manner in which the way opened before me 
causes me to conclude that any young person in this country 
who desires an education may expect providential assistance 
in that honorable endeavor. 

" It was my pleasure during those years to witness the build- 
ing of Heck Hall, and be among the first to enjoy one of those 
new and comfortable apartments, which were furnished by the 
ladies of the different churches of the northwest. Also during 
those seven jears the stately central stone building of the uni- 



10 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

versify arose ia the beautiful grow. Pleasant memories do I 
cherish of those students ; of those wise, cultured. Christian 
gentlemen, who were our instructors; of those kindly citizens, 
who sought to kuow and help the students who were tempo- 
rarily among them ; of those officials in the church, who, with 
their families, fostered and furthered our interests ; Messrs. 
Haskin, Hoag,. Vane, Eeveridge, Pearsons, DeCoudres, Rey- 
nolds, Clifford, Judson and others ; the latter three of whom 
have passed onward, while some of their loved ones still re- 
main. With the good people of Evanston during those seven 
years, I was permitted to mingle as a student, a believer, and a 
citizen. That was also the period of the great war. With 
them my soul was moved by the gathering and marching of 
armies, the shock of awful battles, the assassination of our 
great Lincoln, the fear for our sacred institutions, and the final 
glorious hour of victory." 




Hetters from ©ran Uanrroft attir ©can 

£2>attfortr. 



After much importunity, as her life is one of great 
pre-occupation, Dean Jane M. Bancroft, Ph. D.,* fur- 
nishes her reminiscences. Her years of study in 
Europe and the devoted work she is now doing for 
women in the Methodist Episcopal church, and as 
author of a most helpful book on ' ' Deaconesses in 
Europe and Their Lessons for America/ * have evi- 
dently not at all interfered with this gifted woman's 
clear memory of her active and helpful work in 
Evanston. 

My Dear Miss Willard: It is not neglect that has so long 
delayed the answer to your request to write you a few impres • 
sions of the eight years that I was dean of the Woman's college 
at Evanston. Neither are the impressions slight ones. So 
long a period of one's active life maintains its well-defined 
place in memory. Before going I had corresponded with you. 
and had formed one of the three at the first interview of pro- 
phetic forecast at Sing Sing when three successive deans of the 
Woman's college met for the first time, yourself, Nellie Soule* 
and myself. How curiously girlhood names sound in later life, 
but Mrs. Carhart evidently remembers the interview in that 
way as she has set the fashion of using the name. 



• Now Mrs. George Robinson, of Detroit, Mich. 

(197) 



I98 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

I reached Bvanston j ust at a transition period . The Woman ' s 
college had been occupied four years and a term. For a year 
and a term you had reigned in the building that had claimed 
so much of your love and loyalty from its origin to its comple- 
tion. For two years Miss Soule* had given the best of her time, 
talent and ripe experience to like duties. Then came Mrs. 
Sanford who occupied the position for a year before I entered 
upon the office at the opening of the college year of 1877. The 
largest number of girls who had been inmates of the college 
building up to that date in any one session was thirty-two or 
thirty-four. 

The university was weighted by a heavy debt and its very 
existence threatened by a lawsuit which was dragging its slow 
length along. Dr. Marcy was the president, a man to whom 
the university owes an amount of grateful thanks that can not 
well be computed in the ordinary returns of commercial life. 
Whenever an emergency arose he stood ready to sacrifice his 
personal tastes and preferences, and to fit into any place that 
would best serve the institution with which the work of his 
life was associated. As to what a college for women ought to 
be there was a wide diversity of view, a diversity that was 
reflected in the opinions of the people of the town, in the 
mothers who brought their daughters to the college, and in 
the young women themselves ; such a diversity as invariably 
marks the transition stages of a new enterprise. 

In the decade of years and longer that has elapsed since 
then public opinion has crystallized into a more definite con- 
sciousness. The successful experiences of Vassar, Smith and 
Wellesley have shown that a college of high grade can be com- 
bined with a more immediate care and personal interest in 
young woman students than is wont to be exercised at colleges 
for men only. At the period of which I write, however, it was 
not unusual for a mother to ask me if teachers accompanied 
the young ladies in their walks, if the bureau drawers of the 
students were inspected at regular intervals, and if the Saturday 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 199 

mending was under some one's supervision. The next visitor 
might be an independent young woman who would introduce 
herself by announcing with plain decisiveness that she had 
come for college work only and desired no limitations that 
were not equally imposed upon young men. The dean had 
sympathy with the general principles thus stated, but found 
they had slight practical application in the social life of a 
building'a very small minority of whose inmates were students 
in regular college standing. 

I well remember the faculty meetings of the College of 
Liberal Arts. With what hesitant step I at first entered the pres- 
ident's room, the only woman present in that faculty of able 
and experienced professors, the majority of whom had been 
associated wkh the institution for years ! Very pleasant mem- 
ories are stowed away among my mental treasures, of the words 
and deeds belonging to those meetings. Then I count it an 
unusual privilege to have had such close familiarity during so 
many years with college usages and requirements. I learned, 
too, that self-sacrifice and denial enter into the lives of all 
connected with large interests affecting the welfare of others, 
for whenever an emergency arose the professors had an oppor- 
tunity to relieve the straitened circumstances of the institution 
by relinquishing a portion of their salaries. Meanwhile, as 
time passed on the outlook became more promising. The 
supreme court decided the lawsuit in favor of the university. 
The students quickly responded to the good news ; they ex- 
pended their enthusiasm in rockets and bonfires, and still 
having a surplus, formed a procession and marched to the 
president's house. They were greatly elated by obtaining a 
speech from Dr. Marcy, who, as report goes, shares the disin- 
clination that General Grant had for "words, mere words." 
Coming down to the Woman's college they asked the dean to 
voice some sentiments that should express the general joy. 
The short speech that followed cost the one who made it far 
greater effort than more elaborate ones that have followed since 



200 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

then, bnt the good will of the hearer compensated for the 
defects of the endeavor. 

Four years passed away and Dr. Cummings came to ns. 
Immediately new life and vigor were breathed into all portions 
of the university system. The great debt that was standing as 
an obstacle to any progressive effort must be lifted. The era 
of beneficence had arisen. A united effort upon the part of 
those who gave with princely generosity through all gradations 
of contributions to those to whom the smallest sums were as 
the "widow's mite," wiped away the indebtedness that had so 
long paralyzed growth. One improvement after another fol- 
lowed. Special departments were strengthened. The teaching 
force increased, and the university began to assume an appear- 
ance of progressive activity in distinction from the condition of 
merely holding its own. Students were attracted in larger 
numbers. This would have been the case in some degree from 
the added population and wealth that during these years were 
rapidly adding to the resources of the patronizing territory, but 
the added attractions and resources of the university had their 
share in the increase. Four years more passed on. The num- 
ber of girls in the Woman's college had increased to an average 
of between fifty and sixty, as the figures show in the records 
kept by the dean. 

The college cottage, that valuable and indispensable adjunct 
of the college life, had enlarged its accommodations until from 
fifteen or sixteen, over thirty girls were accommodated. A 
band of noble women were those with whom I used to meet at 
the monthly gatherings. Convinced that there must be some 
way provided by which girls in limited circumstances could 
have a home with suitable environments, the women connected 
with the board labored unobtrusively but indefatigably to this 
end. No one, not within the small circle of administration, can 
realize the patient, unwearied efforts of years, that have been 
needed to produce the results of the present time. I have in mind 
some of the students that have been there; now useful, busy worn- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 201 

en, filling places of trust and importance. Such women, both of 
the college and cottage, I am constantly meeting, and when they 
recall a word or act of mine that has combined with the num- 
berless other lines of influence that have made them what they 
are, I feel that I am obtaining the real reward for much labor 
and endeavor that went into my life at Evanston. It gives a 
sense of permanence, as of something surviving out of the 
fleeting years ; a strong enthusiasm to work in the present 
with a prophetic hopefulness that the "good that is desired 
shall one day become real." 

Such, my dear Miss Willard, are some of the reflections 
that come to me as, at your request, I review the eight years 
and more that I occupied the office of dean in a university for 
which I wish all noble prosperity in its high mission of uplifting 
the civilization of our times. 

Yours very truly, 

Jane M. Bancroft. 

Mrs. A. E. Sanford was dean of the Woman's 
college, and at my request sends her recollections : 

Ei,oomington, Illinois, Oct. 19. 
My Dear Miss Willard: I gladly give you a few lines 
concerning the eventful year 1875-6, when, as dean of the 
Woman's college of Northwestern University, it was my privi- 
lege to follow you in the educational work. It was not my 
good fortune to meet you there, since you were absent most 
of that year with Mr. Moody in the east. This has always been 
a regret to me, but as I turn the pages of the past, memory 
lingers very lovingly over the pleasant days spent in that 
charming village of classic fame, Evanston, beautiful for situa- 
tion on the shore of fair Lake Michigan. My eyes wandered 
frequently from my class room to the blue waters which spark- 
led and danced not far away, and no walk was so restful as 
that within the campus, beside the lake. 



202 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Many who were very near and dear appear at memory's 
roll-call, but I can mention only a few of the faithful friends 
or the many attractions which made Evanston for me, as it has 
been for many, a charmed spot. I shall mention first Mrs. 
Bishop Hamline, whose saintly face was enshrined with its 
circling halo of silver hair. From her lovely home the door 
to heaven seemed always ajar, and beautiful glimpses of "the 
better country " did we, who were accustomed to gather there 
on Sabbath and Thursday afternoons, gain as we talked of the 
way to the "prepared mansion." Mrs. Hamline's words were 
an inspiration and a benediction, and many a young soul has 
been equipped for its warfare from her strong words of help- 
fulness. There Christians learned to tread more surely the 
restful paths of peace, and many from her lips learned the way 
to the "celestial city," whither she has since gone. Here i 
frequently met Mrs. Mary B. Willard, Mrs. Elizabeth Wheeler 
Andrew, and Dr. Kate Bushnell. At Nashville, with the latter 
two, I reviewed the Evanston days of 1876 and 1877 and recalled 
many of their scenes. 

Here I frequently met dear Mrs. Arza Brown, who realized 
Cicero's beautiful ideal of old age, not permitted to become 
wearisome or inactive. Her constant contact with the great 
minds of every age made her a delightful and instructive com- 
panion. Delighting herself with untangling the misty thoughts 
of classic lore, she freely shared with others the treasures she 
gained by diligent effort. A student to her death, with mind 
clear and vigorous, with heart sunny and warm, she was one 
of the strong attractions to Mrs. I. R. Hitt's home, where I 
always found the latchstring out. This was one of my resting 
places when weary in spirit, and here I never failed to find the 
helpfulness of loving sympathy. My thought turns ever fondly 
to this pleasant home and its genial, cultured mistress. 

Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller contributed much to the 
cheeriness of my college home, by transferring to it some of 
the fragrance and beauty of her own home, in choice plants, 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 203 

which were a continual delight. A box of ferns, in which, un- 
expected, one plant after another appeared, a constant surprise 
and joy, reminded me of her own beautiful character, in which 
new beauties and graces every day appeared to surprise and 
charm. This ideal woman, in her ideal home, was a comfort 
and a joy, and I count it one of my life's greatest blessings to 
have known her, and enjoyed her friendship. What Monday's 
dinners, which her own deft hands had prepared, have I rel- 
ished with her! Always neat and attractive at home, busy 
with her literary work a large part of each day, but devoting 
herself to her husband and boys in the evening, her artistic 
taste and touch making her home a bower of beauty, where 
rest awaited the weary ones. Alas ! that the family circle is 
broken, and the strong, true heart that beat in accord with hers, 
is still. 

Dr. Kate Bushnell was one of my helpers there, a mission- 
ary in spirit as much as when she carried her message of 
Christ's love to China's benighted women. Constantly seeking 
to uplift and help those whose acquaintance with Christ was 
more limited than hers, she was often found among the college 
girls, drawing them to a higher, purer life of real happiness and 
usefulness. On Sabbath evenings, she, with Mrs. Andrew, often 
led the girls' prayer-meetings in my room. 

I have pleasant memories also of your brother Oliver, who 
placed his valuable library of American history at my disposal 
to aid me in my Junior class work. Our plan was to study by 
topics without text books, and we ransacked the university 
library for information in this work, which was full of fascina- 
tion for us all. Your brother's library, in this department, was 
a treasure-house of rich stores. This was the winter also when 
he came to Christ, and I was impressed by his earnest- 
ness as he sought to atone for "lost opportunities." Surely 
God permitted him to lead many to Himself before He called 
him home ! I recall your dear old mother also, as I heard her 
speak frequently in the church prayer-meetings ; Bishop Harris, 



204 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

as he stood before "my girls" one Friday afternoon to tell 
them of the women of heathen lands and the debt of American 
women to them ; Professor Hemenway, as he skillfully unrav- 
eled the meaning of God's word to his attentive Bible class of 
Sunday afternoons ; Professor and Mrs. Marcy and' their genial 
home surroundings ; Professor Cumnock, whom it has been 
my good fortune to meet and enjoy in other places, as I did 
then in my visits to his class room. Here I met and enjoyed 
one of my girlhood's friends, Mrs. Cornelia Lord, who, like 
myself, had exchanged her New England home for one in tie 
Prairie State. 

I recall the missionary meetings in the Methodist church, 
and the eager enthusiasm of the women. I recall many young 
men and women whom I have followed with loving interest as 
they have gone out into life's active work, some to foreign 
fields, some to positions of honor and dignity here, and I count 
no year of my life more favored than the one spent in Evans- 
ton, Chicago's classic suburb, blessed with thateity's privileges, 
but free from her vices and perils. Thinking of the grand 
women who have gone out from Evanston to push forward the 
world's grand enterprises, I am constrained to believe that 
the atmosphere of this village by the lake is favorable to 
the development of heroic qualities. Scanning the achieve- 
ments of Evanston' s clear- brained, brave-hearted sons and 
daughters, I pray earnestly, "Long live and prosper this home 
of refinement and culture and devotion." May she be in the 
future, as in the past, the refuge and resting-place of heroic 
souls, who shall go out to do valiant service for God and hu- 
manity. I remain as ever, sincerely yours, 

A. E. Sanford. 



It 



©tit ILfotattes-* 



NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, 

The history of the library dates from the beginning 
of the university. The first circular of the university, 
issued in 1856, speaks of a certain appropriation to 
" be expended during the current year in books for a 
library.' ' An early catalogue states that " it is acces- 
sible to all students." From the first the policy has 
been, a university library used but not abused. 
Through the years the number of volumes has been 
increased until the library contains (May 31, 1891,) 
twenty-four thousand one hundred and sixteen bound 
volumes and many thousand pamphlets. In 1869, 
Luther L. Greenleaf, of Evanston, purchased the 
library of Hon. Johann Schulze, Ph. D., Member of 
the Prussian Ministry of Public Instruction, from his 
heirs, and presented it to the university. About half 
of this library of eleven thousand volumes and nearly 
as many pamphlets pertains to classical philology ; it 
contains a notable collection of the Greek and Latin 
classics, early and late, and in many editions. In 
1878, William Deering and L. J. Gage purchased and 



♦Furnished by Miss I<odilla Ambrose, assistant librarian. 

(205) 



206 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

presented to the university a portion of the library of 
the late Oliver A. Willard, devoted to local and state 
histories and political science. The library of the late 
Professor Henry S. Noyes was purchased and added to 
the university library in 1872. 

The Orrington Lunt Library Fund is the gift of the 
gentleman whose name it bears. In 1865 Mr. Lunt 
conveyed to the university one hundred and fifty -seven 
acres of land in North Evanston, to be known as the 
Orrington Lunt endowment property. At the time 
the gift was made the laud was worth about fifteen 
thousand dollars. A portion of the land was sold for 
about eleven thousand five hundred dollars, and that 
part of the property which is now on hand is valued at 
one hundred and twelve thousand dollars. Some 
money has been expended on account of the land ; 
May i, 1S91, there had been paid for books out of 
money from this fund, eight thousand seven hundred 
ninety -five dollars and fifty-five cents ; and at the pres- 
ent time there is four thousand six hundred ninety- 
three dollars and twenty -one cents to the credit of the 
fund. The library will always be indebted to Mr. 
Lunt for his friendship and for his generous gift. 

The library occupies three rooms on the third floor 
of University Hall, the reading room and the general 
library room being combined in one. One hundred 
and twenty periodicals and newspapers are regularly 
received and filed in the reading room, where they are 
accessible to all students, A collection of reference 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 207 

books is kept in open shelves. The library is open 
forty -one hours a week, and students are permitted to 
draw books for use in their rooms. Students are con- 
stantly assisted in their researches, and they are en- 
couraged to make use of the large collections of the 
Newberry and. Chicago public libraries. It is the 
aim of the administration of their college library to 
make them intelligent and ready users of books. 

GARRETT BIBLICAL INSTITUTE LIBRARY. 

This library of about five thousand volumes is the 
result of the growth of years. It is located in Memo- 
rial Hall and the trend of the collection is theological. 
Its policy is to give the students the freest possible 
use of the library proper and the reading room. The 
Rev. Drs. T. M. Eddy and D. P. Kidder have made 
considerable gifts of books. H. B. Hemenway , M. D. , 
has recently presented to the library the hymnological 
collection of his father, the late Rev. Dr. F. D. Hem- 
enway. Dr. Hemenway was librarian at the time of 
his death, and had held that position for many years. 
Rev. Dr. Milton S. Terry now fills that offi.ce. The 
library contains some works worthy of special note: — 
the Migne Patrology in three hundred and eighty- 
eight volumes ; the Brian Walton Polyglot in eight 
volumes; the new photographic fac-simile of the Codex 
Vaticanus presented by William Deering. Garrett 
Biblical Institute is every year becoming better 



208 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

equipped with the books needed as auxiliaries in the 
study of the Book of books. 

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 

The Evanston library Association, organized in 
1870, was the forerunner of the Free Public Library. 
Under its auspices a library containing about nine 
hundred volumes was opened February 9, 1871. The 
use of the library for reference was free, and any resi- 
dent of Evanston could draw out books on the pay- 
ment of an annual fee of five dollars. The largest 
gift to the new enterprise, five hundred and seventy- 
five dollars, was made by Luther L. Greenleaf. 

In 1872 the Legislature passed an act enabling the 
municipal corporation of Illinois to establish free pub- 
lic libraries, and in April, 1873, at the first election 
after the passage of the act, the citizens of Evanston 
voted the two-mill tax for the public library. The 
first Board of Directors consisted of J. H. Kedzie, L- 
L. Greenleaf, Thomas Freeman, L. H. Boutell, J. S. 
Jewell, Samuel Greene, E. S. Taylor, O. A. Willard, 
Andrew Shuman. To them the Evanston Library 
Association transferred its books and other property, 
on condition that the library be maintained as a free 
public library for the citizens of the village of Evans- 
ton. The library was opened under the new regime, 
July 3, 1873. 

The present Board of Directors are N. C. Gridley, 
president, L. H. Boutell, C. A. Rogers, J. S. Currey, 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 



209 



J. H. Thompson, W. A. Lord. The library occupies 
_ rooms on Sherman avenue near Davis street ; it is open 
afternoons and evenings three days in the week, and 
it contained (May 1, 1891) 9,609 volumes. In 1890 
the incomefrom taxation was $2,950. New books are 
added each month to the several departments of the 
library. Miss Mary Morse is librarian. 




ftije 29egplaineses ©amp (Svotmtt. 



Old time Evanstonians were devoted to "Des- 
plaines." We used to go over to that blessed gospel 
camp ground in big wagons, packed with household 
goods and good householders, singing hymns on the 
way , and setting at vork to fix up a tent or cottage when 
we got there, with all the zest of youth and goodfellow- 
ship. We used to promenade around the circle, when 
on big platforms of turf the evening fires were lighted, 
and think as they gleamed upon the under edge of the 
great forest trees, decked in their livery of green, that 
Paradise need hardly be more beautiful. Holiness 
seemed easy as we watched the holy stars so high 
above the sheltering trees, and the world seemed to 
our young hearts like a sweet and tranquil place, a* 
we heard, in the deep twilight of the quiet woods, the 
liquid notes of whip-poor-wills. Kind faces smiled 
upon us, earnest voices spoke of God, and like a 
heavenly orchestra the great congregation poured 
forth its grateful heart in that endeared old hymn : 

" Come, thou fount of every blessing, 
Tune my heart to sing thy praise." 

Every house in the great circle was a home to us ; 
every face in the perched up "preachers* stand " was 

(210) 




T. C. 1IOAG. 



JOHN I. BKVHRIDGB. 





r 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 211 

a friend's face ; the kindly figures at the front, beside 
whom we loved to kneel in prayer and sympathetic 
counsel, though ourselves young in the sweet Chris- 
tian life, were often familiar figures of Sunday-school 
scholars, public school pupils, or comrades of those 
pleasant years. 

So much a part of Evanston has Desplaines camp 
meeting ever been that some record of its origin is 
here in place. To many of us no figure stands out 
quite so clearly as that of Elder Boring, then in the 
zenith of his powers, genial, active and devoted, as he 
took his place of leadership in that odd old "preach- 
ers* stand,' ' and blew the horn for services to begin, 
its explosive notes calling us from grove and riverside 
to our hard seats in the primitive but delightful 
auditorium. 

From an interesting sketch of the Desplaines camp- 
meeting, dictated to a stenographer, I quote what 
Elder Boring says concerning its origin : 

" In 1857 I was transferred to the Rock River conference. 
When I came to the district the first thing I met with was that 
there was a great desire to have a camp-meeting. That was in 
i860. Some initial steps had been taken by the people for a Chi- 
cago district camp-meeting. A committee had been appointed to 
select a place. The first thing I did was to act with that commit- 
tee in selecting a place for the Chicago district camp-meeting. 
I continued to reside in Waukegan until the fall of i860, and I 
naturally wanted to locate the camp-meeting on the lake shore. 
Among other places, I looked at the present site of Lake Bluff 
with that committee. I liked Winnetka; and I wanted tha, 



212 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

camp-meeting located there,— on the lake shore at Winnetka ; 
that was my personal preference. When the people of the 
district met to fix on the plaoe for the camp-meeting, they were 
called to assemble at Desplaines. This had been arranged 
before I came on to the district, and it was voted to have the 
camp-meeting located at Desplaines, and ground was secured 
of Squire Rand (I do not remember his first name), on his 
farm. It was there we held the first camp-meeting, in 
August, i860. 

"We continued on those old grounds five consecutive 
years. It was then determined to purchase the present site, as 
now occupied by the Desplaines camp-ground ; and then T. C. 
Hoag, Esq., of Evanston, came in as one of the trustees. He 
was living in Chicago at the time, and I think was one of the 
committee that made the original purchase. George F. Foster 
may have lived here in Evanston then. He was a very active 
man, a trustee, one of the committee on the old ground, and one 
of the trustees that bought the new ground where the camp-meet- 
ing is now held. He was the father of Frank Foster, who lives 
here now. T. C. Hoag became very prominent as one of the 
trustees, and has remained continually in trusteeship, I think, 
from that time to this ; and Evanston has continued to give the 
full weight of its influence in behalf of the old Desplaines 
camp-meetings. ' ' 



tfersonalta. 



GKRINGTON LUNT, DISCOVERER OF EVANSTON. 

Of Mr. Orrington Lunt it should be said that from 
the first he has been a member of the Executive Com- 
mittee, and from 1875 first vice-president of the board 
of trustees of Northwestern University. He has been 
one of the trustees of Garrett Biblical Institute and its 
secretary and treasurer from the beginning. He has 
superintended the erection of its buildings, and given 
himself to the institutions at Evanston as if thev were 
his own children. After the fire, when he was burnt 
out in home and business, his first thought seemed to 
be to save the books of the Institute and University, 
and he went at once to the Rock River conference 
which was in session a day or two after the fire, and 
made such statements about the needs of the schools 
at Evanston, as to give an impetus to Northwestern 
Methodism on that subject, and to secure substantial 
iielp in the hour of darkness. He was, at this time, 
placed on the executive committee of the Chicago 
Relief, and devoted himself to public interests with 
the enthusiasm that most men bring to private inter- 
ests alone. He is a typical Methodist of the old 

213) 



214 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

regime, a man of unblemished record in every partis 
ular, of benignant aspect and great modesty of char- 
acter. Had he been like most men of his merit in 
respect of the qualities that seek or compel public at- 
tention, he would to-day have been a man of wide 
reputation outside his own church, as he certainly is 
within its pleasant borders. He began in Chicago as 
one of the earliest pioneers in the grain trade, and has 
helped to develop the city along the line of its highest 
and best purposes. Orrington Lunt was born in 
Bowdoinham, Maine, 24th December, 1815. His 
father, William Lunt, was a merchant, one of the lead- 
ing citizens of the place, and a member of the state 
legislature. Orrington is descended in a direct line 
from the family of Henry Lunt, Newburyport, Mass., 
who emigrated to the United States from England, 
in 1635. He was at one time president and treasurer 
of the' board of water commissioners, Chicago. 
In 1865 he went abroad with his family, and spent 
two years in foreign travel. He was one of the early 
members of the trustee board of Clark street M. E. 
church, and has given liberally to all the differ- 
ent enterprises of Methodism in Chicago. Mr. Lunt 
discovered Evanston, as is recited in the opening 
chapter of this book, and no one man's name is more 
indissolubly connected with the history of the univer- 
sity during its first thirty years. He was a leading 
member of the Committee of Safety -and War Finance 
organized in Chicago after the fail of Fort Sumtei; 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 215 

was prominent in starting the first regiment from the 
city, and was present at Fort Sumter when, four years 
later, the old flag was flung to the breeze in its rightful 
place once more. For some years, Mr. Lunt was vice- 
president of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, 
now merged in the famous ' ' Northwestern. ' ' By a 
large gift of land in North Evanston (one hundred 
and fifty-seven acres, fifty-four of which still remain 
unsold and will constitute an endowment) he has 
founded the Orrington Lunt library Fund of the uni- 
versity, besides making numerous other gifts. He 
has been twice a lay delegate from Rock River to the 
General Conference, and a member of the Methodist 
Ecumenical Council held in London in 1881. 

His domestic record is brief, as happy ones are apt 
to be. On the 16th of January, 1842, he married 
Cornelia A., daughter of Hon. Samuel Gray, a leading 
attorney in his native town of Bowdoinham, who 
served as Republican senator, and member of the Gov- 
ernor's Council of the State, and was prominently 
identified with commercial pursuits dnring the whole 
of his adult life. Mr. Lunt has two sons, Horace, a 
graduate of Harvard University, an attorney of rising 
prominence, and George, a sturdy* business man. 
His only daughter, the accomplished Miss Cornelia G. 
Lunt, seems to have inherited her fathers philan* 
thropic nature, and is foremost in good words and 
works relating to philanthropic, intellectual and artis* 
tic progress in Chicago and Evanston. Mr. Luat live* 



216 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

in peace and honor at Lis beautiful lake shore home L- 
Evanston, still active in the enterprises of the church 
and town. We may truthfully claim for him not the 
dazzling brightness of literary or Christian genius, but 
the steady mild light of persistent effort, sterling in- 
tegrity, and unweariness in well-doing, while around 
all his acts has shone the radiant glow of true Chris- 
tian charity toward men. 

DR. JOHN EVANS, CHIEF AMONG THE EARLY FOUNDERS. 

Ex-Governor John Evans, whose name is insepa- 
rably associated with our town, is of Quaker ancestry, 
and Ohio nativity. He was born in Waynesville, 
Ohio, in 1814 ; studied medicine, and graduated from 
the medical department of Cincinnati College in 1838. 
He lived in Attica, Indiana, acquiring a large practice 
in his profession. But it was in the town of Delphi, 
Ohio, that Bishop Simpson found him, and Mrs. Simp- 
son has told me the story in this way : 

" There was a bright doctor in that village, — a 
widower with a lovely little daughter, Josephine. 
He had . come from Ohio and was a Hicksite Friend 
by education. He was not, however, a Christian, 
but of a speculative mind, as men of his stamp are 
apt to be. He went out to hear Rev. Dr. Simpson 
— as my husband was then called — give his lecture 
on education, and he took a remarkable liking to 
the lecturer, so much so that he went to h^.ar him 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 217 

preach next day. The tender, earnest words of the 
sermon wrought upon the physician still more, and 
he proposed to go on with ' the Old Doc ' (as Matthew 
Simpson was playfully called by his friends), which he 
did, traveling with him three days, -and thus began a 
devoted friendship between these two ardent natures, 
one that deepened with the years. Dr. Evans — for it 
was he — came to our next commencement, at Green- 
castle, Ind., and after hearing my husband's bacca- 
laureate sermon, he said to me, ' Tha't man's words 
make my ears ring with the name of God.' Hebe- 
came a Christian and joined the Methodist church. My 
husband felt that a man of intellect like him should 
have a larger field, and urged him to come to Chicago, 
which he did in 1848, investing in real estate and soon 
ceasing to practice medicine. Then followed the great 
enterprise at Evanston — which, by the way, Dr. Evans 
asked my husband's permission to name for him, but 
Mr. Simpson felt that the new village should be named 
for Dr. Evans." 

He occupied a chair in Rush Medical College for 
eleven years, and was in 1852-53 chairman of Chicago's 
Committee on Public Schools, laying, the foundations 
of that magnificent system of education. In council 
with Bishop Simpson he led the contest for lay repre- 
sentation in the General Conference of the M. E. 
Church, calling the convention in Chicago for the 
promotion of that cause. He has been a member of 
every General Conference since laymen were admitted. 



2l8 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

In 1862, through the active influence of Bishop Simp- 
son and his friendship with President Lincoln, Dr. 
Evans was made Governor of Colorado. Here he at 
once began organizing troops for the war, young and 
sparsely settled as the country was. Bishop Ames 
organized the Colorado Conference in 1863. Oliver 
A. Willard had been appointed pastor at Denver city, 
having been invited by Bishops Simpson and Ames 
and Governor Evans to enter that difficult field. Gov- 
ernor Evans has been the father of Methodism in Col- 
orado and has contributed besides his munificent gifts 
to churches there, one hundred thousand dollars each 
to Northwestern and Denver universities. 

He is now seventyiseven years of age, but active as 
ever, and since he went to Colorado, he has constantly 
grown along the line of his greatest genius, which 
was as a man of affairs. He has a sixth sense for 
large capitalistic movements. He built the South 
Park railroad, the Texas and Gulf railroad, two cable 
roads in the city of Denver, and is now building an 
electric. He early set the keynote for the metropolitan 
and magnificent city which Denver has grown to be. 
He is the founder of its great university, and president 
of its board of trustees, as well as since the founding 
of the university at Evanston, president of the board of 
trustees here. His munificence to both institutions is 
well known. He has built a church in Denver as a 
memorial of his beloved daughter Josephine, Mrs. 
Governor Elbert, and given largely to other churches 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 219 

i>f his own denomination. The newspapers in Denver 
call him the * ' Grand Old Man, ' ' and on his return from 
some great business exploits when he had "put 
through n some financial measure of vast importance 
to the city, the horses were taken from his carriage, 
and it was drawn through the streets by the applaud- 
ing populace. 

I am informed by Mr. O. Lunt (who tol \ me with 
the characteristic twinkle in his eye) that Mrs. 
Margaret Evans (Mrs. Lunt's sister) is the person who 
gave final form to the name of Chicago's classic 
suburb. "I know you will rejoice that a woman 
named the Woman's Paradise," said that good man, 
and so I do. 

ONE OP OUR PIONEERS — MAJOR EDWARD H. MULPORD. 

Evanston has been remarkable from the beginning 
for pronounced individualities among its men and 
women. My good friend, Mr. Hesler, will say that it 
is 4< contrary to experience " when I affirm that nega- 
tives have been few and photographs many, but of 
negatives in character Evanston has been less prolific 
than any town of its size with which -I have been con- 
versant. Perhaps this is because of the clear-cut out- 
line and emphatic color set before Evanstonians in the 
types of early days. Among these, none ' * stood out " 
more strongly than Major E. H. Mulford, of Oakton, 
better known to moderns as the neighborhood of the 
Kirk homestead, which was once the Major's home. 



220 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Chicago was nothing but a cluster of trading 
houses in the midst of the swamps when he first 
appeared upon the scene and predicted that this 
lowland settlement would become the "Queen City 
of the West." Men laughed at him then, but "he 
laughs best who laughs last," and the grand old 
pioneer who heard the cow-bells tinkle in the 
pasture on what is now our Court House square, 
lived to see his every prophecy not only fulfilled, but 
vastly outrun by the solid facts of the magic city's 
greatness. Born in New Jersey, in 1792, he had a 
quiet life until, on becoming of age, he went to Fre- 
donia, Pa., and soon afterwards to Philadelphia. 
Still later he moved to Chautauqua County, N. Y., 
and as an enthusiast in the militia service and a 
master spirit in those "training days of which the 
present generation knows so little, he acquired the 
honorable title of Major. In this capacity he was 
appointed escort to General LaFayette, and he re- 
tained a delightful memory of that great man, con- 
cerning whom I have heard my mother say that, as a 
girl, she used to sing with her enthusiastic mates : 

" We bow not the neck and we bend not the knee, 
But our hearts, LaFayette, we surrender to thee." 

In 1835, when forty-three years old, Major Mul- 
ford came to Chicago with his family and built a log 
house on what is now called Kinzie street. He and his 
sons started the first jewelry store in the West during 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 221 

the five years he remained in the city. But the Major 
had pre-empted, at one dollar and twenty-five cents 
per acre, two sections of government land southwest 
of Evanston, on which, about 1840, he built a log 
house, and called the place Ridgeville, by which name 
it was known for many years. This appellation was 
later changed for Oakton — a name that it is a pity to 
lose from our local gazetteer. Indeed, if our South 
Evanston neighbors will change theirs — which may 
they determine not to do — they would outrank us 
in chronological distinction by naming their beau- 
tiful village Oakton. Inasmuch as it is so largely 
located on land once owned by him, there would be 
special appropriateness in this designation. When 
the Major moved to Oakton, the country was full of 
Indians, and directly through his land ran the long 
trail from Milwaukee to Chicago. His log house, 
30x40 feet, was the scene of the first court held in 
Cook county, for he was the first justice here ap- 
pointed ; and the earliest agricultural labors per- 
formed within a mile of the present town of Evanston 
were his, for he was a Cincinnatus in cast of mind and 
mode of life. The two sections of land that he first 
" took up, M as the phrase is, were afterward increased 
to three, and one was sold in later years for three 
thousand dollars per acre. Mr. Thomas Hoyne, who 
was long associated with Major Mulford in business 
and social relations, used to relate an incident of the 
manner in which the first justice's court was held at 



222 A CMlSSTC TOWN. 

Oakton House, which was hotel as well as home. 
There being no room for the jury in the house, the 
trial was held in the open air, Major Mulford being the 
presiding magistrate and Mr% Hoyne defending the 
prisoner at the bar. Before this honest judge* have 
pleaded many of Chicago's foremost lawyers, when 
they were mere striplings in years and sprigs of juris- 
prudence. He was an enthusiast in politics, and in 
the early days his name was the war-cry that called 
the Democratic hosts to caucus, convention and ballot- 
box. Had his health held out, he would doubtless 
have become distinguished in public life, but after 
1850 it did not permit him to hazard the rigors of 
political warfare. 

As everybody knows among "old timers/ ' Major 
Mulford was a man of pure life and chivalric nature, a 
philanthropist in temperament and a Christian in 
faith, one of the founders of the Baptist ehurch and a 
deacon therein from the date of its founding until, in 
1878, he died at the age of eighty-six. His two sons 
went South and died there ; his only daughter Anna 
( Mrs. Gibbs) was one of the brightest and most genial 
ladies ever known to Evanston. Major Mulford's 
estimable wife, who shared with him all the hardships 
of their pioneer life, died in 1873, and his remains 
now rest beside hers in Rosehill cemetery. Probably 
no one in Evanston was more generally beloved than 
this well-poised, upright and most genial gentleman, 
whose life and character were a link with the century 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 223 

that saw the birth of this republic. His house was 
the center of hospitalities on New Year's day, but not 
a drop of wine sullied its honest joys. 

The only misdemeanor that disturbed the tran- 
quillity of Evanston's earlier years was the entrance 
one summer night of masked robbers into the peaceful 
home of the beloved Major, who gagged him and rifled 
the house at a time when his health was in a very crit- 
ical condition. The unusual exemption of our citizens 
from such dastardly assaults probably results from 
the fact that some of us are known to have nothing 
worth carrying off, and the rest are well provided with 
pistols and burglar alarms. The freedom of our town 
from saloons also does much to render it unattractive 
to thieves and thugs. 

One of the best results that came to us from Major 
Mulford's pioneering disposition was the visit to the 
West of Dr. Jacob W. Ludlam (father of the cele- 
brated Dr. Reuben Ludlam, and the well-known Dr. 
Edward M. P. Ludlam, of Chicago's homeopathic 
annals) who came from New Jersey to visit the Major 
in 1845, and was by him persuaded to make this his 
home. The elder Dr. Ludlam and Major Mulford 
were of similar character and presence : tall, portly 
and dignified in form and bearing, with dark eyes, 
handsome and expressive countenances, strong intel- 
lects, sturdy common sense and great geniality of tone 
and manner. These two friends and comrades were 
among the best specimens of what we are wont to call 



224 A CLASSTC TOWN. 

" gentlemen of the old school " that I have ever seen, 
and were in character and conduct, models worthy of 
study by those who aspire to the fine distinction of 
becoming gentlemen of the new. 

L. I,. GREENLEAF, THE M^CENAS OP EARLY 

EVANSTON. 

A man of senatorial face, figure and bearing ; on* 1 
to be noted anywhere, even as was Saul among the 
prophets ; a model of ethical exactitude, warm with 
brotherly kindness and open-handed in deeds of 
charity — such was L.- L. Greenleaf, long the leader 
among "men of means M in Evanston. 

Upon the request of Mrs. Dr. Kidder, that pioneer 
in all good works, he founded the Temperance Alli- 
ance ; he gave prizes to the Grove school, and a choice 
library (once the property of Germany's superin- 
tendent of public instruction) to our university. He 
was foremost in all our enterprises, looked with manly 
zeal and pride upon the growth of Evanston, and was, 
no doubt, our favorite citizen. Few acts of my life 
have gone against the grain more thoroughly than 
this : As a young Christian, in the dawn of a heavenly 
revival season at the old church, I went timidly to 
that man of unmatched dignity, in deportment as in 
character, and asked him to kneel at the altar of 
prayer. He looked down upon me benignantly and 
sadly, and said, " I thank you for your kindly interest 
Miss Frank, but I can't go." 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 225 

The years passed on ; our college for women was 
projected, to which, as to every other village enter- 
prise, he liberally contributed. His gentle wife was 
one of the charter members 6f our board of trustees, 
and when our institution became a department of the 
university she was president of our board and signed 
the papers of agreement ; their two daughters were 
my pupils, and no girls in Evanston were better stu- 
dents or more unassuming in heart and life. 

Mr. Greenleaf lost his little son, and at the funeral 
looked into the casket where his dead hope lay, with 
a father's agony on the face that we had always seen 
so calm. The Chicago fire came, and in a night the 
fortune of the gracious Greenleafs was swept away. 
With it seemed to go health and hope in that good 
man, whom we all loved. His wife gathered up the 
scorched threads of his great and intricate business as 
best she could; her daily visits to the grimy city are 
remembered by all who knew the olden time. 

After a while the family removed to Beloit, Wis., 
and kept boarders. I was their guest when, in 1878, 
at the commencement exercises I addressed the Archean 
society, of which my brother had been a member in 
his college days. Going over with the Greenleafs to 
the church, my host said simply, but not sorrowfully, 
" If we were in the olden days in Evanston I should 
preside at your meeting, but to-night I am one of the 
crowd.' * Something in my throat choked me a little, 
and this sensation grew painful as he gently continued, 



226 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

" My chief occupation now is to take care of Professor 
Emerson's horse, and I try to do it well." 

I thought of him presiding when a United States 
senator made the speech at our great Fourth of July 
celebration on the university campus, eight years be- 
fore ; I saw his majestic figure heading the procession, 
as it formed on the campus on college commencement 
day ; I remembered him as he introduced the digni- 
taries on state occasions at the church, but to my mind 
he was never so truly great as in those words of a 
masterly humility, without impatience and above com- 
plaint. He grew more and more spiritual through 
glorious discipline and sacred sorrow, and with a 
Christian faith as sweet as any little child's he passed 
to heaven in 1886, — November 23d. 

The Evanston Index, in noticing his death, con- 
tained the following : 

" As a benefactor he was a liberal contributor to churches, 
to Heck Hall (the theological college of Evanston), and chari- 
ties in general, and will be especially remembered for his dona- 
tion to the university of the valuable Greenleaf library of 
20,000 volumes. 

" The fire of October 9, 1871, proved a severe shock to Mr. 
Greenleaf, both physically and financially, never to be re- 
gained. Only the day preceding the conflagration he estimated 
his wealth at $200,000. Alas ! sometimes " riches suddenly 
make to themselves wings." Jan. 1, 1872, he retired from the 
firm, as previously arranged agreeably to his request During 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 227 

the winter his health broke down, and to complete the catas- 
trophe, an unfortunate copartnership was formed. 

" One woe doth tread upon another's heel, 
So fast they follow. ' ' 

Of that other Evanston transplanted to Rosehill, 
the lifeless form of our beloved friend became a resi- 
dent, but his citizenship is in the New Jerusalem. 

MISS LUELIvA CLARK, 

Of the Northwestern Female College, was a genius, 
and the world would have known it had the motor 
matched the intellectual forces of her being. She was 
a poet born, but poets must be made as well as born. 
If ever anybody loved Evanston with something akin 
to worship, that woman did. Each tree had for her 
an individuality, and each shady nook cherished her 
footsteps. There was a sheltering juniper by the lake 
shore named by her "I/Asile," where we used to 
spread down shawls, and with our favorite books hide 
ourselves in the silence and sweetness of a place always 
sacred in memory to us and our near friends. The 
Boat club building now stands in the neighborhood 
of that vanished retreat. Miss Clark was a cousin of Pro- 
fessor Noyes and had the entree of all that was literary 
and scholastic in the village. Books from the profes- 
sor's ample library were always on her table at the 
Northwestern Female College ; Bayne, Bunsen, Ar- 
nold, Ruskin and Carlyle were among the most familiar 
names. She was " composition teacher,' ' and gave 



228 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

strong and noble impulse to our proclivities for writ- 
ing ; she taught us mental philosophy and was a 
spiritual uplift not less than a mental stimulus to hei 
pupils. She was a most sensitive and refined nature, 
upon whom the world's rough winds might not play 
without imparting pain. In our sorrows she was at 
one with us, but the bright smile and telling repartee 
ofttimes added flavor to our joy. From Evanston Miss 
Clark went to Cincinnati Female College, where she 
taught her favorite subjects for several years, and then 
returned to her native New Hampshire to be the care- 
taker and solace of her invalid mother for many years 
more. Her mother having passed to heaven, Luella 
Clark lives on in loneliness in the old family home at 
Lisbon, New Hampshire, where all old-timers of us 
who live in Evanston and shared it with her once, 
send her our love and tender condolence. 

DR. JOHN DEMPSTER. 

When I hear the brakemen call out " Dempster 
street* ' I am reminded of Longfellow's saying that 
"every place is haunted, but none so much as the 
place where we lived in our youth.* ' To me there is 
a sacredness about that name which even the rough 
handling of custom can not wear away. John Demp- 
ster, founder of Garrett Biblical Institute, was one of 
God's great heroes. Without advantages, a tin ped- 
dler in his youth, but lifted to the peerage of char- 
acter and culture by a camp meeting conversion that 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 229 

struck /», not out, he became so polarized toward 
Christ that his whole life afterward seemed saying • 

" Happy, if with my latest breath 
I may but speak, his name ; 
Preach him to all and cry in death, 
• Behold, behold the Lamb ! ' " 

His soul was at white heat with zeal for an edu- 
cated ministry in the church that had transformed his 
being. Poor and unhelped, he hammered out for 
himself snch mental acquisitions as made him per- 
fectly at home among the ablest theologians, and 
lifted him from the deepest obscurity to such promi- 
nence that he headed an embassy to President Lincoln 
during the war and was regarded as a leader among 
Arminian theologians on this continent. Clearly as 
if he stood before me now, I can see that first presi- 
dent of Garrett Biblical Institute ; tall, attenuated in 
figure and physically past his prime, not more by rea- 
son of age than of relentless mental grip and unmiti- 
gated toil ; stately in bearing as a prince, and gallant 
as a courtier in manner ; with square jaw, corrugated 
brow, beaked nose that nothing sublunary ever 
balked ; mouth firm but kind, and eyes blue and dom- 
inant as an eagle's, glowing with primeval fire. This 
was the man who, having already founded one theo- 
logical school, persuaded Eliza Garrett to give her 
money to the Institute at Evanston, and fully purposed 
to found a third on the Pacific coast before he passed 



230 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

to heaven. Who of us that heard him in the old 
church forgets that incisive utterance, each syllable 
clear-cut, each like a stone in its place, and the whole 
a Roman mosaic of brilliant workmanship? Some 
persons we remember by a sentence that flashed into 
our spirits with supernal power. Dr. Dempster often 
cleft my dreamy thoughts like that. One sentence, 
enforced with that penetrating gesture and pointed 
glance so peculiar to himself, was this: 4< Never for- 
get that the sensorium of the universe is on its 
throne!" He lived "up by the Institute " in the 
house that was my brother's for several years and was 
afterward burned. Calling on his kind old wife one 
day she showed me where she wanted her husband 
and herself to rest at last, under the spreading 
branches of a tree near where Rev. C. H. Zimmerman 
now lives. 4< The doctor says, * Bury me if you can 
catch me, ' ' ' smiled the old lady, unconsciously quot- 
ing Socrates as well as her liege lord. November 25, 
1863, Dr. Dempster suffered a dangerous surgical opera- 
tion ; rallied wonderfully ; we all took heart of hope ; 
then, suddenly, he passed away. 

Oliver Wendell Holmes tells us the time will come 
when one flashing glance between two disembodied 
spirits will reveal more than all philosophies and his- 
tories have told. This is true, I fervently hope ; and 
a hint of it comes to me when the brakeman's call of 
" Dempster street' ' lights up in my private picture 
gallery a tablet whereon all I have written here of 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 231 

Dr. Dempster, and vastly more, is traced forever and 
for aye. 

REV. DR. AND MRS. KIDDER. 

The first house that the stranger-student was in- 
vited to enter in Evanston, between the years 1856 
and 1 87 1, was likely to be that of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. 
Kidder. That roomy mansion among- the trees near 
the corner of Chicago avenue and Church street, and 
now known as the Hitt homestead, was officially the 
social center of old-time Evanston. Its sway was 
undisputed ; its associations were delightful. True 
Christian hospitality has rarely had a more adequate 
exponent, for here were comfort, cordiality and culture, 
without luxury, fashion or display. The timid girl 
working her passage through the college elbowed the 
distinguished head of the university, and the youth 
who sawed wood or milked cows to earn his board, met 
the rich Chicago business man without feeling any 
gulf between them. 

Elizabeth Stuart Phelps in her recent marvelous 
article in The Forum on " The Christianity of Christ,' ' 
has a paragraph that reminds me of that chief family 
in early Evanston. She says : 



a 



In a luxurious home whose invitations are not declined, 
whose hospitality is familiar to many distinguished men and 
women of our land, there may be found, any day, mingled with 
the most gifted guests, plain, poor, obscure people, quite un- 
known in ' society. ' I once saw at a breakfast at this house, 
the foremost poet in the country seated next a massage rubber, 



232 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

a poor girl training herself for the practice of medicine, and in 
need of two things, — a good breakfast and a glimpse into the 
cultivated world. She had both in the Lord's name, in that 
Christian home. Yet the spirit of that ideal hospitality is so 
rare that we tell of it as we do of heroic deeds. The Chris* 
tianity of Christ would make it so common that we should 
notice it only as we do the sunrise." 

As has been said in a sketch prepared by Rev. 
George E. Strobridge : * * Scarcely ever did the family 
sit down without some guests at table. A feature 
of Doctor Kidder* s cordial treatment of the students 
was his regular practice of inviting them to take tea 
at his house and spend the evening. For this purpose 
he would select them in groups or companies until the 
whole number in attendance at the institute had been 
thus pleasantly entertained. ' ' 

It was of incalculable benefit to us, whose opin- 
ions were then forming, that the Kidder home, with 
its large library lined with well-filled bookcases, its 
roomy parlors and its broad piazza on which we de- 
lighted to promenade when summer nights were fair 
and sweet, brought to our young hearts the concep- 
tion of Christ and Christians as a social force. From 
some of our hearts, at least, the heavenly vision has 
never faded, and no " society M after the stratified 
regulation pattern has ever had one charm for us 
since then. 

Early pictures of that Evanston home show a young 
man, — afterward Col. Henry M. Kidder, one of the 
university's first graduates, a genial, stalwart youth, 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 233 

fond of outdoor life, agricultural editor of the North- 
western Christian Advocate, and brother in general to 
all the young ladies. I think my first book reviews 
were procured for me by him in his editorial capacity. 
One was Sidney Dobell's poems, another, somebody's 
entomology, and I got the books in exchange for the 
review, which was remarkably good pay. The young 
farmer-editor marched away to the wars, emerged at 
the close thereof as a colonel, married gifted Miss 
Sallie Ravenhill, and lives, as everybody knows, at 
North Evanston, whence womanly Kathryn Kidder 
has gone out to a wide career on both sides of the sea. 

Rowena was the doctor's eldest daughter and the 
sister of Henry (both being the children of the doc- 
tor's previous marriage and both natives of Brazil, 
where their missionary mother died). We were all 
fond of this generous-hearted girl, whose death was 
the first in our circle of young people, and made a 
deep impression on us all. Miss Kate Kidder used to 
be called the " belle of Evanston," and was a most 
interesting commingling of the traits herein attributed 
to her parents. She married noble George Strobridge, 
and the beneficent work of their united lives is well 
known to the Methodist Episcopal church, especially 
in New York city. 

Handsome Dan Kidder and lovely Eva completed 
the family, the latter having, like her sister, married 
a student of Garrett Biblical Institute (Rev. Mr. 
Wilson) and passing early to the better country, when 



234 A. CLASSIC TOWN. 

her little ones seemed most to need their mother's 
care. 

No home is really such unless a woman is its cen- 
tral figure, and while the kindliness and urbanity of 
Rev. Dr. Kidder are among Evanston's clearly defined 
memories, the remarkable intelligence and earnest 
good will of Mrs. Henriette S. Kidder, his wife, merit 
especial recognition in any story of those times. 

In the opinion of the present veracious and " im- 
partial historian/ ' the union of two lives like those of 
Harriet Smith and Daniel P. Kidder is an incalculable 
augmentation to them both, and by this means a 
woman of high native endowment made sure of com- 
panionship that was intellectually worthy of her, 
which is no small matter. There are persons who 
strengthen, develop and build up in a day as others 
could not in a lifetime. Somebody said of Walter 
Savage I^andor that "to catch one flash of his eye 
was a liberal education." Garfield said of Doctor 
Mark Hopkins, " Set him on one end of a log as 
teacher and me on the other as pupil, and you have a 
tlniversity. ,, By how much more ought two persons, 
both endowed, educated and earnest, who spend a 
whole lifetime together, to build each other up in the 
most holy faith of humanity and God ! Rev. Dr. 
Kidder has always seemed to me "an Israelite in- 
deed." Like many another little Methodist girl, I 
used to wonder as I read my Sunday School Advocate 
and Sunday-school books, all of them "revised by 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 235 

D. P. Kidder,' ' how one man's head " could carry all 
he knew." When we came to Evanston, and here he 
was, I had great curiosity to see him, and when his 
handsome daughter Kate came to my room at Profes- 
sor Jones' college and invited my sister Mary and me 
to take tea at the finest house in the village, I said 
with inward joy and quakings about equally mixed, 
" and I shall then see Daniel P. Kidder ! " Behold, 
when I gazed upon him, I saw "a man who bore 
without abuse the grand old name of gentleman." 
He was of medium height, elastic step, had a voice of 
great sweetness, a rarely intellectual brow, and a face 
of equally rare refinement and gentleness. He did not 
make us at home in the off-hand, genial way so 
natural to some men and women, but rather with that 
perfection of politeness in which he excelled most 
other men, and even women— do I live to admit it ! 
He was so noted for this choice trait that the "bibH- 
cals ' ' had it for a saying that once when he entered his 
barn in abstracted mood, studying out a sermon, he 
even went so far as to remark to a flustered sitting hen, 
" Do not allow me to disturb you, madam." The 
doctor impressed us all as a man of immaculate char- 
acter and conduct ; his habits had great exactitude ; 
his industry was marvelous. John Wesley was hardly 
more careful of his minutes. Indeed, method was a 
prime characteristic of this model Methodist. When 
not in his library at work at that high desk by the 
pleasant window looking out on the Beveridge lawn, 



236 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

he was in his class at the Theological seminary, or on 
horseback on his small sorrel horse, going to his farm 
on the ridge or attending to errands for the institution 
or the home. His fair, handsome, accurate hand- 
writing, so pleasant to read and worthy to form copy- 
books, has always been to me the completest emblem 
of his character. What wonder that he revised eight 
hundred Sunday-school books in the twelve years that 
he was corresponding secretary of the Methodist Sun- 
day-school Union, or editor of its publications ! In 
the fifteen years of his life in Evanston, he wrote his 
"Homiletics" and " Christian Pastorate.' ' Besides 
these and his well-known " Sketches of a Residence 
and Travels in Brazil," he has published four other 
volumes, edited twenty, written thirty articles for re- 
views, encyclopedias, etc., many of them requiring 
great research, and some full enough to make a book 
apiece. 

THE BANNISTERS. 

" The Bannisters ! " Here is a subject on which it is 
impossible for the present historian to be impartial ! 
But so signally endeared to "old timers' ' is that mem- 
orable household — that the danger of writing out one's 
heart is greatly mitigated. The lifelong relationships 
that lend zest to the writing of this chapter are thus 
playfully hinted at in extract from my sister Mary's 
journal as given in " Nineteen Beautiful Years " : 




MADAME WILLARD, MRS. BISHOP HAMLINE. 





S 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 237 

"July 24, 1861.— About twenty years ago, in the state of 
New York, ' might have been seen ' a young mother playing 
with her only son, who had arrived at the interesting age of 
six years. She made with her own hands his little clothes; she 
curled his soft brown hair; and, 'gazing into the blue eyes of the 
boy, she no doubt thought him uncommonly innocent and 
charming. Well, this small boy lived on, year after year ; he 
grew, he cried and laughed, he rocked the cradle of his young- 
est sister, and, I make no doubt, he dropped her on the floor 
when he got tired of her, so that she might cry and be taken 
care of by his mother. He went to school, he made mud-pies, 
and studied his lessons with unusual diligence. When quite a 
youth, he lived upon a farm; he milked cows and tended sheep; 
he made a swing, he swung his sisters, he hunted, fished, and 
learned to swim. Later in life he went to college, assumed 
superior airs at vacation time, wore paper collars, carried a slim 
little cane, and quoted Byron. Subsequently, he graduated, in 
a creditable manner, from Beloit college, lived at home for 
a few months, grew serious, commenced to study for the 
ministry,— -fell in love. 

" Nineteen years ago, in the State of New York, a dark-eyed 
little girl made her appearance among the ways of men. She 
grew, she throve, she went to school, and had her little affec- 
tions for fellow infants. She came with her parents to reside 
in a beautiful western village. She developed into a refined 
young lady, religious, educated, and accomplished. She 
studied four languages besides her own, exhibited great musical 
talent, possessed all the domestic virtues, such as patience, 
mechanical skill, tact, and so on. 

' ' The boy and girl whom I have thus glowingly described be- 
came acquainted a few months ago. Recently they have 
exchanged hearts, and seem to be at present in a happy state 
of mind. 

"After all that I have said, but one more remark shall be 
offered, viz. : My brave and noble brother can no longer be de- 



238 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

pended upon as an escort V nights,' by his feminine relatives ; 
and of late spends such a number of evenings abroad as can be 
accounted for on only one hypothesis.' ' 

In brief, my brother Oliver and Mary Bannister, 
after a year's engagement, merged their destinies, 
July 3, 1862. Therefore it stands to reason that I can 
not write with impartiality about the house of Bannis- 
ter, but surely it is safe to say that there was not a 
home in early Evanston where "we young folks" 
better loved to go. If each of the "old set M that 
formed our "reading circle* ' and the girlish club 
mysteriously called " Iota Omega " should write out 
such personal incidents as we can now recall, they 
would make a medley unique and readable. Mary 
Bannister was a central figure in all our young pro- 
ceedings. She had extraordinary fineness and alert- 
ness of "mind, remarkable scholarship, and was the 
soul of geniality; she treated young men and women 
almost precisely alike — in a fashion full of sisterly 
directness and good will, which, combined with her 
piquant vivacity and many accomplishments, made 
her, in my judgment, the most generally attractive 
girl in early Evanston, and I believe this would be 
the general verdict of those who have 4 * grown old 
along with me." When we went to visit her we 
always had good talk — of books, art, life. She 
seemed incapable of commonplace, and her own bright 
ways, with the cordial welcome of her parents, gave 
to that home ••its chief attractiveness. Music here had 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 239 

its rendezvous, the Ludlam family, all of them singers, 
being among Mary's most devoted friends, and the 
chief singers at the Northwestern Female College (her 
alma mater in i860), joining in the festivals so fre- 
quent at dear old " Bannister House.' ' 

In the earliest days, when Bishop Foster lived 
next door (corner Chicago avenue and Church street) 
the two families were almost like one, and to my 
mind the Evanston paradise centered at a point equi- 
distant between those two most favored homes. Flor- 
ence Annie Foster was a feminine edition of her father, 
and he was, to our young imaginations, the Chris- 
tian Apollo of our Parnassus, and his daughter chief 
of the Muses. What that keen-minded girl of twenty 
did not know of all a Christian maiden could discern 
in the great worlds of thought and life, it had never 
dawned on us to dream. Books she had at her 
tongue's end, and gifts of speech and pen beyond us 
all. But the "wonderful Fosters " went back to New 
York city in i860, leaving the greatest void our vil- 
lage has yet known from any family's departure. 
That corner house* where they once lived, Dr. Tiffany's 
family succeeding them, and many years after, our 
beloved physician, Dr. James S. Jewell, has passed 
into history as one of Evanston 's rarest and best 
centers of high thinking. Doubtless the good men 
and women, who, for purposes restorative, still frequent 



* Southeast corner Chicago avenue and Church street. 



240 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

its sometime classic shades, will rejoice to know to 
what high dignities they have succeeded. 

REV. DR. HENRY BANNISTER, THE SCHOLAR. 

Rev. Dr. Henry Bannister was a strong, sturdy, 
steadfast, square-shouldered man, of dark complexion, 
eyes and hair, the latter of a quality remark* ble in fine- 
ness — even more so than that of women. He was of 
medium height and stocky build — in figure not unlike 
a German. He was a born scholar— devoted to his 
Hebrew studies, writing a commentary on Isaiah, and 
was sitting at his work in that cozy library, with ever- 
glowing grate, tall book-cases and engravings of 
apostles and church fathers, whenever he was not in 
the recitation room, or on calls about town in his neigh- 
borly, yet blunt, staccato fashion. A man of intense 
earnestness, absolute honesty and most refreshing 
simplicity of character, but sensitive to a fault ; desir- 
ous of every one's good will, and worthy of it, but 
too proud to confess the dependence his sympathetic 
nature felt on those about him ; a man with one of 
the noblest foreheads ever uplifted for the handwriting 
of destiny, and a face and smile full of hearty good 
will, but carrying weight always, on account of a 
somewhat phlegmatic physique unequally yoked to a 
spirit full of " the hate of hate, the scorn of scorn, the 
love of love " ; a mind devoted to books and art, to ad- 
venturous thought, wide observation, and most of all to 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 24! 

friendship's hallowed face. A brave man he was, of 
sturdy old New England stock, who had fought his 
way to classical scholarship, high position as an edu- 
cator, and a comfortable financial outlook, through 
the most difficult conditions. To me he was a sort of 
Methodistic Dr. Samuel Johnson. His clean-cut, con- 
cise, well-ordered conversation, always seasoned with 
grace, had not the characteristics that Boswell makes 
immortal in his story of the great Samuel, but his 
learned presence, his love of letters, the sweet nut of 
his kindness beneath the husk of his sometime 
brusquerie ; his reverence for woman and his worship 
of religion, all called to mind the mighty Englishman. 
Dr. Bannister was at heart a radical. Many a time 
have I heard my mother say, " Your father and Dr. 
Bannister were arguing, and the Hebrew scholar said, 
with a thump of that ever-present cane, 'Brother 
Willard, you may as well give in first as last ; the 
woman question is upon us — and it has come to stay.' M 
Once when I was talking with him about that 
lovely young preacher, Miss Mary Phillips, whose 
graduation with so much honor from our theological 
school was such a hope and whose early death such a 
sorrow, he said, as I urged that she be admitted, " I 
tell you once for all, while I am here any reputable 
woman that wants to study shall study, and any one 
that wants to graduate shall graduate. ' * Thump went 
his cane, punctuating these declarations, braver seven- 
teen years ago than they would be to-day. 



242 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

In 1862 I went to him in his capacity of chairman 
of the public school board, and asked to be chosen 
teacher in what was afterwards called * ' the Benson 
avenue school,' ' then the only one in Evanston. He 
was walking along near his own pleasant home on 
Chicago avenue when I overtook him and tremulously 
preferred my request. He stopped, abruptly asked, * ' Do 
you think you could make it go, Frank > ' * I answered, 
"Yes, I do." He smiled, said nothing furthei, but 
marched on, and the next evening sent me word that I 
had been unanimously chosen. What a rare, good 
friend he was and how full his life of kindness ! 
Above all things he hated shams. One could not well 
be other than true and simple-hearted in his presence. 
I remember it was his custom to bow to everybody. 
Like me he was troubled with blurred and defective 
vision. When I lamented to him my inability to 
recall faces well and inaptitude at the recognitions 
that are so pleasant in church or on the street, he said, 
' * Well, never mind it. Just bow to everybody. That's 
a safe rule in a village like ours, and then all will be 
well." He hated aristocracy. Humanity was so 
royal in his eyes that, more nearly than almost any 
man of my acquaintance, he treated all alike. When 
he first came to Evanston, and in common with 
other professors built a pretty home, one of our good 
old-fashioned brethren came into the barnyard where 
Dr. Bannister, who was always ready to "put a 
shoulder to the wheel," was working, and said, 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 243 

"Evanston is getting very much set up with aristoc- 
racy since you college men are building these hand- 
some houses." The doctor flourished his scepter, a 
three- tined hay fork, and from the throne whereon he 
stood, roared out, "Yes, Brother Blank, here's a case 
in point for you — of aristocracy on a dung-hill ! ' ' 

He was a very modest man — morbidly so. He 
always said he did n't know enough to write a 
book, and had to be strongly persuaded before he 
undertook his commentary. As a preacher he was 
keenly discriminating in expression, and, though he 
used manuscript always, was intensely earnest and 
convincing — at least he was to me, so much so that it 
is written in my religious records that while a sermon 
by Charles H. Spurgeon, read on the old farm, first 
set me thinking, one by Dr. Bannister and another 
by Bishop Foster first stirred my heart. The expe- 
riences that came to many of us under the preaching of 
Dr. and Mrs. Palmer, in the winter of 1866, were 
strongly shared by Dr. Bannister. Always undemon- 
strative and almost diffident in his expressions of 
Christian experience, he became clear and pronounced, 
attending regularly the meeting for the promotion of 
holiness, so long maintained at the home of Mrs. 
Bishop Hamline, and speaking out with no uncertain 
sound in the church prayer-meeting. His staunch 
profession of this high grace drew down upon him 
something of criticism, as must always be the case, 
and most of all when a pronounced character of some- 



244 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

what hasty speech strikes out for Beulah Land. But 
the honesty and manliness of Dr. Bannister were so 
thoroughly known that his advocacy of a doctrine so 
often and so ignorantly spoken against, gave it great 
strength among our people. He was a most public- 
spirited citizen ; he was a liberal orthodox in theology , 
a devout inquirer, a man of profound spiritual nature. 
Not a Methodist by birth, and a Presbyterian in theo- 
logical training, he was in intellectual sympathy a 
cosmopolitan, while devotedly loyal to his mother 
church, her creed and institutions. He thought, how- 
ever, that her polity might be profitably improved by 
increasing its simplicity, and had little use for eccle- 
siastical hierarchies or denominational red tape. 

Common schools, the free library, philosophical 
society, and temperance alliance, all had in him a 
steadfast advocate and helpful friend. He was gen- 
erous to a fault with money, and never turned away a 
needy one whom he had power to help. Nothing 
could be more unostentatious than his manners, and 
his whole conduct of life was such as becometh god- 
liness. He had almost all his days been under the 
conscious influence of the Holy Spirit. * * As a child he 
read the life of Benjamin Abbot, by which his deep 
heart was deeply stirred. When twelve years old he 
was 'convicted,' as Methodists say, by a sermon 
preached in a country schoolhouse by Rev. B. G. 
Paddock, and about two years later, under the teach- 
ing and guidance of a pious schoolmaster, he was 



-.M 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 245 

clearly and soundly converted. When about nineteen 
years old he walked a hundred and fifty miles to reach 
Cazenovia, where, with only his own resolution and 
his trust in God, he completed in two years his pre- 
paratory studies." Later on he was principal of this 
institution for thirteen years, and was greatly beloved. 
At Wesleyan University, from which six years after 
graduation came his well-earned degree, he had the 
advantage of companionship with men since famous in 
our church. That intellectual giant (who declined the 
bishopric !), Wilbur Fisk, was president, and D. D. 
Whedon was one of the professors ; Dr. Kidder and 
Bishop Clark were classmates. 

Among his thousands of pupils at Cazenovia were 
Charles Dudley Warner, Gen. Joseph R. Hawley, 
Senator Stanford, of California, Bishop John P. New- 
man and Eliphalet Remington. He was a thorough 
disciplinarian, almost stern, but so true and tender of 
heart and so unimpeachable of purpose that his name 
is precious in the historic old seminary of Cazenovia 
as in beautiful Evanston, where he lived and taught 
twenty -seven years, coming in 1856. 

In 1869 Dr. Bannister went abroad in a party 
"personally conducted 1 ' by that most musical-na- 
tured of men, Dr. James Jewell, once a beloved physi- 
cian in Evanston, whose untimely loss we all lament. 
The regular continental tour was made by these two 
in company, after which Dr. Bannister and his favorite 
friend and comrade, Dr. Bonbright, were together for 



246 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

some months in Berlin, and about Christmas Dr. Ban- 
nister came to Rome, where Kate Jackson and I had 
been for some months studying antiquities and Italian. 
Under his fatherly escort we went to Egypt, and while 
he and Rev. Drs. Daniel March, E. P. Goodwin, H. 
R. Hayden and several other less celebrated clergymen 
made the difficult trip through the desert to Mt. Sinai 
and Jerusalem, Miss Jackson and I went up the Nile 
as far as the first cataract, then returning, crossed to 
Joppa, and in the holy city found our faithful Evans- 
ton friend, who was not a little distressed for fear his 
ministerial brethren might not be minded to accept 
the incumbrance of two ladies ; indeed we were now 
three, Mrs. John S. Paine, of Cambridge, Mass., with 
her husband, having come with us, or rather, we with 
them. 

But such a showing did Dr. Bannister make for us ; 
such vehement representations of our physical endur- 
ance and powers as travelers, that on his " goodwill " 
we were allowed to join. I remember how thoroughly 
* * on our mettle ' ' we felt ourselves to be ; with what 
diligence we " kept up ; " with what Spartan firmness 
we repressed every exclamation of distress over atro- 
cious roads, a villainous dragoman and treacherous 
steeds ; and how good Dr. Bannister was wont to ride 
up alongside at least once a day and whisper, " You 
know you must bear me out in all I said, girls." 

At the end of three weeks' camping out — during 
which Bishop Kingsley's fractious horse had kicked 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 247 

Rev. Mr. Hayden, and after hair-breadth 'scapes not 
a few — we straggled into sight of Beyrout and civiliza- 
tion, when Dr. Bannister came with that peculiar half- 
pensive, half-apologetic smile, and said, 4< You've won 
the day. These ministers admit that not one of them 
has borne the trip better or hindered the party less or 
grumbled as little. ' ' That was a red-letter day indeed, 
and we have always been grateful to the good men 
who risked detention for our sakes, in a trip to which 
for a lifetime they had been looking forward. It was 
at Beyrout that Dr. Bannister met with one of his life's 
most sorrowful experiences, in the sudden death of 
dear Bishop Kingsley, whose only companion he was 
at the time, the rest of us having gone off to Damascus. 
A great grief indeed was that to Dr. Bannister, — one 
of the greatest in a life notably fortunate and almost 
without personal bereavement, for his wife and chil- 
dren all survived him and his own transit was a quick 
and painless one. As Bishop Ninde beautifully said 
of this quiet, unobtrusive, but remarkably gifted man : 

" The unseen world was to him an everyday reality ; its 
mysteries were in his most familiar thoughts. And so in his 
company, as one of his students well expressed it, ' there was 
the strange sense of other worldliness.' His very presence was 
a benediction and his daily life a prayer unspoken." 

Two most impressive extracts from the Doctor's 
private journal I am permitted to give through the 
kindness of Mrs. Ella Bannister Merwin, who in re- 
sponse to my earnest request copies them from a book 



248 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

found under lock and key after her father passed 

away. 

extracts. 

March 1, 1867. Commenced this day another year of sacred 
instruction. Prospered hitherto for ten years in this blessed 
work, too unworthily performed, I give praise to God. And I, 
now, with a more perfect submissiveness than ever heretofore, 
consecrate myself anew to my duties to the young men resort- 
ing to this school of the prophets. I desire no reserve of my 
powers. All belong to this work for the sake of Christ and his 
cause. O God, help me with steadfast purpose to be unre- 
servedly devoted every day and every moment to thy service 
in this work to which I am appointed. Give me all spiritual 
preparation for it. Destroy within me all remains of selfishness 
and sin. Make me like Christ — subdued, calm, of the purest 
aims and motives in all things, with unflagging purpose to do 
my whole duty when I see it clearly, full of love and faith, full 
of Thee. 

Give me true intellectual fitness. Help me to see truth in 
its brightness — in the pure light native to it— and to present it, 
when thus seen, with a result to be known, in its full extent, 
only in the future ages. 

November 1, 1867. — Closed the term yesterday, with twelve 
noble young men, handsomely furnished, as we think, for their 
glorious work. They are all well educated, first in the colleges 
whence they came to us, next by most assiduous devotion to 
their studies in the institute. They are also holy young men — 
full of zeal for their Master and his cause, consecrated to do 
just what God shall indicate as their duty. 

One is already on the ocean bound for China to commence 
his life work. All of them appear to possess true missionary 
qualities. 

No year has passed with such evidences of self-sacrificing 
devotion among students. Brotherly love has uninterruptedly 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 249 

subsisted in the school. Christian character has, to all appear- 
ance, marvelously matured. To me, the lecture room has been 
like heaven. Never has my work been more delightful. 
Nothing is of such interest to me as to see, in prospect, the 
young men under our care, utterly forgetful of the rewards of 
earth, utterly ignoring all honor seeking, all money getting, 
all self-preferring in any form, passing the days of their pil- 
grimage, the time of their holy calling, like lines of light and 
fire among the masses of souls darkened and besotted by sin. 
I love to think of our men as feeling impelled to seek out the 
poor and unprivileged classes as well as those elevated in social 
life. And only a true-hearted consecration, every moment 
sustained by heavenly help, can secure this. To such a 
consecration have they this year, especially, been urgently 
exhorted. 

It was the year of his own greater consecration. 

He returned to Evanston and went on the even 
tenor of his way, varied by serving as a delegate in 
three successive General Conferences, and on the book 
committee ; also, by President Grant's appointment, 
he went as a visitor to the Military Academy at West 
Point. In the spring of 1883, after a week's illness, 
during most of which he heard recitations in his own 
library, he passed away as the church bells were ring- 
ing on Sunday morning, April 14. His faithful eldest 
son, Henry M. Bannister, M. D., was in attendance ; 
a slight stroke of paralysis smote the revered father 
toward the close ; his lips moved and he uttered the 
characteristic words, " We are in the hands of God." 
He asked to see his wife, who by her own illness and 
helplessness had been kept from his sick chamber. 



25O A CLASSIC TOWN. 

As she was brought to him he tried to put his arm 
around her, murmuring, ' ' My dear, dear wife, how 
much we have been to each other, for more than fifty 
years ! " His children and grandchildren were sum- 
moned, and my mother, with his and our dear sister 
Bragdon, were there when, with perfect consciousness 
and complete composure, he sank into his rest. 

The Index said of him that week, " Evanston has 
sustained many losses by death, but it is safe to say 
no other death has so stirred our community to its 
very foundations. ' ' More than thirty ministers at- 
tended the funeral, and in the " Evanston plat" at 
Rosehill was made the honored grave of one who, as 
Dr. Whedon said, " lived well, died well, and, dying 
in life's early afternoon, enriched the world by his good 



name." 



REV. DR. FRANCIS D. HEMENWAY.* 

The words " conscientious fidelity " give this man's 
life keynote. Converted in a Methodist revival when 
but twelve years of age, he thus wrote out, when but 



*Notk. — Born November 12, 1830, in Chelsea, Vt.; died April 19, 1884; 
graduated from General Biblical Institute, Concord, N. H., in 1853 ; taught 
in Newbury Seminary, Vt., 1853 ; pastor at Montpelier, Vt., 1855 ; came to 
Evanston, 1857, as principal of preparatory department of the Institute. 
Became professor in the Institute, 1857; temporarily resumed pastoral 
office, i86i-Y>4, at Clark St. M. K. church, Chicago, and Kalamazoo, Mich.; 
received degree of Master of Arts, Ohio Wesleyan University, T859; Doctor oi 
Divinity, Northwestern University, 1870 ; was twice a member of the General 
Conference; traveled in Kurope with his son, Dr. Henry Hemenwmy, 
in 1882. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 25 1 

sixteen, the solemn dedication that seems to have 
penetrated every fiber of his being : 

" Eternal and unchangeable God, this day do I, with the 
utmost solemnity and sincerity, surrender my self to Thee, desir- 
ing nothing so much as to be wholly Thine. I renounce all 
former lords that have had dominion over me and I consecrate 
to Thee all I am and all that I have— the faculties of my mind, 
the members of my body, my worldly possessions, my time, my 
influence with others — to be all used entirely for Thy glory, and 
resolutely employed in obedience to Thy commands as long as 
Thou shalt continue my life ; ever holding myself in an attentive 
posture to observe the first intimations of Thy will, and ready 
with alacrity and zeal to execute it, whether it relates to Thee, 
myself or my fellow creatures. 

"And when I shall have done and borne Thy will upon 
earth, call me from hence at what time and in what manner 
Thou pleasest ; only grant that in my dying moments and in 
the near prospect of eternity, I may remember Thee, my en- 
gagements to Thee, and may employ my latest breath in Thy 
service. And do Thou, Lord, when Thou seest the agonies of 
dissolving nature upon me, remember this covenant, too, even 
though I should be incapable to recollect it ; look down, O 
my Heavenly Father, with a pitying eye upon Thy languishing, 
Thy dying child ; place Thine everlasting arms under me for my 
support ; put strength and confidence into my departing spirit 
and receive it into the embraces of Thy everlasting love, wel- 
come it to the abodes of them that sleep in Jesus, to wait with 
them that glorious day when the last of Thy promises to Thy 
covenant peoples shall be fulfilled in their resurrection, and to 
that abundant entrance which shall be ministered them into 
that everlasting kingdom which Thou hast assured them by Thy 
covenant, and in the hope of which I now lay hold on it, de- 
signing to live and die with my hand upon it Amen." 



252 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Upon no student among the hundreds that loved 
him has Dr. Hemenway's mantle seemed to fall so 
manifestly as upon Rev. Dr. Charles F. Bradley, his 
biographer and devoted friend. Dr. Bradley writes of 
him thus : 

" First among the powerful impressions which Dr. Hemen- 
way made upon us, his pupils, I place the emphasis which he 
ever laid by precept and example upon the sacred and precious 
character of truth. ' Buy the truth and sell it not ; ' ' buy it at 
all cost, and sell it not at any price,' were his injunctions. Be- 
cause God's word is truth, because Christ is 'the truth,' they 
deserve absolute allegiance from us. Sham, pretension and 
deception he abhorred. As in doctrine, so in character, he de- 
manded, as chief and fundamental, genuineness, sincerity and 
truth. To many of us, I am sure, he made the truth more 
sacred and supreme. From this characteristic and unswerving 
devotion to truth sprang, I believe, other important traits of 
character, such as fidelity to duty, loyalty to his convictions, 
his skill and justice as a critic, his clear and accurate judgment 
and his marvelous power of analysis. 

" His home, the institute and the church are the three 
points through which the perfect circle of his life was drawn. 
But how minutely faithful he was to all his duties in these ! No 
man could love his home and his family more devotedly. In 
the public and social services of the church he was ever active 
and ever welcome ; but for more than twenty- five years the 
class-room in the institute was the center of his life. The pro- 
fessor's chair was his throne of power. 

" I may not pass over the keenness of his criticism or his 
use of it as a teacher. He wielded a Damascus blade which 
many of us learned to fear. But to students whose very talents 
and virtues had won for them a perilous degree of attention 
and praise, whose prominence in the home church or popular- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 253 

• 

ity in an early pastoral charge had fostered self-esteem and 
self-confidence, this discipline was of unspeakable value. 

"I think that no one part of Dr. Hemen way's great nature 
was less widely understood than the depth of his sympathy and 
the warmth of his heart. He was not demonstrative, and he 
did not ask demonstration in return. He had a warmer appre- 
ciation of his students than they generally knew. He seldom 
praised them to their faces ; but in this he was consistent. No 
doubt he valued appreciation, but it would have been impossi- 
ble to deceive him with flattery, and it was most difficult to 
praise him. He would turn aside the sincerest words of ad- 
miration. He was naturally reserved, but let the slightest 
appeal of real need touch what seemed a wall of reserve, and 
there came forth refreshing streams of wise counsel and heart- 
felt sympathy. Where shall we turn for one to fill his place 
when we desire again such sympathy and advice ? He himself 
taught us that what a man is means more than what he does, 
or rather, that what a man really does depends on what he 
really is. Herein lay his greatest service to us — he was a man 
of God. His inner spiritual life was pure and deep and strong. 
Well do I remember his saying, ' The religion of Christ meets 
every want of my nature and condition ; ' and his whole life 
bore out the testimony.' 

So much for the testimony of Dr. Hemenway's 
distinguished pupil. My own first vivid recollection 
of this remarkable man goes back to the time when he 
became my class leader, the first one I ever had, in 
the year 1861, shortly after I joined the Methodist 
Church in Evanston. I had known him up to that time 
as the youngest professor in Garrett Biblical Institute, 
his specialty being Biblical literature and exegesis ; 
also as probably the most interesting speaker in our 



254 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

prayer-meeting, and certainly the most spiritual and 
attractive leader of that spontaneous singing which is a 
feature so delightful in the Methodist love feast, general 
class, and regular church prayer meeting. He was of 
medium height, slight figure erectly borne, with an 
air of quiet alertness, self-poise and dignity, a notable 
forehead, thoughtful eyes, lips of unusual expressive- 
ness in respect to refinement and good will, with per- 
haps a certain reticence. In manner he was always 
most courteous, but possibly somewhat absorbed. His 
home was on the lake shore, where the Country club 
now holds sway, a pleasant cottage house that had a 
sense of home-likeness palpably present, even to us 
young people who gathered in, Tuesday evenings, to 
class meeting. We were nearly all students. The 
young men were incipient theologians ; the young 
ladies, daughters of professors in the university, with 
a few of their schoolmates. My sister Mary and I 
were regular attendants, going usually with our friend 
Mary Bannister, or else with Kate Kidder or one of 
the Bragdon girls. I remember that George Stro- 
bridge and his brother Thomas were perhaps the most 
edifying among those who spoke. They always had 
something to say, and a clear-cut way of saying it, 
while their spirit was most devout and earnest for 
growth in the deep things of God. Our leader had a 
tuneful voice in speech as well as in song. There was 
a ring in it, a peculiar vibration or timbre^ as the 
French say, different from any other voice that I have 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 255 

ever heard. I am sure I should have known it from 
all others, if in the Desert of Sahara he had said ' * good 
morning ' ' to me on a sudden, and still more if he had 
started his favorite hymn, " Lead, kindly Light, amid 
the encircling gloom." It was his custom to stand 
during the meeting in thoughtful attitude, listening 
most intently to what we fledglings had to say, and 
making some commentary most brotherly and consid- 
erate, and especially suited to our respective characters 
and difficulties. There was nothing off- hand about 
him ; we always felt ourselves to be upon our good 
behavior, and the gentle reticence of Professor Hemen- 
way impressed me strongly. I felt that he was a man 
devoted to Christ and His cause, that his whole life 
lay in that of his Master, that there was no cant in his 
religion, but it was really cheery and thoughtful, and 
that he had an ever-outstretched hand of helpfulness. 
After a while he went away. Possibly, it was on 
account of financial stress, which was very much felt 
by all our institutions in those days. I think he spent 
some time at Andover in devoted study, for he was 
born a scholar, and books were his world. While he 
had enjoyed classical advantages in Vermont, I think 
his education was not collegiate, but it became practi- 
cally such by private study. 

He came to us with powers even more deeply 
schooled, and seemed beyond most men whom I have 
met, to have his abilities well in hand, to have made 
the most of every faculty, to have applied an unremit- 



256 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

ting industry to capabilities of an unusual order, so 
that beyond others he might say to the Lord, " Thou 
deliveredst unto me five talents, behold I have gained 
beside them five talents more." For years his quiet, 
►studious life went on. He was a man universally re- 
spected and beloved. Vastly considerate of others, 
they repaid his consideration in kind. A most polished 
preacher, each sentence carefully wrought out, he was 
in much demand, not only in our own, but in other de- 
nominations, and became perhaps the most popular 
pulpit supply that Evanston could furnish. In addi- 
tion to his professorial duties, he had charge for years 
of the church at Winnetka, and later on at South 
Evanston, where stands a beautiful monument to him 
in the form of the Hemenway M. E. church of that 
thriving suburb. But undoubtedly his best monument 
is the hymnal of our church, for, while other gifted 
and accomplished men were associated with him, it is 
perhaps not too much to say that they brought less 
love to their high duties than this lover of the hymn 
book, who himself sang with the spirit no less than 
with the understanding. Although we were neighbors 
on Chicago avenue for many years I had no sense of 
personal acquaintance beyond the good will of those 
belonging to the same church and social circle. Per- 
haps this resulted from the great preoccupation of us 
both, and the somewhat recluse life which it was 
natural to Professor Hemenway to lead. I think his 
fragile health, of which, however, he never spoke, 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 257 

caused him to husband his resources to the utmost, for 
he had heavy and varied duties, as has been shown. 

In 1870 he was made a doctor of divinity by our 
own university, an honor that does not always fall 
where it is merited, but I doubt if any one who knew 
him could fail to feel that in his case it was bestowed 
most worthily, by which I mean that it had been fairly 
earned. Dr. Hemenway was not a prolific, but a most 
acceptable, contributor to the periodicals of his denom- 
ination, and wrote commentaries on the books of Jere- 
miah and Lamentations, of which scholars have spoken 
in high terms. He loved his church, I think, as truly 
as any man I ever knew, and yet was no more a bigot 
in religion than he was a pedant in scholarship. 
When I emerged from my work as a teacher, and set 
out to try to speak in public, I said to my mother one 
day, " I am going to ask Professor Hemenway to let 
me give in his hearing the address I have prepared, 
and to criticise me in every particular, for I do not be- 
lieve any one to whom I can go is more kindly dis- 
posed, or better qualified to give me just the help I 
need." My generous friend, Professor Cumnock, had 
for weeks taught me gratuitously, and I sincerely ap- 
preciated this rare opportunity, but I thought Dr. 
Hemenway, coming freshly to the consideration of the 
problem, and seeing me under a new angle of vision 
as an intending speaker, would bring a new element 
of light to my difficult pathway. So I went around 
to his quiet home, being warmly welcomed by my ever 



258 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

kind friend, Mrs. Hemenway, and asked if he would 
take the time to hear me speak my piece. " I am en- 
tirely at your service, ' ' was his kind reply. So he 
took his hat and we repaired to the university and to 
Professor Cumnock's room, which had been placed at 
my disposal. It seems strange that I could proceed 
to set forth to this grave and reverend man, soberly 
seated in a far corner of the room, paper and pencil in 
hand, my views of the great curse of intemperance and 
what could be done by women in this land to mitigate 
the same. However, this had to be, and was, the 
ordeal to be survived by the professor and the novi- 
tiate. When I had finished, speaking first with a 
brother's interest and kindness concerning what I had 
tried to say, he called my attention to certain errors 
in pronunciation, figures of speech, etc. Although 
this was some years before he died, I never had another 
meeting with him, but I thought this characteristic, 
and have related the incident not because it was per- 
sonal to myself, but for the reason that such little 
traits and features of character often bring out in bet- 
ter relief that which we wish to convey concerning an 
impressive and unique personality. 

Of Mrs. Dr. Hemenway, the playmate of his boy- 
hood and the companion of his life, known and loved 
by me for over thirty years, I had desired to write, but 
her letter in response to my request for the facts of 
her life, closed with a paragraph that holds my pen. 
She says ; 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 259 

"As regards my own life in Evanston or elsewhere, it has 
been too quiet and uneventful to be mentioned except as the 
privileged home-maker of one of the purest, truest and best of 
men, wh6 fully appreciated the meaning of that sacred word, 
'home.' " 

REV. DR. MINER RAYMOND. 

This senior member of our Evanston faculties is 
rightly named " Miner,* * for in his eighty affluent 
years he has delved many a nugget of gold out of his 
rarely original mind, for the enrichment of his thou- 
sands of pupils and tens of thousands of auditors. 

Going to his sheltered home the other day, I asked 
if I might "interview " him, and, as he spoke in that 
deep voice known to us all so well, while his fatherly 
face, snowy hair, scholarly brow and keen eyes were 
memorably outlined before me, as we sat in his pleas- 
ant library, I wrote down almost verbatim the follow- 
ing frank words : 

" From my earliest recollection the old style Methodist cir- 
cuit preachers were the greatest men I knew ; — my father's 
family the only Methodist family in Rensselaerville, N. Y., 
for twenty years or so. The good Methodist people came in 
from four miles around and we were the one village family. 
The avocation in life of those preachers was the greatest thing 
I had to think about, but I don't think so big a thing as ever 
to be like them entered my mind as possible. It was too great 
for me. The next thing in my recollection is this fact : When 
I was twelve years old the superintendent of public schools 
told father it was no use for me to go there any more, and 
kindly said: * Send him to Greenwich academy.' Father 



260 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

answered, ' Glad to send him if I could, but there's no money. 
He must not be idle though, ' and he set me on a shoe bench, 
drawing the cords of affliction on the stool of repentance for 
six years and I wanting to go to school all the time. I did the 
best I could, but wanted to go to school — did n't know why. 
M. E. preachers interested themselves in me and wrote to Dr. 
Wilbur Fisk and got me off to Wilbraham in 1830, when I 
was nearly nineteen years old. 

" From that point till to-day things have gone right along 
straight. I had been there but a few weeks when I was 
licensed to exhort, and went with older students that asked me 
and held meetings. Pretty soon I went as a regular supply. I 
had a change of heart when I was twelve years old, but didn't 
join the church because our folks did n't know of any one so 
young that belonged ; — people did n't think of children join- 
ing in those days. 

" If I had had the modern Sunday-school training I should 
have joined at twelve. It was a revival that waked me up at 
twelve, and I had a distinct experience — but from fourteen to 
seventeen years of age I was on the lookout. I began to say, 
t I'll have to be a Methodist as things are, but if I was Deacon 
A's son, why would n't I be a Presbyterian ? and if I was Squire 
B's, I'd be an Episcopalian, and if I was a Hottentot's son, then 
I'd be a Hottentot.' So I said to myself, 'I'll not be in a 
hurry to settle this thing— it is perhaps a matter of education.' 
So then I began to read Tom Paine, Voltaire, etc., and thought 
that maybe I could lay the Bible away. But that experience 
at twelve years old kept coming back and I made up my mind 
it was no use for me to try to be an infidel. 

" The summer I was seventeen, when general training day 
was being held in our village, I worked right along in the shop 
all day. At three p. M. my father came in and said, ' I've 
tried to find somebody that owed me money, but I can't, and 
yet we've got to have some to pay that last leather bill. Go 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 26 1 

out, my son, and see if you can get any of our bills that these 
fellows owe.' 

"They were coming in from the training and I took off my 
apron and stood on the doorstep of the old shop looking them 
over. Near by was a man I knew very well ; — he was forty 
years old and dead drunk. I said to myself, ' Did he think at 
seventeen that he'd be where he is at forty? No. What 
security have I that I sha'n't go the self-same road, and when 
I'm as old be as big a failure as he is ? ' I saw a group of men 
fighting, and said to myself, 'What security have I that I 
sha'n't be there when I'm as old as they ? ' And a voice in my 
soul answered, 'You have just one sure refuge; — the religion 
of the Lord Jesus Christ.' Before I went to bed that night I 
had resolved upon a life of prayer, and that resolution I have 
kept until to-day. It led me right along; — all was plain sailing. 
The next spring I was baptized and joined the church. By 
God's grace I have never once profaned his name by an oath. 
Everything worked well with me. 

" In 1833 I began to teach in Wilbraham, Mass., and taught 
seven years. I then became pastor in Worcester two years, in 
Boston four, in Westfield two. I then returned to Wilbraham 
as principal— stayed sixteen years — came here in 1864 as pro- 
fessor of systematic theology, and was pastor for the first three 
years. I have lived here twenty-six years. Have been a mem- 
ber of six general conferences. I have always taught and had 
my own living to earn, hence had no time for closet writing. 
Have made my sermons by solitary thinking as I had oppor- 
tunity. When I was called to preach a special sermon, I was 
accustomed to select the text or topic, read all I could get upon 
it, that is all I had time to read, which wasn't much. I then 
formed an outline of the plan and began to preach the sermon 
to myself. If there was a piece of woods anywhere about, I 
would walk and talk that sermon there. If the first formula 
didn't suit me I would go back and start again, and so on till 
it was satisfactory. If I went through the sermon fifty times* \ 



262 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

could always give the same words that I had thought out in the 
woods. When I was principal of the academy I had to prepare 
the sermon on Sunday morning, that I gave that day. My line 
of thought has always been the philosophy of theology, and I 
have read more in ten years on that topic than in all my life 
before, and have had wonderful satisfaction in finding that the 
views I had thought out I still retain.* 

" At this point I said, ' You are orthodox, doctor, but liberal 
orthodox.' 

"He answered ' That is true ; and I'll give you the basis : 
The general outline of what is called orthodox Christianity 
commends itself to my reason. Of course I know that no man 
is wholly right. I may be wrong, so I feel obliged to exercise 
a liberal charity toward those who think differently. That is 
all there is of that. They give me credit for being very liberal, 
but I'm sure God is still more so. There are more good people 
in the world than it gets credit for.* 

" ' Now, doctor, as to your marriage ? ' 

" ' Well, Elizabeth Henderson, of Worcester county, Mass., 
was the mother of my children. We were married, August 20, 
1837. Her niece, Isabella Hill (widow of Rev. Amos Binney), 
is my present wife. Elizabeth's father was a thorough Meth- 
odist and a native of Ireland. He used to tell us that he 
" might have heard John Wesley," his family having once gone 
to a meeting for that purpose, while he, a boy, remained at 
home. His name was on the class book fifty years and never 
had an " S " (for " sick ") nor an " A " (for " absent ") after it; 
but after his children married there w y as a " D " (for "distant ") 
once a year when he went to visit them. 

" ' My children could n't well be any kinder to me than they 
are ; I still keep about my work, though I was seventy-eight 
on the 29th of August. [1889."] By the way, here's a letter that 
came from the only one that does n't live in Evanston ; ' and the 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 263 

great-hearted man showed me a note, in a bold, business hand, 
reading as follows : 

" 'My Dear Father :. I congratulate you and everybody else 
that you have lived seventy-eight years. May you live many 
years more, for your years are full of dignity, honor and peace. 
Your affectionate son, Sam B. Raymond. 

August 28, 1889.'" 

Some of Dr. Raymond's distinguished pupils have 
written of him in connection with his great work on 
systematic theology, and here are their estimates. 
Bishop Gilbert Haven, that Saul among the prophets, 
wrote as follows : 

"Those who have heard Dr. Raymond preach have never 
failed to be delighted with his strong, clear, bold statements of 
gospel truth. He preaches as from a lecture-chair in his pre- 
cision of statement ; he lectures as from the pulpit, in his force 
and fire. Many of his admirers urged him for years to put his 
words on paper. But ink and paper have been as far from his 
desire as they were from that of Father Taylor. He never 
wrote a composition, we venture to assert, in his school days, 
but with great reluctance. And when chosen to preach the 
Massachusetts election sermon, his greatest task was to put the 
sermon on paper. For such an anti-scriblerus to write out two 
bulky octavos,— over a thousand pages, — shows what changes 
time and fate may determine. These lectures are the sermons 
of his youth, set off with the critical growth of years. It is 
fruit in old age. Fat and flourishing must be the tree that 
bears it. His old pupils, who number thousands, will gladly 
secure this reminder of the days when they hung entranced 
upon his lips, and when they said one to another, ' Did not our 
hearts burn within us when he opened unto us the Scriptures ?' 
Without any show of learning, with even the few Greek words 
put into English spelling, with no references to other authors, 



264 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

any more than Calvin's Institutes have, the great work rolls on 

and out, 

Serene and resolute and calm, 

And strong and self-possessed. 

It is a refreshment — every page ; as easy to read as the author 
is to hear. It is fresh with the times ; he handles Hodge as he 
would the composition of a boy ; handles modern scientists, 
when they poach on the theological manor, as a huntsman does 
a rabbit; never breaks the thread of argument; never falls 
into drowsiness, and hardly ever into dilemmas and difficulties. 
It is a good lesson in writing. Dean Stanley is not clearer, nor 
half as orthodox." 

One word of ill-will toward any living thing I 
never heard from Dr. Raymond's lips ; his ways were 
ways of pleasantness and all his paths were paths of 
peace. As to his catholicity of opinion, take the in- 
cident at a dinner-table where some budding theo- 
logian was laying it off about the impropriety of 
woman's rights, when the good doctor, grown tired of 
the inane discussion, ended it by thumping the 
table, with the words : ' * If she can do it well % I am 
willing to see a colored woman president of the United 
States." That was literally " a climax and a half." 

BISHOP SIMPSON. 

Probably no single spirit has ever breathed itself 
on Evanston with such a strong yet gentle sway, as 
that of Bishop Simpson, though he dwelt among us 
less than four years. But he was here during the 
most eventful period included in the annals of any 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 265 

population, great or small, that of the civil war. In 
the plenitude of his manhood ; the central figure of 
the church he loved ; the trusted counselor of Abra- 
ham Lincoln ; the foremost patriotic orator of that un- 
equaled crisis into which he threw himself with all the 
ardor of his enkindled soul, it was an education to 
have known him. As of all the truly great, it could 
be said of him that 

" He hath borne his faculties so meek 
And was so clear in his great office " 

that with him a little child might feel itself at home 
1 * and the birds of air might safely light upon his laurel 
wreath." There was in him a mildness that beto- 
kened mighty powers in perfect equipoise ; majestic 
sweetness was enthroned upon his brow. I like to re- 
member that a form so noble walked our streets and a 
face so loving looked into our own. Like the Corliss 
engine, he was best studied in action. One hour see 
him writing in a school-girl's album words forever 
memorable to her from that time forth : 

" Without haste, without rest ; 
Bind the motto on thy breast, 
Bear it with thee as a spell, 
Storm or sunshine, guard it well.'* 

The next he passes from his home on Hinman 
avenue along Church street to the white meeting- 
house among the trees, leading his little son Vernon 
by the hand ; enters the pulpit, kneels in prayer, and 



266 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

a few minutes later is leading the whole congregation to 
such an assault upon heaven for the overthrow of hu- 
man bondage and the triumph of our Union arms, as 
no soul among us ever thought to hear from human 
lips. The very air seems surcharged with the thunder 
and lightning of God's wrath against secession and 
slavery. 

Always trained to the utmost decorum within the 
house of God, I do not ever remember lifting my head 
save once, to watch the face of one who prayed, except 
that of Bishop Simpson, when he stood in our old pul- 
pit during the war of the rebellion. And that face was 
terrible to see — sublime with righteous wrath as ever 
was Isaiah's, and expressive of communion with the 
Most High as one in apocalyptic vision. It is said 
that his speeches at Cincinnati and other great centers 
so aroused the people that they rose c?i masse with 
shouts and waving of canes and handkerchiefs. I did 
not hear him make a war speech ; such were not 
needed in Evanston, where our best manhood, young 
and middle-age, rallied grandly at once, under the in- 
spiration of Generals White, Beveridge ami Gamble, 
Major Russell, Alphonso Linn, and other never-to-be- 
forgotten heroes. But at Desplaines camp meeting, 
what an epoch to many Evanstonians was his mighty 
sermon on ' * Faith " ! I have heard great preachers ; 
Beecher, Talmage, Spurgeon in England, Pere Hya- 
cynthe in France, but, to my thought, no flight was 
ever so steady, so sustained, so lofty, as that of Bishop 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 267 

Simpson on that memorable day amid the leafy groves 
of dear old Desplaines camp ground. 

For beyond all these he was an emotional orator ; 
his whole soul was on fire in every utterance, and flew 
on tireless wings as eagles' toward the throne of God, 
carrying with it us, who could but follow with him, 
" gazing steadfastly up into heaven." Like a cathe- 
dral organ, with many stops and pipes and banks of 
keys, the bishop could give forth music sublime, ten- 
der or sweet, as he desired. We asked him to speak 
in Sunday-school on Christmas, and he began by say- 
ing, " Children, I can prove to you that but for Him 
whose day we are here to celebrate, you'd have no 
buttons on your coats." From this he pictured that 
ever unfolding and greatest of gospel miracles, a 
Christian civilization, in words so apt and by illustra- 
tions so telling that at nearly thirty years' distance I 
can clearly recall their vivid impression on my Sunday- 
school class and me. Before a conference of ministers 
in Indiana, whom he was to ordain, he made such an 
address as I feel sure no other ever did, and it was 
urging them to stand by the cause of woman's ballot, 
— that it was sacred, sure, to win, and Methodist minis- 
ters with memories of Susannah Wesley, Hester Ann 
Rogers, and other elect ladies not a few, should cham- 
pion the coming of the home forces into government 
with might and main, because this meant Christ's tri- 
umph. He was the devoted and progressive friend of 
the temperance cause, and I have no more treasured 



268 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

memory than of being entertained in his Philadelphia 
home, almost at the outset of my work, accompanied 
by him to Spring Garden M. E. church, and intro- 
duced to a small meeting in the vestry by my princely 
friend, who eulogized the crusade and warmly indorsed 
the W. C. T. U. 

Knowing the fearless character of his mind, how 
often have I said, in common with other radicals of 
our communion, " Oh for an hour of Bishop Simpson 
to point us forward on the path of progress ! M 

A gentleman who was his secretary and companion 
for months, on a difficult journey, taxing all his pow- 
ers of endurance, once told one who reported his 
words to me, that in all the press of people and cum- 
bering cares, he did not hear an impatient or unkind, 
and in all their intimate companionship not an impru- 
dent word from Bishop Simpson, nor was there an 
utterance or deed that would have been unworthy the 
most refined of women. Beyond this, praise of a 
man's life and character can hardly go. It is the last 
analysis and microscopic test of a great character ; not 
dress parade, but fatigue uniform and private hours. 
It is for this reason that (almost) " no man is a hero 
to his valet." But then we must remember that the 
valet is not a hero, and men are never justly judged 
save by their peers. 

While he lived in Evanston — 1860 to 1863 — the 
bishop's official duties called him to California, and 
half the town formed in procession, going with him to 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 269 

the train, — an honor never before or since accorded to 
mortal, that I know of, by our staid and thoroughly 
equipoised Evanstonians, When he returned (coming 
all the awful distance overland by stage afad in peril 
of the Indians a large part of the way, no doubt 
shortening his precious life by what must seem to us 
now a wholly unwarrantable strain upon his health, 
which was never robust), we all turned out again, and 
carrying the Bragdon melodeon and led by the Ludlam 
voices, we young folks serenaded our revered chief with 

"Home again, home again, 
From a foreign shore.*' 

He spoke thirty times for us in Evanston, during 
the few years he lived among us. When he came 
home, utterly worn out, we did not realize the situa- 
tion ; were wont to urge him to " give us a treat now 
— it was our turn." When I was in California in 1883, 
the statement was repeatedly and sorrowfully made to 
me by Methodists, ''We killed your Bishop E. O. 
Haven out here, literally killed him with kindness. He 
was so approachable and we were so appreciative, and 
we had never had a bishop to come and make his home 
with us before, so that with pulpit work, lectures, re- 
ceptions, and the like, his delicate physique broke in 
a few months, and he vanished almost before we real- 
ized that he was ill." 

Something like this was true of Bishop Simpson, 
than whom no human being was ever more "gentle 



270 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

and easy to be entreated.' ' Mrs. Senator Blair told 
me that the last time he was in Washington, when 
utterly spent, engagement was added to engagement, 
until his Sabbath was crowded, and a reception on 
Saturday night capped the climax of unreason. Mrs. 
Blair saw him for the last time on that occasion, be- 
moaned his tired face and worn-out voice, and a few 
weeks later learned of his transition to the realm where 
work and worry never meet and weariness is known 
no more. 

On my recent trip east (May 17 to June 4, 1889), I 
spent a morning with Mrs. Bishop Simpson and her ac- 
complished daughters, Misses Sibbie and Ida, at their 
stately home on Arch Street, Philadelphia, and we 
talked of olden times. Evanstonians will be especially 
interested in some facts about the honored founder of 
our village. 

As is well known, Bishop Simpson was a native of 
Cadiz, Ohio, was largely self-educated under the care 
of that remarkable man, his uncle, Judge Simpson, 
whom t( old timers " remember as having been, with 
the bishop's mother, in his extreme old age, an inmate 
the family home at Evanston. When a young man 
the bishop became a professor in Allegheny College, 
and from there in 1839 he was called to the presidency 
of Indiana Asbury University (now De Pauw). In a re- 
cent conversation Mrs. Simpson said to me, in sub- 
stance : 

' 4 1 went to Greencastle a bride but seventeen years 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 27 1 

old. We lived there nine years and built a brick 
house, which has lately been made the art department 
of the institution, and named Simpson Hall. My hus- 
band, though a young man, — then about twenty-eight 
years old, — was affectionately dubbed the * Old Doc' 
by some of the students, afterwards better known as 
Secretary Harlan, Governor Porter, the new minister 
to Italy, General Luce and others. He was dressed 
in the gray homespun of those early days, and wisely 
went forth among the people with the purpose of 
bringing our new college to their knowledge and en- 
dearing it to them through their confidence and inter- 
est in him. Railroads were few and he traveled itin- 
erant fashion, with his own conveyance. In the prog- 
ress of this journey he lectured in the little town of 
Delphi. The people liked him, and urged him to stay 
over Sunday and preach, which he did. 

"It was there that he formed the acquaintance of Dr. 
Evans, who, after the founding of Evanston, came to 
see us in Pittsburgh, and insisted that we must go 
there to live, 'which we did, and would have re- 
mained there but for two reasons ; the lake air was 
trying to my husband's lungs, and the trains were 
infrequent in those days, so that to wait several hours 
or drive out from Chicago was the wearisome alterna- 
tive often presented to him on returning from an ex- 
hausting Trip. We love the Evanston people, and 
spent delightful years among them. Our home was 
that handsome house of Mr. Haskin's, just in the rear 



272 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

of the still finer one he afterward built, now, I think, 
the home of Mrs. Philip Shumway." Many other 
most interesting things were told me by this remarka- 
ble woman, who to-day shares with Mrs. President 
Hayes the honor of being a central figure in the church 
she has loved and served so faithfully. 

I am sorry the house in which Bishop Simpson and 
his family lived was burned, some years ago. "Old 
timers ' * remember a saying relative to Dr. Evans (as we 
called him until President Lincoln made him governor 
of Colorado), to the effect that "when any other of 
our eloquent preachers is to occupy the pulpit, one 
pocket handkerchief is enough for our warm-hearted 
founder, but when Bishop Simpson is to preach he in- 
variably fortifies himself with two. 

HENRY BASCOM RIDGAWAY,* D. D. 

On a pleasant summer day about fifty years ago, a 
bright-faced lad was playing in the streets of Balti- 
more. He was a gentleman in every fiber, with good 
lineage, good training, and an appetency for the good, 
the true, the beautiful. His elder brother pointed to 
a man of striking form and features, but shabbily 
dressed and under the influence of liquor, and point- 
ing, said, " Henry, that is Edgar Allan Poe." Hardly 



* Born in Talbot county, eastern shore of Maryland, September 7, 1830; 
preparatory studies in Baltimore high school ; graduated from Dickinson 
College, Carlisle, Ta., 1849. Began to preach before he was twenty years 
old, on Summerfield circuit, Baltimore county, Md. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 273 

could there have been a greater contrast in the des- 
tinies of two representative men than in that of the 
pure-faced schoolboy and the ill-starred genius, whose 
life circles thus intersphered for a moment upon a Bal- 
timore street. Doubtless the sight, which must have 
pained his kindly heart, of a great soul in chains, 
helped to make him more than ever God's own free 
man, as he has been always, with no thralldom of evil 
habit, however small, throwing its fetters over body or 
soul. Henry Bascom Ridgaway's Methodistic ante- 
cedents are revealed in his beautiful name — that of 
Henry Bascom being the synonym for pulpit elo- 
quence, borne as it was by one of the Methodist bish- 
ops of the South who was contemporary with Henry 
Clay and every whit the peer of that great orator. 
Dickinson College is the most historic seat of learning 
that the Methodist church in America can show. 
Founded in 1783 as a Presbyterian institution, its clas- 
sic shades shelter traditions of the best English culture, 
and its graduates seem to have acquired a polish and 
precision that mark them through life as men of choice 
refinement. Rev. Dr. McClintock's mighty spirit 
broods in the air of Dickinson — the man who was 
such a blending of scholar and Christian, litterateur 
and saint, theologian and man of the world, as our 
church has not produced before or since his time. 
Young Ridgaway was just the student to be moulded 
by this preceptor. The Cincinnati Gazette said of him 
when making his memorable speech before the General 



274 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Conference of the M. E. church South in 1882 : " As 
all who know him are aware, the doctor is gentility 
personified. His action in public address is as smooth 
and graceful as his flowing rhetoric." The editor of 
Boston's Christian Register, having heard him on a 
yacht excursion to Martha's Vineyard, wrote: "His 
subject was "The Attractive Power of the Cross,' and 
though some things were said that we could not ac- 
cept, we found ourselves deeply impressed. His face 
is one of great spiritual beauty, and his whole manner 
most engaging." A New York paper says of one of 
his dedicatory sermons : 

" At first the preacher proceeded with calmness and deliber- 
ation ; soon we were charmed with the sweetness of his voice ; 
then his countenance lights up more and more ; he delights 
you with a lovely picture, sketched with the utmost delicacy 
and precision ; then comes a flight of thrilling and impas- 
sioned eloquence. ' ' 

Preaching has always been the Doctor's chosen work, 
and he has had the chief churches of our Zion ; twice 
he has served St. Paul's, New York, (where he preached 
the funeral sermon of his chief parishioner, James 
Harper, founder of the famous publishing house and 
at one time mayor of the city) ; Washington Square, 
New York, St. James', N. Y., St. Paul's, Cincinnati, 
besides Chestnut Street church, Portland, Me., Sing 
Sing, N. Y., and several leading churches in Baltimore. 

He has written several books, one, "The Lord's 
Land," being a record of his trip to Palestine in 1870, 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 275 

and one of our best books on that oft-treated theme ; 
"The Iyife of Bishop Janes,' ' who was his personal 
friend, and of Alfred Cookman, to whom he has been 
likened in character and manners. In 1882 Dr. Ridg- 
away accepted the chair of historical theology in 
Garrett Biblical Institute, Evanston, (theological 
department of the Northwestern and several other in- 
stitutions,) and upon the election of Dr. Ninde as 
bishop, in 1884, Dr. Ridgaway became president. In 
connection with these duties he acted as pastor of the 
M. E. church in 1885 and filled that difficult position 
to universal acceptance. Dr. Ridgaway was married 
in February, 1855, to Rosamond, only daughter of 
Professor Merritt Caldwell, that man so loved by all 
that knew him that though he died so long since, his 
name is more frequently spoken at Dickinson and 
elsewhere by those who knew him than are the names 
of some who are in active life. Professor Caldwell's wife 
was the sister of early Evanston' s good Samaritan, 
Mrs. Bragdon, and one of our physicians seems to 
have inherited with his " Uncle Merritt' s " name his 
happy cast of character. 

Mrs. Ridgaway more than fills out the role of wife 
to a distinguished man and hostess to his constituency, 
superadding to these ceaseless cares, the most intelli- 
gent and sedulous work as a foreign missionary 
leader. 

Dr. Ridgaway is a man of refreshingly progressive 
spirit. He believes in temperance reform, speaking of 



276 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

it thus in that greatest epoch in his life, before the 
General Conference of the M. E. church South : 

" What shall I say — what can I say — that will be adequate to 
the subject, when I attempt to speak of the uprising of our 
women on the great temperance reformation ? Their prayers, 
their petitions, their heroic struggles and eloquent pleadings, 
have fired the great heart of the North and yours. Nor is it all 
fire. I mean it does not end in blaze and smoke. It is a gen- 
erating, intelligent power — power that is seizing on the ballot- 
box and legislatures * * * and will yet seize upon the 
national Congress, and from the great capitol itself shall issue 
temperance laws. The Christian wives, mothers, sisters and 
daughters have taken their stand as Luther did of old : ' I can 
do no otherwise, so help me God.' " 

Dr. Ridgaway believes in the ballot for woman, 
and the remarkable chivalry of his nature has no- 
where been more manifest than in his treatment of the 
two young evangelists, Miss Eliza Frye and Miss 
Anna Gleason, who have been enrolled as theological 
students since his presidency. Their own brother 
could not have been more hearty in the effort to make 
them feel at home. When all the theological semi- 
naries that center in Chicago united in a banquet, the 
Doctor invited Miss Frye to go with himself and Mrs. 
Ridgaway ; and recently on the day of prayer for col- 
leges, after wise D.D.'s had been appropriately and 
duly heard, and tall young theologues had " improved 
the time," the president came forward, saying to who- 
ever was presiding at that hour, " Will you give me a 
few minutes ? n and when the request was granted and 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 277 

all rejoiced to think that he would speak again, Dr. 
Ridgaway turned to Miss Gleason, that quiet, scholarly 
young woman, saying with one of his captivating 
smiles, " I only asked that time that it might become 
yours.' ' Was ever act more delicate, more like that 
" knight of the new chivalry M that Dr. Ridgaway is? 
May he be a bishop yet, and help to let the women 
into their full heritage in the wide realm of modern 
Methodism ! 

REV. CHARLES F. BRADLEY, D.D., PROFESSOR OF NEW 

TESTAMENT EXEGESIS. 

Rev. Charles F. Bradley, A.M., D.D., was born in 
Chicago in 1852. He graduated from the high school 
of Chicago in 1869, and from Dartmouth College in 
1873. He spent a year in Garrett Biblical Institute, 
and two years as instructor in Greek in Dartmouth Col- 
lege. Subsequently he attended Andover Theological 
School one year, and Garrett Biblical Institute one 
year; graduating therefrom, he joined the Minnesota 
conference, and was pastor at Duluth one year. He 
married Miss Susan Chase, of Lowell, Mass., and was 
stationed at Fargo, North Dakota, two years as pastor, 
going thence to Hamline University, St. Paul, as in- 
structor in languages. While there he was appointed 
assistant to Dr. Henry Bannister, Garrett Biblical In- 
stitute, with one year's leave of absence. While he 
was abroad Dr. Bannister died, and Professor Bradley 
was given full professorship. He is at present travel- 



278 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

ing abroad and studying, being an indefatigable stu- 
dent, and for his age, unexcelled as a scholar in the 
denomination of which he is, alike by character and 
achievement, an ornament. His mind and heart are 
hospitable in nature ; he is everybody's friend ; a sol- 
dier of Christ, devoted and devout, but in touch with 
new ideas and abreast of the great army of progress 
that still goes marching on. 

REV. MILTON S. TERRY, D.D., PROFESSOR OF OLD 

TESTAMENT EXEGESIS. 

Rev. Dr. Milton S. Terry was born near Albany, 
N. Y., Feb. 22, 1840; prepared for college at Charlotte- 
ville Seminary, Charlotteville, N. Y.; attended Troy 
University; afterward Yale Theological Seminary; was 
pastor in New York conference twenty-two years, occu- 
pying pulpits at Hamden, Delphi, Peekskill on the 
Hudson, Poughkeepsie, Kingston and New York city. 
He was presiding elder New York District four years. 
He received in 1879 the degree of D.D. from Wesleyan 
University, at Middletown, Conn. For seven years 
he has been Professor of Old Testament Exegesis in 
Garrett Biblical Institute. Dr. Terry is author ot 
eighteen or twenty publications, of which the most 
important are his Commentaries on Genesis, Exodus, 
Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah 
and Esther, also a large volume on Biblical Hermeneu- 
tics, and a translation from the Greek of the Sibylline 
Oracles, besides a large number of articles in the 



X* 



* A CLASSIC 'TOWN. 279 

Methodist Quarterly Review, the Old Testament Stu- 
dent, the Sunday School Times, and various other 
periodicals. He was married in May, 1864, to Miss 
Frances Orline Atchinson. They have two children, 
a daughter, now about to graduate in the classical 
course from Northwestern University, Evanston, and 
one son, a lad thirteen years of age. Dr. Terry 
traveled abroad in 1887 pursuing special studies in 
German universities, mostly in Berlin. He again 
went abroad in 1889, visited the principal cities of 
Europe, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, and Sicily. He is 
now at work on one or two new volumes. A man of 
great learning and most brotherly spirit, Dr. Terry 
has made for himself a warm place in the hearts of 
all Evanstonians. He and his noble wife are fore- 
most friends of the temperance and every other good 
cause, and ready always to lend hand as well as heart, 
wherever the wrong needs resistance or good can be 
done. 

REV. DR. CHARLES W. BENNETT. 

When I went to Lima, N. Y., in 1866, as precep- 
tress of Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, it was by invita- 
tion of Rev. Dr. Bennett, principal. But he had left 
for his sojourn in Berlin before my duties began, and 
so I missed seeing him. Naturally enough I inquired 
of his former associates as to his gifts and graces, re- 
ceiving replies full of gracious revelation. The one 
that lingered longest in my mind was this from a wide- 



280 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

awake student : " He's the sort of man that can play 
ball with us fellows on the playground, and then go 
in and maintain perfect order in the recitation room." 
Methodism has had few educators in this era whose 
manner and spirit were so nearly allied to genius. A 
vigorous personality, a rugged honesty, a great, sym- 
pathetic nature balanced between brain and heart, — 
these are features of a make-up that stands for power 
among men of all classes and conditions. By my re- 
quest, a friend long loved by me writes out this 
sketch of our Christian scholar and honored brother : 

" My Dear Miss Willard : Complying with your request 
to write a sketch of the life of Charles W. Bennett, involves 
simply a labor of love, with regret that I can not make the story 
longer and tell it better. 

" Dr. Bennett, after five years in Bvanston, seemed as thor- 
oughly acclimated as if his first breath had been of breezes from 
the prairie instead of from the fragrant clover fields of the 
famous Genesee country of New York. If ever he be weary 
waiting for your late sunrises out of Lake Michigan, or home- 
sick for the hills of his native state, no one is the wiser, so 
thoroughly does he identify himself with this place and this 
people. For here, in the chair of historical theology in Garrett 
Biblical Institute, he finds scope for his most congenial work 

"His earlier life was spent chiefly in the class-room, though 
pastoral duties claimed several years. In the summer of 1866 
a way was opened for him to realize the long-cherished desire 
to study abroad. Accordingly, he resigned the principalship 
of the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, at Lima, N. Y., and went 
to Berlin . There he availed himsel f of the lectures of Professors 
Semisch on church history, Dorner on New Testament exegesis, 
Trendelenburg and Michelet on history of philosophy, Fried- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 28 1 

erich** and Courtius on classical art and archaeology, and of the 
veteran Piper on archaeology. He studied also in the libraries 
and museums in which that city is so rich. Leaving his family 
in Berlin, he traveled extensively in Italy and afterwards in 
Palestine, Egypt and Greece, gathering materials for future 
use. In 1871 he was elected to the chair of history in Syracuse 
University, where he spent thirteen years. It Was after no light 
self-conflict that he was induced to leave an institution en- 
deared to him by so many years of sacrifice, while bravely 
sharing its fight for life. But the call was to work to which 
special preparation had been directed, and so, in December, 
1884, he came to Bvanston. 

" One outgrowth of his study is a volume issued last year, 
entitled 'Christian Archaeology,' being volume IV of the 
'Library of Biblical and Theological Literature.' Of this 
book, Dr. Piper says in his introduction, ' It is the first work 
on Christian archaeology which has appeared on American soil. 
With hearty good wishes I welcome it to a position of prom- 
inence, even before it has come into my hands. The acquaint- 
ance I have with the method of the author's studies, his pro- 
tracted connection with our university, his travels in the old 
world and their purpose, give assurance of its solid worth.' 
Another result incidental to his first, and to later visits in Ger- 
many, was the suggesting and securing, for Syracuse University, 
the Von Ranke library, the possession of which makes that 
young institution the envy of several older ones. 

" There is a phase of this life, which, to those who know 
him best, is more precious than any public achievement. This 
is the depth and sincerity of his sympathy. This element has 
entered largely into the basis of his influence, especially over 
the young. Ever encouraging the despondent and checking 
the forward, he gave his most wayward pupils the remon- 
strance of an elder brother, or at most the admonition of a 
father, and not the cold rebuke of a master. 

" It was nothing that with the income of a preacher or 



282 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

teacher his gifts for church and charity should exceed the 
measure of the tilting scale; it was nothing that he should 
keep open house for those whose home-hearth was desolate ; 
nothing, compared with the generous sympathy which prompted 
it all, and which made him the confidant of hundreds, young 
and old. Yet it would be an interesting calculation to find the 
sum of small loans frequently made to straitened students; 
only he would not tell if he could. They tell it sometimes, find 
one young woman, graduated in one of his classes, a brilliant 
student, but unfitted by lack of early training in personal haoits 
for the place of teacher, said to me; ' He talked to me like a 
mother — it nearly killed me, but I shall never cease to thank 
him for it.' Faithful indeed, the wounds of a friend; wounds 
which hurt most the hand that opens them." 



CHARLES HORSWELL, PH. D. , ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF 
BIBLICAL LANGUAGES AND EXEGESIS. 

This favorite and promising young professor was 
born in Kingston, Canada, Nov. 27, 1857. He en- 
tered our preparatory school in 1877, and was grad- 
uated from the university in 1884, and from the theo- 
logical department in 1887, having just completed a 
course of study at New Haven for the degree of Ph. D. 
He was appointed instructor in Greek and Hebrew 
the year of his graduation from Garrett Biblical Insti- 
tute. He was elected in 1891 Associate Professor of 
Biblical Languages and Exegesis, 

Professor Horswell was married, Sept. 3, 1887, to 
Miss Helen M. Redfield, a graduate of the universal y, 
and a woman of studious purposes and tastes. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 283 

NELS E. SIMONSEN, A. M., B. D. , PRINCIPAL OF NOR- 
WEGIAN AND DANISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 

Our University wisely prefers to put her own grad- 
uates in positions of trust. What they are in talents, 
scholarship and conduct, she has learned, and in those 
trained within her own great halls, her heart doth 
safely trust. Professor Simonsen, a Norwegian, born 
(1855) in Alderly, Dodge Co., Wis., came to Evans- 
ton in 1873; and seven years later was graduated from 
the university with the degree of B.A. (in 1880), from 
Garrett Biblical Institute with that of B.D., in 1882. 
He then wrought as a Christian minister in Norway 
two years and studied two in the university of Chris- 
tiana. He was elected to his present position in 1885, 
beginning his work in 1886 and receiving from his 
alma mater the degree of M.A., in 1887. 

CLARKE T. HINMAN, D.D., FIRST PRESIDENT OF OUR 

UNIVERSITY. 

The query is most interesting : When did you 
first meet a distinguished man or woman, who were 
they and how were you impressed? I have often 
thought that upon this query might be founded a 
" Game of Twenty Questions/ ' full of helpful hints. 
After about seven years of farm-life isolation, our 
family saw in the pulpit on a pleasant summer morning 
the first men of note beheld by us in that long interval, 
and the first notable Methodists upon whom we had 



284 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

ever laid eyes. My father whispered, "That portly 
man wearing spectacles is Bishop Morris ; next him 
is Dr. J. V. Watson, the brilliant Englishman, that 
edits The Northwestern Christian Advocate ; and the 
younger man with active form and movement, black 
hair, standing straight up, pale face and keen, dark 
eyes, is Dr. Hinman, just elected ^resident of our new 
university at Evanston." 

Microscopic was the scrutiny directed by our coun- 
try eyes toward that bishop and the lesser lights on 
either side of him. I have since then seen Queen 
Victoria, Pius IX. and General Grant, but no per- 
sonages ever struck into my memory like the trio of 
that morning in the olain little brick church in Janes- 
ville, Wis. 

Dr. Hinman was especially attractive by reason of 
his comparatively youthful appearance and his ardent 
enthusiasm in the cause of education. He was seek- 
ing to induce Methodists to purchase scholarships in 
the new institution, and pictured in glowing terms the 
future of Chicago and the first college located in its 
vicinity. Doubtless the words uttered that day helped 
to determine my future fate, for while my mother 
eagerly desired to send her children to school in Ober- 
lin, father then and there bee? me a devotee of Evan- 
ston. 

Clarke Titus Hinman was born in Kortright, Del- 
aware county, N. Y., August 3, 1817, and was the 
son of parents sufficiently well-to-do to send him to 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 285 



4 



Wesleyan University, from which institution he was 
graduated in 1840. He was licensed to preach in the 
M. E. church, and from 1839 to 1846 was principal of 
Newbury Seminary, Vt. He then removed to Albion, . 
Mich. ; became principal of the Wesleyan Seminary, 
procured an endowment for that institution and left it 
in 1853 * n a prosperous condition. He was elected 
president of the Northwestern University, June 22, 
1853, but the institution was not formally opened until 
November, 1855. So Dr. Hinman, who died in 1854, 
was never a resident of Evanston. His family, con- 
sisting of a wife and three children, lived on the West 
Side, Chicago, and he traveled in the interest of the 
university, the breadth of whose original plan was 
largely due to his foresight and experience. My 
neighbor, Mrs. John A. Pearsons, tells me that she 
" stood up " with the bride at Dr. Hinman's marriage 
in Newbury, Vt., to the daughter of Timothy Morse, 
a leading business man of that State, resident in New- 
bury. Mrs. Pearsons says of Dr. Hinman, "He was 
a man of wonderful energy ; nothing ever waited with 
which he had to do. Dr. Dempster, who was the 
procuring cause of his coming to Evanston, knew 
that. He was oratorical and impressive in the pulpit ; 
— was what is known as ' a popular preacher.' Such 
was his zeal for the infant university that in present- 
ing it to conferences and leading churches, he wore 
himself out, and when taken acutely ill with some- 
thing like cholera, while off on a trip, he insisted on 



286 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

traveling, and died in Troy, N. Y., en route to Ver- 
mont, where his family awaited him." 

Dr. Hinman owned the lot where the Button home- 
stead is now located — just south of the college cam- 
pus, and had great pleasure in speaking of that 
beautiful spot as the site of his future home, but this 
was not to be, and the indomitable " First President" 
is to Evanstonians little more than a name. His por- 
trait hangs in University Hall; our oldest (open) 
literary society bears his name, as does one of our 
most beautiful avenues, and a few faithful hearts still 
cherish memories of the bright star that rose so fast 
and set so soon. 

BISHOP FOSTER.* 

Bishop Randolph S. Foster, once a resident of 
Evanston, and first president of our university, is too 
important a factor in the history of the village to be 
omitted from this series of sketches, though I fear 
many equally prominent names will have to be left 
unwritten, for lack of space. 



♦Randolph Sinks Foster was born in Williamsburg, Ohio, February 
22, 1820. He was educated at Augusta college, Kentucky, and in 1837 
entered the itinerant ministry of the M. K. church in the Kentucky con- 
ference, was transferred soon afterward to the Ohio conference, and in 
1850 to New York. From 1837 till 1850 he was pastor of churches in Hillsboro, 
Portsmouth, I^ancaster, Springfield and Cincinnati, and from 1850 to 1857 
in New York and Brooklyn. In 1856 he was elected president of North- 
western University, Evanston, Illinois, but three years later he resumed the 
pastorate and was stationed in New York and Sing Sing. The General Con- 
ference of 1868 appointed him delegate to the British Wesleyan conference. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 287 

Rev. Dr. Boring dictates his early memories of this 
great man in the following terms : 

EARLY UFF, OF BISHOP FOSTER. 

" Bishop Foster's parents were Methodists of the old stamp ; 
his father, his mother, and nearly all their relations were of 
Methodist origin. His parents' home was the home of the 
preachers. Of course he was brought up in the Methodist 
church, and did not know anything else. I knew the relatives 
of his father and mother ; his mother was a Sinks ; they were 
all Methodists and highly respectable people. 

" The bishop's father was one of the most prosperous men 
of his day. Very few men in the country had better means of 
taking care of their families ; he was a pushing, driving, 
business man, and just as intense in his religious life, but in a 
different way from what his son was. At the time I first knew 
the bishop, his father lived at Neville, on the Ohio river. I 
first became acquainted with Bishop Foster in 1833, when he 
was but a lad thirteen or fourteen years old. I met him for 
the first time at a camp meeting, in the summer of that year. 



and in the same year he was elected professor of systematic theology in 
Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, N. J. In 1870 he was appointed 
president of this institution, retaining the chair of theology. He was a 
delegate to the General Conferences of 1864, 1868 and 1872. In May, 1872, he 
was elected bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church, and soon afterwards 
was chosen to make episcopal visitations in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, 
Germany, Switzerland, Italy, India and South America. He subsequently 
resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Boston, Massachusetts. He has published 
"Objections to Calvinism as It Is," a polemical work which grew out of a 
controversy (Cincinnati, 1849,) ; •* Christian Purity " (New York, 1851 ; re- 
vised edition, 1869); "Ministry for the Times" (1852), and "Theism," in 
the "Ingham lectures" (1872). He is also the author of "Beyond the 
Grave," in which he discusses with force and freedom profound questions 
in Christian eschatology (1879) ; " Centenary Thoughts for the Pulpit and Pew 
of Methodism " (1884), and "Studies in Theology" (1886) .—Cyclopedia of 
American Biography, 



288 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

I was older than he was in years. We Had begun & religious 
life about the same time, but we lived In different neighbor- 
hoods. Neville, where his father was In business, was* the 
birthplace of General Grant. Randolph at that time was a 
small boy ; he still wore the boy's jacket and dressed like a 
boy, but he was the leader of the young men's tent, as it was 
called, at the camp meeting. He was a natural leader, and the 
boy was emphatically the father of the man. He was very 
religious, and exhorted and prayed. I remember tnat at that 
camp meeting the old preacher, George W. Maley, held him 
up in his arms and let him exhort the people, — he was too small 
to be seen standing in the congregation, — and he did so with 
tremendous force and energy. That was my first acquaintance 
with him. It was not long after that ne was licensed as a local 
preacher, and he exercised his gifts around the neighbor- 
hood. Then he went to Augusta college in Kentucky. At 
that time Joseph S. Tomlinson was president, and Henry B. 
Bascom, for whom Dr. Ridgaway was named, was the professor 
of rhetoric and history, and mental and moral science, a famous 
man, a great pulpit orator ; it was doubtless during his stay 
at the college that the bishop imbibed his habits of study 
and oratory, and he was more indebted to Dr. Bascom, late 
Bishop Bascom of the church South, than perhaps to any other 
man. He was then the great pulpit orator of the Methodist 
church iu the United States ; that was his reputation. Bishop 
Foster never graduated in a regular course. Too full of zeal 
for souls, before he entered the Senior year he joined a confer- 
ence, and went to preaching as a mere lad. Althongh so 
young he was in very fact a consuming fire. He was specially 
gifted in exhortation ; had a wonderful influence over the 
people, and wherever he went he conducted great revivals. In 
western Virginia and southern Ohio ; he was a living flame, 
excessive in labors and wonderfully successful. Of course it 
was but a short time until he attracted attention, and was 
sought for by the best pulpits in the Ohio conference, of which 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 289 

he was a member. He commenced his ministry in the Ohio 
conference about Cincinnati, Chillicothe, Dayton, Hamilton 
and places of that grade. He was then transferred to the New 
York conference, and stationed at Mulberry street, I think it was, 
the leading appointment at that time in the city of New York. 
The habits of the people in the west and in the east were very 
different. He was asked for to be transferred to that popular 
church, and it was their custom to have service in the morning, 
and in the afternoon, and in the evening. The evening service 
was but lightly attended. Three services a day ; — he had not 
been accustomed to anything of the kind — only to two services 
— and he did not know anything about the specialties of 
New York. Without consulting anybody he announced that 
they would dispense with the afternoon service and have only 
two services a day. This greatly astonished his people ; the 
official board had not heard of such a thing ; the afternoon was 
the great time ; people came out in the afternoon more than 
they did in the morning or evening. But they did not know 
what to do with him. They had invited him there, and he was 
perfectly innocent about it, a-nd his custom was twice a day. 
The official board saw him and talked with him about it, but 
they could n't chide him because they dared not do it. Finally 
they compromised the matter by arranging that he should only 
preach twice a day, and that they should supply the afternoon 
service in some other way. Well, that went along for a little 
while, and the people attended a little, till finally they aban- 
doned the afternoon service, and only had two services a day ; 
so that became the dominant practice in that city after he 
reached there. He said he was perfectly innocent about it. 
He never thought of violating their usages, but simply did 
what he had been accustomed to, and what he thought was 
best. But he entrenched himself with the people, and stayed 
there, and wrought out that change. I had this story from his 
own lips, and did not know of it personally. 

" Bishop Foster is pre-eminently a preacher. As a student 



290 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

he has always been exceedingly diligent, always a hard worker. 
He is distinguished for his power of thoroughly mastering any 
subject he takes up. I know that when geology was thought 
to be a very dangerous thing for people to study, as antagoniz- 
ing the Bible, he went into a thorough examination of that 
science, made a profound study of it, and got as thorough a 
mastery of it as one could with the opportunities he had. He 
then preached and delivered lectures on geology and the Bible. 
The same is true of astronomy. Without any adequate facil- 
ities he became quite an astronomer, and he delivered a 
great many sermons on astronomy, showing how God rules 
in the heavenly world among the stars. The fact is, that 
became a specialty with him. He has also made a special 
study of evolution, but he is not an evolutionist in the modern 
sense of that word. Every study that is kindred to these sub- 
jects, he has gone through with thoroughly. Recently he has 
written a very extensive work on all the branches of theology, 
from theism to eschatology, in some eight or ten volumes. As 
a thinker, writer and preacher, in the estimation of many in 
the Methodist Episcopal church, he ranks next to Bishop 
Simpson. 

" Being brought up in the midst of plenty, he was especially 
cared for by his father ; and even after he became a man his 
father supplemented his small income. The bishop never had 
any idea of economy ; he never knew the value of money ; he 
never saved anything and never made anything. He is one of 
the most generous men that live, a kind, true, manly man. 

" I knew his wife ; she was a Miss Sarah Miley, a sister of 
Rev. John Miley, D. D., professor of systematic theology in 
Drew seminary. I knew her when she was a girl, one of the 
best, truest, purest and most unselfish women that ever lived, 
devoted to her husband, lost and swallowed up in him ; she 
lived for him, planned for him, took care of him, and kept a 
home that was always open to his friends, with the most gener- 
ous hospitality." 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 29 1 

My own early memories of Evanston (1858 to 
i860) reveal a figure standing in the. midst, of regal 
height and symmetry ; strong, well-knit and vigorous, 
the fitting temple of a great soul. The head was 
nobly carried ; its dark hair thrown straight back 
from a square brow, under which glowed a pair of 
dark eyes every bit as remarkable as those rendered 
immortal in the opening sentences of Carlyle's " Fred- 
erick the Great. ' ' The sculpturesque nose and mobile 
lips were fit adjuncts of the intense gaze, and few 
countenances of greater persuasiveness and potency 
have adorned the annals of our time. Dr. Foster, as 
we young students used to look upon him, was an 
ideal character, — worthy of romance, of art, of fame. 
I never saw a teacher so beloved. Every lecture of 
his was thronged, and on that Sunday morning when 
he preached his farewell sermon the whole church was 
in tears, and he stood before us in the old church 
pulpit, his face buried in his handkerchief, and thus we 
cried together. 

I remember this sentence: "I have rejoiced in 
you and been proud of you young gentlemen — I have 
loved you as a father loves his boys." 

Though he had a scintillating intellect and the 
gift of eloquence in a remarkable degree, he was so 
simple-hearted that he shared his children's games, 
and even helped to compose and decorate those absurd 
little valentines that boys were wont to send out in 
those days. He would give us a series of sermons on 



292 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

the Christian evidences, such as no one else could 
approach, then go home and write a chapter in his 
(unto this day) unprinted novel or shed tears over a 
passage from " David Copperfield," as read aloud to 
him in the thrilling tones of his daughter Florence, 
who strongly resembled him in person and was intel- 
lectually his other self when she was but twenty years 
of age. He was so genial and approachable that we 
all felt free to go to him with any subject on which 
we needed counsel, and was the life of every company 
in which he joined. 

His wife was, as Dr. Boring says, a " wholly selfless 
woman." As Blaine puts it in speaking of James A. 
Garfield's wife in his famous eulogy, " her life all lay 
in his." Beautiful, tender, devoted, she had the love 
of all who knew her. Their eight children were 
remarkably bright, loving-hearted and well-behaved. 

Just where the elegant home of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh 
Wilson now stands, Bishop Foster's son tf Dolphy," 
as we used to call him, a boy so admirable in every 
way that his father said he " was the most stubborn 
argument he ever came across against the doctrine of 
total depravity," established himself in a rough little 
box of a store, a veritable diminutive shanty, with 
Atwood Vane as his partner. Many a time have 
Evanstonians, sauntering down that pleasant street to 
the pier, stopped to patronize the two bright-looking 
fellows, who at that early age had learned "how to 
keep store." 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 293 

In my desire to write of the bishop as all who 
knew him would wish me to do, I sent a note to him in 
his beautiful home in the suburds of Boston. It 
brought a reply that I shall always treasure along with 
one from Whittier and one from Rev. C. H. Spurgeon. 
It is full of his own beautiful and generous spirit, that 
sees only the good in his friends. He must forgive 
me, should he see this sketch, if I copy a few 
sentences : 

" Ei*m Hili. Avenue, Roxburv, Mass., Aug. 12, 1889. 

14 My Dear Friend: I know you will excuse ine from 
writing anything about myself. There are no incidents in my 
poor little life worth mentioning. I can see in it almost noth- 
ing but sorrow and failure. My darling is gone. Annie is 
gone. Randolph is gone. My remaining children, John, 
Talmadge, Fred and Will, of the boys, and Bessie and Eva, are 
a great comfort to me. Bessie lives near me ; Will and Eva 
and Randolph's widow and her children make up my home. 
Fred and Tal are happily married. John remains a bachelor in 
Cincinnati. Tal and Will are also lawyers, the former in New 
York, the latter in Boston. 

" I have not mentioned my dear Annie in this note, and yet 
I dare not close it without saying that I never think of you 
without thinking of her and the 4 two Marys,' — yours of 'nine- 
teen beautiful years,' and little Mary Bannister. Had Annie 
lived, what a joy she would have had in you. Her going away, 
and then the loss of her dear mother, has left a cloud that 
never lifts. Some day maybe we shall understand meanings 
that now seem so obscure." 

That daughter Annie was to me one of life's most 
complete ideals, and her early death a smiting grief at 



294 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

first, and afterwards a great opening into the heavens, 
of which she said, as her wonderful spirit made the 
transit, " The mountain tops are gleaming front peak to 
peak!" 

Bishop Foster has always loved Evanston with no 
ordinary love. Very seldom coming back, he has 
made us all feel, when he did so, that he always car- 
ried the little village of yore in his great heart, even 
as we who dwelt here have always carried him and 
his. The sermon on immortality preached almost 
within this year formed a spiritual epoch to those who 
heard it. His best beloved theme is immortality, ever 
since in quick succession the two women passed away, 
who were heart of his heart. When elected bishop, a 
few years after their going, he spent a day beside their 
graves at Greenwood, saying to a friend afterward, 
' ' Those for whose sacred sakes I would have been 
rejoiced to win such honor, I have lost." 

One day last summer my sister, Mary B. Willard, 
sitting on the steps at home, saw a grand figure pass- 
ing by with a slighter young figure beside it. In- 
stantly she knew him and rushed to the sidewalk, 
when he turned with the tender look of a father in his 
eyes, saying, " Why, Mary Bannister! It does my 
heart good to see you once more ; I stole up here be- 
tween trains to let my boy Will see where he was 
born." 

Evanston has a jewel casket of beautiful beloved 
names, but none gleams with a heavenlier radiance 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 295 

than that of Randolph S. Foster, the poet-natured, 
philosophic-minded man — one of the most progressive 
bishops and most blessed saints in Christendom. 

PROFESSOR HENRY S. NOYES, ACTING PRESIDENT.* 
ERASTUS O. HAVEN, D.D., U,.D., OUR FIFTH PRESIDENT 

On a commanding eminence in the suburbs ot 
beautiful Salem, the capital of Oregon, not far from 
the Pacific sea, lies all that was mortal of that most 
peaceful and pacific character, Erastus O. Haven. In 
1883 I stood beside his lonely and far-distant grave, 
blessing his memory out of a full heart, for all the 
great and gracious words and deeds of which his life 
was full. He was indeed a friend to women, a cham- 
pion wise and brotherly. When invited to the presi- 
dency of our university he said that he would not 
think of leaving that of the University of Michigan, 
so much larger and more famous, unless the doors of 
the Methodist institution were flung wide open to 
women. This was then done, and thus at one stroke 
Dr. Haven did more for the higher culture of Ameri- 
can homes than many a man of equal powers has 
achieved in a long life. Dr. Haven was a born diplo- 
mat in the best sense ; he was always in touch with 
his environment ; his sympathy was so universal that 
all felt the atmosphere of good will radiating from his 



* For sketch of Professor Noyes, see page 50. 



296 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

hospitable brain and generous heart. He was not 
afraid of the next thing because it was the next, but 
that very fact gave it advantage in his estimation. No 
man of more benignant spirit has lived in Evanston or 
one who left a memory more fragrant. Under his 
mild, progressive sway of three years, all '.oo brief, the 
university made steady progress in all its lines of 
work, and became better known abroad than in all 
the years of its previous history. Appleton's new 
" Cyclopedia of American Biography " has the follow- 
ing fair notice of our fourth president : 

Erastus Otis Haven, Bishop of M. E. church, was born in 
Boston, Mass., Nov. 1, 1820, died in Salem, Oregon, Aug. 1881. 
He was graduated at Wesleyan University in 1842, and after- 
ward had charge of a private academy at Sudbury, Mass., at the 
same time pursuing a course of theological and general study. 
He became principal of Amenia Seminary, N. Y., in 1846, and 
in 1848 entered the Methodist ministry in the New York con- 
ference. Five years later he accepted the professorship of 
Latin in Michigan University, which he exchanged the next 
year for the chair of English language, literature and history. 
He resigned in 1856, and returned to Boston, where he was 
editor of Ziori's Herald for seven years, during which period 
he served two terms in the state senate, and a part of the time 
was an overseer of Harvard University. In 1863 he was called 
to the presidency of Michigan University, which place he occu- 
pied for six years. He then became president of Northwestern 
University, Evanston, 111., and in 1872 was chosen secretary of 
the board of education of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
which place he resigned in 1874 to become chancellor of Syra- 
cuse University, N. Y. In May, 1880, he was elected and or- 
dained a bishop. Bishop Haven was a man of great versatility 



A CLASSIC TOWN 297 

of talent. As a preacher he was able and earnest, didactic and 
hortatory, rather than oratorical ; he was judicious and success- 
ful as an administrator, but wearied among the details of pre- 
ceptoral duties. 

His religious convictions were positive and 'controlling in 
all his life, and while ardently devoted to his own denomina- 
tion, he was also broadly and generously catholic toward all 
other Christian bodies. He was given the degree of D.D. by 
Union College in 1854, and a few years later that of LL.D. by 
Ohio Wesleyan University. He served five times in the Gen- 
eral Conference, and in- 1879 visited Great Britain as delegate of 
the Methodist Episcopal church to the parent Wesleyan body. 
He wrote largely for the periodical press, and also published 
"American Progress,' * "The Young Man Advised," made up 
from discourses delivered in the chapel of Michigan University 
(New York, 1855), " Pillars of Truth/' a work on the evidences 
of Christianity (1866), and a treatise on " Rhetoric." 

CHARLES H. FOWLER, D. D., LL.D., OUR FIFTH 

PRESIDENT. 

This remarkable and famous man stood at the head 
of the university from 1872 until 1876. From Ap- 
pleton's Cyclopedia of Biography I take the following 
biographical sketch : 

"Charles Henry Fowler was born in Burford, Canada, 
August 11, 1837. In 1841 he was taken, with his father's family, 
to Illinois, where he spent his early years on a farm. After 
studying at Rock River Seminary in Mt. Morris, Illinois, he 
entered Genesee College, Lima, New York, where he was 
graduated in 1859. He soon afterward began the study of law 
at Chicago, but soon after this he was converted and at once 
changed his purpose, began a course of preparation for the 



298 A CI^SSIC TOWN. 

ministry, and in 1861 was graduated at Garrett Biblical Insti- 
tute, Evanston, Illinois. The same year he was admitted on 
trial into the Rock River conference of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, and was appointed successively to the chief 
Methodist Episcopal churches in Chicago, till in 1872 he was 
elected president of Northwestern University. He held this 
office till 1876, when he was elected by the General Conference 
to the editorship of the New York Christian Advocate. Four 
years later he was elected one of the corresponding secretaries 
of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and in 1884 he was elected and ordained bishop. He received 
the degree of D. D. from the Northwestern University, and 
afterward that of LL. D. from Syracuse University, New York. 
He was a delegate to the General Conferences of 1872, 1876, 
1880 and 1884. Since he was made bishop he has traveled 
through all parts of the country in the performance of his 
official duties, and has also visited South America and made 
the tour of the world. His residence is in San Francisco, and 
he has devoted a large share of his labors to the interests of 
the Methodist Episcopal church in the Pacific states. 

OLIVER MARCY,* U,.D., OUR SIXTH PRESIDENT. 

This genial and genuine Christian gentleman acted 
as President from 1876 until the election of Dr. Cum- 
mings in 1881. The first picture of him that comes to 



♦Born in Coleraine, Mass., February 13, 1820. Graduated at Wesleyan 
University 1846, and taught natural science in various academies. In 1862 
became professor of Natural History in Northwestern University, has since 
held that chair, also acting as President five years. During 1866 he was geolo- 
gist on the government road from I,ewiston, Idaho, to Virginia City, Mon- 
tana. He is a member of various scientific societies, and in 1876 received 
the degree of IJ„.D. from the University of Chicago. Dr. Marcy has pub- 
lished scientific articles and addresses and also a " Record of the Marcy 
Family" in the " New England Historical and Genealogical Register" for 
July, 1875. 




'. JOSEPH CUMM 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 299 

me shows him entering my little " Grove School" 
in 1865, a man of medium height, strongly built, with 
alert figure, fine head, fair complexion and hair, and 
smiling blue eyes. In his hand he carried a stalk of 
mullein in full flower, and with this as a text he de- 
lighted my young folks as if he had been a magician, 
wand in hand. This incident illustrates the enthu- 
siasm and "aptness to teach" that have given Dr. 
Marcy a hold so strong upon our students. His en- 
thusiasm is no less contagious than it is enlivening. 
In his long years of service Dr. Marcy has become the 
patriarch of the university, and wherever he appears, 
his presence is the signal for tokens of reverent affec- 
tion and good will. His home is one of rare attractive- 
ness by reason of the intellectual powers of Mrs. 
Marcy and their daughter, Mrs. Anna Marcy Davis. 
Some of us cherish a memory sacred as it is sweet, of 
the beautiful girl so early called, — Maude Marcy, the 
pet and darling of that household, whose death cast a 
deep shadow over a happy home. 

REV. JOSEPH CUMMINGS,* D. D., U,. D. 

Dr. Cummings was a man of noble presence, dig- 
nified but agreeable manners, and tremendous personal 
force and energy. He was of Scotch descent and Meth- 



*Born at Falmouth, near Portland, Me., March 3, 1817. 
Prepared for college at Maine Wesleyan seminary, Readfield. 
Graduated from Wesleyan university in 1840. 
Professor and principal of Amenia seminary. 



300 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

odist birth and breeding. His father was a Meth- 
odist itinerant whose parish stretched out over Maine 
and extended even to Canada. He was the eldest of six 
brothers and five sisters, one of whom, Judge Cum- 
mings, deceased, was a prominent lawyer in Browns- 
ville, Texas. 

His mother was the daughter of a well-to-do citizen, 
and a woman of remarkably vigorous mind. Her 
father's house was the Methodist ministers' headquar- 
ters in Bucksport, Me. Dr. Cummings made his own 
way through college, teaching between times, study- 
ing while he taught, and even in spite of all these 
drawbacks, getting ahead of his own class so far that 
he was promoted to the one above it. Not so robust 
physically as his large frame would indicate, his will 
power was such that until his illness of a few weeks, 
in 1885, he had not missed a college duty or six 
consecutive recitations in all his period of service, 
covering over forty years as a college President. 
So persistent was he in fulfilling his engagements 
at the college that when a new student would. 



1846-54— Pastor in New England conference of M. B. church. 

1853— Chair of theology in Methodist General Biblical institute. Concord, 
N.H. 

1854-57— President Genesee college, I<ima, N. Y. 

1857-75 — President Wesleyau university. 

1875— Resigned presidency, but retained chair of mental and moral phi- 
losophy and political economy till 1878. 

1873— Returned to pastoral work in Massachusetts. 

1881— Called to the presidency of Northwestern university 

1890— Died at Evanston, May 7. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 301 

say, " The doctor is sick, let's let up on lessons,' ' the 
old ones would reply, ' ' Never neglect his lessons unless 
you've heard the bell toll" The motto of his life has 
always been, " Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do 
it with thy might.' ' He had great strength and perti- 
nacity in the support and defense of every moral and 
Christian enterprise, but at the same time, great 
generosity to friends and foes. He always took 
hold of the special work intrusted to him, whether 
ministerial or educational, with an energy and grip 
that steadily increased as the obstacles multiplied. In 
the self-sacrificing devotion that he gave to the 
strengthening and enlargement of his work, he never 
seemed to know either discouragement or weariness. 
And this was equally true even when the sympathy 
and assistance to which he was entitled, came to him 
reluctantly. 

In the early days of the anti-slavery movement, 
when ministers were cautioned by their superiors 
against bringing into the pulpit a subject so delicate 
and so difficult, he stood undaunted, while condemning 
in no measured terms the crime of human slavery. 
When, after a time, the booming of cannon along the 
hills of New England was heard calling upon all to 
join hands in saving the country, and the strains of 
martial music were wafted upon the breeze, he heard 
in them the song of deliverance to the bondman and 
one of distant victory for a freed and united land. 
From the beginning he saw the greatness of the 



302 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

struggle and at what cost the country would be 
redeemed. In the darkest day of the abolition move- 
ment, when Anthony Burns was carried back into 
bondage, he stoutly persisted that "in twenty years 
there would n't be a slave in the United States.' ' 

To him his college work was a sacred duty that he 
never neglected ; but when the cares of the day were 
done he was found night after night in successive 
weeks and months on the platform of the town hall in 
Middletown, Conn., pleading the cause of our country 
before an excited community, and striving to arouse in 
them a true spirit of patriotism. He was in the midst of 
Southern sympathizers and a foreign race, who feared 
for their calling if the slaves were set free. These men 
were so carried away by passion that the life of Dr. 
Cummings, as a government champion, was in danger, 
a deadly missile being hurled at him in the darkness 
as he crossed the college campus, and his house the 
first one marked for the torch. But through all these 
scenes of strife and hatred he stood firmly for the 
right. No regiment left the county without a fare- 
well address of encouragement and sympathy and 
good cheer, and a loving handshake and " God bless 
you," from Dr. Cummings, It was a current saying 
after the war that Dr. Cummings had made more " war 
speeches/' as they were called, bidden adieu to more 
regiments, presented more flags, and spoken the last 
words at the graves of more soldiers slain in battle, 
than any other man in the state of Connecticut. 



A CI*ASSIC TOWN. 303 

This great strength and firmness in the support of 
whatever he thought to be right would perhaps lead 
some to think him wanting in the finer qualities of 
the heart. He was reticent, but his heart was ever 
tender and sympathetic toward the poor and afflicted. 
One little incident will illustrate his fatherly regard 
for the young men under his cai?e. In the middle of 
the college term one of the students was taken 
down with small-pox. Without alarming any of his 
companions, Dr. Cummings had him shut up with an 
attendant until he could be removed. When that was 
accomplished he procured a nurse who had had the 
terrible disease, but who was not very reliable as a 
nurse, though he was the only one answering to the 
necessity of the case. To make sure that the young 
man was well cared for, Dr. Cummings would go to the 
house at all hours of the night and inspect the con- 
dition of things through a window. The young man 
recovered and is now one of the chief ministers of the 
New York conference. No struggling student who 
was free from stain ever went away from him without 
sympathy and material aid. 

The doctor was as clear-headed in finance as he was 
in the class-room. Every school with which he has been 
connected has a monument to him in stone and brick 
crowning its campus, in the form of libraries, chapels, 
dormitories and halls of recitation, while endowments 
have always flourished under his fostering care. When 
he had been in Evanston eight years, debts to the 



304 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

amount of two htmdred thousand dollars had been 
cleared off, three new professors secured and three 
substantial buildings added to the growing group upon 
the college campus. 

For more than forty years Dr. Cummings was 
a staunch temperance man, as well as a most earnest 
speaker and worker in that great cause. 

He was always a strong believer in the co-education 
of the sexes, which was introduced into the oldest 
Methodist university during his administration, after 
forty-two years of contrary precedent. 

Women have had in him a loyal friend, his name 
having long been allied with the woman suffrage cause 
as well as with that of woman's education. He believed 
that no door should be closed to women, but that all 
honorable careers should be open to talents capable of 
entering upon and succeeding in them. His special 
lines of study have been moral science ; above all, 
mental science and political economy. He was fond 
of writing, and has contributed to quarterlies, etc., 
but though he mapped out two or three books, he 
never found the time to write them. No man was ever 
more industrious. His only recreation was an hour 
after tea, when he liked to hear the news and have a 
bright recess with his family and friends. His 
accomplished daughter Alice (now Mrs. Dr. Bon- 
bright), was, next to Mrs. Cummings, his greatest 
solace, his comfort and oftentimes his assistant in 
correspondence and research. The students of Wes- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 305 

leyan University like to tell how she used to come 
over to his study in the college, and go home on 
his shoulders, it being hard to see which most en- 
joyed the frolic, the stately president or the winsome 
child. Intent upon personal impressions of this great 
man, I recently sought my kind friend, Professor Cum- 
nock, in his beautiful home on Hinman avenue. 
Genial as ever, he responded to my " say on " about 
as follows; — at least this is what my flying pencil then 
and there recorded : 

" Did you know that Dr. Cummings graduated Dr. Fisk, 
Philip Shumway, who is gone, Professor Morse, Professor Car- 
hart and me ? What did we think of him ? Why, he was al- 
most worshiped by the students. I will not qualify those words, 
strong as they seem. But he was a stern disciplinarian, and 
during his administration there was a first-class disturbance. I 
was there at the time, and nearly all opposed him, but before I 
left he so won back the love of everybody that they would 
have kissed the dust under that man's feet He never gave 
way ; he made no sacrifice of dignity or conscience ; his ad- 
ministration was just as firm as ever, but his true manliness 
and strength were such that nobody could help bowing before 
them. He did n't form a resolution one day and relinquish it 
the next, but it was a straight pull all the way through. When 
a man like that says to a lot of young fellows at class day, after 
a year in which there had been disturbance, ' I, of all men, am 
least able to do without the sympathy and love of my pupils,' 
it brings them to their senses. I can tell you Dr. Cummings is 
so beloved by the alumni of Wesleyan University, that when 
he went back a few years ago, every other person was forgotten, 
even the president and Bishop Foss. Dr. Reed, who was toast- 
aiaster, said that when Dr. Cummings rose to reply to the toast 



306 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

assigned him, every man was on his feet, — undergraduates who 
only knew him by his glorious traditions, alumni whose names 
are household words throughout our church, — and for five min- 
utes they made the welkin ring with such cheering, when you 
consider quality and quantity, as seldom salutes the ears of any- 
body on this earth, no matter how successful he may have been. 
It is not overmuch praise to say that the doctor, by his long 
and splendid period of service, merits the title of an educational 
Nestor and the college president of Methodism. He impressed, 
all his students with the sternness of his moral character — its 
absolute rectitude — and his enthusiasm that they should accom- 
plish something for humanity worthy of the age in which they 
lived. These were the two great features of his work. He was 
a mighty inspirational force with students ; he never granted a 
favor unless necessary, and never asked one for himself. Duty 
was evermore his polar star, and he helped them to make it 
theirs . No body of college men has been more effecti ve than his 
graduates ; they are the kind that cause things to come to pass. 
Uprightness and energy came as nearly to a climax in him as 
seems possible to man. Though stern, he has the kindliest 
human feeling. He was ' a square man, * as the saying is an 'out 
and outer, 1 too big to wear list slippers or to peep in key-holes ; 
he'd a good deal sooner fight ! Indeed a belligerent student 
would get little quarter should the case ever come to blows— 
which, by the way, it never could ; that towering personality 
was blow enough for the average collegian. The Doctor grew 
even better with age. How wisely he conserved this great uni- 
versity of ours ! He gained constantly in favor, his administra- 
tion being at once safe, broad and prosperous. In MidcUetown, 
Conn., he was right at the front as a citizen. The townspeople, 
irrespective of denomination, looked up to him as a great man, 
a tower of strength. 

Dr. Raymond said the following of Dr. Cummings 
when I interviewed him in 1889 : 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 307 

* ' In the New England Conference he was at the head of the 
heap, pastor of Hanover street church, Boston, when it was the 
leading M. E. church in Boston and its glory, and he filled the 
bill. He was in every way a great man in New England ; had 
attained to a mature mind and reputation when he entered our 
conference. He has repeatedly reminded me that I was on 
the executive committee when he was admitted. He was 
always popular in the East, is now. One of the great qualities 
that has had no small part in his success, is his unconquer- 
able will. He is alive because he would n't die when the doc- 
tors told him to three years ago. His industry is prodigious 
and unremitting. I saw him one day leaning on the shoulder 
of a student going up to University Hall, and I declare I 
thought he was near the end, but since then he has put in 
years of most effective work. I think of him as an illustration 
of the fact that will power can control physical conditions. He 
is a grand old Roman ; long may he wave." 

"Throughout his long career he steadily, though I think 
unconsciously, avoided attracting to himself what is commonly 
known as popularity. He spurned working for place ; his indif- 
ference to what is unhappily known as ' church politics ' is the 
only reason that he has not had the highest place in our beloved 
church. He would not even use what are legitimate means of 
advancement, and he taught the students that ; — he always had 
a sneer for men who push themselves toward place and power. 
We have not had a figure in the church in fifty years more suita- 
ble for bishop. He was a great preacher, one of the greatest in 
our church, strong, logical, inspiring. His present [1889] politi- 
cal affiliations (with the Prohibition party) are not of recent 
birth. When I was a student in college he was a candidate for gov- 
ernor on the Prohibition ticket in 1866, and a member of their 
state committee, — a target set up to be fired at. He took up 
new ideas because he could not help it. First of all he took them 
up in his own conscience ; he never allied himself with any 



308 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

movement unless it had the full support of his great head and 
heart. Fear of disfavor never seemed to enter into his mind 
when he had a ' thussaith the Lord.' " 

" Above all, let me say this, — he was great as an instructor. 
The professor's chair was always his throne. In the class- 
room he played with us boys as a cat would with a ball." 



mv 



" What can you tell me of Mrs. Curamings ? " was 
climax question. The professor replied with zest : 

" I knew her in the heyday of her power. -She is a born 
diplomat. She knows how to enlist friends for the school. Her 
life was exhausted in the interest of the college wheti I was a 
student. She had just what the doctor lacked. Her receptions 
were the great social features of the time in the Methodist cir- 
cles of this country. The beautiful, aristocratic old town at 
the head of navigation on the Connecticut river, was originally 
made up of old families that had grown rich in the West India 
trade. They were Episcopalians of the old school and our col- 
lege had been an innovation. But Mrs. Cummings won all 
their prestige for the institution of which her husband was the 
head. She was to Middletown what Mrs. Dr. Kidder was to 
Evanston in former days. Mrs. Cummings is earnest and pub- 
lic-spirited. She here helps on the noble enterprise of College 
Cottage to the extent of her power, and there can not be a bet- 
ter work than to assist young women who are glad to help 
themselves to the higher education. She is a woman of great 
tact, energy and intelligence, full of sprightliness and power ; 
a conservative as her husband was a radical ; but a descendant of 
the Puritans, whose watchword still is duty. Of their surviving 
children, Helen F. married Major S. P. Hatfield, and resides in 
New York. Alice Cummings was the idol of that old man's 
heart, — a young lady of rare accomplishments and nobility of 
character.' ' 



; 




A CLASSIC TOWN. 309 

HENRY WADE ROGERS,* U,.D., EIGHTH 

PRESIDENT. 

The election of Dr. Rogers to the presidency of the 
Northwestern University at Evanston is an event of 
more than ordinary significance. The old school of 
college presidents, as represented by McCosh, Porter 
and Hopkins, is rapidly passing away. In the evolu- 
tion of the American college a new type of presiding 
officer is appearing. The college president of a gen- 
eration ago united in himself the functions of a legisla- 
tive, a judicial, and an executive officer. Presiding 
over an institution with limited resources, or in its 
very infancy, he was obliged to teach, to preach, to 
administer discipline, and to solicit funds, to meet the 
pressing needs of the struggling college. 

The last few years have brought large accessions to 
the endowment of our leading colleges ; their re- 
sources have increased until they have become great 
corporations, demanding of the trustees and presiding 
officer a very high . degree of executive skill. The 
college president of to-day must be pre-eminently a 
man of great business ability ; there is an increasing 
tendency to limit his functions to those of a purely 
administrative officer, leaving to others the various 
subdivisions of labor that have become too numerous 
for a single person to perform. In nothing is the ten- 
dency of the times more strongly marked than in the 



* This sketch is from The Chicago Graphic. 



3IO A CLASSIC TOWN. 

recent appointments of laymen to the presidency of 
our more prominent colleges. The election of Mr. 
Seth Low to Columbia, and the simultaneous call of 
Dr. Merrill E. Gates to Oberlin and Amherst are 
significant of the changes that are taking place in the 
educational world. The election of Dr. Rogers to the 
presidency of Northwestern is fully in keeping with 
the tendency to place distinguished laymen at the 
head of our universities. 

Dr. Rogers is, by training and profession, a lawyer. 
Born in 1853 in the state of New York, he entered 
Hamilton college in 1869, but graduated from the 
University of Michigan in 1874, from which institu- 
tion he received the degree of Master of Arts three 
years later. He began his study of law in the Univer- 
sity of Michigan, and in 1877 ^ e was admitted to the 
Michigan bar. He spent some time in the law office of 
Judge Cooley, who was at that time Chief Justice of 
the state, and Dean of the Law School of the Univer- 
sity of Michigan. In 1880 he was appointed to a pro- 
fessorship in the Law School of Michigan University. 
When Judge Cooley severed his connection with the 
law school with which he had been connected for 
twenty-five years it was feared that the school must 
suffer greatly from this retirement. In 1885 Dr. 
Rogers was appointed the successor of Judge Cooley. 
During the five years of his administration the school 
has so increased in numbers that it is now the largest 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 311 

law school in America. The attendance during the 
present year is nearly six hundred. 

Dr. Rogers has already achieved a national reputa- 
tion as a writer on legal topics. He was offered the 
editorship of a leading law journal, but declined the 
offer. His work on " Expert Testimony " has already 
reached a second edition. He has also edited the 
" Illinois Citations/ * His contributions to legal peri- 
odicals have been frequent and important. He was 
associated with Judges Cooley, Mitchell, Hammond 
and Wood, in the editorship of the American Law 
Register, of Philadelphia. Among the periodicals of 
a more popular character to which he has contributed 
articles on legal subjects, are the Princeton Review \ the 
Forum, and the North American Review. His article 
in the North American Review, in June, 1884, under the 
title li Harboring Conspiracy," excited general atten- 
tion at the time. He contributes an introduction of 
twenty-five pages to a work entitled " Constitutional 
History as Seen in American Law," just published by 
Messrs. Putnam & Co., in New York. 

Dr. Rogers comes to an institution already possess- 
ing great resources, and at an interesting stage of its 
history. Under the administration of the late Presi- 
dent Cummings, the attendance became very great ; 
during the present year there were about two thou- 
sand students in actual attendance. The number of 
departments has steadily grown until Northwestern 
may justly lay claim to that much abused title, " uni- 



312 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

versity." The departments ncrof in active operation 
are, the College of Liberal Arts, the Academic de- 
partment, the Colleges of Theology, Medicine, Law, 
Pharmacy, Dentistry, Music and Oratory. The fac- 
ulty numbers one hundred and ten professors and in- 
structors. The last report of the treasurer showed the 
total revenues of the university to be about two mil- 
lion five hundred thousand dollars, most of this in city 
real estate, highly productive. 

It is evident that great possibilities lie before the 
university under a skillful administrator. Dr. Rogers' 
brilliant record gives every assurance that he will prove 
equal to the duties of his new position. The city is 
to be congratulated on this accession to its educational 
forces of one who may be relied on to develop still 
further a university which already holds a high place 
among those great educational institutions which have 
elevated Chicago to the dignity of a literary- and ajt 
center. 

PROFESSORS OF THE UNIVERSITY. 

Daniel Bonbright, LL. D., Professor of Latin 
Language and Literature. — Dr. Bonbright is of Penn- 
sylvania birth, rearing, and education until his junior 
year, — having studied at the most classic old col- 
lege of Methodism, Dickinson, Carlisle, when Dr. 
Emory was president. He was graduated at Yale in- 
1850, during the presidency of Dr. Woolsey, and was 
afterward a tutor there. Subsequently he went abroad 








OLIVER MARCY, ] 





. JMtESil.ft^^WW*- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 313 

for purposes of study and travel. In the autumn of 
1858 he came to Evanston as professor of the Latin 
Language and Literature, and has now for nearly 
thirty-three years been an integral part of the univer- 
sity, having held his professorship four years longer 
than any other member of the present faculty. Dur- 
ing this period he has been abroad several times, and 
in 1870, while in Germany, he purchased for the uni- 
versity the Schultz Library, collected by Johann 
Schultz, a member of the Prussian ministry. He also 
accompanied his beloved brother James Bonbright (of 
the well known firm of Hood and Bonbright, Philadel- 
phia) on his health trips to Europe, the seashore and 
the South. With all that is highest, purest and best 
in Evanston Dr. Bonbright has been associated from 
the day of his arrival until now. Of profound schol- 
arship and proverbial thoroughness as a professor, he 
has always enjoyed the highest social distinction that 
Evanston or Chicago had to confer, while his character 
as a Christian gentleman has been ideal. The phe- 
nomenal modesty and reticence of his nature have 
alone held him away from the larger fame for which 
his rare natural abilities and great culture combined 
to prepare him. An incident of his earlier years in 
Evanston illustrates the heroic side of his character, 
and will be well remembered by ' ( old timers. ' ' At the 
hotel where Dr. Bonbright boarded, a Chicago gentle- 
man named KirchofF was stricken with small-pox, 
whereupon everybody departed in terror, except our 



314 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

professor of Latin, who, with an attendant that 
(unlike Dr. Bonbright) had had the disease, stayed 
by the patient until he died. 

Dr. Bonbright is said by the students to "exert a 
pressure to the square inch" by reason of intellectual 
force and weight of character, that makes him by 
college tradition and present fact, a king in his class- 
room, while he is a " brother born for adversity ' ' to 
all who need special counsel and help. 

On the twenty-eighth of Hugust, 1890, Dr. Bon- 
bright married Miss Alice Cummings, daughter of the 
lamented Rev. Dr. Cummings, upon which happy 
event in their scholarly annals, both of the contracting 
parties have been warmly congratulated by the host 
of friends in Evanston and elsewhere, who hold them 
dear. 

*** 
Julius F. Kellogg, A. M., Professor of Mathe- 
matics. — Long after Sturm's theorem is forgotten, the 
kindly twinkle in Professor Kellogg's ej'e will shine 
out bright among the dusty memories of all his pupils. 
Although mathematics and merriment are not usually 
associated in the student mind, yet in this character, 
many generations of Northwestern freshmen and soph- 
omores have had the opportunity of " observing the 
rare combination of a sympathetic, fun-loving spirit 
with a precise mathematical mind. No member of 
the faculty is more genuinely loved and venerated. 
The young men tell him their good stories. The 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 315 

young women remember him with flowers and always 
have a smile for his genial anecdotes. 

Professor Kellogg was born in McGrawville, N. Y., 
February 4, 1830. He received his education at 
Brown University, and took an honorary degree at 
Lawrence, Wis. In 1855, he was married to Miss 
Elizabeth Quereau, a charming and accomplished lady. 
Three sons have graced his fireside and then gone out 
into the world — William, Howard and Albert. 

*** 
Herbert F. Fisk, D. D., Professor of Pedagogics 

and Principal of the Preparatory School. — A tower of 
strength to our educational enterprises was the com- 
ing of this thoughtful and serious spirit, so mild but 
masterful ; so gentle yet indomitable. He has built 
up the preparatory school until, with its twenty-three 
expert instructors, it rivals Phillips Exeter or Phillips 
Andover on the intellectual plane and excels them on 
the moral, as a count relative to the number using to- 
bacco or intoxicants could hardly fail to show. The 
fact that many of the young men contemplate study- 
ing for the ministry and that nearly one-third of the 
students are young women, helps to explain the high 
religious status of the school. Two such men as 
Doctor Fisk, the principal, and Rev. Joseph L. Morse, 
A. M., assistant principal, have seldom combined their 
forces of brain and conscience in the instruction, care 
and oversight of six hundred and seventy-one young 
people. The outcome is growingly satisfactory to 



316 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

patrons, and the outlook for this noble school has 
brightened to such an extent that a building worthy 
of its record and achievement is already planned, and 
no better monument need be desired by a rich and 
loyal Methodist or a public-spirited Chicagoan, than 
to associate his name with this school by furnishing 
the funds with which our veteran principal can fulfill 
his heart's most profound desire by saying, "Let us 
arise and build.' ' The annals of this helpful life are 
in this wise : 

Born in Massachusetts, 1840 ; prepared for college at Wes- 
leyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass. ; entered the Wesleyan Uni- 
versity in 1856; graduated in i860; teacher of Latin in Dela- 
ware Literary Institute, Franklin, New York, one year; two 
years principal Shelburne Academy, Vermont ; for four years, 
1863-1867, teacher of ancient languages inCazenovia Seminary, 
New York ; one year, 1 867-1868, teacher of ancient languages 
Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass.; five years, 1868-1873, 
principal Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, Lima, New York ; 
eighteen years, 1873-1891, principal of Preparatory School, and 
for two years past Professor of Pedagogics in Northwestern 
University. Married, July 11, 1866, Miss Anna Green, Portage- 
ville, New York. 

A happy home with lovely wife and two daughters 
worthy of their parentage and opportunities has been, 
in all these arduous years, the hiding place of power 
to Dr. Fisk, next to that faith in God that shines out 
from his teaching and his life like a pharos brighten- 
ing evermore. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 317 

Robert McLean Cumnock, Professor of Rhet- 
oric and Elocution in our university, was born in 
Ayr, Scotland, the home of Robert Burns, May 31, 
1844. He came to the United States when only one 
year old, received his academic education chiefly in 
Wilbraham Seminary, Mass., and was graduated from 
Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., in 1868. 
Immediately thereafter he came to Evanston and en- 
tered on his present profession and professorship. 
During the winter term he is engaged in giving pub- 
lic readings, for which his services are in demand 
throughout the nation, no dramatic reader outranking 
him upon the platform, while his genial manners 
make him a universal favorite. 

Professor Cumnock's first wife was Miss Charlotte 
Nye, of Middletown, Conn., who died in 1874. His 
present wife was Miss Annie C. Webster, of Evans- 
ton, an accomplished woman and alumna of the 
university. 

Professor Cumnock is the author of several books 
relating to his specialty, published by McClurg& Co., 
Chicago. Poorly as the fact may be illustrated in 
action, I was the pupil of this accomplished artist in 
speech, during the winter of 1872, when to help our 
Woman's College, he taught its president as a free- 
will offering on the shrine of improved English and 
ameliorated manner. 

Professors Griffith, Robert Kidd, of Cincinnati, 
Moon, of Philadelphia, Charles A. Roberts, of New 



318 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

York city, and Faverner, of all along shore, have 
each tried their hand in a similar missionary fashion, 
upon the same difficult subject, but it is the testimony 
of an impartial pupil that our own canny Scotsman 
excelleth them all. 

*** 

Robert Baird, A. M., Professor of Greek. — Three 
scholarly men have filled this position since the found- 
ing of the university ; William D. Godman, Louis 
Kistler and Robert ^Baird, who was the latter's most 
enthusiastic and thorough student. We are fortunate 
in having two Scotchmen in the faculty, — Professors 
Cumnock and Baird, the latter being a native of Glas- 
gow, born in 1844. He has the sturdy, solid physique 
and qualities, mental and ethical, of the fittest survivals 
of his race, among which stands conspicuous a genius 
for hard work. He came to this country with his 
father's family, when five years of age ; studied in the 
public schools of Illinois until he was nineteen, 
then served as a student for seven years faithfully in 
our preparatory school and university, acting as tutor 
a large part of the time until his graduation in 1869. 
Twelve years of instruction of the most thorough and 
invaluable kind were then given by him in preparatory 
school and college, and in 1881 he was made professor 
of Greek. He has studied abroad, visiting Greece and 
other continental countries, and is still a student insa- 
tiable as at first. 

In 1874 Professor Baird married Miss Sarah Hes- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 319 

ton, of Michigan, a beloved pupil of mine and one of 
the most promising intellectually, among my galaxy of 
two thousand or more. They have three children and 
a quiet home on Sheridan Road, near college campus. 

*** 

Charles W. Pearson, A. M., professor of En- 
glish Literature. — The poet member of the faculty 
is Charles William Pearson, A. M., Professor of 
English Literature. There is no better fit of chair 
to man than this. In busy after years the alumnus 
can not hear the names Shakspeare, Milton, Gray, 
"without recalling the vivid picture of this professor 
with his gentle-voiced but deep-eyed enthusiasm 
for all things high and exquisite in thought and 
speech. Born at Silby, England, in August, 1846, he 
brought from his sturdy home a keenness and resolu- 
tion of disposition that, united with rare scholarship 
and taste, have made him an easy victor in life's Olym- 
pian games. 

Professor Pearson graduated from the Northwestern 
University in 1871 and received the degree of A. M. 
in 1872. In 1 88 1 he was made a professor in the 
institution. His marriage to Sarah Helen French 
took place in 1875. Five children adorn this happy 
home, Mowbray, Margaret, Ethel, George and Muriel. 

Professor Pearson is a man whom culture has not 
degenerated into conservatism. He is alert and pro- 
gressive in his attitude toward the temperance ques- 
tion, the woman question, and other reforms that are 



320 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

founded on that gospel of Christ to which he is loyal 
and devoted. 

*** 

Robert D. Sheppard, D. D., Professor of History 
and Political Economy. — Long ago and long ago it 
was we had an oratorical prize contest in the old 
chapel of the university, as a result of which the prize 
was carried off by a young man of fine presence, sono- 
rous voice, and a marked taste for literature. Sub- 
sequently we learned that he was a native of Chicago, 
born there July 23, 1846, and that he had been pre- 
pared for college in the public schools of that electric 
city. After studying awhile in Evanston he attended 
and graduated from Chicago University, in 1869, and 
later on from Garrett Biblical Institute (in 1870). He 
then joined Rock River conference and was pastor of 
leading churches within its borders until 1886, when 
he was elected to the professorship he now holds, 
after which he spent a year or two in foreign travel 
and study. In 1872 he married Miss Virginia Loring, 
and they have four children, of whom the eldest, 
Coring, is a student in the university. 

Dr. Sheppard received his degree from this theo- 
logical alma mater in 1880. 

*** 
Abram V. E. Young,* Ph. B., Professor of Chem- 
istry. — It was not an easy matter to follow a scientist 
so distinguished as Professor Carhart, but this young 

•Born in Sheboygan, Wi».. in 1853. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 32 1 

man has sustained himself admirably in his depart- 
ment, coming to us well furnished by a course of study 
in Michigan University (Ph B. in 1875) and post- 
graduate work at Johns Hopkins and Harvard Uni- 
versities. He was elected to his present chair in 1885. 

*** 
Charles S. Cook, A. M., Professor of Physics. — 
Like Dr. Bradley, Professor Cook comes to us from 
Dartmouth College, where he was graduated in 1879, 
and was a professor when elected in 1887 to the chair 
he now fills. Professor Cook is a native of Keene, 
N. H., and brings the fruits of New England character 
and culture to his responsible duties in the West. 

**# 
George Washington Hough,* A. M., Professor 
of Astronomy in Northwestern University, and Director 
of Dearborn Observatory. — Our new observatory is the 
gift of James B. Hobbs, Esq., of Chicago, and was 
completed in July, 1889. It stands upon an open bluff 
fifty feet above the lake and three hundred feet from 
the beach. The dome is constructed on a new and 
improved plan. The principal instruments of the ob- 
servatory are : The great twenty-two foot equatorial 
refracting telescope, made by Alvan Clark & Sons, of 
Cambridge, Mass., in 1861. This instrument was the 
largest in the world until a few years ago, and now 
has very few superiors. A meridian circle of the first 



* Born Oct. 24, 1836, in Montgomery County, N. Y. 



322 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

class, constructed in 1867 by Messrs. A. Repsold & 
Sons, of Hamburg. This instrument has a telescope 
of six French inches aperture, and a divided circle of 
forty inches diameter, reading by four microscopes. 
Hough's printing and recording chronographs have 
been added, for making an electrical record of the 
time of star transits. The observatory has a chronom- 
eter, Wm. Bond & Son, No. 279, three mercurial pend- 
ulum clocks, and an astronomical library, containing 
nearly one thousand three hundred volumes and 
pamphlets. 

To man this splendid outfit, we have Professor 
Hough, the distinguished astronomer, whose numer- 
ous original investigations and scientific publications 
on astronomy, meteorology and physics, given to the 
world, through the principal European and American 
journals treating of these subjects, are well known to 
specialists. His * 'Annals of the Dudley Observatory, * * 
Vol. I ' 'Astronomy/' Vol. II ' ' Meteorology ' ' and 
his " Annual Reports from Chicago 1879-87 " should 
be particularly mentioned. He was director of the 
Dudley Observatory at Albany, N. Y., from i860 to 
1874, and director of Dearborn Observatory, Chicago, 
and professor of astronomy in Chicago University 
from 1879 to 1887, when he came to Evanston. 

In 1856 he received the degree of A. M. in course 
from his alma mater, Union College, Schenectady, 
N. Y. Professor Hough prepared for college at 
Seneca Falls Academy, N. Y. He married Emma C. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 323 

Shear, at Albany, N. Y., in 1870, and three sons have 
brightened their pleasant home. 

*** 

James Taft Hatfield, Ph. D., Professor of Ger- 
man. — "An Israelite indeed," is this accomplished 
young scholar, whose whole life has been devoted, 
under the most favorable conditions, to the acquisition 
of knowledge, and whose mental powers are so subtle 
that at twenty-two, having graduated with high honor 
from our university and made a tour to the antipodes, 
he prepared (in 1884) the ' * Elements of Sanskrit Gram- 
mar/ ' published in Lucknow, and a few years later 
(1890) issued at Bonn, Germany, "A Study of Juven- 
cus," and in the same year at Baltimore " A Gothic 
Index to Kenge's Dictionary." 

Born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1862, graduating from 
Northwestern University in 1883, taking the degree 
of A. M. in 1886, and from Johns Hopkins Univer- 
sity that of Ph. D. in 1890, a * ' Hospitant ' ' in Bonn 
University, Germany, in 1890, and at twenty nine a 
member of the American Oriental Society, American 
Society for the Extension of University Teaching, 
member Auxiliary Council of World's Exposition and 
frequent contributor to various learned societies and 
periodicals. Surely the university has done well to 
call home her gifted son and claim his powers in her 
own interest. Professor Hatfield is the son of that 
flaming herald of the gospel, Robert M. Hatfield, all 



3^4 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

of whose children share the endowment of their 
father's vigor of mind and their mother's wealth of 
character. 

*** 

Eliakim H. Moore, Ph. D., Assistant Professor 
of Mathematics. — At twenty-one* this young man 
had taken his diploma and degree of A.B., Yale College 
being his alma mater ; at twenty-three he was a Ph. D. 
in the same great institution. He then studied mathe- 
matics a year at the University of Berlin (1885-6), in the 
next year taught in our Preparatory School and went 
in the year following to Yale as tutor, being recalled here 
as assistant professor of mathematics in 1889. With 
such a record it is not hard to forecast the future of a 
Christian young man whose father is Rev. Dr. David 
H. Moore of brilliant record among the leaders of the 
M. E. church. 

DEANS OF THE WOMAN'S COLLEGE. 

The Woman's College has had five deans, each of 
them thoroughly individualized. The relations of the 
first dean to " a classic town " have been set forth in 
a voluminous record entitled, " Glimpses of Fifty 
Years "; her immediate successor was Mrs. A. E. San- 
ford, of Bloomington, 111., then a successful teacher, 
and now a greatly esteemed white ribboner of that edu- 
cational center, who lived in Evanston 1874-5 and in 



* Born Jan. 26, 1862, in Marietta, Ohio. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 325 

troublous times wrought well and valiantly. Mrs. 
Sanford was succeeded by Dean Ellen Soule of New 
York, a lady of high accomplishments and quite ex- 
ceptional advantages ; the daughter of a Methodist 
minister, and a relative of Bishop Soule. After mak- 
ing an excellent record as head of the Woman's College 
and professor of French in the university, Miss Soul6 
married Professor Henry Carhart, the distinguished 
scientist, and they removed to Ann Arbor where he is 
a leading member of the Faculty of Michigan Univer- 
sity. Dean Jane M. Bancroft (now Mrs. George 
Robinson, of Detroit, Mich.,) is a New Yorker by 
birth, daughter of a Methodist minister, a graduate of 
Syracuse University, a " fellow M of Bryn Mawr Col- 
lege, a student of foreign languages and literature of 
long residence abroad, and later a most effective 
speaker and writer in the interest of the newly adopted 
order of deaconess in the M. E. Church. 

Dean Rena A. Michaels, the present incumbent, 
is like all the rest, a native of New York state. She is 
a graduate of Syracuse University and was dean of the 
Women's Department in Albion College, Mich., and 
De Pauw University, Greencastle, Ind. Dean Michaels 
is an accomplished scholar, and universally beloved by 
the students. Her French translations are becoming 
standards ; her skill as a writer and speaker is excep- 
tional, and she has resigned her position as dean 
(1891) to give her time to literary and philanthropic 



326 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

work, the latter under the auspices of the National 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union. 



Mrs. Dr. Bayliss is a leader among missionary 
women ; Mrs. Dr. Stowe excels as an amateur artist, 
and Miss Hetty Stowe as a kindergartner. 

Mrs. Jane Eggleston Zimmerman, the only sister 
of Edward Eggleston, should be named among our 
literary women and successful mothers ; also Mrs. E. 
E. Marcy, Mrs. Caroline F. Corbin (a former resident 
and cousin of Louise Chandler Moulton, the Boston 
author). 

Among the galaxy of intellectual women that 
gains steadily in numbers and in brightness, it is not 
invidious to name Mrs. Minerva Brace Norton, Miss 
Helen Brace Emerson, whose art classes and lectures 
were a brilliant success ; Misses Harriet A. Kimball, 
Lelia Crandon and Ada Townsend of the university, 
Mrs. Belle Webb Parks, and Misses Lizzie K. Hunt, 
Mary Henry and Lodilla Ambrose, who are among 
its most gifted alumnae ; Mrs. Orange Judd, always 
her famous husband's right hand helper ; Mrs. George 
T. Stone and daughter; Mrs. George S. Lord, and Mrs. 
Mary Raymond Shumway ; Misses Mary Ninde and 
Lilla Potter, the " We Two ' ' of European travel ; Mrs. 
Marie Huse Wilder and Dr. Sarah Brayton ; Miss 
Whittington, that loved and lamented teacher who 
" built character" into her pupils, and her brilliant 
successor, Miss Alice Blanchard ; Mrs. Dr. Terry, Mrs. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 327 

Dr. Bennett, Mrs. Dr. Bradley, Mrs. Dr. Fiske, Mrs. 
Ella Bannister Merwin, Mrs. Bishop Hamline of 
saintly memory, and Madam Willard, known to white 
ribboners as "Saint Courageous." 

The Women's Club of Evanston, Mrs. E. B. Har- 
bert, president, counts among its leading lights Mrs. 
T. P. Stanwood, Mrs. General Singleton, Mrs. Van 
Beuschoten, Mrs. Mary H. Hull, Mrs. John E. Miller, 
Mrs. Moseley, Mrs. Thayer. Mrs. A. L. Butler, Mrs. W. 
E. Clifford, Mrs. L. D. Norton, Mrs. C. J. Whitely and 
Miss Kate Jackson. Among philanthropists, Miss Alice 
Bond takes first rank, also Mrs. Caroline B. Buell, Miss 
Esther Pugh, Miss Anna Gordon, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Wheeler Andrew, Dr. Kate Bushnell, Miss Alice 
Briggs, all of them officers in the World's Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union ; also Miss Helen Hood, 
corresponding secretary of Illinois Woman's Christian 
Temperance Union, Mrs. Dr. Hatfield, Miss Mary 
McDowell, National Organizer of Young Woman's 
Christian Temperance Unions ; Mrs. Allen Vane, pres- 
ident of local Woman's Christian Temperance Union ; 
Miss Irene Fockler, secretary of temperance literature 
at Rest Cottage. Mrs. Governor Beverjdge, for thirty- 
five years a resident of Evanston, is a lady of remark- 
able conversational and executive powers ; Miss Julia 
Ames, one of the editors of The Union Signal, organ 
of the World's Woman's Christian Temperance Union ; 
Mrs. Sallie Ravenhill Kidder and Miss Kathryn Kid- 
der, of dramatic gifts and fame ; Miss Katharine 



328 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Willard, one of our sweetest singers ; Mrs. Emma 
Winner Rogers, wife of the president of our university, 
a woman who has recently taken a diploma at Michigan 
University and thus set a keynote for married women 
who have leisure in this and other educational centers. 
The list is but begun and my pen stops regretfully 
half way along the lengthening line. 

OTHER UNIVERSITY PEOPLE. 

Mrs. Professor Noyes seemed to me more like Mar- 
garet Fuller than any one else that I have met. She 
had unhackneyed views of life ; lived at its kernel rather 
than in its shell ; had a wide horizon and an eye that 
could see far up among the stellar spaces ; was quite hu- 
morous in conversation, where she was the bright par- 
ticular star of any galaxy she was liable to enter ; she 
was an insatiable reader of the best in books ; she wor- 
shiped justice, was a devotee of truth, and had a realiz- 
ing sense of God. To spend an afternoon with her, for 
this we sometimes did in those leisurely, old-fashioned 
days, was an epoch in one's history. To her I owe the 
reading of Margaret Fuller's life and works, Niebuhr, 
John Stuart Mill, Emerson's English Traits, Carlyle's 
Life of John Sterling, and a score of books equally no- 
ble and inspiring. My brother Oliver, thqn a humor- 
some young theologue, said that when Mrs. Noyes and 
certain other * 'thought-graspers," as he termed them, 
were in converse, they ' ' shook mental nebulae out of 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 329 

their brains as you'd shake feathers from an old 
pillow/* 

I have always thought had Mrs. Noyes been less 
sensitive to the criticisms which all must face who 
come before the public by voice or pen, she would by 
this time have achieved a prominent position in the 
world of letters or reform, or bolh. But, united to her 
undoubted individuality of thought and rare freshness 
of expression, was a nature that would not brook the 
worlds severity. In that grand school of Principal 
Charles D. Bragdon's at Auburndale, this rarely 
endowed woman was for years one of the mainsprings 
of moral power. Her only child, Margaret (born in 
Evanston, graduated at Boston, and married to Pro- 
fessor Otis, of the Boston Polytechnic school), having 
recently become a widow, Mrs. Noyes is with her and 
her children at the Hub. 

Another salient personality of that elder day was 
Dr. Ja&es Z. V. Blaney, a graduate of and professor 
of chemistry in Northwestern University, in person the 
beau ideal of a man of science, vigorous, alert, almost 
vehement in his enthusiasm, yet as gentle as a woman, 
and ofttimes, when offduty, playful as a boy. He had 
a home up on Ridge avenue that was elegant for those 
days, and the " parties" that he and others gave, 
along that handsome street, were, with the receptions 
and levees of the university, institute and female col- 
lege, occasions most enjoyable to those of us who 
thirty years ago were young. 



330 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Doctor Blaney was a universal favorite among the 
students, with whom he had that rarest faculty of an 
instructor, the power of making "common cause.' ' 
The boys delighted in him, were proud of his acknowl- 
edged genius and wide reputation, and, with the vil- 
lage people, lamented his untimely death at the noon- 
tide of a beautiful career. 

In what has for so long a time been known as the 
' * Somers House, * ' opposite the elegant home of Doctor 
Cummings, lived for five years, Prof. Wm. D. Godman, 
who had the chair of Greek. A graduate of Delavan 
College, Ohio, and a man of undoubted culture ; the 
brother-in law of that most polished among Methodist 
divines of his epoch, Reverend Doctor McClintock, 
Professor Godman brought unusual prestige to his 
task. Of medium height, slight figure, broad, peace- 
ful brow, mild, gray eyes, and calm, benignant aspect, 
with the slightly abstracted bearing of a scholar, this 
gentleman moved along our streets, the incarnation of 
refinement. We all esteemed him highly ; enjoyed 
the occasional sermons preached, or, to be more accu- 
rate, read by him in the old church, by reason of their 
high moral plane and choiceness of expression. The 
students liked him, and several of us date from a mem- 
orable lecture that he gave, our devotion to the poetry 
of Wordsworth. Not long after the death of his ac- 
complished wife, Professor Godman left us, as did his 
handsome mother-in-law (by a previous marriage), 
Mrs. Porter, an impressive figure in her home and at 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 33 1 

all social gatherings of the faculty. I had the pleas- 
ure of meeting this lady, after a quarter-century inter- 
val, at the annual convention of the Massachusetts 
W. C. T. U. in Cambridge, and of finding that she 
was a delegate, and, like myself, wore the white ribbon. 
It also came about that on a recent temperance trip to 
Louisiana, I received a telegram, inviting me to "come 
and hold a meeting/ ' from Professor (now Doctor) 
Godman, who lives in the locality so charmingly de- 
scribed in Longfellow's Evangeline as the refuge of 
that heroine, and is president of Baldwin University. 
I like to think we never really lose a friend, though 
the waves of life's unresting sea cluster so close be- 
tween, that dim horizons seem to separate us, and I 
like still better to believe this will prove true when be- 
yond the last and longest horizon of them all we 
emerge upon the smiling shore of immortality. 

BISHOP THOMSON. 

Of the life of this remarkable and saintly man, no 
adequate outline can be given here. His son, Rev 
Edward Thomson, has, at my request, furnished the 
following : 

"Los Angeles, Cai,., Sept. 25, 1889— My Dear Friend : I 
have been wanting to find time to write you a real good and 
valuable letter, but the demands upon my time increase from 
day to day, so I shall just dash off something, hoping it may be 
of some little help in the ' Story of Bvanston.' 

"I had been born on a college campus, and had lived in 



332 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Delaware, Ohio, a college town, nearly all my life, and when 
we moved to Evanston it was not much of a change for the 
Thomson family. We felt at home among college students and 
college professors, and with that class of people who naturally 
settle in college towns. 

" We moved to Evanston the latter part of November, 1867. 
We were entertained by two families while we were getting our 
goods unpacked. My father and mother stayed with Dr. W. 
C. Dandy, pastor of the Methodist church, and my sister and 
myself with Dr. D. P. Kidder, the senior professor in Garrett 
Biblical Institute. 

" Dr. Dandy's family were recently from Kentucky, and were 
of the warm-hearted Southern style. Mrs. Dandy was a quiet, 
gentle, motherly spirit. Her throne was the home. 

"Dr. Dandy was a broad-shouldered, vigorous man in body 
and mind. He usually read his sermons, but there was so 
much about them that was bright and inspiring that no one 
seemed to regret the use of the manuscript. 

" Dr. Kidder was the type of the systematic, careful and exact 
scholar. Every movement of face, body and limb seemed to be 
studied, and never did he utter an expression, even under the 
most ordinary circumstances, or about the most trivial affair, 
which was not. rhetorically perfect. His politeness was of the 
French style — the most cultured kind of warm-heartedness. 
Mrs. Kidder was so much like her husband in manners that 
they might be supposed to have been raised in the same home. 
A sweeter spirit I never knew. 

" It was cold weather when we reached Evanston. Snow was 
on the ground and chilly breezes swept in from the lake. But 
we felt that the warmth of hospitality with which we were re- 
ceived fully balanced the cold atmosphere to which we were 
not accustomed. 

"But that cold lake wind was undoubtedly a cause that 
hastened my father's death. His lungs never were strong, yet 
had not been pronounced unsound. The colds he took at 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 333 

Evanston seemed to take a stronger hold on him than those 
which he often had in Ohio. 

** The next spring my father bought a half block of land on 
Forest avenue and Greenwood street, and erected a very good 
house (now owned and occupied by Hon. Andrew Shuman), in 
which we lived very comfortably till the spring of 1870. 

1 ' March 21, while my father was on his tour of Southern con- 
ferences, we received a telegram stating that he was very ill at 
Wheeling, West Va., and wanted mother to come to him at 
once. We started on the first train but we only got as far as 
Columbus, Ohio, when a message passed over the wires stating 
that he had breathed his last at 10 o'clock a. m. that day, 
the 22d. 

" As our attachments were chiefly in Ohio, and as my first 
mother and two sisters who died in infancy were buried at 
Delaware, the seat of the Ohio Wesleyan University, where my 
father had been president for sixteen years, we made the inter- 
ment there, and shortly thereafter the family removed to Del- 
aware, and it continued to be the home of my mother till her 
decease in 1876. 

" My father's life in Evanston was a quiet one. There never 
was any ostentation about him. He never pushed himself into 
prominence. So modest and retiring in manners was he that it 
seems almost a wonder that he received so much honor. Fort- 
unately he had friends who lifted him and urged him into the 
best positions, and he always proved himself equal to any 
emergency. 

"Much of his time was spent in study. He had a large 
library and he loved to give his entire morning to work at his 
desk and among his books. The volume known as 'The 
Evidences of Revelation ' was prepared at Evanston, and also 
the two books on oriental travel, e Our Oriental Missions.' 

"He also had much other work on hand which was stopped 
forever by his death. His plans were so elaborate, and involved 
so much that was dear to his heart, that it was a great trial to 



334 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

him to die when he did. His ambition was to leave many 
volumes, but the work was so incipient that no one could com- 
plete his plans. 

" He was a natural writer. He knew how to popularize 
science and philosophy, and it is a matter of profound regret 
that he could not have lived at least ten years longer. To die 
in the face of such lands of promise seemed a great loss to the 
church. 

",The sermons which he preached while living at Evanston 
were, I think, always delivered from manuscript. Yet he always 
spoke with pathos and unction. The people were moved and 
blessed and elevated. The truth of God glowed with heavenly 
power. 

" The young men who, like myself, were in attendance in 
the school of theology, will not forget the pure style and lofty 
eloquence that characterized his discourses. Many whom I 
have met since, who have now attained prominence in the 
church, say that Bishop Thomson was their model preacher. 

"E. Thomson.' » 

BISHOP HARRIS IN EVANSTON. 

Miss Mary Harris 7 beautiful tribute to her father is 

given below. It goes to our hearts, for we, too, knew 

and loved him : 

"Evanston, III., Oct. 26, 1889— Dear Miss Willard: As I 
look back to review our residence in Evanston I find the two 
years so quiet and uneventful, as far as public interest is con- 
cerned, I fear my letter in reply to your note of Oct. 21 will be 
unsatisfactory. My father was elected to the Episcopacy at 
the General Conference of 1872, held in Brooklyn. It was not 
until this time that the Episcopal residences were fixed by the 
conference, and I well remember the excitement, and shall I 
say disappointment? when we found we were to leave our 
eastern home and move to Chicago. It was, however, two 




— i 



*A 




A CLASSIC TOWN. 335 

years and a half before this change was made. By virtue of 
General Conference action, it was father's prerogative to revise 
our church manual, and for this purpose he remained in New 
York one year after his election. He then made his mission- 
ary tour of the globe, sailing from San Francisco June 16, 
1873, an d landing m New York Oct 18, 1874. This time our 
family spent in Europe, returning with him in 1874. My 
brother had preceded us from Europe and entered the North- 
western University. This was really the attraction that turned 
our thoughts to Evanston. In the spring of 1876, when 
father was East attending conferences, we moved into Mr. Eli 
Gage's house, there, and had been living in our Evanston home 
six weeks before he ever knew where he was located. When 
he returned, he planned to surprise us with his coming, and so 
when he reached Evanston, was obliged to ask the stage driver 
if he knew where Bishop Harris lived. At that time one car- 
riage step served for the two houses, — Mrs. Brainard's and Mr. 
Gage's, — so when he had alighted he had to ask, ' Now, which 
house ? ' 

"In September, Bishop Janes, of New York, died, and at 
the bishops' meeting in November father changed his episcopal 
residence back to New York. You see legally his stay here 
was less than six months in duration. We, as a family, re 
mained here until the spring of 1878, when my brother finished 
his college course and entered Columbia Law School ; then we 
joined father in New York. I say ' we, ' but my only sister was 
left in Chicago, permanently located, she having married in the 
winter of 1876 Dr. M. P. Hatfield, a physician of that city. 

"Ever since I was a little girl my father's church duties 
kept him away from home, I might say the greater part of the 
time. When he was at home it seemed as if he was an honored 
guest. This absence from home naturally gave all the direc- 
tion of family affairs to mother, and right royally did she fulfill 
her mission. 

"As a bishop, to quote from Dr. Buckley, 'his most con- 



336 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

spicuous qualities were as parliamentarian and administrator. 
His judgment was sound, his will firm, his decisions prompt. In 
church law he was without an equal, its study he loved, and both 
knew its precedents and understood and reasoned independently 
upon its principles. His Christianity was of the manly type, 
not less important than that impersonated in the saintly Thom- 
son, the pathetic Simpson, or the intense and self-denying Janes. 
As clearly marked as any of these, Bishop William Logan 
Harris will stand forth upon the pages of our history as pre- 
eminently a genius in ecclesiastical affairs.' 

" Father left little manuscript of any kind. As an author he 
was not widely known. He wrote and had published in i860, 
for private circulation, a little volume called 'The Constitu- 
tional Powers of the General Conference.' Recently, with 
Judge Henry of Ohio, he published a volume — ' Ecclesiastical 
Law.' 

" Had he lived until September 14, 1887, ^ e would have 
celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his admission into the 
ministry. But the gates opened, and September 2 he whom we 
loved passed through. Memory, love and hope are left us, for 
they that are not ignorant concerning them that are fallen 
asleep in Christ, ' sorrow not as they that have no hope.' 

"Sincerely yours, 

"Mary Harris." 

To those Evanstonians who had the privilege of a 
personal acquaintance with Bishops Thomson and 
Harris, the above letters, delineating with filial delicacy 
the grand characteristics of these two men, so prom- 
inent in the M. E. church, will seem scarcely to 
do them justice. And surety these old-time friends 
can never forget the sincerity of manner, the cordial 
hospitality and the exalted purposes that animated 
these missionary bishops. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 337 

EDWARD EGGLESTON. 

This undoubted genius of a man made a strong 
impression upon Evanston. Here he rose to fame 
and from here went to New York city to enter on the 
broad life work that the world knows. A more gen- 
ial, humorsome, brotherly nature never helped to 
make our village luminous. Absent most of the time 
of his residence, I learned of him most of all through 
my mother, who was then a Bible class teacher and a 
regular attendant upon the delightful Sunday-school 
teachers' meeting during his superintendency of our 
school. She thought him worthy of the famous com- 
pliment, " His stock are God Almighty's gentlemen." 

His leaving was a signal loss to Evanston, which 
always cherishes his name with loving admiration. 

My friend, Mrs. Jane Eggleston Zimmerman, the 
only sister of the " Hoosier Schoolmaster's" origin- 
ator, herself the author of a book entitled "Gray 
Heads on Green Shoulders," has written the following : 

"Evanston, December 4, 1890.— My Dear Miss Willard: 
Your request that I prepare some reminiscences of my brother, 
sets for me a welcome task. To me he has been father, mother, 
brother, sister, all in one. No one I have ever known has wider 
or warmer sympathies, and there is, I believe, but one Evans- 
tonian more famous to-day. Edward Eggleston was born in 
Vevay, Switzerland county, Indiana, December 12, 1837, and is, 
therefore, almost exactly fifty-three years of age at the present 
writing* Always exceedingly delicate in health, he never, I 
believe, finished one whole term of school in his life. His pas- 
sion for study was so intense, however, that he was always able 



338 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

to enter the more advanced classes of every school he attended, 
even after the most prolonged absences. He delighted espe- 
cially in literature and had searched out for himself the beau- 
ties of Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelley, Keats, as well as 
whatever was worthy of mention in American literature, before 
he wa i sixteen. He was always trying to interest us younger 
children, who found the world of childhood so much more ab- 
sorbing, in the world of fancy which so fascinated himself. 

" Conscience and the religious faculty were dominant traits 
in his character, and he was an ideal Puritan, although it so 
happened that no drop of Puritan blood ran in his veins. His 
puritanism led him such a race, that at o le time he almost 
starved himself to death. This freak prolonged and increased . 
his ill health to such an extent that at the age of eighteen my 
mother sent him to Minnesota to try the restorative effect of that 
wonderful c'imate. The trip had to be made at that time, 1856, 
by boat from St. Louis. On the way up he was so ill that 
many of the passengers urged him to turn back and go home 
to his friends. 'You won't live two weeks,' said one. 'You 
are going to Minnesota to find six feet of ground for yourself 
and that mighty quick,' was the cheerful remark of another. 

" He landed at either Hastings or Red Wing, I have forgotten 
which, and to everybody's surprise, his own most of all, began 
to improve immediately. He could do nothing like other 
people, however, and so hired himself to a man to drive oxen 
in breaking prairie, acting exactly as if he had never seen a 
thin, red stream issuing from his lips or felt the awful night- 
sweats of the consumptive for weeks previous. Becoming tired 
of the delightful occupation of handling a pair of brilliant and 
versatile oxen, he joined himself to a peripatetic photographer, 
taking views of the scenery. His choice of occupations proved 
fortunate, for they kept him in the open air all day long, which j 

I believe is the only possible salvation of the consumptive 
seeking the Minnesota summer climate. 

* ; In September, for the sake of seeing the country and pror- 



I 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 339 

ing himself an athlete of the first water, this robust youth set 
out to walk home. He passed through Iowa, looked in on 
Kansas, whose historic bloody soil had a great attraction for 
him, and finally reached Chicago a good deal the worse for 
wear, especially as regarded shoes. Here his money gave out 
and he found himself too tired to walk any farther. This re- 
doubtable theorist was not above having the blues, and so he 
had 'em, then and there, sitting in the depot at Chicago— I do 
not now recall which one. A young man looking like a Kansas 
settler, which I think he was, got into conversation with him, 
and making use of the advantage of his own greater stock of 
common sense, told Edward he was too nearly worn out to 
walk any farther, and advised him to take the cars for the rest 
of the journey. ' But I have n't enough money to pay my fare, 
and I am bound to surprise the folks at home, and I am deter- 
mined not to send for any,' said my brother. ' Sho ! if that's 
all,' replied the Kansas man, Til lend you all you want.' 
My brother looked at him in astonishment. Unlimited credit 
on acquaintance of ten minutes ! The matter ended by his 
borrowing ten dollars, which took him to Lafayette, where his 
step-brothers, the late Colonel Ferrell and Major Ferrell, now 
of Omaha, were conducting the Lafayette Journal. Here he 
relieved his mind by forwarding the borrowed money to his 
trusting friend, whom we shall none of us ever forget for his 
kindness. 

"He reached home on a warm afternoon in the early part of 
September, bright-eyed, brown-faced, and actually fat ! His 
hair was so long and so thick as to give him a very startling 
appearance indeed, and within an hour my mother had discreetly 
taken him into the back yard and cut off as much as was con- 
sistent with the then prevailing fashion in hair. 

" That winter he began his chosen work, preaching, being 
then nineteen. He traveled the Lawrenceburg circuit, as 
junior preacher, holding revival services with great zeal, and I 
am told 'made a very good stagger at sermon making.' But 



34° A CLASSIC TOWN. 

his health again failed as it was to do after every attempt at 
preaching he was to make in years to come. 

"The next year, 1857, he again went to Minnesota, joined 
the conference in the fall, and lived there, trying to preach, 
and as often failing in health, for a period of nine years. In 
the spring of 1866 he came to Evanston, having become editor 
of the Little Corporal, published by Alfred L. Sewell. 

" Here, feeling the need of a kindergarten for his own chil- 
dren, he built a cottage in his own yard and established the 
first kindergarten of Evanston, which will be well remembered 
by many Evanston young people who* attended it Miss Lottie 
Collins, sister of Judge Collins, of Chicago, was its first principal, 
and Miss Maria Goodsmith, now Mrs. Braid wood, of Chicago, 
was the assistant teacher. My brother had studied Froebers 
methods profoundly, and lacking trained teachers, was obliged 
to train these young ladies himself. He also translated and 
arranged many of the German kindergarten songs, there being 
at that time no book of kindergarten songs and plays accessi- 
ble. His love of children has always been a ruling passion. 
While his own were small, he lived with them, a jolly comrade 
to whom they told all their secrets. He now has for play- 
mates his six grandchildren, who believe * Bonpa ' to be the 
most delightful companion in the world. 

"While in Evanston, he entered heartily into Sunday- 
school work, was superintendent of the First M. E. Sunday- 
school, and teacher of the Bible class, where I recall seeing you 
as a member. He also had a boys* class, which met at his own 
house, and whose religious experiences were interspersed with 
views of Minnesota scenery through a stereoscope, and such 
other innocent entertainment of the earth earthy, as his slen- 
der purse could furnish. He believed heartily in boys, enter- 
ing into their enjoyments and winning their confidence to a 
remarkable degree. 

* ' From Evanston he went to New York, to become manag- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 34 1 

ing editor of the Independent, whose western correspondent he 
had been for a year or two previous. 

"He was, later, editor- in chief of Mr. Orange Judd's 
Hearth and Home, while that paper was yet in its glory, before 
Mr. Judd sold it to the Graphic company, who ruined it. It 
was while editing Hearth and Home that he wrote 'The Hoo- 
sier Schoolmaster, ' which immediately achieved a wide popu- 
larity as surprising to my brother as to any one else. The story, 
as it appeared from week to week, was republished in the 
Vevay, Ind., paper, about which office my brother had nosed a 
good deal, while a boy, in his intervals of bad health, setting 
up type, reading proof, and occasionally writing for its col- 
umns. One day the editor said to him, * Ed, we have n't any 
good poetry on hand. Have n't you got a sister who writes 
poetry ? ' My brother guessed he had, and went home to get 
one of the many ' poems ' which I, a mature girl of eleven years, 
had written. The ' piece ' was published, and I was for once 
in my life famous on as small a capital as any author who ever 
dipped pen in ink, not even except Martin Farquhar Tupper. 

" The young editor who had published my little screed was 
still editor and proprietor of the Reveille (how the untutored 
American tongues stumbled and fell over that name!) when 
'The Hoosier Schoolmaster,' coming out in its very own dig- 
gings, lifted his paper into a circulation never before dreamed 
of. One of the characters, Jeems Phillips, the champion 
speller, had been drawn from life to a hair and eyelash, name 
and all. One day the original Jeems Phillips walked into the 
printing office and began to lay off his coat, preparatory to 
thrashing the unlucky editor who had published so faithful a 
portraiture of himself. Only the most vehement denials on 
the part of the editor of having any knowledge that there was 
such a person as Mr. Jeems Phillips, saved him from one of the 
worst thrashings any editor has ever felt. 

"For five years, in the early part of the seventies, my 
brother was pastor of what is now the I<ee Avenue Congrega- 



34 2 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

tional church, but which was at that time an undenominational 
church, which my brother called the ' Church of Christian 
Endeavor,* refining the title of 'Bud Means,' ' Church of the 
Best Licks.' Of later years he has devoted himself to histori- 
cal research, going abroad twice in order to collect materials 
for his ' History of Social Life in the Thirteen Colonies,' to be 
followed, he hopes, by a similar history of the United States. 
Time, which has whitened his hair and changed materially his 
religious beliefs, has not marred the beauty of his character or 
the depth of his love for humanity. 
" Very truly yours, 

"Jane Eggleston Zimmerman." 

My mother writes this little reminiscence concern- 
ing her old friend and former neighbor : 

" My recollections of Edward Eggleston, as our Sabbath- 
school superintendent, at the teachers* meetings, as a neighbor, 
as a writer and friend, and as a Christian gentleman, are most 
pleasant and appreciate. 

"Mr. Eggleston once said, I remember, in a teachers' meet- 
ing, that we should be careful to commend those who did well. 
He said his own life, he believed, had (when he was young) 
been repressed for want of timely praise. He said he once 
overheard some one say that he 'acquired readily,' and thought 
it must be something bad, as he had never heard anything 
good said of himself." 

FATHER WHEADON. 

This genial old saint, who is a sort of Christian 
Diogenes in respect of bravery', reminds me of some 
cherished sayings in the discourses of Epictetus. 
That great philosopher declared in a passage worthy 
to be graven in gold : 



A classic town. 343 



< I 



Difficulties are things that show what men are. For the 
future, in case of any difficulty, remember that God, like a 
gymnastic trainer, has pitted you against a rough antagonist. 
For what end ? That you may be an Olympic conqueror; and 
this can not be without toil. No man, in my opinion, has a 
more profitable difficulty on his hands than you have, provided 
you will but use it as an athletic champion uses his antagonist. 

"Suppose we were to send you as a scout to Rome. But no 
one ever sends a timorous scout, who, when he only hears a 
noise or sees a shadow, runs back frightened, and says: 'The 
enemy is at hand.' So now, if you should come and tell us : 
' Things are in a terrible way at Rome ; death is terrible, cal- 
umny terrible, poverty terrible ; run, good people, the enemy is 
at hand ! ' We will answer, ' Get you gone and prophesy for 
yourself.' Our only fault is that we have sent such a scout. 
Diogenes was sent a scout before you, but he told us other tid- 
ings. He says that death is no evil, for it is nothing base; that 
calumny is only the noise of madmen. And what account did 
this spy give us of pain, of pleasure, of poverty ? He says that 
to be naked is better than a purple robe ; to sleep upon the 
bare ground the softest bed ; and gives a proof of all he says 
by his own courage, tranquillity and freedom; and, morover, by 
a healthy and robust body. ' There is no enemy near, ' he says ; 
'all is profound peace.' How so, Diogenes? 'Look upon 
me,' he says. 'Am I hurt? Am I wounded? Have I run 
away from any one ? ' This is a scout worth having. But you 
come and tell us one thing after another. Go back and look 
more carefully and without fear." 

Our cheery old local preacher gives us the same 
ideas, only he talks the United States language in the 
Methodist dialect thereof. He has fought a good 
fight and kept the faith for over eighty-five years, 
and his beaming countenance, almost boyish in its 



344 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

trustfulness, tells us all that the world is a kind place 
to this kind of a man. Some of us miss him greatly 
from the prayer-meeting these days since the good 
people beyond that separatist called "the track" have 
named a church for him, and he, who is the father of 
that church, goes there to worship. 

On his eightieth birthday an army of his friends 
visited him at the pleasant home on Hamline street, 
rejoicing in the joy of the smiling saint who lingers in 
the Beulah land to show how heavenly life's sunset 
hues may grow. 

Rev. Edward D. Wheadon, " class leader on 
DuPage circuit,' ' in 1873, can tell us some curious 
things concerning the beginnings of Christian wor- 
ship hereabouts. It seems that the first Home Mis- 
sionary work of the Methodists was the appointment 
of Rev. William Royal as a missionary to " the Fox 
river region," in 1835. During the year he formed a 
very extensive circuit of twenty -six appointments. 
" Du Page circuit " first appears in the plan of work 
for 1837. Its first quarterly conference was held No- 
vember 11 of that year, in the schoolhouse "at the 
head of the big woods," wherever that may be. The 
members then and there pledged $500 for preachers' 
support and voted to provide ' * two stoves for their 
use." Each of the two preachers was to circulate a 
subscription to secure said stove, and the presiding 
elder was armed with a third subscription " for the 
purpose of obtaining aid to build him a log cabin." 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 345 

Brother Wheaaon was one of the class leaders on this 
circuit; — so was our brother I^eander Clifford. Rock 
River conference was organized in 1840, at Mt. Morris, 
formerly the literary center of Western Methodism, 
where ex-Governor and Mrs. Beveridge and other 
well known men and women were educated. The 
conference sessions were held in a log cabin about 
twenty feet square. Straw served as a floor, and in 
recognizing a member Bishop Waugh would face- 
tiously say, " The brother has the straw. " Here Rev. 
Hooper Crews was present, J. F. Mitchell, John 
Nason, and other familiar names. 

WILLIAM DEERING. 

William Deering, born in South Paris, Maine, 
April 25th, 1826, was converted at the age of twelve 
and united with the Methodist church of his own vil- 
lage. He was educated in the district school, and in 
several Methodist academies of Maine. He commenced 
business with the South Paris Manufacturing Com- 
pany, owning a small woolen mill, saw-mill, etc. At 
twenty-three years of age he was appointed agent and 
put in charge of the entire business. In 1861 he 
removed to Portland, and executed several contracts 
for army clothing, to the satisfaction of the government 
authorities. In 1865, in connection with S. M. Mil- 
liken, he established the house of Deering, MilHken & 
Co., Portland. In 1870 he took an interest in the 
manufacture and sale of grain and grass harvesting 



346 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

machinery with E. H. Gammon of Chicago. In 1873 
he removed to Evanston, on account of the im- 
paired health of his partner in Chicago. The busi- 
ness of the firm increased rapidly, and in 1879 he 
bought out Mr. Gammon's interest. In 1883 he 
formed a corporation, and admitted his two sons and a 
nephew to a share of the business. This is the largest 
enterprise of its class in the country, the sales amount- 
ing to several millions of dollars annually, and giving 
employment to hundreds of working people. The 
manufacturing headquarters is Deering, in the suburbs 
of Chicago. Though quiet and unobtrusive in deport- 
ment, Mr. Deering is a man of remarkable business 
skill and energy. For twenty years past he has paid 
for charitable purposes an average of $15,000 a year. 
His largest gifts have been to the Northwestern 
University, of which he is a trustee, as also of. the 
Garrett Biblical Institute, which has shared his bene- 
factions, and of whose board of trustees he is president, 
as he is also of the Chicago Home Missionary and 
Church Extension Society ; was a lay delegate from 
the Maine Conference to the General Conference of 
1872, and from the Rock River Conference to the Gen- 
eral Conference of 1884. In the midst of his numer- 
ous engagements he has often served as a teacher in 
the Sunday-school, and has faithfully responded to the 
claims of the church upon his money and time. He 
is a man of decided convictions and broad views, a 
courteous, intelligent, Christian gentleman. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 347 

The beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Deering, near 
the lake, is the seat of a hospitality ample, refined, and 
ministering to the good and great Christian move- 
ments to which they have been so long devoted. 

WILLIAM FREDERICK POOLE. 

In the long, low building of red brick at North 
State and Oak streets which contains the volumes com- 
posing the Newberry Library is a sunny room, with 
windows looking to the south. Its walls, like every 
other available portion of the building, are lined with 
books. This is the office of the librarian, Dr. Poole. 
Here he transacts the business of the library and im- 
parts information on all sorts of subjects to the people 
who call to explore the treasures of the shelves and 
are doubtful -how to begin the task. 

Dr. Poole has devoted his life to the selection and 
classification of books ; he is acknowledged to be a 
high authority on libraries, and his writings on the 
subject are quoted throughout the world. As the 
chief executive officer of the most lavishly-endowed 
public library in existence, his opportunities for creat- 
ing a marvelous collection of books are unsurpasssd. 
Though young, the library is already great in the 
character of its volumes. At the beginning of the 
present year it possessed 60,614 books and 23,872 
pamphlets. Among the former are a very large num- 
ber of rare works, many of them in magnificent bind 
ings. The accession of books during the year was 



348 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

23,242, and of pamphlets n f 6io. The purchase of 
the famous library of Mr. Henry Probasco, of Cincin- 
nati, added greatly to the value of the collection. 
The library was represented at all the principal book 
sales of both continents during the year. Among its 
most valued possessions are eighty -eight early and rare 
editions of the Bible; the first, second and fourth 
folios of Shakspeare ; ten early editions of Homer, 
beginning with that of Aldus, 15 17 ; nine editions of 
Dante, including that of 1477 ; eight editions of Hor- 
ace, beginning with Aldus, 1 5 19 ; eleven editions of 
Petrarch ; many early and extremely rare works relat- 
ing to the voyages of Columbus and the colonization 
and government of America. But the list must be 
brought to a close, though the Groliers and the other 
prizes invite further enumeration. 

William Frederick Poole, under whose direction 
this great library is forming, was born in Salem, Mass., 
Dec. 24, 1 82 1. He is a descendant in the eighth gen- 
eration of John Poole, one of the first settlers of Massa- 
chusetts colony. Dr. Poole received his early 
education in Danvers, Mass. In 1838 he entered 
Leicester Academy, where he fitted for college. In 
1842 he entered Yale College, but his studies were 
interrupted at the end of his freshman year because of 
lack of money. He engaged in teaching and other 
employment for three years, and then returned to 
-Yale College, from which he was graduated in 1849. 
During the last term of his sophomore year he became 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 349 

assistant librarian of the Society of Brothers in Unity, 
which had a library of 10,000 volumes. Here he re- 
ceived his first taste of library administration. 

During his junior 3'ear he prepared an index to the 
bound sets of periodicals in the library, which was 
received with great satisfaction by the students. It 
was published in 1848, by George P. Putnam, in an 
octavo volume of 154 pages, with the title, " Index to 
Periodicals to Which No Indexes Have Been Pub- 
lished/ ' The first edition was soon exhausted and 
the author thereupon began the preparation of a more 
extensive work. This was published in 1853, with 
the title, " Index to Periodical Literature." A third 
edition of the work was published in 1882, the refer- 
ences being brought down to January' of that year. It 
made a royal octavo volume of 1,469 pages, and was 
immediately accepted everywhere as a standard work. 
A fourth edition was published two or three months 
ago in two large volumes, the references having been 
brought down to a very recent date. 

During his senior year at college Dr. Poole became 
librarian of Brothers in Unity. In 1851, after his 
graduation, he became assistant librarian of the Boston 
Athenaeum. In the following year he was made 
librarian of the Boston Mercantile Library. During 
the four years that he remained there he prepared and 
printed a catalogue of the books under his care. In 
May, 1856, he became librarian of the Boston Athe- 
naeum, which was then the largest library in that city. 



y/j A CLASSIC TGWX. 

He remained in that position for thirteen yeais. In 
i>//9 he adopted the vocation of library expert, and 
within a few months he organized a number of libra- 
ries and also arranged and catalogued the Naval 
Academy Library at Annapolis, Md. Late in that 
year he was invited to organize and take charge of the 
great Cincinnati Public Library. There he remained 
for four years. 

The Chicago Public Library, which grew out of 
the sympathy felt for the people of this city by the 
people of England after the great fire, and to which 
Queen Victoria and many of her most distinguished 
subjects contributed volumes, was organized by Dr. 
Poole, who was chosen its librarian in October, 1873. 
lie entered upon his duties Jan. 1, 1874. The library 
o]KMicd May 1 with seventeen thousand three hundred 
and fifty-five volumes. Under his able management 
it soon grew to be one of the largest in the country 
and attracted more readers than any other. In August, 
1K87, he resigned his position to take charge of the 
Newberry Library, the creation of which had not then 
begun. With its splendid fund of more than two 
million dollars he is now bringing into existence a 
collection of books which is destined to be one of the 
greatest in the world. 

Since taking up his residence in Chicago, Dr. 
Poole has organized eight or ten large libraries in 
other cities, selecting and buying the books and ar- 
ranging all the details of administration, in more than 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 351 

half the instances without visiting the localities. In 
the United States Bureau of Education's " Report on 
Public libraries," issued in 1876, appears a paper by 
Dr. Poole on "The Organization and Management of 
Public Libraries," which is the standard authority on 
the subject. In the last edition of the Encyclopaedia 
Britannica his many papers on library construction, 
printed by the Bureau of Education, in the Library 
Journal and the American Architect, are accepted as 
the highest authority. He has written for many pub- 
lications during the past thirty-five years. In 1874 
and 1875 he edited in Chicago a literary monthly 
called the Owl y and for the past ten years he has been 
a constant contributor to the Dial of this city. 

From 1885 to 1887 he was president of the Ameri- 
can Library Association. In 1877 he was vice-presi- 
dent of the international conference of librarians in 
London. He received the degree of LL.D. from the 
Northwestern University in 1882. He is a member of 
the American Antiquarian Society and many historical 
associations. Among his numerous historical works 
are "Cotton Mather and Salem Witchcraft,' ' "The 
Popham Colony,' ' "The Ordinance of 1787," " Anti- 
Slavery Opinions Before 1800," and the chapter on 
" Witchcraft' ' in the " Memorial History of Boston." 

He has published many papers on library and his- 
torical topics, including the construction of buildings 
and the organization and management of public libra- 
ries. 



352 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

REV. ROBERT \V. PATTERSON, D. D., 

Was born January 21, 18 14, in Blount county, 
Tenn. His ancestors emigrated to America about the 
middle of the eighteenth century. Shortly after the 
birth of Robert, his parents, being very strongly op- 
posed to slavery, left Tennessee and came to Illinois, a 
free state. Mrs. Patterson exerted a strong influence 
upon all her children by religious instruction and ex- 
ample. 

Robert W. Patterson began to attend school at the 
age of nine ; at nineteen he taught school three terms; 
entered Illinois College, Jacksonville, in 1833, an< ^ 
graduated in 1837. He became a student in I^ane 
Theological Seminary under Professors Dr. layman 
Beecher, Calvin E. Stowe, Baxter Dickinson and 
Thomas J. Biggs. In 1838, when the Presbyterian 
church was divided into the Old and New Schools, he 
took sides with the latter. 

In 1839 he became tutor in Illinois College, and in 
1842 accepted a call to become pastor of the Second 
Presbyterian church, Chicago, which had just been 
organized. In 1856, when the great national conflict 
arose about the extension of slavery into the territories, 
Dr. Patterson was active as to the moral aspects of the 
question, and when in i860 Mr. Lincoln was elected, 
he took the side of the government, and throughout 
the war preached and prayed for liberty in no uncer- 
tain tones. 



u 




CkEF.Nl.EAF. 





A CLASSIC TOWN. 353 

About 1867 Dr. Patterson.became professor of apol- 
ogetics in the Presbyterian Seminary of the Northwest, 
which position he held until 1881, when he resigned, 
and engaged to lecture for three years in Lane Theo- 
logical Seminary in the department of apologetics. In 
June, 1867, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Second 
Presbyterian church was held, and immediately after- 
ward a furlough was granted to Dr. Patterson to visit 
Europe, his salary being continued by the church, and 
his expenses being paid by a friend. 

Upon the seventieth anniversary of his birth a nota- 
ble reception was given Dr. Patterson and his family, 
by his old church. He is still vigorous and able to 
perform ministerial work. His interest in the good of 
the church and public affairs has not abated. In the- 
ology Dr. Patterson has always been of the moderate 
Calvinistic or new school type. In 1873 when charges 
were preferred against Professor Swing before the 
Presbytery of Chicago, Dr. Patterson was against the 
prosecution. He was married in May, 1843, to Miss 
Julia A. Quigley, of Alton, 111. They have had eight 
children, three sons and four daughters. Robert W., Jr., 
is managing editor of the Chicago Tribune. Dr. Pat- 
terson and family came to Evanston to reside in 1885. 

ORANGE JUDD. 

Orange Judd, the famous agricultural editor, was 
born near Niagara Falls, N. Y., 26 July, 1822. He 
was graduated at Wesleyan University in 1847, atM ^ 



354 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

after teaching until 1850, spent three years in study- 
ing analytical and agricultural chemistry at Yale. He 
became editor of the American Agriculturist in 1853, 
and in 1856 its owner and publisher, continuing as 
such until 188 1, and also holding the place of agri- 
cultural editor of the New York Times in 1855-63. 
He was the principal member of the firm of Orange 
Judd and Company, which made a specialty of pub- 
lishing agricultural and scientific books, and also pub- 
lished Hearth and Home. During 1863 he served 
with the United States sanitary commission at Gettys- 
burg, and then with the Army of the Potomac from the 
Rapidan to Petersburg. In 1868-69 he was president 
of the New York, Flushing and North Side railroad, 
and also president of the New York and Flushing rail- 
road. He has taken an active interest in the affairs of 
Wesleyan University, and edited the first edition of the 
Alumni Record. The Orange Judd Hall of Natural 
Science, dedicated in 1871, is the result of his munifi- 
cence, and he held the office of trustee in 1 871 -81. 
Mr. Judd has written for the press, notably in his own 
journals; and originated in 1862 a series of Sunday- 
school lessons for every Sunday in the year, upon 
which the later Berean and International lessons have 
been modeled. His has been the hand upon the rock- 
ing stone to many and varied movements for the ad- 
vance of civilization, his vivid and tireless mind being 
adventurous along new paths. For seven years Mr. 
Judd and his family have lived in Evanston, himself and 



a classic town. 355 

son conducting the leading agricultural paper of 
the Northwest. 

WILLIAM S. LORD 

Was born in Sycamore, 111., Aug. 24, 1863, the child 
of Doctor Frederic A. and Emily Bull Lord. Doctor 
Lord was surgeon in the Union army during the 
war, at the close of which he practiced in Sycamore 
successfully for two years, removing in 1867 to Chi- 
cago, where, just when he was beginning to reap 
the rewards of faithful, competent devotion to his 
profession, he died. He left a widow with four chil- 
dren, of whom William, then nine years of age, was 
eldest. Doctor Lord had accumulated little of this 
world's goods, and the necessity of the case called for 
the oldest son to "get to work" almost at once, so 
that his regular schooling amounted to but little. 

Always fond of books and reading, the culture which 
Mr. Lord has attained is the result of his own efforts, 
and has been oftentimes at the expense of his strength, 
as the greater part of his time has been given since 
that early age to practical business affairs, in which 
field he has well established himself as partner and 
manager of one of Evanston's largest mercantile 
houses. 

Mr. Lord came to Evanston in 1886. The inter- 
vening five years have found him so busy at business 
and private literary work and study that he has laafc. 



356 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

had the time for social and public life, he would have 
enjoyed otherwise. 

In 1890 he was made one of the directors of the 
Evanston Free Public library, and this spring was 
elected a member of the school board. 

Mr. I/)rd has issued two small volumes of poetry. 
The first, " Verses,' ' appeared in 1883, and the sec- 
ond, " Beads of Morning," in 1888. He contributes 
frequently to various magazines and newspapers. 

The severest critic Mr. Lord has had says of his 
work, "it is promising/ ' and we believe that the 
modest desire Mr. Lord expresses on the title page of 
his first volume, will at least be realized. 

********* 

I would not ask for fruit from all 

The flowers of my rhyme; 
But I would be o'erjoyed to find, 

When come the harvest days, 
That time's rude blasts had once been kind 

And spared a few for praise. 

THE KIRK FAMILY. 

Mr. James S. Kirk was born in the city of Glas- 
gow, Scotland, and at a very early age he came with 
his father to Montreal, Canada. Here he attended 
school till he was about nineteen years of age. He 
married in Canada, and removed to Utica, N. Y., 
where he established his soap business in 1839. In 
1859 k e removed to Chicago, and took up his resi- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 357 

dence in Evanston about twenty-four years ago. He 
died in June of the year 1886. His family consists of 
seven sons and one daughter, of whom three are resi- 
dents of Evanston. The sons, James A., John B., 
Milton W., Wallace F., Charles S., Arthur S., Edgar 
W., are all connected with the business formerly con- 
ducted by their father. His only daughter, Helen, is 
the wife of Mr. Charles Haskin, of Evanston. Madam 
Kirk, mother of the family, is still a resident of Evans- 
ton during a part of each year, and endowed the Kirk 
prize in the university. 

Mr. James S. Kirk, founder of the house, was a 
very successful business man. His fortune lay in his 
energy and perseverance, and a genius for hard work. 
By his efforts the enterprise grew till it became the 
largest of its kind in the country, and it has ranked 
first for a number of years. Mr. John Kirk is a 
trustee of the university; Mr. Milton Kirk has been 
president of the village board of trustees. 

JAMES S. KIRK, (DECEASED,) CHICAGO, IIJ,. 

By the death of James S. Kirk, the city of Chicago 
lost one of its most respected citizens, its business 
community one of its brightest lights, and the cause 
of education one of its strongest champions. 

His father was a shipbuilder and civil engineer of 
prominence in Glasgow, Scotland, where James was 
born in 18 18. 

When a child only six months old, \3a& i*axs&^ 



36O * A CLASSIC TOWN. 

this worthy educational institution, and take great 
and honest pride in aiding, both financially and per- 
sonally, any deserving and needy cause that will 
advance the people to a higher degree of education. 
Mr. Kirk was esteemed as a scholarly gentleman ; he 
was very highly educated, and took great interest in 
everything pertaining to higher cultivation. 

In summing up the events of his life, it can most 
truly be stated that there never was a resident of Chica- 
go who was more highly respected and esteemed than 
James S. Kirk. During the years of his life he was 
looked upon as a model of honor, and an example of 
the truly honest business man. He ever endeavored to 
instill into the minds of his sons the honorable prin- 
ciples that placed him on such an elevated pedestal. 
That his descendants have treasured his desires and 
his good precepts, is proven by the universal respect 
and esteem in which all members of his family are held. 

On the fifteenth day of June, 1886, in the bosom 
of his family he passed peacefully and quietly away 
from the earth, like one fully confident of meeting in 
a more sanctified place, those nearest and dearest 
to him. 

BISHOP WILLIAM XAVIER NINDE, D. D., 

Born Cortland, N. Y.,June 21,1832; graduated from 
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., 1855, an( * 
after teaching in Rome, N. Y., entered the Methodist 
ministry in 1856, serving in various pastorates in Ohio. 



A CI^SSIC TOWN. 361 

Visited Europe and Palestine 1868-9, an( * * n l8 7° 
was transferred to the Detroit Conference. In 1873 ^ e 
was appointed professor of practical theology in the 
Biblical Institute at Evanston, 111., and became pres- 
ident of that institution in 1879. He also served from 
1876 until 1879 as pastor of Central M. E. church in 
Detroit, Mich. He was a delegate to the Methodist 
Ecumenical Conference in London, in 1881, and in 
1884 was elected bishop ; visited India 1885-6, when 
he reorganized the conferences and inspected mis- 
sions ; attended Denmark Conference in 1887. In 
1874 h e received the degree of D. D. from Wesleyan 
University. 

JOHN B. FINCH 

Was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., March 17, 1852. 
He was a student from his youth, and seemed to have 
prepared, whether consciously or not, for his life 
work. He studied both medicine and law. In 1876 
Mr. Finch married Miss Frances E. Manchester, of 
Cortland, N. Y., who was truly a " helpmeet " for her 
husband, a woman of individuality and strength. We 
now see these two going together out into the temper- 
ance harvest of their native commonwealth, where, in 
Buffalo and many other towns and cities, rapidly grew 
the reputation of this brilliant young orator. In 1877 
they went to Nebraska, where Mr. Finch led the "red 
ribbon ' ' movement, spoke sixty successive nights in 
the Opera House at Omaha, and in that state wotL 



362 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

sixty thousand names to the iron-clad pledge. In 
1878 he was elected representative from Nebraska to 
the Right Worthy Grand Lodge, Good Templars. In 
1884 he became a resident of Evanston, and was elected 
the same year " Right Worthy Grand Templar." 
This position at the head of the Good Templar organ- 
ization — and also that as chairman of the National 
Prohibition committee, he retained until his death, 
which occurred at Lynn, Mass., October 3, 1887. 

LORADO TAFT, SCULPTOR, 

Was born in Elmwood, Peoria county, 111., April 29, 
i860. He graduated from Illinois State University 
at Champaign, in 1879. Studied at the Ecole des 
beaux arts, Paris, during 1880-83, and afterward with 
Marius Jean Antoine Mercie* and others. 

Since removing to Chicago in 1886, Mr. Taft has 
received several important commissions, such as the 
Colfax statue in Indianapolis, that of Lafayette in 
Lafayette, Ind., the Grant statue at Fort Leaven- 
worth, besides many smaller busts and medallions. 
He has just completed four figures for the soldiers' 
monument at Yonkers, N. Y., which probably repre- 
sent the best work he has done. Mr. Taft has for 
some years been in charge of the classes in modeling 
at the Art Institute, Chicago, and is a pleasing 
speaker, often in demand on the lecture platform ; was 
married October 4, 1890, to Miss Carrie Louise Scales, 
of Evanston. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 363 

SOME FORMER EVANSTONIANS. 

The famous young scientist, Prof. James, sends me 
this at my request : 

"Dear Miss Willard /—Inclosed, please find a short sketch 
of Dr. Patten and his work. Another Evanston boy who is 
destined to make his mark is Mr. Joseph Johnston, at present 
on the editorial staff of the Chicago Tribune — a rare man in 
very many ways, whom we hope to draw very shortly to Phila- 
delphia. Also Alfred Cook, who has just been appointed Docent 
in Philosophy in the New Clark University at Worcester, Mass. 
They were both at Evanston at same time with me. I would 
not forget, either, the Rev. Henry Frank, of Jamestown, N. Y., 
who was my chum at Evanston, who was there converted from 
Judaism, and has become a very prominent figure in certain 
religious movements in the State of New York. 

* ' Very truly yours, 

" Edmund J. James. 

11 University of Pennsylvania." 

Professor Simon N. Patten was born May 1, 1852, 
near Sandwich, 111. He remained at home taking ad- 
vantage of such facilities for education as a country 
district school affords until he went to Jennings' Sem- 
inary, in Aurora, 111., where he prepared for college, 
graduating from the seminary in 1873. He entered 
the college department of the Northwestern University 
in the fall of 1874, where he remained for four terms. 
Having then decided to devote himself to economic 
and social studies he determined to go to Germany. 
He chose the University of Halle, where other Evans- 
ton boys had studied before him and where he fouud 



364 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

two former students of Evanston still prosecuting their 
studies. He remained in Germany about three and 
one-half years, taking at the end of his course the de- 
grees of A. M. and Ph. D. 

On his return to America he entered the law depart- 
ment of the Northwestern University, but ill health 
compelled him to leave before the completion of his 
first year. After a period of forced quiet and rest he 
took up the work of teaching, and for five years taught 
in the public schools of Illinois and Iowa. In the 
spring of 1888 he was chosen professor of political 
economy in the Wharton School of Finance and Econ- 
omy, the political science department of the University 
of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. 

Dr. Patten's writings have been few, but weighty. 
His Doctor thesis, written in German and published in 
Germany, was entitled, " Taxation in American States 
and Cities." His magnum opus thus far is a work on 
the " Premises of Political Economy/' a work which 
attracted much attention in Europe as well as America 
as one of the most original treatises on the subject 
which has appeared in the last fifty years. An eminent 
German professor declared it to be the ablest of all the 
works on that subject produced on this side of the 
water. His subsequent writings, which have all at- 
tracted wide attention in economic circles, are entitled : 
"The Stability of Prices," "Publications of the 
American Economic Association, 1888," "The Con- 
sumption of Wealth," " Publications of the Univer- 







3 



V BANNISTER Wli.IARU, 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 365 

sity of Pennsylvania, 1889/ ' and numerous articles in 
economic and educational magazines. 

Dr. Patten is an original and powerful thinker also 
in the field of education, and was selected by the 
American Economic Association to prepare a paper for 
it on the much mooted question of " Manual Train- 
ing.' ' He is one of the few American students who 
can say they lived in Germany for over three years and 
yet never touched a drop of alcoholic liquors. He is 
a strong advocate of prohibition and of the woman 
suffrage movement. His coming to the University of 
Pennsylvania was hailed with joy by all those inter- 
ested in these two questions, and in the short time he 
has been there he has vindicated his claim to be con- 
sidered a leader in these movements as well as in all 
questions concerning education. E. J. J. 

SOME WOMEN OF EVANSTON. 

Evanston is remarkable in nothing if not in the 
ability, individuality and enterprise of its women. 
The keynote was early set in opportunity for higher 
education and later on in co-education itself — the bright 
consummate flower of a Christian civilization. The 
absence of saloons and hotel bars reduced to a mini- 
mum the separatist conditions between men and 
women, with which most places are cursed, while the 
Eclectic and other social clubs, even to our own day, 
when an elegant club house adorns our ^ves&^aS. 



366 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

thoroughfare, included men and women equally in 
the scope of their provisions. The reflex results of all 
these and many other circumstances of similar char- 
acter are manifest in the fact that no institution of like 
grade, but not co-educational, can show so small a 
percentage as our university, of students who use 
neither intoxicating liquors nor tobacco ; and no vil- 
lage on the continent illustrates more of mutual re- 
spect, generous admiration and helpful good will 
between the brothers and sisters of the human house- 
hold, than " our ain familiar town." 

The witty Congregational pastor, apologizing for 
some light remarks on woman's ballot, said " He had 
not been here long enough to learn that it was an 
article of faith in Evanston." This is hyperbolical, 
but all the same the woman question is by no means 
unpopular among us. 

I had intended to characterize some of the leaders 
among, women in my series of sketches but time and 
space have failed. A few chief names, however, must 
aot be overlooked. 

In Mrs. Elizabeth Boynton Harbert we have a 
social and reformatory force of marked beneficence. 
When she first came her reputation as a devoted 
woman-suffragist doubtless caused some to think she 
would not altogether fit into the mosaic of our village, 
aoted then more than now for holding " a calm view" 
of subjects pending in the congress of public opinion. 
But Mrs. Harbert had been born and reared in Craw- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 367 

fordsville, Indiana, a most cultivated college town 
(the home of General Lew Wallace, Maurice Thomp- 
son and other literary lights), and proved herself one 
"to the manner born." She founded the " Pro and 
Con club," for discussing all phases of the woman 
movement. I remember that though my mother was 
averse to having me join, she was herself among the 
leading members, going alone, after her sturdy, indi- 
vidual manner, and bringing me back most piquant 
accounts of the good talk they had, in which General 
and Mrs. Beveridge, Judge and Mrs. Bradwell and 
other bright people bore a part. A member of the 
Woman's Congress and of almost every other national 
movement for the emancipation of women, Mrs. Har- 
bert is at the front in every good word and work, with- 
in the church and outside in the beautiful courts of 
philanthropy. Her attractive home is the center of a 
hospitality that is intellectual as well as of the heart. 
For seven years she edited that department in the 
Chicago Inter Ocean known as the "Woman's King- 
dom," and by pen and voice she illustrates on a large 
scale the fact that public spirit, patriotism and reform 
work are altogether compatible with the utmost suc- 
cess as a wife, a mother and home-maker. Captain 
Harbert, her husband, is a successful lawyer and one 
of those brotherly men who rejoice in the higher op- 
portunity and development of woman even more than 
she does herself, — which is saying a vast deal, — while 
their children are among the choicest iUusfca&&c& "V 



368 A classic TOWN. * 

have known in proof that to have a strong-minded 
mother is to begin life on a vantage-ground. 

Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller, now happily re- 
turned to us from St. Paul, Minn., where her name has 
become fragrant, is a graduate of Oberlin College and 
a literary woman in th?t best sense which includes the 
rarest home and household qualities. Her stories for 
the Little Corporal laid the foundation of a fame that 
has grown " like the fwell of some sweet tune." For 
years she and her noble husband, John Miller of 
blessed memory, conducted that choicest among the 
pionef r papers for children. Meanwhile she was help- 
ing to found the Woman's college and he was super- 
intendent of the M. E. Sunday-school, and one of the 
best presiding officers it ever had. Then they left us 
for "the land of the sky- tinted waters, ' ' and a few 
years ago he died. Mrs. Miller kept right on with 
her Sunday-school and literary work, bringing up her 
three boys in the nurture and admonition of the I/>rd. 
She was secretary of the committee on organizing the 
National W. C. T. U. in 1874, and has been from that 
time a prominent Chautauquan, having had charge 
for years of the women's interests at that great summer 
camp, as we hope she may continue to do, for under 
the gentlest womanly exterior she has an intellect of 
far-reaching liberality and a heart as brave as that 
of a commodore. 

Mry. Kate Queal, the devoted friend and comrade 
of Mrs Miller, is fittingly referred to here. A woman 



A CLASSIC TOWN 369 

of splendid physique — tall, strong, commanding, 
and yet gracious ; with a face full of blended dig- 
nity and sweetness ; her presence was a benediction to 
those whom most people forgot, a solace to the bereft, 
and carried with it always the warm, vivid sense of a 
friend in deed as well as word. To the children of 
Evanston she was a pastor-at-large, and in her own 
church the ideal worker. Her strong sense of humor 
and goodfellowship added the final charm to a large 
nature and most unique individuality. Rarely have 
two been so well mated as Kate and Robert Queal, the 
loss of whom in the plenitude of their benignant pow- 
ers is one of the greatest losses that Evanston has 
suffered. 

Mrs. Mary H. B. Hitt, for many years the chief for- 
eign missionary leader among northwestern Methodists, 
had rare inheritance in a father's and mother's mem- 
ory that is as ointment poured forth. A chapter of 
striking interest would that be which recounted the 
blessed life and work of Rev. and Mrs. Arza Brown 
Among the remarkable old ladies that have here 
foreshown the joys of Beulah land, Mrs. Brown, at 
eighty-two years of age, with her versatile and cultured 
mind and her old-fashioned Methodist piety, stands 
conspicuous. Dying in her daughter's home, she left 
along the mountain tops of death a light that made them 
lovely. Her gracious daughter, graduating from Cin- 
cinnati Wesley an college as valedictorian in 1850 
(having been a classmate of Mrs. Lucy ^NfcYtaT&a^^Y 



37° A CLASSIC TOWN. 

has been the mother .of philanthropies as well as of 
two noble sons, and her husband's large comprehen- 
sion of woman's work in the world has greatly en- 
larged her sphere of usefulness. I well remember my 
first acquaintance with this family — dating from the 
winter of 1871, when, soon after my return from Eu- 
rope, I began to make missionary addresses in Chicago 
and was repeatedly a guest of Mrs. Hitt while we to- 
gether filled appointments in various M. E. churches 
of the city. I recall also a Sunday evening in Robert 
Colly er's church, where, at the time of the Woman's 
Crusade, we addressed a temperance mass meeting in 
which the famous Unitarian, and Rev. L. T. Chamber- 
lain of the New England Congregational church united. 
Mrs. Hitt had just returned from the inspiring scene 
— her early home having been Ohio — and gave graphic 
accounts of what she had personally witnessed. I 
read what Mr. Chamberlain mischievously character- 
ized to a friend as " a school-girl essay," and Robert 
Collyer passed the hat with many a droll remark as 
the coin went rattling in. We white ribboners knew 
that Mrs. Hitt would have made a W. C. T. U. leader, 
as would Mrs. Queal, to whom I used often to speak 
about it, and who said she hoped " to help us some- 
time,' * but they found their favorite field in the 
foreign missionary work, and there is no better one. 

Mrs. Frank P. Crandon always stands out in clear 
relief as one of this remarkable trio of " missionary 
women," and to her business tact and faithfulness the 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 37 1 

4i Northwestern Branch" owes as much as to any 
other one, for the splendid achievements that have in 
nineteen years placed four hundred and twenty-five 
thousand dollars in the treasury and sent out thirty 
missionaries to the foreign field. 

Mrs. Dr. Ridgaway is another of our missionary 
chiefs, also Mrs. Francis Bradley, for many years treas- 
urer of the Woman's Congregational Board. 

Miss Nina G. Lunt is a friend admired and studied 
by me with ever increasing pleasure since 1862, when, 
by her invitation and that of Mrs. John X,. Scripps, I 
helped serve at the latter* s booth in the great sanitary 
fair and first saw Generals Grant and Sherman. Miss 
Lunt's beautiful home on Michigan avenue was one 
of the first to which I was ever welcomed in Chicago. 
There I first met Rev. John H. Vincent, then pastor 
of what was popularly know as the * * pepper box, " i. e. , 
the wooden structure named Trinity M. E. church. 
There in her artistic room called " Penetralia," a 
" Den " that seemed to me an Eden at the top of the 
house, a room reflecting her own mental hospitality 
and rare taste, I met her friend Lizzie Clark (Under- 
bill) one of the most intellectual of Chicagoans, 
and later, Mrs. Mary Lowe Dickinson, that regnant 
woman, so well proportioned in endowments of person, 
mind and heart, of tongue and pen, who became to 
me a prized possession of sisterly regard. A brilliant 
conversationalist, remarkably gifted as a musician^ 
and with literary abilities that YJOuXdi \\aN^. \ttsrc*£oX. 



372 A CLASSIC TOWS. 

her fame and money, Nina G. Lunt specifically chose 
as Her role in life what may be called aesthetic philan- 
thropy. If the record could be made of her helpful- 
ness in " bringing people out " who had either gift or 
appreciation of art ; of the societies, clubs and move- 
ments she has originated in music and literature, 
of the struggling artists she has befriended, the finan- 
cial distress she has removed, the friendless ones to 
whom she has extended that hand so delicate and yet 
so steadfast, it would be found that "Lady Bountiful" 
is a name none too gracious to be given this genial 
lady whose kind deeds have been done " all in silence 
and with a smile." 




SHlijouettea. 



C. G. Ayars is a resident of Evanston, of twenty 
years' standing. During his earlier life he was en- 
gaged in farming, and later held several different 
county and town offices. Since 1881 he has given his 
entire attention to the fire insurance business, being 
now special agent of the Phoenix Insurance Company, 
of Hartford, Conn. 

Harry I*. Belden, is a native of Pawtucket, R. I., 
where lie was born twenty-seven years ago. After 
spending a few years in Philadelphia and other places, 
Mr. Belden' s parents selected Evanston as their home, 
and here he has received the greater part of his edu- 
cation, graduating from the Evanston high school in 
18.81. Mr. Belden has been elected township clerk 
several times, and is at present the youngest person on 
the village board of trustees. 

General John X,. Beveridge, was born at Greenwich, 
N. Y., July 4, 1824; came to Evanston in 1854 and 
began the practice of law. At the beginning of the 
Civil War General Beveridge organized a company 
and in September, 1861, this regiment was mustered 

into service with him as major; in this capacity he 

373) 



374 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

served two years with the army of the Potomac ; he 
then organized the Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry. As 
colonel of this regiment he entered the department of 
the Missouri, where for gallant conduct he was bre- 
vetted brigadier-general, and served the remainder of 
the war, after which he resumed the practice of law, 
but did not long remain in private life, as he was suc- 
cessively chosen sheriff of Cook county, state senator, 
senator-at-large, lieutenant-governor, and governor of 
the state of Illinois. In November, 1881, he was ap- 
pointed assistant treasurer of the United States at 
Chicago. General Beveridge was married January 20, 
1848, to Miss Helen M. Judson, daughter of Rev. 
Philo Judson, of Chicago. 

Professor H. L. Boltwood, principal of Evanston 
Township high school, is a native of Massachussetts, 
and graduated from Amherst College in 1853. After 
teaching eight years, and engaging in business in 
New York city for a short time, he entered the service 
of the sanitary commission, being ordained chaplain, 
but did not serve with the regiment. Later he was 
superintendent of schools in Griggsville, 111., and be- 
came principal of the high schools at Princeton, Ot- 
tawa, and Evanston, 111., successively, all three of 
which schools he organized, the one at Princeton, 111., 
being the first township high school started in the 
state. He has risen to prominence in his profession, 
and is the author of three text-books, an English 
grammar, a reader, and a history. 



i 



wm 


j 








A CLASSIC TOWN. 375 

L. H. Boutell, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, 
in 1826. Graduated from Brown University 1844, and 
from Cambridge Law School 1847. Admitted to the 
bar 1848, and practiced law in Boston and vicinity 
until 1863, when he removed to Chicago. Mr. Boutell 
and his estimable wife (who is a niece of Hon. William 
M. Evarts) have resided in Evanston since 1865. 

M. C. Bragdon, M. D., one of Evanston's popular 
physicians, was born in Auburn, N. Y., 1850, and 
removed with his parents to Evanston in 1858. 

Dr. Bragdon graduated from Northwestern Uni- 
versity in 1870, and from Hahnemann Medical College, 
Philadelphia, 1873. After studying a short time 
abroad, he returned to Evanston, since which time he 
has been most successful in the practice of his chosen 
profession. Dr. and Mrs. Bragdon have just com- 
pleted a tour around the world. 

A. J. Brown, was born in 1820 in Otsego county, 
New York ; was admitted to the bar in 1842 ; came to 
Evanston in 1867 ; has been a member of the Meth- 
odist church nearly fifty years, and was one of the 
chartered incorporators of the Northwestern University. 

D. H. Burnham, who is one of the most prominent 
architects in this country, was born September 14, 
1846, at Henderson, Jefferson county, N. Y. His 
father, who was a wholesale merchant, moved here in 
1855, an( * died in Chicago fifteen years ago. Mr. 
Burnham was educated at public and high schools of 



376 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Chicago, and studied three years in Massachusetts 
with private tutors entirely. After several years 
spent in various architects' offices he formed a partner- 
ship with Mr. J. H. Root in the spring of 1873 which 
continued till the death of the latter in January, 1891. 
He was elected chief of construction of the World's 
Columbian Exposition in October, 1890, and at the 
same time Mr. Root was made consulting architect. 
Since Mr. Root's death Mr. Burnham has been both 
architect in chief and chief of construction. 

Alonzo Burroughs is one of Evanston's oldest res- 
idents, having come to the place in 1844. Most of 
his life has been spent in farming. He was born in 
1820 in Ohio. 

H. W. Chester, of the firm of Redington & Ches- 
ter, Chicago, was born in Bainbridge, Ohio, Dec. 25, 
1840. Has been prominently connected with various 
railroads, and was secretary of the Chicago & Western 
Indiana railroad until 1882. The present firm of 
Redington & Chester was organized in 1881, and 
controls a number of lumber yards in the south- 
west. Mr. Chester has been a resident of Evanston 
since 1881. 

E. H. Clapp, M.D., was born in 1810 in Martins- 
burg, N. Y. Graduated from Cincinnati Medical Col- 
lege in 1844 — an d removed to Evanston in 1874. He 
was well known in agricultural circles, having held the 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 377 

position of vice-president of the Illinois State Agri- 
cultural Society, and also served two terms on the 
State Board of Equalization. 

E. P. Clapp, M. D., one of Evanston's prominent 
young physicians, was born in Rome, N. Y., 1859 ; 
graduated from Northwestern University 1881, and 
from Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, in 1882, 
after which he spent some time in Europe, pursuing 
special studies at Vienna. 

W. P. Cragin, one of Evanston's leading business 
men, is a native of Rhode Island ; is connected with 
the Cragin Manufacturing Co., Cragin, 111., and has 
resided in Evanston since May, 1877. 

F. P. Crandon, was born in New England, of 
Puritan parentage. He engaged in teaching for some 
time after leaving college, and coming to Illinois 
he held the position of principal of a public school in 
Kane county, till 1862, in which year he enlisted as a 
lieutenant of cavalry. He served during the war 
under Generals Burnside, Hooker, Meade, Butler, and 
Ord, and was present at the opening of the doors of 
L,ibby prison after the evacuation of Richmond. 
Shortly after, he held the position of superintend- 
ent of the bureau of refugees, freedmen, and abandoned 
lands, for the Fourth district of Virginia. After leav- 
ing military service he was elected county clerk of 
Kane county, Illinois, and in 1873 became tax com- 
missioner of the Chicago & Northwestern \ka&*w* 



378 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

company, which position he still occupies. He became 
a resident of Evanston in 1878, has served several 
terms as a trustee of the village, is a member of the 
village board of education, and prominent in Methodist 
circles. 

James Currey, has been a resident of Evanston 
since 1868; was born near Peekskill, N. Y., in 1814, 
and spent his boyhood days on a farm. Mr. Currey 
has been engaged in the lumber business for many 
years, and has held various offices of trust in the 
village of Evanston. 

Dr. N. S. Davis, who was for some years a resi- 
dent of Evanston, and for whom our principal business 
street is named, is one of the most distinguished phy- 
sicians in the United States. He was one of the origi- 
nators of the American Medical Association, and 
has been twice chosen its president. In consideration 
of his eminent services a medallion of him was struck 
a few years ago by this association. He was also 
elected president of the Ninth International Medical 
Congress, held in Washington, D. C, in 1887. It was 
chiefly owing to his efforts that the courses of study 
in medical colleges were lengthened. Dr. Davis is 
dean of the Chicago Medical College, and besides 
many papers, reports, and addresses, he is the author 
of ten works of importance. He is known throughout 
Christendom as a physician who for over forty years 
has not used alcoholics in his far-reaching practice in 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 379 

Chicago, the largest of western cities. As such, Dr. 
Davis is probably more honored by the temperance 
people of this country than any other physician, and 
holds a place analogous to that occupied by Dr. Ben- 
jamin Ward Richardson, of London, England. 

Simeon L. Farwell, was born in the State of New 
York, March 22, 1831, and has resided in Evanston 
since 1876. Mr. Farwell was for many years con- 
nected with the firm of John V. Farwell & Company, 
Chicago. He is well known as a successful business 
man, and as a generous giver to every good enterprise. 

Julian R. Fitch, born September 17, 1837, at Gam- 
bier, Knox county, Ohio. He was educated by his 
father, after which he studied engineering and survey- 
ing under A. G. Conover, of the state board of public 
works ; went to Kansas in the summer of 1854, where 
he was employed in the government surveys until 
1856, when he was appointed to West Point by Jeffer- 
son Davis, secretary of war under President Pierce. 
His father not approving of a military career, he 
again entered the service as a government surveyor. 
In 1 861, on the first call for troops, he enlisted in the 
Sixth Ohio, and re-enlisted in the Thirty-fifth Ohio ; 
was promoted to lieutenancy, and was present at the 
battles of Mill Spring, Shiloh, Perry ville, Stone River, 
Chickamauga, lookout Mountain, and many others ; 
he was brevetted for gallant service in time of 
battle. After the close of the war, he was ^\&*-^ssasfcr 



380 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

ant commissioner of the Freedman's Bureau in Texas. 
From 1869 to 1873 was stationed in the Indian country 
in New Mexico. Located permanently in Evanston 
in 1873. 

Volney W. Foster, is the son of a pioneer settler 
in Jefferson county, Wisconsin. After leaving school 
he taught for some time, and then engaged in business 
in Chicago. Later on he followed the occupation of 
a lumberman in Canada, and finally went into partner- 
ship in Chicago in the firm, Hitchcock & Foster, 
dealers in railroad ties, etc. 

Mr. Foster is a public-spirited man, and has 
evinced his interest in public affairs in many ways. 
He is known as the " father of the Sheridan road," as 
it is chiefly through his efforts that that splendid 
highway has come to be a fact. 

When in school he showed himself to be a very 
apt student, and has in later years supplemented his 
mental acquisitions by extensive reading. He is a 
generous-hearted man, and specially interested in the 
welfare of young people, as evinced by the organiza- 
tion of the " Back Lot Studies Society," of which he 
was the originator. This society, which meets in 
"The Shelter,' ' a pleasant little retreat attached to 
his tennis court, is composed of about seventy intelli- 
gent and industrious boys who listen to lectures from 
business and professional men and educators on sub- 
jects of all kinds. This society was formed last 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 38 1 

November for the purpose of helping boys who ear- 
nestly seek self-improvement, and bids fair to be of 
immense value to worthy youth of Evanston. 

General William Gamble, a resident of Evanston 
in its early days, was connected with the office of 
public works in Chicago, previous to the late civil 
war. On September 18, 1861, he was mustered into 
service as lieutenant colonel of the Eighth Illinois 
Cavalry. December 5, 1862, he was promoted as 
colonel, and commanded this regiment until June, 1863, 
when he was assigned to the command of First brigade 
of First division of cavalry corps of the Army of the 
Potomac, and continued in that command until Decem- 
ber, 1863, when the regiment veteranized, and Colonel 
Gamble returned to Illinois. About February 1, 1864, 
he returned to Washington with the regiment, its 
ranks filled with new enlistments, and served in the 
department of Washington until the close of the war. 
July 11, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier-general, and 
on July 17, 1865, was mustered out of service. Later 
he was appointed major in the regular army, and was 
assigned to duty in Eighth United States Cavalry, and 
served in that capacity until his death in 1867. 

C. J. Gilbert, one of Evanston's most public- 
spirited citizens, was born at Lima, N. Y., in 1829, 
and became a resident of Evanston in 1867. Was 
connected with Chicago board of trade previous to 
five years ago, since which time he has V^w^&?^£^ 



382 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

in real estate business. Mr. Gilbert was the first 
president of the village of Evanston, and has served 
on the village board of trustees thirteen years. He is 
always active in every public enterprise, and was in- 
strumental in introducing the waterworks in Evanston. 

Mark Watroo Harrington was born August 18, 
1848, at Sycamore, 111., prepared for college and 
passed through the freshman year at Evanston, 1864- 
65 ; graduated B. A. at Ann Arbor, 1868 ; was assistant 
in museum and mathematics at Ann Arbor, 1868-70 ; 
on the coast survey in Alaska, 1870-71 ; instructor in 
the natural sciences at Ann Arbor, 1872-76. He 
married Miss Rose M. Smith, of Sycamore, and stud- 
ied in Leipsic with his wife during 1876-77. In 
China he was professor of astronomy in the cadet 
school of the Chinese Foreign Office, 1877-78 ; was 
driven away by illness. He next became professor in 
Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge, 1878-79 ; 
returned to Ann Arbor as professor of astronomy, in 
1879. In May, 1884, he started th.e American Mete- 
orological Journal, a scientific monthly of which he is 
still an editor. 

C. G. Haskins, was born in Syracuse, N. Y., in 
1 85 1. In 1857 the family removed to Evanston, and 
Mr. Haskins attended the public schools, and the pre- 
paratory department of the university. He graduated 
from Reed's Institute, Geneva, N. Y., in 1868. After 
engaging in lumber and salt business in Michigan he 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 383 

spent thirteen months abroad visiting Europe, Egypt, 
and the Holy Land. In 1872 he started a dry goods 
store in Evanston, and in 1875 became connected with 
the firm of J. S. Kirk & Co., Chicago. Mr. Haskins 
is a prominent member of Emmanuel M. E. Church. 

Henry B. Hemenway, M. D., born in Montpelier, 
Vt., December 20, 1856. Graduated from North- 
western University, 1879, and from Chicago Medical 
College, 1 88 1, after which time he removed to Kala- 
mazoo, Mich., and held various positions of trust in 
that city. In 1887 he was appointed secretary of the 
Kalamazoo Board of United States Examining Sur- 
geons, and in 1884 Division Surgeon of Michigan Cen- 
tral Railway, also of the Grand Rapids and Indiana 
Railway in 1890. In 1886 Dr. Hemenway was elected 
vice-president, and in 1887-1890, treasurer of the 
Michigan State Medical Society, and in 1890 removed 
to Evanston. He is a frequent contributor to the 
Medical News of Philadelphia, and other medical jour- 
nals. In 1882 Dr. Hemenway received the degree 
of A. M. from his alma mater. 

Alexander Hesler, the veteran photographer of the 
northwest, became a resident of Evanston in 1871. 
In 1879 he removed to Chicago where he has since 
been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. 
Mr. Hesler was born in Montreal, Canada, July, 1823. 

Isaac R. Hitt, was born at Boonsboro, Md., June 2, 
1828. He and his gifted wife hav^ \*wkol wbktc^ 



384 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Evanston's most prominent citizens since 1871. Im- 
mediately after their removal to Evanston, Mr. and 
Mrs. Hitt became actively connected with the work of 
the Woman's College. Mr. Hitt 's services in superin- 
tending the erection of the Woman's College building, 
entitle him to the lasting gratitude of all who had that 
project at heart : His sacrifices of time, advances of 
large sums of money from his own purse when the 
funds ran low, are among the unwritten sacrifices 
which go to make up the history of every such enter- 
prise. Mr. Hitt has been actively engaged in real 
estate business in Chicago since 1 860. He was married 
November, 1857, to Mary Hyde Brown, the only child 
of Rev. Arza Brown, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. Hitt 
is prominently connected with the Woman's Foreign 
Missionary Society of the M. E. church. 

Thomas C. Hoag, was born at Concord, New 
Hampshire, September 7, 1825, of Quaker parentage, 
his father being a book publisher in the New Hamp- 
shire capital for a number of years. In 1840 Mr. 
Hoag removed with his parents to Illinois, and in 
1845 settled permanently in Chicago, where he en- 
gaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business. 
In 1862 he was elected trustee of the Northwestern 
University. In 1864 was also made treasurer of the 
same institution at Evanston, and has been elected to 
that position each successive year to the present time. 
Id 1870 he was made president of the lumbermen's 




^ 



,*' J&ki 







A CLASSIC TOWN. 385 

Insurance Company of Chicago, and in 1874 Mr. Hoag 
established a private bank known as the Evanston 
Bank, in which business he is at present interested. 
Mr. Hoag was a member of the old Clark Street Meth- 
odist Church until he came to Evanston, when he 
became identified with the first M. E. Church of 
Evanston as a steward and also its treasurer. In 
1 85 1 he was married to Maria L. Bryant, at Canter- 
bury, N. H., and in 1857 Mr. and Mrs. Hoag re- 
moved with their family to Evanston, where they 
still live on the old homestead. 

Holmes Hoge, son of Mrs. Jane C. Hoge, who 
was a prominent resident of Evanston in other days, 
was born in Allegheny City, Pa. When quite young 
he removed to Chicago, where he received his educa- 
tion. When the war broke out he enlisted in the 
Mercantile Battery of Chicago, and served under 
General Grant and later under General Sherman. 
After the war he was connected with the Third 
National Bank of Chicago, then engaged in real 
estate business for a short time, and finally entered 
the service of the First National Bank. 

George W. Hotchkiss, was born of revolution- 
ary stock at New Haven, Conn., in 1831. From 
1 85 1 to 1886 he was a practical lumberman. He was 
one of the originators of lumber journalism in 1870, 
and was connected with the principal lumber journal 
from that time till 1881, when \ie vias £«rrek&rj cJL Kkst 



386 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Lumbermen's Exchange until 1888. He was known 
generally as the lumber statistician of the country for 
a number of years. In 1886 he established the Lum- 
ber Trade Journal of Chicago. Mr. Hotchkiss is the 
author of a book on lumber inspections, etc., and also 
of an article in the Encyclopedia Britannica on lumber 
matters. In February, 1891, he assumed charge of 
the Evanston Press. 

Hon. Harvey B. Hura was born in Huntington, 
Conn., Feb. 14, 1828. After learning type-setting in 
Bridgeport, Conn., he came west and attended Jubilee 
College at Robin's Nest, 111., for a few years, after 
which he removed to Chicago in 1846 and was admitted 
to the bar in 1848. Mr. Hurd came to Evanston in 
1855. Was a strong abolitionist, and had thrilling 
experiences in connection with the underground rail- 
road. In 1856-7 he took a prominent part in the 
Kansas conflict, being secretary of the National Kan- 
sas Committee. From 1869 to 1874 Mr. Hurd was oc- 
cupied in revising and rewriting the statutes of Illinois, 
which passed the legislature in 1874. Since that time, 
with one exception, he has edited, after each biennial 
session of the legislature, an edition of the statutes ; 
he served a term as county commissioner, and has 
been prominent in promoting the drainage scheme 
lately adopted for Chicago. Mr. Hurd has been a pro- 
fessor in the law department of Northwestern Uni- 
versity since 1862. He was one of the half dozen per- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 387 

sons who organized the first Methodist church in 
Evanston, and is actively connected with the Em- 
manual Church enterprise. 

Lewis Iott was born in the Province of Quebec, 
Canada, in 1822, and soon after the family removed to 
New York state. In 1869 Mr. Iott came to Evanston. 
He was first engaged in the iron trade, then was con- 
nected with a large grocery business for about eleven 
years, and finally became supervisor of agencies and 
adjuster for the Phoenix Insurance Co. of Hartford, 
Conn. After serving this company sixteen years he 
took the same position with the London Assurance 
Corporation for five years, and for the past six years 
has been engaged with his son, M. Bates Iott, in local 
insurance in Evanston and Chicago. 

M. Bates Iott, son of Mr. Lewis Iott, was born 
in Bouquet, N. Y., in 1848. Removed to Evanston 
in the year 1869. For some years he was engaged 
in the furniture business in Evanston, and later he 
was connected with a mercantile house in Chicago for 
a short time. About five years ago he engaged in in- 
surance business in Chicago and Evanston, which is 
his occupation at the present time. 

S. A. Kean, banker, is a native of Crawford county, 
Pa., and has resided in Evanston since 1877. He 
and his wife, daughter of the late Dr. R. M. Hatfield^ 
are well known and honored citizens. 



388 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

J. H. Kedzie, is a native of Delaware, where he 
was born in 1815. After pursuing preparatory studies 
at several institutions he graduated from Oberlin, Ohio, 
in 1 841. After teaching several years and studying 
law in the meantime, he was admitted to the bar in 
New York in 1847, and came immediately to Chicago. 
He has been a resident of Evanston for about thirty 
years. In 1877 he was a member of the Thirtieth Illi- 
nois Legislature. Mr. Kedzie is the author of a book 
on " Solar Heat, Gravitation, and Sun Spots," which 
presents a new and striking theory, and has received 
very favorable comment throughout the country. 

Mather D. Kimball, a nephew of Dr. and Mrs. 
Bannister, is a graduate of the university, and was for 
many years a resident of Evanston. He is a skilled 
writer, and his friends believe that as a composer of 
humorous verse he has few equals. His contributions 
have appeared in The Century and other magazines. 
Mr. Kimball is genial, versatile, and one of the best 
men imaginable in his own home as well as out of it. 
He married Miss Anna Lewis, one of Evanston's 
favorite vocalists of other years. They now live in 
Ravenswood, but are most welcome visitors whenever 
they return to their old home here. 

Prof. H. H. Kingsley, has just completed his fifth 
year as superintendent of the Evanston public schools. 
He graduated from the University of Michigan in the 




HOMV. OV JOVv^ KWX.. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 389 

class of 1881. Taught two years in East Saginaw, 
Mich.; one year at Alexandria, Minn., and two years 
in his alma mater before removing to Evanston. 

John B. Kirk, is the second son of James S. 
Kirk, and was born Nov. 8, 1842, in Utica, N. Y. 
He received his education in his native city, and 
began mercantile life in his father's business, with 
which he has since been connected. No little part 
of the success of the firm of James S. Kirk and 
Co. is due to the valuable and practical assistance 
rendered by Mr. J. B. Kirk. In 1859 Mr. Kirk re- 
moved to Chicago with the firm, where their business 
has grown to be the largest of its kind in the world. 
Mr. Kirk has held the position bf vice-president of 
the American Exchange National Bank since 1889. 
He is a member of the executive committee of the 
Northwestern University, and a trustee of that in- 
stitution, and is the donor of the prize of one hundred 
dollars awarded to the successful competitor in the 
annual oratorical contest held by the senior class. 

Marshall M. Kirkman, was born July 10, 1842, on 
the prairies of central Illinois, far from any town or 
school ; his education was wholly a private one, save 
three terms at a public school. Mr. Kirkman has 
been connected with the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railway since 1856, and his experience as a railroad 
man has been varied; it has, however, not been so ex- 
acting as to prevent him continuing tv\s^V\\&\^^\£ss^ 



390 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

he still pursues. He is the author of many books on 
railway economy. Mr. Kirkman became a resident 
of Evanston in 1881. He organized the Country Club, 
and also the Evanston Club. 

Oren E. Locke, has been director of the conserva- 
tory of music of the Northwestern University since 
1877. He was born in Chester, Vt., in 1842, ob- 
tained his musical education in Germany, served as 
director of the department of music of Genesee Col- 
lege, New York, and taught in the Boston Conserva- 
tory of Music nearly nine years. 

Thomas Lord, was born at Newark, N. J., in 
1824. When he was quite young his parents moved 
to Bridgeport, Conn., where he resided till he came to 
Chicago in 1857. Mr. Lord has followed the drug 
business for fifty-two years, and is senior member of the 
firm of Lord, Owen & Co., of Chicago. He has lived 
in Evanston for sixteen years, served on the board of 
trustees two years, and has been an elder in the Pres- 
byterian church for some ten years. 

Dr. O. H. Mann, was born in Providence, R. I., 
in the year 1838. He is a graduate of the University 
Medical College (allopathic), of New York city, and 
also of the Chicago Medical College (homoeopathic). 
For seven years he practiced in La Salle and DeKalb 
counties, Illinois, and removed to Evanston twenty- 
four years ago. About fifteen years ago he was on the 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 39 1 

board of trustees, and served steadily for ten years 
on the board of health. At the last election he was 
made president of the village. 

David S. McMullen was born in Prince Edward 
county, Ontario, August 11, 1846. Was educated in 
the public schools of Picton, and at Victoria College, 
Cobourg, Ontario. His father, Rev. Daniel McMullen, 
was one of the pioneers of Methodism in Canada. In 
1866, after learning the printer's trade, Mr. McMullen, 
with several brothers, came to Chicago and engaged 
in newspaper business, and at one time he was jointly 
associated with my brother Oliver A. Willard in man- 
agement and control of the Chicago Evening Post. 
After disposing of his interest in the Post he became 
engaged in banking in southern Illinois ; removed to 
Canada in 1882 with his brothers, and built the Central 
Ontario railroad. In 1886 they returned to Chicago, 
and organized the McMullen Woven Wire Fence Co., 
in which business Mr. McMullen is still engaged. He 
has resided in Evanston since 1886. 

O. H. Merwinwas born in 1842 ; came to Evans- 
ton in 1869, and married, in 1871, one of Evanston's 
most charming daughters, Miss Ella Bannister, daugh- 
ter of Rev. Henry Bannister, D. D. As leader for 
many years of the choir of the First M. E. Church, 
and as a musician generally, he was one of our most 
helpful citizens. In 1877 ^ e was appointed postmas- 
ter, a position he filled most acceptably until 18&V 



39 2 A CtASSIC TOWN. 

In 1886 Mr. Merwin removed with his family to De- 
troit, Mich., and returned to Evanston, in 1890. 

George W. Muir was born in 1847, * n ^ e city of 
New York ; came to Chicago in 1865, and was for 
seven years cashier and bookkeeper for Samuel S. 
White. He has been a resident of Evanston since 
1871, and opened his present bookstore in 1872. 

C. R. Paul was an Evanston boy who had a bent 
toward journalism, and who is now president of the 
Illinois State Journal Company, at Springfield, and at 
the head of the oldest newspaper of continuous publi- 
cation in the state, having been established in 1831. 
After his graduation here in 1872, Mr. Paul was en- 
gaged as reporter, correspondent and associate editor 
in Chicago and Springfield ; then he was private sec- 
retary to Senator Cullom, at Washington, for six 
years, before coming into his present prominent 
position. 

William B. Phillips, of the firm of Goss & Phil- 
lips, Chicago, manufacturers of sash, doors and blinds, 
has been one of Evanston 1 s prominent business men 
since 1872. He was born in 1830, in Massachusetts. 

Professor Charles Raymond was born November 
12, 1833; educated at Wilbraham, Mass., under the 
instruction of Dr. Raymond, Dr. Marcy and Bishop 
Warren, and at Wesley an University under the presi- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 393 

dency of Dr. W. A. Smith, and Dr. Joseph Cummings. 
In 1859 he married Carrie Chamberlin of Pittsfield, 
Mass., and together they established the Myrtle Bank 
Young Ladies' Institute at Natchez, Miss. In 1863 
they returned north and took the principalship of the 
Magnolia Hall Institute at Gloucester, Mass. In 1869 
he was called to Evanston to take charge of the public 
school. During this year plans were formed and the 
foundation laid for the growth and improvement of 
our school system : The Benson avenue building was 
enlarged ; school site bought at Dempster street and 
also at Noyes street, and buildings for primary instruc- 
tion erected thereon ; the course of instruction en- 
larged, and preliminaries for a township high school 
commenced. At the beginning of the school year 
1870, Professor Raymond was made the first superin- 
tendent of schools for Evanston, and during the four 
years under his supervision the school increased from 
two hundred to six hundred and fifty enrolled pupils, 
and from four to nine assistants. The plan formed for 
a township high school was necessarily deferred by the 
Chicago fire, but this fact has since been gloriously 
realized. For several years Professor Raymond was 
principal of the public schools at Wilmette, and for 
four years principal of the township high school at 
Princeton, 111. The Northwestern University recog- 
nizing his services to the cause of education, in 1883 
conferred on him the honorary degree of Master 
of Arts. 



394 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

C. H. Remy is a graduate of the Law College at 
Indianapolis, also the Louisville Law College ; ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1870. He has resided in Evan- 
ston since 1876 ; has served as trustee of the village 
and in other responsible positions. 

George F. Stone, secretary Chicago board of trade, 
was born at Newbury, Mass., in 1836. Previous to 
Mr. Stone's residence in Evanston, he was president 
of the corn exchange in Boston ; he also held various 
positions of trust in Boston and vicinity. Mr. Stone 
has been secretary of Chicago board of trade since 
1884, and has resided in Evanston fourteen years. 

Allen Vane, one of the pioneers of Evanston, was 
born in Dorchester county, Md., Sept. 25, 18 13 ; 
came to Evanston in 1855, and was connected with 
the paint manufacturing business in St. Louis and 
Chicago for many years, in company with his sons. 
Mr. and Mrs. Vane are both prominent members of 
the First M. E. Church, and Mrs. Vane is president 
of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in 
Evanston ; she was also corresponding secretary of 
the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the M. E. 
Church (western branch) for nearly fifteen years. 

E. H. Webster, M. D., one of Evanston's leading 
physicians, was born in Vermont in 1852. Gradu- 
ated from Chicago Medical College 1877, and became 
a resident of Evanston in 1879. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 395 

Mr. T. K. Webster, was born in Ithaca, N. Y., in 
1849. His father was a physician and used his influ- 
ence against the use of alcoholics in medicine. After 
completing his education and spending some time in 
business in his native town, Mr. Webster made a pre- 
liminary visit to Chicago in 1859, and finally settled 
here in 1867. Later he entered the firm of Goebel & 
Webster, of Evaston, dealers in groceries and drugs, 
and in 1875 he engaged in manufacturing specialties 
for flour mills and grain elevators in the city of Chi- 
cago. Mr. Webster is president of the township board 
of trustees, and an active member of the Presbyterian 
church. 

Col. E. S. Weeden was born near Quincy, 111., 
July 10th, 1843 ; served during the late civil war 
from 1 86 1 to 1866, after which he studied law, but did 
not long continue in the practice of that profession, 
owing to injuries sustained while in the service of his 
country. In April, 1867, Colonel Weeden was mar- 
ried to Miss Almira Wakeman, of Harvard, 111. 





Eppetrtrix. 



THE NATURAL HISTORY OF EVANSTON. * 

GEOLOGY. 

Evanston lies wholly within the basin of Lake 
Michigan. It is therefore within the valley of the St. 
Lawrence river and not in the valley of the Missis- 
sippi. The low divide between the two valleys runs a 
few miles west of the township line. 

The solid rock underneath the lake and town is the 
Niagafa limestone. This limestone does not come to 
the surface within the limits of the town. Above the 
limestone lies the bowlder clay. The thickness of this 
clay varies greatly for different places, but beneath the 
lake it is considerable, for in this clay the tunnels for 
supplying Chicago with lake water have been exca- 
vated. The surface of the clay under the campus of 
the university is about two feet above the surface of 
the lake, but it rises both to the west and to the north. 
On this clay are three ridges of sand and gravel paral- 
lel to the shore of the lake. The outer and older ridge 
lies in the woods beyond the wet prairie. The second 
lies east of the prairie and is the one on which Ridge 



♦Furnished by Dr. Oliver Marcy. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 397 

avenue is situated. The third ridge is the one on 
which are Hinraan avenue and the university campus. 
The wet prairie is the surface of the bowlder clay cov- 
ered by a thin deposit of organic matter. Between the 
second and third ridges there was, when Evanston be- 
came a town, a slough, or peat swamp. Also on Jud- 
son avenue, near Greenwood street, there was a peat 
bog impassable for a horse until it was drained. 

It was the opinion of Mr. Judson that for twenty 
years previous to the building of the breakwaters, the 
lake had worn away the shore at the.rate of two rods 
each year. He referred especially to the shore from 
the institute northward. In 1882 an old Indian cem- 
etery, north of the institute, was washed away. Dr. 
Axtell, then a student at the institute, secured a skull 
and presented it to the museum of the university ; it 
is the only relic we have of the people of Ouilmette. 

The action of the waters in those days made nice 
sections of the eastern ridge. A diagram of a section 
opposite Heck Hall was made in 1883 and is still pre- 
served. On the surface of the clay is a slight soil on 
which the white cedar arbor vitae had grown. It does 
not grow in this vicinity. Above this is a layer of 
gravel, and on this a layer of peat. The peat contains 
the remains of many plants which now grow in shallow 
water. The layer contains also the shells of several 
kinds of fresh-water mollusks which are now common 
in our small ponds. 

Lying on the peat is a layer of. $&&& VcL^c^sSa. w£. 



398 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

numerous trunks of oak trees. These are decayed on 
the outside, but not at the center. ■ This layer exists 
under the whole village east of the railroad. In 1863, 
Professor Mark Harrington, of Michigan University, 
then a student here, took from the bluff opposite the 
Swedish institute the pelvis of a deer. It was in gravel 
eight feet below the surface of the ground. A part of 
it is now in the museum. A fragment of a tusk of a 
mastodon was found, when the gravel was excavated 
at the place where the pond now is, near the tank. It 
was preserved by James R. Milner, then living in 
Evanston. Is is now in the museum. 

The inference from these facts is, that at some time, 
perhaps at the close of the glacial epoch, the arbor 
vitae grew upon the surface of the bowlder clay. Sub- 
sequently, the waters flowed over the whole area of 
the town. They then gradually subsided to their 
present level. Bars were formed beneath the waters, 
and shore ridges were formed by blown sand and the 
action of the waves during the subsidence. The 
western ridge was first formed, then the middle ridge, 
and, last of all, the eastern ridge. The formation of 
this ridge was, geologically, not very long ago. It 
was in the human period, perhaps in the time of Caesar. 
The oaks now under Evanston grew upon the bluff 
north of the village of Winnetka, which was then the 
shore of the lake. The waves undermined them and 
they were washed on the bar, in the position in which 
we now find them, under the villag. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 399 

BOTANY. 

The botany of Evanston is interesting from the 
presence of several plants which naturally belong on 
the shore of the ocean. Among these are the beach 
pea, the little seaside crowfoot — Ranuncidus cymbula- 
ria y — and that pest which " the old inhabitant " will 
remember, the "bur grass." Before the roads were 
made the burs were sure to adhere to and penetrate the 
stockings of any one who went through the sand 
fields. Its botanic name will be suggestive of early 
experiences. It is Cenchrus tribuloides. The beauti- 
ful trefoil — Ptelea trifoliata — with its glossy leaf and 
winged fruit, and the Rhus aromatica, or "fragrant 
sumach," adhere closely to our shore. 

zoology. 

The animals of Evanston are those common to 
northern Illinois. As late as 1863 the gray and fox 
squirrels were common upon the college campus. At 
that time flocks of quails and sometimes a few stray 
prairie chickens would alight in what are now the 
thickly settled parts of the village. 

The lake shore seems to be a sort of highway for 
many birds of passage. In the spring and autumn a 
multitude of small but beautifully marked birds which 
go under the general name of "warblers," pass 
through Evanston. Some are in the tops of the tall- 
est trees uttering their pleasant notes. Others seek 



400 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

the low, sunny copses of shrubs. They do not tarry 
with us. We see them for a few days, and they pass 
on. Sometimes a storm overtakes them in the spring 
on heir northward passage, and they come to our 
houses ; they fly against our windows ; they seek 
shelter with desperate earnestness. Many die. When 
the sun shines again they pass on to the spruce and 
hemlock forests of the north, where they lay their eggs 
and rear their young undisturl ed by man. The gray 
fox and the opossum are still sometimes taken. The 
last wildcat — Lynx rufus— which we have heard of 
being in town was shot in the " big woods M by Addi- 
son DeCoudres sometime in the sixties. 

UNIVERSITY. 

The following is a copy of Section i, of the act to 
incorporate the University : 

"Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, repre- 
sented in General Assembly, that Rev. Richard Haney, Rev. 
Philo Judson, Rev. S. B. Keyes, Rev. A. E. Phelps, and such 
persons as shall be appointed by the Rock River Annual Con- 
ference of the Methodist Episcopal church to succeed them in 
said office ; Revs. Henry Summers, Elihu Springer, David 
Brooks, Elmore Yocum, and such persons as shall be appointed 
by the Wisconsin Annual Conference of said church to succeed 
them ; Revs. H. W. Reed, J. J. Stewart, D. N. Smith, and 
George M. Teas, of Iowa Conference ; (Provision was made for 
four persons, if chosen, from the Michigan Conference, and 
Northern Indiana and Illinois Conferences of said Church ; ) the 
following laymen ; Andrew S. Sherman, Grant Goodrich, An- 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 401 

drew J. Brown, John Evans, Orrington Lunt, J. K. Botsford, 
Joseph Kettlestrings, George F. Foster, Eri Reynolds, John M. 
Arnold, Absalom Funk, and E. B. Kingsley ; and such persons, 
citizens of Chicago or its vicinity, as shall be appointed by the 
board of trustees hereby constituted, to succeed; be and they 
are hereby created and constituted a body politic, incorporated 
under the name and style of 'The Trustees of Northwestern 
University.* " 

COPY OF FIRST SUBSCRIPTIONS MADE AND NOW SHOWN IN 

UNIVERSITY LEDGER. 

*Orrington Lunt $ 5,000 

John Evans 5,000 

George F. Foster 1,000 

Clark T. Hinman 1,000 

A. S. Sherman 1,000 

J. K. Botsford 1,000 

Brown & Hurd 1,000 

J. W. Waughop 600 

Forest Brothers & Co 500 

Grant Goodrich 500 

N. S. Davis 400 

George W. Remy 400 

Abraham Wigglesworth 400 

E. H. Mulford 400 

John Haywood 400 

George W. Reynolds 400 

EH Gaffield . . . . t 200 

George C. Cook 200 

George W. Bliss 200 



•The first subscription was Mr. O. Lunt's, and- the shrinkage was such 
that of the first sixteen thousand dollars given to found the university, 
Messrs. I«unt and Evans gave ten thousand dollars*. 



402 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

E. De Wolf too 

Joseph Kettlestrings 100 

II. Whitbeck 100 

Jeremiah Price ioo 

A. Frisbee ioo 

William Justice, M. D ioo 

J. V. Farwell 200 

E. S. Wadsworth 200 

Total $20,600 

(Amounts payable in one, two, and three years.) 

The University Library contains twenty-four thou- 
sand one hundred and sixteen volumes, the Institute 
Library about six thousand, and the Public Library, 
nine thousand six hundred and seventy-seven. 

The gymnasium of the university, when first built, 
was owned by a stock company composed of students, 
but was bought by the university about ten years ago 
and considerably improved. Professor Philip Greiner, 
the present instructor, who came here in 1883, has 
succeeded in reducing the work to a system, and has 
made the gymnasium a popular resort for the students. 
Two years ago a prize was offered by Professor Rena 
A. Michaels, dean of the Woman's College, to the lady 
student who should make the best record in attend- 
ance and proficiency at the gymnasium, and this has 
increased the interest of the young ladies of the college 
in athletic exercise. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 403 

THE COLLEGE COTTAGE 

Is a home furnished by the Woman's Educational 
Aid Association for the accommodation of young 
ladies while pursuing their studies at the university. 
It has recently been enlarged and supplied with all 
modern conveniences at a cost of ten thousand dollars. 
The young ladies are under the immediate care of the 
dean of the Woman's College, and the matron of the 
Cottage, Mrs. E. J. Hudson. Board, including all 
incidentals, is furnished at the rate of $2.75 per week 
for the whole term, but in addition the young women 
are required to do the ordinary work of the cottage, 
which does not usually exceed one hour a day for 
each. The officers of the Association are Mrs. J. A. 
Pearsons, president ; Mrs. Dr. Cummings, vice-presi- 
dent ; Mrs. W. E. Clifford, recording secretary ; Mrs. 
L. D. Norton, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. J. L. 
Morse, treasurer. 

INSTITUTE. 

Mr. Orrington I^unt says that others besides Dr. 
Dempster were influential in securing Mrs. Garrett's 
money for the Institute. She made her will December 
2, 1853, and in that document wanted her money to go 
for "a theological institute for the Methodist Episco- 
pal church, to be called the Garrett Biblical Institute, 
and located somewhere in Cook county," she did not 
say where. Mr. Lunt and his coadjutors here, know- 
ing about the will, decided they would run the raster *& 



404 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

a change in the lady's mind, of her possible second 
marriage, and of any and all possible human events, 
and build an institute here in Evanston. This they 
did, and it was a Biblical institute before it received 
Mrs. Garrett's money. Dr. Dempster came here on 
his way to Bloomington, where he expected to start 
his institute, but learning of this will he assisted the 
men with this one. Then Mrs. Garrett added a codi- 
cil the day before her death, confirming her will giving 
her property to the Garrett Biblical Institute, chartered 
by the legislature. Mr. Lunt has an autograph letter 
of Mrs. Garrett's. She never visited Evanston but 
once, that was in January, 1855, when Garrett Biblical 
Institute was opened. 

THE WITHINGTON SCHOOL. 

The very name of Evanston is synonymous with 
education, but none of its many schools are more pop- 
ular, and deservedly so, than that established on Ma- 
ple avenue, in 1886, by Miss Withington, a most 
accomplished eastern lady. Two years later Fraulein 
Neuschaffer became associated with Miss Withington, 
and together these ladies labored to build up a school 
of high order, until Miss Withington's death in 1890. 

Fraulein Neuschaffer is ably assisted by Mademoi- 
selle Viller6, Miss Margaret West and Miss Sarah 
Dickenson. Miss Alice Blanchard, one of Evanston's 
favorite daughters and a graduate of Vassar College, 
has been added to the corps of teachers for the coming 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 405 

year. The Withington School designs to prepare stu- 
dents for college ; it also has a flourishing kindergar- 
ten department. 

MARY B. WILLARD KINDERGARTEN. 

Six years have passed since Mrs. Mary B. Willard 
brought before the people of Evanston her project for 
a free Kindergarten. It was generally looked upon 
as a kindly thought, but thoroughly impracticable. 
With her accustomed energy, however, she pushed 
this, as she has many other enterprises, until sufficient 
means were secured to warrant at least a trial. The 
ladies of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union 
assumed the responsibility of its support, in which 
they have always been generously aidgd by the resi- 
dents of our village. February 1, 1889, it became 
connected with the Chicago Free Kindergarten Asso- 
ciation. During the year 1890 the average member- 
ship was thirty-five, and the average attendance 
thirty-two children, which included Germans, Swedes, 
Norwegians, Danes, Irish, Africans and Americans. 

Mrs. Hester E. Walker has ably conducted this 
work since its beginning, and is peculiarly adapted to 
the care and culture of children. 



There are one thousand three hundred and twelve 
pupils in the public schools of Evanston, and one 
thousand two hundred and seventy-two connected with 
the university and preparatory school. 



406 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

There are twelve buildings used for educational 
purposes in Evanston. 

The lady principals of the public schools are : Ha- 
ven School, Lulu C. Robertson ; Wesley Avenue 
School, Jessie I. Luther ; Hinman Avenue School, 
Nannie M. Hines. 

The lady teachers of the high school are : Eva S. 
Edwards, Mary L. Barrie, Jane H. White, Mary T. 
Culver and Mary L. Childs. 

The board of education is composed of the follow- 
ing gentlemen : H. H. C. Miller, president ; F. P. 
Crandon, W. S. Lord, George S. Baker. George S. 
Lord, Robert Hill and A. C. Buell. 

There are eighty-four teachers and professors resi- 
dent in Evanston. 

OUR NEWSPAPERS. 

Our first paper was The Suburban Idea, edited by 
that brilliant journalist and lecturer, Professor Nathan 
Sheppard, author of ' ' Before an Audience. ' ' Professor 
Sheppard supplied the Baptist pulpit for a few months ; 
he was also professor of English Literature in the 
Chicago University. He died instantly as he was 
entering the New York postoffice in the year 1888. 

The Index, our oldest paper that survived, was 
founded by Mr. Alfred Sewell about twenty years ago. 
A number of years since Mr. Sewell sold the paper to 
its present editor and proprietor, Mr. John A. Childs. 
who is also postmaster of Evanston. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 40^ 

The Herald was the name of a paper published for 
a few months in the year 1874. 

The Evanston Citizen was founded by Mr. William 
DufFell, Jr., the first issue being November 3, 1882, 
but the paper was discontinued at the beginning 
of 1891. 

The Evanston Press, one of the two leading papers 
of the village, was founded in 1889 by two university 
students, Mr. R. L. Shuman, and Mr. R. C. Van- 
dercook. 

The university papers are the Northwestern, which 
is now completing its eleventh year, and the North- 
western World, which was started last fall. The high 
school boys publish a sheet called the Boys' Herald, 
which was started on its career a few months ago. A 
paper called the Lyceum is edited by Mr. J. D. Corro- 
thers, a preparatory student. 

AUTHORS AND JOURNALISTS. 

The following is a list of the authors and journal- 
ists of Evanston and their works: 

Dr. Francis D. Hemenway, author of a Com- 
mentary on Isaiah. 

Dr. Henry Bannister, author of a Commentary on 
Jeremiah. Dr. Jewell wrote many magazine and news- 
paper articles. 

Rev. Dr. D. P. Kidder was official editor of Sunday- 
school publications for the Methodist church, edited 
the Sunday- School Advocate and cotn^vted. ^xv^ <^£n\s£^ 



408 A CLASSIC TOWK. 

over eight hundred books for Sunday-school libraries. 
He is the author of a translation from the Portuguese, 
entitled, "The Demonstration of the Necessity of 
Abolishing a Constrained Clerical Celibacy,' ' " Mor- 
monism and the Mormons/ ' "Brazil and the Bra- 
zilians," "Sketches of Residence and Travel in Bra- 
zil," " Helps to Prayer," and his " Homiletics" has 
a national reputation. 

Dr. Miner Raymond is the author of " Systematic 
Theology." 

Dr. H. B. Ridgaway has written the "Life of Al- 
fred Cookman," " Life of Bishop Janes," and "The 
Lord's Land." 

Dr. Milton S. Terry's great work is " Biblical Her- 
meneutics," and he has written numerous articles for 
the Methodist Review. He is also the author of " Swe- 
denborgianism," "Man's Antiquity and Language," 
l)esides a number of commentaries. 

Dr. C. W. Bennett is the author of " Christian 
Archaeology." 

Dr. Clias. F. Bradley has written, "The Life and 
Letters of Francis D. Hemenway." 

Dr. Joseph Cummings edited an edition of " But- 
ler's Analogy." 

Dr. H. F. Fisk is part author of " Rhetoric made 
Racy." 

Prof. Rob't L. Cumnock's chief work is "Cum- 
nock's Choice Readings." 

Prof. Rena A. Michaels has published French 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 409 

translations, and is a frequent contributor to leading 
magazines and newspapers. 

Mrs. S. M. I. Henry is the author of numerous 
articles and poems, and the following books : " After 
the Truth,' ' " Voice of the Home,," " Mabel's Work," 
" One More Chain," and "Beforehand." 

Mrs. Emaline L. Harvey has written several serial 
stories: " My Sister Nina," " Pen Pictures in the Glow 
of the Wine Glass," " A True Story," and "Ingle- 
side." 

Prof. William Jones wrote "The Myth of Stone 
Idol." 

Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller has written nu- 
merous stories for children, among which are, " What 
Tommy did," "Royal Road to Fortune," "Thorn 
Apples, " " Summer Days at Kirkwood, ' • ' ' The Bear's 
Den," "A Year at Riverside Farm," "Uncle Dick's 
Legacy," and " Fighting the Enemy." 

Mr. M. M. Kirkman has issued several works on 
topics of interest to railroad men, among which are 
"Baggage, Parcel, and Mail Traffic of Railroads," 
"Handbook of Railway Expenditures," "How to 
Collect Railway Revenues," and "Railway Expend- 
iture," in two volumes. 

Prof. W. S. B. Matthews is the author of a book 
on "How to Understand Music." 

Mr. W. S. Lord has issued a volume of poems en- 
titled " Beads of Morning." 

Mr. F. M. Elliott has written the history c& ^^ 



4IO A CLASSIC TOWN. 

local chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity, under the 
title of " Omega.' ' 

Judge Harvey B. Hurd is the author of "Hurd's 
Revised Statutes of Illinois." 

Mr. J. H. Kedzie has written a book on " Solar 
Heat, Gravitation, and Sun Spots.' ' 

Miss Mary Ninde wrote " We Two Alone in Eu- 
rope." 

Mr. Francis Gellatly is the author of plays entitled 
" Love Made to Order," and "Necklace of Liberty." 

Rev. Arthur W. Little is the author of ' ' Reasons for 
being a Churchman." 

Mr. Walter Lee Brown has written a " Manual of 
Assaying." 

Prof. James T. Hatfield is the author of " Elements 
of Sanskrit Grammar." 

Mrs. Jane Eggleston Zimmerman wrote a serial en- 
titled " Gray Heads on Green Shoulders." 

Mr. Albertson made a collection of extracts from 
great preachers, entitled "Gems of Truth and 
Beauty." 

Prof. Nathan Sheppard was the author of ' ' Before 
an Audience," and for some time edited a paper 
entitled The Suburban Idea. 

Mr. Alfred Sewell was founder and editor for years 
of the Index. 

Rev. Edward Eggleston's most famous bock is 
"Tie Hoosier Schoolmaster." He is the author of 



A CLASSIC- TOWN. 4 1 1 

several other well known works. Mr. Eggleston was 
at one time editor in chief of Orange Judd's Hearth 
and Home, after which he became connected with the 
New York Independent. 

Hon. Andrew Shuman was for three years editor 
of the Syracuse, N. Y. , Daily Journal, and was after- 
wards for many years connected with the Chicago 
Evening Journal. He is also the author of a story en- 
titled "The Loves of a Lawyer.' ' 

Mr. Andre Matteson has been for over thirty years 
connected with the Chicago Times. He is also pub- 
lisher of a monthly magazine, called The Law. 

Miss Anna Gordon is author of " Marching Songs,' ' 
" Questions Answered,' ' "White Ribbon Birthday 
Book," and "Colloquies for Children's Evening En- 
tertainments." 

Mr. John B. Finch issued a volume of temperance 
fectures entitled " The People vs. the Liquor Traffic." 

Mrs. John B. Finch is chief author of "The Life 
and Works of John B. Finch." 

Dr. E. O. Haven wrote " Haven's Rhetoric," and 
"Haven's Mental Philosophy." 

Prof. C. W. Pearson is the author of numerous 
essays and poems. 

Dr. William Poole's great work is " Poole's Inaex 
to Periodical Literature. ' ' He also wrote an extended 
introduction to "Wonder- Working Providence of Sion's 
Saviour in New England," which was originally 
printed in 1654. Among his other wssks* ^xfc vvV ^N^fe. 



412 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Popham Colony," " Cotton Mather and Salem Witch- 
craft, ' ' ' ' Gov. Hutchinson on Salem Witchcraft, ' ' 
" Anti-Slavery Opinions before 1800,' ' "The Ordi- 
nance of 1787, its Origin and History/ * He is a con- 
stant contributor to the Dial, and has written several 
articles for the North America?i Review. 

Professor H. L. Boltwood is the author of " Bolt- 
wood's Topical Outlines of General History," "Eng- 
lish Grammar," "Institute, Grammar, and High 
School Reader." 

Mr. Colin Shackelford is a writer for the Chicago 
News. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Boynton Harbert was for many 
years editor of the "Woman's Kingdom" in the 
Chicago Inter Ocean, and is a frequent contributor to 
leading papers. 

Mr. Orange Judd edited the Prairie Farmer, and 
is now editor of the Orange Judd Farmer. • 

Mrs. Mary B. Willard at one time edited the Union 
Signal. 

Miss Mary McDowell is the author of a book en- 
titled "A Young Woman's Notion." 

Mrs. C. B. Buell is the author of "A Helping 
Hand," a W. C. T. U. manual. 

Mr. James C. Ambrose was long connected with 
the Chicago Post, and at present contributes to the 
New York Independent, Our Day, and the North- 
western Christian Advocate. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 413 

Miss Mary Henry formerly issued the W. C. T. U. 
Bulletin , and afterward became assistant editor of the 
Chautauquan. 

Rev. C. H. Zimmerman is a well known writer for 
the religious press. 

Rev. Henry Laurens Hammond is the author of 
4 'New Stories from an Old Book," " The Valley of 
Pearls,' ' " Memoir of Deacon Philo Carpenter," and 
other books. 

Miss Julia A. Ames is one of the editors of The 
Union Signal, national organ of the Woman's Chris- 
tian Temperance Union. 

Mr. Alanson Appleton is editor of In The Swim, 
Chicago. 

Mr. H. Ten Eycke White is managing editor of 
the Chicago Evening News. 

John M. Dandy, a graduate of the university and 
son of Rev. Dr. Dandy, once pastor of the M. E. 
church, is editor of the Saturday Evening Herald, 
Chicago. 

Mr. Arthur Henry is author of a book entitled 
' ' Nicholas Blood." 

Dr. George C. Noyes was for a long time the west- 
ern correspondent for the New York Evangelist. 

Mrs. Mary C. Van Benschoten has written for the 
Chicago Tribune, Inter Ocean, and Times, and was 
correspondent for the Brooklyn Argus. She is also 
editor of the Record and Appeal, organ of the Illinois 
Industrial School for Girls. 



J. 1 4 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

Bishops Foster, Simpson, Thompson, Harris and 
Fowler, have all lived in Evanston, and have written 
books. 

THE POSTOFFICE. 

Mr. John A. Childs is postmaster, Mr. George A. 
Bogart, chief clerk, Miss Bessie Stewart, money-order 
clerk, Miss Katharine Schaefer, general delivery clerk, 
and Mr. Nathan Branch, special delivery messenger. 
The following are letter carriers : W. C. Dorband, 
James Cunningham, J. A. McDonough, A. H. Hall- 
strom, J. J. L,utz, H. R. Gibbard, and Asa Carson, sub- 
stitute. Free delivery service was established in 1887, 
and in 1890 the postoffice at North Evanston was dis- 
continued, being now supplied by this service. Five 
authorized stamp agencies have been established in 
various parts of the village. The following is a state- 
ment of the free delivery operations for the year end- 
ing June 30, 1 89 1, and these figures represent about 
five-sixths of the entire mail received, and one-half 
the mail dispatched, the remainder being delivered 
and deposited at the office : 

Registered letters delivered 1*190 

Letters delivered 649,572 

Postal cards delivered 103,609 

Second, third, and fourth -class matter delivered . . . 475,742 

Local letters collected 26,840 

Mail letters collected 187,263 

Local postal cards collected % 12,262 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 415 

Mail postal cards collected . 22,980 

Second, third, and fourth-class matter collected . . . 18,159 



Total number of pieces handled 1,497,617 

Total postage on all local matter collected by carriers, 
and on all local matter deposited in the office, in- 
cluding second, third, and fourth-class matter . . #3, 159.96 

The following is a statement of the finances of the 
postoffice for a year : 

Receipts, #20,658.29 ; Expenditures, $11,141,53; Deposits, 
19,516.76. 

THE BUSINESS MEN'S ASSOCIATION. 

This corporation was founded in the summer of 
the year 1889. " Mutual interest and social inter- 
course " are declared to be the objects of the associa- 
tion. There is no question about the good results 
already accomplished. Competition of trade has a 
narrowing influence. It begets, especially in small 
towns, rivalries and jealousies which are overcome by 
a better acquaintance among business men. The fact 
is often lost sight of that all business men in any town 
have mutual interests as well as individual interests. 
Through the able management of Mr. Wm. Stacy, 
the Business Men's Association has been a power for 
good. The free kindergarten and other institutions 
which depend largely upon voluntary contributions 
for support, can testify to the liberality of the asso- 
ciation. 



/ 



416 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

The present officers are : President, William Stacy, 
vice-president, William E. Suhr, secretary, George 
Kearney, treasurer, Isaac Wilson. 

The board of directors is composed of D. F. Reed, 
George Iredale, Theodore Price, T. T. Hallinger, 
Charles Roberts. 

The standing committees on Railroads and Trans- 
portation, Arbitration, Business Interests, Amuse- 
ments, Grievances, By-laws, Public Improvements, 
will show how much ground the work of the associa- 
tion covers. A pleasant feature of the regular monthly 
meetings during the winter is the series of papers. 
Such subjects as Education, The Credit System, Busi- 
ness, etc., were discussed during the last year in an 
able manner by the members of the association. 

THE CITIZENS* LEAGUE. 

The Citizens' League was organized in Evanston 
nearly ten years ago for the purpose of enforcing the 
law regarding sale of intoxicants within four miles of 
Northwestern University. Dr. D. R. Dyche has been 
its efficient president, to whom the citizens of 
Evanston owe a lasting debt of gratitude. 

y. m. c. A. 

The Y. M. C. A. of Evanston was organized in 
1885, with Mr. M. P. Aiken as president. Mr. C. B. 
Congdon is now president, and Mr. F. D. Fagg gen- 
eral secretary. Successful work is carried on in Bible 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 417 

classes, religious meetings, and sociables for the mem- 
bers. The Junior Department is very strong, number- 
ing one hundred and thirty-seven boys. The total 
present membership, including this department, is four 
hundred and fifty-seven. A movement is on foot to 
secure a lot for a suitable building. The regular an- 
nual membership fee is five dollars, fee for students 
three dollars and for juniors three dollars. 

G. A. R. 

The G. A. R. Post of Evanston, which is number 
five hundred and forty, was organized October, 1885, 
by Commander E. R. Lewis. It received its charter 
as Gamble Post, October 23, 1885, and its first officers 
were : Commander, E. R. Lewis ; Senior Vice-Com- 
mander, Thos. Bladder ; Junior Vice-Commander, N. 
Morper ; Officer of the Day, W. H. Langton ; Officer 
of the Guard, E. H. Blush ; Quartermaster, F. P. 
Kappleman ; Surgeon, Dr. Isaac Poole ; Adjutant, 
Thos. J. Noyes ; Chaplain, James Huse. Upon the 
death of General John A. Logan, the Evanston Pest 
changed its name to the John A. Logan Post. The 
present Commander is H. W. Chester. The Post has 
a membership at the present time of one hundred and 
twelve, and is in a flourishing condition. It has Build- 
ing Loan Association stock amounting to two thou- 
sand dollars, and property amounting to about five 
hundred dollars, and a fund is also being raised for 
the erection of a soldiers' monument in this towtn. 



41 8 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

THE LIGHTHOUSE 

Is situated at Grosse Point, which, on account of 
shallow water, is one of the most dangerous places on 
the lakes. The light is the largest in the district, and 
is a fixed white light varied by red flashes every three 
minutes. It is one hundred and nineteen and one-half 
feet above the sea level, and the tower is ninety feet 
high from base of structure to the lantern. It was 
built in 1873. In connection there are two first-class 
steam sirens, giving a blast seven seconds long every 
minute and a half. Mrs. E. J. Moore has been keeper 
for the past three years. 

THE LIFE SAVING STATION. 

In 1876 the University donated a piece of ground 
for the founding of the Life Saving Station, this being 
a particularly dangerous coast. The crew has always 
been composed of students, but the station is under 
control of the government. Since 1880, Captain L. O. 
Lawson has been at the head, and he has now a force 
of six men. During the past eleven years there have 
been thirty-seven vessels assisted and two hundred and 
two lives saved. Last fall, according to a general 
provision made by act of Congress, each of the crew 
was awarded a gold medal for heroic service rendered 
October 23, 1889, by which twenty-seven lives were 
saved. For some years prior to this, however, a life- 
boat, duly manned, was kept in readiness for service. 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 419 

It was obtained from government officials through the 
efforts of the class of '72, and the following members 
of that class constituted the original crew : L. C. Col- 
lins, Jr., George Lunt, George Bragdon, Eltinge El- 
more, Edward Harrison and Mather D. Kimball. The 
need of life-saving appliances was felt long before this, 
notably when the ill-fated Lady Elgin was wrecked 
off the Evanston coast. The following, furnished by 
Mr. John Pearsons, is not out of place here, as matter 
of history : 

"On the morning of September 8, i860, the Lady Elgin, a 
large lake steamer, took the Highland Guards on an excursion 
from Milwaukee to Chicago, going home that night. There 
was dancing, and they were carrying on in high glee. Along 
between two and three o'clock in the morning a vessel ran into 
them — I believe they never knew what vessel it was — and the 
Lady Elgin went to pieces about ten miles north of us. The 
bodies that floated were washed ashore near Grosse Point, 
about two miles above here. People were up there watching 
them come ashore. One of the students, Edward Spencer, a 
brother of Dr. Spencer of the Church Extension Board, had a 
rope tied around him, and going into the water he helped 
people ashore, and rescued a great many. They had a lot of 
cattle on board, and they were drowned, and lay on the shore 
for days. There were said to have been between three and 
four hundred people lost. I know I helped to pick up the 
bodies on the beach for a number of weeks afterwards. George 
N. Huntoon was justice of the peace, and he acted as coronor. 
The next Sunday a train came from Milwaukee with friends of 
the people that were lost, who took what they could home, and 
as the bodies were found and identified, they were sent to 
Milwaukee. I have a fragment of the Lady Elgin in my house 



420 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

— a piece of mahogany — used as a threshold. Most of 
the older settlers have some such memento of that great 
catastrophe. 

" Another vessel went ashore, by the name of Johnson, op- 
posite the university building. The crew were saved, but the 
boat went to pieces. That was several years after the wreck 
of the Lady Elgin. The vessel came ashore about a mile below 
here, opposite South Evanston, in the fall of the year. The 
masts were gone, and the five men on board the vessels were 
nearly frozen. Rev. J. C. Hartzell, now a noted man in our 
church, took a rope to the vessel and helped the men off. The 
inhabitants built up fires on the shore, took blankets down to 
warm them, gave them provisions, and saved the lives of all 
but one. This J. C. Hartzell was then a student here ; he is 
now a D. D., and secretary of the Freedman's Aid Society." 

THE FIRST GRAVE AT ROSEHILL CEMETERY. 

Madam Bragdon contributes this paragraph of sad 
interest: "I recall that Sabbath morning, July 10, 
1859, when Dr. Bannister was preaching for my hus- 
band, and word came, ' Dr. Ludlam is dying.* That 
night he entered into his rest. We were all in tears. 
His grave was the first in Rosehill ; he was laid in 
the cemetery only a few weeks before its dedication — 
alone. Now how full it is ! More are there than re- 
main, of our dear ones. ' ' 

The oldest person in Evanston, Mrs. Judith W. 
Burroughs, was born February 14, 1799, at Ackworth, 
N. H. Her maiden name was Judith W. Stevens. 

The first charter for a railroad through Evanston 
was issued to the company to be known as the Illinois 



A CLASSIC TOWN. 42 1 

Parallel Railroad Company, in 185 1 , and it was amended 
in 1853, when the name was changed to the Chicago 
& Milwaukee Railway Company. In 1855 the road 
was built to the State line, where it was met by the 
Green Bay, Milwaukee & Chicago Railroad, which 
was chartered by the State of Wisconsin. These two 
roads united and formed the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railway in 1855, with the following officers : W. S. 
Gurney, President ; A. S. Downs, Secretary ; H. A. 
Tucker, Treasurer ; H. W. Blodgett, Attorney. 

There are thirty-five passenger trains daily each 
way on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway between 
Evanston and Chicago, and eighteen trains daily each 
way on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. 

The value of the real estate in the village of Evans- 
ton at the present time, as given by Mr. Joseph Lyons, 
is in round numbers ten million dollars. 

Mrs. Beveridge tells this anecdote of early days : 

" A young student who boarded at our house as a member 
of our family, was passing down to Chicago on one of the first 
trains that ran after the railroad was built, and near him sat an 
Englishman and a returned Californian, — the Englishman a 
very pompous personage, and the Californian seeming to have 
known something of this country before. The foreigner noticed 
a large building out towards the lake, and turning to the 
student, said : 

"' What town is that?' 
Heavingstown.' 
What building is that ?' 

" ' A lunatic asylum. It has been furnished by Dr. Heav- 



n 1 



422 A CLASSIC TOWN. 

ings, a very benevolent physician of Chicago, for his own pri- 
vate patients.' 

" After that the students, instead of being called ' bibs/ as 
they are now, to distinguish them from college students, became 
'lunatics/ and continued to be known by that appellation for 
a long time. 

SOUTH EVANSTON. 

South Evanston is a beautiful little town about 
one mile south of Evanston. It was founded by Gen. 
Julius White, who bought the Muno farm in 1866, 
and Mr. Colin Shackelford, who removed from Evans- 
ton, was the first settler. General White was financial 
agent of the Travelers' Insurance Company for many 
years, and but a few hours before his death last year 
the news came to him that he had been elected as 
commander of the Illinois Legion of Honor. 

South Evanston has about three thousand inhabi- 
tants. Waterworks have been established, the village 
is lighted by electricity, and nearly two hundred thou- 
sand dollars worth of street improvements are being 
carried on at the present time. 

There are four churches : the Presbyterian, of 
which Rev. William Smith is pastor ; the Methodist, 
pastor, Rev. W. H. Holmes ; Episcopalian, pastor, 
Rev. Daniel Smith, and the Roman Catholic, pastor, 
Rev. Father Greenebaum. There are two public 
schools, at the head of which is Professor Scudder. 

The Illinois Industrial School for Girls at South 
Evanston was organized in 1877, as the outgrowth of