Annals, 1832

Description:	E.O. Hoveys notes concerning founding of Wabash College and activities of the Board of Trustees in 1832, mainly concerning the acquisition of land for the planned school. [1]. A meeting of the citizens of Crawfordsville was held on the evening of the 22d at which the subject was more publicly discussed, and a subscription was commenced towards the erection of a building on the site given by Williamson Dunn, Esq. This site consisted of fifteen acres of land upon the bluff or upland about a half a mile west of Crawfordsville and valued by Mr. Dunn at three hundred dollars. He also gave the refusal of forty acres more around it at twenty dollars per acre. Which was purchased by the Trustees.At the close of the deliberations of the brethren constituting the original meeting they went upon the grounds & selected the spot upon which to erect the first building; and there in solemn prayer in the midst of natures unbroken loveliness, dedicated the enterprise to God & invoked his blessing upon it. Nov. 23d, 1832.[2]. Nov. 21st. First meeting of the Board. Jas. A. Carnahan, chairman & John S. Thomson, clerk. Donation of 15 acres of land offered upon condition of purchase of a certain amount (about 40 acres adjoining at $20 an acre). Committee on By-laws, Rev. Jas. Thomson. E.O. Hovey & J. Gilliland. Committee of Correspondence, appointed, Rev. Jas. Thomson appointed agenda to solicit funds. John Gilliland first Treasurer.Dec. 19th. Committee correspondence directed to take measures to procure a teacher. Js. Thomson & John Gilliland a committee to consider the subject of obtaining a charter. This Committee reported it inexpedient to apply for a charter at present.[3]. Extract of a letter from Rev. Jas. Thomson. Dec. 3d, 1832. Am. Home Missionary for Jan. 1833.Probably not one in ten of the children between the ages of 5 and 15 are regularly at school, and a general apathy seems to prevail on the subject. --+++Deeply impressed with the importance of making an effort to remedy this deficiency. Several of the ministering brethren of this Presbytery (Crawfordsville) have associated themselves with a few lay men for the purpose of making a vigorous effort to get up a classical school of high character at Crawfordsville where a competent number of teachers may be trained to be spread over the country & teach the children of this rapidly populating district.Besides there are several young men now in our churches who wish to commence an education with a view to the ministry, and who can be brot forward in this way. We hope to be able to start this school in the spring if a suitable man can be obtained to take charge of it.+++Can you not find some benevolent men in the east, who will be willing to give something to sustain a man at Crawfordsville. Who will take charge of our high school during the week and go out on the sabbath and preach in the neighborhood round about. One man in such a situation at this time will do more to benefit the country than 3 ordinary missionaries.
Origin:	1832
Created By:	Hovey, Edmund O. (Edmund Otis), 1801-1877
Publisher:	Wabash College
Source:	http://palni.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15705coll36/id/16
Collection:	Wabash College - The Hovey Scrapbook
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/
Subjects:	Wabash College

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