HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 9

SEMINARY TEACHERS CONTINUED

Andrew Wilson, John Hollowell, Josiah Hazlewood, Henry R. Williamson and Thomas Nichols were elected Seminary Trustees under this act. They employed Rev. Ennis, a learned man and a good teacher, to take charge of the County Seminary. He remained here for two years. His work was well received, being highly complimented in the county papers. About this time Col. John Murray taught one term in the seminary. He taught a loud school, and lost some patronage by so doing. During 1843 and 1846 Marshal D. Maxwell had charge of the school. He was assisted by his sister. They were good teachers. During 1847 and 1848 Rev. Thomas J. Thornton was Principal of the County Seminary. He was assisted by Mrs. Lord. The Braxtans, Simpsons, Clendennins, Throops, Coffinses, Hauns, Bakers, Craigs, Hazlewoods, Johnsons, Polsons, Merits and Collinses were among the pupils. Charles McCann was teacher during 1849. He was succeeded by Sidney J. Mayhew. He took charge of the school in 1850, and remained three years. Mrs. S. J. Mayhew had charge of female department during the same time. They were successful teachers. They closed their work here in February, 1853. Very strict discipline was maintained at this time, as the following incident will show. Isaac Craig took a large apple to school to eat during school hours. As soon as the school work began, he commenced upon the apple, but had made very little progress when he was discovered by the teacher, who politely requested him to stand in front of the school and finish the apple. That apple was eaten without any remarks, but the tears which flowed from Craig’s eyes showed very clearly that he did not enjoy the eating. One more session during the spring of 1853, taught by Mr. O’Brien, and the Orange County Seminary, after a life of a little more than a quarter of a century passed out of existence, being sold in August of that year, as required by act of the Legislature, approved June 12, 1852.

And here let it be remarked, that the Orange County Seminary was in its day a grand institution. Under the management of James A. Watson, Rev. Ennis, Marshal D. Maxwell, Rev. Thomas J. Thornton, Sidney J. Mayhew and others, it reached a high standard of excellence, and was justly the pride of the people of the town and county. It numbered among its pupils many boys and girls who are still living, useful and honored members of society, who, when they read these pages, will drop a sincere tear of regret to the memory of those of their schoolmates who have passed away.

SALE OF THE SEMINARY

At the sale of the Seminary above narrated, it was purchased by John C. Albert, who after an ownership of three days transferred it to David Porter. July 19, 1856, A. M. Black, administrator of Porter’s estate, transferred it to Paoli Township to be used as a public school building. During this period it had been let to parties who taught private school in it. Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Woodford taught here during 1854-55. In May 1855, there was a call, through the county papers, for a female High School at Paoli. This was started in October 1855, with J. D. P. Hungate as teacher. A fourteen weeks’ session was taught. The terms of tuition were first grade $3, second grade $4, and third grade $5, with 20 cents additional in each grade for fuel. L. Norris taught a twelve weeks’ session here during the spring of 1856. The patrons of these schools were the Braxtans, Simpsons, Hazlewoods, Lindleys, Whites, Throops, Merits, Alberts, Dayhuffs and others.

The people of Paoli did not have a separate vote upon the question of free schools, but the vote being taken in connection with Paoli Township, the result of that election very nearly expresses the opinion of the people of the town. The first free schools were opened in September, 1856, in the seminary building. Henry P. Jones and Martha M. Gilbert were the first teachers. Length of session. sixty days. R. S. Thurman teacher during l857-58. Judge Francis Wilson, of Bedford, taught here during 1860-61. He was succeeded by J. L. Williams in 1863. In summer of 1865 the citizens of Paoli organized and appointed Samuel T. Lindley, L. B. Cogswell and James H. Sherrod, Trustees, who in connection with the Township Trustees, organized the Paoli High School with Professor N. B. Bowles as Principal. He was assisted by his wife. They were professional teachers. The school was a success from the beginning, both in regard to attendance and thoroughness of the work done. The enthusiasm among the young people of the town and surrounding country was unbounded. The examination at the close of the second term was pronounced a great success by all who were present. Prof. Bowles remained here for two years, during which time many young men and women were prepared to enter the field as teachers in the common schools. These, taking up the work in the country districts, the result was a forward movement all along the line in the schools of Orange County. Asenath Cox, J. S. Wilson, Simeon Green and J. P. Throop also taught public school in the seminary building. In the spring of 1872 the building was sold by the Township and Town Trustees to A. J. Simpson, since which time it has not been used as a school building. It is now owned by W. F. Osborne and occupied as a family residence. To the passer-by it presents no appearance of the ancient schoolhouse, but rather strikes him as being a very neat and substantial brick residence. The public schools were now united with the Normal School.

SOUTHERN INDIANA NORMAL SCHOOL

The normal school building was erected in 1871, costing $22,000. It is one of the finest school buildings in southern Indiana, and is justly the pride of the people of the town and county. It is a neat brick 90x70 feet, two and a half stories (besides basement), and has in addition to the chapel, office and labratory, six large recitatation rooms, well lighted and furnished. The following is taken, with some alterations, from the annual circular of Prof. W. P. Pinkham, 1876:

The normal school is organized upon the plan of a graded school, consisting of Primary, Intermediate, Grammar and High School Departments. The High School Department is the Normal School proper. The lower departments are intended not only for the instruction of the children who attend them, but as model schools for the instruction and training of the senior classes in the teacher’s course. The leading object of the normal school, and one which chiefly distinguishes it from other institutions, is the training of teachers for their work. Teaching is here taught as a science and an art. The science of the human mind, a just appreciation of which is essential to the highest success in teaching, is here presented and investigated. That its truths may be reduced to practice, teachers are afterward exercised in the preparation of lesson sketches, and the conducting of object lessons; in objective methods of teaching the different branches of study; in adapting lessons and instructions to the age and development of the pupils; in organizing and disciplining the class and the school. Besides the training of teachers, it is a cherished object of the officers of the normal school to place within the reach of the young people of southern Indiana an opportunity for acquiring a higher education. The following notes were taken from the circular of Prof. E. P. Smith, 1884:

"The school was organized on its present basis in the fall of 1873, by Prof. W. P. Pinkham, who served as Principal during the next six years, resigning in the spring of 1879 to accept the chair of mathematics in Earlham College. Under Prof. Pinkham's management the school grew rapidly into public favor, and enjoyed a very liberal patronage from the entire southern part of the State. During the academic year, in 1879-80, the school maintained its high reputation for thoroughness under its Principal, Miss Asenath Cox, since deceased, who resigned at the end of the school year to resume a position in the Glendale Female College, at Glendale, Ohio, with which institution she has formerly been connected as a leading teacher. Miss Cox was succeeded by Prof. E. F. Sutherland, whose energy and professional ability did much to enhance the prosperity of the school. Prof. Sutherland served as Principal nearly three years, resigning in the early part of 1883 to engage in business. During the next academic year the school was in charge of Prof. W. T. Gooden, a thorough scholar and a faithful teacher, whose work in the class-room has had a lasting influence upon the institution. Prof. Gooden resigned last March to engage in journalism, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, Prof. E. B. Smith. Since the school was organized in 1873, some thirty students have graduated from its various courses of study."

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