GOBIN, Hilary - Putnam

The yellow brick Gobin Memorial Church at DePauw University is a familiar landmark to DePauw students from South Bend are and to their parents who visit the campus for Old Gold Day and other special events. Many students find the warm interior of the church, illumined by deep blue stained glass windows … few of the students and parents are aware that Dr. Hillary A. Gobin to whom the church is a memorial, once was a Methodist minister in South Bend.  (mid 1870s) As a youth, Hillary fought in the Union Army during the Civil War 1861-65.  Captured and held prisoner until paroled.  End of war enrolled in Indiana Asbury University (later DePauw).  IA had only recently admitted women and first group were receiving their diplomas in the spring of 1871.  He married one of these gals, Laura Beswick and the ceremony was performed by Rev. Gobin.  Between then and his return as a faculty member he served in several Methodist churches in our state, including South Bend.  About 300 of the 8,000 of South Benders belonged to his church.  He wanted more and did just that, adding about 100 more in an intensive revival campaign.  Gobin was also quite active in the temperance movement of the city.  He went to IA to become a professor of Greek and stayed there 38 years. In 1890, as the dean of the School of Theology, Dr. Gobin was drawn into administration, being named Vice President, the served as president 1896-1903.  Stepping down to VP again in 1903, Dr. Gobin spent 20 years until his retirement as the Vice President again.  George Manhart, author of DePauw Through the Year noted that Gobin owned an abundant wit and common sense and was loved as much by the students as ANY man ever to be on the DePauw staff.   Appropriately, two daughter and a grandchild attended and graduated from the university.