St. Clair County, Illinois - Chapter 21, 1928

Chapter 21

'-^^'\ R- Locke was succeeded m the presidency by Rev. jLj Ross Clark Houghton, D. D., then of the Missouri Conference. He was born in Turin, New York, July 9, 1839. He was educated at Union College, Syracuse University, and Boston University School of Theology. He re ceived the degree of D. D. from McKendree in 1878, and L. H. D. from Willamette University in 1889. He served Methodist churches in several cities in New York State, in St. Louis, in Indianapolis, and in Portland, Oregon. In 1895, he transferred to the Congregational Church and became pastor in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Here he remained till 1902, when he retired from pastoral work. He died at Maiden, Massachusetts, December 10, 1904. He was married September 25, 1862, to Adelaide R. Wilcox, who with one of their three children, survived him. He was a member of the Society of American Authors, and several other learned societies. He was the author of several books with the following titles: "Christian Education and its Relation to Christian Work," 1871; "Novels, and How to Read Them," 1872; "The Social Evil," 1872; "Future Punishment," 1877; "Women of the Orient," 1877; "At the Threshold," 1881; "Ruth the Moabitess," 1882; "John the Baptist," 1889.

When he came to McKendree it was as a sort of experiment. He had a plan for relieving the financial stress of the college, but it did not seem to bring the expected results, for at the end of the first year he relinquished the work. His report to the Board at commencement indicates that he was the pastor of some church which took much of his time during the year that he was President of McKendree. There was no other change in the faculty of the college proper, that year. Professors Jones, Deneen, Swahlen, and Edwards remained at their posts in spite of the increasing deficits in salaries. In addition to these regular college teachers. Professor James H. Brownlee was the teacher of elocution; Professor J. W. Whittlesey was in charge of the Commercial Department; and the Law faculty consisted of Henry H. Homer as Dean, and Gustavus Koerner, Joseph Gillespie, and James M. Hamill as lecturers.

The year was a hard one. The enrollment suffered a further slight decrease, and the income from the endowment was meager. At the meeting of the Board that year, a committee was appointed to secure the legal release of all claims against the Athleton. We find no further record of the matter but we may infer that the object was accomplished

At the end of the year Dr. Houghton did not wish to carry the experiment further and presented his resignation at the same time with his report, and again gave his time to the pastorate and the writing of books. Although he was in charge of the institution only one year, the class which graduated that year was an important one. As they went out into the world, they doubtless carried with them the impress of his teaching and example, and thus through this class he wielded an influence in the world which eternity alone can completely measure. Brief sketches of the members of the class follow:

The Class Of 1879 James H. Atterbury

James Hardin Atterbury was born at Litchfield, Illinois, March 7, 1858. His parents were A. D. and Julia Atterbury. He enrolled in McKendree in September, 1874 and graduated in 1879, receiving the degree of A. B. He was a member of the Philosophian Society.

After leaving McKendree he took a law course in the University of Michigan and received the degree of LL. B. from that institution. He has been engaged in the practice of law at Litchfield for many years. He is married and has one son, James H. Atterbury, Jr.

William Costello

WILLIAM COSTELLO William Costello was born near Fayetteville, St. Clair County, 111., December 26, 1839. His inspiration to secure an education came rather late in life, but after suitable preliminary education, he entered McKendree and graduated in the class of 1879. He was a member of Philo. He was married February 9, 1865, before his college days, to Miss Nancy S. Turner. Their two children are Don Costello, undertaker and furniture dealer in Litchfield, Illinois, and Lizzie Costello Kennett, who also resides in Litchfield. Mr. Costello was engaged in various occupations during his lifetime, among which might be mentioned those of farmer, teacher, and bookkeeper. He was engaged in business in the city of Nashville, Illinois, for some years, and was a member of the City Council of that city. Later he moved to Freeburg, Illinois, where his death occurred February 21, 1897. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity.

James A. Bishop

James Alonzo Bishop was born near Mascoutah, Illinois, in January, 1854. His parents were George B. and Malvina Bishop. He grew up in the neighborhood where he was born and after completing the home schools, he entered Mc- Kendree College, where he graduated in the Scientific Course and received the degree of B. S. in 1879. He was a member of the Platonian Literary Society. He has spent much of his life since graduation in educational work. Among the positions he has held in that line of work are the following: Principal of a ward school in Moline, Illinois; Principal of the high school at Rock Island; Professor of Chemistry in Harvey Medical College of Chicago; and a similar position in a Chicago Dental College. In recent years he was a travelling salesman. He was married in 1887 to Miss Lulu Liebrock, of Mascoutah, Illinois. They have one daughter, Amie Louise, who with her mother resides at the family home at Mascoutah, though the husband and father, owing to the nature of his business, of necessity spent much of his time away from home. He was a member of the Masonic Order. He died in January, 1928.

James Godfrey Dee was born March 19, 185 1, only a few miles from the city of Lebanon, which has been his permanent home since 191 j. His parents, Hiram and Mary (Walker) Dee, were both native Americans. Mr. Dee grew up on a farm, and after finishing the country school, he entered the Preparatory Department of McKendree College in 1870. He was an active member of the Platonian Society. He alternately attended college and taught school, thus working his way to the attainment of an education. He graduated in the class of 1879, receiving the degree of B. S., and later, M. S. In 1898, his Alma Mater conferred upon him the honorary degree of A. M., and in the Centennial year that of D. D. On August 14 of the year he finished college, he was married to Miss Fannie M. Norman, whose home was in Clinton County, near Carlyle. He joined the Southern Illinois Conference in September of the same year, and therefore Mrs. Dee has been his partner in the work of the ministry for almost a half century. Of their children, five grew to maturity. Norman Bliss, the oldest, is a graduate of McKendree, and therefore a sketch of him will be found elsewhere in this history. Paul, the second son, was a student in McKendree, but did not graduate. He came to an untimely death in the army training camp during the World War. He left a young widow and a little son only a few weeks old, whom he had never seen. He lies boned in College Hill Cemetery. The three daughters are all graduates of McKendree. They are Mrs. Nelle Kruh, of St. Louis, Mrs. Lois Dolley, of Berkeley, California, and Mrs. Dorothy Adair, of St. Louis.

During his half century in the ministry, Dr. Dee has been an active and enthusiastic worker in the interest of the kingdom and the churches which he served. He was for six years Presiding Elder of the Mt. Carmel District, and during that time published a District Advocate to promote the interests of the work in his district. He was also the editor of The Lebanon Journal for several years after he came to Lebanon.

He holds the retired relation in the conference, but that does not keep him from preaching. He has supplied some nearby charge nearly all the time since he has lived in Leb' anon, except the two years that he was pastor of the Lebanon Church. He has always been an ardent friend of McKendree College, and was for ten years a member of its Joint Board.

In recent years he has served his community m civil as well as in religious affairs by holding the office of Police Magistrate. No delinquent ever leaves Judge Dee's court without feeling that he has received justice, and sometimes mercy as well, at the hands of this officer of the law. He always imposes the penalty provided by law when the guilt of the individual is clearly established, but sometimes stays the fine and remits his own fee, on condition of good be havior in the future. The offender also gets sound advice administered freely, and this is sometimes more effective than the strict penalties of the law.

Dr. Samuel E. Earp

Samuel Evingston Earp, son of Rev. Joseph Earp of the Southern Illinois Conference, was born at Lebanon, December 19, 1858, while his father was pastor at Lebanon. In 1876, when his father was pastor at Alton, he became a student in Shurtleff, but in 1877 he transferred to McKendree and graduated in the class of 1879, receiving the degree of B. S. He was a member of the Platonian Society. He then entered the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis, from which he graduated in 1882 with the degree of M. D. and the highest honors of his class. He also won the "Waters Gold Medal" and the first prize in obstetrics. Besides his general medical practice, he was for many years a member of the faculty of the medical college, and for several years Dean of the Faculty. Since 1886, he has been consultant in one or more of the hospitals in Indianapolis, and for eight years he was surgeon of the Police and Fire Departments. In 1908 he was the founder of a medical journal called the "Medical and Surgical Monitor." The name was afterward changed to "Indianapolis Medical Journal." Of this Dr. Earp has been Editor-in-chief for many years. He is a member of the Indianapolis Historical Society and was for five years its president. He is a member of the County, State, and National Medical Associations. He has been for thirty years Medical Examiner for the Knights of Pythias. He is a frequent contributor to the current liter ature of the medical science. He was for .1 term of years Mayor of the city of Indianapolis.

William L. Jones

William Lucius Jones was born in Lebanon, Illinois, June 7, iS-jg. His parents were Professor Oliver V. Jones, a native of Kentucky, and Mary E. Crocker, who was born in Massachusetts. He entered McKendree in 1S74 and graduated in 1879, receiving the degree of A. B. He was a Philo. In 1881 he became editor of the Lebanon Journal and continued as editor and proprietor of that paper until 1913, when he sold out to his McKendree classmate, Rev. J. G. Dee, and went to Colorado for the benefit of his health. In 1891 he was elected president of the Southern Illinois Press Association. Every year for twenty years he was a delegate to the National Editorial Association, and for sixteen years a member of the Executive Committee of that body. He became a member of the Republican County Central Committee of St. Clair County in 1892. In 191 1 he was appointed by President Taft to the position of Postmaster of the city of Lebanon. His death occurred m Colorado Springs, Colo., September i";, 1915. His funeral was held m the Lebanon Methodist Church, and he was laid to rest in the College Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. Martha Liggett Carter

Martha Elizabeth Liggett was born in December, i860, at Lebanon, 111. Her parents were William Carr Liggett, a native of St. Louis, and Ellen O. Whitney, of Williston, Vermont. She entered McKendree in 1876 and graduated in 1879, with the degree of A. B. In 1890 she received a Chautauqua diploma. She was a member of Clio. She was married in i88j, to Atkins Harrison Carter, who is also a graduate of McKendree. Since then Mrs. Carter's chief occupation has been that of home maker, with side lines as church and club worker. She is a member of Central Methodist Church, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, where her home has been since 1887.

Ira W. Marshall

Ira Waldron Marshall was born m Manchester, New Hampshire, May 3, 1857. He was a son of Rev. Lyman Marshall, who was for many years pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Lebanon, and m honor of whom the church is called "Marshall Memorial Church." He entered McKendree in 1874 and graduated in 1879, receiving the degree of A. B. He was a member of the Platonian Literary Society. Since his graduation he has been engaged in various occupations. He was long in the printing and stationery business in Philadelphia; for years a professional musician; and for ten years he was a prison missionary in New York City, to which work he was enthusiastically devoted. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His death occurred in New York City, March j, 191 j.

Olive B, Shepard

Olive Belle Shepard was born m Orio, Illinois, March 14, 1859. She is a daughter of the Rev. Morrill A. and Mary (Moorhead) Shepard. Her father was a Baptist preacher, but spent a large part of his life in business in St. Louis while he resided in Lebanon. So that Olive Belle had Lebanon for her home during her youth and much of her later life. She entered McKendree in 1875 and graduated in 1879, with the degree of A. B. She was a prominent member of Clio. She pursued a post graduate course in Boston University, but did not take a degree there. She has interested herself m an amateur way in both art and music. She is a member of the Methodist Church and for many years was a member of the choir of the Lebanon Church. She is spending her declining years in the "Old Folks Home" at Lawrenceville, Illinois. REV. JOSEPH W. VAN CLEVE, D. D.

Joseph William Van Cleve was born m Macoupin County, Illinois, February 19, 1859. His parents were Rev. William and Sarah (Calaway) Van Cleve. His father was born in Bergen County, New Jersey, of Dutch ancestry; his mother was born in Jersey County, Illinois, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He entered McKendree in 1876 and graduated in 1879 as the valedictorian of his class, receiving the degree of A. B. Later he received the following degrees from Mc- Kendree: A. M., 1882, Ph.D., 1894, and D.D.m igoo.Hewas dR J. W. VAN CLEVE a member of the Platonian Literary Society. He was married September 17, 1882, to Miss Rachel Annis Talley. They have four children - Luella May, Ethel Annis, Arthur Talley, and Edith Joy. He joined the Southern Illinois Conference in 1880 and served pastoral charges until 1902. He v,'as Statistician of the conference during the years 1887-1891, and secretary 1892-1900. In 1902 he transferred to the Illinois Conference, where he held several important charges and was Superintendent of the Decatur District. He was a member of the General Conferences of 1896, 1900, 1908, 1912, 1916, and

1920. He was a member of the Board of Control of the Epworth League, 1896 to 1904. He was elected a member of the General Board of Conference Claimants in 1908. He was in demand as a lecturer, temperance worker, and orator for special occasions. He was a Mason and a Knight Templar. During the last years of his effective service, he was secretary of the commission on finance, with headquarters in Chicago. He retired in 1922 and made his home in Evanston, where he died June 29, 1926.

A century of building and endowment growth. In addition to this amount the Southern IMinois Conference gives the college $10,000 a year which is the equivalent of $200,000 of added endowment.

HT THE MEETING of the Boafd 111 Juiic, 1S79, It wds found th.it Dr. Houghton's special plan with reference to college finances had not been a complete success. What this plan was we do not know, for it is buried in the committee reports which were not copied into the record and the papers have been lost, and the Board members of that day have all without exception passed into the great beyond. But whatever it was. Dr. Houghton himself considered it a failure and therefore, with his report, presented his resignation as president. Professor E. E. Edwards of the Science Department also resigned at the same time. Before the session was over, the Board requested all the other members of the faculty to resign also. Then with the slate clear, they proceeded to elect a faculty one at a time by ballot. Dr. Houghton's name was placed m nomination for president for another year, and was elected by a vote of sixteen to nine. But this vote was not satisfactory to Dr. Houghton himself. If there were nine members of the Board who were against him, he did not want the office. He therefore "did not choose" to accept. Then the name of Rev. Daniel W. Phillips was placed m nomination and he was unanimously elected. He was a graduate of McKendree of the class of 1862. A sketch of his life will be found in connection with that class. He had been for nearly twenty years a member of the conference, and for a number of years a member of the Joint Board. He was therefore acquainted with the situation, and tho recognizing the difficulty of the task, he accepted the responsibility of guiding the progress of the institution for a year at least. As a matter of fact, his term of office proved to be four years. In selecting the remainder of the faculty, the Board suspended the ballot rule in the case of Professor Deneen and reelected him by acclamation with a unanimous vote. In case of each of the other positions to be filled, two candidates were nominated and one chosen by a majority vote. Professor Swahlen was reelected to the Chair of Greek and German, which he had long held, and Professor Harris was elected for the second year to the Chair of Mathematics. In Professor Edwards case, his resignation was the result of a genuine desire to change his field of work, so it was accepted by the Board and his efficient service commended. The position was filled by the election of Miss Lucy Jane Rider, who afterward became so well-known to the church at large in connection with the Chicago Training School. This group composed President Phillips' faculty of