Dubois County, Indiana - Chapter 14: Educational Work in Dubois County, 1910

Chapter 14: Educational Work in Dubois County

The early schools, teachers, and pupils - Early books, methods, and educational opportunities - Rev. A. J. Strain and other school officials, old licenses, township libraries, legislative enactments - Graduates, prominent teachers, and education in general - Parochial schools, Jasper College, and Ferdinand Academy - List of parochial schools in Dubois county. - Hon. A. M. Sweeney.

The first official record of anj' interest in public school work in Dubois county is shown in a memorandum in the oflBcial records of the Secretary of state to the effect that on December loth, 1818, James Karris was commissioned a trustee of the "Public Seminary of Dubois County."

In a measure the constitution of i8t6 provided for the maintenance of public schools. Fines, and money paid as an equivalent by persons exempt from military duty, except in time of war, were to be applied to the support of county seminaries in the county wherein they were assessed. This money was held in trust by a seminary trustee, appointed by the Governor of the state. Afterwards the county commissioners appointed him, and sometime later he was elected by the voters at a general election. When the funds of a county warranted it, the legislature would incorporate a seminary for the county.

There is no official record in Dubois county, of its public schools prior to September 12, 1866, except such as appear in the form of reports scattered about the various offices to whose incumbent such reports were made.

The first schools in Dubois county, like those in other counties in the state, were of the subscription kind. The school houses were of the same style as the dwellings of those days; of logs, with a large fireplace at one end, and a shelf used for a writing desk at the other. The school house often served as a church and the teacher often served as a minister.

School houses were built by the able bodied men in the district. The first school houses in Dubois county were made of logs, and about twenty feet by twenty-four. The roof was of boards pinned down with wooden pins. The rooms were eight feet high, and the fioors which were made of puncheons had to be at least one foot above the ground. A puncheon was a combination between a log and a board. It was generally between three and six inches thick and laid down loose. The seats in the school-room were made of one-half of a small log, supported by four or six wooden pins for legs.

Such was the beginning of the present district school and school houses. The school term seldom exceeded sixt}' days, and the wages paid teachers were very modest. The books were Webster's Blue-back Speller, DeBald's or Pike's Arithmetic, and Olney's Geography and Atlas; The English Reader, American Preceptor, Peter Parley's Readers, Swiss Family Robinson, and both Testaments. A few pupils had Grimshaw's History of England, Flint's Natural History, Emma Willard's History of the United States, Kirkham's Grammar, and Smiley's Arithmetic.

Beginning with 1824 and for many years thereafter, there were three school trustees for each township. These three trustees examined teachers in regard to their ability to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic. In arithmetic to learn as far as the ''rule of three" was a mark of scholarship in pioneer days; w^hile to be able to solve problems under the ''double rtde of three'" was a great credit and distinction to any one. The " rule of three" was presented about page seventy-five in the arithmetics.

In the county recorder's office is an old contract record wherein are recorded contracts between parents and employers stating that the boy in question should, in return for his services, be fed, furnished with clothing and educated as far as the "rule of three " or the "double rule of three ."

I lived then seven miles southeast of Jasper on Grassy Fork about two miles up the branch from where it flows into Hall's creek, then called "Rock House creek," from the fact that many sand stone bluffs were to be seen along its banks. Under these bluffs hogs and sheep were housed in winter.

The chances for schooling those days were poor indeed. The neighbors would get together and make up a subscription school of from eighteen to twenty- four pupils and then hire a teacher for a stated sum for each pupil. Usually from $1.50 to $2.00 per pupil, and sixty days to a term. Then they would build a log school house. It would look very crude to-day. The floor was laid with puncheons cut out of logs. Trees were so plentiful that none but the straightest and easiest splitting timber was used. The seats were small trees split into halves, Each half had pegs driven into it, these forming the legs of the seat. The fire place at one end of the house was large enough to take in logs six feet long. The larger boys cut the wood for the school use. For a window a log was cut out of one side of the house. That constituted the only window. In cold weather greased paper was pasted over the long window. We had but few books. Spellers, arithmetics, and some very inferior readers were all we had, except occasionally a New Testament.

School terms were short: sixty days, once every two years. Elijah Linzy, John Bowls, and Silas Riley were my teachers. We had a spelling book, arithmetic, Testament, outline history and any other kind of a book that happened to be in the neighborhood. Goose quills were used for pens. We made our own ink by boiling red oak bark and sumach berries, then adding a little copperas. School opened by sun up and i did not close until sundown. There was no recess except one hour at noon. One ( pupil recited at a time, because each was likely to have a different book.

The teacher occasionally used a hickory branch to punish us. As a rule, we knew when he used it. School houses were built near a spring, so that we could get good water. In those days the teachers often brought their rifles to school with them.

They were flint locks, and shot a ball, sixty to sixty-five to the pound. Peddlers would often go through the settlements and exchange lead and powder for game and pelts. They frequently went on horseback and exchanged their purchases at Louisville.

The New Testament served as a favorite reader. The spelling lesson caused the greatest interest. To stand at the head of a spelling class was the highest ambition. Many pupils could spell all the words in the book, though many of them they neither understood nor used. To walk five or six miles to school was a very common occurrence.

Pupils were permitted to study as loud as they pleased, and manj' thought that the more noise the pupils made in studying their lessons, the better they would know them. There would be bits of "a-b, ab; " " i b, ib;" "i2 times 12 are 144;" "cancel and divide;" "In the beginning, God said let there be light, and there was light," and various other noises in the room at the same time, all while school was in session, and perhaps while the teacher was explaining long division to the larger boys and girls.

Pupils wrote with goose quill pens, sharpened by the teacher. The pupil usually caught his own goose and brought the feather to his teacher to be dexterously converted into a quill pen. The school master had a particularly sharp pen-knife, made especially to do this work. To be able to make and mend quill pens was one of the essential qualifications of a teacher in early days. Wanting in this it would have been useless to make application to the patrons of any district school for the opportunity to "board 'round" and instruct the j^oung. It is said it was a pleasure to watch those old time school masters make a pen. The quills were often saved up at home, a small flock of geese being kept for that express purpose, as well as to furnish the down for the feather bed.

The teacher would put on his glasses, select a good quill, open his knife and carefully feel the edge. Then he would reach down and strop the blade of the knife dexterously a few times on his home-made cow-hide boots. First, he would cut off a portion of the feathered end to make it the desired length. The remaining feather portion of the quill was notched by way of ornamentation and then, with one dexterous scoop of the knife, he would give shape to the pen. After a few more careful cuttings a slit was made in the end and the point of the pen formed. The teacher always remained after school hours to go around and mend all the pens for the writing class and set copies in their copy books. Occasionally a pupil more ingenious than the rest, learned to keep his own pens in order, but this was rare. The sentiments expressed and the lore displayed by the teacher in the writing of these copies, had a great deal to do in the matter of creating a good impression among his school patrons.

The old time school master may have been a little rough in his way, but he usually had a rough set of boys in the country district school over which he was called to preside. The first day he assumed control frequently decided whether or not he was master of the situation. His physi- cal proportions were critically measured by the larger boys and his manner closely observed. Any indication of physical or moral weakness would be detected and taken advantage of whenever opportunity offered. But the teacher usually came off victorious. If he managed to get along well until Christmas and then gave the "scholars" a good "treat" of candy and apples, he was thereafter "a hale fellow well met," and all his troubles vanished.

Sand did the work of a modern blotting pad. School began at "sun up" and closed at "sundown," and he who arrived at the school house first recited first, and so on one at a time. There was no recess except at noon.

Frequently, when a pupil wanted assistance on a difficult problem, he took it to his teacher, who looked over it until he found an incorrect figure, which he marked; he then returned the work to the pupil without a word of explanation.

One of the first teachers in Dubois county was Col. Simon Morgan, He taught school in Fort McDonald, in the court house at Portersville, and also in the log court house at Jasper. About 1820, a school was taught near Haysville, and alsoat Shiloh, west of Jasper. Before this county was organized a school was taught near where Ireland now stands. One was taught in Jefferson township, north of Schnellville, about 1820.

Many pioneers had an idea, and it prevailed long and strong, that a school house should be situated out of the villages and in the woods away from a public road, so that travelers would not disturb the "scholars," as pupils were then called. Many early school directors in Dubois county supported this idea, and the result was that nearly all of our pioneer schoolhouses were in the forests away from a public road. To a certain extent the same though was applied to church houses. Often the school house was used for church purposes. At Dubois and at Haysville the schoolhouses were nearly a mile from the villages. The idea was finally abandoned and school-houses began to be erected along the highways.

Under a provision of the constitution of 1816, John McCausland served in the capacity of county school examiner from 1843 to 1853. From 1853 to 1857, Rev. Joseph Kundeck, Rev. A. J. Strain, and George W. Fallon served as school examiners. S. J. Kramer succeeded Mr. Fallon, and the others continued. For the year 1858, Rev. A. J. Strain, Capt. Stephen Jerger, and S. J. Kramer served; for 1859, Rev. A. J. Strain, William Hayes, and John B. Beckwerment served; and for 1861, Henry A. Holthaus succeeded Rev. A. J. Strain.

In 1 86 1, the law was changed, and only one school examiner was required. On June 5, 1861, Rev. A. J. Strain was appointed and he served until his death February 2, 1873. On the seventh day of the following March, Mr. E. R. Brundick was appointed.

appointed, and held until June 2, 1879, when the Rev. Geo. C. Cooper became his successor. On June 6, 1881, the Hon. A. M. Sweeney was appointed and served with great success, until June, 1889. Geo. R Wilson served from 1889 until June, 1903, when Prof. Wm. Melchior took charge.

The great and substantial influence of the work of the Rev. Joseph Kundeck upon the schools of Dubois county is shown in his biographj' in Chapter XV. Some pioneer parochial schools are also mentioned in his biography.

William Hayes served as school examiner for two years from the first Monday in March, i860. He was appointed by the county commissioners. Mr. Hayes was born at and counsellor of a broader life and wider sympathies. It was this element in his character perhaps that will be longest remembered. He was a citizen of the community in the breadth of his feeling and in the operation of his example, and so he played well his part in the half century that was given to his active life here. A man of deep and strong convictions, George C. Cooper strove always for better things, for things that touched life widely, and so he persevered to the end. He was never cold or unsympathetic to any suggestion or project that had the qualities of progress. He could be counted on to lend a helping hand. And so his wellrounded life came to its end.

The Rev. Andrew Jackson Strain probably did more for the educational advancement of the general public in Dubois county than any other man connected with its early history, and deserves more than a passing notice. He was born January 18, 1821, at Princeton, Indiana, and died February 2, 1873, of pneumonia, at Ireland, Indiana. On

Februarj' 4, the funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Ephraim Hall, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. Rev. Strain was ordained as a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, October 10, 1847, and Shiloh, Lemmon, Jasper, Hillsboro, Lebanon, Ireland, Gray's, Hopkin's, and McMahan's were congregations under his charge.

At Jasper, on August 29, 1850, he married Miss Elvira Jane Lemonds, the Rev. Thomas Walker, officiating. A daughter, Mary Eva, now Mrs. John Sides, of Fort Branch, Ind., and a son James Eugene Strain, of Nevada, Mo., are their children. This wife died April 4, 1868. She was a daughter of the Hon. George W. Lemonds, who was postmaster at Rockport, for manj^ years, and who represented Dubois county in the legislature of 1845-6.

Miss Elbina G. Banta, of Ireland, Ind., became his second wife, July 5, 1870, Rev. James Blackwell performing the ceremony. She died in August, 1908, at Zenda, Kansas.

Rev. Strain for a long time lived at Jasper, but about 1868 moved to Ireland. His parents originally came from old Ireland, but came to Indiana direct from Eastern Tennessee. They never resided in Dubois county. The maiden name of Rev. Strain's mother was McMullin. Rev. Strain was school examiner of Dubois county from June 5, 1861, until his death, February 2, 1873. He had served several years before this as one of a board of school examiners, operating under an old law.

Rev. Strain was about six feet tall; weight, about two hundred forty, blue eyes, with black and gray hair. His favorite hymn was " There is a land of pure delight where saints immortal reign." His favorite text was the twenty-third Psalm, " The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want, etc." He was very fond of saying " Hew to the line, let the chips fall where they may," and "A good name is more honorable than great riches." In politics he was classed as a " war democrat." He was a Mason and an Odd Fellow. He was a school mate and personal friend of the Hon. Oliver P. Morton, the great war governor of Indiana. Rev. Strain was instrumental in raising many troops for the Northern Army and was a great benefactor to the soldiers' widows and orphans.

During the year 1907, meetings were held in several of his old churches, in Dubois county, to stamp anew his work, mission, and memory upon the minds of the present generation, and large paintings were hung in the churches to acquaint the young with his features.

In Rev. A. J. Strain was seen one of the mightiest pioneers in the educational and religious work in Dubois county. The northwestern part of the county, to this day, reflects his religious work, and his influence for good is still felt throughout the county. He was a collossal figure in his chosen field of labor, striding onward, head and shoulders above his contemporaries. His grand, manly character, his splendid achievements in public life, and his princely qualities as a private citizen, commanded unstinted admiration. In his day he was hardy, enterprising, irresistible; an able expounder of his religious, political and educational views, and a most typical representative citizen. He gloried in the cause of the Union, and was a true friend of the soldier during the Civil War. His teachings had a good effect upon the citizens of the county at large.

At the time of his death it was generally remarked that he was, in every sense of the words, a just and good man. He was so lovable in his character and gentle in his disposition, that at his death the children of a county wept. What higher tribute could be paid to any man ? Nature had endowed him with a fine physique and stamped upon his brow, strength, grace, culture and dignity, such as would have marked him as distinguished in any assembly of men. In the soil of old Shiloh cemetery

SO rich in the mold of pioneers, ministers, officials, teachers, and good citizens, and within the shadow of his own church, a shrine rich in venerable traditions of worship and associations, in the long dreamless sleep into which all of us sometime must sink, reposes the body of Rev. Strain whose memory a county fondly cherishes. There is a monument at his grave, but Father Strain still lives in the memories of all who knew him.

It is not the privilege of many men to organize great educational and religious movements and then to lead them through a quarter of a century of successful developments, but such was the privilege of Rev. A. J. Strain.

Before 1873, the examination passed by the applicant for a teacher's license was not difficult. The difficulty was in getting the teachers. The applicant usually called on the county examiner, who asked a few questions, which were answered orally, wrote a few lines as a sample of his chirography, and remained for dinner. After dinner, if the examiner was satisfied with the applicant's knowledge, he wrote out a license and handed it to him. It was generally written upon a piece of foolscap paper about eight inches square.

This certifies, that I have examined Wesley Kendall, relative to his qualifications, to teach a common school as required by the school law of Indiana and find him qualified to teach orthography, reading, writing, and arithmetic, as far as interest, and he supporting a good moral character, I therefore license him to teach the branches above named for the term of three months. A. J. Strain, S. E.

Under this license, Mr, Kendall taught in the old Beatty school-house, in Columbia township, near the " Beatty Spring," and on the last day of school had a drill or muster of old soldiers, who formed a " hollow square," and listened to addresses. Mr. Kendall thus describes the old school-house which was a fair sample of all, even as late as 1861:

The house was seven logs high and eighteen feet square. It had a low ceiling and a poor floor. The only door it had was under the eaves and near the northeast end. The house was covered with clapboards. The walls were chinked and daubed. The door-shutter was two boards, as long as the door was high. The window was one log high, and eight feet wide - simply one log sawed out of the wall. Some of the panes of glass were out; greased paper was used as a substitute for such broken panes. The writing desk was a long board supported by two pins in the wall. The seats were made of poplar poles or small logs split open. Wooden pins or sticks were driven in for legs.

Lincoln City, in Spencer county, the boyhood home of Abraham Lincoln, is twenty-one miles south of Jasper. Conditions there and in Dubois county in pioneer days were practically the same. This is what the immortal president says of his early educational training:

We reached our new home about the time the state came into the Union. It was a wild region, with many bears and other wild animals still in the woods. There I grew up. There were some schools, so called, but no qualifications were ever required of a teacher beyond "readin', ritin' and cipherin'," to the rule of three. If a stranger supposed to understand Latin happened to sojourn in the neighborhood, he was looked upon as a wizard. There was absolutely nothing to excite ambition for education. Of course, when I came of age, I didn't know much. Still, somehow I could read, write and cipher to the rule of three, but that was all.

In 1885, there were ninety-six public school-houses in Dubois county, accommodating 3,485 pupils. One hundred eleven public school teachers were employed. In 1907, one hundred fifty-two public school teachers were employed at a cost of $47,947.16. In addition to this sum $23,886.35 was expended for repairs, buildings, and supplies. There were, in 1908, six thousand nine hundred ninetyninechildren of school age. All of these were white except two. About $500,000 is invested for educational purposes by the various educational institutions of the county - public and private or parochial. Education has moved forward rapidly since 1873, when the new educational laws became effective. In 1907, the congressional township school fund in Dubois county was $15,678.92. This fund was derived from the sale of all sections numbered sixteen. The common school fund derived from all other sources was $77,717.97. The total permanent school fund credited to Dubois county was $93,396.89, in 1907.

Three large medals were awarded to the different educational institutions in Dubois county for exhibits at the World's Fair at Chicago, 1893. Jasper College, Ferdinand Academy, and the district schools of Dubois county were recognized in this manner.

Almost since the adoption of the present constitution, Indiana has had a system of township libraries that has been valuable for the diffusion of general information. Each library comprised about three hundred volumes of the best works in all divisions of literature. They were distributed to counties according to population. Each of the original townships in Dubois county, had a library, but when the county was divided into twelve townships the books were divided without proper care, and thus much of their value was lost. At first the books were widely read and were a valuable source of knowledge for many years; now, however, they are neglected, and, in some townships, lost.

Many years ago an adverse criticism concerning the educational qualifications of the citizens of Dubois county secured considerable publicity. The criticism was uncalled for, since those it mentioned had long ago passed to their rewards, and it was unjust to begin with, for an examination of the first deed record in the county shows that eighty-five per cent of the men, and seventy-five per cent of the women, who sold real estate could write their names, to say the least, and in pioneer days writing was not taught until the student could spell and read. Frequently no attempt was made to teach writing until the child reached what is now known as the third grade. The adverse criticism was probably brought about through the early German pioneers being unable to write English. Practically all of them could read German, and write in their native language. By the census of 1840, it appears that one-seventh of the whole adult population of the state was at that time unable toread, and probably one-half of those w^ho could read, did so very imperfectly. Taking that as the standard for the entire state, the adverse criticism mentioned is not well founded.

Education was limited in Indiana prior to 1851. In 1848, eighteen trained teachers were sent into Indiana from Vermont. Evidently, there were other counties besides Dubois that needed educated people.

The tax for a free school system, when properly utilized, is, without question, the most important and valuable that is ever levied upon any citizen, for it is returned to him many-fold, by creating an intelligent and moral community, and thereby increasing the value and security of property, and diminishing the expense of crime and pauperism - two very expensive burdens upon the general public. The cost cf vicious legislation and absurd schemes, which a well informed constituency would not endure for a moment, has been five-fold the expense of giving a good education to every child in a state that has no strong educational system.

Prior to 1850, in Indiana, the above paragraph would not have been accepted as true. In Augtist, 1849, the voters of Indiana, by a small majority, voted for the establishment of free schools, and a constitution required them, yet the law was not to take effect except in counties where the majority of the voters agai7i gave their suffrages in its favor. The politicians of Indiana, in those days were far behind the spirit of the age, and in many cases where the benefits of free schools were most needed they were really delayed.

The industry and enterprise required, even from the children of the early settlers, frequently enabled them to become useful and respectable citizens with but little instruction from schools.

The ninth article of the first constitution of the state of Indiana, 1816, made it the duty of the general as.sembly to pass such laws as would be calculated to encourage intellectual, scientific, and agricultural improvements, and to provide, by law, for a general system of education, ascending, in a regular gradation, from township schools to a State University, wherein tuition was to be free and equally open to all. "These requirements of the constitution on the legislature, which its members were bound by oath to support, did not leave the establishment of free schools to them as a choice, but made it incumbent upon them as a duty, and no citizen, knowing the injunctions of the constitution, had any right to ask them to be violated. He could leave the state if he so desired, but while he lived in Indiana, and attempted to induce his representative to violate his oath, and vote against free schools, he was an accomplice in the crime." These thoughts and principles caused many heated political discussions prior to 1850, but finally with the new constitution beginning November i, 185 1, the free schools of Indiana commenced their onward march, and Dubois county fell into the line of progress. The passage of the 1852 school law and the creation of the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction formed the beginning of a progressive educational policy.

No school land was sold prior to 1820, but when sales began, the United States materially assisted the Indiana common schools On February 6, 1837, an act was passed by the Indiana general assembly relating to the money received from the United States for school purposes. That act named A. D. McPhaillis as county school commissioner of Dubois county, with power to handle the money, about four thousand dollars. This act marked the beginning of a new era in the history of education in pioneer days, in Dubois county.

On February 17, 1838, an act of congress was approved with a view of distributing surplus revenues of the United States to the various states. When Indiana received its part, it was distributed to the various counties, by an act of the general assembly, approved February 18, 1839. In that act Major Daniel Harris is named as the loaning agent for Dubois county. He was re-appointed for a second year.

The schools of the city of Huntingburg had their origin in 1846. On January 12, 1846, Col. Jacob Geiger, and his good wife Elizabeth, deeded to the " Trustees of the third school district," lot number five in Hunting- burg. The lot contained one-half acre. Col. Geiger, at his own expense, erected a school-house It was of hewn logs. Prof. Pike was the first teacher. A native of Europe, by the name of Modruski, taught school at the residence of Jacob Biemker. There were but few .schools in the southern part of Dubois county, prior to these two.

The Huntingburg high school was organized in 1882. It was commissioned in 1887, and its superintendents under the commission have been F. S. Morganthaler, J. T. Worsham, F. D. Churchill, F. B. Kepner, and J. P. Richards. Huntingburg has the best public school buildings in the county.

On August 5, 1845, Henry Kemp and Sarah, his wife, donated to " all persons while inhabitants of school district number five," one acre, in section thirty-two, near Mt. Zion, in Cass township. The deed stipulated that this included "The Sabbath Seminary."

teachers from i860 to 1873 were John Meisner, John Poison, Chas. W. Ellis, Mrs. Mary Kelso Stewart. Jacob Gosman, Thomas J. Nolan, Marion Morgan and Francis M. Sanders.

Near Ellsworth stood the old " King school-house," built about 1864. Those who taught school there were Mary A. Ellis, Chas W. Ellis, Catherine Beatty, George Monroe, Ettie Monroe, Lafayette Ellis, Francis M. Sanders, Thomas J. Nolan and Rev. William Jones, ending February 7, 1878.

One of the earlv successful and scholarly teachers in Dubois county was Prof. Thompson, who conducted a school on the Jasper and Haysville road, five miles north of Jasper, about 1837.

Prof. Claussin taught school nearShiloh, in Madison township. A school was also taught south of Shiloh on Patoka river, about the same date.

At, or near the place where now stands the Jacobs' graded school-house, in section thirty-six in Hall township, once stood an old log school-house.

known as the " McMickle school-house." The old house was built about 1858. The early teachers and the date of their teaching in this old schoolhouse are shown below:

The early schools at Jasper were taught in the court-house by Col. Simon Morgan. Later, a school was taught by Prof. Cheaver at the southeast corner of the public square. When the Germans began to arrive parochial schools took the lead, under the care of Rev. Joseph Kundeck. The public schools of Jasper were commissioned in 1898, and their superintendents, under the commission have been E. F. Sutherland, Bertram Sanders, W. E. Wellman and S. P. Shull.

The first part of the present public school building in Jasper was erected in 1872. On January 27, 1873, it was first occupied. The first teacher to occupy it was the Hon. Bazil L. Greene. In 1891, the west wing was built, and in 1908 the east wing was erected. The various parochial educational institutions at Jasper limit the public school attendance.

On July 16, 1855, the board of trustees of Ferdinand township ordered a meeting to be held on August 6, 1855, to divide a school district in that township. The result was the organization of what is now District No. 3, commonly known as the Lueken school. On December 4, 1S55, a contract was closed for the erection of a school-house for the sum of $107.00. the house to be erected on or before May, 1856. On June 9, the house was received and paid for.

This was the beginning of what is now the only log school house in the county of Dubois. To-day the house is in a good state of preservation. Several years ago it was covered with weatherboards, and the walls and ceiling plastered. A porch extends along the entire south side of the building. The house stands in what was originally the geographical center of the district, and it was so located regardless of highways. There is now no public road leading to the school grounds. The house stands on a very pretty elevation, and in the center of the surrounding forest. Atone time Prof. Clement lyueken was trustee of his township, and while such was also teacher. He saw that his school was well supplied with all necessary maps, charts, and other school supplies.

The pupils who attend this school are of German descent, honest, obedient, and industrious. The attendance the year around is over ninetynine per cent of the enrollment. The first teacher was Prof. Francis Gehlhausen, who closed his first term of sixty-three days on April 13, 1857. He received $65 for the entire term. The next two years he received S70 for each term of sixty-three days. On April 25, i860, he received $95 for sixty-three days - his fourth term, and this was followed by $63, for each of two more terms.

In the autumn of 1862, Prof. Clement Lueken began to teach school in this log school-house, and he taught in this same room for more than forty years.

In 1887, common school diplomas were first issued in Dubois county. Miss Maggie A. Wilson, of Jasper, was the first graduate. Her diploma bears date of March 26, 1887. The common school graduates are numerous; not all their names can be mentioned, but the first eighty-two follow: Mary Anderson, Valentine L. Bamberger, James T. Bean, Milton L,. Borden, James L. Bates, William Bretz, Daniel Bretz, William C. Bodkin, Mollie Bonner, Andrew M. Blunk, Philip J. Bamberger, Nannie Beeler, Nina M. Conrad, Flora Corn, Maggie E. Corn, Wm. N. Curry, Emma Colvin, Jacob B. Cato, Lillie Corn, Phineas Clark, John Cummings, Eva DeBruler, Elfa Dillon, Clement Doane, Jerome DeMotte, Ella Dillon, Tillie Deerhake, Louis F. Drach, Lenhart Downs, Louis Dillon, Lillie Ellis, E. E. Ellis, W. W. Ellis, Clara Fisher, Anna Fromm, Nellie Gresham, Virgil R. Greene, Grace Glezen, Albert D. Glezen, Jas. W. Gatten, Carrie Garber, Ed. W. Jeffers, Jno. H. Karaman, Effie Krutzinger, Efiie Koch, Effie Kelso, Wm. L. Kiper, Flora Leighton, Louis Lukemeyer, I. B. Lemmon, Wm. Line, Louis Landgrebe, Lina Meyer, Stephen Miller, Chris. Mauntel, Nannie McMahan, Chas. E. Miller, Chas. H. Miller, Wm. Melchior, Willa McMahan, Lelia Murray, Minnie Maris, Kingsley Niemoeller, Vernor Nolan, Edith Rose, Leo Roettger, Samuel Stewart, Fred. A. Stewart, Jos. E.Stutsman, Wesley Stork, Henry S. Simmons, Mary Smith, Minnie Stewart, Mattie Sanders, Lydia Troyer, Jessie Traylor, Bomar Traylor, Alice Todd, Maggie A. Wilson, Ernest Warring, Maud Williams, Leon Winkenhoefer.

Among the first high school graduates of Huntingburg were - Anna Katterhenry, Leo. H. Fisher, Otto Winkenhoefer, Dr. Adah McMahan, Willa Bretz, Helen H. Montgomery-Fisher, Lina Meyer-Katterhenry, Charles Miller, Lydia Troyer-Dufendach, Nancy H. McMahan.

Many well-known men and women have been identified as teachers, with the common schools of Dubois county. Among them may be mentioned: Judge John L. Bretz, Surveyor Arthur Berry, Rev. Sampson Cox, Congressman W. E. Cox, Rev. Geo. C. Cooper, Mrs. L. L. Cooper, Corporal John C. Deindoerfer, Marvin DeBruler, Editor Ben Ed Doane, Rev. Chas. W. Ellis, Maj. Wm. L. Edminston, Hon. Henry C. Fink, Hon. Bazil L. Greene, Capt. Philip Guckes, Mrs. M. A. Gutgsell, John W. Greene, W. W. Gullett, Henry A. Holthaus, Jacob Hessemer, A. A.

There are parochial schools in the townships of Boone, Cass, and Harbison. In the latter they are located at Hay.':ville, Kellerville, and Dubois. These parochial schools are in charge of Protestant churches. The Catholic church has parochial schools in Ireland, Jasper, Dubois, Celestine, Schnellville, St. Anthony, Huntingburg, St. Henry, and Ferdinand. All of these schools are well attended, and an effort is made to keep them up to the standard of the common public schools.

The strongest and most prominent private institutions of learning in the county are "Jasper College," for young men, and the "Convent of the Immaculate Conception," for 3-oung ladies, at Ferdinand.

Jasper College

Though Jasper College is in years but an infant institution, its existence forms nevertheless the realization of a fond hope entertained and expressed by Rev. Joseph Kundeck. With the death of that zealous priest, the plan of founding an institution of learning on the very site where now stands Jasper College, gradually fell into oblivion, only to be resurrected by the total destruction by fire of the world renowned St. Meinrad's Abbey. The citizens of Jasper sent a delegation to the abbot of the institution, proffering large sums of money towards the erection of an institution in or near Jasper by the authorities of St. Meinrad' s Abbey. The proffer resulted eventually in the erection of a college at Jasper for secular students.

The Fathers of St. Meinrad had observed that young men and boys who did not study to prepare for the holy ministry, very reluctantly attended an institution which was not easilj' accessible; and they had noticed furthermore, that such students, to receive proper attention, ought to be under the guidance and tutorship of a faculty whose time could be almost exclusively devoted to their specific interests. These reasons alone were deemed sufficient to justify the separation of the secular department from the ecclesiastical; and it was determined to make preparations to conduct a college at Jasper. Accordingly, Jasper College was opened for the reception of students on September 12, 18S9.

The ceremonies of the opening on that day, despite the ver}' inferior number of students in attendance, were made as imposing as circumstances would permit. A large number of Jasper's citizens were present to hear addresses made by the then prior of St. Meinrad's Abbey, Rev. Luke Gruwe, O. S. B , by the Prefect of the new college, Rev. F. A. Schmitt, O. S. B., and by the Hon. A. M. Sweeney.

Jasper College at that time was a two story brick building erected but a few months previous. St. Meinrad's College had been known to possess a large class of so-called commercial students, and, as a consequence, the opening of Jasper College, if we take the then mere handful of its students into consideration, was certainly inauspicious enough. In the meantime, however, the college was incorporated under the laws of the state of Indiana, in conjunction with St. Meinrad's College, and empowered to confer the usual academic degrees.

As time wore on, the new institution became widely known, to such a degree, that at the resumption of studies a year later than the opening, the largely increased attendance of students premonished the advisability of preparing at once accommodations for future pupils. That the college building would soon become too small was evident. The house then used for collegiate purposes, however, could not be conveniently enlarged, since the original and subsequent design had been that it should be occupied only temporarily as a college.

For this reason steps were immediately taken to secure a location for the building of a new structure. After examining various sites in the neighborhood of Jasper, a selection was made affording a broad incline of land on the west side of the town. The selection was made for the fine view which the chosen site commanded of the surrounding country. Standing on the incline, the eye could gaze upon the beautiful scenery in the near distance, while the far away hills and woodlands produced a picturesqueness, which, as was wisel}' thought, would be a feature of inestimable value for an institution of learning. A portion of the site belonged to the St. Joseph's congregation. This portion, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Chatard donated to the college authorities. Near the beginning of the summer of 1890, work on the new college was begun.

The new college buildings are substantially constructed of brick and native sandstone, with Bedford limestone and Lake Superior sandstone trimmings. The main building is three stories high, exclusive of the attic. In 1905, a large addition was erected at the east end. Three distinct dormitories are furnished in a manner that insures healthfulness and comfort. The college possesses a spacious and neatly constructed chapel for divine services. The college properties are valued at $66,000.

The first graduate was Gustav A. Gramelspacher. Other early graduates were Dr. Wm. Friedman, Conrad Krempp, John Zehnder, Roswell Carter, John Garaghan, Leo Jahn, John Sum, Jos. Sermersheim, Mark Weedman, John Birk, Anthony Griesan, and Philip Schneider.

Many of the prominent young men of Dubois county are graduates of this college, among them may be mentioned Gustav A. Gramelspacher, Prof. John Teder, Rev. Jos. Sermersheim, Rev. Philip Schneider, Harry Melchior, Wendolin Leighton, Leo Jahn, Omer Kuebler, Wm. Gosman, Edward Kunkler, Albert Schuler, John Steinhauser, Frank Steinhauser, Martin McFall, Alphonse Sermersheim, Alois Sermersheim, Hugo Melchior, Oscar Salb, Leo Sweeney, Albert Sturm, Victor Sturm, and Ray Friedman.

The Convent Of The Immaculate Conception

It was late in the evening of August 20, 1867, when a rough little spring-wagon entered the village of Ferdinand. The conveyance which had been expected with eagerness by the inhabitants was occupied by four Benedictine Sisters, the founders of what is now the beautiful convent of the Immaculate Conception. The sisters were: Sister Mary Benedicta Berns, as Superior, born in Coblentz, Prussia, January 18, 1846. She had entered the convent St. Walburg, Covington, Ky., Sept. 5, 1861; Sister Maria Xaveria Schroeder, born in Dinklage, Oldenburg, April 17, 1844, entered St. Walburg's Jan. 27, 1866; Sister Mary Rose Chappelle, born in Cheshire, Gallia county, Ohio, April 15, 1848, entered St. Walburg's convent, December 8, 1865, and Sister Mary Clara Vollmer, a novice, who received the habit in convent St, Walburg's, August 10, 1867. She returned to convent St. Walburg's, Covington, Ky., March 22, 1869.

At the request of the Benedictine Fathers, they had left their home in Covington, Ky., to take charge of the schools at Ferdinand, which had been heretofore under the direction of the Sisters of Providence. They took up their abode in a little cottage of three rooms which had been prepared for them, and which was to be their future home. The forests extended very near to their cottage door, and of course, ' ' poverty was king, and scarcity, queen." The sisters had to content themselves with clearing the land for a yard and a garden. In the fall, an addition of two rooms and a chapel was made to the cottage, in the latter of which Hol)^ Mass was celebrated the first time, December 8, of the same year.

An addition to the school house being in process of erection, the schools were not opened until late in autumn. Confident of divine assistance, the sisters willingly entered the field of labor, devoting themselves with untiring zeal to the education of the children.

Many were the hardships and privations the young community had to endure during the early times, but the sisters were not in the least discouraged or discontented, and cheerfully submitted to a laborious life in order to lay the foundation of an institution which was to propagate monastic life and principles.

Several postulants petitioned for admittance. The constitution for the government of the community was drawn up by Rt. Rev. Martin Marty, and an order of the day was written out by him. Rev. Father Chrysostom was the spiritual director and founder of the community.

In order to obtain room for the postulants who asked for admittance to the convent, as well as for the young ladies wishing to take their abode there for the purpose of completing their education, it was necessary to enlarge their dwelling place. In the summer of 1868, Father Chrysostom laid the corner stone for a spacious brick addition. During the year, 1869, the building was constructed to such an extent, that in the fall of that year a part of it could be used, the remainder being completed in 1870. Rev. Father Bede O'Connor consecrated the new chapel. Eight postulants had joined the little community, and Ven. Sister M. Clara had returned to her Covington home.

The sisters now redoubled their efforts, in order to remove their pecuniary burdens, and not only did they succeed, but by the year 1872, they were able to buy sixty-four acres of land adjoining the convent grounds. The house on the farm was then repaired and placed under the charge of two sisters. Orphans, the aged, and the infirm were admitted and received every attention which Christian charity can bestow.

In a short time the community had so increased that the Superiors were enabled to establish branch houses in Standing Rock, Dakota, 1878, and St. vScholastica, Arkansas, in the same j^ear. They also took charge of the parochial schools at St. Meinrad, 1876; Rockport, 1877; Fulda, 1879; St. Anthony, 1879; and St. Henry, 18S1.

The community increased so rapidly that by the year 1882, the building was entirely too small, and the plan of a new and massive building was drawn. This was to be erected on a hill, at the east end of the town. But the entire hill was covered with a primitive forest, and again, the sisters had to labor hard and patiently in order to overcome all obstacles to the erection of their beautiful and quiet abode.

Under the able direction of Rev. P. Eberhard, the work on the new convent was begun in 1883, and the year 1887 witnessed its completion, at a cost of $80,000. Its location on a slight eminence overlooking the town of Ferdinand, yet sufficiently distant as not to be disturbed by the din and noise of traffic, and surrounded by a natural palisade of forest trees, renders it a fit abode for those given up to a life of solitude and prayer. It is built rectangular in form, occupying a ground space of 186 by 160 feet and the outer walls enclose the convent-chapel, situated in the center of the ground proper. The cost of the convent as it stands to-day, together with the furnishings, has reached approximately $130,000, A large and handsome addition was made to the building in 1903, since the comfort of the increased community demanded more spacious apartments, and at present, preparations are in progress for the annexation of a more roomy cooking department.

Including the places mentioned above, the sisters now have charge of twenty-six parochial and public schools, at the following places: Indianapolis (Assumption school), Evansville (St. Joseph's school), Madison (St. Michael's school), Tell City, Bradford, Cannelton, Celestine, Troy, Floyd Knobs, Hauptstadt, Ireland, Mariah Hill, St. James, St. Philip's, St. Thomas, Schnellville, Starlight, Huntingburg, Poseyville, and Rockport, of this state. The aggregate number of children in these schools is about 2,500. In all these places the sisters also have the care of the altars and vestry of the church.

Though the work of education is the chief object of the community, some sisters are constantly engaged in the preparation of church vestments. One of these vestments was sent to the World's Exposition in Chicago, 1893 and drew a gold medal. Much attention is given to silk and gold embroidery work.

The beautiful art of music is carefully fostered, particularly choir music. Choral chant has a firm foothold here, as it also has in the Benedictine order at large. The study of choral chant, as well as the training of children for singing it, receives careful attention.

The convent chapel, though not large and not richly fitted out, is tastily and worthily furnished. The beautiful high altar, in Gothic style, donated by a benefactor, is surmounted by several costly statues of artistic workmanship, imported from Munich, representing the Immaculate Conception, St. Benedict, and St. Scholastica. In addition to these, a number of handsome statues of considerable size, representative of some of the most noted saints of the order, adorn the chapel.

Thus, by the teaching of young children, as the chief object of their life's work, the sisters of Ferdinand strive to serve the Divine Master through the little lambkins of His flock, and to follow out the Divine precept: ' 'Suffer little children to come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. ' '

The smaller parochial schools of Dubois county are so closely connected with church work that they can be better considered in connection with the religious work of the county. Some are mentioned in the chapter on Rev. Joseph Kundeck, a prominent school man of pioneer days. In some instances the smaller public and private schools are closely related, and they are so closely identified with the home and social life of the people of the townships in which the buildings are located, that they will be mentioned in the chapters devoted to the townships or civil divisions of the county.

The following is a list of parochial schools of Dubois county: St. John's Evangelical Lutheran parochial school; Emanuel's parochial school; Parochial school of Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's church; Lutheran St. John's church parochial school (Evangelical); St. Mary's parochial school; St. Joseph's (Jasper); Jasper College; St. Celestine's parochial; Sacred Heart's parochial; St. Anthony's; St. Mary's; St. Jacobi's parochial school of the German Evangelical St. Paul's church; Deutsche Evangelical Augustana school; St. Henry's; Academy of the Immaculate Conception, and Ferdinand parochial. The parochial schools of the county are estimated to be worth a quarter of a million dollars. These schools employ thirty-seven teachers. In the common branches, the average enrollment is looo pupils; in the higher branches the average enrollment is 75. It costs $12,775 per year to support these parochial schools.

The biograph}^ of one man is often the history of an effort, an enterprise, or a community. It is remarkable to what extent the career of one ambitious young man may affect those coming in contact with him. Probably one-half of the citizens of Dubois county, who are now in the prime of life, and active in its affairs, were pupils of the schools when Prof. Andrew M. Sweeney was County Superintendent. His administration has left its lasting impression upon the citizenship of this county, and his zealous labors here honor him still; hence, though he is no longer a resident, we feel justified in recording in this history, for the benefit of other poor, aspiring, and ambitious young men, a rather length)' account of his career, as the author of this work has had a long and intimate relationship with him as his student and friend.

Hon. Andrew M. Sweeney was born November 26, 1853, at Cincinnati, Ohio, being the eldest of a family of nine children born to Michael and Harriet (Read) Sweeney, both natives of Ireland. The father was born in the County Limerick, and the mother in the County Sligo, but they met and married at Cincinnati, Ohio, in February, 1853. About i860, the father, to withdraw his children from what he considered contaminating influences, moved his little family from the city to what was then almost a western frontier, and drifted from place to place in search of employment through southern Indiana and Illinois. In these sections, for fully a quarter of a centur}', he followed the humble occupation of a railroad grader. Educational facilities were very limited, the family circle was enlarging, and our subject's services were needed, hence he did not get to attend school, excepting a few weeks, until he was past fifteen years of age. At that time, March 19, 1869, through the benevolent kindness of the Franciscan Fathers, who had just founded St. Joseph's college in Teutopolis, Illinois, near which town he was at work driving a cart in the building of the Vandalia Railroad, he learned his letters and remained under their tutelage about three years working for his tuition.

In 1886, when he was a candidate for State Superintendent, his Alma Mater, in Illinois, celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of its founding. He was chosen the orator for the occasion. In introducing Mr. Sweene}- to the large audience, the presiding officer, his former professor, among several complimentary remarks, said:

He came here a very poor boy, and we hesitated, on account of his age, illiteracy, and environment, to admit him, but concluded to give him the chance for which he begged, and we never have regretted it. By sincere devotion to his studies, and being gifted with extraordinary memory and superior talents, he soon became our ideal and model student, and he set a pace and standard for excellence in scholarship here that has not been exceeded by any other student who has entered these halls since his departure over twenty years ago. Therefore, to-day, with pardonable pride and peculiar pleasure, as his quondam teacher, I introduce him as our most distinguished and successful lay graduate.

Thereafter he studied one year at St. Meinrad's College, Spencer county, Indiana. He developed a decided talent for languages, and is proficient in English, Latin, Greek, German, Dutch, Gaelic, French, and Sign L/anguage. Had he followed the earnest wishes of his parents, he would have studied for the church, but he preferred a business career. During the vacations of the years in which he attended school, he earned money for his clothes and books by working as a section hand on railroads with his father and brothers. His advent into Dubois county was as a section hand on what is now a branch of the Southern Railroad extending from Rockport to Jasper. This railroad passes directly through the Thomas Lincoln farm in Spencer county, and while laboring there, in 1870, our subject says he took occasion to study the adverse circumstances, the striking evidences of the galling chains of poverty from which Abraham Lincoln had to emancipate himself, and which so well prepared him to emancipate millions of his suffering fellow beings from the chains of slavery. This accidental opportunity to study the life of Abe Lincoln bore good fruit, for it renewed young Sweeney's flagging energies, so that once again he hoisted his lonely sail, resolved to breast the winds and tides of adverse fate in quest of an education and the haven of success.

After spending four years as a diligent student, thus acquiring a fair fund of knowledge, being naturally ambitious, he felt that he was capable of playing a more conspicuous part in the world's affairs than that of an unskilled workman; therefore, to advance himself mentally and be selfsupporting at the same time, he entered the ranks of the teachers of the public schools. He taught his first school, when not quite twenty, in a one room building about one-half mile north of the town of Kyana in this county, the term beginning October 6, 1873, and lasting one hundred days. In September, 1874, when not quite twenty-one years old, he was chosen principal of the Jasper High School, and remained in charge of these schools until June, 1 88 1 . He has often told his intimate friends that he would have had to decline the offer of this coveted position, had not Henry Beckman, of Ferdinand, who was almost an entire stranger to him, believed his appeal and given him credit for suitable clothes to teach in the capital of Dubois county. Mr. Beckman says that the bill was promptly paid, and he has always been glad that he extended the credit to one who proved so worthy. On August 6, 1878, Mr. Sweeney married Helen E., daughter of Sebastian and Stephania (Lambert) Kuebler, of Jasper. Seven children resulted from this union, four of whom survive, Robert E., Clarence S., Carl E., and Lucile M., now residents of Indianapolis.

In June, 1881, he was elected County Superintendent of Schools of this county, and occupied that position until June, 1889, when he refused to accept a fifth election to that place. In 1883 he organized "The Dubois County Teachers' Association." In 1885, he was elected president of " The Southern Indiana Teachers' Association," at Washington. In 1885 and 1886, at the request of State Superintendent J. W. Holconib, he prepared "The Township Institute Outline" for the state. By 1886, on account of his activity in public school affairs, lecturing, County Institute work, and campaigning, he had acquired a state-wide reputation as an educator. In that year, he was nominated, over four strong competitors. Prof. J. W. Holcomb, the incumbent, being one of them, for vState Superintendent of Public Instruction, but was defeated with the other candidates on that ticket in the election that fall. He has the distinction of being the only Catholic ever nominated for that oflfice in the history of the United States. Having rung all the changes on the public school system of the state, from primary teacher to the State Superintendency, in sixteen years, seeing no more to conquer there, he determined to quit school work, and enter the practice of law.

In 1890, he refused the nomination to Congress in the Third District, then his home, and he likewise refused the nomination to Congress in the Seventh, the Indianapolis District, in 1904. In 1901 and 1903, he declined to be considered as a candidate for Mayor of Indianapolis. In 1904, he was prominently mentioned by his party papers for the Governorship, but he did not run, as the position he then held, president of the State Life, was worth four times the salary paid the Governor.

During part of 1889 and 1890 he practiced law successfully at Jasper in partnership with Hon. John h. Bretz; but, in the elections in November of the latter 3^ear, this law firm was disorganized by the voters, Mr. Sweenej' being elected Clerk of the Supreme Court of the state, and Mr. Bretz was given a seat in Congress. Mr. Sweeney assumed the duties of Clerk of the Supreme Court November 22, 1890, and served until November 22, 1894. He declined a renomination, and that year the Republicans carried the state by a landslide of nearl}' 100,000 votes. During his incumbency as Clerk of the Supreme Court, he saw the great need of immediate relief for that body, which was nearly five years behind its docket. In December, 1890, he undertook a task in which three of his predecessors had failed. He had a bill prepared by Judge Byron K. Elliott, then of the Supreme Court, and one of Indiana's greatest legal lights, providing for an Appellate Court, consisting of five judges, to assist the Supreme Court. Mr. Sweeney had this bill endorsed by the Indianapolis Bar Association, by letters of approval from leading jurists in every county of the state, and he succeeded finally in securing its passage by the Legislature then in session, which makes him largely responsible, and entitled to great credit, for the establishment of our present splendid Appellate Court, which was organized March 17, 1891, he being named as clerk of the new court, which largely increased the emoluments of his office.

When his term as Clerk of the Supreme and the Appellate Courts was drawing to a close, seeing that Indiana had no life insurance company, and believing this to be a great business and one in which he could capi- talize the extensive acquaintance and fair reputation he had gained in the state, he concluded to enter that great field of human endeavor. On September 5, 1894, in conjunction with Samuel Ouinn and Wilbur S. Wynn, he founded the "State Life Insurance Company," at Indianapolis, a mutual company; was chosen its first president, and occupied that position for more than twelve years. While he was president, the company met with unusual success, and advanced from almost nothing to have over $So,ooo,ooo of business upon its books, an office force of about seventyfive persons, a million dollar home office building paid for, with branch offices in thirty-six states, and cash assets of nearly $7,000,000. It is said to have been the most successful company of its kind, for its years, ever organized in the United States. It may be said truthfully that nearly every life company, mutual or stock, organized in the United States in the last fifteen years, copied the plans of the State Life of Indiana, and "imitation is sincerest flattery."

In 1S98, Mr. Sweene}^ was chosen a member of a committee of educators and business men of Indianapolis whose duty it was to formulate and recommend, to the committee of law3'ers then framing a new City Charter, a system for the government of .schools of that city. At the instance of the Commercial Club, he was nominated, under that charter, as a candidate for School Commissioner, and elected. This Board was organized January I, 1900, and he was elected vice-president. He was re-elected in 1902, for four years, and again, in 1906, for four years, serving ten years, during six of which he was president of the Board, although the only Democratic member elected in that decade. At his second re-election, he is said to have received the largest individual vote ever given a candidate for any office in the history of that citj'. In November, 1902, he and two other members of city school boards, founded " The Indiana Association of School Boards," and Mr. Sweeney was elected its first president.

In concluding this biographical sketch, and from our personal knowledge of our subject, we feel justified in saying that Mr. Sweeney's distinct and pleasing personality was his platform, and through it his rapid and unusual success was largely attained. It smoothed the flinty pathwa}' up which he toiled from pinching poverty to prominence and comparative wealth; it was strongly in evidence in his course from the shovel on the section to a soft seat in the State House ; nor was it wanting in his achievements as student, as educator, as politician, and as business man in founding and building one of Indiana's greatest financial institutions, the State Life Insurance Company, all of which he compassed within a period of twenty-five years, and before he had reached forty-one. In the confidence of friendship, he candidly admits that, possibly, the erection of a one hundred thousand dollar palatial home in Indianapolis may have been a mistake, yet he pleads justification in that it was the realization of dreams that he had had and fondly cherished for forty years, from the times when his bed was a pallet of straw in the lofts of shanties on the banks of railroads in either southern Indiana or Illinois.

The recital of the facts in this sketch may have the air of romance, but they are, nevertheless, the plain truth about one whose identity with Dubois county will not be soon forgotten, and " truth is stranger than fiction." It certainly portrays the great possibilities of a determined American youth, who, soon after he learned Latin, adopted as the motto of his life, aut viam invejiiam, autfaciani - " I shall find a way or make it."