Vanderburgh County, Indiana - Chapter 10, 1889

Chapter 10

Libraries - Life of Willard Carpenter - The Carpenter Homestead - The City Library - History of the Wii-lard Library - Catholic Library - Vanderburgh County Library.

^j,;^-lLLARD CARPENTER, an enterprising pioneer, citizen and benefactor of Evansville, was born in Strafford, Orange county, Vt., on the 15th of March, 1803. His father, Willard Carpenter, sr., was born April 3, 1767, and died at Strafford, November 14, 1854. He was married at Woodstock, Conn., February 23, 1791, to Polly Bacon, who was born March 15, 1769, and died March 4, i860, also at Strafford. All the children, twelve in number, were born and reared on the same farm. Mrs. Carpenter lived to see twelve children, fifty-two grand-children, fifty-three great-grand-children, and one great-great-grand-child; in all, 118 lineal descendants. There was much of the remarkable in the life of Willard Carpenter the younger, whose name, even at this time in southern Indiana, is a sj-nonym for skill and sagacity. When a young man, he received the sobriquet of " Old Willard." The leading feature of his career was his zeal for public interests, and it is readily conceded that the general prosperity of the district in which he lived was largely due to his individual efforts. As a typical Yankee, he possessed sturdy independence and tenacity of purpose to an unusual degree. Always thrift}- and energetic, with great powers of physical endurance, pluck and perseverance, a strong and comprehensive mind, and great business ability, it is not strange that he rose from the hardest poverty to great wealth. When a boy he spent his da3'S on a farm, in the manner common to pioneer lads, for his father was one of the first settlers of Orange county, building his cabin in the forests, and v^'ith the help of his boys making a clearing and conducting his farm. School privileges were meagre. To read, write and cipher was regarded as the nltima thnle of a school education; and three months a year for four or five winters, in the primitive log school-house, was considered sufficient time for him to spend upon his early mental training. He remained at home with his father until he was eighteen years old. Now and then, b,- doing odd jobs, he turned a penny. His first twenty-five cents was made by digging snake-root and selling it to his uncle. This money was immediately put out at six per cent interest, and in process of time, through additions made to it, he found himself in possession of seven dollars. He then determined to go west. With a pack on his back he made his way to the Mohawk, and passed through Troy about the time of the great fire in 1822. Upon reaching Albany he turned his capital of seven dollars into a stock of Yankee notions, and from there sturdily tramped up the valley of the Mohawk, on his way to Buffalo. He then went down the lake shore, and into Ohio as far as Salem, where, having disposed of his wares, he rested, while visiting an uncle, who had moved to this place some j'^ears previous. Not content with being idle, he went to work in the woods with two other men, and in the summer and autumn of that year - 1822 - they cleared eight)' acres of forest land, for which they received five dollars an acre. Owing to the scarcity of money he was paid in notes of hand, payable in grain. These he disposed of and went to teaching a district school. His salary in the spring amounted to $140, which was also paid in grain notes. He then concluded to learn tanning and shoemaking, but became dissatisfied after a six months' trial and gave it up. He was now about twenty years old and ready to begin life in earnest. Disposing of all his effects, he bought a horse and a watch, and with about sixteen dollars in his pocket turned his face eastward to find a wider held in New York state. On his way to Buffalo he was taken in by some sharpers on the " little joker," who won his watch and all his money but one dollar. They returned him four dollars, and with this he was glad to mount and get away. Before reaching Buffalo he was attacked with a severe illness, but continued his journey, passing through Buffalo to Manlius, a town lying some miles east, where he found an old schoolmate with whom, on account of his illness and the depleted condition of his purse, he was glad to remain for a week or so. In a short time he engaged to assist in floating a raft down the Mohawk to Schenectady. He was to receive sixteen dollars a month for his services, but upon reaching his destination the raft was attached for debt, and he received nothing. He walked back to Manlius for his horse, which had been left with his friend, when, to his disma}', he found that the animal had died in his absence. He next engaged to work with pick and shovel on the Erie canal with a company of about 1,000 Irishmen and Ben Wade, of Ohio. Here the work and wages were fair, but the accommodations were so unendurable that after a short time he sought other emplovment. While at Glenfield Corners he was offered the position of teacher in the school at that place. The school had been a troublesome one, the last teacher had been unceremoniously ejected b\' the larger boys, and in a few days a conspiracy was formed against the new pedagogue; but being determined to rule, he managed to subdue the ringleader, older and larger than himself, by the union of stratagem and force, and had no further trouble. In 1824, his father, to induce his return home, presented him with a farm, and later offered him $600, but these he refused, determining to make his way through life unaided. Two years after, he visited his father and returned with his brother John to Troy, where the}- engaged in merchandising. Mr. Carpenter prosecuted his business interests with vigor and at one time with such boldness as to dismay his brother, and a dissolution followed. Ephriam, another brother similar in character to Willard, succeeded John, and they continued in Troy ten years. In 1837 Willard came to Evansville at the solicitation of A. B. Carpenter, whom he joined in the wholesale dry goods and notion business. They began under favorable auspices, but suffered in the widespread financial crash of 1837. Upon his arrival here, after a trip to Troy, where he had gone to settle his business there, he found the business of the firm in a deplorable state. Owing to the crash, their county correspondents were in a precarious condition and sharp work was necessarv to realize anything out of their accounts. Mr. Carpenter, however, was equal to the emergency. He reached here on Sunday and at once took in the situation. Learning that a company of merchants was to leave for the upper country, by the way of Vincennes and Terre Haute, he saw that his only chance was to outstrip them. lie left here at nine o'clock that night; at Vincennes employed Judge Law to take charge of his business there; pushed on to Terre Haute; emploj-ed Judge Farrington there, and by Tuesday morning, at daybreak, was closeted in Danville, 111., with an attorney of that place. He then started home, and by Wednesday noon met the other merchants on their outward journey, between Vincennes and Terre Haute. The result was that the Carpenters received their claims in full, while the others hardly realized ten cents on the dollar. This feat practically introduced Mr. Carpenter to Evansville, and the energetic spirit shown in it characterized his subsequent conduct. In February following, he was married to Miss Lucina Burcalow, of Saratoga county, N. Y.

When the state of Indiana found herself almost hopelessly in debt, after the failure of the internal improvement system, Mr. Carpenter violently opposed everv suggestion of repudiation, and took a prominent part in providing means of an honorable satisfaction of all obligations. At a public meeting held in this cit}- in 1842, it was resolved to ask an appropriation of lands to aid in the completion of the Wabash and Erie canal. Mr. Carpenter circulated the petitions for this purpose in seventeen different states and through live different legislatures, defraying his expenses out of his own pocket. The bill, after much opposition, passed both houses of congress, to be ratified, however, by the legislature of Indiana. Here there was great opposition, and again Mr. Carpenter made himself useful in advancing the public good. In 1849 he ^^'^^ one of the principal movers in the Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad enterprise, subscribing largely, and taking more stock than any other two men in the county. It was intended that this road should run up the White River valley to Indianapolis; but in 1853 Mr. Carpenter resigned as a director, and with ex-Senator O. H. Smith entered into an agreement to build a railroad from Evansville to Indianapolis, later known as the " Straight Line." Mr. Carpenter threw his whole intellectual vigor into this work. Over $900,000 were procured on the line - Mr. Carpenter himself having subscribed $65,000 - the work of grading progressed rapidly, the road-bed was completed for fifty-five miles, and Mr. Carpenter went to Europe to purchase the rails. At this juncture opposition sprang up, a pamphlet containing many misrepresentations was published and distributed among the banks and rail-makers in London, Paris and Wales, and when the negotiations were completed excepting the details, he was thwarted in the great undertaking. He then called upon Vorse, Perkins & Co., who had a house in London and also one in New York, doing a commission business for railroad companies in America, and after much negotiation, made a contract with that firm, agreeing to pay them $12,000 of mortgage bonds per mile upon the road-bed, $100,000 worth of real estate bonds, and $100,000 of Evansville cit\- bonds, which the city had subscribed, but not then delivered. All excepting the Evans\-ille bonds he had with him; and these latter were to be handed over, in Jul}- of the same year, to the commission-house of Vorse, Perkins & Co. in New York city. Mr. Carpenter now wrote in full to the vice-president, Mr. H. D. Allis, urging him to call the city council together immediately and ask them to deliver the $100,000 bonds to Vorse, Perkins & Co. in New York. The enemies of the road were now at work in his own city, and the council refused. Mr. Carpenter then offered, if they would consent, to secure them by mortgaging all tht real estate he held in the city and county, which was extensive, indemnifying the city, so that the road should be built and cars should be running over the first fifty-five miles - to the Ohio and Mississippi crossing - b}- the next December, 1859. This the council very unwisely refused to do, owing to the selfishness of the opposition part}'. This caused the failure of the Straight Line railroad - a great detriment to Evansville and a great mortification to Mr. Carpenter, who had spent five years of his time, had been once to Europe and fourteen times to New York, all at his own expense. This was thirty years ago. Since that time the business citizens of Evansville have had time to reflect on the mistake the}' made, and have rectified the same, so far as possible, by at last building the road. In 1865, through Mr. Carpenter's donations, the Christian Home was founded. It consisted of grounds and a large new house of twelve rooms. This act of charity was for the reform of homeless girls who had gone astray. His donations in this behalf amounted to about $10,000.00. To the various churches of Evansville he gave over $14,000.00. In 1840 he erected a building upon his own land and established the poor house system, whereby the paupers were kept at a great saving to the county. This was accomplished during his five years' service as county commissioner. He also advanced liberally of his own means for repairing and corduroying roads, and as an evidence of the appreciation of his worth in this particular, he was elected the second term to his office over his own protest. In 1851 he was elected a member of the legislature, and served during the long term of the session of 185 1-2. While here he was active in getting through several important measures, among them bills for the equalization of taxation; for lowering the salaries of county officers, and for raising those of state officers. The Willard library is an example of munificence seldom witnessed. The history of this benefaction is elsewhere recorded in these pages. The endowment of this institution was the crowning success of the noble life-work of this unpretending and unassuming man.

Foremost in all enterprises intended for the general good, taking an active part in all questions of state and county policy, he invariably threw his influence in favor of what was right and advantageous for all the community. The latter years of his life were devoted almost entirely to philanthropic purposes. He died November 6, 1883, full of years and full of honor. His wife, who was to him a helpmeet in all that the word implies, died June 30, 1884. Five children were born to them, of whom only two survive, Louisa and Albert W.

One of the prominent landmarks of the city of Evansville is the Carpenter homestead, situated on the street bearing his name. Mr. Carpenter began its construction in 1848, and completed the building in the following year. At the time it was probably the most imposing edifice in this section of the state, and it is said that people came many miles to view it. It greatly resembles the southern style of architecture and is at this time perhaps the most substantial building in the city. Through the center is a broad hall, while extensive piazzas and porches form part of its distinguishing features. Its solidity is in keeping with the character of its builder, and with all his undertakings. AU the material excepting the brick was shipped from Lawrenceburg, Ind. After its completion j\Ir. and Mrs. Carpenter went to New York and there purchased the furniture for the new home which was shipped to Evansville via New

City Library

Orleans. This homestead was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter until their deaths, and is now owned and occupied by their son, Albert W. Carpenter.

CV/r Library. - On the 29th of July, 1855, a notice appeared in the Evansville Dally Juunial and the Evansville Daily Enquirer appeahng to the citizens who were interested in establishing a library and reading room, to meet and adopt measures for the organization of an association for that purpose. Pursuant to this call, a meeting was held at the Crescent City Hall on Monday, July -^oth, at 8 a. m. An association was formed, composed of thirty-six members, known as the Evansville Library Association, and incorporated under the laws of the state of Indiana, August 10, 1855, its expressed purpose being to promote the diffusion of useful knowledge. On the 18th of August, 1855, the first election of officers was held, resulting as follows: For president, John Ingle, sr.; vice-president, Conrad Baker; recording secretary, George Foster; corresponding secretary, James Harlan, jr.; treasurer, Samuel Bayard; directors, G. W. Rathbone, J. E. Blythe, G. Copeland, W. E. Hollingsworth, Wilham Heilman.

To defray the expenses of the association this plan was adopted: A capital stock of $30,000 was to be divided into 1,000 shares of $30 each, to be paid in installments often per cent annually. The stockholders were to be entitled to all the privileges of the corporation. Rooms were selected in the second story of Judge Foster's building, corner First and Main streets, and a committee appointed for selecting and purchasing books. Four hundred dollars worth of books were purchased; and Mr. John F. Crisp being elected librarian, the library was opened to subscribers on December i, 1855. In 1874, very little interest was manifested in the library; the stockholders who paid up promptly were few; consequently, citizens did not desire to subscribe to a library which contained no late edidons. A meeting of the officers and stockholders was held to discuss the (juestion as to the best method of disposing of the property of the association. It was finally agreed to donate it to the city on conditions. Accordingly, a meeting of the stockholders, for the purpose of transferring all books, paper and property of the association, was held August 11, 1874, Mr. Rahm, representing the city council, and Prof. A. M. Govv, representing the school board, accepting the donation on behalf of the city.

This was the beginning of a new era in the history of the library. Immediately the common council placed the trust in the hands of the school board, consisting then of Dr. H. W. Cloud, J. H. Polsdorfer and Luke Wood. These gentlemen took a deep interest in their work, and as soon thereafter as possible a building on the corner of Seventh and Vine streets was refitted and furnished as a home for the new library.

Immediately some 400 additional volumes were ordered, and by June i, 1875, the more important of these having arrived, the library was for the first time thrown open to the public for the registration of names. On this occasion appropriate addresses were made by James ]VL Shackleford, Blythe Hynes and Luke Wood. June 14, 1875, books were first loaned to the people.

The library contained about 9,600 volumes, and was known as the Evansville city library. Its books were subsequently transferred by action of the school board to the alcoves of the Willard library.

Wlllard Library. - yir. Willard Carpenter was a man of great natural ability, untiring- energy, and intensely interested in the growth and prosperity of a city whose development from a village he had witnessed and aided. In all the progressive steps of early da\-s the public records, the public press, and the testimony of yet living witnesses, show that he was always in the j forefront. His knowledge of men and affairs taught him that the life of a republic in which every man is a sovereign depends on the education of the masses. lie was j intensely practical in his benevolence, as in all other things, and seeing the need of a library to which citizens of all classes might have access, he endowed an institution which is a monument to his memory more lasting and more suggestive than any column of marble or any statue of bronze. The complete scheme of Mr. Carpenter's magnificent benefaction, as stated in the general portion of his letter to the trustees of the institution, which were first named bj- him, is here presented :

" Gentlemen : I have intended for many vears to devote to some public use, a portion of the property and means which I have acquired by a long life of labor. I have, at various times, endeavored to benefit the community in which my life has been mostly spent, by inaugurating various enterprises. Legal difficulties, and other obstacles, have intervened to render inoperative, schemes for the public good, which I have at various times undertaken to put in operation.

"After consultation with many gentlemen of this city, I have concluded without further dela}^ to establish and endow a public library, to be located in a public park, on land owned by me, situate in the city of Evansville. I am induced to do this in the well-grounded hope that such an institution may become useful toward the improvement of the moral and intellectual culture of the inhabitants of Evansville, and collaterally to those of the state of Indiana; and also

"The city of Evansville has reached in population and commercial importance a period in which such a scheme should, and I have no doubt will, meet with the hearty approval and assistance of the municipal authorities and all private citizens.

" In presenting to you the object I propose, I wish you to understand that the details proper to its organization and government, and its future control and conduct, are to be left to your judgment and discretion, and the perpetuity of that control I confide to you and your successors, to be appointed in the manner prescribed in this letter.

" But I desire to present m}' views in general of the object and purposes of the proposed institution, in order that by no possibility shall the propert}- hereby donated ever be diverted to any other purpose; and that the result of much thought and labor on my part, shall be commensurate with the high objects to be attained; and as a guide, and, as it were, an organic law for you, in the discharge of your duties.

" I have directed skilled attornej-s to prepare a deed convcN'ing to you the property therein described, estimated by me to be worth the sum of $400,000* the said deed to be signed and executed by my wife and myself. The property thereby conveyed lies in the limits of Evansville or contiguous thereto.

"I desire and direct that the building for the public library hereby proposed shall be located on that portion of the property designated in said deed which is generally known as Carpenter's field. The remainder of said tract of land known as Carpenter's field shall be forever kept as a public park. It shall be, at the discretion of the trustees, enclosed bv a neat fence; and fountains, flowers, trees, grass-plats, and all the usual

Willard Library

" I desire that the co-operation of the city in this scheme of a public park shall be secured, so that the S(juare now owned by the city adjoining this tract of land shall be made subsidiarj- to the general purpose of promoting public health and popular recreation. The control of the said public park under proper municipal regulations, shall remain with the trustees hereby appointed. You and your successors will constitute forever, a board of trustees, seven in number, to be maintained in perpetual succession for the accomplishment, preservation, and supervision of the purposes for which the librar}^ and park are to be established. To you and your successors, therefore, by virtue of the said deed and this instrument, I give full and exclusive power to take, receive and hold in fee simple, the said real estate in said deed particularlv described, and to sell and convev in fee simple, at such times and for such prices as may be deemed advisable, all the said real estate except that which is particularly set apart for the said library and park, and out of the proceeds of such sale to erect a suitable building to improve, ornament and adorn said park, and to purchase books, maps and works of art for the use of the people of all classes, races and sexes, free of charge, forever. A permanent fund shall be created out of the proceeds of such sale for the support of the institution."

These words, with a more particular statement as to the details of management, bv which a suitable building should be erected, books and works of art provided, and the perpetuity of the library maintained, were directed to Thomas E. Garvin, Alexander Gilchrist, Henry F. Blount, John Laval, Matthew Henning and_ Charles H. Butterfield, citizens whose names were selected because of Mr. Carpenter's personal knowledge of their " fitness for the important trust." The trust was accepted by the gendemen named, and on the 23d day of August, 1876, the deed convej-ing the large amount of property set apart from Mr. Carpenter's estate for the purposes of the library, was executed and soon thereafter placed on record. Yielding to a general expression of the public desire, Mr. Carpenter consented that the name of the institution should be " The Willard Library," and the name of the park should be " The Willard Park." In his younger days Mr. Carpenter had thrown himself, heart and soul, into the prosecution of manj- public enterprises designed to push forward the development of Evansville's magnificence, but never did he take a ffreater interest nor exhibit greater energy and zeal than in the practical achievement of the plan provided for wholh" by the results of his past individual effort. He desired in his own lifetime to see the library in successful operation, " to embellish our city, to instruct and elevate the people, and to promote the growth of virtue and knowledge," and at once commenced, in connection with the trustees, the performance of the laborious duties incident to the plan. Reed Bros., architects, planned a building, which in its appearance, its completeness and adaptability to the purposes named, is a triumph in architecture, an adornment to the city, and an enduring monument to the wisdom of its projectors and builders. Its cost was about $80,000, and it was erected under the personal supervision and direction of Mr. Carpenter, who, notwithstanding his advanced years, visited the building constantly, and within two months of his death climbed to the very top of its walls. The building was not erected by

The death of Mr. Carpenter occurred November 6, 1883, before the hbrary was opened to the public, but not until the building was substantially completed. After his death the trustees finished the building, improved the grounds, and with appropriate ceremonies opened the doors of the institution to the people. In the board of trustees some changes have occurred by reason of resignations and removals from the city. At present it is composed of the following well-known citizens: H, F. Blount, Charles H. Butterfield, J. A. Lemcke, Alexander Gilchrist, S. G. Evans, O. F. Jacobi, and Thomas E. Garvin. About 15,000 volumes of the best works on all subjects and some valuable art treasures are nowon its shelves. The efficient librarians are Misses Lou Scantlin and Tillie Goslee, who have been in the institution since its opening.

Evansville Catholic Library Association. - This association was organized in March, 1869, its purposes being to disseminate useful knowledge that would aid in the strengthening and upbuilding of the church. Its rooms are at the Church of the Assumption, corner Seventh and Vine streets. It contains about 1,000 volumes and is under the control of a board of trustees, with Eugene McGrath, president; E. C. Carson, secretary and librarian.

The Vanderburgh County Library, in the county auditor's office, and the Pigeon Township Library, in the trustee's office, have a large collection of useful books, probably more than 5,000 volumes, accessible to the general public, but recent publications are slowly added to these libraries, and because of better facilities afforded by the Willard hbrary, are frequented but little by the students.