The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-15
SKETCH OF A MANOFNOTE
COL. JOHN B. ANDERSON AS A PROM
INENT INDIANA EDUCATOR.
History of Two Interesting Schools
Which Once FIOurished at New
AIbany-VariOusly Gifted.

To all persons cognizant of the long and
| useful life of the late John b. Anderson,
who died recently at Manhattan, Kan, the
press notices of his prominence must lack
in symmetry on account of their brief at
tention to this most estimable mans Indi-
ana career as q public educator. For near
ly quarter of a century, dating from 1910.
John B. Anderson was a resident of New
Albany, and for nearly twenty years he
was principal of two famous classical
scho0ls-schoos which had then not their
equal in the middle West, and which will
always live in local history not having
| been surpassed even in this present era of
progressive education
In 1910 Mr.. John Il. Anderson, a graduate
Of the historic Washington and jefferson
College. came from Washington, Pa, to
Brandenburg, Ky. There he engaged in edu-
cational work, and there also he was mar
ried to Miss Cecilia Geraldine Alexander.
At New Albany, III 1910, appeared Mr. An
derson, a man of impressive presence, I'M
usual height and size, of fine character and
rare scholarly attainments. He was ac-
companied by his wife, woman possessing
| all the grace and culture of the representa-
Tive OOutItIn WOilldli VI ludL Qdys anu dIl
unmarried sister. Miss Nancy Anderson,
also a woman of elegance and accomplish
ments. In this year was founded "Ander
sons High School for Boys" designed, as
the catalogue stated to be "a permanent
English and classical school, in which
young men might be prepared for the ad-
vanced classes in college, or for entering
upon the business of life, professional or
otherwise" An able body of professors was
secured, a fine curriculum in English Latin
Greek and mathematical studies estab-
lished-Monsieur Picot in charge of 1.-The
French language and literature" and the
school at once began to flourish. 1t drew
patronage from many towns in Kentucky
and Indiana, also from Arkansas, Missis-
sippi, Missouri Ohio, and even from far
New York, In the prospectus issued by Mr..
Anderson, New Albany was highly COM
mended for it's healthfulness, the general
morality and industry of it's inhabitants,
and as a place Offering fewer inducements
to vice than most other towns in the coun-
try.
MODERATE RATES.
In compliance, no doubt, with "the gem
eral pecuniary embarrassment of the
times" as mentioned in the prospectus, the
educational rates were surprisingly moder-
ate; tuition and board, including fuel and
lights, per quarter of eleven weeks cost
ing only $31.25; French lessons So extra;
vocal music, under Prof. S. w. Leonard 81
per quarter, and washing, per dozen, 3S
cents. To this early school of the Anderson
regime came, from Fort Smith, Ark, two
boys named Hickory and Pinkney Rogers
known among their classmates as Click
ory'' and 'Pickory" From Arkansas also
r. ANA Indian dc of ba
tribe; lack Colbert, son of the chief of the
Chickasaw nation, and two half-breeds Da-
vid and John Vann, one blonde. the other
a typical brown Indian, sons of Capt John
Vann, of the ili-faed Ohio river steamer,
Lucy Walker. Among other Anderson
school boys OF this period were Gerard AL
exander, of Kentucky, nephew of Mrs. An
derson, known to his classmates as "Ohio
PiOmingo Alexander" and William II.
Hillyer, afterwards a colonel and MEM
Der of Gen. u. s. Grants staff during the
war. Further on in the chronicles are found
other names now prominent in various
ways: Charles w. Shields, professor at
Princeton College; Hon. Jesse j. Brown,
Hon. Alexander Bowling, of New Albany;
Mr.. Henry Crawford, of Chicago, and the
name of Vinton Nunemacher-deada at twen-
ty-three--who once won intellectual spurs
among the "Old Seminary Boys" of In
dianapoIis.
For the establishment of Andersons Fee
male Seminary, in 1S43, a large, old-fash-
toned, red brick mansion on the corner of
the public square, was chosen by Mr. An
derson, and a corps of eight instructors
was secured which was afterwards ex-
tended 10 thirteen. In 1850 1O3 pupils We're in
attendance and in 1853, 1872 names were reg
istered in the catalogue. OF the quaint old
residence in which this seminary fiourished
a word must be said. 1t once ranked as "the
finest dwelling in New Albany" but in 1895
was torn down, having degenerated into a
troublesome and Improbable tenement
house In the thirties it was built by Mr..
Erastus Benton, a wealthy Pittsburg man,
interested in New Albany iron foundries.
This pretentious house, with it's great walls
and gables, broad porches and unusual
architectural adornments, demanded an ele-
giant interior The handsome furnishings
called for costly entertainments, and in a
few years, the owner was disastrously in
volved in debt, the fine residence was sold
and became rental property, locally regis
tered as "Bentons Folly" Its large halls.
commodious drawing room and parlors, airy
galleries and unusual numbers of bedrooms
rendered it especially adapted to the needs
of the female seminary, which occupied it
for long and fiourishing term of years.
MANAGED BOTH SCHOOLS.
The girls school was but a few minutes
walk from the boys school, and Mr.. Ander-
son held both in careful superintendent
In addition to solid attachments the young
women were taught French and German
with piano. guitar and harp lessons vocal
music drawing, painting in oil and water
colors plain and ornamental needlework
were also taught. Girls held lower rank
financially than boys in that epoch, as tut
ton was billed at SO per season, with
washing so cents per dozen. Piano and gui-
tar lessons were 25 cents each, while
French and German lessons. and lessons in
painting and drawing were 10 cents each; a
lesson in oil colOring was rated at Is cents
North and South, East and West came
young women to this noted classical school
for girls; many of The instructors were from
New York State, and pupils are on the rec
ords from Oswego and Saratoga, from Mo-
bile and New Orleans Among the teachers
at one time, was Miss Caroline Cornela
Cooke, of New York, afterwards the wife of
Indianas Governor, Ashabel 2. Willard
Mr. Willard, it is related, was assduous in
his attendance during leisure hours at An
dersons Seminary, and some of the young
women who were pursuing the deeD sci