The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-30
old TEACHER DEAD
OF sEVENTY-EIGHT YEARS.
She and Her Sister Charlotte Lived in
House mt 20 East IT. Clair
street Since 1855.
THEIR SCHOOL WAS FAMOUS
THREE GENERATIONS OF OME FAM
LIES WE'RE TAUGHT THERE.
Miss Mcfarland Had Been Ill for Five
M~onths-Hers Was a Promi-
nent Family.

Miss Laura Wick Mcfarland died yes
terday afternoon at 400 o'clock at her
home. No. 26 East st. Clair street. after
an illness of five months. She was seven
ty-eight years Of age, and had been a
resident of this city since 1865. living with
her sister. Charlotte Mcfarland. in the
house in which she died. all that time.
Miss Mcfarland was born on what was
known as the Mcfarland farm in Decatur
township. south Of haywood. July 81, 1923.
She was the daughter of Demas l.. and
Nancy Wathen Mcfarland. who settled in
the township I'm February, 1S22, upon the
northeast quarter of Section 30. The parch-
ment land warrant transferring the title
from the United States, and signed by
President Monroe, Is still in possession of
the family.
At a very early age Laura Mcfarland
showed an inclination to investigate and
learn, and in this she was encouraged and
assisted by her parents. The family lived
in "A log cabin. the walls of which were
covered with newspapers, and from these
she gained a great deal of information.
Occasionally she would find in the papers
unfamiliar words, and instead of passing
over them she would begin asking Ques-
lions until the meanings were understood.
Her parents were enterprising, and when
they thought they were justified in. giving
her special Instruction. two professors were
taken into the home, being brought from
indianapolis.
This special study was continued for a
number of years, and in 1913 she was sent
to this city to attend St. Mary's Episcopal
School. This school was then located upon
the present site of Christ Church. at Me-
ridian street and the Circle. She first
Lived with the family of Judge w. w.
WICK, a relative, and then with the family
Of Lucian Barbour. who then lived on
washington street. opposite the old court
house. Later she lived in the boarding
school proper, occupying the corner room
of what has for years been known as the
ora Pyle House. now in process of destruc-
ton. DR.. Johnson. who was rector of the
church, was at that time also president of
the institute.
DEMANDED A MANS PAY.
After completing her schooling there Miss
Mcfarland taught in the Presbyterian
Church near Broad Ripple, and numbered
among her pupils Mrs. Charles Rowland,
lately deceased. and Mrs. George Sloan.
Later she taught at Bellville. Hendricks
county. and there among her pupils was
Lucretia Ungals. afterward Mrs. Freeman,
a cousin of Nicholas McCarty. After a
short time in the Hendricks county schools
she returned to her home and taught liz
the school on Marr's Hill pike. opposite
her fathers farm. one mile below May
wood. Among the thirty pupils. the chill
dren OF the leading families were George
and Jacob Hauch, George Beeler. Hattie
Beeler Hall, John Mars, from whom Marrs
Hill took its name, Coe and Minerva Cud-
dington and John Henry and Charles Con-
nard.
Before taking the school she demanded
the pay given during that period to men
teachers who were community fhOuUhf To
be superior to women as instructors. TIL
township trustee, David George, father OF
Lewis George, who - still living and is
eighty years of age, had charge of the
affairs of the school, and instead OF grant
ing or refusing the demands of Miss Nc
Farland, the matter of salary was held in
allegiance. After a time he was invited
TO make a personal examination or the pu-
pills. He found them so proficient and we'll
verSed that he became enthusiastic and
the teachers claims were allowed with
out further question. She was the first
woman teacher i'm this section of the State
to receive as an instructor the pay allowed
men for the same service.
The Mcfarland home was visited during
those early days by many OF the notable
people OF the state, among whom were
Governor Joseph \. Wright and his wife.
Governor WhitcOmb, Tilghman A. Howard,
General James Drake, George and Page
Chapman, Henry Ward Beecher. Squire
William Sullivan. Hervey. Bates, father OF
ingstOn Dunlap. Or. John Sanders, father
of the late Zerelda Wallace; United states
Senator Jesse ID. Bright, Alfred. Harri-
son, Hervey Gregg, one of the founders OF
the second newspaper in this city; Jeremiah
Mansur. DIR. Parry, Calvin Fletcher, father
of Elijah. COOlie and Calvin Fletcher. One
of the attractions to visitors to the home
was a spring. considerable mention OF
which and a table showing the analysis
of the water. appear in the historical rec
Ords of the State.
THE MFARLAND SCHOOL.
In August, 1875. in company with her sis
| ter Charlotte, seven years her senior, who
| had a collegiate education, she came TO In
dianapolis and erected at what is now
known as No. % East St. Clair street. a
brick building. where a private school was
| opened. All branches of study, including
music, were taught there for twenty-eight
| years. the children of most OF the leading
families of that day being pupils at the
school. which was noted for It's practical
and thorough Instruction. Many of the
BOYS are to-day leading Citizens.Of Indian
apolis. and many OF the girls who attended
the schools are wives Of these bushes
men and leaders of cultured society here
and IN other cities.
There is in this city hardly a family that
has been here for any length of time that
Is not familiar with the school conducted
by the Misses Mcfarland. and acquainted
with the sisters. The reputation Of the
school was not confined 10 indianapolis.
Their rooms were always crowded 10 their
capacity. Although they gave up teaching
eighteen years ago, they have many times
since been asked To take up the work
again by those who had attended the school
I'm their early years and were DESTROYS of
| having them teach their children. In this
city there are several families of which
three generations have been pupils at che
Misses Mcfarland school.
During the early years of their school
here Butler College. then known as the
University. was located
where the Orphan Asylum now stands. The
faculty admitted 20 the college pupils from
the Misses Mcfarland school without eX-
animation. II being taken for granted that
they were we'll able TO handle the studies
OF the college and pass without trouble the
entrance examinations.
MISS M~FARLANDfS FAMILY.
Miss Mcfarland was descended from
Scotch-Irish stock. the clan of the McFar-
lands being conspicuous in the history Of
Scotland. Andrew Mcfarland came 10
America In Ills and was one of the first
settlers Of Worcester. Mass. and Daniel
Mcfarland was an officer in the colonial
| service and a colonel in the rcvolutiouary
war. Miss McFarland's father was born
at Upper Ten Mile. Washington county
| pennsylvania. where the old home still
| stands. owned by Abel Evans, a great
| grandson.
Miss Mcfarland leaves a nephew and
| several mieces-Mrs. j. q. Harrington.
whom the Misses Mcfarland reared and
| taught. her brother Ebert and her sisters
May and Bertha Duzon. who now live at
| the Mcfarland homestead below haywood.
which they inherited. and Mrs. Henry
4 .rNf .A4La- AH 80 A.A.H