The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-22
CHESS And NERVES EDUCATION
IN MINNESOTA
ITS HISTORY IS TRACED
Abstract Professor Kehs Valuable Important Paper Re
Gently Read Before the Minnesota Historical Society
It's Annual Meeting.

Following is an abstract of valuable paper by
Professor David l.. iKehle, of Minneapolis, on
The History of Education in Minnesota read
before the minnesota Historical Society, at its
annual netting in st. Paul, Monday evening,
Jan. 10:
The planting and fostering of system
of education in new state is the mo-
mentous event of it's history. The pio-
neers who did this service stand as the
representatives Of the worlds civilization
at its high-water mark. The honor due
these builders of the state Is enhanced
in the fact that. besides subduing the
wildness and savagery of this new world.
they had to establish the institutions Of
a Christian civilization, in opposition to
the corrupting vices Of greed and animal
ism that always attach themselves to a
prise and prosperity. ..
When Minnesota became known as a
territory in 1S49, there were but three
centers of civil and social life, Saltwater,
St. Paul and ST. Anthony. Two years be-
fore, DR.. Thomas S. Williamson, a piO-
neer missionary to the Sioux Falls Ind
ians,. in the catholicity Of his spirit took
in the higher interests of st. Paul and ap-
piled to the National Educational society
for teacher of this community that
could enroll thirty-six children. In re-
Spouse Miss Harriet E. Bishop came and
opened her school in a little 10x12 log
hut that had served as blacksmith shop.
located on St. Anthony street
The early educational history of the
state is part Of the missionary zeal OF
Catholic and Protestant Christianity;
chapels and schools grew up together. In
1853 the Baldwin school was opened tc
both sexes, and in the next year was
founded Baldwin college, which is now
known as Manchester College, and with
which is intimately associated the name
| of Rev. Edward D. Neill, D. D.
Hamline University, founded in 1854 al
Red Wing and in 1869 removed to it's pres.
ent site between the twin cities, after
serious Interruptions, has reached per-
manent organization with a prosperous
career
In 1860 was chartered the Bishop Sea
bury Mission at Faribault, monument tt
the early enterprise and philanthropy O.
the Episcopal church.
| In 1857, the preparatory department O.
| Carleton college was opened, which in 1871
assumed permanent form under the pres
| idency of Rev. James w. Strong, D. D.
| who has just closed his long and success
full administra ton.
| The educational history of Minnesota
! previous to the civil war is one Of strug
| giles, reverses, and disappointments, tn,
! result Of undeveloped social life, extrava
giant ideas, and the prevailing ambition
to secure material advantages. The com
mon school system was outlined in it
| plan under it's first territorial superintend
| emit, E. D. Neill. s.
The history Of the University of Min
| nesota, from the date Of it's establish
| ment by the territorial legislature (Feb
| 1851 to that Of Its reorganization unde
it's present charter Feb.. 1869, is one o
! continuous setruggle under adverse cir
| cumstances,-a premature organization
under the stress Of frontier enthusiasm
and hopefulness which resulted in f1nan
cial embarrassment and the suspension o
the educational department.
| Early, Educational Problems.
| OF the early problems presented to tn
constitutional convention in 1857, wer
| First-Shall school lands be admins
| tered by townships or by the state? Thi
involved the question whether the child
rem were children of the township or tn
state. and for whose education the stat
| should assume responsibility.
| Second-Shall distribution be made &C
cording to school population or to schol
ars?
Third-Who are "scholars?" Are the
persons" Children" or are they per
sons attending school?
The substantial basis of our system
and the impulse which gave it vitalit,
was in the government grant Of one eigh
teenth Of the land of the state three mil
lion acres, for the support of commo
schools, and for the university, includifi
the agricultural college grant, some 220,
900 acres, the income from which nigh
be expended for the purposes intended
At present the permanent fund for tn
former is $14,31esss, and for the latte
$1,334, 035. .-. -.--T
The UnIversIty's Career.
After the organization Of the state gov
eminent in 1885, the friends of the uni
|versity addressed themselves to remov
ing the burden Of Indebtedness Of sos, 90
that lay with crushing weight upon it.
In 1864 the legislature constituted C
&c. Merriman, John S. Pillsbury and job
Nicols the board of regents, under heav
bonds, with authority to dispose of NO
4 to exceed 10000 acres Of the public land
for the liquidation of this Indebtedness
To the financial ability and the disinter
ested service of these three men the stat
Is indebted for the removal of this incubu
of debt. ....... .... .. s.. 1924.
The subsequent history of the univer
sity cannot be written without making
likewise a history Of Regent Pillsbury
of his decease in 1901. Through all thes
years his time and financial ability wer
Igiven to the increase Of it's revenues an
their management for the interests {
the institution. . --s 1921.
He assumed the chief responsibility
the plating and sale of the old expert
mental farm, and reinvesting the pre-
ceeds in the present farm, on which tn
buildings of the agricultural school an
station are located The old farm, whic
cost the state $500, was sold for owe
$780, 900. The new farm Of 1856 acres wa
bought for $31, 900, leaving a large surplu
for the erection of buildings and severe
improvement. ~s ,-.5
The educational history of the univer
sity, which has continued prosperous
and uninterruptedly to the present, bega
anew with the Inauguration of Willial
w. Folwell, and his serving from 1869
June, 1884. The administration Of Pres
dent Folwell had to deal with lack {
preparatory schools, meager equipmer
and insufficient teaching faculty.
The Northrop Administration.
The administration of President Nortf
rop, beginning in 1884, has been one
! expansion The state had become popr
llous and wealthy, the system of prepare
! tory instruction in high schools well d.
ve1oped, and the land grants large ar
productive. Under the wise administrs
ton of President Northrop, the universal
has won the confidence Of the public, HI
received the generous financial support
II the legislature, and shows an increase
students in every department to upwart