Concordia College - Spire / Concordian Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

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CAQL L G E gg gg gggg g same school: C63 that the combined theological faculties could render the church more effective service by way of publishing printed material and in rendering decisions on policies and problems submitted to them: C79 and that economic advan- tages would accrue from the combination. Three considerations delayed action for some time. These were C17 Whether the convention had the right to act in this matter without consulting the congrega- tions directly: C25 whether amalgamation of the two institutions would not eventually bring about the destruction of the practical seminaryg C37 whether the proposed change would involve a breach of the agreements made with Pastor Loehe and the congregations at Perry County and in St. Louis. Pleas for gaining their consent were sent to Pastor Loehe in Germany, to St. Paul's congrega- tion in Fort Wayne, and to the Altenburg congre- gation. At the same time, the convention com- missioned Dr. Wilhelm Sihler of Fort Wayne to present in a pamphlet the arguments in favor of the change. It appeared before the close of the year in the form of a 'tDenkschrift , consisting of thirty-nine pages. and was sent to all congregations for consideration. The transfer to Fort Wayne was effected in 1861. Professors Saxer, Schick, and Lange, with their families, arrived in Fort Wayne during the sum- mer. The students assembled in St. Louis early in September and were sent here in a special coach by train. There were 78 students, with Primaner August Crull. as Primus Omnium, in full charge. Crull received detailed instructions up to the mo- ment of departure, The train then left St. Louis at noon and arrived at Fort Wayne in the evening llfff lll it I .mln l 9 3 9 -s Q . :rf- '-C,x AUGUST CRULL of the following day, September 9, 1861. There were many annoying delays on the journey: the night was especially tiring for the younger stu- dents. The older boys smoked large quantities of tobacco, known as Killikinick Cwhich some wag had dubbed Kill-me-quick 7, which retailed at fifteen cents per pound. They also kept up a chatter until early in the morning. Two upper classmen stood at guard throughout the night. Thus, hag- gard, hungry, and grimy from dust, the group ar- rived at Fort Wayne and marched out to the college grounds on Maumee Road, which at that season of the year was covered with dust. In Fort Wayne the college fell heir to the phy- sical plant formerly occupied by the practical 'W ev- ,f ' ' ' 'A -.2 -vu '..4--sa H .1 CW , i -asset-.-fa v. ' , - . 'S N1 -' Wt- +'rt1:'f Axawase i..1,.s:-.-3.-ox., A- N. ., , M . , , -. 1 .- Li. PROFESSORS' RESIDENCES Page 17

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CONCORDIA - .. 1 3 3 9 'EEZ EET : 5 WY R. A. Brscaorr dates were released as they completed the pre- scribed course of studies. Six were graduated in the spring of 1853, and Hve accepted calls immediately. They were G. Volk, E. Metz, M. Guenther, O. Eisfeldt, M. Stephan, and Th. Gruber. Candidate Beyer passed his examination in the fall of 1855, but the rest of his class, five in number, was re- leased at Easter. 1856. All entered the ministry im- mediately. This group consisted of K. Gros, F. Ahner, G. Loeber, A. Huegli, and H. Hanser. G. Gruber, A. Schmidt, and R. Voigt were gradu- ated in 1858, and three more followed in 1859, viz., I. Moll, W. Achenbach, and F. Schaller. The largest class came in 1860 when ten completed their course. These were: O. Hanser, M. Tirmenstein, H. Wun- derlich, St. Keyl, W. Bartling, D. Buehler, H. Fruechtenicht, M. Zucker, E. Boese, and I. List. All accepted calls, except one, who continued his studies at a university in Germany. By 1861 Concordia College had reached its legal age of twenty-one, and now for the first time it was privileged to stand on its own feet. Until then, the college and the seminary were combined, but now the college was moved to Fort Wayne and became a separate school in its own right. But the change was not made too hastily. The Synodical convention, meeting in October, 1860, at St. Louis reached the momentous decision only after mature deliberation. The Civil War then, con- trary to what has been so frequently stated, had nothing to do with the change. President Lincoln had not yet been elected and no state had seceded from the Union at that time. In fact, the most burn- ing question, which evoked the real issue in the debate, was the advisability of combining the two seminaries, the theoretical seminary at St. Louis and the practical seminary at Fort Wayne. The official proceedings cite the seven reasons which motivated the convention as follows: C15 That the combination would be conducive to greater har- mony and unity in doctrine, C25 that it would pro- mote teaching efliciency by making specialization in the faculty possible, C37 that the employment of new teachers would not disrupt the program of instruction so much as would be the case if the seminaries remained separated, C43 that it would facilitate the problem of placing candidates, C53 that an advantage would be gained by having be- ginners and mature theological students at the 1 HANSER HALL, ERECTED 1869 Page 16

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cQg9oRoiA 5 l 1 r-I CD 1 OO LO ...---X3 ANDREW' BAEPLER gggsaggeagaasiigssg H. ... F, agaaomaagagexngegaa rn 'FE5 ':7a2f'DgcrQO,25g Emma D-I. 1-F . 5mgg5HmmWgwwQmgg5CH FD ,....,SO.oD..5H- mr, U14 '555 o '1o5 'Ocn:'U fi' HHS, 5 9,,mgwEfs1 ':-:,oQw,q Q ?'g:?'UlfD,,,,,g3 Cr3 1Z1QCH -12,13-' Ummm ego 'osfwgg-g'g35-fn add 2 iO5mCfOQ,.5'- mv- .-.O Bmw wwrfim 'D C: :U H m W 0-0WHmD ... 'tm 'UQ-gr ,-.fb mfmm D!?5'3f+iii5 D mcns:.:E'w 59 -fzrm,-'1m,,5OworD:5 05179, fD,- trim'-sm,,OrD Q. f-5'rpQJ5 EQQ I1'mf--20.0 S,O00gQ.Q.F w'53-'QOOSW 55':1'39.,..O-,fini aww,-05,5 SF' :jf-D Q, U' 9-H o:::dL UgmE :mmm Oo Hjggqq.-,,.fDC'-s 5mD'Cm-1 '193 'Q.m'1f,,.-t, 52'r'S'Q.V'f7'::,'2.'5' H355-14gN5s9ma.:-H,,,D.H:f+w . Ph ' I 2' -wgasawfwa-,sagem S.-. f .510 mm 5 tmo- mgsca . QH ommmwm gf-M 2 v--1-rggO2D4mrp,..'4 U og ' Z3.9'55coo343I'UP'D 'f- OO-r - A ' 'r-h.... 5 .2 uaoE'1I ?i.vq E Ernayo.-+50 '29, l-,5'::',ti1,.Qrna. HQMBS 22 :PUD-Uqma. :r...,,'7,'cEfm :Q Q4 -Urog-ru QN do Cmggqjtd F+ n: -U .-umm25 1D ,,,.'Z5l4nmf'D IJ Otl2grDQ'fg,y-.1-rfU f-Q FD.-rs' 30277 cr8a'::.:LsE.f-D+55Ev'WQfD5O8',E 'Zim'-:llmoornD'm:Srn9'.Q.l:Sf1. THE OLD LAWNMOWER Page 18 JOSEPH SCHMIDT Pastor Sihler purchased a farm of 9916 acres at the southeast corner of Anthony Boulevard and Pontiac Street. He purchased in addition two horses and a wagon so that the farm could be used to the best advantage for the college. This farm was sold for 350,000.00 in 1911 or 1912. With the Wines estate the purchasers acquired a small brick dwelling of two stories, measuring 14 by 22 feet, with a porch on the west side. To this was added the so-called Wolter House, a two-story brick structure, 20 by 34 feet, and a porch facing the east side. But Prof. Wolter never occupied the home built for him. ln August, 1849, shortly after the property had been purchased, he was suddenly carried away by the plague, the recurrence of which has left a tragic record in the older annals of Fort Wayne. He was temporarily interred under an apple tree on the college grounds. Later, when St. Paul's congregation had acquired its own ceme- tery, his remains were transferred to Concordia Cemetery. The buildings offered poor facilities, even for so small a school. Accordingly, a new building was planned, and it was resolved at the same time to increase the scope of the school's usefulness by accepting students seeking a general education. The Synodical convention of 1852, assembled in Fort Wayne, appointed a committee to confer with the citizens of Fort Wayne Chmit den deutschen und englischen Buergern in und um Fort Wayne D concerning the feasibility of expanding the curri- culum. It was reported that the desire for a school of this kind had been voiced by the English-speak- ing citizens of Fort Wayne. The purpose they had in mind is best expressed in the words of the Synodical proceedings, where the proposed school