Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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drill grounds were where the public scliool buildingnow stands. Just after the second commencement came the disaster of Bull Run, quick- ly followed by the presidentls call for 300,000 men. This took away all the male members of the faculty buttwo, and nearly all the young men in the institution. Hovey was made colonel of the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, and most of the young men joined that regiment, which was often called the Normal Regiinentfl 'His enlistment in the army linally severed Hovey7s connection with the institution. He is deserving of great credit for his services in the establishing and conducting the allairs of the institution thru a most trying period. A man of inflexible will, tireless en- ergy, persistence, and audacious courage, it is doubtful if the history of the Normal University would not have been quite dilierent had he not been at the head during the linancial troubles ot which I have spoken. In fact, I think the1'e is some reason to doubt Whether there would have been any history to write. Charles Hovey was a native of Vermont, a graduate of Dartmouth College, a teacher in Massachusetts, and the head of the schools in Peoria, Ill., before he became principal of the Normal University. After the war he nev- er engaged again actively in educational work. But it is very clear that no work of his life ever engaged his deepest interest and ener- gy like the establishing and di1'ecting of the Normal University in its early days. This is the one achievement recorded on his monu- ment, as Iread it last summer in Arlington Cemetery, WVashington, D. C. I Mr. Hovey had been principal of the school for four years, and, for the next year after his resignation, Perkins Bass, Esq., of Chi- cago, a member of the board, was acting-principal. During this year the aH'airs of the school went forward in a quiet and fairly pros- perous way. There were few young men among the students, and the whole number was much smaller than the year before. But as the year passed on the ranks gradually lilled up. In March of 1862, a man came to Normal who was destined to have much todo with its affairs in the years to come. This was Mr. Ricliard Edwards, who had been principal of the City Normal School in St. Louis. VVhen the war broke out, in that city aliairs were very much demoralized, and he came to Normal and Hlled a subordinate place for the re- mainder of the school year. At the close of the year the board chose him to be the head of the institution, which office he continued to I lilllllld' lin' srrfnls I IIHI no!grwll.7'-Alzl+1I.I,A lVl. lillcovli. 'tflf' Nllltffll-NHIIII' .will fn' fluff flu' ffrfn lflfll H'rn1'l funn' fgffiit-CIARENUIC BA!-illlli. 7 Quik llidi UIKKAQK EJ CEP Q

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,L A X LV! ll if-1 i il M ii A V611 1 A :L ll winter. Acconimodatiims for students were scarceg and many of them, young women included, lived in .Hlooniington and walked back and forth every day. The new building was formally dedicated in February,1861, Gov. Hit-lil' Yates making the principal speech. In the spring of 1861 the school contained about 150 pupils in the normal department: the faculty consisted of Charles E. Hovey, Ira W s. Ill-Z. JUIIX NV. COMIC,1'RlCSlIJlCN'l' 1800-1800. Moore, Edwin U. llewett, Leander H. Potter, J. A. Sewall,Julian Bryant, Miss Frances A. Peterson,and perhaps one or two others doing special work. All seemed to be going on verv prosperously. But in April, the war 1-loud, which had so long been gathering broke. A few from the Normal, including Joseph G. Howell, who was then principal of the Model School, answered .President Lincoln's li1'stCall for 75,000 men. And, duringthe remainder of the term. al- most everv young man in the school engaged in daily drill. Their 'HN'lwllu-ff .slor. fS'l'if:i.i..x linis'roI,. .l jn'nr4'l1rl srlfmyflilwi' lfflu1l1lllr'r'NlNYllAZEI.BRAND. 7.7

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HD NDEX 'I hold, and to administer its affairs with wisdom and vigor till Janu- ary l, 1876. There had been what was called a Model Schoolll connected with the institution almost from its beginning. In old Major's Hall a school of small children had been taught with rare success by Miss Mary M. Brooks, a teacher of extraordina.1'y skill and sweetness of temper. During the iirst year at Nornial. this school had been con- tinued and a class of somewhat older pupils added. But thus far there had been no attempt to teach pupils of a high school grade. DR. ARNOLD TOMPKINS, PRESIDENT 1899. However, soon after Mr. Edwards came, such a grade Was established and put in charge of Mr. C. F. Childs. a teacher of rare ability whom Mr. Edwards had induced to come from St. Louis to take the place. WI 51 ffff rl llflllli' ix bfflfwf- Numprwf'i.Lmsoi'21fn11'n1. -BERTHA Brrzow. -'mn' .llf i.s1'. s . -Hifznnlznr llixox. 24