Indiana Ine of History

INDIANA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY Volume LIV DECEMBER 1968 NUMBER4

Minutes of the Board of Trustees for Vincennes University Edited by Robert Constantine*

During the fall of 1956 Vincennes University, now operated as a junior college, observed the one hundred fiftieth an- niversary of the first meeting of its Board of Trustees. The school’s Act of Incorporation represented one of the first realizations in the Old Northwest of the ideal expressed in that part of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 which had promised that “schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” An organized attempt to secure “the means of education” for Indiana Territory was made as early as December, 1801, when a group of men at the territorial capital forwarded to Congress the following plea for “federal aid” :I The Petition of the Undersigned, Trustees chosen by the Subscribers for establishing and founding an Academy or Semin- ary of learning at Vincennes in the Indiana Territory, called The Jefferson Academy Humbly sheweth That the Inhabitants of the Country and more especially those descended from French Parents, have long experienced the Inconveniences arising from the total want of an Institution for the Education of Youth; The Consequence has been, that almost the whole of the Inhabitants distinguished by the name of French, are entirely illiterate, and the rising Generation as well American as French, will in all probability, without the Establishment of the intended Institution, be brought up in a similar State of Ignorance. The Subscribers to the Institution have exerted their private funds for its Erection and Support, and have already at

Robert Constantine is Instructor of History at Indiana University, South Bend Center. He formerly served on the faculty at Vincennes University. 1 Clarence Edwin Carter (ed.), The Territorial Papers of the United States, Vol. VII, The T6dtOry of Indiana, 1800-1810 (Washington, 1939), 43-44. 314 Indiana Magazine of History

a considerable Expense engaged Masters in the Classics, Belles Lettres, Mathematics and the English and French languages- They are nevertheless convinced, that however strenuous their Endeavors, a sufficient fund cannot be raised for a permanent Establishment, without the benevolent Aid of the United States-This Aid from the bountiful provisions heretofore made for similar Institutions2 in the North Western Territory your Petitioners have every Reason to hope, will be extended to them. They therefore humbly pray that a Donation of land, equal in Quantity to that made for a similar Institution in the Ohio purchase on the Muskingum, or such other Quantity as you think proper, may be granted to the Trustees for the Benefit of said Institution, to be located and laid out, under the Direc- tions of the Governor of the Territory, in the neighbourhood of this place, on lands to which the Indian Title has been or may be extinguished. VINCENNES31st December 1801. WI~.HENRY HA~~ISON JNOGIBSON Wm CURKE ii HENRYVAN DER BURGH $1 F: VIGO s: 8 JNORICE JONES sg+3 2.3 2 a* Bh (d The failure of this petition to produce Congressional action (of record, at least) in no way diminished the desire for federal assistance for education in the territory. In December, 1802, a “general convention of the Territory” held in Vincennes included in its list of “representations to the Congress of the United States” a request that a law may be passed making a grant of lands for the support of the Schools and Seminaries of learning to the several Settlements in the Illinois, the Settlement of Vincennes, and that of Clark’s Grant, near the Rapids of the 0hio.s

* In its agreement with the Ohio Com any of Associates (1787) Congress reserved one section of land in ea& township for schools and two whole townships for a university. Similarly, the patent granted to John Cleves Symmes in 1794 reserved “one compleat Township or tract of Land of six miles square . . . for the sole and exclusive intent and purpose of erecting . . . an Academy & other public schools and seminaries of learning. . . .” Carter, Territorial Papers, Vol. 11, The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, 1787-1809 (Washington, 1934), 496-498. 3Logan Esarey (ed.), Governors Messages and Letters (3 vols., Indiana Historical Collections, Vols. VII, IX, XII; Indianapolis, 1922- 1924), I, 64. Vincennes University 316

Congressional response to this petition was embodied in an act of March 26, 1804, setting aside a Congressional township of land in the Vincennes land district “for the use of a seminary of learning” and directing the Secretary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin, to “locate” the specific township.‘ In October of 1806 Gallatin wrote to his friend, John Badollet, register at the Vincennes Land Office, and instructed him to enter “township No 2, South of the base line in the eleventh range, West of the Vincennes Distri~t”~as the seminary lands.e Thus provided with about 23,000 acres of land as the “means of education” the advocates of a “seminary of learning” now turned to the territorial legislature for incorporation and recognition as legal custodians of the land grant. Both objectives were achieved in “AN ACT to Incorporate an University in the Indiana Territory”? which was approved by Governor Harrison on November 29, 1806. The law specified that the school “be called and known by the name, or style of the Vincennes University” and named twenty-three of the most prominent men of the territory as its Board of Trustees. The body of the law invests the Board of Trustees with the powers of suing and being sued, selling and leasing the “seminary lands,” filling vacancies, making bylaws, and drawing up “ordinances for the government and discipline” of the school. The act also comprises a summary of early nineteenth century educational philosophy, curriculum planning, and administrative procedure for higher education. The educational philosophy embodied in this act of 1806 is couched in Jeffersonian terms ; the preamble states simply and clearly the case for a liberal education : WHEREASthe independence, happiness and energy of every republic depends (under the influence of the destinies of Heaven) upon the wisdom, virtue, talents and energy, of its citizens and rulers. And whereas, science, literature, and the liberal arts, contribute in an eminent degree, to improve those qualities and acquirements.

4 Carter, Territorial Papers, VII, 178. 5 An area west of present-day Princeton in Gibson County. 6 Gallatin to Badollet, October 10, 1806, in Carter, Territorial Papers, VII, 394-396. 7 Francis S. Philbrick (ed.), The Laws of Indiana Territory 1801- 1809 (Indiana Historical Collections, reprint; Indianapolis, 1931), 178- 184. The act is also copied at the beginning of the original Board of Trusteea Minutes Book, 316 Indian& Magazine of History

And whereas, learning hath ever been found the ablest advocate of genuine liberty, the best supporter of rational religion, and the source of the only solid and imperishable glory, which nations can acquire. And forasmuch, as literature, and philosophy, furnish the most useful and pleasing occupations, improveing [sic] and varying the enjoyments of prosperity, affording relief under the pressure of misfortune, and hope and consolation in the hour of death, And considering that in a commonwealth, where the humblest citizen may be elected to the highest public office, and where the Heaven born prerogative of the right to elect, and to reject, is retained, and secured to the citizens, the knowledge which is requisite for a magistrate and elector, should be widely diffused. Taken altogether the fifteen articles of the act reveal several details of frontier social and intellectual history. The university was to “provide for the instruction of youth in the Latin, Greek, French and English languages, Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Antient [sic] and Modern History, Moral Philosophy, Logic, Rhetoric and the Law of Nature and Nations. . . .” No “particular tenets of religion shall be taught. . . by the president and professors. . . .” It was hoped that “the establishment of an institution of this kind in the neighborhood of the aborigines of the country, may tend to the gradual civilization of the rising generation, and if pyoperly conducted be of essential service to themselves, and contribute greatly to the cause of humanity and brotherly love which all men ought to bear to each other of whatever colour. . . .” Moreover, the Indian children who were “sent to the said university for education” were to be “maintained, clothed, and educated at the expense of the said institution. . . .” Students and professors were to be “exempt from militia duty,” the trustees were to “establish an institution for the education of females” when funds were available, and a “Grammar school . . . for the purpose of teaching the rudiments of the languages” was to supplement the university offerings. A final article empowered the Board of Trustees to conduct a lottery “to raise a sum not exceeding twenty thousand dollars,” a project which was quickly undertaken but which soon proved unsuccessful. Less than two weeks after the passage of this Act of Incorporation, seventeen of the twenty-three men named by Vincennes University 317

it as trustees met in the territorial secretary’s office on December 6, 1806. These men, as the footnote sketches of them which follow suggest, were the political and social leaders of the area, and in their roles as political leaders they were not infrequently bitter, implacable adversaries. Within the group were Harrison men and anti-Harrison men, pro- slavery and anti-slavery men, alleged Federalists and Re- publicans, territorial divisionists and those who supported territorial unity. It was not to be expected, perhaps, that the effect of such rivalries and animosities would be entirely absent in the proceedings of the Board. The minutes of the Board’s meetings describe in detail the problems confronting men who would build “a seminary of learning” on the frontier in the early nineteenth century. The variety and complexity of these problems make it dif- ficult to summarize them adequately. There were, for ex- ample, problems of finance: at what prices should the “seminary land” be sold; under what conditions might it be leased; how much should be paid for the “site of the university” and where should it be located ; how could the greatest profit be realized from the lottery; what price should be paid for labor and materials for the buildings ; what kind of buildings were needed; how might additional aid from the federal government be obtained; what tuition fees could be charged; what salaries should teachers receive ; what compensation should the clerk and treasurer of the Board receive; and what would be the annual expense of running the school. There were also various problems of administrative procedure and of the duties and responsibilities of the teachers : what rules should the Board follow in order to “transact its business with due Order and decorum”; what powers were to be delegated to the president of the university; what was to be the president‘s relationship with the faculty ; what “aca- demic and moral discipline” should the teachers be expected to enforce. And finally, there were problems related to curriculum planning and basic educational doctrine : was there justification for offering the French language ; what were “the most needful subjects” to be offered; how long should the school terms last and how many vacations should there be; how often should the Board of Trustees “examine the scholars” ; what benefit might parents reasonably expect their children to derive from attendance; and what did the 318 Indiana Magazine of History

Board members believe were the justifications and rewards of education. The Board’s first steps in the direction of “solving” such problems were recorded in the Minutes which follow, covering the period from December 6, 1806, through September 12, 1807. The attempted solutions were not always unanimously agreed upon, and they were frequently not successful-as the Minutes make abundantly clear. It is possible, however, that today’s readers will find the failures as interesting as the successes, and that the total record will have some value as a chapter in the story of frontier culture. The minutes of the Board of Trustees from December 6, 1806, to April 13, 1811, were recorded in two small notebooks, which are marked “Book A” and “Book B” and are preserved in the office of the president of Vincennes University. At the meeting of April 13, 1811, the Board authorized the clerk to purchase a new journal in which all the previous meetings’ minutes were to be transcribed as well, of course, as all those taken down thereafter. The present transcription has been made from the minutes book dating from 1811 which is also preserved at Vincennes University. In editing these Minutes original spelling has been retained and, in general, original punctuation. Periods have been inserted, however, after initiaIs of persons and abbreviations ;they have also been used at the ends of paragraphs and in a few other places where their addition was unmistakably indicated. No commas were added except to separate a series of nouns or names. Unclosed quotation marks were left as they were in the original, but the abbreviations “A.M.” and “P.M.” were standardized by uniform use of capital letters and periods. Inconsistent and unusual spacing used in the original Minutes sometimes dictated modification of para- graphing for the sake of clarity and uniformity. Space limita- tions prompted the listing of members present at each Board meeting in a series, rather than in the columns which usually appeared in the original. The preparation of these Minutes for publication has been a cooperative enterprise from the outset. Professor Donald F. Carmony, of Indiana University and Editor of the Indiana Magazine of History, first suggested the possibility of such publication. Numerous suggestions and much help have been received from him and from Mary Lou Thielking, Vincennes University 319

Assistant Editor. Dr. Isaac K. Beckes, President, and Judge Curtis G. Shake, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, of Vincennes University granted permission to publish the material and have cooperated in many ways in furthering the project. Mrs. Florence T. Watts, currently a member of the Board of Trustees, generously shared her knowledge of early Vincennes history in general and of the university in particular. A grant from the Graduate School of Indiana Univer- sity helped to pay the expense of photostating some of the material. I cannot overstate my debt to all of these people and to my wife, who typed and helped read proof on the entire transcription.

At a meeting of the Trustees of the Vincennes University held at the Territorial Secretary’s Office in Vincennes on Saturday the 6th day of December Anno Domini 1806 pursuant and under the Acts of the last Session of the General Assembly, One entitled “An Act to Incorporate an University in the Indiana Territory”’ and the other “An Act Supple- mental to the aforesaid Act.”2 When were present the following members. To wit : William Henry Harri~on,~John Gibson Waller Tayl~r,~Henry Vanderburg,6 John

1 This act is in Francis S. Philbrick (ed.), The Laws of Indiana Tern’tory 1801-1809 (Indiana Historical Collections, reprint; Indian- apolis, 1931), 178-184. It was approved by Governor Harrison on November 29, 1806. 2 The supplementary act was also approved on November 29, 1806. Ibid., 184. 3 The future “Hero of Tippecanoe” and president of the United States had been governor of Indiana Territory since 1800. A signer of both the 1801 and 1802 petitions to Congress in which a land grant in aid of “a seminary of learning” was sought, Harrison regularly attended the Board’s meetings and actively served on its most important committees until his resignation in August, 1811. During this same month he had his “final interview” with Tecumseh and was already laying plans which led to the Battle of Tippecanoe later that year. This event and the War of 1812 which followed virtually ended “Harrison’s intimate connection with territorial affairs.” Doro.thy Burne Goebel, William Henry Harrison (Indiana Historical Collectaons, Vol. XIV; Indianapolis, 1926), 87, 118-119. 4 A veteran of several Indian campaigns and of the Revolutionary War in which he served under Washington in New York and New Jersey, Gibson was secretary of the Indiana Territory from 1800 to 1816, and on two occasions acted as governor-in 1800 prior to Harrison’s arrival, and again from November, 1811, to May, 1813. Appleton’s Cyclopedia of American Biography (6 vols., New York, 1888-1889), 11, 640. Gibson was seldom absent from meetings, worked on numerous committees, and frequently served as president pro tern His letter of resignation was read to the Board on April 5, 1813. 320 Indiana Magazine of History

Badollet,’ Nathaniel Ewing,8 John R. Jones: Jacob Kuykendal1,’O Elias McNamee,” Samuel Gwathmey,12 John Luke Decker,” Francois Vigo,l5 William Bullet Jr.,la James Johnson,l’ George Wallace Junr.,18 and Genl. W. Johnston.lo The Board proceeded by Ballot to elect a President when upon counting the Ballots William Henry Harrison Esqr. was declared duly elected by an unamimous vote when he was conducted to the chair from whence he made acknowledgments and requested an observance of due Order & decorum. The Board then proceeded in like manner to elect a Treasurer when upon counting the Ballots James Johnson Esqr. was declared duly elected.

6 Taylor, who came to Vincennes from his native Virginia in 1804, was at this time completing his first year as a jud e of the General Court of Indiana Territory. A member of the Boar% until September 16, 1808, he later served under Harrison at Tippecanoe and became one of Indiana’s first two United States Senators (1816-1825). Philbrick, Laws of Indiana Territory 1801-1809, ccxxxii. 6Coming to Vincennes from New York following service in the Revolutionary War, Vanderburgh quickly rose to a position of prominence and influence in territorial affairs. A major of militia, judge on various courts, and member of the Legislative Council of the Northwest Ter- ritory, he remained on the Board until his death in 1812. John D. Barnhart and Donald F. Carmony, Indiana From Frontier to Industrial Commonwealth (4 vols., New York, 1954), I, 93, 100. 7 John Badollet came to Vincennes from Geneva, Switzerland, by way of western Pennsylvania. In 1804 he was appointed register of the Vincennes Land Office, an appointment made possible, in part at least, by his friendship with Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin, a fellow Swiss immigrant. A member of the Indiana Constitutional Convention in 1816, Badollet remained on the Board of Trustees until 1821. Barnhart and Carmony, Indiuna, I, 153; Charles Kettleborough (ed.), Constitution Making in Indiana (3 vols., Indiana Historical Col- lections, Vols. I, 11, XVII ; Indianapolis, 1916-1930), 125. SNathaniel Ewing was a native Pennsylvanian serving at this time as receiver in the Vincennes Land Office. Clarence Edwin Carter (ed.), The Territorial Papers of the United States, Vol. VII, The Ter- ritory of Indiana, 1800-1810 (Washington, 1939), 226. Remaining on the Board until January, 1839, Ewing established a record for the longest membership among the original members. 0 John Rice Jones was attorney general of Indiana Territory from 1801 until 1804 and was serving at this time as president pro tern of the Legislative Council. A few years later he became a leader in the “separationist” movement which culminated in the creation of Illinois Territory in 1809. Philbrick, Laws of Indiana Territory 1801-1809, ccxxxviii-ccxlii. His membership on the Board ended June 6, 1809. 10 Jacob Kuykendall was Knox County coroner from 1802 until 1810. A physician in Vincennes for nearly half a century, he remained on the Board until 1824. Louis B. Ewbank and Dorothy L. Riker (eds.), The Laws of Indiana Ternitow 1809-1816 (Indiana Historical Collections Vol. XX; Indianapolis, 1934), 854; Hubbard Madison Smith, Historicaf Sketches of Old Vincennea (Vincennes, 1902), 219. Vincennes University 32 1

The Board then proceeded in like manner to elect a Clerk when upon counting the Ballots General W. Johnson was declared duly elected. The Board then proceeded in like manner to elect five Managers to attend and carry into effect the Scheme of a Lotteryz0as authorised by said Act. When upon counting the Ballots Waller Taylor, George Wallace Jr. Esqr., and Mr. William Bullet Junr. were declared duly elected. No other two persons having a Majority of the whole number of the members present. The Board proceeded by ballot to elect two other Managers when upon counting the ballots William Henry Harrison Esqr. was declared duly elected. No other person having a Majority of the whole number of members present. The Board proceeded by ballot to elect

11A Quaker physician, Elias McNamee served on the Board until April 24, 1824, and was its president from 1821 to 1824. His political opposition to “the Virginia aristocrats” during this period led Thomas Randolph, one of that group, to challenge McNamee to a duel “on the other side of the river Wabash”; McNamee responded by having Randolph arrested and bonded to keep the William Wesley Woollen, Biographical and Historical Sketc!iyif Early Indianu (Indianapolis, 1883), 396-397. l*Gwathmey, at this time a member of the Legislative Council from Clark County and later register of the land office at Jeffersonville, attended only a few meetings and resigned from the Board August 29, 1807. Gayle Thornbrough and Dorothy Riker (eds.) , Journals. of the General Assembly of Indiana Teetory 1805-1815 (Indiana Hzstorical Collections, Vol. XXXII ; Indianapolis, 1950), 978-979. 13 John Johnson was a member of the Board until his death in July, 1818. An attorney by profession, he and John Rice Jones revised the territorial laws down to 1807; he was a member of the General Assembly (1803-1807)and of the Legislative Council (1813-1815); and he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1816. Thornbrough and Riker, Journals of . . . Indiana Territory, 985-987. 14A leading figure in both the military and political affairs of the territory, Decker remained on the Board until April, 1813. A veteran of the Tippecanoe campaign in 1811, he was later chairman of a group of Knox County militiamen who defended the militia’s performance in general and Harrison’s leadership in particular in that campaign. Thorn- brough and Riker, Journals of . . . Indiana Taritmy, 964-966. In the Vincennes Western Sun of December 22, 1807, his marriage “on Sunday the 20th inst. . . . to the agreeable Miss Trany Claypool. . . .” was announced. 15A native of Italy who prospered in the fur trade out of New Orleans and later out of St. Louis, Vigo is best known, of course, for his financial support which was a key factor in Clark’s conquest of Vincennes in February, 1779. Vigo settled in Vincennes a few years later, made it the center of his business activities, and took an active grt in its political, military, and cultural affairs. Dictionaw of American iography (22 vols., New York, 1928-1958), XIX, 270. He remained on the Board until September, 1823. 322 Indiana Magazine of History one other Manager when upon counting the [ballots] Mr. Toussaints Duboisz’ was declared duly elected. On Motion being made & seconded-Ordered that the Board do adjourn untill Monday week. And then the Board adjourned untill Monday the fifteenth Instant.

Monday December 15th 1806 The Board met according to Adjournment. Present the following members : William H. Harrison President, John Gibson Senr., Waller Taylor, Francois Vigo, [John?J Johnson, James Johnson, Elias McNamee, George Wallace Junr., John R. Jones, George Leech,22William Bullet Jr., John Badollet, Peter Jones,23Luke Decker, and Genl. W. Johnston.

16 Bullitt, whose name is sometimes seen as “Bullet” and “Bullit,” was named a trustee of Vincennes in the Act of Incorporation. Philbrick, Laws of Indiana Territory 1801-1809, p. 197. His advertisements of “fall and winter goods, whiskey and Salt etc.” appeared frequently in the Vincennes Zndiana Gazette (1804-1806). He is described as ‘‘a land speculator fro: Louisville who operated in several sections of southern Indiana. . . . Logan Esarey (ed.), Governors Messages and Letters (3 vols., Indiana Historical Collections, Vols. VII, IX, XII; Indianapolis, 1922-1924), I, 165n. Bullitt was a member of the Board of Trustees until February, 1808. 17 James Johnson, who remained on the Board until his death in 1817, was a judge of the Knox County Court of Common Pleas (July, 1800-April, 1813) and territorial treasurer (September, 1805-April, 1813). Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Territory 1809-1816, pp. 821, 850. He was the father of John Johnson, a fellow trustee. See footnote 13. 18 George Wallace, Jr., who was Secretary John Gibson’s son-in-law, is listed on the Courts of General Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas (November, 1803 to January, 1806), and as a merchant he was the recipient of various appropriations from the legislature for supplies. Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Territory 1809-1816, pp. 850-851. Esarey, Messages and Letters, I, 176, 298, 396. In addition to his membership on the university Board, which ended in September, 1807, Wallace was also a charter member of the Vincennes Subscription Library. His advertisements of “a Good Assortment of Fall & Winter Goods [to be] disposed of on reasonable terms for Cash, Pork, Wheat, Flour, Beef, Corn, etc.” appeared frequently in the Indiana Gazette and the Western Sun. 19 General Washington Johnston’s name appears in connection with nearly every conceivable aspect of Indiana’s history during the territorial period and during early statehood. Serving at one time or another in all three branches of the civil government and in the militia, he had varied business interests, was a practicing attorney, and an active leader in the area’s social and cultural affairs. In addition to his charter membership on the university Board of Trustees, which ended in August, 1807, he was an original shareholder in the Vincennes Subscription Library (1806), helped to establish a Masonic lodge in Vincennes (1809), and was a manager of the Vincennes Theatrical Association (1814-1815). Thornbrough and Riker, Journals of . . . Indiana Tmtory, 987-991. Vincennes Universitg 323

Judge Waller Taylor from the Managers appointed on the 6th Instant to carry into effect the Scheme of a Lottery presented to the Board a Scheme of the “Vincennes Lottery” which being received and read & amended was agreed to by the Board in the words & figures following to wit: Vincennes University Lottery First Class By Authority of the Legislature of the Indiana Territory for raising the sum of 6000$ as part of the sum of 20000$ authorised by the said Legislature for the use of the said University. Scheme 1 Prize of 5000 ...... t is...... 5000 1 Ditto...... 2500 ...... 2500 1 Ditto...... 1000 ...... ~~~1000 4 Ditto...... 500 ...... ~2000 10 Ditto ...... 200 ...... ~2000 20 Ditto...... 100 ...... ~2000 50 Ditto...... 50 ...... 2500 100 Ditto...... 20 ...... ~2000 2500 Ditto...... 6 ...... 15000 1 first drawn blank on the 10th days drawing ...... 500 1 DO. - DO. - DO. - 20th Do. Do...... 500 1 DO. - DO. - DO. - 30th Do. Do...... 1000 1 DO. - DO. - DO. - 40th Do. Do...... 1500 1 last drawn blank on the last days drawing ...... 2500 2692 Prizes 40,000 5308 Blanks 8000 Tickets at 5 Dollars is ...... 40,000 Subject to a deduction of 15 pr Cent. On motion-Ordered that a Committee of five members be appointed by the President to Draft and Report a Set of

20The Act of Incorporation provided that ..... for the support of the aforesaid institution [Vincennes University] ...there shall be raised a sum not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, by a Lottery ... ; and that the Trustees of the said university shall apypint five discreet persons ...to be managers of the said lotteries. ... Philbrick, Laws of Indiana Territory, 1801-1809, p. 183. 21 Toussaints Dubois, a merchant with interests in Vincennes, Kaskaskia, and Cahokia, was named a trustee of the Roman Catholic church (St. Francis Xavier) in Vincennes in its Act of Incorporation (December, 1810), and became a member of the university’s Board the same year. Esarey, Messages and Letters, I, 165, 214; Philbrick, Laws of Indiana Territwy 1801-1809, p. 197; Minutes of the Board of Trustees meeting, April 11, 1810 (cited hereafter as Minutes). 324 Indiana Magazine of History

Rules for the Government of this Board and the same were appointed of Messrs. John R. Jones, John Badollet, John Johnson, Elias McNamee, and P. Jones. William H. Harrison Esqr. laid before the Board sundry Resolutions for carrying into immediate effect that part of the Institution which respects a Grammar SchoolJZ4which being received and read- On Motion-Ordered that the same do lie on the Table. On Motion-Resolved that a Committee of three members be appointed by the President to raise by subscription or otherwise a sufficient sum of money to enable the Managers of the Lottery to carry said said [sic] Lottery into immediate effect. Which sum so subscribed shall be refunded the several subscribers in Tickets of the said Lottery-And the same was appointed of Messrs. J. Gibson, W. Bullett Jr., & F. Vigo. On Motion-Ordered that the Resolution for carrying into immediate effect that part of the Institution which re-

22George Leech, whose name is sometimes spelled “Leach,” was listed on the Courts of General Quarter Sessions (February, 1803 to January, 1806) and Common Pleas (February, 1803 to June, 1810). An anti-slavery farmer, he was defeated in the 1810 election as a candidate for representative from Knox County. Leech remained on the Board until April, 1813. Thornbrough and Riker, Journals of.. . Indiana Territory, 222, 34.5; Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Territq 1809- 1816, pp. 850, 851. 23A tavern and hotel keeper whose premises were “regarded as a gathering place for the more aristocratic element,” Peter Jones was at this time a territorial auditor of public accounts. He was a strong supporter of Harrison in territorial politics, serving as the governor’s secretary in the Indian treaty negotiations at Fort Wayne in 1809 and as one of his partisans in the General Assembly (1810-1811). Jones remained on the Board until his death in 1818. Lee Burns, “Life In Old Vincennes” (Indiana Historical Society Publications, Vol. VIII, No. 9; Indianapolis, 1929), 454; Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Territory 1809-1816, p. 821; Thornbrough and Riker, Journals of . . . Indiana Territory, 991-992. As librarian of the Vincennes Library, Jones signed numerous advertisements dealing with that organization’s affairs which appeared in the Western Sun. See, e.g., the issues of January 28, 1809; August 12, 1809; January 20, 1810; December 8, 1810. 24 The Act of Incorporation authorized the Board to establish “a Grammar school connected with, and de endant upon the said university, for the pur ose of teaching the rujiments of the languages, and that they may empfoy a master and ushers specially for this purpose, or employ the professor of languages to superintend the same. . . .” Philbrick, Laws of Indiana Tewitory 1801-1809, p. 183. The Board made a sharp distinction between a “Grammar school,” in which “the English Latin and Greek languages” were to be tau ht, and “a common English school.” The former was essentially a “colyege preparatory” school, the latter an elementary one; and the Board agreed that “the Grammar school and the common school may and ought to be kept in seperate [sic] apartments.” A detailed “set of Rules for the Govern- ment of the Vincennes University Grammar school” was proposed and accepted at the Board meeting of January 26, 1811. Vincennes University 325

spects a Grammar school be taken up and now acted upon. When the same being severally read and amended were agreed to as follows : “Resolved that measures be immediately taken for carrying into effect the power given to the Board for the establishment of a Grammar School and that a Committee of three members be appointed to rent a proper house for the purpose. Resolved that a Committee of three be appointed to enquire and make report as soon as possible to the Board of the situation of the Township granted by Congress for the support of the seminary,2s particularly as to improvements which may have been made thereon, the value and Situa- tion of the parts which have been Improved and the probable amount for which they can be sold, together with their opinion of the mode which ought to be adopted in disposing of the four thousand Acres which the Board are authorized to sellZe and what particular tracts can be sold with the greatest advantage at the present moment. Resolved that the President be instructed to advertise in one of the public prints printed in the States of Kentucky and Ohio & in the Pittsburg Gazette2’ that proposals will be received by the Clerk of the Board until1 the first day of March next from such persons as are desirous of taking charge of the Grammar school and that the said proposals be laid before the Board at a meeting to be held on the third day of March next. On Motion-Ordered that the Committees under the foregoing Resolutions be appointed by the President. Whereupon Messrs. W. Taylor, Geo. Wallace Jr., and John Badollet were appointed as a Committee under the first Resolution and

26 See Introduction, p. 315. 28 Philbrick, Laws of Indiana Tewitory 1801-1809, p. 179. 27 The Pittsburgh Gazette (1786) was the first newspaper founded “west of the mountains.” During the followin twenty years several others were started, among them The Kentucfe Gazette (Lexington, 1787) , The Centinel of the North-Western Territory. (Cincinnati, 1793) , The Western Spy and Hamdton Gazette (Cincinnati, 1799)) The Smto Gazette (Chillicothe, 1800) , and the Liberty Hall and Cincinnati Mercury (1804). In Indiana, Elihu Stout’s Indiana Gazette (Vincennes, 1804) was the first to appear and was probably, at the time of this meeting, in the process of recovering from a fire which destro ed its press in 1806. R. Carlyle Buley, The Old Northwest, Pioneer Jem’od 1815-1860 (2 vols., Indianapolis, 1950)) 11, 490-491; Barnhart and Carmony, Zn- dmm, I, 367. 326 Indiana Magazine of History

Messrs. L. Decker, Geo. Leech, & J. Johnson be appointed a Committee under the second Resolution. Henry Vanderburg Esqr. appeared & took his seat. On Motion-The following Resolution was unanimously agreed to by the Board to wit : “Resolved that for the purpose of carrying into effect the establishing of the Grammar School that the Board will as soon as possible after the report of the Committee which are,directed to ascertain the situation & Value of the Township granted by Congress and to propose a plan for disposing of the same, proceed to sell such portion of the 4000 acres under their control as will be sufficient for the said purpose, and that the Members of the Board who pass this Resolution will individually pledge themselves for the perfection of the Titles to the purchasers. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn until1 friday the 19th Inst. at 10 O’clock A.M. And then the Board adjourned accordingly.

Friday December 19th 1806 The Board met according to adjournment. Present the following members : William H. Harrison President, John Gibson, William Bullitt Jr., Jacob Kuykendall, Elias McNamee, Francois Vigo, John R. Jones, George Leech, John Badollet, Genl. W. Johnston, Waller Taylor, John Johnson, James Johnson, George Wallace Jr., Henry Hurst,28 Henry Vander- burg, Peter Jones, and Jesse B. Thomas.29 On Motion-Resolved that a Committee of three members be appointed by the President to examine into the nature and

2*A close personal friend and political ally of Governor Harrison, Hurst was at this time clerk of the General Court (1801-1816) and of the Legislative Council (1805-1810). His relationshi with Jonathan Jennings was apparently a most unpleasant one, the Patter writing on one occasion that he would “have to kill him [Hurst] before he will be at rest.” Hurst later moved to Jeffersonville (1813) and took an active part in Clark County’s political affairs, serving in the Indiana legislature (1838-1839)and as clerk of the United States District Court in Indianapolis. Dorothy Riker (ed.) , “Unedited Letters of Jonathan Jennings” (Indiana Historical Society Publications, Vol. X, No. 4 ; Indianapolis, 1932), 163; Thornbrough and Riker, Journals of . . . Indiana Territory, 2911. 29 Jesse B. Thomas was at this time speaker of the territorial House of Representatives (1804-1808). A few years later as territorial delegate to Congress, he was instrumental in the creation of Illinois Territory (1809), where he served as judge until 1818. As United States Senator from Illinois (1818-1829) Thomas’ most notable contribution perhaps was his role in the Missouri Compromise crisis. Philbrick, Laws of Indiana Territory 1801-1809, cclv. The first building at Vincennes University, from an early painting. The building was begun in 1807, occupied in 1811, and razed in 1884. It was located where St. Rose Academy now stands. (See pages 327-329.) A plat of the township of land which Congress granted Vincennes University. (See pages 329-331.) The Pompeian Court of the West Baden Springs Hotel, now West Baden College. (See pages 365-380.) Albert Rupel’s “Flying Machine.” (See pages 391-394.) Vincennes University 327 extent of the House or Houses directed by the Corporation Actnoto be built for the use of the Seminary and as soon as convenience will permit make out a report & report thereof to the Board together with their opinion of the Scite and expence which may probably attend the erecting & completing the same and the same was appointed of Messrs. Vanderburg, McNamee, and Vigo. On Motion-Ordered that John R. Jones Esqr. be added to the Committee appointed on the 15th Inst. to enquire & report the situation of the Township of land granted by Cong- ress for the use of the Seminary. On Motion-Ordered that Messrs. W. H. Harrison & G. Wallace Jr. be added to the Committee appointed to day to examine into & Report upon the buildings of the Seminary. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn until1 friday the second day of January ensuing. And then the Board adjourned accordingly.

Friday January 2nd 1807 The Board met according to adjournment. Present the following members : William Henry Harrison President, Henry Vanderburg, George Wallace Jr., Henry Hurst, Samuel M~Kee,~lGeorge Leech, John R. Jones, Waller Taylor, William Bullit Jr., John Johnson, Elias McNamee, and Genl. W. Johnston. Mr. Vanderburg from the Committee appointed on the 19th December Ulto. to enquire into and make report of the Site and probable expence of the Seminary buildings, made a report thereon which being twice read was agreed to by the Board in the words following to wit: “That they have ex- amined environs of the improved parts of the Town of

30Zbid., 181. 81 A physician serving with the army at this time, Dr. Samuel McKee had been Knox County. coroner (1801-1802) and is listed. as recipient of numerous appropriations by the legislature for clerical services. In September, 1807, he published. in the Western Sun an attack on land company fraudulence which implicated Governor Harrison and prompted the latter to publish, in turn, a denial of McKee’s charges in the Bame paper. Dr. McKee remained on the Board until June, 1809. Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Tem‘tory 1809-1816, p. 854; Goebel, Harrison, 70; Thornbrough and Riker, Journals . . . Indiana Territory, 118, 122, 906. Harrison’s confrontation of McKee, in which the latter stated before witnesses “he had no reason to believe what had been asserted to the Governors prejudice” is in the Western Sun, September 12, 1807. 328 Indiana Magazine of History

Vincennes for a proper Site on which to erect the buidings for the University and have unanimously determined that a Lot of Judge Vanderburgs and a small Strip belonging to Col. Vigo affords the most eligible Situation.”s2 The Committee conceive that a house of the size of sixty by forty feet Two stories and a half high would be the most proper size for the said building and founded their calculations of materials on that Basis. The Committee beleive [sic] that it would be unnecessary to complete the whole building for the present and as the expense attending the erection would depend entirely upon the number of Rooms which it may be thought necessary [and] proper to complete Your Committee have only made a calculation of the materials which it may be proper to procure and recommend that Advertisements be published inviting proposals for furnishing the following Articles. The probable amount of which your Committee have annexed viz. &. 20,000 Bricks probable cost ...... -.------.----$ 1,400 100 Perches of Stones3 ______.______300 1000 Bushels of Lime ______.______--1662h 20,000 Shingles ______.______------~--~-100 30,000 feet of Plank _____.______------600 1,500 Cubic feet of timber ______60 They also recommend that measures be taken to procure the following articles : 500 lb Nails ______-~---~----~.-.-~~-~---100 Bolts screws etc. for Timber ______50 Paint to the amount of ______..______.______40 6 Boxes Glass 10 by 12 ______.______.---90 100 lb Putty ____-_-._--___-______.______------.~---20 The Digging of the Cellar it is supposed will cost ------~---.------...---.------.--___--_---~----______100 Total Amt. Dollars 3026.66%

82In 1817 a traveler, David Thomas, saw “the Academ [to thei east of the town.” The land purchased from Judge Vandergurgh an Francis Vigo is bounded by Fourth, Hart, Sixth, and Perry streets in Vincennes today. Harlow Lindley (ed.), Indiana As Seen By Early Travelers (Indiana Historical Collections, Vol. 111; Indianapolis, 1916), 105; Henry S. Cauthorn, A History of the Cit of Vincennes 1709 to 1901 (Terre Haute, 1902), 29; Smith, Historicur Sketches, 94. SaIn stonework a perch is a solid measure, usually about 26 cubic feet (16 x 1 x 1% ft.). Vincennes University 329

The Committee understand that the six Arpentss4 owned by Judge Vanderburg can be had for the sum of two hundred Dollars which your Committee think sufficiently reasonable. Decer. 31st 1806. On Motion-The Board unanimously came to the following Resolution: Whereas it may possibly happen that losses may be sustained by the managers appointed to carry into effect the Vincennes Lottery which their caution and circumspection cannot guard against ; And whereas it would be grievous and oppressive to them after devoting their time and attention to the duties required of them to sustain pecuniary injury-Resolved therefore by the Board of Trustees that in case the said Managers shall become liable either from misplaced confidence in others whom they make their agents or from any other cause where they have acted in their opinion for the best that in that case the property belonging to the Institution shall be disposed of to indemnify them or so much thereof as may be necessary. The following members appeared and took their seats viz., Luke Decker [&I Jacob Kuykendall. Mr. Johnson from the Committee appointed on the 15th December Ult. to examine the Township located for the use of the seminary made the following report thereon viz : “That the Committee [viewed] the said Township and found that it was situated in Range No. XI West Township No. 2 South, and that a large portion of said Township is land of the first quality, that they found upon examination that there are the following eleven Settled on it to wit: Sec. Montgomery ...... 13 Quarter marked 1 Acres cleared 13 Evans ...... 14 ...... 2 ...... 6 Anderson ...... 28 ...... 3 ...... 3 Oakley ...... 22 ...... 4 ...... 6 Johnson ...... -11 ...... 5 ...... 14 McGarey ...... 12 ...... 6 ...... 12 Calton ...... 27 ...... 7 ...... 4 Harrison ...... 1 ...... 6 Patterson ...... 1 ...... 6

S4The use of French units of land measure, e.g., arpents and toises, was still common in this period. The arpent, which is still used in parts of Louisiana and Quebec, was roughly an acre in extent. See Minutes, May 28, 1808. 330 Indiana Magazine of History

[In the Minutes a diagram of Township No. 2 appears at this point. See insert facing page 326.1 And are of [the] opinion that the Sections and parts of Sections on which the Families are settled will sell for the best price. On Motion-Ordered that the said Report and accompanying documents do lie on the Table. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn until1 Friday the 9th Inst. at 11 O’clock A.M. And the Board adjourned accordingly.

Friday January 9th 1807 The Board met according to adjournment. Present the following members : William Henry Harrison President, Henry Vanderburg, John R. Jones, John Gibson, Saml. McKee, Geo. Wallace Jr., Elias McNamee, Luke Decker, Henry Hurst, Peter Jones, Frs. Vigo, John Badollet, James Johnson, John Johnson, Genl. W. Johnston. On Motion-The Board came to the following Resolu- tions: Resolved that a Committee consisting of five members : Will. Hy. Harrison, Henry Vanderburg, John R. Jones, &, Francois Vigo [fifth name omitted in original] be and they are hereby appointed to contract for the sale of the undermentioned Tracts of Land in the Township given by Congress for the use of the Seminary-That the said Com- mittee shall not take less than the sum placed opposite to each Tract, and that they offer them in the first Instance to the persons respectively who are settled upon them at the ...... -.....-.....------~--~.------~------...------Price

No. of Section ______Quarter ______~ _____ Price 13 ______.______N. E...... $2 13 ______N. W...... 2 50/lOO 14 ______N. E. ___.______2 28 .______N. W. ______3 22 ______N. E...... 3 11 ______N. E. ______3

SJSome of these squatters became important figures in local and state affairs in later years. See footnotes 39, 40, 45. Vincennes University 331

12 ______.______S. E. _____.______..____3

------~ ------____-___--s. w. ---_-.--______----__ 3 27 ______N. E. ______._..__.._.____3 Pattersons Quarter on Sec. 1 ______.._..___.._.______3 Harrisons Ditto ______..___.______3

Steepletons Ditto ....____.._._.___~ ___.___~ ..__~ ______~ _____._._ ~ 3

Jno Anderson Ditto ____...... 28 _..______~ ______3 Resolved that the purchase money shall be paid in three equal installments the first within fifteen days from the day of sale and the second and third at the end of One & Two years respectively. Resolved that any purchaser failing in the punctual payment of the second Instalment shall be charged with an Interest of fifteen per Cent on the same from the time it becomes due and that if default is made in the punctual discharge of the third Installment the land shall revert to the Institution and be again offered for sale, from the proceeds of which sale the Institution shall be reimbursed the Amount of the Original purchase money with Interest and incident expenses and the ballance if any returned to the purchaser.8e Resolved that all monies arising from the sale of the aforsd. lands shall be paid into the Treasurers hands who shall give receipts for the same which receipts shall be ex- hibited to the Clerk who shall give credit to the party in his

Resolved, That when the whole of the purchase money shall have been paid, it shall be the duty of the Clerk to give to the purchasers a certificate of the same wherein the said purchaser’s account shall be stated & upon exhibition of which the President is hereby authorized in the presence of the Board to execute to the purchaser a Proper Deed of Transfer for the Tract or Tracts of lands so purchased. Which Deed shall be signed by the President & countersigned by the Clerk.

3eAt this time the federal government, under the terms of the Land Acts of 1800 and 1804, was selling land at $2.00 per acre in minimum tracts of 160 acres and offering four years credit. Moreover, the federal government proved to be the most generous of landlords, seldom evicting defaulters and providing almost annual relief acts for settlers unable to make their payments. 97 The clerk’s “Books” have, unfortunately, not been found. There are, however, entries of “monies received” by the clerk and treasurer in the Minutes Book, on pages reserved for such entries. See, e.g., the entry following the meeting of June 6, 1809. 332 Indiana Magazine of History

Resolved also that the said Committee Report their proceedings to the Board at their sitting the 6th February ensuing. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do Adjourn until1 this day four weeks viz., the 6th February following. And then the Board Adjourned accordingly. At a Special Meeting called by the President and holden at the Territorial Secretaries Office On Saturday Evening the 10th January 1807 at 5 O’clock P.M. There were present the following members : William Henry Harrison President, John Gibson, John R. Jones, John Johnson, John Badollet, Elias McNamee, Saml. McKee, Jacob Kuykendall, Peter Jones, Henry Vanderburg, Henry Hurst, and Genl. W. Johnston. On Motion-The Board came to the following Resolution : “Resolved that a Committee of Two be appointed to conclude the Bargain with Judge Vanderburg for the Lot on which the Seminary is to be erected & that they be authorized to receive the Deed for the same and to draw on the Treasury for the 200$ to pay for the same together with a sum not exceeding 10$ for Recording the Deed & other contingent expenses.38 And the same was appointed of Messrs. John R. Jones & Henry Hurst. On Motion-The Board came to the following resolution: “Resolved that the Committee appointed to contract for the sale of sundry Tracts of land belonging to the University be authorized to allow a Discount of Six per Cent in gross on the two last Instalments to be made for the said lands agreably to the former resolve to all those who would wis[h] to make prompt payments therefor. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn. And then the Board adjourned.

Friday February 6th 1807 This day being the day to which the Board stood adjourned but a sufficiency of members not attending from the inclemency of the weather to form a Board the same is adjourned Sine die.

a8The fire at the home of John D. Hay in 1814 destroyed the original records dealin with these early land sales. Ewbank and Riker, Law8 of Indiana %etoq/ 1809-1 81 6, pp. 72-73. Vincennes University 333

At a Special meeting called by the President and so advertised at the Territorial Secretaries Office in Vincennes on Thursday February 12th 1807 10 O’clock A.M. When were present the following members : Wm. Hy. Harrison President, Henry Vanderburg, Waller Taylor, James Johnson, John Badollet, Elias McNamee, John R. Jones, George Wallace Jr., Peter Jones, Will. Bullet Jr., Jacob Kuykendall, and Genl. W. Johnston. Governor Harrison from the Committee appointed on the 9th ulto. to sell certain Tracts of land in the Township belonging to the Vincennes University Reported that the Com- mittee had agreeably to their Instructions disposed of five Quarter Sections to wit: the N. E. & N. W. quarters of Section No. 13 to Isaac Montgomery,so The N. E. quarter of Section No. 14 to Robert Evans,40 The N. W. quarter of Section 28 to Robert Anderson,*l & the N. E. quarter of Section No. 27 to the said Robert Anderson”. And the Committee further report that the said Tracts were sold at the prices respectively which were fixed by the Resolution of the Board, i. e. the N. E. quarter of No. 13 at Two Dollars per acre. The N. W. of the same at Two Dollars & fifty cents and the N. W. quarter of 28 and the N. E. quarter of 27 at three Dollars. Mr. Montgomery has paid Two hundred and forty Dollars being the first Instalment on his two Quarters And Mr. Anderson

39 Isaac Montgomery, a native of Virginia, came to Indiana in 1805, took up farming, and was active in politics in Knox and later in Gibson County. During the territorial period he served as justice of the peace in Knox County (1810), judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Gibson County (1813), and member of the House of Representatives (1813). Following statehood, Montgomery was a member of the Sfate Senate (1817-1820, 1823-1828 and of the House of Representatlves (1840-1841). Thornbrough and Riker, Journals o . . . Indiana Territory, 996-997; Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana cem*tory 1809-1816,pp. 828, 841, 852. 40 Robert Evans, another Virginian, moved to the Vincennes area in 1805 and, like Isaac Montgomery, combined farming with public service in county, territorial, and state government. Evans served as justice of the peace in Knox County (1806), colonel in the territorial militia during the War of 1812, member of the House of Re resentatives (1813), clerk-recorder of Gibson County (1813-1819), an8 member of the state House of Representatives (1819-1830). Evansville, Indiana, is named for him. Riker, “Unedited Letters of Jonathan Jennings,” 214; Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Territory 1809-1816, pp. 827, 842, 852; Thornbrough and Riker, Journals of . . . Indiana Territory, 972. Evans published in the Western Sun, February 25, 1809, a denial of “a report in circulation” that he was “a candidate at the next election for representatives. . . .” 41 In 1813 a relief act of the legislature granted Robert Anderson and Isaac Montgomery “two dollars per day [for eleven days’ work] viewizg a road from Hazelton’s ferry on White river, to Shawneetown . . . . Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Temitoly 1809-1816,p. 340. 334 Indiana Magazine of History six hundred Dollars which is nearly the amount of the first & Second Instalments on his Two Quarters. Mr. Evans has contracted for his Quarter but has not yet made any payment, but it is believed that he will at least discharge the first Instalment before the 15 days allowed him from the Date of the Contract shall expire. The Committee are of [the] opinion that none of the persons who are settled on the other Quarter Sections which they were directed to sell have any expectation of purchasing them. They therefore recommend that other measures be adopted for the sale of them. Which Report being read was concurred in by the Board. Mr. J. R. Jones from the Committee appointed on the 10th Ulto. to receive the Deed from Judge Vanderburg for the site of the Seminary and to Draw on the Treasurer for the ZOO$ the consideration therefor Together with the expenses for drawing [and] Recording the same Reported that the Committee had discharged the said duty That the expense for writing and Recording the said Deed was Three Dollars & seventy five cents & which has together with the 200$ been paid by the Treasurer. On Motion-Ordered that the said report be concurred in and that the said Deed be filed by the Clerk of this Board. On Motion-Resolved that the Treasurer be directed to advance Two hundred Dollars of the money in his hands to William Henry Harrison taking his note for the amot. payable to the Treasurer with Interest at the rate of six per centum per Annum. The said ZOO$ with the Interest to be paid at 10 days after the same shall be demanded. On Motion-Resolved that the Treasurer be and he is hereby directed to pay to the President of the Board the amount expended by him in causing the advertisement for a Teacher to be inserted in the different public prints he taking his receipt therefor. On Motion-Resolved that the Treasurer be & he is hereby allowed the sum of four Dollars for a Book purchased by him for keeping his accounts-And that the Treasurer pay to the Clerk fifty cents for a Record Book by him furnished. Resolved also that a Committee of Two members be appointed to examine & Report to the Board at their next meeting what compensation it would be proper to allow the Clerk & Treasurer for their services respectively. And the same was appointed of Messrs. Taylor & Wallace. Vincennes University 335

On Motion-The Board came to the following Resolution : “The Committee Appointed to sell sundry Tracts of land belonging to the University having reported that they had disposed of five quarter Sections thereof amounting to 800 acres and that none of the persons who are settled on the other Quarter Sections which they were directed to sell have any expectation of purchasing them.” Resolved therefore that the said Committee dispose by private sale of the residue of the 4000 acres of land directed by law to be sold On the credit mentioned in the former resolve provided that no sale shall be made at a less price than 21,$ Dollars per acre and that liberty of choice of sections be given the purchaser. On Motion-Resolved, that a Committee of three be appointed to receive proposals for furnishing the Brick, Stone, Timber, Plank, and shingles as contemplated in the Resolution of the 2nd January Inst. for erecting the Seminary, and for the purpose of procuring the same on the best possible terms, they shall advertise in the different Townships in the County that proposals will be received by them until1 the first of April next immediately after which they shall report the several proposals received by them to the Board at its sittings succeeding the sd. 1st of April for their Acceptance or rejection- And the same was appointed of Messrs. G. W. Johnston, Peter Jones, & [Jacob] Kuykendall. The following Resolution was moved and seconded- Resolved that be a Committee to lease the whole of the Seminary lands (not directed to be sold) by Quarter Sections for the Term of years demanding no rent for the first years giving the first applicant preference of choice, and so on as applications are made Each Lessee paying Dollars, each & every year after the first years. Obliging each Lessee to plant a small Orchard of not less than One hundred Apple Trees within the first years & to take the necessary care of the same.‘* On Motion-Ordered that the said Resolution do lie on the Table.

42 The obligation to plant fruit trees, build fences, and clear land was a common one in the land leases of the period. Numerous instances are cited in Beverley W. Bond, The Civilization of the Old Northwest (New York, 1934), 318-320, 330-341. An advertisement of the terms of the University’s land leases, over the names of Benjamin Parke, John Johnson, and Robert Buntin, appeared in the Western Sun, March 25, 1809. 336 Indiana Magazine of Histoyl

On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn until1 the first Friday in March next to wit the 6th day of the said month. And then the Board adjourned accordingly.

Friday March 6th 1807 3 P.M. The Board met according to Adjournment. Present the following members : John Gibson Senr., Henry Vanderburg, James Johnson, Francois Vigo, Luke Decker, Elias McNamee, John R. Jones, Henry Hurst, Samuel McKee Jr., Jacob Kuykendall, Peter Jones, and Genl. W. Johnston. Genl. John Gibson took the chair under appointment as President pro Tem. Mr. J. R. Jones from the Committee appointed for the sale of the University land Reported that the Corn. had made no farther sale since the last meeting but that they had received the following proposals which being received & read were concurred in, in the following words & figures: “Proposals to the Committee of the Vincennes University. I wish to purchase the South East Quarter of the 11th Section of the Township granted by Congress to this Territory for the use & benefit of said University for which I will give fifteen shillings per Acre and pay one third against the 1st day of July next and the ballance according to the Terms of the former Resolution of the Board of Trustees and in case of failure to make sd. first payment accdly to pay Damage of 15 per cent to the use of the University. And Mr. Evans responds that the applicant if he completes the purchase shall pay at the rate of 6 pr. Ct. pr. Ann. from this time to 1st July on the first payment. March 2nd 1807 William Harringt~n‘~ Robert M. Evans laid before the Board the following proposals & petition which being received & severally read were concurred in by the Board in the following words & figures : Proposals I wis[h] to purchase the North West Quarter of the first Section of the Seminary Township for which I will give

43The act which created “two new counties out of the county of Knox” (1813) provided that, until “public buildings” were available, “the courts of Common Pleas. for the county of Gibson, shall be held at the house of William Harnnnton. . . .” Harrinnton sat on the court from April to December, 1813.- Ewbank and Rib, Laws of -Zndkna Ternitmy 1809-1816, pp. 58, 350, 841. Vincennes University 337

two Dollars & fifty cents per acre & pay one third against the first day of July next, and the ballance according to the first Resolution of the Board and in case of failure on my part to pay the said first payment accordingly I will pay a Damage of 15 pr. Cent to the use of the University & forfeit the land etc. March 6th 1807 Robert M. Evans Whereas I have contracted for the N. E. Quarter of the 14th Section of the Seminary Township & have failed in making my first payment according to agreement I humbly pray Indulgence untill the 1st day of July next to make sd. first payment & in case I fail to make sd. first payment at that time I am willing to pay a Damage of 15 per Cent to the use of the University & forfeit all claim to said land etc. I will also pay legal Interest upon the 1st payment from this day untill the 1st July in case I complete the purchase. March 6th 1807 Robert M. Evans Touissaints Dubois laid before the Board the following proposal which being received & read was concurred in as follows : “Touisst. Dubois proposes to purchase the Quarter Sec- tion Mr. McGarey lately lived on On the same Terms & penalties as are mentioned in the foregoing proposals. On Motion-Resolved that the Committee for the disposal of the Seminary lands be authorized to contract with the several above named persons for the several Tracts in the respective proposals, mentioned on the Terms therein con- tained. On Motion-Ordered that the Committee who were appointed on the 12th Feby. Ulto. to report what compensation it would be proper to allow the Clerk and Treasurer for their services respectively have for their time untill the next meeting to make their said report. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn untill the first Monday in April next-And then the Board adjourned accordingly.

Monday April 6th 1807 The Board met according to adjournment. Present the following members : William Henry Harrison President, John Johnson, James Johnson, Henry Hurst, Peter Jones, John R. Jones, John Badollet, Waller Taylor, Francois Vigo, Elias McNamee, Jacob Kuykendall, and Genl. W. Johnston. 338 Indiana Magazine of History

Judge Taylor from the Committee appointed on the 12th February ulto. to examine & Report what compensation it would be proper to allow the Clerk and Treasurer for their respective services Reported the following Resolutions : “Resolved that the Clerk be allowed one Dollar & fifty cents per day for every day that he shall Act for the Board, that is, every day when the Board meet either by a requisi- tion of the President or by agreement of the Members and that he be allowed the sum of fifty cents for a Book furnished by him to take down the Minutes of the Proceedings. 2ndly Resolved that the Treasurer be allowed four Dollars for a Book purchased by him for the purpose of keeping an account of the receipts & expenditures of money belonging to the Institution. The Committee being unacquainted with the duties of Treasurer and conceiving that the Board will be better able to Judge by the Reports which he will necessarily from time to [time] make to them of the business he has done or may have to do respectfully submit to them the propriety of granting him a Compensation adequate to the services per- formed. They are fully impressed with the necessity of allow- ing him a compensation but under existing circumstances are at a loss to ascertain the quantum he may merit. March 1st 1807 Signed Waller Taylor C [lerk] Which being severally twice read-On Motion-Ordered that the first Resolution be concured in but that the second be dispensed with. Mr. G. W. Johnston from the Committee appointed on the 12th Feby. Ulto. to receive and report proposals for furnishing the Bricks, Stone, Shingles, timber, and Plank to erect the seminary Reported : “That the Committee had according to order advertised for receiving proposals from the 14th Feby. Ulto. (the time of advertising) Until the 1st Inst. by circulating five manu- script advertisments thro the County and enclosing one to the Editor of the Western World (which appeared in the 38th Number of that paper.“ That they have received the following proposals for furnishing the following materials viz :

44The Western World was published at Frankfort, Kentucky. Carter, Terrttoriul Papers, VII, 669n; ibid., Vol. VIII, The Territory of Indiana, 1810-1816 (Washington, 1939), 94. Vincennes University 339

cr) \ r( 0 00 0 00 m u3

m m m m 0 u c, w3 Lo 0 0 Lo 3

0 A 0 F (d 2 z 03 340 Indiana Magazine of History

Which Report being taken up & the several accompanying documents read. On Motion-Resolved that the proposals of Will. Caru- thers & Will. Hogue for shingles, Ben. Beckes, Isaac Miner, James Neal, & Thomas Coulter be severally rejected. And that those of William Hogue for timber & Andrew Wilkins for shingles be accepted of. On Motion-Resolved that the Committee who were appointed on the 12th Feby. to receive proposals for materials for the University be instructed to contract with Andrew Wilkins for the shingles & with Will. Hogue for the Timber agreably to the Terms of their proposals And also to make a contract for 500 lb. Nails assorted. Henry Vanderburg appeared and took his seat. Genl. W. Johnston (as Clerk of the Board) returned his thanks to the Board for their confidence And declined serving any longer in that capacity. The allowance as made by the Board not being in his estimation a sufficient remuneration for his services. Whereupon on Motion-Resolved that Mr. Johnston be requested to continue as Clerk and that his allowance in

45 In 1807 fifteen dollars were deducted from the five hundred dollar “annuity” paid to the Kickapoos “for a Cow killed by them in 1805, belonging to Wm. Hogue. . . .” Carter, Tem’torial Papers, VII, 447. 46 Benjamin Beckes served on the General Quarter Sessions (1800- 1803) and Circuit (January to September, 1814) courts and was Knox County sheriff (1813-1820),a position which, he found, in 1820 had “become disgusting” because he had “so many friends who are un- fortunate enough to be in my clutches. . . .” Beckes was a presidential elector in 1828. Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Temitory 1809- 1816, pp. 850-853; Dorothy Riker (ed.), Executive Proceedings of the State of Indiana 1816-1856 (Indzuna Historical Collections, Vol. XXIX; Indianapolis, 1947), 9, 282. President Isaac K. Beckes of Vincennes University is a descendent of Benjamin Beckes. 47 Isaac Miner’s name appears on a petition to President Jefferson in 1808 denouncing John Rice Jones as, among other things, “violent and indecent . . . the ringleader of party spirit and desention.” Miner was a justice of the peace in Knox County from 1819 to 1825. Carter, Territorial Papers, VII, 627-628; Riker, Executive Proceedings, 98, 492n. 4’3Thomas Coulter carried “the mails on the route No. 194 from Louisville to Vincennes . . . at 545 D[ollars] per and’ (1809), and is listed as justice of the peace in Posey County in October, 1815. Carter, Territorial Papers, VII, 641, 659, 661; Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Territory 1809-1816, p. 856. Coulter’s notices to owners of stray horses, which he “took up . . . on the road leadin from Vincennes to Louisville,” were printed in the Westm Sun on fune 3, 1809, and on May 5, 1810. 49A veteran of the Tippecanoe campaign in 1811, Wilkins rose to the rank of major in the Indiana militia (1814 and was later elected a justice of the peace in Knox County (1833). 1sarey, Messages and Letters, I, 627; Riker, Executzve Proceedings, 495. Vincennes University 341 stead of one Dollar & a half per Day be Two Dollars to be paid him by the Treasurer taking his receipt therefor upon the account to be by him Stated. The Clerk laid before the Board a letter which he had heretofore received from Mr. John Moore Frankfort Ky. containing tender of his services as a Teacher with the answer of the Clerk thereto, Whereupon On Motion-Ordered that the same be filed. On Motion-Resolved that the Treasurer of the Univer- sity be allowed Two & a half per Centum upon all monies by him received. And that the same be considered as his compensation exclusive of Stationary, for paying as well as receiving. On Motion-Resolved that the Committee to whom the power was to day given to contract for the Timber & Shingles be also authorized to contract with any one or more persons for the delivery of such Quantity or Quantities of Brick, Stone, and Plank as are wanted for the use of the University on the best Terms they can procure them and that the said Committee attend to the delivery of the Articles by them contracted for and report their Proceedings therein to the Board. Mr. J. R. Jones from the Committee for the disposal of public lands the Seminary lands Reported that William Harrington had completed his first payment for the land purchased by him and that the Committee had agreably to order entered into contract with Robert M. Evans. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn Sine die. And then the Board adjourned accordingly.

At a Special Meeting called by the President and so advertised at the Territorial Secretary’s Office in Vincennes on Friday the 17th April 1807 When were present the following members : William Henry Harrison President, Benjamin Parke,50John Badollet, Waller Taylor, Jacob Kuykendall, John Johnson, John Gibson

60 A native of New Jersey who came to Vincennes by way of Kentucky in 1802, Parke became a leading figure in the political, military, legal, and cultural affairs of the territory and, later, of the state. Besides being territorial attorney general (1804-1808), a member of the first General Assembly, delegate to Congress (1805-1808), judge of the General Court of Indiana Territory (1808-1816), a key member of the Constitutional Convention (1816), and United States District Court judge (1816-1836), Parke was active in the territorial and state 342 Indiana Magazine of History

Senior, Henry Vanderburg, Peter Jones, Francois Vigo, Elias McNamee, Samuel McKee Jr., John R. Jones, James Johnson, and Genl. W. Johnston. Governor Harrison from the Committee for the disposal of the University lands laid before the Board the following proposals : “I wish to purchase the N. W. Quarter of 33d Section of the Seminary Township for which I will give Two Dollars pr. Acre and pay one third part of the price in hand, & the Ballance according to the former Resolution of the Board of Trustees. If I should pay more than the third in hand I will expect 6 pr. Ct. Interest on So much as I should pay down over & above the One third part. Apl. 7 1807 Walter Montgomery I wish to purchase the S. W. Quarter of the 33d Section of the Seminary Township for which I will give Two Dollars Per Acre, and pay one third part of the price in hand and the Ballance accd. to the former resolution of the Board of Trustees-If I should pay more than the One third part in hand I will expect Interest at the rate of 6 per Ct. on so much as I should pay over & above the One third part. Apl. 7 1807 John Warwick Which Two several propositions being taken up and read On Motion-Ordered that they be rejected. On Motion-Resolved that Henry Vanderburg & Jacob Kuykendall be & they are hereby appointed a Committee to contract for having a Post & Rail Fence placed round the Lot of the University so as to enclose the same-the expense of which shall be paid by the Treasurer upon the order of the said Committee. On Motion-Resolved that the Committee who were heretofore appointed for contracting for materials be & they are hereby authorized to employ a Draftsman to draw a plan of the house contemplated to be built in which the several proportions Shall be designated the better to enable the said Committee to contract with certainty for the same. The ex-

militias and was frequently involved in Indian treaty negotiations. The variety of his interests in public affairs was matched by his participation in cultural and social ones. He was an active member of the Board until 1821; he was chosen first secretary and was later president of the Vincennes Subscription Library (founded in 1806, also); he was the first president of the Indiana Historical Society, and he helped found the Indiana Law Library. Thornbrough and Riker, Journals of. . . Zndiana Territory, 999-1001. Vincennes University 343 pense of which shall be paid by the Treasurer upon the order of the said Committee. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjouim Sine die. And then the Board adjourned accordingly. At a Special meeting called by the President (and so advertised) at the Territorial Secretaries Office in Vincennes on Wednesday the 13th May 1807 at 3 P.M. When were present the following members : William Henry Harrison President, Henry Vanderburg, John Badollet, Samuel McKee Jr., Jacob Kuykendall, Peter Jones, James Johnson, Nathaniel Ewing, Waller Taylor, Elias McNamee, Francois Vigo, John Gibson Senr., and Genl. W. Johnston. On Motion-Ordered that a Committee of five members be appointed to examine the qualifications of Thomas Carter Who proposes to undertake the Office of Teacher of the English language, Writing, & certain branches of the Mathe- matics. When the same were appointed consisting of Messrs. McKee, McNamee, Vanderburg, Taylor, & Harrison, the Chair- man of whom reported, That he was not in their opinion Qualified & that his proposals should therefore be rejected. Upon Motion-Ordered that the said report be concurred in. On Motion-Resolved that the Committee heretofore appointed to contract for the necessary materials for erecting the University building Be & they are hereby authorised to extend their contracts for Timber &: Shingles so as to include the necessary Quantity of those Articles-And that they be also authorized to contract for the plank at a sum not exceeding Eleven shillings per hundred feet for the best kind delivered on the University ground. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn sine die. And then the Board Adjourned accordingly. At a Special Meeting called by the President and so advertised at the Territorial Secretary’s Office on Tuesday 19th May 1807 at 3 P.M. When were present the following members : William Hy. Harrison President, Henry Vander- burg, Francois Vigo, Henry Hurst, John Johnson, James Johnson, Nathaniel Ewing, Samuel McKee Jr., Peter Jones, Elias McNamee, John Badollet, Jacob Kuykendall, & Genl. W. Johnston. 344 Indiana Magazine of History

Governor Harrison laid before the Board a proposal from Doc. Adam Goodlet as a Teacher of the languages which being read On Motion-Ordered that a Committee be appointed to wait upon him (the Doctor) and know whether he will undertake to serve as Master of the Grammar School and to superintend the English School.51 When the same were appointed consisting of Messrs. McKee Jr. & Jno. Johnson. Doctor McKee from the above Committee reported that they had waited upon Doctor Goodlet who had informed them that he would undertake to act in the said Capacity Upon having the assistance of an Usher.62 Governor Harrison from the Committee for the disposal of the Seminary lands Reported, That the Committee had contracted with Thomas Emi~on~~for the sale of the entire Section No. 22 and the N. E. quarter of Section 32 at Two & one half Dollars per Acre and also with James Emison for the N. E. & S. E. Quarters of Section 28 at the like sum. And that the Committee had received proposals for the Sale of Two additional Quarters at 2 50/100$ per acre - On Motion-Ordered that the said Committee Shall not nor do not hereafter sell any of the lands under three Dollars Per Acre. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do Adjourn until1 Friday next the 22nd Instant. And then the Board adjourned accordingly.

At a special meeting called by the President and so advertised at the Territorial Secretaries office in Vincennes on Friday the 22nd May 1807 3 P.M. When were present the following members viz : William Henry Harrison President, John Gibson Senr., Elias Mc-

61 See footnote 24. 62The “usher” whose title was still common in the nineteenth century, especially in England, was the schoolmaster’s assistant. The terms “under-master” and “assistant-master” were used to describe the same position. 53 The Emison family moved to Knox County from Kentucky in 1804 and established a milling business. An advertisement in the Western Sun, December 7, 1811, announced that “Thomas Emmison . . . will give Seventy five cents per bushel for good merchantable Wheat at his Mill, on Maria creek.’’ A descendant of this family, Mr. Ewing Emison, is currently a member of the Vincennes University Board of Trustees. Vincennes University 345

Namee, Henry Vanderburg, John Johnson, James Johnson, Peter Jones, Francois Vigo, Saml. McKee Jr., Jacob Kuy- kendall, Henry Hurst, and Genl. W. Johnston. On Motion-Resolved that Doc. Goodlet be informed that the Board have a very favorable opinion of his character & Qualifications for the superintendance of the Grammar School attached to their institution and there is little doubt if his situation enabled him to commence his school immediately that his proposals would be accepted upon Terms that would meet his approbation. But as the Board are extremely desirous that the opening of the school should not be unnecessarily procrastinated they cannot at this time engage him. But from their opinion of his Qualifications as above expressed they are persuaded that if no other person is employed previously to the time which the Doctor has fixed for returning to this Country there is every probability that his services will be accepted. Resolved also that the Clerk make out a Copy of these Resolutions and that Doctor McKee & Colo. Vigo be a Com- mittee to hand them to Doc. Goodlet. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn sine die. And then the Board adjourned accordingly.

At a Special meeting called by the President & so advertised at the house of John D. Hays4 in Vincennes on Friday the 9th June 1807 2 P.M. When were present the following members : John Gibson President, John Badollet, Waller Taylor, Saml. McKee Jr., John Johnson, James Johnson, F. Vigo, E. McNamee, Jac. Kuykendall, Hy. Vanderburg, Will. Bullitt Jr., Peter Jones, Hy. Hurst, & G. W. Johnston. Genl. Gibson took the chair under Appointment as Presi- dent pro. Tem. On Motion-Resolved it is inexpedient for the Board of Trustees of the Vincennes University to employ a Teacher of the languages at this time.

54 John D. Hay’s tavern was frequently the meeting place for the Board. A veteran of the Tippecanoe campaign, he later became post- master at Vincennes (1813) and was Knox County recorder (180’7-1817). In January, 1814, many of the county’s records were destroyed in a fire at his home. Smith, Historical Sketches, 180-183; Carter, Ter- ritorial Papers, VII, 18; Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Territory 1809-1816, p. 781. He was elected clerk of the Board to succeed Jonathan Jennings on November 21, 1808. 346 Indiana Magazine of History

On Motion of Saml. McKee Jr. seconded by Doc. Kuy- kendall the Question was taken on the following Resolution: Resolved that no invitation or encouragement to induce any Gentleman Qualified to teach a School be given by the Board until1 a majority of them agree in the necessity of the measure-Which passed in the negative. On Motion-Resolved that a Committee of two members be appointed to wait upon Doc. A. Goodlet & inform him that it is inexpedient for the Board of Trustees to employ a Teacher of the Grammar school at this time-When the same were appointed of Messrs. Vanderburg & Hurst. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do Adjourn Sine die. And then the Board adjourned accordingly.

At a Special meeting persuant to Advertisement by three members at the House of Doctr. McNamee in Vincennes on Tuesday the 16th June 1807. When were present the following members : John Gibson Senr., E. McNamee, Henry Vanderburg, Jac. Kuykendall, John Badollet, Luke Decker, George Leech, Will. Bullitt Jr., Fr. Vigo, James Johnson, Henry Hurst, & George Wallace Jr. Genl. Gibson took the chair as President pro Tem. Docr. Kuykendall from the Committee appointed to contract for sundry materials to erect the seminary Reported that the Committee had contracted with Samuel for 20,000 Bricks and that agreably to that contract they had drawn on the Treasurer oi the University for the sum of three hundred Dollars. Therefore On Motion-Resolved that the Treasurer be & he is hereby directed to pay the said Draft the same being countersigned by the President of the Board for the time being. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn Sine Die. And then the Board adjourned accordingly.

At a Special meeting persuant to the Presidents advertisement at the Tavern of John D. Hay in Vincennes on Friday the 10th July 1807

65Samuel Thompson was one of the first five trustees named in the Act of Incorporation of the Indiana Presbyterian church in 1810. Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Territory 1809-1816, pp. 192-194. His name appeared in the Western Sun of January 27, 1808, in connection with the sale of part of his land for taxes. Vincennes University 347

When were present the following members : William Hy. Harrison President, George Wallace Jr., Saml. McKee Jr., Jacob Kuykenrall, John R. Jones, Will. Bullit Jr., Benja. Parke, Nathl. Ewing, James Johnson, John Badollet, Francois Vigo, Elias McNamee, John Johnson, John Gibson, Henry Hurst, Peter Jones, Henry Vanderburg, and Genl. W. Johnston. On Motion-Resolved that the Resolutions entered into the 9th Ulto. in the following words be rescinded : “Resolved that it is inexpedient for the Board of Trustees of the Vincennes University to employ a Teacher of the languages at this time, On Motion-Resolved that all Resolutions relative to the employing of Docr. Goodlett as a Teacher of the Grammar school be and they are hereby rescinded. Genl. W. Johnston as Chairman of the Committee for procuring sundry materials for the Seminary Building Re- ported that the Committee had contracted with Andrew Wilkins for the 20,000 Shingles conformably to Resolution. The President Executed to Tousst. Dubois a Deed for the South East Quarter of Section Twelve in the Seminary Township. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn Sine die. And then the Board adjourned accordingly.

At a Special meeting of the Board pursuant to the Presidents advertisement at the Tavern of John D. Hay in Vincennes on Friday the 18th July 1807 2 O’clock P.M. When were present the following members : Wiliam Hy. Harrison President, John Gibson Senr., John Johnson, Hy. Vanderburg, Benja. Parke, Peter Jones, Henry Hurst, James Johnson, Elias McNamee, Saml. McKee Jr., George Wallace Jr., John Badollet, Nathaniel Ewing, Jacob Kuykendall, Will. Bullitt Jr., John R. Jones, Francois Vigo, and Genl. W. Johnston. The following Resolution to wit: “Resolved that the Committee appointed on the 15th Decr. Ulto. to Draft a set of Rules for the Government of this Board be and they are hereby discharged being moved & seconded on the Question being taken thereon. Passed in the negative. 348 Indiana Magazine of History

On Motion-Resolved that upon the call of any two members the yeas & nays shall be taken. On Motion-Resolved that the Committee appointed on the 15th Dew. Ulto. to Draft a sett of Rules for the Govern- ment of the Board be & they are hereby directed to make their Report by and at the meeting succeeding the first of August ensuing. On Motion of Docr. McKee seconded by Mr. Bullitt Whether the words made use of by him the Doctor in a former Debate to wit: “that certain proceedings of the Board were little honorable to the members who composed it” should receive the censure of the Board-It passed in the negative. The yeas and Nays being called for those who voted in the affirmative are : James Johnson John Badollet affirmative and Genl. W. Johnston Yeas, 3 Those who voted in the negative are: Messrs. Harrison, Gibson, Jno. Johnson, Vander- burg, Parke, P. Jones, Hurst, McNamee, Wallace Nays Jr., Ewing, Bullitt Jr., Kuykendall, & J. R. Jones. 13 On Motion-Ordered that Mr. Parke be added to the Committee appointed on the 15th Decr. Ulto. to Draft a set of Rules. On Motion-Resolved that a Committee of five members be appointed to ascertain what sum will be necessary for the establishment of & yearly support of a school which shall embrace the teaching of the English language, the Rudiments of the Latin language, the French Language, History, Geography, and the Mathematics and also the sum which it is probable can be raised from the Scholars which may be sent to said school and that they make their report by & at the meeting on the first Friday in August ensuing and the same was appointed of Messrs. Parke, Vanderburg, G. W. Johnston, J. R. Jones, Jno. Johnson, & Kuykendall. The following Resolution viz: Resolved that for the support of a school of the above description a sum not exceeding $300 shall be appropriated out of the funds of the Seminary being moved & seconded. On Motion-Ordered that the same shall be postponed untill the first friday in August next. On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn untill the first Friday in August next ensuing. And then the Board adjourned accordingly. Vincennes University 349

Friday August 7th 1807 The Board met according to Adjournment. Present the following members : William Henry Harrison President, Luke Decker, John R. Jones, John Johnson, Nathaniel Ewing, James Johnson, John Badollet, John Gibson Senr., Benja. Parke, Elias McNamee, Henry Vanderburgh, Peter Jones, George Wallace Jr., Francois Vigo, Henry Hurst, Sad. McKee Jr., and Genl. W. Johnston. Mr. J. R. Jones from the Committee appointed to Draft a set of Rules for the government of the Board Reported the following : Rules and orders for the Government of the Board of Trustees of the Vincennes University Of the President 1st. The President with two members of the Board or in case of the absence of the President three three [sic] members of the Board shall be sufficient to adjourn and send for absent members and with a majority may proceed to business. 2nd. The President shall take his seat at the day and hour to which the Board shall have been adjourned at the former meeting or in case of a special meeting at the day and hour to which it shall have been called. The President, or in case of his absence the President pro. Tem. shall call the members to order and on appearance of a majority the proceedings of the former meeting shall be read. 3d. He shall preserve order and decorum, may speak to points of order in preference to other members, rising from his chair for that purpose ; He shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the Board, on the request of any Two members. 4th. He shall appoint Committees subject to addition or alteration by a motion of any member, and sanctioned by a majority of the Board. 5th. He may state the Question sitting but shall rise to put the Question. 6th. Questions shall be distinctly put in the following manner to wit : “all you who are of opinion (as the case may be) say “aye” all of the contrary opinion say “no.” 7th. If the President doubts or a division be called for the house shall divide; those in the affirmative of the Question shall first rise from their seats, and afterwards those in the 3 50 Indiana Magazine of History negative; and then the President shall rise and state the decision of the Board. 8th. The President shall not vote unless the house be equally divided, in that case he shall have the casting vote; except in the election of Officers of the Board of Trustees in which case he shall vote. 9th. Whenever the President wishes to speak on any Question before the Board, he shall call any member to the Chair and shall then address himself to “Mr. Chairman.’’ Of the Clerk 10th. The Clerk if a member of the Board shall have a right to vote and debate on all Questions. Of Debate 11th. When a member is about to speak in Debate, or deliver any matter to the house he shall rise and respectfully address to “Mr. President.” 12th. If any member in speaking or otherwise transgress the rules of the Board the President shall or any member may call to order; and the member called to order shall immediately sit down unless permitted to explain ; and the Board if appealed to shall decide without debate. If the decision shall be in favor of the member called to order he shall be at liberty to proceed. If against him and the case require it he shall be liable to the Censure of the Board. 13th. When two or more members shall rise at once the President shall name the person who is first to speak. 14th. No member shall speak more than twice to the same subject without leave of the Board nor more than once until1 every member choosing to speak has spoken. 15th. Whilst the President is putting the Question or ad- dressing the Board no member shall walk across or out of the house, neither in such case or when a member is speaking shall any entertain private discourse nor whilst a member is speaking shall any pass between him and the chair. 16th. No member shall vote on any Question in the event of which he is immediately and particularly interested or in any other case where he was not present when the Question was put. 17th. Every member who shall be in the Board when the Question is put shall vote on one side or the other, unless the Board for special reasons shall excuse him, Vincennes University 351

18th. When a motion is made & seconded it shall be stated by the President or if it be in writing it shall be handed to the chair & read aloud by the Clerk before debated. 19th. Every Motion shall be reduced to writing if the Presi- dent or any member require it. 20th. After a Motion is stated by the President or read by the Clerk it shall be deemed in possession of the Board but it may be withdrawn at any time before a decision or amendment. 21st. When a Question is under debate no motion shall be received, unless to amend it, to commit it, or to Adjourn. 22nd. A Motion to adjourn shall always be in order & shall be decided without debate. 23d. Any member may call for a division of the Question when the sense will admit of it. 24th. A Motion for Commitment until1 it is decided shall preclude all amendment. 25th. Motions and reports may be committed at the pleasure of the Board. 26th. If a Question be lost by adjournment of the Board & revived on the succeeding day no member who has spoken twice On the day preceeding shall be permitted again to speak without leave. 27th. Petitions, memorials, & other papers addressed to the Board may be presented by any member who shall state the contents thereof; which may be received, read, & referred on the same day to the proper Committee if the Board agree thereto. 28th. Upon a call of the Board for the Yeas & Nays on any Question the names of the members shall be called. 29th. Any member shall have a right to call for the yeas & nays provided he shall request before the Question [is] put. 30th. No member shall name another member present in debate. Which being severally twice read was, were agreed to by the Board. Mr. Parke from the Committee to whom were referred the Resolution for ascertaining what sum would be necessary for the establishment & yearly support of a school which should embrace the teaching of the English language, the rudiments of the Latin language, the French language, His- 352 Indiana Magazine of History tory, Geography, and the mathematics and also the sum which could probably be raised from scholars that might be sent to the said school. Report: That they have had the said subject under consideration and have agreed that teaching the English language, the rudiments of the Latin language, History, Geography, and the mathematics might be had for five hundred Dollars per year. The concomitant expenses per year, stove, benches, and tables at one hundred Dollars and the repairs of the house during the current year at ten Dollars would make the costs of the establishments for teaching the above branches of learning amount to seven hundred and ten Dollars, but as the stove, benches, and tables would remain on hand at the expiration of the year and very little injured and would answer for the use of a school the succeeding year, It would be proper to deduct as the price of those articles the sum of seventy Dollars which could make the neat [net] expence of the said establishment for one year six hundred and forty Dollars. In regard of the French language, your Committee are of opinion that it might be taught for three hundred and fifty Dollars per year and that the contingent expences would be embraced in the above estimate.66 Respecting the sum which could probably be raised from subscriptions for scholars to be sent to the said school your Committee beg leave there to report that in order to ascertain the sum that could be so raised four subscription paperssT were prepared and circulated in the Town and through different parts of the Country. In these it was proposed that any one who subscribed for a scholar to be taught the English language, the rudiments of the Latin language, History , Geography, and the Mathemat- ics should pay unto the Treasurer of the Vincennes Univer- sity sixteen Dollars per annum one Quarter thereof in advance

58 A committee appointed later to “take into consideration the subject of organizing a [Grammar] School” reported that it “con- sider[ed] it unnecessary at present to establish a school for teaching the French language as it is not known that there is any demand for a school for that purpose.” Minutes, January 26, 1811. 67 The financing of schools by subscri tion was a standard practice prior to the advent of the tax-supportedP “public” school. The “subscription school,” organized by parents or teachers or in some instances, town promoters, provided the only “rudiments of iearning” available in many areas throughout the first half of the century. Buley, Old Northwest, 11, 343-344. Vincennes University 353 on the commencement of the said school and furnish a just proportion of fuel for said school not however to exceed one chord per scholar or pay unto the said Treasurer one Dollar and fifty cents in lieu thereof. And like subscriptions were open for scholars to be taught the French language at ten Dollars per year each and furnishing fuel in the same manner or to pay one Dollar and fifty cents per year for each scholar in lieu thereof. The success in obtaining scholars has not it is believed been such as was expected no more than five scholars having been returned to the Chairman of your Committee. It is however proper to observe that Dr. Kuykendall one of the members of Committee has not returned the subscription paper lodged in his hands ; and it is not known what encouragement he has received towards the establishment of said school all which is respectfully submitted. On Motion-Ordered that the said report do lie on the Table. General Gibson in the chair. On Motion-Resolved that the Committee appointed to obtain subscriptions for the support of a school, be & they are hereby directed to make further exertions for that purpose, and that they Report their success to the Board. The President resumed the chair. On Motion-Resolved that the Treasurer of this Univer- sity do out of the money in Chest, lift & take up from Genl. W. Johnston Vincennes Post Master, the Governors Draft which he now holds on the Territory for $22 89y2/100 endorsing the same to the Trustees and that he receive the same of the Territorial Treasurer, so soon as a sufficient sum may & shall come into his hands. The President laid before the Board a petition from Robert Anderson praying to be relieved from the want of calculation of some interest a farther time for making his entire payment on Lands purchased by him and that he might receive a Deed for the N. W. Quarter of Sec. 28 which being received & read. On Motion-Ordered that the same be referred to a Com- mittee of two members and that they report thereon by and at next meeting & the same were appointed of Messrs. Hurst & McKee Jr. 354 Indiana Magazine of History

Mr. Jones presented the petition of Robert M. Evans praying for an actual survey to be made of the land purchased by him which being received and read. On Motion-Ordered that the same be refered to a Com- mittee of three members and that they report thereon by next meeting and the same was appointed of Messrs. Jno. Badollet, P. Jones, & N. Ewing. On Motion-Resolved that a Committee be appointed to draw a petition to Congress praying them to lay a small tax on the salt made at the Saline now worked by the authority of the U. S. for the use of the Vincennes and other Universities which may be established in this Territory and to grant to the Trustees of of [sic] the Vincennes University for the use of the same the Commons adjoining to Vincennes. And the same was appointed of Messrs. John Johnson, G. W. Johnston, & John R. Jones. On Motion-Resolved that a Committee be appointed to draw a petition to the Legislature of the Territory re- questing them to lay a Tax on Marriage licenses for the use of the Vincennes University and the same was appointed of Genl. Gibson & Docr. McNamee. On Motion-Resolved that the Committee appointed to Draft a petition to Congress be also instructed to petition that body to lay a tax on Indian licenses for the use of the Universities of said Territory. On Motion-Resolved that Genl. Gibson take the chair as president pro Tem. The President pro tem laid before the Board a letter from Governor Harrison as a member stating therein his resigna- ti~n.~~ On Motion-Resolved that a Committee of two members be appointed to wait upon his Excellency Gov. Harrison and request that he will continue not only as a member but as President of the Board and the same was appointed of Messrs. Vanderburg & Jno. Johnson.

J*Harrison rejoined the Board, as member and president, on September 12, 1807. The reason for his resignation is, unfortunately, not readily apparent. In a letter to Secretary Gallatin he referred to ‘‘a trifling misunderstanding which took place at the board of Trustees of the Vincennes University,’’ but he did not elaborate. William Henry Harrison to Albert Gallatin, August 29, 1809, in Carter, TelYritorial Papers, VII, 666. Vincennes University 355

On Motion-Ordered that the Board do adjourn until1 Monday week the 17th Instant at 10 O’clock A.M. And then the Board Adjourned accordingly.

Monday August 17th 1807 The Board met according to adjournment. Present the following members : Genl. John Gibson President pro tem, George Wallace Jr., Luke Decker, Peter Jones, Dr. Kuykendall, John Johnson, Genl. W. Johnston, James Johnson, John Badollet, Francois Vigo, Elias McNamee. Upon the resignation of G. W. Johnston as Clerk to the Board of Trustees Jonathan JenningsSRwas appointed Clerk pro Tem. Genl. W. Johnston from the Committee appointed for procuring materials laid before the Board the following proposals-viz : Robert Huston, Charles Boils, and William Berry will furnish the stone for the seminary for six hundred Dollars one hundred Dollars paid down we will bind ourselves to deliver them on the spot against the time appointed we wish to know the ensuing week. On Motion-Ordered that the same be rejected. Mr. J. Johnson from the Committee appointed to wait upon the Governor reported that the Committee had dis-

59 Jonathan Jennings had been in Vincennes less than a year at the time of this appointment, having moved there from Jeffersonville where he was admitted to the bar in 1806. He quickly became involved in territorial politics as a leading opponent of Governor Harrison and his group and, within a decade, demonstrated a remarkable talent for attracting voters. He was elected territorial delgate to Congress in 1809 (and re-elected in 1811, 1813, and 1815), served as president of the Indiana Constitutional Convention in 1816, and was elected first governor of the state the same year. In addition to his brief tenure as clerk of the Board, Jennings was employed during his months in Vincennes as a clerk in the land office and as an “assistant editor” of the Western Sun. Jacob P. Dunn, Indiana and Indianans (5 vols., Chicago, 1919), I, 262-263; Woolen, Sketches, 29-41; Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Terratory 1809-1816, pp. 821-822. At the meeting of April 4, 1808, the Board of Trustees formed a committee “to enqpire into the conduct of J[on$,han] Jennings as Clerk of the Board, and on November 21, 1808 . . . the resignation of Jonathan Jennings as Clerk of the Board was received and read.” On April 6, the Western Sun referred to “the same Jennings who certified the roceedings of the Board of Trustees for the Vincennes University (witiout the consent or the knowledge of the board). . . .” In a letter to the Western Sun on April 20, 1808, signed “Sand and Rosin,” it wag stated that Jennings certified the Board of Trustees’ proceedings in connection with its attempt to gain control of the Vincennes Commons and that the certification had been requested by General Washington Johnston. 356 Indiana Magazine of History charged that trust and that Governor Harrison informed them that he would state his reasons in a written communication to the Board. Mr. John Johnson from the Committee appointed to draft a Petition to Congress praying them to lay a tax on salt made at the Saline for the use of the Vincennes and other Universities which may be established in this Territory and a tax on Indian licenses and also that they would make a grant of the Vincennes Commons etc. Reported : To the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress Assembled Your Petitioners humbly pray and shew : That the Legislature of Indiana Territory in the year 1806 passed an Act incorporating an University in the District of Vincennes styled the Vincennes University and in the same act your Petitioners were authorized to dispose of a small part of the Township of land appropriated by an Act of Congress (for the use and support of a public school in the said District) for the purpose of erecting the necessary buildings for said institution and your Petitioners being convinced that an enlightened and virtuous people is the only depository of public liberty and wishing to carry the said institution into immediate effect but not being in possession of any funds which will at this time yield an annual income whereby your Petitioners would be enabled to establish the said institution on a liberal plan so as to be reached by all classes of citizens without encroaching on the Capital of said institution which your Petitioners conceive was only placed in their hands to make use of the profits thereof and the said Township of land being the only capital which they possess and being situate in a new Country and unimproved; where land is cheap and therefore will not lease to advantage it will of course yield no annual profit, probably for fifteen or twenty years during which time the citizens of the Territory will be subject to the inroads of ignorance, superstition, and faction which are inevitable consequences of the want of the benign influence of education and the liberal sciences-Your Petitioners seeing that our excellent Government (which was purchased at the expence of the lives of thousands of brave men) is liable to be assailed by the various arts of cunning and intrigue of designing, ambitious and desperate individuals, and also subject to the attacks of the silly and often deadly arts of foreign Politics, your Petitioners therefore being convinced Vincennes University 367 that the only safeguard and secure shield against the dark cunning of individuals and of foreign Governments is the blaze of science which will reach the mind of the plowboy as well as the most wealthy citizen and wishing to secure to the Citizen domestic happiness and stamp the principles of our Government upon their plastic minds, but not having the means to apply the remedy with a strong and steady hand we therefore pray that you may pass a law levying a small tax on Salt made at public works in this Territory and also lay a tax on Indian traders for the use of said institution until1 the other institutions to which Congress hath granted Dona- tions of land in this Territory are organized then to give said institutions a proportion of said tax-Your Petitioners like- wise pray that you may grant them the Commons adjoining Vincennes for the use of the Vincennes University.6o Which being read on motion of Genl. W. Johnston a division of the said report was called for on which the two first parts thereof viz., for laying a tax on Salt and on Indian licenses were unanimously agreed to. And on the third part praying for a grant of the Vincennes CommonsB1the yeas and nays were called for the Question being put those who voted in the affirmative were Messrs. George Wallace, John Johnson, James Johnson, Nathaniel Ewing, John Badollet, and Elias McNamee. Those who voted in the negative were Messrs. John R. Jones, Francis Vigo, Luke Decker, Jacob Kuykendall, and Genl. W. Johnston and so it was carried in the affirmative. A letter was received from Gen. W. Johnston stating his resignation as a member of said Board.62

60 Carter, Tem*torialPapers, VII, 492-493. 6lIn an act dated March 3, 1791, Congress granted to the inhabitants of Vincennes “a tract of land containing about five thousand four hundred acres . . . to be used by them as a Common until otherwise disposed of by law.” Ibid., 11, 341. 8zA relationship between the vote on Vincennes Commons and Johnston’s resignation is suggested by the fact that just one day before this Board meeting, August 16, 1807, Johnston addressed a “protest meeting” of the “French inhabitants of Vincennes” and was instructed in a resolution of that meeting to oppose the university’s acquiring control of the Commons. Western Sun, August 22, 1807. At the meeting of August 29, 1807, the board “expunged” the request for the Commons from its petition to Congress;, In a letter to the Western Sun, published April 20, 1808, and signed Sand and Rosin,” Johnston’s resignation was said to have been a direct result of the Board’s attempt to gain control of the Commons. 358 Indiana Magazine of History

On Motion-Ordered that the petition to Congress praying them to lay a tax on Salt etc. for the use of the Vincennes University be engrossed [and] signed by the President and countersigned by the Clerk and handed to our Delegate to Congress to On Motion-Ordered that the Committee appointed the last meeting have untill next meeting to report. And then the Board adjourned untill Saturday the twenty ninth of August. Saturday August 29th 1807 The Board met according to adjournment. The following members were present : Gen. John Gibson President Pro Tem, Peter Jones, John Badollet, Elias McNamee, Nathaniel Ewing, John Johnson, Francis Vigo, Jacob Kuykendall, J. R. Jones, Waller Taylor, Samuel Gwathmey, Henry Hurst, Henry Vanderburg, William Bullitt, and James Johnson. The Board proceeded to the election of a Clerk in the room of G. W. Johnston resigned and upon counting the ballots there appeared for John R. Jones one, for Henry Hurst five, and for Jonathan Jennings seven who was thereupon declared to be duly elected. John Badollet from the Committee appointed to take into consideration the Petition of Robert M. Evans Reported: Mr. President Your Committee to which was referred the petition of Robert M. Evans have pursuant to orders taken the same into consideration and are of opinion that the prayer of the petitioner ought to be granted. They therefore beg leave to offer the following resolutions : 1st. Resolved that the standing Committee appointed to sell a part of the Seminary lands be and they are hereby directed to employ the United States Deputy Surveyor and to cause him to run and mark the Quarter Sectional lines between the established corners of any Quarter Section that may hitherto have been or may hereafter be sold & to ascertain the true contents thereof.

83On December 17, 1807, the House Committee on Commerce and Manufactures reported after considering this petition that “ample provision having already been made for the support of public schools and for seminaries of learning in the district of Vincennes, the prayer of the trustees . . . is unreasonable, and ought not to be granted.” See Esarey, Messages and Letters, I, 281. Vincennes University 359

2nd. Resolved that whenever it shall appear by the returns of the Deputy Surveyor aforesaid that any tract differs in Quantity from the returns of the Surveyor General it shall be the duty of the Treasurer of this Board to credit the purchaser for any deficiency and to charge him with any excess that may appear on such returns at the original rate per acre. 3d. Resolved that the expense of such survey or surveys shall be defrayed by the Board and that the Treasurer be and is hereby authorized to pay the same on an order signed by a majority of the aforesaid standing Committee. On Motion-Ordered that the consideration of said Re- port be postponed untill next meeting. Genl. John Gibson from the Committee appointed to draft a petition to the Legislature of Indiana to lay a tax on marriage licences was excused from serving on said Com- mittee and John Johnson appointed in his stead. On Motion-Ordered that the Committee appointed to take into consideration the Petition of Robert Anderson have untill next meeting to Report. Peter Jones from the Committee appointed for procuring materials laid before the Board the following proposals viz: I will furnish for the Vincennes University one hundred perches of stone for four hundred and eighty Dollars the stone to be delivered on or before the first day of April next. William Hogue The subscriber proposes to furnish one hundred perches of stone at four Dollars and seventy five cents per perch to be delivered at the place of building the seminary in Vincennes the time of delivery as the parties may limit. William Snyder On Motion-Ordered that the proposals of Hogue and Snyder be postponed untill next meeting for consideration. On Motion-Ordered that William Bullitt be added to the Committee appointed to receive proposals for furnishing sundry materials. John Johnson from the Committee appointed to draft a petition to the Legislature of the Indiana Territory to lay a tax on marriage licences Reported To the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory : 360 Indiana Magazine of History

Your Petitioners humbly pray and shew that at the last Session of the Assembly an Act incorporating the Vincennes University was passed which authorized the Trustees of said University to dispose of a small Quantity of the Township of land (appropriated by Congress for the use of said institution) for the purpose of making the necessary buildings ; and your Petitioners not being in possession of any funds that will yield an annual income at this time and wishing to carry the said institution into immediate effect at least so far as the establishing of a grammar School which is the first stepping stone to the more advanced branches of science and not having sufficient funds for that purpose your petitioners therefore pray that you will pass a law laying a tax on marriage licences for the use of said school. Which being read the ayes and nays were called for the Question being put those who voted in favour of the petition were : John Badollet, Nathaniel Ewing, John Johnson, Francis Vigo, Henry Vanderburg, and James Johnson. Those who voted against the Petition were: Peter Jones, Jacob Kuykendall, Waller Taylor, Samuel Gwathmey, Henry Hurst, and William Bullitt. Whereupon the President gave the casting vote in favour of the Petition. Resolved that the Petition to the Legislature praying that a law may be passed laying a tax on marriage licences for the use of the Vincennes Univeristy be engrossed; signed by the President & countersigned by the Clerk and that the President do present it to the Legislature. Upon which the yeas and nays were called for the question being put it was carried in the affirmative yeas 7 and nays 6. Those who voted in the affirmative were John Badollet, Nathanl. Ewing, John Johnson, Francis Vigo, Henry Vander- burg, James Johnson, Genl. Gibson Prest. Those who voted in the negative were Peter Jones, Jacob Kuykendall, Waller Taylor, Saml. Gwathmey, Henry Hurst, & William Bullitt. On Motion of John R. Jones seconded by Judge Taylor that that part of the petition to Congress adopted at the last meeting of the Board for granting to the University the Commons of Vincennes should be expunged therefrom. Upon which the yeas and nays were called the question being put it was carried in the affirmative yeas eight, nays Vincennes University 361

four. Those who voted in the affirmative were Messrs. Francis Vigo, Waller Taylor, John R. Jones, Henry Hurst, Peter Jones, Jacob Kuykendall, Henry Vanderburg, & William Bullitt. Those who voted in the negative were John Badollet, James Johnson, John Johnson, and Nathl. Ewing. Samuel Gwathmey stated his resignation as a member of the Board. On Motion-Ordered that the Board proceed to elect a member in place of Genl. W. Johnston and Samuel Gwathmey resigned. Upon counting the ballots Charles Smithe4was declared duly elected. On Motion-Ordered that the Board adjourn untill Saturday the fifth day of September.

Saturday September 5th 1807 The Board met according to adjournment. The following members were present: Genl. Gibson, John Johnson, Henry Vanderburg, Luke Decker, Nathl. Ewing, George Wallace, Waller Taylor, Charles Smith, John R. Jones, William Bullitt, Henry Hurst, & John Badollet. Genl. Gibson was appointed President pro Tern. From the Committee appointed to procure sundry materials were received the following proposals : William Hogue proposes to furnish one hundred perches of Stone for the University to be delivered at the place of the building in Vincennes for the sum of four hundred and fifty Dollars. I will furnish five or six hundred bushels of sifted lime for the use of the Seminary at the place on which it is to be erected for two shillings and six pence per bushel. 5th Septem- ber 1807 Robert Houston. On Motion-Ordered that the proposals of Hogue & Houston lie on the table. On Motion-Ordered that the Committee appointed to take into consideration the Petition of Robert Anderson have untill next meeting to report.

64Charles Smith was named a trustee of Vincennea in its Act of Incorporation (1806), rose to the rank of brigade major in the militia (1812), and, among other business enterprises, was closely associated with the Vincennes Bank. Philbrick, Laws of Indiana TelYritovg 1801- 1809, p. 197; Esarey, Messages and Letters, I, 647; Ewbank and Riker, Laws of Indiana Te7Yritory 1809-1816, p. 761. 362 Indiana Magazine of History

Judge Taylor in behalf of the Managers of the Lottery scheme Reported : The Managers who were appointed by the Board of Trus- tees to superintend and carry into effect the the [sic] Lottery authorized by the Legislature of the Territory to raise a sum of money to aid in erecting and endowing a University at this place beg leave to report to the Board that they have caused to be printed the number of Tickets necessary to raise the sum at present contemplated ; they have likewis [el caused to be printed forty copies of the scheme for the purpose of diffusing information of it [as] extensively as possible for which and printing the tickets they have paid Mr. Stoute5 the sum of fifty Dollars out of the money collected from the members of the Board and from others who subscribed to defray the expenses necessarily incurred to put the scheme in operation. The printers receipt for the money paid him and the report of the Chairman appointed to collect the money subscribed will shew the situation of the funds in the hands of the managers. The managers beg leave further to report that they have issued and deposited in the hands of different persons in the States of Kentucky and Tennessee and in the hands of Benjamin Parlre Esqr. while in the City of Washington three thousand six hundred and sixty five lottery tickets as will appear from their respective receipts numbered from one to twelve and which are now handed in as part of this report. It is with considerable regret that the managers feel themselves constrained to declare that in their opinion there is not the smallest probability of ever raising the sum contemplated or in fact of raising a sum of any importance by a lottery.

65A native of New Jersey who had spent some time as a printer in Lexington, Kentucky, Stout came to Vincennes in 1804. He founded the Indiana Gazette (1804), the first newspaper in Indiana, and the Western Sun (1807); Stout was “printer to the territory” from 1804 to 1813. His papers, especially the Western Sun, were powerful factors in the political and personal wars of the period. Barnhart and Carmony, Indiana, I, 367; Carter, Territorial Papers, VII, 670n. The second and third issues of the Western Sun (July 11 and 18, 1807) described toasts drunk to the University at Fourth of July celebrations. At an “elegant dinner” presided over by Governor Harrison, the sixteenth of seventeen toasts proposed was “to the rising University of Vincennes- may it prove the nursery of heroes and statesmen,” while at a part “under a bower, near the spring of Francis Vigo . . .” the seventeentx of eighteen toasts was “to the Vincennes University-may it diffuse the light of science over the western world, and may it be the seat of virtue and the nursery of patriots.” Vincennes University 363

In the State of Kentucky where it was confidently expected that a considerable number of tickets might be disposed of those in whose hands they were put for that purpose have reported that they could sell few or none-To encourage [them] the managers adopted the plan of offering them on credit or until1 lottery was drawn where companies composed of respectable & responsible individuals would give their obligations to pay the money when it should be wanted, but even these lenient terms, although by them the managers might have acted imprudently as they made themselves an- swerable in cases where confidence was reposed in persons that would betray it, have not produced (it is believed) any beneficial effects. Under these circumstances it is submitted to the Board whether it would not be most proper to dis- continue at least for the present any further attempts to carry that part of the law which authorizes the raising a specific sum of money by lottery into effect every disposition is felt by the managers to render all the assistance in their power to effect the wishes of the Legislature but beleiving [sic] it to be impracticable they beg leave to decline doing any thing farther towards it. I beg leave as one of the number to declare that it is not my wish even if it should be thought expedient to carry it on at a future period to be considered any longer a manager. Waller Taylor On Motion-The Board concurred in the report. The Board Adjourned until Saturday the 12th Instant.

Saturday September the 12th 1807 The Board met according to adjournment when the following members were present: Genl. Gibson, Elias McNamee, James Johnson, Waller Taylor, Peter Jones, John R. Jones, Luke Decker, Benjamin Parke, Jacob Kuykendall, Francis Vigo, Henry Vanderburg, John Badollet, and William Bullit. Genl. Gibson was appointed President pro Tem. A letter was received from George Wallace stating his resignation as a member of this Board. On Motion-Resolved that the managers [of the] lottery be requested and directed to obtain from the several persons in whose hands they have deposited lottery tickets the whole of the tickets so deposited and deliver up their receipts there- 364 Indiana Magazine of Histoyl for and that the said managers do cancel and destroy all the tickets by them signed and that they take up the tickets sold and refund the purchasers the money by them paid. On Motion-Resolved that the said Managers make out and present to the Board at the next meeting an account of all the expenses they have been at and also of such sums of money as as [sic] have been advanced them by individuals re- lating to the said Lottery-Resolved also that this Board on the producing of such accounts will at their next meeting make an order for the payment as well of the expenses the said Managers have been at as for the reimbursement of the sums of money advanced by such individuals for the further- ance of said Lottery. On Motion-Resolved that the Board go into a ballot for a member of the same in the room of George Wallace and Samuel Gwathmey resigned. When upon counting the ballots Governor Harrison was declared duly elected. Ordered that the Clerk inform the Governor of his election. On Motion-Ordered that the Board proceed in the same manner to elect a President. Upon Counting the ballots there appeared a majority for Governor Harrison who was thereupon declared to be duly elected and accordingly took his seat. On Motion-Resolved that the Treasurer be directed to pay to William Hogue the sum of one hundred Dollars as a part of his pay for furnishing scantling etc. for the building of the House for the benefit of the Vincennes University. On Motion-Ordered that the Board take into consideration the Petition of Robert M. Evans. The Report of the Committee was adopted in toto with the following amendment viz: Provided that the expense of such surveys shall not exceed three Dollars per mile for every mile actually run. A letter from Benjamin Parke Esqr. was presented by the President stating his resignation as a member of this Board.66 On Motion-Resolved that the proposals of William Hogue be rejected. On Motion-Ordered that the Board adjourn until1 Friday the 18th instant at three O’clock.

66 Parke’s credentials as territorial delegate to Congress were certified on September 3, 1807. Carter, Territol.ial Papers, VII, 476.