Eleutherian College
Encyclopedia
A U.S. National Historic Landmark
, Eleutherian College, founded in 1848 as Eleutherian Institute, was the first college in Indiana
to admit students without regard to race or sex. It is now a public museum.
Its name comes from the Greek
word eleutheros which means "free". It is located in the unincorporated town of Lancaster in Jefferson County
.
on the Ohio River
to Indianapolis
. In about 1847 or 1849, the Neil’s Creek Abolitionist Baptist Church was founded by abolitionists and Underground Railroad
conductors Abraham Walton, E. Webster, and husband and wife John H. and Sarah Nelson Tibbets (brother of Joshua Tibbets).
Thomas Craven, a traveling abolitionist Baptist preacher, came from Oxford, Ohio to preach at the church and told the congregation about his dream of starting a school of higher learning open to all, including white, black, male and female, regardless of economic or religious background. The congregation embraced the idea and the Eleutherian Institute was formed in 1848. Among Eleutherian College's trustees were Dr. Samuel Tibbets II (father of Joshua and John H. Tibbets) and Lyman Hoyt of the extended Hoyt-Whipple family, who was also a conductor in the Underground Railroad
.
The college/church was located on current day Fewell Road, in a wooden one room structure. It started with two professors: Rev. John G. Craven, son of the founder, and Rev John Thompson, son-in-law of the founder. Many African American students came from the south to attend. Eleutherian was the first of its kind west of the Allegheny mountains. It was the first college in the state of Indiana to allow black students, and it was the first school that allowed the education of women and the education of men on equal levels. In 1856, the college had 18 African-American students, 10 of whom were born slaves. In 1860, two hundred students were enrolled, 50 of them African-American. This was at a time when the Indiana constitution
prohibited African-American immigration into the state.
As the number of students increased another building was erected. This two story limestone structure was located near the current day building. It was designed and built by Jonathan Yost, Nathan Yost, and Leonidas Cushman, grandson of Dr. Samuel Tibbetts#, and was erected in approximately 1849 to 1850. It was definitely completed by the spring of 1850. A traveling Baptist minister from England, Rev. Edward Mathews, wrote about the building. He stated that a center large room was used as a classroom and church.
The school continued to grow and a third and final building was erected, with construction beginning in approximately 1853. This building stands today. The former building became a student dormitory. The first stewards of this dormitory were James and Lucy Nelson, who, along with Professor John G. Craven, would be arrested for breaking the Fugitive Slave Law, of 1850. There was no evidence and the three were released with the help of an abolitionist judge.
Among the surnames of families involved with the college and Lancaster-area Abolitionist activities: Hoyt, Tibbets/Tibbetts, Record, Craven, Nelson, Walton, and Hughes. The college had many presidents, trustees, and students. Unfortunately all records have been lost.
The Eleutherian College flourished until 1888, when the building was sold to Lancaster Township. It was used as a public grade school until 1938. It then closed it doors and sat abandoned until 1997, when it became a National Historic Landmark.
. Walter Hoyt later moved to Iowa City, purchasing Plum Grove
from Robert Lucas
, the former governor of Ohio and territorial governor of Iowa. Lucas was familiar with John Brown and his father as early as the War of 1812
, when Owen and John Brown ran supplies to Lucas's troops. Walter Hoyt was close neighbor and associate of Samuel Kirkwood in Iowa. Kirkwood served as the governor of Iowa, and was famous for protecting Barclay Coppock
, one of John Brown
's fighters at Harper's Ferry. Brown and his father commonly stayed in the Cincinnati area among anti-slavery supporters, and Brown lived for a time near Iowa City at Springdale, Iowa
.
Walter Hoyt's daughter was the well-known author Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd
, who discussed a bit of her father's past in her novel, Our Little Old Lady, although this book does not include a discussion of the Eleutherian College.
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, Eleutherian College, founded in 1848 as Eleutherian Institute, was the first college in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
to admit students without regard to race or sex. It is now a public museum.
Its name comes from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
word eleutheros which means "free". It is located in the unincorporated town of Lancaster in Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Indiana
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 32,428. The county seat is Madison.-History:Jefferson County was formed in 1811...
.
History
In the 1830s-1860s, Lancaster, IN was the center of a burgeoning abolitionist community, largely centered around the Neil’s Creek Anti-Slavery Society, founded by husband and wife James and Lucy Whipple Nelson, and Joshua Tibbets. The Society made Lancaster an important stop for fugitive slaves traveling from MadisonMadison, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,004 people, 5,092 households, and 3,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,402.9 people per square mile . There were 5,597 housing units at an average density of 654.1 per square mile...
on the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
to Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. In about 1847 or 1849, the Neil’s Creek Abolitionist Baptist Church was founded by abolitionists and Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
conductors Abraham Walton, E. Webster, and husband and wife John H. and Sarah Nelson Tibbets (brother of Joshua Tibbets).
Thomas Craven, a traveling abolitionist Baptist preacher, came from Oxford, Ohio to preach at the church and told the congregation about his dream of starting a school of higher learning open to all, including white, black, male and female, regardless of economic or religious background. The congregation embraced the idea and the Eleutherian Institute was formed in 1848. Among Eleutherian College's trustees were Dr. Samuel Tibbets II (father of Joshua and John H. Tibbets) and Lyman Hoyt of the extended Hoyt-Whipple family, who was also a conductor in the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
.
The college/church was located on current day Fewell Road, in a wooden one room structure. It started with two professors: Rev. John G. Craven, son of the founder, and Rev John Thompson, son-in-law of the founder. Many African American students came from the south to attend. Eleutherian was the first of its kind west of the Allegheny mountains. It was the first college in the state of Indiana to allow black students, and it was the first school that allowed the education of women and the education of men on equal levels. In 1856, the college had 18 African-American students, 10 of whom were born slaves. In 1860, two hundred students were enrolled, 50 of them African-American. This was at a time when the Indiana constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
prohibited African-American immigration into the state.
As the number of students increased another building was erected. This two story limestone structure was located near the current day building. It was designed and built by Jonathan Yost, Nathan Yost, and Leonidas Cushman, grandson of Dr. Samuel Tibbetts#, and was erected in approximately 1849 to 1850. It was definitely completed by the spring of 1850. A traveling Baptist minister from England, Rev. Edward Mathews, wrote about the building. He stated that a center large room was used as a classroom and church.
The school continued to grow and a third and final building was erected, with construction beginning in approximately 1853. This building stands today. The former building became a student dormitory. The first stewards of this dormitory were James and Lucy Nelson, who, along with Professor John G. Craven, would be arrested for breaking the Fugitive Slave Law, of 1850. There was no evidence and the three were released with the help of an abolitionist judge.
Among the surnames of families involved with the college and Lancaster-area Abolitionist activities: Hoyt, Tibbets/Tibbetts, Record, Craven, Nelson, Walton, and Hughes. The college had many presidents, trustees, and students. Unfortunately all records have been lost.
The Eleutherian College flourished until 1888, when the building was sold to Lancaster Township. It was used as a public grade school until 1938. It then closed it doors and sat abandoned until 1997, when it became a National Historic Landmark.
Eleutherian Connections to Iowa and John Brown
There are interesting connections between Eleutherian College, Iowa, and John BrownJohn Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
. Walter Hoyt later moved to Iowa City, purchasing Plum Grove
Plum Grove Historic House
Plum Grove is a historic house located in Iowa City, United States. Plum Grove was the retirement home of Gov. Robert Lucas and the childhood home of the author Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd. Built in 1844, Lucas lived there with his wife, Friendly, and several children and grandchildren...
from Robert Lucas
Robert Lucas (governor)
Robert Lucas was the 12th Governor of the U.S. state of Ohio, serving from 1832 to 1836. He served as the first Governor of Iowa Territory from 1838 to 1841.-Early life:...
, the former governor of Ohio and territorial governor of Iowa. Lucas was familiar with John Brown and his father as early as the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, when Owen and John Brown ran supplies to Lucas's troops. Walter Hoyt was close neighbor and associate of Samuel Kirkwood in Iowa. Kirkwood served as the governor of Iowa, and was famous for protecting Barclay Coppock
Barclay Coppock
Edwin Coppock, Barclay's brother, redirects here.Barclay Coppock was a follower of John Brown and a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War. Along with his brother Edwin Coppock , he participated in Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry...
, one of John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
's fighters at Harper's Ferry. Brown and his father commonly stayed in the Cincinnati area among anti-slavery supporters, and Brown lived for a time near Iowa City at Springdale, Iowa
Springdale, Iowa
Springdale is a small unincorporated community in Cedar County, Iowa, United States. Historically, the town was predominantly settled by Quakers, and was a way-station in the Underground Railroad. Its most famous residents were the militant abolitionist John Brown, who resided at John H...
.
Walter Hoyt's daughter was the well-known author Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd
Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd
Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd was an American author of the early 20th century. She published at least 10 novels, mostly written for young women.- Childhood :...
, who discussed a bit of her father's past in her novel, Our Little Old Lady, although this book does not include a discussion of the Eleutherian College.