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“The
Monroe Institute is a child of the town, its founders having
left it an orphan early in life, and it has since been supported
by the fostering care of our citizens. It took a conspicuous
part as a defender of the Union in the battle of Monroe. It
shows scars yet, received while protecting the boys in blue, it
never received an endowment fund, but it is entitled to a
pension for service rendered to Uncle Sam in the time of
need.” — Monroe City News, July, 1876.
Unique
among the institutions of Monroe City, the Monroe Institute was
born with the town, reached its zenith and died during the first
thirty years of the community’s history. For six years it was
the only educational institution in the city. It became a
leading college of Northeast Missouri and many citizens of the
community received all or part of their education in its halls.
The
establishment of the Monroe City public schools and the adoption
of the high school system in 1885,
spelled its doom. As the public schools thrived, the Monroe
Institute declined until finally in 1892 its doors were closed
and the buildings sold for private enterprise.
The
stately mansion at 110 Court street is now the private home of
Mr. and Mrs. Francis G. Proctor.
Established
in 1860
E.
B. Talcott, proprietor of Monroe City, offered to give the lot,
known as “The Mound” to the community for a seminary or
institution when the town was plotted. A charter was secured and
the Monroe Institute established in 1860 under the leadership of
G. B. and S. E. Comings. A two-story, red brick building was
erected at a cost of $10,000 and a campus of 7 1/2
acres developed. The building that is now the residence of
Mrs. J. N. Southern
at 412 North Main street served as the dormitory. The Institute
building contained 24 rooms that were excellently equipped for
classroom and laboratory work.
Original
stockholders of the Institute were: Elijah Bailey, T. N. Read,
Daniel Johnson, G. N. Davis, A. F. Cassady, William L. B.
Sparks, E. H. Griffith, John 0. Wood,
James A. Burditt, William Gough, B. F. Green, W. H. Byrd, Samuel
Vance, B. F. Griffith, J. L. Owen, N. D. Bradley, W. E. Jones,
B. B. Talcott, Heber A. Rough, William Scofield, F. B. Scheetz,
William B. Okeson, William C. Owen, John B. Lee, William
Broughton, J. D. Clark, Lovel Rouse, John Shaw, H. C. Fuqua,
Thomas Yates, John Jones, G. B. and S. E. Comings.
The
Coming brothers conducted the school until 1876, when they were
succeeded by the Rev. James S. Green. In 1879 the Rev. R. M.
Beeson became principal of the school and remained until 1882.
He was succeeded by Prof. A. Wood Terrill, who was responsible
for the greatest development of the institution. Under his
guidance the enrollment was increased and the scope of study
broadened. In the year 1883-84 more than 100 ‘students were
enrolled. In 1886 the institution was leased to the Rev. J. S.
Dingle who conducted it one year and then turned over its
management to Mrs. M. H. Hubbs of Macon. Mrs. A. Wood Terrill
returned to Monroe City about 1890 and attempted to build up the
institute. She was assisted by W. J. Marr. The task was too
great. Public education was making rapid progress and citizens
of the community were losing interest in private institutions.
Liberal
Course of Study
The
course of study offered et the Institute was liberal in every
respect, and fitted the students to enter, with marked
advantage, those institutions of learning where the curricula
were more extended. The curricula included logic, geometry,
literature and rhetoric. Under the guidance of Prof. Terrill,
a music department was developed by Miss Bettie Hopper of
Hopkinsville, Ky. Art classes and a business course were also
introduced by Prof. Terrill. Members of the faculty for the
1884-1885 term, the zenith year for the Institute, were: Prof.
A. Wood Terrill, A. M., mathematics, physics and German; Mrs.
Terrill, MA., history, English and philosophy; R.
Manning Walker, AM., Greek and Latin; Miss Betty Hopper,
vocal and instrumental music; Miss Ettie Jones, drawing and
painting; Miss Callie White, principal of the preparatory
department.
Members
of the 1885 graduating class were: Emily Bishop, Fannie Jackson,
William I. Swisher, J. S.
Ragland and T. D. Ely. The examining committee was composed
of Townsend Wright, L. F. Linn, W. G. Subber and the Rev. J.
S. Green.
Attending
the Institute would not be considered so very expensive today,
but 70 years ago the tuition charge was very steep. The official
announcement of the school published in 1887, read:
“The
twenty-seventh annual session of the Monroe Institute will open
September 5, 1887. The school will consist of two terms and
Juvenile, Preparatory, Academic and Collegiate courses will be
given thorough attention. Our term are reasonable and tuition
for each term paid in advance. Good boarding houses for children
living in the country will be secured. Terms: Juvenile course,
pee term, $10; Preparatory, $15; Academic, $20; Collegiate, $25."
The
notice was signed by Mrs. M. H. Hubbs, and members of the board
of directors, including the Rev. W. A. Hatch, Dr. Thomas
Proctor, Samuel North, W. R. P.
Jackson, the Rev. J. D.
Andrews, T. D. Freeman, S.
J. Melson, J. N. Johnson and W. L. Reid.
Struggled
to Keep Alive
The
struggle to keep the Monroe Institute alive began in 1886. A
mass meeting was called on February 18 to see if a plan could be
worked out whereby the Institute could be purchased or otherwise
reserved for school purposes and to prohibit if possible the
sale of a portion of the grounds belonging to the Institute for
other than school purposes. Leaders of the mass meeting were:
The Rev. J. S. Green, W. L. Reid, B. 0.
Wood, L H. IRedman, J.
C. Peirsol, Dr. J.
J. Norton, S. B.
Gilliland and Judge N. L. Hume.
A
resolution was submitted and approved which read: “It is the
sense of this meeting that it would be
a great public calamity to permit anything to be done with
the property or franchise of the Monroe Institute which would
deprive citizens of Monroe City and vicinity of the benefits and
advantages of a good school being assured at that point for all
time to come.”
The
newspaper report of the meeting read “As the matter now
stands there seems to be no way visible by which the people of
this school district can save and maintain both her schools. A
number of most prominent citizens were anxious to subscribe
money and aid in other ways toward buying the entire ground and
Institute building, but were surprised to learn that the ground
could not be bought.”
In
the April 18, 1887, issue of The News the sale of the Institute
was reported:
“J.
H. Blincoe has purchased the property known as the Monroe
Institute and we believe intends to convert it into a dwelling
house. It is no use to believe that prediction as it may be
traded off again before this item is read by a hundred people.
He would buy and sell the whole town in three weeks if he had
half a chance.”
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