North Central

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North-Western College
From the "1874 Atlas & History of DuPage County, Illinois"
        "This institution was established at Plainfield, Will county, Illinois, in 1861, by the Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Indiana Conferences of the Evangelical Association.  It received a college charter in 1865.  It ws removed to Naperville in 1870.  During the spring and summer of that year, the present college building was erected, the citizens of Naperville furnishing the funds.  It is a neat and substantial edifice of stone, containing spacious recitation rooms, large chapel, society halls, dormitories for students, and all modern improvements to make this one of the first educational institutions in the State.  A fine sketch of this building can be seen in another part of this work.  Besides the building and grounds, the college has an endowment of $85,000.  The yearly expenditures are about $14,000.  The following are the courses of study:

        "College Classical Course, and Scientific, each four years.  Ladies' Course and Normal, each three years, with preparatory courses for each of these courses.  There are two German Courses- one English-German of two years for English students, and another purely German of two years.  The College also has a Commercial and Fine Art Department, under the control of competent professors.  the advantages of this College are not exclusive as to sex, but open to all alike, male and female.  This school is well patronizedthe number of students constantly increasing, from an average of 100 at Plainfield to 300 at the present time.  Provisions have also been made for the establishment of a Biblical Institute.  From the above it would seem that this institution has very flattering prospects.  The following is the Faculty of the College: [names underlined are links to biographical information]

North Western Faculty
Seated, L-R: William Huelster, F. W. Heidner, A.A. Smith, Anton Huelster
Standing, L-R: H. C. Smith, C. F. Rassweiler, H. H. Rassweiler

    REV. A.A. SMITH, A.M., President, Professor of Mental and Moral Science
    REV. F.W. HEIDNER, A.M., Professor of the German Language and Literature.
    H.C.SMITH, A.M., Professor of the Latin Language and Literature
    H.H. RASSWEILER, A.M., Professor of Mathematics and Natural Science.
    REV. A. HUELSTER, PH.D., Professor of the Greek Language and Literature.
    C.F. RASSWEILER, A.M., Tutor, and Teacher of French.
    MISS NANCY J. CUNNINGHAM, Preceptress, and Teacher of Drawing
    REV. J. G. CROSS, A.M., Principal of Commercial and Art Departments.
    MISS EDITH A. GIBBS,  Assistant Teacher in Art Department
    HON. H. H. CODY, Lecturer on Commercial Law.
    H. C. SMITH, Professor of Vocal Music.
    MISS MINNIE  P. CODY, Teacher of Instrumental Music.
    CHAS. NAUMANN, A.B., Teacher of Preparatory Department."
 

Photograph of the early faculty from "A View of Historic Naperville," from The Sky-Lines, articles by Genevieve Towsley, published in the Naperville Sun Newspaper.   Consent to reprint graciously given by Sun Publications, July 20, 1999.   Thanks beyond words to Sun Publications and Ms. Towsley for this wonderful contribution!

You'll find more about the early days of North-Western College (now North Central) in the diaries of a young student,  Guy Ellis Sabin, or take a virtual tour of North Central College.



Back to North Central College, The Early Years
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