178 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



The Early History of Chemistry in Indiana. 



H. W. Wiley. 



On a centennial occasion, it would be expected that in giving some account 

 of the dev^elopment of a science, it should cover the whole statehood period 

 of the state. In the case of chemistry, it was still a young science when 

 Indiana was admitted into the Union. I doubt, hoAvever, if any one of the 

 members of the convention which adopted the Constitution of Indiana had 

 ever any training, even of the most primitive kind in this science. It is true 

 the makers of our State had views of future educational expansions. 



As long ago as 1804, I learn from the history of Indiana University, is was 

 enacted by the Congress of the United States when providing for the organi- 

 zation of Indiana territory that every section numbered 16 should be re- 

 served in each town especiallj^ for the support of schools A\ithin the same, 

 and in addition to this an entire township in the regions of Detroit, Kaskaskia 

 and Vincennes should be reserved for the promotion of a seminary of learning. 

 In 1816, when the Congress of the United States provided for the admission 

 of Indiana as a State, it Avas pro\aded that one additional township should 

 also be reserved for the promotion of a school of higher learning. This ad- 

 ditional township when located caused the county in which it was placed 

 to be named in honor of Prt-sidcnt Monroe. The Indiana Territorial Legis- 

 lature carried out the early purpose of founding an institution of higher learn- 

 ing by providing for the establishment of the Vincennes University in 1806. 

 The science of medicine was also recognized. Of the tlu'ee professors which 

 at least should be appointed, one was to be a professor of physic. 



The original Constitution of Indiana adopted at Corydon in 1816 con- 

 tained a provision for the improvement of the school lands already granted 

 or which should hereafter be granted for school pruposes and in the second 

 section of this provision, it was declared to be the duty of the General Assem- 

 bly to provide by law for a general system of education, ascending in a regular 

 gradation from township schools to a State University. A state seminary 

 was organized, at least on paper, in 1820, under the provisions of these or- 

 ganic; acts. Among the original trustees were David Harvey Maxwell, a 

 brother of my maternal grandfather. 



1 mention these historical facts to show that it was the purpose of the 

 founders of Indiana to provide liberally as a State for higher education. 

 This provision for state education, however, was not all the advantage which 

 Indiana was to receive. The necessity of an educated ministry led early in 

 the history of tlie State to the organization of institutions of higher learning, 

 the primary purpose of which was to provide an educated ministry. Among 

 the earliest religious bodies taking practical steps to this end was the Presby- 

 terian Church and as early as 1828 the academy which afterwards became 



