THE EARLY HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY IN INDIANA. 181 



at the end of one year and went to Miami. He returned, however, to Bloom- 

 ington in 1854. He remained an active teacher in the university until 1886, 

 when he was retired with the honorary title of emeritus Professor of Philos- 

 phy. 



Professor Robert Milligan taught Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in 

 Indiana University for two years, from 1852 to 1854. 



One of the most distinguished teachers of chemistry in early times in 

 Indiana was Professor Richard Owen. Dr. Owen was appointed Professor 

 of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in the Indiana University in 1863 and 

 held that title until 1867. In 1867 the title of his professorship was changed 

 to Natural Science and Chemistry which position he held from 1867 to 1879. 

 Dr. Owen not only was a distinguished scientist in the general sense of that 

 term at that time but was particularly an expert in geology. In 1873, Dr. 

 Owen was elected as the first President of Purdue University. Before the 

 University was opened, however, in 1874, he resigned, never having entered 

 actively upon his duties. 



In the Northwestern Christian University, now Butler College, in so far 

 as its early days are concerned, chemistry was one of the sciences taught by 

 Professor Ryland T. Brown. Professor Ryland T. Brown was a type of the 

 many sided man. A preacher of great renown and power, he at the same time 

 was a devoted student of the sciences as they were known and taught in his 

 day. He was particularly a geologist and taught geology by modern methods. 

 He also was quite accomplished in the theory of chemistry, though not a 

 practical analyst. In the early days of Butler as illustrated by the courses 

 of 1865 which are the earliest that I can lay my hands on, chemistry was 

 taught, in the Sophomore year, 1st and 2nd terms, Silliman's textbook being 

 used. Applied Chemistry was taught in the third term by lecture. In 1868, 

 I became connected with Butler College as an instructor in Latin and Greek 

 and had ample opportunities of observing Dr. Brown's method of teaching 

 science. I joined on more than one occasion his geological excursions with 

 great pleasure and benefit. He was an interesting speaker and knew his 

 subject well but only from the didactic and theoretical point of view. In 

 1871 Dr. Brown was appointed chemist of the Department of Agriculture. 



In the fall of 1875, I was elected Professor of chemistry in Butler College, 

 but held that post only a short time. I fitted up a working laboratory where 

 a dozen or more students could work in chemical problems and this was opened 

 to the students at the beginning of the Fall session of 1873. During this college 

 year, about a dozen young men and women Avorked at these desks in simple 

 chemical analysis and syntheses. It was, I believe, at that time the largest 

 working room for students in chemistry in Indiana. From 1874 on, chemistry 

 again fell back into the general natural science class. Under Dr. Jordan's 

 professorship, chemistry was taught by F. W. Achilles during 1875. In 

 1879 Professor O. P. Hay and W. M. Thrasher, Professor of Mathematics, 

 taught chemistry in Butler. The working laboratories were continued when 



