Hartsville College: A Historical Perspective Part II

Editor's Note: Following is a guest column by Emily Haines, a BCSC student and member of the Bartholomew County Student Historians. Originally published as an academic paper, HSJ is presenting this story of Hartsville College in its original form offered in three installments with minimal edits that appear italicized brackets. Paragraph breaks inserted by editor.

Thirdly, even with the struggles that Hartsville College endured, the graduates of the school went on to do great things.

The historical marker states that “Many graduates became distinguished citizens in their communities throughout the state and nation.” This is most certainly true because, according to “Marker Text Review Report,” many catalogues provide evidence of alumni with careers such as doctors, lawyers, and ministers. Strictly put, the report states that “Annual catalogues cited throughout this report list alumni with occupations such as lawyer, doctor, and minister” (10). Not only this, but many articles claim that alumni are represented in practically every state in the nation during this time frame and include some of the best ministers and educators in the country during the 1800s. Famous students and staff members have kept the legacy of Hartsville College alive. Some of which include, O.W. Pentzer, Arne Wilber Clouse, Bertha Clouse, Bishop Milton Wright and Susan Koener Wright.

Bishop Milton Wright and Susan Koener Wright met at Hartsville College and are the parents of the famous Wright Brothers.

[With regard to] Milton Wright, Dr. Richard Stimson in his article “The Boyhood nurturing of the Wright Brothers,” wrote “In 1850 he entered Hartsville College, a small Indiana school run by the United Brethren Church, and was ordained a minister in 1856. He also became certified to teach penmanship, grammar, reading, writing, arithmetic and geography” (Stimson 5). [As for] the Wright brothers’ mother, Dr. Richard Stimson in his article “The Boyhood nurturing of the Wright Brothers,” wrote “Milton met his future wife, Susan Koener, at Hartsville College. She trained as a teacher studying literature, mathematics, Latin and Greek” (Stimson 12). Such proves that influential people have gone to Hartsville.

The information about the future parents of the Wright brothers meeting at college begs the question of whether or not the Wright brothers would have been born and how today’s aviation would be.

O.W. Pentzer could easily be considered the man who did the most to keep Hartsville College alive in the minds of many and not allow its story to disappear forever. Orrin Wesley Pentzer, most commonly known as O.W. Pentzer, played many important roles in Hartsville College. [In the article] “O.W. Pentzer A Man of Varied Accomplishments,” [it is stated that] Pentzer held many roles at Hartsville and other places, [including] as “Professor of Ancient Languages, Hartsville College (1889-97); Vice President, Hartsville College Founder, Pentzer Printing Co. (1902) Hartsville College booklet (1928) Author of Poetry and Bible Lecturer Artist, Musician & Lifelong Learner” (Archive 1). Pentzer provided the majority of what is known about the history of Hartsville College through his 48-page booklet titled “History of Hartsville,” published in 1928. The information about Pentzer is from an edition of the University of Indianapolis’s Hartsville College Archive titled “O.W. Pentzer A Man of Varied Accomplishments."

Another notable graduate of Hartsville College is Dr. Bertha Clouse. According to “Hartsville College Archive Project Update” by the University of Indianapolis, Dr. Clouse graduated from Hartsville College in 1895 with a [Bachelor’s of science] degree. She later went on to attend other schools to get her doctorate. At the end of her educational journey, she became a nurse at Bartholomew County schools. She was also known to make her rounds across the county to different schools to check on students.

Yet another significant student from Hartsville College is Arne Wilber Clouse. Clouse is notable as the last graduate of Hartsville College. This is stated directly in the University of Indianapolis’s addition to the Hartsville College Archive titled “Remembering Arne Wilber Clouse M.D.,” which reads “Last Graduate of Hartsville College” as a title to a section.

Clouse was known as a relatively immature man, and he refers to himself as one. According to [the University of Indianapolis’] “Remembering Arne Wilber Clouse M.D.,” “In his published remarks (OWP-HC: 42 - 46), Arne remembers himself at one of his more immature moments, recalling that he once showed up for chapel with a ‘flowing false mustache’ attached to his nose. He alludes to pranks involving the college bell, the noisy presence of ‘an embryo band,’” (Archive 3). Even with his teasing demeanor, he graduated in 1897. He later went to Chicago where he studied medicine from 1897 to 1900, where he gained his doctorate in medicine.

The people who have been mentioned are only some of the people who have honored the name of Hartsville College and have helped its legacy live on through time.

** Stay tuned for Hartsville College Part III in the coming days...

Works Cited

Boone, Richard Gause. “Under the New Constitution, 1851–91," A History of Education in Indiana, edited by Richard Gause Boone, New York, D. Appleton and Company, 1892, pp. 423–24.

“Hartsville College.” United Methodist Churches of Indiana, archive.inumc.org/heritagemapdetail/168773. Accessed 23 May 2022.

Huntington University. “University Archives.” Huntington University, 25 June 2020, www.huntington.edu/united-brethren-historical-center-1/university-archives.

Indiana Historical Bureau. “Hartsville College.” IN.Gov, State of Indiana, www.in.gov/history/state-historical-markers/find-a-marker/hartsville-college. Accessed 23 May 2022.

“Indiana Almanac.” IN.Gov, State of Indiana, www.in.gov/history/about-indiana-history-and- trivia/indiana-almanac. Accessed 23 May 2022.

Indianapolis University. “O.W. Pentzer: A Man of Varied Accomplishments.” Hartsville College Archive Project, Indianapolis University, uindy.edu/archives/files/hartsville-college/owpentzer_a_man_of_varied_accomplishments.pdf. Accessed 23 May 2017.

“Marker Text Review Report.” IN.Gov, Bartholomew County, 30 June 2011, www.in.gov/history/files/03.1995.1_Hartsville_College_Review_Report_and_Bibliography.pdf.

O.W. Pentzer & Son. “Hartsville College, Hartsville, Indiana 1850–1897.” We Do History, Indiana Historical Society, images.indianahistory.org/digital/collection/V0002/id/806. Accessed 23 May 2023.

Stimson, Richard. “The Boyhood Nurturing of the Wright Brothers.” Wright Stories, 2001–2022 Wright Stories, wrightstories.com/the-boyhood-nurturing-of-the-wright-brothers. Accessed 23 May 2022.

University of Indianapolis. “Hartsville College Archive Project Update: October 2019.” Hartsville College Archive Project, University of Indianapolis, Oct. 2019, uindy.edu/archives/files/hartsvillecollege/hartsville_college_archive_project_update_oct2019.pdf.

“Remembering Arne Wilbur Clause M.D. Class of 1897.” Hartsville College Archive Project, University of Indianapolis, uindy.edu/archives/files/hartsville-college/remembering_arne_wilbur_clouse_md_class_of_ 1897.pdf. Accessed 23 May 2022.