Young men of "The Secret Ten" daguerreotypes, Circa 1855

#1 Rev. James Johnston and wife - daguerreotype, n.d Biographical sketch: James Johnston was born in New Jersey, December 15, 1821 and died in Pierceton, Indiana, July 30, 1897. In his early childhood, his parents moved to Ohio where he was left an orphan when he was two years old. As a young man, he came to Hagerstown, Indiana. There he was licensed to preach beginning his ministry in the North Indiana Conference in 1853. His appointments were as follows: 1853, Ossian; 1854, Massillon Mission; 1855, Spencerville; 1856-57, Allen; 1858-59, Kendallville; 1860, Elkhart Mission; 186l, Elkhart and St. Joseph; 1862, La Grange; 1863-64, Ligonier and Haw Patch; 1865-66, New Paris; 1867-68, Blountsville; 1869-70, Centerville and Cambridge; 1871, Williamsburg; 1872-74, Pierceton; 1875-77, Leesburg; 1878, Mexico; 1879-80, Corrunna; 1881-82, Wawaka. In 1883, he took a superannuated relation. During his superannuation he made his home in Pierceton. Johnston was married twice. His first wife, Mary Bennett Johnston, died while he was a pastor in Mexico, in November 1878. He married again March 2, 1881, to Mrs. Sarah M. Long. He was preceded in death by eight children, one son, Sam, having died in the service of his country. Survivors included a wife, a son and two daughters, as well as two others to whom he had been as a father. Funeral services were conducted at Pierceton, Indiana. He was interred at Leesburg, Indiana. (For further information, see MC 52 for Rev. Johnston's Journals. Donor: Walter Long

#2 Rev. Matthias Addison Hester - daguerreotype, n.d. Biographical sketch: Matthias Addison Hestor was born September 20, 1824 in Charlestown, Indiana, to George Knight Hester and Beene Briggs Hester. He taught school prior to entering Indiana Asbury (now DePauw) University in 1844. He received his A.B. in 1846, and his A.M. in 1849. During 1847 and 1848, he was a teacher in Paris and Liberty, Indiana. He then entered the Indiana Conference ministry and was appointed to the Cynthiana Circuit in 1848. In 1849, he was appointed to the St. Louis City Mission. He died in 1850 while attending to the victims of a cholera epidemic. His siblings included four brothers: Francis Asbury, William McKendree, Andrew Briggs, and Melville C. (For further information, see the Francis Asbury Hester Collection - MC 40, 41, &76.) Donor: Margaretta and Edith Hester

#3 Rev. William McKendree Hester - ambrotype, n.d. Biographical sketch: William McKendree Hester was born February 25, 1828 in Charlestown, Indiana, to George Knight Hester and Beene Briggs Hester. He entered Indiana Asbury (now DePauw) University, where he received his A.B. in 1848, his A.M. in 1851 and his D.D. in 1872. He entered the Indiana Conference in 1850. He was a delegate to the General Conference in 1864, 1872 and 1880. He was a presiding elder for the Bloomington District in 1883. He was superannuated in 1891. He was married November 3, 1853 to Miss Eliza L. Beharrel. He died March 10, 1908 in New Albany, Indiana. His siblings included four brothers: Francis Asbury, Matthias Addison, Andrew Briggs and Melville C. (For further information, see the Francis Asbury Hester Collection - MC 40, 41, & 76.) Donor: Margaretta and Edith Hester

#4 Andrew Briggs Hester - tintype, n.d. Biographical sketch: Andrew Briggs Hester was born April 21, 1830 to George Knight Hester and Beene Briggs Hester. He entered Indiana Asbury (now DePauw) University in 1851 from Scott County, Indiana. He died April 21, 1870. His siblings included four brothers: Francis Asbury, Matthias Addison, William McKendree and Melville C. (For further information, see the Francis Asbury Hester Collection - MC 40, 41, & 76.) Donor: Margaretta and Edith Hester

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The following five daguerreotypes (#5-9) are of members of the Class of 1852 of the Indiana Asbury (now DePauw) University. The Class consisted of John Daniel Chestnut, John Durham, Milton Stapp Durham, Philip Goode Gillette, Milford Bard Rudisill, John Stevenson Tarkington, and William Smith Turner. There is also a daguerreotype of Orson Robert Holloway, dated 1851, who died while he was a senior. [Note: Item #5 was labeled with tape "William S. Turner, 1852." However, item #6 had "W. S. Turner" written on the back of it. Therefore, both #5 and #6 have been given the titles "William S. Turner (?)." Although it is evident that the daguerreotypes are notof the same person, it is presumed that one of the people is William S. Turner.]

#5 or 6 William S. Turner (?) - daguerreotype, February 1852 Biographical sketch: William Smith Turner was born May 28, 1826 in the town of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania. He received his A.B. in 1852 from Indiana Asbury (now DePauw) University. He received his A.M. in 1855. He entered the ministry in 1852. He transferred to the California Mission Conference. He was a missionary to the Sandwich Islands from 1855 to 1858. He was a professor of Latin and English literature at the University of the Pacific from 1860 to 1862. He was the principal of Napa Collegiate Institute in Napa City, California from 1862 to 1868. He was in the active work of the Methodist itinerancy from 1868 to 1915. He served as presiding elder for ten years. He was a delegate to the General Conference three times; and an alternate delegate to the Ecumenical Conference in 189l. In 1887, he was elected president pro tem. of Spokane College. Turner was the author of "The Story of My Life," "A Critical and Candid Analysis of Christian Science," and "Things Worth While." He was the holder of the DePauw Alumni Memorial Cane from June 9, 1915 until his death November 12, 1920 in Spokane, Washington. Turner had married Miss Ann S. Cowgill from Greencastle, Indiana in 1852. After the death of his first wife, he married in 1856 a second time to Miss Susan E. Beecher of Stockton, California, who died in 1900. Turner was the father of John C., William B., Charles M., Annie C., and Ruth A. Donor: Mrs. Sarah Emma Hickman Taylor

#7 John Durham - daguerreotype, 1852 Biographical sketch: John Durham was born December 6, 1831 in Terre Haute, Indiana. He received his A.B. in 1852 from Indiana Asbury (now DePauw) University. He received his A.M. in 1855. Until 1876, he was a banker in Kankakee, Illinois. From 1876 to 1897, he became a wholesale lumber merchant first in Danville, Illinois, then in Bedford, Indiana. He was married on February 28, 1859 to Miss Eliza Cassedy from Joliet, Illinois. Durham died March 1, 1897 in Bedford, Indiana. Donor: Mrs. Sarah Emma Hickman Taylor

#8 John S. Tarkington - daguerreotype, 1852 Biographical sketch: John Stevenson Tarkington was born June 24, 1832 in Centerville, Indiana, to Rev. Joseph T. Tarkington and Maria Slauson Tarkington. He received from Indiana Asbury (now DePauw) University his A.B. in 1852. He received his A.M. in 1855. From 1858 to 1862, Tarkington was a trustee at Indiana University. He was a member of the Indiana Legislature in 1863. He was a captain in the One Hundred and Thirty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry in 1864. He was a judge of the Marion County Circuit Court in 1871 to 1872. He was the author of "Hermit of Capri," and "The Auto Orphan." He held the DePauw Alumni Memorial Cane from November 12, 1920 until his death on January 30, 1923 at his home in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tarkington married Miss Elizabeth Booth of Terre Haute, Indiana, on November 19, 1857. She died April 17, 1909 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tarkington then married a second time on September 10, 1910 a Miss Linda H. Schultz. He was the father of Mary Booth Tarkington (Mrs. O. B.) Jameson and Newton Booth Tarkington, the famous Indiana author and playwright. (For further information, see DC 734 and the DPU Photos vertical files.) Donor: Unknown

#9 Milford Rudisill - daguerreotype, 1852 Biographical sketch: Milford Bard Rudisill was born June 13, 1832 in Greencastle, Indiana. He received his A.B. in 1852 from Indiana Asbury (now DePauw) University. He received his A.M. in 1855. Rudisill was a high school teacher in 1853. He was a deputy clerk and clerk of Putnam Circuit Court from 1855 to 1858. He married Miss Mary E. Eads on May 7, 1863. She died October 22, 1870. They were the parents of Clara Lillian (Rudisill) Insley who graduated from the DePauw Class of 1885. Rudisill died July 28, 1890 in Battle Creek, Michigan. Donor: Unknown

#10 Orson Robert Holloway - daguerreotype, 1851 Biographical sketch: Orson Robert Holloway entered Indiana Asbury (now DePauw) University in 1846 from Tippecanoe County, Indiana. He died while he was a senior. Donor: Mrs. Sarah Emma Hickman Taylor

#11 Unknown Man (small frame) - ambrotype, n.d. Biographical sketch: unavailable Donor: Mrs. Sarah Emma Hickman Taylor

#12 Unknown Man - daguerreotype, n.d. Biographical sketch: unavailable Donor: Mrs. Sarah Emma Hickman Taylor

#13 Unknown Man - daguerreotype, n.d. Biographical sketch: unavailable Donor: Mrs. Sarah Emma Hickman Taylor

Items #14 & #15 (found in same case) The case has been wrapped in a purple velvet cloth. Young Men of "The Secret Ten" - two daguerreotypes, circa 1855 Historical sketch: During the summer of 1850 several local students held meetings in Plato's Hall, and formed a debating club, which continued for at least several months under the name of the Philosonian Society, although it at one time took the name "Jeffersonian Order of Mutual Aid." The Philosonian Society soon developed an anti-fraternity character which at that time meant anti-Beta (Beta Theta Pi, Asbury's first fraternity). Out of this Philosonian group there developed a "Secret Ten," even more clearly an anti-Beta group. Its members joined with a transfer student from Centre College, where he had been a member of Phi Gamma Delta, to establish a chapter of that fraternity. Receiving its charter June 24, 1856, Phi Gamma Delta became Asbury's second fraternity, its members being known as the "Deltas" or "Delts," and holding their meetings in a room aboave Thornburg's store in the center of Greencastle. ( For further information, see the vertical file on "The Secret Ten.") Donor: Unknown

#16 DePaw House - ambrotype, n.d. Historical sketch: A hotel believed to be in New Albany, Indiana and owned by the Washington C. DePauw family. Donor: Unknown