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From: Randi Richardson <>
Subject: [INMONROE] David H. Maxwell Biosketch: Part IV
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 09:50:00 -0500


SKETCH OF DR. DAVID H. MAXWELL

Louise Maxwell

Typed from a microfilm copy located on Reel 18, Local History Microfilm
Collection, Monroe County Public Library, Bloomington, Indiana. Document
consisted of 12 typed, double-spaced pages with a cover sheet. The
original is available at the Lilly Library, Indiana University,
Bloomington, Indiana. Punctuation has been added where needed and minor
spelling errors corrected. Read before the Monroe County Historical
Society, Bloomington, Indiana, January 1910.

During the years 1826-1829 he represented the counties of Monroe, Greene
and Owen in the State Senate where, as a member of the Ways and Means
Committee and as Chairman of the Committee on Education, he guarded
jealously at all times the affairs of the new Seminary. It was during the
latter part of his senatorial service, January 24, 1828, that "Indiana
College" was established.

Dr. Woodburn, in his monograph on "Higher Education in Indiana," has said,
"In the establishment of institutions it seems that the life and services
of some one man are paramount and essential. In the establishment of the
Indiana Seminary, Dr. David H. Maxwell was the essential man."

The success with which Internal Improvement Schemes were being prosecuted
at this period in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, gave a strong impetus to
the feeling that something must be done in Indiana.

The Internal Improvement System, therefore, was adopted almost without
objection at the session of the legislature of 1835-36. Governor Noble
nominated Dr. Maxwell to the Senate, without any knowledge or solicitation
on his part, as a member of the State Board of Internal Improvements. Upon
the meeting and organization of the Board he was unanimously elected its
president. Heavy care and responsiblity developed upon him in this
capacity. Could the success of the undertaking only have been commensurate
with the amount of labor involved, it would, indeed, have been great.

The state authorized an expenditure of more than $10,000.000 (sic) for the
building of canals, roads and railroads. The cost of the projects exceeded
the estimates, the proceeds from the canal lands did not meet expectations,
the panic of 1837 made it impossible to borrow money. Governors Noble,
Wallace and Bigger respectively expressed sanguine hope in the outcome of
the Internal Improvement system, but the state had undertaken too heavy a
burden, and it was a number of years before it recovered from the effects
of it.

After the campaign of 1840, Dr. Maxwell, a Whig in politics, was appointed
postmaster of Bloomington by President Tyler and served from May 31, 1841,
until December 30, 1845. He was superceded by John M. Berry, an appointee
of James K. Polk. With the return of the Whigs to power, Dr. Maxwell was
again made postmaster. This time the appointment came from Zachary
Taylor. The term of office lasted from 1839 (sic) to 1852.

Recollections of Dr. Maxwell in his home are very precious to his children,
two of whom are living. They recall the bookshelves in the corner where
the bible, Burns, Shakespeare, Children of the Abbey, books of Erasmus
Darwin and works on government stood side by side. Also they recall the
winter evenings around the fire when their mother knitted and their father
read aloud to them his favorite poems or plays. Nor do they forget his gun
and his love for hunting. They remember the firm, but kind, discipline of
his Scotch Irish training; the spirit with which he instilled in them the
love of learning, his errands of mercy to the sick, for he knew no rich nor
poor, and his fidelity to the church and its institutions.

One gathers from the writing of that day that Dr. Maxwell, as a citizen and
public servant, commanded the respect of his compeers, that his wise
sympathy and medical skill made him a beloved physician, that he defended
loyally and disinterestedly the cause of Indiana University from 1820-1854.

He was a friend of Indiana Unversity from Its inception. It was through
his initiative, influence and efforts that the law of establishment was
passed. For this reason, he has been designated as its founder and, in
recognition of the joint services of himself and son, the late Dr. Jame
Dawrin Maxwell, one of the University buildings bears their nameMaxwell Hall.

Such is the chronicle of Dr. Maxwell's life, whose years did not reach
three score and ten.

With the words on his lips, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in
peace," he died May 24, 1854.

The End


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