Shimer College History (1853-1950)
"Improvement and progress are duties," motto of the Oread Society of Mount Carroll Seminary, might well serve as the theme of Shimer College history throughout the first hundred years of its progressive development, which reached its century mark on Founder's Day, May 11, 1953. For the small acorn, planted by two courageous women in May, 1853, has grown and spread into an oak of strength and beauty, a school that has steadily improved and progressed through good and bad years, to reach a proud place in the educational world. It has not only kept pace with the times, but has become a leader in educational thought and practice.
Its inspired service to youth through succeeding generations has fully justified the faith of its founders, whose dream of educational usefulness has found its realization in the college of today.
Frances Ann Wood, with her friend and ally, Cindarella Gregory, "builded better than they knew" when, in spite of hardships, obstacles, difficulties and discouragements, they labored unfalteringly to give to the new West the educational advantages sorely needed by young folks of those pioneer days. Hundreds of graduates, who have gone out from the school to take their places in the world and make their contributions to life, have blessed the day when two young school ma'ams, with hope in their hearts, set out to translate their bright dreams into vibrant reality and Shimer College was born.
Every human achievement was first a thought in someone's mind. Shimer College had its inception in the desire of early settlers in and around Mount Carroll, Illinois, to give their children educational opportunities in spite of the lack of public schools.
Mount Carroll, in the early '50's, was a village clustering around the Emmert and Halderman grist mill on the Waukarusa, a meandering stream winding its way among the green hills and wooded valleys of the beautiful countryside. Enterprising citizens of this pioneer community decided to organize and finance a "Seminary." Headed by John Wilson, attorney, and William T. Miller, state
