The Andrew Wylie Family Letters - Indiana University Bloomington

GLOSSARY OF NAMES
Ammen, Amanda. “dear friend” of Liz; daughter of Indiana University Professor of Mathematics, Jacob Ammen
Ammen, Jacob. Indiana University professor of mathematics 1840-43. A graduate of West Point, he also taught
military tactics as a voluntary and after-school-hours course at Indiana University. Though a Virginian by birth, he
later served in the Union Army during the Civil War.
Ballantine, Anna Thankful “Little Annie”. Daughter of Indiana University Professor of Languages Elisha
Ballantine, sister of Henry and Mary O. Ballantine, friend of Sarah Parke Morrison
Ballantine, Elisha. Born 11 October 1809 at Schodack Landing on-the-Hudson, New York. Graduated Ohio
University at Athens, studied at Union Theological Seminary, Virginia, and subsequently taught languages at both
schools. Presbyterian minister in Virginia and Washington DC 1840-52. Professor at Indiana University 1854-63,
becoming Chair of Languages. Secretary of American Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church 1863-
66. Professor of Hebrew at Lane Theological Seminary, Cincinnati, 1866. Returned to IU as Professor Emeritus of
Greek in 1867 until he resigned in 1878. Ballantine several times refused honorary DD degrees as “inconsistent with
his Christian precept,” but accepted a literary LLD from IU in 1878. Served as Acting President from November
1884 to January 1885, between the administrations of Moss and Jordan, and thereafter as Vice President and
Professor of Greek until his death at his home in Bloomington in the spring of 1886.
“Professor Ballantine was highly esteemed by all who knew him, as a scholar and as a Christian. He had
taken the man Christ Jesus as his model, and came perhaps as near to that faultless character as but a few of the
human family have attained. Professor Ballantine was a sincere man; there was no dissembling about him. He was
no flatterer, his words were the true representation of his thoughts. He was benevolent—kind to all with whom he
was brought in contact. He was in constant demand when the desponding needed comfort, and when the dying
needed a spiritual advisor. His services of this kind were freely rendered, and often sought by Christians of every
name. He was highly esteemed by all classes—Protestant and Roman Catholic, Jew and Gentile. As a preacher,
Professor Ballantine was plain and practical, often eloquent, never ostentatious.
As a literary man and scholar, Professor Ballantine stood in the first rank. He was thorough in his
scholarship. In addition to his knowledge of the Greek and Latin, he was an excellent Hebrew scholar, and had also
considerable knowledge of other Semitic dialects, and of modern languages he spoke and read the German language,
and was an excellent French scholar.” As scholar and clergyman, his “life was spent in the service of the church and
the cause of education.” (Theophilus A. Wylie, Indiana University, Its History from 1820, When Founded, to 1890,
page 120.)
Two of Andrew Wylie’s granddaughters—Mary Ballantine McCalla and Flora Ballantine Martin—were
named in honor of this family.
Ballantine, Henry “Hal”. Son of Elisha Ballantine, IU graduate in 1856, minister and missionary to India, friend of
Sam Dodds, and correspondent of Jane Wylie.
Ballantine, Mary O. Daughter of Elisha and good friend of Jane Wylie.
Barnum, Philneas Taylor. 1810-1891. American showman known for his sensational promotions; sponsored
immensely successful Jenny Lind tour; see 11/4/50.
Beecher, Dr. Henry Ward. 1813-1887. Liberal Congregational minister whose oratorical skills & social concern
made him one of the most influential Protestant spokesmen of his day. First pastored a small Presbyterian
congregation in Lawrenceburg, Indiana (1837), then in Indianapolis (1839-1847), then in New York. Leader in
the antislavery movement, proponent of women’s suffrage, convert to the theory of evolution. Brother of Harriet
Beecher Stowe and Catherine Beecher.
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