BLACKBURN UNIVERSITY
Located at Carlinvill, Macoupin County.
It owes its origin to the efforts of Dr. Gideon Blackburn, who having induced friends in the East to unite with him in the purchase of Illinois lands at Government price in 1837 conveyed 16,656 acres of these lands situated in ten different counties in trust for the founding of an institution of learning intended particularly "to qualify young men for the gospel ministry."
The citizens of Carlinville donated funds wherewith to purchase eighty acres of land near that city as a site which was included in the deed of trust. The enterprise lay dormant for many years and it was not until 1857 that the institution was formally incorporated and ten years later it was little more than a high school giving one course of instruction considered particularly adapted to prospective students of theology.
At present (1898) there are about 110 students in attendance a faculty of twelve instructors and a theological as well as preparatory and collegiate departments.
The institution owns property valued at $110,000 of which $50,000 is represented by real estate and $40,000 by endowment funds.