The Lincoln School For Colored Children

EDITOR’S NOTE: In 1881 Crawfordsville School Trustees ordered a school be built at the southwest corner of Spring and North Walnut Streets to serve black students in grades 1-8. Once graduated, the students attended the integrated Crawfordsville High School. This site accommodated the vast majority of black families living in Crawfordsville’s north end. Trustees purchased the lot in September 1881 for $2,000. On Dec. 3, 1881, Hinckley and Norris won the contract to build the building for $6,400. The architects designed a plain two-story red brick structure with playgrounds for all the black children who resided in that area. Lincoln School officially opened in September 1882 with 42 students. When the black population moved to the east end to work in the factories, Lincoln Building 1 was renovated into Horace Mann, and Lincoln Build 2 was opened on East Wabash Avenue. That building became Lincoln Rec Center and was demolished in 1981. This project began as a project historical research project to honor all those individuals who went to school in separate and unequal facilities as the law dictated.

Toliver Hawkins

1863 to 1938

Building caretaker 1918-1920

Tolliver was born on 11 June 1863 in Kentucky to William and Anna Williams Hawkins.

10 December 1886, he married Malinda Allen. The couple resided at 709 Milligan Street and had at least 13 children. Mary, Naomi, Ellen, Helen, Pearl, Lelia, Gladys Marie, and Armen all died before their seventh birthday, some surviving less than one month. The couple’s five surviving children included Harvy Hawkins and Hazel Sanders from Chicago, Austin from Bakersfield, California, Ida Rice, and Laura Kennedy, who stayed in Crawfordsville.

Toliver was a member and officer of the local Colored Masonic Lodge and the Second Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon for several years.

From 1918 through 1920, he served as the Lincoln School for Colored Children’s building caretaker and, many years after, as a building caretaker at Wabash College.

Tolliver died on 21 March 1938 from diabetes. Both he and Melinda are buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Mary Elizabeth Keene Patterson

1872 to 1965

Building caretaker 1920-1922

Elizabeth was born on 19 November 1872 in Crawfordsville to James Upton and Emily Johnson Keene Patterson. Born in Kentucky in slavery in 1824, James spent almost 40 years in bondage, owned by the Talbott family. After serving with Company H 124th United States Colored Infantry during the Civil War, he came to Crawfordsville, becoming well known and well respected by Crawfordsville citizens. James and Emily had a family of at least eight children; Elizabeth was the third born. While not formally educated, James was a voracious reader, enjoyed discussing politics, and had a broad and sarcastic sense of humor. Elizabeth’s mother, Emily, was born in October 1844, also in Kentucky.

Elizabeth married John Nelson Patterson on 14 June 1899 and set up homes on East Wabash Avenue and Pike Street. Her children included Maurice, John L, who served during World War II, eventually promoted to the rank of corporal, Elizabeth Marie, Upton, John Nelson, and Robert. Their daughter Elizabeth Marie died from tuberculosis in 1923, just 19 years old, as did their son Upton in 1921, just 20 years of age. Elizabeth also raised her grandson, John Louis Patterson.

After her work for Lincoln School, Elizabeth served as the cook for the Kappa Sigma Fraternity house at Wabash College. She also cooked for the Flat Rock YMCA camp.

Elizabeth died on 18 November 1965 at age 92 and was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Crawfordsville.

George Franklin Patterson

1856 to 1928

Building caretaker 1927 to 1928

George Franklin Patterson was born on 5 March 1856 to Nelson and Mariah Gates Patterson. He alternately went by George, Frank, and Franklin.

In November 1874, the Crawfordsville Weekly Journal reported that Frank, employed as a cook by Mike Zellers, was arrested for two counts of petty theft. Mr. Zellers had been missing money for several months and finally discovered the thief by depositing marked money in the drawer. Nothing more was mentioned in the newspapers, so it is assumed the situation was resolved quietly.

Frank married Sarah Belle Keene on 12 February 1880 in Fountain County. Making their home on East Franklin Street in Crawfordsville, they had two children, Clinton Earl Nelson and Blanche Marie. Blanche went on to become the first Black podiatrist in Crawfordsville. Frank and Sarah had been married 58 years at the time of his death in 1928.

In January 1883, Luther Monroe stole paint from the Nutt House, which landed him in court. The circuit court expected Luther to attend his hearing, but Luther was nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, Frank Patterson and another Crawfordsville resident, Zach Williams, were Luther’s bondsmen and were responsible for Luther’s whereabouts and all fines incurred.

1890 was a busy year for the Pattersons. The Greencastle AME church was dedicated, and Frank, his family, and other residents attended the ceremony. Also, Frank was elected an officer of the Scipio Lodge Grand United Order of the Odd Fellows.

In July 1894, Frank traveled to Camp Gunter in Hammond, Indiana, to replace the company cook, who apparently did not cook well. By August, Frank was back in Crawfordsville. He helped create the Black residents’ petition to the school board concerning the state of education of Black children.

Frank was a member of St. Marks Lodge Number 25, F. A. M, chapter number 18, Shriners of the Persian Temple, number 46, and St. Marks Lodge, number 25. He died on 20 November 1928 in Crawfordsville from arteriosclerosis and renal failure.