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Lillian Honeywell Beall |
She heard of the fame of Hedding College (1855-1927) in Knox County, Illinois, and she entered that institute as a student in 1881. She graduated in 1884 at 20 years old with the highest honors in her class. While in school, she won 1st prize in an oratory competition.
Beall returned to Hoopeston, Illinois, to become the assistant principal for Hoopeston High School. She held that position for two years before returning to Hedding College to work as a math professor. Her name went unchallenged through the leading educational papers as the youngest college professor in the United States.
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Hedding College buildings and grounds. Circa 1880s |
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The photograph shows a building, students, and faculty on the campus of Hedding College in Abingdon, Illinois. There is a large group of people sitting and standing in front of the building. The building has three stories, and there appears to be an added two-story building on the right. The building has what appears to be a bell tower on the roof. There are two other towers visible on the left and on the right parts of the roof. Two young men are standing on the roof on the right. The people are dressed in winter clothing, and there is snow on the ground. Four of the individuals are holding onto bicycles. |
Hedding College merged with Illinois Wesleyan University in 1930.
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Hedding College Bell, which was located in the bell tower from the photograph above. |

On Monday, August 16, 2021, I received this email. Below is an excerpt:
Dear Dr. Gale,My name is Amy (Koch) Schwartz and I am the youngest of Lillian Honeywell Beall's great-granddaughters.My mother (Hazel Beall Koch) always referred to Lillian as "Mom Beall." She was one of two grandmothers who helped raise my Mom and her two sisters after the death of their mother. My Mom was only 5 weeks old when her mother died of an infection on Christmas Day, 1923. "Mom Beall" homeschooled the two older sisters during the three years she helped care for the family. As a result of "Mom Beall," one of the three girls pushed ahead in school and graduated early!Sincerely,Amy Schwartz
Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.
My article, "Lillian Honeywell Beall, at 22 years old, was the youngest college professor in the United States," was printed, with permission, in their Summer 2019 Newsletter, Volume 53, Issue 2, of the Iroquois County Historical Society. "I hope you enjoy reading our newsletter, and thank you again for sharing your information."
Catherine Williams,
Iroquois County Historical Society
Old Courthouse Museum
103 West Cherry Street
Watseka, Illinois 60970
My article, "Lillian Honeywell Beall, at 22 years old, was the youngest college professor in the United States," was printed, with permission, in their Summer 2019 Newsletter, Volume 53, Issue 2, of the Iroquois County Historical Society. "I hope you enjoy reading our newsletter, and thank you again for sharing your information."
Catherine Williams,
Iroquois County Historical Society
Old Courthouse Museum
103 West Cherry Street
Watseka, Illinois 60970
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