Central Normal Autograph Album 1889

Notes on the Life of Lena Jane Amick
1868-1915
Lena Jane Amick, daughter of John Dick Amick and Martha Ellen McCosky of
Clark County, Indiana, was born near Scipio, Indiana, July 14, 1868. She
was the fourth child of nine and grew up in an environment where education
and literary activities were encouraged. Family members participated in the
local Literary Society, and Lena was the secretary of that organization in
1888. It is interesting to note that John W. Corya, her future husband, was
also an active participant in the Literary Society.
She attended the Central Normal College in Danville, Indiana during the
1888-1889 session, where she was listed on the General Roll. From letters
written to John Corya during her time at school, we find she was learning
to draw, was assigned an essay on the topic “Is Politeness Compatible with
Sincerity?” and attended a class in Rhetoric and one in grammar. At least
four of her siblings also attended Central Normal College during the 1890s:
Albert (Bert), John P., Charles Gideon, and Clyde.
Lena taught at the Hege school during the winter of 1889, her first term,
and had an average attendance of 27 students. Considering the rather remote
location of the school and the difficulties of travel, this was deemed a
good record.
The letters between Lena and John record a growing affection and they were
married October 1, 1890 at her father’s house in Reddington, Indiana. A
wedding trip to Louisville was enjoyed, and after a week, they returned to
Queensville, Indiana, where John had a retail business.
John and Lena had nine children, two of whom, Ernest and Margarite, did not
survive to adulthood. The other children were Lester (b. 1893), Harold (b.
1895), Florence (b. 1896) Richard (b. 1903), Edith (b. 1906), Bertha (b.
1908) and Marian (b. 1911). The literary environment and value they placed
on education influenced their children’s lives, as all seven completed high
school. The older two boys graduated from Indiana University and some of
the others had some college training.
About the time their oldest children were ready for high school, they made
a move to Shelbyville, Indiana, where John worked in sales.
Tragically, Lena contracted tuberculosis. John took her and the younger
children to El Paso, Texas, in December of 1914, in the hopes the change in
climate would be of benefit. Her health did not improve, and she died
February 9, 1915, in El Paso. She was buried in the cemetery across the
road from the Scipio Presbyterian Church.