L.W. Miller, Superintendent of Schools in his article entitled Education History of Lee County Schools indicates that Dixon College drew "students from nearly every section of the United States, as well as from Canada." He adds that this school enjoyed "merited popularity as the leading educational center of northern Illinois." In his book Dixon, A Pictorial History, George Lamb writes that "hundreds of graduates of the Dixon College Law Department went on to become lawyers, judges and high ranking holders of political office.”

These small private colleges located in a small town operated for profit. They could not compete with the emerging institutes of higher learning operated by the State of Illinois. Under act of Legislature of 1895, the Northern State Normal School was established at DeKalb. That school opened in the fall of 1898 with 16 teachers and 139 students. Other similar schools opened in several other locations in Illinois. These schools were committed to providing an affordable education for Illinois families and provided steep competition to the private schools. In just a few years the enrollments in many of the private schools of higher learning not only in Dixon but across the state saw significant decline and soon ceased to exist as students were drawn to these schools less expensive state colleges.

During their existence, these various private schools served a significant purpose to the many thousands of people who sought to better themselves through additional education.

References:
1. Dixon Collegiate Institute, Dixon Evening Telegraph - 100th Anniversary Edition 1 May 1951 http://genealogytrails.com/ill/lee/leeschooldixoncollegiate.html
2. Dixon Seminary. Academies and Seminaries of Various Grades and Courses. General Assembly of Illinois at its 26th Session convened January 4, 1869 Vol. 2. Springfield: Illinois Journal Printing Office. 1869.
3. Northern Illinois Normal School. The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Biography of McHenry County Citizens. Bateman, Selby, Coburn. 1903 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hallhistory/northern_illinois_normal_school.htm
4. Dixon College 31 Dec. 1904. Illinois Libraries, College Institutional and special. by Katherine L. Sharp. University of Illinois, The University Studies, Vol. 2. Published by the University, Urbana, Illinois. 1909.
5. The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Biography of McHenry County Citizens. Bateman, Selby, Coburn. 1903
6. 1904 History of Lee County Illinois edited by Mr. A.D. Bardwell.
7. 1914 History of Lee County Illinois by Frank E. Stevens, Volume 1. Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. Chapter 13 The Dixon Schools & Chapter 14 Education History of Lee County Schools by Prof. L.W. Miller, Superintendent of Schools.
8. 1914 Patterson’s Educational Directory: College and School Directory. Vol. X1. Compiled and Edited by Homer L. Patterson. American Educational Company. Chicago.
9. International Who’s Who in Music and Musical Gazetteer. p806. Edited by Cesar Saerchinger, Secretary Modern Music Society of New York, Managing Editor The Art of Music. First Edition 1918.
10. Dixon, Illinois – Description and travel Views, 1921.
http://www.archive.org/details/dixonillinois00dixo
11. 1921-1922 Blue Book of the State of Illinois. Edited by Louis L. Emmerson, Secretary of State. Springfield, Ill. 1921.
12. 1922 Patterson’s Educational Directory: College and School Directory. Vol. 19. Compiled and Edited by Homer L. Patterson. American Educational Company. Chicago.
13. Dixon, A Pictorial History by George Lamb. 1987.
14. Miscellaneous post cards and flyers.

Research and article by Karen Swegle Holt, 2009.

History of Lee County Illinois by Frank E. Stevens
Volume 1. Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company 1914. Chapters 13 and 14
Transcribed by Karen Swegle Holt 2009

Chapter XIII THE DIXON SCHOOLS Pg 193-194

As early as 1855, several enterprising gentlemen sought to give Dixon the advantages of a first class educational institution. To that end on May 7, 1855. W. W. Harsha, a Presbyterian minister commenced the first term of Dixon Collegiate Institute in the basement of the Lutheran Church then located on Crawford avenue between Third and Fourth streets.

Following him as teachers in that institution were Eli C. Smith, Mrs. E.A. Smith, Mrs. C.L. Harsha and Miss Jennie L. Backus.

On July 4, of the year 1855, after securing endowment for the Dixon Collegiate Institute, of $15,000, the cornerstone was laid with imposing ceremonies. Subscriptions in money, apparatus and lands made by the citizens of Dixon raised the sum to $37,000.

B.F. Taylor of Chicago made the principal address on the occasion. John Stevens and others delivered address too on the occasion. Not very long ago I unearthed the one made by John Stevens.

In 1857 this institution was incorporated by a special act of the Legislature. But from one cause and another the school did not progress as anticipated, and in 1858, the presbytery abandoned it.

Its construction must have been slow because on Aug. 27, 1857, when Prof. A.M. Gow took hold of it to reorganize it, but two stories and a basement were all that were finished.

On April 18, 1861, the building then completed was purchased by Rev. O.W. Cooley, of Wisconsin, for the purpose of establishing a female seminary in it. Just what he did, I am unable to learn; but the next notice I find of it is Sept. 8, 1863, when S.G. Lathrop and M. McKendree Tooke, two Methodist ministers opened the Dixon Seminary. For a time this institution under the management of these two gentlemen, flourished. Large numbers of pupils attended, especially from the farms.

On Nov. 1, 1875, the name of the institution was changed to the Rock River University and O.G. May became president and M.M. Tooke became regent.

But the public school by this time had been brought to such a degree of usefulness that in a small town the small private school could not compete with it and so after a long period of reverses, Mr. Tooke lost the property and title passed to George L. Schuler. After this the building stood empty for a long while and people who desired took up their residence in its rooms without molestation. But after awhile it became rumored that the old building had become unsafe and Mr. Schuler had it demolished.

Architecturally it was a handsome building. Sitting on the brow of a beautiful hill, it was the first building seen from afar. From the car window, it presented a most picturesque appearance. Now the site is the beautiful Bluff Park in which so many beautiful homes have been built.

The last reference I find made to the old Rock River University is on the ending of the year 1880, where the building is spoken of as a five-story brick and stone edifice, on a high eminence in the east part of town, and that the institution had practically settle down to a Preparatory and Military Academy, yet giving instruction in Normal, Business, Musical and Art departments.

The board of management and instruction were at that time, Jay R. Hinckley, president; Maj. H.O. Chase, military instructor; W.H. Chamberlain, business manager; Henry M. Douglas, Mrs. Jay R. Hinckly and Miss Lucy Whiton, teachers.

Chapter XIV EDUCATION HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS
by Prof. L.W. Miller, Superintendent of Schools. Pg 201-202

In 1855 the "Dixon Collegiate Institute" was opened in the basement of the Lutheran church, under the auspices of the Rock River Presbytery, under the care of Rev. W.W. Harsha. Later, in the same year, the corner-stone of the institute was laid, in what is now Bluff Park. This school was endowed to the extent of $25,000, with generous contributions in grounds, etc. by Dixon citizens. By special act of the Legislature this institution was incorporated in 1857. The school being discontinued, it later became the home of different private schools, and finally gave way to residences.

In 1857 a female seminary was started under the auspices of the Episcopal church, and in 1861 a female seminary was established in the Collegiate Institute building. In 1858, a high school department was added to the course of study of the public schools. In 1862 E.C. Smith became the superintendent of schools. "Dixon Seminary" opened in the Collegiate building in 1863…

The Northern Illinois Normal School and Dixon Business College began its existence in the Seminary building in 1881, with John C. Flint as president and Jesse B. Dille as principal.

These quarters were occupied but one year, when, upon the completion of the new buildings in West Dixon, the permanent home of this prominent institution of learning was established. Scholarships to the extend of $20,000 were subscribed as an inducement to secure its location in the city, and the college building, proper, and the Ladies' Dormitory were completed when first occupied. The Gentlemen's Dormitory was completed in 1888.

This new school was popular from the very first and grew rapidly under its splendid business management until it registered nearly twelve hundred students (1891), with a corps of instructors numbering about forty. Courses in preparatory, teachers, scientific classic, business, music, telegraphy, art, etc., were maintained, this institution drawing students from nearly every section of the United States, as well as from Canada, and enjoying merited popularity as the leading educational center of northern Illinois. This school is today the property of Prof. I.F. Edwards, who for sixteen years occupied the position of county superintendent of schools of Lee county, and is still in operation, with an encouraging attendance.

Steinmann College began its existence in 1882, under the direction of Charles A. Steinmann, who conducted the school successfully for a numbers of years. It is located on a beautiful elevation on the banks of Rock river adjoining Assembly Park, on the north. Maj. F.B. Floyd now conducts a military school here. With most gratifying results.

Coppins' Commercial College is located in the heart of the city, and, under the skilled management of W.H. Coppins, this school ministers to the needs of those desiring work in its lines.