History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 80

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700

USA > Massachusetts > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I > Part 80

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* The members were pledged to abstain totally from the use of "ardent spirits, wine, opium, and tobacco, as articles of luxury or diet." A proposition made by Jolin Tappen, of Boston, involving similar conditions, though not fully accepted, Jed to the formation of this society.

+ The " Colonization Society" and the " Anti-Slavery Society."

# Prior to the appointment of the new president, the professors had united upon a plan of retrenchment unique as rare. They agreed, if allowed to man- age the institution and regulate its running expenses, that they would accept for their services whatever of the income might remain after paying such ex- penses; with the proviso that " the agency for the solicitation of funds should cease, and with the expectation that Professor Hitchcock would be appointed president." This plan was adopted.

¿ Of this som $1000 were raised in Amherst and vicinity, $30 11 given by Mr. Williston, and $1500 by George Merriam, of Springfield.

" The tower is 94 feet in height. The view from its top is extensive and of unusual beauty and majesty. To the east are seen the mountains Lincoln, IIy- guia, and Aquilo; north, Pleasant, Taurus, Mettawampe, and Sugar Loaf; north- west, Bald Mountain, Pocumtock, the Hoosac Range, and in the blue distance the Green Mountains of Vermont. Westward rises Mount Warner, while through the magnificent valley courses the silvery, winding thread of the "Great River"-Connecticut. Beyond, appear the mountains of Western Massachusetts, and sonthward, the near, majestic peaks of the Trap range, Norwottack, Holyoke, Nonotuck, and Tom. The river finds a narrow passage between Ilolyoke and Nonotuck. In clear wenther the villages of Amherst, Hadley, Northampton, Easthampton, Whately, and Sunderland may be seen.

253

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

servatory contains a transit cirele, a sidereal clock, and two portable telescopes.

A room adjoining, called the " Nineveh Gallery," costing 8567, was the gift of Enos Dickinson, and contains valuable archæological treasures, including six sculptured slabs from the palace of Sardanapalus, seals, cylinders, and bricks from Nineveh and Babylon, and many coins of gold, silver, and copper.

" The Library Building, " to which reference has been made, was erected in 1853, and cost $10,000. The first floor is de- voted to working-rooms. The second story contains the library proper, consisting now# of 40,488 volumes, including the " So- ciety Library" of 5319 volumes. The nucleus from which this larger mass has grown consisted in the earlier years of a few books in a case at South College, and experienced several removals before its transfer to the present building.

" The Appleton Cabinet" was erected in 1855, cost $10,000, and was named in honor of Samuel Appleton, of Boston, its chief donor. It contains Dr. Hitchcock's ichnological col- lection, the Gilbert museum of " Indian relies," and the Ad- ams zoological cabinet. The geological lecture-room is in this building.

" Williston Ilall" occupies the site of " Old North College," which was burned, cost $15,000, and is the magnificent gift of Ilon. Samuel Williston, of Easthampton. Here are found the chemical laboratory with its various departments. The rooms of the two literary societies-" Alexandria" and " Athena"-are in the second story.

The upper story is devoted to the " art gallery," opened in July, 1874, in " Alumni Hall." The contents of this splendid gallery are multifarious and valuable, among them copies of the Elgin marbles, Ghiberti bronze doors, Angelo's " Moses," and other casts of celebrated statues, bas-reliefs, and vases. For this fine collection the college is chiefly indebted to the labors of Prof. Richard H. Mather.

" East College," built the same year, is a dormitory similar to the others, and cost $15,000. It will also, like the other dormitories, accommodate fifty students. This building, now obstructing the front of the College Church, will doubtless soon be removed to a better situation toward the southwest.

" Barrett Gymnasium" is the nursery of the athletes of Amherst, and furnishes pleasurable and profitable physical discipline to all the students, for all who are able are required to take therein daily a prescribed round of exercise. This building is of Pelham gneiss, of plain style of architecture, was furnished in 1860 at a cost, including fixtures, of $15,000. The upper story, where the classes exercise, contains a gallery for visitors.

" Walker Hall," originating in the generous bounty of Dr. William J. Walker and other friends of the college, was for- mally opened Oet. 20, 1870. This edifice is palatial in style and proportions,-a gem among the many fine buildings of Amherst. It is built of stone, cost $120,000, and contains the department of mathematics and astronomy, natural phi- losophy, and the Shepard cabinet of minerals. lIere also are recitation- and lecture-rooms, and rooms for trustees, presi- dent, and treasurer.

" College Church," for which a donation of $30,000 had been made in 1864 by William F. Stearns, the eldest son of the late president, after much delay in selecting a proper site, was commenced in 1870. The corner-stone was formally laid September 22d, in that year, Rev. Christopher Cushing, of Bos- ton, delivering the address. A chime of bells hangs in the tower, the gift of George Howe, of Boston, and is intended in part to commemorate Amherst's fallen soldiery. The church was finished in 1872, and cost $70,000.

" College Hall," formerly the village church, erected in 1828, was purchased in 1867, and remodeled, to fit it for its

present use, for commencement exercises, examinations, and publie entertainments. Cost of building and improvements, $16,000.

College Grounds .- The present college grounds, comprising about 30 acres, are the aggregate of several purchases and do- nations. In 1820, 9 acres were purchased from the estate of Col. Elisha Diekinson, and, in 1827, 23 acres more, lying east of the first purchase. These purchases now contain the principal buildings. Five acres, on which stand the president's house, the library, and College Hall, were purchased of John Leland, in 1828. Meeting-House or Observatory Hill, a part of the old common, was given by the town. In 1861, 5 acres were pur- chased from Judge John Dickinson, as a site for the College Church ; in 1866, 23 acres from Lucius Boltwood, as a site for Walker Hall and other improvements. The original cost of the foregoing land was about $15,000.

Hallock Park was a special gift to the college in 1868, upon condition that the trustees should " preserve, improve, and keep it forever as a public park." It contains 7 acres of grand old forest-trees, chiefly oaks and pines.

The College Church was organized in 1826. Articles of faith and covenant were adopted in consonance with the views of the participants, and were of the most rigid, orthodox Trinitarian type. To these, thirty-one students gave in their adhesion, and the church was formed as the " Church of Christ in Amherst College." All subsequent revivals in the college have been conducted under the auspices of this church society. In Prof. Tyler's history much prominence is given to these special seasons of ingathering. Changes in the pastorship have corresponded with the changes in the presidency of the college, cach of the presidents having been inducted, in turn, into the pastorate of the church.

College Press .- The printed literature of Amherst College, the production of under-graduates, dates from the year 1831, when a magazine called The Sprite was issued at bi-monthly periods, and continued about one year. It was devoted to the fanciful and romantic. This was followed by monthlies called The Shrine and The Guest, each about one year. Then ap- peared Horce Collegianc, 1837-40; The Indicator, 1848-51 ; The Experiment, 1850-51 ; The Amherst Collegiate Magazine, 1853-57 and 1861-62; The Ichnolite, 1857-61. The present publications are the Olio, a students' catalogue, started in 1868, and published annually ; and the Amherst Student, which originated the same year, and is issued on alternate Saturdays during the college terin. Both are edited by members of the junior class.

Boating became an institution at Amherst in 1869, but was not continued more than six years. In 1872 the " Amherst boys" were victors in a regatta, and made what was then the best time on record.

July 24, 1872, in the second regatta of the rowing associa- tion of American colleges, at Springfield, Amherst bent Am- herst Agricultural, Bowdoin, Williams, and Yale in a univer- sity six-oared race with shells, three miles straightaway. Time, 16m. 32 4-5s.

College Corporation. - Rev. Julius H. Seclye, President ; HIenry Edwards, of Boston; Hon. Alexander II. Bullock, LL.D., of Worcester ; Hon. Henry Morris, LL.D., of Spring- field ; Rev. S. Dwight, D.D., of Hadley ; Nathan Allen, M.D., LL.D., of Lowell ; Hon. Edward B. Gillett, of Westfield ; Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D.D., LL.D., of Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Rev. Roswell D. Hitchcock, D.D., LL.D., of New York ; Rev. Edmund K. Alden, D.D., of Boston; Hon. John E. Sanford, of Taunton ; Rufus B. Kellogg, of Green Bay, Wis. ; Rev. William S. Karr, D. D., of Hartford, Conn. ; Henry D. Hyde, of Boston.

Rev. Edward S. Dwight, D.D., Secretary ; William A. Dickinson, Treasurer.

Officers of the " Charity Fund."-Rev. Charles Cushing, D.D., of Boston ; Rev. Rowland Ayres, D.D., of Hadley ;

* Jan. 18, 1879.

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

HIon. Charles Adams, of North Brookfield; Rev. John M. Greene, of Lowell ; Eleazar Porter, of lladley ; M1. Fayette Dickinson, of Boston ; Prof. William B. Graves, of Amherst, Overseers ; William A. Dickinson, Commissioner ; George Montagne, Auditor.

Faculty of Amherst College .- Rev. Julius II. Seelye, D.D., LL.D., '49, President, Professor of Mental and Moral Philos- ophy, and Pastor of the College Church ; Charles U. Shepard, M.D., LL.D., '24, Emeritus Professor of Natural History ; Rev. William S. Tyler, D.D., LL. D., '30, Williston Professor of the Greek Language and Literature; Edward Tuekerman, LL.D., Professor of Botany; Edward P. Crowell, A. M., '53, Moore Professor of Latin Language and Literature; Edward Hitchcock, A. M., M.D., '49, Professor of Hygiene and Physi- cal Education ; William L. Montague, A. M., '55, Professor of French, Italian, and Spanish ; Richard H. Mather, A. M., '57, Professor of Greek and German ; William C. Esty, A.M., '60, Walker Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy ; Elijah P. Harris, Ph.D., '55, Professor of Chemistry ; Benjamin K.

periencing by the way some periods of exciting change. The former has 72 members ; the latter, 42. " Hitchcock Society of Inquiry, " formed in 1870, has 62 members ; the " Antivenian Society," 1830, 114 acting and 1924 graduated members; the " Musical Association," 1869.

Secret Societies .- " Alpha Delta Phi," 1836, 18 members ; " Psi Upsilon," 1841, 19 members ; " Delta Kappa Epsilon," 1848, 19 members ; "Chi Psi," 1864, 22 members ; " Chi Phi," 1873, 28 members.

Non Sceret .- " Delta Upsilon," 1847, 39 members.

Semi-Centennial .- The alumni and friends of the college celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its existence in a manner loyal, fraternal, and enthusiastic, during the commencement season, in July, 1871. On this occasion addresses were made by President Stearns, who also gave the baccalaureate sermon, llon. A. H. Bullock, Prof. Snell, Dr. Edward P. Humphrey, Revs. H. N. Barnum and Henry Ward Beecher, Profs. Park and Hitchcock, and Waldo Ilutchins. Nearly seven hundred of the alumni were present.

[Cut furnished by the College.]

MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, AMHERST, MASS.

Emerson, Ph.D., '65, Hitchcock Professor of Geology and Zoology ; Rev. II. Humphrey Neil, A. M., '66, Williston Pro- fessor of Rhetoric and Oratory, and of English Literature; Elihu Root, Ph. D., '67, Walker Professor of Mathematics and Natural History ; Joseph H. Chickering, A. M., '69, Associate Professor of English ; Anson D. Morse, A. M., '69, Professor of History and Political Economy ; Rev. Thomas P. Field, D. D., '34, Samuel Green Professor of Biblical History and Interpretation, and Pastoral Care; Leverett Mears, Ph. D., '74, Instructor in Chemistry; Levi II. Elwell, A.M., '75, Instructor in Greek; Henry B. Richardson, A. M., '69, In- structor in Latin; Benjamin E. Smith, A. B., '77, Walker Instructor in Mathematics; John M. Clarke, A. B., '77, As- sistant in Geology ; Rev. Enoch F. Burr, D.D., '68, Lecturer on the Scientific Evidences of Religion ; Frederick Zucht- mann, Instructor in Vocal Music; Walter S. Biscoe, A.M., '74, Acting Librarian ; Melven J. Allen, '79, Assistant.

The " Alexandrian" and " Athenian, " the principal literary societies, were formed early in the life of the college, in 1821, and have continued their existence to the present time, ex-

MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Little had been done in the United States, prior to 1849, toward the practical application of science in agriculture, and no school existed for the scientific preparation of young men for farming and kindred pursuits. The founders of the Nor- folk Agricultural Society had this in view at the time of its formation, and at their first exhibition, Sept. 26, 1849, were favored with an address by Marshall P. Wilder, embodying valuable suggestions upon the subject.

" The primary object in the address," said Mr. Wilder, afterward, " was to awaken a more general interest and im- mediate action, both by national and State legislation, in behalf of agricultural colleges and schools." There were present at its delivery many of the ablest men of the nation, among whom were George N. Briggs, then Governor of the State, Daniel Webster, Edward Everett, Horace Mann, Levi Lincoln, Josiah Quincy, Gen. Henry A. S. Dearborn, Gover- nor Isaac Hill, of New Hampshire, Lieut .- Governor John Reed, John Pierpont, Charles Francis Adams, Robert C.

RES. OF EDMUND HOBART, NORTH AMHERST, MASS.

RES. OF PRESIDENT W. S. CLARK, AMHERST, MASS.

255

HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

Winthrop, and Josiah Quincy, Jr. Respecting the subject of the addresses, Mr. Everett said :

" I need not enlarge on its importance, for here sits by my side the very apostle* of this inspired gospel, who has told us, over and over again, the advantages of education ; but I will say, sir, that if the yeomanry of New England wish their principles to prevail, or their influence to be perpetuated over the country, the only way in which they can, for any length of time, effect this object, is to educate their children to under- stand these principles, and firmly and effectually to maintain them."

Said Mr. Mann :

" I rejoiced, sir, when I heard you to-day magnify and extol the subject of scientific education for the farmer. It cannot be too much exalted ; it cannot be too highly lauded. Those are the true views for all farmers, for all men who are to he engaged in this business, thus to become acquainted with mineralogy and botany, with the physiology, the pa- thology of plants, and thereby get possession of this machine, this wonderful apparatus, which has been produced for their use ; and then, sir, we should have a yeomanry in this country of which the nation might well be proud."

A prejudice existed in the minds of the people, from which the Legislature itself was not entirely free, against what they called " book-farming," and, notwithstanding the fact that the appeals for State assistance were supported by the reported re- sults of Dr. Hitchcock's comprehensive investigations con- cerning the like institutions in Europe, the friends of the movement met little encouragement until 1856. In that year an act was granted incorporating Marshall P. Wilder, Benja- min V. French, George W. Lyman, Seth Sprague, Moses Newell, Richard S. Fay, and Samuel S. Hooper, under the title of the " Massachusetts School of Agriculture," with power to hold property, real and personal, not exceeding in amount $500,000, " for the purpose of conducting an experimental farm and school thereon." Liberal proposals were received from Lexington and Springfield, but the subsequent action of the national government gave a new direction to the move- ment.

In July, 1862, Congress passed an act setting apart for each State a portion of the public lands, conditioned upon the establishment and maintenance of at least one college " where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in order to promote the liberal and praeti- eal education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life."

The State formally accepted the grant, amounting to 360,000 aeres of land, by an act passed April 18, 1863, and in the same year incorporated the " Massachusetts Agricultural College."

Gov. Andrew and others had favored an alliance of the new institution with some one already founded ; but this met with the disapproval of the Board of Agriculture, of which Marshall P. Wilder was president, upon the ground that such connection was not within the intention of Congress. The bill as passed, however, gave one-third of the revenue of the endowment fund to the " Massachusetts Institute of Technology," located at Boston, thus placing the department of " mechanic arts" in charge of that corporation, and making the agricultural col- lege " the only college in the United States designed exclu- sively for the education of farmers."+

Among the propositions put forth to secure the location of the institution, that of the town of Amherst was deemed most advantageous, and on the 25th of May, 1864, the trustees by a unanimous vote located the college in Amherst, the town having pledged itself to pay the sum of $75,000 for the erec- tion of buildings, and to furnish for a reasonable price a satis-

factory tract of land for the uses of the institution. In the October following the present estate of the college was pur- chased from six different parties. The cost of the land and buildings at that time amounted to about $43,000, the total area being 3833 acres."#

The buildings were duly provided, and made ready for the reception of students Oct. 2, 1867, at which time the first class, numbering 33, was admitted.

The first president, Hon. Henry F. French, remained only a sufficient time to arrange the several departments and pro- vide a course of study, when he resigned. The mantle of office fell upon the shoulders of Hon. P. A. Chadbourne, then a pro- fessor in Williams College, who with characteristic energy and ability completed the arrangements preliminary to the admis- sion of students, as above indicated. After a few months, because of poor health, he too resigned, and moved to the West.

At this critical period Col. W. S. Clark, then a professor in Amherst College, was chosen president, and to the time of this writing has continued to manage its affairs with signal ability. To him, chiefly, the institution owes its wide renown as an agricultural college, for not only Massachusetts, but the work!, has profited, directly and indirectly, by the effective work done in its fields, laboratories, and halls of study. ¿

At this college thorough training and instruction are given in all that pertains to the cultivation of the soil, for the pro- duction of field and garden crops, fruits and flowers. Here the student is taught how to treat the various soils, what food to supply for any given erop, how to care for and improve live- stock, and, in fact, such training is given as will enable him to increase, economically, the yield of any given acreage now unscientifically tilled. The following studies are embraced in the curriculum, and suggest a thorough, well-rounded, and practical education as the result of the four years' course : botany, horticulture, agriculture, chemistry, geology, veteri- mary science, zoology, mathematics, physics, engineering, Eng- lish, French, German, mental and moral science, and military science. All who complete the regular course receive the de- gree of Bachelor of Science, and, in addition, by an arrange- ment of the trustees of Boston university, "all students who desire it may become members of the university, and receive its diploma in addition to that of the college."

Of the college structures the most important are the two large dormitories of brick, in which are arranged the geolog- ical, ornithological, and other collections; a large wooden building near by, containing the audience- and lecture-rooms, laboratories, and apparatus ; the " Botanie Museum," contain- ing the office of the president, the " Knowlton Herbarium, " and valuable diagrams illustrative of structural and scientific bot- any. Near the museum is the " Durfee Plant-House," erected by the liberality of Dr. Nathan Durfee, of Fall River, and containing a rare and extensive collection of plants. To the cast, upon the hill-side, are the college vineyard and fruit- orchard and the " Massachusetts Garden ;" beyond which, on the erest of the hill,-a northward continuation of Mount Pleasant,-is the president's house, overlooking the entire farm.

The college has now, January, 1879, 162 students.

July 21, 1871, in the first regatta of the Rowing Associa- tion of American Colleges, at Ingleside, Mass., Amherst Agricultural beat Harvard and Brown, in university six- oared race with shells, three miles straightaway.

Board of Trustees. |-Members Ex-Officiis : President of Col- lege, Secretary of Board of Education, Secretary of Board of Agriculture. Members by Election : Marshall P. Wilder,

# Hon Horace Mann.

+ Report of President Clark, 1876.

# President W. S. Clark's report, January, 1876.

¿ The Sapporo Agricultural College, in Japan, was organized by President Clark, in 1876-77, at the instance of that government, and the first professors selected therefor were graduates of the Amherst institution.

|| Officers as per report January, 1878.

256

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

Boston ; Charles G. Davis, Plymouth ; Henry Colt, Pitts- field ; Phineas Steadman, Chicopee ; Allen W. Dodge, Ham- ilton ; George Marston, New Bedford ; William B. Washburn, Greenfield ; Ilenry L. Whiting, Cambridge; Henry F. Hills, Amherst ; Daniel Needham, Groton; William Knowlton, Upton ; John Cummings, Woburn; Richard Goodman, Lenox. Executive Committee : William S. Clark, W'm. B. Washburn, William Knowlton, Henry Colt, Phineas Steadman ; Secre- tary, Charles L. Flint, of Boston; Auditor, Ilenry Colt, of Pittsfield ; Treasurer, George Montague, of Amherst. Board of Overseers, the State Board of Agriculture; Examining Committee of Overseers, O. B. Hadwen, of Worcester ; John B. Moore, of Concord; Paul A. Chadbourne, of Williams- town ; Charles S. Sargent, of Brookline; J. N. Bagg, of West Springfield. Members of Faculty : William S. Clark, Ph.D., LL.D., President, and Professor of Botany and Horticulture ; Levi Stockbridge, Professor of Agriculture ; llenry H. Goodell, M.A., Professor of Modern Languages; Charles A. Goessman, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry ; Henry W. Parker, M.A., Professor of Mental, Moral, and Social Science; William B. Graves, M.A., Professor of Physics and Civil Engineering ; First Lieut. C. A. L. Totten, 4th Artillery, U. S. A., Profes- sor of Military Science and Tactics ; A. S. Packard, Jr., M.D. (State Entomologist), Lecturer on Useful and Injurious In- sects; M. Fayette Dickinson, Jr., Lecturer on Rural Law ; Charles P. Lyman, V.S., Edin., Lecturer on Veterinary Sci- ence and Practice ; George Montague, Instructor in Book- keeping. Samuel T. Maynard, B.S., Gardener and Assistant Professor of Horticulture. A. A. Southwick, B.S., Farm Superintendent.

CHURCHES.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, AMIIERST,"

was organized Nov. 7, 1739, after more than four years had elapsed since the first vote of the precinct concerning a meeting-house. Oct. 8, 1735, it was " Voted, to hiere a Min- ester half a yeare; that Jno. Ingram, Jr., Jno. Coles, Nath1 Smith be Comte to hire a Minester. Voated, to Build a Meating-House. Voted, sd house forty-five foots in Length and thirty-five in Bredth. Voted, sd meating-house to be covered with quarter boards of spruse. Voted, also, to Cover ye roofe with spruce shingles without sap and twenty-one Inches in Lenth. Voated, to set sd house up the Hill, East of Jno. Nash's House, in ye most Convenient place."

Samuel Boltwood, Ebenezer Dickinson, John Cole, Pelatiah Smith, and John Ingram were made a committee " to order ye building ye Meating-House." November 25th, the house was ordered " to be set in the most convenient place neare the Hart- ling Stake, so called." December 25th, it was voted to set it on " ye East End of Noah Smith's Lot." March 10, 1735, voted to " Rais fifteen pounds of money to be paid towards ye menis- ter's Rate. Voted, yt the Remainder of said Rate be paid out of ye non-resdent money, and ye Remainder of sd money to be Improved for ye Building of ye Meating-House." Sept. 13, 1736, it was voted to hire a minister six months. March 17, 1787, it was voted " to cover ye Meeting-House." March 22d, " to frame, raise, and eover ye Meeting-House this year ensuing," and Samuel Hawley, Ebenezer Kellogg, Ebenezer Dickinson, Jonathan Atharton, and Aaron Smith were made a committee to " se to ye Building ye Meeting-House."

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 80

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 700

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700