USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, pt 1 > Part 20
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In 1842, William W. Whipple was principal of the academy, Miss Helen Humphrey preceptress, Daniel Temple. Jr. teacher of French, and Miss Eliza M. Judkins teacher of drawing, painting and penmanship. There were 67 pupils in the classical course and 123 in the English ; of these, 20, three young gentlemen and 17 young ladies, were studying French. All pupils were expected regularly to attend morning and evening prayers in the hall and public worship at one of the churches in the village on the Sabbath. There was a literary society connected with the academy which held weekly meetings. Pupils could attend, without charge, the lectures of the professors in Amherst College.
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In 1845, Rev. Joseph Vaill was president of the corporation, Leonard Humphrey, A. B., was principal, James Humphrey assistant, Louis P. Ledoux teacher of French, Miss Elizabeth C. Adams preceptress for the fall and winter terms and Miss Rebecca M. Woodbridge preceptress for the spring and summer terms. In the classical department were 56 pupils, 37 males and 19 females ; in the English department 56 pupils, 23 males and 33 females. Of the whole number, 112, 79 had homes in Amherst and most of the remainder came from towns near by. In 1848, the catalog contained the following announcement : " A favorable opportunity, it is believed, is offered to those who desire a thorough acquaintance with the French language. Mons. Tribur, a native, and till within a few years, a resident of France, has a high reputation as a Teacher of the French, German and Italian languages."
In 1850, Samuel N. White was principal, Miss Anna B. White precep- tress, Miss A. Juliette Chamberlain teacher of French, and George N. Webber teacher of Latin and Greek. In the classical department were 47 pupils, 15 males and 32 females; in the English department 95 pupils, 62 males and 33 females. Of the whole number, 142, 91 had homes in Amherst. The catalog was for the fall and winter terms, and previous to the opening of the spring term the academy building was to be " thoroughly repaired within and without, and made in all respects, not only convenient, but pleasant and tasteful." The summer term had been shortened from eleven weeks to nine, the summer vacation being correspondingly length- ened to four weeks. The charge for tuition per term was, for the common English branches, $3 ; for the higher English branches, $4; for Latin and Greek, $4 ; for French in connection with other studies, $5. Penciling and crayon-drawing were charged extra. A charge of from one to two shillings per term was thereafter to be made "to defray in part the expense incurred for fuel for the public rooms and other contingencies."
In 1858, Rev. Joseph Vaill, D. D., was president of the corporation, John S. Adams, Esq., secretary, and Hon. Ithamar Conkey treasurer. Other members of the board of trustees were Hon. Edward Dickinson, Lucius Boltwood, Esq., Rev. William A. Stearns, D. D., Rev. Edward S. Dwight, Rev. C. L. Woodworth, Rev. David Eastman, Prof. William S. Tyler, D. D., Rev. James L. Merrick, Dea. Moses B. Greene. Selah Frisbee was principal, Miss Eliza C. Haskell preceptress, Miss Henrietta F. Shumway assistant in the fall term and Miss Harriet E. Clark assistant in the winter term. In the classical department were 72 pupils. 35 males and 37 females: in the English department 70 pupils, 32 males and 38 females. The academic year was divided into three terms, one of thirteen weeks, one of fourteen, one of fifteen. The spring term began April 21, the fall term Aug. 25, the winter term December 8. The tuition was the
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ORIGIN OF AMHERST COLLEGE.
same for any or all branches taught. For a term of 14 weeks, those who came from a distance and hired board were charged $7; for others, the tuition varied from $7 to $10; according to the number of scholars.
CHAPTER XXIII.
ORIGIN OF AMHERST COLLEGE .- THE CHARITY FUND .- CONVENTION OF CHURCHES .- NEGOTIATIONS WITH WILLIAMS COLLEGE .- FIRST COLLEGE BUILDING ERECTED .- NOAH WEBSTER'S ADDRESS.
From Amherst Academy, in fullness of time, came Amherst College. In laying the foundations of the academy, the Rev. David Parsons and his associates were wise beyond their own knowledge. It is not impossible that some among their number may have seen, with prophetic vision, in the one-half acre of ground and the three-story building of brick, dedicated to the promotion of "morality, piety and religion " and to " the instruction of youth in the learned languages," an opening chrysalis from which was to emerge in time the college set upon a hill, with its broad lands and noble buildings and its motto, bravely conceived and faithfully interpreted, "Terras Irradient." Certain it is that in 1817, one year after the academy charter was obtained, important measures were undertaken to add to its usefulness and efficacy and to extend the field of its labors. The trustees, at a meet- ing held Nov. 18, 1817, adopted a project formed by Rufus Graves, Esq., to add to the usefulness of the academy by raising a fund for the gratuitous instruction of " indigent young men of promising talents and hopeful piety, who shall manifest a desire to obtain a liberal education with a sole view to the 'Christian ministry." This "charity fund," as it was afterwards designated, was the corner-stone in the foundation of Amherst College.
The history of Amherst College has been written by one, himself so thoroughly identified with the institution, so familiar with all its interests, so conversant with all the facts relating to it, that another, working along the same lines, must needs at every point lay himself open to the charge of repetition if not of plagiarism. The History of Amherst College, written by Prof. W. S. Tyler and published in 1873, is so accurate and complete as to stand a barrier in the way of one who would attempt original writing in the same field. Yet a history of Amherst town, with Amherst College omitted, would be so unsatisfactory, so far from complete, as not to be contemplated
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even for an instant. For the necessarily brief sketch of the beginnings of the college and its earlier history, which follows, the writer gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness to Professor Tyler.
Especial attention is given in these pages to the part, a large and honorable one, taken by citizens of Amherst in the founding of the college. It is a child of the town, for, although the people of all Western Massa- chusetts were interested in it and subscribed liberally to its charity fund, it was the eloquence and convincing logic of an Amherst man, Samuel Fowler Dickinson, that finally secured to the town the location of the college ; it was an Amherst man, Elijah Dickinson, who donated the land for the site of the college buildings ; it was a group of Amherst men, headed by Rev. David Parsons, who became personally responsible for a balance of $15,000 necessary to raise the charity fund to the sum of $50,000 as guaranteed by its constitution. The town and the college have been closely associated since the latter was first founded ; there has been a recognized community of interest which has been of mutual benefit.
As early as 1762, thirty years before the incorporation of Williams College, the need of a collegiate institution in the Connecticut valley had become apparent to many, and measures had been taken for the founding of such an institution in Hampshire county. The General Court, in 1762, in answer to a petition signed by many inhabitants of the county, brought in a bill for establishing " an Academy in the western parts of this Province," which passed to be engrossed but was finally lost. Francis Barnard. at that time governor of the Province, made out a charter incor- porating Israel Williams and eleven others "a body politic by the name of the President and Fellows of Queen's College." The college was to be located in Northampton. Hatfield or Hadley. This charter, owing to the strenuous opposition of Harvard College, was never issued, but a building was erected at Hatfield, known for many years as "Queen's College." At a meeting of the Franklin county association of ministers, held in Shelburne in 1815, there was a discussion as to whether a college would be likely to flourish in some central town of old Hampshire county, and as to what town would be most eligible as a site for such an institution. The body were agreed that a college thus located would be most desirable, and that the town of Amherst was the most suitable place in which to establish it. This is the first associated action on record looking toward the establishment of a college at Amherst ; it is especially notable as · coming from outside the town and county.
The original aim of the promoters of the charity fund was the estab- lishment at Amherst Academy of a professorship of languages, with a permanent salary equal to the importance and dignity of such an office. The committee appointed to solicit subscriptions soon discovered that the
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CONSTITUTION OF THE CHARITY FUND.
object was too limited to attract public sympathy or aid ; they therefore determined to enlarge their plan, and accordingly framed and reported a "constitution and system of by-laws for raising and managing a permanent Charity Fund as the basis of an Institution in Amherst, in the county of Hampshire, for the classical education of indigent young men of piety and' talents, for the Christian ministry." This report was accepted by the board of trustees of Amherst Academy at a meeting held Aug. 18, 1818. The constitution thus adopted was drawn up by Rufus Graves, Esq., one of the incorporators of the Academy ; it was submitted to Jeremiah Mason and Daniel Webster, and both pronounced it a legal instrument, binding in law on the subscribers to the fund. Among its provisions was one for the incorporation of Williams College with the proposed institution, should it be thought expedient to remove the college to Hampshire county. The amount of the fund was to be not less than $50,000 ; five-sixths of the interest of the entire amount was to be appropriated to the classical education in the institution of indigent pious young men for the ministry, the remaining one-sixth to be added to the principal for its perpetual increase. The management and appropriation of the fund was to be vested in the trustees of Amherst Academy, until the classical institution was established and incorporated, and then in the trustees of the latter and their successors forever. There were to be seven overseers of the fund, the four highest subscribers being permitted to appoint one overseer each, the other three to be elected by a majority of the votes of the other subscribers ; this board of overseers were to be self-perpetuating, having power to fill their own vacancies.
Fully impressed with the importance and magnitude of their under- taking, and desirous of interesting the public in it to as large an extent as possible, the trustees of Amherst Academy resolved to call a convention of the Congregational and Presbyterian clergy of the counties of Hamp- shire, Franklin and Hampden and the western section of Worcester county. This convention met Sept. 29, 1818. at the meeting-house of the First Congre- gational parish of Amherst. Thirty-seven towns were represented, 16 in Hampshire county, 13 in Franklin, four in Hampden and four in Worcester. Amherst, Greenfield and Granville had each representatives from two parishes. The convention was composed of 36 clergymen and 32 laymen ; Rev. Joseph Lyman, D. D., of Hatfield, presided. The constitution and by-laws of the proposed institution were read, and, after some discussion, the whole matter was referred to a committee of twelve. The committee presented their report the next morning; they expressed their approval of the constitution. recommended Hampshire county as the most eligible site for such an institution, but in regard to the particular town in the county, while favorably disposed toward Amherst, it was thought expedient to leave
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that question to the decision of a disinterested committee appointed by the convention. Many members of the convention favored Northampton as the site for the institution, there was a long and heated discussion, and it was not until Hon. Samuel Fowler Dickinson had delivered a strong and eloquent address in favor of Amherst that the convention was induced to decide on the latter place.
As early as 1815, the trustees and many of the friends of Williams College had begun to agitate the question of removing that institution to some place in Hampshire county where it would be more favorably situated and easier of access. At that time Williams College had two buildings, 58 students, two professors and two tutors; its income fell far short of its expenditures. At a meeting of the board of trustees of the college, held May 2, 1815, a committee was appointed "to take into consideration the removal of the college to some other part of the Commonwealth ;" this committee reported, at a meeting held in September, that such a removal was inexpedient, " at the present time and under existing circumstances." Zephaniah S. Moore, who had been elected president at the May meeting, was from the first decidedly in favor of such a removal. At a meeting of trustees of Amherst Academy, held Oct. 26, 1818, a committee of three was appointed to confer with the trustees of Williams College at their session to be held in Williamstown on the second Tuesday of November, to communicate to them the result of the convention held at Amherst in September. The trustees of Williams College made no reply to the com- mittee from Amherst, but at their meeting resolved that it was expedient to remove the college on certain conditions, and appointed a committee to. visit the towns in Hampshire county and determine the place to which the college should be removed. The trustees of Amherst Academy appointed a committee to confer with the Williams College committee, and to represent to the latter the claims of the town of Amherst to be the seat of the college; the college committee, after a careful inspection of the towns in the valley, were unanimous in naming Northampton as the proper site to which the college should be removed. In February, 1820, the trustees of Williams College petitioned the General Court for permission to remove the college to Northampton ; the petition was rejected.
At a meeting of the trustees of Amherst Academy, held in March, 1820, they took measures for collecting the subscriptions to the charity fund, raising additional subscriptions, erecting a suitable building and opening the institution for the reception of students. Subscriptions to this fund began in May, 1818, and in one year's time they amounted to $37,244. Of this sum, citizens of Amherst had contributed $9,210, those of other towns in Hampshire county $6.538, those in Franklin county towns $12,511, Worcester county $4,575, Hampden county $745. The
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THE FIRST COLLEGE BUILDING.
constitution provided that the fund should amount to at least $50,000 ; to insure the raising of the full amount a guarantee bond in the sum of $15,000 was made out to the trustees of the academy and signed by the following : Rev. David Parsons, Samuel F. Dickinson, Jarib White, Elijah Boltwood, Hezekiah W. Strong, Enos Baker, John Leland. Jr., Calvin Merrill, Joseph Church, Jr. Not one of the Amherst subscribers to this fund was accounted a rich man, even in those days of limited fortunes ; they gave not of their abundance, but of their poverty ; not because they could spare the money, but because the interests of education demanded it. Of the signers of the guarantee bond, many were already subscribers to the fund; David Parsons had given $600. Samuel F. Dickinson $600, Jarib White $150, Elijah Boltwood $200, John Leland, Jr. $150. John Eastman was not one of the signers of the bond, but subscribed $400 to the fund and then paid $1000 more toward indemnifying the signers. Elijah Dickinson gave the land for the site of the college buildings, valued at $600. Dr. Rufus Cowles gave lands in Maine valued at $3000.
The trustees of the academy, at a meeting held May 10, 1820, appointed a committee to procure a good and sufficient title to the ten acres of land conditionally conveyed to them by Col. Elijah Dickinson, to digest a plan of a suitable building for the institution, to procure subscriptions, donations or contributions for defraying the expense thereof, and to prepare the ground and erect the buildings as soon as the necessary means were provided. The committee secured a title to the land, marked out the ground for the site of a building 100 feet long, 30 feet broad and four stories high, and invited the citizens of Amherst friendly to the project to contribute labor and materials and provisions for the workmen. Then and not until then did it become fully apparent how deep and how widespread was the interest that had been awakened by the project in the community. There were many whose circumstances prohibited them from subscribing to the fund, but they gave freely and gladly of material and labor. Nor were the citizens of Amherst unaided in their labors; side by side with them were residents of Pelham and Leverett and Belchertown and Hadley, working together for the advancement of the interests of education and religion, as they had in earlier times fought side by side for the " common cause." The stone for the foundation was brought chiefly from Pelham by gratuitous labor, the first load being furnished as a free-will offering by Wells Southworth, then a resident of Pelham, who afterwards removed to New Haven, Conn. where he gained wealth and distinction, but ever retained his interest in the college on the hill. Donations of stone, lumber, lime, sand, materials of all kinds came in from every quarter, and teams for hauling and men for handling were provided in abundance without price. The work was carried on day and night, and by the 9th of August the foun-
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dations were nearly completed and ready for laying the corner-stone.
The exercises attendant on the laying of this corner-stone were witnessed by hundreds of people from Amherst and surrounding towns ; they were solemn and impressive, worthy of the occasion and of those who bore a part in them. A procession was formed at the academy build- ing, headed by the building committee and the workmen, who were followed in turn by the academy trustees, the subscribers to the fund then present, a number of the neighboring clergy and the preceptors and students of the academy, and marched to College hill. The order of exercises was as follows : Prayer by Rev. Mr. Crosby of Enfield, laying of the corner-stone by Rev. Dr. Parsons, president of the board of trustees; an address by Noah Webster, Esq., vice-president of the board ; prayer by Rev. Mr. Porter, of Belchertown ; sermon by Rev. Daniel A. Clark, of Amherst ; prayer by Rev. Mr. Grout, of Hawley. The sermon and address were printed the same year by request of the trustees; from the address the following paragraphs are quoted :
" We are assembled this day to lay the corner-stone of an Edifice, designed for the accommodation of the beneficiaries, who may be placed on the fund which your benevolence has constituted for their education in classical literature and the sciences. This act and the ceremonies of the day will witness to you the sincere intentions, and ardent desire of the Board of Trustees of Amherst Academy, to carry into effect the design of the liberal charity which you have consecrated to the advancement of the Christian Church. That they have not sooner commenced the execution of the trust reposed in them, by the constitution of the fund, is to be ascribed wholly to considerations of prudence and experience, arising out of cir- cumstances over which they had no control. If, however, this delay has contributed to strengthen the cause, by removing obstacles and illuminating the path of duty, we are confident that the patrons of the institution will justify the Board, in this exercise of their discretion.
The object of this institution, that of educating for the gospel ministry young men in indigent circumstances, but of hopeful piety and promising talents, is one of the noblest which can occupy the attention and claim the contributions of the Christian public. It is to second the efforts of the apostles themselves, in extending and establishing the Redeemer's empire -- the empire of truth. It is to aid in the important works of raising the human race from ignorance and debasement : to enlighten their minds; to exalt their character: and to teach them the way to happiness and to glory. Too long have men been engaged in the barbarous works of multiplying the miseries of human life. Too long have their exertions and resources been devoted to war and plunder; to the destruction of lives, and property : to the ravage of cities: to the unnatural, the monstrous employment of enslaving and degrading their own species. Blessed be our lot! We live to see a new era in the history of man-an era when reason and religion begin to resume their sway, and to impress the heavenly truth, that the appropriate business of men, is to imitate the Saviour : to serve their God : and bless their fellow-men.
Such an institution, with an appropriate destination, in which the views and hopes, the liberality and prayers of an extensive Christian community, may be concentrated, seems to be a desideratum in our country ; and it is believed, will
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command the respect, and receive the patronage of the public. The place selected for the seat of this seminary, is believed to be peculiarly well adapted to secure its prosperity. It is to be situated in a populous country, abounding with provisions ; in a climate remarkable for its salubrity ; in a village where no peculiar circum- stances exist to invite dissipation and extravagant expenditures ; surrounded by a well cultivated territory. inhabited by people, whose moral, religious and literary habits, dispose them to cherish the cultivation of the mind, and the propagation of evangelical truth-while the extensive prospect and diversified scenery, presented to the eye from this elevation, is adapted by nature and by art, to delight the student, and to furnish, to piety, perpetual sources of contemplation and improvement.
Let us then take courage ! The design is unquestionably good, and its success must be certain. Small efforts combined and continued, cannot fail to produce the desired effect, and realize the hopes of its founders. Prudence and integrity will subdue opposition, and invite co-operation ; perseverance will bring to our aid new accessions of strength, and a thousand small streams of charity from unexpected sources, will flow into the common current of benevolence which is to water and refresh this nursery of gospel ministers. This institution will grow and flourish, and become auxiliary to a thousand associations which Christian philanthropy has. formed, to reclaim and evangelize the miserable children of Adam. Charity will nourish, protect and augment what charity has begun; and the prayers of piety will invite blessings on this humble effort to diffuse the gospel of peace."
The foundations having been completed, work on the superstructure was carried on with even greater zeal, so that on the nineteenth day from the laying of the corner-stone the roof-timbers were erected on the building. When work on the building began, the building committee were without funds and dependent upon such contributions as should be made from time to time to carry on the enterprise. Repeatedly during the progress. of the work they were compelled to notify the president of the trustees. that they could proceed no further. On such occasions meetings of the trustees would be -called, and by subscriptions of their own and renewed. solicitation for voluntary contributions, funds were procured that enabled the committee to prosecute the work. And so generous was the response to these appeals, that when the roof and chimneys were completed, the bills unpaid. and unprovided for were less than $1300. Work was suspended during the winter months, but was resumed in the spring, and the interior of the building finished by similar means and with equal dispatch. By the middle of June the building was so near completion that the trustees made arrangements for its dedication, in connection with the inauguration of the. president and professors, and the opening of the college in September.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
ZEPHANIAH SWIFT MOORE, FIRST PRESIDENT OF AMHERST COLLEGE .-- RUFUS GRAVES .- SAMUEL F. DICKINSON .- HEZEKIAH W. STRONG. -- LIFE AT THE COLLEGE IN ITS EARLY DAYS .- HEMAN HUM- PHREY ELECTED PRESIDENT .- HOW THE CHARTER WAS SECURED. -EVENTS OF PRESIDENT HUMPHREY'S ADMINISTRATION.
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