USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 132
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 132
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"Tues., August 21 .- Hauled logs for Woodbury's house ; raised p.M.
" Sunday, September 30 .- This is the dryest month I ever saw,- not raio enough to lay the dust. Whippoorwills sung the last even- iog in this month.
" Monday, October 1,- . . . Agae came on unexpected.
turned a year and a half later. Joseph Bosworth was a stone-cotter by trade. The party drove through with three yokes of oxen.
t The house was finished in January, 1838, and occupied on the 25th of that month.
529
WALTON.
" Tues., 2 .- . . . Had the ague in the woods and had a hard time to get home.
" Wed., 3 .- Staid close to the hed; took thoroughwort A.M., and Lee's pills at night ; better.
"Sat., March 30, 1839 .- Got news of Walton's heing set off in a separate township.
" Mon., April 1 .- . . . Attended town inceting as inspector.
" Tues., 2 .- Helped raise Allen's shantee.
" Mon., 29 .- Knocked down Ne-maw," and kicked him for falling.
"Sat., August 13 .- . .. Went to Mr. Stone's raising, and had some swamp-water.
" Wed., Sept. 25 .- . . . Shot at a bear; Capt. Belding came. [Capt. Titus Belding did not settle here; he was the father of Mrs. Bosworth.]
" Sat., Oct. 26 .- Cut dam timber.
" Wed., 30 .- Hauled spars in the rain and mud.
"Sat., Nov. 2 .- Went to bee oo mill-dam.t
"Sat., July 22, 1840 .- Went to first court that was ever held in the township of Walton,-the State of Michigan, plaintiff; William Woodhury, defendant.
"Tues., Sept. 29 .- Went to Marshall with wheat ; got 42 cents per bushel.
" Wed., Nov. 29, 1843 .- Simcon Wheeler was huried; was killed by the fall of a tree.
"Tnes., Feb. 13, 1844 .- Hauled one load of lumber,-400 feet,-for meeting-house at Olivet.
"Sunday, March 4 .- Went to Fordham's school-house to meeting; Shipherd preached.
"Sunday, April 21 .- Went to R. B. Allen's, to funeral of his hoy.
" Thurs., May 30 .- Went to raising of saw-mill at Olivet.
"Tues., Sept. 3 .- Went to Shipherd's funeral.
" Sat., Oct. 26 .- Helped raise grist-mill at Olivet."
When Mr. Bosworth settled his nearest neighbor was Capt. James W. Hickok, three miles distant, and in the opposite direction there was not a house until " Searls Street" (Charlotte) was reached. On the site of Olivet was an Indian village, numbering about 100 individuals. The Indians had permanent huts ; their burial-ground was also located here. The place was known among the settlers as the " Indian Village." Their chief was called Sand- bar. Another was Nee mah, an ugly customer, who is mentioned at some length in a general chapter. It is said that he was heartily despised by others of his tribe. On une occasion some squaws found him lying in a drunken sleep, and covered him with dry grass and set it afire, with the intention of roasting him. Ile escaped, though nearly burned to death. He was the only Indian with whom the settlers ever experienced trouble.
The first white male childt born in the township of Walton was Miles L. Bosworth, son of Joseph Bosworth, whose birth occurred Jan. 10, 1839. Ile was deputy- sheriff under Sheriffs Whitcomb and Miles, and died in the Kalamazoo Insane Asylum in 1878 or '79. His father is also deceased, but the latter's widow is living, with another son, at Olivet.
# This Indian is mentioned io a general chapter.
t This dam was on Mr. Bosworth's own place, on a small stream which received the name of Mill Creek, which discharges into Battle Creek halt a mile below the mill site. During the same winter Mr. Bosworth commenced preparations to build a saw-mill, the lower part of which was raised June 20, 1840. A freshet carried away the bridge on the 27th of June, and the dam was washed away in the following November. Alf was repaired and the mill completed, and sawing was commenced Dec. 7, 1840.
į The first white child born in the township was a daughter of Parley P. Shumway, whose birth occurred July 4, 1838.
Thomas Scott, who settled in the township of Bellevue in 1836, afterwards removed to Walton, and at present resides on a farm east of the village of Olivet.
S. Day, who settled in the county in 1836, is now a resi - dent of this township.
P. Hockenbury settled in 1846.
John B. Roscoe, who came in 1848, married a sister of Phineas S. Spaulding, a pioneer of the town of Kalamo, and one of the county commissioners before the county business was transaeted by the board of supervisors. Mr. Spaulding in now living at Charlotte.
The history of the township of Walton eentres princi- pally at the village of Olivet, as but few persons had located in the township previous to the settlement of the village.
RESIDENTS IN 1844.
The following were the resident taxpayers of the town- ship of Walton in 1844, as shown by the assessment roll for that year : Lorenzo Foree, Barnabas Robinson, Charles Peters, Alonzo Hawkins, C. D. Pearl, Earl B. Allen, II. E. Spencer, Hollis Garfield, Rodney B. Allen, Joseph Bos- worth, Robert W. Campbell, W. W. Farrand, Thomas Scott, Archibald Scott, Adam Scott, C. Waldo, Silas Ford- ham, Stephen Woodbury, Horatio Nelson Chase, Albert Fordham, B. F. Belding, John Hart, Esq., William Hart, Flavel Stone, William S. King, Apollos Fordham, Hiram Butterfield, John Hendrickson, James W. Hickok, Nor- man Ilickok, Henry H. Hickok, Isaac Hogle, Hiram Bur- roughs, J. J. Shipherd, Isaac Bears, B. Shumway, R. S. Wbeeler, P. P. Shumway, P. E. Shumway, L. Baldwin, Joseph Chase, Carlo Reed, - Dennison, Osman Chap- pell, P. M. Chandler, Newton L. Curtis, Thomas Squier, W. Hosford, Phineas Pease, David Walling, Franklin Whimple, R. W. Campbell, Alfred Allen.
The list of non-resident taxpayers was much larger than the above. These include those living in both the town- ship and village, and it is seen that in the eight years suc- ceeding the first settlement the township had received but comparatively few accessions to its white population. The number of voters was so small that for a number of years office-holders were apportioned several positions, in order that all might be filled.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION .- LIST OF OFFICERS.
An act of the Michigan Legislature, approved March 21, 1839, provides that
" All that portion of the county of Eaton designated in the United States survey as township number one north, of range five west, be and the same is hereby set off and organized into a separate township, by the name of Walton ; and the first township-meeting shall be held at the house of Joseph Bosworth, in said township."
" At an annual meeting of the inhabitants of the township of Wal- ton, held at the house of Joseph Bosworth, on the Ist of April, 1839, John Miller was chosen moderator; Samuel Bond, Joseph Bosworth Parley P. Shumway, and Benjamin F. Belding, chosen inspectors, and James W. llickok was chusen clerk."¿
The following officers were elected, viz .: Supervisor, Parley P. Shumway ; Town Clerk, Joseph Bosworth ; Justices of the Peace, Parley P. Shumway, John Miller,
¿ Frum township records, 1839.
67
530
HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Silas Fordham, Richard Hughes; Collector, Joseph Chase; Assessors. Joseph Bosworth, John Miller, Benjamin F. Belding ; Commissioners of Highways, Silas Fordham, Robert Campbell, James W. Hickok ; Treasurer, Benjamin Shumway ; School Inspectors, John Miller, James W. Hiekok, Samuel Bond; Constables, Benjamin Shumway, Joseph Chase; Overseers of the Poor, P. P. Shumway, John Miller; Overseers of Highways, Joseph Bosworth, Charles Peters, Parley P. Shumway, Benjamin F. Belding.
The following is a list of the principal township officers from 1840 to 1879, inclusive :
SUPERVISORS.
1840, Parley P. Shumway ; 1841-42, Flavel Stone ; 1843-45, James W. Hickok; 1846, A. L. Green; 1847, James W. lliekok; 1848, Carlo Reed ; 1849, James W. Ilickok; 1850, Osman Chappell ; IS51, James W. Ilickok; 1852-54, Benajah W. Warren; 1855- 57, Ostan Chappell; 1858, B. W. Warren ; 1859, Osman Chap- pell ; 1860, B. W. Warren ;# 1861-62, A. L. Greco ; 1863-71, Osmao Chappell : 1872-73, Thomas Scott ; 1874, Asa K. Warren ; IS75-77, Thomas Scott ; 1878-79, Asa K. Warren.
TOWNSHIP CLERKS.
1840, James W. Hickok; 1841, Joseph Bosworth ; 1842, James W. Hickok; 1843, Parley P. Shumway ; 1844, Joseph Bosworth; 1845, Osman Chappell; 1846, Joseph Bosworth; 1847, Osman Chappell ; 1848, B. W. Warren; 1849, Osman Chappell; 1850, I. W. Warren ; 1851, J. A. Cranston ; 1852, Osman Chappell ;t 1853-54, Edwin N. Ely ; 1855, F. L. Reed ; 1856, G. G. Wood- mansce; 1857, II. G. Stevens; 1858, Hloury Austin; 1859, Alli- svo A. Bell; 1860, L. O. Smith; 1861, Edwin N. Ely ; 1862-64, Julius Keyes; 1865, C. R. Parmelee; 1866, Henry Ilerrick ; 1867, Sherman A. Andros; 1868, Henry Herrick ; 1869, Edwin N. Ely ; 1870-73, S. A. Andrus ; 1874-75, Mordocai L. Meads ; 1876-78, George T. Haskell; 1879, Mordecai L. Meads.
TREASURERS.
1840, Flavel Stone ; 1841, Albert Fordbam; 1842, Joseph Chase ; 1843-45, Benjamin F. Belding; 1846, Daniel L. Denison ; 1847, Ezra Ridout ; 1848, O. L. Denison ; 1849-50, J. A. Cranston ; 1851, D. P. Cooper; 1852, Adam Scott; 1853, Manning Bailey ; 1854, Fitz L. Reed ; 1855, Julius Keyes; 1856-58, L. O. Smith ; 1839-60, Ilenry Gardanier; 1861, Alvah J. Morell; 1862, 1I. P. Dlake; 1863-61, Nehemiah Hobart; 1865-66, Edwin N. Ely ; 1867, Miles L. Bosworth ; 1868-69, Edwin Clark ; 1870, Edwio N. Ely ; 1871-72; George Andros; 1873, Edwin N. Ely ; 1874- 78, Albin G. Wright ; 1879, George T. Hlaskell.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1840, Thomas Scott ; 1841, Isaac Ilogle; 1842, II. N. Chase, R. B. Al- len; 1843, P. P. Shumway, Lorenzo Force; 1844, Lorenzo Forec; 1815, Thomas Scott; 18-16, Alonzo Hawkins, B. F. Belding ; 1547, S. G. Mead :# 1848, Lorenzo Force, A. L. Green; 1849, Alonzo Ilawkins; 1850, D. P. Cooper, B. F. Belling ; 1851, A. L. Green, J. J. Chappell; 1852, James W. Hickok; 1853, Joseph Bosworth ; 1854, John J. Chappell; 1855, A. L. Green ; 1856, Fitz L. Reed; 1857, Benajah W. Warren ; 1858, W. W. Chapman ; 18.9, A. L. Green ; 1860, 11. Burroughs; 1861, S. F. Drory, B. F. Belding; 1862, W. W. Chapman, Orison Stoddard; 1863, C. R. Parmelec, A. J. Morell ; 1864, Benjamin F. Belling; 1865, J. W. Ilnynes; 1866, J. J. Chappell, S. F. Drury ; 1867, Geo. W. Keyes; 186%, A. H. Briggs: 1869, Horace Hulburd; 1870, J. J. Chap- pell, L. Ward; 1871, Albertus L. Green, John Griffin, E. R. Mo- rnn ; 1972, E. R. Moran, Fitz L. Reed ; 1873, John Griffin, Fitz L. Reed; 1874, J. J. Chappell, Jacob Reasoner ; 1875, George W. Keyer, Nehemiah Hobart ; 1876, Edwin R. Moran; 1877, James
NIellawell, N. Hobart; 1878, John J. Chappell ; 1879, George W. Keyes.
1880 .- Supervisor, Asa K. Warren : Township Clerk, Mordecai L. Meads; Treasurer, George T. Haskell : Justice of the Peace, Willson L. Messenger; School Superintendent, Lester B. Taggart ; School Inspector, Samuel Cortis ; Commissioner of Ilighways, Fitz L. Reed; Drain Commissioner, Fitz L. Reed ; Constahles, George Blanebard, Addison G. Stono, Charles Hellawell, Harvey Miller.
VILLAGE OF OLIVET AND OLIVET COLLEGE.
The village of Olivet is located in the southeast part of the township of Walton, and has grown to its present di- mensions in the comparatively short period of thirty-six years, the colony which founded it having located in 1844. Its location is fine, and it wears the peculiar aspect noticed in places which are the seats of educational institutions. Olivet College, whose foundation is of even date with that of the village, has a most picturesque location among the oaks which erown the hill in the southern part of the place, and is one of the well known institutions of the West, with a promising future before it.
From a historical address delivered by President N. J. Morrison, June 28, 1866, on the occasion of the laying of the corner stone for a new college hall, the following faets are taken :
" Olivet College is an outgrowth or offshoot of Oberlin College, in Ohio, and was founded in 1844. Rev. John J. Shipherd, who had been connected with the establishment and management of Oberlin College, finally conceived the idea of going again into tho wilderness and building another institution for tho religious instruction of man- kind. Ile accordingly, in tho execution of a commission from the authorities of Oberlin College, to look after certain property of that institution, lying near Grand River, in Eaton Co., Mich., proceeded to the latter State, and chanced to visit the site of the present villago of Olivet, which is on elevated land. A little south of this eminence he lost his way in the brushwood, and wandering around at last found himself on the hill not far from the present (1866) residenco of Prof. HIosford. Ile svaght the dwelling for direction in his journey. Ile was kindly received by the inmates and entertained overnight. In the morning, receiving from his host instructions as to his route, ho again set forward. After riding for some distance through the low growth of oak which thiekly covered the region, what was his sur- prise to find himself on again upon the same eminence from which he had the day before first descried the settler's house !
"Starting afresh on his journey, musing as he rode on his plan for the futuro college, and the singularity of his losing his way twico in the same place, and while riding through a thicket of young trees whoso tops scarcely reached above his head, by and by he was startled at finding himself a third time at the top of the same gentle neclivity, and in sight of the cabin he had left that morning. This circum- stance led him to believe that he was on the spot chosen for him to use as a site for his college, and after proceeding to the Grand River Valley and completing the business on which he was sent, he returned to the scene of his adventures and made arrangements for the pur- chase of a considerable quantity of land. The hill he named . Olivet,' and to the stream at its base, which was known by tho commonplace name of . Indian Creek,' he gave the more musical and-in accord- anre with his purpose-appropriate title of ' Kedron.' From the hill-top he sketebed the plan of the village which should be founded, and then returned to Ohio to arrange and lead back tho 'Olivet Colony.' One man, with his wife and family, had already promised to join the enterprise ; this was ' Father Ilosford,' and through him Mr. Shipherd secured the co-operation of Carlo Reed and his family. To these three families were added those of W. C. Edsell, Hiram Pense, George Andrus, and Phineas Pease, together with four young men,-viz. : Albertus 1. Green, Phineas lugar, Joseph Baneroft, and Fitz L. Reed, all of whom, except the last, came ux students to the embryo college. Two young women,-Jennie Edsell and Abby Car- ter,-who were living in the Gunilies of Mr. Edsell and Mr. Shipherd
* Resigned, and O. Chappell appointed.
+ Resigned, and S. 11. Bunker uppointe.l.
* Did not qualify.
OLIVET COLLEGE, EATON CO., MICH.
531
WALTON.
respectively, and two hired laborers, accompanied the colony. The entire company, who un lertook the founding of the college, consisted of thirty-eight persons, including fourteen children and youth, They left Oberlin on Welnesday, Feb. 14, ISH, in conveyances of their own, drawn by ox-teams, and drove along their stock. The trip was through the famous ' Black Swamp' region of Northwestern Ohio, and their destination was reached in the remarkably short time of ten days, they arriving on Saturday, February 24th. Upon the out- skirts of the tract which had been purchased were houses belonging to Parley Shumway and Capt. J. W. Ilickok, on the southwest side, Isaac Ilogle and N. L. Curtis on the northeast, and Hiram Burroughs on the southeast. Sunday, the day after their arrival, was spent at the house of Mr. Shumway, who vacated his dwelling for their ac- «menulation, and gave them access to the stores in his barns and cellar. It is said that Mrs. Shipherd mounted the highest log on the hill, and took a survey of the region, after which she remarked to her hushan 1, ' Your village, Mr. Shipherd, looks better on paper than in reality.' All had stout hearts and ready bands, and work was begun in earnest. Two or three abandoned log cabins were made use of, while other families found shelter with the previous settlers while their own cabins were being erectedl. The forests were cleared, and in the spring crops were put in. The Indian Creek was tamed in its wild course, and taught, under its scriptural name, to do civilized work in sawing lumber and grinding grain.
"So passed the first eight months,-the colonists battling as only earnest men can battle when the conflict is with the wild forces of primitive nature, exposed to the intense heat and deadly malaria that steamed up from the saturated earth,-when, alas ! sickness, tantaliz- ing, melancholy agnes and fevers, broke out and prevailed ameng them till not enough well ones remained to care for the ill; till the leader was suddenly stricken down and died, and was borne by his sorrowing and disheartened companions to the little burial-greund behind the church. Along with this calamity came others. The heavy rains which had caused the prevalent sickness swelled the creek, not yet taught te submit te the honds which civilization had imposed upon its waters, and tore away the embankment which eb- structed its course and fed the mills. A part of the community had already sought in flight release from their disappointments and trials, and refuge from the periodic attacks from the Michigan swamp fiend, and were hiding among their friends in New York and Ohio. Now came the question of abandonment of the whole enterprise. Disap- pointed, faint, and sick, their leader dead, some said, ' Let us away ! We are not sufficient to cope with all these difficulties. We have mistaken the summons of duty.' Others said, particularly Father Reed, 'Not so. Did we not come here on the Lord's business ? Did we not seek his guidance in all this matter? Then we have made no mistake. By these disappointments and sufferings the Lord is trying the firm- ness of our manhood and the strength of our faith. We will remain, and the Lord, whom we serve and whose we are, will surely bless us.' However, ahent half the colonists retired, expecting their companions, whom they left behind, speedily to follow.
" As the autumn wore on sufficient preparations had been made to allow the public advertisement of the opening of the first term in Olivet College. This event occurred early in December, with nine students in attendance. A. L. Green, one of the students, erected a small cottage for a study and private dormitory, and this served for a chapel and recitation-room, and afterwards for the village post-office. Two students from Oberlin, whe had about completed their theologi- cal studies, formed the corps of instructors ; they were Rev. Reuben Ilatch and (afterwards professor) Oramel Ilosford.
" The place and school gradually grew. More acres were cleared of trees and brush ; more dwellings were erected here and there; mills, saw and grist, prospered at the creek ; reads were epened in various directions through the forest to the outer world. The number of col- onists slowly increased, and the prospects of the enterprise improved. Having no church they met for public worship on the Lord's day in the front room of the house new (1866) occupied by Mr. George An- drus, the first frame dwelling erected in Olivet. Ilere, also, the com- mencement exercises of the college were held until ampler room was furnished.
" Asearly as 1846 the trustees applied to the Legislature of the State for a college ebarter, but their request was refused, as it was thought hest for the interests of the State to concentrate all public favors upun the university. The trustees, therefore, in 1848, applied for an ob- tained a charter for their scheel under the name of the 'Olivet In-
stitute.' School and village became prosperons under this charter. Students came from various parts of the State, and the school won a good reputation, even though located in a place somewhat difficult of access. Mr. Ilatch was succeeded by Professor Hosford and Rev. E. N. Bartlett, who, with the valuable aid furnished by their wives, con- tinued the work of instruction. 'Large numbers of youth were prepared for teaching in public schools ; ethers were fitted for col- lege; others still received here all their intellectual outfit for the busi- ness and responsibilities of life; some went from here to professional scboels ; and many, very many, went forth prepared in heart by the discipline of the grace of God for useful life or the Christian's death.'
" But previens to 1859 the school had reached its highest possible expansion noder the institute charter. The introduction and rapid growth in the State of the Union School system had already materi- ally affected the patronage of the institution. The young could ob- tain, in every considerable village, most of the advantages for edu- cation afforded by Olivet. Olivet had ceased te grew ; many of the original citizens had retired, and it began to be whispered in the neighboring towns that the scheel had seen its best days. Mr. Bart- lett, after years of bard and ill-requited labor, at length withdrew frem the service of the school. The friends of Olivet saw a crisis in its affairs had come. The Ladies' Hall, now so convenient and es- sential to the interests of Olivet, stned half completed,-inclosed, but unfinished and unfurnished. To raise money to complete the erection of the building, to secure funds for the support of an adequate corps of instructors, to turn back the ebhing tide of patronage, and rein- spire in the minds of the community and the general constituency of the college the confidence of success, demanded new men and new measures. Rev. M. W. Fairfield, of Brimfield, Ill., was about this time called to be paster of the church and principal of the scheel. Ile brought to his werk the enthusiasm of a fresh laborer and the at- tractive power of a popular speaker. Under his direction the trustees of Olivet Institute determined to reorganize under the title of Olivet College, taking advantage of a general law of the State, enacted a few years before, according to which an association of gentlemen, having a specified amount of capital invested for the purpose, might er- ganize an institution having college and university privileges. A charter was secured in 1859, and in September of that year the first term of the college opened, with a faculty of five in tructors, a fresh- man class, and a class in the ladies' course. Under the stimulus which this reorganization of the school gave the community and friends of the college, sufficient funds for completing the erection of the Ladies' IIall, and, as was supposed, to meet the current expenses of the col- lege for five years, were secured in a few days within the limits of the village. This reorganization and the crection of the ball probably saved the enterprise from ruin. The former committed the friends of the college te a new and more aggressive line of policy, while the latter gave to the enterprise an appearance and sentiment of fixed- ness and stability."
The college struggled for years with poverty, in fact, from its earliest existence. Its instructors were paid very meagre salaries, and were forced to take a portion of their pay in wild land, at three times its value. They aided in constructing the roads to the place, and turned their per- sonal labor to the use of the spade in digging the building- sand which was used in nearly all of the college buildings ; they helped in the erection of the buildings, and worked on their tops when the snow flew thick and fast, to com- plete a covering for the winter; and that their labors were earnest none can doubt. Reverses and discouragements met their efforts, and for many years the struggle was against the most adverse eircumstances. Several of their buildings were burned, and despair more than once threat- ened to take full possession of the hearts of the friends of the institution. Funds finally accumulated, however, very greatly from private donations, the community in which the college is located more than once nearly beggaring itself in behalf of the school. During the twenty-one years suc- ceeding the founding of the institution, 3000 youth re-
53.
HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ceived instruction within its walls, and its reputation throughout the State and the country is an enviable one. During the year 1867 between $40,000 and $50,600 were added to its permanent fund.
The original plan of Mr. Shipherd was for both a college and a Christian colony, the latter to found and forever foster the former. The " faculty of five instructors" men- tioned by Mr. Morrison as taking charge of the college upon its receiving its second charter in 1859 consisted of Rev. M. W. Fairfield, President ; Rev. O. Hosford, Pro- fessor of Mathematics and Astronomy ; Rev. N. J. Morri- son, Professor of the Ancient Languages; Dr. A. A. Thompson, Instructor in Chemistry and Voeal Music ; Miss Mary J. Andrews, Principal of the Ladies' Depart- ment and Instruetor in French. In 1860, President Fair- field resigned and removed from the State, but the number of students continued to increase. Before the close of 1862 all the college classes were broken up, in consequence of the call for troops to aid in suppressing the Rebellion, and the natural disquietude of the times. Rev. Dr. Kitehel, of Detroit, afterwards president of Middlebury College, in Vermont, under authority from the superintendent of pub- lic instruction, visited the college to note its workings and observe the efficiency of its teachings, and made a most flattering report. Near the close of the year (1862), Rev. Thomas Jones became the general agent of the college, and his efforts in its behalf were very snecessful. At the com- mencement in 1863 the first class from the ladies' depart- ment was graduated. At the annual meeting of the " Society for the Promotion of Collegiate Education at the West," held in IIartford, Conn., in the latter part of 1863, the claims of Olivet College for aid were presented, and upon subsequent investigation of its merits it was taken under the protecting wing of that organization. At the annual meeting of the board of trustees in 1864, Professor Morrison was chosen president of the college, and entered upon his duties a year later. The corner-stone of the new four-story dormitory was laid by Philo Parsons,* of De- troit, June 28, 1866, Mr. l'arsons having subscribed $5000 towards its erection, and nearly $10,000 in addition was pledged on the spot. At the commencement in 1867, the first class from the full course in the arts was graduated.
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