USA > Michigan > Men of progress : embracing biographical sketches of representative Michigan men with an outline history of the state > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
of its first commencement. There was no graduating class until the year following, but class excreiscs were held in 1844 and one or two degrees were conferred upon examina- tion.
But details in connection with the subject matter must necessarily be cut short. Dur- ing the first years of the active work of the University, four principal chairs were estab- lished, and the policy attained to select, for these chairs, men representing the leading Protestant religious denominations. There were some few appointments to chairs in the natural sciences that were made irrespective of religious predilections.
The ten years following the opening of the University in 1842 may be regarded as the first period of its history. The report of the regents to the Legislature in 1843 repre- sents the institution as under great embar- rassment financially, with the necessity star- ing them in the face of suspending the work both of the University proper and the branches. The work struggled along, how- ever, and in 1844 some remedial legislation was had, not in the way of direct appropria- tions, but by accommodation transfers of lia- bilities, so that in 1845 the regents say in their report:
"It affords the board the greatest pleasure to express the deep and grateful sense of obligation under which they feel themselves placed by the very efficient and opportune aid extended to them by the last Legislature. * * * Happily, all ground of fear and canse of complaint have been removed by the Legislative cnactments."
There was more or less of complaint against, and hostility to, the University, manifested in various ways, during the decade. Denominational colleges were con- testing the ground, and the localities that they represented felt a direct interest in pro- moting them at the expense of the Univer- sity. Secret societies among the students crept in, and were a source of irritation .*
* "American State Universities and the Univers- ity of Michigan," Ten Brook, p. 192 and following.
34
MEN OF PROGRESS.
The Medical department was opened in 1850, posed professors, previously referred to in and some feeling grew up between the two faculties. There was no common head, no chancellor or president having been ap- pointed, and some feeling of jealousy between the two faculties was unavoidable. The first graduating class in 1845 numbered twelve members, the number graduated each year up to 1852 varying, sometimes above and sometimes below that number, the highest being twenty-four, in 1849.
The first election of regents under the constitution of 1850 was at the April elec- tion in 1851, the regents then chosen enter- ing upon their duties January 1, 1852. The retiring board, however, at their final ses- sion, December 30, 1851, vacated the prin- cipal chairs in the literary department, those of natural philosophy and mathematics, of logic, rhetoric and history, and of the Greek and Latin languages. The reason for this action was recited in a resolution, namely : "That in view of the duty devolving upon the board of regents-elect to reorganize the faculty of arts in the University, and to ap- point a president, it is expedient that the board provide for that contingency by deter- mining the terms of the existing members of said faculty," etc. The terms were made to terminate at the close of the then academic year, June, 1852. There were reasons, how- ever, lying back of the one given that in- fluenced the action. The record is given in the work of Prof. Ten Brook, one of the de
note. The other professors removed were Williams, Agnew and Whedon. Prof. Wil- liams was subsequently reinstated by the in- coming board, and Prof. Ten Brook was again connected with the University as librarian, 1864-67. Dr. Louis Fasquelle, professor of modern languages and literature, was undis- turbed in his seat, as were also the five mem- bers of the medical faculty. The enumera- tion here given comprised the working force of the University at the beginning of the year 1852, with some possible tutors and assistants.
Prof. Ten Brook's work gives brief sketches of persons serving as regents up to 1852, among whom the clergy are quite well rep- resented, and it is said of Martin Kundig, regent 1841-44, that he was a Catholic priest, and the only one ever on the board. The first elective board consisted of nine members, and so far as appears the clergy were not represented, the membership being composed wholly of professional and business men. In surrendering their trust, the outgoing board adopted a memoir, prepared by Dr. Zina Pitcher, one of its members, giving a partial resume of the work of the regents under the organic act of 1837. Its more salient feature, however, is an argument against homeopathy, which was then clamoring for popular recog- nition and knocking at the doors of the Uni- versity for admission.
THE UNIVERSITY UNDER THE NEW REGIME.
First Elective Board of Regents-President Tappan -A Feeling of Unfriendliness Toward Him- Tempest Over the Term "Chancellor"-Other Carping Allegations-Fruits of Dr. Tappan's Work-The Astronomical Observatory-The Law Department-Remission of the University Loan- Dr. Angell's Tribute-Removal of Dr. Tappan- President E. O. Haven- Acting President Henry S. Frieze.
The first elective Board of Regents, as be- fore stated, entered upon their duties January 1, 1852. On August 12, 1852, Dr. Henry
P. Tappan was chosen as President of the University. The administration of President Tappan may be regarded as the second stage or period in the history of the institution. Dr. Tappan was a minister of the Congrega- tional denomination, though his work had been mostly that of teaching and authorship. He was at the time a resident of New York City. A feeling of unfriendliness met him at the threshhold. His appointment had been disapproved by the regular school of medi-
35
1412812
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
cine because of his understood preference for the homeopathic practice. In his inaug- ural address he assumed the title of "chan- cellor" instead of President of the University. It will be noticed that prior to the adoption of the constitution of 1850 the term chan- cellor had been uniformly used in the stat- utes as defining the prospective head of the University. What term was used in the ap- pointment as made, or in the notification to the appointee, only the records would show. Dr. Tappan had most likely read the organic law, which provided for a chancellor, and quite as likely had not read the constitu- tional provision, which provided for a presi- dent. The error was one which should have been explained and rectified in a friendly spirit, if that had been the desire, which it was not on the part of his opponents. In his inaugural he also dwelt upon the "Prussian system" as the model after which the Michi- gan educational work was patterned. In this he had the authority of the first Superintend- ent of Public Instruction, by whom the Mich- igan plan was outlined. His utterances, how- ever, were seized upon as evidence of his sympathy with something foreign and mon- archical, rather than American. He was re- garded as pompous and aristocratic, in har- mony with his predilections, and his assump- tion of the title of chancellor, which was de- risively Germanized as "kanzler," was her- alded as evidence conclusive that he was a Prussian, with the mistake of having been born in America. A fairly liberal liver. he was not averse to the decent use of wine. and fell under the ban of the ultra temperance folk as a wine bibber.
In contrast with what was laid at his door, should be placed the record of what he ac- complished for the University and the prog- ress which it made during the ten or eleven years of his presidency. When this is done he must be written down as a man of broad and comprehensive views, of marked execu- tive ability, and of equal energy and force of character. This estimate of Dr. Tappan will be approved by those who were students
under him at the University, of whom the writer was not one. A very fair and quite Incid analysis of Dr. Tappan's character will be found in Prof. Ten Brook's work, page 229 and following.
The astronomical observatory owes its in- ception and its completion and equipment to Dr. Tappan. The first direct State aid to the University came through his efforts. Up to 1853 the University interest fund had been charged regularly each year with the sum of $6,000 as interest upon the bonds authorized in 1838. In 1853 an act was passed remit- ting this interest for two years. Similar acts were passed in 1855 and in 1857, and in 1859 the remission was made without limitation of time, thus making the $100,000 loan a vir- tual gift to the University. The law school was opened in 1859 and a building for its use was erected a year or two later. The law school was part of the general plan, and was not original with the president, but its estab- lishment at the time was made possible by the added resources due to his efforts. The fruits of Dr. Tappan's work are epitomized by Dr. Angell, in his oration at the semi- centennial of the University, in these words : "When Dr. Tappan closed his official career, after eleven years of service, the literary de- partment had more than quadrupled the number of students it had on his accession to office, the medical department had two hun- dred and fifty students, the law school one hundred and thirty-four, the total attendance was six hundred and fifty-two, and the Uni- versity was recognized on both sides of the Atlantic as a great and worthy school of lib- cral learning."
Some of the stimulants to an increase in numbers were not felt during the 1850 decade and up to 1863, as they have since been felt. The influence of the high schools as feeders to the University had hardly begun to be felt during that time, and the financial ability of the people had not received the im- pulse that it did as a consequence of the flush times occasioned by the war in the early sixties. At the close of the June commence-
36
MEN OF PROGRESS.
ment in 1863, by a vote of the regents, Dr. Tappan was removed from the office of Presi- dent of the University, and from the chair of philosophy which he held. The episode cannot, from the necessity of the case, be en- larged upon. Efforts were made for his re- instatement by the new board which came into office the following January, but without avail. Dr. Tappan subsequently published a pamphlet covering a statement of his con- nection with the University and the causes attending his removal. No copy of this state- ment is to be found in the State Library, and any person having a copy can do the State a service by placing it in the hands of the Librarian. The same may be said of a book or pamphlet by Dr. A. J. Sawyer, of Monroe, giving a history of the contest for the intro- duction of homeopathy into the University. Dr. Tappan, soon after the question of his re-
instatement was finally settled, took up his residence in Switzerland, and died there in 1881.
The Rev. E. O. Haven, a minister of the Methodist Church, who had formerly held a professorship in the University, was appointed to the presidency at the time of the removal of the former president. He held the posi- tion until 1869, when he resigned to become president of the Methodist College at Evans- ton, Illinois. He was afterwards made chan - cellor of Syracuse University, New York, was made a bishop of his church in 1880, and died at Salem, Oregon, in 1881. Prof. Henry S. Frieze was made provisional president on the retirement of Dr. Haven, serving as such until 1871. He also served as acting presi- dent during the absence of President Angell as United States Minister to China, 1880-82, and died at Ann Arbor Dec. 7, 1889.
THE UNIVERSITY UNDER PRESIDENT ANGELL.
Appointment of Dr. Angell-His Diplomatic Service -Acting President Hutchins-Incidents in the History of the University-Admission of Women -Introduction of New Schools and Extension of Courses-The Semi-Centennial and the Quarter Centennial of President Angell's Administration A Comparative Summary-A Metrical Prophecy- Homeopathic Medical College-Annual Revenues -List of Acts Relating to the University.
The appointment of the present president, Dr. James B. Angell, was made in 1871. He has held the office continuously for a period of 28 years. He was relieved from duty dur- ing his absence as minister to China, 1880-82, and again as minister to Turkey, during the collegiate year 1898-99. The duties of the presidency were filled during this latter absence by Prof. H. B. Hutchins, dean of the law faculty.
The history of the University, for a score and a half of years has been without marked incident of a disturbing character, if we ex- cept the homeopathie agitation, which is briefly treated of farther on, and an imbroglio connected with the administration of the
chemical laboratory during the latter half of the 1870 decade.
The more important events of Dr. Angell's administration have been the establishment of the Homeopathie Medical School, the ad- mission of women to equal privileges in the University, the addition of the College of Dental Surgery and the School of Pharmacy, the establishment of advanced degrees in the several departments, and the extension of the law and medical courses to three years each.
The semi-centennial of the University was celebrated at commencement time in 1887, and the twenty-fifth anniversary of President Angell's administration was fittingly con- memorated in 1896. These two events form milestones in the history of the University. The two professors in 1842, with their $500 of salary, have given place to some two hun- dred professors and assistants, with salaries fairly proportionate to the service. The num- ber of students has risen from a score (resi- dents of the State) to three thousand and more, representing every State in the Union
37
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
and every country on the globe. The ex- penses of maintenance in 1843 (report of Re- gents), of $1,260 per year, with total receipts of $9,946, reach for the former, in 1897, as "eurrent expenses," $397,452, with total re- sources in round numbers of $430,000. The small library of less than 4,000 volumes has grown to 130,000. The one college building for all uses is supplemented by a seore of buildings devoted to special nses, which, with libraries and appurtenances, are valned at near $2,000,000, while the graduates of the institution, to the number of 15,000, are found in all the useful walks of life, and in all parts of the world, barring those who may have paid the last debt in the natural order of things or have fallen martyrs as missionaries in foreign lands, or as heroes on the field of battle. And here it may be stated parentheti- cally that the University supplied a large con- tingent from its membership to the armies of the Union during the war of the States, and a due quota during the late Spanish war. It may not be amiss to close this paragraph with a prophecy contained in a poctieal effort that lays elaim to no further merit than its good intentions:
From this Imperial Temple has gone forth An army potent, east, west, south and north- They hold in nation counsels honored seats- They mould the structure of new-forming States- Within the State that doth the Temple own, Their thought inspires the parliament and throne. Its revenues are ample and secure-
Its life and usefulness will long endure,
With broad'ning and expanding energy, 'Till the whole continent shall bow to its decree.
Reference is made elsewhere to the Homeo- pathie question as connected with the Univer- sity, and to the antagonism of the regular practice to its introduction. There seems noth- ing to be gained by traeing the struggle which eventuated in the establishment of the "Ho- ineopathie Medical College" in 1875. It is regarded as a branch of the University separ- ate and distinet from the Medieal Department proper, a distinction which seemed necessary to avoid a complete rupture with the latter, the controversy having previously caused the
resignation of two of its professors. There is an annual appropriation of $6,000 in aid of the Homeopathic College. It has a faculty of eight members, which was the number of its graduating class in 1898.
The financial receipts of the University for the academie year 1897-8 were approximately as follows:
University interest fund. $37,139 45
1-6th mill tax 189,500 00
Annual appropriation and miscellan-
eous
18,937 23
Tuition fees 177,383 62
$422,960 35
The item of $189,500, income from the 1-6th mill tax, will be swelled in future years to $280,000 by the Act of the last Legislature fixing the tax at 1-4th mill on the dollar.
The following list of aets relating to the University, beginning with the organie aet of 1837, will be found convenient for reference. The figures refer to the munnber of the aet in the printed volume of Session Laws for each year, respectively :
1. Organic Act -- Act No. 55, 1837.
2. Act locating the University-Act 70, 1837.
3. Act relative to the disposition of University and School lands-Act 104, 1837.
4. Act relative to appointment of Chancellor- Act No. 4, special session, 1837.
5. Act amendatory of Act relative to University lands-Act 13, special session, 1837.
6. Act releasing certain lands to United States- Act 44, 1838.
7. Act to extend time for payment on lands- Act 103, 1838.
8. Act authorizing loan of $100,000-Act 118, 1838.
9. Act for payment certain expenses Regents- Act 11, 1839.
10. To extend time of payment on lands-Act 16, 1839.
11. To provide for sale of certain lands to settlers -Act 64, 1840.
12. To amend Act to extend time, etc .- Act 87, 1840.
13. To reduce price of University and School lands-Act 67, 1841.
14. Same object as last cited-Act 27, 1842.
15. To provide for sale of certain lands-Act 16, 1842.
16. For relief of certain settlers on University lands-91, 1843.
17. Authorizing receipt of State obligations for University lands-20, 1844.
18. Fixing price of University and School lands --- 68, 1844.
38
MEN OF PROGRESS.
19. For relief of University-83, 1844.
20. Relative to department of natural history- 122, 1846.
21. Relative to amount due fund from Lenawee County-50, 1847.
22. Setting apart specific taxes to pay interest on fund-107, 1847.
23. Joint Resolution relative to amount due on mortgages-24, 1847.
Authorizing sale lands near Toledo-26, 1848.
24.
25. Authorizing sale lands in Berrien County -- 86, 1848.
26. For relief of purchasers University lands- 34, 1851.
27. Remitting interest on loan for two years- 60, 1853.
28. Remitting interest on loan for two years -- 73, 1855.
29. Requiring establishment Homeopathic chair -100, 1855.
30. Remitting interest on loan for two years- 56, 1857.
31. Regents to be elected in new judicial districts -- 5, 1858.
32. Remitting interest on loan without limit- 143, 1859.
33. Geological specimens, etc., to be deposited in library-206, 1859.
34. Amending Act relative to report of Regents -- 219, 1859.
34. Joint Resolution for transfer of scientific works to-5, 1861.
35. For election and classification of Regents- 143, 1863.
36. Act to extend aid to, with Homoeopathic con- dition-59, 1867.
37. Homoeopathic condition of Act last cited elim- inated-14, 1869.
Concurrent Resolution favoring admission of women -- 7, 1869.
39. Appropriation $75,000 for new hall-30, 1871.
40. Amending Act relative payment for lands- 67, 1873.
41. Appropriating $25,000 for hall and $13,000 to cover deficit-7, 1873.
42. 1-20th mill tax in place of aid Acts of 1867 and 1869-32, 1873.
43. Requiring appointment of two Homoeopathic professors-63, 1873.
44. Appropriating $6,000 annually for Homoeo- pathic department-128, 1875.
45. To provide water supply for University- 74, 1875.
79.
47. Appropriating $3,000 for two years for Dental School-186, 1875.
48. For establishment School of Mines in Univer- sity-205, 1875 .
83.
84.
85.
53. Resolutions relating to defalcation in chemical laboratory.
54. Appropriating $40,000 for museum-56, 1879.
55. Appropriating $55,000 for various purposes, in- cluding Homoeopathic hospital-122, 1879.
56. Bodies for dissection to be sent to University- 16, 1881.
57. Appropriating $160,000 for general purposes- 60, 1881.
5S. Supreme Court Reports to be sent to library- 116, 1881.
59. Dependent children to be treated at hospital- 138, 1881.
60. Appropriating $62,000 for general purposes- 96, 1883.
Amending Act relative to dissection-83, 1885. Appropriating $107,500 for general purposes- 191, 1885.
63. Appropriating $155,000 for general purposes- 243, 1887.
64. Appropriating $206,789 for general purposes -- 145, 1889.
65. Providing for treatment of paupers at Univer- sity hospital-246, 1889.
Appropriating $185,000 for general purposes -- 25, 1891.
67. Reports of veterinary associations to be sent to medical library-56, 1891.
Relating to dental students and dental col- lege 98, 1891.
69. Property of Women's Association exempt from taxation-143, 1891.
70. Authorizing Faculty to grant teachers' certifi- cates-144, 1891.
71. As to inventory, etc., of property of State in- stitutions-146, 1891.
72. Act for 1-6th mill tax instead of 1-20th mill -- 19, 1893.
73. Time and manner of payment of mill tax- 53, 1893.
74. Authorizing Regents to receive bequests, etc. -- 36, 1895.
75. Trust funds to be paid to State Treasurer -- 140, 1895.
76. Providing for admission to practice of law . department graduates-205, 1895.
77. For treatment of indigent poor at hospital- 42, 1897.
78. Providing for analysis of waters at University 43, 1897.
Amending Act cited in No. 76-93, 1897.
80. Amending Act relating to dissection-119, 1897. Amending Act relative to treatment dependent 81. children-233, 1897.
82. Relative to investment of bequests, etc .- 86, 1899.
Increasing annual income tax to 14th mill on the dollar-102, 1899.
Relative to issue of diplomas to medical stu- dents-151, 1899.
Amending Act relative to subjects for dissec- tion-193, 1899.
Authorizing incorporation of loan-fund asso- ciations for the benefit of students-250, 1899.
50. Proceeds from land sales to go into State treasury-23, 1875.
51. Incidental provisions as to lands, Acts 23 and 124, 1875.
52. Appropriating $49,000 for sundry purposes 86. University-185, 1877.
€1.
62.
66.
68.
38.
46. Appropriating $13,000 to pay outstanding war- rants-113, 1875.
49. Appropriating $7,500 for hospital and equip- ment-207, 1875.
39
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
OTHER STATE COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS.
The Agricultural College The Normal Schools- College of Mines-Schools for Deaf Mutes and the Blind-Educational and Reformatory Institu- tions.
The Constitution of Michigan provides that "The Legislature shall, as soon as practicable, provide for the establishment of an Agricul- tural School." In pursuance of this provision, the Legislature, in 1855, passed an act "for the establishment of a State Agricultural School," which provided that the college should be located within ten miles of Lan- sing, on not less than 500 acres of land in one body. The location was made June 16, 1855, on a farm of 676 57-100 acres, three and one-half miles east from the capital. About threc acres only were cleared of tim- ber at the time of purchase. The soil is very varied, there being hard clay, clay loam, peaty soil, sand, sandy loam, alluvial plats, etc. The Red Cedar river runs through the farm. The college was opened to students May 13, 1857, and has been in uninter- rupted operation from that time. It opened in charge of the State Board of Education, with seven professors and instructors and sixty-one students. The management of the institution was in 1861 transferred from the State Board of Education to a State Board of Agriculture. This board is a body cor- porate, consisting, besides the governor of the State and the president of the College, who are ex-officio members, of six persons, who are nominated by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.
The immediate management of the insti- tution is counnitted to a faculty consisting at the present time of a president and thirty- six professors, instructors and foremen, cx- clusive of the secretary, who is a member ex- officio of the faculty.
The law provides that "The Agricultural College shall be a high seminary of learning, in which the graduate of the common school can commence, pursue and finish a course of study terminating in thorough theoretic and practical instruction in those sciences and
arts which bear directly on agriculture and kindred industrial pursuits," and requires that "the full course of study shall embrace not less than four years." A full course of study is laid out, requiring four years to com- plete it, although students are received for shorter periods, for the study of select branches. The College is authorized to con- fer degrees. The law also provides that the institution "shall combine physical with in- tellectual labor," and it requires that stu- dents shall, with some exceptions, labor three hours each day. This labor is required on each afternoon of the week excepting Satur- days and Sundays, and is paid for according to its value at a maximum rate of ten cents an hour. The institution is conducted on the plan of making the expense to students as small as possible. Most of the students board in the College, and the law provides that "in assessing the price of board it shall be so estimated that no profit shall be saved to the institution." Tuition is free. The average attendance is over 400. The Col- lege has graduated 728 students, and has a library of 20,000 volumes.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.