History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 29

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: St. Louis, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1220


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As, under the law, the local Board of Curators, R. L. Todd, J. S. . Rollins, Paul Hubbard, T. M. Allen and F. T. Russell, are authorized to receive subscriptions and purchase the lands, the court, after hear- ing the subject fully discussed, deemed it wisest to make no further order until this board, which has a legal existence under the act, re- ports to the court the lands they prefer and the lowest sum at which they can be purchased.


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The court then adjourned to meet at its regular session on Monday, April 4th, on which day the further consideration of the subject was postponed until Monday, April 11, when Maj. Rollins, on behalf of the Curators, presented to the court a report embodying several com- binations of lands. Mr. J. L. Stephens presented one combination, embodying chiefly the Garth farm.


The court then unanimously made an appropriation of $30,000 to purchase the agricultural farm, leaving the selection of the land to the local Board of Curators. This appropriation, added to the one of $50,000 made by the court on the 16th ult., makes $80,000 appro- priated by the court. Adding the $10,000 appropriated by the cor- poration of Columbia, makes the total amount $90,000. The bonds are one-twenty years bonds and bear ten per cent interest, payable semi-annually. It was understood the owners of any land that may be purchased were to be paid in bonds for their land.


The local Board of Curators made two reports to the court, pre- senting in all eight combinations of land of 640 acres each, and the prices at which they could be purchased. The court finally made a selection of the tract or combination, which the Commissioners ac- cepted, and thus closed the long contest.


PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSIONERS.


On Tuesday, May 3, 1870, a majority of the State Commissioners, namely, Edward Wyman, of St. Louis ; Philemon Bliss, of St. Joseph ; J. W. Matthias, of Springfield, and R. L. Todd and Paul Hubbard, of Columbia, met in Columbia to discharge the duties assigned them by law in regard to the acceptance or rejection of the lands offered by Boone County for a model or experimental farm for the Agricultural College.


The lands offered, six hundred and forty acres, consist of twelve acres bought of Prof. G. C. Swallow, twenty acres of Mr. T. J. Mc- Clellan, about one hundred and eighty-three acres of the Hudson tract, west of Hinkston Creek, and including the fine residence thereon, and the remainder, about four hundred and twenty-four acres of Major Rollins, all of which lies east of the Providence road, excluding about thirty acres around his residence, and including the vineyard and garden on the Hinkston.


The lands and titles were minutely examined, and unanimously and without hesitation accepted, thus finally consummating the work and 20


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struggle of years, and permanently locating the Agricultural and Me- chanical College in the county of Boone.


Neither Mr. H. B. Johnson, the Attorney General, nor Mr. T. A. Parker, Superintendent of Public Instruction, were present, both being absent from Jefferson City when the notice of the meeting of the Commissioners reached there.


But the Agricultural College is located, finally and forever, and the fact goes into history.


Meeting of the Curators on May 5, 1870 .- On motion of Mr. Rus- sell, a committee of five was appointed - Conant, Northcott, Russell, Read and Orrick - to locate the School of Mines, as provided in the act of the Legislature. The President, Mr. Rollins, was added to the committee.


Judge Jas. Harris, of Boone County, and Dr. L. D. Morse, of Kirk- wood, were elected by the Board to inspect and appraise the Agricul- tural College lands, note the character of soil, amount of stone and timber on it, etc., and see if the full amount of land to which the State is entitled under the act of Congress has been selected, and to report. Pay, $6 per day.


A committee, consisting of Edw. Wyman, Dr. Reed, J. W. Mat- thias, F. T. Russell and R. L. Todd, was appointed to revise the various courses of study in the University, and the rules and regula- tions connected therewith, so as to adapt the same to the courses of agricultural and mechanical education.


LAND COMMISSIONER.


J. W. Sutherland was elected Land Commissioner, and resigned his place as member of the Board.


The following resolution was adopted : -


Resolved, That with a view to the entire and complete reorganization of the University, and its proper connection and adjustment with the Agricultural Department, the seats of all instructors and professors, other than the President, are held and declared vacant from and after the close of the session of the University in June, 1871.


PORTRAIT OF PRESIDENT READ.


On motion of Mr. Russell, a committee of three (consisting of Messrs. Northcott, Wyman and Todd ) was appointed to arrange with Mr. A. J. Conant, the St. Louis artist, for the painting of a portrait of President Read, the same to be suspended in a suitable place in the chapel of the University.


PHOTO-ENG. COM.Y.


AGRICULTURAL FARM MANSION, MISSOURI UNIVERSITY.


ENGLISH AND ART SCHOOL, MISSOURI UNIVERSITY.


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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.


PORTRAITS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.


A communication from James S. Rollins and F. T. Russell was read to the Board, tendering, on behalf of the citizens of Columbia, pho- tographic portraits of those members of the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives of the General Assembly of the State of Missouri who voted for the bill providing for the organization of the Agricultural and Mechanical College and its connection with the University of the . State established here ; and also a photographic likeness of His Ex- cellency, Gov. McClurg, who approved the bill, and of Lieut. Gov. Stanard, and a few other gentlemen, who aided in the passage of the bill.


These portraits are properly framed, were accepted by the Board, and now grace the walls of the library.


Meeting September 2, 1870. - The thanks of the Board were voted to Hon. M. E. Fuller, of Madison, Wisconsin, for Ward's celebrated reaper and mower, and to Messrs. Stewart & Needham, of St. Louis, for the Climax reaper and mower, both of which were generously donated by those liberal-hearted gentlemen to the Agricultural De- partment of the University.


Prof. E. A. Haight's resignation as Assistant Professor in the Nor- mal Department, to take effect August 5th, was accepted, he having been elected to superintend a school in Alton, Illinois.


The offices of business agent for the University, and of farm su- perintendent, were created, the selection of officers to fill them being left to the Executive Committee. Dr. Paul Hubbard was elected business manager, and O. A. A. Gardner, farm superintendent. On motion of Mr. Conant, the Board resolved to build a Scientific Hall, at a cost not to exceed $20,000, the details of the work - plan- ning, locating, contracting, etc. - to be left to the Executive Com- mittee.


The Chair of Agriculture was established, and Prof. George C. Swallow, of Columbia, was elected to fill it.


A farm committee, consisting of Hon. H. T. Mudd, Hon. J. S. Rollins, and Dr. P. Hubbard, was appointed to take charge of every- thing pertaining to the Agricultural Farm.


Meeting December 20, 1870. - President Read, from the committee appointed by the Board of Curators on the reorganization of the University, and the adaptation and harmonizing of its various courses of studies, so as to meet the requirements of the act of Congress,


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July 2, 1862, submitted an elaborate and able report, embracing in its topics a complete university system of education.


On motion of Mr. Rollins, it was resolved that a committee of seven, of which the President of the University shall be chairman, be appointed to memorialize the General Assembly of this State to grant an appropriation of $100,000 with which to erect a Woman's College Home, in connection with the University of the State of Missouri.


The following gentlemen composed the committee : -


President Read, Chairman; Judge Bliss, of Buchanan County ; Judge Perry, of Phelps County ; Col. McLane, of Henry County; Mr. Moore, of Franklin County; Col. Northcott, of Linn County ; Henry T. Mudd, of St. Louis.


Oren Root, Jr., Professor of English Language and Literature and Instructor in French and German, resigned to enter upon his new duties at Carrollton, Mo., as principal of the public school.


LOCATION OF THE SCHOOL OF MINES.


Mr. Conant, from the committee appointed to locate the School of Mines, reported that the only two counties making bids for the insti- tution were Iron and Phelps, the former of which offered county bonds and lands valued at $113,500 ; the latter, county bonds and lands val- ued at $130,545, of which sum there were $75,000 ten per cent bonds, . and that they had unanimously agreed to locate the School of Mines and Metallurgy at Rolla, in the county of Phelps.


On motion of Mr. Matthias, of Greene, the following committee was appointed to receive plans and specifications of the building for the School of Mines, and to contract for the erecting of the same, namely : Elijah Perry, B. Smith, Dr. Daniel Read, Prof. Geo. C. Swallow, and and the Professor of Mining, hereafter to be appointed.


Meeting April 26, 1871 .- Jas. Harris, of Boone, and Milton Santee, of Phelps, were appointed additional appraisers of Agricultural Col- lege lands.


The Executive Committee submitted the plans prepared by Walsh, Smith & Jungenfeld, architects, St. Louis, for a scientific building to be erected and used in connection with the University. The plans were adopted, the selection of architects approved, and the Executive Committee was authorized to invite proposals to put up the building on the location selected by the Executive Committee, which is a little northwest of the University edifice.


The Board very properly acknowledged the valuable services of Mr.


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Conant in devising, and Dr. Paul Hubbard, business manager, in ex- ecuting the plan of the elegant library hall in the University.


On motion of Mr. Wyman, it was resolved that on account of the amount of service required by the Board of the resident Curators, the educational facilities of the University were extended to their fam- iles, without charge.


A warrant was authorized to be issued in favor of A. J. Conant for $248.25, for a portrait of President Read, and for the frame and trans- portation.


LAYING THE CORNER-STONE OF THE SCIENTIFIC BUILDING OR AGRICUL- TURAL COLLEGE.


The corner-stone of the Scientific Building was laid, with imposing ceremonies, on Wednesday, June 28, 1871, an account of which we copy from the Statesman of June 30. Hon. Bayliss W. Hanna, Terre Haute, Indiana, addressed the Athenean and Union Literary Societies on Tuesday night, and commencement exercises occurred on Wednes- day forenoon, after which, the Statesman says : -


"An adjournment was had to the College green where a basket din- ner was served. The crowd was immense. We have never seen any- thing to compare with it in the University Campus. Indeed it was unexpectedly large, and the basket dinner proved insufficient for the drafts upon it. To tell the truth, the gastronomic portion of the programme was to a large extent a failure, and not as creditable to Columbia as it ought to have been ; and this from two causes - in- sufficiency, and an utter lack of a directing and a governing head. We hope neither will occur again.


"MASONIC PROCESSION.


"After dinner the Masonic Fraternity, headed by Columbia Silver Cornet Band, and under the direction of Col. John F. Williams, of Macon, Chief Marshal, on horseback, the Knights Templar in front, marched in procession from the court house to the University. Many Masons from neighboring lodges were in attendance, thus contributing to make this the largest Masonic procession we ever saw in Col- umbia.


"The Knights were commanded by Sir Knight James A. Henderson, Eminent Commander, and Sir Knight F. B. Young, Generalissimo, acting as Captain General.


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"The long line which deployed from the point of departure on Wal- nut Street, the gorgeous regalia of the Knights and members of the Chapter and Royal Arch, and the brilliant banners which glittered in the sunlight, added to the inspiring music of the band, and the great crowds which thronged the sidewalks, made up a magnificent pageant.


"LAYING THE CORNER STONE.


"Arriving at the site of the new Scientific Building, the grand and impressive ceremony of laying the corner stone was entered upon in the presence of an auditory numbering from three to five thousand. The Knights Templar served as vanguard and as escort for Governor B. Gratz Brown and the officers of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. Surrounding the northeast corner of the building, M. W. Thomas E. Garrett, of St. Louis, called to order and said that before entering upon any great work, it was our duty to invoke the aid and approval of the Deity, whereupon Rev. E. S. Dulin, G. C., and President of Stephens College, offered a prayer. Following this, under the direc- tion of M. W. Thos. E. Garrett, assisted by R. W. D. G. M. John D. Vincil, R. W. S. G. W. Oren Root, Jr., of Carrollton, R. W. J. G. W. John R. Walker of Bates, and James A. Adams, principal archi- tect, the solemn and impressive ceremonies of laying the corner stone were entered upon and completed. Mr. John Campbell, superinten- dent of the work on the foundation, plied the mortar and assisted the principal architect in adjusting the corner stone to its place. Dr. Paul Hubbard, one of the Curators of the University, de- posited the copper box, hermetically sealed, in the place provided for it.


"The contents of the box. were as follows :-


" UNIVERSITY RECORDS.


" Report of the Committee on the Reorganization and Enlargement of the State University, presented to the Board of Curators, at their meeting December 20, 1870; catalogue of the State University for 1870-71; programme of annual commencement, 1871; copy of pro- gramme Fifth Case prize declamation ; copy of programme Stephens Prize Medal; report of Curators to the Twenty-Fifth General Assembly, 1869.


' ST. LOUIS PAPERS AND PERIODICALS.


" Daily Republican, June 27, 1871; Daily Democrat, ditto; Daily Times, ditto; Daily Sun, ditto; Daily Westliche Post, ditto; Daily Anzeiger des Westens, ditto; Daily Dispatch, June 26; Journal of Education for June; Western Educational Review for June; People's Journal for June; Ladies' Magazine for June; Home Journal for June 24th; Colman's Rural World for June 24; Medical and Surgical Journal for March; Illustrated Journal of Agriculture; Western Celt; Western Watchman, June 24; Christian Advocate, June


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24; Central Baptist, June 22: Old School Presbyterian, June 23; Central Christian Advo- cate; Index; Post Office Bulletin for May ; The Future Great City of the World, by R. U. Reavis; St. Louis Blattes, June 25.


" BOONE COUNTY PAPERS.


" Missouri Statesman, June 23; Columbia Herald, June 22; Sturgeon Leader, June 24; Rocheport Enterprise, June 23; Centralia Guard, June 24; University Missourian for June ..


" MISCELLANEOUS.


"National Flag, contributed by Lewis M. Switzler; copy of check of Boone County Na- tional Bank of Columbia; two 25 and two 10 cents U. S. currency and two nickels contrib- uted by R. B. Price; copy of check of Exchange National Bank of Columbia; $1 note of its circulation ; 50 cents U. S. currency; 25-cent gold piece ; 25 cents in silver, contributed by J. H. Waugh ; 1 bottle Cohosh and tar, 1 box 888 pills, 1 bottle stimulating cream and 1 box tasteless worm powders, contributed by J. S. Dorsey; names of the Building Commit- tee and of the builders and architect.


" The corner stone being in its place, the proper officers of the Grand Lodge respectively applied the square, level and plumb, and reported the workmen had done their duty well. Then followed the cere- mony, which we sincerely wish the vast concourse could have heard . and witnessed, of applying the elements of consecration ; the corn as an emblem of plenty, the wine as an emblem of joy and gladness, the oil as an emblem of peace.


" After the grand honors of the order and a short and most befitting address by Most Worshipful Garrett, an adjournment was had to the portico of the University to hear the


" SPEECH OF


GOV. BROWN.


" This was preceded by a brief historical reference by President Read, to the occasion of laying the corner stone of the University, July 4, 1840, and to the address made by Gen. James L. Minor, then and now an honored citizen of Jefferson City ..


" Gov. Brown's speech was short. He briefly reviewed the growth and progress of the University, his consistent and unfaltering friend- ship for it, and the high hopes he entertained of its rapid develop- ment and great destiny. He maintained that all the interests and agencies of humanity had " new departures," and that education it- self formed no exception to the rule. Progress was the watchword of the world, and the world was becoming more practical. So was education. Hitherto science had not kept pace with the practical economy of the times and the wants of practical men. It had at- tempted too much to theorize and theologize for the world. It is now happily having a new departure in the recognition of the true


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philosophy of life and of its own mission. The Governor commented upon the great responsibility resting upon the people of Boone county growing out of the location in their midst of the State institutions of learning and two great female colleges. Here, he said, you in large measure train the men and matrons of the State, the bloom of after- time, and great is your responsibility. After testifying his confidence that our people would bravely meet and fully discharge this responsi- bility, he concluded amid the applause of the great concourse."


The contract for. the erection of the scientific building was made with McAlister, Adams & Co., of Columbia, at $45,507.25, and they completed the building in 1872.


Meeting June 27, 1871. - John H. Overall was employed to col- lect a claim against the State for one and three-fourths per cent of seventy-five per cent of the revenue heretofore returned as delinquent, but afterwards collected.


Professors Norwood, Packer, Ficklin, Swallow and Ripley were re- elected into the respective positions now held by them, at a salary of $2,000 per annum. Prof. Kurtz was elected Assistant Professor of the Preparatory Department ; Mrs. Ripley Assistant Professor in the Normal School, and Miss Mary Read Principal of the Model School. The Executive Committee, consisting of the resident members of the Board, was authorized to fill the chair of English Literature.


John H. Overall was elected Professor of the Law Department of the University at a salary of $2,000, and arrangements were made to secure distinguished legal gentlemen to deliver lectures in this depart- ment.


AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE LANDS.


Meeting December 12, 1871 .- Mr. Essex, from the Committee on Agricultural Lands, made a report in writing in regard to their condi- tion, value, etc. These lands are located chiefly in the counties of Newton, Crawford, Texas, Cedar, Phelps, Ripley and Butler, many of them very valuable for their pine timber and for their iron and lead deposits. Many of the tracts were marked on the plats as " re- served " from sale or lease on account of their mineral indications, especially a tract in Phelps known as the " Lenox " tract. The finest spring in Southwest Missouri is on one tract in Newton, near the vil- lage of Richville.


A resolution was passed requesting C. P. Williams, Director of the School of Mines, and Mr. Pumpelly, State Geologist, to examine the lands presumed to be more than ordinarily valuable because of their


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mineral deposits and report to the Committee on Lands. Also, that none of these lands shall be sold or leased unless so ordered by the Board of Curators.


PORTRAIT OF DR. A. W. ROLLINS.


The secretary read the following communication from Hon. J. S. Rollins : -


UNIVERSITY EDIFICE, December 14, 1871.


To the Hon. Elijah Perry, Vice-President of the Board of Curators of the State University.


DEAR SIR : I ask, through you, the privilege of presenting to the Curators of the Univer- sity, an oil portrait of my venerable father, the late Dr. Anthony Wayne Rollins, to be per- manently placed in the University building.


He was a Curator of the institution from 1840 to 1842 - was one of its earliest benefactors, always its zealous and faithful friend, as well as the friend of common school education.


Feeling himself all the inconveniences in early life, resulting from poverty, he made some provision in aid of the education of youth similarly situated, who might desire to obtain a college education.


This portrait is a most faithful and accurate likeness of my father. It was painted by George C. Bingham, Esq., the distinguished "Missouri artist," and who for many years was his warm personal friend.


Trusting that the gentlemen of the Board will regard this as not an inappropriate contri- bution to the University as a work of art, no less than evincing a laudable desire on my part. to keep fresh in the memory of the living the services in the cause of education and the personal virtues of the " faithful dead,"


I remain, with very high regard, your obedient servant,


JAMES S. ROLLINS.


Whereupon, Mr. Switzler offered the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted : -


Resolved, That the portrait this day presented to the University by the Hon. James S. Rollins, President of the Board, of his father, Anthony Wayne Rollins, deceased, who was formerly a member of. this Board, and during his life the steady friend and patron of the institution, is accepted, and that the thanks of the Board are hereby tendered to the donor for this appropriate and handsome gift.


Resolved, That the letter of Major Rollins accompanying this donation, be placed by the secretary on his records, and that the portrait, for the present, be suspended in some suitable place in the Library Hall.


The introduction of these resolutions was followed by remarks touch- ing the life and character of Dr. Rollins, by Messrs. Switzler and Conant, Mr. Conant concluding by offering the following resolution, which was adopted : -


Resolved, That Mr. Switzler be requested to prepare for publication a sketch of the life of Dr. A. W. Rollins, and that it be placed on the records of the Board.


Which was done.


Meeting May 8, 1872. - John W. Harris, of Boone, offered a gold


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medal worth $50 to any member of the senior class who would pre- sent the best essay on the best breeds of cows for dairy purposes. This premium to be perpetual and awarded every year, to be called " The Harris Gold Medal." Liberal premiums were also offered by Prof. Swallow and Mr. Geo. F. Barr, of Quincy, Ill., to students in the agricultural department.


The Executive Committee of the School of Mines, at Rolla, were authorized to lease in the public school building the necessary rooms for said school.


Maj. J. W. McMurray, professor of military tactics, recommended a uniform for the cadets, which was adopted.


On nomination of Maj. Rollins, Mr. Boyle Gordon, of this place, was unanimously elected (in addition to Mr. Jno. H. Overall ) a law professor in the University.


On Wednesday night, May 8, 1872, in the chapel of the State University, and before a large and brilliant audience and the Board of Curators, an exhibition of the junior class took place. During the retirement of the committee to consider of the award of prizes, the large auditory were relieved and much interested in a proceeding not on the programme, namely, the public presentation to Hon. James S. Rollins of the thanks of the faculty and students of the University for his great services to that institution. President Read, on behalf of the faculty and Henry W. Ewing, on behalf of the students, each in very appropriate remarks, read the resolutions which had been passed, after which Maj. Rollins was called for and responded to the high compliments paid him, in most felicitous and appropriate terms, his address frequently eliciting the rapturous plaudits of the large auditory.


On the next day, May 9, 1872, the Board of Curators being in session, Prof. Edward Wyman, of St. Louis, offered a resolution and preamble, in which he lauded the labors of Maj. Rollins for what he had done on behalf of the University, and applied to him the soubri- quet of " Pater Universitatis Missouriensis "-a most deserving appellation, the honors of which all are ready to accord him.


Prof. Wyman accompanied the presentation of this testimonial by a few remarks, in which he embodied a brief recital of the great and long-continued services of Maj. Rollins in behalf of the common schools of the State and of the University.




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