USA > Missouri > Boone County > History of Boone County, Missouri. > Part 30
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Resuming his seat, the preamble and resolutions were seconded by Rev. John D. Vincil and Col. W. F. Switzler, the latter of whom briefly addressed the Board in review of the self-sacrificing and un-
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flagging labors of Maj. Rollins, embracing a period of more than thirty years, to aid in achieving for the State a high destiny.
The resolutions passed unanimously.
Meeting June 25, 1872 .- Mr. John H. Overall, owing to ill health and a contemplated tour to the mountains, tendered his resignation of Law Professor, which was accepted. Boyle Gordon also resigned.
Mr. Charles Daschel, of Jefferson City, presented to the University a miniature steam engine, manufactured by himself, and a very neat and perfect machine, in good working order, on the condition that a ten-dollar prize be annually offered for excellence in physics, which was accepted, and the thanks of the Board was tendered the donor and the prize denominated the " Daschel Prize."
Prof. Kurtz, having accepted the principalship of the Montgomery City High School, tendered his resignation of assistant in the College of Normal Instruction.
The Board went into executive session, for the purpose of electing teachers and professors, to hold their offices for one year, dating from July 1, 1872, and until otherwise ordered by the Board. The election was conducted by ballot.
The following were unanimously elected on the first ballot : Jos. G. Norwood, M. D., Professor of Natural Science and Natural Philoso- phy ; Jos. Ficklin, A. M., Professor of Mathematics, Mechanical Philosophy and Astronomy ; G. C. Swallow, A. M., M. D., Professor of Agriculture, Geology and Botany ; E. L. Ripley, Principal of the College of Normal Instruction ; Mrs. C. A. Ripley, Assistant in Department of Normal and Preparatory Instruction ; J. W. Abert, Professor of Applied Mathematics and Civil Engineering in School of Mines and Metallurgy at Rolla.
On motion of Mr. Matthias it was resolved : That the chair of Ancient Languages and Literature be divided as follows : 1st. Pro- fessor of Greek Language and Literature ; 2d. Professor of Latin Language and Literature ; and that the said professors shall have full control of, and be responsible for, the instruction in the respective lan- guages in all departments of the University. The salaries of said Professors was fixed at $2,000 per year, each. The salary of Mrs. C. A. Ripley was fixed at $1,250 per annum.
The Board adjourned, to meet at Rolla on the Fourth Tuesday in August.
A full length portrait of the late Edward Bates, of St. Louis, was presented to the board by James B. Eads and Charles Gibson.
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Meeting of the Board at Rolla, August 27, 1872 .- The following professors were chosen to the vacant professorships in the University : Paul Schweitzer, Ph. D., of Columbia College School of Mines, N. Y., to the chair of Analytical and Applied Chemistry.
Edward H. Twining, late of the University of Minnesota, to the chair of Latin.
James K. Hosmer, a Harvard graduate, now a professor in Antioch College, Ohio, a well-known writer and accomplished litterateur, to the chair of English Literature and Rhetoric.
John M. Leonard, Ph. D., of Carlisle, Pa., an experienced teacher, who has just returned from a residence of seven years in Con- tinental universities, to the chair of Greek.
The Board also elected Judge Philemon Bliss, of St. Joseph, of the Supreme Court, and the Hon. Boyle Gordon, of Columbia, as pro- fessors in the Law Deparment, which is to open on the first Monday of October, Judge Bliss to act as Dean of the Law Faculty.
Meeting December 10, 1872. - Messrs. Vincil, Hubbard and Todd made a report in regard to the proposed Medical Deparment, in which they embodied the valuable suggestion and liberal proposition of Drs. A. W. McAlester and T. Allen Arnold, and strongly recommending the inauguration of that department at the opening of the next semester, which was agreed to, with a full corps of instructors, as- follows : -
Professor of Anatomy and Surgery and Materia Medica, A. W. McAlester, M. D.
Professor of Obstetrics, Diseases of Women and Children, and Pratice, Thomas Allen Arnold, M. D.
Professor of Chemistry, Medical Jurisprudence and Institutes of Medicine, J. G. Nor- wood, M. D.
Professor of Botany, Comparative Anatomy and Comparative Physiology, George C. Swallow, M. D.
Professor of Pharmacy and Toxicology, Paul Schweitzer, M. D.
The Executive Committee were authorized to expend a sum nct ex- ceeding $5,000, in the erection of club houses, and Switzler and Hubbard were appointed a committee to carry out the order. Under this order the two frame club houses were erected on the street lead- ing to the Fair Grounds.
Meeting June 24, 1873 .- An account for $400, in favor of Gen. O. Guitar, was presented, for legal services in the case of ex-President Minor, who had brought suit against the University for arrears of salary.
The sum of $1,000 was appropriated to the Medical Department,
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to be expended under the direction of Dr. A. W. McAlester, who was then in Europe.
Scott Hayes was elected Assistant Professor in the Agricultural College.
The chair of Modern Languages was established, and Miss Mary B. Read, who was then in Europe, was elected teacher of Modern Languages, at a salary of $1,200 per year, to commence when she en- ters upon the duties of the position.
R. B. Price was elected Treasurer of the Board. Vote: R. B. Price, 10; J. H. Waugh, 9.
THE J. S. ROLLINS PORTRAIT.
A communication was presented from R. B. Price, J. T. McBaine, J. W. Harris, John Machir, W. F. Switzler, James L. Stephens, James Harris, J. K. Rogers Joel H. Hayden, David Guitar and J. Th. Fyfer, committee, tendering the Board a life-sized portrait of Hon. J. S. Rollins, by Geo. C. Bingham, to be placed in some proper place in the building.
On motion of Mr. Conant, of St. Louis, the communication was referred to a special committee, who was charged with the duty of preparing suitable resolutions. Committee : A. J. Conant, of St. Louis, J. F. Weilandy, of Jefferson City, and J. W. Barrett, of Canton.
At two o'clock a large number of citizens and strangers, among them many ladies, met the Board in the Library Hall, where the formal presentation took place.
The Board being called to order by the vice-president, Judge Perry, the communication of the citizens' committee and the resolutions of the Board were read by Mr. Todd, the secretary. The St. Louis Democrat's report says : "Col. Switzler then made formal presentation of the elegant portrait of Major Rollins, and in an eloquent and feel- ing manner referred to the faithful, earnest and efficient services of Major Rollins for thirty-five years past in the cause of the University and of popular education. This necessarily caused reference to the history of the University, the struggles and trials attending its loca- tion, erection and organization, and the sacrifices, labors and contri- butions of those who aided in founding this institution.
" In responding on behalf of the Board, Mr. Conant referred to the distinguished services of Maj. Rollins, to the extended influence which his labors would have on the thousands who go from this institution
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into the various walks of life throughout our land ; who, in the intel- ligent discharge of the duties of citizenship, should through all time continue the movements of the wisdom in design and the success at- tending the efforts of Major Rollins and his co-laborers, in their efforts to promote the cause of general education.
" Major Rollins, being called, responded eloquently, acknowledging a very high sense of the honor conferred on him in the kind partiality of those friends who had inaugurated this presentation, and the favor- able mention made of his efforts in the cause of education, on this occasion. In a somewhat extended address, he referred to the educa- tional institutions of the land - public, private, and denominational - and in most eloquent terms pleaded that closer union, warm sympa- thy, and friendly co-operation should exist between them, and that all should have the generous support and aid of the State and of the peo- ple everywhere."
These proceedings and the addresses delivered were afterwards published in pamphlet form.
A ROLL OF HONOR.
On motion of Col. Switzler, it was resolved that the Secretary of the Board be instructed to prepare and record in alphabetical order, in an appendix to the journal of the Board, the names of the citizens of Boone County who, in 1839, subscribed sums of money and other property to secure the location of the State University at Columbia, together with the amounts thus subscribed.
Meeting December 9, 1873 : - Mr. Rollins reported from the Ex- ecutive Committee that the claims of O. Guitar and B. and W. Gor- don, for legal services, had been adjusted and paid.
The subject of the election of a successor to President Read, whose term of office expired June 30, 1874, was postponed till the next ses- sion, which was held at Rolla on Tuesday, March 31, 1874.
Meeting at Rolla, March 31, 1874 .- President Read was re-elected President of the University for one year from the 30th of June, 1874-15 to 5, as follows : -
YEAS- J. W. Barrett, J. C. Cravens, A. J. Conant, W. T. Essex, John W. Harris, P. Hubbard, W. T. Lenoir, Josh LaDue, Henry T. Mudd, Elijah Perry, Henry Smith, W. F. Switzler, Edward Wyman, Samuel G. Williams, J. W. Wielandy - 15
NAYS - A. M. Dockery, H. Clay Ewing, C. P. Jones, E. W. Stephens, Squire Turner .- 5.
A committee was appointed, consisting of Wyman, Rollins and Jones, to open correspondence with the view of securing a proper
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person to succeed Dr. Read, after the termination of his office on June 30, 1875.
Meeting June 23, 1874. - Prof. J. K. Hosmer tendered his resigna- tion of the chair of English and history, whereupon S. S. Hamill, then professor of elocution and English literature in the State Normal School, at Kirksville, was elected his successor.
The Hudson Mansion was set apart as a Woman's College Home and the Executive Committee instructed to make the needed repairs and rent the property to such party as will carry out the purpose.
Meeting December 8, 1874. - Mr. LaDue presented the testimonials of Rev. W. M. Leftwich, D. D., of St. Louis, a candidate for the Presidency of the University, which were referred to the special com- mittee - Wyman, Rollins and Jones. Mr. Switzler, from the special committee on repairs of the Hudson Mansion and the preparation and furnishing the ladies' parlor of the University, made a report as to what had been done and the cost of the same.
PHELPS COUNTY BONDS ILLEGAL.
The status of the School of Mines, under the decision of the Supreme Court, deciding the $75,000 of Phelps County bonds to be illegal and void, was largely discussed and a variety of opinions given as to the best means of advancing the prosperity of that department of the University. The prevailing opinion of the lawyers on the Board seemed to be that the adverse decision of the Supreme Court did not unsettle the location of the school at Rolla, some of them maintaining that its location at that place had received repeated Legislative recog- nition, and that the Board of Curators or the State had recourse against the County of Phelps for the $75,000 which the county had promised to pay, but which it never has paid.
Mr. Ewing offered a resolution instructing the committee appointed at the last meeting of the Board to confer with the public school authorities at Rolla, and if it can be done on acceptable terms, to pur- chase the school building for the School of Mines ; that the treasurer deliver to said committee such number of the State bonds under the act of March 29, 1872, as may be necessary to make the first pay- ment. Resolution passed.
RE-ELECTION OF PRESIDENT READ.
Mr. Rollins, from the committee appointed at the Rolla session to
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seek and ascertain by correspondence and otherwise, a suitable per- son to fill the office of President, to succeed the present incumbent in June, 1875, reported that they had, with this view, attended last August, at Detroit, a session of the National Association for the pro- motion of science and held extensive correspondence with the educa- tors of the country, but had been unable to find a person more suitable for the position than Dr, Read ; therefore, they recommended his re- election from July 1, 1875, to July 4, 1876.
Mr. Smith moved that the President's salary, after July, 1875, be fixed at $3,000 per annum, with the use of the President's Mansion and grounds thereto belonging free of charge. Mr. Conant moved to amend by making the salary $3,600, which was seconded by Mr. Cole- man. Mr. LaDue moved to amend the amendment by making it $4,000, which was lost. Mr. Conant's amendment was passed.
On motion of Mr. Wielandy the Board proceeded to elect, by bal- lot, a President for one year, ending July 4, 1876. Mr. Switzler nominated Dr. Daniel Read and Mr. Turner the Rev. W. M. Left- wich, D. D., of St. Louis. Ballot-Read, 12; Leftwich, 7. On motion of Mr. Conant, the election was declared unanimous.
While this election was pending on Wednesday night -the Board at the time holding its session in Library Hall - a shower of stones was precipitated with a crash through one of the windows near which the members of the Board were seated. Therefore Mr. Switzler intro- duced a resolution requesting the trustees and marshal of Columbia and the Faculty of the University to take such steps as they may deem best to discover, arrest, and bring to trial and punishment the perpe- trators of the outrage. Passed.
Meeting April 13, 1875. - The Board proceeded to divide them- selves into three classes, as required by act March 23, 1875, with the following result : -
To go out of office April 1, 1877 - Cravens, Hutton, Headlee, and Lakenan.
To go out April 1, 1879 -- Colman, Ewing, Flood, and Glenn.
To go out April 1, 1881 - Clarkson, Collier, Hinton, LaDue and Rollins.
Mr. Rollins was re-elected President, Mr. Todd, Secretary, and Mr. Price, Treasurer of the Board.
On motion of Mr. Hinton, a committee was appointed to memorial- ize the Constitutional Convention, which was to meet in Jefferson City May 5, with the view of securing such provisions in the amended Con-
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stitution as will place the institution on a more permanent basis, and require for it suitable support ; that this committee appear in person before the proper committee of the convention, in aid of the interests of the University as a part of the educational policy of the State. Committee : Colman, LaDue and Rollins.
On motion of Mr. Colman, a committee of three were appointed - the President of the Board, Mr. Rollins, to be one of them -to cor- respond with the view of securing a President for the University to succeed Dr. Read. Committee': Rollins, Colman, and Lakenan.
Mr. Glenn offered a resolution ratifying the purchase, at $35,000, of the Rolla school building, which had been made by a committee un- der the authority of the Board.
Dr. W. T. Maupin's proposition to rent the Hudson mansion for five years, for a female infirmary, and the lands attached, was de- clined.
Mr. LaDue, from the committee on the purchase of the Rolla school building, introduced the following resolution : -
Resolved, That the Executive Committee of the Rolla School of Mines be, and it is hereby authorized to make the first payment of $6,000, by delivering five hundred of the Missouri six per cent bonds now in the hands of A. Dumuth, Treasurer, on the purchase of the pub- lic school building at Rolla; and the President of the Board be, and is hereby authorized to make, execute, and deliver the necessary notes and trust-deeds on said buildings, and lands connected therewith, to the Board of Education of the city of Rolla, to secure the remaining payments for said building.
After considerable discussion, the resolution was adopted : -
AYES - Colman, Clarkson, Collier, Glenn, Headlee, Hinton, Lakenan and LaDue -8. NAYS -Flood, Hutton, and Rollins-3.
Meeting June 22, 1875. - A Professorship of Geology was estab- lished in the School of Mines.
PORTRAIT OF PROF. G. H. MATTHEWS.
Mr. Rogers, on behalf of alumni of the University, presented the Board with an oil portrait of the late Prof. George H. Matthews, by Miss Forbes, a member of the faculty of Christian College, which wa's accepted in appropriate remarks by Mr. Rollins, the President.
Meeting October 27, 1875 .- The resignation of Miss Mary B. Read, teacher of German and French, was tendered, to take effect on De- cember 14 next. Prof. B. S. Newland, of Paris, Mo., was chosen to fill out the remainder of the collegiate year.
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ELECTION OF S. S. LAWS AS PRESIDENT.
The names of quite a number of eminent educators and scholars were before the board, who, after mature deliberation, unanimously concurred in electing, for four years from July 4, 1876, Dr. S. S. Laws, of New York City, and for many years before the war President of Westmin- ister College, at Fulton, Missouri.
The executive committee were instructed to adopt the necessary measures to have the University, Agricultural College and School of Mines properly presented at the Centennial. Some important steps had already been taken in this direction. Prof. Ripley, who seemed alive to the importance of the work, had already nearly completed a large and most beautiful pictorial painting in oil of the University buildings and grounds, presented in five ovals on a canvas some six by twelve feet in size - one oval, the central, representing the main edifice and campus, and scientific building ; one the Normal School building ; President's house ; one the Hudson Mansion, and one the new club houses. This is a beautiful work of art, in a neat gilt frame.
INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT LAWS.
Meeting June 30, 1876 .- Samuel S. Hamill, A. M., Professor of English History and Elocution, tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and resolutions passed bearing testimony to his ability and fidelity.
A letter was received from Dr. Laws, which was spread upon the journal, accepting the Presidency upon certain reservations and con- ditions, to which the Board assented.
The Statesman of July 7, 1876, gave a full account of the inaugu- ration of President Laws, and did space allow, the article would be quoted entire. The inauguration took place on Wednesday, July 5, 1876, and notwithstanding the inclement weather, the University chapel was filled by a large and brilliant audience.
Dr. Daniel Read, the retiring President, spoke appropriately for about fifty minutes, after the opening religious exercises, and was followed in a short address by Prof. Ficklin, on the part of the faculty, expressing a kind farewell to the retiring and a warm welcome to the incoming President. Mr. R. L. Todd, on part of the alumni, fol- lowed in a twenty-five minutes' address, paying a merited tribute to Dr. Lathrop, and reciting a summary of Dr. Read's administration.
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Speeches were made by a number of other gentlemen, including Gov. Hardin, Norman J. Colman and Major Rollins, the latter of whom gave a brief history of the University, closing by tendering a hearty welcome to Dr. Laws. The exercises of the occasion were closed by the inaugural address of the new President, who fully and wisely set forth his views concerning the government and conduct of the Uni- versity.
The Bunceton Brass Band furnished excellent music for the occasion.
Meeting at Jefferson City, July 18, 1876 .- B. S. Newland was elected to the chair of Modern Languages for one year from July 1, 1876. The salary of William S. Pratt, Assistant Professor, increased to $800 per annum. A. R. Runyan elected business agent.
Meeting December 12, 1876. - Mr. Collier, from the Nominating Committee, reported that since the last meeting W. H. Cole had been chosen Professor of English and History until June 30, 1877. Also, that Alexander Meyrowitz had been chosen as Professor of the Hebrew Language and Shemitic Literature, both of which the board confirmed.
A communication was received from Miss M. Lou Gillette, Assistant in the Normal Department, tendering her resignation on account of ill-health.
At a meeting of the Board held in Jefferson City, January 19, 1877, S. M. Tracy was appointed Assistant Professor of Agricul- ture, at a salary of $1,000 a year, with the use of the McClellan cottage.
Meeting June 5, 1877. - A School of Art was established, of which George C. Bingham, of Kansas City, was elected professor.
Charles P. Williams, Director of the School of Mines of Rolla, tendered his resignation.
CHAIRS VACATED.
The chairs occupied by Edward H. Twining, Professor of Latin Language and Literature ; B. S. Newland, Professor of Greek and French ; William H. Cole, Professor of English History and Elocu- tion ; William S. Pratt and Lizzie K. Bedford, Instructors in Prepara- tory studies ; also the place of Proctor, were declared vacant.
Meeting June 4, 1878. - Letters were presented from M. M. Fisher, accepting the Professorship of Latin ; from Thomas J. Lowry, accepting the Professorship of Civil Engineering, and from D. R. McAnally, Jr., accepting the Professorship of English.
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Prof. Waite was elected Director of the School of Mines, vice Williams, resigned.
Meeting August 13, 1878. - A quorum not being in attendance, those present were not legally competent to consider and decide sev- eral questions which were properly before the board The resignation of E. L. Ripley, Professor of Pedagogics and Dean of the Normal Faculty, to take effect on October 1, was tendered and accepted, Prof. Ripley having been elected President of Shelbina College. The vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Prof. Ripley was filled by the election of Miss Grace C. Bibb, of St. Louis, who, for a number of years, had had charge of the Normal Department of the St. Louis public schools, and who is a lady of large and successful experience and acknowledged scholarship and qualifications.
The resignation of Dr. T. A. Arnold, Professor of Anatomy and of the Principles and Practice of Medicine in the Medical Faculty of the University, was tendered and accepted.
Dr. John H. Duncan was chosen to fill the chairs of Physiology, Materia Medica and the Principles and Practice of Medicine.
Dr. Woodson Moss was elected Professor of Anatomy and Demon- strator.
Drs. Duncan and Moss had hitherto occupied positions in the Medi- cal Faculty, and, therefore, were well-known.
Meeting December 10, 1878. - Mrs. J. P. Fuller was elected to the chair of Modern Languages, as Assistant in the English branches.
Prof. Meyrowitz resigned the Professorship of Hebrew and Ancient History. The chair of Greek and Comparative Philology, occupied by Dr. Leonard, was declared to be vacant after June 30, 1879.
James Shannon Blackwell, of Ghent, Ky., was elected Professor of Shemitic Languages and Ancient History, and Assistant Professor of Latin and Greek, and A. F. Fleet, of Lexington, Mo., was elected Professor of Greek and Comparative Philology.
DEATH OF PRESIDENT READ.
The sudden death of ex-President Daniel Read, in Keokuk, Iowa, October 3, 1878, was announced, and Mr. Cravens offered and the Board unanimously passed resolutions very appropriate to the occa- sion, copies of which were ordered to be sent to his daughters. Befit- ting tributes to his memory were also passed by the Faculty and students of the University, and ordered to be published. A citizens' meeting was likewise held in Garth Hall on the evening of October 5,
PRESIDENT DANIEL READ, LL. D.
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1878, which was presided over by Hon. J. S. Rollins, James W. Ripley acting as Secretary, to which a committee of nine - R. L. Todd, John Hinton, F. T. Russell, Wm. F. Switzler, J. K. Rogers, R. B. Price, John S. Clarkson, R. T. Prewitt and S. C. Douglass - reported through Mr. Todd, chairman, a very appropriate notice of his death and public services, in which there was presented a beauti- fully written resume of his long and successful labors in the cause of education. Col. Switzler, in a brief speech, moved its adoption, which motion unanimously prevailed. Maj. Rollins also, in a short address, gave a brief sketch of the life and services of the deceased in the cause of education, and particularly in connection with the State University of Missouri. He alluded feelingly to his personal relations with, and strong friendship for, Dr. Read, and closed with a few reminiscences showing the faithful devotion of the deceased to the interests of the University.
. The proceedings of this meeting, together with the speech of Maj. Rollins, were afterwards published in pamphlet form.
Meeting June 3, 1879. - J. W. Sutherland, Agricultural Lands Commissioner, has resigned, and the officers of the Board of Curators will elect his successor.
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