USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 30
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 30
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1869. The University of Nebraska was the next educational institution in point of time, and the first great educational endeavor of the state. The legislature in 1869 founded this university and provided for its organizations by legislative act -. also in 1875 and 1822. Students were received first in 1861 and its growth has continued until it has reached the neighborhood of approximately five thousand.
The congressional act of 1862 had provided for an endowment of land in each state for the maintenance of at least one college in each state. Nebraska's share of such land amounted to 90,000 acres, and the enabling act of 1861 set aside seventy-two sections of land for this purpose. the grant also requiring that instruction must be given in military training. The legislative act of 1869 fixed the board of regents at twelve, but the constitution of 1875 fixed this board at six members, elected at large, for six year terms, the new constitutional amendments of 1920 fixing the election of these regents by districts. The university act also provided for a model farm on two sections of agricultural lands, and this enter-
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prise was located about two miles and a half from the main campus, and has developed into the large "State Farm" or Agricultural College campus. The university has spread its activities now, so that in addition to the two campuses in and about the city of Lincoln, it has a large medical college and state hospital at Omaha; an agricultural college at Curtis, an irrigation college at Scottsbluff, and experimental substations at North Platte, Valentine and Scottsbluff.
The University of Nebraska has been fortunate in the high character and stand- ing of the men who have held the office of chancellor. These men have been: Allen R. Benton, January 6, 1870, to June 22, 1826; Edmond B. Fairfield, June 23, 1876, to 1883; Dean E. B. Hitchcock, acting chancellor, 1883, to January 1, 1884; Irving J. Manett, January 1, 1884, to June 1, 1889; Charles E. Bessey, act- ing chancellor, January 1, 1889, to August 1, 1891, and Dean Bessey preferring remaining in charge of the botany work to assuming permanently either the responsibilities of the executive administration of the great school or accepting any of the many more lucrative offers he received in the latter years of his life from other schools; James H. Canfield, August 1, 1891, to September 1, 1895; George E. Maclean. September 1, 1895, to September 1, 1899: Charles E. Bessey served again from September 1, 1899, to August 1, 1900; E. Benjamin Andrews, August 1, 1900, to January 1, 1909; Samuel Avery, acting chancellor. January 1, 1909, to May 20, 1909, when he was made chancellor. Professor Avery was head of the Department of Chemistry and was chosen as a result of desire to select some man from the staff of the university, an alumnus and a thorough Nebraskan rather than to import an educator for this responsibility. Chancellor Avery is still serving in 1921, but during his absence in war service in 1918 Dean W. G. Hastings of the Law College was acting chancellor.
The buildings of the university include not only the old familiar landmarks, such as University Hall, built in 1869-20; Chemical Laboratory, 1885-6; Grant Memorial Hall, 1888; Nebraska Ilall, 1888-9; Boiler House, 1889; Electrical Power House, 1891; Library Building, 1892 and 1896; Mechanics Art, 1898, but also the many new buildings at the farm campus, and the new Bessey Hall, Social Science Hall and the other buildings being erected in accordance with the new program adopted in 1914 and 1915.
The compiler of this historical review is going to depart at this point from his prevailing rule of brevity which is shutting out of this work many things he knows the readers would appreciate, to include a rather lengthy address delivered on Charter Day, February 15, 1881, by Prof. Samuel Aughey, one of the first professors, to whom we are indebted for many of the facts concerning the geological and natural features of Nebraska. In the compilation of the lengthy History of Nebraska in 1882 by the Western Historical Company, it was seen fit also to insert this. It will give the reader an carly history not only of the State University, but also of the difficulties and struggles of early higher education in Nebraska.
"The Territorial Legislature of 1865 and 1866 prepared a State Constitution, which was submitted to the people June 2, 1866. It was preceded by a somewhat bitter discussion. Among the arguments urged for its adoption was the fact that the sooner it was accomplished the finer the lands that could be obtained for educa- tional and internal improvement purposes. After the vote was taken the constitu- tion was declared carried. One of the provisions of the enabling act was that lands for an agricultural college and university must be accepted within three years, and
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colleges opened within five years afterwards. The trust was accepted by the State, and it received from the general government the promised gift. It is questionable whether the lands for internal improvements were wisely expended. Fortunately, however, the lands for the endowment of the agricultural college and university remain comparatively intact, and a wise provision of law prevents them from be- ing squandered. The leasing and sale of them is so regulated as ultimately to secure a princely endowment for these institutions.
"The Legislature that met in January, 1869, passed an act on the 15th of Febri- ary-twelve years ago-to establish a state university, vesting its government in a board of regents, to be appointed, in the first instance, by the governor, who was ex-officio chairman ; the superintendent of public instruction and the chancellor of the university being also members of the board. Under the new constitution the gov- ernment is vested, as is well known, in a board of six regents, whose terms of office last six years, two new ones being elected every two years by the people. Previous to this-June 14, 1867-in the act for locating the seat of government, the agricul- tural college and the state university were united.
"By an act of February 15, 1869, the governor, secretary of state, and auditor were appointed to sell the unsold blocks in Lincoln owned by the state, and to locate and erect a university building. Of the sum realized in this way, $100,000 was appropriated for this purpose. On the following first of June the plans and speci- fications prepared by M. J. MeBird, then of Logansport, Indiana, were accepted by the capital commissioners for the university building. These plans were submitted to the board of regents June 3, 1869, and accepted, subject to any modifications which they might suggest. The contract for building was given to D. J. Silver & Son, of Logansport, Ind., on the same day. About the middle of July, the contrac- tors commenced work, and the walls were so far completed by September 23. that the corner stone could be laid, which was done with Masonic ceremonies, under the management of the Grand Lodge of the State. The committee of citizens who had charge of the ceremonies raised a subscription among themselves and hired a band in Omaha for $375 and expenses. They traveled here all the way from Omaha in carriages. A free banquet to all the citizens from abroad was also given by the people, at their own expense. The basement was completed during the first week in December. In the meantime the architect had made such changes and amend- ments in the plan of the building as the regents had indicated. These changes greatly increased the cost of the building. The contract for completing the univer- sity was finally given to D. J. Silver & Son, in pursuance of advertisements, for $128,480, which, with the previous cost of the excavation and basement, made the entire cost $152,000.
"The contractors for the university pushed the work with remarkable energy. At this day it is hard to realize the disadvantages under which they labored. The lumber was shipped from Chicago to East Nebraska City, four miles east of the Missouri in Iowa, opposite to the present Nebraska City. It was hauled to Lin- coln in wagons, over wretched roads, a distance of sixty-five miles. The contrac- tors paid $10 a cord for wood with which to burn brick, and which was hanled from twenty to thirty-five miles. On April 7, 1870, the brick work was commenced, and though there was an interruption of three weeks for want of brick, the walls were completed and the roof on by the middle of the following August. In eighty-two days 1,500,000 briek were made and put in these university walls. The university
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building has from that time been under the guardianship of the board of regents. They determined to open it the year following its completion. By their permission this chapel was used for various literary entertainments, up to the time of its for- mal opening, on September 7, 1871.
"Here let us pause to consider the step which this then infant state took in un- dertaking the establishment of a university. When the bill establishing a university became law on February 15, 1869, the population was barely 100,000. Even the few high schools that existed could barely prepare students for the freshman class, and very few students anywhere were in such stage of preparation. The state, too, was mainly settled by persons of comparatively small means, seeking homes for themselves and families. Little of the prairie had yet been brought under agri- cultural subjection. The state was rich prospectively, but really poor practically. And yet it was proposed to establish such an institution several years in advance of the time required by the United States law, in order to hold the large grants of land for the support of the agricultural college and university. Under these circum- stances many claimed that it would be wiser to wait for an increase in population and wealth, and the building up of preparatory schools before inaugurating such an enterprise. Others again wished to relegate the higher education wholly to the Christian denominations, by whom for generations it had been controlled in the Eastern States.
"Against these arguments, on the other hand, it was urged that a new state could not too early establish the higher educational institutions. That the most distinguished colleges in the East originated during the infancy of the common- wealths which they have made glorious ; that Massachusetts, for example, owes her political and intellectual glory to the fact that Harvard has for generations, and from its earliest history, been training her sons: that Yale performed the same duty for another colony, and is now great because she, too, began her career so early in the history of the commonwealth which she also is making illustrious. There were others, too, who felt at that time, and urged it upon the people of the state, that the time had come when an advance should be made on traditional methods of education. The state had provided a magnificent free school system. To perfect that scheme, the higher education needed to be furnished to the youth of the state on the same terms as the common schools provided elementary instruc- tion. To do this, a university was needed-a university 'by the people and for the people'-an institution which should be expressive of intellectual lite, not of the past or present, but of all time.
"There were many advanced spirits in Nebraska even at that early day. They Balized that culture was something desirable for its own sake. Prairies indeed had to be subdued, but other interests besides that of the dollar were most desirable, and among these culture in distinction from more knowledge, technical or general, was regarded as most important. There was another class more limited than the former in influence and numbers, that desired a university solely because of the advertise- ment which it would give the state abroad. They held, and that truthfully. that an institution of learning of high grade would attract the cultivated emigrants into bur borders, and be the most powerful factor in securing the settlement of this infant vonmonwealth. Others again, and this was a still smaller class, a class that had arrived a one-sided impulse, by a narrow range of reading and study. could see no good in a university unless its professors devoted themselves wholly to studies in
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natural history or physics. They pointed to the unstudied resources of this new state, to its comparatively unknown botany, zoology, and geology, and claimed that the making known what the State was and could be made to be in these partic- ulars was itself justification enough for the establishment of a university.
"It should also ever be remembered that the public sentiment that established the university was mainly created by young or comparatively young men. The early legislatures of the state were principally made up of such. These young men were exceptionally able and enterprising, and came here to help create a common- wealth when the effort meant personal risk, sacrifice, and toil of unusual severity. To reach Nebraska twenty years ago involved the crossing of Iowa in stage coaches through a sparsely settled region for half the distance, or a longer and more tortuous journey by boat from St. Louis. Many of the young men who came here at that early day have reached great distinction in the professions, in business, or in poli- ties. I need only refer to Hon. J. M. Woolworth, A. J. Poppleton, E. S. Dundy, of the U. S. Court, C. Briggs, O. P. Mason, T. M. Marquett, and others who have won great distinction at the bar or on the bench, or both. Dr. George L. Miller, J. Ster- ling Morton, R. W. Furnas, J. M. McMurphy, Bishop Talbot, Lient. Isaac T. Web- ster (now professor of military science in this university) and brother, and Profes- sor Dake, of blessed memory, also came early, and the most of them at the first organ- ization of the Territory. Ex-Senator Hitchcock, and the present U. S. senators, were also among the first settlers of the state. These then young men, and others to whom I can not even allude, who have since won great distinction, and possessed abilities and character to make them marked in any state, moulded this young com- monwealth. The most of them have been, and still are, the warm friends and sup- porters of this university, and no better evidence of this can be given than the elo- quent and able literary addresses with which they honored us on opening and on commencement occasions. Every lawyer and every judge knows that the statutes framed by the young men referred to in the early legislatures of the state, while yet a territory, are remarkably Inminous and able compared with the laws which have been enacted in our later history."
"It has long since been observed that the best endowment of a university is the endowment of commanding and noble intellect and character. Such an endowment alone makes a university possible-makes it the center of intellectual light and qnickening influence. With such characters this university was blessed in its early history. Whether it has fulfilled the promise of its youth it is not for me to say on this occasion. It is not, however improper to express the conviction that after years will recognize the fact that even now magnificent work is being done, work that will blossom into beauty and noble achievements. It is one of the infirmities of man- kind that character often is not appreciated or understood until it is separated by distance or removed by death. I have myself even yet, after many disappointments, unbounded confidence in the final success of this institution. It is a creature and a child of the state and the age. The training already given here, the young men and women sent forth from these walls into the battle of life, the literary work, and scientific work done here, are an earnest of a glorious future. Students themselves, their character, their work, their attainments, their abilities acquired in the studies and literary contests of the university, along with that of the faculty, are a force that must lift this university in the order of nature into a prominence and a power for good, second to no other in the great republic."
Vol. I-16
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In addition to its regular functions of higher education, various departments of the university have by legislative action been made official state departments in charge of the particular activity. Some of these are: the work of the Agricultural College in handling farmers' institutes; farm demonstrators; the agricultural exten- sion bureau, which is the state department in charge of various county and local farm bureaus; state vocational education, as the teacher training school for the training of teachers for Smith-Hughes agricultural-vocational educational courses in high schools; home economics section of university extension service ; the professor of entomology (Prof. Lawrence Bruner is the state entomologist in charge of the work of "investigation, control and extermination of insect pests and plant diseases"), and the professor of geology is the state geologist (Prof. E. H. Bar- bour), and George E. Condra is in charge of the work of the Nebraska Conserva- tion and Soil Survey, a department which has performed wonderful service in the various county and district "soil surveys" of Nebraska. The professor of botany is the state botanist, and the professor of that subject at the experiment station is the state plant pathologist. The Legislative Reference Bureau is another depart- ment of the university which has done invaluable work in collecting, compiling and publishing historical, legislative and legal data and information. This depart- ment has compiled the recent issues of the Nebraska Blue Book, and its head, Hon. Addison E. Sheldon, has not only compiled several smaller works on Nebraska history, but his "Annals of Nebraska" in the 1915 Blue Book is the pioneer presentation of Nebraska history in any systematic condensed, chronological style.
1869-1889. The majority of the higher educational institutions of the state were founded in the two decades following the elevation of Nebraska into statehood. It will only be possible to present the order of foundation of these institutions and to classify them by sources of support.
1872 (Doane College at C'rete). This school was the successor of the school fostered by the Congregational people at Fontanelle. An Academy had been located at ('rete in 1871, but this school started there in 1822 and has grown into an institution with an attendance of around two hundred, but a standing for scholastic quality surpassed by no school in the Middle West.
1874 (Creighton University). This is the second largest school in Nebraska and received its impetus from a provision in the will of Mr. Edward Creighton, and a later provision in the will of his wife, providing for the establishment of a school of the class and grade of a college in Omaha. The school was incorporated on August 14, 1879. It has grown to be a great university with not only the univer- sity courses, and academy, under the administration of the Jesnit Order, but great colleges for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and law. The medical department received the name of the "John A. Creighton Medical College," established in 1892, through the beneficence of "Count" John A. Creighton, brother of Edward Creighton. The Edward Creighton Institute became the home of the dentistry and law departments, until the recent erection of new buildings upon the main campus.
1880. Mr. Henry T. Clarke, then of Bellevue, gave to the Presbyterian people in 1880, 261 acres of land as a site for a college. The college was opened in 1883. This school is still a wonderfully efficient link in the chain of educational institutions of the state.
1881. The people of Hastings had tried as far back as 1874 to interest the
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Presbyterian synods in the establishment of a college at that point. But even the acquisition of a school of that denomination by Bellevue, did not stop them and they continued their efforts until steps were taken in September, 1881, toward a Presbyterian academy at Hastings, which was incorporated as Hastings Col- lege, May 10, 1882. The education work began in September, 1882, and has con- tinued without interruption for practically forty years.
1884. The Baptists of the state had been looking forward since their first convention in 1867 toward establishing an institution of learning. This desire took form in 1884 by the formation of a society, which accomplished the establish- ment of Grand Island College, and the same was opened in 1892, with thirty-two students in attendance. It has flourished spasmodically as the years have passed, and in 1920 is entering a new era in its existence, with the location of the Nebraska State Convention headquarters at Grand Island and a recentering of the efforts, financial and otherwise, of this denomination upon making this one of the great schools of the state.
1887. In this year the Nebraska Christian Missionary Society resolved to "receive and accept propositions" looking toward the incorporation of a Christian university. This resulted in the acquisition of some three hundred acres of land north of Lincoln, in the suburb of Bethany and the establishment of Cotner University there. The institution has grown to the point of having two colleges, liberal arts and medicine, of the latter of which Dr. Frank L. Wilmeth is president. Dr. William P. Aylsworth who served for more than fifteen years as chancellor of this institution was an important factor in its success.
This year (1887) saw the arrival of an institution of learning at University Place, another suburban town near Lincoln, destined to become one of the three or four largest in the state. The Methodist people had supported a college at York, Nebraska, since 1879, the York Seminary, opened in 1880. They also had a conference seminary at ('entral City, some forty miles distant, started in 1884. An institution called Mallalieu University had started at Bartley in 1886. A commission of five members from each conference and three from each school met at Lincoln late in 1886 and decided to center the efforts of this denomination upon a school located at a townsite laid out and named "University Place." This resulted in the foundation of Wesleyan University.
1890. Ground was broken in April, 1890, for another educational institution around Lincoln, with the location of Union College by the Seventh Day Adventists at College View.
NEBRASKA COLLEGES
Source of Support. The foregoing roster of Nebraska higher education insti- tutions is by no means complete. But to make this subject more completely covered, even at the expense of some repetition, it may not be amiss to relist these schools and numerous other educational institutions by another method of classification.
SUPPORTED BY THE STATE
The University of Nebraska, Lincoln, already covered at more length than any other Nebraska school. The State Agricultural School of State University, at Lincoln ; State Agricultural School, at Curtis; State Irrigation School and experi-
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mental station, Scottsbluff; State Medical College and Hospital, Omaha; State experimental schools, Valentine and North Platte.
State Normal School at Peru. This was established by legislative act passed March 1, 1867, immediately after admission of the state to the Union. Col. T. J. Majors and William Daily were members of the Legislature and helped to fruition plans laid in Peru as early as 1865. It would not be amiss to pause long enough to pay passing tribute to the twelve men who have served at the head of an institu- tion in existence for almost fifty-five years. J. M. Mckenzie, 1867-1871; Henry HI. Straight, 1821; A. D. Williams, 1871-72; Gen. T. J. Morgan, 1822-1875; L. S. Thompson, 1875-1877: Robert Curry, 1877-1883; George L. Farnam, 1883-1893; A. W. Norton, 1893-1896; J. A. Beattie, 1896-1900, who in recent years has been a prominent compiler of Nebraska history; W. A. Clark, 1900-1904; J. W. Crabtree, 1904-1910, and D. W. Hayes, since 1910.
State Normal School at Kearney. This school was established by the Legislature of 1903 to serve the western, central and southwestern parts of the state, which complained that Peru was too far east. More than ten towns sought this institu- tion, but Kearney was the successful contestant. The first building was completed in December, 1905. Prof. A. O. Thomas later state superintendent of public instruc- tion was president until 1914, when George S. Dick succeeded him, and G. H. Martin is now head of this school.
State Normal School ot Wayne. This school was taken over by the state in 1910, after nineteen years' existence as a private normal school, under the manage- ment of President J. M. Pile. Prof. U. S. Conn, then superintendent of city schools of Columbus, was chosen by the State Normal Board and has continued as president of this school since its acquisition by the state.
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