USA > Ohio > Butler County > A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 2 > Part 46
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This change of socation produced important results. Great dissatisfaction sprang up among a very large por- tion of those interested in the institute, and resulted finally in Dr. Scott taking new rooms by renting the old Oxford Hotel, then vacant. The founders of the Female
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College were mainly eonneeted with the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford. The pastor of the Second Preshy- terian Church, the Rev. David Tenney, and his friends were New School, and determined to found another in- stitution, on the south-eastern borders of Oxford, on the Mt. Holyoke system. The institute then passed under the control of the Rev. J. H. Buchanan and the United Presbyterians. Thus the three schools arose, and were zealously carried forward by their several friends, far and near.
After Mr. Rogers's eanvass for a few weeks he reported subscriptions in one form and another, to the amount of fifty thousand dollars, a large proportion of which, how- ever, unfortunately were scholarships. A board of trus- tees was formed under the sanction and direction of the Synod of Cincinnati. of the Presbyterian Church. A committee was appointed to visit Eastern colleges, and report on some plan for the buildings. Thus the present college was determined upon, and on the 3d of Septem- ber, 1856, dedicated by appropriate ceremonies. The Rev. Professor Moffat, afterward of the Princeton Theo- logical Seminary, Dr. Joseph Warren, formerly mission- ary to India, and others delivered addresses. A beauti- ful poem was also written for the ocasion by Mrs. Lydia H. Sigourney. The school was thus launched into exist- ence, and practically began a new life.
In the commencement of this enterprise, the general intention was to expend some $25,000 or $30,000 in a building, with whatever additional amount might be necessary for its furnishing and apparatus, the remainder to be so used as to lessen the cost of tuition, and for the payment of the faculty. When the proposals eame in, however, the lowest amounted to considerably over $40,000. The building was begun, and before its com- pletion, with all the steam-heating and gas-lighting fix- tures, cost $60,000; and with musical instruments, room furniture, and sundry stables and other out-houses, and general improvements of the grounds, to over 880,000. But the first year opened with two hundred students, one hundred of whom were from a distance. There were, however, many embarrassing circumstances, and the patronage which had fallen to this people, began to be withdrawn and directed toward the Wooster Univer- sity. The Synod of Cincinnati, after much indifference, finally, by a formal vote, entirely dissolved their eonnce- tion with it.
Before this, however, some of the debts had become very pressing, and in the exigency of the case some of the members of the board and other friends of the enter- prise formed themselves into a joint-stock company to save the institution from failure and bankruptcy. This was some time in the Fall and Winter of 1857. The name of the company was the "Company in trust of the Oxford Female College." This company proposed to assume in trust the debts and obligations of the institu- tion till such time as the obligations and debts were re-
leased, and then return it to the synod and its chartered board, to be a public institution for the benefit of the Church and the world forever. But after taking the matter in hand and paying off a considerable portion of the pressing debt, the company found that in conse- quence of the drawing back of certain parties, who were with some ground of confidence expected to become partners, they were left too weak pecuniarily to manage the whole debt, and were, therefore, compelled to give the property back to the synod, with a small portion of the obligation paid off. Yet there remained a consider- able portion of debt still to be met.
In the early Spring of 1859, the Rev. Dr. Chester, one of the secretaries of the General Assembly's board of education, who had distinguished himself in the man- agement of financial matters, by request came out from Philadelphia to meet with the board, and if possible adopt some measures to relieve their pecuniary embar- rassments. The indebtedness was found to be over $35,000. A decision was made to send out two new soliciting agents in addition to Mr. Rogers, the regular agent of the college, and to secure if possible the amount needed to save the institution. The condition was that no part should be binding unless the whole amount was subseribed. The three agents were Mr. Rogers, Mr. Stewart, then pastor of the Oxford Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Scott. On making a three months' canvass, the whole amount summed up only to about $20,000. During these troublesome times Mr. Stephen Wade, a gentleman of much Christian benevolence and philan- thropic spirit, made a proposition to sustain the boarding establishment at his own expense, for whatever pay the scholars might bring in for tuition.
For ten years the Oxford Female College had under- gone many hours of trial. The time had now come for the resignation of President Scott. He had during his connection with the institution sunk some $20,000 or $25,000, and in other ways made for himself enemies and traducers.
Among those who contributed liberally to the support . of the institution in its hours of need were Dr. Alexan- der Guy, who gave in donations some 815,000; Judge Nehemiah Wade, who gave $5,000; Ebenezer Lane, be- sides the land, a large donation in money ; the Rev. W. S. Rogers, S. R. Mollyneaux, Mrs. Judge Hindman, and perhaps others, who gave from $1,000 to $2,500. And it is worthy of record that the Rev. Samuel Hair did effective service in aiding Mr. Rogers to obtain subserip- tions and scholarships. Judge Wade was for a number of years president of the board of directors, of which there were thirty.
When Dr. Scott resigned, in July, 1859, the college was in danger of suspension, if not of direct failure. Students pressed in for instruction and accommodations, and the means were not forthcoming. But it was deler- mined to support the college and look for another presi-
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dent. Under the circumstances the Rev. Robert D. Morris, for some years pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Newtown, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, was in- duced to undertake the task in November following. He had been active in educational work in Ohio, and en- tered upon his duties here with energy and hope. Henceforward the scholarships were honored and the in- stitution went on with apparent prosperity for thirty- three years.
It, however, suspended this Summer. It was impossi- ble for Dr. Morris longer to keep up the strain necessary to keep it going, and it accordingly closed its doors. It is believed, however, it will open in another building, the present edifice and grounds being retained as a sani- tarium. This suspension has been heard of with extreme regret by the friends of the institution.
During its twenty-eight years of life there have been two hundred and seventy graduates, and some two thou- sand students from all parts of the United States, and some from foreign lands. The tone of education has always been high.
The building and grounds of the Oxford Female Col- lege are admirably situated for educational purposes. They have cost about $100,000, and are not surpassed by similar institutions in the West. The main edifice is of brick and stone, cruciformi, three stories above the basement, and built in the best manner. It is one hun- dred and fifty-five feet in front, by one hundred and seventy-one feet and six inches in depth, exclusive of porches. The number of rooms is about one hundred, and they are neatly and uniformly furnished. They will easily accommodate one hundred boarders, together with the family of the president, assistants, and hired help.
In the care and education of the students the presi- dent has been assisted by a large corps of teachers, male and female. The students were governed as if they were at home, to remind them that they were daughters of a common family. The president, teachers, and all, sat at the same table and ate of the same food. Daily work began with the reading of Scripture, singing, and prayer. Frequent lectures were delivered by the president and others on subjects of history, morals, manners, and religion.
The course of study was intended to embrace every thing essential to the proper development of the intel- lectual and moral powers of woman, and to give her the education that she really needs. It was not so much to fill the mind with knowledge as to aid in the formation of those habits of patient thoughit and investigation that in after years will enable them to add to their own store in every or any department that inclination or duty may suggest. The time necessary to complete the course of study after having gained the rudiments in the prepara- tory department was four years.
There were connected with the institution two literary societies-the Calliopeam and Philalethean-with well- i
furnished halls and libraries adapted to their use. Be- sides the libraries in the college, the students had access to the library and the mineral cabinet of the Miami University for reference and consultation. Honors were awarded to members of the senior class for superior scholarship in the regular course, and also for marked success in any of the regular branches.
The faculty at the time of suspension consisted of the Rev. Robert D. Morris, D. D., president; Mrs. Elizabeth Morris, Miss Gertrude E. Wail, Miss Edell Ellis, Miss Phebe Conover, Miss Sallie McKee; Prof. Karl Merz, vocal and instrumental music; Prof. A. Beaugureau, French, drawing and painting. The Rev. H. S. Osborn, LL. D., lectured on chemistry and natural philosophy. The officers of the board are the Rev. W. W. Colmery, D. D., president, Osborn, Ohio; the Rev. L. F. Walker, secretary, College Hill, Ohio; and the Rev. R. D. Mor- ris, D. D., treasurer, Oxford, Ohio. In 1881 there were seventy-five students.
PROF. JOHN W. SCOTT.
The Rev. John W. Scott, D. D., was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1800. His father was a Presbyterian minister, and in addition to the charge of two pioneer Churches of that day and region, conducted a small grammar school for the preparation of boys for entering Washington and Jefferson Colleges, which were at that day in their incipient and infantile stage. With his father Dr. Scott obtained his early classical and preparatory education, commencing when he was nine years of age. After two or three years, when he had advanced a little in Latin, Greek and lower mathe- matics, his father used sometimes to set him to hearing the other classes recite. And when he was still further advanced in scholarship he would sometimes leave him in charge of all the classes for a day or so at a time, when he was called away on his parochial duties. The practice that was thus obtained in the field of education was often of much service iu after life.
At sixteen years of age, after completing his prep- aratory education, to which his father had limited his school, and not wishing to graduate at so carly and inima- ture an age, he began to teach. The first year was in Eastern Ohio, and the last two years in Beaver and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania, the last eighteen months as principal of the Beaver Academy. In the Fall of 1821 he entered Washington College as a junior, and was graduated in September, 1823. His intention was to go into Kentucky and make a little money teaching, but as he was about to leave, the venerable Dr. Wylie, presi dent of the college, came to him and told him that it was bis desire that he should prepare himself for the chair of mathematics and natural sciences, in place of Professor Reed, the incumbent at that time, who was feeble that Mr. Scott was often employed by the board to give him assistance. Professor Reed died in the course
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of the suceceding Winter. Dr. Wylie proposed that Mr. Scott should proceed at onee to Yale, entering as a resi- dent graduate, and prepare himself by taking a course of leetures, more especially in chemistry, under Professor Silliman, who was then at the head of this department in the United States. He accordingly went to Yale, re- ceived the necessary aid, and graduated in 1824, with the degree of A. M .; and in 1826 he returned to Wash- ington and entered upon the duties which had been assigned him in his absence ..
During his stay at Washington he married Miss Mary P. Neal, daughter of John Neal, cashier of the Branch Bank of Philadelphia. These two good people lived happily together until about six months after they had celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, when Mrs. Seott died, March 1, 1876.
Dr. Seott continued in the professorship for four years and a half, and in the Fall of 1828 received a call to a professorship from the Miami University, the same that he was then oceupying in Washington College. He ae- eepted this call, and reached Oxford shortly after the com- mencement of the Winter term of 1828 and 1829. This position Dr. Seott veeupied for seventeen years and a half, till the Spring of 1845. In 1830, two years before, the board had created two new professorships, relieving Dr. Scott of the lower mathematics, and he was also licensed and ordained to the Gospel ministry, afterwards preaching occasionally.
But the institution in the midst of its prosperity and high promise fell upon evil times. A variety of muwor- thy eauses and motives produced agitation and commo- tion, resulting finally in the reconstruction of the faculty, in which Drs. Bishop and Scott were displaced from their former positions. Dr. Bishop was the father of the Mi- ami University ; Dr. Seott was the next in age, and the injustice done to these worthy teachers was very great. Shortly after Professor Bishop was ealled to assist in Cary's Academy, and insisted that Dr. Scott should give him his aid. He also gave his attention to the female college, as already stated in the history of that institution, but in 1850 resigned, beeanse of the pecuniary embar- rassments of that seat of learning.
The year following his resignation he spent partly in travel and resting, and six months of it in supplying the vacant Church of Honesdale, in Northeastern Pennsyl- vania. In 1860 he received a call to the professorship of natural sciences in Hanover College, Indiana, which he accepted and entered upon in the Fall of the same year. He filled this position for eight years, until July, 1868. He then accepted an invitation to Springfield, Illinois, to begin and take the superintendeney of a Pres- byterian academy, which it was proposed by the old Presbytery of Sangamon to found in that city. In two years that project was given up on account of the city establishing and putting in operation a good high school with free tuition. He then returned to Indiana and
Ohio, and for a year or more, till the Spring of 1872, preached to vacant Churches throughout the land.
Now, becoming satisfied that it was time to cease act- ive life, he returned with his wife to Princeton, New Jersey, where he had a widowed daughter, to spend the remainder of his pilgrimage in ease and comfort. But in the Fall of 1874, when on an extended visit in Western Pennsylvania, he happened upon the village of Jefferson, where he found a small Presbyterian Church, unable to support a pastor, and a Baptist college just organized wanting a professor of natural sciences, but unable alone to support one. These two, the college and the Church, joined hands in their common necessity, and Mr. Scott remained with them in their common poverty. He was at this point in October, 1880, having been fifty-two years in the Gospel ministry and fifty-six as a teacher in the various grades of school and higher institutions, and shortly, if spared, will be eighty-three years old.
His wife was buried where she was married. An un- married son, who died in 1877, after twelve years of suf- fering from the results of hardships and exposure in the late war, lies by her side. Here the father and husband hopes to rest until that final awakening when they shall sleep. no more ..
WESTERN FEMALE SEMINARY.
The Western Female Seminary was incorporated in 1853, and opened and dedicated in 1855. It first sug- gested itself to the minds of a few spirits living in Ox- ford, led by the Rev. Mr. Tenney and Mrs. Tenney. The conviction foreed itself upon these people that the Mt. Holyoke system of education should be dupliented in the West. They set to work, and a site of thirty aeres of land was given to the friends of the enterprise by James Fisher, but which is now inereased to sixty- five. Gabriel Tichenor and family, of Walnut Hills, Ohio, gave the first $5,000, followed by others, according to their ability.
Suceess being assured, a board of trustees was ap- pointed in July, 1853, and the building begun. The enterprise was laid before the principal and teachers of the Mt. Holyoke Seminary. They were asked to assist their young Western daughter, and to select the first eorps of teachers from the Holyoke ranks. Miss Heleu Peabody, then of St. Louis, who had been associated with Mary Lyon, first as pupil and then as teacher, was selected as principal, with an efficient corps of teachers. The institution thus begun was dedicated on the 20th of September, 1855. The house was already full of pupils and the outlook most promising.
The seminary continued to prosper until the 14th of Jaunary, 1860, when the building was destroyed by fire. The new building was not dedicated until May 21, 1862. The general assembly of the Presbyterian Church was at that time in session in Cincinnati, and attended the ex- ercises by invitation. "The dedicatory address was dolis -
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ered by the Rev. H. H. Field, of New York. In June, 1861, the seminary came into possession of a permanent fund of $20,000, the income of which was to be applied to the salaries of teachers. This was the bequest of Gabriel Tichenor, of Walnut Hills, who himself died be- fore the original building was completed.
On the 16th of June, 1880, a family reunion was held. There were present on that occasion the Rev. Dr. J. P. E. Kumler, president of the board of trustees, of which his father was one of the first and most faithful members, with his wife; Miss Abbie Golding, of the first corps of teachers; the Rev. J. M. Bishop, and G. Y. Roots, of the original as well as the present board of trustees, with their wives; the venerable Dr. Little, of Madison, Indiana, and Dr. Pratt, of Portsmouth, Ohio, whose familiar faces date back to the second anniversary, now trustees; Messrs. Philip Hinkle and Preserved Smith. These, with other trustees and friends, the teachers, and such pupils and alumna as were to assist in the exercises, occupied seats upon the platform.
"Our young ladies," says the Memorial, " assembled for the first time, on Wednesday, September 19, 1855. We think them a very fine set of girls from all we have yet seen of them. On Thursday at 2 P .. M., the friends and patrons assembled in the seminary hall for the ded- icatory services. The distinguished professor, Milton Sayler, of Cincinnati, made a very interesting address to the teachers and pupils, and Dr. Allen, of Lane Semi- nary, offered the dedicatory prayer. A hymn, composed for the occasion by the Rev. Thomas Spencer, was sung."
"This young hive," as it calls itself, began to operate upon a system which, as yet, the Western people knew nothing about. The domestic department was kept in busy operation during those first days to provide for one hundred and fifty young ladies, who had almost simultaneously arrived, together with many of their parents, some of whom remained a few days, to see the experiment tried. Many of the young men who were at that time attending the Miami University gave the teachers much trouble by frequent visits. One of them called to see not less than six cousins.
The closing exercises of the first year took place in the pleasant grove in the rear of the seminary, on the 17th of July, 1856. The address was delivered by Dr. Samuel Fisher, who chose for his subject " John Calvin and John Wesley." This was the first of many favors received from Dr. Fisher, who was afterward an honored member of the board of trustees.
Nothing of special note occurred in the year 1857. In 1858 the first mention of their missionaries is made -- Mrs. Quick, of Ceylon, who was a member of the school in 1856, and Miss Mary Spooner, now Mrs. Worcester, who found her labors among the Cherokees. In 1859 two more were added to the list of missionaries: Mrs. Woodin, formerly Miss Utley, a teacher, sailed in the Fall for China, and Mrs. Shedd, Jenny Dawes, of the
class of 1858, for Persia. Dr. Perkins, of Persia, visited the seminary the same year, and left behind him many pleasant memories.
The new year of 1860 found the family busily en- gaged in preparing one of the members of the senior elass to sail in February for Persia -- Miss Harriet Newell Crawford. A visitor to Miss Peabody's room would have imagined that she had turned seamstress.
During these early years we find frequent allusions to Christmas gatherings, Thanksgiving festivities, exam- inations and anniversaries. Interesting lectures are also mentioned. Dr. Rea lectured on physiology ; Dr. Thomas Arnold's life was beautifully portrayed by the Rev. Mr. Root; Dr. Mussey, of Cincinnati, lectured on hygiene, and there were also lectures by the Rev. Mr. Rice and the Rev. F. S. MeCabe.
The school year of 1859 and 1860 was brought to a sudden elose by the fire of January 14th. The doors of the Oxford Female College were hospitably opened to re- ceive the homeless family, and, turning away from the burning building, the sorrowful procession made its way thither to seek shelter from the snow and sleet. The ap- pearance of the company was grotesque enough to pro- voke a smile in the midst of sorrow; the motley garb, the ill-matched suits, table covers. and blankets for wraps, stockingless feet and bare heads.
After the fire it was decided to reut the house of James Fisher in the beautiful grounds next to the semi- nary, for the use of the senior class the remainder of the year. The class of 1861 also completed its course in this temporary home. The years 1862 and 1863 passed quietly by, with but little to interrupt the school and family life. The Spring of 1864 was another marked era in the history of the school. Before the Spring va- cation two girls died. Soon after the opening of the Spring term typhus or spotted fever broke out in the school in a malignant form, and within a few days it was necessary to close temporarily.
During these years the civil war was in progress, and the girls were alive to the needs of the land. At the coming together of the students in the Fall of 1865, it was found that the school had been freed of debt. Dur- ing the Summer of 1866 Mrs. Tenney died. She had been a scholar of Mary Lyons, and was, perhaps, the mainspring of the institution at the time of its origin.
On the 29th of February, 1868, a negro robber was shot in the building, after many unsuccessful attempts to capture him previously. The whole pursuit scarcely oceu- pied three minutes, and none but those who took part in the capture knew the cause of the alarm. Some of the girls slept through it all, and heard of it for the first time at the breakfast table in. the morning.
In 1870 and 1871 there were many important changes. Miss Galb, who for eleven years had filled the position of teacher, was compelled to resign on account of i !!- health. During the Fall and Winter the supply of water
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failed and measles made their appearance. On the night of April 6th, 1870, the building was consumed the sec- ond time by fire. It is impossible to put in words the horror of these hours. They must be imagined. The new and present building was dedicated on the day be- fore Thanksgiving, 1871.
In the Spring of 1876 members of the first six classes gathered at the seminary for a reunion in honor of the fiftieth birthday of their principal. Many of the alnm- nie of these years treasure among the most pleasant ree- ollections of their school days the memory of an hour or an evening spent at the house of Mrs. Lewis, or Mr. MeCord, of Oxford.
The Western Female Seminary has given to the world many noble-minded missionaries.
The whole number of students from 1855 to 1880 has been nineteen hundred and forty-eight; number of grad- uates, four hundred and six ; graduates deceased, thirty- seven ; average attendance per year, one hundred and fifty-five; whole number of teachers, eighty-eight; num- ber of teachers who were graduates, thirty-two; deceased, four; number of missionaries, thirty-eight; number of missionaries deceased, two; whole number of trustees, forty-two; trustees deceased, sixteen ; number of pupils, not graduates, from Ohio, six hundred and thirty-two; from Indiana, four hundred and ninety; Illinois, one hundred and fifty. A Memorial Volume, containing a history of the seminary, may be obtained by sending $1 to Miss Mary Milligan, of Oxford, Ohio.
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