History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 71

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Ohio > Summit County > History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 71

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This closes the sketch of Judge Bryan, and but little more can be said of the public schools of Akron. In the foregoing, their history has been traced from a period when they were in a " chaotic state" to their present perfection. We will add but a few names and statistics. The following is from the last report of the Board of Education to the County Auditor :

Balance on hand September 1, 1879. $26,423 32

State tax ... 6,697 50 Irreducible fund. 429 37 Tax for school and schoohouse purposes. 35,953 76

Amount received from sale of bonds. 5,000 00

Fines, licenses, etc. 1,282 50

Total receipts $75,795 45

Whole amount paid teachers in common schools.

.$27,507 50

Paid manager or Superintend- ent,. . 2,000 00

Paid for sites and buildings, . . . 9,641 25

Interest on redeption of bonds. 26,486 67

Paid for fuel and other ex-

penses .. 9,892 39

Total expenditures $75,527 81

Balance on hand September 1, 1880. . $ 267 64

Total value of school property. 105,000 00 Number of teachers employed. .56 Average wages paid teachers per month $49 00 Pupils enrolled :

Primary-males 1,448; females 1,417. 2,865 High-males 61; females 129. 190

Total .3,055

Average daily attendance:

Primary-males 1,154; females 1,121 2,275

High-males 48; female 102 150

Total. 2,425

The following is the roster of teachers* for the present year (1880-81), according to the grade or department in which they are em- ployed : Prof. Samuel Findley, Superintendent of Instruction. High School : Wilbur V. Rood, Principal ; M. J. O. Stone, Assistant ; M. A. Strong, Assistant ; M. E. Stockman, Assistant ; Ira Baird, Assistant. Grammar Schools, Grade A-J. A. Newberry, Principal ; M. M. Parsons, Assistant. Grade A and B-N. J. Malone, Principal ; Lizzie Bowers, Assistant. Grade B-S. A. Hillis, Principal ; Estelle Simmons, Assistant. Grade C-Mary Baird, Principal ; Carrie Allen, Assistant. Grade C and D- Clara Hemmings, Principal ; Carrie McMillan, Assistant. Broadway School : Sarah C. Lake, Principal, and teacher of D Primary ; M. C. Andrews, D Grammar ; Lida M. Dussell, A Primary ; Lillie Rice, B Primary ; Lillian Walt- ers, Band C Primary ; Libbie Fish, C Primary. Crosby School : Ida B. Foote, Principal, and teacher of C and D Grammar ; Rilla Boardman, A Primary ; S. P. Bennett, B and C Primary ; Malana Harris, C and D Primary. Perkins School : S. I. Carothers, Principal, and teacher of D Primary ; Hattie A. Sill, D Grammar ; H. E. Applegate, A Primary ; M. A. Bennett, A and B Primary ; Helen Fisher, B and C Pri- mary ; Mary A. Sill, D Primary. South School : Jennie E. McLain, Principal ; Alice V. Chis- nell, D Primary ; N. E. Brown, C Primary ; Libbie Berg, B Primary ; Carrie Jones, B Pri- mary ; Addie Hamman, A Primary ; Anna Hol- linger, D Grammar ; Mary Cochran, C Gram- mar. Spicer School : M. L. Macready, Prin- cipal, and teacher of C and D Primary ; Fannie Sisler, C Grammar ; Maggie T. Bender, D Gram- mar ; Kate L. Palmer, A Primary ; Julia L. Allyn, A and B Primary ; Nellie L. Wilcox, B Primary ; Lillian A. Randolph, C Primary ; M. Elma Campbell, C and D Primary. Sixth Ward School : Ada M. Kershaw, Principal, and teacher of C and D Grammar ; M. K. Pearce, A and B Primary ; M. E. Miller, B and C Primary ; Eliza Skidmore, D Primary. Bell School : Sa- rah J. Bardsley, C and D Primary. South Hill School: Clara Chisnell, C and D Primary.

* Corrected and revised by Prof. Findley.

JB Jaklin

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Teacher of vocal music (two days each week), N. L. Glover. Teacher of writing and drawing, Mary E. Bradley.

The Board of Education at present (1880-81), comprise the following gentlemen : First Ward, Thomas McEbright, W. B. Raymond ; Second Ward, S. M. Burnham, W. C. Jacobs ; Third Ward, A. M. Armstrong, Lewis Miller ; Fourth Ward, E. W. Wiese, N. N. Leohner ; Fifth Ward, F. L. Bishop, F. L. Danforth ; Sixth Ward, J. A. Baldwin, H. J. Griffin, with Thomas McEbright, President of the Board ; E. W. Wiese, Secretary, and W. B. Raymond, Treasurer. The term of service of the present board will expire in April, 1881, but not in time for any changes that may occur to be corrected for this work.

Buchtel College now claims our attention. The following excellent sketch was written by Rev. Orello Cone, D. D., President of the insti- tution, at our special request, and is given in full. President Cone notices the founding of the college, and traces its history down to the present time. His sketch is as follows :

The founding and establishment of Buchtel College, in the city of Akron is due to a move- ment which originated with the Universalist Church of the State of Ohio. In the year 1867, the Ohio State Convention of Universalists, composed of the clergy of the State, and repre- sentatives from all its parishes, heard a report from its Committee on Education in favor of establishing a Seminary for the education of the young of both sexes. At the next annual session of the convention, in June, 1868, a plan for the establishment of an academy was pre- sented by Rev. Andrew Willson, and unani- mously adopted. This plan was not, however, carried out, and, in 1869, the convention recon- sidered its former resolution, and authorized the Board of Trustees and Committee on Edu- cation to take the necessary steps for the estab- lishment of a college. The Board of the Con- vention then consisted of Rev. J. S. Cantwell, Rev. Andrew Willson, Rev. H. L. Canfield, Rev. J. W. Henley and O. F. Haymaker, Esq .; and the Committee on Education of Rev. E. L. Rexford, Rev. M. Crosley and Rev. B. F. Eaton.

In view of the near approach of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Universalist Church of the United States, it was desired to make the new college the centennial offering of Ohio. Accordingly, at a joint meeting of the above-mentioned board and committee,

held in November, 1869, Rev. H. F. Miller, of Indiana, was invited to become their Financial Secretary, to supervise and direct the raising of the money necessary for buildings and endow- ment. Mr. Miller accepted the invitation, and entered upon the duties of his office in Janu- ary, 1870.

Petitions from several places praying for the location of the college were received and con- sidered by the board, and finally at a joint meeting held in Columbus, February 16, 1870, the location was fixed in Akron on the condition that the citizens of Summit County legally se- cure $60,000 to the State Convention of Uni- versalists. In pursuance of this offer, a prompt and vigorous effort was made at Akron to secure the location of the college in that city. John R. Buchtel led off with a subscription of $25,000 for the endowment fund and $6,000 for the building. He was followed by others so that on the 31st of May, 1870, the Financial Secretary was able to report to the Board of Trustees and Committee on Education that the $60,000 necessary to secure the location of the college at Akron had been subscribed. This body then in a joint meeting on the above- mentioned day, passed a resolution locating the college which was then called the " Uni- versalist Centenary School of Ohio," in the city of Akron, and named as " corporators " to act in conjunction with itself, Rev. H. F. Miller, Rev. Willard Spaulding, Rev. George Messen- ger, Henry Blondy, Esq., and the following resident freeholders of Summit County : John R. Buchtel, Hon. N. D. Tibbals, E. P. Green, Esq., Col. George T. Perkins, James A. Lantz and George Steese, Esq.

The steps prescribed by the laws of the State of Ohio for the organization of the corporation were then taken, and articles of association were drawn up and adopted. The association which took the name of " Buchtel College " and organized "for the establishment and mainte- nance of a college of learning for both sexes, to be under the control of the Ohio State Con- vention of Universalists," was composed of John R. Buchtel, Rev. J. S. Cantwell, George T. Perkins, Henry Blondy, Rev. George Mes- senger, Rev. B. F. Eaton, N. D. Tibbals, Rev. J. W. Henley, E. P. Green, O. F. Haymaker, Rev. Willard Spaulding, James A. Lantz and George Steese. It was made the duty of these to clect a Board of eighteen Trustees, five of whom

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should always be resident freeholders of Sum- mit County, and who should be the directors of the college with power to make all necessary by-laws, erect suitable buildings, etc. It was provided that after the first election of Trustees by the corporators, the Ohio State Convention of Universalists should at each annual session nominate at least fifteen persons whom they may think to be suitable for the office of Trust- ees, and that the acting Trustees should from the persons so nominated make all elections and fill all vacancies.

The first board elected was composed as fol- lows : For three years, John R. Buchtel, Presi- dent, H. Blondy, Philip Wieland, J. D. Auger, E. P. Green, George T. Perkins ; for two years, Rev. H. L. Canfield, Rev. E. L. Rexford, Gen. James Pierce, J. F. Seiberling, Rev. J S. Cant- well, Hon. N. D. Tibbals ; for one year, O. F. Haymaker, S. M. Burnham, Secretary ; J. R. Cochrane, Charles Foster, Rev. George Messen- ger, Avery Spicer. George W. Crouse, not a member of the board, was appointed Treasurer.

As early as the next meeting of the board, December 28, 1870, it was voted that the Finan- cial Secretary be authorized to make contracts for perpetual scholarships at $1,000, and a com- mittee was appointed to prescribe a form of contract for such scholarships. It was not, however, until November 19, 1872, that the report of this committee was made to the board, when the form of contract presented was adopted. According to this form, the donor agrees to pay at his decease the sum of $1,000 to found and secure for himself and heirs a perpetual scholarship in Buchtel College, and agrees to pay interest annually on this sum, at a rate per cent to be agreed upon when the con- tract is signed. This rate of interest has gen- erally been fixed at 6 per cent. The privileges of these scholarships were limited, by action of the board, to the regular courses in the college and preparatory department, and may be used to defray the expenses of "tnition and room rent as defined by the catalogues," but do not "include any extras therein specified."

On the 28th of December, 1870, plans for the college building were submitted to the board by the architect, Thomas W. Lilloway, of Boston, and a building committee of seven was appointed to proceed with the construction of the edifice according to the plan adopted. The building was located on an eminence overlook-

ing the city of Akron, and said to be one of the highest points of land in the State. On the 4th of July, 1871, the corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies, and an address was delivered by Horace Greeley, on "Human conceptions of God as they effect the moral education of the race." The address was a masterly advocacy and defense of Theism in opposition to the spirit and tendency of an atheistic materialism. At no time, probably, within the next half-century, will the following vigorous words of this great and good man be inappropriate in the contest between these con- flicting and apparently irreconcilable forces of modern thought :

" There are those who talk sonorously, stri- dently of law-of the law of development or progress-as though they had found in a word a key which unlocks all the mysteries of creation. But I am not silenced by a word; I demand its meaning, and then seek to determine how far that meaning bridges the gulf which the word was invoked to overleap. To my appre- hension law is the dictate of an intelligent will, or it is nothing. That it should please the Author of all these things to make each ma- terial body to attract every other in a ratio pro- portioned to their relative weight, and with an intensity corresponding to their distance from each other, I readily comprehend ; that such at- traction should inhere in and be inseparable from matter as an unprompted impulse, an in- evitable property, I cannot conceive. To my apprehension gravitation, magnetic attraction, electricity, etc., are properties of matter which in themselves afford proofs of creative purpose -- of Omnipotent design. In short, whatever demonstrates the presence of law in nature at- tests the being and power of God."

It can hardly be out of place in the history of the foundation of a college, to quote Mr. Greeley's estimate of the function of this class of public institutions :

"This, then, I apprehend, is the proper work of the college : To appreciate and measure, and undistrustfully accept and commend, the gigantic strides which physical science is mak- ing in our day, yet be not swept away by them ; to lend an attentive and unprejudiced ear to the bold speculations of our Darwins and Hux- leys, wherein they seem almost to lay a confi- dent finger on the very heart of the great mys- tery of life, without fear that they will ever

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evict God from His universe, or restrict Him to some obscure corner thereof; to welcome all that is true and beneficent in the impetuous currents of modern thought, but not to exag- gerate their breadth and depth, nor accept their direction as authoritative and final ; to proffer a genial and gracious hospitality to whatever is nobly new, yet hold fast, and from time to time assert, the grand old truths which are grounded in the nature of man and his relations to the universe, in the firm assurance that no discov- eries in science, no advances in human knowl- edge, can ever invalidate or ever belittle the Golden Rule, and no conclusions of philosophy ever equal in importance that simple affirmation of the untaught Judean peasant, who long ago perceived and proclaimed that GOD IS LOVE."

Rev. T. B. Thayer, D. D., of Boston, Mass., having declined a call to the presidency of the college, a call was extended to the Rev. S. H. McCallister, of New Hampshire, in March, 1872, which was accepted. The building was rapidly pushed to completion, and was ready for occupancy in the fall of 1872. On the 22d of September of this year, President McCallis- ter was inaugurated, the college having been opened for the reception of students a few days before. The Faculty was constituted as follows : Rev. S. H. McCallister. A. M., Pres- ident, and Professor of Mental and Moral Phi- losophy ; N. White, A. M., Professor of An- cient Languages ; S. F. Peckham, A. M., Profes- sor of Natural Science ; Carl F. Colbe, A. M., Professor of Modern Languages ; Miss H. F. Spaulding, L. A., Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature ; Alfred Welsh. A. B., Pro- fessor of Mathematics ; H. D. Persons, Profes- sor in Normal Department ; Gustavus Sigel. Professor of Music ; Miss Hattie L. Lowdon, Teacher in English.

The number of students registering the first year for the classical course was only seven, of whom six were classified as freshmen and one as junior. These entered for the regular col- lege course of four years. For the short course of two years, called the philosophical course, thirty-nine registered. The academical or pre- paratory department, numbered 171, making a total of 217, of whom 119 were gentlemen, and 98 ladies. This was the greatest number in attendance at one time during the year.

The large number of ladies in attendance is worthy of notice, as showing the confidence of

the public at this time in co-education. Co- education was, indeed, no longer a novelty in the West, the experiment having been pretty thoroughly tested in Oberlin, Delaware, Anti- och College and other institutions. It is proper to add that the experience of Buchtel College up to this time (1881), has tended to confirm its officers in the opinion that the founders of the institution acted wisely in opening its doors on equal terms to both sexes.

At the opening of the college but two courses were established-a classical course of four years with three years of work in the prepara- tory department. and a philosophical course of two years with preparatory work of three years. The classical course corresponded with that usually pursued in colleges in the United States. and has continued substantially the same to the present time (1881), except that in 1879 it was considerably strengthened in the department of mathematics, so that it is now equal to that of the best colleges in the country.

The philosophical course of two years, with three years of preparatory study was extended to three years in 1874, with two years of pre- paratory work, and was called the Philosophical and Engineering Course. In 1876, the name was again changed to that of Philosophical Course, when it was extended to four years, with two years of study in the preparatory department. Besides the regular English studies usually pursued in college, it contained the modern languages, and the usnal course in natural science, and was especially strong in mathematics. In 1878, this course was discon- tinued, and, in 1879, it was restored as a four years college course, with three years of pre- paratory study, and Latin was substituted in place of the higher scientific and mathematical studies which it had formerly contained. As such it remains to this time (1881), containing the modern languages (two years of German and one year of French), the usual English studies, a thorough course in the natural sciences and mathematics, and most of the Latin of the classical course.

In 1874. a scientific course of three years. with two years of preparatory work, was established, containing, in addition to the usual English, scientific and mathematical studies, all the Latin of the classical course. In 1876, this was made a four years' course, with two years of preparatory work. In 1877, the

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Latin work was reduced to Cæsar, Cicero and one session of Virgil. In 1879, it was changed into a scientific course in the stricter sense of the term by excluding Latin, with the excep- tion of one year's work in this language in the preparatory school, in which form it remains to the present time (1881). It has now four years of college and three of preparatory work, and is especially in English and mathematics, including studies in engineering.

It belongs to the history of the college to mention a course established for ladies in 1877 under the name of the Ladies' Literary Course. This was a course of four years, and the prepa- ration required was the ordinary discipline in the common English branches. In 1878, it was made a three years' course, with two years of preparatory discipline, and, in 1879, it was discontinued.

It will be seen that the college courses, as now constituted, embrace (1) the ordinary clas- sical course ; (2) a philosophical course, from which Greek is excluded, but which contains most of the Latin of the classical course, En- glish studies, German and French, a thorough discipline in the natural sciences and the mathe- matics usually taught in colleges ; (3) a scien- tific course, which is without Latin or Greek, but contains French and German and natural science, and is especially strong in mathematics (including studies in engineering) and in En- glish.

The college has been generally fortunate in its Faculty. The changes have been few, and some who began their work with the opening of the college are still members of its Faculty. It has had three Presidents :

1. Rev. Sullivan H. McCallister, D. D., as- sumed the office at the opening of the college September 11, 1872. He was ordained to the Universalist ministry in 1854 ; had filled several important pastorates, and been for some years wrincipal of Westbrook Seminary, located at Pevens Plains, near Portland, Me. He won Stany friends during his administration, which mas distinguished by a singular disinterested- ness, consecration and devotion to his duties. Dr. McCallister offered his resignation at the close of the college year, June, 1877. It was not, however, accepted until June, 1878, at the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees. He has resumed pastoral work, and is at present settled in Bellows Falls, Vt.

2. Everett L. Rexford, D. D. He graduated in 1865, at the Theological School of St. Law- rence University, Canton, N. Y., and settled as Pastor over the First Universalist Parish in Cincinnati, Ohio. Thence he moved to Co- lumbus, accepting a call to the church in that city. The New Universalist Parish in San Francisco, recognizing his distinguished abil- ity as a pulpit orator, soon after secured his services as Pastor, from which field of labor he removed in 1878 to Akron, and assumed the Presidency of the college, and the pastorate of the Universalist Parish in the city. After two years of service in this double capacity, he re- signed, and accepted a call to the pastorate of the New Universalist Parish, in Detroit, Mich., where his abilities as a preacher have won a striking success.

3. Rev. Orello Cone, A. M., D. D. He en- tered the Universalist ministry from a profes- sorship in St. Paul's College, Palmyra, Mo., in 1862, and was ordained in 1864, as Pastor of a church in Little Falls, N. Y. He was called to the Chair of Biblical Languages and Literature in the Theological School of St. Lawrence Uni- versity, Canton, N. Y., in 1865, and held this position for fifteen years, when, in 1880, he ac- cepted a call to the Presidency of the college.

The professors and instructors who have served in the college are as follows :

1. Rev. Nehemiah White, A. M., Ph. D. He was a graduate of Middlebury College, Ver- mont, and was Professor of Mathematics in St. Lawrence University, Canton, N. Y., from 1865 to 1869. He assumed the Chair of Ancient Languages in Buchtel College, on the opening of the institution, and served until the elose of the fall session, in 1875, when he accepted a call to the Pesidency of Lombard University, Galesburg, Ill., which position he now holds.

2. S. F. Peckham, A. M. He was Professor of Natural Science from the opening of the college for one year, when he accepted a call to the Chair of Chemistry, in the University of Minnesota, where he remained until 1880.

3. Miss Helen F. Spaulding, L. A. She was Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature for one year from the opening of the college.

4. Karl F. Kolbe, A. M. Prof. Kolbe is a graduate of the University of Gottingen, and had already had considerable experience as a teacher of modern languages before he took this chair in Buchtel as a member of its first

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Faculty in 1872. He held this position until the close of the college year in 1877, when he assumed charge, for one year, of an academy in Pennsylvania, after which he returned to the Chair of Modern Languages, which he had left, where he has since remained.

5. Alfred Welsh, A. M. He was educated in Baldwin University and was the first pro- fessor of mathematics. He held this position for two years and was then made Professor of Natural Sciences, and served in this capacity for one year to the end of the college year in 1875, when he accepted a position as teacher in the Columbus High School, where he still is.

6. Elias Fraunfelter, A. M., Ph. D. He was educated at Vermillion Institute, at Hayesville, Ohio, and was for a number of years instructor in Mathematics and English in that school. In 1866, he was made co-Principal of Savannah Academy, and Instructor in Mathematics, Nat- ural Science and Modern Languages. lle was called to the collage as Professor of Civil En- gineering at the opening of the second year in 1874. The next year he was made Professor of Mathematics (his chair being made to include the instruction in Engineering) in which posi- tion he still remains completing this year (1881) his twenty-first year of service as an in- structor.

7. Sarah M. Glazier, A. M. She graduated from Vassar College, and immediately accepted a call to the Chair of Natural Science in 1874. After serving in this capacity for one year, she accepted a call to a chair in Wellesley College.

8. Charles M. Knight, A. M. After grad- uating from Tuft's College he took the Chair of Natural Science in 1876, which he still holds.

9. I. B. Chote, A. M. He was called to the Chair of Ancient Languages in 1876, which he occupied until the close of the college year in 1878. He is at present studying in Harvard.

10. G. H. G. McGrew. He graduated from Harvard and occupied the Chair of Modern Lan- guages during the absence of Prof. Kolbe in 1878.

11. Rev. George A. Peckham, A. M. He graduated from the college in the class of 1875, and was made a Tutor in Ancient Languages and Mathematics in 1876, which position he held for two years. After an absence of one year, as Pastor of a Disciples' Church, he was called to the Chair of Ancient Languages, which position he filled until 1880, when he ac-

cepted a call to the Chair of Mathematics in Hiram College.

12. Benjamin T. Jones, A. M. He was ed- ucated at Bethany College, where he was after- ward for some years instructor in Ancient Languages. He was for a number of years Superintendent of Public Schools in Millers- burg and Ashland. In 1880, he accepted a call to the Chair of Rhetoric and English Litera- ture, and was the next year transferred to that of Ancient Languages, of which he is still the incumbent.

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 71

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104