History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 83

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 83

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secure the requisite control, that the debt was reduced only $7,500, while the available assets had shrunk $16,000, resigned. Their duties re- turned to the hands of the prudential com- mittee.

This brought on a crisis in the affairs of the college. This finance committee had been di- vided in opinion-on the one side, President Pierce, the Chairman, on the ground, with the actual control in his hands, and dreading in any degree to impair the number or efficiency of the Faculty, which had brought the institu- tion up to his ideal in that respect-on the other side the other members who saw clearly and felt deeply the financial necessities of the case. The disagreement which brought about the resignation of this committee now entered into the board and divided it so that the cast- ing vote was always in the hands of the Presi- dent, and he always cast it with the same side. The division touched every question of policy and of popular action. The Faculty, feeling most deeply everything which threatened the honor, stability and efficiency of the college for which they had so devotedly labored and sacrificed, and, though not doubting the integrity and good will, yet doubting the ability of President Pierce and the pruden- tial committee to successfully cope with the financial problem, insisted that the finance committee should be continued, and should have complete control of the funds according to its original plan. Disheartened and foresee- ing evil from the resignation of that committee, Profs. Barrow, St. John and Bartlett resigned, Prof. Long having also resigned a few days be- fore the committee. This was almost a break- ing-up of the college, since there only remained besides the President, Prof. Day in the Theologi- cal Department, Prof. Seymour in the Academic, and Prof. Frost Shepherd, who never received a salary, was never responsible for any fixed duty, and who was here but a small part of the time. After much agitation and negotiation with meetings of the Alumni and of students to consider the subject, and express their opin- ions and wishes at commencement in July. 1852, Prof. Lord withdrew his resignation, and the other Professors were re-appointed, with the expectation that they would continue their labors, and the college would still live and flourish as of old. But these hopes were blighted. Personal disagreements had grown

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up out of questions arising in the Faculty, as well as deep differences of opinion growing out of the financial and other questions arising in the Board of Trustees, and concerning general policy. The strong feelings excited could not be easily calmed. The Professors, being widely distinguished in their departments, had tempt- ing offers of important positions elsewhere, where their fields would be larger and their salaries sure. The attempt to restore the old order of things failed. The Professors left, the students mostly left, and the labor and pa- tience of many good men for many years, seemed to have failed of the promise.

Aside from the debt and the general fund available for its payment, the college had also a permanent fund, amounting nominally to $85,000 ; but $54,000 of this was in the form of subscription notes, for the most part on in- terest, and payable between the years 1850 and 1855 ; $10,600 was in stocks and bonds ; the remainder chiefly in real estate, bills receivable and the like, with $3,000 in cash. The discords and contentions in the college interfered with the collection of the principal and interest of this fund as it became due, thus greatly re- ducing the expected income and increasing the embarrassment. They alienated many of the donors, also, as might have been expected. and undoubtedly had an injurious influence upon other young colleges in the West which were seeking to raise their first endowments. Men who had means to give to them had their fears excited that their donations might be lost through the discords, if not the mismanage- ment of boards of trust. In this view, the " Society for the Promotion of Collegiate and Theological Education at the West," which had between the years 1845 and 1848 given the college about $13,000, and recommended it to the favor of the churches and Christian people at the East, took a deep interest in all these transactions here, and urged the speedy settle- ment of the difficulties. In Febuary. 1855, this society even sent a committee of distin- guished men, which met the Board of Trustees in their semi-annual meeting at Cleveland, and urged them to refer all their differences to arbi- tration. This friendly counsel was rejected by a majority of the board. They seemed to feel themselves bound to work the matter through without outside aid or advice.

At the beginning of the academic year

1852-53, the Faculty consisted of President Pierce, Prof. Seymour and Tutor Gates. Prof. Day still retained his office, but as the Theo- logical Department had no students, he ren- dered no service. There were only two classes -the sophomore and freshman-with twenty- three members. In March. 1853. Rev. Alfred Emerson, a graduate of Yale College, was elected Professor of Mathematics and Physics. and entered on his duties at the beginning of the year 1853-54. In November, 1853, Rev. Henry B. Hosford, a graduate of Williams College, was elected Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy and Rhetoric, and entered on his duties in January, 1854. Both these elections were opposed and strongly protested against by a portion of the board, not out of objection to the men, well qualified pledges, but because in their view it was necessary to the prosperity of the institution that President Pierce should retire from office, and that there should be an entire reconstruction.

At commencement in 1853 there were no graduates, and the commencement exercises consisted of the oration before the Alumni. by Mr. Hoadley, of the Class of 1844. the inaugu- ral address by Prof. Emerson, two orations by representatives of the societies, and three mas- ters' orations. In the next year, beside the President, there were three Professors, a Tutor and twenty-five students, all the classes being represented. The work of the college went on after the old fashion, according to the old standard, though the continued agitation in the newspapers and in private, must have made all parties extremely uncomfortable. Even through another year did this weary time of conflict extend.

On the 31st of May, 1855, President Pierce, having arrived at the age which he had long before set as the proper time for him to retire, resigned his office, and Rev. Henry S. Hitch- cock. of Columbus, a graduate of Yale College and a distinguished minister, was elected his successor. All parties seem to have become weary of the conflict, as well they might. Mr. Hitchcock was inaugurated at commencement, on the 12th of July. Several members of the Board of Trustees resigned ; there places were filled by men having the confidence of both parties, and the college entered upon its new era.

President Pierce lived sixteen years after his

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retirement by the side of the college, rejoicing in its revived prosperity, its larger endowment, and in its faithfulness to the standard and the traditions which he had established. During these later years his health allowed him to do but little labor, but he had a keen interest in all public affairs and was full of sociality and good humor. Death came suddenly upon him at last without warning, and he was mercifully saved from a painful sickness, which he had always greatly feared. He died on Sunday morning, May 28, 1871, in the seventy-seventh year of his age.

The task which President Hitchcock under- took was one of great difficulty on account of the labor involved, and of great delicacy in con- sequence of the excited state of feeling concern- ing the college in the community and among the graduates. Every step he took was sure to be criticised ; all his acts and every aspect of the college under him were sure to be compared with the great days of old when achievements as well as hopes were high and skies were clear. He came to the college in the prime of his life, at forty-two years of age, with his powers well- disciplined by seventeen years of ministerial labors, in which he had learned to manage diffi- cult financial affairs as well as preach the Word. Singularly enough, he was a native of Burton, a pupil, and subsequently a teacher in the Academy of the Erie Literary Society, his father being a Trustee and all his family and friends stout defendants of that institution, when the attempt was made to remove it to Hudson. The sequel will show what a grand revenge Burton and that society had on Hud- son and the Western Reserve College. He bore one of the most honored names in the his- tory of the State of Ohio, and by his wisdom, prudence and earnest Christian labors had proved himself worthy of it. He was not only made President, which brought upon him the financial responsibility, but he was also made Professor of Christian Theology and Pastor of the College Church. The professorship of the- ology required that he should teach natural theology and evidences of Christianity as they are usually taught in colleges. As Pas- tor of the church he was expected to preach twice on Sunday in the chapel during term time, and to do whatever other pastoral labor he should find desirable. His preparation for this last office was abundant ; for in all his min-

istry he had written faithfully and had acquired the habit of extempore speaking. The teach- ing which he did gave him one recitation or lecture a day for half the year. For this he always studied diligently and he had an admir- able grasp of the subjects of his department.

The teaching and the preaching would certain- ly be considered a sufficient burden for one man to bear in ordinary circumstances; but Presi- dent Hitchcock had other burdens greater than these. He had the financial burden of paying the debt and collecting the subscriptions from subscribers, many of them reluctant or hostile by the transactions which had occurred since they made their pledges ; and the task of doing away with the prejudice in the community, en- gendered by the quarrels of the last five years, of winning back alienated friends and divided Alumni.

Few men could have been found willing to undertake such a work. It required a man who was ready to face long and incessant labor, will- ing to subject himself to ungrateful criticism, to encounter rebuffs, and to wait long for recog- nition and obvious success. President Hitch- cock had all these qualities. When he had made up his mind that duty called him to the work, his whole soul was devoted to it, so that no obstacles daunted him, and nothing that he possessed was kept back. He had all the en- ergy, devotion and spirit of self-sacrifice, which characterized President Pierce, but he was especially fitted for his difficult office because he was yielding and conciliatory in his temper, never asserting himself, but always putting for- ward his cause, and, while firmly adhering to principle, and always insisting on what was just and right, he was cautious not to offend. He was kindly, charitable toward all men, friendly with everybody, considerate of everybody. He was such a thorough Christian man that none who knew him could fail to see that he was not serving himself but God. His modest, unassuming Christian character impressed it- self upon the students, and made it easy for him to govern and to lead them in right ways.

Another thing which fitted President Hitch- cock for his general work outside the college, was his ability as a preacher and his tact and experience in revivals of religion. This made him a valuable man to the religions interests of this part of the State, in a way which every- body could see and appreciate. His value as a

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man won friends to his cause. Indeed, we may almost say that Dr. Hitchcock had no quality, intellectual, moral or personal, and there was no event in his previous history which did not directly fit him for the laborious and delicate task which he now undertook.

The most pressing demand which President Hitchcock met when he entered upon his work was the payment of the debt. This debt he found, at the beginning of his term of office, about $22,000. It had not been reduced at all since October, 1851. On the withdrawal of President Pierce it was increased to $25,000 by the vote of the board to pay him $3,000, rather as some small recognition of his past services than as a compensation for them. The general fund applicable to the payment of this debt had mostly disappeared. As no part of the permanent fund could be used for this purpose, it was necessary to raise the means by a special subscription. This was a hard thing to do, but one which absolutely must be done if the college was to survive. To this, therefore, the President applied himself. It was necessary that he should go about it by personal solicita- tion. The work went on slowly but steadily, as he could gain time from his other duties. It was no slight labor, meanwhile, to manage the obligations and to meet the interest. It was only after nine years, in 1864, that the last of the debt was paid. It had begun to accumu- late as early as 1836, and thus, after twenty- eight years, having caused unspeakable vexa- tion and having nearly swamped the college in the meantime, it was removed. The lesson was one which this college will not soon forget. The good friends who helped to lift that load de- serve to be held in special gratitude.

But this was not the only financial work of the President during this period. The out- standing pledges to the permanent fund. which amounted, in 1855, to about $43,000, were now all fully due, and needed to be immediately collected, principal and interest, and invested. This was essential in order to provide for the running expenses. But such was the state of feeling among many of the subscribers, grow- ing out of the discords in the college, which had become so notorious, that we cannot won- der that they were very reluctant to meet their pledges. The financial crisis of 1858 brought a new difficulty in the case of many who had not yet paid. But the work was carried stead-

ily forward by this quiet, kindly, persistent man, until nearly the whole sum was paid or compromised. In connection with these labors, the President began, as early as April, 1856, to solicit new subscriptions to the permanent fund. This was necessary if the college was to main- tain its old standard of scholarship and in- struction ; for the Faculty must be enlarged, and salaries must be raised in order to get and retain suitable Professors. The means for sup- porting instruction must not only be more am- ple, but must not be contingent, as in the olden times, nor would it do again to pay Professors with orders nor with store pay. In 1859, he began to secure donations to the general fund. These various labors he carried forward simul- taneously, with such respites as the state of the country required, until the time of his death in 1873, when, it is found, that he added $67,000 to the permanent fund and $99,000 to the gen- eral fund, besides paying the debt and collect- ing all that was collectable of the money due on the pledges made between 1848 and 1850. A considerable portion of this general fund was afterward transferred to the permanent fund. And this work he did himself, not by agents. except in the matter of about $6,000. Besides this, with the aid of the prudential committee, of course, he had the care of the funds, and of their safe investment-a duty of no small im- portance-which he performed with great wis- dom and prudence.

Of the Faculty of the old palmy days, only Prof. Seymour remained under the new regime, Prof. Day retaining a mere nominal connection with the college until 1859. Prof. Emerson, who had come into the Chair of Mathematics and Physics during the interim, retired in April, 1856, and was succeeded in January following by Mr. Charles A. Young, a graduate of Dart- mouth, who served the college with great suc- cess until February, 1866, when he resigned to accept the Chair of Physics and Astronomy at Dartmouth College-a chair which had been filled by his father and grandfather before him. In April of that year, Mr. Young was succeeded by Mr. Allen C. Barrows, of the Class of 1861. who served until the close of the year 1869-70, when Mr. Charles J. Smith, of the Class of 1870, the present incumbent, entered upon that office. Prof. Hosford came in, also, in what we may call the interim, to the Chair of Intel- lectual Philosophy and Rhetoric, which he

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filled until December, 1859. He was succeeded by the present incumbent in April, 1860. Prof. Seymour retained the Chair of the Greek and Latin Languages until 1870, having en- tered upon this professorship in September, 1840. He thus served the college with distine- tion from the days of its greatest prosperity under President Pierce, through the period of conflict and darkness, until the time of its greatest prosperity in the new era. On his resignation, he was made Emeritus Professor. He has since given instruction on two occa- sions, when his services were needed. Mr. Edwin S. Gregory, a graduate of Harvard Col- lege, held the position of Adjunct Professor of Latin, and gave instruction in the college from 1861 to 1866, while he was Principal of the preparatory school.

On the retirement of Prof. Seymour, the pro- fessorship was divided. Mr. Thomas D. Sey- mour, his son, of the Class of 1870, being ap- pointed to the Chair of Greek and Modern Languages, with leave of absence for two years, that he might study and travel in Europe. The work of the Greek Department was performed meantime by William R. Perkins, of the Class of 1868. The Chair of Latin and English Lit- erature was taken by Prof. Allen C. Barrows, who filled it but one year. when he resigned to become Pastor of the church at Kent. He was succeeded immediately by Rev. Lemuel S. Pot- win, a graduate of Yale, the present incumbent. In 1868. Mr. Edward W. Morley, a graduate of Williams College, was appointed Professor of Chemistry and Natural History, a chair which had been vacant since Prof. St. John resigned in 1852. The instruction in this department had been given, meantime, by lecturers-two years, 1855 and 1856, by Prof. Chadbourne, now President of Williams College, and from 1857 to 1868 inclusive by Prof. Cassell, of the Medical Department. Mr. Morley began his services as Professor in January, 1869. In 1860, Prof. Long returned to the college as lecturer for one term in the Department of Moral Philosophy. From 1869 to 1872, Hon. Thomas Hastings, of Cleveland, gave a course of lect- ures each year on Municipal Law. Since 1869, Mr. M. C. Read, of the Class of 1848, has given a course of lectures each year on Practical Ge- ology and Zoslogy. Such were the changes in the Faculty during President Hitchcock's ad- ministration.

The prosperity of the college, which was ob- vionsly returning in all respects, received a se- vere check at the breaking-out of the war in 1861. It was then the first thought of every one that all else must be sacrificed if need be, for the salvation of the country. Young men in college were among the first to feel the pat- riotie impulse. Several students entered the army at the first call for volunteers. During the summer term in 1861, all the students en- tered heartily into military drill under the in- At struction of Col. Hayward, of Cleveland. the beginning of the next term, the classes were very much diminished, a considerable number entering the service for the war. The grammar school also furnished a large quota of soldiers. It is much to be regretted that no record was kept of the undergraduates who en- tered the army. The catalogue of 1862-63, at the end of the summary, adds the remark : " In addition to those named and enumerated above, there are in the army sixteen members of col- lege classes, and twenty-seven members of the preparatory school." Of course there were many others before and after that year who left to serve the country. In May, 1862, after the de- feat of Banks in the Shenandoah Valley, Presi- dent Lincoln issued a new call for volunteers to serve three months. The students had a well- drilled military company and immediately of- fered their services to Gov. Tod. They were accepted and repaired to Columbus, where they remained in charge of the military prison for three months, after which they were sent to Vicksburg in charge of a large body of prison- ers for exchange. They were mustered out September 29. Commencement was held that year on the 15th day of October, and the first term of the new academic year began on the following day. This was the only interruption of the regular work of the college during the war, but of course the numbers were kept down and the financial progress was doubtless much retarded. Of those undergraduates who en- tered the army, quite a number lost their lives, and those who returned found themselves either past the college age, or from other causes un- able to complete their studies. The war record of the college must be considered good, since somewhat more than 100 out of 402 of the ac- ademie alumni served in the army, to say nothing of the theological and medical gradu- ates. They were found in all ranks from pri-

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vate and hospital steward up to Major Gen- eral.

It might well be supposed that no man could bear always such a burden of care and labor as that which President Hitchcock took upon his shoulders. He maintained great vigor and elasticity of health and constitution for several years ; but, in 1867, his health seemed to be giving way, and it was obvious that he must rest or break down. He desired to be released from his connection with the college, but neither the Faculty nor the Trustees would con- sent to his resignation. The physicians ad- vised at least six months of rest. At a meeting of the prudential committee in September, leave of absence was given him for cight months, the Faculty undertaking to do his teaching and to supply the pulpit during his absence. Leaving home on the 8th of October, he went to the southern part of France, where he spent the winter. After some travel he returned home in season for commencement the following June, very much recruited in health. But the old energy and power to work never fully returned. He went on, however, as before, with some assistance in the pulpit, still improv- ing the financial condition of the institution, and discharging his ordinary public duties. But, in February, 1870, feeling too much the pressure of care, he tendered his resignation ; but, at the earnest solicitation of the Trustees, withdrew it. Again, in June, 1871, he renewed his resignation, which was now accepted. He remained, however, in his professorship as Pas- tor of the church and in care of the financial affairs. He was really relieved only from the government of the college and from responsi- bility for home affairs. After the great im- provement in the financial condition, it was the responsibility for the government which had especially worn upon him. Dr. Hitchcock con- tinued in the discharge of his duties until the summer of 1873, when a few days before com- mencement he was taken sick and died on the 6th of July in the sixtieth year of his age.

On the resignation of President Hitchcock, at commencement, in 1871, Prof. Carroll Cutler was elected to fill the vacaney. He entered on the duties of the office immediately, but was not inaugurated until commencement in 1872. The presence of Dr. Hitchcock and the respon- sible position which he still filled caused the affairs of the college to go on as before, and

there was nothing to indicate to any one that any change had occurred. Before 1872, the question so much discussed in some other col- leges of the same type with this, in regard to the admission of women to equal privileges of study and instruction, had been often privately considered by the Faculty. Especially when some women asked to be admitted to Wabash College and were refused, the question was sprung, "What course should we take in like circumstances ?" It was unanimously agreed that if any woman thirsting for knowledge should seek it at their fountain she should not be refused merely because she was a woman. Neither the charter nor the laws of the college presented any obstacles to the admission of women, and, on inquiry, it was thought there would be no objection on the part of the Trustees. In his inaugural address, therefore, Mr. Cutler announced the fact that women would be admitted to all the privileges of the college on the same conditions with men. In the autumn of 1872, several young ladies entered the preparatory school ; in 1874, one entered the Freshman class, and, in 1875-76. there was one in the Senior class, one in the Sophomore, and two in the Freshman class. So far they have been conducted with credit and maintained an average grade of scholarship.

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 83

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