USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 51
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yet abides in strength as a brave defender of that faith in God's word, "once delivered to the saints." There must also be recorded the appreciative testi- monial of the board of trustees as Dr. Willis Lord sundered his connection with that body : "We can never forget that he came to us at a critical period in our history,-when, in fact, our history was yet to be made. We were not insensible then, nor have we become so, to the risks attendant upon the as- sumption of the position to which we ventured to summon him. That the University has passed these perils so successfully we feel is largely due to the wisdom, skill and fidelity of its first president. We would have been thank- ful if the students, so strongly and rightly attached to him, could have further enjoyed his counsels, sympathy and instruction. Associated as his name must ever be with the infancy of the University, we know that Dr. Lord will always be interested in its prosperity."
'For those who have "fallen upon sleep" while still members of the faculty there must be reserved an assured place in the grateful memories of their suc- cessors. In every case they were held in highest esteem by the people of the city and county as well as by the University community. They had obtained this testimony, that they pleased most those who knew them best.
The first of those whose "hands were laid to the plow, but, behold ! it was a palm," was Miss Annie B. Irish, Ph. D. She possessed rare gifts and had enjoyed some unusual advantages. The board of trustees entered this record : "The death of Miss Annie B. Irish has touched our hearts with profound sor- row as a personal bereavement. By her lovely and symmetrical Christian character, her remarkably able management of her department and her faithful and efficient work as a Christian among the students, she had won our warm- est admiration and love. Counting by years, her life was short ; counting by work done and results achieved, it was longer than that of many who have attained to threescore and ten years." Miss Irish died February 12. 1886. Her portrait was presented to Hoover Cottage, June 6. 1889, and memorials of her winning character and elevating influence were read by ladies repre- senting the Woman's Advisory Board.
The whole community shared in the grief of the University circle when Karl Merz, Mus. D., the founder of our musical department, was taken from 11s. His death occurred in January, 1890. The following testimonial was published soon after : "A man of remarkable abilities and diversified gifts, de- veloped by unremitting application, he mastered and enriched the science and art of music in its composition and literature, and gained a more than national reputation.
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"As exemplary and great-hearted as he was industrious and efficient, he had by eight years of unceasing kindness won an exceptional place in the con- fidence and warmest affections of the whole community.
"He was attached to his associates in the faculty, invariably found on the side of just authority and thoroughly loyal to the ideal of the institution.
"A fervent and intelligent religious faith both underlaid and crowned his life. It is hoped that the department he adorned and toiled for may ever bear testimony in its future development to the gifts and character and faith of its founder."
The close of the same year ( December 22, 1890) witnessed the removal of Dr. James Black, D.D., LL.D., from the work to which a long and fruitful life had been devoted. The records of the board of trustees show how pro- foundly the fifteen years of his professorship (Greek and English) had wrought themselves into the University's life. The board emphasizes its esti- mate of "his superior intellectual capabilities, his high literary qualifications for the position he occupied and his unexcelled genius as a teacher. Above all they would bear testimony to the unfaltering strength of his religious convictions, and the power of his spiritual life as displayed in the class-room and in all social contact with his fellow men. The pervading pres- ence of his gentle piety was like the sweet scent of a field the Lord hath blessed. He was loyal to duty in every thought, faithful in every service, exemplary in word and act, overflowing with loving kindness to every man and every crea- ture. His Christian consistency was never questioned while the influence of his noble character impressed every soul that drew within the magic circle of his consecration." When this minute was read on the following Commence- ment Day "the whole audience reverently rose and remained standing in ex- pression of their concurrence in the sentiments of the resolution."
Dr. O. N. Stoddard, LL.D., was a member of the first faculty and al- ready well known as a professor of natural science when Wooster's doors were opened. He became emeritus in 1883, though continuing lectures to the senior class, and died February 10, 1892. The board of trustees recorded that he "was a striking exemplification of the saying : 'To be is to teach.' He taught by what he was as well as by spoken or written word. * * He was a Christian man of science. To him the heavens and earth and all things therein declared the glory of God. He had a high and chivalrous sense of honor-a Christian gentleman without fear and without reproach.
Hundreds of men and women in this and other lands hold him in grateful remembrance as a man and as a teacher and will perpetuate his influence in ever widening circles."
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Another testimonial describes him thus: "A wise man and length of days were in wisdom's hand for him. A student of nature's mysteries and re- warded by her sympathy. An artificer in all substances to express all forces. A careful student of mind finding its impress and majesty everywhere super- ior to matter. A master in morals, public and private, teaching the noblest type of citizenship and illustrating it in a life devoted to a large and intelligent patriotism." Doctor Stoddard possessed mechanical genius and some ap- paratus made with his own hands is still in use in our laboratories.
Nearly a decade passed before Prof. S. J. Kirkwood, Ph. D., LL. D. (mathematics and astronomy ), passed away. . He, too, had been a member of the original faculty and one of those who brought an already established repu- tation to the service of the institution. With one exception ( Notestein), his life as a professor projects the longest line of active service. Coming in 1870, he gave up his work only with his life on June 24, 1901. The observa- tory is the monument of his extra-professorial industry. He delivered most of the lectures and solicited much of the funds which made such an equipment so early in the University's history possible. An admiring friend has pro- vided ten thousand dollars as a partial endowment for a professorship of astronomy which shall perpetuate Doctor Kirkwood's name and memory in connection with that in which the Professor's preferences were pronounced and on which he had made great progress in preparing a text-book. Doctor Kirkwood's interests in students was such as to commend their entire con- fidence and attract their affectionate regard. He loved to teach the import- ance of character,-that sum of the moral attributes in which Kant found the value of human personality outweighing all the stars. He counseled every- thing which would satisfy the preferences of the student-body and be at the same time consistent with a conscientious regard to the sacred trust as to their welfare reposed in the University's governing body. He refused other posi- tions of honor and profit to abide with the interests he had done so much to build up. The memory of his personal Christian influence will long be cher- ished by Wooster's alumni and alumnae, along with their sense of indebtedness for the mental vigor and positive knowledge his clear and skillful instruction in the mazes of mathematics brought them.
Director Byron J. Oliver had taken charge of the department of music. in 1893, when his highly esteemed and most competent predecessor, D. F. Conrad (one of Karl Merz's pupils), had gone abroad for a second term of foreign study. Mr. Oliver soon proved himself thoroughly furnished for every good work in piano, organ and theory, as well as in the capacity of con-
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ductor. In a continuous service of nearly twelve years (interrupted only by one year of organ-specializing in Berlin) he grew into a place of confidence and personal influence only second to that of the founder of the department. while probably excelling the latter in matters of teaching-technique. He died, after brief illness, January 29, 1905. Director Oliver began his life's work as a teacher under the admirable school-policy of Canada, his native land. Not until he had reached maturity did he give himself to music and therein he profited above many who made an earlier consecration. He was a thorough teacher, an inspiring conductor, and an excellent manager. Very early in his youth he had professed his faith in Christ and made it evident always that Christian principle sustained every purpose he formed. He knew the best in sacred as well as in secular music and conducted every church-service with profound reverence and true feeling. He carried forward the work of the department in the spirit in which it was commenced. The memorial window in the chapel but faintly expresses the abiding esteem and affection of which he is still the object in our entire community.
The last of our co-laborers to fall beside his work was Prof. William H. Wilson (mathematics and astronomy). Wooster was his Alma Mater (class of '89) and never had she a more loyal son or one more thoroughly apprecia- tive of her original ideals. He became at once a teacher in his chosen line of study and proved his competence from the beginning. Advanced to a pro- fessorship in that excellent institution, Geneva College, and supplementing his natural gifts by graduate study, and privileged to take part in observation of an eclipse, he demonstrated originality in research as well as efficiency in teaching. By nature he was accurate. It was part of his remarkably sym- metrical and steadfast character. If ever a fine life was indicated by a fault- less youth, it was true in Professor Wilson's case. The boy was father to the man. The young man was the index of the maturity which had just been reached, in its fullest sense, when he was called away from earth. It was a great gratification to him to be selected to succeed his former instructor ; and he brought all his ingenuity and exact methods, as well as all his strong per- sonal power as a manly Christian, to the service of the institution he loved. His life throughout was transparently sincere, and probably no member of the entire faculty ever obtained at as early a period of professional experience so wide and deep an influence among the students. He became specially effec- tive in sustaining high ideals in athletics. While insisting upon ball-playing of a high grade he mightily convinced the players that the obligation to be Christian gentlemen in fair-play and courtesy was to be held as first and funda-
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mental in every arena. He died in June, 1907, and the wound in our hearts is still unhealed despite the comfort we have in a successor ( Professor Gable) of like competence and character.
Concerning the contemporary faculty, it must be recorded that they repre- sent in more than thirty personalities many of the best educational centres of our own land and, by graduate study, of other lands. So many members have been connected with the university so long that unity of life and opinion and a continuity in development has been aided. Some of those longest here remain most effective in service. Others are bringing new contributions through experience of life in the later developed condition of the larger univer- sities at home and abroad. In 1901 seven additions were made. The latest are Dr. Oscar F. Wisner (Wooster '81), formerly president of the Christian College in Canton, China, who has taken the chair of missions. Mr. Delbert G. Lean, who enters with great acceptance upon his work in the department of oratory; Robert Granville Caldwell (Wooster '04), who comes to the de- partment of history after experience in India and in Huron College; and . Professor Meyer, who comes from Bethany College, West Virginia, to be assistant in Greek, Latin and German.
Leave of absence had occasionally been granted for considerable periods of foreign study before 1906. But then the administration felt strong enough to provide the appropriation for a substitute, which permitted a professor to use his salary for a year in furthering his preparation for subsequent work. The custom is an expensive one, but marks a great step in advance by giving established men the coveted opportunity for wider observation and research. It began appropriately with the senior Professor-Notestein. The present writer followed in 1907-8. Dean Compton succeeded, then the privilege fell to Professor Bennett (chemistry) and just now Prof. John G. Black (math- ematics and geology) is enjoying it.
During all these years many assistants in various departments have been employed and this has proven to be an exceedingly helpful method of providing men trained for competence as professors in other institutions and for tempor- ary assistance in the absence of members of our own faculty.
The secretary of the faculty is designated from time to time and he is usually chosen from among the more recent additions to that body.
This office was formerly accompanied by responsibility for the work of the registrar. But increasing members and the necessity for ascertaining the propriety of receiving certificates from schools of all grades, together with the demand for accuracy in the record of each student's work (and this accented by the fire-loss of previous records) have resulted in a registrar ( Lester H.
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Wolfe) whose whole time is given to these varied uses. No office could have proved a greater convenience at many points in the university's life and no officer could have more speedily brought the entire force, educational and administrative, into obligation for his intelligent and ready aid. Professor Notestein bore the burden of most of these duties for many years and as usual "nec tetigit quid non ornavit." He devised the scheme used before the fire. Then came Professor Behoteguy's tenure of the office, but his careful work was reduced to ashes. Now thoroughly organized in a series of standing committees, with a system of careful observation of what transpires in our secondary schools and in our greater universities, and re-enforced by the ob- servations of some member whose sabbatic year may be spent in educational centres of the old world, we may consider Wooster's enlarged and enlarging faculty as worthy the confidence of its constituency.
VII .- THE TRUSTEES.
It was the good fortune of the present writer in coming to Wooster ( 1883) to know some members of the original board of trustees. And in the study of the institution's life I have been additionally impressed with their supreme earnestness, their strong faith, their vision and their prevision. Many of them continued to bear the heat and burden of the day for many years after the doors were successfully opened in 1870. The first loans were made by the trustees themselves, in order to meet exigencies. They held many meet- ings and canvassed many plans. Two of them I had known during my boy- hood in Indiana-the Rev. L. I. Drake and Dr. W. W. Colmery. They were all self-sacrificing and ingenious in devising methods to meet the demands of each year. Of the whole number but one survives-David Robison, Jr., of Toledo. He represented the synod of Columbus from 1866 to 1877 and the synod of Toledo, from 1877 to 1883. Long a resident of Wooster, he is still interested in the city and its welfare. The board was largely composed of ministers, as befitted the existing circumstances. It is now made up largely of laymen from the ranks of business and professional life. It is impossible, though it could not fail to be interesting. to print a full list with any such com- ments as the roster would deserve. A high degree of faithfulness to their trust, often at great personal inconvenience, was characteristic of them all.
Lucas Flattery resigned in 1882 and a minute of appreciation and regret was entered. Peter Foust was elected in 1883 and died in June, 1901. The board recognized his seventeen years of service. "Quiet and unobtrusive in disposition, he yet exhibited an unflagging interest in the university by a uni-
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formerly faithful attendance upon the meetings of the board and its executive committee. We place on record our appreciation of the life and character of our departed brother."
In 1886 Dr. James Eels, the well known professor of theology at Lane (member of the board since 1882), passed to his reward. "His lofty char- acter and wide influence in the cause of Christ." as also his "interest in this institution and his wise counsels and efforts in its behalf" are gratefully acknowledged.
Two years more and the one to whom all looked as Elisha to Elijah was translated. A great void was created for all friends of Wooster when John Robinson, D.D., LL.D., died June 15, 1888. It was touching a battery of reserved faith and courage to meet him. He had so long brooded over the university in its prenatal state that he could not help hovering over it after- wards. He prepared the early reports to the synods and the earliest appeals to the churches. He was often on the executive committee (though not resident in Wooster ) and on the examining committees. He may fairly be said to have done more for the university in the twenty-two years next after the granting of the charter and before it than any other man. The handsome bronze tablet, with its appropriate inscription, which used to stand on the main stairway of the old building should be restored in the new. In the catalogue of 1888-9. it is printed on a separate page that "for more than a quarter of a century no publication concerning the synodical university was issued which did not contain the name of this venerable man. He was its ardent advocate as a hope and as a plan. After its realization he was the first, and, until his death, the only president of its board of trustees. He gave it his energies, his prayers and his means. It is the fervent desire of the board of trustees and of the faculty that his life-long views concerning the duty and the opportunity of the church in the higher education under denominational con- trol, may be regarded as typical among the ministers and churches of Ohio, as it is their assured conviction that the memory of his high character and ma- tured Christian graces and useful life will never perish from among us." It is added in the board's own minute that Doctor Robinson was never absent from a meeting except on one occasion and then he was "visiting in Scotland." "In every time of trial his wise counsel and courageous stand and loving ad- herence to the right made him the centre about which others might rally. He was meek, pure and straightforward, as he was prudent, per- sistent and true. He presided with dignity and grace and cast over the meet- ing of the board the tender unction and hallowed expression of one who walked with God. His earnest and touching prayers lifted us to the very
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portals of the skies. A touching expression of his love to Wooster University appears in the fact that, out of the scanty earnings of a long life he has devoted one thousand dollars to establish a scholarship in memory of his beloved wife. And we rejoice that the children of our honored friend have signified their determination to found a similar scholarship to his mem- ory."
No one of all the noble men who have stood by the University in its perplexities has been of more real service than the Honorable J. W. Robin- son (of Marysville). Entering the board in 1871, he continued in deepest interest and activity until his death, in 1899. "He was thus identified with the three decades of struggle and advance. The board records its "deep sense of the loss sustained in the death of one of the University's earliest and warmest friends. He was in profoundest sympathy with the principles for the maintenance and propagation of which the University was founded. His counsels were characterized by eminent wisdom and in times of special difficulty were marked by sagacity, foresight and gentle moderation. He loved the University. In her prosperity he greatly rejoiced and when for any cause her welfare seemed in jeopardy his sorrow was sincere and deep, but not stronger than his patience and skill in helping to bring her out of trouble and into a 'large and wealthy place.' He was ever ready to lend a help- ing hand to the University in the way of financial aid and the supreme token of his fostering spirit in this respect was his legacy of ten thousand dollars which has so lightened our load and brightened our future today.
"With thankfulness to God for giving the University such a friend, in loving memory of his virtues and with solemn purpose to emulate his de- votion to the interest of our beloved institution, we inscribe this memorial upon our records."
In June, 1900, we lost a friend, the Rev. Dr. John H. Pratt, whose membership in the board had been confined to the initial years from the charter in 1866, to the opening in 1870. During that period he took most effective part in aiding to construct the first curriculum and in fixing the conditions of entrance. His efficient friendship was not limited to that period, however. The board's minute says : "He was ever a devoted friend of the University and, during these years, contributed liberally to its support- his benefactions amounting to over twelve thousand dollars. He was a sincere, devout and earnest Christian, whose life was a consistent, lovely representation of the Christian character. In his various pastorates he proved a faithful minister of the Covenant and was universally honored and beloved by the entire community where he resided."
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Dr. Charles S. Pomeroy, long pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of Cleveland, became a member of the board of trustees in 1883. He suc- ceeded Dr. John Robinson as president of the board in 1888. He repre- sented the University, amid surroundings which were strongly drawn in other directions, always with discretion but always with firm preference for the institution of church control and ownership. He died suddenly in September, 1894. "Doctor Pomeroy," says the record, "was a marked man, distinguished for his natural abilities, his scholarly attainments, his mechanical genius, his genial Christian character, his delightfully interest- ing public address, his evangelistic and spiritually helpful preaching and his wise counsels as a member of this body, and in the ecclesiastical bodies of our church. He was a thorough Presbyterian, a firm defender of our faith and was decided in his views of Presbyterian government. But his sympathies were as broad as the Christian church and his voice was heard in the support of whatever promised to be useful to men or for the enlargement of the Redeemer's Kingdom."
In 1892, the resignation of John McClellan, as treasurer, was reluctantly accepted by the board of trustees, and a testimonial (by Doctor Taylor) was ordered to be read from the commencement plat- form, declaring that "among the early advocates of the establishment of the University none other aided with greater activity, zeal and liberality." His labors in connection with the erection of the main building were recognized as "indefatigable and conspicuous." His service as trustee and treasurer endured for more than twenty-five years and "he was present at every meet- ing of the board," besides proving an "energetic and self-sacrificing member of the executive committee." As treasurer his administration was marked by "wisdom, justice and kindness" and thus he "won the favor of the public, the gratitude of the board, and the universal friendship of the faculty and students."
In 1900 (March 30), at nearly ninety years of age, Mr. McClellan died in faith. The board of trustees again expressed its sense of his early and abiding and effective interest in the University. He had executed his dif- ficult duties "with conspicuous fidelity, skill and unusual knowledge of human nature." By his "devotion of extra labor and thought" and by his "hope- fulness in dark days he stimulated others to loyalty and consecration in the work." "The simplicity, transparent honesty and sterling integrity of his character" are emphasized.
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