USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 44
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Dear mother, tell me of that realm. Is it a starless sphere? No ivied urn, no ruined arch nor broken column there ? Does spring eternal clothe its plains in robes of liveliest green ? Amid those ever vernal vales what brightening beauty's seen ? Does glittering glory gild the day ? celestial zephyrs blow ? And purer crystal streamlets there in living lustre flow ? Oh ! tell me, is all light and love within that realm on high ? Does peace unfurl her banner there, the rainbow of that sky ?
Hath Jesus there a banquet spread with fruit from life's fair tree ? Does man partake with nobler guests ? Oh ! was it spread for me? Do angel bands there strike their harps to new unearthly strains? And wandering pluck the amaranths upon those shining plains ? One question more, dear mother ! Is our little Willie there ? You'll know him by his angel smile and by his shining hair ; Oh ! search each winding, flow'ry vale where wandering angels stray- He'll surely be among the first to cull his bright bouquet.
Thy lips are sealed, thy silent tongne is eloquent no more ; I plead in vain for tidings from that far, far-gleaming shore ; No mortal eye hath ever scanned that radiant realm so fair- No mortal ear hath ever heard the hallowed harpings there ; Faith's eye alone hath scaled the mount on whose bright top appears Heaven's citadel, high lifted up above this vale of tears. Amid life's wreck a childlike faith in inspiration given, Will light the tomb and open wide the jeweled gates of heaven.
S. R. BONEWITZ.
S. R. Bonewitz was born November 28, 1820, in Wayne town- ship, Wayne county, Ohio. His parents were of Virginia and Pennsylvania ancestry, and removed to Wayne county as early as
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1815, settling on a farm of 190 acres, all in timber, purchased of Joseph Eichar and owned by Christian Stoll, deceased. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Bonewitz engaged as a clerk for his father, who had purchased an interest in a dry goods store at what was then known as Naftzger's Mill, a mile west of Bridgeport.
In this business relation he continued for some time, and while thus employed, October 14, 1841, he was joined in marriage to Louisa Booth. He then entered into business for himself in the village of Mechanicsburg, where he staid until 1843. Having con- cluded to make Wooster his home he removed there in March, 1844, and at the end of one year (having studied law a year prior to his removal ) was admitted to the bar in St. Clairsville, Ohio, whither and back he went on horseback. He read law with Wil- liam McMahan, Esq., of Wooster, then occupying the office in which he has held forth for over thirty years.
In 1853 Mr. Bonewitz was elected Mayor of Wooster, and has served as Justice of the Peace and in various other capacities with credit and ability. He was the first insurance agent that ever transacted business in Wooster and the first representative of the well-known Ætna Company.
Mr. Bonewitz is devoting himself exclusively to his professional duties. He was never disposed to indulge in the fierce warfare of the advocate, the strong bent of his mind inclining him more par- ticularly to the preparation of pleadings and a strictly office busi- ness. Personally, he is a genial man, full of life and sociability.
ALF. HOWARD, THE AMERICAN "OLE BULL."
Alf. Howard, son of Horace Howard, and brother to Harvey, Charles and William, of this city, died at Prophetstown, Whitsides county, Illinois, on Sunday, February 23, 1873, of congestion of the lungs. Mr. Howard was born in Wooster, January 25, 1824, and was consequently entering upon his fiftieth year at the time of his death. He was a man-a phenomenal genius-that acquired a continent-wide celebrity by his extraordinary musical power.
He developed in his earlier and more tender years a peculiar talent and fondness for instrumental music, at the age of ten chal- lenging the sweetness and magic of the fife and other instruments of that character.
At the age of fifteen he went to Detroit, Michigan, and en- gaged as a clerk in the dry goods store of Charles Bissell, brother
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of the wife of Harvey Howard, Esq., of this city. After a brief service with Mr. Bissell he proceeded to Niles, Berrien county, Michigan, on a visit to his old friend, Mr. Carrollton Hoyt, where he remained for a short time. Here, in fact, he conceived and in- augurated his programme of musical peregrinations, to which his entire subsequent life was devoted. At Niles he organized a troupe of musicians and made his debut before the public, enter- taining enthusiastic audiences in the Western States, penetrating the vast regions on the sunset side of the Father of Floods.
In 1842 he appeared with the celebrated circus combination of June, Turner & Co., with which he traveled for the season, and with which he returned to Wooster. Here he proceeded to the organization of a minstrel company, and once more embarked for the far West. After the fulfillment of this engagement he sud- denly appeared in Philadelphia, bursting into that city with the blaze of a meteor, and here he obtained the flattering sobriquet of the American Ole Bull. This was in 1844. Next he was the focus of attraction at Barnum's, New York, where, with the ar- ticulate speech of his violin, he delighted expectant houses.
The succeeding canto in the great song of his life was a visit to the Old World, where a number of years were spent, and where he enjoyed an agreeable popularity. The remaining portion of his career, after his return from Europe, was occupied exclusively in travel, he having made the tour of every State in our great Fed- eral Union.
Mr. Howard was a remarkable, and in some respects, probably, an eccentric man. His object in his profession was surpassing ex- cellence and superiority. While his attainments with the violin were incomparable and inimitably great, and while money poured into his hands, money was not the motive of his indefatigable aim. He played for reputation, sought for Fame, wooed the fickle Queen, and won her.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WOOSTER.
BY REV. A. A. E. TAYLOR, D. D., PRESIDENT.
Among the earliest settlers of the West were many of Scotch and Scotch-Irish descent, who had been trained in Presbyterian principles from their youth. Such persons brought with them to the new territory, not only a zeal for their special forms of faith, but likewise a love of learning in general, and a determination to secure educational facilities for their children as soon as possible.
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The first Home Missionaries who followed in the track of this emigration, and sought to gather and organize its religious element into churches, were mostly graduates of some college, or men whose careful training had taught them the inestimable value of a collegiate education. Their impression, and that of the people influenced by them, may be seen most prominently in the early history of those college enterprises that were undertaken by the State, and in many other efforts of a kindred nature, some of which have been failures, while others proved partially successful. One of their favorite ideas was that of combining religious with intellectual culture, for mutual education of head and heart, hold- ing that all mental training should be purified and strengthened by the development of man's spiritual life in connection therewith, to secure complete manhood. This conviction they strenuously sought to impress upon the early State institutions where they obtained controlling influence. With these young colleges, where in some cases they long held the chief management, they were content to cast in their lot, while as yet their own church member- ship and finances were feeble.
But other denominations, as they grew up to power, began to found institutions devoted especially to the instruction of their own youth, and to the education of candidates for their ministry from their own ranks. It also became apparent that, in so far as the State was concerned, little could be hoped from the colleges then directly under its control, and espceially nothing of mentionable benefit to the Presbyterian church, which was greatly in need of an educated ministry.
The colleges founded upon the plan of union between the Con- gregationalists and Presbyterians had been among the most efficient and successful in the State; but still, as a historical fact, had not drawn largely upon the sympathy and co-operation of the Scotch- Irish element of Presbyterianism, which was by far its most nu- merous and influential element in Ohio. There was thus no insti- tution in the State to which they were heartily disposed to send their sons or to contribute of their means; and a large majority di- rected their patronage to the Presbyterian colleges in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which were thus filled with crowded classes for many years, and from which the Presbyterian ministry in the West was mainly replenished.
However, the subject of a College, situated within the bounds of Ohio, to be directly under the control of their own people, but
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for the benefit of the public as well, was steadily agitated year after year by the leading Presbyterian ministers and elders of the State, among whom it will not be invidious to name one who long ministered at the State capital, and from that position exercised an important power over the whole State, the late Rev. James Hoge, D. D.
The necessity of such an institution was annually canvassed in Synods and Presbyteries, and as early as 1847 began to take for- mal shape in committees, and positive efforts at location and the securing of endowment. The older and wiser fathers among both the clergy and laity grew more and more interested in these enter- prises, and sorely lamented the failure to unite upon any feasible plan. Attempts at combining the three Synods into which the church in Ohio was then districted were repeatedly made, but no Synodical College was founded, and many of the people seemed disheartened at the prospect. At length in 1866, after nearly 25 years of agitation and earnest effort, the object was consummated in the establishment by these three Synods of the then old school Presbyterian church,-the Synods of Ohio, Sandusky and Cincin- nati-of the University located at Wooster.
After severally agreeing to undertake the task, a joint committee had been appointed by the Synods to arrange the plans. Offers of grounds and means for the erection of suitable buildings were received from several localities, which places the committee visited in person, comparing the relative value of the propositions and the suitableness of location. Ephraim Quinby, Jr., Esq., a wealthy and liberal citizen of Wooster, generously offered a handsome site ad- joining that town, upon a gently elevated knoll, containing 21 acres of oak forest, from which is afforded a commanding view of an exceedingly fertile and beautiful valley extending for miles, surrounded by wooded hills and fruitful fields, which together com- pose an outlook of rare variety and attractiveness. The citizens of this county, with great enthusiasm and without regard to denom- inational lines, uniting their efforts with noble liberality, raised a subscription of over $100,000, which they offered for the erection of a building upon the Quinby grounds. After deliberate consid- eration the Synodical Committee decided upon this location for the new College as the most desirable and valuable in all respects.
The Synods having appointed Trustees, according to require- ments of the State law, proceeded, in December, 1866, to secure a charter for the University, under the act of April, 1852, and
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amendments* authorizing such incorporation. The following per- sons were incorporated as original Trustees : Rev. John Robinson, D. D., ; Rev. W. R. Marshall, D. D., Rev. H. M. Hervey, Rev. J. H. Pratt, H. A. True, M. D., J. H. Kauke, David Robi- son, Jr., Ephraim Quinby, Jr., } John McClellan, R. B. Stibbs, Leander Firestone, M. D., Rev. J. A. Reed, Rev. J. B. Stewart, Rev. W. W. Colmery, Rev. H. W. Taylor, Rev. J. M. Cross, Rev. E. B. Raffensperger, Edward Taylor, M. D. T
In the charter the object of said corporation was declared to be "the promotion of sound learning and education under religious influences, such as is usually contemplated in colleges and univer- sities." The succession of Trustees was appointed as follows : The Synod of Ohio to appoint at least five Trustees from resident freeholders of Wayne county (to conform to the law authorizing such corporations), and one from each of the Presbyteries under its care. The Synods of Cincinnati and Sandusky were each authorized to elect a number of Trustees equal to the num- ber of their Presbyteries, these Trustees to hold office for three years, and until their successors are elected. The University was declared to be under the care of said three Synods, and such other
#50 vol. Stat. Ohio, p. 128-amended March 12, 1853; 51 vol. Stat. Ohio, pp. 393, 403.
t Dr. Robinson, so long pastor at Ashland, was one of the early projectors and advocates of the Synodical College, and from the start has been one of its most faithful friends and President of its Board of Trustees. The institution owes much to his wisdom and zeal.
# Mr. Quinby, in addition to the grounds, contributed about $30,000 to the funds of the institution, as did also Captain J. H. Kauke in an equivalent sum. And to the deep interest and great personal activity of these gentlemen, together with the untiring aid of all the other resident members of the Board in Wooster, and especially to the zealous and efficient help of the Treasurer, John McClellan, Esq., is owing the establishment of this institution on a liberal, broad and perma- nent basis.
[ Dr. Taylor was early a prominent member of one of the committees of con- ference upon a Synodical College from the Synod of Cincinnati, when a Ruling Elder in the Central Presbyterian church of Cincinnati. Removing to Cleve- land, as an Elder in the Westminster church, he continued to be deeply inter- ested in the movement, and subscribed liberally towards the endowment. He was elected one of the first Trustees by the Synod of Sandusky, and was one of the com- mittee who came to Wooster, examined the site and agreed upon the location of the University at this point. He died in Cleveland, February, 1868. At a later date, his only son was elected second President of the University, to succeed Dr. Willis Lord.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Synods as might thereafter unite with them in the enterprise. Provision was also made for the union of any Presbyterian Synod of any other ecclesiastical connection in this control, upon con- current assent of the original Synod. No part in the control was given to State officials, or any one outside of the election of the Synods.
Immediately after incorporation the Board appointed a fiscal agent and canvassing agents,* and issued an appeal to the pastors of the churches in the Synods interested. In this appeal was con- tained several resolutions, declarative of the object of the Univer- sity, which were passed at the first meeting of the Board, as follows :
WHEREAS, We are deeply convinced that education is a real blessing only when imbued with the spirit of Christianity, and that any enterprise may hope for success only as it enjoys the Divine blessing and is devoted to the promotion of the Divine glory ; therefore,
Resolved, That we enter upon the work of establishing the University of Wooster with the single purpose of glorifying God, in promoting sanctified educa- tion, and thus furthering the interests of the church, and its extension over the whole earth.
Resolved, That we will in every way possible strive to imbue all our operations with the spirit of Christianity, and bring religious influence and instruction to bear earnestly upon all who may be connected with the institution.
Resolved, That in addition to a thorough literary and scientific course of study, we will aim to endow a chair for instruction in the evidences of Christianity, and the relation of science to religion ;t and also a chair for instruction in the languages, religions and literature of the modern Pagan nations, with special reference to the preparation of young men for the Foreign Missionary field.
These resolutions display the broad, catholic spirit of Chris- tianity upon which it was the design of its founders to place the institution, rather than upon any narrow, sectarian and sole, eccle- siastical basis. An executive committee, consisting of the Presi- dent of the Board and the resident members in Wooster, having been appointed, urged on the work of securing endowment from the churches, and matured plans for the erection of the building. Work, however, was not begun on the building until the opening of the spring of 1868, and the corner-stone was laid June 30, 1868, with appropriate services.
At this time Rev. George P. Hays, of Baltimore, was elected
* Rev. John W. Scott, D. D., General Fiscal Agent; Rev. T. K. Davis and Rev. S. G. Dunlap, Canvassing Agents.
t This chair afterwards endowed by legacy of B. J. Mercer, Esq., of Mansfield, Ohio, in $25,000.
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General Fiscal Secretary, and the Board fixed the amount of en- dowment to be raised at $500,000. In the autumn of this year the Synods concerned severally endorsed the work, urging its continu- ance and promising support. Later in the year an effort was made to secure from the State Legislature the location of the contem- plated State Agricultural College at Wooster, to be connected with the University, which effort proved ineffectual. At the meetings of the Synods in October, 1869, the executive committee reported that subscriptions to the endowment fund to the amount of $251,- 614* had been secured, and that the main building, exclusive of the projected wings, was nearly finished. Subscriptions had been made payable, conditioned upon the securing of $250,000 by the Ist of October, which condition the Board formally declared to have been fulfilled.
As the income from this fund would not accrue until the fol- lowing year, it was deemed advisable not to open the institution for instruction until that time. The friends of the University were greatly elated at the success of the movement, which was largely due to the Fiscal Secretary and Financial Agents, and to the earnest co-operation of the pastors and churches of the Synods of Ohio and Sandusky. In December, 1869, the Board accepted the res- ignation of the Fiscal Secretary, and Rev. W. R. Marshall, D. D., was elected his successor.
During the year 1869 the reunion of the old and new school branches of the Presbyterian church had been consummated, and in the spring of 1870 the Synods of the two bodies had been consolidated and their territories reconstructed. By this act the Synods of Columbus, Toledo and Cincinnati had been made the legal successors of the Synods formerly united in the control of the University, and by the terms of said act had become "entitled to the possession and enjoyment of all the rights and franchises, and liable to the performance of all the duties " of those Synods. The members of the Board of Trustees, therefore, placed their resig- nations in the hands of the new Synod, when their successors were immediately elected. Resolutions accepting the trust of the Uni- versity were adopted by these Synods, and the University passed into the hands and under the control of the reunited church. But in the re-allotment of Synods in the State, a new Synod, that of
*In the raising of this fund the system of single and cheap scholarships was avoided, and the amount was secured mainly from members of Presbyterian con- gregations.
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Cleveland, covering a considerable portion of the territory of the former Synods, had been erected. An equal share of ownership and control in the institution having been tendered by the Trustees to this new Synod, was by it respectfully declined, with the adop- tion, however, of resolutions commending it to the "confidence, sympathy, prayers and patronage" of the Presbyteries comprising that Synod.
In the spring of 1870 the Board completed its arrangements for a course of instruction, for the election of a Faculty, and the for- mal opening of the Collegiate Department in the fall of that year. The admission of students of either sex to the classes had already been agreed upon, as well as the reception of students to partial or special courses, according to their preparation therefor. Rev. H. M. Robertson was also elected an additional Fiscal Secretary. According to these arrangements, at a meeting of the Board Sep- tember 7, 1870, the University was formally dedicated and opened, when a historical address was made by Rev. John Robinson, D. D., President of the Board, and Hon. John Sherman, United States Senator, delivered an additional address. Rev. Willis Lord, D. D., was inaugurated President of the University and delivered an inau- gural address *. On the following day the institution was formally opened for instruction, with the following Faculty :
Rev. Willis Lord, D. D., President, and Professor of Biblical Instruction.
O. N. Stoddard, LL. D., Professor of the Natural Sciences.
Rev. W. H. Jeffers, A. M., Professor of Greek Language and Literature.
Rev. A. T. Fullerton, A. M., Professor of English Language and Literature and Rhetoric.
S. J. Kirkwood, A. M., Professor of Mathematics.
R. C. Dalzell, A. M., Instructor in Modern Languages.
Leander Firestone, M. D., Lecturer in Anatomy and Physiology.
A circular containing the Faculty-elect and the proposed plan of study had been previously issued during the summer. Both a classical and scientific course had been arranged and made to run parallel through the four years. The basis of the former was mainly that of Princeton College, New Jersey, and the standard of study was fixed upon a level with that in the catalogue of the lat-
*These addresses were subsequently published, together with the annual report of the Board of Trustees for this year, in a pamphlet. The following persons also took part in the proceedings: Rev. David Hall, of Mansfield, Rev. J. A. Reid, of Wooster, and Rev. A. A. E. Taylor, of Cincinnati. The reports of the Board for the two preceding years had also been published in pamphlet form.
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ter institution. It was determined that this standard should be strictly maintained, as ranking with first-class colleges of the East.
When the first classes were organized, at the opening of the institution, it was found that applicants were present for each class, many students, particularly of Presbyterian proclivities, and of the immediate vicinity, who had been scattered in other institutions, having rallied at once around the new enterprise. During the course of the year the classes grew to the following numbers : Seniors, 6; Juniors, 14; Sophomores, 19; Freshmen, 22; total, 61. Among these 14 were partial students (all but two of them young women), while but one young woman was admitted to the regular course, entering the Freshman class. But very few en- tered the Scientific course. After a prosperous year, the Senior class, numbering six, was graduated at the first Commencement, in June of the following year, all receiving the Classical degree.
During this year valuable apparatus had been secured, at a cost of $5,000 ; a liberal subscription of the same amount from C. S. Bragg, Esq., of Cleveland, as a Library Fund, laid a foundation for the Library, which was increased by other generous donors ; and a good beginning was made towards a cabinet of mineralogical and geological specimens. The tuition and fees had been fixed at a low rate, and it was found that boarding could be secured in pri- vate families at from three to four dollars per week.
In the second year of the institution the number of students was slightly increased, and the Faculty was enlarged by the elec- tion of Rev. D. S. Gregory to the Chair of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy. Eight young men were graduated, all in the Classical course. At the end of this year Professor Fullerton resigned, be- cause of ill-health, having proved very successful in his position.
The opening of the third year, however, showed a very decided increase in students, the catalogue for that year registering about 140, including an increased number of young women. A Prepar- atory course running through two years was also opened, with 35 students, under the direction of Rev. J. A. I. Lowes. Valuable additions continued to be made to the Library, Apparatus, Cabi- net, and other departments; the classes became more thoroughly organized and the work better systematized. At the close of this college year thirteen young men were graduated, twelve in the Classical and one in the Scientific course. President Lord finding the work too severe for his physical strength, and desiring to pre- pare the results of his former labors in the Chair of Theology in the
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