USA > Ohio > Ross County > Chillicothe > Ohio centennial anniversary celebration at Chillicothe, May 20-21, 1903 : under the auspices of the Ohio State Archaelogical and Historical Society : complete proceedings > Part 41
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threatened. In May, 1893, with a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars divided into twelve hundred shares of twenty-five dollars each, the National Normal University Company was incorporated .. Under this company the National Normal is operated by a board of six managers and in form remains a proprietary school. The work is carried on chiefly along the lines projected by Professor Holbrook. The organization comprises colleges of Business, Teachers, Science, Liberal Arts, Law, Oratory, Music, English and Classics.
9. CASE SCHOOL OF APPLIED SCIENCE, CLEVELAND, CUYAHOGA COUNTY, FOUNDED 1880.
In a deed of trust executed February 24, 1877, Mr. Leonard Case gave the following directions to the trustees : - "To cause to. be formed and to be regularly incorporated under the laws of Ohio an institution of learning to be called Case School of Ap- plied Science and located in said city of Cleveland, in which shall be taught, by competent professors and teachers, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering - Mechanical and Civil, Chemistry, Eco-
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nomic Geology, Mining and Metallurgy, Natural History, Draw- ing and Modern Languages, * *
and such other kindred branches of learning as the trustees of said institution may deem advisable. * * And, without intending to make it a con- dition or limitation of this conveyance, or any binding restriction upon the power of such trustees, the said grantor does hereby recommend to them to hold said property without alienation, and apply the rents, issues and profits thereof to the uses and pur- poses above, and that the expenditures for such institution be not permitted to exceed the annual income derived from said prop- erty."
After the death of Mr. Case, January 6, 1880, steps were taken to incorporate and articles filed.
Instruction began in 1881 in the Case homestead and con- tinued until 1885 when the transfer was made to the new building ready for occupancy. Since that date several new laboratories liave been erected. A large faculty is employed. The students number nearly five hundred. The school is one of the best of its class in the country. They confer the usual scientific and tech- nical degrees.
III. DENOMINATIONAL COLLEGES.
I. KENYON COLLEGE, GAMBIER, KNOX COUNTY, FOUNDED 1825.
Kenyon was not only among the first colleges in Ohio, but is the pioneer among what we term denominational colleges. The founder was the Right Reverend Philander Chase, first Bishop of Ohio in the Protestant Episcopal Church. The first articles of in- corporation were dated December 29, 1824, under the name of "The Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Diocese of Ohio." On January 24, 1826, the charter was amended so that the president and professors should constitute a faculty with the usual collegiate powers. On March 10, 1839, the charter was amended so as to provide for the establishment of a college, a preparatory department and the power to confer collegiate degrees was given to the college faculty and the de- grees in theology to the theological faculty.
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In August, 1891, another change was effected by which the corporate name was changed to "Kenyon College." The three heretofore independent institutions were consolidated into one of which the president of Kenyon College is the head. Kenyon Col- lege now includes three departments, viz : A Theological School, Bexley Hall; A Collegiate School, Kenyon College; and a Pre- paratory School, Kenyon Military Academy. In 1898 another amendment was made providing that the bishop and bishop co- adjutator of any diocese outside of the state of Ohio may become members of the board by filing with the secretary a written ac- ceptance of an offer by the board of such membership. And upon such acceptance by its bishop, one additional trustee may be appointed for the term of three years, by the diocesan con- vention of such diocese. Under these provisions the govern- ment of Kenyon College is vested in a group of bishops together with additional trustees elected by the several affiliated dioceses. A college could not be more completely or cordially united to its denomination.
In the development of his plans Bishop Chase went to Eng- land with letters of introduction from Henry Clay to Lord Gam- bier, whom Mr. Clay had met as commissioner of the Treaty of Ghent in 1815. Among the distinguished persons met on this trip were Lords Gambier, Kenyon and Bexley, Sir Thomas Ack- land, the Right Honorable Dowager Countess of Rosse, the Rev. George Gaskin, D. D., Henry Hoare, George W. Marriott and Mrs. Hannah More. Thirty thousand dollars was realized from this trip. He returned to Ohio in the autumn of 1824. The pre- paratory school was opened on the bishop's estate at Worthing- ton a few miles north of Columbus.
The choice of location was made by the purchase of a tract of eight thousand acres of land in Knox County at two dollars and twenty-five cents an acre. Here with much hard labor, many trials, some disappointments and some controversy, the new col- lege was started. The village was named Gambier and the chief building, Kenyon College thus recognizing Bishop Chase's most ardent friends. The corner stone of Kenyon College was laid with appropriate ceremonies June 9, 1827. The college now has ten buildings : Old Kenyon built in 1827 used as a dormitory ;
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Ascension Hall, recitation and laboratory purposes; Rosse Hall, gymnasium and assembly room; Hubbard Hall, the library; the Church of the Holy Spirit, the College Chapel; Bexley Hall, The Theological Seminary; Milnor and Delano Halls for the prepara- tory school ; "Kokosing," the stone mansion of Bishop Bedell and last in 1901 Hanna Hall now in process of erection for a dormi- tory the gift of the Honorable Marcus A. Hanna, United States Senator from Ohio.
The college has considerable endowment, a number of schol- arships and is completely organized for the work of education along the lines suggested in the annual catalogue. The attend- ance has never been large but the alumni roll is one of unusual distinction. The institution is not coeducational but Harcourt Seminary of Gambier offers facilities for the education of young women. The college department, the theological department and the Military Academy are organized with separate faculties for education but all are under the management of one board of trus- tees.
2. ST. XAVIER'S COLLEGE, CINCINNATI, HAMILTON COUNTY, FOUNDED 183I.
This college grew up in proximity to St. Xavier's church, Sycamore street, Cincinnati, and was established by the Right Reverend Edward D. Fenwick, D. D., first Bishop of Cincinnati, October 17, 1831. The school was conducted under the name of the Athenaeum. It was the subject of varying fortunes for sev- eral years and in 1840 was transferred to the Fathers of the So- ciety of Jesus by Archbishop Purcell. In 1842 it was incorpo- rated by the legislature of Ohio under the name of St. Xavier's College. In 1869 the legislature passed an act under the general law of 1852 which provides for a perpetual charter with all the usual collegiate and university powers.
The Faculty serves without compensation and maintains well organized literary, commercial and preparatory courses. The college enrolls about four hundred students and is for boys only. There is no endowment and the management depends upon tui- tion for ordinary expenses.
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3. DENISON UNIVERSITY, GRANVILLE, LICKING COUNTY, FOUNDED 1831.
The Granville Literary and Theological Institution was opened in Granville, December 13, 1831, and incorporated in January, 1832, the official signatures being affixed February 3, 1832. In 1845 the name was changed to "Granville College" and on June 25, 1856, the name was changed to Denison Uni- versity. This was in recognition of the generosity of William Denison of Adamsville, Ohio. In 1867 the university was re- incorporated under the general law of 1852.
The agitation for an institution was begun in the Ohio Baptist Education Society and at a meeting held in Lebanon in May, 1830, it was decided to proceed to the establishment of a college. The original thought was to prepare an educated ministry for the church and to provide· a college of literary character. At the meeting of the society in Lancaster, May, 1831, a report was submitted naming certain trustees. Ap- plications were received at this meeting for the location of the college. Granville offered a farm valued at $3,400 and the offer was accepted. Among the early provisions was one that required each student to work at agriculture or some mechanic: art four hours a day for five days in the week. The proceeds. of this labor were to go to the maintenance of the school, the student's board, washing, etc. Here, as at Oberlin, the manual labor feature failed and was abandoned. It was the intention to establish a theological department and the names of two men appeared in the early catalogues as professors of theology. The department has had no consideration since 1870. In 1852 a resolution favoring an agricultural department was passed, but bore no fruit. The university now includes five depart- ments :-
I. Granville College.
2. Shepardson College.
3. Doane Academy.
4. The Conservatory of Music.
5. The School of Art.
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Shepardson College for women had been in operation for a number of years and was presented to the Baptists of Ohio in 1887 by Dr. Daniel Shepardson. In June, 1900, an arrangement was made by unanimous consent of the boards by which the work of Denison covers the work of both colleges. Shepard- son maintains its legal existence, but the membership of its board is identical with that of Denison and thus a complete co-operation is secured. Co-education came to this institution by a new route, not co-ordination, not affiliation, but by co-opera- tion. The unity of management secured by this means to Denison University can not fail to make the cause stronger and the work more efficient. The property and funds now exceed a million dollars in value. Few denominational colleges are as well equipped for the work they undertake.
The government is by a board of thirty-six trustees in three classes for terms of three years. Formerly the trustees were chosen by the education society but the self-perpetuating plan is now in operation. Members must be in good standing in some regular Baptist Church, residents of Ohio, and at least five must be resident freeholders in Licking County.
4. MUSKINGUM COLLEGE, NEW CONCORD, MUSKINGUM COUNTY, FOUNDED 1837.
The origin of this college was due to local interests. The community about the village of New Concord was settled chiefly by Scotch and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. There were all va- rieties, the Associate, Associate-Reformed, afterwards the United Presbyterians, the Reformed Presbyterians and the Presbyterians of the Old School. These people believed in an educated min- istry and in education alike for boys and girls. They began the agitation as early as 1836, while the first settlers were still active. At that time the public school system was undeveloped and college privileges were unusual. After some discussion in 1836 it was decided to proceed with measures for a college and on March 18, 1837, the college was incorporated with a board of nine trustees and power to increase the number to fifteen. At the beginning the school was on rented quarters until the com- munity had raised the money and erected the building.
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At the outset the management was purely local, as was also the patronage. It so continued until 1877, when the Board proposed to affiliate more closely with the United Presbyterian Church by putting the college under the control of Muskingum Presbytery, in which the college was located, and the adjacent presbytery of Mansfield. When this was agreed to a change of charter was secured to meet the new conditions. In 1883 the United Presbyterian Synod of Ohio took formal control. The board of trustees consists of twenty-one persons elected in three classes for three years. Thus the college became in the most direct way a denominational college. This simply widened its constituency. Its patronage has always been chiefly from the United Presbyterian Church and the money has come from the same source. At the outset the college was for men, but in 1854 the Board decided in favor of co-education and the first woman graduate was in the class of 1855. The college partici- pated in the benefits of the quarto centennial fund and since the transfer of its government has entered upon an era of new · usefulness.
5. OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, DELAWARE, DELAWARE COUNTY, FOUNDED 1844.
In 1840 Dr. Edward Thomson, principal of Norwalk Sem- inary, in a report to the North Ohio Conference said, "There is no Methodist college in Ohio. We blush to think that it contains no institution to which our youth can resort for colle- giate instruction without imbibing ideas at variance with the Jeligion of their fathers, and the church of their adoption. There is no state in the country in which the Methodist church is more In need of a college than Ohio." This is believed to be the first published utterance of the need of a Methodist college. From this point the discussion widened and finally took tangi- ble form at Delaware. An attempt had been made to establish a watering place at the famous White Sulphur Spring, now on the university campus. This project had not been as suc- cessful as was hoped and the owner concluded to abandon. Rev. Adam Poe offered the suggestion of purchase and the establishment of a Methodist college at the place. The proposal.
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was received with favor and on September I, 1841, a joint com- mittee of the North Ohio and the Ohio Conferences met and accepted the proposed location. March 7, 1842, the legislature granted a charter. A preparatory school was opened in 1841 and in 1842 Dr. Edward Thomson was elected to the presi- dency, but was not expected to enter actively upon his duties for some time. Meantime plans were matured for opening the college and efforts made to procure necessary funds. In 1844 the board proceeded to organize a faculty and the school was opened November 13, 1844, with a president and four members of the faculty. The early days of the college were, as usual in the western country, surrounded with discouraging features, but inspired by the devotion and loyalty of the faculty and friends.
Ohio Wesleyan began on the old lines of separate educa- tion. At the beginning twenty-nine young men appeared and the college continued on these lines until the union with the Ohio Wesleyan Female College, in 1877. In those years co- education was not popular and the thought of a woman's edu- cation being on the same plane and of equal dignity with that of man, had not taken a deep hold upon the public. As early as 1850 a movement for the education of young women was started in Delaware by Rev. William Grissell and wife. This movement was abandoned two years later and in 1853 the prop- erty of Mr. Grissell was bought and "The Ohio Wesleyan Fe- male College" was incorporated by twenty men, among whom was the late Prof. William G. Williams, so long identified with the university. The discussion of co-education continued throughout the country and sentiment steadily changed until the Church in the West has almost unanimously declared for the policy. It was inevitable that the union should come and in 1877 the Female College which had acquired a fine property known as Monnett Hall with a body of more than four hundred alumnæ, was united with the Ohio Wesleyan University, and then began the most vigorous and progressive life in the history of the two movements.
The government of the university is vested in a board of thirty-one trustees, the president of the university being ex-officio a member. The election of members is by five an-
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nual conferences and the Association of Alumni and the term of office is fixed at five years. This keeps the management of the university entirely within the control of the church.
In equipment the university ranks among the best in the Central West. The buildings are modern and adequate; the funds have increased liberally ; the student roll steadily increases and the faculty is able and progressive. Few denominational colleges have had a more intimate relation to the church and of none perhaps could it be said that the helpful influence upon the church is equal to that of the Ohio Wesleyan University. Her alumni are found in all lands and the vigorous Christian activity maintained has commended the university to all people interested in higher Christian education. Her service to the state has been conspicuous and patriotic.
6. BALDWIN UNIVERSITY AND GERMAN WALLACE COLLEGE, BEREA, CUYAHOGA COUNTY, FOUNDED 1845.
Baldwin University owes its existence to the generosity of Hon. John Baldwin, who gave to the North Ohio Annual Con- ference lands, buildings and endowments. Mr. Baldwin had come to Berea a young man without property and located upon lands that proved to be exceedingly valuable owing to the stone quarries, among which were stone suitable for grindstones. The proceeds from the sale of grindstones were used for the erection of buildings.
A seminary had been in operation at Norwalk. Mr. Bald- win proposed removal and offered fifty acres of land, includ- ing most of the grindstone quarries, and promised to erect a building 72x36, to be finished by September, 1845. In June, 1845, he offered fifty lots to be sold at a fair valuation and the proceeds used as an endowment. This offer was accepted. Bald- win Institute was chartered in 1845. Ten years later, acting upon the advice of the Conference, the name was changed to Baldwin University. The quarries have made it possible to erect the buildings of stone, and in this regard the university has been fortunate. Its buildings are superior. The institution was begun as a coeducational institution and so remains. Its
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history is like other Ohio Colleges as to curriculum and general purposes. In 1858 a German department was organized with a view of meeting the needs of the German Methodists. In 1863 it was organized as a separate institution and named German Wallace College, in honor of Hon. James Wallace, who gave the first building.
By a cordial co-operation of the trustees of the two insti- tutions no professorships are duplicated and the professors teach in both institutions. Tuition in one gives full rights in the other. The university furnishes instruction in Latin, mathe- matics and science, while the college furnishes instruction in German, Greek and French.
Efforts have been made at different times to widen the scope of the university by organizing other departments, such as pharmacy and latest a school of law. These efforts have not met with sufficient success to make them form an im- portant part of the history of the institution. The fact that Baldwin is one of the several Methodist colleges in the state makes its progress and growth more difficult than otherwise.
7. WITTENBERG COLLEGE, SPRINGFIELD, CLARKE COUNTY, FOUNDED 1845.
The charter of Wittenberg College was granted March II, 1845, to a company of Lutheran gentlemen representing that branch of the Evangelical Lutheran Church known as the Gen- eral Synod of the United States. The board of directors re- ceived appointment from the several sustaining synods. It is required that two members be from Clarke County and pro- vision has been made that the alumni shall have two members. Five synods, East Ohio, Miami, Wittenberg, Northern Indiana and Olive Branch Synod elect members. There are forty-two members reported in the current catalogue. The college or- ganization includes the collegiate department, the theological department, the Wittenberg Academy, the School of Expres- sion and.the Conservatory of Music. The college has a beautiful campus of about forty acres within easy reach of the center of Springfield and has in recent years made substantial growth
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in funds and equipment. The original purpose of the founders: was to provide education for the sons and daughters of the church and to educate the ministry. The work of the college has been broader than the first conception without losing em- phasis upon the distinctive principles of the founders. The students come chiefly from Indiana, Pennsylvania and Ohio where Lutheran churches are found. The faculty numbers twelve with about an equal number of instructors not ranking as professors.
8. MT. UNION COLLEGE, ALLIANCE, STARK COUNTY, FOUNDED 1846.
Mt. Union College, like so many other Ohio colleges, was a growth. Rev. O. N. Hartshorn started in humble quarters with a school of six in 1846. The members increased until it was believed that a college should be organized. A charter was granted March II, 1853. The purpose of the college, as set forth in the charter and published statements, doubtless expressed the views of Dr. Hartshorn and met with general approval.
Among other statements are these: "To found for the peo- ple a cosmic college, where any person may economically obtain a thorough, illustrative, integral instruction in any needed studies. To enable any persons of either sex to take any general course, or a special or elective course, or such study or studies in any department or course and for such time as their choice and life- character may need. To make the college a voluntary, represen- tative, patriotic, philanthropic, Christian and progressive institu- tion - not compulsory, sectarian, antiquated, arbitrary or par- tial."
Among the leading provisions were that the property should be held in trust ; contributors were allowed to vote for trustees ; the college was to be conducted according to the principles of the Christian religion as revealed in the Bible; the college was not to be a close corporation, but trustees were to be elected for terms of three years, and the college was to rely upon voluntary sup- port for its needs.
Under these principles the school began its history. Thou- sands of students have been in attendance, the majority, how-
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ever, not continuing until graduation. As will be readily seen, the college aimed to be a public institution from the start, but free from the methods of the close corporation and the strictly organized denominational college. The work continued until 1864, when the Methodist Episcopal Church came into a measure of control by the appointment of committees of supervision and committees of visitation. This has been developed, and now the Pittsburgh, the East Ohio, the Erie, the West Virginia and North Ohio Conferences unite in supervision and visitation. From the beginning the men interested in organization and pro- motion have been predominatingly Methodist. The names of Lewis Miller, of Akron; his brother, Jacob Miller, of Canton ; William McKinley, Bishops Gilbert Haven, Simpson, Warren and Vincent sufficiently indicate the quality of men who have had supervision in recent years.
As early as 1850 the college organized a normal department. The organization at present includes the collegiate department, the academic department, the normal department, the department of oratory and physical culture, the commercial department, the department of music, and the department of fine arts. The pat- ronage has come from many states, but chiefly from Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
9. OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY, WESTERVILLE, FRANKLIN COUNTY,. FOUNDED 1847.
This institution, located at Westerville, Franklin County,. twelve miles north of Columbus, was the outgrowth of the con- viction that the denomination should educate its children. The official date of its founding is April 26, 1847, and, as proclaimed in its publications, the institution is owned and controlled by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. The name was taken from Phillip William Otterbein, the founder of the church. In 1845 the General Conference resolved, (1) that proper meas- ures be adopted to establish an institution of learning ; and (2) that it be recommended to the attention of the annual conferences. The Miami Conference was the first to act, March 3, 1846. Sub- sequently other annual conferences acted favorably. In October
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26, 1846, the Scioto Conference decided upon the establishment of an institution, purchased the Blendon Young Men's Seminary, then operated by the Methodist Episcopal Church, invited other conferences to co-operate, and on April 26, 1847, the trustees appointed by the Scioto and Sandusky Conferences met and founded the "Otterbein University of Ohio." The following September the school was opened as an academy. In 1849 the charter was granted by the state of Ohio. The work done was that of an academy until 1854, when the first college class was formed. In 1857 the first class, consisting of two ladies - Sarah Jane Miller and Mary Kate Winter - was graduated, since which time no year has passed without a graduating class.
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