USA > Ohio > Ohio's progressive sons; a history of the state; sketches of those who have helped to build up the commonwealth > Part 29
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young women. At the present time-1905-women are admitted to all the classes without restriction.
On the 19th of June, 1850, since observed as foundation day, the corner stone of the first college building was laid. The college hall or students' dormitory was soon erected, and in 1874 a third story was added to the building. In 1875 a wing was added to the col- lege building, providing for a chemical laboratory, and in 1883 another building was erected, known as Barclay Hall, providing for a museum, recitation rooms and a public assembly room. Shortly after the original donation of ten acres of land, an additional donation of five acres was made by Mr. Edward Dodson, of Cincinnati, and a few years later an adjoining tract of fifteen acres was donated by Hon. J. Y. Scammon, of Chicago. About this time the college received a legacy of $10,000 from Mr. David Wilson, who stipulated that it should form the basis of a chair to be known as the Wilson professorship; also a bequest of
URBANA UNIVERSITY URBANA, O.
a tract of land from Mr. Alvin Washburn, the sale of which yielded the college $14,000. These gifts constituted the first substantial donations for the endowment of the institution.
Among the early professors in the college, was Milo G. Williams, professor of science and dean of the faculty, who continued in the duties of his professorship until 1870, and remained one of the trustees until his death. Associated with him in the early days of the school were a number of professors who acquired distinction as clergymen, writers, or pro- fessors in other universities; among whom are to be mentioned Leonhard Tafel, Ph.D .; the Rev. J. P. Stuart, A.M .; Joseph W. Jenks, A.M., and Colonel Adolph Boyesen, of Norway.
At the outbreak of the Civil War the attendance of students became so reduced that the collegiate department was suspended, and the institution was conducted for a number of years as an academy. The President of the institution during this period was the Rev. Chauncey Giles, who resided in Cincinnati, and had only an indirect management of its
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affairs. In 1870 Rev. Giles retired from the Presidency and was succeeded by the Rev. Frank Sewall, M.A., D.D. On the election of Dr. Sewall to the Presidency, steps were immedi- ately taken to reorganize the school on a college basis, which was successfully done. Asso- ciated with President Sewall at various times during his service, from 1870 to 1886, were Thomas F. Moses, A.M., M.D., professor of natural science ; Hjalmar H. Boyesen, from the University of Christiania, Norway, instructor in Latin and Greek; Thomas French, Jr., Ph.D., professor of physics and chemistry ; Philip B. Cabell, A. M., professor of Latin and Greek, and Jacob E. Werren, professor of modern languages. All of the above severed their connection with the college to accept calls to the ministry or positions in other col - leges. During Mr. Sewall's administration an effort was made to increase the endowment of the college, and resulted in securing subscriptions for that purpose to the amount of fifty thousand dollars.
In 1878 a statement of the property of the college was ordered published by the trustees, which showed the lands, buildings and endowment of the institution amounted to eighty- five thousand dollars. Dr. Moses succeeded Mr. Sewall in the Presidency, which, owing to failing health, he resigned in 1894. In 1896 the Rev. John Whitehead was elected President, which position he held till 1899, when he accepted a professorship in the New Church Theo- logical School at Cambridge, Mass. In June, 1901, Professor John H. Williams, B.S., M.A., was elected dean of the college, which position he is still holding. The following have been associated with Prof. Williams in recent years: Edwin G. Baldwin, M.A., Yale Uni- versity ; Daniel J. Lothrop, M.A., University of Minnesota, and Miss Ella G. Sullivan. Besides the dean, the faculty is at present composed of the following: Ernest G. Dodge, M.A., University of Chicago; the Rev. Russell Eaton, New Church Theological School, Cambridge, Mass .; Frederic P. Colette, B.L., University of Paris ; Miss H. Mildred French, A.B., University of Chicago; Miss Sylvia May Church, Miss Harriet L. James, and Mrs. Clara A. Belton. The endowments, properties, buildings and equipment of the college at the present time are valned at about one hundred and ten thousand dollars, and by the terms of a will already probated the institution will in time come into possession of bequests amounting to many thousands more. (Sketch prepared by Prof. John H. Williams, Dean.)
Heidelberg University
Heidelberg University, located at Tiffin, Seneca County, was founded in 1850 by the Ohio Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States. The institution is governed by a board of twenty-four regents, elected by the Ohio Synod. In November, 1850, the college was opened in rented quarters, while the charter was granted to Heidelberg College in Feb- ruary, 1851. The erection of the first building was begun in 1850, being completed three years later. In March, 1890, the articles of incorporation were amended, changing the name to Heidelberg University. A theological seminary is connected with the university. Heidel- berg University has rendered valuable services to the Reformed Church in Ohio. The pres- ent organization of the university provides for the college of liberal arts, the academy, the conservatory of music, the art department, the commercial department, the department of pedagogy and the department of oratory and art of expression.
Capital University
Capital University, located at Columbus, Franklin County, was founded in 1850. It is the lineal descendant of the German Evangelical Lutheran Seminary founded in 1830 by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Ohio, and incorporated on the 30th of January, 1834. Prior to this time but two other seminaries had been organized-the Hartwick Seminary, in
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Otsego County, New York, and the Gettysburg Seminary, in Pennsylvania. The rapid flow of settlement to the West led to the conviction that a start should be made to the education of a ministry for the German people. In 1828 Rev. William Schmidt, a graduate of Halle, Germany, began in his own house in Canton, Ohio, the instruction of six students. In the following year a board of management was elected. In 1831, in accordance with a resolu- tion adopted by the Synod, the seminary was removed to Columbus, where fourteen acres in the south end of the city had been secured. In January, 1833, the building was so far completed as to be occupied. Here the seminary lived until in 1850, when a new location on the north side of the city near Goodale Park was secured for Capital University. Capital University was incorporated on the 2d of March, 1850. This act also provided that the sem- inary should become a part of the university, with the provisions that the funds should not be diverted from theological education, and that the act of 1834 incorporating the seminary was not by this act repealed. Capital University thus began in 1850 as a literary and theo- logical institution, and was under the patronage of the same church as the seminary had been.
On the 30th of March, 1857, an act was passed by the Legislature, which changed the quorum of the board from twelve to seven members and repealed Section 4. This section related to the constitution of the board of trustees and the act of 1857 provided-"that the trustees of said seminary, mentioned in the preamble of the said act, together with three citizens of Columbus, to be statedly chosen by said trustees, shall, from and after the pass- age of this act, constitute the board of trustees of said Capital University; provided that until the further action of the trustees of said seminary the said three citizens of Columbus in said board shall be Lincoln Goodale, Robert Neil and William Dennison, Jr." This gave the university a board of fifteen trustees, three of whom were to be residents of Columbus. These are now chosen from among the Lutherans of the city, so that the control is completely in the hands of the Synod through its chosen representatives. In 1853 the new building near Goodale Park was dedicated. Here the university continued until in 1876, when it was removed to the present location, about three miles east of the State Capitol, just south of Main Street. The university now maintains preparatory, classical, scientific and theolog- ical courses. Special attention is paid to German, the majority of the congregations of the Synod for whom the institution aims to prepare pastors being entirely or partly German.
Scio College
Scio College, located at Scio, Harrison County, was founded in 1857. It began its exist- ence as Rural Seminary, at Harlem Springs, but was soon removed to New Market, now Scio, and incorporated as New Market College. In 1875, the institution changed its methods and name and was known as "The One-Study University." This plan, on the whole, was not satisfactory, and, in 1877, the college was reorganized as Scio College, returned to former methods, and passed under the control of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The organization includes the collegiate department, the department of pharmacy, the department of music, the commercial department, the department of oratory, the art department, and the normal department. The aim of the college as set forth in its published statements and. illustrated in its work is "to give such a thorough Christian training as will amply fit students to discharge creditably their duties in life, whether they intend to enter business or follow a profession." More than two hundred of the alumni have entered the ministry, chiefly in the Methodist Church.
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The University of Wooster
The University of Wooster, located at Wooster, Wayne County, and founded in 1866, owes its establishment to the Presbyterian Church. In 1866, the Synods of Ohio, Cincin- nati and Sandusky united in an action founding the University of Wooster. After the insti- tution had been chartered, work was begun to raise the funds necessary for the beginning. In 1868, the corner stone for the first building was laid, and by 1869 sufficient endowment had been secured to warrant the opening of the school. In September of the following year school work began, and six persons graduated in the first class of 1871. The organization at the beginning was by a board of self-perpetuating trustees, but in 1901 a new charter was adopted which provides that the election of trustees shall be by the Synod of Ohio. The alumni are given the privilege each year of nominating two of their number to the Synod. The board consists of thirty trustees. The title to the property vests in the Synod. The charter states the object of the university as follows: "The promotion of sound learning and education under religious influences." At the first meeting of the Board of Trustees the following resolutions were adopted :
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"Resolved, That we enter upon the work of establishing the Univer- sity of Wooster with the single purpose of glorifying God and pro- moting sanctified education, 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 Chris- tianity and bring religious influence and instruction to bear earnestly upon all who may be connected with the institution."
In October, 1870, a medical depart- ment was opened in Cleveland and LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OHIO continued until 1896. The prepara- tory department was opened in 1872. The graduate school was organized in September, 1881, but discontinued lately. The musical department was organ- ized in 1882 and the school of art in 1895. On the IIth of December, 1901, the original main building was burned. This was regarded as a great calamity, but proved to be an unmeas- arable blessing, as it made friends and affection not known before. In twelve months to a day the university had raised over four hundred thousand dollars and completed five build- ings, making one of the most modern and complete college plants, with the chapel and library that remained from the fire, to be found in the Central West. The university is now well organized in buildings, faculty and equipment to do the work assigned to it.
Ohio Northern University
Ohio Northern University, located at Ada, Hardin County, was founded in 1871. It owes its existence to the untiring energy and efforts of its first President, H. S. Lehr, who, in 1866, came to Ada to teach in the village schools. Here he made a provision by which
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he secured the use of the school buildings during the vacation period. If his venture in securing a constituency proved successful the vicinity was to aid in the erection of build- ings suitable for normal school purposes. After four years he had 120 non-resident students. A movement was begun for a new building, which was formally opened on the IIth of August, 1871, with an enrollment of one hundred and forty-seven pupils. In 1875 the Northwestern Normal School, then located at Fostoria, was consolidated with the school at Ada under the name of the latter-the Northwestern Ohio Normal School. The institu- tion, being owned by the faculty, continued as a proprietary school until 1885. On the 21st of May of that year it was incorporated under the laws of Ohio as an institution not for profit as the "Ohio Normal University." In 1898 at Sidney, Ohio, the Board of Trustees sold the real estate and personal property belonging to the university to the Central Ohio Con-
INNER COURT, WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY CLEVELAND, OHIO
ference, from which time it is to be classed among the denominational colleges. President H. S. Lehr retired from the active management at the close of the year 1901-02, after forty years of service as a teacher and leader in education.
The institution has grown up around the idea of President Lehr that a person should have an opportunity to begin improvement whenever he is ready. He sought to make the school an open opportunity to all classes at all times. He did not favor the rigidity of the public schools and colleges for all schools, but believed that every student should find a chance to go to work. The result was that many hundreds found the Ohio Normal Univer- city an open door when other schools were closed to them. The enrollment has gone beyond
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three thousand different students in a single year. The school has always been without endowment. Numerous departments are organized, the most important, however, being the normal. In addition to these may be mentioned the literary, the commercial, pharmacy, engineering and law. In July, 1903, the name was changed to Ohio Northern University.
Buchtel College
Buchtel College, located at Akron, Summit County, was founded in 1870. It is a denominational institution of the Universalist Church. As early as 1867, the Ohio State Convention of the Universalists adopted a report favoring the establishment of a seminary. One year later a report was unanimously adopted to establish an academy, but in 1869 this action was reconsidered, and instead of an academy the organization of a college was author- ized. In a joint meeting of the board of the convention and the Committee on Education, held at Columbus on the 16th of February, 1870, the location of the new college was fixed at Akron, under the provision that the sum of $60,000 was legally secured to the convention. This amount was secured in a short time, and Buchtel College, named in honor of John R. Buchtel, whose generous gifts had made the college possible, was incorporated in 1870. The present board of government consists of eighteen members, elected in three classes for a term of three years. Soon after the completion of the organization, steps were taken for the erection of a suitable building, and on the 4th of July, 1871, the corner stone was laid, Horace Greeley delivering the principal address. In September, 1872, the college opened with an enrollment in all departments for the year of 217. Buchtel College has been a co-educational institution from its beginning. The college maintains collegiate and academic departments, with a school of music and a school of arts. In 1889, the college suffered severe loss by fire, but new and more modern buildings soon replaced the old structures. Buchtel College has six buildings, and is well equipped for collegiate instruction. It has six endowed professorships, fifty-two perpetual scholarships and other memorial funds.
Wilmington College
Wilmington College, located at Wilmington, Clinton County, was founded in 1870. It is the outgrowth of a movement to establish a college-Franklin College-at Tuppers Plains, Meigs County, which was afterwards removed to Wilmington. In January, 1863, a meeting was held, in which it was decided to establish Franklin College, and to draft a constitution. This college was incorporated under the auspices of gentlemen representing the Christian Church. In 1865, a proposai to remove the college to Wilmington was received from certain citizens of that place, and a suitable building was promised. After the acceptance of the offer, in February, 1866, the present site of Wilmington College was purchased. At the end of the year, the building was so near completion that plans were made for the opening of the school, which event soon afterwards occurred. The school continued with reasonable success until 1868, when the managers, unable to complete the building, were forced to sell the structure to meet the indebtedness. At this point some friends of the Center Quarterly Meeting became interested in the movement and proposed to purchase the property and establish a college under the management of the three Quarterly Meetings constituting the Wilmington Yearly Meeting. This was done. The building was purchased and repaired, three trustees were appointed by each of the three Quarterly Meetings, and the name of the institution was changed to Wilmington College. The building was finished under the
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new management, and the college was opened on the 11th of April, 1871. The incorporation occurred in 1875. In the first year of its existence 148 students were enrolled. The college at present is under the government of the Board of Managers and the Board of Trustees as a joint board of control. The college is free from indebtedness, and possesses some endowment.
Rio Grande College
Rio Grande College, located at Rio Grande, Gallia County, was founded in 1876. Its establishment is due to the benevolence of Mr. Nehemiah and Mrs. Parmelia Atwood, mem- bers of the Free Will Baptist Church. After the death of Mr. Atwood, his widow devel- oped the long cherished plans of her husband. A campus was selected and the first build- ing erected. On the Ist of November, 1875, a meeting was held at Gallipolis for the purpose of legal organization. In the articles adopted it was declared "that a sound education, based upon Christian principles and ethics, is necessary to the development and support of our religious institutions and the present and future welfare of our race," and resolved "to establish an institution of learning at Rio Grande, in Gallia County and State of Ohio, and having received pledges from Mrs. Parmelia Wood (the widow having married Mr. Har- rison Wood) to the amount of over $50,000 and the positive payment of over $20,000 from the same party, do hereby adopt the following articles of association." Another article declared the college was founded "to promote Christian education" and to give under Christian influence a scientific, literary and classical education. The charter requires that two-thirds of the members of the Board of Trustees shall be members of the Free Will Baptist Church and forbids any change in the constitution that would alter its denomina- tional control. The college has full denominational recognition and standing, having been endorsed by the Ohio River Yearly Meeting and by the Free Communion Baptist Associa- tion of Ohio. After the adoption of the articles referred to above, the college was incor- porated. When it became necessary to erect a dormitory, Mrs. Wood furnished the means. She also pledged herself to pay during her life the salaries of instructors as they were needed. In her will, dated August 15, 1876, she gave her entire estate to the college as an endowment fund. The college came in possession of the estate after the death of Mrs. Wood, which occurred on the 9th of March, 1885. The institution was opened on the 13th of September, 1876. It has been quite successful, but has never been large, averaging about one hundred students.
Ashland University
Ashland University, located at Ashland, Ashland County, was founded in 1878. In February of that year the charter was granted. It was founded by a denomination known as the German Baptist or Dunkard Church. Although the legal title of the institution is Ashland University, the catalogue stipulates it as Ashland College, doubtless for the purpose of more accurately setting forth the work in which the institution is engaged. The Church disagreed in regard to the need of higher education and in 1881 there was a division in the denomination as the outgrowth of a dispute in the annual Conference of that year. After the division one branch of the Church came to the relief of the school and chartered Ash- land University in July, 1888. The college provides for collegiate, preparatory, normal, com- mercial and musical departments. The enrollment amounts to about two hundred.
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Findlay College
Findlay College, located at Findlay, Hancock County, was organized by the Church of God and incorporated on the 28th of January, 1882. Its aim was to furnish education that should not be sectarian, but under the influences of the Church to all, irrespective of sex, race or color. In the earlier years the financial struggle was trying, but since 1897 the col- lege has lived within its income and added to its endowment until it has reached one hundred thousand dollars, while the debt is merely nominal. The college has a faculty of sixteen members and maintains collegiate, preparatory, normal, musical, commercial, oratorical, art and theological departments. The ownership and control is in the Church and exercised through a board of fifteen trustees.
Defiance College
Defiance College is located at Defiance, Defiance County. Its buildings were erected in 1884. The history of the college dates back to 1850, when, on the 23d of March of that year, the Ohio Legislature chartered Defiance Female Seminary. On the 10th of July, 1903, articles of incorporation for Defiance College were filed in the office of the Secretary of State. In 1896 a reorganization took place. The charter provides against anything of a sectarian character, but it has been understood that the institution is under the care of a denomina- tion known as Christians. The institution is governed by a board of five trustees. The organization includes classical, scientific, philosophical courses and schools of pedagogy, commerce, shorthand, music, oratory, art and theology. Fourteen persons constitute the faculty. Twenty-five scholarships are announced.
St. Ignatius College
St. Ignatius College, located at Cleveland, was founded in 1886. Like St. Xavier Col- lege, at Cincinnati, the institution is conducted by the Fathers of the Society of Jesus. St. Ignatius College was incorporated on the 29th of December, 1890, but four years previous was opened for scholars. It offers a classical course and some preparatory studies. The course as provided comprises Christian doctrine, Latin, Greek, English, rhetoric, poetry, elocution, English literature, mathematics, physics and chemistry, history and geography, bookkeeping and penmanship. The college is in a flourishing condition, and has a large enrollment of students.
Lima College
Lima College, located at Lima, Allen County, was founded in 1893. It is under the control of the "Lima Lutheran Educational Association," the object being the Christian education of young men and women. In 1893 the corner stone of the beautiful college building was laid. The curriculum, besides the preparatory course of three years, offers a choice of four regular courses of study, the classical, scientific and normal, with special courses in music, elocution and business. The membership of the Lima Lutheran Educa- tional Association consists of pastors and laymen of Ohio, Indiana and Western Pennsyl- vania. The college has a large enrollment of students, and has a very bright future.
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Cedarville College
Cedarville College, located at Cedarville, Greene County, is the youngest of Ohio's denominational colleges. It was founded in 1894, and owes its existence to the generosity of the late William Gibson, of Cincinnati, who provided in his will that the sum of twenty- five thousand dollars should be given for the endowment of a college at Cedarville, Greene County, Ohio. In May, 1885, during the sessions of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Rev. David Steele, D.D., LL.D., offered a resolution to found a literary institution of learning at Cedarville. This resolution was adopted. In January, 1887, the college was chartered by the State of Ohio. An effort to raise funds was made, and about ten thousand dollars subscribed. Little more was done until May, 1894, when the General Synod elected Rev. David McKinney, D.D., of Cincinnati, the first President. In the following September the college was opened with its classes in the building formerly used by Rev. Hugh Mac- millan, D.D., as an academy. It began with thirty-seven students. During 1895 a com- modious building was erected and dedicated by the General Synod in May, 1896. The students now number over one hundred. Cedarville has started out as a denominational college with the avowed purpose of confining itself to the work of a small college, and with the purpose of emphasizing the importance of Christianity in education. The denomination in the coun- try is small, but active, and the constituency of the college is largely from the Church and the immediate vicinity. Cedarville College is the only college of the denomination in America.
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