USA > Oregon > Marion County > Salem > Oregon and its institutions; comprising a full history of the Willamette University, the first established on the Pacific Coast > Part 15
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" Respectfully submitted, T. M. GATCH, " Pres. of Faculty, and Teacher of Anc. Lang. " L. J. POWELL,
" Teacher of Mathematics and Natural Science. " LUCY A. M. LEE,
" Teacher of French and English Composition."
Diplomas were awarded to each of the persons recommended by the president, and on the day of public commencement they acquitted themselves in their orations and essays with equal honor with the class of the previous year, and with corresponding
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credit to the institution that had nurtured them. The Faculty of Instruction for the collegiate year commencing September, 1864, was the same as the previous year. Prosperity crowned the efforts of both the faculty and trustees during the year, and at its close, July 18, 1865, the Board were gratified to receive from the Faculty of Instruction the following communication :
" GENTLEMEN : Presley M. Denny and Parrish L. Willis have completed the full classical course of study, and are hereby recommended to the Board as qualified to receive the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Charles W. Kahlor has completed the English course, Janette M'Calley and Frances Wilson have com- pleted the course prescribed for young ladies. All these, having passed satisfactory examinations, are recommended as entitled to the honors of gradu- ation."
Accordingly the Board conferred the degree of A. B. upon Presley M. Denny and Parrish L. Willis, and of B. S. upon Charles W. Kahlor, and of M. E. L. upon Janette M'Calley and Frances A. Wilson.
At the annual meeting of the Board, which was held July 26, 1865, Mr. Gatch, after five years of most acceptable and efficient service as president of the university, resigned his position, and as it was evident that he could not be prevailed upon to recall his act, as in the former instance, his resignation was accepted, with many thanks for the services which
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he had rendered the institution, and regrets that we were losing the same. After Mr. Gatch had taken leave of the school, at a meeting of the Board, held August 25, 1865, a motion, presented by Rev. I. Dil- lon, was carried, that L. J. Powell, F. H. Grubbs, and Lucy A. M. Grubbs constitute the Board of In- struction for the ensuing year, and that L. J. Powell act as president until otherwise ordered. Mrs. C. A. Wilson was continued also as governess.
At the same time J. S. Smith, G. Hines, and A. F. Waller were appointed a committee to correspond in relation to procuring a president for the university. Bishop Kingsley was present at this meeting of the Board, and by the committee of correspondence was respectfully requested to aid the Board and com- mitttee in procuring a suitable person to take charge of the institution as president. He was then on his way to California.
The academical year opened September 10 more promisingly than any preceding year, there being in the senior class nine young gentlemen and nine young ladies at the beginning of the year. The other departments were correspondingly full, and the faculty addressed themselves to their work with courage and unanimity.
On the twentieth of September a special meeting of the Board was called, when a telegram from Bish- op Kingsley from California was read, recommending the election of Rev. J. II. Wythe, A. M., M. D., to the presidency of the institution. The secretary was instructed to write to Dr. Wythe, giving him in-
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formation of his election. October 31, 1865, Dr. Wythe had arrived in the country, and, pursuant to a call from the president of the Board, Rev. David Leslie, a meeting was held at the chapel of the Insti- tute, and Dr. Wythe was introduced to the meeting. He made some remarks indicating his views and feelings in " assuming charge of the institution."
During the collegiate year there were some changes introduced by the president of the faculty in regard to the course of study and the plan of graduation, which were approved, except as to the course of study. As there appeared to be a necessity for another revision of the course of study, the paper introduced by Dr. Wythe was referred to a com- mittee of five, to wit : H. K. Hines, J. S. Smith, J. C. Peebles, D. Rutledge, and C. N. Terry. The committee was requested to invite Dr. Wythe and the rest of the faculty to participate in their action. The report of this committee made at an adjourned meeting, after some amendments by the Board, was adopted, and fixed the price of tuition in all the different branches, and provided that the academical year should be divided into three terms of fourteen weeks each. The course of study which was adopted may be found in the published catalogue of the institution.
During the year, though the records do not specify the precise time, a change was made in the Board of Instruction by the connection of Miss Frances A. Wilson with the Intermediate Department.
Some time during the first part of the year the
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senior class of young gentlemen was enlarged by the addition of two from California, who, because of their attainments, were allowed to enter the university three years in advance in the college course, and take position in the graduating class.
On the eighteenth of July, 1866, the names of the following persons were reported by President Wythe as having finished the prescribed course of studies and passed creditable examinations in the same, and were entitled to appropriate diplomas setting forth their attainments : In the Collegiate Department, classical and scientific course, Nehemiah L. Butler, Henry H. Gilfrey, Edward E. Dodge, J. M. Garrison, Joseph Hannan, James R. N. Sellwood, Jos. A. Sellwood, Samuel L. Simpson, and William T. Wythe.
In the scientific course, John M. Bewley.
In the young ladies' course, Fannie S. Case, Elizabeth Harrison, Frances M. M'Farland, Ellen E. Starkey, Irene H. Strattan, Helen L. Williams, Jane E. Miller, Mary E. Robinson, and Maria E. Smith.
The degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred upon the nine first named ; John M. Bewley received the degree of Bachelor of Science, and each of the young ladies was constituted Mistress of English Literature. This was the largest class that had as yet graduated from the institution, and the manner in which they acquitted themselves in their exam- ination, orations, and essays was peculiarly gratify- ing to the Board of Trustees, the crowd of spectators that witnessed them, but especially to those teachers
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present who had conducted most of them along the paths of science from the primary branches up through all the grades of study, until they had the happiness of beholding them upon the platform, standing, with palpitating hearts, to receive the honors of graduation. The commencement exercises that closed this year were held in what is to be the chapel of the new building when finished, and though large was filled to overflowing. Increasing maturity characterized the exercises, and the impression was made that our work was indeed growing upon our hands. During the annual meeting of the Board, which, from the amount of business to be transacted, was adjourned from time to time, a very warm dis- cussion arose in relation to matters affecting the Board of Instruction, a detailed account of which would neither be interesting nor profitable. I there- fore simply allude to it and pass it by. The results of this discussion were such, that the changes which were sought to be made by some in the Board of Instruction were not secured, but most of the members of the last year's Board were still retained. There was, however, a reorganization of the faculty as follows :
Rev. J. H. WYTHE, A. M., M. D., still retained the presidency, and was elected to the chair of Mental and Moral Science; Rev. L. J. POWELL, A. M., was elected professor of Mathematics and Na- tural Science ; Mr. S. C. SIMPSON, professor of Ancient Languages ; Mrs. LUCY A. M. GRUBBS, preceptress. and teacher of French and English Com-
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position ; Mr. F. H. GRUBBS, principal of the Aca- demic Department ; Miss JANETTE M'CALLEY, Pri- mary Department; Mrs. G. BERRY, teacher of Instru- mental Music; Miss MARY HOLMAN, teacher of Painting and Drawing.
With the different departments thus provided for, the school entered upon the twenty-fourth year of its history since it was first originated, with great encouragement as to its future advancement.
At a quarterly meeting of the Board, held No- vember 14, 1866, measures were taken to organize a medical department under the charter of the uni- versity. Some two years previously, by the solici- tation of a number of medical gentlemen at Portland, the Board had organized a medical department of the university, to be located at that place, but as it never went into operation it has been hitherto passed over without any particular notice. But it became fully apparent, from the number of gentlemen in the country desiring an education that should qualify them for the practice of medicine, that the time had now come to put into successful operation a medical department. Consequently, at the meeting of the Board alluded to G. Hines presented the following resolution, which was adopted by the Board:
Resolved, That, whereas the gentlemen heretofore elected professors in the Medical Department of the Willamette University, which was established at Portland, have failed to organize, so as to perform the duties imposed upon them by their election, and have also resigned their positions and discontinued
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their relations to the university, the said Medical De- partment be, and the same is hereby, established and located at Salem. That it shall consist of seven or more professorships, so arranged and conducted as to afford a full course of instruction by lectures and studies, conforming to the latest and most approved practice of the best medical institutions, and of such a grade and character as to thoroughly qualify its graduates for the responsible duties of a professional life.
The Board proceeded to designate the various pro- fessorships, and to elect professors to the same, as follows:
H. CARPENTER, M. D., professor of Civil and Mil- itary Surgery ; E. R. FISKE, A. M., M. D., professor of Pathology and Practice of Medicine; JOHN Bos- WELL, M. D., professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children ; J. H. WYTHE, A. M., M. D., professor of Physiology, Hygiene, and Microscopy ; D. PEYTON, M. D., professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics ; J. W. M'AFEE, M. D., professor of Chemistry and Toxicology ; W. C. WARRINER, M.D., demonstrator of Anatomy; Hon. J. S. SMITH, pro- fessor of Medical Jurisprudence.
A. F. Waller, G. Hines, and John H. Moores were appointed a committee to confer with the members of the Medical Faculty, and report to the next meet- ing of the Board a set of rules for the regulation of the Medical Department,
The result of the conference of this committee with the Medical Faculty was the report of the fol
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lowing articles for the regulation and government of said Medical Department, which were adopted by the Board.
"1. All vacancies which may occur in the Medical Faculty shall be filled by the Board of Trustees, but said faculty shall have the right to nominate candidates for election, and no person not nominated shall ever be elected a member thereof, unless said Medical Faculty shall neglect for six months to make such nomination.
" 2. The financial obligations and disbursements shall be limited to the actual receipts from tuitions and donations. Any unusual expense that may be deemed necessary shall be first authorized by the Board of Trustees before it is incurred.
"3. The Medical Faculty shall have the control of all property and means donated, or devised to the university for the use of the Medical Department ; but no use shall be made of the same for any pur- pose but the promotion of medical science and education.
"4. All moneys ensuing from tuition in the Medical Department shall belong exclusively to the Medical Faculty, except that all graduation fees shall go into a fund, to be called the Medical Educational Fund, the proceeds of which shall be applied exclusively to the purchase of appliances to facilitate medical instruction and payment for diplomas,
"5. Charges of incapacity, neglect of duty, un- gentlemanly conduct, or other unfitness for the
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position, made against any member of the Medical Faculty, shall be first investigated by the Medical Faculty, and in case of disagreement among the members thereof in reference to excluding the one against whom the charges are made, they shall be referred to the Board of Trustees for final action.
"6. The Trustees of the university shall at all times have the right to examine into the condition and management of the Medical Department, and advise with regard to its interests, and the dean of the faculty shall annually submit a report of its financial and educational condition, which, with its list of graduates, shall be embodied in the annual catalogue.
"7. The degree of Doctor of Medicine shall be granted by the Board of Trustees on the recom- mendation of the Medical Faculty, and shall be con- ferred in the customary manner at the annual com- mencement of the university.
" 8. The Medical Faculty shall have power to elect their own officers, at such times and in such manner as they may choose, and to make all needful rules, regulations, and by-laws for the management and control of the Medical Department not incon- sistent with the charter of the university."
Doctor Warriner subsequently resigned his posi- tion in the faculty, and M. B. Lingo, M.D., was elected to fill his place. Hon. J. S. Smith resigned his position as professor of Medical Jurisprudence, and at a subsequent meeting the Medical Faculty
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placed in nomination Hon. J. HI. Mitchell, who was elected to fill the place.
Thus organized, the Medical Department of the Willamette University opened on the first day of April, 1867, under very favorable auspices, with twenty students in attendance.
The collegiate year closed with appropriate com- mencement exercises on the 25th of July, 1867. In the Collegiate Department there were no graduates this year ; but in the Young Ladies' Department a class of five, who did great credit to themselves in their examination and essays, received the honors of the institution. The following are the names of the members of the class: Susan Harrison, Louisa A. Simpson, Eliza Witten, Sarah J. Wythe, Mary L. Wythe. These all received the degree of M. E. L., and diplomas setting forth their attainments. There were three gentlemen in the Medical Department who entered the institution so far advanced in their studies as that one course of lectures entitled them to the honors of graduation. Accordingly, they received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in accordance with the rules of the institution. These
were John L. Martin, of Sio, Linn County, William A. Cusick, of Waconda, Marion County, and Daniel M. Jones, of Sublimity, Marion County. At the same time that the above-named persons received the honors of the institution, the honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred upon three very worthy and distinguished citizens of the state of Oregon, namely, Hon. George H. Williams, United States Senator,
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Hon. M. P. Deady, United States District Judge, and Hon. Addison C. Gibbs, ex-Governor of the state of Oregon. These were the first honorary titles which the university had ever conferred. Twenty- five years had now passed since the Board of Trustees was first organized, and fourteen since the institution was chartered as a university by the legislature of Oregon. True, the school had experi- enced some severe reverses, but it had survived them, and was assuming a permanency of character which not only commended it to the confidence of the com- munity, but which gave satisfactory promise that, whatever changes might occur, the future success of the school was secured beyond a peradventure. At the annual meeting of the Board, held on the evening of the 23th of July of the present year, (1867,) Dr. J. H. Wythe, for reasons which need not be stated here, but which were doubtless satisfactory to himself, resigned his position as president of the university, and the resignation was accepted by the Board of Trustees. The Board then proceeded to the election of a new president, and also to fill the various chairs. Dr. Benson, of the Pacific Christian Advocate, was elected president, T. M. Gatch, A.M., and Mr. O. S. Frambes, A. M., were elected professors. Doubtless the prosperity of the institution would have been greatly promoted if these gentlemen had found it convenient to accept of the positions offered them ; but the obligations resting upon them, growing out of their present positions, were such, that in their judgment they could not consistently do so, and, con-
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sequently, they respectfully declined. The Board of Trustees was thrown upon the necessity of calling another meeting for the election of a Faculty of Instruction. This they did on the evening of the 3d day of September, and the Board went into the election of a faculty with the following results : Rev. L. T. Woodward, A.M., was elected professor of Ancient Languages and Moral Science, and con- stituted the acting president of the institution. Rev. L. J. Powell, A.M., professor of Mathematics and Natural Science. F. H. Grubbs, A.M., prin- cipal of Academical Department. Lucy A. M. Grubbs, M.E.L., preceptress and teacher of French and English Composition. Elizabeth H. Woodward, Primary Department. Almira Holman, teacher of Instrumental Music.
Of the members of this faculty who now (October 23, 1867) constitute the Board of Instruction in the Willamette University, three, Rev. L. J. Powell, A. M., F. H. Grubbs, A. M., and Mrs. L. A. M. Grubbs, have been connected with the school as teachers for six years ; the other members of the faculty have been newly elected.
The present academical year opened very flatter- ingly on the sixteenth of September in the old build- ing, with upward of one hundred students in attend- ance on the first day of the session, and with the prospect of soon occupying the new building, the second and third stories of which were being pre- pared for the reception of the school. And now, while the school is retained for a few weeks only in
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the old dilapidated frame house, which has buffeted the severe winter storms of Oregon for twenty-five years, as we have only casually alluded to the fact that efforts were being made to provide more com- fortable quarters, we will leave the newly-organized faculty to prosecute their work under serious disad- vantages, and proceed to give an account of the efforts of the Board of Trustees to erect a new col- lege edifice.
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY.
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CHAPTER XI.
HISTORY OF THE NEW COLLEGE BUILDING.
FOR some years previous to 1860 the trustees and friends of the institution generally had felt the need of a more commodious building for the accommoda- tion of the school. The old building had been con- structed with a view to its occupancy for other pur- poses than that of a college edifice, and though it answered a very good purpose for many years, yet the rooms were low and uncomfortable, and the building was becoming dilapidated, the roof being scarcely a protection from the storm, as the shingles in many places were worn literally through to the sheeting, and the whole building had become so weakened by age and decay that the winter winds would shake it from the cupola to the foundation. Besides this the old building was becoming too small for the school, the number of which varied from year to year from one hundred and seventy-five to three hundred and twenty students. The inability of the community to meet the expenses of such an under- taking restrained the Board for some time from making the attempt to erect a new college edifice ; but the increasingly dilapidated condition of the old building and the increase of students rendered it ab- solutely necessary for them either to build or abandon
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the whole enterprise. The latter idea, however, did not belong to their vocabulary. A new and commo- dious building had become an absolute necessity for the interests and perpetuity of the institution, and as Providence had smiled upon our efforts thus far, and conducted us safely through every trying emer- gency, guiding our bark at times in the midst of storms and breakers on every hand, we decided to venture out upon another sea of uncertainty, so far as human view could determine results, not doubting but that the same good Providence that had sus- tained and prospered us thus far on our voyage would bring us safe to land. Consequently, influ- enced by these considerations, at a meeting, held October 3, 1860, the Board resolved to take imme- diate measures to prepare for the erection of a new college building, and the agent, Rev. A. F. Waller, was instructed to raise subscriptions for that purpose. The necessities of the case prompted to this action of the Board at this time more than the prospect of immediate success. The action was found to be a
little premature. Consequently two years passed and little progress was made, except that the subject of building during that time was thoroughly can- vassed by the agent and others, and the necessity for a new building became more and more apparent. Again, November 19, 1862, the question of a new college edifice was introduced before the Board by the secretary, Rev. William Roberts, and, on motion of J. L. Parrish, it was again resolved that the Board now proceed to take measures for the erection of a
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new college building some time during the ensuing year. Pursuant to this, for the purpose of setting the wheels in motion, a committee, consisting of J H. Moores, J. Lamson, G. Hines, A. F. Waller, and J. L. Parrish, was appointed to prepare and submit plans of college buildings to the Board at the next meeting.
The committee thus appointed reported a number of plans at a meeting held December 2, 1862, and on motion of Gustavus Hines the Board instructed the agent to solicit subscriptions for, and appointed a committee to call a public meeting at the Methodist Episcopal church for the purpose of raising funds to aid in the erection of the building. The agent was further instructed to obtain subscriptions, to the amount of twenty thousand dollars or more, for this purpose, and the subscribers were made liable for their respective subscriptions when the amount of fifteen thousand dollars was subscribed, the money to be paid in gold or silver coin, or its equivalent. To bring the matter properly before the public the sub- stance of the above resolutions was published in the Oregon Statesman and the Pacific Christian Advocate. The agent, Rev. A. F. Waller, thus backed by the Board of Trustees, entered upon his work of soliciting subscriptions, but found it to be a slow and tedious process ; for, five months after com- mencing, at a meeting of the Board, held May 20, 1863, he reported that twelve thousand eight hun- dred dollars only had been subscribed. Such, how- ever, were the encouragements for an increase of
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subscriptions that the Board proceeded to appoint a building committee, consisting of J. H. Moores, A. F. Waller, and E. N. Cook, to which was added subse- quently the names of T. M. Gatch and G. Hines.
As yet no particular plan of building had been adopted by the Board, and a somewhat warm and lengthened discussion arose in the Board in regard to the kind of building which should be erected. Two or three plans were adopted at different times, and subsequently set aside. Finally, at a meeting of the Board held February 22, 1864, a settlement of the plan was effected by a vote of sixteen to one, a num- ber of the members being absent, and the action was thought sufficiently harmonious to warrant the break- ing of ground for the foundation of the building. It
had previously been decided to build of brick, and by examination it was found that the earth to be re- moved to make room for the basement, and for the foundation of the building, was as good a material for the manufacture of the brick as any that could be found ; hence it was decided to make the brick upon the ground. The earth was broken the last part of the month of February, 1864, and a professional brick-maker was employed to superintend the manu- facture of five hundred thousand brick, Rev. A. F. Waller having the general oversight of the whole matter as agent of the Board. This plan succeeded to admiration, for in due time the workmen employed presented us with a most magnificent kiln of brick of the very first quality, which seemed waiting to be employed to elevate the walls of our college edifice.
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