USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of the state of Pennsylvania with a compendium of history. A record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume I > Part 20
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posit, Maryland; the James W. Bosler Memorial Library Hall: and Denny Memorial Hall.
At its organization the College was entirely undenominational, but Presbyterian influence was long predominant in the faculty. In 1833 it came under Methodist Episcopal control, with Bishop John Emory as President. The institution maintains collegiate instruction. and the Law School, which was suspended in 1882. is again admirably organized.
Washington and Jefferson College owes its origin to the labors of the first Presbyterian ministers who crossed the Allegheny Moun- tains and settled within the bounds of the present county of Wash- ington. Among these was the Rev. John McMillan, a graduate of Princeton College, who probably opened his school at Chartiers about 1781. About 1782 the Rev. Thaddeus Dod, also a graduate of Prince- ton, opened a classical and preparatory school at Ten Mile ( Amity). The log school house, occording to a pupil ( the Rev. Dr. Jacob Lind- ley). "was sufficiently large for three or four beds, with room for tables, etc .. " and accommodated thirteen students. all of whom boarded with Mr. Dod: nearly all of them entered the ministry. The teachers of these schools, with others, in 1787 procured a charter for Wash- ington Academy, which was opened in the court house at Washington. in 1789. Two years later the building burned down, and the teachers accepted a proposition to remove to Canonsburg and there establish an academy. The latter institution developed into Jefferson College. chartered in 1802. Washington Academy was reorganized, and was chartered in 1806 as Washington College, and its building erected in 1793 is yet standing on the college campus. Both colleges were with- out endowment. and were so near each other as to provoke rivalries and impair the usefulness of both. Various attempts looking to a union
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were unsuccessful, until 1865. when the Rev. Dr. C. C. Beatty, of Steubenville, Ohio, made an offer of $50,000, which was accepted, conditioned upon both schools being maintained, that at Washington providing for the preparatory and scientific departments and the fresh- man class of the classical department, and that at Canonsburg for the sophomore, junior and senior classes of the classical department. After four years this dual form of union proved unsatisfactory in all re- spects, and, in 1869 a real consolidation was effected under the title of Washington and Jefferson College, located at Washington. Since then the College has been prosperous and successful, with its faculty of about twenty teachers, and a student attendance of about three hundred and fifty.
Geneva College, at Beaver Falls. under the control of the Reformed Presbyterians, or Covenanters, had its beginning at Northwood, Ohio, in 1848, under Rev. J. B. Johnston. In 1880, by action of the synod, the College was removed to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. The Econo- mite Society donated a ten-acre tract of ground, upon which a college edifice was built at a cost of $40,000, and three other buildings have been since added. The school affords preparation for the study of the professions. The annual attendance of students is about two hundred.
Waynesburg College, at Waynesburg, is the result of the third at- tempt of Cumberland Presbyterians to establish a collegiate institucion in Pennsylvania, the first being Madison College, at Uniontown, now extinct. Educationally it is an outgrowth of Greene Academy, at Car- michaels, which was opened by Professor Ely in 1812. In 1836 Dr. Whip- ple became Principal, and called to his assistance Joshua Loughran. The latter named became Principal, and this was the occasion for the transfer of his work to Waynesburg, and the incorporation in 1850 of Waynes- burg College, under the auspices of the Cumberland Presbyterian
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church. In 1851 the College opened under the presidency of Rev. Mr. Loughran, in a building built for its use, at a cost of $0,000. A considerable portion of this sum was uncollected from the subscribers. and the debt was forgiven by the banking house holding the obliga- tions. For many years the management contended against what ap- peared to be insuperable difficulties, meeting with little patronage and incumbered with constant debt. A new edifice was nearly twenty years in building, but was finally completed in 1800-a beautiful structure. and a model of convenience. It has now had under instruction upwards of five thousand youths of both sexes, maintaining. in addition to its specific collegiate work, commercial and musical courses.
Westminster College, at New Wilmington, was founded in 1852. It was originally under the control of the two Presbyteries of Shenango and Ohio, and afterward of the United Presbyterian church. There are four college buildings. From the first it was endowed with uni- versity powers, and it has always offered to women the same opportun- ities of instruction as to men. Of its something like fifteen hundred graduates, more than three hundred and fifty have entered the gospel ministry, and many have filled high positions of honor and trust in the public service. in educational work and in other important callings.
Franklin and Marshall College. Lancaster. is the embodiment of two distinct educational movements. The former named grew out of a desire to provide for the higher educational needs of the interior of the state. and especially for the German people there settled. Benjamin Franklin was personally active in this movement ; he subscribed to the endowment fund, and as governor of the state he laid the corner-stone of the institution, which was deservedly named in his honor. The entire movement was premature, and the College maintained a precari- outs existence until 1839. when a reorganization was effected. and it
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became an adjunct to the public schools. No degrees were ever conferred. In 1852 the institution was consolidated with Marshall College. under a charter creating Franklin and Marshall College. Marshall College. named in honor of Chief Justice Marshall, had been founded at Mercers- burg. under the auspices of the Reformed church, and had absorbed the Theological Seminary of that sect, which had been established at Carlisle in 1825, and was removed to York in 1829. The new college ( Franklin and Marshall) prospered until the beginning of the civil war period. which was disastrous to most educational institutions. After 1866 the college entered upon a new life, and has since performed an excellent instructional work, widening the courses of study to meet the require- ments of the present day, and at the same time holding fast to the old- time requirements in regarding the formation of character under posi- tive Christian teaching as of paramount importance. The college pos- sesses the advantages of the Daniel Scholl Observatory, the gift of Mrs. James Hood, of Frederick, Maryland; and a fine library building. the gift of General J. Watts Del'eyster.
U'rsinus College, at Collegeville, is a child of the Reformed church, and was chartered in 1869, and opened in September of the following year, under the headship of Rev. J. H. A. Bomberger, D. D. In 1881 the Pennsylvania Female College at Collegeville closed its doors, and Ursinus College was opened to women, and an academical department was opened. In 1871 a theological school was organized. The principal of the buildings is Bomberger Memorial Hall, an imposing structure, erected as a memorial to Dr. Bomberger, the first President. The principal benefactor of the college was Robert Patterson, of Phila- delphia, whose gifts aggregated about $200,000.
Haverford College. Haverford, founded by members of the So- . ciety of Friends, was opened in 1833. It was in reality a college from
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the first, although it did not receive authority to confer degrees until 1856. The number of students ( young men ) is about one hundred and twenty, for whom are provided the usual course in arts, and scientific courses : general science, mechanical engineering. electrical engineering and chemistry. The sectarian idea which existed at the beginning has well nigh disappeared. and students attending represent nearly all evan- gelical denominations. The College property comprises upwards of two hundred acres, of which sixty acres are laid out as college grounds. The buildings are ample and convenient, and include a well equipped observatory. The endowment of Haverford College has been gradually increasing. In 1897. as residuary legatee, the College came into pos- session of property valued at one million dollars from the estate of the late Jacob P. Jones, and other income-producing funds amount to about one-half that sum.
Swarthmore College, at Swarthmore, was founded in 1869, through the effort of members of the Society of Friends, and was named after the English home of George and Margaret Fox. Under the charter. the board of managers must be Quakers, but the institution is entirely non-sectarian. Officers and students may be of any denomination, and the religious instruction given is such as would involve no controversy with any Christian church. The College holds ideal property for edu- cational purposes-two hundred and fifty acres of land, upon which the principal building is Parrish Hall, erected at a cost of $225,000, and named for the first President, Edward Parrish. Samuel Willets, of New York, was a zealous friend of the institution, and gave to it more than a quarter of a million dollars.
Bucknell University, Lewisburg, was founded in 1846, its principal benefactors being William Bucknell and family. John P'. Crozer and family, David Jayne and sons, and William H. Backus. Stephen W.
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Taylor, A. M .. was acting President until 1851, when Howard Mal- colm became the first full President. The institution offers the cur- ricula usually laid down for colleges of liberal arts, the theological (Baptist ) department. which was organized in 1854. having been dis- continued in 1868 in favor of Crozer Theological Seminary. The real estate comprises a tract of thirty acres and twelve buildings, valued at more than $300.000. The college possesses a ten-inch Clark equatorial telescope, with auxiliary instruments : a valuable collection of physical chemical and biological apparatus: a museum of some twelve thousand specimens; and a library of twenty-one thousand volumes. The affiliated schools are the Preparatory School for Boys, the Institute for Women, and the School of Music.
The name of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, to whom reference is made upon another page, is perpetuated in that of Muhlenberg College. at Allentown, a Lutheran institution. established in 1867, and the suc- cessor of the Allentown Seminary ( 1848-64) and Allentown Collegiate Institute and Military Academy ( 1864-67). Its first president was Rev. Frederick A. Muhlenberg. In 1886 Rev. Theodore L. Seip. a dis- tinguished scholar, came to the headship of the institution. The en- dowment fund is something less than $200.000, and the college property is valued at $100,000. The graduate list numbers upwards of five hundred, among whom are many who have taken influential places as ministers and teachers, as well as in other honorable walks of life.
Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg ( Lutheran), was founded in 1832. Its property is valued at $300,000, and one of its most beautiful buildings is the Brua Memorial Chapel, erected in 1890, by the late Colonel John P. Brua. as a memorial to his parents. The number of instructors is sixteen, and the usual attendance of students is 250. The institution is open to bothi sexes.
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Thiel College, Greenville ( Evangelical Lutheran), wes it- exist. ence to the lendicence of A Louis Thiel, who, at the suggestion of Rev. W. A. Passavant. D. D., bequeathed the greater part of his prop- erty for the endowment of a college for the higher education of both sexes. The property comprises a tract of forty acres, with four build- ings. The productive endowment fund is $62.500. The college depart- ment is maintained by the Pittsburg Synod.
Lebanon Valley College, at Annville, chartered in 1867. grew out of the needs of the people of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. and was founded by a number of citizens of Annville-among them Rudolph Herr. John H. Kinports, George A. Mark, Jr .. L. W. Craumer, and George W. Hoverter, who bought the AAnnville Academy property for the new purposes. The property, with its additions, now comprises a beautiful tract of about ten acres, upon which are three commodious buildings. The College departments are four in number : The College proper. with three courses of study leading to degrees in arts, philosophy and science; the Preparatory, designed to fit young people for college, teaching or business: the Department of Music : and the Art Department. Since its founding, the College has been under the presidency of Thomas R. Vickroy, Lucian H. Hammond. David D. DeLong. Edmund S. Lorenz. Cyrus J. Kephart, E. Benjamin Bierman and Hervin U. Roop. The latter named, the first graduate of the college to be elected President, entered upon his duties in 1897. in many respects the most critical period in the history of the institution. During its existence the College has sent out into the world of art, science. literature, the professions and industries, more than three hundred graduates of both sexes, and more than four thousand young people who have received education in less degrec.
.A unique and somewhat pathetic history is that of Juniata College,
,
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at Huntingdon. To quote one of its historians ( Mr. I. Harvey Brum- bangh). "like many other institutions, it had a denominational origin : but. unlike every other, it developed not under the patronage of the church it represented, but independent of it."
Juniata College grew out of the wants of the people of German- town, Pennsylvania, and vicinity, belonging to that branch of the Baptist fraternity vulgarly called "Tunkers," but known among themselves as "Brethren." and later designated as "German Baptist Brethren." in order to distinguish them from others of the great Baptist sect. The great mass of this people were inimical to education, setting agriculture before all else. After a time, many of their children. hungering for the knowledge which was denied them, went from their homes and came under religions influences which were repugnant to the parents, and this finally led to various attempts to organize schools. The first per- manent and successful movement was that of which Juniata College was the outgrowth, and this so recently as in 1876. so great was the indifference (if not opposition) of these otherwise estimable people. In that year Jacob M. Zuck opened a school of three pupils in a room in the "Pilgrim" office in Huntingdon. Professor Zuck displayed such energy and ability that the fame of the infant institution was widely spread, but a small-pox epidemic in 1878 worked its disruption. The school was reorganized later the same year, and was incorporated by the legislature as Brethren's Normal College, with degree-conferring powers. \ college building was erected in 1879. and was occupied in April. In May a great calamity befell the school in the death of Pro- fessor Zuck, but he left a well established institution to perpetuate his memory. The name was subsequently changed to Juniata College. The property comprises four large buildings, properly convenienced and equipped, with a library of more than 15,000 volumes. The courses
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of study have gradually broadened, and the bachelor of arts degree has been conferred each year since 1897.
Wilson College. Chambersburg, chartered in 1869. was founded upon a bequest of $30,000 left by Miss Sarah Wilson, of near Chambers- burg, for the establishment of a college for women. The board of in- struction numbers thirty teachers, with clerks and librarians, and the number of students is about three hundred.
LITERATURE AND ART.
Within four years after the coming of Penn's colony, a printing press was set up by one of its members at Philadelphia, William Brad- ford, a Quaker, from England. The first printer in the province and the third in the colonies, his first publication ( 1686) was the "Kalen- darium Pennsilvaniese." In the following year he began the "American Weekly Mercury." He also printed George Keith's polemical tracts directed again the New England authorities, thus incurring their dis- pleasure, and resulting in his arrest. the confiscation of his press, and his trial for sedition. At his trial the jury disagreed, and on being freed he removed to New York, where he became public printer. In 1728 another printer. Keimer, began the publication of "The Universal Instructor in All Arts and Sciences, and Pennsylvania Gazette," which became famous under Benjamin Franklin, who purchased it the follow- ing year. It is to be noted that Franklin had previously determined upon establishing such a journal, and was anticipated by Keimer, who had gained knowledge of his intentions. Franklin's superior ability as a writer and original thinker gave him a place at the head of American journalism. and this he maintained for seventeen years, and until his effort was directed to other fields. In 1731 he established the first circu- lating library in America, and in the following year he issued the first
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of the "Poor Richard's AAlmanacs." a publication which was continued for twenty-five years and attained a marvelous popularity. In 1749 came from Franklin's press a notable publication-his pamphlet en- titled "Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania." and which lay at the foundation of what came to be the University of Pennsylvania. Franklin's "Autobiography" is a classic to the present day. In this connection the present writer cannot refrain from giving a brief personal narrative. as exemplifying the estimation in which this work has been held by men of great intellectuality.
The writer was in his youth an apprentice in a country printing office. He was an eager reader, and diligently perused such books as came within his reach. Abraham Lincoln, then living in a not far dis- tant town and not yet come into the public gaze, was a frequent visitor to the printing office as he came to attend court. On one occasion. he entered into conversation with the boy, and drew from him knowledge as to the books he had read. Said Mr. Lincoln. "There is one book von have not named, which every lad, certainly every printer boy, should read-Ben Branklin's 'Autobiography.' " The lad bought the book shortly afterwards, and treasures it to the present day. for the real valne it has had for him, as well as for sake of the incident narrated.
Christopher Sower set up a printing press at Germantown, from which was issued. in 1739, the first German newspaper printed in the colonies. From the same press came (so says Mr. Brumbaught. the historian of the German Baptist Brethren). "the first Bible in a Euro- pean tongue published in America ; here two-thirds of all the German books published in the colonial period were printed: and from here. through a religious journal, distributed free, some of the best thought of the time went forth. Here also was organized the first Sunday school in the world, forty years before Robert Raikes; in this school.
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cards were used with scriptural texts, which later came into universal use." It is pitiful to note that the leader in these pions enterprises ( Somer) became the victim of ignorance and persecution, even in America-his large printing establishment was destroyed. his property was confiscated, and he died in poverty.
In 1760 there were five weekly newspapers in Pennsylvania- three in Philadelphia, one at Germantown, and one at Lancaster. Sev- eral magazines appeared between 1741 and 1776. the principal of which. "The Pennsylvania Magazine." outlived all others. continuing for a period of eighteen months. At the present time. there are published within the State more than two hundred daily and nearly a thousand weekly newspapers, to say nothing of bi-weekly and semi-weekly sheets. and about two hundred and fifty monthly and quarterly magazines cov- ering the entire range of human know ledge.
To trace the work of Pennsylvania authors would require volumes in themselves. According to J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, ( "His -. tony of Chester County," 1881), that county alone was to that time represented by more than four hundred and fifty bound volumes writ- ten by persons native to or resident in it. The greater number of the early volumes written in the province were upon religious topics, and largely in a controversial vein. To these soon succeeded works of science and text-books for schools. Thus, John Churchman, in 1790. published a "Variation Chart, or Magnetic Atlas," which was republished in London in 1794: this concerned the variation and dip of the needle-a field of investigation which yer has and probably ever will have its de- voted but baffled followers. John Bartram. between 1751 and 1769. wrote upon his travels and botanical observations from Florida to Can- ada, and his son William prepared the most complete table of American ornithology before the appearance of Mexander Wilson's work. In
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1785 Humphry Marshall published a volume, "AArbustum American- um." being a catalogue of American trees and shrubs, with hints of their uses in medicine, as dyes and in domestic economy. Years after, in 1826, Dr. William Darlington published his "Flora C'estrica," being a catalogue of the native and naturalized plants of Chester county. Following in a somewhat similar line. Dr. William D. Hartman and Dr. Ezra Michener published their "Conchologia Cestrica," being a de- scription of the conchology of Chester county.
Of authors who are held in constant remembrance, and whose works are ever read, thus far, Bayard Taylor and Thomas Buchanan Read stand foremost. Mr. Taylor covered a broad scope in both prose and poetry, but with Pennsylvanians, perhaps, his "Story of Kennett," with its delightful local flavoring, redolent of the fields and woods of Chester county, will ever hold first place. For like reasons, Mr. Read's "Wagoner of the Alleghenies" never grows old, and finds new readers each year from among the constantly succeeding flocks of tourists who break away from the cities into the mountains. But this genial poet will be most generally remembered for his stirring battle lines, "Sheri- dan's Ride," familiar to every schoolboy for more than a score of years past, and which in America is destined to remain a school rostrum classic when (more's the pity ) "Casabianca" and "Old Ironsides" are forgotten. Read was no mean artist, but his paintings are less known than are his writings. Ilis best work on canvas was probably "Long- fellow's Children."
Of other artists, Benjamin West stands supremely first in the esti- mation of Pennsylvanians, if not of all Americans. A native of the State, born at Springfield, his inclination for art was apparent before he had ceased to be a child. Court painter to George 111, he succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as president of the Royal Academy The roman-
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tic story of his marriage is told on another page of this work. He had for a pupil him who became famous as Thomas Sulh, whose most admirable work in the estimation of Americans will ever be his "Wash- ington Crossing the Delaware." Another famous pupil of West was Charles W. Peale, who painted an early portrait of Washington and of various of his general officers. The former of these historic pro- ductions is the property of the West Chester State Normal School. Peale's son, Rembrandt Peale, also developed fine ability as a painter. and his "Roman Daughter" and "Court of Death" are held in admira- tion to the present day.
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CHLAPTER XIL.
MEDICINE, LAW AND THEOLOGY.
The history of medical science in Pennsylvania had its beginnings with the ship barbers, or chirurgeons, who came with the first colonists. Surgery was comparatively unknown, and was not strictly a part of medicine, and the coming together of the two departments of what is now a science came through an orderly evolution.
The first chirurgeon to be employed in the Swedish colonies on the Delaware was Jan Petersen, at a salary of ten guilders a month. He served from July 1, 1638, and was succeeded by Hans Jansche in 1644. Timon Stiddem in 1655. Jan Oosting in 1657. and Peter Tyneman in : 1660. The advent of the Penn colony marked a large step forward. Among the new-comers was John Goodson, "Chirurgeon to the Society of Free Traders," who came from London, settled first at Upland. whence he removed to Philadelphia, and who is recognized by annalists as the first real physician in the colony. With Penn came in the "Wel- come" Thomas Lloyd. Thomas Wyman and Griffith Owen, medical practitioners of character and repute, who had been trained in European schools. The last named was also a preacher in the Society of Friends. and all were pronounced by a contemporary writer to he men well calen- lated to secure for the colony "a prominence in national welfare, in sci- entific standing and in morality, which it soon reached and long main- tained." Yet it would appear that these men were held in little re- spect at first. probably because of the little need for their services, for in 1685, three years after the colony was planted. Charles Gordon, of New Jersey, wrote to his brother, a physician in England. "if you desire
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