446 - HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

CHAPTER XV

HUDSON TOWNSHIP — THE WESTERN RESERVE COLLEGE-ITS LOCATION AT HUDSON —EARLY
SUBJECTS OF AGITATION —DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION - PREPARATORY SCHOOL—LIBRARY, APPARATUS, ETC.—'l'HE REMOVAL.

IN 1801, when there could not have been 1,500 inhabitants on the Reserve. a petition to the Territorial Legislature by Rev. Joseph Badger, the only minister on the Reserve, except one, and the only one from Connecticut, praying for a charter that steps might even thus early be taken to found a college. The petition was not granted, but the petitioners bided their time.

Ohio was admitted to the Union as a State in February, 1803. The first Legislature convened on the 1st day of March. On the 16th of April, an act was passed incorporating the "Erie Literary Society." The preamble of the act declares that : "Whereas, it has been represented to this assembly by certain persons associated under the name of the Erie Literary Society, that a number of proprietors of laud

t Compiled by J. H. Battle, from a history by President Carroll Cutler.

within the county of Trumbull are desirous to appropriate a part thereof to the support of a seminary of learning within said county. and that the intent of such donations cannot be carried into effect without the interference of the Legislature, by incorporating a Board of Trust for the reception and management of any property, real or personal, that may be given for said purpose and for the establishment and direction of such seminary, as soon as funds sufficient shall be collected—Be it enacted. etc."

The first name in the list of corporators is David Hudson, and the last Joseph Badger. Trumbull County at that time embraced the whole Reserve, and the population was probably less than three thousand. The intention of these Trustees was to establish an academy

*The matter pertaining to the seminaries of Hudson has been compiled chiefly from a sketch prepared in 1868 by Miss Emily Metcalf.

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or college, with President, professors, instructors, library and apparatus, and the act gave them full powers to hold property, erect buildings, have a common seal, fill their own vacancies, and do all those things usually done by such corporations.

The small and scattered population, wholly occupied in clearing the land, making roads and gaining a livelihood, could evidently do but little for the endowment or patronage of such an institution as yet. But they showed their wisdom and proved themselves true sons of Connecticut, by thus early taking steps to establish the higher institutions of education. Common schools were of course established in all the scattered settlements. as fast as the numbers of the population would allow. Social libraries were early founded in many places. The Erie Literary Society received some gifts of land, by way of endowment. With the avails of these lands an academy building was erected in 1805, at Burton. and in that or the following year. the school was opened—the first of its kind in Northern Ohio. This school was maintained more or less continuously until 1810, when the building was burned. as was supposed. by an incendiary. In July. 1806. Mr. William Law, of Connecticut. a large land owner on the Reserve. donated to the society 1,130 acres of land. to revert, however. to his heirs. if the college should ever be removed from Burton.

It had become obvious that the sparse population could not support an academical school continuously. After the loss of the building, therefore. the Trustees were slow to move for a new one. The war of 1812, came on speedily. and produced as serious an effect on the prosperity of the Reserve as on that of any other part of the country. The educational movement was retarded with all other good causes. After the war, in 1817, the Trustees determined to erect another building, and open the school so soon as a suitable instructor could be found. They resolved " that the Principal should be a graduate of some American College." In May. 1820, the school was opened under the instruction of Mr. David L. Coe. a graduate of Williams College, and continued in operation under its charter until 1834.

It is probable that the chief movers in the Erie Literary Society were the landowners, with an eye to speculation ; but their movement was earnestly seconded by the clergy. In February.1817, the Presbytery of Grand River, which embraced nearly all the Presbyterian and Congregational ministers and churches of the Reserve, formed itself into a society " for the education of indigent, pious young men for the ministry, within the limits of the Presbytery." They say that, " considering the destitute situation of many churches and congregations among ourselves, as to the means of religious instruction and edification, and the great and increasing call for ministerial labors in many parts of our land and the world at large ; considering that at the present day there is a call for special efforts according as God has prospered His people, to raise up men to go forth into the extensive fields which are now becoming white to harvest ; and, considering the importance of some general plan of operation, whereby many indifferent places may be enabled to act in concert. and bring their small scattered sums into a common stock. that they may be expended to the best advantage; the Grand River Presbytery think it important to form a general society " for the purpose.

They adopted a constitution, elected Trustees and a Treasurer, and endeavored to stir up the people to form auxiliary societies. The next year. they published an address to the " friends of science and religion," urging them to enter into this work. Young men were already coming forward to avail themselves of the aid thus proffered. These beneficiaries pursued their studies privately with some one of the ministers, more commonly with Dr. Giles H. Cowles, of Austenburg ; Rev. John Seward, of Aurora ; Rev. Caleb Pitkin, of Charleston, or Rev. Harvey Coe, of Vernon. After the school at Burton was reopened. they studied there.

In 1818. the Presbytery of Portage was erected, and also formed itself into an education society in the same manner. These societies held their annual meetings. and took annual collections. The urgent need for more ministers to supply the destitute churches, and do missionary work, led these two Presbyteries, in 1822, to appoint committees to confer together for the purpose of devising ways and means for establishing on the Connecticut Western Reserve, a Literary and Theological Institution." The committee of Grand River Presbytery were Rev. Giles H. Cowles, Rev. Harvey Coe and George Swift ; that of Portage Presbytery were Rev. John Seward, Rev. Joseph Treat and

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Elizur Wright. These committees met at Warren on the 16th of April, 1822." The afternoon of the day preceding was, by recommendation of the Presbyteries, observed as a concert of prayer by the churches, that the blessing of God might attend the deliberations of the committees, and lead to a happy result. " On the 13th of April. the two Presbyteries held a joint meeting at Warren," to hear and consider the reports of their committees. The report. which was adopted, recommends the Presbyteries to establish a theological institution. on the foundation of the Erie Literary Society, located at Burton, Geauga County, provided the Trustees accede to the following conditions, to wit :

1. That the Trustees enact laws binding themselves.

(a.) To appropriate to the education of pious, indigent young men for the Gospel ministry all moneys that may be intrusted to them for this purpose.

(b.) To allow no person to hold the office of President in the institution who is not a member of some Christian church.

(C) To allow no person to hold the office of Professor in the Theological Department. unless he shall subscribe to the confession of faith, which every Professor supported on the Associate foundation in the Theological Seminary at Andover, Mass., is required to subscribe.

(d) To permit. while this connection continues, the managers of the education fund annually to examine into the progress of the institution, the state of said fund, and the manner in which it is applied.

2. That the Trustees give bonds to reconvey to the managers of the education fund, within one year after demanded by them, all such unexpended property, personal and real, as they shall have received from them.

The conditions were unanimously accepted by the Trustees. The Presbyteries, having been certified of the fact, proceeded to appoint a Board of Managers of the Education Fund. The Presbytery of Grand River appointed for this purpose Zalmon Fitch, George Swift, Rev. Ephraim T. Woodruff and Rev. Amasa Loomis. The Presbytery of Portage appointed Elizur Wright, Joshua B. Sherwood, Rev. Caleb Pitkin and Rev. Benjamin Fenn. This Board of Managers was to have perpetual succession, and to fill their own vacancies. They were to receive and convey to the Erie Literary Society,agreeably to the conditions named, all property intrusted to them for the education of pious and indigent young men for the sacred ministry, annually to visit the institution to examine into its state and progress and the application of the education fund, and to attend to such other business as shall by them be deemed necessary to promote the great objects of educating young men for the Gospel ministry. They were also to make a report annually to each Presbytery.

At this joint meeting at Warren. the Portage Presbytery appointed a committee to prepare and publish an address on the subject of education. This committee consisted of Rev. Messrs. Pitkin. Seward. Curtis and Stone. Mr. Benjamin Whedon and Mr. George Swift. They issued an urgent and spirited appeal to the patrons of literature and religion. on the subject of establishing a literary and theological institution in the Connecticut Western Reserve." They say that. •• as considerable delays must be occasioned and expense incurred by the formalities of obtaining a separate act of incorporation. and as ample powers and privileges were already given in the charter of the Erie Literary Society. it was judged expedient both to save time and money. and to preserve unity of design and harmony of feeling, to erect a theological department on the foundation of that charter.

The connection thus formed between this Board of Managers and the Erie Literary Society "continued a little more than two years, until June 3. 1824. In the course of the year 1823, the Managers became convinced that an institution equal to their desires and expectations and to the necessities of the public could not be built up at Burton. They, therefore, requested the Trustees of the Erie Literary Society to remove their establishment to a more eligible situation. The request was, at several meetings of the Trustees, fully discussed and ultimately rejected." The ground of this discouragement at Burton and effort to remove the institution, according to the testimony of ma , persons, was the supposed unhealthiness of the place. It is probable, also, that there was a desire to place the college nearer the center of the Reserve. During those years, Burton had been visited with very severe and fatal sickness, so as even to break up the school for a time. The effort of the Managers to in-

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duce the Trustees to remove the institution to a more eligible situation, and "preserve the unity of design and harmony of feeling," fully proves that there was no discord between the boards on any other subject, and that they were willing to continue their co-operation. The unwillingness of the Trustees to accede to the request of the Managers is adequately accounted for by the fact that the Board held lands which must revert to the donors or their successors if the college should ever be removed from Burton. Those of the Trustees who were especially interested in that part of the Reserve doubtless believed also that the unhealthiness was merely temporary. which, indeed, proved to be the case. The academy at Burton was popular and useful for some years. after the withdrawal of the Managers, when the sickness which proved to he incident to the newness of the country had passed away.

" The managers applied to the Presbyteries to appoint four commissioners, two ministers and two laymen. from each, to meet at Aurora on June 2, 1824, for the purpose of consulting and advising as to the course which the Board of Managers shall pursue under existing circumstances." The Presbyteries complied with the request. The Presbytery of Grand River appointed Rev. Giles H. Cowles, Rev. Joseph W. Curtis and Mr. Titus Brockway : the Presbytery of Portage appointed Rev. John Seward, Rev. Joseph Treat. Mr. David Hudson and Mr. Lucretius Bissell : the Presbytery of Huron. which had been formed by dividing that of Portage, since the Board of Managers had been constituted. appointed Rev. Simeon Woodruff. Rev. Israel Shailer and Mr. Harmon Kingsbury. The Board of Managers met with these commissioners. At this meeting it was determined to discontinue the connection with the Erie Literary Society, and try to establish a separate institution. It was also resolved that it was expedient to request the Presbytery of Huron "to appoint four persons—two ministers and two laymen—who. together with the Board of Managers, should constitute the Board of Trustees for the contemplated institution." It was resolved to recommend the Presbyteries to appoint four commissioners each, to locate the institution, who should meet at Hudson on September 22, " and come to a decision as soon as practicable."

The Presbyteries approved of this action, andappointed their commissioners, from Grand River, Revs. Giles H. Cowles and Harvey Coe, Mr. Abraham Griswold and Mr. Eliphalet Austin, Jr.; from Portage, Revs. John Seward and Joseph Treat. Col. Lemuel Porter and Mr. John H. Whittlesey ; from Huron, Revs. Alfred H. Betts and Lot. B. Sullivan, Mr. Samuel Cowles and Mr. David Gibbs. These commissioners were directed in making their decision " to take into view all circumstances of situation, moral character, facility of communication, donations, health, etc." The principal places which competed to secure the location were .Burton, Aurora, Euclid, Cleveland and Hudson. After several meetings at different places, the commissioners, in January, 1825, decided in favor of Hudson. The amount of the subscription at Hudson to secure the college was $7,150, of which $2,142 was contributed by Mr. David Hudson. In the competition between different locations within the town, Mr. Hudson gave 160 acres of land to secure it for the place it now occupies, rather than have it put half a mile south of the center of the town. The Presbytery of Huron now added to the Board of Managers, as they had been invited to do, the names of Rev. Simeon Woodruff, Rev. Stephen I. Bradstreet, Hon. Henry Brown and Mr. Harmon Kingsbury.

This Board of Managers, now called Trustees, held their first meeting at Hudson on February 15, 1825. They approved of the report of the Commissioners for locating the institution, made arrangements for erecting a college edifice, appointed Benjamin Whedon Treasurer, and David Hudson, Owen Brown and Heman Oviatt a Committee of Agency, to superintend the work of building. They also adopted a confession of their religious faith, and elected Rev. John Seward and Mr. Samuel Cowles members of the board. They began their efforts to procure funds, prepared a draft of a charter to be presented to the Legislature, and of a petition in favor of the charter, to be circulated for subscription on the Reserve ; appointed Hon. Henry Brown "to procure the granting of the charter by the Legislature at its next session, adjusted the lines of the college plat, procured deeds of the ground, drew up a detailed plan of the first building, and decided upon the mode of laying out the campus. Their plan was to erect the buildings in a line from north to south, on the height of ground where they

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now stand, but facing toward the east ; in front of the buildings, a street sixty feet wide was to be laid out, and on the east side of it, facing westward, were to be erected the houses for the President and Professors. Middle College was accordingly built facing eastward. The plan was changed for a west front in 1828, and the present location for Professors' houses was selected.

It is said that the effort to secure a charter encountered severe opposition in the Legislature, especially on account of the religious character which the institution was likely to bear. The names of the corporators contained in the petition were those of seven clergymen and seven laymen. There were men in the Legislature of infidel sentiments, who were unwilling that education should be so much under the influence of the clergy. These men so modified the draft of the charter asked for as to exclude all religious instruction from the college. It appears, also, that they made determined opposition to two names among the corporators, so that these had to he dropped. This is said to have been on account of personal hostility. Rev. E. T. Woodruff and Rev. Amasa Loomis had been appointed Managers of the Education Fund by the Presbytery of Grand River. and their names must therefore have been in the list of corporators in the petition, but they are not found in the charter. By some means, also, the name of Samuel Cowles was replaced by that of David Hudson. The corporators were thus seven laymen and five clergymen.

A copy of the charter thus amended was sent to Mr. Hudson. who laid it before Mr. Pitkin. I Mr. Pitkin immediately started on horseback, in midwinter. for Brownhelm, and rode from there with Judge Brown to Columbus. to prevent the passage of this charter and secure an acceptable one. After laboring earnestly together for some time with the opponents. Judge Brown, seeing the situation, said to Mr. Pitkin : " You had better go home and leave me to manage this matter. This is a thing which sinners can manage best." Mr. Pitkin returned home, and Judge Brown secured, not the charter asked for, at least an acceptable one—we trust not by sinful methods. The charter bears date of February 7, 1826. This was the fifth college chartered in the State. not counting the Erie Literary Society.

In accordance with the charter, the Trusteesmet at Hudson on the 1st of March, 1826, and organized by electing Rev. Caleb Pitkin, President ; Rev. John Seward, Vice President ; Rev. William Hanford, Secretary ; and Benjamin Whedon, Treasurer. They went immediately forward in their work with the greatest energy and harmony. They closed contracts for the building, fixed the proper forms for their business transactions, appointed agents to solicit funds, adopted a common seal, elected a prudential committee and determined their duties, appointed a committee to prepare by-laws, and " a committee to prepare a condensed history of the origin " of the college. and attended to their duties as managers of the education fund of the Presbyteries. Preparation of materials had been made during the previous winter for the new building, and under the superintendence of Mr. Heman Oviatt. the foundation was ready in April. On the 26th of April, the cornerstone was laid with great ceremony in the presence of a large assembly. It was a warm June like day. A procession was formed at Mr. Hudson's house, and moved to the meeting house, where there was prayer and singing. The procession then moved to the college campus. where an address was delivered in Latin by Mr. Pitkin, and the stone laid with Masonic ceremonies. The procession then returned to the meeting house, where Mr. Bradstreet delivered an address on the principles which actuated time Trustees in the work they had undertaken.

Owing to innumerable hindrances and embarrassmeuts. the building was not completed until August, 1S27. But the work was thoroughly and substantially done, as is proved by the fact that, with very slight repairs, old Middle College did service until the summer of 187, when it was thoroughly repaired within and without.

In the summer of 1826. a cabinet and a library were begun, the first books and minerals having been presented by Rev. Judah Ely. On the 22d of September, Mr. David L. Coe, a graduate of Williams College and an excellent scholar, " was appointed Tutor pro tempore, and authorized, if application should be made, to examine and admit those whom he should find qualified into a Freshman class, and to take the class under his particular care and instruction. Mr. Coe had been Principal of the Burton Academy from 1820 to 1824, and was now

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teaching in the Academy at Tallmadge. He was not required to remove to Hudson because the building was not yet complete, and he could perform his office as Tutor while teaching the Academy. In December, he admitted to the Freshman class in college, Ellery Bascom, Charles M. Preston and Oren C. Thompson. and took charge of their studies during the year.

Thus the college was established, and was actually carrying forward in 1826 the work of building and the work of instruction. In the autumn of 1827, the first building was completed here and filled with students. In the catalogue of that year are found Sophomore and Freshmen classes, a preparatory class and students in a partial course, under the instruction of Mr. Ephraim T. Sturtevant. a graduate of Yale College.

It is astonishing with what energy the Trustees took hold of their work so soon as they secured their charter. The Trustees of the Erie Literary Society had made very little effort to establish and carry forward the college. Mr. William Law had made a donation of 1.130 acres of land for the college at Burton. but it does not appear that any effort was made for further endowment until after the managers of the education fund had united with them. The supposed unfavorableness of Burton as a location for the college and the consequent attempt to secure its removal. doubtless restrained the managers from any great exertion to increase the endowment while it remained there. They did, however. secure some donations of land and of money. But so soon as the college was located at Hudson, its Trustees and friends most earnestly and systematically began to canvass the Reserve and sent agents to the East to raise the means requisite to build and support instructors. Mr. Pitkin, Mr. Kingsbury and Mr. Coe, of the Trustees. labored especially in this work. A good deal of this kind of service was also performed by Rev. Daniel W. Lathrop and Rev. George Sheldon. A number of others, both clergymen and laymen, as much interested in the success of the college as its Trustees, engaged in agencies for short periods as special services were needed. Mr. Pitkin, who was President of the Board, seems to have been employed almost exclusively in some form of agency from January, 1826, until August. 1843. His devotion to the college. and that of all those early Trustees, wasmost hearty and self-sacrificing. They never spared time, labor or expense when the interest of the college required their services. They would attend meetings of the Trustees or Prudential Committee four or five times a year, coming some of them fifty or sixty miles, through the horrible roads of a new country, with their own conveyances, and remaining from two to six days together in earnest council and action.

This unreserved devotion and indefatigable energy could not but secure them all the success which the nature of the case permitted. The country was yet very new and though population was increasing rapidly, there was yet very little acquired wealth ; money was extremely scarce, access to markets difficult and the people still mostly engaged in the rough work of the pioneers. The contributions, therefore, were made chiefly in land which bore a very low price, or in cattle or in some form of merchandise which required much care, energy and prudence, to work them over into college buildings and professors' salaries. This kind of donations, from the nature of the case. lasted a long time, and was a great source of perplexity and embarrassment down to the close of President Pierce's administration. This is not to be thought of as a discredit to the donors in any respect. On the contrary, it was greatly to their credit that with so little of ready means. the people had such a sense of the importance of higher education, that they would give, though their gift might be small and of a kind not easily convertible. Thus, the college received donations of land and sold it for stone, lumber or labor. Mr. Pitkin received two-thirds of the compensation for his services in kind. Tutor Sturtevant received a part of his salary in board and washing. Mr. Daniel Metcalf, in 1827, gave the college $450 in goods. In looking over the list of donations, many are found to have come in very queer forms. This store pay," and what was worse, no pay, the Trustees and Faculty knew a great deal about for many years. These difficulties which met the Trustees at the beginning were inevitable. They foresaw them, of course, and being all hardy pioneers and pioneer missionaries they were never daunted by them.

The idea of a college which these men entertained, was of such an institution as they had been acquainted with and had enjoyed the

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advantages of in New England. The Western Reserve was a second New England in all her interests and aspirations, especially as pertained to education and Christianity. All the clerical members of the board were college graduates—four from Yale, two from Williams and one from Dartmouth ; of the lay members Mr. Elizur Wright was a graduate of Yale, and Judge Brown had been a student at Harvard ; the rest were Connecticut men familiar with the organization, spirit and noble record of Yale College. The other ministers who so earnestly aided and encouraged the work of founding the college, from Father Badger's first petition for a charter in 1801. were almost all graduates of New England colleges. The people of the Reserve were mostly Connecticut people. They honored and loved those institutions. and believed that a college, which was to do the same work for the sons of New England, transplanted to a new soil, ought by all means to be of the same type, and should aim to he of the same rank. This explains how they came to speak of their college as the Yale of the West. The Reserve was very commonly called New Connecticut, both here and in New England ; it was like in manner and for the same purpose to have its college, and it was both natural and probably wise, to pattern after that old college they had known and revered so well.

The instruction for the year 1827–28 seems to have been given entirely by Mr. Sturtevant. Mr. Hanford, then Pastor of the church in the village. and Secretary of the Trustees, was appointed to superintend the students, but it does not appear that he gave any instruction. In March, 1828, Rev. Charles Backus Storrs, then pastor of the church in Ravenna. was elected Professor of Sacred Theology. He accepted the appointment and entered upon his office in December, 1828. It does not appear that theology, beyond what forms a part of the course now, was taught at that day in the college, nor that there were special theological students here until 1831. But this chair was filled first on account of the prominence of the idea that the college was planted in order to raise up ministers for the destitute churches. Mr. Storrs probably instructed in mental and moral science, and the evidences of Christianity. Rev. Rufus Nutting, a graduate of Dartmouth College, was engaged in August, 1828, to give instruction for the fall term, and finally engaged for

the entire year. In March following, he was appointed Professor of Languages, and Mr. Elizur Wright, a graduate of Yale College, was appointed Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. In August, 1830, Rev. Beriah Green. a graduate of Middlebury College, was appointed Professor of Sacred Literature. and the theological department was established.

After many efforts to secure a President. Prof. Storrs was finally persuaded to accept that office in August, 1830. He was in all respects admirably qualified for it. except in the matter of bodily strength. He was born at Long Meadow, Mass.. in 1794. descending from a long line of able and scholarly ministers. He had not graduated at any college. but had nearly completed the junior year at Princeton with the highest rank as a scholar, and distinguished alike for talents and diligence. when ill health compelled him to abandon his studies. After a time devoted to the restoration of his health, he studied theology in private, was licensed, and preached a year. when he was again compelled by feeble health to abandon labor. In 1817. he entered the theological seminary at Andover, and passed through the regular course of study there. after which he went South and labored as a missionary in South Carolina and Georgia. Again interrupted by poor health, he traveled northward through Ohio in 1822, and accepted a call to the church at Ravenna, where he labored with great success until he Caine to the college. He was very retiring. unselfish. unambitious. with a very deep and earnest religious devotion. inflexible in his adherence to principle, solid. acute and comprehensive in thought. greatly loved and revered by all the students, of wonderful eloquence as a preacher. As a theologian, he was of the school of President Dwight. His ill health had doubtless tended to make him more a man of reflection, and to heighten those qualities which excited the love and reverence of all who knew him. He was a quiet, unassuming man of power, suited to make deep and lasting impressions upon all who came under his instruction.

Mr. Sturtevant left the township in May, 1829. Mr. Charles M. Preston, of the Class of 1830, was tutor in 1831–32, and Mr. Ralph M. Walker, of the Class of 1832, did excellent service as tutor from 1832 to 1835. The first Faculty was at length organized, with two pro-

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fessors and a tutor in the academic department, and two professors of theology. The institution was thus fully under way, but destined to encounter severe trials speedily. The few years which succeeded 1830 were years of great excitement upon most weighty questions respecting the internal management of the college, which arose here as they did almost everywhere else. The first was, whether so large a use of heathen authors, as they were called, in the course of study, was necessary or right ; the second was respecting the manual labor system.

In regard to the former question, after considerable agitation, a committee of the Faculty was appointed to examine and report on the subject. In August, 1834, this committee presented an able and sensible report, taking the ground on which the college had always stood in favor of the classics, but recommending the study of the Bible also in the original languages. The discussion was carried on with much earnestness among the students and friends of the college, but good sense prevailed, and the classics in fact always retained their accustomed place in the course of study.

The manual labor system was. at that time, a fashionable hobby all over the land. The Presbyteries of Grand River and Portage, in their capacity as Education Societies, had, in 1822-23. by resolutions " recommended to the managers of the education fund. to adopt a system of manual labor for all students under their care, and that the avails be applied for the support of those students by whom the labor is performed.

In March. 1830, the Trustees resolved "that they deem it expedient that the students in this college. during term time, labor for exercise and the preservation of health. either in agriculture or some of the mechanical arts. at least two hours every day. except the Sabbath, according to regulations hereafter to be made, and that it be recommended to all students now connected with the college, and required of all who shall hereafter become members, to labor in conformity with such regulations. except in extraordinary cases, of which cases a committee appointed for the purpose shall determine."

To carry out this system. the college provided three workshops—a cooper-shop, cabinet-shop and wagon-shop—and a farm for thosewho preferred that kind of work. They even went so far in 1837, as to consider the expediency of opening a blacksmith's shop. These shops and the farm were provided with tools and superintendents, and an earnest and persevering effort was made to carry out the plan successfully. At one time, the students formed a mechanical society to carry on work, and had a standing advertisement in the Ohio Observer of their cabinet wares. A steam engine was procured for the shops. No care or expense seems to have been spared. But the students, like so many other people, proved to be disinclined to manual labor. Very few had any knowledge whatever of the use of tools, and many had no capacity to learn to use them skillfully, especially as the inclination was wanting. The wares were found to be rude, ill jointed, unworkmanlike and hard to sell. Many, for various reasons, got relieved from the requirement to labor, and an invidious distinction grew up between the workers and the non-workers. It even turned out that this unwilling labor was not beneficial to health. Gradually, after many shifts, one part of the system after another was reluctantly given up, until the whole was abandoned. The last lingering ray of it is found in the catalogue for 1851-52.

But greater questions than these agitated the college. About the time of founding the college. the slavery question began to agitate the country. It was in 1829 that Garrison came out boldly and decidedly in the advocacy of the immediate and unconditional abolition of slavery. He went on to attack the scheme of colonization as affording no remedy for the evil, and its advocates as enemies of the slave and real supporters of the system of slavery with all its horrors. The Liberator first published in 1831, quickly aroused the whole nation North and South. Many men of keen, moral sensibilities took up the cause of the oppressed with great fervor, and with true martyr-spirit were ready to sacrifice everything—to make all other questions and all other interests subordinate to this one. The Liberator found its way to the Western Reserve ; it came into the hands of President Storrs, of Profs. Wright and Green, and into the hands of the students. Its arguments and appeals were here like good seed sown on good ground." One of the students who had recently hid an

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interview with Garrison. and had brought a package of documents and copies of the Liberator to distribute in the college, calling on President Storrs " and, seeing the Liberator on his table, asked the slow-spoken, sedate thinker what he thought of Garrison's writings on slavery. The answer was. "I do not see how they can be refuted." President Storrs and Profs. Wright and Green immediately became ardent advocates of Garrison's views. and lost no opportunity to proclaim and defend them. They were able and eloquent men, and their advocacy had great influence in the community. In 1832. Prof. Wright began to write in the Obserror and Telegraph, then published at Hudson. against colonization. and in favor of abolition. These articles aroused a great deal of opposition with some and great favor with others. In the summer of 1832, Profs. Wright and Green sent for Mr. Amos P. Hawley. of the sophomore class. and requested him to prepare a colloquy to be spoken at the ensuing commencement. and gave him for the subject of it The Recaptured Slave." The colloquy was successful. At the opening of the next term, the question of negro slavery and its relations to colonization became prominent subjects of discussion among the students.

On the 8th of May. 1833. President Storrs and Prof. Green delivered addresses at the annual meeting of the Tallmadge Anti-Slavery Society. President Storrs spoke nearly three hours with great power. It was his last work. He had always been feeble in body. but now his lungs were seriously affected, and this great excitement and over-exertion prostrated him. On the 26th of June he received leave of abscence for six months that he might travel and recruit his health. He went to Braintree. Mass., to the house of his brother, the Rev. R. S. Storrs, where he rapidly declined and died of pulmonary consumption September 15. 1833. Prof. Green received a call to the Presidency of the Oneida Institute, at Whitestown. N. Y. He resigned his professorship and left Hudson in June. Prof. Wright resigned at commencement in .August. Thus only Prof. Nutting and Tutor Walker were left of the old Faculty.

When Profs. Green and Wright resigned. conservative people rejoiced, and declared that they had been dismissed by the Trustees and their course, and all their opinions on this subject, condemned. This was not true. There is no intimation of anything of the kind in any of the records of the college. Prof. Green declared it to be false in a letter to the African Repository. He resigned only because he deemed it his duty to accept his call to Whitestown. Prof. Wright. in a letter to the Observer and Telegraph.. dated Hudson. September 9. 1833. says : " My resignation was produced. not by any attitude the board had assumed or was likely to assume. but simply by an invitation to another field of labor." The effect. however. of this years transactions and of the misunderstandings which grew out 0f them. on the prosperity of the college was very great. and continued for a long time.

This was a reformatory era in other respects also. and the students were thoroughly impregnated with the spirit of it. They entered with ardor into the temperance movement under the lead of the Faculty. They had their Temperance Society. made investigations and published their reports. The Society of Enquiry entered into what was called the moral reform movement. They had a standing committee on lewdness. and published a lengthy report on the subject. In 1834. they formed what they called a Magdalen Society." in defense of the seventh commandment, in sympathy with Mr. McDowell and his movement in New York. One of the students prepared and published a tract on the subject for general circulation. The young men went abroad lecturing on this subject also. They seem to have felt the moral burden of the world resting heavily upon their shoulders. and they were determined to discharge their responsibilities manfully. We can not but admire their devotion to duty. as they understood it. and to righteousness. But it is difficult to imagine the students of the present day going about the country lecturing on slavery and the seventh commandment, however much they may debate any and all subjects of present interest in college.

On the 13th of July, 1831, the college church was organized with twenty members. Seven other persons joined the church on the same day. The reasons for forming a separate church are not stated in the record, nor is it known who were the chief movers in the matter. It is probable that the founders had before their minds the example of Yale College and Andover Theological Seminary. The college church

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has been greatly blessed with frequent and powerful revivals from the first clown to the present year, though the effect of these revivals is but partially seen in the membership of the church. Many young men born into the kingdom here have preferred to unite with churches at their homes. The church now unites with the village church in preaching services. maintaining, however, in all other respects, an independent organization.

The financial condition of the college, up to the close of President Storrs' administration, had been steadily improving. At the time the charter was obtained, the property in the hands of the Trustees amounted to about $10,000. At the close of the year 1833, all the receipts from donations had amounted to about $54,000. There had been expended for grounds, buildings, including Middle and South College, the President's dwelling-house,* the work-shop, etc., $14,600 ; for agencies, instruction, library, apparatus. etc., probably about $17.000. The funds in hand, therefore, aside from the buildings, grounds and appliances for instruction, were a little over 822,000. Besides this sum in actual possession. more than 832,000 had been subscribed, which, for various causes, was never paid. though there was then good reason to expect that it would be paid. President Storrs himself devoted very little of his time to financial affairs ; he had not the health. and probably not the inclination for very much work of that kind. He was a student, a teacher and a preacher.

After commencement in 1833, the first work of the Trustees was to fill the chairs made vacant by death and resignation. The instruction for the succeeding year was provided for by the appointment of Mr. Clement Long. Instructor. and Mr. William C. Clark. Tutor. both graduates of Dartmouth College. In November. Rev. Nathaniel S. Folsom, a graduate of Dartmouth. was elected Professor of Sacred Literature. to succeed Mr. Green, and probably entered upon his work immediately. In March, 1834. Mr. Long was elected Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy. The chair of Mathematics was not filled until 1835, when Mr. Jarvis Gregg, also a graduate of Dartmouth, accepted an appointment to it ; the work meantime was per-

* South College was built In 1830-31,

at a cost of abut $5,000. The double-house for the President and Professor of Theology was built in 1830. formed by Tutor Walker. Rev. George E. Pierce was elected President in March, 1834, but did not enter on his office until commencement. The college year 1833-34, was, therefore, an interregnum ; but there was the same number of instructors as during the previous year, and the work went on probably with more calmness after the first anti-slavery excitement was over.

President Pierce was a Connecticut man, a graduate of Yale College in 1816, had taught an academy two years, studied theolegy at Andover, and had been a most successful Pastor of the church at Harwinton Conn.. for twelve years. When he entered upon his office as President. he was just forty years of age, with good health and great animation, and his spirit and energy were immediately felt in everything. He was deeply imbued with the Connecticut idea of a college, and he kindled anew the determination to carry it out speedily and thoroughly. He immediately began the effort to increase the endowment, to erect new buildings, to establish new professorships, to elevate the standard of scholarship, to increase the library and apparatus for instruction.

The Trustees were ready to follow such a leader, and to support him in all his projects. The building of the chapel was begun early in 1835. President Pierce appealed, through the Ohio Observer and the New York Evangelist, to the friends of the college to contribute $50,000 to increase its resources, and agents entered on the work of raising the money. There was an obvious and decided improvement of college affairs in all respects. The number of students increased, the requirements for admission were raised, the course of study was made much fuller, fences and grounds were improved. trees were planted in the college campus and on the streets. Everything showed that a man of taste, force and high ideal and decided views was at the head.

The work went forward with great rapidity. In 1836, the chapel was completed and dedicated at commencement, with a sermon by President Pierce. In the same year, Rev. Laurens P. Hickok, a graduate of Union College, came as Professor of Theology, the work of that department having been performed during the interim since President Storrs' death by President Pierce. After the accession of Prof. Hickok, President Pierce gave instruction in

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other branches of theology. Prof. Folsom having resigned, Prof. Elijah P. Barrows, a graduate of Yale College, came, in 1837, to the Chair of Sacred Literature. With this enlargement of the theological faculty, North College was built in 1837–38 for the use of divinity students. Prof. Gregg served but a part of a year in the Chair of Mathematics and Physics. and was then transferred to the Chair of Homiletics and Pastoral Theology. His sudden and premature death in less than a year from his first appointment was a serious loss to the college, for he was a man of fine scholarship, of great promise, greatly beloved by the Faculty and students. The Chair of Mathematics and Physics thus made vacant was immediately filled by the appointment of Mr. Elias Loomis, a graduate of Yale College, who went to Europe for a year's study and travel, commissioned also to procure books for the library and apparatus for the department of physics and instruments for the observatory. He brought to his chair great abilities and enthusiasm in his department and power of work. Under his guidance the mathematical part of the library and the apparatus were considerably increased. and, in 1838, the observatory was erected and admirably equipped. In 1838, Dr. St. John, a graduate of Yale College, was appointed Professor of Chemistry and Geology, and a large apparatus for that department was procured. This led to the erection of a new building for the accommodation of the two departments of physics and of chemistry and geology. This building, called Atheneum, was not completed, however, until 1843. Meantime, in 1840, Rev. Henry N. Day, a graduate of Yale College, had been added to the Faculty, taking the chair of of Homiletics and Pastoral Theology ; and in the same year Mr. Nathan P. Seymour, also a graduate of Yale College, had taken the Chair of Languages vacated by Prof. Nutting. In February, 1844, a modification of the charter was procured from the Legislature so as to allow the establishment of the medical department in the city of Cleveland. A course of medical lectures had been begun in Cleveland in the autumn of 1843 by Dr. Delemater and his distinguished associates. The department was fully organized, and the first class graduated in March, 1844.

It is evident that during the first decade of President Pierce's administration, there hadbeen a great enlargement and improvement of the institution. Three large, convenient and substantial edifices had been erected, and an astronomical observatory had been built and equipped. The Faculty had been increased from four to eight members, besides tutors. The number of students had increased from 83 to 140 ; the apparatus and library had been enlarged ; the requirements for admission and those for graduation greatly increased ; a new and flourishing department added. The Faculty which President Pierce gathered was composed of men distinguished for learning, general ability and teaching power, men who would have given honor and distinction to any institution. He showed himself to be an admirable judge of men. Not only did the broad foundation of the college seem to have been laid, but the Connecticut ideal seemed to have been actually realized. It was almost to the minutest particular a faithful copy of Yale College.

During the second half of President Pierce's administration. the financial difficulties of the college increased until they became well-nigh overwhelming. The causes of these difficulties were two—first, what seemed to be unwarrantably large expenditures for buildings and instruction ; and. second. the opinion of some. whether well or ill founded, that the managemens of the funds was not so careful and prudent as it should have been. The four buildings erected during the first half of President Pierce's administration. viz.. the Chapel. North College. Observatory and Atheneum. cost but little above $22,000, or the actual fund inherited from President Storrs' administration. If the question were asked whether these buildings were all necessary, we should have to reply that the plan on which Yale College was conducted was adopted here as the sum of all wisdom in such matters. The plan required abundant dormitories and a separate church—all the appliances for a community complete in itself, and separated from the rest of the world. It is easy now to find fault with the plan. and to point out other less expensive methods which have proved successful elsewhere. But the buildings then erected have proved very useful ever since, and are indispensable according to that plan. If we look at the expenditure for instruction, it certainly cannot be said that the salaries of the Faculty were ever large. and if we consider how much the President and

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Professors contributed to the fund of the college out of their salaries, it will be acknowledged that they were quite inadequate to their support. But even these small salaries, under the pressure of the circumstances, were often paid in a manner which made them by no means equal their nominal value. Seven hundred dollars was the highest salary paid to any one except the President, who received $900 ; and President Pierce often gave out of this $200 a year to the college, and the Professors were in general equally liberal in their donations. Indeed, it is doubtful if any college was ever served by such able men for so meager stipends. The number of the Faculty was such that the salaries of all. with that of the Treasurer, amounted from $3,500 to $7,500 a year. If the number of the Faculty should be drawn into question as unwise and unnecessary, the answer is easy, that it was the plan to have the institution a real college of the highest order ; it must therefore be fully manned by able scholars and teachers. If the number of students was as yet small. it was reasonably expected that they would increase as the population grew. and that an able Faculty would attract students. Indeed, the number of students was increasing. and the learning and ability of the Faculty did establish for the college the highest reputation, until *the operation of the second cause mentioned led on to the most serious disasters.

It has already been said that the financial necessities of the college kept President Pierce in the field as an agent a large part of the time for several years. His self-sacrifice and devoted labor in this hard and unpleasant task, we should think. have rarely been equaled ; but, with all his toil. to make ends meet, it was impossible. As early as 1836, the college had a debt of 86.000. though the nominal assets were 860.000. But these assets were largely subscriptions. many of which, after years of waiting. finally failed altogether ; others were land. or other property, which could not then be wisely converted, or converted at all without serious loss. This state of things continued —the expense going on. which must be met with ready money—the assets, however much they might be nominally, never answering to their face, and hard to bring into usable form. The debt steadily increased. until, in 1846, it stood at $35.000, and the assets at $38,000.

The annual deficit at that time was such that five years more would consume all the assets in hand, and leave only the fixtures and the debt. The difficulty in paying the salaries of the Prolessors, and the sacrifice required of them, led to the resignation of Prof. Hickok and Prof. Loomis in 1844, the former being called to the Chair of Theology in Auburn Seminary, and the latter to the Chair of Mathematics and Physics in the University of New York. This was in every respect a most serious loss to the college. But it was not to be expected that such men would submit to so much perplexity in the matter of support when they could do the same work elsewhere in more comfortable circumstances. Their places were, however, speedily filled, and the college went on doing its solid work, maintaining its high scholarly and literary character, but groaning under its financial burdens. Prof. Hickok's place. was filled by the transfer of Prof. Long to the Chair of Theology ; Prof. Loomis', by the appointment of Mr. James Nooney, a graduate of Yale College. Prof. Long's chair was filled by the appointment of Rev. Samuel C. Bartlett, a graduate of Dartmouth College.

In view of the failure of pledges and the depreciation of property. the board resolved, in 1845. to enter on an effort to raise 840.000 to replace the losses and pay the debts. This subscription was completed in 1848. They immediately began a new effort to add $60,000 to the permanent fund, the entire sum to be raised by January 1, 1850. This effort, entered upon with great vigor, was also successful. But the slowness with which payments were made left the college still in difficulty. Although the debt was diminishing, it was still $28.000 in 1830. The pressure of creditors and the immediate necessities of life led to the practice of loaning the money of the permanent fund to the general fund. From this and other causes, such as an inadequate system of bookkeeping, arose a suspicion, in the minds of some of the Trustees, whether well grounded or not, that the management of the funds was not good ; that there was a lack of business accuracy and order ; that the distinction between meant and taunt in the funds was not accurately kept. There can, of course, be nothing dishonest in the mere loaning from one fund to another ; but. considering the difficulty in which the college then was—the pressure on every side—it

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is not strange that it excited nervousness in the hard worked and ill-paid Faculty, and among some of the donors. No one could for a moment question the perfect integrity and high Christian character of President Pierce and the Trustees. But "the best-laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley," and the college had had too serious an experience already of the uncertainty of pledges to trust the general fund too far with the sacred resources of the permanent fund. Moreover, it was the growing sentiment on all sides that the expenses should, by some means, be brought down to the probable income, or nearly to that, and that the general fund should be so managed as speedily to remove all indebtedness.

In 1850, the sum of 860.000 had been sub-scribed to the permanent fund. In view of this fact and of the importance of the work of collecting and securely investing this. and in view also of the earnest request of President Pierce. that he might. as speedily as possible. be released from all financial responsibility, at the meeting of the board in March, a finance committee was appointed, consisting of President Pierce, Mr. Joseph Perkins, Hon. E. N. Sill and Mr. C. L. Latimer, all of them men who were skilled and practiced in financial business, to take charge of the whole matter of collecting and investing the new fund. of the administration of the general fund, and the payment of the debt. They were specially " charged to see that no part of the permanent fund was diverted from its proper purpose. or entangled with other funds or effects of the college." This committee, at the outset, made a full and minute survey of the state of affairs. With a debt of $28,000 they find assets applicable to its payment of $38,000. They declare that this debt must be paid without further delay, that the assets applicable to the purpose are "barely sufficient to meet the demands," and that " decision and energy will be very requisite" in the management of the matter, or "the funds will melt in our hands and our debts be left an incubus upon us." Besides interest. the annual expenses were then $1,500 beyond the reliable income. But all attempts at the reduction of expenditure were met with opposition. There seemed to be a great desire on all hands to retrench, without retrenching ; and the committee. finding at the end of a year and a half that, with all their efforts they could notsecure the requisite control, that the debt was reduced only $7,500, while the available assets had shrunk $16,000, resigned. Their duties re-turned to the hands of the prudential committee.

This brought on a crisis in the affairs of the college. This finance committee had been divided in opinion—on the one side, President Pierce, the Chairman, on the ground, with the actual control in his hands, and dreading in any degree to impair the number or efficiency of the Faculty. which had brought the institution up to his ideal in that respect—on the other side the other members who saw clearly and felt deeply the financial necessities of the case. The disagreement which brought about the resignation of this committee now entered into the board and divided it so that the cast ing vote was always in the hands of the President. and he always cast it with the same side. The division touched every question of policy and of popular action. The Faculty. feeling most deeply everything which threatened the honor. stability and efficiency of the college for which they had so devotedly labored and sacrificed. and. though not doubting the integrity and good will, yet doubting the ability of President Pierce and the prudential committee to successfully cope with the financial problem, insisted that the finance committee should be continued. and should have complete control of the funds according to its original plan. Disheartened and foreseeing evil from the resignation of that committee, Profs. Barrow, St. John and Bartlett resigned. Prof. Long having also resigned a few days before the committee. This was almost a breaking-up of the college. since there only remained besides the President, Prof. Day in the Theological Department, Prof. Seymour in the Academic, and Prof. Frost Shepherd, who never received a salary, was never responsible for any fixed duty. and who was here but a small part of the time. After much agitation and negotiation with meetings of the Alumni and of students to consider the subject, and express their opinions and wishes at commencement in July

1852, Prof. Lord withdrew his resignation, and the other Professors were reappointed, with the expectation that they would continue their labors, and the college would still live and flourish as of old. But these hopes were blighted. Personal disagreements had grown

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up out of questions arising in the Faculty, as well as deep differences of opinion growing out of the financial and other questions arising in the Board of Trustees, and concerning general policy. The strong feelings excited could not be easily calmed. The Professors, being widely distinguished in their departments, had tempting offers of important positions elsewhere, where their fields would be larger and their salaries sure. The attempt to restore the old order of things failed. The Professors left, the students mostly left, and the labor and patience of many good men for many years, seemed to have failed of the promise.

Aside from the debt and the general fund available for its payment. the college had also a permanent fund, amounting nominally to $85,000: but $54,000 of this was in the form of subscription notes. for the most part on interest. and payable between the years 1850 and 1855 ; $10.600 was in stocks and bonds ; the remainder chiefly in real estate, bills receivable and the like, with 83,000 in cash. The discords and contentions in the college interfered with the collection of the principal and interest of this fund as it became due, thus greatly reducing the expected income and increasing the embarrassment. They alienated many of the donors, also, as might have been expected. and undoubtedly had an injurious influence upon other young colleges in the West which were seeking to raise their first endowments. Men who had means to give to them had their fears excited that their donations might be lost through the discords. if not the mismanagement of boards of trust. In this view, the " Society for the Promotion of Collegiate and Theological Education at the West." which had between the years 1845 and 1848 given the college about $13.000. and recommended it to the favor of the churches and Christian people at the East, took a deep interest in all these transactions here, and urged the speedy settlement of the difficulties. In February. 1855, this society even sent a committee of distinguished. men, which met the Board of Trustees in their semi-annual meeting at Cleveland. and urged them to refer all their differences to arbitration. This friendly counsel was rejected by a majority of the board. They seemed to feel themselves bound to work the matter through without outside aid or advice.

At the beginning of the academic year 1852-53, the Faculty consisted of President Pierce, Prof. Seymour and Tutor Gates. Prof. Day still retained his office, but as the Theological Department had no students, he rendered no service. There were only two classes —the sophomore and freshman—with twenty-three members. In March, 1853, Rev. Alfred Emerson, a graduate of Yale College, was elected Professor of Mathematics and Physics, and entered on his duties at the beginning of the year 1853-54. In November, 1853, Rev. Henry B. Hosford, a graduate of Williams College, was elected Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy and Rhetoric, and entered on his duties in January, 1854. Both these elections were opposed and strongly protested against by a portion of the board, not out of objection to the men, well qualified pledges, but because in their view it was necessary to the prosperity of the institution that President Pierce should retire from office, and that there should be an entire reconstruction.

At commencement in 1853 there were no graduates, and the commencement exercises consisted of the oration before the Alumni, by Mr. Hoadley. of the Class of 1844, the inaugural address by Prof. Emerson, two orations by representatives of the societies. and three masters' orations. In the next year, beside the President. there were three Professors. a Tutor and twenty-five students, all the classes being represented. The work of the college went on after the old fashion, according to the old standard, though the continued agitation in the newspapers and in private, must have made all parties extremely uncomfortable. Even through another year did this weary time of conflict extend.

On the 31st of May, 1855, President Pierce, having arrived at the age which he had long before set as the proper time for him to retire. resigned his office. and Rev. Henry S. Hitch-cock. of Columbus, a graduate of Yale College and a distinguished minister, was elected his successor. All parties seem to have become weary of the conflict, as well they might. Mr. Hitchcock was inaugurated at commencement, on the 12th of July. Several members of the Board of Trustees resigned ; there places were filled by men having the confidence of both parties, and the college entered upon its new era.

President Pierce lived sixteen years after his

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retirement by the side of the college, rejoicing in its revived prosperity, its larger endowment, and in its faithfulness to the standard and the traditions which he had established. During these later years his health allowed him to do but little labor, but he had a keen interest in all public affairs and was full of sociality and good humor. Death came suddenly upon him at last without warning, and he was mercifully saved from a painful sickness, which he had always greatly feared. He died on Sunday morning, May 28, 1871, in the seventy-seventh year of his age.

The task which President Hitchcock undertook was one of great difficulty on account of the labor involved, and of great delicacy in consequence of the excited state of feeling concerning the college in the community and among the graduates. Every step he took was sure to be criticised ; all his acts and every aspect of the college under him were sure to be compared with the great days of old when achievements as well as hopes were high and skies were clear. He came to the college in the prime of his life. at forty-two years of age, with his powers well-disciplined by seventeen years of ministerial labors, in which he had learned to manage difficult financial affairs as well as preach the Word. Singularly enough, he was a native of Burton, a pupil, and subsequently a teacher in the Academy of the Erie Literary Society, his father being a Trustee and all his family and friends stout defendants of that institution, when the attempt was made to remove it to Hudson. The sequel will show what a grand revenge Burton and that society had on Hudson and the Western Reserve College. He bore one of the most honored names in the history of the State of Ohio, and by his wisdom. prudence and earnest Christian labors had proved himself worthy of it. He was not only made President, which brought upon him the financial responsibility, but he was also made Professor of Christian Theology and Pastor of the College Church. The professorship of theology required that he should teach natural theology and evidences of Christianity as they are usually taught in colleges. As Pastor of the church he was expected to preach twice on Sunday in the chapel during term time, and to do whatever other pastoral labor he should find desirable. His preparation for this last office was abundant ; for in all his ministry he had written faithfully and had acquired the habit of extempore speaking. The teaching which he did gave him one recitation or lecture a day for half the year. For this he always studied diligently and he had an admirable grasp of the subjects of his department.

The teaching and the preaching would certainly be considered a sufficient burden for one man to bear in ordinary circumstances; but President Hitchcock had other burdens greater than these. He had the financial burden of paying the debt and collecting the subscriptions from subscribers, many of them reluctant or hostile by the transactions which had occurred since they made their pledges ; and the task of doing away with the prejudice in the community, engendered by the quarrels of the last five years, of winning back alienated friends and divided Alumni.

Few men could have been found willing to undertake such a work. It required a man who was ready to face long and incessant labor. willing to subject himself to ungrateful criticism, to encounter rebuffs. and to wait long for recognition and obvious success. President Hitchcock had all these qualities. When he had made up his mind that duty called him to the work. his whole soul was devoted to it, so that no obstacles daunted him. and nothing that he possessed was kept back. He had all the energy. devotion and spirit of self-sacrifice. which characterized President Pierce. but he was especially fitted for his difficult office because he was yielding and conciliatory in his temper. never asserting himself, but always putting forward his cause, and. while firmly adhering to principle, and always insisting on what was just and right, he was cautious not to offend. He was kindly, charitable toward all men, friendly with everybody, considerate of everybody. He was such a thorough Christian man that none who knew him could fail to see that he was not serving himself but God. His modest, unassuming Christian character impressed itself upon the students, and made it easy for him to govern and to lead them in right ways.

Another thing which fitted President Hitchcock for his general work outside the college. was his ability as a preacher and his tact and experience in revivals of religion. This made him a valuable man to the religious interests of this part of the State. in a way which everbody could see and appreciate. His value as a

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man won friends to his cause. Indeed, we may almost say that Dr. Hitchcock had no quality, intellectual, moral or personal, and there was no event in his previous history which did not directly fit him for the laborious and delicate task which he now undertook.

The most pressing demand which President Hitchcock met when he entered upon his work was the payment of the debt. This debt he found. at the beginning of his term of office, about $22,000. It had not been reduced at all since October, 1851. On the withdrawal of President Pierce it was increased to 525,000 by the vote of the board to pay him $3,000, rather as some small recognition of his past services than as a compensation for them. The general fund applicable to the payment of this debt had mostly disappeared. As no part of the permanent fund could be used for this purpose. it was necessary to raise the means by a special subscription. This was a hard thing to do. but one which absolutely must be clone if the college was to survive. To this. therefore. the President applied himself: It was necessary that he should go about it by personal solicitation. The work went on slowly but steadily. as he could gain time from his other duties. It was no slight labor. meanwhile, to manage the obligations and to meet the interest. It was only after nine years. in 1864. that the last of the debt was paid. It had begun to accumulate as early as 1836. and thus. after twenty-eight years. having caused unspeakable vexation and having nearly swamped the college in the meantime. it was removed. The lesson was one which this college will not soon forget. The good friends who helped to lift that load deserve to be held in special gratitude.

But this was not the only financial work of the President during this period. The outstanding pledges to the permanent fund. which amounted, in 1855. to about $43,060. were now all fully clue, and needed to be immediately collected, principal and interest, and invested. This was essential in order to provide for the running expenses. But such was the state of feeling among many of the subscribers, growing out of the discords in the college. which had become so notorious, that we cannot wonder that they were very reluctant to meet their pledges. The financial crisis of 1858 brought a new difficulty in the case of many who had not yet paid. But the work was carried steadily forward by this quiet, kindly, persistent man, until nearly the whole sum was paid or compromised. In connection with these labors, the President began, as early as April, 1856, to solicit new subscriptions to the permanent fund. This was necessary if the college was to maintain its old standard of scholarship and instruction ; for the Faculty must be enlarged, and salaries must be raised in order to get and retain suitable Professors. The means for sup-porting instruction must not only be more ample, but must not be contingent, as in the olden times, nor would it do again to pay Professors with orders nor with store pay. In 1859. he began to secure donations to the general fund. These various labors he carried forward simultaneously, with such respites as the state of the country required, until the time of his death in 1873. when, it is found, that he added $67,000 to the permanent fund and $99,000 to the general fund, besides paying the debt and collecting all that was collectable of the money due on the pledges made between 1848 and 1850. A considerable portion of this general fund was afterward transferred to the permanent fund. And this work he did himself, not by agents. except in the matter of about $6.000. Besides this, with the aid of the prudential committee. of course, he had the care of the funds, and of their safe investment—a duty of no small importance—which he performed with great wisdom and prudence.

Of the Faculty of the old palmy days, only Prof. Seymour remained under the new regime, Prof Day retaining a mere nominal connection with the college until 1859. Prof. Emerson, who had come into the Chair of Mathematics and Physics during the interim, retired in April, 1856. and was succeeded in January following by Mr. Charles A. Young, a graduate of Dart. mouth, who served the college with great success until February. 1866, when he resigned to accept the Chair of Physics and Astronomy at Dartmouth College—a chair which had been filled by his father and grandfather before him. In April of that year, Mr. Young .. as succeeded by Mr. Allen C. Barrows, of the Class of 1861. who served until the close of the year 1869-70, when Mr. Charles J. Smith, of the Class of 1870, the present incumbent, entered upon that office. Prof. Hosford came in, also, in what we may call the interim, to the Chair of Intellectual Philosophy and Rhetoric, which he

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filled until December, 1859. He was succeeded by the present incumbent in April, 1860. Prof. Seymour retained the Chair of the Greek and Latin Languages until 1870, having entered upon this professorship in September, 1840. He thus served the college with distinction from the days of its greatest prosperity under President Pierce, through the period of conflict and darkness, until the time of its greatest prosperity in the new era. On his resignation, he was made Emeritus Professor. He has since given instruction on two occasions, when his services were needed. Mr. Edwin S. Gregory. a graduate of Harvard College, held the position of Adjunct Professor of Latin, and gave instruction in the college from 1861 to 1866, while he was Principal of the preparatory school.

On the retirement of Prof. Seymour. the professorship was divided. Mr. Thomas D. Seymour, his son. of the Class of 1870. being appointed to the Chair of Greek and Modern Languages, with leave of absence for two years. that he might study and travel in Europe. The work of the Greek Department was performed meantime by William R. Perkins. of' the Class of 1868. The Chair of Latin and English Literature was taken by Prof. Allen C. Barrows, who filled it but one year. when he resigned to become Pastor of the church at Kent. He was succeeded immediately by Rev. Lemuel S. Potwin, a graduate of Yale, the present incumbent. In 1868, Mr. Edward W. Morley, a graduate of Williams College, was appointed Professor of Chemistry and Natural History, a chair which had been vacant since Prof. St. John resigned 1852. The instruction in this department had been given, meantime, by lecturers—two years, 1855 and 1856, by Prof. Chadbourne, now President of Williams College, and from 1857 to 1868 inclusive by Prof. Cassell, of the Medical Department. Mr. Morley began his services as Professor in January, 1869. In 1860, Prof. Long returned to the college as lecturer for one term in the Department of Moral Philosophy. From 1869 to 1872, Hon. Thomas Hastings, of Cleveland, gave a course of lectures each year on Municipal Law. Since 1869, Mr. M. C. Read, of the Class of 1848, has given a course of lectures each year on Practical Geology and Zoology. Such were the changes in the Faculty during President Hitchcock's administration.

The prosperity of the college, which was obviously returning in all respects, received a severe check at the breaking out of the war in 1861. It was then the first thought of every one that all else must be sacrificed if need be, for the salvation of the country. Young men in college were among the first to feel the patriotic impulse. Several students entered the army at the first call for volunteers. During the summer term in 1861. all the students entered heartily into military drill under the instruction of Col. Hayward. of Cleveland. At the beginning of the next term, the classes were very much diminished. a considerable number entering the service for the war. The grammar school also furnished a large quota of soldiers. It is much to be regretted that no record was kept of the undergraduates who entered the army. The catalogue of 1862-63. at the end of the summary, adds the remark : ̊ In addition to those named and enumerated above. there are in the army sixteen members of college classes. and twenty-seven members of the preparatory school." Of course there were many others before and after that year who left to serve the country. In May. 1862. after the defeat of Banks in the Shenandoah Valley. President Lincoln issued a new call for volunteers to serve three months. The students had a well-drilled military company and immediately offered their services to Gov. Tod. They were accepted and repaired to Columbus, where they remained in charge of the military prison for three months, after which they were sent to Vicksburg in charge of a large body of prisoners for exchange. They were mustered out September 29. Commencement was held that year on the 15th day of October, and the first term of the new academic year began on the following day. This was the only interruption of the regular work of the college during the war, but of course the numbers were kept down and the financial progress was doubtless much retarded. Of those undergraduates who entered the army, quite a number lost their lives, and those who returned found themselves either past the college age, or from other causes unable to complete their studies. The war record of the college must be considered good, since somewhat more than 100 out of 402 of the academic alumni served in the army, to say nothing of the theological and medical graduates. They were found in all ranks from pri-

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vate and hospital steward up to Major General.

It might well be supposed that no man could bear always such a burden of care and labor as that which President Hitchcock took upon his shoulders. He maintained great vigor and elasticity of health and constitution for several years ; but, in 1867, his health seemed to be giving way, and it was obvious that he must rest or break down. He desired to be released from his connection with the college, but neither the Faculty nor the Trustees would consent to his resignation. The physicians advised at least six months of rest. At a meeting of the prudential committee in September, leave of absence was given him for eight months, the Faculty undertaking to do his teaching and to supply the pulpit during his absence. Leaving home on the 8th of October, he went to the southern part of France, where he spent the winter. After some travel he returned home in season for commencement the following June. very much recruited in health. But the old energy and power to work never fully returned. He went on, however. as before, with some assistance in the pulpit, still improving the financial condition of the institution, and discharging his ordinary public duties. But, in February. 1870, feeling too much the pressure of care. he tendered his resignation ; but, at the earnest solicitation of the Trustees. withdrew it. Again. in June, 1871, he renewed his resignation, which was now accepted. He remained, however, in his professorship as Pastor of the church and in care of the financial affairs. He was really relieved only from the government of the college and from responsibility for home affairs. After the great improvement in the financial condition, it was the responsibility for the government which had especially worn upon him. Dr. Hitchcock continued in the discharge of his duties until the summer of 1873. when a few days before commencement he was taken sick and died on the 6th of July in the sixtieth year of his age.

On the resignation of President Hitchcock, at commencement, in 1871, Prof. Carroll Cutler was elected to fill the vacaney. He entered on the duties of the office immediately, but was not inaugurated until commencement in 1872. The presence of Dr. Hitchcock and the responsible position which he still filled caused the affairs of the college to go on as before, andthere was nothing to indicate to any one that any change had occurred. Before 1872, the question so much discussed in some other colleges of the same type with this, in regard to the admission of women to equal privileges of study and instruction, had been often privately considered by the Faculty. Especially when some women asked to be admitted to Wabash College and were refused, the question was sprung, " What course should we take in like circumstances ?" It was unanimously agreed that it any woman thirsting for knowledge should seek it at their fountain she should not be refused merely because she was a woman. Neither the charter nor the laws of the college presented any obstacles to the admission of women, and, on inquiry, it was thought there would be no objection on the part of the Trustees. In his inaugural address, therefore, Mr. Cutler announced the fact that women would be admitted to all the privileges of the college on the same conditions with men. In the autumn of 1872, several young ladies entered the preparatory school ; in 1874, one entered the Freshman class, and, in 1875-76, there was one in the Senior class, one in the Sophomore, and two in the Freshman class. So far they have been conducted with credit and maintained an average grade of scholarship.

During the existence of the Theological Department, its history was one with that of the college, and has been substantially recounted above. It really began operation when Mr. Green came here as Professor of Biblical Literature, in 1830, and continued until 1852. The time of its greatest prosperity was from 1842. to 1850. It was abandoned because there were not funds enough to support Professors. The necessity for a Seminary had ceased also, because two others had been planted since the opening of this, one in and another near the field which this was intended to occupy. The funds which were contributed as a permanent endowment of this department were very small. Mr. Heman Oviatt gave $10,000 in 1837 to endow the Chair of Sacred Rhetoric. In 1853, Mr. Oviatt, in writing, expressed his desire to the Trustees that, in view of the then present state of the college, the Professor, on his endowment, should give instruction in the Collegiate Department. To the endowment of the other theological chairs, there was contributed only about $5,800. Twelve hundred dol-

464 - HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

lars of this was given by sundry persons," through Moses Allen. of New York, and no further record can now be found of it. Four thousand six hundred dollars were given by eighty-six persons in small sums, the largest single donation being $212. All other funds were for current use.

The high character of the seminary is obvious from the ability of the men who filled its chairs of instruction, and also from the standing and usefulness of those who received their theological education here. One needs but to recall the names of President Storrs. Professors Green, Folsom. Long. Hickok. Barrows and Day to show that the instruction was nowhere abler. These names, also, as well as those of their pupils. clearly indicate the doctrinal views taught. Those who studied here have. many of them. occupied prominent positions, and all of them have been very useful in the ministry of the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches. in both the home and foreign fields. The seminary was linked to that ecclesiastical system which grew upon the Reserve, called the "Plan of Union." The Professors all entered heartily into it in good faith, as did most of the churches, until restless and grasping men on both sides drove forward the work of division. The seminary, however. and all the Professors, continued their adhesion to the Plan. The number of those whose names appear in the catalogue as theological students is 106. It does not look at present as though this department would ever be resumed. at least in its old form. The seminaries now in operation are enough for the wants of the country, and will be for a long time to come.

A preparatory school was opened in connection with the college at the very first. Perhaps it would be better to say that the college was first opened in connection with a preparatory school ; for the first Freshman class was admitted and studied the first year at Tallmadge, in the academy, under Mr. David L. Coe, who was Principal of the school, and college tutor pro tempore. When the college opened in the net building L. Hudson, in the fall of 1827, the first catalogue shows that there was a Sophomore and a Freshman class, a preparatory class and a class pursuing a partial course. There has been a preparatory class ever since. The name " Preparament " was first used in 1838. In 1843, there was a Preparatory Department in two sections, classical and English. In 1850. this department was first called a " Grammar School." a name 1 which it retained until 1860. since which date it has been called a Preparatory School."

It was the expectation of the Trustees that it would be necessary to continue the school but a very few years. they supposing that academies would be established and endowed on the Reserve as they had been in New England. At one time there were as many as twenty academies in successful operation. First and last there have been more than thirty academies on the Reserve. But nearly all of these schools were entirely unendowed. and as the public schools improved. the number of pupils in them diminished, and as new. more exciting and more , remunerative fields of labor opened. teachers could not be found for them, and they were abandoned. A number of them have been attached to the school system of the towns where they are as high schools. But they do not thus accomplish the object of endowed academies. The necessity for the preparatory school, therefore, continues to this day, and we can see no prospect that it will soon cease.

This school has always been under the supervision of the college Faculty. and taught for the most part by some of the younger graduates. Occasionally some of the Professors have given instructions there for brief periods, and Professor Gregory was Principal and carried on the school for five years, with the aid of a tutor. after he was made Adjunct Professor of Latin in college. The school has never been self-supporting. except for two years. 1850-52, under Mr. Turner. During the period when the great calamity and depression were upon the college, from 1852 to 1860, the teachers received only the tuition fees, but the college furnished for it a local habitation.

The early catalogues show that there were from the beginning, students here in a partial course. The precise nature and extent of that course is not indicated. As these men were not Bachelors of Arts, it is probable that they pursued the higher English studies with the college classes and received a certificate of proficiency, but not a degree. In 1855, when President Hitchcock entered on his office, a Scientific course was announced in the catalogue, " designed for those who desire a more complete education than is furnished by acada-

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mies and high schools, without pursuing the learned languages." The course of study was intended to be three years. In 1839, the catalogue contains the names of two resident graduates, and in 1845. one besides those engaged in theological study. They were pursuing those studies which properly belong to a Philosophical Department. In 1847, appear the names of eleven Bachelors and Masters of Arts. who were engaged here in such work. and in 1848 there were six names in the same class.

The library has grown, but very slowly, to some 7,000 volumes, mostly by donations of books, while the college has paid out of the treasury probably about $1,200 for this object previously to the year 1874. The library has now an endowment of $3.700, and waits with strong desire for the payment of the remainder of the $10.000 subscribed for its endowment at commencement in 1873. The society libraries contain about 5,400 volumes, purchased by the students from time to time.

The physical apparatus, which must have been reasonably good for so young an institution according to the ideas of those early times. was greatly increased by Prof. Loomis when he entered upon his work here in 1837. He brought with him from Europe the most important instruments for investigation and instruction, to the value of 2.200. This apparatus has been well preserved, and since 1868. has been steadily increased by the addition of almost all those new instruments which the advance of science has made necessary or useful in a college in order that the instruction might keep pace with the times.

The astronomical observatory was built under the direction of Prof. Loomis in 1838, at a cost of a little above $1,000. and furnished with a transit circle. equatorial telescope and siderial clock, procured in Europe at an expense of 81.750.

When Dr. St. John came. in 1858. $2.500 was appropriated as an outfit for his department, some $500 of which was probably expended in the purchase of chemical apparatus, and the $2.000 upon the cabinet. Accordingly, the cabinet seems to have grown and prospered for some time ; but, during the period of depression and disaster, it was almost entirely neglected. In 1858, it received a valuable accession from Rev. Horace S. Taylor, of the Class of 1840, and a missionary in India. Heprocured a large fragment of a meteorite which fell within his field of labor February 28. 1857. and sent it to the college. This was broken up in consequence of many applications for specimens, and by exchanges the cabinet contains now a series of seventy-six different meteoric irons and stones. There are 1.450 named and labeled specimens of minerals in cases, 500 not labeled, 250 specimens of shells, with many duplicates, and a series of casts of typical fossils. 173 in number, which were added in 1874. There is also a small collection of archaeological specimens.

The chemical apparatus procured by Prof. St. John had almost wholly disappeared when President Hitchcock entered on his office. Very little was done in the way of repairing these losses until Prof. Morley came, in 1869. Since that date. this department has received its proper share of attention. An admirable apparatus for the purpose of analysis and research, as well as for use in instruction, has been I procured, mostly purchased in Europe, at an expense of $2.500. There is a well-furnished laboratory for the use of students, where the class perform. under the guidance of the professor, all those experiments which are suitable for them. The departments of natural science, which, from the very first, seem to have attracted the enlightened attention of the Trustees. have thus been well provided with the means of instruction.

At the present, an important change in the history of the college is pending, which must result in important consequences to the institution. At a meeting of the Trustees at Cleveland in 1876, the question was proposed to the President as to how much money would cover the cost of removing the college from Hudson to Cleveland. After deliberation. the sum was placed at $500.000 by President Cutler, and an itemized statement to that effect was drawn up. Subsequently. Amasa Stone, Esq., of Cleveland, offered that amount if the removal should be effected. A movement was at once put in progress to secure this end, and the success of this effort seems to be not far from realization. There is, of course, a decided difference of opinion upon the wisdom of this course, some of the Alumni believing with the great majority of the citizens of Hudson that it does great injustice to those who have sacrificed a great deal in its behalf, and at the

466 - HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

same time carries the youth right into the midst of temptations from which it is of the greatest importance to shield them. On the other hand, it is urged that Cleveland is destined to attract a university, which, if the Western Reserve College should neglect its present opportunity, would result disastrously to its interests. By removing to Cleveland, it is hoped that the scope of the college's influence will be enlarged, its prosperity enhanced, and that it will speedily assume that place which its founders hoped for in its inception.