Cuyahoga County, Ohio - Chapter 38: Colleges, 1870

Chapter 38: Colleges

Origin of Baldwin University - Liberality of Mr. Baldwin - First Faculty - First Buildings - The German Department - German Wallace College The Relation of the two Institutions - The College of Pharmacy - Hulet Hall - Ladies' Hall - The Preparatory Department - The Collegiate Department - Classical and Scientific Courses - Elective Studies - The Successive Presidents - The Present Faculty - Foundation of German Wallace College - The First Faculty - Changes of Officers - The Present Faculty - The Arrangement with the University - Special Attention to German Language and Literature - German Literary Societies - The Buildings - The Founders of Cleveland Medical College - Its Organization as a Department of Western Reserve College - Erection of Buildings - First Faculty - -Number,of Graduates - Present Faculty--Homcopathic Hospital College - Its Age - First Faculty - First Building - The Riot - Removed to the Hights - Distinction and Prosperity - The Hospital - The Faculty of 1879 - Medical Department of University of Wooster- - Its Predecessor - The Faculty of 1870 - Number of Graduates - The Faculty of 1879.

Baldwin University

THIs institution had its origin in Baldwin Institute, which was established at Berea in 1844, and of which an account is given in the history of the township of Middleburg. The institute was transformed into a university in 1855. The new, as well as the old, institution was under the auspices of the Northern Ohio conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and like the old one, tuo, was due to the liberality of Hon. John Baldwin, who, at the time last mentioned, made a large donation of land and money, in addition to what he had previously given to the institute.

The first faculty of the university consisted of the following members: Rev. John Wheeler, A.M., president and professor of mental and moral science; Rey. Jeremiah Tingley, A.M., vice-president and professor

The buildings transferred to the college by the institute were the Old Hall, bmlt in 1845, and the South Hall, a three story edifice, finished in 1853. There was a preparatory department, which continued to attract the same class of students as had formerly attended the institute, but the college course proper had, for a time, comparatively few attendants, although the number steadily inereased. For many years Mr. Baldwin regularly paid to the institution the interest on ten thousand dollars, which was applied to its support.

In 1858 a German department was formed, under the management of O. Henning, Ph.D. After 1859, for several years, it was taught by the Rey. Jacob Rothweiler, and was remarkably successful, attracting a large and increasing number of students. In 1Su3 the German Wallace college was founded, of which a sketch is given further on. In organization the two institutions are entirely separate, but they yet sustain very intimate relations with each other.

Baldwin University instructs the students of both in Latin, mathematics and the natural sciences. German Wallace College performs a similar service for both sets of students in Greek, French and music. Members of each institution are admitted free to the recitations in the other; these recitations being in English at the university, and in German at the college. It will be seen at once that this system furnishes an admirable method of giving the attendants of both establishments a thorough and_ scholarly knowledge of both the great languages mentioned, and the fact has been widely recognized, as is shown by the large number of youth who have sought the advantages named.

In 1865 acollege of pharmacy was established in connection with the university, but the number of those who desired to become practical druggists was not sufficient to justify the movement, and it has been abandoned.

In 1868 another large hall was completed, called Hulet, in honor of Fletcher Hulet, Esq., a large beneficiary of the university. It is of stone, ninety fect by fifty-six, and two stories high, and contains a large chapel and five fine recitation rooms. In 1872 the old hall, built in 1845, was removed. A very fine large 'hall, of stone, to be known as Ladies' Hall, is now in course of construction, which when completed will be one of the finest structures of the kind in the State.

"The preparatory department contains three classes, the junior, middle and senior; in which students are thoroughly instructed'in the higher English branches and in the elements of the classics - are, in fact, if

The collegiate department comprises the ordinary four classes, freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior, but there are two courses, classical and scientific, running through them all. The former is the usual college course; in the latter Latin is made a subordinate study and Greek is entirely ignored in favor of German, or French, and the most abstruse branches of mathematics and natural science. All the departments and courses are open to both sexes.

Not only are the two courses elective, but in the junior and senior years of-each there are five or six studies prescribed, from which the student may elect three, proficiency in which insures a diploma. Whether this '' go-as-you-please" way is conducive to sound and thorough culture is a question to be decided by time.

The Rev. John Wheeler, A.M., was president of the university from 1855 to 1872; W. D. Godman, A. M., from 1872 to 18%5, and Aaron Schuyler, LL.D., from 1875 to the present time. William C. Peirce, 8.T.D., was vice president from 1860 to 1872; being also, at that time as well as now, professor of the natural sciences. The followingis a list of the faculty for barrassment. Its supporters have labored on, howie GES iiey She, Seg -Oomibiatd ts the year ending in June, 1879; some of them, however, performing their labors in German Wallace College, according to the arrangement before mentioned: Aaron Schuyler, LL.D., president, and professor of philosophy and applicd mathematics; William C. Peirce, 8.T.D., professor (Hmeritus) of natural science, and lecturer on the evidences of Christianity; Ellen H. Warner, A.M., preceptress, and professor of pure mathematics; Clara E. Schuyler, A.M., professor of rhetoric and English literature; Carl Riemenschneider, Ph.D., professor of the Greek language and literature; Archie M. Mattison, professor of the Latin language and literature; Victor Wilker, A.M., professor of German and French; James A. Dodge, Ph.D., professor of natural science; William K. Grannis, professor of instrumental and vocal music, and principal of the commercial department; Mattie L. Bigelow, instructor in painting and drawing.

German Wallace College

This literary and classical institution, located in the village of Berea, was founded in 1863, and was incorporated and opencd in 1864. The board of trustees consists of thirteen members, four of whom are residents of the county. The first faculty was composed of the following persons: Rev. Wm. Nast, D.D., president; Rev. J. Rothweiler, vice president; P. W. Mosblech, Ph.D.; Albert Nast; Mary Hasenpflug. During the first collegiate year (1864-65) there were forty students in attendance; which number has of late increased to one hundred and twenty, one-sixth of whom are ladies.

In 1867 Rev. J. Rothweiler, the first vice president and resident manager, was succeeded in office by Rey. F. Schuler, who held the position until 1873, when he was followed by the present incumbent, Rev. P. F. Schneider. Since 1874 there has been no change in the faculty, which is constituted as follows: Rev. William Nast, D.D., president; Rev. P. F. Schneider, vice president and resident manager; Carl Riemenschneider, Ph.D., professor of ancient languages; C. F. Paulus, D.D., professor of Biblical literature; Victor Wilker, A.M., professor of modern languages; Julius O. Berr, professor of music.

The admirable arrangement, by which the students of this college and of Baldwin university are permitted to avail themselves of the privileges of both institutions, has been set forth in the sketch of the latter.

Besides the branches ordinarily studied in colleges, the German language and literature are thoroughly taught here through the entire course, and as the instructors are native Germans, the facilities for acquiring a complete mastery of the German language arc not surpassed anywhere in the United States. Many teachers of German in the pubiic schools and in colleges have prepared themsclves for their vocation in this institution.

Bettina Verein, the latter being for ladies. The libraries are small, but contain some valuable Gorman works. In the museum there is an excellent collection of minerals and fossils, part of which were presented by the eminent paleontologist, Herman Herzer.

The following are the buildings belonging to the institution: Wallace Hall, presented by James Wallace, Esq., a brick edifice, containing the recitation rooms, the society rooms and the museum. The New Chapel, a beautiful new structure just finished, built of sandstone. It contains the church proper, in which services in German are held on Sunday, the chapel and the music rooms. Baldwin Hall, also of sandstone and presented by John Baldwin, Esq. It is occupied by male students, who have organized a boarding club there. The Ladies' Hall, a smaller brick edifice, in which most of the lady students reside. Besides these the college owns three dwelling houses occupied by members of the faculty.

Cleveland Medical College

In the fall of 1843, Doctors John Delamater, Jared P. Kirtland, Starling, John L. Cassells and Noah Worcester, then members of the faculty of the medical college at Willoughby, (now in Lake county,) discussed the advisability of changing the location of that institution. Dr. Starling favored a removal to Columbus, while the others preferred Cleveland. As Dr. Starling owned a controlling interest, he carried the day and subsequently founded the Starling Medical College at Columbus. Doctors Delamater, Kirtland, Cassells and Worcester joined in establishing a medical college at Cleveland, and, being in too much haste to await the legal process of incorporation, applied to the Western Reserve College, located at Hudson, for organization under the charter of the latter, as its medical department. This privilege was accordingly granted, and the Cleveland Medical College has therefore been to this day the medical department of the Western Reserve College.

The college building was erected on the corner of Erie and St. Clair streets, Cleveland, mainly with funds obtained through individual subscriptions in Cleveland; the deficit being made up by members of the faculty. By the conditions upon which the aid was supplied, the property now used for college purposes must always be devoted to similar uses and no other.

The members of the first faculty, (in 1843,) were Doctors John Delamater, Jared P. Kirtland, Horace H. Ackley, John L. Cassells, Noah Worcester, Samuel St. John and Jacob J. Delamater. Of these, the last one named was the only one living on the 1st of August, 1879, at which time he was attached to tht United States Medical Bureau at Washington.

Since the organization of the college in 1843, the graduates have numbered thirteen hundred and fortyfour. The highest number graduated in any one year was in 1849, when seventy-eight students received degrees; the lowest number was in 1865, when the total

The college faculty, in 1879, is eomposed of Doetors H. K. Cushing, Proctor Thayer, John Bennitt, Jacob Laisy, John E. Darby, E. W. Morley, Isaac N. Himes, X. C. Scott, B. W. Holliday, Lewis Buffett, Il. H. Powell, John F. Isom and W. W. Holliday. The dean of the faculty is Dr. John Bennitt.

Homgopathic Hospital Collge

This institution ranks in age next to the Cleveland Medical College, having been organized in 1849, and according to its last annual announcement it is, with one exception, the oldest Hommopathic medical school in the world. At the first session of the college, in 1849-50 the Faculty was composed of the following: Chas. D. Williams (dean,) Storm Rosa, A. H. Bissell, Lewis Dodge, H. L. Smith, HE. CO. Witherell, John Brainard and L. K. Rosa. The Trustees were John Wheeler, Jocl Tiffany, Dudley Baldwin, A. H. Brainard, Edward Wade, Thos. Brown, R. F. Paine, Amos Hutchinson, Geo. King, Benjamin Bissell, Samuel Raymond, Richard Hilliard, L. M. Hubby, Thos. Miller, A. O. Blair.

The first college building was located at the corner of Prospect and Ontario streets, and there, in February, 1852, a very serious riot took place on account of the allegations of persons who declared that a deceased member of their family had been stolen from the grave and conveyed to the college for dissection. They awakened muchsympathy among the Irish - to which nationality they belonged - and the excitement reached such a pitch that one day a mob of full two thousand persons attacked and completely ruined the furniture, the library, and the inside of the college building.

After that event the institution was removed to "'the Hights," and occupied the property previously known as the Humiston Institute, which the Faculty had puchased. There the college remained until 1873, when it was transferred to its present location, at No. 99 Prospect street; the edifice which it occupies having been originally used as a church.

This college has enjoyed much distinction since its foundation, and with the exception before mentioned has been blessed with unvarying prosperity; having up to the close of the session of 1878-79, graduated ten hundred and fifty students. 'The Homeopathic hospital, is under the exclusive control of the professors, and is open to the college students as a field for practical observation and experience. The matriculants of tue session of 1878-79 numbered one hundred and eight; the juniors, nine, and the graduates, twenty-five.

The faculty of 1879 is named herewith: Drs. N. Schneider (dean,) John C: Saunders, H. H. Baxter, 8. A. Boynton, G. F. Jones, W. A. Phillips, J. Pettet, J. Edwards Smith, H. F. Biggar, B. F. Gamber. The trustees are, Hon. George Willey, N. Schneider, W. H. Burridge, R. L. Willard, C. C. Baldwin, Hon. G. M. Barber, A. K. Spencer, W. H. Price, Hon. J. M. Coftinberry, B. A. Hinsdale.

Medical Department University Of Wooster

In 1870 the University of Wooster, having no medical department, resolved to create one, and, in pursuance of that project, arranged to continue the Charity Hospital Medical College of Cleveland as such department. The Charity Hospital Medical College (connected, as its name implies, with the Charity hospital, adjoining which its college building was located) was organized in 1864, and opened its first session on the 26th of October of that year.

The institution has enjoyed marked prosperity and has received wide and deserved recognition. Since 1864, when the Charity Hospital College was founded, five hundred doctors of medicine have been graduated from the College, or ''department," and they have taken quite as high rank in their profession as_ the alumni of any other medical school in the State.