Hudson City (part 3 of 6)

A cop3^ of the charter thus amended was sent to Mr. Hudson, who laid it before Mr. Pitkin. Mr. Pitkin immediatel}' 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, if 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 Societ}'.

met 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. The}" 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 corner-stone 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 3Ir. 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 the Trustees in the work they had undertaken.

Owing to innumerable hindrances and embarrassments, the building was not completed until August, 1827. 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 1875, 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 b}' Rev. Judah Ely. On the 22d of September, Mr. David L. Coe, a graduate of Williams College and an excellent scholar, " was appointed Tutor j»-o 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 182-1:, and was now 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 Acadeni}-. In December, he admitted to the Freshman class in college, J]llery Bascom, Charles M. Preston and Oren C. Thompson, and took charge of their studies during the 3'ear.

Thus the college was established, and was actually carrying forward in 182G 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 tlie 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 the}^ 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 an}^ 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 b}' Rev. Daniel W. Lathrop and Rev. Greorge Sheldon. A number of others, both clergymen and \aymeu, 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 exclusive- I3' in some form of agency from January, 1826, until x\ugust, 1843. His devotion to the college, and that of all those early Trustees, was most 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 conversances, 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 3'et ver}' little acquired wealth ; money was extremely scarce, access to markets difficult and the people still mostl}- engaged in the rough work of the pioneei's. 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 perplexit}- 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 an^- respect. On the contrary, it was greatl}- to their credit that with so little of read}' 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-tliirds of the compensation for his services in kind. Tutor Sturtevant received a part of his salary in board and washing. Mr. Daniel Metcalf, iii 1827, gave the college $450 in goods. In looking over the list of donations, many are found to have come in ver}' queer forms. This " store pay," and what was worse, no pay, the Trustees and Faculty knew a great deal about for many ^^ears. 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.

advantages of in New England. The Western Reserve was a second New England in all her interests and aspirations, especiall}' as pertained to education and Christianit}-. 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 almo.st 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 be of the same rank. This explains how the}' 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, be^'oud 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 moi'al 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 Pi'ofessor of Sacred Literature, and the theological department was established.

After man}' 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 bodil}' 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 au}^ college, but had neai'l}' 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 bj' feeble health to abandon labor. In 1817, he entered the theological seminary at Andover, and passed through the regular course of stud}' 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 came 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 b}- all the students, of wonderful eloquence as a preacher. As a theologian, he was of the school of President D wight. 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.

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- 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 S3stem.

In regard to the former question, after considerable agitation, a committee of the Facultj' was appointed to examine and report on the subject. In August, 183-4, 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 hobb}^ all over the land. The Presbyteries of Grand River and Portage, in their capacity as Education Societies, had, in 1822-23, b}' 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 extraordinar}'^ cases, of which cases a committee appointed for the purpose shall determine."

who 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 carr}' 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. A^ery few had any knowledge whatever of the use of tools, and many had no capacity to learn to use them skillfull}', 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. Grradually, 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 Grarrison came out boldly and decidedly in the advocacy of the immediate and unconditional abolition of slaver}'. He went on to attack the scheme of colonization as aflbrding 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 Liherafor first published in 1831, quickly aroused the whole nation North and South. Many men of keen, moral sensibilities took up the cause of the oppres.sed with great fervor, and with true martyi'-spirit were read} 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 (jrreen, 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 interview with Garrison, and had brought a package of documents and copies of the Lihcnitor to distribute in tlie 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 the}' can be refuted." President Storrs and Profs. Wright and Green immediatel}' became ardent ad^-ocates 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 Ohscrvor 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. Hawle3% of the sophomore class, and requested him to prepare a colloqu}' to be spoken at the ensuingcommencement, 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 slaver}' 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 aflfected, and this great excitement and over exertion prostrated him. On the 26th of June he received leave of al)scence for six months that he might travel and recruit his health. He went lo 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 year's transactions and of the misunderstandings which grew out of 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 fcountry 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 has been greatly' blessed with frequent and powerful revivals from the first down to the present year, though the effect of these revivals is but partiall}- 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 3-ear 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 $22,000. Besides this sum in actual possession, more than $32,000 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 verj- 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 3Iathematics 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" Coll«ge was built in 1830-31, at a cost of Rb mt S5,000. The double-house for the President and Professor of Theology was built in 1830.

formed by Tutor Walker. Ptev. George E. Pierce was elected President in March, 1834, but did not enter on his ofHce 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 academ}' two years, studied theoleg}' at Aiidover, and had been a most successful Pastor of the church at Harwiiiton Conn., for twelve years. When he entered upon his office as President, he was just fort}' 3'ears of age, with good health and great animation, and his spirit and energ}' were immediateh' felt in eveiything. 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 professofships, 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 Ohsercer and the New York Ecdiic/elist, to the friends of the college to contribute $50,000 to increase its resources, and agents entered on the work of raising the mone}'. 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. Eveiything 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 TJnion College, came as Professor of Theology, the work of that department having been performed during the interim since President Storrs' death b}' President Pierce. After the accession of Prof Hickok, President Pierce gave instruction in 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 facult}'. 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 immediatel}' filled by the appointment of Mr. Elias Loomis, a graduate of Yale College, who went to Europe for a j-ear's stud}' and travel, commissioned also to procure books for the library and apparatus for the department of physics and instruments for the observator}-. He brought to his chair great abilities and enthusiasm in his department and power of work. Under his guidance the mathematical part of the libraiy and the apparatus were considerabl}' increased, and, in 1838, the observatory- was erected and admirably equij^ped. 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 procui'ed. 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. Da}-, a graduate of Yale College, had been added to the Facult}-, 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 b}- 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.

been 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 librar}- 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 the}- 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 cai-eful 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 ver}- useful ever since, and are indispensable acconliug 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

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 b}' 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 Pi'ofessors were in general equall}^ liberal in their donations. Indeed, it is doubtful if an}- 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 unnecessar}-, the answer is eas}', 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 disastei's.

It has alread}' 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 $6,000, though the nominal assets were $60,000. But these assets were largely subscriptions, many of which, after years of waiting, finally failed altogether ; others wei'c land, or other property, whicli 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 monc}' - the assets, however much they might be nominall}-, 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 Professors, and the sacrifice required of them, led to the resignation of Prof Hickok and Prof. Loomis in 18-14, 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 scholarl}- 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 $40,000 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 1850. 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 S3stem of book-keeping, 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 l)etween mnim and fuum in the funds was not accurately kept. There can, of coui'se, 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 is not strange that it excited nervousness in tlie hard-worked and ill-paid Faculty, and among some of the donors. No one could for a moment question the perfect integrit}^ 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 uncertaint}' 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 nearl}' to that, and that the general fund should be so managed as speedily to remove all indebtedness.

In 1850, the sum of .$60,000 had been subscribed 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 Ji nance 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 wifh 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 not secure the requisite control, that the debt was reduced only $7,500, while the available assets had shrunk $1G,000, resigned. Their duties returned 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 an}' degree to impair the number or efficiency of the Facult}', which had brought the institution up to his ideal in that respect - on the other side the other membei'S who saw clearly and felt deepl}' the financial necessities of the case. The disagreement which brought about the resignation of this committee now entei'ed into the board and divided it so that the casting vote was alwa3-s 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 ever3'thing 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 re-appointed, 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 up out of questions arising in the Facult}', as well as deep differences of opinion growing out of the financial and other questions arising in the Board of Trustees, and concei'ning general policA'. The strong feelings excited could not be easih' 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 pa3-ment, 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 $3,000 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. The}' alienated man}' of the donors, also, as might have been expected, and undoubtedly had an injurious influence upon other young colleges in the West which w'ere seeking to raise their flrst 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 I " Societ}' 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 Febuary, 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.

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 twentythree 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. Heury 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 w-ere 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 sfandai'd, 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. Hitchcock, of Columbus, a graduate of Yale College and a distinguished minister, was elected his successor. All parties seem to have l>ecome weary of the conflict, as well they might. Mr. Hitchcock was inaugurated at commencement, on the I'ith 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.

retirement b}' 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. Eveiy step he took was sure to be criticised ; all his acts and every aspect of the c 'liege 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 welldisciplined 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 worth}- 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 ministrj' 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 consiilered a sufficient burden for one man to bear in ordinar}^ 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 communit}', 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 tov/ait 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 conciliator}- 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 eas}- for him to govern and to lead them in right wa^-s.

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 everybody could see and appreciate. His value as a mail won friends to his cause. Indeed, we ma}' almost say that Dr. Hitchcock had no quality., intellectual, moral or personal, and there was no event in his previous histoiy which did not directly fit him for the laborious and delicate task whicii 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 $25,000 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 pa3'ment 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 done 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 steadil}', 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 onlj' after nine years, in 18G4, that the last of the debt was paid. It had begun to accumulate as early as 1836, and thus, after twent}'- 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 $43,000, were now all full}' due, 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 the}' were very reluctant to meet their pledges. The financial crisis of 1858 brought a new difficult}" 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 supporting 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 Dartmouth, 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 was 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 filled until December, 1859. He was succeeded by the present incumbent in April, 1860. Prof. Seymour retained the Chair of tlie Greek and Latin Languages until 1870, having entered upon this professorship in September, 18-10. He thus served the college with distinction from the days of its greatest prosperit}' under President Pierce, through the period of conflict and darkness, until the time of its gi'eatest prosperity in the new era. On his i-esignation, he was made Emeritus Professor. He has since given instruction on two occasions, when his services were needed. Mr. Edwin S. (Iregory, a graduate of Harvard College, held the position of Atljunct Professor of Latin, and gave instruction in the college from 18G1 to 1866, while he was Principal of the preparatory school.

On the retirement of Prof Seymour, the professorship was divided, 3Ir. Thomas D. Se}-- mour, his son, of the Class of 1870, being appointed to the Chair of Greek and Modern Languages, with leave of absence for two 3'ears, that he might study and travel in Europe. The work of the Greek Department v/as performed meantime b}^ William R. Perkins, of the Class of 1868. The Chair of Latin and English Literature was taken b}- Prof Allen C. Barrows, who filled it but one year, when he resigned to become Pastor of the church at Kent. He was succeeded immediatel}* by Kev. 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 ( 'hemistry and Natural History, a chair which had been vacant since Prof St. John resigned in 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 Januar}-, 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 Zo'.jlogy. 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. Ilayward, of Cleveland. At the beginning of the next term, the classes were verj' 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 array. 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 welldrilled military- compan^' 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 3'ear began on the following da}^ 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 -102 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-

It might well be supposed that no man could bear alwaj's 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 pressui'e 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 especiall}^ worn upon him. Dr. Hitchcock continued in the discharge of his duties until the summer of 1873, when a few daj's before commencement he was taken sick and died on the 6th of July in the sixtieth 3'ear of his age.

On the resignation of President Hitchcock, at commencement, in 1871, Prof Carroll Cutler was elected to fill the vacancy. He entered on the duties of the oflSce 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, and there 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 Facult}'. 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 unanimousl}- agreed that if 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 3'oung 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 histoiy 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 prosperit}' was from 1842 to 1850. It was abandoned because there were not funds enough to support Professors. The necessit}' 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 occup}'. 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- lars of this was o;iven 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 abilit}' of the men who ftUed 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 ministrj' 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 countr}-, 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 academ}-, under Mr. David L. Coe, who was Principal of the school, and college tutor pro tempore. When the college opened in the new building at 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 which it retained until 1860, since which date it has been called a " Preparator}' School."

It was the expectation of the Trustees that it would be necessary to continue the school but a very few 3'ears, 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 man}' 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 entireh' 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 the}- were abandoned. A number of them have been attached to the school system of the towns where they are as high schools. But the}" do not thus accomplish the object of endowed academies. The necessit}' for the preparatory school, therefore, continues to this da}-, 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- mies and high schools, without pursuing the learned languages." The course of study was intended to be three 3'ears. 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 properl}' 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 sis names in the same class.

The library has grown, but ver}- slowl}-, 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 ph3^sical 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 $1,750.

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. He procured 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 man}- applications for specimens, and b}' 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 ca,ses, 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 anal^'sis and research, as well as for use in instruction, has been procured, mostly purchased in P]urope, 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 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 neo;lect 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.

^r^HK citizen of the incorporated village of J._ Cuyahoga Falls who looks back upon the privations and labors which his predecessors went through, and sees how many comforts and advantages he has inherited, can hardly realize how short the time is since the work first begun. Those earliest laborers have all passed away except Henry Wetmore. He still resides in the town, at the age of over eighty yeai's. He has seen every step of the progress of the place, from the first real emigration to the present time. He has been an active participant in all these changes, since the day he helped to mark the spot where the first work was to be done. He alone can have a full, a complete realization of the change that has been wrought. To chronicle the leading incidents which have taken place since the first settlement of the village, and to record the changes brought about since that period, is the object of this and the following chapter.

Cuyahoga Falls is among the most thoroughly enterprising villages in Ohio. With important manufacturing industries, fine business houses, and a progressive class of citizens, it is worthy of conspicuous notice in the history of vSummit County. It is situated on the Cleveland, Mount Vernon & Columbus Railroad, thirty-four miles from Cleveland and five miles distant from Akron, the county seat. The place is four hundred feet above Lake Frie, with a healthy and pure atmosphere, abundance of purest water, fine churches and private residences, and one of the most complete school buildings in the State.

There is probably no point in Ohio which offers more desirable manufacturing advantages ; and, as a place of residence, its elevated position freeing it from miasmatic influences, its beautiful scener}', and accessibility to the larger cities of the State, renders it most desirable. It has become a favorite resort for pleasureseekers and excursionists during the summer months, where visitors can enjoy the beauties of natural scenery unequaled in Ohio. For the last twenty 3'ears its growth has not been rapid. According to the Federal census of 1860, the village had 1,516 inhabitants ; increased in 1870 to 1,859 ; in 1880 to 2,294.

As early as 1812, the water-power of the Cuyahoga River, at the place where the stream is now crossed by the railroad, having been improved by Kelsey & Wilcox, there sprang up in that immediate vicinity a number of houses. This is still called the -'old village." But the real founders of Cu3'ahoga Falls were Joshua Stow (nominally), William Wetmore and Henry Newberry.

The Western Reserve had been sold by the State of Connecticut to the Connecticut Land Company, who had it surveyed in 1797. It was laid off" in townships five miles square, and was designated b}' numbers and ranges. Number 3, of Range 10, came into possession of Joshua Stow, of Middletown, Conn., and was named after him. The township of Tallmadge became the property' of two companies, of one of which Roger Newberrj^ was a member. His share was 1,000 acres. It la}- in the northwest part of the township, now the southeast portion of Cuyahoga Falls. So it was that the

Source changes here: from History of Summit County, Ohio, by William Henry Perrin, published 1881; 37,087 words in this source stream.

Early

alee form a correct idea of the early history of the Western Reserve, it is essential that it should be viewed through the contemporaneous history of the parent State. The Puritan colony which had been 'planted in Connecticut some one hundred and sixty

State. Its primitive customs, involving a close wnion of Church and State, had grown with its growth until the church militant had become the church triumphant so far as it concerned municipal governments and communities. Each town had its ministerial fund, schools were everywhere provided, and a patriotic pride in the individuality of its imstitutions was the

State. The Puritan of the last century was no weakling in his least estate. but at this period he was at the summit of his power. robust nature,

Resources Of The Settlers

The early settlement of the Reserve was an effort to reproduce in this Western wild the honored institutions of the motherland. This was the beginning of the golden period of the Connecticut churches, a period marked by revivals of religion throughout the State, distinguished for their power, purity and permaee ee | | improving the morals of society, and bringing the people of the State, to a great extent, under the control of religion." It was just at this time also that the Connecticut method of "missions to the new settlements " was completed, which was destined to play so important a part in the New Connecticut; and these civilizing influences combined to leave an impress upon the plastic civilization of the new land that has been crystallized in the cult- These influences were early marked, and perhaps nowhere more distinctly than in the region which is now embraced in Summit County. A letter from the Western that abated not a tittle of his earthly or heavenly heritage. It was with semething of this spirit that the State maintained her right to the territory embraced by the provisions of her charter, in the midst of contlicting claims and | the overwhelming opposition of non-claiming | States. But when at last in the interest of , as follows: "I like Tallmadge better on several accounts than any other place I have seen. The settlers in this town are much the most respectable of any on the Reserve. There is provision made for the permanent support of preaching, which is not the case in any other town." Another letter dated from Tallmadge in the same year, speaks in the same strain: "I am persuaded that if any of ow friends think of going to a new country, they will find none that they will be so well pleased with, either on account of the quality of the land or of the society.

here. | meeting regularly, and very few prayerless families." There is no question but that the early history of Tallmadge was exceptional in some respects, but of Hudson it was scarcely less true. Its founder, the son of a tailor who taught his children as he plied his trade, grew ' wp to advanced manhood embracing skeptical ' notions. Caught by the sweeping power of the extent of his ability. the interests of that - cause which he had early labored to destroy. These were the views that led him to emigrate. * * %* * The early efforts and sacrifices of the men who came to Hudson. show that they were actuated by the motives I have ascribed to them. They never suffered the Sabbath to pass by after the settlement was commenced, without religious worship: and by great effort and great pecuniary expenditure, they provided for the enjoyment of religious ordinances among themselves, and sought to promote the progress of religion in this part of our country. It was the first desire of Mr. Hudson's heart to see the day when a church should be organized within the town- _ ship, and he rejoiced in that day. The next object of desire was that this church might » enjoy the labors of a settled Pastor, and he - lived to see that day and was glad. Then it ' was in his heart to see a house erected for the _ worship of God, and that he saw completed to | his great satisfaction. 'But.' said he. 'the | college - the college; that was a child of my old age. I never expected to live tose chat.' Yet the college was in coincidence with his | plans and with his missionary spirit. He | spent most of his time in visiting Christian families in all parts of the Reserve, and securing the organization of churches and it was with him a matter of painful solicitude. how the infant churches rising up on the Reserve ~ were to be supplied with able, faithful ministers, in sufficient numbers to meet their wants. The college came in as the appropriate instrument to supply the deficiency.""*

The site chosen for this enterprise - Township 4, Range 10 - was centrally located in the land company's purchase, and contained what has since proven to be among the best farming lands in Summit County. It was laid down in the original survey. however, as a swamp township and was "equalized" by the addition of 10,000 acres, situated in the townships of Norton and Chester. West of the central line of the township the land was covered by an almost impassable swamp. which. filled with innumerable springs, gave rise tu the Brandywine Creek. tlowing in a northwesterly course to the Cuyahoga River and Mund Brook, flowing nearly due south in Hudson but further on in its course. taking a curve to the westward tinds an outlet in the Cuyahoga. A branch of Mud Brook in the southwest part of the township. known as Powers' Brook. and Tinker's Creek. which tlows ina northerly course in the northeast part of the township. crossing back and forth from Huilson to Stratsboro, completes the list of the more important water-courses of the township. None of these, however. were found available in the first years of the settlement for such pioneer industries as the community needed. save the latter stream for a short period. Other water-courses were found which in the changes wrought by the process of clearing and tilling. have become extinct or insigniticant. that afforded suitable powcr for the early attempts at milling and manufacturing. The township is now inhabited by a purely agricwtural community. The luxuriant growth of heavy timber which once covered every acre, has largely given way to meadow-lands and grain-fields, save where each farmer's woodland gives token of the grandeur of "God's first temple." The soil in the lowlands of the western part is largely a black muck, rich but saturated with moisture and liable to frost. In the eastern part the surface is more rolling with a soil varying from a stiff, stubborn clay-to a clay loam. There is but little regularity in the disposition of these varieties, though in the southern and. north- , eastern parts it is said the clay-loam predominates. Eighty years of tillage has wrought great changes in the character of the soil. and the swampy portion of the early township has given place to good farms, and it is estimated that not over one thousand two hundred acres of low wet land remains. Water is everywhere easily accessible. Springs abound in the western part, while in other portions of the township there is no special difficulty experienced in securing good wells: some artesian wells. however, have been sunk. The soil is the chief material resource of the township. though there is an abundance of a fair quality of sandstone which has been utilized in the construction of the foundations of the college buildings. most of the residences, rail- The chief objection to the stone is its dark color and its lack of weathering qualities. These objections would proba bly prove no serious obstacle to its general use, if the more desirable stone was not found in the near vicinity which is placed upon the ground here as cheaply as the product of the home quarries can be got ready for transportation. As in most townships of the Reserve. the social and business center is at the geographical center of the township. An early cluster of houses in the southern part of the township on the central road has given name to the road. and across the line in the adjoining township it is designated. in the nomenelature of the map. Darrowville. The early jurisdiction of the township embraced what is now known as the townships of Stow. Boston. Twinsburg. Aurora and Mantua. besides its own territory. As the settlement increased in these townships the jurisdiction of Hudson became limited to the lines of the original survey. which now bounds it on the north by Twinsburg. east by Stratsboro. in Portage County. south by Stow and west by Boston. The original purchasers of this township with its annexes, were Nathaniel Norton. of Bloomfield. N. Y.. Birdseye Norton and David Hudson. of Goshen. Conn. There are no means now of ascertaining the arrangement between these partners in relation to this purchase. Nathaniel Norton was a_ well-to-do the average cost per acre was reduced to 34 cents. Nathaniel Norton. some time in 181)1, disposed of his share. probably to Stephen Baldwin. Benjamin Oviatt and Theodore Parmele. The first draft of the Reserve was made in 178. and early in the following year. Mr. Hudson started out to explore and survey the land for the company in which he was a partner. His preparations for his new adventure were carefully made. as the following exhibit taken from an old account-book shows: travel was by the lakes, and Mr. Hudson has left a carefully prepared "traveler's guide" over that route as follows: From Black Rock to Buffalo Creek. three miles; Buffalo Creek to Five Mile Creek, tive miles; Five Mile Creek

Cattaraugus to Four Mile Creek, four miles; Four Mile Creek to Fifteen Mile Creek. eleven | miles: Fifteen Mile Creek to Chataqua, | - twenty-five miles; Chataqua to Lowry's, six- teen miles: Lowry's to Presque Isle, sixteen miles: Presque Isle to Walnut Creek. twelve miles: Walnut Creek to Elk Creek. eight miles; Elk Creek to Conneaut. ten miles: Conneaut tc Ashtabula, fourteen miles: Ashtabula to Grand River, twenty-six miles: Grand River to Chagrin. ten miles: Chagrin to Cuyahoga, twenty miles; a total of 205 miles. The only public source of information in regard tothis country was " Morse's Geography," which represented the latter river as navigable for sloops for forty miles from its mouth.

On the 22d day of April. 1799, in company with Jesse Lindley, William McKinley, whom he had hired as assistants. and Ira, his son of eleven years, Mr. Hudson started for Bloomtield, N.Y. The party was accompanied by a wagon driven by Thaddeus Lacey. who brought his wife and two children. Mr. and Mrs. Lacey were engaged as purveyor and cook for the party, and were in charge of the supplies with which the wagon was loaded. Their route lay toward Albany. where they arrived on the 24th. Here Mr. Hudson hired Joseph Darrow for six months. at 310 per month, to accompany the expedition, terms similar to those on which the others had been engaged. Their course then led through Schenectady. old Fort Schuyler, Onondaga to Bloomtield. Sixteen miles west of Schenectady, Mr. Hudson, leaving his son and Lindley with the wagon, pushed on ahead with Darrow. making his way on foot to Fort Schuyler on the 29th, where he engaged Jonah Meecham: to Onondaga on May ~. where he added Richard H. Blin to his party, reaching Nathaniel Norton's in Bloom- Here the little party was detained eleven days, which they employed in further providing for their enterprise in the wilderness. Here Mr. Hudson fell in with Benjamin Tappan, later known as Judge. on his way to his town of Ravenna.

hired men. brought them safely on the Indian trail through Buffalo. until he found near the lake the west line of the seventh range on the | Reserve. This line. the eastern boundary of the present township of Painesville. Concord. Chardon. Monson. Newburg. Auburn. Mantua.

_ south for more than forty miles. crossing the | Grand and Cuyahoga Rivers and striking the Salt Spring Indian trail near the southeastern corner of Ravenna. and thence to their desti- ' nation. In the meanwhile Hudson had his _ baggage and supplies transported to Grondi- | gut Bay. where. to his great disappointment. he found his boat in no condition for use. He sent back Eliada Lindley and Farr and Straight, whom he had secured at Bloomfield. and obtained passage in one of Tappan's boats for himself and Darrow. He also had the good fortune to tind Elias Harmon here. about to start out with his wife for Mantua. In one of his boats he obtained passage for Blin and McKinley. dividing such of his store as he ' was able to take between the two boats. This on the 26th, where they were blocked up with | ice " at least twelve feet high." Happily the ice | broke up that night leaving Lake Erie clear, but with so heavy a swell rolling that the expedition | | was obliged to lay by until the 29th, when for | three days the lake was almost at a dead calm. - Prompt use was made of these advantageous |

| and attempted to continue their journey and | | rowed six miles, but they were obliged to beach | | their boats at Crooked Creek, and lay wind- ' bound for several days. "On the 5th," says | ' Mr. Hudson, "we put out from Crooked Creek - and dined in Conneaut, with a fair wind from the northeast. At 2 o'clock P. M., the wind shifted into the north and blew on the shore with such violence that the boat in which myself and Darrow were, and which , was heavily loaded, tilled with water before a single article could be got on shore. With most unremitting and violent exertion, we saved our boat and loading, and spent the remainder of the day and part of the next in drving our loading which was much damaged with water. On the 7th and 8th we sailed to Grand River, using the bed blankets as sails. The boat in which McKinley and Blin had taken passage and which was in our company. fared worse. it being stove. and a part of my potatoes went through her bottom. But after the wind had subsided they got her up. and ' with the help of my nails they so far repaired

Without waiting for his second boat, Mr. Hudson proceeded. reaching the Cuyahoga River on the 9th. where. on the following day. finding that the other boat had not come up.

The season previous to their coming having been very dry, they had proceeded but a few miles when they found the water in places only eight or ten inches deep. and were often obliged to get out, join hands and drag their boats over shallow places. In this way they such a rapid cwrent that it was impossible to Mr. Hudson continnes in his diary as follows: "IL myself. went on the land searching for some surveyor's line whereby we could tind our township. In this place my men overtook us, and to my great concern informed ine that my boat had been plundered the night before of a considerable quantity of whisky. pork. flour and some few potatoes. The men suspected of this villainy was an Indian in the Sandusky tribe. and a White man who calls himself Armstrong. They are two villains. famous in this quarter. and their conduet is not allowed of by their chiefs.

stances the cattle, of which the explorers were just now beginning to need. arrived at the landing on the 18th. just one day after the discovery of the township line. The journey of these men over some three hundred and tifty miles. guided by the tortuous trails of the Indian and the township lines of the surveyor, load into my boat. and by our nnited strength we got the two boats along slowly wp the rapid and shallow water. I still continuing on the land searching for some town line. In this way we proceeded until the 17th. when. as I had not been able to tind any land direction till we could tind some clew whereby we could tell what part of the world we were in. It was at this time I most heartily re pented having undertaken the expedition. but IT must now persevere. I proceeded with my men and Tappan with several of his assistants.