Hudson City (part 5 of 6)

_ In 1826, the college was established and the ' buildings, gradually put up, improving the ap- ' pearance of the town and stimulating its citizens to build more comely structures for dwellings. The soil rendered the supply of brick inexhaustible and cheap. The brick needed for the spacious hearths and great chimneys of Mr. Hudson's house, were made by a Mr. Lyon on , the site now occupied by the Atheneum. the mud being tramped into condition for molding by two yoke of oxen. The first brick dwelling was put up by Julian Lusk. on the site occupied by Farrars Block. and ante-dated the college buildings some three years. oO erected in 1823. An early brick house and perhaps the second one was that erected by to expand. It was'the design of the founders that the town should gather about the geographical center of the township, but there were several obstacles inthe way. The ground rather reluctant to sell in small parcels. and the village early began to extend northward and eastward to the higher ground. The location of the college buildings. "secured by a liber- ipal g government grants to a community, was left to the voluntary action of the people without any very great results, and it was not long before the citizens began to agitate the desirability of securing a village de jure. with its advantages in this respect. On April 1. 1857, an act of the Legislature was signed. incorporating the village to be known thereafter as * The town of Hudson." The boundaries. inclosing an area one mile by one and a half miles. are described in the act as follows: ~ Beginning at the southwest corner of the herein contemplate: corporation limits. at a stake and stones 160) poles west of the north-and-south center road. leading through said township of Hudson. anil 240) poles south from the east-and-west center road, running through said township : thence» from said southwest corner. running north in a line parallel with said north-and-south center road 480) poles to a stake and stones: thence east in a line parallel with saicl east-and-west center road, 320 poles: thence south in a line parallel with the west line. 480 poles to a stake and stones: thence in a line parallel with the north line. 320 poles to the place of beginning. These limits have not been found to interfere with the metropolitan aspirations of the village. and no extensions have heen made. A few unimportant additions have been platted on thie Aurora road. and somewhat built up. but there has been no positive demand on the part of the owners of this property to be admitted to a share in the municipal taxes.

The first election under the act of incorpora- 1837. resulting in the choice of Heman Oviatt as Lyman Hall. Recorder: Frederick Baldwin. John B. Clarke. Jesse Dickenson. Harvey Baldwin. Daniel C. Gaylord. Trustees. The largest number of votes received by any candidate was nineteen. The records of the Board of Trustees, or, in more modern phrase. of the Council. are devoid of any particular interest in the early years. One or two entries. however. afford a striking illustration of the vanity of all aspirations for wealth. when they appear on the tax lists. tion of the village. in 1837, was placed at 393.. _ 967.58. and personal property at $19474: iu | 1844, the next entry of the tax list, the real es- tate had shrunk to $30,427, and the personal property to $12,177. The attention of the Council during the first eight or ten years was to sidewalks and streets. The latter had been pretty well provided for by land owners before the incorporation of the village, and needed but little attention in the way of originating highways. The sidewalks was a subject of more portentous proportions, and gave the average Councilman no end of worry. It was first ordained that the sidewalks should by constructed of * brick, four feet wide, and curbed with heavy timbers." plank was afterward allowed as a substitute for the brick, and represents the character of nine-tenths of the sidewalks in the town at this day. Stock was "ordered off the streets,' and a * pound" provided for, at the first meeting of the Council, but it was a year before the structure was ready to serve the public. and cost about 320 In 1852, the first step was taken to improve the public square. As early as 1812, the tendency of the village to extend northward was observed, and the Township Trustees took steps to modify the * public green " to suit the new orof things. By exchanging portions of the original green. that portion of the green above Church street was secured. Nothing was done

Neither the township nor village had suffered severely trom fire. if the terrible fatality in connection with the destruction of the cabin of Nathaniel Stone, in 1845. is excepted. Mr. Stone was one of the early scitlers.

Roswell Stone. lives. when it caught fire. A son and daughter occupied the upper chiunbers. and. when they were aroyised. the stairway was in flames, having ignited from the fire-place. The chambers were filled with smoke. but the son. making his way to a win-

- dow, escaped: but the daughter, some twenty- | two years of age. stifled with smoke ,and_be- . wildered with fright, was too late, and perished in the flames. Undoubtedly this tragedy made a lasting impression. and the growing village rendered the danger of fires more threatening. A small. rotary engine was bought at Middlebury, but before it was paid for the au- thorities desired to "back out." ler would not accede to their wishes in this matter, and the coffee-mill affair was brought to scare the fire fiend away.

bought the present machine of Button & Blake. The pumps are 9 and 7 inches, 173- foot brakes, 16-foot suction hose, and wheels of 28 and 35 inches diameter. The cost was 3725. The company organized to work the first engine took this in charge, and of this organization the fire department consists to-day. There is a chief of the department, and the company is allowed « small remuneration for attending the fires that occur. The engine-house is found in the rear of the Congregational Church, to

In 1870, the corporation rose to the dignity of a "lock-up." This was situated upon a corner of the school-lot, and was a wooden affair. with some iron supports about had had a more intimate acquaintance with it than be enjoyed. and totally destroyed. Anettort was put forth by the Council this year to improve the streets by the use of cinders from with a layer of this material. covered with grayel from the vicinity of the village, with Some portions of other streets have been treated in like manner, with some variation in the price of materials. In 1877. lamps for lighting the streets were provided. on condition that certain parties who were chiefly benefited would supply the material Avear rooms and offices about town, and after the lock-up was burned, there was no provision for , municipal criminals, and the demand seemed | to be pressing. The Township Trustees took | the proposition in hand, and, after submitting the matter to a vote, made preparation for the erection of such a building. The Council then proposed to join with them and provide for the need of the corporation in the same structure. Such an agreement was made, the Council buying the site of the old Congrega- » tional Church for $800, and leasing it to the Township Trustees for ninety-nine years, in consideration of the latter providing a council-room and cells, with an upper hall open alike to both parties. The contract for the building was let in 1878 to Thomas Crisp and Charles W. Stewart, for 34,575, and finally a further allowance of $215 for extra work was paid. The building is a two-story brick, with a large hall on the second floor, neatly seated. and two rooms below for the use of Trustees and Council with two cells in the rear for corporation culprits. The first meeting of the

' Council in their new quarters was on November 11, 1879. The Council took action in May of this year to support a public reading-room This project had been set on foot by private enterprise, but was likely to fail, and the Council stepped in and has maintained There is no library in connection. although the original plan contemplated such an addition. Another department of the municipal government is the cemetery. The original cemetery purchased by the.

The first death in the settlement was that of Ira , Nobles. a child eight years old, who died Aug. 23, 1801, and, it is supposed, was the first burial here. It was used as a burial-place - until 1808, when, on the occasion of the death , of Mrs. Owen Brown, it was found too wet, and Mr. Hudson effected an exchange for the. ground on College street. Here Mrs. Brown, with a babe resting upon her arm, was the first ' cccupant. This continued to be used until 1855, when Markellie laid out one in the northwest part of the village. At his death in 1869, he willed the ground to the corporation, the gift being accepted in the spring of that year. Since then it has been cared for by a regular appropriation. It has been enlarged since then, systematically laid out, and is the only place for burial in the corporation. Burials have been forbidden in the old burial ground on College street, and efforts have been made ber of cemeteries about the township, some | private and others for neighborhood purposes. | Of the latter, an acre contributed by Mr. © O'Brien in the southwest part of the township ~

Hudson village, of the present, is pleasantly situated, of some seventeen hundred inhabitants, noted for its neat dwellings. its general air of culture, and the seat of the Western Reserve College. The business portion, situated principally on Main street and about the public green. consists of four general stores. four saloons, three hardware stores, three meat markets. five blacksmith-shops, three harness-shops,. two groceries. two barber-shops, two drug stores. two wagonshops, two livery stables. a bakery. millinery store, undertakers establishment. boot and shoe store, merchant tailor store. jewelers shop. and one hotel. Of the public buildings. there are three church buildings, the town hall and the Adelphi Hall, or better known as Farrar's Block. This is composed of two large storerooms below, with offices on the second story, and a fine large hall which occupies the whole of the upper story. The hall has a seating capacity of 900, is provided with commodious dressing rooms, a spacious stage and _ fine scenery. Such ahall, accessible to an appreciative community, attracts some of the finest entertainments, and Hudson is favored far beyond the average village of its size.

Hudson Lodge ot Free and Accepted Masons. No. 510, finds 1 home here. Its lodge room is in the upper part of the old bakery building. The lodge was organized November 25. 1874. and worked under a dispensation until a charter was issued under date of October 18.1876. The first officers were Lewis Lemoin, W. M.: James K. Frost, 8. W.; S. BE. Judd, J.W. The charter members were J. K. Frost, S. E. Judd. C. H. Buss, and twenty-one others.

John Buchtel

Harvey Baldwin and others - were members. During the excitement succeeding the abduction of Morgan, the lodge was abandoned, and an opposition sprung up to this fraternity that lasted for years.

In a settlement founded upon the principles upon which Hudson was established, it would be natural to find the church organization among the earliest institutions of the place. The difficulties in the way of such an organization should not, however, be underrated. Ministers were few. and could not have been adequately supported by the scattered com-

Society. Rev. Joseph Badger, whom Congregationalists delight to call the " Apostle of the Reserve.' From his printed diary, the first inception of the Hudson Congregational Church is learned as follows: He had come from Cleveland to Newburg. "In coming from Cleveland to this place. I fell in company with 2 man from Hudson. who wanted to know if I was going there to forma church. I replied that if I found suitable characters. I should. 'Well. said he. -if you admit old Deacon Thompson. and some others he named. :it shall not stand: I will break it down. I will have an Episcopal Church. I observed to him, -You must undertake a dangerous work to break down the church ot Christ; I advise you not to meddle with such an undertaking.' I went on to Hudson. preached on the Sabbath, and on Wednesday organized the church in that place. in which Deacon Thompson, Esquire Hudson and others were united." This was on September 4. 1802. the original members being Stephen Thompson and Mary. his wife: David Hudson: Abraham Thompson and Susanna. his wife; Stephen Thompson. Jr.. and Abigail. his wife: George Kilbourne and Almira, his wife: Heman Oviatt and Eunice. his wife: Amos Lusk and Hannah Lindley. all members of the Congregational Church, at Goshen. Conn., save the last two, who were members of the same denomination at Bloomfield. N. Y.

The chureh thus established depended upon Mr. Badger and other missionaries for what preaching they had. Services were held in the log schoolhouse that was erected in 1801. and

' performed in an open canoe, they arrived safe 'on the soil of the Western Reserve. 'the Ist of October they were at Hudson, | where they found a temporary home.'"* lated with pride that not a single Sabbath since | the latter part of June, 1800, has passed without public religious services of some character. ; The Rev. David Bacon, who had gone in be- | half of the Connecticut Missionary Society as _. a missionary to the Indians in 1801, was re- - called to New Connecticut in 1804. "In the month of August he left the isle of Mackinaw, with his wife and two children, the youngest less than six weeks old, and, after a weary and dangerous voyage, some part of which was

The | churei proposed then to hire him one-half of his time, provided the society would retain ~ him in their employ for the balance. This ar- . rangement was effected - the first time that the Gospel was administered in any township otherwise than by occasional visits of itinerant missionaries - and continued until 1807, when he moved to Tallmadge. On the 19th of April. 1811. it was voted unanimously by the church that - Benjamin Whedon be appointed a committee for us, and in our behalf to procure a minister of the Gospel to dispense the Word and ordinances in this place, and the said Mr. Whedon is hereby requested and authorized to make such negotiations and arrangements on the subject as he shall judge prudent and proper." The result of this action on the part of the church was a vote, February 27, 1815. to call the Rev. William Hanford. The call was issued under date of June 10, 1815, and brought an affirmative response under date of August 10, 1815. followed by the installation of Mr. Hanford by the Grand River Presbytery, on the 17th of August. 1815, the church having come under the care of the Presbytery shortly before this occasion.

Eventually the church became divided upon this subject. and. in 1826, the article prescribing the | form of its prudential committee was erased from its regulations. In 1830. a movement church with the Presbytery, and, five years later, the Presbytery granted a release. Since that time, it has been what it was originally. a Congregational Church. The organization stil] and was erected upon the site chosen, but the bond of union in this project trencbed too much upon the orthodox notions of such men as Mr. Hudson. Owen Brown, Benjamin Whe- and uninterrupted. Up to the pastorate of Rev. William Hanford twenty-seven members had been admitted. principally by Revs. Joseph Badger and Abraham Scott. both missionaries of the Connecticut Society. During Mr. Hanford's pastorate. from 1815 to 1831. 133 were added ; in the pastorate of Rev. Amri Nichols.

site. In March. 1818. the Congregational society. having decided to build a place of worship on their own account. selected the site now occupied by the town hall. The building committee consisted of Benjamin Whedon, Moses by Rey. Giles Doolittle. supply, 1352-40. tiftytwo were admitted ; by Rev. Josiah Town. July to October. 1840, eight were admitted: Rev. Mason Grosvenor. during his pastorate. 1840-

Hart, in his pastorate, 1844-52. admitted 122 ; Rev. N. Barrett. 1853-58. admitted ninetyseven; Rev. G. Darling, 1858-74. admitted | ' town hall. The present brick edifice on Aurora ' street was projected in 1863. and completed

The outward improvement of the church began in 1819. On the 26th of June. 1817. ata "town meeting" held in the «Center Schoolhouse." it was place selected for the purpose of building a house of public worship. according to a subscription paper now in circulation. provided the different denominations do not unite in building a house together. Voted.

as it shall be necessary to build said house. Voted, that Joel Gaylord. Daniel H. Johnson and Owen Brown shall be a committee for the purpose of adopting some method upon which to unite in building a meeting house for different denominations of Christians." At this time there was a great deal of denominational difference among the members of the community.

Baldwin as Treasurer. Owen Brown was the contractor. and was two years in completing the building. which cost upward of 35.000. It was dedicated on March 1. 1820. and. in the old New England style. was for several vears without the means of warming it during the cold season.~ In 1865, this building was abandoned tor church purposes. and served. under the name of Thompson's Hall, for public gatherings until 1878. when it gave place to the

The Union Church building. the result of the etfort above mentioned. was used in common by the Universalists. Methodists. and any others that desired to have a hearing. Among others remembered as preaching here. are John Campbell and his son Alexander. The Methodists finally built a place of worship on Aurora street. and the ~ Free Church © was after awhile sold and used for a blacksmith-shop.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1828. with Daniel Gaylord. Moses Draper. Perley Mansur and their wives as early members. with others. In 1846. their building ship here. He says: Hanford's old gray horse, and taking my wife upon the horse behind me. hegan to flounder in the mrd of the bottoms near the green, <he became alarmed, and alighting in the mud, lost one of her shoes."

The first pastors in the new house were Rey. D. Prosser and Rey. Pinney. The church has suffered severely by removals and death. and gradually dwindled in numbers, until there is now no regular service held in this church building on the Sabbath. The last entry upon the church records is as follows: 'I, Thomas Hickling, came to Hudson from Massillon, in the boundary of the Pittsburgh Conference. on April 4. 1873, to reside and do business, and found the society in a very indifferent condition, without any regular means of grace. and. being an ordained local preacher. volunteered my services and found them appreciated." There were then twenty-seven members.

Early in the year 1840. a few residents of Hudson Township, desiring a place * where the worship of 'sod could be conducted according to the primitive usages." proposed the organization of an Episcopal Church. Henry O'Brien and Frederick Brown were the leaders in this movement, and finally invited T. B. Fairchild. of Cuyahoga Falls. to come to Hudson to preach. The call thus extended was accepted, and Mr. Fairchild held the first services in this year in the Congregational meeting-house. The second service was held in the room over Kent & Brewster's store. and continued there until late in the fall of 1840. when. by the consent of the authorities of the Methodist Church. their services were held there. During the following spring. Mr. Fairchild. with Rey. (teorge &. Davis. of Franklin. conducted services here alternately every two weeks. During the summer. each of the clergy of the Northwest Convocation arranged to give two Sundays to Hudson. The services were then transferred to the ~ brick academy.' and. with a view of forming a regular parish, the following document was circulated for signatures : "We. whose names are here affixed. deeply impressed with the importance of the Christian religion. and wishing to promote its holy influence in the hearts of ourselves. our families and our neighbors. do hereby associate ourselves under the name. style and title of the Parish of Christ Church. Hudson, County of Summit. and State of Ohio. And by so doing. do adopt the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio. in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America.' Thirty-seven names were secured to this paper, among which were those of Henry | A. Brewster. Frederick Brown. | Arthur Sadler, David O'Brien, Dr. Israel Town | and others, nearly all of whom were heads of | ster's store. At a meeting of the Vestry on January 6. 1846. discussed the necessity of a chureb building ; Rev. A. Phelps. the Rector. offered $100 of his salary toward the object. and a building committee, consisting of A. A. Brewster. David O'Brien and Joshua Hertzell., was finally appointed. A lot on the public square was secured. plans were drawn by S. C. Porter. and the corner-stone laid by Rt. Rev. C. P. McIlvaine. D. D.. Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio. in April. 1846. It was completed in five months. and the opening services conducted on the 25th of September. 1846, by Bishop McIlvaine. The church was free from debt : provided with an organ through the exertions of the ladies of the church and the liberality of Mr. Brewster, and a bell as the gift of D. H. Arnold. of New York. In 1847. Mr. Phelps resigned his pastoral charge of the church to engage in the church school. which had been in contemplation some time. preaching one-half the time until August 1. 1848. when Rey. T. B. Fairchild was again invited. and accepted. He continued with the church until 1856. when be again resigned. and removed from town. The pulpit was temporarily supplied by Rev. L. L. Holder until June 1. 1859, when Mr. Fairchild was a third time invited to preach here. He accepted. and continued until 1870. when be resigned to accept a call to St. John's Church in Kewanee. Ill. The succeeding Rectors have been Rey. Robert A. McElhenney. 1871-72: Rey. Albert B. Putnam. 1873-74. and Rey. 8S. W. (rarrett. October +. 1874. and the present incumbent. In 1849. the town clock was presented to the society by Mr. Brewster ; in

1875. a new vestry-room was added. at a cost | of $350; in the winter of 1876.0 cabinet organ | was purchased for the Sabbath school at a cost | of 8100: and in May, 1878. a new organ was |

' small place of worship was built. Before this date, the Catholics of this section were visited / monthly by pastors resident in Cleveland. The . first priest to locate in Hudson was Rev. P. H. _ Brown, who remained five years ministering to the wants of the few scattered and poor peo- _ ple he found professing his faith. Mr. Brown died in Cleveland in 1879. He was succeeded by J. Hannon, who held charge for nine years, . when he moved to Youngstown. Rey. A. Paganini succeeded, him but remained only a year. - He is at present located at Eagle Harbor. Mich. In July, 1877, the present Pastor, Rev. P. H. O'Mara, took charge of this church. Improvements have been added under each succeeding Pastor, and to-day the little church building. though not a very imposing structure, is neat and comfortable. Cuyahoga Falls and Peninsula are also attended by the Pastor at Hudson. The members of St. Mary's Church are generally farmers. some of them among the most substantial in the county. The church has recently purchased three acres of land in the corporation for cemetery purposes.

The common school preceded the church in Hudson one year. This project needed no outside assistance, and was established in 1801. The work of the founders was eminently characterized by thoroughness, and Mr. Hudson is found, on his visit to Connecticut, purchasing a library for public use, fashioned upon the old custom of the East. He expended $100. not an inconsiderable sum in that time. and on his return sold shares in his library among the settlers in Hudson. Aurora and Mantua. This library has long since passed away. but its natural successor still occupies its place in the community in a public library for the Union School, which was established in 1871. The first school building was a rude log structure. located on the east side of Main street. on the public green, a little below Mr. Buss'store. A second was built a little south of this. and subsequently a frame building was erected on the other side of the street but in the near vicinity. The first school was taught by George Pease and the second by Miss Patty Fields. Thethird was taught by Miss Amy Cannon, of Aurora, in the southeast quarter, near John Oviatt's residence. Among the early teachers are remembered Titus Wetmore, Martha Filer and Benjamin Whedon, the latter teaching in 1807. Schoolhouses were erected in various parts of the township, as the convenience of the growing population demanded. until,.in 1825, the Township Trustees divided the township into five school districts, the first at the center, second in the northwest, third in the southwest, fourth

1845. and the joint district set off as an independent one. The schools were graded. Misses Sabin and Birge being the first teechers under the new dispensation. [In 1857. another school building was erected at the end of the old brick house then in use in the southern portion of the corporation. and a third teacher added. Matters worked harmoniously in this way until 1863. when the north corporation district withdrew from the union arrangement. The State School Commissioner decided against the validity of this action and the two districts reunited. The school facilities did prove satisfactory to a large part of the citizens. and an agitation for a high school began to be made. In 1865, therefore, a lot, No. 13. was bought of Mr. Porter, on which to erect a suitable structure for school purposes. In 1867. 35.000 was voted for a schoolhouse, but. on receiving plans and bids. it was found insufficient for the purpose, and $1,500 more was asked forand granted by the people in 1868. The contract was let to (z, W. Church. for 36.225, and completed and accepted by the Board of Education on the 18th of November. 1868. The proceeds of the schoolhouses and the sale of part of the lot. supplied the board with additional funds for furnishing the schoolrooms. In 1871. the new building was found to be too small for the accommodation of the district. The Seminary building. on Baldwin street, was secured for a part of the scholars, and is still used, though the board is seriously considering the question of building a new house. The question in regard to the removal of the Western Reserve College has suggested the feasibility of securing one of the college buildings in case of their becoming vacant. has caused a delay in taking measures to secure a more suitable building.* rise to repeated attempts to furnish a school for that class of youth for which the college made no provision. efforts. and especially that which sought to establish a school for young ladies in Hudson is nearly co-extensive with that of the college. In 1827. Mrs. Nutting, wife of tutor, afterward Prof. Nutting. opened a school for young ladies, Mrs. Raymond, sister of Rev. Mr. - Hanford, opening the parlor of her residence on what is now Aurora street. for the schoolroom.

study. and Mrs. Nutting in the common branches, embroidery, painting in water colors, etc. Her pupils were trom the families of Rev. Messrs. Pitkin and Coe. Dr. Thompson, Esquire Brown. Capt. Ellsworth and others. There

About 1832. a small school building was erected by subscription on land which was owned by Rey. Mr. Doolittle. Capt. Oviatt and Judge Humphrey. In 1853. Miss Upham, sister-in-law of Rey. Mr. Doolittle. commenced a school for young ladies in this building. This school numbered thirty or more pupils. and was liberally patronized from abroad.

In 1834, H. H. Gross came from Connecticut and opened a school on Aurora street. which was well patronized and encouraged him to erect in front of his schoolhouse a brick building which has become generally known as the "Brick Academy." This was a_ two-story building with a basement. and was erected in 1835 at an expense of 33.000. The basement was designed for a primary school, the first was subsequently purchased by a joint-stock _ company of the citizens of Hudson, and was | _ furnished rent free to the teachers who depended ' on the receipts from tuition for their salaries. This institution was styled the Hudson Academy. The first teacher in the female depart- ' ment was Miss Smith, who afterward married

Lyman Hall, Esq., of Ravenna. In 1840, Miss Eunice Towne was employed in this department, and taught fors ome time with great acceptance. Her successor was Miss Rebecca H. Dana, now Mrs. Atwater, of New Haven.

pupils. In1845, Miss Strong erected a two-story frame building on the west side of Main street. In the following year, she opened the spring term of her school in the new edifice and christened it Hudson Female Seminary, the old * Brick Academy" in the meantime falling into the hands of the corporation school board. The seminary remained under Miss Strong's superintendence until the spring of 1854, when her health failed, and the school was suspended. During the continuance of this school there were three female seminaries in Hudson ; the " Hudson Young Ladies Seminary,' by Mr. Grosvenor, and the "Seminary for Ladies." by Mr. Phelps, in addition to Miss Strong's school. These. save the latter, were boarding and day schools, and, for a time. received a liberal patronage from the towns on the Reserve.

The " Hudson Young Ladies Seminary ' was opened in 1843 by Rev. Mason Grosvenor. in a building on the east side of the public square. Mr. Grosvenor gave instruction in Latin and nor, presided in the schoolroom and gave instruction in the common branches of study, drawing, painting, ete. In 1845, Miss Grosvenor married, and the school was discontinued until the autumn of 1846. when Mr. and Mrs. Skinner, from Massachusetts, re-opened it. The next spring Miss Charlotte Lee took charge of the academic department, and Mr. and Mrs.

seminaries was opened under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, in 1849, by Rev. Mr. Phelps. The building occupied as a schoolroom, is now occupied as a blacksmith-shop by Mr. Farwell, on Avrora street. the boardinghouse maintained in connection with the school

In 1853, Mr. J. W. Smith prepared a suite of rooms in the third story of the Pentagon for school purposes, furnished them with improved furniture ordered from Boston, visited the seminary at South Hadley. Mass.. and secured the services of Miss Elizabeth Burt. as Principal, and became personally responsible for the expenses of the school. This seminary was well sustained for about two years. when the general business failure in 1855 closed the school. In the fall of this year. an association of gentlemen, citizens of Hudson. was formed. who purchased the school furniture. rented and repaired the * Hudson Female Seminary ~ building. and sent to Mount Holyoke Female seminary for a teacher. In response to this application, 2 Miss Everett came on and assumed the direction of the school. This lady lacked that »sucerter dn modo" which is conducive of the highest success. and, at the expiration of the academic year. the association found itself in debt. and the school greatly reduced in nuin-

Apparatus Western Reserve

1,500 inhabitants on the Reserve. a petition to the Territorial Legislature by Rev. Joseph Badger, the only minister on the Reserve. except one, and the only one from Connecticut, praying for a charter thatsteps might even thus early be taken to founda college. The petition was not granted, but the petitioners bided their time.

Ohio was admitted to the Union as a State in February, 1803. The tirst Legislature convened on the Ist day of March. On the 16th of April, an act was passed incorporating the ~ Krie Literary Society.' The preamble of the act declares that: Whereas, it has been represented to this assembly by certain persons associated under the name of the Erie Literary Society, that a number of proprietors of land bers. Then came a time chiefly remarkable tor the short tenure of office, on the part of the teachers. Not less than five had charge of the school in four years, and, though most of them were competent and efficient teachers. such was the depressed condition of things in Hudson that the school made poor returns for the labor expended upon it.

In 1860. Miss Emily Metcalf assumed the charge, and a few years later purchased the building, and moved it to its present site on Baldwin street. The course of study was enlarged, and the school. for the greater part of thirteen years. received a flattering patronage. The advance of the high school system. the general opening of colleges to women, were causes that began to make an unfavorable effect upon the seminary in Hudson. and in 1873. it was again suspended. After the lapse of an academic year. it was agnin opened by Rev. B. W. Hosford. whose daughters conducted it for one year, when it finally suspended. The building is now used by the Board of Eduvation of the independent district of Hudson.*

ET}. - THE REMOVAL. within the county of Trumbull are desirous to appropriate a part. thereof to the support of a seminary of learning within said county. and that the intent of such donations cannot be carried into effect without the interference of the Legislature, by incorporating a Board of Trust for the reception and management of any property. real or personal, that may be given for said purpose and for the establishment and direction of such seminary, as soon as funds suflicient shall be cullected - Be it enacted. etc." The first name in the list of corporators is David Hudson, and the last Joseph Badger. Trumbull County at that ume embraced the whole Reserve, and the population was probably less than three thousand. The intention of these Trustees was to establish an academy tle for the endowment or patronage of such an institution as yet. But they showed their wisdom and proved themselves true sons of Connecticut, by thus early taking steps to establish the higher institutions of education. Common schools were of course established in all the scattered settlements, as fast as the numbers of the population would allow. Social libraries were early founded in many places. The Erie Literary Society received some gifts of land, by way of endowment. With the avails of these iands an academy building was erected in 1805, at Burton. and in that or the following year. the school was opened - the first of its kind in Northern Ohio. This school was maintained more or less continuously until 1810, when the building was burned, as was supposed. by an incendiary. In July. 1806. Mr. William Law. of Connecticut. a large land owner on the Reserve, donated to the society 1,130 acres of land. to revert. however. to his heirs. if the college should ever be removed from Burton.

It had become obvious that the sparse popuintion could not support an academical school continuously. After the loss of the building. therefore. the Trustees were slow to move for a new one. The war of 1812, came on speedily. and produced as serious an effect on the prosperity of the Reserve as on that of any other part of the country. The educational movement was retarded with all other good causes. After the war, in 1817. the Trustees determined to erect another building, and open the school so soon as 2 suitable instructor could be found. They resolved ~ that the Principal should be a graduate of some American College." In May. 1820. the school was opened under the instruction of Mr. David L. Coe. a graduate of Williams College. and continued in operation under its charter until 1834.

1817, the Presbytery of Grand River, which embraced nearly all the Presbyterian and Congregational ministers and churches of the Reserve, formed itself into a society " for the education of indigent, pious young men for the ministry, within the limits of the Presbytery." They say that, " considering the destitute situation of many churches and congregations among ourselves, as to the means of religious parts of our land and the world at large; considering that at the present day there is a call for special efforts according as God has prospered His people, to raise up men to go forth : portance of some general plan of operation, whereby many indifferent places may be enabled to act in concert. and bring their small scattered sums into a common stock. that they may be prottered. These beneficiaries pursued their studies privately with some one of the ministers, more commonly with Dr. Giles H. Cowles, of Austenburg: Rev. John Seward, of <Aurora ; Rev. Caleb Pitkin, of Charleston. or Rev. Harvey Coe, of Vernon. After the school at Burton was re-opened. they studied there.

The committee of Grand River Presbytery were Rev. Giles H. Cowles, Rey. Harvey Coe and George Swift ; that of Portage Presbytery were Rev. John Seward, Rev. Joseph Treat and prayer by the churches, that the blessing of God might attend the deliberations of the committees, and lead to a happy result. "On the 13th of April, the two Presbyteries held a joint meeting at Warren," to hear and consider the reports of their committees. The report. which was adopted, recommends the Presbyteries to establish a theological institution. on the foundation of the Erie Literary Society. located at Burton, Geauga County, provided the Trustees accede to the following conditions. to wit :

(a.) To appropriate to the education of pious, indigent young men for the Gospel ministry all moneys that may be intrusted to them for this purpose. | (6.) To allow no person to hold the office of | President in the institution who is not a mem- | ber of some Christian church.

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

(d.) To permit. while this connection con- | tinues, the managers of the education fund an- | nually to examine into the progress of the insti- | tution. the state of said fund. and the manner in which it is applied.

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

The Presbytery of Grand River appointed for this purpose Zalmon Fitch, George Swift, Rev. Ephraim T. Woodruff and Rev. Amasa Loomis. The Presbytery of Portage appointed Elizur Wright, Joshua B. Sherwood, Rev. Caleb Pitkin and Rev. Benjamin Fenn. Managers was to have perpetual succession, and to fill their own vacancies. They were to | ee and convey to the Erie Literary Society, agreeably to the conditions named, all property | intrusted to them for the education of pious | and indigent young men for the sacred minis- - try, annually to visit the institution to exam- , ine into its state and progress and the application of the education fund, and to attend to | such other business as shall by them be deemed , necessary to promote the great objects of edu- | cating young men for the Gospel ministry. They were also to make a report annually to | each Presbytery.

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

The connection thus formed between this Board of Managers and the Erie Literary Society "continued a little more than two years, until June 3, 1824. In the course of the year 1823. the Managers became convinced that an institution equal to their desires and expectations and to the necessities of the public could not be built up at Burton. They, therefore. requested the Trustees of the Erie Literary So- . ciety to remove their establishment to a more | eligible situation. The request was, at several | meetings of the Trustees, fully discussed and , ultimately rejected." The ground of this dis- | couragement at Burton and effort to remove | the institution, according to the testimony of ma _ persons, was the supposed unhealthiness - of the place. It is probable, also, that there was a desire to place the college nearer the center of the Reserve. During those years, | Burton had been visited with very severe and | fatal sickness, so as even to break up the school | fora time. The effort of the Managers to in- | duce the Trustees to remove the institution to - a more eligible situation, and "preserve the unity of design and harmony of feeling," fully proves that there was no discord between the boards on any other subject, and that they - were willing to continue their co-operation. The unwillingness of the Trustees to accede to | the request of the Managers is adequately accounted for by the fact that the Board held lands which must revert to the donors or their from Burton. Those of the Trustees who were especially interested in that part of the Reserve doubtless believed also that the unhealthiness - was merely temporary, which, indeed, proved to be the case. The academy at Burton was popular and usefui for some years. after the .

"The managers applied to the Presbyteries to appoint four commissioners, two ministers and two laymen. from each, to meet at Aurora on June 2, 1824. for the purpose of consulting and advising as to the course which the Board cumstances." The Presbytcries complied with The Presbytery of Grand River appointed Rev. Giles H. Cowles, Rev. Joseph W. Curtis and Mr. Titus Brockway ; the Presbytery of Portage appointed Rev. John Sew-

The Board of Managers met with these commissioners. At this meeting it was determined to discontinue the connection with the Erie Literary Society. and try to establish a separate institution. It was also resolved that it was expedient to request the Presbytery of Huron "to appoint four persons - two ministers and two laymen - who. together with the Board of Managers, should constitute the Board of Trustees for the contemplated institution." It was resolved to recommend the

Presbyteries to appoint four commissioners . each, to locate the institution. who should meet at Hudson on September 22, "and come to » a decision as soon as practicable." appointed their commissioners, from Grand River, Revs. Giles H. Cowles and Harvey Coe, Mr. Abraham Griswold and Mr. Eliphalet Austin, Jr.; from Portage, Revs. John Seward and Joseph Treat. Col. Lemuel Porter and Mr. John H. Whittlesey ; from Huron, Revs. Alfred H. Betts and Lot. B. Sullivan, Mr. Samuel Cowles and Mr. David Gibbs. These commissioners were directed in making their decision tion, moral character, facility of communication, donations. health, etc." The principal places which competed to secure the location were .Burton, Aurora, Euclid, Cleveland and Hudson. After several meetings at different places, the commissioners, in January, 1825, decided in favor of Hudson. The amount of the subscription at Hudson to secure the college was $7,150, of which $2,142 was contributed by Mr. David Hudson. In the competition between different locations within the secure it for the place it now occupies, rather than have it put half a mile south of the center of the town. The Presbytery of Huron now added to the Board of Managers, as they had

Woodruff, Rev. Stephen I. Bradstreet, Hon. Henry Brown and Mr. Harmon Kingsbury. This Board of Managers, now called Trustees, held their first meeting at Hudson on February 15. 1825. They approved of the report of the Commissioners for locating the institution, made pointed Benjamin Whedon Treasurer, and David Hudson, Owen Brown and Heman Oviatt a Committee of Agency, to superintend the work of building. They also adopted a confession of their religious faith. and elected Rev. John Seward and Mr. Samuel Cowles members of the board. They began their efforts to procure funds, prepared u draft of a charter to be presented to the Legislature, and of a petition in favor of the charter, to be circulated for subscription on the Reserve;

Henry Brown "to procure the granting of the | charter by the Legislature" at its next session, | adjusted the lines of the college plat, procured | now stand, but facing toward the east ; in front of the buildings, a street sixty feet wide was to be laid out, and on the east side of it, facing

President and Professors. Middle College was accordingly built facing eastward. The plan was changed for a west front in 1828, and the present location for Professors' houses was selected.

It is said that the effort to secure a charter encountered severe opposition in the Legislature, especially on account of the religious character which the institution was likely to The names of the corporators contained in the petition were those of seven clergymen There were men in the Legislature of infidel sentiments, who were unwilling that education should be so much under the influence of the clergy. These menso modified the draft of the charter asked for as to exclude all religious instruction from the college. It appears, also, that they made determined opposition to two names among the corporators, so that these had to be dropped. This is said to have been on account. of personal hostility. Rev. E. T. Woodruff and Rey. Amasa Loomis had been appointed Managers of the Education Fund by the Presbytery of Grand River. and their names must therefore have been in the list of corporators in the petition, but they are not found in the charter. By some means, also. the name of Samuel Cowles was replaced by that of David Hudson. The corporators were thus 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. can manage best." Mr. Pitkin returned home, and Judge Brown secured, .. not the charter asked for, at least an acceptable one - we trust not by sinful methods. The charter bears date of February 7, 1826. This was the fifth college chartered in the State. not counting the Erie Literary Society.

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 veremony in the presence of a large assembly. It was a warm Junelike day. .\ 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 adress was celivered in Latin by Mr. Pitkin, and the stone laid with Masonie ceremonies. returned to the meeting house. where Mr. Bradstreet delivered an address on the principles which actuated the Trustees in the work they had undertaken.

wing 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 Mid- | dle College did service until the summer of | 1875, when it was thoroughly repaired within scholar, "was appointed Tutor pro tempore, and authorized, if application should be made, to examine and admit those whom he should find qualified into a F'reshman class. and to take the class under his particular care and instruction. Mr. Coe had been Principal of the Burton Academy from 1820 to 1824, and was now was not required to remove to Hudson because the building was not yet complete, and he could perform his office as Tutor while teaching the Academy. In December, he admitted to the Freshman class in college, Ellery Bascom, Charles M. Preston and Oren C. Thompson, and took charge of their studies during the year.

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

It is astonishing with what energy the Trustees took hold of their work so soon as they secured their charter. The Trustees of the Erie Literary Society had made very little ef: fort to establish and carry forward the college. Mr. William Law had made a donation of 1.150 acres of land for the college at Burton. but it does not appear that any effort was made for further endowment until after the managers of the education fund had united with them. The supposed unfavorableness of Burton as a location for the college and the consequent attempt to secure its removal. doubtless restrained the managers from any great exertion to increase the endowment while it remained there. They did. however. secure some donations of land and of money. But so soon as the college was located at Hudson, its Trustees and friends inost. 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. Ningsbury and Mr. Coe, of the Trustees. labored especially in this work. A good deal of this kind of service was also performed by Rey. Daniel W. Lathrop and Rev. George Sheldon. A number of others, both clergymen and laymen, as much interested in the success of the college as its Trustees. engaged in agencies for short periods as special services were needed. Mr. Pitkin, who was President of the Board, seems to have been employed almost exclusively in some form of agency from January, 1826, until August. 1843. His devotion to the college, and that of all those early Trustees, 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 conveyances, and remaining from two to six days together in earnest council and action.

This unreserved devotion and indefatigable energy could not but secure them all the success which the nature of the case permitted. The country was yet very new and though population was increasing rapidly, there was yet very little acquired wealth; money was and the people still mostly engaged in the rough work of the pioneers. The contributions, therefore. were made chiefly in land which bore a very low price, or in cattle or in some form of merchandise which required much care, energy and prudence, to work them over into college buildings and professors' salaries. This kind of donations. from the nature of the case.

perplexity and embarrassment down to the close of President Pierce' administration. This is not to be thought of as a discredit to the donors in any respect. On the contrary, it was greatly to their credit that with so little of ready means, the people had such a sense of the importance of higher education, that they would give, though their gift might be small and of a kind not easily convertible. Thus, the college received donations of land and sold it for stone, lumber or labor. Mr. Pitkin received two-thirds of the compensation for his services in kind. Tutor Sturtevant received a part of his salary in board and washing. Mr. Daniel Metcalf, in 1827, gave the college 3450 in goods. In looking over the list of donations, many are found to have come in very queer forms. This "store pay, and what was worse, no pay, the Trustees and Faculty knew a great deal about for many years. These difficulties which met the Trustees at the beginning were inevitable. 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, especially as_pertained to education and Christianity. All the clerical members of the board were college graduates - four from Yale, two from Williams and one from Dartmouth ; of the lay members Mr. Elizur Wright was a graduate of Yale, and Judge Brown had been a student at Harvard ; the organization, spirit and noble record of Yale College. The other ministers who so earnestly aided and encouraged the work of founding the college, from Father Badger's first petition for a charter in 1801. were almost all do the same work for the sons of New England, transplanted to a new soil, ought by all means to be of the same type, and should aim to he of the same rank. This explains how they came

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 In pastor of the church in Ravenna. was elected He accepted the appointment and entered upon his office in December, 1828. It does not appear that theology, beyond what forms a part of the course now, was taught at that day in the college. nor that there were special theological students here until 1831. But this chair was filled first on account of the prominence of the idea that the coll_,e was planted in order to raise up ministers for the destitute churches. Mr. Storrs probably instructed in mental and moral science, and the evidences of Christianity. Rev. Rufus Nutting, a graduate of Dartmouth College, was engaged in August, 1828, to give instruction for the fall term, and finally engaged for

Philosophy. Green, a graduate of Middlebury College, was appointed Professor of Sacred Literature. and the theological department was established. After many efforts to secure a President. Prof. Storrs was finally persuaded to accept that office in August, 1830. spects admirably qualified for it. except in the matter of bodily strength. He was born at Long Meadow, Mass.. in 1794. descending trom ill health compelled him to abandon his studies. After a time deyoted to the restoration of his health. he studied theology in private, was licensed. and preached 2 year. when he was went South and labored as a missionary in 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. in- | flexible in his a:lherence to principle. solid.

acute and comprehensive in thought. greatly loved and revered by all the students, of wonderful eloquence as a preacher. Asa theologian, he was of the school of President Dwight.

| 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.

ment, 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 lege, which arose here as they did almost everywhere else. The first was, whether so large a use of heathen authors, as they were called, in the course of study, was necessary or right ; the second was respecting the manual labor system.

In regard to the former question, after considerable agitation, a committee of the Faculty was appointed to examine and report on the subject. In August, 1834, this committee pre-

The manual labor system was. at that time, a fashionable hobby all over the land. The Presbyteries of Grand River and Portage. in their capacity as Education Societies. had, in 1822-23. by resolutions «regommended 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 this college. during term time, labor for exercise and the preservation of health. either in agriculture or some of the mechanical arts. at least two hours every day. except the Sabbath, according to regulations hereafter to be made, and that it be recommended to all students now connected with the college, and required of all who shall hereafter become members. to labor in conformity with such regulations. except in extraordinary cases. of which cases a committee appointed for the purpo3e shall determine." went so far in 1837, as to consider the expediency of opening a blacksmith's shop. These shops and the farm were provided with tools and superintendents, and an earnest and persevering effort was made to carry out the plan successfully. At one time, the students formed a mechanical society to carry on work, and had a standing advertisement in the Ohio Observer of their cabinet wares. A steam engine was procured for the shops. No care or expense seems to have been spared. But the students, like so many other people, proved to be disinclined to manual labor. Very few had any knowledge whatever of the use of tools, and many had no capacity to learn to use them skillfully, especially as the inclination was wanting. The wares were found to be rude, ill-jointed, unworkmanlike and hard to sell. Many, for various reasons, got relieved from the requirement to labor, and an invidious distinction grew up between the workers aud the non-workers. It even turned out that this unwilling labor was not beneficial to health. Gradually, after many shifts, one part of the system after another was reluctantly given up, until the whole was abandoned. The last lingering ray of it is found in the catalogue for 1851-52.

country. out boldly and decidedly in the advocacy of the immediate and unconditional abolition of slavery. He went on to attack the scheme of colonization as affording no remedy for the evil, and its advocates as enemies of the slave and real supporters of the system of slavery with all its horrors. in 1831, quickly aroused the whole nation North and South. Many men of keen. moral sensibilities took up the cause of the oppressed with great fervor, and with true martyr-spirit | were ready to sacrifice everything - to make all - other questions and all other interests subor- | his table, asked the slow-spoken, sedate thinker | what he thought of Garrison's writings on _ slavery. The answer was. "I do not see how ' they can be refuted." President Storrs and | Profs. Wright and Green immediately became | ardent advocates of Garrison's views. and lost / no opportunity to proclaim and defend them. They were able and eloquent men, and their advocacy had great influence in the community. In 1832. Prof. Wright began to write in the Obserrvor and Telegraph. then published at Hudson. against colonization. and in favor of aboli- - tion. | Opposition with some and great favor with others. and Green sent for Mr. Amos P. Hawley. of ' the sophomore class. and requested him to prepare a colloquy to be spoken at the ensuing

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

T'.dson in June. Prof. Wright resigned at commencement in August. Thus only Prof. | Nutting and Tutor Walker were left of the old | Faculty.

| ject, 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 bad assumed or was likely to assume. but simply by an invitation to another field of labor." this year's transactions and of the misunderstandings which grew out of them. on the pros- | perity of the college was very great. and con- ' tinued 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. ade investigations and published their reports. The Society of Enquiry entered - into what was called the moral reform move- - ment. 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 sulb- 'ject also. They seem to have felt the moral burden of the world resting heavily upon their shoulders. and they were determined to dis- - charge their responsibilities manfully. We can ' not but admire their devotion to duty. as they - understood it. and to righteousness. But it is difficult to imagine the students of the present day going about the country lecturing on slavery and the seventh commandment. however

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 partially seen in the membership of the church. Many young men born into the kingdom here have preferred to unite with churches at their homes. The church now unites with

The financial condition of the college, up to | the close of President Storrs' administration, : - had been steadily improving. At the time the atus. 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. possession, more than 332,000 had been subscribed, which. for various causes, was never paid. though there was then good reason to expect that it would be paid. himself devoted very little of his time to financial affairs ; he had not the health. and probably not the inclination for very much work of that kind. He was a student. a teacher and a preacher.

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

'formed by Tutor Walker. Rev. George K. . Pierce was elected President in March, 1834, ' but did not enter on his office until commence- | ment. The college year 1833-34, was, therefore, an interregnum ; but there was the same . number of instructors as during the previous |

President Pierce was a Connecticut man, a graduate of Yale College in 1816, had taught an academy two years, studied theolegy at | Andover, and had been a most successful Pastor | of the church at Harwinton Conn., for twelve years. When he entered upon his office as thoroughly. to increase the endowment, to erect new buildings, to establish new professorships, to elevate the standard of scholarship, to increase the library and apparatus for instruction.

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

In 1836, the chapel was completed and dedicated at commencement, with a sermon by President Pierce. In the same year, Rey. Lau- 'rens P. Hickok, a graduate of Union College.

that department having been performed during the interim since President Storrs' death by President Pierce. After the accession of Prof. Hickok, President Pierce gave instruction in other branches of theology. Prof. Folsom | having resigned, Prof. Elijah P. Barrows, a | graduate of Yale College, came, in 1837, to the Chair of Sacred Literature. With this enlargement of the theological faculty, North College was built in 1837-38 for the use of divinity . students. Prof. Gregg served but a part of a' year in the Chair of Mathematics and Physics.

and was then transferred to the Chair of Homi- | letics 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

| a graduate of Yale College, who went to Europe for a years study and travel, commissioned also to procure books for the library and apparatus for the department of physics and instruments for the observatory. He brought to his chair great abilities and enthusiasm in his department and power of work. Under his guidance the mathematical part of the library and the apparatus were considerably increased. and, in 1838, the observatory was erected and admirably equipped. In 1838, Dr. St. John, a graduate of Yale College, was appointed Professor of Chemistry and Geology, and a large apparatus for that department was procured. This led to the erection of a new building for the accommodation of the two departments of physics and of chemistry and geology. This building, called Atheneum, was not completed, however, until 1843. Meantime, in 1840, Rev. Henry N. Day, a graduate of Yale College, had been added to the Faculty, taking the chair of of Homiletics and Pastoral Theology ; and in the same year Mr. Nathan P. Seymour, also a graduate of Yale College, had taken the Chair of Languages vacated by Prof. Nutting.. In February, 1844, a modification of the charter was procured from the Legislature so as to allow the establishment of the medical department in the city of Cleveland. A course of medical lectures had been begun in Cleveland in the autumn of 1843 by Dr. Delemater and his distinguished associates. The department was fully organized, and the first class graduated in March, 1844.

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 library had been enlarged ; the requirements for admission and those for graduation greatly increased ; a new and flourishing department added. The Faculty which President Pierce gathered was composed of men distinguished for learning. general ability and teaching power, men who would have given honor and distinction to any institution. He showed himself to be an admirable judge of men. Not only did the broad foundation of the college seem to have been laid. but the Connecticut ideal seemed to have been actually realized. It was almost to the minutest particular a faithful copy of Yale College. During the second half of President Pierce's administration. the financial difficulties of the college increased until they became well-nigh overwhelming. The causes of these difticulties were two - first, what seemed to be unwarrantably large expenditures for buildings and instruction ; and. second. the opinion of some. whether well or ill founded. that the managemens of the funds was not so careful and prudent as it should have been. The four buildings erected during the first half of President Pierce's administration, viz.. the Chapel. North College. Observatory and Atheneum. cost but little above $22,000. or the actual fund inherited from President Storrs' administration. If the question were asked whether these buildings were all necessary, we should have to reply that the plan on which Yale College was conducted was adopted here as the sum of all wisdom in such matters. The plan required abundant dormitories and a separate chureh - all the appliances tor a community complete in itself. and separated from the rest of the world. It is easy now to find fault with the plan. and to point out other less expensive methods which have proved successful elsewhere. But the buildings then erected have proved very useful ever since, and are indispensable according to that plan. If we look at the expenditure for instruction, it certainly cannot be said that the salaries of the Faculty were ever large. and if we consider how much the President and

Professors contributed to the fund of the college out of their salaries, it will be acknowledged that they were quite inadequate to their support. But even these small salaries, under the pressure of the circumstances, were often paid in a manner which made them by no means equal their nominal value. Seven hundred dollars was the highest salary paid to any one except the President, who received $900; and President Pierce often gave out of this $200 a year to the college, and the Professors were in general equally liberal in their donations. Indeed, it is doubtful if any college was stipends. The number of the Faculty was such urer, amounted from 33,500 to $7,500 a year. If the nuinber of the Faculty should be drawn into question as unwise ard unnecessary, the answer is easy, that it was the plan to have the institution a real college of the highest order ; it must therefore be fully manned by able scholars and teachers. If the number of students was as yet small. it was reasonably expected that they would increase as the population vrew. and that an able Faculty would attract students. Indeed. the number of students was increasing. and the learning and ability of the Facnity did establish for the college the highest reputation, until the operation of the second cause mentioned led on to the most serious disasters.

It has already been said that the financial necessities of the college kept President Pierce in the field as an agent a large part of the time torseveral 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. Asearly as 1836, the college had a debt of 36.000. though the nominal assets were ~60.009. But these assets were largely subscriptions. many of which. after years of waiting. finally failed altogether ; others were land, or other property, which could not then be wisely converted, or converted at all without serious loss. This state of things continued with ready money - the assets. however much they might be nominally. never answering to their face. and hard to bring into usable form. The «debt steadily increased. until, in 1846. it stood at 335.000, and the assets at 338.000.

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 Prot. Loomis in 1844, the former being called to the Chair of Theology in Auburn Seminary, and the latter to the Chair of Mathematics and Physics in the University of New York. This was in every respect a most serious loss to the college. But it was not to be expected that such men would submit to so much perplexity in the matter of support when they could do the same work elsewhere in more comfortable circumthat the salaries of all. with that of the Treasstances. Their places were, however, speedily filled, and the college went on doing its solid

In view of the failure of pledges and the depreciation of property. the board resolved. in 1345. to enter on an effort to raise 840.000 to replace the losses and pay the debts. This subscription was completed in 1848. They immediately began a new effort to add 860,000 to the permanent fund, the entire sum to te raised by January 1, 1850. This effort. entered upon with great vigor. was also successful. slowness with which payments were made left the college still in difficulty. Although the debt was diminishing, it was still 328.000 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 system 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 between meum and tuum in the funds was not accurately kept. There can, of course. be nothing dishonest in the mere loaning from one fund to another ; is not strange that it excited nervousness in the hard-worked and ill-paid Faculty, and among some of the donors. No one could for a moment question the perfect integrity and high Christian character of President Pierce and the Trustees. But "the best-laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley," and the college had had too serious an experience already of the uncertainty of pledges to trust the general fund too far with the sacred resources of the permanent fund. Moreover, it was the growing sentiment on all sides that the expenses should, by some means, be brought down to the probable income, or nearly to that, and that the general fund should be so managed as speedily to remove all indebtedness.

In 1850. the sum of 360.000 had been subscribed to the permanentfund. In view of this fact and of the importance of the work of collecting and securely investing this. and in view also of the earnest request of President Pierce. that he might. as speedily as possible. be released from all financial' responsibility. at the meeting of the board in March, a finance committee was appointed, consisting of President Pierce, Mr. Joseph Perkins, Hon. E. N. Sill and Mr. C. L. Latimer, all of them men who were

_ skilled and practiced in financial business, to _ take charge of the whole matter of collecting _ and investing the new fund, of the administra- | tion of the general fund, and the payment of

_ "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.

secure the requisite control, that the debt was reduced only $7,500, while the available assets had shrunk $16,000, 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 any degree to impair the number or efficiency of the Faculty, which had brought the institution up to his ideal in that respect - on the other side the other members who saw clearly and felt deeply the financial necessities of the case. The disagreement which brought about the resignation of this committee now entered into the board and divided it so that the cast.

| ing vote was always in the hands of the President. and he always cast it with the same side. The division touched every question of policy and of popular action. The Faculty. feeling most deeply everything which threatened the honor. stability and efficiency of the college for which they had so devotedly labored and sacrificed. and, though not doubting the integrity and good will. yet doubting the ability of President Pierce and the prudential committee to successfully cope with the financial problem, insisted that the finance committee should be continued. and should have complete control of the funds according to its original plan. Disheartened and foreseeing evil from the resignation of that committee, Prots. 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 up out of questions arising in the Faculty, as well as deep differences of opinion growing out of the financial and other questions arising in the Board of Trustees, and concerning general policy. The strong feelings excited could not beeasily calmed. The Professors, being widely distinguished in their departments, had tempting offers of important positions elsewhere. where their fields would be larger and their salaries sure. The attempt to restore the old order of things failed. The Professors left, the students mostly left, and the labor and patience of many good men for many years, seemed to have failed of the promise.

Aside from the debt and the general fund available for its payment. the college had also a permanent fund, amounting nominally to $85,000 : but $54,000 of this was in the form of subscription notes. for the most part on interest. and payable between the years 1850 and 1855 ; 310.600 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. They alienated many of the donors. also, as might have been expected. and undoubtedly had an injurious influence upon other young colleges in the West which were seeking to raise their first endowments. Men who had means to give to them had their fears excited that their donations might be lost through the discords. if not the inismanagement of boards of trust. In this view. the "Society for the Promotion of Collegiate and Theological Education at the West." which had between the years 1845 and 1848 given the college about 315.000. 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 ren- | dered no service. There were only two classes | - the sophomore and freshman - with twenty- | three members. In March, 1853, Rev. Alfred | Emerson, a graduate of Yale College, was elected Professor of Mathematics and Physics, | and entered on his duties at the beginning of the | year 1853-54. In November, 1853, Rev. Henry | B. Hosford, a graduate of Williams College, | was elected Professor of Intellectual and Moral | Philosophy and Rhetoric, and entered on his | duties in January, 1854. Both these elections | were opposed and strongly protested against | by a portion of the board, not out of objection | to the men, well qualified pledges, but because | in their view it was necessary to the prosperity | of the institution that President Pierce should | retire from office, and that there should be an | entire reconstruction. |

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

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

retirement by the side of the college, rejoicing in its revived prosperity, its larger endowment, and in its faithfulness to the standard and the traditions which he had established. During

_ took was one of great difficulty on account of _ the labor involved, and of great delicacy in consequence of the excited state of feeling concerning the college in the community and among the graduates. Every step he took was sure to be criticised ; all his acts and every aspect of the e llege under him were sure to be compared with the great days of old when achievements as well as hopes were high and skies were clear. He came to the college in the prime of his life. at forty-two years of age, with his powers well- labors. in which he had learned to manage ditticult financial atfairs as well as preach the Word. Singularly enough. he was a native of Burton, a pupil. and subsequently a teacher in 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 an 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 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 istry 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. always studied diligently and he had an admirable grasp of the subjects of his department.

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

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

was the payment of the debt. This debt he found. at the beginning of his term of office, about 322.000. It had not been reduced at all since October. 1851. On the withdrawal of President Pierce it was increased to $25,000 by ily 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

To this. therefore. the President applied himself. It was necessary that he should go about it by personal solicitation. The work went on slowly but steadily. as he could gain time from his other duties. was no slight labor. obligations and to meet the interest. It was and thus. after twentyto the permanent fund and 399,000 to the general fund. besides paying the debt and collecting all that was collectable of the money due -

And this work he did himself. not by agents. except in the matter of about 36.000, 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 wis- the meantime. it was removed. one which this college will not soon forget. The good friends who helped to lift that load deserve to be held in special gratitude.

amounted, in 1855. to about $43,000. were now all fully due. and needed to be immediately collected, principal and interest, and inv ested. 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 won-

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. Prot. Emerson. who had come into the Chair of Mathematics and Physics during the interim, retired in April. 1856. and was succeeded in January tollowing by Mr. Charles A. Young, a graduate of Dart. mouth. who served the college with great success until February. 1866, when he resigned

' to accept the Chair of Phy sics and Astronomy / at Dartmouth College - a 'chair which had been ' filled by his father and grandfather before him.

Tn April of that vear, Mr. Young ..as succeeded by Mr. Allen C. Barrows, of the Class of 1861. who served until the close of the year 1869-70. when Mr. Charles J. Smith. of the Class of 1870, the present incumbent. entered upon that Prot. Hosford came in. also. in what we may call the interim, to the Chair of Intellectual Philosophy filled until December, 1859. He was succeeded by the present incumbent in April, 1860. Prof. Seymour retained the Chair of the Greek and Latin Languages until 1870, having entered upon this professorship in September, 1840. He thus served the college with distinc- greatest prosperity in the new era. On his resignation, he was made Emeritus Protessor. He has since given instruction on two occasions, when his services were needed. Mr. Edwin S. Gregory. a graduate of Harvard College, held the position of Adjunct Professor of Latin, and gave instruction in the college from 1861 to 1866, while he was Principal of the preparatory school.

On the retirement of Prof. Seymour. the professorship was divided. Mr. Thomas D. Seymour, his son. of the Class of 1870. being appointed to the Chair of Greek and Modern Languages, with leave of absence for two years. that he might study and travel in Europe. The work of the Greek Department was performed meantime by William R. Perkins. of the Class ot 1868. The Chair of Latin and English Literature was taken by Prof. Allen C. Barrows, who filled it but one year. when he resigned to become Pastor of the church at Kent. He was succeeded immediately by Rey. Lemuel 8. Potwin. a graduate of Yale, the present incumbent. In 1868, Mr. Edward W. Morley, a graduate of Williams College. was appointed Professor of Chemistry and Natural History. a chair which had been vacant since Prof. St. John resigned 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 trom 1857 to 1868 inclusive by Prof. Cassell, of the Medical Department. Mr. services as Professor in January, 1869. In 1860, Prof. Long returned to the college as lecturer for one term in the Department of Moral Philosophy. From 1869 to 1872, Hon. Thomas

Hastings, of Cleveland, gave a course of lectures each year on Municipal Law. Since 1869, Mr. M. C. Read, of the Class of 1848, has given a course of lectures each year on Practical Geology and Zodlogy. Such were the changes in the Faculty during President Hitchcock's administration.