Class Book Knox College QALESBURa. Illinois ilarch 17,1917 Dr.George V.Kunz, 401 Fifth Avenue, New York City, Ky dear ir.Kunz,- You were oist coroial to tae vnieri in licw York and I wisJi to a;2ain thank you for your courtesy. I was delighted to see youv inter- est ill Knox Collejje- p.n institution for v/hich x have a real affection- snd I am venturing to send you with the compliments of the college a copy of a Siuall oook issued a few years ago at the time of the celebratio i of oui^ 75th Anniversary. If you hHve the time to look it over I feel sure you \vill be interest'^d in tne unusual story of l;ie foundin/^ of Mnox and in the development of a typical Vvesterri college, Yfith cordial ,;;ood wishes, I am, Sincerely yours, SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS THE STORY OF KNOX COLLEGE 1837-1912 By Martha Farnham Webster GALESBURG, ILL.: Wagoner Printing Company 1912 33 ^ TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. A Man with an Idea 1 II. The Idea Takes Form 9 III. The Lure of the Prairies 14 IV. The Idea Develops into a College 21 V. Hitherward by Land 23 VI. Hitherward by Water 31 VII. Log City , , , , 38 VIII. The First Founders' Day 43 IX. Women of the Colony 51 X. How Knox College Grew 60 XI. Troublous Times 69 XII Reconstruction in Knox College 82 XIII. The Semi-Centenntal Jubilee 87 XIV. New Undertakings and Notable Occasions 94 XV. The Ingathering . 105 XVI. Our Assets , . 116 Sixty-seventh Annual Commencement and Seventy-fifth Anniversary 129 The Program 130 Committees 137 Baccalaureate Sermon 138 Class Day Program 150 Commencement Concert 151 Class Play 152 Address before the Alumni 153 Poem — "The Pioneers" 175 Commencement Program 177 Commemoration Exercises 179 Address by President Finley 180 Address by President Blanchard 183 Official Letter — Prof. F. S. Hoffman 186 Letter from the White House 190 The Pageant , 191 Alumni Dinner — Program of Toasts 199 List of Former Students in Attendance ...... 201 iii SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS ILLUSTRATIONS Opfositk Page Academy, The Old 48 Alumni Hall 145. 164 Beecher Chapel 198 Blanchard, Residence of President 70 Campus, View on rear 165 Central College, 1857 69 Central Congregational Church.... 107, 177 Conservatory Recital, A 85 East College ("East Bricks") 70 Faculty in 1888, The Knox 87, 90 First Church, The G4 Galesburg High School 147 George Davis Science Hall 158, 159, 199 Gymnasium, The 192 Knox Orators 91 Knox Seminary Girls 78, 79 Knox vs. Lake Forest 193 Laboratories 159 Lincoln-Douglas Debate 76 OrroiiTK Pagb Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Anniver- sary of (1896) 100 Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Anniver- sary of (1900) 101 Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Anniver- sary of (1908) 106 Log City 36 Old Main 144 Prairie Farm, A 203 Presbyterian Church 146 Sanderson Residence, The 74 Seminary, The (1857) 68 Standish Mansion, The 202 Standish Park 203 Triumvirate, The 118 Triumvirate Memorial Tablet 119 Way to Knox 129 Whitestovvn Seminary 6 Whiting Hall 165, 172, 173 Women of the Colony... 51, 54, 55, 58 PORTRAITS Anderson, Samantha Wheeler Avery, Cyrus M Avery, George Ballance, John G Bancroft, Edgar A 91, Bascom, Flavel Bascom, Ruth Pomeroy Bateman, Newton Bender Victor E 87, Bennett, Malvina M Bentley, William F Bergen, Fidelia A Blanchard, Jonathan Blanchard, Mary A Bunce, Dr. James Carr, Clark E Campbell, Stuart M Chambers, Edward P Cliambers, Matthew Chambers, Mrs. Matthew Churchill, George 71, 90, 110, 111, Churchill, Norman Churchill, Mrs. Norman Colton, Chauncey S Colton, Mrs. C. S Comstock, Milton L 87, 118. Cooper, Job A Craig. A. M Cress, George V 51 127 29 .86 176 126 58 83 91 91 84 54 62 58 28 99 108 44 44 55 118 49 49 29 58 122 92 117 86 Curtis, Harvey 81 Curtis, William S 81 Edwards, Eaton A 87 Farnhani, Eli 49 Farnham, Mrs. Eli 58 Ferris, Elizabeth Hudson 28 Ferris, Henry 28 Ferris, Silvanus 16 Ferris, Western 16 Ferris, Mrs. William 55 Finiey, John H 91, 96 Gale, George C 176 Gale, George W 1 Gale, W. Selden 98 Gaylord, Joseph S 90 Gilbert, Thomas 16 Goodell, Eunice Adams 54 Grant, Innes 71 Gulliver, John P 82 Hatch, Sarah 95 Hinckley, Clarissa Root 32 Hitchcock, Henry 117 Hitchcock, Henry E 67, 71 Hitchcock, Margaret Gale 67 Holmes, Jessie R 90 Howard. Ada 95 Holyoke, William 44 Holyoke, Mrs. William 54 Holyoke. William E 67 Hurd, Albert.. 71, 82. 87, 115. IIS, 123 TABLE OF CONTENTS Opposite Page Jenks, Jeremiah W 87 Kellogg, Hiram H 62 Larkin, Edgar H 90 Lawrence, George A 127 Losey, Nehemiah H 32 McCall, Ida M 90, 124 McCall. Sara M 90, 124 McChesney, Margaret 90 McClelland, Thomas 102 McClure, Samuel S 127 McKnlght, J. T 117 Martin, Abigail Prentice 51 Mather, Robert 127 Mills, Stephen C 86 Pearsons, Daniel K 126 Read, Henry W 87 Root, Riley 32 Roy, Joseph E 92 Sanborn, John G 44 Sanderson, Henry R 67 Opposite Pace Sanderson, Levi 29 Simonds, W. E 109 Standish, John V. N 108 Tompkins, Samuel 16 Waters, Rev. John 21 Waters, Mrs. John 55 West, Katharine 51 West, Mary Allen 51 Wetmore, Isaac M 28 White, Stephen V 92 Whiting, Maria 95 Willard, Thomas R 87, 109 Willcox, Erastus 92 Willcox, Henry 29 Willcox, Mrs. Henry 55 Willcox, Malvina M 95 Williams, Martha 54 Wilson, John P 117 Woods, Dency Root 32 Wyckoff, Charles T 91 TO THE DESCENDANTS OF THE FOUNDERS AND TO THE GRADUATES AND STUDENTS OF KNOX COLLEGE SCATTERED ABROAD, IN THE HOME LAND, IN FOREIGN LANDS AND IN THE ISLANDS OF THE SEAS, THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED 3nnr. 1912 FOREWORD From the depths of a full heart the writer of this nar- rative desires to express her profound and abiding sense of personal obligation to "The Founders," that noble and not- able band of pioneers for the goodly heritage which they established and bequeathed to her; for this pleasant city of habitation in which she was born and from which she has never been absent for a longer period than a year at a time; for Knox College in which her happy school days were spent and to which she has ever been closely allied in sympathy and loyalty, both personally and also because of her father's intimate connection with it for nearly half a century as a member and the secretary of its Board of Trustees ; for the Church which gave her her baptismal name and which has been to her from earliest recollection the earthly " home of the soul." And since the opportunity may not again occur, she de- sires to place on record her sense of indebtedness also to those rare virtues and excellencies of character, of speech, of conduct — to that which in the plodding, weary, restrict- ed, oft-times hapless, or again well-nigh hopeless routine of their daily life, was the all-pervasive, uplifting influence working in and through and above all else ; their sorrows, their joys ; their failures, their successes ; their trials, their triumphs; in a word, to the Spirit of the Founders, to the memory of the sacred dead. But why pay tribute alone to the Spirit of the Found- ers : why not greet and salute the spirits of the founders? Are they not hovering as ministering spirits all about us, participants in this joyful celebration of our Diamond jubi- lee — their Diamond jubilee? Is not the very atmosphere about us palpitant with the presence of the circling throngs? Have they not gathered from near and afar, viii SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS leaving their "sweet employment in the spacious field of eternity" and assembled in the goodly and familiar fellow- ship of the long ago, are they not looking upon us with ap- proval and benediction, though to us unseen, as we recall their memories and their worthy deeds? Here it was, upon the selfsame ground, now occupied by the stately buildings of their dreams, that three quarters of a century ago, they kneeled with uncovered heads, in solemn act of dedication and consecrated to the God whom they then served, and in whose presence they now rejoice, the college, the church and the city which they had undertaken to establish. History tells us that this prayer of consecration was led by "Father" Waters, his white locks streaming in the prairie winds which swept unbroken in their course, while with impassioned earnestness he dedicated the enterprise to the Lord, praying fervently for all those who in all com- ing time should be connected with these institutions, either to influence or to be influenced by them. That far-reaching, all-embracing prayer! Has it not been wafted by the wings of faith down through the inter- vening years, until it rests in a blessed fulfillment and with future promise upon those who have gathered to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of that enterprise which was then scarcely more than the "baseless fabric" of a vision. And so this narrative of their far-seeing plans and not- able achievements is written as a tribute of reverence, of love and devotion to the memory of the founders. M. F. W. Galesburg, Illinois, June, 1912. f^.^^r.^^ Leader of the colonists who founded Galesburg and Knox College in 1837. CHAPTER I A MAN WITH AN IDEA. Rev. George W. Gale, the founder of Galesburg and Knox College, was a man who had become possessed of an idea. This idea entered into his every thought and purpose to such an extent that it became a ruling passion in his life. It had taken such firm hold upon him that no longer able or willing to ignore its influence he gave up a work which he had successfully promoted for seven years, and devoted his every talent and energy to the carrying out of the plan which had been maturing in his mind and seeking fulfill- ment at his hand. Before entering upon the discussion of this plan, let us learn something of the early life of that man who was, above all others, the founder of our city, our First Church and Knox College, and whose name, set as a signet in the name of our city, shall be held in honored remembrance so long as the city itself remains. George Washington Gale was born in Stanford, Dutch- ess County, New York, December 3, 1789. His grandparents, Josiah and Rebecca (Closson) Gale, were emigrants from Yorkshire, England, and settled in Stamford, Connecticut. They were the parents of six sons and one daughter. This fact is mentioned because the only daughter, Sarah, who married Hezekiah Olmstead, became the mother of the future wife of Silvanus Ferris, who was prominent in the early history of Galesburg. Thus the Gale and Ferris families of the company of colonists were united by ties of blood as well as by a common purpose. Mr. and Mrs. Silvanus Ferris were the progenitors of the numerous family of Ferrises, whose names and whose per- sonality under other names are intetlinked v/ith every movement of the history of Galesburg and Knox College (1) 2 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS from the beginning until the present time. Josiah Gale, one of the six sons referred to, was the father of George W., the founder of our city. The name, Josiah, was used as a fam- ily name unto the third generation in the Gale family in this community. Later on the Gale and Ferris families were again united by marriage, when Caroline, the grand daughter of Sil- vanus Ferris, became the wife of W. Selden Gale, the mother of the present George W. Gale, a member of the Board of Trustees of the college, the grandmother of our honored alumnus, George Candee Gale, and the great grandmother of his little son, "George the fourth." Wes- tern Ferris, the son of Silvanus, was the one through whom this line descended. Josiah Gale 1, the father of the founder, was a man of great strength and muscular devel- opment, while his only son and youngest child was small of stature and slightly built although of great dignity of bearing and commanding presence in his mature years. At eight years of age the little son was left an orphan to the cafe of his older sisters, of whom there were eight, all of them married to substantial farmers of the neighborhood. Naturally, their oversight of their younger and only brother was most tender and loving, but it was also tinged with the austerity which characterized the rigid methods of family government at that period. To "eat the bread of idleness" was unpardonable in their eyes and they there- fore kept him constantly employed, either in study or in the thousand nameless tasks which fall to the lot of a willing and obedient boy on a large farm. He was ambitious, and much devoted to study and at an early age was prepared for, and entered Union College. He passed successfully through its course and graduated with honor. From Union College he went to Princeton Theological Seminary, then as now, the leading theological school of the Presbyterian church in the United States. But Mr. Gale's physical strength would not permit the completion . of his studies, and he was compelled to abandon them, which he did with great reluctance. He cherished the hope, A MAN WITH AN IDEA 3 however, that he might be able to return and finish the course at some future time, in order that he might be fitted to pursue his chosen work. Although Mr. Gale had not completed his theological studies he was ordained to the Christian ministry and li- censed to preach by the Hudson Presbytery at Troy, N. Y., in the year 1816, when twenty-seven years of age. He first labored as a home missionary in that part of New York state bordering on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario, the region being at that time a comparatively new territory. He organized several new churches and for a time supplied a church in Green county. His health be- coming very much improved, he returned to Princeton and completed his theological studies in 1819. He received many calls to pastorates, and finally decided to accept that from the church at Adams, Jefferson County, New York. Riding thither from Princeton on horseback, he entered upon the duties of his first regular charge when thirty years of age. After a time failing health again compelled Mr. Gale to give up his work, and he resigned from the pastorate, much to the regret of all. His physicians advised him to seek rest and health in change of air and scene. Accordingly he spent the following winter in Virginia. The experiences which came to him there, and the con- tact and intercourse with people of a different type of thought and mode of living broadened his vision and taught him lessons which were of use to him in later years. He was much interested in the University of Virginia and certain peculiar features of that institution, which were much in advance of the times, made a strong impression upon him, and were useful as models for his new undertak- ings in after years. Step by step he was led into experi- ences which would especially fit him for taking up the crowning work of his life. Improved in health Mr. Gale re- turned to New York but found himself still unable to en- gage in the duties of a pastorate. He therefore found a 4 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS temporary home in an old fashioned comfortable house, on a small farm in the village of Western, Oneida County. This farm home proved to be, as it were, the birthplace of the idea to which we have referred — the idea which led first to the establishment of an institution of learning in Whitesboro, New York, and later to the development of the plan which resulted in the founding of Knox College. In 1820, about the beginning of his first pastorate, Mr. Gale was married in Troy, N. Y., to Miss Harriet Selden, the daughter of Hon. Charles Selden, and Abigail Jones, his wife. She was quite young at the time of her marriage; and having been delicately reared she was little accus- tomed to hardships of any kind. But to her it was ap- pointed to share the hardships and vicissitudes of her hus- band's early experiences, his emigration by means of the slow and wearisome progress of an overland journey of a thousand miles to their new home on the prairie, and the accompanying privations of pioneer life. It was said of her that "she followed his fortunes, if not with enthusiasm, at least without complaint." With wifely devotion she withheld nothing, and being possessed of a small fortune she placed it at the disposal of her husband in order that he might the more readily carry out his plans. Mrs. Gale was the mother of eight childen, the most of them living to mature years. After her death, which occurred in 1840, just twenty years after her mar- riage, Mr. Gale was twice married, his second wife being the daughter of Daniel Williams, and aunt of the Hon. E. P. Williams of our city, and the third wife. Miss Lucy Mer- riman, of New Haven, Ct. And so, as our thought again turns to the farm home at Western, we think of the frail girlish wife as installed as its mistress. Their residence on the farm was during a period of great religious activity. Such noted evangelists as Nettleton, Burchard, Finney and others, went from church to church, holding protracted revival meetings, arousing Christians to renewed efforts for the conversion of the world and urging sinners to repentance. Mr. Gale was pos- A MAN WITH AN IDEA 5 sessed of a deep religious feeling, sincere, earnest and en- ergetic, and naturally he came under the influence of the movement and entered into it. His well balanced mind and strong, good sense saved him from many of the extrava- gances and eccentricities in which the professional evange- list indulged, and gave to his efforts a more practical turn. His thought took this form ; to quickly and effectively pro- mote the conversion of the world, there must be provided a devoted educated ministry. He had observed that in other professions, and in commercial life, the most successful men were those raised in the country, of honest, industri- ous parents, and who were accustomed to labor and self- denial. Therefore, he believed that in the country the best material for the service of the church was to be found. The way to an education was often effectually barred to these young men because of lack of means and from the fact that in the effort to carry on their studies, while at the same time earning the means of support, their strength was greatly overtaxed, and long before the completion of their course of study they became broken in health and partially or wholly unfitted for further service. How to provide a means by which such young men could secure an education and finally reach the ministry was the problem which occu^ pied Mr. Gale's mind in his retired life at Western. Suiting action to thought, he invited young men of the neighborhood who were desirous of an education to come to him for in- struction. Half a dozen young men responded to his invita- tion. To these he furnished books and gave instruction in consideration of three hours' daily work upon the farm. These young men were accustomed to farm life, and it occurred to Mr. Gale that if each student was given a daily task of a sufficient amount of out-door work to relieve the mental strain incident to hard study better results might be obtained. At the same time this would aid in meeting the expense of his education. This experiment attracted the attention of many friends, with the result that, after a time, with their aid, he founded a school in Whitesboro, Oneida County, New York, after the 6 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS model which he had been developing and testing during these years of experiment. The new school was called "The Manual Labor School"; later it was known as "Oneida Institute"; and later still as "Whitestown ♦Semin- ary." This experiment on the little farm at Western, and its further unfolding at Whitesboro, proved to be the germ and the gradual development of the project which resulted in the organization of the Galesburg colony and the found- ing of Knox College. Mr. Gale personally solicited the ^"f^^ f *AM/p, funds for the purchase of a farm and the erection of build- ings for the proposed Manual Labor School. Instructors were secured, a curriculum of study adopted, dormitories and shops built and the new project was fairly launched. Here, as on the farm at Western, three hours' daily labor paid for room-rent and board. For their work in the shops the students received whatever it was considered to be worth. The school was soon filled with students and the enterprise was pronounced a success. An intensely re- ••The name Whitesboro wis changed to Whitestown at a later date. A MAN WITH AN IDEA 7 ligious feeling pervaded the school, and strong anti-slavery and temperance principles characterized its management and constituency. WHITESBORO, N. Y. Beautiful for situation is the village of Whitesboro, Oneida County, N. Y., the scene of Mr. Gale's first import- ant venture in the establishment of a Manual Labor School. We give a description of the picture which spreads out be- fore one as he enters the village, which was written by a graduate of Whitestown Seminary of thirty years ago. It gives us a pleasing impression of the scenes which were familiar to Mr. Gale during the years of his residence there, and while his "Plan" was developing in his fertile creative mind. Speaking of Whitestown, the township in which the village of Whitesboro is located, this writer says: "Situated in the garden of the state, in the broad valley of the Mohawk, we may well admire her location. Behind her lie the quiet hills; before and around her sweep the broad meadows. The Sanquoit, from the noisy hum of its ten thousand busy spindles, comes laughing down at her side, and the Mo- hawk, still fresh from its run of some twenty miles, moves on, a powerful and beautiful river. . . . Another picture which it is worth our while to notice is seen when the road crosses the Erie canal between Whitesboro and Oriskany. It is a picture of the Mohawk, spanned by an old wooden bridge. Two or three tall elms keep guard by the water's edge. A hedge of willows skirts the road. The meadows, low and green, stretch out to meet the hills ; and the city, with its spires, so far away, looks very beautiful in the afternoon sunshine. Entering Whitesboro, walking along the park, and looking eastward, how majestically those mighty elms rise up! How calmly their tall forms bend to make that arch! How the maples stretch their broad arms forth and clasp their hands across the street ! What a roof is that ! Canopied with green checked with the blue heavens ! The air that stirs among their branches lends them grace; and the shadows that fleck the dusty street below are but an added charm." 8 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS In the "Annals and Recollections of Oneida County," pub- lished in Rome, N. Y., over sixty years ago, we find this in- teresting reference to the village of Whitesboro: "The inhabitants early bethought themselves to ornament their streets with elms and other forest trees, which have now become large and almost venerable in their appearance and add greatly to the beauty of the place. It is a quiet, lovely village, and no more desirable place for a village residence can be found in the county. . . . Just below the village is what was formerly the 'Oneida Institute of Science and Industry' under the patronage of the Presbyterians ; but an unfortunate abolition difficulty arose and the institution which had flour- ished for a time declined, and at length was purchased by the Free Will Baptists, who have now a very flourishing and valuable school. The institution occupies three large, com- modious buildings of wood with a small farm attached. Few places of the size can be found which could boast of such an array of men of talent as Whitesboro. They were prominent not only in central New York, but throughout the state, and a portion of them were not unknown to fame in our national legislature." And so, with this glimpse of the favorable environment in which the plans for the founding of our city gradually unfolded, we resume the narrative of their development and progress. Mr. Gale remained with the school for seven years, during which time its name was changed from "The Manual Labor School" to "Oneida Institute." In 1834 he retired from the management, leaving it under the charge of good and efficient men, and he began a new scheme for the founding of an institution of learning, some- vv^here in the far unknown western country which had be- gun to stretch forth beckoning hands to the substantial cit- izens of New York and New England to come out and pos- sess the land. His carefully prepared Circular and Plan sets forth so clearly his enlarged views that it is given in full. CHAPTER II THE IDEA TAKES FORM. DR. gale's ''circular AND PLAN." The following is the original circular, adopted in Whites- boro, N. Y., January 7, 1836, which led to the founding of Knox College and the city of Galesburg: "The indications of Providence, as well as the requisitions of Christ, impose on Christians of this day peculiar obliga- tions to devise and execute, as far as in them lies, liberal and efficient plans for spreading the gospel through the world. The supply of an evangelical and able ministry is, in the whole circle of means, confessedly the most important for the ac- complishment of this end ; all other means are the mere aids and implements of the living preacher. And yet, important as it is to the sustaining of the church and the conversion of the world, there is reason to believe that the business of furnishing a devoted and efficient ministry has entered less into the cal- culations of Christians at large than any other department of benevolent effort of the present day; certainly much less in proportion to its magnitude. Perhaps they have thought this a work peculiarly the Lord's, in which they had very little to do. But the language of the Savior, 'Pray ye the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers,' and the fact that they are to be furnished, not by miracle, but by the slow progress of edu- cation, proves that we have much to do, especially when we look at the field which our own country, to say nothing of the wide world, spreads out before us ; a field 'white for the har- vest.' "Who that loves the souls of men can look on this field and not feel his heart affected, and not tax his energies to the utmost, as well as offer most fervent prayers to the Lord of the harvest, that he would furnish the laborers? Who that loves the institutions of his country can look upon it without alarm when he reflects that in a few, a very few years, they will be in the hands of a population reared in this field ; and reared, un- less a mighty effort be made by evangelical Christians, under the forming hand of those who are no less the enemies of civil (9) 10 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS liberty than of a pure gospel. What is done to prevent this ruin must be done quickly. It is perfectly within the power of evangelical Christians in this country, under God, to furnish, and that speedily, all the laborers wanted on this field, besides doing much towards supplying the world. The men are al- ready furnished ; if not, 'the Lord of the harvest' will furnish them. Hundreds of youth of talent, and piety, and enterprise, stand ready to enter upon the work of preparation whenever a 'wide and effectual door is opened' for them. The manual labor system, if properly sustained and conducted, will open to them that door. It is peculiarly adapted not only to qualify men for the self-denying and arduous duties of the gospel min- istry, especially in our new settlements and missionary fields abroad, but to call them out, to induce them to enter upon the work of preparation. It is an important fact that while other institutions are many of them greatly in want of students, these, with all the disadvantages under which they have to labor, are not only filled, but great numbers are rejected for want of means to accommodate them. Let institutions be es- tablished on this plan, having all the requisitions and facilities for profitable labor, in connection with the advantages for literary acquisitions enjoyed in our well-endowed seminaries, and there will be no lack of students, especially if there be added to these means of gratuitous instruction to the indigent. Let such provision be made, and three-fourths of the indi- gent young men will ask no other aid ; and should they ask it, the church will do them a favor to refuse them, and leave them to their efforts to make up the deficiency. "It is beginning to be believed, and not without good reason, that females are to act a much more important part in the conversion of the world than has been generally supposed ; not as preachers of the gospel, but as help-meets of those who are, and as instructors and guides of the rising generations, not only in the nursery, but in the public school. It should therefore be an object of special aim with all who pray and labor for the conversion of the world, to provide for the thorough and well- directed education of females. Experiment has already proved that manual labor may be successfully introduced into female seminaries, and that it is highly conducive to health and piety, and adapted to reduce the expenses of education sufficiently to encourage many young ladies to qualify themselves in such seminaries for fields of usefulness, who, without that encour- agement, would never have put forth such efforts. What has been done on this subject shows the importance and proves the feasibility of doing much more. It is perfectly in the power THE IDEA TAKES FORM 11 of a few families of moderate property to rear up such insti- tutions, at this time, in the valley of the Mississippi, on a per- manent basis, with a great part of the endowment required and on a liberal and extensive scale with a great advantage to themselves and families. Such a plan is here proposed, with the design, if it may please the Lord, to carry it into effect." Now Mr. Gale sent out his circulars and set about secur- ing subscriptions to his enterprise, making a personal can- vass among his friends in central and eastern New York, striving to interest both clergymen and laymen in the plan which was of so much interest and moment to himself. In the early part of the year 1835 he had secured a sufficient number of subscribers to justify an organization of the ef- fort, and the action was therefore taken which was to be of such untold influence and importance in the years to come. An organization was accomplished in the First Presbyte- rian Church in Rome, N. Y., on the 6th of May, 1835. A prudential committee was selected, which was composed of six men, who were empowered to fill out their number to eleven members. These six men were Walter Webb of Adams, Nehemiah West of Ira, Thomas Gilbert of Rome, John C. Smith of Utica, George W. Gale of Whitesboro, and H. H. Kellogg of Clinton. Where should the new enter- prise be located? Where should be found the ways and means for carrying it to completion? These were the ques- tions which involved long and earnest discussion on the part of this committee. An exploring committee must be named. Who should be selected to undertake this highly important and respon- sible work? The choice fell upon Nehemiah West, Thomas Gilbert and T. B. Jervis for the exploring commit- tee, and the Rev. George W. Gale was to enlist families and secure funds for the new colony. By June, 1835, about one-half the proposed sum was subscribed; that is, about $20,000. Only about $6,000 of this was ever paid. But having set their hands to the plow the promoters of this enterprise would not turn back, and on the sixth day of June, 1835, was held at Rome, N. Y., 12 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS the first meeting of the subscribers. Of that meeting Rev. John Waters was made chairman and T. B. Jervis, secre- tary. The following gentlemen were appointed trustees of the fund: Messrs. Walter Webb, Nehemiah West, Thomas Gilbert, John C. Smith, G. W. Gale, and H. H. Kellogg; and as already stated Rev. George W. Gale was general agent. Thirty-three persons had given their ap- proval to the plan and had subscribed $21,000 toward car- rying it into execution, but only about half the names on that original subscription list became permanent names on the records of the colony. Following is a list of the original subscibers : George W. Gale, Whitestown, N. Y. H. H. Kellogg, Clinton, N. Y. John Waters, N. Hartford, N. Y. Timothy B. Jarvis, Rome, N. Y. John McMullin, Western, N. Y. Thomas Gilbert, Rome, N. Y. Sylvester Bliss, Adams, N. Y. Samuel Bond, Adams, N. Y. Nathaniel Curtis, Adams, N. Y. Walter Webb, Adams, N. Y. Barnabas Norton, Adams, N. Y. Nehemiah West, Adams, N. Y. Nehemiah H. Losey, Whitestown, N. Y. John C. Smith, Whitestown, N. Y. Thomas Simmons, Madison, N. Y. Samuel Peck, Madison, N. Y. Phineas Camp, Cincinnatus, N. Y. George Stedman, Rome, N. Y. S. W. Stewart, Clinton, N. Y. Roland Sears, Whitestown, N. Y. Silvanus Ferris, Russia, N. Y. Chester Johnson, Russia, N. Y. Sylvanus Town, Troy, N. Y. J. F. Town, Troy, N. Y. Jeremiah Holt, Watertown, N. Y. B. P. Johnson, Rome, N. Y. H. S. Johnson, Rome, N. Y. Amatus Robbins, Amsterdam, N. Y. THE IDEA TAKES FORM 13 Elisha Jenne, Amsterdam, N. Y. Luther Stiles, Amsterdam, N. Y. J. B, Marsh, Amsterdam, N. Y. Guerdon Grant, Troy, N. Y. Chauncey Pierce^ Troy, N. Y. Smith Griffith, Nassau, N. Y. Lewis Kinney, Nassau, N. Y. John Grey, Troy, N. Y. J. S. Fitch, Brainbridge, N. Y. James Barton, Schoharie, N. Y. Benjamin Lane, Schagticoke, N. Y. H. T. Avery, N. Lebanon, N. Y. George Avery, N. Lebanon, N. Y. John Kendall, N. Lebanon, N. Y. Francis Churchill, N. Lebanon, N. Y. William Churchill, N. Lebanon, N. Y. Miss Arminta Rice, Whitestown, N. Y. Sidney Rice, Whitestown, N. Y. CHAPTER III THE LURE OF THE PRAIRIES Where shall the new enterprise be located? This was the question uppermost in the minds of the committee, sec- ond only in importance to the question of the men and the means with which to equip it. The thought of all was di- rected to the region of the "New West," and to the limit- less reaches of virgin prairie, so alluring to the fancy, as they stretched "in airy undulations far away." In striking contrast to the rugged hillsides and stony intervales of their native New York and New England, were the prai- ries, with their rich black loam underlying the riotous lux- uriance of verdure and blossom, with an abounding wealth of exhaustless treasure hidden far beneath them ! Fancy portrayed to their mental vision a picture such as this : "These are the gardens of the desert, these The unshorn fields, boundless and beautiful For which the speech of England has no name — The Prairies ! I behold them for the first. And my heart swells, while the dilated sight Takes in the encircling vastness. Lo ! they stretch in airy undulations far away, As if the ocean in his gentlest swell Stood still with all his rounded billows fixed And motionless forever." And so the exploring committee was instructed to ex- plore the prairie states of Indiana and Illinois between the fortieth and forty-second degrees of north latitude with ref- erence to the best location for the proposed settlement. The instructions give evidence of shrewd calculation and wise forethought on the part of those who draughted them, and are so explicit in every detail that unwise or ill-advised action on the part of the committee would scarcely have been possible. (14) THE LURE OF THE PRAIRIES 15 We quote some of the more suggestive paragraphs : — "First, Health : this may be regarded as a sine qua non. Under this head the following indications are to be specially noticed : I. 1. The quality of the water in wells and springs. 2. The streams, whether rapid, slow or sluggish — whether rise in swamps or pass thro them — or from springs . . . the vicinity of marshes . . . the face of the country, whether level or rolling. II. Quality of soil — depth — variety — general character : whether clay, loam or sand and if mixed, what proportions probably — slope of the country and toward what points and the degree of slope .... IV. Facilities of intercourse — roads and canals, where now made or probably to be made at no distant time — navigable streams .... VII. If a place on some great thoroughfare, such as a canal or navigable water cannot be obtained, it will be better to get into the country from 15 to 25 miles from such place, provided the country around be a good farming country. It should, however, be on some important road or where it is probable such road would be opened. In behalf of the Prudential Committee. Geo. W. Gale, Sec'y- Whitesboro, May 13th, 1835. Messrs. Gilbert, West and Ferris, Exploring Committee of the N. Y. Society for Establishing a Colony and Literary Institutions in the Valley of the Mis- sissippi." The committee went out as instructed, explored the re- gions designated, fixed upon a location in Knox County, in the state of Illinois, and returning, made their report to the subscribers at their second meeting, August 19, 1835. The report was accepted and a purchasing committee was ap- pointed, consisting of Rev. George W. Gale, Silvanus Ferris and Nehemiah West. Their instructions were to purchase not less than twenty sections of land, and as much more as their funds would allow, one-tenth of which must be timber and the rest prairie, and for which the Government price of $1.25 per acre was to be paid. Three sections should be reserved 16 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS for college and village purposes, and the remainder sold to actual settlers at $5.00 per acre. The surplus thus accruing was to constitute the endowment of the college; while the proceeds from the sale of village lots were to be used in the endowment of a Female Seminary. And so they started out upon their final mission — the purchase of the land on which now stands the fair city of Galesburg as a monument to their wise and far-sighted in- vestment. Such of the subscribers as might desire to accompany them were made advisory members of the committee. Western Ferris, a son of Silvanus, was in the party, and they were joined on the route by Rev. John Waters, Thomas Simmons and Samuel Tompkins. At Detroit Mr. Gale was taken ill and, being unable to continue the jour- ney, the committee went on without him. Mr. Gilbert, of the original exploring committee, had found in the town- ship south of Knoxville, a beautiful prairie, in every way desirable, save that it was not so large as was considered necessary. He had there bought land for himself and set- tled there, never identifying himself thereafter with the Galesburg colony. The beautiful Gilbert's Park, lying on the south-western outskirts of Knoxville, which was im- proved and beautified by his son, Thomas Gilbert the second, is a lasting monument to the name and memory of the Gil- bert family. This park is a delightful resort, and a blessing not only to Knoxville, but to all the region round about. The story of the journey of the purchasing committee is best told in a letter written by Nehemiah West, to a rela- tive, immediately after his return from the trip, and giving an account of the expedition. The letter follows : Ira, New York, February, 19th, 1836 "Dear Brother : We have just received yours of the 11th of January. Know- ing you feel an interest in our welfare I will attempt to give you an outline of our journey, success and prospects. I left home on my last expedition very reluctantly ; nothing but a sense of duty and the indications of Providence would ever SILVANUS FERRIS Member of the Purchasing Committee. WESTERN FERRIS Who accompanied his father on the expedition. SAMUEL TOMPKINS Of the Purchasing Committee. THOMAS GILBERT Of the Exploring Committee. THE LURE OF THE PRAIRIES 17 have induced me to tear myself from dear friends and the bosom of my family, to encounter the fatigues of three months' journey ings in the midst of perils by land and by water. The next day, after parting from you at Elbridge, my friends joined me and we started. Spent the Sabbath at Batavia, and on Monday we arrived at Buffalo. Tuesday noon we went on board a steamboat with our team for Detroit. We ought to have made the trip in two days, but were tossed about by storm for four days and narrowly escaped ship- wreck. We were run into in the night by another boat, but that same kind Providence which ever protects those who con- fide in Him saved us from a watery grave. One of our com- pany, who is one of our principal men, Rev. G. W. Gale, in consequence of violent spasms of sea-sickness, was thrown into a disease which rendered it necessary to leave him in Detroit. This threw an additional burden on me, as having been one of the Exploring Committee, I was somewhat ac- quainted with the country. We proceeded to Illinois, and, after examining all the places visited by the committee in the spring, we selected a location in the county of Knox, lying nearly central between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, in the Military Tract, 150 miles southwest from Chicago and about 40 miles west of Peoria. We purchased about 20,000 acres, nearly in a square form, mostly prairie. It is a fine tract of land in a very healthy country, well watered, and supplied with abundance of stone and coal. We surveyed it out into lots of eighty acres each, agreeable to our plan of distribution among subscribers. In the center we laid off three contiguous sections of 640 acres each, for college and village purposes — two for the college and one for the village — stuck the stakes for our college building and re- turned home. There were some lands adjoining our purchase we wanted to buy, owned by a man in New York. This made it necessary for me to return that way. Accordingly, after we sold our team, I took steamboat and went down the Mississippi to St. Louis in Missouri, then up the Ohio to Wheeling, then passed over the mountains by stage and railroad to Baltimore, thence to Philadelphia and New York, from thence up to Albany in nearly the last boat which ran up the Hudson, and home by stage. ... I arrived here the 28th of November. Since then we have had a meeting of the subscribers and made various arrangements for the colony. We are to have another meet- ing the 2nd of March at Whitesboro which I expect to attend, so you see I have business enough to occupy all my time. I 18 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS am one of the building committee which will prevent my doing as much on my own land next summer as I wished. We have about thirty families — all pious — who are to settle together, so you see we have the prospect of good society, and the facilities for educating our children. We expect to start with our family as soon as the roads are passable in the Spring. I very much desire to be on the ground in time to put in some crops. I have a log cabin ready to move into till I can build and 40 acres broken up, all ready for any kind of grain. If I do not get there in time to plant, I have engaged a friend to do it for me. We expect to break and fence 200 or 300 acres of the col- lege land next season and sow it to wheat. Thirty bushels to the acre is the usual product for the first crop. It is worth six shillings, per bushel ; eighty of corn, worth two shillings, but it is worth more to feed, as pork is worth $4.00 per cwt. to send to New Orleans. The snow is now four feet deep here and the weather severe ; this cold winter has effectually weaned me, not from my friends, but from this cold country. Adieu, N. West P. S. When we reach the place of our destination you will direct your letters to Knoxville, Illinois, till we get a post office at our village, which is named Galesburg, and our college, Prairie College." In the letter above quoted Mr. West mentions the fact that the land selected for their purchase was a tract "lying nearly central between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers." It is an interesting geographical fact, determined by later surveys, that on the eighty acre tract of the original survey which was purchased by Eli Farnham, lies the ridge which forms the water-shed between the two rivers. This tract is bounded on the east by Farnham street. This street be- fore the railroad passed through Galesburg was a part of the main highway for overland travel from Chicago to the Mississippi river. Prof. Churchill used to tell his physical geography classes in Knox Academy that, "When the rain falls on Eli Farnham's farm in the east part of town, half the water runs toward the Mississippi river and half toward the Illinois." THE LURE OF THE PRAIRIES 19 AN INTERLUDE As has already been stated in Mr, West's letter, Mr. Gale was taken ill at Detroit and, being unable to continue his journey westward, he returned to his home when suffi- ciently recovered to undertake the trip. And just here a pleasing interlude is introduced in the nature of an interesting bit of romance founded upon fact. When Mr. Gale started out upon the long journeys with the purchasing committee, with the prospect of an absence from his home indefinitely prolonged, his wife, always frail in health, felt very keenly the burden of her loneliness and the responsibility of the care of her seven children. The children ranged in age from her sturdy eldest son, William Selden, of honored memory in our city, then a lad of thirteen, to the wee, winsome lassies, Harriet, Mary and Margaret, and the infant, Charles Selden, who did not long survive. Indeed, one of the pathetic incidents of their slow and tedious journey hither in 1836 was the death of the frail baby during the trip, as the family journeyed through unfamiliar scenes, and far from sympathizing kindred and friends. A friend who was staying with Mrs. Gale during her husband's absence, touched with sympathy for her loneli- ness and desirous to alleviate it, composed some verses for her entertainment. The poem was entitled "A Fact," and was a narrative in rhyme of an incident that had occurred a hundred years before. Fifty years passed by, and the writer of the verses, then an old lady, was living in Janesville, Wis. On the fiftieth an- niversary of the period when they were written, the friends of the writer, as a complimentary tribute to her, had the verses printed and embellished with quaint illustrations which portray the scenes narrated in the poem. This was the first link in the chain uniting these verses to our pres- ent narrative. The second link was added at the time of the marriage of George Candee Gale, the great-grandson of the lady for whose amusement the verses were written. 20 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS The fact that George Candee Gale is the honored President of our Knox Alumni Association for this Jubilee year, sev- enty-five years after the verses were written, adds interest to the narrative. His marriage to Miss Irma Reel, of Mil- waukee, Wis., occurred in the year 1900. News of the marriage was published in the Milwaukee papers and attracted the attention of the daughter of the writer of the verses. She remembered the circumstance of her mother's residence in the family of the elder Mr. Gale in Whitesboro, N. Y., in 1835. Thinking the incident would be of interest to the young couple, she wrote them a letter, relating the circumstances, and sent them a copy of the book for a wedding gift. This book is greatly prized by them as a historical relic. REV. JOHN WATERS A piominent and picturesque figure in the early life of the Colony. Chair- man of the Board of Trustees as re-organized after the arrival at Log City. CHAPTER IV THE IDEA DEVELOPS INTO A COLLEGE. At the meeting of the subscribers referred to in Mr. West's letter and which was held January 7, 1836, the re- port of the purchasing committee was accepted and a Board of Trustees for the College was elected. This date, therefore, when the infant college was placed under the fostering care of its duly appointed guardians and protect- ors, may be considered the birthday of Knox College, al- though the infant was not formally christened and legally adopted until a year later. It is interesting to notice how in all these records the college takes precedence of the vil- lage, showing the purpose of the founders to establish first an institution of learning which should be the nucleus around which would cluster the Christian church and the civic community. Mary Allen West, the daughter of Nehemiah West, in writing of these preliminary business meetings, says : "A thing most interesting to me is the devout spirit pervading all their business meetings. Even the dry records of busi- ness meetings are illuminated by the sweet- spirit of devo- tion to^.God and trust in His guidance. There "is no cant in these -records, but the simple fact recorded that all their business meetings were opened with prayers, and that at this, (the meeting of January 7) the most important of these meetings, the entire morning's session was spent in prayer for God's guidance, shows what manner of men they were. And who that has watched the development of the plans thus laid in prayer, can question the exc£llency of that wisdom which cometh from above?" At this meeting it was voted that the number of trustees for the college should not exceed twenty-five. The Board was given au- thority to fill any vacancies occurring in its membership. (21) 22 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Eleven trustees were elected at once, but it was wisely de- cided to postpone the election of the remainder until they removed to the West, Those first appointed were: Rev. John Waters, chairman; Silvanus Ferris, H. H. Kellogg, Thomas Sim- mons, John C. Smith, Walter Webb, Nehemiah West, George W. Gale, Isaac Mills, Samuel Tompkins, and N. H. Losey, secretary. The farm land was divided into eighty acre lots, a scholarship for twenty-five years being given with each lot. The village was platted, the original plat being drawn by N. H. Losey. Lots were set apart for college, female sem- inary, common school, meeting-house, cemetery, etc. Ar- rangements were made for building a saw-mill and improv- ing the college land. And so the town was all complete — on paper — before any of its founders, except the purchas- ing committee, had seen the ground on which it was to stand. Mr. West's letter also refers to the action of the pur- chasing committee as they set apart in the center of the tract purchased "three contiguous sections of 640 acres each, for college and village purposes, two for the college and one for the village, stuck the stakes for the college build- ing and returned home." The name of the town also is said to have been selected at this time. It was then, doubtless, that the notable historic inci- dent occurred when they "all kneeled, with uncovered heads, upon the ground, while Father Waters, with impas- sioned earnestness, dedicated the enterprise to the Lord, praying fervently for all that should, in all coming time, be connected with the institution that was to be, either to in- fluence, or to be influenced by its future history." And so, having found for themselves "a local habitation and a name," the subscribers to this enterprise began to make active preparations to go out and possess it, in the name, and with the help, of that God, who, as they firmly believed, had "led them forth by the right way that they might go to a city of habitation." CHAPTER V HITHERWARD BY LAND. As early in the spring of 1836 as the roads would per- mit, "the advance guard of the army of occupation," under the leadership of Nehemiah West, left their pleasant homes in New York and started westward. They journeyed in strong, well-built, canvas-covered wagons, drawn by patient plodding horses. Their rate of progress was that of about as many miles per day as the average railway train covers in an hour. The weeks came and went, and the train of wagons moved steadily forward. The Sabbath came, and the train was side-tracked for a day of rest, in obedience to God's command, and in pursuance of their fixed purpose, and that of all the colonists, not to travel on the Sabbath day. A place of worship was sought and, if none could be found within convenient reach, they set up an altar in their midst and worshipped there. As they thus rested and worshipped, they were fre- quently passed by other "movers" who had thus joined the great exodus of that period from the New England and Eastern states to the middle West, and who were ambi- tious to save time by traveling on Sunday. But it is stated on good authority that never once did they fail to overtake them, and in their turn leave them behind before the next Saturday night. Four long weeks measured their slow and toilsome length before the new home was reached, but at last their pilgrimage was ended and they beheld the city of their dreams. And what did they look upon? Not a city of "cloud- capped towers and gorgeous palaces," not a city of churches and school houses, as were their own familiar Utica or Al- (23) 24 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS bany; not even the pretty peaceful village nestling at the foot of the green hills, from which they had turned their faces as they bade good-bye to home and friends; but just a few rude log cabins, standing in the edge of a grove that bordered an apparently limitless expanse of trackless, tree- less prairie. It was on the second day of June, 1836, that they arrived at this city of their habitation. Mary Allen West thus describes the scene to us : "Had we stood then where we now stand, we could have seen nothing but the broad sea-like prairie, with its billows of verdure rippling away, wave after wave, till they broke on the forest shore in the distance. Across this trackless prairie wound a small cavalcade of canvas-covered wagons, the only moving things on the scene. Leaving the site of Galesburg to the left, they directed their course to the grove which skirts the prairie on the north-west. Here they stopped before a log cabin of the rudest structure. But in spite of the rudeness of their future home, each heart was filled with joy and thankfulness that their long journey was ended and their promised land reached. The grand old trees, through which the summer winds swept, sang a sweet welcome to the pilgrims, the magnificent prairie decked in its gala robes of green and purple and gold, and God's blessed sunlight resting over all, like a benedic- tion. Oh ! it was a loving welcome Dame Nature gave our fathers on that June day so many years ago." This company consisted of twenty-one persons : Mr. and Mrs. Nehemiah West and their five children; Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Conger with seven children; Miss Elizabeth Hudson, afterward Mrs. Henry Ferris ; Mr. Barber Allen and his son, Daniel, and the young men, John G. West and Abram Tyler. It is of interest to trace the route by which they came. Leaving Cayuga, N. Y., they went in their wagons to Buffalo, thence by lake to Detroit, and from De- troit by wagons again to their place of destination. This first company was especially fortunate in having no delays of any kind during the trip, and they made it in HITHERWARD BY LAND 25 about a month. Other companies were six weeks and even longer on the way. But with these, not one day's travel was hindered by rain or sickness, or other untoward cir- cumstance. Often, timely showers in the night allayed the dust and rendered the next day's drive delightful. And yet, many were the hardships they encountered by the way. For example, upon reaching Chicago, then a small village of a few hundred inhabitants, they could find no public house large enough to accommodate so large a company. Almost in despair, as night drew on, a friend of Mr. West gained permission for them to pass the night in a house which was on rollers, in process of being moved. The man who was moving the house had gone home before they took possession and knew nothing of the incident. While they were at breakfast the next morning he returned and made preparations to move, unconscious of the passen- gers within. This caused a stampede inside the house, and the man, astounded at the sudden apparition of heads at doors and windows, dropped his tackle and addressed them in language more forcible than elegant. The incident al- though having furnished them with shelter for the night, also occasioned them much inconvenience and discomfort because of having to leave their unfinished breakfast and pack up and move out. It was no small task to keep themselves supplied with provisions from day to day, and in the emergency of long intervals between market places. Usually they succeeded in keeping up the supply, but at the night-fall just preced- ing their last day's journey their supply was exhausted. Tired and hungry they sought refreshment at the cabin of a "settler" by the name of Fraker, at Fraker's Grove, but they were refused. The mistress of the cabin declared that she had no room in the house for them and nothing for them to eat. In vain the mothers pleaded that their children were crying with hunger ; she was still unyielding. There was no other house in sight, night was coming on and they were almost in despair. At this juncture the "man of the house," more tender-hearted than his spouse, took them to an out- 26 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS building where there was the rudest kind of a fire-place, bade them make a fire, and in a little hand-mill he ground some corn into a coarse meal and gave them. This the wo- men made into a savory mush. Two of the boys went to a farm house a mile distant and returned with a brimming pail of milk, and then, after that long and trying delay, the entire company feasted like kings on mush and milk. In the morning the good man ground more meal with which they made "corn dodgers," and, gathering up the fragments after breakfast, they took them with them to furnish the first meal at their new home. This they reached about noon, and the table on which their first din- ner at home was spread was the door of the cabin laid across boxes. From time to time during June and July, other colonists came, singly, or in groups, "strangers by sight, but friends through a common great purpose." Professor George Churchill, in writing of this bringing together in close companionship, such a diversity of person- alities and characteristics, says : "As they looked into each other's faces for the first time, how carefully did they look for the name of their great master written, not in words upon the forehead, but as unmistakably upon the counte- nance so plainly photographing the inner character; and but a few days elapsed before they could join heartily in singing that sweet hymn : 'Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.' " The names of other colonists who arrived in the sum- mer and fall of 1836 are the following: Messrs. George and H. Troop Avery, their mother and sisters ; Matthew Cham- bers ; Leonard Chappell ; C. S. Colton ; Patrick Dunn ; Henry Ferris; Caleb Finch; Lusher Gay; Daniel Griffith ; Abel Goodell ; William Hamblin ; John Has- kins; Mrs. Hitchcock and her sons; the two Kendall brothers, Adoniram and John; Elisha King; N. H. Losey; John McMullen ; Isaac Colton ; Roswell Payne ; Riley Root ; Thomas Simmons ; Erastus and Job Swift ; Daniel Wheeler, and Henry Willcox. The most of them had families of one HITHERWARD BY LAND 27 or more little children. Two of the young men were married during the summer or fall of 1836. This list does not in- clude the members of the "canal boat company" who ar- rived August 1, 1836. Rev. George W. Gale, with his wife and family of young children, arrived quite late in the fall of 1836. The first wedding celebrated by the colonists was that of Henry Ferris and Elizabeth Hudson, whose daugh- ter, Mrs. Ella Ferris Arnold, having always lived in Gales- burg, and having been graduated from Knox, has always been active in its interests. Theirs must have been a case of "love at first sight," for only two short months after the arrival of Miss Hudson with the family of Nehemiah West, on August 31, 1836, they were married. The place in which they were married was the original old log cabin which wit- nessed so many events during those two truly eventful years, in which the colonists inhabited "Log City." The mar- riage ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Noel, of Knoxville, as neither Dr. Gale nor Father Waters had yet arrived upon the scene. The name of Henry Ferris occurs in the list of arrivals for that summer — a list which was copied from an histori- cal sketch written by Mary Allen West in 1873. But Mrs. Ella Ferris Arnold is authority for the statement that Henry Ferris, her father, had spent the winter of 1835-6 living alone in one of the cabins in the edge of Henderson Grove, and was on the ground to welcome the first company of colonists when they arrived on that bright noon-day in June. He had spent the previous summer and winter in Palmyra, Missouri, attending school at Marion Institute, and when the exploring party, under the leadership of his father, Silvanus Ferris, came hither to locate their proposed town, he joined them here. He had been summoned from Palmyra by his father, not by a telegram or by the long distance telephone, as would be the case to-day, but by a letter written months before, in order that it might reach him in time to insure his arrival at about the same time as their own. It is a matter of history, however, that the 28 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS young man was first upon the scene, wandering about alone over the prairie waiting in anxious expectation for the ar- rival of the party from the East. It is a tradition that Abel Goodell, a man of somewhat mature years, spent the winter with Henry Ferris in "the grove," and that the two were engaged in cutting down the trees with which the log cabins were some of them to be constructed. One company of the colonists carne by canal boat all the way from IJtic^,, N/ Y„ to a.point.on the Illiiiois river called Copperas, Creek landing, which was about twenty miles below Pepria. This journey was so hazardous, so eventful, and in every way so worthy of commemoration that it will be described in another chapter. In the spring of 1837 a number of substantial citizens, with their families, arrived to swell the population of the little community. Among them were the following, the most of them married, and with children of various ages : Silvanus Ferris, (although one of the chief promoters of the enterprise, he was one of the later arrivals) ; his sons, William and Olmstead, both of them married, (the former being the father of our well-known Knox graduate and teacher, Mrs. M. E. Gettemy) ; Mr. Ferris' son-in-law, Dj*. James Bunce; J. P. Frost, the founder of the Frost Manu- facturing Company) ; Harvey Jerould ; Levi Sanderson ; Eli Farnham-;/,H; H. May; Agrippa Martin; Junius C. Prentjce.;;SiTelden Allen; Jonathan Simmons; Floyd Buck- ingKamj/vA^estern Ferris; N. O..- Ferris; Barber Allen; Geor,ge:Eefris,:and possibly others. \. v-, -r ^J^ :.'>-, •• This^rxmrty, or at least that section of the.party in whiclj.were the Sanderson, Farnham, Martin, Pren^tice and Bujckingham families, was about .six weeks on th-e way, the season not being so favorable for overland travel as was the :preC€ding. one. They. were delayed by heavy rains. Now and agarin some one of the company, was ill for a short time, and again some of the horses were sick, as in some parts of their journey it was difficult to get suitable food for them. Also, in some places, notably in Canada, they found ELIZABETH HUDSON FERRIS HENRY FERRIS Married at Log City, August 21, 1836. This was the first wedding in the Colony. ISAAC M. WETMORE An early settler in Henderson Grove; he welcomed the colonists on their ar- rival at Log City. DR. JAMES BUNCE The physician of the Colony; he practiced for many years in Galesburg and was highly esteemed by the older residents. GEORGE AVERV Who, in compliance with the law of Illinois, paid a personal property tax on a negro boy under hiS guardianship. CIIAUNC l-.N S. COLTON The first merchant in the settlement, who did a tlniving businers in an eight by ten "department" building in Log City. HENRY WILLCOX Who joined the colony in 1836 LEVI SANDERSON A member of the party that arrived early in 1837. A member of the Board of 'i'rustees. HITHERWARD BY LAND 29 difficulty in procuring food for themselves, especially in those families where there were a number of small chil- dren. Each family marketed or foraged for itself, and after- ward shared with the others, if necessary. There were also pleasing and alleviating incidents on the trip, as when mem- bers of the party stopped to visit friends located at different points along the way; people who had come to the western country long enough before to establish themeselves com- fortably in business or on farms. In a journal kept by Mrs. Eli Farnham during the journey of six weeks and for a few months after their arrival, many interesting incidents of the trip are related, and many side-lights thrown upon their situation and prospects. So far as known, this is the only journal kept by any one of the colonists during the trip hither. As Mrs. Farnham had no family cares at that time, with only her husband and herself to provide for, from day to day she had ample time to jot down the scenes and in- cidents of the journey. The other women of the party had their children or young people to look after, and had very little time for anything else. The first entry in the journal is made as follows: — "Temperance Hotel, Skaneatles, N. Y,, Monday, 8 o'clock p, m,, May 15, 1837. We have broken away from home and friends and are now on our way to Illinois." Twenty miles of progress were made that first day, and thereafter the rate of travel was from twenty-four to thirty- six miles per day. Judging from the names of the towns and villages touched along the route their line of travel was much the same as that followed by theMichigan Central Railroad to- day. It took them ten days to go from Skaneatles in cen- tral New York to Lewistown on the Niagara river where they crossed over to Queenstown, Canada. The description of their crossing of the rapid current of the Niagara is very graphic. After nine days of great discomfort and trying experiences in traveling in Canada, they crossed into their own native country again. One part of their route through Canada led them, as the journal records, — "over a most te- 30 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS dious road, extending through woods thirteen miles long, and over the steepest, muddiest hills, and the deepest, larg- est holes I ever saw." That was saying a great deal ; for in central New York there are hills well worthy of the name. Another experience was an encounter with a severe thunder storm, attended by heavy winds, when the house in which they were sheltered rocked violently, trees were prostrated and boards were flying thickly through the air. But in all their dangers and discomforts there is unfail- ing acknowledgment of the kind Providence which has sustained and preserved them through all their experiences, however trying. An incident of the journey which did not prove to be so serious as it might have been, was when little Charles Pren- tice cut off two of his toes just as the company were ready to start for an afternoon's drive after the noon-day halt for dinner. The household remedy which was used in dress- ing the wound is thus described : "We bound it up nicely with loaf sugar and catnip, wetting it thoroughly with par- egoric at first, and keeping it wet with spirits." On Thursday morning, June 22, 1837, at 9 a. m., having spent the previous night at the home of a Mr. Roundtree, in Henderson Grove, they drew up before the little group of log cabins, in one of which they were to find shelter for some months to come. After speaking of their arrival upon colony ground, and of some of the people whom they had met, the entry in the journal closes thus : "Dined at Mr. Gale's. Mr. Gale has not yet left the grove, but he has a house almost ready on the prairie and expects to move into it soon. Several houses here at the grove will be vacant soon and those who have just come will be accommodated; for the present we have to scatter about in the different families. And for the present Eli and myself are well accommodated in a fine family until we can hire a house." CHAPTER VI HITHERWARD BY WATER. The historic canal boat trip of the spring and summer of 1836 was made up of a series of vicissitudes and disasters seldom paralleled in the history of pioneer emigration. John C. Smith, of Oneida County, New York, one of the subscribers to Mr. Gale's enterprise, was the owner of a number of boats on the Erie canal. It occurred to him that such a boat could be utilized in making the trip by water to their far distant future home in Illinois. Accordingly he consulted with others of the subscribers, with the result that a company was formed to buy a canal boat on shares, fit it up for passenger service and embark in it for a trip of a thousand miles or more over an untried water-way, un- tried, at least, in so far as that kind of a venture was con- cerned. A strong team was bought which could be used on the tow-path, and all preparations being completed they loaded their goods, stowed them away in the men's cabin and embarked. The company numbered thirty-seven, and wras made up of men, women and children, ranging in age from a babe of three weeks to men and women of forty or fifty years. Mr. Smith was the captain of the boat and backer of the party ; his wife at first did the cooking and the housekeeping, but these duties proving to be too heavy in so large a family, the cooking was afterward shared with two others, Mrs. Phelps and Mrs. Mills. The persons making up the party were Captain Smith and wife; Miss Catherine Ann Watson, a niece of Mrs. Smith, and two little sons of Dr. Grant, a Nestorian mission- ary, who came under their care; Mr. and Mrs. Mills, two sons and a daughter ; Miss Hannah Adams, a sister of Mrs. Mills; a girl named Mariah Fox, and a negro boy named Harry, who was under the charge of Mr. Mills; Mr. Ly- (31) 32 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS man, his wife, two sons and two daughters; Mr. Orrin Ken- dall, his wife and two little sons; John Kendall ; N. H. Losey, his wife and one child ; Henry Hitchcock, a brother of Mrs. Losey ; Mrs. Clarissa Phelps, two daughters and one son, two nieces and one nephew (the children of Riley Root) ; John Bryan and a negro who steered the boat. This negro expected to stay with the colony, but when he heard that the law of the state required some one to be responsible for his behavior he went back to New York. The families who made up the party went aboard the boat at different points along the Erie canal, and by the time they reached Buffalo they had settled down as one family. Captain Smith said that he considered it very remarkable that so large a company, almost entire strangers to each other, could make so happy a family. Was it not because they were actuated by the same great purpose which was the ruling motive of all the colonists, that of taking possession of new territory in the name of Christ and building up a Christian community therein? Even four year old Moses Root, following the example of his elders, had been praying about going to Il- linois. When they reached Buffalo their goods were trans- ferred to a steamboat, and their canal boat was fastened to the steamer and towed along. Off Ashtabula a great storm came up and the captain of the steamer ordered the canal boat cut loose as it was endangering his boat. All the pass- engers were taken aboard the steamer except Captain Smith and the pilot, who remained with the boat. At Cleveland their goods were put ashore and they anx- iously awaited the arrival of their own boat. Six days passed before its arrival, and meanwhile it had been rain- ing most of the time, so that their goods were badly dam- aged. They had, however, no alternative, so they re- shipped their goods, re-embarked and went on. They now directed their course into the Ohio canal and traversed its waters as far as Portsmouth. Then they left the canal for the Ohio river and floated down to Cincinnati. Here they stopped to have a propeller made by means of which they hoped to navigate the Mississippi river to the mouth of the \ ^ •?- NEHEMIAH H. LOSEY Secretary of the Board, and Profes- sor of Mathematics and Natural Science. RILEY ROOT The inventive genius of the settle- ment; he was subseq^iently the inven- tor of the rotary snow plow. CLARISSA ROOT HINCKLY DENCY ROOT WOODS Daughters of Riley Root, who accompanied their Aunt, Mrs. Phelps, on the journey by canal boat from Buffalo to Log City. HITHERWARD BY WATER 33 Illinois, and thence up the Illinois to their landing place. This, however, was not a great success, and many were their tribulations in trying to make it work. Frequently parts of the propeller would give way and drop into the river, and one of the young men. Noble Phelps, had to re- cover them by diving. He also recovered Captain Smith's watch from the river in the same way. Incidentally, little Hastings Grant and Clarissa Root fell into the river, but were rescued. While waiting in Cincinnati to have their propeller made they had an opportunity to visit some of the points of interest in the city which was at that time one of the more important and influential cities of the middle West. Revival services were being held in the city which members of the party attended, and their presence, their expedition, purpose and destination were matters of comment. One afternoon one of the ministers of the city came on board their boat and told them of a rumor that there was a plot to mob them on account of their abolition principles. Ac- cordingly, as a measure of safety, the women and children were sent up into the city, and the men remained with the boat ; but nothing occurred to disturb them. As they journeyed down the Ohio river the heat was in- tense, and the malarious vapors from the lowlands along the shore were death-dealing in their effect, as their future experience so sadly proved. To escape the heat they would occasionally tie up to the shore, and the young people would wander off into the woods for refreshment and recre- ation, and they even held young people's prayer meetings when away by themselves. Every Saturday afternoon the boat landed for the Sabbath, and if near to a church those of the party who could do so went to church. If not near to a town, the men would find the nearest school-house and give notice to the neighboring families that there would be a religious service next day in the school-house. On the Mississippi, and especially on the Illinois rivers, the water was very low and their progress was slow and difficult. Occasionally they were stranded on sand bars 34 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS and finally were obliged to be towed up the Illinois river by a steamer making the trip. At last they disembarked at Copperas Creek landing. By this time all of them were ill, three of them fatally so, others seriously ; and the rest were just able to be about. As soon as they landed, one of the young men best able to make the journey went on horseback to Log City to in- form the earlier group of colonists who had scarcely had time to adjust themselves to their new conditions and re- strictions. The news of the arrival and their sad plight aroused the camp to immediate action. Men and teams were despatched at once to bring the newcomers to the set- tlement. Captain Smith did not live through the fatigue of that comparatively short overland trip but died at Knox- ville, and his was the first burial to be made in what is now Hope Cemetery in Galesburg. Mrs. Smith, thus bereft, re- turned to the East as soon as possible, and her name is dropped from further records. Mr. Mills died ten days after they reached Log City; Mr. Lyman's death followed soon after, and those who lived did not recover their usual health for months. Little Moses Root lingered till the fol- lowing summer and then died. That "hospital train," as it might well be called, which wound its slow pathetic way from Copperas Creek landing, twenty miles below Peoria, to Log City, arrived at its des- tination August 1, 1836. It bore a dejected forlorn company, as may well be imagined, but they received a warm welcome and tender ministries from those already on the ground. Among them was Riley Root, the colony's man of inventive genius. He had belonged to the boat party, but remained behind in New York to settle business aflfairs, and following overland was there to meet them and give timely aid on their arrival. He, with the Phelps and Lyman families, thirteen in all, moved into a log cabin and all of them were ill, except Mr. Root and a young woman hired to care for Mrs. Lyman. Let us see how their home and hospital combined was fitted up. It is vividly portrayed to us by Mrs. Clarissa HITHERWARD BY WATER 35 Root Hinckley, who was the little girl saved from a watery- grave in the Ohio river, and saved to become a loyal Gales- burger to the very heart's core ; she was also a born histo- rian, so that her memories and her scrap-books are a per- fect treasure house of historical information relating to events in Galesburg from the beginning to the present time. Mrs. Hinckley says that the one room was large, having the beds constructed across the ends, with a quaint box stove in the center of the room. The beds were built into each corner of the room in this wise. A pole was fastened into the end of the room at a proper distance from the cor- ner to measure the width of a bed; another pole was in- serted into the side-wall at the distance of a bed's length. The outer ends of the poles were supported by a third up- right pole which constituted the one only support. Ropes were interlaced across and around these poles forming by their net-work a foundation for a straw bed, the popular "mattress" of that period. A third bed was made between the two corner beds by placing four chests side by side. These chests contained the wearing apparel, and every time an article was needed the bedding had to be removed. The stove was in the shape of an oblong box with one large griddle in the center of the top ; directly underneath this was the oven, and beneath that was the firebox with a wide pro- jecting hearth in front, where the hoe cakes were toasted. In these crowded, crude, and necessarily unsanitary 36 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS quarters they cooked, and ate, and slept, and suffered bod- ily weakness and pain, though strong in courage and hope; while day by day an unseen guest lingered at the cabin door, waiting to take to his own abode any who might yield to his subtle influence. At last Mr. Lyman, too weak and ill further to resist, gave up the fight and Mrs. Lyman, who had been an almost helpless invalid for several years before coming west, was led to feel that the Lord had brought her through all these trials to develop in her a stronger, truer womanhood. As one has said of all those colonists, "If any were homesick or discouraged it was not manifest." They felt that there was a great work before them and there must be no turning back. Before the winter drew near they were all comfortably housed. Mr. Root built a frame house which he and his children occupied, together with the families of Mrs. Phelps and H. H. May. The cold weather of the autumn of 1836 found about 175 residents in Log City busily preparing for th,e coming winter. It is of interest to trace the future career of three of the boys of that canal boat company. Of the missionary's two little sons, the one who just escaped drowning in the Ohio river, became comptroller of the city of New York, the other a minister. The negro boy Harry was given into the charge of Mr. George Avery, after the death of Mr. Mills. The following spring Mr. Avery was taxed for him just the same as for other personal property. With his anti-slav- ery ideas this was a bitter medicine for him to take; being a law-abiding citizen he paid the tax, but saw to it that this did not again occur. He sent east and had free papers made out for Harry, who thereafter was looked upon as an American citizen, instead of being merely a piece of personal property. Henry Hitchcock in due time became the son- in-law of the Rev. George W. Gale, and was for many years a professor in Knox College and later in the University of Nebraska, in Lincoln, Neb. Noble Phelps, as he grew to mature manhood, acquired large landed interests and de- veloped them so skillfully, scientifically and successfully 3" 2. ggg^ 3 f^ o' o en h4^ CO JO F— 1 — . :o 3 ^§?3?3 <;§;>; a g-.._^^.-.- Lew Colt Colt Mr Mr May ol h o o o .■;• S ^o=-= rt pTSi"^ ^ n> w HITHERWARD BY WATER 37 that his extensive farm, a few miles north of Galesburg, successively took the first prize as being the most highly cul- tivated and perfectly kept farm in Knox County, and in 1869 he had the satisfaction of owning the State Premium Farm of Illinois. CHAPTER VII LOG CITY. The first settlers found shelter in Henderson Grove at a location about three and one-half miles north-west of the center of the site of their future city of Galesburg, It will be remembered that they purchased three partially im- proved farms at the grove, besides the large acreage of prairie land. Some of them occupied cabins abandoned by Southern settlers, who, within the seven years previous, had fringed the grove with a tier of farms ; some waited till the cabins were finished, which they set about erecting as soon as possible after their arrival. Some of the young men slept in corn cribs belonging to the cabins, and during the summer months, as new arrivals came from time to time, the younger people were housed in booths and tents made of boughs, while the long, care-free summer days were happily spent in wandering through the woods and explor- ing the deep ravines in which that locality abounds. The hand of time, the natural changes taking place in the appearance of the country in seventy-five years, and the processes of cultivation have obliterated almost every vestige of that historic settlement. Its exact location may be found, however, by following the extension of Hender- son street north-west to the road on the section line turn- ing west a few rods sonth of the southern entrance to Lin- coln Park. After passing what is known throughout the coun- try-side as the old Peter Frans farm, named for a Ken- tucky settler of renown in those days, one comes upon col- ony ground ; for, scattered here and there all along the way to the next section line running south at a right angle to this road, were the cabins of the colonists. They were mostly to be found on what is known as the old Gros- (38) LOG CITY 39 cup farm lying south of the present road, which, however, was not the highway at that time. Just across the present north and south road, bounding the Groscup farm on the west, and upon a considerable elevation where now is an old family burying plot called the "Lewis burying ground," stood Colton's store and several of the cabins.* This cluster of cabins has been known in the history of the colonists as "Log City" — a name revered and hon- ored in the hearts of all true and loyal descendants of the founders. For they were the first homes of the founders, and all who occupied these rude structures having cast their lot with the colonists during the first two years of the history of the settlement, whether of the first or last com- pany to arrive upon the ground, were as truly the "Found- ers of the College, the Church and the Town" as were those whose names appeared upon the original subscrip- tion list at the time the plan of the enterprise was adopted. In confirmation of this statement we quote from the Hon. W. Selden Gale, who said: "With them (the colonists who first began to arrive at the purchase) came friends, who, pleased with the scheme, joined in. Others from New York came in, and a company from Vermont, headed by Matthew Chambers and Erastus Swift, looking for homes in the West, were attracted to the colony and became part of it." Of the settlement in general Professor Churchill, in one of his historical papers, says : "These cabins stood in the edge of the grove surrounded by hazel brush and other undergrowth; some visible to the passerby on the main road that followed along the grove, meandering in and out, as the lay of the land or the spurs of the encircling grove seemed to demand, while others were effectually hidden from sight by the bushes." "It would astonish a modern builder to examine one of these mansions. Some of them were built without so much as a ♦Colton's store is said to have been an 8x10 building, with a varied assortment of goods displayed in this small space. But about this nucleus he gathered a fortune which made him one of the wealthiest men in the county. 40 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS single nail or pane of glass in the entire structure ; log walls were chincked with mud ; outside chimney constructed of sticks and clay with upper aperture so large as not only to give egress to the smoke but ingress to the light when the cabin door was shut ; door made of split boards fastened with wooden pins to a wooden frame that swung upon wooden hinges ; a punch- eon floor and roof covered with shakes held down by heavy log riders. The furniture was at first as rude as the cabins. Boxes, barrels and short logs were the chairs, a larger box the table, and a one-post bedstead in one corner as the sleeping place for the honored guest. But it was passing strange how quickly, under the good taste and deft fingers of the ladies of the colony, these cabins took on a cosy air and an appearance of refinement and beauty." One reason for the utter crudeness of their furniture and their lack of household conveniences of all kinds was the fact that their goods were shipped by water and were delayed many weeks after they themselves had arrived on the scene. One of the original doors, "made of split boards, fastened by wooden pins to a wooden frame," to which Professor Churchill referred, was, until about two years since, doing service on a corn crib on the farm of John Watters, not far from the site of Log City. While thus busily attending to the supply of their ma- terial and physical requirements their spiritual needs were not disregarded, for regularly on the Sabbath day they gath- ered for religious worship. Before the arrival of Dr. Gale and Father Waters, one of the men of the company read a sermon and conducted the regular church service. When the ministers were present one or the other of them preached. The log cabin of Hugh Conger has the distinction of having been the first meeting-house of the colonists, it be- ing more commodious than some of the others, as was nec- essary for his family of seven children. But very soon a more commodious and comfortable building was provided, which was designed for both church and school purposes. This was a two-roomed building, with a wide door be- tween the rooms, in which the speaker stood so as to be readily seen and heard. It was constructed of split timbers LOG CITY 41 covered with split shakes, floored with split boards, and, when the saw-mill began to run, ceiled upon the inside with rough bass-wood boards, and the space between the clap- boards and the ceiling filled with saw-dust. Professor Churchill says that "it would not be much out of the way to say that in this very building the first session or term of Knox College was held, with Professor N. H. Losey as principal and Miss Lucy Gay as assistant." To the regular Sabbath service were added the regular weekly meeting for prayer and conference, which was in- tended for all, and also a meeting for the women, and one for the young people. The house was always crowded on the Sabbath, for the congregation was made up, not only of the colonists, but also of the Southern settlers along the edge of the grove, to whom, as Professor Churchill again says : "This irruption of Yankees was a regular God-send in the way of relieving the monotony of their isolated life, and furnishing themes for thought and means of development." Here also was held a series of revival meetings that first winter, which resulted in the conversion of the most of the young people of the colony. During the first winter an anti-slavery society was or- ganized, said to be the first one in the state. Its president was Samuel Hitchcock, one of the three brothers, excellent and substantial young men, who, with their widowed mother, had cast their lot with the colony. The organiza- tion of this society at the beginning of their life as a com- munity was the initial illustration of the fact that, from the very first, the colonists took high and unequivocal ground on the great questions of reform which have agitated the nation. Not only the original colony, but the succeeding early settlers were of one heart and one mind in this re- spect. They had the courage of their convictions and they carried their principles into practice. In those early days the clause prohibiting the sale of liquors, in every title deed of real estate sold by the colony, was strictly enforced, under penalty of forfeiture to the 42 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS college in case that condition was violated. In those days, too, total abstinence from intoxicating drinks and opposi- tion to slavery — "twin relics of barbarism," as these were then considered — were made a condition of church mem- bership. All these matters, which were of such vital interest to the colonists, occupied the passing days, the winter prov- ing to be an extremely busy one and drawing to its close almost before they were aware. Preparations had been made during the winter months for fencing their farms, building their houses, and for other necessary improve- ments in the new village on the prairie which they were to begin to occupy the coming spring and summer. But while still residents in the log cabins in the grove, the final steps must be taken toward their organization upon a substan- tial, legal, business basis. They must organize their church and secure a charter for their college. And so we are led up to the events of the first Founders' Day. CHAPTER VIII THE FIRST FOUNDERS' DAY. February 15, 1837, witnessed the dawn of the first "Knox Founders' Day ;" but its observance was very diff er- erent from that to which we have been accustomed in re- cent years. There was no gathering of the Knox Alumni with banquets, brilliant oratory, artistic music interspersed with college yells ; for as yet there were no alumni to ban- quet, no inspiring themes upon which to lavish the gifts of wit, wisdom, and repartee, no students to give enthusiastic expression to an exuberance of the "college spirit," no trained artists from the Knox Conservatory of Music to give delight with their songs. There was no "whirlwind finish of an endowment campaign," for as yet there was nothing to finish ; it was only the beginning of things. The day came and went just like other days to the world at large, but to the little colony at Log City it was full of import and significance, for it was signalized by the granting of a written instrument to a body of men, which authorized them to organize and incorporate an institution of learning under the name of the "Knox Manual Labor College." And by a significant coincidence, February 15, 1837, was also the day on which the first steps were taken to bring the First Church of Galesburg into being as an or- ganized ecclesiastical body. For the completion of the new building, which was used for both "meeting-house" and school-house, had led to definite steps toward the organiza- tion of a church. Throughout the winter the college had been receiving, as it always did receive, the best thoughts of its founders, and plans were perfected for having it incorporated. On January 27, 1837, the trustees had met and appointed James Knox and Nehemiah West as a committee to secure a (43) 44 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS charter. These gentlemen at once went to Vandalia, then the capital of Illinois, and applied for the charter which, after due process of law, was granted. The Board of Trus- tees was remodeled by dropping from the list the names of those who had decided not to come west, or who had died, and by adding to it the names of Matthew Chambers, John G. Sanborn, George H. Wright, of Bowling Green, Erastus Swift, William Holyoke, Peter Butler, of Coldwater, and Ralph H. Hurlbut, of Mount Sterling. The charter was not granted until the 15th of February. On that date also a meeting was held, the Rev. John Wat- ers presiding, at which it was resolved : "1st. That it is expedient as soon as practical to form a church in this place. 2d. That it is expedient for the sake of becoming better acquainted with each other's Christian character to have each one give an account of the reason of his hope, those who present letters as well as those who design for the first time to make a profession of religion." And so the college and the church became active and recognized factors in the life of the community on the same day, as the Hon. W. S. Gale says: "They were twins, and in their early history they were one and inseparable, de- voted to a common cause, laboring for each other, sharing the common burdens and rejoicing together over the com- mon successes." As soon as practicable in the spring of 1837, the colo- nists began to move onto the prairie. The first house erected within the present city limits was the one known as the old William Holyoke house which stood on the lot now occupied by the Matthews block between Prairie and Kellogg streets and north of Main street. Other houses sprang up on the prairie during the summer into which the families moved, leaving their log cabins to be occupied by the later arrivals of the season of 1837. Those, however, who were the first to reach Log City, were the last to leave it, remaining till the spring of 1838. During their last sea- son in the grove these families were frequently visited by MATTHEW CHAMBERS ' One of the first merchants in Gales- burg; an influential member of the Board of Trustees. EDWARD P. CHAMBERS Son of Matthew Chambers, gradu- ated from the College in 1852, whose large collection of material relating to the history of the community has been of great value in the preparation of this book. JOHN G. SANBORN Of Knoxville, Treasurer of the Board. Meetings of the Trustees were at first held in Knoxville. WILLIAM HOLYOKE Who was made a member of the Board in 1837. THE FIRST FOUNDERS' DAY 45 bands of Indians on their way to new reservations, and it is recorded that on the occasion of one of these visitations an Indian brave picked up the infant Mary Allen West, who was lying on the cabin floor, and marched off with her. If he had not been open to conviction, Galesburg and Knox College would have lost an important and valuable histori- cal factor. But he finally yielded to entreaties and returned her to her anxious mother. The season of 1838 found Log City practically abandon- ed, the inhabitants having moved into the little frame dwellings on the prairie. A log house, so far as is known the only one in the village, was erected in the block now bounded by Seminary, Kellogg, Grove and North streets. This was occupied at first by Mr. Gale. A grove of locust trees was planted about it, and as they grew to a suitable size for shade "Gale's Grove" was used for out-of-door gatherings such as picnics, Fourth of July celebrations and the like. Later, Mr. Gale built the house now known as the Tryon home on the corner of North and Cherry streets. Back of this house also was a locust grove known as Gale's Grove, which was used for picnics and mass meetings of various kinds. This was the scene of a disastrous event, when, as practically the entire community was gathered for a great picnic, the heavens were opened and a rain storm, amounting almost to a cloudburst, poured down upon them, bringing destruction to lunch baskets, new hats and freshly "done-up" summer dresses, grief to the hearts of the children and consternation to those of their elders. It is thought by some of the older residents that these two groves were parts of a whole which originally extended over the area included within the boundaries of Seminary, Cherry, Grove and North streets, the entire tract being probably the property of Mr. Gale. Mention has been made of a frame house which Riley Root built in the early fall of 1836. When the homes at "the grove" were abandoned for the new homes on the prairie, this house was placed upon sleds, and in that way removed to the village and located at the northwest corner of 46 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Main and Cherry streets, in the block now occupied by the Farmers and Mechanics' bank, the Rearick hardware store, etc. By the close of 1837 there was a community numbering 232. Of these 175 came in 1836, and fifty-seven in 1837. Be- sides these there were at least two families belonging- to the original colony who settled elsewhere. Mr. Thomas Gilbert settled in Knoxville and Mr. Isaac Wetmore in Ontario. But the colonists of 1836 and 1837 were the original "Old Settlers" and these were they, who, building themselves into the structure of the college, the church and the community, won for themselves the honored and honorable title of "The Founders." Their loyalty, self-sacrifice and devotion to those three interests so near to their hearts — either to each or to all of them might well have been summed up in these words : "Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, Our faith triumphant o'er our fears. Are all with thee, are all with thee!" But to return to that feature of the first Founders' Day which has to do with the organization of the church. We have referred to the causes which led up to a definite step in that direction; and in noting the proceedings connected with its consummation we again draw upon Professor Churchill who gives so clear and concise a statement of the lengthy and somewhat complicated process that portions of it are well worth using in this narrative. It will be remem- bered that on the 15th of February the colonists adopted res- olutions which committed them to the speedy prosecution of their purpose. Professor Churchill says : "On February 17th (two days afterward) a deeply solemn and interesting meeting was held at which thirty-one persons presented their letters and gave an account of their religious life." On February 21st, the experience meeting was concluded and a meeting was held to consider what should be the denomi- national connections of the church. Of this meeting Profes- sor Hitchcock (himself a Presbyterian), says: "The two denominations most largely represented were the Presby- THE FIRST FOUNDERS' DAY 47 terian and Congregational. The utmost freedom for expres- sions of opinions and preference was given. I particularly remember the attitude taken by the Congregationalists, and do not remember any diversity of opinion which was, that, al- though their preferences were Congregational, yet they rec- ognized the fact that the enterprise of founding Galesburg was conceived mainly by Presbyterians and for that reason they thought the church about to be formed should be of that denomination. They simply conceded this to be a matter of Christian fairness." On February 25th a confession of faith and a covenant were presented, duly considered and approved. On Feb- ruary 26th Rev. G. W. Gale preached in the morning, and the afternoon was occupied in formally adopting the confession of faith and covenant and in the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper. Sixty-four united with the church by letter and eighteen by confession. Rev. G. W. Gale was the first pastor, but was often assisted by Father Waters. In the autumn of 1837 so many had moved out to their farms or to the village upon the prairie that the church alter- nately held services at the grove and in Matthew Chambers' store building which stood on the east side of the public square at the southeast corner of Main street. Late in the fall of 1838 the first Academy building was finished and occupied. It stood where the First National Bank building now stands, on the northeast corner of Main and Cherry streets. The old building is still standing. Years ago it was moved farther north to about the middle of the block on Cherry street and was at first used as a private residence, and later as a boarding house. This historic structure should be identified and marked in some appro- priate way. With the Academy building completed and occupied by an academic department of forty students and a corps of teachers it began to look as if Mr. Gale's great idea was about to be realized. The college had experienced its be- ginning. And since it could not spring into being fully equipped it must first be established upon a foundation. 48 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS That foundation was the preparatory school, the Acad- emy. The first freshman class was ready to enter upon the regular college curriculum in the fall of 1841. In due time this class would pass through the different years of the course of study, would receive a degree, and the idea would have materialized into a college. This notable event took place in 1846, when, under the administration of Presi- dent Jonathan Blanchard, the first class of nine young men was graduated. The first faculty of the college was composed of five in- dividuals. They were the following: Rev. Hiram H. Kellogg, President; Rev. George W. Gale, Acting Professor of Languages; Nehemiah H. Losey, A. M., Professor of Mathematics and Natural Science; James H. Smith, A. B., Tutor; Miss Julia Chandler, Precep- tress of the Female Department. Meanwhile, the church had for the first time, conven- ient and commodious quarters in which to worship. The occupancy of this new building for all the gather- ings of the church was followed by a great religious awak- ening. Rev. G. W. Gale occupied the pulpit at that time and his preaching was "characterized by unusual spiritual earnestness and power." The religious interest was espec- ially manifest in the young people's meeting which had been established. About a year afterward at the closing of the school year another revival took place. Daily meetings were held among the students, which were well attended, and marked by deep religious feeling. The meetings were kept up after the close of the school, being held an hour or more each morning, farmers living near leaving their work to attend. At the close of this series of meetings, the church membership had been increased by the addition of fifty-eight names and its moral power greatly strengthened. In 1839 or 1840 the first public school-house was built under the direction of C. S. Colton, and it could boast of one feature of the most approved and up-to-date type. The floor was inclined from the front to the rear of the room, so that the teacher, seated or standing by his desk at the THE ACADEMY This building, on the north east corner of Main and Cherry Streets, was first occupied for school and church purposes in 1838. The Academy building as it stands on Cherry Street, just north of Main Street. ELI lARNIIAM The first teacher in the first public school building in Galesburg, and for many years Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Knox College. ^■ip H ^^^^^B^^ r» .J^.t '^^^^Hl ^f//^^ j^M Hw^i ^m mtph ^^ ^r^^^^i ^^^^» i "^imI ^^ i^^iini ^Hf '^ tk mr A T^^l 11 NORMAN CHURCHILL MRS. NORMAN CHURCHILL Parents of Professor George Churchill; residents of Galesburg at an early day. THE FIRST FOUNDERS' DAY 49 further end of the room could easily supervise the deport- ment of the pupils. Tradition also says that the boys and girls during the intervals of relief from the rigors of such supervision found it a capital place to slide down hill be- tween the seats. Among the many who held rule in this building from 1840 to 1850 were Eli Farnham, who had the distinction of being the first teacher in the first public school in Gales- burg; James H. Noteware, a son-in-law of C. S. Colton, and afterwards superintendent of public schools for Kan- sas ; Marshall DeLong, one of the most popular and suc- cessful teachers of the early day in this vicinity; George Churchill, prince of teachers from the very beginning of his long career in the school and class-room; and Henry S. McCall, the father of Miss Ida McCall, herself honored and beloved in the hearts of many successive classes of Knox Academy students. Mr. McCall afterward became a teacher in the South, where he remained until his death. With the assistance of his young wife, Mrs. Sara Miller McCall, he undertook the charge of an academy near Vicksburg, Miss., where they fitted students to enter the sophomore year in college. Mr. McCall taught Greek and Latin, and Mrs. McCall taught mathematics and other subjects. After the death of her husband she came to Galesburg with her two little daugh- ters, Ida and Rosa. For many years she filled a large and influential place as teacher both in the Galesburg High School and in Knox Academy. The elder daughter devel- oped into a teacher of Latin of superior talent and ability, and the younger daughter became a most talented musi- cian. The Rosa McCall scholarship for the benefit of wor- thy pupils in the Knox Conservatory of Music is a monu- ment to her memory and to her musical talent, and is a loving tribute from her mother and her sister, Ida. Thus the lives of this entire family have entered into the life of our college and our public schools with a permanent and beneficent influence. In the year 1911 a beautiful new public school building so SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS was erected upon the site of a fine apple orchard once be- longing to the Farnham homestead on Farnham street. It was named the Farnham school because of its location, and in memory of the first teacher of the first public school in Galesburg. MRS. KATHARINE WEST Mother of Mary Allen West. MARY ALLEN WEST Born in Log City, July 31, 1837. ABIGAIL PRENTICE MARTIN It was her son, little Charles Pren- tice, whose injury during the journey is described in the text. SAMANTILV WRKELER ANDERSON Her daughter, Fidelia Wheeler, was born in Log City, November 22, 1836 — the first child born in the Colony. Women of the Colony. CHAPTER IX THE WOMEN OF THE COLONY. Frequent mention has been made of the men of the colony and the part which they took in its affairs. Their personality has become familiar to us as they have been brought to our notice as members of important committees, leaders of various movements for the up- building of the enterprise, as officers in the college and the church and as leaders and participants in the life of the new community. Their names recur again and again throughout this narrative; and justly so, for were they not the "Founders and Patriots," the "Captains of Industry," "the Kings of Commerce" in this little community? But what of the women of the colony? Did they not bear an equal share in it all, in their own sphere and in their own way? A thousand times Yes! For every true and loyal descendant of the founders cannot but regard the pioneer women of Galesburg with reverence and even with awe, because of their heroic sacrifices, their sterling womanly virtues, and their lofty ideals; all of which were wrought into the warp and woof of their daily life. For were they not molded after the fashion of heroines and martyrs? Had it been otherwise they would have quailed before the prospect which confronted them and would have yielded to the stress of circumstances which many times threatened to overwhelm them. The word failure did not occur in their vocabulary, and to shrink in the presence of hardships, obstacles and grief was to them an unknown principle of action. So firm was their conviction that they had undertaken a work ordained of God and rich in its promise of fulfillment that their heroic creed might have been summed up in these words : (SI) 52 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS "For right is right since God is God, And right the day must win; To doubt would be disloyalty, To falter would be sin." In referring to the pioneer women of Galesburg we in- clude in this narrative those only who came in the years 1836 and 1837, and who, after a long and wearisome journey overland, or by way of canal, lake, and rivers, first found shelter in the log cabins in the edge of Henderson Grove. In this group of cabins known to us as Log City they lived, these women who had left pleasant and comfortable, and in some cases even luxurious homes, in New York and New England. And then, leaving the rude cabins of one, or at the most two rooms, under the protecting arms of the great trees of the forest primeval, they moved out into the small primitive frame houses, to do their part toward the found- ing of a college, a church and a town in the midst of a vast expanse of treeless, shrubless, trackless prairie ! If there were homesick hearts in the rude log cabins under the shelter of the great forest trees, what were the possibilities upon the open out-stretching prairie under the fierce glare of an unveiled summer sun; or when on the far-distant horizon an unbroken line of lurid light pro claimed the approach of the angry billows of flame which oft-times left death and destruction in their path, — resist- less in their sweep save for the united, desperate efforts of all the inhabitants within their reach? Grand and awful in its aspect and in its destructive fury is the onward rush of a prairie fire! Or what were the still greater possibilities when the frowning, ominous storm-cloud, black and fear- ful with the portent of a western tornado, rose upon their unobstructed view ; or when the many miles of far-reaching plains lay in the icy clasp of the long winter; dazzling, mon- otonous, exasperating in its dreary whiteness? But were there homesick hearts in that little circle of heroic women? Have we taken too much for granted in our present-day estimate of that which is required to se- cure true happiness and contentment? The testimony of THE WOMEN OF THE COLONY S3 at least one of that company was that she did not know a homesick moment from the hour that she left her child- hood home on the shores of the picturesque Cazenovia Lake in central New York, throughout the tedious over- land journey of six weeks and on through the varied experi- ences of those first trying years. Material resources and physical strength might indeed fail them. Long weeks of suffering and long hours of sorrow might be their portion instead. Lonely widowhood and bereft motherhood might confront some of them at the very threshold of their new home, but the strong heart, the indomitable spirit, and the faith, firm in its trust in an over-ruling Providence, sus- tained them amidst it all. And the marvel of it is all the greater when we call to mind the fact that the most of these conspicuous examples of womanly fortitude were not aged saints who had been tried and tempered in the crucible of a long life of discipline, but that the most of them were comparatively young, in the beginning of their married life, with their families not yet about them to engage their thought and efifort and thus relieve the loneliness. Some of them had not yet joined hands with the companions with whom they were to jour- ney in the years to come, and almost all of them were looking into the future from the standpoint of young womanhood. Situated in some degree as were the Pilgrims of Plymouth it may be said of them as has been said of the men and women of the Mayflower : "No, not one looked back, who had set his hand to this ploughing." But did they look for- ward with a vision clear enough to discern the scene which to- day would meet their gaze? What a reward and delight it would have been to them to see upon that unbroken prairie the city of the present, the wonderful answer to their toil and prayers ! It will be recalled that the religious element was a prom- inent factor in the daily life of the colonists, who were the most of them professing Christians. Besides the general meetings of the church, the women had their prayer-meet- ings, two each week, one for the married and one for the 54 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS unmarried women. There were also a woman's organiza- tion called the "Maternal Association," and a sewing so- ciety. A "Female Moral Reform Society" was also organ- ized which was auxiliary to a society by that name located in New York City, and which published a paper called "The Advocate of Moral Reform and Family Guardian." It was known familiarly in the homes by the shorter name of: "The Advocate," and its weekly arrival was looked forward to with interest. This "Maternal Associa- tion" should be accorded the distinction of being the first Woman's Club in Galesburg, and there were no distinctions or restrictions limiting its membership, for all who would might share in its duties and privileges. While they had no printed programs, they kept a record of the meetings and a list of the members. Its membership list included old colony family names, familiar as household words in the homes of Galesburg: Allen, Avery, Bartlett, Bascom, Bergen, Blanchard, Bunce, Chambers, Chappell, Churchill, Colton, Conger, Dunn, Farnham, Ferris, Finch, Gale, Gay, Goodell, Ham- blin, Harding, Hitchcock, Holyoke, Kellogg, Kendall, King, Losey, Lyman, Marsh, Martin, May, McMullen, Mills, Payne, Phelps, Prentice, Sanderson, Simmons, Skinner, Stanley, Swift, Tompkins, Tyler, Waters, West, Wheeler, Willcox, Williams, and many others whose character and personality are wrought into the early history of this city. It would be an injustice to the other women to mention any one of them in terms of especial honor and apprecia- tion. For theirs was a common experience and each one of them in her own especial sphere, and in her own way was a heroine. And yet perhaps to Mrs. Clarissa Phelps, a widow with very limited means, it was given to perform more especial personal services in certain needful and very practical ways, than to some others who had greater resources at their com- mand. Her home was located on the northwest corner of Main and Cherry streets, about where Rearick's hardware store now stands. Being located in the very center of the MRS. WILJLIAM HOLYOKE MRS. FIDELIA A. BERGEN MRS. EUNICE ADAMS GOODELL MRS. MARTHA WILLIAMS Women of the Colony. MRS. WILLIAM FERRIS AIRS. HENRY WILLCOX MRS. JOHN WATERS ("Mother" Waters) MRS. MATTHEW CHAMBERS Women of the Colony. THE WOMEN OF THE COLONY SS village, it was the rallying point for gatherings of all kinds, and a convenient resting place for any who for various rea- sons might be detained in that vicinity. Of a generous and hospitable nature, her doors were ever open to any who wished to make a convenience of her house. Keys were left in her care while the owners of nearby stores went home to dinner. Packages were left with her to be called for by oth- ers. Babies were left to sleep on her bed while the tired mothers, seeking a brief respite, slipped into the church serv- ice in the Academy building across the street east of her. Babies which disturbed the church service by crying and fretfulness were taken to her home to be quieted. The women's prayer meetings, "Maternal meetings," and "Moral Reform Society" meetings were held in this home quite often and while "Mother" Waters prayed frequently, fervently and fluently, Mrs. Phelps labored no less zealously to provide comfortable seats and a cordial welcome for the women who gathered there. On two different occasions Mrs. Phelps saved the village from destructive fires. She was a great sufferer from asthma, and not being able to sleep throughout the night she frequently sat at her window or walked about the house while the village slept. One night when looking through an east window she discovered a light in the Academy building across the street. Going across to investigate she found that, after a meeting there the previous evening, a candle had been left burning in one of the wooden sockets attached to the wall — their primitive method of lighting the building. The candle had burned down to the socket and was kindling the adjacent wood when Mrs. Phelps discov- ered it and saved the building. Across the street south of her on the corner, where now may be found the National Clothing Store, the Harrison Studio, etc., stood the hotel of the village, the Galesburg House. Looking in that direc- tion one night Mrs. Phelps saw that a fence in the back yard of the hotel, and reaching up to the building, was on fire, kindled from a pile of rubbish that had been burned the evening before. She aroused the keeper of the hotel and so 56 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS averted a conflagration, for a fire in those days when there were no efficient means of extinguishing it was pretty sure to prove disastrous. But each one of these pioneer women laid strong and lasting foundations "over against her own house," and each one of them "builded better than she knew." In the days of the early struggles of Knox College all the homes of the village were opened to the students and they became a part of the family, sharing in its labors, hav- ing common interests and common aims. For the interests and the efforts of all were centered in Knox College and the purpose of every household was to labor for its support at any cost of toil or sacrifice. So much at home and really a part of the home life were these students coming from all parts of the state for the educational advantages which the new college offered, that the influence of the Christian home atmosphere which then surrounded them remained with them throughout the years. Even down to the present time aged men and women give grateful expression to their appreciation of the charm, the power and permanence of these influences. The Mistress of the home in those days, be she young, or older, was affectionately called "Mother," then, and thereafter, by those students who came under her fostering care. A man of four score years now living in Washington, D. C, still refers to the mother of the home in which he lived as a student, as "my dear Mother F ." A few extracts from the Journal of Mrs. Farnham to which reference was made in a preceding chapter will give a touch of local and personal coloring to the record of their experiences. Here is the record for the first Sunday which the company arriving in June, 1837, spent with the colony : "Sunday, June 25th, 1837. "Attended church. Found a large and respectable con- gregation. Heard good preaching from Mr. Gale. A meet- ing of the society to consult upon hiring Mr. Gale as a reg- ular preacher is appointed for to-morrow evening; also an anti-slavery prayer meeting, a Wednesday evening prayer meeting, and a Church Conference on Saturday. We are THE WOMEN OF THE COLONY 57 very near to the house occupied for school and church pur- poses, and find it very convenient to attend." Here is the entry for July 4th, from which we learn how these serious minded and purposeful people celebrated their first Independence Day on colony ground : "July 4th, 1837. "To-day we have attended an interesting meeting; list- ened to appropriate remarks by Mr. Gale, after which an Anti-Slavery Society, auxiliary to the American Anti-Slav- ery Society, was formed. One of the resolutions adopted was : That one hundred dollars be raised for the anti-slavery cause." Truly a generous subscription from those people of lim- ited resources in the days of the beginning of things here ! "August 10th, 1837. "A day of fasting and prayer. Arose and went to prayer meeting at sunrise. A good meeting. At 10 o'clock reli- gious services again in the school house." "Sabbath, August 13th, 1837. "Sermon by Mr, Gale to parents. Text : Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not de- part from it." "Sabbath, August 20th, 1837. "Deprived of preaching to-day, Mr. Gale detained at home in consequence of Mrs. Gale's illness." Friday, August 25th. "Last night watched with Mrs. Gale, who is very sick. She has a fine healthy son three weeks old." This son, Joseph Dudley Gale, has the distinction of be- ing the first boy born to the colony. "Sabbath, August 27th. "Mr. Gale preached to-day to the children from the 5th commandment: 'Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother,' etc. An excellent sermon." It would seem that the arrival of the infant son in Mr. Gale's family had led him to the choice of the texts of his sermons for the last two Sabbaths, which suggested the mutual obligations of parents and children. 58 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS One more extract from the diary will be made because of historic names which occur in it : "Tuesday Evening, Nov. 14, 1837. "Mrs. Lyman, Mrs. Sanderson, Mrs. West and a few oth- ers of us have been in this afternoon to assist one of our neighbors, Mrs. Conger, in sewing. She has been unable to do any for a long time. She has a large family." That was the family of nine: father, mother and seven children who came with the first arrivals in June, 1836. The name of Conger calls to mind a numerous and prominent family of the early day. And, although the affiliations of the most of them were with Lombard rather than with Knox College, yet Galesburg itself was honored in the fact that one of her citizens, the Hon. Edwin H. Conger, repre- sented the United States as Minister to China, and did wise and valiant service for his country and for the world during the horrors of the Boxer uprising in 1900, Another name is that of Mrs. West, the mother of Mary Allen West of distinguished service and of world-wide fame. It was Mary Allen West who, true to the traditions of her birth and early training, became the apostle of temperance reform and, being commissioned as round-the-world mis- sionary of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, made an almost triumphal progress until she reached far-off Japan and there laid down her life for the cause which she had espoused. Mary Allen West graduated from Knox College at the age of seventeen in the class of 1855. Her name and her personality are inseparably interwoven with the life of Galesburg, the college, the city and county schools, espec- ially during the first fifty years of their history. Her career was so unusual and so distinguished that she should be held in especial honor and remembrance. Still another name in the entry for November 14th, 1837, is that of Mrs. Sanderson. She was the mother of Henry R. Sanderson, a graduate of Knox College of the class of 1848, and who, ten years after his graduation, as the first mayor i MRS. MARY A. BLANCHARD MRS. RUTH POMEROY BASCOM MRS. C. S. COLTON MRS. ELI FARNHAM Women of the Colony. THE WOMEN OF THE COLONY 59 of the city of Galesburg, entertained Abraham Lincoln in his own home, which stood on the site of the Public Library- building. Such is the inadequate portrayal of the sacrifices, the pri- vations, and the all-conquering courage of the pioneer women of Galesburg. It is to them that much of the credit is due for the present high state of development and real culture in our city. It is they who with willing hands and unfaltering effort have aided in the conquest of the forest and the prairie. They have labored and we have "entered into their labors." CHAPTER X > *^ HOW KNOX COLLEGE GREW. Having seen our colonists safely established in the tem- porary homes in Log City, or the more permanent frame houses which sprang up one by one on the prairie, three miles distant, let us follow the course of events which mark- ed the development of the college and the community from that time onward. The church and the college had been incorporated as permanent organizations, ready to enter into their respective labors in shaping the life and the destinies of the community. We have seen how diligent in activity and how fervent in spirit were the colonists in respect to their obligations to their church. Not less so must be the trustees of the col- lege in regard to their especial obligations. Their first trus- tee meeting was held in Knoxville, August 9, 1837. Had they looked forward to the Diamond Jubilee cele- bration, seventy-five years thereafter, doubtless the signifi- cance of the event would have shaped their plans other- wise. Perhaps the meeting would have been held on colony ground instead, and they would have gone into secret ses- sion in one of the log cabins temporarily vacated for the pur- pose. This meeting organized with Rev. John Waters as pres- ident; Nehemiah H. Losey, as clerk; and John G. San- born as treasurer. William Holyoke and Peter Butler were added to the Board at this time. We may readily be- lieve that at that meeting a part of their thought and plans looked toward the necessary building and equipment of their new college; for in 1841, four years later, a Ladies' Seminary was built. It stood on the east side of Seminary street, at the head of Tompkins street. The cupola of this building was covered with burnished tin, which glittered in (60) HOW KNOX COLLEGE GREW 61 the sunlight and could be seen for miles away, thus attract- ing attention to the new village on the prairie. Galesburg's distinguished citizen, the Hon. E. P. Williams, once said to the writer that when he, as a young lad, saw from his home a mile and a half distant that cupola gleaming brightly above the horizon, he thought it the most beautiful object on earth. The cost of this building was $5,000. It was at first occupied by the family of Mr. Pardon Sisson, who, through the influence of President Kellogg, had come from Clinton, New York, to cast his lot with the new enterprise. The fam- ily name and influence from that time to the present have been a part of the history of our city, our college and our public schools. The building also furnished sleeping rooms for a number of the students, and storage for Presi- dent Kellogg's library and some of his household goods. It was destroyed by fire in 1843, but by great efifort President Kellogg's library was saved. This disaster was a severe blow to the struggling insti- tution. It led, however, to the erection of the first building on the college campus known then as East College, and later familiarly styled "East Bricks." This was built in 1844. In the following year a companion structure called West College or "West Bricks," was built. This building was afterward called Williston Hall in recognition of gen- erous gifts to the college from Mr. J. P. Williston of North- ampton, Mass., this being one of the first noteworthy con- tributions to the college endowment. In these two buildings, the East and West Bricks, were located recitation rooms, offices, society halls, as also quarters for about forty students. The Gnothautii Society occupied the upper floor of the east building and the Adel- phi Society the corresponding rooms of the west building. The "dormitories" in these buildings were in long trail- ing one-story wings which stretched southward from the one and one-half story front building. A number of the most distinguished of the sons of Knox began their student life in the tiny rooms of one or the other of these buildings. 62 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Among these may be mentioned S. V. White, New York millionaire and generous contributor to his college, a grad- uate of the class of 1854; also S. S. McClure, founder and editor of McClure's Magazine, benefactor of Knox and graduate of the class of 1882. In the summer of 1843 Rev. G. W. Gale went east and spent some months acting as agent in the interests of the college. When he returned in the following year he brought with him apparatus costing $800.00 and 1600 vol- umes of books for the library. Early in the preceding spring President Kellogg went to Europe and while there obtained for the college about one thousand dollars in money and five hundred dollars' worth of books. In 1845 President Kellogg resigned on account of failing health, and Rev. Jonathan Blanchard, a pastor of Cincin- nati, was chosen his successor. There were enrolled at that time 201 students. President Blanchard's administration forms one of the most memorable and important epochs in the history of the college. As has been well said by another: "It was dur- ing this period that the foundations were strengthened and the future success of the college seemed assured." In 1846 a new Academy building was erected on the public square. It was a substantial brick structure of two stories; the upper story, according to the announcement in the catalogue, was designed for the use of the "Female Branch." This building was used until 1861, when it was leased to the Board of Education — recently organized — for the use of the High School. The Academy classes were then transferred to the lower north-west room in the main college building, and the female department to the Semi- nary, now known as Whiting Hall. In 1869 the Academy building was torn down to give place to the Union Hotel. This was opened to the public in 1871, and was totally de- stroyed by fire in 1872. The present building soon rose in its place, and, with the exception of occasional interior changes and some enlargement, remains as it was built. In June, 1846, the first Knox Commencement Day oc- o >^ re — oq ^ re — I HOW KNOX COLLEGE GREW 63 curred, and a class of nine young men was graduated. Of these, five became ministers, two of them foreign mission- aries, two physicians, one a professor in college, and one a farmer. Up to this time the material growth of the church was noteworthy for so comparatively brief a period. Early in "the forties" it became evident that a "meeting-house" must be built. The Academy building, erected in 1838, had been found to be entirely too small at times for the gather- ing congregations, for in those days everybody attended church. The history of the meetings and the discussions which were held in planning for the ways and means of providing for a new and ample building in those days of great privation and rigid economy, forms a most interest- ing chapter in the history of the colony, but there is not space for it here. But a plan was finally adopted for the new building. It was to be sixty feet wide by eighty feet long, and twenty-four feet high from floor to ceiling. As they sat in the old Academy build- ing and discussed and compared dimensions, some thought the height overwhelming, for the room in which they were assembled measured eight feet "between joists" and twen- ty-four feet would be three times as high as that room, which would be absurd. The original dimensions were finally adopted, and the work commenced. After a time, however, for lack of material and money, the construction ceased; and for months, lengthening into years, the material which had been gathered lay in unsightly heaps completely filling the southwest corner of the square near the unfinished structure. The result was that the tim- bers were badly warped by sun and rain, and the parts al- ready erected were splintered by lightning and shaken by wind, so that when the work was again taken up it was con- tinued with vastly more difficulty and perplexity than would at first have been the case. Even at first the problem of "raising" the timbers and securely joining the ponderous beams of so large a structure, with the primitive appliances at hand, was a serious one. The building was finally com- 64 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS pleted sufficiently to be used for the Commencement exer- cises of the college in 1846. It was not wholly enclosed and not seated, but temporary seats of rough planks and a temporary platform were provided, and there was to be still further delay before it was finished. This first Commencement was a great occasion, as were all the public college functions of that early day. Not only did the residents of the village turn out, but also resi- dents of all the country-side about, flocked to the church for these annual events. Indeed, the college Commence- ments during all the first years of its history, were the great events to be looked forward to and planned for in the calen- dar of the households for miles around. Long processions of vehicles might be seen wending their way from every di- rection toward that historic First Church, and father, mother and children found a place among the throngs that packed that great audience room to overflowing. And since the exercises continued through the greater part of the day and it would be well on toward evening before those in at- tendance would return to their homes, lunch baskets were brought with them, and the all-day celebration was thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed. With scarcely an exception the Baccalaureate sermons and college addresses of more than half a century were there delivered, and college entertainments of all sorts, lit- erary, oratorical, forensic, dramatic, musical, and all the rest were held there. The intimate relation between the college and the church was thus exemplified. This appears also in the history of the pastorate of the church. Searching the records of the semi-centennial celebration of the old First Church we find that during the first decade of its history the president and professors of the college supplied the pul- pit the most of the time ; and during the entire history of the church for the first half century the faculty of Knox College supplied the pulpit for more than a third of the time. Dr. Gale preached at various times, nearly five years in all ; Pres- ident Kellogg more than three years in all ; President Blanchard about two and a half years; Professor Willis J. HOW KNOX COLLEGE GREW 65 Beecher more than three years, and Professor H. M. Tyler nearly one year. These statistics apply to the pastorate of the old First Church before and after the withdrawal of the Presbyterians and the organization of their church. It is true also of that church, after its separation, that its pulpit was often supplied from the college faculty, while the pastorates of both churches have been frequently and ably represented upon the Board of Trustees of the col- lege. As Dr. Thain, pastor and trustee, once remarked: "The students of Knox form another bond, uniting church and college — a manifold cord which cannot be broken, and to which are attached many precious memories." The attendance of the students upon the Sabbath servi- ces of the church may, or may not, have been compulsory in the early day, but at any rate it was universal. It is a matter of history that the short seats on either side of the platform in the old First Church were reserved for the stu- dents, and that at least at one of the services of the day the students would file in, in a body, and fill those seats, in full view of the entire congregation — a highly interesting spec- tacle to the young women in the audience, for it was the most natural thing in the world to exchange glances while apparently giving respectful attention to the service. In- deed, the situation must have been mutually edifying and inspiring. In 1848, the church edifice having at last been com- pleted, arrangements were made to dedicate it on Bacca- laureate Sunday of Commencement week. The date was June 25. President Blanchard preached the sermon and Father Waters offered the dedicatory prayer. It was he who, with the other members of the purchasing commit- tee, thirteen years before, had kneeled, with uncovered head, upon the unbroken prairie, and dedicated the new en- terprise to the Lord, imploring His favor and blessing upon it, and upon all who in all time to come should be conected with it. The momentous events of the intervening years, and the impressive and interesting events of that occasion were in part an answer to that prayer. 66 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS One who, as a little child, attended that service, thus writes of her impressions : "That solemn act of dedication made a profound impression upon my young mind. I still remember with what awe I heard the white-haired man say: 'We dedicate to thee this pulpit, these pews; yea, these windows — even these window blinds' ; as he voiced the people's heartfelt act in dedicating to the Lord the build- ing which their hearts had devised and their hands had builded." At two p. m. of the same day Dr. Gale preached the Baccalaureate sermon, and at five p. m. Rev. J. B. Walker made the address before the Society of Religious Inquiry connected with the college. It was truly a strenuous day for those who attended the entire series of services. Professor Churchill says of this building subsequent to its completion and dedication : 'For many years, as there was no other room in the vil- lage so capacious, it was used, not alone for religious meet- ings, but for musical concerts, scientific lectures, temper- ance lectures, anti-slavery lectures, and conventions and mass-meetings held in the interests of any of the great re- forms of the day. The most eloquent pulpit and platform orators who graced the lecturers' rostrum in the hey-day of its glory always found the old First Church ready to give them welcome. Among those who have lectured there were Ralph Waldo Emerson, Edward Everett, Henry Ward Beecher, Wendell Phillips, John B. Gough and many others of world-wide fame. Many a time have I seen the house so crowded on such occasions that it was almost impossible for the speaker to make his way up the aisle to the plat- form." In the years 1849-50 the young women were admitted to the privileges of the college course though not, as yet, on the co-educational plan, a special department being con* ducted for their benefit, and special teachers hired for their instruction. The names of fourteen young women appear in the catalogue for that year as belonging to this depart- ment. In June, 1850, the trustees voted that a "Female Collegiate Department" should be organized, with a three years' course of study. The school year of this department IIKNKY K. HITCHCOCK A member of the first class graduated from Knox College, 1846. Professor at Knox and later at the University of Nebraska. MARGARET GALE HITCHCOCK Daughter of the founder and wife of Prof. Hitchcock. A member of the first class grad' ated from the Female Collegiate Department, 18.51. REV. WILLIAM E. IIOLYOKI Of the class of '46, and for many years member of the Board of Trustees. Son of William Ilolyoke. HENRY SANDERSON Of the class of '48, who, while Mayor, entertained Abraham Lincoln, in 1858. HOW KNOX COLLEGE GREW 67 was to begin on the first Wednesday in February, and close with the Commencement of the Female Collegiate Depart- ment on the third Wednesday in January. In 1851 three young women were graduated from this department — the first Knox alumnae. They were Ann Dunn, afterward Mrs. Henry R. Sanderson; Sarah Fiske (Mrs. James F. Dunn) ; Margaret Gale (Mrs. Henry E. Hitchcock). In 1854-55, the construction of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad through the military tract, and the choosing of Galesburg as one of its division points became of great benefit to the college. A part of its land was se- lected as the site of depots, shops and yards, and the valua- tion of adjoining property increased accordingly. The re- mainder of the college farm was sold to advantage, a part of it as city lots, and a part as acre property, for all of which there was a ready sale. In 1855, one year afterward, it was estimated that the college property was worth $400,000. In 1856 two important buildings were begun which were finished in the following year at a cost of $100,000. The Central College building as it was then called and afterward known as "Old Main," was erected mid-way between the East College and West College, or, more familiarly, the East Bricks and West Bricks. The other building was the central or main part of Whiting Hall, then known as the Seminary, facing the beautiful park which then belonged to the college, but which was afterward sold to the city in order to replenish the depleted college treasury. This transaction occurred in 1873, the college convey- ing all right and title to its park to the city of Galesburg for the consideration of $21,000. In the same year the city in its turn conveyed the east half of the park area to Knox County on the condition that the county would erect thereon the proposed new court house building. The Seminary at the time of its erection accommo- dated between eighty and ninety young women. At first provision was made for recitation rooms, parlors and chapel, as well as the rooms necessary to a boarding hall. But in later years the recitation rooms were utilized as 68 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS sleeping rooms and the chapel was changed to the present recreation hall. In 1857, at the time of the completion of the two build- ings above mentioned, the attendance, including all depart- ments of the college, reached 446. Of these fifty-nine were in the college proper. The population of the town had in- creased from 272 in 1840 to 5,455 in 1857. And in the years 1856 and 1857 new buildings were erected in the town at a combined cost of nearly $600,000. cu pi W o I— 1 (U f-i o U K CHAPTER XI TROUBLOUS TIMES. The third decade in the history of Knox College was made memorable by the waging of a bitter controversy be- tween the two denominations which were the most largely represented in the management and constituency of the col- lege — the Presbyterian and Congregational factions. It centered about President Blanchard as its rallying point, and as it became so fierce as to threaten disaster to the col- lege, we deemed it a matter of historical justice to give some account of it. In an article upon Knox College prepared by Professor W. E. Simonds, and to be published the present sea- son in a new and complete history of Knox County, Dr. Simonds has given so concise and yet comprehensive a re- view of what was at that time called "the Blanchard War" that we quote, with his permission, therefrom. His state- ments may be considered entirely impartial and judicial, as his viewpoint is far removed from the time and the occa- sion, and his affiliations have always been with another de- nomination. He says: "Notwithstanding the financial prosperity of the college at this period in its history (1857), a serious crisis now occurred. A bitter controversy had already developed over the question of denominational control. Presbyterians and Congregation- alists had been intimately associated in the social and re- ligious life of the community. For more than a decade they had worshipped harmoniously together in that broadly built and spacious meeting house on the square, the historic First Church of Galesburg. The official head of the college had served at times as minister to the congregation. President Kellogg had been installed as pastor in 1846, and Dr. Blanch- ard had followed him in the pulpit when he succeeded him in the presidency, serving the church for two and a half years. (69) 70 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS But with the expansion of the community jealousies had arisen and the quarrel grew so fierce that it threatened to disrupt the college Jonathan Blanchard was a man of strong convictions, com- bative and fearless. During his pastorate in Cincinnati he had been a vigorous and out-spoken abolitionist. After his removal to Illinois he had dared to meet Stephen A. Douglas in public debate and was thought by his friends to have issued from the encounter with the honors of the field. His position on this great issue of the time could not have been obnoxious in Galesburg, but his views on other matters had aroused strong opposition among some of the prominent citizens; at the same time he had a large and ardent following. The core of the quarrel was the denominational issue in Knox College, and the two parties, the Presbyterians headed by Rev. George W. Gale, and the Congregationalists led by President Blanchard, were intensely stirred. The situation became acute, and at its annual meeting in June, 1857, the Board of Trustees, by a resolution, respectfully requested both Dr. Blanchard and Dr. Gale to resign their places in the faculty. Both gentlemen immediately complied. When this action was announced there was great excite- ment. The student body, which was devoted to President Blanchard, assembled on the steps of the college building and passed resolutions of regret at his departure. Many of the undergraduates asked for dismission. The Adelphi and Gno- thautii literary societies disbanded, placing their effects in the hands of the trustees. Only one of the ten members of the graduating class appeared on the Commencement platform to deliver his address. The "war" continued for many weeks in pulpit, on plat- form and in the columns of the local press. It became more than a local issue. Letters discussing the situation appeared in the Congregational Herald and in the New York Inde- pendent and some prominent people were drawn into the controversy Into the merits of this controversy it is altogether unneces- sary to go ; for many years it has been a matter of ancient history, and all bitterness of feeling has long since vanished. The final result was that Knox College was made independent of all denominational control and happily thus remains to this day." The immediate result of the action of the students was that two months afterward, August 21, 1857, the executive RESIDENCE OF JONATHAN BLANCHARD, 1857 A VIEW OF THE CAMPUS Showing at the left a portion of East College, the "East Bricks." Appar- ently this is the only view extant, that includes either of the earlier builaings. From this photograph, however, their position and proportion relative to Old Main can be recognized. INNES GRANT Professor of Ancient Languages. HENRY E. HJTC KCOCK Professor of Mathematics and Nat- ural Philosophy. ALBERT HURD Profesor of Natural Sciences. GEORGE CHURCHILL Principal of Academy. MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY IN 1858 TROUBLOUS TIMES 71 committee published "A circular to the students of Knox College." It contains the following statement : "The Executive Committee are happy to inform you that the causes which led many of you to withdraw from this in- stitution are now so far removed as to present no serious ob- stacle to your return. PRESIDENT BLANCHARD has con- sented to resume his former place in the faculty." And finally it says : "It is with peculiar pleasure that we an- nounce these arrangements [relating to board, rooms, etc.,] which indicate the continued and increasing prosperity of our college. It has been a favored institution. But the means of its usefulness are now greatly augmented. The trustees have the ability and disposition to add something to its educational advantages every year until they are complete in every de- partment. Let the friends of the college implore for it the favor of God and we trust our past trouble will furnish a lesson of wisdom for our guidance until these very troubles shall be forgotten in the joy of our future prosperity and success." The optimism of the executive committee, notwithstand- ing "these very troubles," was truly refreshing. Dr. Blanchard, having consented to resume his place in the faculty by invitation of the executive committee, re- mained until the close of the school year of 1858. In the spring previous to this Rev. Harvey Curtis, D. D., was elected president by the trustees. This may have been a concession to the Presbyterian element, as Dr. Curtis was a staunch Presbyterian, while Dr. Blanchard was just as pronounced in his Congregational principles. We quote again from Dr. Simonds: "The catalogue published in June, 1858, presents some facts which are interesting for comparison. The faculty was composed as follows: Rev. Harvey Curtis, D. D., president- elect and professor of intellectual philosophy ; Nehemiah H. Losey, professor of mathematics and natural philosophy ; Innes Grant, professor of ancient languages ; Henry E. Hitchcock, professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in the Female Collegiate Department ; Albert Hurd, professor of natural sciences ; E. S. Willcox, Phelps professor of modern lan- guages ; Junius B. Roberts, tutor ; George Churchill, principal of the academic department; Miss Jane Everett, principal in 72 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS the Female Collegiate Department; Miss Ada H. Hayes, lady- principal in the academic department ; Miss E. L. Gary, Miss Mary Allen West, Mrs. Sara McCall, assistants in the academic department; Miss E. S. Kendall, teacher of drawing and painting; and Miss Jennie W. Sweetland, teacher of the piano. The chair of philosophy was filled during this year by ex- President Blanchard and that of moral philosophy and belles- lettres by Rev. J. W. Bailey, pastor of the Presbyterian church. The roll of students was : in the college, 109 ; in the Female Collegiate Department, 60 ; in the academic depart- ment, gentlemen, 167, ladies, 158. Deducting names appear- ing more than once there were altogether in the institution 455 students." Dr. Simonds gives a careful summary of the require- ments for admission to the college course, among which was the stipulation that no one under fourteen years of age could be admitted to the freshman class. He reviews the different courses laid down in the college curriculum, and adds : "It was a well-rounded course of study, and, for its time, supplied admirably the requirements of a liberal edu- cation." He says that in the curriculum of the Female Col- legiate Department the college course was "somewhat diluted," although the requirements in mathematics were "about what was required in college." The college library at that time contained between two and three thousand volumes ; the mineralogical and geo- logical cabinets had about five hundred specimens each, which Dr. Simonds refers to as "the beginnings of that re- markable museum of natural history collected by the pa- tient effort of Professor Hurd." A number of interesting and suggestive announcements were made in that catalogue of 1858. Among them the statement that "the first half hour of each day is appropri- ated to devotional exercises and to lectures by the president on various moral and religious subjects on w^hich, as well as on the worship of God on the Sabbath, all the members of the institution are expected to attend." Reference is made to the chapel talks instituted by Dr. TROUBLOUS TIMES 73 Blanchard, which are described as remarkable examples of the versatility, intellectual power and moral purpose of that president ; they produced a lasting impression on the stu- dents of that generation and became a tradition of the col- lege. During the early part of Dr. Blanchard's administra- tion, and through his influence, two noteworthy contribu- tions were made to the college endowment which greatly strengthened its material resources. Reference has already been made to the gift of J. P. Williston, of Massachusetts. This was made in successive contributions amounting to $10,000. About the same time Mr. Charles Phelps, of Cin- cinnati, an intimate personal friend of Dr. Blanchard, turned over to the college trustees the titles to eighteen quarter sections of land, at an estimated value of $30,000. The names of these benefactors and their notable gifts, which meant so much to the college in those years of stress and strug- gle, should in some way be perpetuated. We have seen that the third decade in the history of Knox College, or the period from 1856 to 1866, was made memorable by a great controversy within college circles, one which threatened the very existence of the institution. During this period also, two other and far greater contro- versies were being waged, the one was a state-wide conflict with the broad prairies of Illinois as its battle ground; in the other the entire nation was involved. The one cen- tered about the great debates between Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, which were held at seven different important centers throughout the state of Illinois, with Galesburg as one of them, and with the Knox College cam- pus as the forensic field. The other included the events which led up to, and continued through the period of the Civil War ; and in both of these contests Knox College was closely concerned. The occasion for the notable political discussions, known in history as the Lincoln and Douglas debates, was the can- didacy of the two men for election to the United States senate, and the question at issue was the momentous ques- 74 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS tion of slavery which had now become a national issue. Seven public debates were held in Illinois in the summer and early fall of 1858, the fifth of the series taking place at Galesburg on Knox College campus, at the east side of the main college building, on the afternoon of October 7th. Our honored trustee and distinguished fellow-citizen. Col. Clark E. Carr, in his book "The Illini," in referring to these debates, says: "It may be said of this contest that the Constitution of the United States was the platform, and the whole American people the audience; and that upon its issue depended the fate of a continent." In Galesburg, as in other points in the state, great prep- arations were made, and neither party spared either pains or expense to have its side represented in the most effective manner. They held preliminary meetings at every village and country neighborhood for miles around in order to arouse enthusiasm and support for their different party leaders. They organized themselves into great delegations which rallied at different points and formed in processions of men and women in wagons and carriages and on horse- back, and headed by bands of music, with flags flying, and hats and handkerchiefs waving, proceeded to the place of meeting. Many of these processions were more than a mile in length. As they marched the air was rent with cheers, each pro- cession shouting the name of its hero and the rallying cries of its political party with wild enthusiasm. One dele- gation on horseback went out from Galesburg to meet in- coming delegations from Knoxville, which were acting as an escort of honor to Abraham Lincoln, who had been en- tertained at the old Hebard House the previous night. This procession was made up of young men and young women riding in pairs, and the occasion, in view of subse- quent events in history, was one never to be forgotten. When they met the procession which was escorting Mr. Lincoln they turned about and preceded them, and going directly to the residence of Henry R. Sanderson, the mayor of Galesburg, where Mr. Lincoln was to spend the night, s a 3 R ^ n i O i§ TROUBLOUS TIMES 75 they halted, while one of the young ladies, Miss Ada Hurd, in a few well-chosen words, presented Mr. Lincoln with a beautiful silken flag. This young lady became the wife of William Van Horn, an American, born in Illinois, who, for distinguished service to the Crown in the promotion of the Canadian Pacific rail- way was knighted by Queen Victoria, and the two were af- terward known as Sir William and Lady Van Horn, A still more elaborate and very beautiful silk flag, upon which was embroidered the seal of the state of Illinois, was made by the ladies of Lombard College and presented to Mr. Lincoln on that same day.* Some clippings from the daily press of that day will be of interest. From the Peoria Transcript of October 1, 1858, we clip the following: "The next great debate between Lincoln and Douglas comes ofif at Galesburg on Thursday next, the 7th of October, and will attract the largest crowd that has yet assembled to listen to the joint discussions between the two great political champions. It is estimated that not less than 25,000 persons will be in attendance, and the citizens of Galesburg are making extensive preparations for the event An extra train will leave this city at 83^ in the morning, and returning, leave Galesburg at 6 o'clock in the afternoon. Peoria ought to fur- nish at least three thousand persons for this train." The Chicago Press and Tribune of October 5th, re- ports a special train to be sent out from Chicago with a fare of six dollars for the round trip. It requests the com- mittee of arrangements to make ample provisions for the accommodations of the reporters, saying that "two chairs and a washstand eighteen inches square are not sufficient furniture for half a dozen men to work on," and requests that arrangements therefore be made for at least six re- porters — "that the chairs and tables be placed where t'^iey *The Lombard flag was given by Mr. Lincoln, years afterward, to a senator from Kansas who greatly admired it. It is now in the his- torical museum in the state capital in Topeka, Kansas. 76 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS will not be jarred or overthrown by the people on the plat- form, and where there will be no room for persons to crowd between the reporters and the speakers — and that somebody with authority and physical strength enough to secure obed- ience be appointed to keep loafers out of the reporting cor- ner. These things are absolutely essential to the accuracy of the reports." From the Galesburg Democrat of October 6, 1858, we clip the following regarding the expected delegations, which is of interest : "We learn that the Republican delegations will arrive to- morrow as near as possible in the following order : Knoxville delegations will come with Lincoln at half past 11 a. m. Galesburg escort will meet them about a mile from the square. Mercer county delegations will come in from the west on Main street. Cameron and adjoining towns will come in from the south- west at 12 o'clock. Monmouth delegation on 12 o'clock train. Abingdon delegation on 10 o'clock train and some in car- riages. Henderson, Oneida, Victoria, Rio and Wataga delegations will enter the city from the east on Main street about 13 m Train from Chicago and intermediate stations arrives at 1:25. Train from Peoria at 12 m." And so they gathered from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south, until the little city was thronged with the greatest number of visitors, in propor- tion to its population, that has been known in its history, and on that day there transpired one of the most notable and important events in the life of the community. The distinction and the significance of this historic event be- long as well to Knox College as to the town itself, for in everything that was done on that great day the college bore an intimate and an honorable part. With the outbreak of the Civil War which followed closely after the national disturbances connected with this period, the attendance of students at Knox College was THE SCENE OF THE GREAT DEBATE Between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, Octobei 7, IS.' TROUBLOUS TIMES 77 greatly diminished. In those troublous times the homes of the community and of all the region round about were giving their sons as an offering upon their country's altar, even unto death, if need be, instead of sending them to col- lege halls in preparation for a long and useful life. All else sank into insignificance in face of the fact that their coun- try had called them to her defense and the summons must be obeyed. "Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why. Theirs but to do, or die." And so the natural sequence of the moral influences and the home training which preceded these events followed when husbands, sons and brothers marched to the front, while wives, mothers and sisters remained at home to work and weep, as they strove to give them relief and succor. But not with tears did they send them forth. Nay, rather "With a cheery smile and a wave of the hand," with words of encouragement and of blessing, they bravely bade them good bye. The tears were reserved for the inner sanctuary of the home, in those long hours of suspense and anguish which followed disastrous news, or the more bitter experience of no news at all after the battle was ended. Among those young men who proudly marched away in response to their country's call were fifty-eight college men whose names had been enrolled in the regular college classes, and many more who were students in the prepara- tory department, but whose names have not been preserved. The Knox men enlisted with many different regiments, so that their period of service was connected with different divisions of the army, and with many different marches, camps and engagements, and therefore the college was in- cluded within a broad scope of the history of that era of in- tense national activity and momentous import. To one of the regiments in which a number of the stu- dents were enlisted, the 33d 111. Infantry Vol., the women of Galesburg presented a beautiful silk flag. The flag was 78 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS made by the ladies in a house which is now still standing on North Kellogg street just north of the residence of Mr. Robert Chappell. Miss "Mollie" McFarland (afterward Mrs. John W. Merriman), a graduate of the class of 1860, was chosen to make the presentation speech. The captain of the local company was George E. Smith, a graduate of the class of 1861, and doubtless he accepted the flag on be- half of his company. And so, in this aflFair, although not dis- tinctively a college affair, Knox graduates were conspicu- ous actors. Again, and yet again, were the homes of Galesburg and its vicinity opened to receive their dying and their dead. But still, undaunted, the women toiled on, making gar- ments, scraping lint, filling comfort bags, preparing delica- cies, packing boxes and writing letters to the soldiers in hospital and camp. The reports which have been pre- served of the Soldiers' Aid Society of Galesburg speak elo- quently and thrillingly, and with a touching pathos of the work of the mothers and sisters, even of the little children, for the relief and comfort of the brave boys in blue who had gone out from among them. The story of what was accomplished for their aid reads like a romance. The Knox catalogue of 1861-62 shows but forty-eight names of young men, and of these five are designated as "Gone to the war." Of these, two were killed in battle, one at Frederickstown and one at Fort Donaldson. There were twenty-four young women in the Seminary and one hun- dred students in the Academy — 172 in all, as against 455 in 1858. In the following year the attendance was still less, being only 163. In 1864 there were 32 men in the col- lege, but the number of students in the Academy and in the young women's department had increased the total to 270 or nearly a hundred more than in the preceding year. At the end of the catalogue for 1864-65 is printed a list of "the graduates and students at Knox College, who have been or are now in the United States military service." This does not include the names of Academy students, as the catalogue states that, "unfortunately their names have not KNOX SEMINARY GIRLS OF THE SIXTIES .;. t::,r i m k i^ i mm .^, ^' 1 •* .■\ ; >. '■'>>-. KNOX SEMINARY GIRLS OF THE SIXTIES TROUBLOUS TIMES 79 been preserved." Over the list appears the motto "Honor to Whom Honor." There are in all fifty-eight names, in- cluding one adjutant, two majors, one lieutenant-colonel, one captain, two lieutenants and four sergeants. Four men were killed or died in the service, G. G. Foster, '62; W. D. Latimer, '63 ; J. W. Shields, '63 ; M. E. Dunham, '65. The list follows : Class of 1861 M. V. Hotchkiss Major 77th 111. Inf. Vol. H. E. Losey Lieut. Col., U. S. C. I. G. E. Smith Capt. 33d 111. Inf. Vol. W. Venable Army Class of 1862 G. P. Carr Lieut. Arkansas Cav. *G. G. Foster 1st Serg't. 33d 111. Inf. Class of 1863 H. A. Allen 11th 111. Cav. Samuel Hunt Major 9th Tenn. Cav. *W. D. Latimer 3d Lieut. 71st 111. Inf. Vol. G. M. Roberts 1st Lieut. 137th 111. Inf. Vol. *J. W. Shield — 111. Inf. Vol. C. A. Stone 1st Lieut. 33d 111. Inf. Vol. Class of 1864 H. P. Ayres Adjutant 77th 111. Inf. Vol. Wm. Craig 2d Lieut. 137th 111. Inf. Vol. W. M. Benton Lieut. 9th 111. Cav. T. C. Catlin Armv H. O. Gaston 1st 111. Cav. J. C. Latimer 70th 111. Inf. Vol. J. F. Latimer 2d Lieut. 137th 111. Inf. Vol. J. M. Montgomery Lieut. 66th 111. Inf. Vol. O. H. Pitcher 1st Lieut. 137th 111. Inf. Vol. E. S. Waterbury 22d 111. Inf. Vol. D. H. Waterbury ,2d Lieut. 142d 111. Inf. Vol. Class of 1865 G. P. Ayres 89th 111. Inf. Vol. J. M. Chase 78th 111. Inf. Vol. J. A. Cooper Serg't 137th 111. Inf. Vol *Died or killed in the service. 80 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS *M. E. Dunham 17th 111. Inf. Vol. J. T. Hair Serg't 71st 111. Inf. Vol. W. Jenny 77th 111. Inf. Vol. J. R. Kinnear 86th 111. Inf. Vol. D. C. McCoy 137th 111. Inf. Vol. C. F. Robinson 1st 111. Cav. Samuel West 59th 111. Inf. Vol. J. O. Swank — Iowa Inf. Vol. J. B. White Serg't 137th 111. Inf. Vol. Class of 1866 E. N. Barrett 137th 111. Inf. Vol. D. Farquhar 137th 111. Inf. Vol. T. C. Poling 137th 111. Inf. Vol. W. M. Ross 71st 111. Inf. T. M. Wall — Iowa Inf Vol. T. Wild — Iowa Inf. Vol. Class of 1867 J. A. Adams 69th 111. Inf. Vol. G. H. Carr 137th 111. Inf. Vol A. L. Granger Lieut. 20th Regulars C. H. Lawrence 137th 111. Inf. Vol. C. R. Wilkinson 87th Ohio Inf. Vol. Class of 1868 L. B. Aiken 71st 111. Inf. Vol T. N. Ayres 72d 111. Inf. Vol. S. A. Dysart 2d Iowa Cav. Vol. J. M. McLane Navy There were also many young men who, after having first responded to the call to arms and completed a period of service in the Civil War, then entered Knox College, re- mained through the entire course, graduated with credit to themselves and to the college, and have since filled useful and honorable positions in business and professional life. Their names also, although no record has been made of their military service, should belong to our roll of honor. President Harvey Curtis died in the spring of 1863. This event added still another unfortunate element to the *Died or killed in the service. p; c 00 H -S ^ TROUBLOUS TIMES 81 serious problems of the college at this time. On Com- mencement Day, June 25 of that same year, Rev. William S, Curtis, D. D., was inaugurated as his successor. The situation which he faced in the depleted numbers upon the college roll and the critical state of the college finances, to- gether with the disastrous conditions throughout the coun- try at large, because of the war, was anything but reassur- ing, and required a courageous spirit and a firm grasp of the situation. He remained in the presidential chair for five years. CHAPTER XII RECONSTRUCTION IN KNOX COLLEGE. In 1868 the finances of the college had reached so criti- cal a condition because of unwise action and lack of forethought in the sale of college property to meet con- stantly recurring deficits, and the generally disastrous con- sequences of the Civil War, that the trustees decided that they must make an appeal to the public. President William Curtis resigned, and in looking about for his successor the trustees felt that they must secure a man who was much in the public eye, and whose influence as the head of the insti- tution would be recognized. The choice fell upon Rev. John P. Gulliver, D. D., the pastor of one of the leading churches of Chicago. He was offered the presidency, ac- cepted it and began his labors in the fall of 1868, continuing in the office until 1872. Dr. Gulliver was noted as being a brilliant writer and speaker, a man of fine presence and agreeable personality. Students were attracted to the college in greater numbers than before, and outwardly things took on a more prosper- ous appearance. But, unfortunately, the president and the trustees did not agree as to the financial policy of the insti- tution. President Gulliver believed that a somewhat lavish expenditure was necessary to equip the institution and thereby attract students, while the trustees insisted upon retrenchment. President Gulliver therefore resigned in 1872. For the three years ensuing there was no president, and during that period Professor Albert Hurd performed the duties of the office. In 1874 the college took a new departure, perhaps as a measure of policy, perhaps to satisfy a demand. The col- lege course was thrown open to women, and at its suc- cessful completion by any of them they were given the (82) NEWTON BATEMAN, LL. D. President of Knox College. 1875-1892 RECONSTRUCTION IN KNOX COLLEGE 83 degree of A. B, Not yet, however, were they permitted to mingle with the young men in the class room, but the courses were given separately, the young women meeting in the Seminary as previously, and in separate classes in the college building, with this exception; in the more ad- vanced studies and the lectures of the senior year the young women attended classes with the young men. In granting the young women the high privilege of a collegiate course, however, great consideration was shown them, for they were allowed six years, instead of four, in which to complete it. This was done, as it was announced, in order "to avoid injury to health, and to give time to the cultivation of fine arts and other accomplishments which are not pursued by young men." It was not long after this until all recitations were conducted in mixed classes in the college building. The inference may be readily drawn, and the only logical result became apparent when the distinct- ive course for women was abandoned in 1891. This was re- placed by a literary course leading up to the degree of B. L. (Bachelor of Letters.) Ten years thereafter, or in 1901, this degree was conferred for the last time, the course hav- ing been dropped from the catalogue two years before. The close of the fourth decade in the history of the col- lege witnessed the culminating event which heralded the most auspicious era which the college had thus far enjoyed. It was the inauguration of Newton Bateman, LL. D., as president of Knox College. The writer of this narrative will not attempt to express her appreciation of and admira- tion for President Bateman as a college officer, an honored citizen, and a beloved and revered personal friend, lest her words appear to be extravagant and fulsome. With the permission of Professor Simonds we quote from his more calm and judicial estimate of the man which leaves nothing lacking in the summing up of those qualities which betok- ened his supreme fitness for the position. Dr. Simonds says : "In 1875 Newton Bateman, LL. D., accepted the call of the trustees to the presidency, and a new epoch was begun in the 84 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS history of Knox College. Dr. Bateman, whose name is for- ever linked with the educational development of Illinois, had but recently retired from office as state superintendent of schools, an office in which he had rendered signal service for a period of fourteen years. To the duties of his new position he brought the ripe exper- ience of that term of public service, and also the exper- ience gained during fourteen years of actual teaching previous to his work as superintendent. Warm-hearted, genial, sympathetic and tactful, President Bateman was beloved by his students and admired by his fellow citizens. His scholarly attainments, his native dignity and nobility of character commanded universal respect. Throughout the seventeen years of his long period of service as its president the college enjoyed a placid era of continuous progress." This placid era of continuous progress which character- ized Dr. Bateman's presidency heralded the dawn of a new day at Knox, and with the dawn, as with every new day, new life and energy became manifest in new undertakings. Some of the more notable events of this period, which were included within the fifth decade of the history of the college, were the addition of several new departments to its course of study, and the addition of the large and much needed east wing to the young ladies' Seminary. In 1883 a department for instruction in the study of music was established under the direction of Miss Lepha A, Kelsey. This department is now in its thirtieth year, and has become one of the leading attractions offered by the college to prospective students. In the same year a depart- ment of art was created. The department of music deserves more than a passing mention. In 1885 Mr. William F. Bentley, its present di- rector, was called to take charge of the department. He had graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1883, and for two years had been principal of the musical department of the New Lyme Institute in Ohio. With characteristic energy and enthusiasm he took up the work before him, and with the unfailing aid of these two con- trolling natural qualities, coupled with a wise business man- agement, he has handled its affairs for twenty-seven years. WILLIAM F. BENTLEY, Mus. D. Director of Knox Conservatory RECONSTRUCTION IN KNOX COLLEGE 85 The result of his efforts and management may be seen in the thoroughly organized, well-equipped school of music — widely known as the Knox Conservatory of Music — hav- ing seven departments, a faculty of nine professors and teachers, its own business office, in which is employed a secretary-treasurer, and a summer school. The conserva- tory is the one department of the college that never closes its doors the year round. The members of its faculty have had the best of training for their special work with teachers of note in this country, and under celebrated instructors in Leipsic, Berlin and Paris. After two years of successful effort to place his depart- ment upon a permanent basis, Professor Bentley went abroad for special study and remained for two years, leav- ing the conservatory under the charge of Miss Jennie P. Johnston, now Mrs. L. H. Jelliff, a musician of decided tal- ent and ability. Again, in 1898-99, he spent a year abroad in special study. Side by side with Professor Bentley for twenty-two years has stood John Winter Thompson, his able assistant and close friend, as a recognized and influential factor in the upbuilding of the school. Professor Thompson is a graduate from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Leipsic, His specialty is the pipe organ, and it is generally admitted that he is rapidly taking high rank among the leading organists of this country. Both Professor Bentley and Professor Thompson received the honorary degree of Doctor of Music from Knox College in 1910. In 1884 a military department was organized. A law had been passed authorizing the detail of an army officer to certain institutions in the country. The passing of this law was largely due to the efforts of President Bateman, who se- cured the assistance of Robert T. Lincoln, the Secretary of War, and the son of his former office partner and most in- timate friend, Abraham Lincoln. He was also assisted by the two senators from Illinois, Shelby M. Cullom and Gen. John A. Logan. A well-organized, well-uniformed and «6 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS well-drilled cadet corps was maintained at Knox until the outbreak of the Spanish-American war in 1899 — that is, for fifteen years, and was always a very popular and very at- tractive feature of the institution. At the outbreak of the difficulties with Spain the special details were withdrawn from all the educational institutions except the state uni- versities. Among the military officers who were detailed for service at Knox were a number who have since become distinguished in the service of their country. The first officer detailed to command the cadet corps at Knox College was Lieut. Stephen C, Mills, the brother of a loyal daughter of Knox, Mrs. Clark E. Carr. Lieutenant Mills did very efficient work in laying the foundations of the military department at Knox. His subsequent dis- tinguished career has proved his fitness for the many forms of military service to which he has been assigned. He has risen to the rank of colonel, and is at present inspector-gen- eral of the United States army for the divisions of the East with headquarters at Governor's Island, New York. At the close of the Spanish war an effort was made by the resident trustees, among the most interested and de- termined of whom was Col. Clark E. Carr, to have the mili- tary department restored to the course of instruction. But the movement was unsuccessful and the later development of college athletics now occupies the place and interest formerly bestowed on military drill. Reference has been made to the building of the east wing of the Seminary. To this addition the trustees gave the name of "Whiting Hall" in commemoration of the earnest and successful work of Mrs. Maria W^hiting in se- curing funds for the addition. It was only at her sugges- tion, seconded by her untiring personal efforts, that this building was made possible. Mrs. Whiting was for fifteen years the beloved principal of the Seminary, an office which now bears the title of Dean of Women of Whiting Hall. She was in every respect a rare example of womanhood. "None knew her but to love her, None named her but to praise." COL. STEPHEN C. MILLS, U. S. A. Inspector General for the Division of the East. The first officer detailed to command of the Knox College Cadet Corps. CAPT. GEORGE O. CRESS, U. S. A. Detailed in 1889. MAJOR JNO. G. BALLANCE, U. S. A. Detailed in 1897. '^'^^/^w.'M^''^ '~^''''^'"^'\i/i.;^.^''^'^ '^^^e./« il ^V^"*^"^ '^/' V^/,,, ^ VxS *^^<'<>rR,«ai '" FACULTY GROUP Reproduced from the Pantheon, published in IS Editor-in-Chief. 3. Stuart M. Campbell, CHAPTER XIII THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL JUBILEE. The year 1887 witnessed the completion of the first half century in the life of the college and the First Church, both of which became organized institutions in February, 1837. And in February and June of this year the semi-centennial anniversaries of these twin organizations were enthusiasti- cally observed. The church chose the dates on which two successive meetings were held by the original church, one for the pres- entation, consideration and approval of the confessions of faith and the covenant, the other a meeting in which these were formally adopted, and the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper were administered, thus cementing their union in the bonds of Christian fellowship. The celebra- tion was continued through the following day which was the Sabbath. The dates of this celebration were February 25, 26 and 27. The college celebration was observed during the Com- mencement week in June. This date was chosen in order that the alumni who gathered for the annual Commence- ment festivities might share in the celebration of this greater occasion. Both celebrations were carried out with distinguished success, and that of the church was also deeply inspiring and impressive. The social reunion and supper of Friday evening, Feb- ruary 25th, which inaugurated the exercises of the semi- centennial celebration of the church, was an occasion so ad- mirable in its every arrangement and so thoroughly de- lightful in every detail of its execution that it proved a most auspicious and fitting introduction to the continuous feast of enjoyment which the programs of the two succeeding (87) 88 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS days and evenings afforded. The reunion was held in the Princess Rink, long since demolished, which stood where the Auditorium now stands. This building was the only available place in the city in which so large a number as were expected could be seated together at tables. These tables, six in number, extended the entire length of the large room and preparation was made for six hundred guests. After the guests had been seated Professor George Churchill, chairman of the evening, called the company to order and introduced the venerable Dr. Jonathan Blanchard, former president of Knox College, who in a most impressive and beautiful manner invoked the divine blessing upon this memorable occasion. His touching allusions to the sacred memories of the past, and to "the holy dead," whom he be- lieved to be even then looking down upon, and entering into the spirit of the scene, thrilled the hearts of all. The scene, as witnessed from the galleries on either side the room, was one of thrilling and historic import. The beautifully decorated tables, surrounded by that large and interesting company, many of them with forms bowed by the weight of years and heads silvered by the frosts of many winters ; the greetings and congratulations, the serious and tearful faces as absent loved ones were recalled, all com- bined to produce a scene the like of which, from its very nature, could never again be witnessed in Galesburg. All the members of the church who could be present, to- gether with the invited guests, were seated at the same time, as one family, and the entire company of six hundred were promptly and courteously served by young gentlemen from the congregation, many of them being students of Knox College. At the conclusion of the supper, with Professor Churchill acting as toast-master, an evening of rare enjoy- ment and historic interest was spent in listening to a pro- gram of addresses, personal reminiscences and letters from former members of the church, and from members of the First Presbyterian Church and the First Congregational Church (Dr. Edward Beecher's) who were originally mem- bers of the "old First Church," as it was now affection- THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL JUBILEE 89 ately called. Nor were there any more tender reminiscences or loving greetings than those which came from the many who were at one time connected with the old church but who had withdrawn to cast their lot with these two other churches. The general program of exercises for the three days of celebration was as follows : Friday, February 25, 1837 — A social reunion of the church, with sentiments and the reading of letters from ab- sent members and invited guests. Saturday, 2 p. m. — Historical sketches. Saturday, 7 p. m. — Reminiscences, pastoral letters and addresses. Sunday, 10:30 a. m. — Discourse by the pastor. Dr. A. R. Thain, upon "The Church and the College." Sunday, 12 m. — Commemorative exercises in the Sun- day school. Sunday, 7 p. m. — A song and praise service. All of the exercises with the exception of those of the first evening were held in the old First Church. The committee having the programs, and all other ar- rangements for the celebration in charge were the follow- ing : Professor George Churchill, Professor Milton L. Com- stock, Professor Henry W. Read, Mrs. Martha Farnham Webster, Miss Mary Emma Everest. The semi-centennial celebration by the college the fol- lowing June was distinguished by special features of a bril- liant order contributed by alumni, trustees and friends, and by exceptional merit in the parts taken by the student body in the various college exercises throughout the entire Com- mencement week. Great effort had been made to secure a large attendance of the alumni at the Commencement exercises of this Jubi- lee year. And the response to the urgent invitations sent out was remarkable. Of the forty-one classes which had graduated from the college, thirty-seven were represented, some of them by a comparatively large number of members. 90 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS and some by only one, two or three of their original num- ber. Even the class of '46, the first to be graduated, was rep- resented by four of its nine original members. Among these were Professor Henry E. Hitchcock, formerly of the Knox faculty, and at that time a professor in the Nebraska State University, and Rev. William E. Holyoke, a member of the Knox Board of Trustees. It is estimated that 206 graduates were in attendance. The classes which were not repre- sented were those of '47, '49, '61 and '76. The old opera house which, in more recent years, had been used for the Commencement exercises, had burned down, and as there was no other auditorium large enough to accommodate the large numbers which were expected for Commencement week other plans must be made. An immense wigwam was constructed just in the rear of the main college building, with a large speaker's platform which could be entered from the south door of the central hall of the building, or by steps which were built up to it from the floor of the pavilion. This floor was the uncov- ered sod of the college campus which stretched south from Old Main. Tradition says that the students were given a holiday so that all might lend a hand to the construction of the great pavilion — that the boys built it and the girls furnished the noonday lunch, of which they all partook. The structure was built but how was it to be paid for? The students with their ever-ready plans and devices had already provided for that. The festivities of the week were to be opened by a jollification of the students in the wig- wam on the Friday evening preceding Baccalaureate Sun- day. To this entertainment an admission was to be charged and the proceeds appropriated to the cost of the building. The entertainment was an operetta — "The Grass- hopper," founded upon that foolish rhyme known in college song books the world over. But like many another foolish performance it was immensely effective. The costuming was appropriate to the roles, the turkey gobbler strutting pompously about in feathered garb with brilliant crest and wattles, and the grasshopper in dainty dress of green. Rev. FACULTY GROUP From the Pantheon, 1888 A GROUP OF DISTINGUISHED KNOX ORATORS Early winners at the Interstate and their Instructor THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL JUBILEE 91 F, E. Jeffrey, then a senior, who, with his wife, a member of the same class, has been a missionary in India for many years, took the role of the turkey gobbler, the leading basso, and the dainty grasshopper was the leading soprano. The entertainment was pronounced "novel, unique, in- teresting, successful." The other features of the evening were expert bicycle riding, gymnastic performances, cadet bayonet drill, two recitations, one of which was given by John E. Jaderquist "in his characteristically funny way," etc. Referring to the Coup d'Etat of that month we learn that the best thing of all in the entertainment was kept for the last. It says: "Two hundred students marched up on the huge platform, and, after a remarkable 'sky-rocket' act, sang several college songs, spirited, funny, capital" The remotest corner of the pavilion echoed with the strains and we all came away feeling pleased with the performance and glad that we had helped to pay for the Jubilee auditorium. A commendable degree of "college spirit" was manifest on this occasion, surely. The various exercises of the week which followed were of a very high order. The Baccalau- reate sermon by President Bateman, the address before the Christian associations by the Rev. Dr. McPherson, of Chi- cago, the alumni oration by the Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Roy, an alumnus and trustee, the semi-centennial address by the Hon. Stephen V. White, of Brooklyn, also an alumnus, were all distinguished efforts. The Baccalaureate and semi- centennial addresses may be found printed in full in the Knox Coup d'Etat for June, 1887, together with abstracts of the other addresses and quite complete reports of the fes- tivities of the entire week. The various contests, both literary and athletic, the ex- hibitions, class reunions and society reunions, filled the hours of the day and evening full to overflowing, and fur- nished uninterrupted enjoyment. Mr. John H. Finley, the future president of the college, was a graduate of that year, and valedictorian of his class. His oration on "John Brown" was the one with which he 92 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS had won first honors in the inter-state oratorical contest a few weeks before. The oration for the Master's degree was pronounced by Mr. C. T. Wyckofif, now a professor in the Bradley Polytechnic Institute of Peoria, his subject being "Judas Maccabeus." This was reported as having been "an admirable production, splendidly delivered and thoroughly enjoyed by the audience." The last public gathering of this Jubilee week was the reunion and banquet which occurred on Thursday evening, June 8th. About one thousand sat down to the banquet which was served by the caterers of the city. Col. Clark E. Carr was toastmaster of the evening and proposed the following toasts, which were responded to in enthusiastic speeches : "The Founders of Galesburg," Professor Churchill ; "The Early Presidents and Professors of Knox," E. S. W^illcox; "Class of '46," Rev. V^. E. Holyoke; "Knox as She Is and Is to Be," President Bateman ; "Knox in 1937," Dr. Joseph E. Roy; "The Old Boys," A. W. Kel- logg; "The Evolution of a College Student," Professor Hurd; "Knox and the Old Flag," Capt. J. A. McKenzie; "Knox and the Rowdy West," J. A. Cooper; "Knox and the Business World," Hon. S. V. White; "The Forty-Niners," H. G. Ferris. Excellent music was furnished by the Elm- wood band. Especial attentions were shown to Hon. S. V. White during his visit to the college on this occasion. He was an alumnus of the class of 1854, and had always been a most loyal son of Knox. Having been conspicuously successful in the business world, he had been a most generous bene- factor of the college in her times of need ; and when his pres- ence at the semi-centennial celebration was assured, it was proposed to give him a unique and royal welcome. While a student in college Mr. White had roomed at the West Bricks, and under the direction of some of his old col- lege chums, the room which he had occupied was restored as far as possible to its appearance at the time of his occu- pancy. Upon his arrival in Galesburg President Bateman and STEPHEN V. WHITE Class of 1854 A benefactor of the College and noted New York financier. ERASTUS S. WILLCOX Class of 1851 Phelps Professor of Modern Languages during the fifties; Librarian of the Peoria Public Library. JOB A. COOPER Class of 1865 Governor of Colorado. 1889-01 JOSEPH E. ROY Class of 1848 A Trustee of the College; for many years a Field Secretary of the A. M. A. THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL JUBILEE 93 Colonel Carr met him at the railway station with a hand- some barouche, and he was driven directly to the college campus and assigned to his old room in the historic West Bricks, so soon to be demolished and thereafter to be known only in history. This reminder of his old happy college days touched Mr. White deeply; during his visit he fre- quently referred to the courtesy with pleasure ; and although the best accommodations which our hotels afforded had been secured for himself and his wife, Mr. White spent as much of his time as possible in his room at the West Bricks. CHAPTER XIV NEW UNDERTAKINGS AND NOTABLE OCCASIONS. The enthusiasm and renewed activity awakened by the experiences and the influences of the semi-centennial cele- bration found expression in new undertakings and enlarged plans for the future of Knox College. One of the more im- portant steps taken at the beginning of this era was the movement to place the department of English Literature upon an independent basis. This chair had been ably filled, from time to time, but usually in association with other de- partments. In 1889 William E. Simonds, Ph. D., was secured to have charge of this department. The duties which he then assumed have since been performed with distin- guished ability and success, and with ever-increasing credit to himself and honor to the college. It is largely ow- ing to his efforts and his personal influence that this depart- ment has been developed until it is recognized as one of the leading literary departments among the colleges of the country. Professor Simonds was graduated from Brown Univer- sity in 1883, after which he took post-graduate courses in the Universities of Berlin and Strassburg, receiving his Doc- tor's degree at the latter institution in 1888. Before going abroad he had taught in the Providence High School, and after his return he was instructor in German in Cornell Uni- versity until he accepted the call to Knox. His marriage in 1898 to Miss Katherine Courtright, who had been the suc- cessful dean of women at Whiting Hall, was the happy consummation of his years of preparation for his life's work. Dr. Simonds is an author of some note, and a contrib- utor to critical magazines and literary journals, and is a (94) /^ . m-^ ;r ^ \^ 1 ^ flV*!^ *^" ^B j^^iW ^ Wp jfifet 'v. / ^ MALVINA M. WILLCOX (Mrs. Harvey Curtis) 1858-1860 MISS SARAH HATCH ISfiO 66 MISS ADA HOWARD 1866-1869 MRS. MARIA H. WHITING 1879-1892 Principals of the Ladies' Collegiate Depaitment and of Knox Seminary. NEW UNDERTAKINGS AND NOTABLE OCCASIONS 95 member of the Modern Language Association of America. Among his published works are the following : "Sir Thomas Wyatt and His Poems." "An Introduction to the Study of English Fiction." "A Student's History of English Lit- erature." "A Student's History of American Literature." He has edited school editions of Scott's "Ivanhoe," and "Quentin Durward," De Quincey's "Revolt of the Tar- tars," Mrs. Gaskell's "Cranford." He has contributed an admirable article upon "Knox College" to Mr. Perry's valu- able History of Knox County. In 1911 his Alma Mater, Brown University, conferred upon him the honorary degree of Litt. D. When Dr. Simonds entered upon his duties at Knox, the college was enjoying the prosperity and the hopeful for- ward look which the steady increase in numbers during President Bateman's administration had given it, and also, as has been said, the semi-centennial celebration had added substantially to its assets in those respects. In the year 1889-90 the enrollment of students was 601. The spirit of the institution was of the finest type and was felt throughout the community, as was also the atmos- phere of harmony and enthusiasm which prevailed and with which the work proceeded. The notable chapel talks of Dr. Bateman during the years of his administration had gone far toward attracting and cementing the interest and sympathies of the community, many of whom gathered reg- ularly with the students on Thursday morning to hear them. Those weekly chapel talks of Dr. Bateman remain in the memory of those who were so fortunate as to hear them, as among the most delightful and noteworthy features con- nected with the history of Knox College. In 1890 the completion of Alumni Hall, a gift from the alumni of the college, started a movement leading toward the erection of a succession of handsome buildings upon the college campus. On October 8th the corner stone of this building was laid by President Harrison, who, with mem- bers of his touring party, had accepted an invitation to the ceremonies of this occasion. % SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS In 1892 a west wing, corresponding to the east wing, was added to the Seminary, making a large and commodi- ous boarding hall with accommodations for one hundred and twenty-four young women besides the suites occupied by the dean of women and the matron. The entire building was beautified by the painstaking and loving effort of Mrs. Maria Whiting in planting and training the beautiful wood- bine, which is '•uch a decorative feature on the very attract- ive exterior of the building. Mrs. Whiting died in 1894, and after her death the building as a whole was named Whiting Hall to honor her memory. One of the parlors in the build- ing also has been fitted up as an attractive, cosy office for the dean of women, and bears the name of the Whiting Memorial Room. A noteworthy gift came to the college about this time, and the enthusiasm and hopefulness of its management, teachers and friends was proportionately increased thereby. Dr. D. K. Pearsons, of Chicago, whose gifts to col- leges throughout the land had been frequent and generous, included Knox College upon his list. In 1889 he gave to the college real estate in Chicago valued at $50,000. As is often the case with that kind of a gift, the expectations of the col- lege have not been fully realized, the property has depre- ciated in value and the income has decreased in proportion. In 1892 President Bateman's failing health made it ap- parent to himself and his friends that he must lessen his burdens and responsibilities. At his suggestion, therefore, the Board of Trustees asked John H. Finley, a graduate of Knox in the class of '87, to accept the presidency. This he did, but did not enter upon his duties until a year afterward. Dr. Bateman remaining at his post ; after the arrival of Mr. Finley he continued to act as President-emeritus until his death on October 21, 1897. At the time of Dr. Finley's election to this office the fact was often referred to with a touch of pride and self-gratu- lation on the part of his sponsors, that he was the youngest college president in the country. He was only twenty-seven years old, and they felt that they could show to the country, JOHN H. FINLEY, LL. D. President of Knox College, 1892-1S09 NEW UNDERTAKINGS AND NOTABLE OCCASIONS 97 and possibly to the world, a conspicuous example of a self- made man, disciplined in the school of hardship, supple- mented by distinguished and brilliant natural ability. Dr. Finley had worked his way through college, and, notwithstanding this fact, he had given proof of unusual brilliancy as a student, had won every possible honor in scholarship, as well as the highest prizes in inter-collegiate and inter-state oratorical contests, and had been, personally, one of the most popular men in the institution. After his graduation from Knox he had taken graduate work at Johns Hopkins, and was, for a time, engaged in the work of the As- sociated Charities in New York, being the editor of the "Charities Review," of which magazine he was the founder. As he entered upon the duties of the presidency, Dr. Simonds, who was his associate upon the faculty, thus char- acterizes him : "To his new position he brought the enthusi- asm of youth and the devotion of a loyal son of the college. His own under-graduate life was so recent that he was able, with rare discernment, to enter into the circumstances and needs of his students, and the relation thus established was intimate and helpful. The feeling of personal comradeship that existed was remarkable." Some of the notable features of President Finley's ad- ministration were the following: The college was mod- ernized by the development of courses in science; the courses in physics, biology and chemistry were arranged in separate departments; the position of dean of women was created in 1894 ; instructors in physical culture for both men and women were added; a course in Bible study was adopted; special lecturers were secured from the universi- ties, and some of the most distinguished scholars in the country were brought by President Finley to supplement and emphasize the work of the college. This was the period of university extension courses of lectures, and under President Finley's able management numerous lecture-study courses were given. Among the distinguished literary and scientific men who lectured in these courses were Professors J. C. Freeman, Richard T. 98 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Ely, Frederic J. Turner and Edward A. Birge, of the Uni- versity of Wisconsin; Frederic Starr, Harry P. Judson and Albion W. Small, of the University of Chicago; Frederic A. Wines and Jacob Riis, of New York; J. Graham Brooks, of Harvard University ; J. W. Jenks, of Cornell Universtiy ; William R. French, of Chicago Art Institute; Alice Free- man Palmer, then dean of women of the University of Chi- cago, and Jane Addams, of Hull House. These lectures were generally delivered in courses of six each, and covered the fields of literature, history, economics, anthropology, bacteri- ology, sociology, ethics and art. Knox College itself became the promoter of extension work and a number of the professors conducted courses in near-by towns and cities. In 1894, 1895 and 1896, summer schools were conducted with success. Two notable celebrations were inaugurated during this decade, the observance of Founders' Day and the celebra- tion of the Lincoln-Douglas debate. In 1894, on the 15th of February, the first celebration o^ Founders' Day was observed. This was a great occasion for Knox College, the entire day being given up to programs of an intensely interesting character. In the morning the ex- ercises were held in the old First Church; the afternoon and evening exercises in the Presbyterian Church. The morning program, President John H. Finley presid- ing, was full of brilliant and interesting speeches from Hon. William Selden Gale, a son of the founder ; Professor George Churchill, of Knox; Dr. C. W. Leffingwell, of St. Mary's School, Knoxville; Dr. John E. Bradley, President of Illi- nois College; Dr. C. W. Hiatt, pastor of the First Congre- gational Church, Peoria ; Dr. Albion W. Small, of the Chi- cago University ; Hon. L. S. Coffin ; Professor Albert Hurd, of Knox. Rev. E. G. Smith, a member of the first class to graduate from Knox, pronounced the benediction. No better idea of this morning celebration can be given than that conveyed by a brief extract from the published report of the day's doings: WILLIAM SELDEN GALE Son of the Founder Member of the Board of Trustees HON. CLARK E. CARR Senior member of the Board of Trustees NEW UNDERTAKINGS AND NOTABLE OCCASIONS 99 "At half past nine o'clock on the morning of Founders' Day the trustees of the college, the guests of the day, the fac- ulty and the students formed a line at Alumni Hall and marched across the park to the old First Church, the college cadet band leading the march with music, the classes challeng- ing one another with the college yell and displaying flags and streamers of purple and gold. The 'Old First' was filled, the students on one side of the house, the townspeople and other friends on the other side. The stage was tastefully decorated, and an oil painting of General Knox, loaned by M'rs. F. C. Rice, a great grand- daughter, hung at one side. The cadet band played an overture, after which the chair- man. President Finley, spoke a few words of welcome to those who had come to celebrate the day with the faculty and students and said: 'When the legislature at Vandalia was voting on this day, fifty-seven years ago, to charter Knox College, the colonists at 'Log City' were taking the first steps toward the organization of a church, the church under whose ample roof we are met to-day. This is, then, the birthday, too, of this church. It is fitting, therefore, that the first voice raised this morning in thanksgiving for the past should be that of the pastor of this old church which has been so closely associated with the college in the memory of her students ; Dr. A. F. Sherrill will lead us in prayer to the God who led our fathers to these prairies." The afternoon program was a "complimentary enter- tainment given by the Knox Conservatory of Music and the Department of Elocution to the citizens of Galesburg and the students of Knox College." The evening program, Hon. Clark E. Carr presiding, was preceded by a social hour and informal luncheon, after which, with an introductory address by Colonel Carr, the Hon. George R. Peck was presented, who gave a masterly address on "The Kingdom of Light." This initial Founders' Day celebration was the most notable, brilliant and interesting of any ever observed by the college, and will stand out among all events of its kind as a memorial to the masterful plans and achievements of Presi- dent Finley. An interesting and noteworthy item in connection with the celebration was the fact that the date observed, Febru- 100 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS ary 15th, was also the birthday of the Hon. W. S. Gale, the son of the founder, who delivered the first address on the morning program. The anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debate was also celebrated, for the first time, in the fall of 1896. On this oc- casion the exercises were held in front of the main college building — "Old Main" — from a platform built over the steps and reached from the college hall. Notable speakers on the program were Chauncey M. Depew, of New York ; Senator Palmer, of Illinois; Governor Bois, of Iowa, and Hon. Rob- ert T. Lincoln. In 1900 a still more noteworthy celebration occurred when President McKinley and his Cabinet honored the oc- casion with their presence. The postmaster-general, Charles Emery Smith, was the orator of the day, but President Mc- Kinley, John Hay, the secretary of state, and others of the Cabinet made brief addresses. Col. Clark E. Carr was the president of the day; Col. and Mrs. Carr entertained Presi- dent and Mrs. McKinley, with the members of their private party, at their residence on North Prairie street. During their stay in Galesburg President McKinley called his Cabi- net together for a meeting in the library of Colonel Carr. This is the only occasion on which a meeting of the United States Cabinet has been held within the borders of the state of Illinois; and Illinois, the city of Galesburg, Knox College and the hospitable home of Colonel Carr were all distinctly honored thereby. Popular movements such as this, undertaken and suc- cessfully consummated by President Finley, went far toward bringing the college into public and favorable notice, and its own popularity and prestige were perceptibly increased. During the seven years of President Finley's administra- tion there was but one when the attendance fell below 650. In 1899 Dr. Finley resigned to take up editorial work in New York. One year later he was called to the chair of Politics in Princeton University. Professor Thomas R. Willard served as acting-president of the college during the years 1899-1900. 2: ^ 'X :£ 2: 'f. NEW UNDERTAKINGS AND NOTABLE OCCASIONS 101 Professor Willard had been associated and actively iden- tified with the college since the year 1860, when he entered it as a second "prep. ;" he was graduated in 1866. During all the intervening years he had continued in its connection, with the exception of occasional intervals of special study, or of other special demands upon him. He therefore was •familiar with every event in its checkered career of pros- perity and adversity, and had been an active and recognized factor in the making of its history from year to year. His father, Warren C. Willard, with his elder brother, Silas Willard, were substantial and prominent business men, pos- sessed of abundant means and of a generous public spirit, both of which were enlisted in the up-building and better- ment of the city and the college. After his graduation Professor Willard taught for a year in Knox Academy as instructor in the preparatory Latin and Greek. Three years following this were spent in theo- logical studies, one year in Chicago Theological Seminary and two years at Andover. After graduating from Andover a year was spent in travel with his invalid father. Follow- ing that a year was spent in Knox College as teacher of economics and logic. He was married on July 9, 1873, to Miss Mary L. Wolcott, of Batavia, III, whom he had met as a student at Knox. He immediately took passage for Ger- many, where two years were spent in special study of Greek in the University of Leipsic. Upon his return in 1875, he entered at once upon his work as a member of the faculty of Knox College, as Professor of Greek and German. Professor Willard's enthusiastic espousal and unfailing support of the department of athletics at Knox has been recognized and rewarded in the naming of the athletic field, which is now known by the name of "Willard Field." When Dr. Thomas McClelland was called to the presi- dency of Knox College the office of Dean of the Faculty was created and Professor Willard was chosen to perform the duties of the position. In June, 1912, Dean Willard retired from active service. This event -was signalized by many expressions of apprecia- 102 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS tion and regard, among which one of the most notable was the action of the trustees in conferring upon the retiring professor the degree, Doctor of Letters. With the opening of the year 1900-1901 began the ad- ministration of President McClelland. His inauguration took place on Founders' Day, February 15, 1901. At the time of his election by the trustees of Knox Col- lege Dr. McClelland was the president of Pacific University, in Oregon. His long career as an educator and college ex- ecutive has been characterized by distinguished success. We quote from Dr. Simonds, whose association with President McClelland upon the faculty of Knox College en- ables him to speak with authority. In his article on Knox College, in Mr. A. J. Perry's History of Knox County, Dr. Simonds, in referring to President McClelland, says: "His administration which has continued happily to the present time, is perhaps the most significant in the history of the institution. There has been a visible enlargement in the material equip- ment, both in buildings and endowment, and, parallel with this substantial increase in the resources, there has been also a notable development in the position of the college as a conspic- uous factor in the educational work of the middle West. In these new phases of its growth, in this development, both external and internal, those connected with the college and its affairs recognize the results of the wise educational policy, intelligent and tactful management and unremitting effort of President McClelland." President McClelland has the distinction, and doubtless also the pleasure, of having been born in Ireland, of good old Scotch-Irish stock. When he assumed the presidency of Knox College it was with the record of having accomplished great things in the resuscitation of a weak and waning in- stitution. Although Knox College could not be considered as belonging to the same class, it was greatly in need of funds for necessary buildings and equipment. In securing financial assistance and in strengthening the resources of the college. Dr. McClelland has been remarkably successful. The wise educational policy of the president has been THOMAS McClelland, d. d., ll. d. President of Knox College, 1900 — NEW UNDERTAKINGS AND NOTABLE OCCASIONS 103 alluded to. This policy has distinguished him, more than any other one thing, as being the exponent and the pro- moter of the "college idea" as the policy to which the col- leges of our country should firmly and persistently adhere, as distinguishing them from the university or the profes- sional or technical school. This idea is specifically brought out in his inaugural address, in which he contrasts the uni- versity and the college. He argues that the university idea is specialization, and thus some of the important essentials of true education must be wanting. But, he adds : "In saying this I derogate nothing from the importance of the work which these institutions are doing within their proper sphere. Nor must I be regarded as hostile, in any sense, to the great university movement of our time, when I say that our educational system needs, in order to completeness, just those features and characteristics which the college has fur- nished in the past. The college, as we know it, is a distinctively American institution. It has grown up to meet needs peculiar to our national life and to our political principles. It has no exact parallel in foreign countries. The feature which differenti- ates it from the university is its essential idea or aim. * * * * The aim of the college is to perfect the man, the aim of the university is to fit him for his vocation in life. The one pre- pares him to live, the other to earn a living. The difference is radical and the institutions developed under the influence of these two ideas or aims must be essentially unlike." To these ideals and principles as the controlling policy of Knox College, President McClelland has strenuously and persistently adhered throughout his administration. And the more recent trend of thought and sentiment in the minds of the leading educators of the country has fully justified his position. Our president received his Bachelor's and Master's de- grees at Oberlin College. He also studied for a year at Ober- lin Theological Seminary, another year at Union Theologi- cal Seminary, and still another at Andover Theological Seminary, from which he was graduated in 1880. He was married in August of that same year to Miss Harriet C. Day, of Denmark, Iowa, and very soon thereafter entered upon 104 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS the duties of a professor in the chair of philosophy in Tabor College, Iowa. After eleven years of service there he was called to the presidency of Pacific University in Oregon in 1891, receiving from Tabor College the honorary degree of D. D. in recognition of those years of service in that insti- tution. He remained with Pacific University for nine years, in the meantime placing it upon a permanent and prosper- ous basis. He assumed the duties of the presidency of Knox College in September, 1900. In 1905 he received the honor- ary degree of LL. D. from the University of Illinois. He has been honored with a position on the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teach- ing since its establishment in 1905. The first fruits of the Carnegie Foundation fund in the way of a benefit to Knox College were received two years after its establishment, upon the retirement of Prof. Henry W. Read, after thirty years of faithful service in the class- rooms of his Alma Mater. Professor Read was graduated from Knox in the class of 1875, and at once entered upon the duties of an instructor in Latin and Greek; he was afterward advanced to a pro- fessorship. He was a man of fine spirit, of sterling qualities and scholarly tastes. He was devoted to historical research, es- pecially in reference to local and national history. His writ- ten articles and chapel talks upon these subjects were often of thrilling interest, and produced a deep and lasting im- pression. Although not a participant in the Civil War he was a close student of its history ; and it is said that his de- scription of the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission- ary Ridge was as vivid as if written by an eye-witness, and remarkably realistic. Professor Read, although interested in his work, had always longed for the freedom and enjoy- ment of out-of-door life, and so, upon his retirement from the more exacting duties of a teacher, he sought a home in the alluring climate of California, where he now devotes himself to the culture of fruits. CHAPTER XV THE INGATHERING. In 1908 the new gymnasium, whose construction the students had been watching with interest, was formally ded- icated on Founders' Day. A banquet was held in the large new hall, the equipment of the building not having yet been installed. Five hundred students, alumni and friends gath- ered about the tables and the enthusiasm rose to a high pitch. This building, with its equipment, cost $30,000. It admirably serves the purpose for which it was intended, be- ing thoroughly furnished with the most up-to-date appli- ances. Its predecessor, the old "Gymn," a monument to the efforts of the students, which was erected in 1876, had fallen into disuse and disrepute, and in 1904 it was torn down to give place to its successor. In October of this same year, 1908, occurred the fiftieth anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debate. On this oc- casion the Hon. William H. Taft, Republican nominee for the Presidency of the United States, was the guest of honor and the orator of the day. Other speakers of note were U. S. Senator Theodore E. Burton, of Ohio; Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson, Senator Albert J. Hopkins, of Illinois, and Rob- ert Douglas, of North Carolina, a grandson of Stephen A. Douglas. On this notable occasion, as on all other anniversaries of the debate, our distinguished fellow-townsman, Hon. Clark E. Carr, presided over the exercises. An invitation was ex- tended to all who had attended the original debate fifty years before, to find seats upon the platform. Mrs. Henry R. Sanderson, who, as the wife of the mayor of the city half a century before, entertained Mr. Lincoln in her home, was introduced to the assembly. It was estimated that there were 25,000 people upon the grounds. The last five years of the three-quarters of a century (105) 106 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS which the college completes in this year, 1912, have been distinguished by great achievements on the part of the ad- ministrative force, and by signal honors to the institution. They may be summarized as follows : Early in the year 1908, under the stimulating leadership of the president, the college entered upon a most important undertaking. It was the effort to meet the requirements of conditional gifts of $50,000 each from Mr. Andrew Carnegie and the General Education Board. These gifts were to be immediately available in case the college should secure $150,000 in additional contributions toward an endowment fund of a quarter of a million. It was an exciting and stren- uous campaign, and became more and more so as the end of the year allotted for its accomplishment drew near. Commit- tees of citizens and students, both men and women, were or- ganized to assist in the final effort. Business men left their stores and offices, and loyal alumnae left their household duties in order to lend their aid at the critical moment. Founders' Day, 1909, the day appointed for the final re- port, brought with it one of the severest snow storms known to this vicinity for many a year. Although the streets were blocked and the street car service greatly impaired, never- theless many loyal men and even women toiled through drifts hoping to get a final favorable answer from dilatory and indifferent possible contributors; while the telegraph and long distance telephone wires were kept busy flashing their messages of inquiry and response, of encouragement or disappointment. In the main, however, the outlook was hopeful, for on the evening of February 15th, despite the storm, Central Church was filled with an enthusiastic com- pany of the college contingent and interested citizens who had gathered to hear the summing up of the reports and to celebrate the achievement of their effort. Nothing like the scene of wild rejoicing and unrestrained enthusiasm had ever before been witnessed at Knox. It was an event never to be forgotten by those who participated in it. The full amount of the fund secured reached $260,000, a sum sufficient to cover all past indebtedness and to meet the s ^ S ^ THE INGATHERING 107 annual expenses of the institution. This amount was made up of the contributions from Mr. Carnegie and the General Education Board, $88,000 from the citizens of Galesburg, large individual gifts from resident trustees of the college, and various sums of large or small amounts from Knox alumni and friends of the institution scattered throughout the country. This notable achievement was "a crowning testimonial to the deep regard in which Knox College is held by her students and friends, as also to the unremitting and hopeful efforts of President McClelland and his corps of assistants." Scarcely had the enthusiasm aroused by this event sub- sided, when, a few weeks later, announcement was made of another large donation to the assets of the institution from the hands of those benefactors of our city at large, Dr. and Mrs. John Van Ness Standish. This gift consisted of property valued at more than $75,- 000. It included their own residence and beautiful grounds facing the college campus, to be known as the Standish Home for the President of Knox College, and also valuable real estate in the city of Chicago. In reference to this gift, Dr. Simonds, in his sketch of Knox College, says : "Dr and Mrs. Standish had lived the greater part of their lives in Galesburg contributing to the improvement of the city to a degree that cannot be estimated. They had lived be- side Knox College for many years and had personally inter- ested themselves in beautifying its somewhat neglected cam- pus. To them the college owes the present arrangement of trees and shrubbery that adorn its grounds, in the later im- provement of which the creator of the beautiful Standish Park has been an active agent. Furthermore, Dr. and Mrs. Standish had devoted their lives to the cause of education, and had long planned to bestow their property where it might best promote the cause of intelligence and culture after they should have passed away. Convinced of the permanency of this institution, and of its broadening influence and useful- ness, they thus acted, bestowing on Knox the largest single gift it has ever received." We have quoted thus liberally from Dr. Simonds be- 108 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS cause his estimate of Dr. and Mrs. Standish is so fine, so just, and so admirable in its summing up of the qualities of "these twain" who for so many years in our midst have walked "side by side, full-summed in all their powers, dis- pensing harvest, sowing the To-be, self reverent each and reverencing each." It would hardly be possible to over-es- timate the value of their service and the beneficence of their influence to our colleges and schools, and to our community as a whole. The college, desiring to give to Dr. and Mrs. Standish some public expression of their appreciation of this gift, planned a celebration in their honor on October 13, 1909, which date is designed as Knox-Galesburg Day, in recog- nition of the close relationship existing between the college and the city, and therefore a fitting day upon which to do honor to these public-spirited benefactors of both college and city. An informal luncheon was enjoyed in the gymnasium, after which exercises appropriate to the occasion were held. Rev. Stuart M. Campbell, D. D., the pastor of the Presbyte- rian church, made the principal address upon "The Debt of Galesburg to Dr. and Mrs. Standish." At the close of the address he presented to them a silver loving-cup in the name of the college, engraved with this inscription : "In ap- preciation of their life-long, broad-minded and far-reaching service in behalf of civic improvement and the cause of edu- cation, and as a token of the love and esteem in which they are held." The legitimate results of the year-long endowment cam- paign became manifest two years afterward when the beau- tiful and splendidly equipped George Davis Science Hall was completed and occupied in the autumn of 1911. It is fitted up for the use of the three departments of chemistry, biology and physics, and is equipped for the special needs of all these three departments. It is said to be second to none, outside of the universities, in the middle West. It was named for a former treasurer of Knox College, in considera- tion of the sum of $25,000 given toward its erection by Mr. p y cr n < n > 3 n i^ P w o (^ o C/) o H i-h > y. o 1 — 1 X (/J s n M n r J ■- fa JO _; OS <-^ CO THE INGATHERING 109 and Mrs, J. T. McKnight, his daughter, Mary Davis Mc- Knight, being a graduate of the college, and Mr. McKnight 'a member of the Board of Trustees. The cost of the build- ing was approximately $115,000. The dedication of Science Hall was the feature of the Founders' Day celebration of 1912. At the head of these three science departments are men thoroughly qualified by native ability and by special training in colleges and universities, both in this country and in Europe, for leadership, each in his own field of work. The passing of the preparatory department, known and loved as Knox Academy, by the students of three quarters of a century, awakened memories of the past and emotions of regret in the hearts of these same students as for the pass- ing of a dear friend. Particularly was this the case with those who had been pupils in the Academy under the won- derful and inspiring instruction of Professor George Churchill, prince of teachers, who for forty-five years was at its head. For reasons that seemed sufficient, however, this change was made in 1909. The fact that the high schools were constantly making improvements in their courses of study, by means of which pupils were fitted to enter the college course directly from the high school, greatly lessened the numbers of those who enrolled as students in the Academy, and the most of those who entered in the later years of its existence, came merely to make up deficiencies that could be otherwise provided for. For example, in 1909-10, there were but thirty-five stu- dents in the Academy, as compared with 352 in the college, 136 of whom were regular freshmen. The old Academy had served its purpose as one of the potential factors in the college during the era of its influence and popularity ; with- out it Knox would have lacked much of the prestige and success of the past; with it as a center of attractive influ- ence there are clustered about its class-rooms some of the choicest, most inspiring and enduring memories of life at Knox. Blessing and honor to its memory, and to that of its peerless principal, George Churchill. 110 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Knox Academy was discontinued at the close of the school year of 1910. At the regular chapel exercises on Thursday, March 17th, preceding this significant event, and in commemoration thereof. Professor Read presented, in vivid outlines, his recollections of Knox Academy. For the benefit of former pupils who have known and loved the old Academy throughout the years of its existence, we gladly incorporate this most interesting sketch in our narrative. "I cannot give a connected history of Knox Academy. There is not time nor have I the material. I can only men- tion a few points, salient or otherwise, as they occur to me. I find it will be impossible to separate entirely the history of the Academy from that of the College. It is a composite history with the Academy factor large at first, and now dwindling to the vanishing point. The Academy began to be in 1837. It was nine years later, in 1846, when the college graduated its first class. In 1851 the college proper had but twenty-six students, while the Academy had nearly 300. It was not until 1883 that the number of college students passed that of the Academy. It must be said, though, that the ladies of Knox Seminary were counted separately in those days. The first Academy building was a small wooden struct- ure standing on the corner of what is now Main and Cherry streets. The next was a larger brick building where the Union Hotel now stands. Then the school was moved to 'Old Main' and its headquarters were on the first floor, northwest corner room. Here Professor Churchill had his throne and ruled the kingdom of Prepdom for many years. I wish I could picture to you that little old Academy build- ing on the corner of Main and Cherry streets. The building still stands on Cherry street just north of Main street. It was a rectangular structure about as large as a village church, two doors on the south and facing Main street; within, between the doors, the teachers' desk and the pupils' benches facing south. On this floor was Knox Academy. No stairway within led up to the half-story above, but there was one without on the north end. This upper room was so low in the ceiling that one could not stand upright next the sides of the building. Two main rooms were here and two little cubbies constituted the beginning of the Knox chem- ical and physical laboratories. Two teachers had charge of these rooms, Professor Losey in charge of Sciences, and Pro- GEORGE CHURCHILL Principal of Knox Academy, 1855-1900 "A many-sided man with a large sympathy for young life." THE INGATHERING 111 fessor Grant of the languages. This upper chamber was Knox College, the lower Knox Academy. You remember Garfield's definition of a college reduced to its lowest terms, 'A log with a student at one end and Mark Hopkins at the other.' Here was little more by way of appointment, and yet I venture to say it was a great school from the very first. Here were two real teachers and real pupils. The latter had grit and fiber, and the open mind which is characteristic of the prairies. And here in this building, small and rude, that miracle occurred that always happens when real teachers and real pupils are brought together. Souls were born again into a larger life, horizons widened, noble aims and am- bitions were formed to be and to do large things. We meas- ure life by quality not quantity, and so must we measure in- stitutions. A small school may be of such fine quality that it is greater than many a larger one with only quantity to boast of. It is Kipling, is it not, who wrote, 'The Ship that Found Herself.' On her trial trip at first things did not work well. The pistons labored, the wheels were rusty, the bearings were rough and there was lack of harmony in the parts, but presently the pistons moved easily, the bearings were smoothed, the wheels hummed and all went well together — the ship had found herself. So these prairie boys and girls found themselves under the hand of those great teachers. The names of those teachers of Knox College and Acad- emy whose work is finished, make a shining roll. Losey, Grant, Gale, Blanchard, Hitchcock — these are some of them of the earlier time. I cannot name them all. Of a later day were Bateman, Comstock, Churchill, Hurd — great souls these. And then those women : Mary Allen West, Mary El- len Ferris, Emma Dunn Palmer, Mrs. McCall and Miss Ida McCall. These are some of the names, — a noble line. How individual and distinct each was. Each was himself, herself, clean-cut as a cameo. And yet there was that which bound them all together, something they had in common ; and when I try to find out what that something was it seems to me it was their view of 'duty' that made them one. T must work the work of Him that sent me,' was their motto. They were worthy to be inscribed in the list along with the heroes of faith mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. They all rejoiced to see the glory of this latter day, they saw it and were glad. The earlier history of Knox Academy and College was closely interwoven with that of our country. In 1836 when 112 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS the Illinois legislature voted a charter to Knox College, Abraham Lincoln was one of its members. Later he was given the degree of Doctor of Laws by the College and still later his son, Mr, Robert Lincoln, was made a member of our Board of Trustees. Among that brilliant company of lawyers who 'rode the circuit' with Lincoln and Douglas in the early days, was Col. Edward Baker, afterward killed at the battle of Ball's Bluff in 1862. He was one of Lincoln's closest friends and a silver-tongued orator, one of the most eloquent of his time. It was a great event for Galesburg when Colonel Baker gave one of his stirring addresses on the slavery question in the old Academy building. Of course, you have all heard of the great debate between Lincoln and Douglas held on the east side of the college building in 1858. But there was another great debate sev- eral years before in which Knox had a part. Dr. Blanchard, the lion-hearted, and lion-like in aspect, challenged Douglas to a debate on the slavery question. The challenge was ac- cepted and the debate was held at Knoxville by the old court house still standing in the park. All Knox College went over to cheer their champion to victory, and came back feel- ing that they had won it. You can find a description of this event in Colonel Carr's book, 'The Illini.' When I came to Knox Academy in 1870 some of the old- er customs and regulations still remained. We of the Acad- emy had a separate chapel service on Monday morning. The college had both morning and evening prayers. Mon- day morning, too, the roll was called to see who had attend- ed church the previous day. We had spelling school each Monday, and a 'literary exercise' each Friday afternoon. As the French statesman said 'I am the state,' so Pro- fessor Churchill might have said 'I am the Academy.' I wish I could describe him to you ; a large, well-formed man, with full, well-trimmed beard, heavy black eyebrows, a kindly face, an alert manner, nimble upon his feet as any boy, with an endless fund of humor and anecdote, quick of tongue as he was of movement. A many-sided man, with a large sympathy for young life. His chapel talks were a feature of college life. He would read from the old Book and comment upon it until it seemed written expressly for our day. Ecclesiastes and Proverbs were his favorites. 'If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength but wisdom is profitable to direct.' This would be a text for a sermon on sharpening tools. 'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to THE INGATHERING 113 sleep : so shall thy poverty come as a robber, and thy want as an armed man/ This would be used to shame the lazy and indifferent student. He used frequently to read that chapter in Genesis in which Israel, on his death bed, proph- esies the future of his twelve sons. Then he would assume the role of prophet and foretell our futures. On such an oc- casion the Reubens had to suffer. 'Unstable as water thou shalt not excel.' These he called his 'putty boys,' twisted and bent and reshaped by every wind of influence that blew. The lesson was often severe but withal so kindly and humor- ous that no one could take offence. John Eastman was my first tutor at Knox in Latin and Greek. He it was who first taught me to love those lan- guages. He taught us to dig deep and made us to respect sound scholarship. Another man who left his mark on the old Academy was William P. Northrup, now Dr. Northrup, of New York City. Since he left us to commence his medical career in New York he has been steadily climbing up in his profession until he is near the top. Member of the Board of Bellevue Hos- pital, member of the Board of the Presbyterian Hospital, member of the Board of the City Hospital — these are some of his titles. When Northrup first came to us from Hamil- ton College he was a tall, slim, boyish looking lad, with a very serious look when there was work to do, but when off duty he was a veritable cyclone of fun and infectious good humor. The latter quality, no doubt, explains to some ex- tent his success in his profession. Northrup was a good teacher and set a fast pace for the rest of us teaching in the Academy at that time. He and I roomed for a year on the third floor of 'Old Main,' he having the southeast corner room and I the one adjoining. Our rooms opened into the great spaces of the museum, almost empty then, where, when at night our study was done, we danced and wrestled and 'took our exercise,' with only 'John' for company. 'John' was a mysterious comrade of ours, of whom we sometimes spoke to our friends and at times took some of them up to be introduced. 'John' was a very quiet fellow, still to be found there, I think, in his glass house just within the museum door. With the end of this college year the last actor will have left the stage of the old Academy and the last scene closes. May some historian be found worthy to write her records. The Academy passes into history leaving none to regret her passing, because her work is finished, but leaving many to rejoice that her work was done so well. Her spirit has 114 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS passed into the college and so long as the college lives the soul of the old Academy will go marching on." In 1911 a heating and lighting plant was erected at a cost of $40,000, By means of this all the buildings belong- ing to the college may be heated and lighted from the same central plant. Knox College is the first educational institution in the state, and thus far the only one, to enjoy the benefits of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, which admits the professors on the Knox faculty to an in- come from the retiring allowance provided by that fund. This is a gratifying recognition of the high standing which our college has reached among the colleges of the country. During the year 1910 the Division of Higher Education of the United States Bureau of Education conducted an ex- amination of the colleges and universities of the United States for the purpose of preparing a "classification" with reference to bachelor's degrees granted by the colleges and universities investigated. The basis of the classification was the length of time taken by the graduate of a given col- lege or university to secure a master's degree from the grad- uate school of some standard university. The classification includes four standards as to the time required. Class 1 includes those "institutions whose graduates would ordinarily be able to take the master's degree at any of the large graduate schools in one year after receiving the bachelor's degree." In Class 1 are included sixty institu- tions of all sorts throughout the country. Of these thirty- nine are "universities" and twenty-one are "colleges." Of the twenty-one colleges only five are west of the Alleghany mountains, the five being Beloit, Grinnell, Knox, Lake For- est and Oberlin. Another similar recognition and distinction has come to Knox in the establishment of a system of exchange profes- sorships with Harvard University. The plan came as a pro- posal from Harvard. Four representative colleges in four western states are included in the arrangement, Knox, Be- loit, Grinnell and Colorado. The agreement provides that ALISKRT HURD As he a])peared at forty years of age. IN THE CLASSROOM During later years of his long and £|>lendid service in Knox College. THE INGATHERING IIS Harvard shall send a professor for a half year to these col- leges, dividing his time equally among them and giving such regular instruction in their courses as they may require. In return each one of the colleges is entitled to send one of its instructors to Harvard each year, for half a year, with the understanding that he is to devote one-third of his time as an assistant and the other two-thirds to graduate or re- search work in the University." The plan went into operation in 1912. Albert Bushnell Hart, Eaton Professor of the Science of Government at Har- vard University, spent the month of February at Knox Col- lege. He gave courses in American History, American Gov- ernment, and a series of eight public lectures on American Biography. He also delivered four illustrated lectures on Japan, China, India, and the Philippine Islands. Knox College will be represented at Harvard during the coming school year by Professor Dwight E. Watkins, of the Department of Public Speaking and Dramatic Literature. As we have already seen, our college has never attempted the work of a university or professional school, but has al- ways stood for recognized college work, for the ideal of a strictly collegiate education. These ideals have been justi- fied and fulfilled; notwithstanding reverses and periods of crucial testing and transformation, the progress has been steadily onward and upward. Its curriculum has been improved until it has reached a high standard, and its faculty has been increased from time to time until it now numbers twenty-three active members. Its equipment has been greatly enlarged, and, although the lines of classification and admission are more closely drawn than heretofore, the number of students in attendance has stead- ily increased until at this time, in the seventy-fifth year of its existence, the records show an enrollment of 346 college students. The department of the Knox Conservatory of Music has kept pace side by side with the college in its on- ward march of development and progress, and now in its thirtieth year its faculty numbers nine active members, and it records an enrollment of 256 students. CHAPTER XVI OUR ASSETS. To make a just and accurate inventory of our assets, we should begin with the name of George W. Gale and finish with that of Thomas McClelland. On the pages of the ledger included between these two names may be found columns upon columns of figures representing money, and many thousands of names representing men; or more specifically and definitely speaking, they represent the manhood and the womanhood of "Old Knox." Money and men ! These are our assets. Both are signi- ficant terms, suggesting all that we have been or hope to be. Both have been essential factors in our existence as an institution. The one has laid the foundations of this college of our love and loyal devotion. The other is that goodly sup- erstructure which stands in the dignity and strength of well- proportioned manhood and womanhood as "the outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual grace." Neither could have performed its own especial function in the upbuilding of the structure without the other. Both have been wrought by the hand of the Great Architect into every detail of plan and execution, of hope and fulfillment, of purpose and achievement throughout the years. The money may be counted by the millions ; the men by the thousands. And yet, paradoxical as it may seem, the thousands represent the greater value. The contributions in money to the founding and endowment of the college have ranged in amounts from one dollar to nearly one hun- dred thousand dollars. And, still another paradox, the largest givers are represented by the smallest gifts. The names and contributions of the one class are perpetuated upon our records ; those of the other class are lost to sight. Both have been vitally essential to our well-being. (116) HENRY HITCHCOCK Division Supetintendent, C. B. \' O. J. T. Mcknight JUDGE A. M. CRAIG JOHN P. WILSON, Esq. Members of the Board of Trustees, who have contributed liberally to the endowment of the College. OUR ASSETS 117 Our assets in money may be classified as cash, notes, scholarships, prizes, endowments, buildings and real estate. Our assets in men include our founders and promoters, our presidents, professors, instructors, graduates, students not graduates, trustees, business managers and friends. Among our graduates may be found a numerous and notable company of missionaries who have been, or are now, engaged upon both foreign and home fields. The Knox con- stituency representing her in this particular line of work is so remarkable that it has been considered worthy of com- memoration in a pamphlet compiled by the college librarian. Miss Jessie R. Holmes, and which may be found in the college library. It is a most interesting and valuable his- torical document. Professional educational, literary and business life, the newspapers, the shop, the farm, the arts and crafts, all these, in their various forms of human activity, are repre- sented by the graduates and students of Knox. As to our faculty, past and present, who can measure their influence and their worth? While some of the older members of the faculty, because of their connection with the college in the formative and more critical period of its history, or because of a long term of service in its class- rooms, receive especial mention, there is no thought of dis- paraging the service of those whose periods belong in more recent and less strenuous years. Foremost among the men who shaped the policy and es- tablished the permanency of the institution was Dr. Jona- than Blanchard, the second president of Knox College. His administration, covering a period of thirteen years, 1845- 1858, left an indelible impression upon the student body of that period and upon the community as well. He was a man of fine physique, large and well-proportioned, a giant in in- tellect, of indomitable will and unswerving purpose. These natural qualities, while they oft-times aroused opposition and stimulated controversy, were also the source of his re- markable influence upon the students under his charge, arousing them to a sense of their own inherent intellectual 118 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS and moral possibilities and stimulating them to strive for the highest ideals in personal development and culture. As a public speaker he was logical, forceful, eloquent and cap- tivating. As an executive officer he was able, influential, tireless and successful. By means of his personal influence and unceasing efforts, he secured large contributions to the endowment and equipment of the college which were of in- estimable benefit to the institution in those early days of its struggle for a position of influence and power in this, then unoccupied but richly promising, territory of the middle West, His affection for his students was deep and abiding, and the magnetism of his strong and winning personality drew them into an intimate and loyal comradeship with him which continued with them as a helpful and inspiring mem- ory throughout the years. His chapel talks, so often referred to by the students and citizens of that period, were to a large degree the means by which he won and held the confidence and the devotion of his followers. Two men of the Knox faculty of those earliest days, and three men whose terms of service were practically co- extensive, covering half a century of the life of the insti- tution, deserve more than our customary tribute of honor and remembrance. They are Professors Nehemiah H. Losey and Inness Grant of the first period and our noble "Knox Triumvirate," Professors Hurd, Comstock and Churchill, of the second period. The two first named have been admirably characterized by Professor George Churchill in an address which he made at the first celebra- tion in observance of Founders' Day in 1904, and from which we quote. Professor Churchill said : "As I call up my boyhood memories of the first few years of the school, one now stands in the forefront as its presiding genius, and that man was Professor N. H. Losey. He was an 'all 'round man ;' good in everything ; could teach Greek and Latin if necessary, was thoroughly at home in mathe- matics, quick and accurate in his calculations, remarkably clear and concise in his explanations, showing up the curiosi- ties and mysteries of mathematics in such a way as to arouse •i. ■\ . ''0^k ,;:V7^: ^ ^^'^ ' . ' 4^^^^^^^H. ^^~ ' *'■ ~> \-/ >-""'! :-^>''K^ - '0^,"^ fr ^^ ^By 1^7: r ^ HI f ^; 1 J^BfcL^^^. '^- ^-. ' ; !■■ H^^^^^^^^^ r f \ ^"^ fV % \ } ) tJ^.'^ r^ r^^?^*'_;'' J^:_ .. jhMI THE KNOX TRIUMVIRATE 1 i ^ M ri>-^-, ' ' ^^^^^iHB^^H 1 11 1 ■ '"« ^bh^H^eH^^ ' B^I^B ^^^^^^^1 ■P .^ 'i?iM "''^1 '''wj- Hi. ^^^^^H^^lii^l^^^^^^^. 1 " ■• ''■■.■■:;:■'. l-J 60 5 I OUR ASSETS 119 all the enthusiasm there was in his pupils. I think it is espec- ially due to Professor N. H. Losey that Knox College has, from the first, taken high rank in its teaching of mathematics. But not in this line was Professor Losey's great power during the first few years of the school ; it was rather in physics and chemistry that he excelled. With almost no apparatus to begin with, in a short time he had constructed such laboratory appliances as to enable him to show off the wonders of those sciences in such a way as to attract large numbers of scholars from the surrounding country When he lectured on chemistry, not only the students and the colonists were attentive listeners, but the people from the groves round about came for miles and gazed with wonder and admiration at his experiments with electricity, olefiant gas, laughing gas, and magic lantern shows of things comical and instructive. Then, too, he was a good organizer, a strict disciplinarian, a good manager and always a true gentleman." He continues: "I have spoken of Professor Losey as one whose life and labors had great influence in giving a decided character for good to the school. In this line the name of Professor Inness Grant should always be associated with that of Professor Losey ; not that the two men were alike, for they were totally unlike, and yet each had the power to inspire and lead young men into their respective fields of study. Professor Grant was a Scotchman, possessing to the full all the sterling virtues of his nature, quaint in his language, always saying just what he meant and saying it so that the hearer had no trouble in un- derstanding the pith of the matter ; a man with profound con- victions on the great questions of the day and fearless in the expressions of these opinions. He despised men of mere pretense, but admired those who lived and acted under a true devotion to duty. His ringing speeches to the students to work because it was their duty to themselves, to their parents, to their friends and to God, inspired hundreds of them and made them nobler and better men." Another graduate says, in speaking of the early teach- ers: "The older graduates treasure a vivid recollection of their professor of ancient languages, Inness Grant, not only for his learning, but also for his originality and quick wit." And now we come to our "Triumvirate," in whose honor the alumni, students and friends of the college have united during this Jubilee year in the erection of a fitting 120 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS memorial. This tribute, "The Triumvirate Memorial Or- gan," in the erection of which so many of their former pu- pils had so large a share, and the dedication of which forms a conspicuous feature of the exercises of Jubilee week, is especially appropriate as a means of perpetuating their names and their memories in the hearts of those who have loved and admired each one of them as teacher and friend. The characteristics of the three men were vividly por- trayed by Professor T. R. Willard in a chapel talk which he gave to the students and friends who gathered for the Founders' Day morning service of the present Jubilee year. His talk, which was of a reminiscent nature appro- priate to the occasion, was illustrated by pictures thrown upon the screen, and was full of historic interest. By his permission we quote freely. Professor Willard said: 'T entered Knox Academy as a boy of fifteen, and was for two years under the regime of that King of Prepdom, Pro- fessor George Churchill. Our king was a gifted man. Added to the disposition and the ability to get at fundamental truth, he had great powers of reason and imagination. Broad in his knowledge he knew how to illustrate and illuminate the principle he would inculcate from sources the most various and the most unexpected. Moreover, he was endowed with such wit and humor as to keep the mind of the student awake and alert. Quick, energetic, untiring, thorough, his instruction was in the highest degree formative and stimulating. He had traveled much and his observant, receptive, retentive mind as- similated everything, so that it was ready for use at the mo- ment of use, transformed and transfused by his own abso- lutely unique personality. Whatever he taught — music, math- ematics, language, natural science, the Bible, it was in this vivifying, inspiring style that demanded and commanded the attention and interest of the pupil. To the highest welfare of all his pupils he gave himself with all his heart and was ever a wise, appreciative, sympathetic friend. Professor Churchill possessed also in a high degree what has been, and still is, characteristic of the teachers of Knox, a willingness to acknowledge obligation to the church and to the community in which he lived and to do the things which this obligation involved. For more than a quarter of a cen- tury he was superintendent of the Sunday school of the old OUR ASSETS 121 First Church. His portrait hangs on the wall of Central Church to-day, but a better one far, full of life, electrifying, energizing, radiant with affectionate interest in those com- mitted to his care and guidance hangs in the memories of hun- dreds who never enjoyed his instruction in college halls. Su- perintendent Steele's valuable 'History of the Galesburg Pub lie Schools' has as its frontispiece an excellent portrait of Professor Churchill, with this title, 'George Churchill, founder of the Galesburg Public Schools.' What such a founder would do for such a foundation must suggest what I have not time nor space to say of Galesburg's debt to the one member of our faculty for this most valuable of its municipal assets. Galesburg is also more indebted to Professor Church- ill than to any other for its paved streets and its paving brick industry. For years he was City Engineer, and, at his sug- gestion and under his direction, a test was made of brick paving in general and of Galesburg brick in particular, at the intersections of Seminary and Tompkins Streets. That was nearly thirty years ago and it proved so successful that now Galesburg has nearly thirty miles of paved streets. Professor Milton L. Comstock taught our class mathemat- ics, physics and astronomy. In some respects he was the counterpart of his brother-in-law and classmate. Professor Churchill. While the latter was vivacious and energetic in manner. Professor Comstock was mild and serene. His tem- per was calm and judicial, and in one of the hot 'scraps' that characterized the career of the class of 1882, he was the stu- dents' choice for chairman of a critical meeting, at which some decisive action was to be taken. He loved learning for learning's sake and his scholarship was broad and accurate. . . . . Now I come to one who for fifty-five years was an active professor at Knox and doubtless did the most to deter- mine the character of its instruction, and to put his impress upon the intellectual habits of its students — Professor Albert Hurd. 'Noblest Roman of them all,' has ever been our in- voluntary tribute, and the college has reason to congratulate itself upon the possession of so satisfactory a portrait in oil presented by his friends and admirers. The gifts, the culture, the disciplined power, the ardor and the devotion that he gave to the college of his heart, can be spread upon no canvas, can find no portrayal in words. Clean cut as a cameo were his features, but the expression of his thought had the defin- iteness of outline and the distinctness of projection of a math- ematical figure. His expression was clear and vivid because his own conception was so, and his command of speech, his 122 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS lively imagination, his chaste taste found evermore the fitting word. Truth with him was something sacred, and his tem- perament was volcanic so that no student cared to trifle either with the truth or with the Professor. But intense as were his feelings, strenuous as were his labors, his energies seemed never to tire, never even to flag. His physical powers seemed able to meet any strain he might make upon them. During a large part of his life he was doing the work of two or three men, and yet when he was past middle age he made the remark that he did not know what it was to be tired. . . . That which was most characteristic of Professor Hurd was his absolute unselfishness toward the institution to which he had consecrated his life. The fact has been mentioned that he was often doing the work of two or three men, but for this he would accept no more than his meagre salary ; and if the trustees insisted upon giving him additional compensation, it was accepted only on condition that it might be used for im- proving the equipment of the institution. Neither were Professor Kurd's services confined to the college. The community shared the benefit of them as truly as of Prof. Churchill's. Before I had become a student in Knox, my imagination had been quickened and my appetite for knowledge sharpened by Prof. Kurd's popular lectures on geology. He, too, was a most acceptable teacher in the Sun- day schools. As Professor Churchill's portrait appears in the "History of the Galesburg Public Schools" as "The Founder of the Public Schools of Galesburg," so might any history of the Public Li- brary bear upon its frontispiece a portrait of Professor Hurd with the title Albert Hurd, Founder of the Galesburg Public Library. For years, and without salary, Prof. Hurd was librarian of the Young Men's Library, the care of which the city later assumed as the Public Library. The community may well note that it is indebted to the present president of the college for Mr. Carnegie's gift of $50,000, which made the adequate and beautiful building for the Public Library a possibility." Other names which add lustre to the fame of our col- lege are those of John W. Burgess, of Columbia Univer- sity; Melville B. Anderson, of Leland Stanford Univer- sity; Jeremiah W. Jenks, of Cornell University; Willis J. Beecher, recently deceased, and late of Auburn Theologi- cal Seminary and Malvina M. Bennett, of Wellesley Col- PROFESSOR MILTON L. COMSTOCK "He loved learning for learning's sake and his scholarship was hroad and accnrate." PROFESSOR ALBERT HURD "Noblest Roman of them all." OUR ASSETS 123 lege. We esteem it a high honor that we may claim them as having been, at one time, members of our faculty. Their services at Knox left a strong impress upon the life of the college, the memory and the influence of which is felt to this day. Their distinguished success during the years subse- quent to their service at Knox gives an enviable prestige to our institution because of the fact that we may reckon their names and their fame among our own assets. The reputation of Drs. Burgess and Jenks is such as to make further comment unnecessary, except to say that, while here, in the modest environment of our prairie col- lege, their work gave promise of the conspicuous success which they have since achieved. Professor Beecher went from here many years ago to Auburn Theological Semin- ary, where he remained until his death a few weeks since an honored professor, a gifted writer, and an authority upon those questions with which the schools of theology of the present day have to cope. Miss Bennett, undoubtedly more than the others, en- tered into the very heart of things at Knox during her ten years of service as teacher of the art of public speaking. It was under her regime as the head of this department that our college achieved the most brilliant of its oratorical successes. Not only was this because of her ability as a teacher, but her personal magnetism also had much to do with her success. She inspired her pupils with a confi- dence in their own powers, and she awakened dormant talent in others which would not otherwise have become evident ; and thus enabled them to win a series of triumphs seldom varied by defeat. Her tactful management of this department placed it upon the permanent basis which has since distinguished it. Especial mention should be made of those two bearing the same name, actuated by the same lofty ideals, inspired by the same enthusiasms who as mother and daughter taught side by side in the class-rooms of Knox Academy for nearly a quarter of a century — Mrs. Sara M. McCall and Miss Ida M. McCall. The ties which bound their hearts to- 124 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS gether as one were tender and strong; the pride and joy of the mother in the career of her talented daughter, the devo- tion and watchful solicitude of the daughter, were touching and beautiful to behold. No one could fail to notice the in- timate and loving relationship of this mother and daughter as they walked together to and fro over the familiar path- way, trodden for so many years, to their daily tasks. Mrs. McCall's period of service as an instructor in Knox Academy began in 1865, and, with the exception of seven years from 1869 to 1876 when she taught in the Galesburg High School, she continued in uninterrupted connection with the college until 1902 when failing health brought to an end her life-long work as a teacher.* Mrs. McCall was graduated from Mount Holyoke Seminary in the class of 1851, and the training which she received in that notable in- stitution, together with her natural gifts as a teacher, as- sured to her from the beginning the success which she after- ward achieved in her profession. As has been mentioned in an early part of this narrative, she taught in the South for a number of years with her husband until his death. Then coming to friends in the North, with her two little daughters, she bravely took up the struggle for their maintenance and education, and nobly and successfully did she fulfill the task. Mrs. McCall was "distinguished for qualities of mind and person combining in a rare degree intellectual and so- cial graces." Miss Ida McCall was graduated from Knox Seminary in 1875, and after some years of service in Rushville and later in the Galesburg High School, she found her fitting place in that class room in Knox Academy where her unique career as a teacher found full development and consummation. After twenty-three years of devoted service her retirement from active work was the source of unbounded regret to all. It has been said of her that "while skillful in any depart- ment to which she may have been assigned, it was notably *The Knox catalogue of 1858 gives the name of Mrs. Sara McCall as a teacher in the academic department. We find that at that time Mrs. McCall taught for a year before going South with her husband. ^ ? § rn o"< X rV 1— ( ~ a fd > g p 3li g ^" • CO n ^"ii n 001 "1 > CT>0 ^2 o m W > 73 a 3 o > > g 3 n > OUR ASSETS 125 as a teacher of Latin that she became famous. In addition to the mastery of the language, Miss McCall had a gift of teaching all her own and could throw around her work a certain halo almost irresistible." In the foregoing personal references we have striven to pay tribute to some of those to whom tribute is due. We fear that many have been omitted who should have re- ceived especial mention. We crave the lenient judgment of the critics, with the hope that the historian of our cen- tennial anniversary will gather up and unite the broken threads of the story and present a more complete and per- fect narrative of the events of a century of achievement and honor. There is also another body of men, the present faculty of Knox, whom, as Profesor Willard has frequently said, "it is even more important that the friends of the college should know and appreciate." Furthermore, he says: "The welfare of the college is in their keeping, and it has been my pleasure, as I have regarded it as my duty, on every possible occasion to declare it my conviction that it could not be lodged in better hands. Trained for the re- quirements of modern education, keeping step with its ad- vance, interested in their pupils personally, and on the best of footing with them, good citizens, doing their full duty in the community where their lot is cast, strongly religious without narrowness or bigotry, these teachers deserve the confidence of every friend of the college." Here, then, we come to the summing up of our assets in money and in men. We append a list of the names of persons whose individual contributions range in amounts of from $10,000.00 to $75,000.00. They are the leaders of a long and honorable procession of the benefactors of Knox. Mr. J. P. Williston, of Northampton, Mass., and Charles Phelps, Esq., of Cincinnati, were the first contributors of any considerable amounts to the endowment of our insti- tution. Their gifts were made in the first decade of its his- tory; at that time they were recognized as a part of its endowment, and the names of the donors were used in 126 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS connection therewith. One of the buildings — the "West Bricks" — was named Williston Hall and the chair of the professor of modern languages was called the Phelps Professorship. For some unknown reason these names have disappeared from our catalogue. Mention should also be made of the fact that the in- come from the fund contributed by Dr. D. K. Pearsons is devoted to the maintenance of a Latin professorship in the college called the Bascom Professorship. This was done at the request of Dr. Pearsons in memory of his friend, the Rev. Dr. Flavel Bascom, an honored and valued trustee of the college and a revered and greatly beloved pastor of the old First Church in the early days. There are many contributors of five thousand, two thousand, one thousand, five hundred dollars and less amounts which largely increase our lists, and gladly would we preserve their names in this record, but for lack of space. A thrilling and inspiring sight it would be, indeed, could all our benefactors and friends be marshalled before us in the academic processions in celebration of our seven- ty-fifth anniversary. The following are the names of those who have been the larger contributors in the past twenty-five years: Henry Hitchcock, Supt. C. B. and Q. R. R. Dr. D. K. Pearsons. Mr. and Mrs. George A, Lawrence. Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus M. Avery. Mr. and Mrs. J. T. McKnight. Judge Alfred M. Craig, Robert Mather. Miss Ellen B. Scripps. John P. Wilson. S. S. McClure. Andrew Carnegie. General Education Board. Dr. and Mrs. J. V. N. Standish. The amounts affixed to these names, together with the amounts contributed by many hundreds of others through- CYRUS M. AVERY Class of 1868 GEORGE A. LAWRENCE Class of 1875 SAMUEL S. McCLURE Class of 1882 ROBERT MATHER Class of 1882 Graduates of Knox, member? of the Board of Trustees and liberal contribu- tors to the endowment of the College. OUR ASSETS 127 out the three-quarters of a century, stand upon our rec- ords as our assets in money. Our assets in men can only be estimated by a close study of the history of the college during the past seventy- five years, by taking account of the character and worth of our constituency throughout all these years, and by a far outlook into the future. May not the names of our college presidents, indicating by their periods of service the different epochs in our his- tory, stand as the representatives and the exponents of this summary of the more valuable of our assets? What more fitting final word can be given to this narrative than by using these names as the casket in which are enclosed the memories of the years that are past and the prophecies of those to come? Hiram Kellogg, 1838-45. Jonathan Blanchard, 1845-58. Harvey Curtis, 1858-63. Wm. Stanton Curtis, 1863-68. John P. Gulliver, 1868-71. Newton Bateman, 1874-92. John H. Finley, 1892-99. Thomas McClelland, 1900. THE END. THE WAY TO KNOX Knox College The Sixty-seventh Annual COMMENCEMENT AND SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE Founding June 7 to 13, 1912 General Program of Events Details of Arrangements Principal Addresses (129) 130 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS [A general program of events including the arrangements in detail was prepared by the committee and widely circulated pre- vious to the celebration. It is here reproduced.] GENERAL STATEMENT To Knox College belongs the unique distinction of being "the college that founded a city." Knox College and the city of Galesburg had their inception in plans made by a group of idealistic New Yorkers of New England parentage, led by the Rev. George W. Gale, to found a college on the fertile prairies of the central west in order to train the leadership needed for the great population destined to fill that region. The plan was to raise money by subscription to buy a township of land in Illinois, buying it from the government at $1.25 an acre. Then the subscribers were to buy the land back from the college at $5.00 an acre and endow the college with the surplus over the original cost. Knox College and the city of Galesburg were the result of this plan. Not only did the plan involve foresight and high idealism, but its completion also meant the hardships and privations of pioneer life as well as great sacrifice and rare courage. It is now three-quarters of a century since the founding of the college and the city and it is most fitting that the anniver- sary should be celebrated with special ceremonies at the com- ing Commencement of the college, A cordial invitation is extended to all former residents of the city and to all former students and friends of the college to make Commencement Week a home-coming week. Visitors are assured that no pains will be spared on the part of the citizens of Galesburg and of the various committees to make their stay in Galesburg as pleasant as possible. THE PROGRAM Friday, June 7 8:00 p. m. Beecher Chapel — Declamation Contests. Four young men and four young women will compete in these contests. Music by Misses Peterson and Campbell, and Mr. Halla- day. Saturday, June 8 8:00 p. m. Central Church — Dedication of the Triumvirate Organ, Professor John Winter Thompson, assisted by Mrs. E. E. Hinchliff and Miss Alice May Carley. Sunday, June 9 10:30 a. m. Presbyterian Church — Baccalaureate Sermon, by Presi- dent McClelland. Presbyterian Church Choir, W. B. Carlton, Chorister. GENERAL PROGRAM OF EVENTS 131 7 :30 p. m. Central Church — Address before the Christian Associa- tions, Rev. William E. Barton, Oak Park. Central Church Choir, W. F. Bentley, Chorister. Monday, June 10 10:00 a. m. Highland Lake — Regatta. 3 :00 p. m. Knox Campus — Class Day Exercises. The Class Day Exercises will take the unusual form of a Greek Drama this year and the class history will have a classic presen- tation. 8 :00 p. m. Beecher Chapel — Commencement Concert by the Grad- uating Class of the Knox Conservatory of Music, assisted by the Conservatory Orchestra, G. A. Stout, Conductor. Tuesday, June 11 9 :00 a. m. "Old Main"— Meeting of the Board of Trustees. 9 :30 a. m. L. M. L Hall— Reunion of the L. M. I. Society. 12 :00 m. Class Reunions. The places of meeting of the various classes have not all been finally settled. Final announcement will be made in the program published during Commencement Week. 5 :00 p. m. Central Church. Reunion and supper of the Alumni and Alumnae of the Conservatory of Music. This first re- union and supper of the Conservatory Alumni promises to be a most interesting event. 8:15 p. m. Auditorium — Senior Class Play, "The Melting Pot." The Class Play has come in recent years to be the most popular event of Commencement week. The cast this year is pronounced by Professor Watkins an exceptionally strong one. The play itself is too well known to need comment. Wednesday, June 12 10:00 a. m. Beecher Chapel — Alumni Chapel Service, in charge of the Rev. Stuart M. Campbell, '88. Miss Ethel Gates, '10, organist. Songs by Miss Johnston, '08, and others. An- nual Meeting of the Alumni Association. Election of Officers. 12:00 m. Reunions of the Adelphi and Gnothautii Literary Socie- ties. 4:00 p. m. Knox Campus— The Coburn Players will present Shakes- peare's "Twelfth Night." The college is fortunate in having this excellent company of players during Com- mencement Week. 8 :00 p. m. Central Church— Address before the Alumni by Edgar A. Bancroft, '78, of Chicago. The Alumni address is an- nually looked forward to with much expectancy. Mr. Bancroft's address will be in keeping with the fine Knox tradition. 9 :30 p. m. Immediately after Mr. Bancroft's address the President's reception will be held in the parlors of the church. 132 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Thursday, June 13 9:30 a. m. Commencement Procession from "Old Main" to the Cen- tral Church, led by the College Band. Academic costume will be worn. 10:00 a. m. Central Church — Commencement Exercises. Music, Or- gan Processional, Prof. John Winter Thompson. Invo- cation. "Our College and the Education of Women," Gladys M. Campbell. "Galesburg before the Industrial Revolution," Helen M. Ryan. "Environment and Civili- zation," Martha L. Latimer. "A Natural Foundation for the Peace Movement," Jesse A. Crafton. Music, "Water Lilies," The Girls' Glee Club. "The Reform Movement in Education," Josephine Wible. "The Re-Alignment of Political Parties," Palmer D. Edmunds. "Political Al- truism," Robert W. Caldwell. "The Advance of the Pro- gressive," Ray L. Sauter. Music, Organ, Selected, Prof. John Winter Thompson. Conferring of Degrees. An- nouncing of Honors and Award of Prizes. Benediction. 12 :30-2 :00 p. m. Galesburg Club — Luncheon for Representatives of Colleges and Universities. 2 :30 p. m. Academic Procession from "Old Main" to the Central Church, led by the College Band. Academic costume will be worn. 3 :00 p. m. Central Church — Exercises in Commemoration of the Seventy-fifth Anniversary. Address by President John Huston Finlej% '87, of the College of the City of New York. Congratulatory addresses will be made by repre- sentatives of colleges and universities, among them Pres- ident Edward D. Eaton of Beloit College, President John S. NoUen of Lake Forest College, and President Charles A. Blanchard, of Wheaton College. Music by the Knox Conservatory Orchestra and the College Glee Club. 5.00 p. m. Knox Campus — Historical Pageant, illustrating the his- tory of the founding of the College and the city of Galesburg, Music by the College Band and Glee Club, and the Knox Conservatory Orchestra. 7:00 p. m. Central Church — Alumni Dinner. President John Huston Finley, '87, Toastmaster. Music by the combined Glee Clubs of past and present. GENERAL INFORMATION Committee Headquarters The headquarters of the various committees will be at the College Library in Alumni Hall, where registration will take place and places of entertainment be assigned and tickets (for which application has previously been made) to the various events of Commencement will be given out. The visitor's record will be kept there and all visitors are requested to reg- ister their names immediately on their arrival in Galesburg. GENERAL PROGRAM OF EVENTS 133 Members of the committee of entertainment will be con- stantly on hand to answer inquiries and to render service to all visitors. Visitors' Directory A Directory, containing the names of all guests and visiting Alumni and the addresses at which they may be found while in Galesburg and also the names and addresses of resident Alumni, will be issued on Monday morning, June 10th, and a revised edition of the same Wednesday morning, June 13. In order that this may be accurate and complete, it is exceed- ingly important that all those expecting to attend the exer- cises should fill out and return the enclosed card at once. Also it is desired that all those residents of Galesburg who are expecting to entertain guests should send the names and ad- dresses of their guests to the committee at the earliest possible moment. The committee may be reached by telephone as follows : Until June 6, at "Old Main," new phone. No. 1898 main. After June 6, at Alumni Hall, new phone 2548 main. Entertainment The entertainment committee will, if requested, assist visi- tors in securing boarding places in private homes and board- ing houses. Such accommodations can be secured for all who wish them at the rate of $1.25 to $1.75 per day for board and room. Applications should be made as early as possible in advance and should be specific as to the time of intended arrival in Galesburg and the period for which accommodations are desired. If room without board is desired, that should be stated on the enclosed card. The card must be returned before June 6. Distribution of Tickets A. tickets furnished by the college, no admission charge The Declamation Contests. The Baccalaureate Service. The Address before the Christian Associations. The Class Day Exercises. The Alumni Address. The Commemoration Celebration. The Historical Pageant (25c for reserved seats). The distribution of tickets for these events is in charge of the committee on the distribution of tickets, Mr. Kellogg D. McClelland, chairman. All representatives of other insti- tutions and invited guests and all alumni or alumnae of the 134 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS college are entitled to two tickets for each of these events and are requested to state on the enclosed card for what events they wish tickets. This card should be returned to the com- mittee not later than June 6. If the card is returned to the committee as directed, tickets will be in readiness for the ap- plicant at the place of registration upon arrival in Galesburg B. TICKETS OFFERED FOR SALE The events included in this group are: The Dedication of the Triumvirate Organ of Central Church. The Commencement Concert of the Conservatory of Music. The Reunion and Supper of the Conservatory Alumni. The Senior Class Play. The Adelphi Reunion Dinner. The Gnothautii Reunion Dinner. The Coburn Players, "Twelfth Night." The Historical Pageant (reserved seats). The Alumni Banquet. Orders for tickets included in this group must be received by the committee not later than June 6, and must be accom- panied by remittance. It should be stated on the enclosed card how many tickets are desired for each event, and at what price, if the prices vary. The Senior Class Play The Class Play, presented by the Senior class, will be Israel Zangwill's "The Melting Pot." The play will be pre- sented at the Auditorium on Tuesday evening, June 11, at 8:15 o'clock. The entire distribution of the seats is in the hands of the Senior class. Orders for the reservation of seats, how- ever, may be made through the committee on general ar- rangements by use of the enclosed card. The prices for the seats will be 50c, 75c and $1.00, depending upon location. Orders should be sent in before June 6 in order to secure good seats, since the demand for good seats exceeds the supply each year. Historical Pageant On the evening of Commencement Day, at 5 o'clock, the Historical Pageant of Knox College and Galesburg will be presented on the campus, south of "Old Main." The pageant is divided into six epochs, each one covering some particular feature in the historical past of Knox and Galesburg. The first episode will deal with the country in the prairie days when the Indians roamed over the spot now GENERAL PROGRAM OF EVENTS 135 occupied by the city. The aborigines will be illustrated by a band of red men in sports and games characteristic of the race. A tableau showing the signing of the plan for the Galesburg colony, before they set out from Whitesboro, N, Y., will be the principal feature of this scene. In the second episode the arrival of the colonists at Log City in 1837 will be shown. "The Underground Railway" and the work of Galesburg in this system will be the theme of a third episode. Follow- ing this will be recounted the scenes of the Lincoln-Douglas debate on the campus of Knox in 1858. The fifth epoch deals with Galesburg in the war time per- iod from 1861 to 1864. The sixth epoch in the history of the college will picture in great detail the undergraduate life of the present day. Distribution of the various scenes and characters in the pageant has been made among resident graduates and former students, from the classes of 1885 to the present time. Under- graduates are also taking a part in the work and in all several hundred people will be engaged in the performance. Academic Processions An Academic procession will precede the Commencement exercises and also those of the Anniversary Celebration. Academic costume will be worn. Both processions will form on the college campus in front of the "Old Main" building, and will march directly to the Central Church by way of Broad street, led by the College band and the members of the graduating class. The graduating class will form on the walk leading from the Science Hall. The Alumni and Alumnse will form on the walk leading from Alumni Hall. The Faculty of Knox, the Trustees, and the Representa- tives of Colleges and Universities will form on the walk in front of the "Old Main" building. The Alumni Dinner The Alumni Dinner, which is in charge of a committee of the Alumni, will be held immediately after the Historical Pageant at 7 :00 p. m., in the Central Church. Tickets will be reserved only for those who return the enclosed card with remittance before June 6. The price of the banquet ticket will be $1.00. The procession leading to the banquet will form as follows : Official delegates and special guests, trustees and 136 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS faculty of the college will form on the walk leading from "Old Main" to the gymnasium. The alumni, beginning with the older classes, will form on the walk leading from Alumni Hall to "Old Main." Husbands and wives of graduates may march with them. The members of the graduating class will form on the diagonal walk leading from Science Hall to "Old Main." All others holding banquet tickets will form on the walk leading from Standish Park to "Old Main." The pro- cession will form immediately at the close of the Historical Pageant. Only those with tickets will be permitted to enter the dining rooms. Reunions The hour planned for Class Reunions is 12 m., Tuesday, June 11. The following are the class secretaries who are ar- ranging reunions for their respective classes : Rev. N. L. Burton, '71 ; Mrs. Maud Tenney Brown, '72 ; Mrs. Ella Kreider Hanna, '73 ; Mrs. Carrie Dietrich Manny, '75, '76; Mrs. Hettie Linsley Thompson, '77; Mrs. Fred R. Jelliff, '78 ; Mr. O. J. Colton, '79 ; Mrs. Lillian Bassler Jelliff, '80, '81 ; Miss Cora Stone, '82, '83 ; Mrs. Delia Rice Mathenv, '84; Miss Jessie Holmes, '85; Dr. L. R. Ryan, '86; Mrs. Ber- tha Davis Taggert, '87 ; Rev. Stuart M. Campbell, '88 ; Mrs. Alice Stewart Wolf, '89; Mr. Henry F. Arnold, '90; Mrs. May Roberts King, '91 ; Miss Sadie Folger, '92 ; Mr. George Candee Gale, '93; Mrs. Elizabeth Freer Walker, '94; Mrs. Frances Arnold Woods, '95 ; Mrs. Lucy Babcock Rich, '96 ; Mrs. Mary Wertman Stearns, '97 ; Mr. Fred McFarland, '98 ; Miss Ora Wertman, '99 ; Mr. Albert S. Felt, '00 ; Mrs. Clara Forester Maley, '01; Miss Alice Willard, '02; Dr. Fred E. Ewing, '03 ; Mr. Roy L. Piatt, '04 ; Miss Alice Lowrie, '05 ; Mr. Henry W. Lass, '06 ; Miss Marie Seacord, '07 ; Mr. Roy E. Ingersoll, '08 ; Miss Letitia Rhodes, '09 ; Miss Delia Spin- ner, '10; W. Leslie Latimer, '11. All graduates are requested to notify the secretaries of their respective classes in case they expect to attend Com- mencement. All secretaries are residents of Galesburg. The members of Sigma Rho are planning a reunion at 5 :30 p. m., Monday, June 10. Correspondence should be di- rected to Mr. Carl Dunsworth, Galesburg. A supper is being planned for all members of classes from 1880 to 1887, inclusive, to be held in the college library on Wednesday, June 12. Full information and details regarding reunions planned should be sent to the Rev. Stuart M. Campbell, The Manse, Galesburg, 111. COMMITTEES OF ARRANGEMENT 137 Committees of Arrangement for the Seventy-fifth Anniversary General Arrangements — President Thomas McClelland Mr. George A. Lawrence Mr. E. R. Drake Mrs. Maud Tenney Brown Miss Grace A. Stayt Miss Jessie R. Holmes Professor W. F. Bentley Mr. George C. Gale Mr. Henry F. Arnold Mr. Fred O. McFarland Professor W. E. Simonds Mr. Kellogg D. McClelland Rev. Stuart M. Campbell Entertainment — Miss Mary Smith Mrs. Maud Tenney Brown Mr. C O. Lewis Miss Jessie R. Holmes Miss Grace A. Stayt Professor R. Janssen Professor W. P. Drew Decorations — Professor W. L. Raub Mrs. G. T. Sellew Mrs. A. C. Longden Mr. E. R. Drake Class of 1913 Distribution of Tickets — Mr. Kellogg D. McClelland Professor A. C. Longden Mr. Carl M. Dunsworth Invitations and Programs — Professor H. V. Neal Mrs. Clark E. Carr Professor W. L. Raub Mr. Kellogg D. McClelland Reunions and- Chapel Service- Rev. Stuart M. Campbell Professor Thomas R. Willard Mrs. Alice Stewart Wolf Miss Jessie Holmes Dr. Fred Ewing Phocessions and Seating — Mr. Wilfred Arnold, Marshal Professor H. V. Neal Mr. G. F. Whitsett, College Marshal Alumni Dinner — Mr. Geo. C. Gale Mr. Henry F. Arnold Mrs. Hettie Linsley Thompson Mrs. Alice Stewart Wolf Miss Alida L. Finch Mr. J. B. Brown Speakers — President Thomas McClelland Mr. George C. Gale Professor W. F. Bentley Professor W. E. Simonds Music — Professor W. F. Bentley Professor J. W. Thompson Professor G. A. Stout Miss Blanche Boult Miss Lillian A. Elwood Academic Costume — Professor G. T. Sellew Dr. Stuart M. Campbell Professor W. F. Bentley Press and Publication — Mr. Kellogg D. McClelland Mr. Richard Jelliflf Mr. Vernon M. Welsh Historical Pageant — Professor W. E. Simonds Miss Jessie Holmes Mrs. Georgia Smith Gale Mrs. Bertha Davis Taggert Miss Mildred Tibbals Miss Grace Stayt Professor D. E. Watkins 138 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Sunday, June 9. BACCALAUREATE SERMON PRESIDENT THOMAS McCLELLAND Text: Psalms 45:16. "Instead of thy fathers shall be thy chil- dren." These words are part of an ode in celebration of the nup- tials of some oriental monarch, possibly Solomon. They sug- gest the thought of the morning. In the first place they are indicative of the high regard in which the continuity of fam- ily relations was held by the Hebrew people. Genealogies of their leaders were carefully preserved and some of them have come down to us in the various books which, bound together, constitute our Bible. Not only was this continuity of natural relations preserved in their thought and life and referred to with constant pride, but it was used persistently and effectively in stimulating each successive generation to preserve the con- tinuity of that moral and religious life which was the dis tinguishing characteristic of the Hebrew race. This is strongly emphasized in the song from which the text is taken. ''Thine arrows are sharp in the hearts of the king's enemies whereby the people fall under thee. The scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter ; thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness. Therefore, God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore shall the people praise thee forever and ever." Lifted out of its oriental settings, stripped of all poetic im- agery, the text is full of suggestions for the practical and prosaic generation to which we belong. "Instead of thy fath- ers shall be thy children." As had the king before whom these words were sung, so have we received from our fathers a goodly heritage. As upon him, so upon us, it devolves, not only to conserve it, but to pass it on enlarged and improved to our children. The strength of family ties which has held among the Hebrews for ages, is an interesting fact, but more BACCALAUREATE SERMON 139 important than this, as furnishing an example for us, is the fact that they preserved with religious fidelity the continuity of interests, of aims, and policies. Their history shows no mere fortuitous progress, but a development along well-marked lines. Each successive generation got, not only its forms of thought and expression, but its ideals and its motive force through a conscious and joyous connection with preceding generations. The occasion which calls us together this morning, as well as the text, suggests and compels a reference to the founders of this town and college. Seventy-five years ago on the fif- teenth of February last, the law makers of this common- wealth, in session at Vandalia, recognized the plan of the far- sighted colonists who planted the college, and authorized its consummation by chartering the institution which has de- veloped into Knox College as we know it to-day. It is not likely that the legislators whose votes gave it legal existence had any adequate conception of the meaning of their act. It is perhaps too much to say that even the colonists themselves, in whose minds the plan of college and town originated, un- derstood its full meaning and its future possibilities; but, as is so generally the case with the philanthropic undertakings of men whose vision includes not only present but future generations, they builded better than they knew. In the original document which formulated their purpose, statesman- like in its outlook on the future, Christian in the manner of its initiative, there was wrapped up the promise and potency of all that is best in city and college to-day; more than this, a promise of the greater realities which the future has in store, if we, the children, are true to the ideals of the fathers. It will be worth while from the vantage ground which the progress of intervening years gives to renew our strength, to reanimate ourselves by a reference to that which our own pioneers thought in their hearts to do for God and their coun- try. It was no narrow conception. It had in it the promise of vastly greater good than any single generation could real- ize. It embraced not only the individual, but the institutions of the state ; it included not only the nation, but the world — 140 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS as a reference to the language of the original circular clearly shows : "Who that loves the souls of men can look on this field and not feel his heart affected, and not tax his energies to the utmost, as well as offer most fervent prayers to the Lord of the harvest, that he would furnish the laborers ? Who that loves the institutions of his country can look upon it without alarm when he reflects that in a few, a very few years, they will be in the hands of a population reared in this field; and reared, unless a mighty effort be made by evangelical Christians, under the forming hand of those who are no less the enemies of civil liberty than of a pure gospel? What is done to prevent this ruin must be done quickly. It is perfectly within the power of evangelical Christians in this country under God, to furnish, and that speedily, all the laborers wanted on this field, besides doing much towards supplying the world." As early as January 7, 1836, the date of the adoption of the original circular in Whitestown, New York, the various lines of activities which are to-day open to college men and women who wish to devote their lives more or less exclu- sively to pursuits which make for the good of humanity, were unknown, and so, in keeping with the common thought of the times, and the purposes which led to the founding of most of the earlier colleges in the East, as for instance, Harvard and Yale and Princeton, and Dartmouth and Williams, the primary object of the school which it was their thought to establish, was to train men for the gospel ministry; but even though this was the primary thought, it was by no means exclusive — as the opening words of the charter clearly show: "The object of said corporation shall be to promote the general interests of literature, and to qualify young men in the best manner for the various professional and business occupations of society, by carrying into effect a thorough system of men- tal, moral and physical education." Neither was this liberal provision confined to young men. In language which seems somewhat antiquated to-day, but which was quite advanced seventy-five years ago, they made it clear that their thought included the thorough and well-directed education of women. BACCALAUREATE SERMON 141 This was realized in the Knox Female Seminary, which in the evolution of the years, has made Knox College a co-educa- tional institution. The exact language used is exceedingly interesting when we take into account the conditions of the times in which it was written: "It is beginning to be be- lieved, and not without good reason, that females are to act a much more important part in the conversion of the world than has been generally supposed; not as preachers of the gospel, but as help-meets of those who are, and as instructors and guides of the rising generations, not only in the nursery, but in the public school. It should therefore be an object of special aim with all who pray and labor for the conversion of the world, to provide for the thorough and well-directed education of females." This may be picturesque enough to start a smile in our day, but it suggests large-mindedness and progressive thought at a time little more than a generation removed from that period after the close of the Revolutionary War, when it could be said that many ladies of high standing in Boston, could not read, that wives of distinguished men signed deeds with a cross, that a girl instructed by a master was unheard of, and "to be permitted to hang on the door steps of country schools to hear the boys recite, was deemed a privilege." It was at the very time when Mary Lyon was scouring the Connecticut valley, soliciting money and produce from business men and farmers to furnish the means for laying the modest foundations of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, which, as that splendid institution of higher learn- ing for women. Mount Holyoke College, will celebrate its 75th Anniversary the coming fall. All honor to the men and women of vision, who seventy-five years ago, in prayer and high resolve, and with sublime sacrifice, laid the humble foundations on which have been reared the goodly educational structures which we see to-day, offering equal privileges to men and women. It is cause for gratitude that we have entered into the heritage which the Rev. George W. Gale and his associates have left to us, but underneath the feeling of thanksgiving which we gladly express during these anniversary days, may 142 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS there be a deep sense of the obligation which that, we have received of the fathers, imposes. May we realize as children, that it is our privilege, as well as our duty, not only to pre- serve this heritage intact, but to pass it on enlarged and en- riched to the generations yet to come. The vision of the fathers looked far into the future ; theirs was a conception and plan which no single generation could realize. These colonists were not saints already redeemed from all the temptations that flesh is heir to. Some of them were no doubt shrewd, hard-headed business men. They doubtless expected, through the occupancy of these rich virgin prairies, that some rewards would accrue to themselves and their chil- dren. They were men of strong convictions and positive be- liefs, and, in defense of these, tradition tells us, they were ready betimes to engage in personal controversy, which occa- sionally amounted to battles royal. But these things were incidental. The one aim, the guiding and compelling motive which brought them to this place seventy-five years ago was the founding of the college. Moved by noble impulses which formed themselves into generous and far-reaching purposes, they devised the plan out of which grew Knox College and Galesburg. With unselfish devotion and sublime faith in Jehovah, they migrated from their eastern homes to this re- gion, then the very frontier of our country ; a distance meas- ured by the time it took to traverse it, as great as a journey around the world to-day. With them as with the pioneers of all progress throughout the ages, the thoughts of their hearts were greater than their ability to perform. The deep- est purposes of their minds, their most worthy ambitions, out- ran their achievements. So is it ever ; the highest ideals of one generation must wait upon succeeding generations for their realization. Thus the generations are linked together. The past is bound to the present. In this we find the continuity of history. Men think in their hearts larger thoughts than they realize in deeds. The man in any age who subjects himself to the higher motives of life enters into the mind of the In- finite. His life becomes a part of the eternal purposes which through the ages run. And so the words I have quoted from BACCALAUREATE SERMON 143 this old song, "Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children," have a significance for men in all generations. The pioneers, whose memories we honor to-day, realized in a comparatively small measure the promise of their own purposes and plans, but they prepared the way for their children, that without them, they should not be made perfect. It would be pleasing to dwell more fully on the retrospect and we might be par- doned if we should take further time to express the exultation of some here whose thoughts are naturally contrasting the early years of struggle and preparation with the realizations of to-day. The occasion, however, points to the future, and de- mands not so much an eulogy of the past, as a promise of that which is to come. We might naturally follow this thought to show that they, who with earnest desire and right purpose are doing life's work, may labor on with assurance that their plans and purposes will find fruition through those who fol- low after. For the present I desire rather to turn your thoughts to the responsibility which rests upon those to whom these un- fulfilled promises and incomplete labors have been transmitted. Men have a habit of making generous acknowledgment of their dependence on the past. Pulpit and press, orator and essayist, historian and painter, vie with each other, in mag- nifying the achievements of those who have gone before. We go back to the ancients for our best examples in literature in law, in religion. We find among them the masters in the art of painting, of sculpture, of architecture, and we cheer- fully take as our criterion of success the measure of our ap- proach to the models they have left us. But this morning my thought turns to the incompleteness of the past and to the responsibility of the present for the fulfillment of its unreal- ized promises. That is the meaning of the words of the singer to this the ancient monarch in the climax of his joy and triumph : "Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.' The appeal was not for greater effort toward the enlargement and aggrandize- ment of his kingdom, but rather it was a call to the righteous life and that faith in Jehovah which characterized his fathers. 144 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS The same thing is strikingly brought out in the eleventh chap- ter of Hebrews which has been fittingly called the faith pyramid. The writer emphasizes not the achievements of the heroes of ancient Israel whose names he has immortalized, but rather their fidelity to the unfilled promises and the unrealized ideals which they have transmitted to their children. This was faith, faith in the eternal God, faith in the future of the race, and it was counted to them for righteousness. They belonged to different generations ; they differed widely in modes of life in religious observances, in standards of morals and in con- duct, but they were one in faith and obedience. We may well put the stamp of our disapproval on many of their acts, never- theless, as has been well said: "Through their varied history of short-comings, of primitive faith and primitive morals, there was a constant preparation for the better things which should come after." "These all having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better things for us that they without us should not be made perfect." This is the law of progress throughout the ages. Beliefs perish, ideals remain. The temporary even in conduct disappears, the living faith endures. Through it God has prepared better things for those who come after. Apart from the children, the fathers who have been true to the vital things of life are not made perfect. It is the mission of the present to take care of the things of itself, but in so doing it conserves and perfects the past while at the same time it pro- vides unconsciously better things concerning the future. For- tunately the original settlers who came to find homes in this state, as in the newer states of the West generally, were in most cases no mere adventurers, seeking only the betterment of their temporal conditions. Happy for the future of the great middle West, which exerts such a potent influence upon the nation to-day and is sure to hold the balance of power in the future, they were men of prayer and faith, who, to the de- sire to make for themselves and their children, more comforta- ble and prosperous homes in these new lands, joined the well- defined and persistent purpose to plant the Christian institu- tions, church and school, which had been the glory of the BACCALAUREATE SERMON 145 states farther east from which they migrated. The influence of these early foundations upon the great states of the West, can hardly be overestimated. As we value the efficiency of these institutions which the fathers planted, as we hope to do our part in fulfilling their thought and purpose, we must not depart from the ideals which they cherished. Most of all we must not forget that our strength, as did theirs, rests in God. Any tendency toward the adoption of narrower views or lower conceptions will find easy corrections, by a reference to the records of the past. The character of the first settlers in any community and the purposes which govern their lives somehow persist and give character to the community for generations to come. They perpetuate, nay more, they multiply themselves, and their influence is not confined to the limits of any single com- munity or any single state. At this time, we gladly pay homage to the wise forethought, the unselfish devotion, and the high aims of the men, who, in prayer and faith, estab- lished this college. But how shall the natural progression of the ideals which possessed the fathers be transmitted to the generations which are to come? What is the task that devolves upon us? Nat- urally we think first of the college. What kind of an institu- tion shall we make of it? How shall we best carry out the purpose which entered into its foundation? The primary thought was to provide an educated ministry who should in- struct the incoming settlers in the gospel doctrines of right- eousness and carry the same message into the remote parts of the earth. This idea was, as I have said, not peculiar to Knox College; it was the underlying thought in the planting of all the early institutions of higher learning in the New England and middle states. In fact, it gave us the American college, that distinctive institution of our educational system, whose aim is still to train men, not so much for any particular vocation, as for service to humanity, whatever may be their specific calling. Rejoicing as we do in our technical schools and in our system of great universities which have grown up in response to the needs of business, of the professions and 146 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS of social conditions as they exist to-day, it remains true that there never was a greater demand than now for the kind of education which the college as such, stands for; that funda- mental training which develops the powers of the mind and which does not neglect the heart while training the intellect. In short, that institution which has as its aim the making of men first, — business men, professional men, and specialists of whatever order, afterwards. With the words of the new president of Princeton the American college is in full sym- pathy, "Make a man, and he will find his work." His in- augural address made it clear that Princeton under his leader- ship, "will not exist merely as a school of apprenticeship for definite occupations in life, but undertakes to transform a school boy into a cultivated and self-governed man." It is interesting to note that just at this time there is a distinct and growing demand for that kind of education which the college has furnished in the past, with such particular adjustments as changed conditions may require, but holding faithfully to that which has been its supreme aim in all the past. So general and pronounced has this demand become, and such has been the response that our magazines are beginning to talk of the Renaissance of the American college, and definite and far reaching plans are under consideration, looking toward a large development of this essential part of our educational system. This is the course which real educational progress is taking to-day. It does not under-rate the importance of those forms of education which especially fit men to be investigators in the realms of science, or of business, or of government, or of social interests and relations ; rather its aim is to furnish that fundamental training of intellect and heart so essential to leadership in every department of human investigations anil activities. Neither does it fail to recognize the fact that the great majority of our youth are, by circumstances over which they have no control, prohibited from entering the field of higher education at all. For them, that much abused and en- tirely overworked adjective, "vocational," has a distinct and most valuable significance ; and I take this opportunity, which the celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the found- i ^ BACCALAUREATE SERMON 147 ing of Knox College and the city of Galesburg affords, to record the appreciation which the college has for the intelli- gent and consistent work our city schools are doing, in pro- viding an education suited to the needs of that large majority of their pupils, who must make their way in the world without the advantages of the liberal training, which the college seeks to give; while at the same time they are furnishing prepara- tory courses for those looking toward the college, who, al- though their numbers are comparatively small, are of unmeas- ured importance, because of their prospective influence on state and nation. I trust the close and helpful relations that have always existed between our city schools and this college may continue and become of greater and greater mutual ad- vantage as the years go on. Again, and more specifically, if the vision of the fathers is to find that fair share of its fulfillment which belongs to this generation, we must see to it that the college makes not only for the intellectual training of its students, but above all, that it shall send its graduates out with the right moral and religious attitude; thoroughly impressed with their obligation, as educated men and women, to the society of which they are to be an influential part. We owe it to these young men and women we are sending out year by year that the college on its intellectual side shall be kept fully abreast of the educa- tional progress of our day; but none the less do we owe it to them that the atmosphere in which they gain this side of their training, shall be charged with the spirit of those who planted this institution, which was none other than the spirit of Christ. In this is involved all that is meant when we talk of morals and religion. What is religion but the spirit which generates moral purposes and puts them into action? The fathers may have differed among themselves as to theological beliefs, and some of the views cherished by them all we may discard to-day, but the underlying spirit, the great funda- mental purposes which go toward determining character and which were the main springs of their actions, never change. All speculative and metaphysical thought aside. Rev. George W. Gale and his associates were animated by love of their 148 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS fellow men ; and moved by a sense of their responsibility for the welfare of the multitudes, whom, with prophetic foresight, they saw inhabiting the fertile prairies of this fair state, they founded this college, dedicating it to the service of humanity and the glory of God. Possessed with the spirit of Christ which animated them, we must send our students into the world if we, their children, are to realize the aims and pur- poses of the founders whose memories we cherish and whose works we praise to-day. Members of the Graduating Class : You are to be congratulated that your Commencement Day is co-incident with the completion of seventy-five years in the life of your college. Because of this, yours will be a marked class. Its place in the history of the college will be easily found, and for this reason its record will be conspicuous. Let me assure you that we are sending you out with confidence that when you return to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniver- sary of your graduation, which will also be the one hun- dredth anniversary of the founding of the college, this class of 1912 will be able to give a good account of itself. While here you have acquitted yourselves well, and you have made valuable acquisitions in the various fields of knowl- edge covered by the curriculum. Our confidence that you will serve well your day and generation is based, as I said to you the other day, not so much on this fact, as upon what you are, — as upon the attitude and habits of mind you have acquired here. The value of your college course as an equip- ment for life is therefore measured, not so much by the quantity of truth which you have appropriated, as by what it has made of you, as by the relation it has established between you and all truth, and, let me add this morning, as by the spirit which may have taken possession of your lives. We hear much to-day of the selfishness and oppression of the gen- eration now active in the work of life, — the greed for money, the lust for political power, and the craze for social prestige have taken possession of us as a people to an alarming extent. The coming generation has much to do to overcome this, and the responsibility will rest heavily upon college-trained men BACCALAUREATE SERMON 149 and women. In confronting this problem you will find that its dangerous aspect is not confined to the so-called lower or "submerged" classes. The menace of upper Fifth Avenue is in certain respects quite as bad as that of the lower Bowery. And what is true of the metropolis, is as true of other cities throughout the land. We have been discussing this morning the planting and development of Knox College. For you who are going into a new world, this history of sacrifice and achievement cover- ing three-fourths of a century, is of very special significance. From it you may learn that your triumphs will be gained, not by competition for personal ends, but by co-operation for the common good. The history of the founders and that of the college in its whole development, emphasizes this fact and enforces the still more fundamental lesson that, for eflFective service in your generation, as in every other, the spirit of the Master working in the lives of men is the essential of success- ful service. Only by a constant reference to this truth which lies at the foundation of all right living, will you reach the solution of the problems that confront you. Make it the starting point of all your plans and purposes and you may rest assured that in the issues of life, whatever the seeming may be, there will be no failure. 150 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Monday, June 10, 3 P. M. [The Class Day exercises were held on the campus in the rear of "Old Main." The class history was given a dramatic setting by Mr. Jesse A. Crafton and elaborately presented by the class of 1912. The program follows.] EGENETO IN ATHENAIS A Greek Comedy (Translated out of the Original Greek) A Tale of the School of Athens, B. C. 512 HISTORICALLY CORRECT In Four Farts I. The Newcomers II. The Knowitalls III. The Dissipaters IV. The Wisdomites the time of the play is from 12-08 b. c. the scenes are laid in the school of ATHENS PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS BASILEUS, Ruler of the School. ASPENBUS, A Knowit All. GRIFFES, His Worthy Advisor. KALSOMINE, the Heroine. A HISTORY TEACHER. A PHILOSOPHY TEACHER. CARLOS, Epistoteus of the Wisdomites ASPARAGUS, the Hero. PEROXIDES, An Athlete. DEMENTES "^ DOGGONUS [-Students. PYRITES INTERPRET A TION PETROLIA ^ UNEEDA [students. BACTERIA I MARTHIA J ALUMNES, a Graduate of the School OLAFITUS. Students, Musicians, etc. Events Mentioned in Part I The School Buildings Life at Whiting Hall Rushing Endowment Campaign Freshman Dance Freshman-Sophomore Scrap Events Mentioned in Part II Work of Vacation Prof. Conger's History The Yellow Jacket The Glee Club Trip The Lombard Funeral The Sophomore Play The May Dances Events Mentioned in Part III Junior Prom. Olaf Student Literary Prize Prof. Raub's Philosophy Dancing in the Gym Burning of the Yellow Jackets The Engaged Couples Debating and Oratory Contests Events Mentioned in Part IV Election of Senior President Champion Athletic Teams Oratory and Debating Record Commencement Exercises 7Sth Anniversary Celebration Note — A pause in the action indicates a lapse of time. COMMENCEMENT CONCERT 151 Monday, June 10, 8 P. M. [The Commencement Concert by the graduating class of the Knox Conservatory of Music was given in Beecher Chapel with the following program:] knox conservatory of music Twenty-seventh Annual COMMENCEMENT CONCERT given by THE SENIOR CLASS beecher chapel Monday Evening, June Tenth Nineteen Hundred Twelve eight o'clock Program Concerto in E flat, Op. 70 Hermann Mohr Allegro — Scherzo Miss Gates and Orchestra Concert Polonaise Paderewski Mrs. Patterson One Fine Day (Madame Butterfly) Puccini Miss Bibbins March Fantastica, Op. 31, No. 3 Bargiel *Miss Helm Concerto in G, No. 7 DeBeriot Allegro Maestoso — Andante Miss MORLEY AND ORCHESTRA Ah ! Moon of my delight (The Persian Garden) Lisa Lehmann Mr, Newcomb Duo for two pianos — ^Valse Carnevalesque Chaminade Miss Epperson and Miss McClure Onaway Beloved (Wedding Feast) Coleridge-Taylor Mr. Soule Polonaise C minor Chopin Mr. Osborn Cantata — The Swan and the Skylark A. Goring Thomas Tenor solo and chorus — Summer! Summer! I depart; Farewell. Mr, Wilson Alto solo and chorus — Thus flowed the death chant on ; Farewell. Miss Crane Sopranos Tenors Alice May Carley Lilian Elwood Ralph W. Soule Gertrude E. Main Maude L. Nelson Qaude R. Newcomb Lucile Conner Lillian C. Anderson Orlo A. Eastman Basses Nellie M. Bibbins Fred W. Beard William J. Osborn Grace L. Epperson Altos Ralph B. Joy Vera W, McClure Alice C. Lowrie J. Russell Fox Leitha M. Swigert Herschell H. Halladay Concerto in A minor Grieg Allegro Moderato Winifred Shaver and Orchestra ♦Excused on account of illness. 152 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Tuesday, June 11, 8 :15 P. M. [The Senior Class Play was produced at the Auditorium with the following cast:] "THE MELTING POT" BY ISRAEL ZANGWILL Cast of Characters David Quixano, a Jewish Musician Jesse A. Crafton Mendel Quixano, His Uncle John R. Fox Frau Quixano, His Uncle's Mother Bessie Coat Kathleen O'Reilly, their household help Violette M. Briggs Quincy Davenport, Jr., an unemployed millionaire. .. .Chas. M. Burns Herr Pappelmeister, his orchestra conductor Carl M. Dunsworth Baron Revendal, a Russian official Orlo A. Eastman Baroness Revendal, his second wife Mildred Morris Vera Revendal, her step-daughter Winifred C. Ingersoll Synopsis Act I — Living room in the house of the Quixanos in the Borough of Bowling Green, New York. Act II — The same. March, afternoon. Act III — Miss Revendal's office at the Settlement. April, after- noon. Act IV — Roof garden of the Settlement. Evening of Saturday, the fourth of July. Furniture loaned by the O. T. Johnson Co. Manager Max Goodsill Stage Director Frederick W. Beard Electrician and Property Man i Glenn A. Barrer Conductor Professor Dwight E. Watkins ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI 1S3 Wednesday, June 13, 8 P. M. ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI EDGAR A. BANCROFT, ESQ., CLASS OF 78. THE COLLEGE IN A COMMERCIAL AGE The Founders This day recalls the scene of seventy-five years ago : the wide rolling prairie carpeted with green, pranked with wild flowers, and fringed with woods. The actors were a band of colonists : clergymen, tradesmen, farmers and mechanics. They had built a small sawmill among the oaks, walnuts and maples of Henderson Grove, where, in thirteen impro- vised log cabins, one hundred and seventy-three of them had spent the previous winter. Now, with their own hands wielding axe and saw and hammer, they were building their homes and the new town of Galesburg. Here, on 10,746 acres of land, for which the Founders paid $14,821, began a ready-made community and an endowed college. The plan was both simple and far-sighted. They believed that by giving three-fourths of the land they purchased to the col- lege, and around it building a town, with church, school and stores, the remaining one-fourth would be worth much more than the cost of all, and the increasing value of that gift to the college would sustain it. Their purpose was to establish the twin institutions of learning and religion in this fertile region in advance of its occupation ; so that the forces of enlightenment, rather than of sordid selfishness, should control. The undertaking was as practical in its plan and methods as it was ideal in its aim. Thus George W. Gale, clergyman, educator, and true state- builder, and sole author of The Plan, described this "Meso- potamia of the West" and the object of the Founders: "Encircled by navigable waters, almost embosomed by the great Mississippi, almost every inch of the soil arable . . . high and healthful . . . the whole earth does not contain a spot capable of sustaining a denser population. . . . And if 154 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS there be a soil on the globe where the seeds of salvation ought to be sown with the first breaking of the turf, it is this."* Dr. Harvey Curtis, in his inaugural address as College President in June, 1858, — when this college, church and town had just reached their majority, — in the presence of more than half of the first colonists, thus expressed their intention : "It was a religious institution in its first conception. Religious men devised the plan, subscribed the money, led the way in the movement, endured the hardships of the first settlement ; and they designed that these institutions whose foundation-stones they were then laying, amid privation and toil, should be nurseries of sound learning, imbued with the spirit of fervent piety, regulated by a scriptural faith, un- folding itself in earnest, practical godliness." They were not visionaries, nor promoters of some new- found social or religious faith. They were pioneers, but they were not seeking escape from civil or religious oppres- sion. Though nearly all were Presbyterians, they were not sectarians. In their zeal there was no intolerance or bigotry. They were transplanting into virgin soil the matured tree ♦"These families were homogeneous in their character, partaking of the spirit, as they sprung from the blood of the Pilgrim fathers. They loved the Bible, the Sabbath and the sanctuary. They . . . felt as their fathers felt the importance of transmitting the institutions of religion ... as the richest inheritance they could leave. "But their views were not restricted to benefiting their descend- ants. The object which gave birth to the enterprise was that of diffusing over an important region of country, at an early period of its settlement, the combined influences of education and reHgion. Like their ancestors they had both 'Pastors and Teachers.' No Sabbath was spent after the main body arrived without the public worship of God. ... "Thus situated and employed, this infant community were more than contented, — they were happy. . . . They were far from friends, from loved homes and cherished scenes of the tenderest associations . . . exchanging comfortable habitations in eastern villages for the straitened and rude accommodations of western log cabins. Some had lost children ; others had buried husbands and fathers, by disease con- tracted on the way; others were still suffering from like causes; but they never . . . repined against Providence nor regretted for a mo- ment that they had embarked in this enterprise. The hope of securing the blessings of education and religion to their posterity and to the region where they settled was more to them than the comforts they had left." ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI 155 whose fruits should be intelligent and honest citizenship. Industry, education and religion were to be the means and the result of their success. They had, of course, that resourcefulness, manly inde- pendence and dexterity which are the traits of pioneers : "They rise to mastery of wind and snow ; They go like soldiers grimly into strife To colonize the plain. They plow and sow, And fertilize the sod with their own life, As did the Indian and the buffalo." These lines do not bound the qualities of our colonists, nor touch the vital centre of their activities, — the motive of their epic endeavor. They chose this place with prudent, practical, worldly wisdom, but their dominant desire was to till yet fairer fields of mind and soul. Already, on February 15, 1837, Mr. Gale had secured, from the legislature, a charter for "Knox Manual Labor Col- lege," with these objects and powers: "To promote the general interests of literature, and to qualify young men in the best manner for the various pro- fessional and business occupations of society by carrying into effect a thorough system of mental, moral and physical educa- tion, and so reduce the expenses of such education, by manual labor and other means, as shall bring it within the reach of every young man of industry and promise."* Thus education was to be the birthright of ambitious in- dustry. Such, three-quarters of a century ago, was the founding of this college, this church and this city. And the simple shaft above the grave of the Founder fittingly bears this epitaph: "Si monumentum requiris circumspice" — if you seek his monument look about you. And so, with pride in the founders and in the distinctions Knox students have *"The said college . . . shall be open to all denominations of Christians, and the profession of any particular religious faith shall not be required of those who become students ; all persons, however, may be suspended or expelled from said institution whose habits are idle or vicious, or whose moral character is bad." 156 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS won, we come to this Diamond Jubilee to crown our Alma Mater with gratitude, honor, praise and affection. Consider, for a moment, the conditions into which these colonizers projected themselves and their plan in 1837: In that year Illinois, with more acres of arable land than Eng- land, had less than 400,000 inhabitants, mainly in the south- ern portion and from slaveholding states. When Elijah P. Lovejoy printed abolition doctrines in his paper "The Alton Observer," the leading citizens of Alton threw his press into the river and killed him. There were then no railroads in the United States except short lines in New York, Pennsyl- vania and South Carolina. But the Illinois legislature of 1837, under pressure from an "Internal Improvement Con- vention," was voting bonds for $10,000,000 — equal to $25 for every inhabitant; $8,000,000 to build at once 1,300 miles of railroad connecting the principal towns of the state — not in- cluding Chicago ; and $2,000,000 to complete the Illinois and Michigan Canal from Chicago to Peru. It also voted $200,- 000 to the counties in which no public improvements were to be made. All energies were bent toward material develop- ment : the rapid conversion of the natural resources of soil, coal and timber into wealth. In that legislature, voting for this wild scheme of public improvements, which, in the panic of that year bankrupted the state for a time, and almost led to repudiation, were these men : Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, Ninian W. Edwards, John A. McClernand, James Shields, Edward D. Baker and James Semple, who, variously, became Judges of the Supreme Court, Governors of the State, Represent- atives and Senators in Congress, high officers in the Civil War, candidates for the presidency and President of the United States.* * Abraham Lincoln, in that year admitted to the Bar of Illinois, afterward elected to Congress, and twice elected President of the United States; Stephen A. Douglas, afterward member of the Illinois Supreme Court, thrice elected to Congress, United States Senator for two terms, and Democratic candidate for President; Ninian IV. Ed- wards, afterward Governor of the State ; John A. McClernand, after- ward four times elected to Congress and a General in the Civil War; ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI 157 Governor Ford, in his history, caustically referred to them as "spared monuments of popular wrath, evincing how safe it is to be a politician, but how disastrous it may be to the country to keep along with the present fervor of the people." In such a place and time the Founders set their college, devoted to sound learning and religion, and opposed to slavery and intemperance. The college charter clearly indicated the educational ob- ject of the Founders. A better statement of the true pur- pose of education cannot be made to-day. Although they sought practical training, and money was exceeding scarce during the first twenty years, they adopted, unchanged, the eastern college curriculum. The classics were given the first place, and mathematics the second ; of the sciences there was little more than the rudiments. And all led up to the crowning studies of college life — mental and moral philos- ophy. Along with these, as a daily influence, went work in writing and speaking English, and morning prayers, and chapel talks inculcating a generous purpose to serve society and win success by superior usefulness. Manual labor was to supply the resources for the mental and moral develop- ment of a sturdy manhood.* It was healthy mind-building and character-building, which would be the best preparation for every vocation. That was the philosophy of education James Shields, afterward Judge of the Supreme Court, Commissioner of the General Land Office, General in the Mexican War, Governor of Oregon Territory, and Senator from Illinois ; Edward D. Baker, afterward twice elected to Congress, Colonel in the Mexican War, Illinois' most eloquent orator, United States Senator from Oregon, Colonel in the Civil War, falling at Ball's Bluff in 1861 ; James Semple, then Speaker, afterward Judge of the Supreme Court, and United States Senator; Augustus C. French, afterward Governor; Stephen T. Logan, then partner of E. D. Baker and afterward of Lincoln, four times member of the Legislature, and member of the Constitutional Convention of 1848. *"Manual Labor" was dropped from the College name in 1857. As a required course, manual labor was never popular. Our faculty soon made the discovery which Tom Sawyer later immortalized : — that what you have to do, or are paid for doing, is work; but it becomes recreation if you have to pay for the chance to do it. This is the difference between Knox manual labor and Knox athletics. 158 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS as thought out by these frontier educators. It was at once ideal and utilitarian : it was inspiring, helpful, invigorating, Christian. More than this, the college was an unselfish democracy, in which the improvement of every individual and the highest prosperity of the whole region was the great purpose. During its first half century, the influence of the college was supreme in all educational and in most intellectual mat- ters ; and it dominated and refined the life of the community. All of the social life that was really sociable and improving centered about the college, where it was the fondest hope of every family with ambition to send at least one son or daughter. The churches, the public schools and the city have ever been in close sympathy with it. The Founders knew that communities, like men, are shaped to higher or lower uses, as their early training and associations determine; and that the abiding joys and satis- factions must be found above the plane of the material and the animal. They sought to sweeten their own lives and those of others with goodness, and to uplift and preserve the life of the community with institutions of intellectual and moral enlightenment. Here was, indeed, a close approach to a real Utopia, for nearly all the best things of life were brought into harmony. They knew the value of aspiration, and believed the saying of Solomon : "Where there is no vision the people perish ; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Emerson's familiar lines, slightly changed, apply to them: "They builded better than they knew ; Their simple plan to beauty grew. They wrought in deep sincerity ; Themselves from God they would not free." Educational Changes of a Scientific-Commercial Age During the seventy-five years since this college was founded, the material and social changes have been so vast and marvelous that no words or figures can express them. ADVANCED CHEMICAL LABORATORY ELEMENTARY BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY Chemical and Biological Laboratories in the George Davis Science Hall. ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI 1S9 Pardon me for reminding you of a few suggestive facts, — for some one has said statistics are like the fabled toads which bore jewels in their heads; the ordinary user throws away the jewels and carefully preserves the toads! In the matter of population, Galesburg has increased from 232 souls to nearly 25,000; Chicago from less than 4,000 to more than 2,000,000 ; Illinois from less than 400,000 to nearly 6,000,000; and the United States from 15,000,000 to 95,000,000. In wealth the change is still more astounding: The to- tal value of all property in Illinois has increased from about $55,000,000 to nearly $10,000,000,000, and in the United States from less than $5,000,000,000 to about $115,000,000,- 000. The increase per capita in Illinois is from $138 to $1,667, and in the United States, from $333 to $1,210. In railroad transportation, aside from trolleys and tram- ways, the mileage of the world has increased from a few hundred in 1837 to nearly 650,000, of which two-fifths are in the United States and 13,000 miles in Illinois. Within these wonder-working years have come the tele- graph, the ocean cable, nearly every kind of steam naviga- tion, kerosene and gas, as well as electric light, the myriad products of coal oil, the countless uses of electricity, the telephone, the phonograph, the wireless telegraph, and last- ly and most marvelous of all, the aeroplane. Moreover, there are those higher and greater contributions to the race : the discovery of ether, of the germ theory of disease, and the various methods of prevention and cure ; that epoch-making hypothesis of Darwin; the great advances in surgery and medicine, and in the field of public sanitation. They have made the physical world, its processes and laws, intelligible and vocal to man, and serviceable to his needs; they have quickened perception, and made the whole field of natural phenomena a fascinating study. And beyond the contributions of the sciences are the in- estimable gifts of Art and Literature : the immortal sculp- tures, paintings, poems, songs, symphonies, plays, essays and biographies, — which throb and glow with the emotions 160 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS of life ; creations that have within them not merely an in- forming value, but well-springs of unfailing pleasure. Appre- ciation stops with the melody, unless to the contributions of science are added the treasures of literature, and of those studies which are styled the Humanities, because of their humanizing influence. In them alone are found those deeper and subtler harmonies that are at once a sublime inspiration and gentle solace, and the seeds of hope and courage. They give to the truths of science that further charm which liter- ary association adds to natural beauty. Under the influence of the scientific and consequent so- cial development, the American scheme of college education has radically changed : the classics have been dethroned, and the sciences and modern languages have taken the dominant place ; the cultural and training elements have yielded not a little to the specializing and vocational end. The old educa- tional methods and ideals have changed to meet the modern demand for a college training that will most certainly and rapidly bring financial returns. The main object no longer is to develop the mind and enrich it with knowledge of the world's classic literature ; but to make the graduate resemble "a man of the world" or "a man of affairs." To this end was the elective system. Under it the pupils, not the masters of education, selected the courses to be taken. After a genera- tion of experiment in the new methods it is acknowledged that their object has not been secured : that indolence oftener than ambition controlled the choice of courses and studies. What was designed to help students work and think became a means of escape from both. There is a sign on an old building in Washington which unwittingly suggests an important truth in education and in life : "Horseshoeing done here by a horseshoer." The study of the classics reveals the wonders and utilities of the English tongue. Language is the one universal uten- sil in constant use ; and skill nowhere counts for more. The prevalence of slang among students, whose first duty is to ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI 161 master the subtleties of their mother tongue, betokens men- tal torpor, or vague and feeble powers of expression. The essence of all education is discipline of mind and character. The leadership which the classics held for so many generations — and which they still hold in the English colleges, was not accidental. No other study in a college course requires so many years of continuous and increasing- ly interesting work. No other language is so perfect as Greek, and none, save English, is so affluent. The modern languages are not taught in the same way, or with the same purpose or persistence. But in another respect the humanities, better than the sciences, train the mind for life's problems. In mathematics and pure science the student is dealing with certainties, with problems that admit of but one solution, of reasoning that can have but one conclusion, and with mathematical proofs. Whereas, in life one deals with possibilities and probabilities and moral evidences, and can derive from them, at the best, only moral certainties. The practical problems of life re- quire therefore a broader and more sensitive comprehension and judgment. But beside the mental discipline is the literature — the civilizations of the Attic age and the Roman Empire which classic study reveals. The sciences train the mind, but when they are forgotten — and they are as easily forgotten as the classics, — only the training remains : — none of the color and perfume and literary flavor and intellectual glow and remem- bered music, which the classics leave behind. The modern scientific and commercial spirits unite to decry the study of the classics. They approve Herbert Spencer's saying that Greek reveals the history of a bygone people, vastly inferior to ourselves, and having little of real value for the modern man. Many other successful business men approve the late R. T. Crane's insistence upon the use- lessness of higher education. As a preparation for business alone, they are largely right ; for the ideals and standards of success which the college teaches, or should teach, differ widely from those of the mere money-making career. Nev- 162 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS ertheless college training should not disqualify, but rather aid, the highest business success. Its aim, however, is an all-round culture and training which shall be the best basis for future specializing. The modern methods, in increasing the number of studies taught, with a wide freedom in selec- tion, have lessened thoroughness both in their teaching and in their study. The outside interests of students have been largely increased. Participation in these, doubles college ex- penses and substitutes social for intellectual pleasures, and prevents that intense interest in stimulating mental occupa- tions. Why is it that the college-bred youth can rarely write clean English and master simple practical problems, and that the youth without the college education often outstrips him? Why is it almost exceptional for the best writers in newspapers, magazines and reviews, and even among our men of letters, to be college men?* Which college or technical school helped to make Watt, or Franklin, or Fulton, or Stephenson, or Morse, or Edison, or Marconi, or Wright? None! their teachers and schools were Self-help and Intense Purpose, which made them in- dustrious, ambitious, independent, confident, successful. Could any of them have survived uninjured the influences of our most popular colleges? These tend more and more to showy affectations and vapid activities. Our aims and re- cent beliefs to the contrary notwithstanding, it is a fact that the tendency of much present-day education is to scatter the mental energy, confuse the ambition, and thereby lessen in- dustry and weaken purpose. In the early days, poverty and self-dependence, and the absence of wealth and distractions, kept college life vigorously intellectual and resolute. The very rigors of life made the students hardy and determined. For a century the really intellectual leaders of France in letters, in the arts and sciences, — every savant, every man of *"The fact is that neither in our colleges nor in our high schools do we insist upon habits of thorough and exact mastery of intellectual tasks as does the German Gymnasium or the English High School." — The New York Nation. ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI 163 distinguished mind, with only here and there an exception, has "come up out of the soil," is the son of a peasant, of some petty mechanic or tradesman, or of similar humble origin. "But were they not graduates of the colleges and univers- ities?" you may rightly ask. Yes, — but in France the col- leges and universities and professors and students have con- tinued to be poor, except in intellectual opportunities. Their discipline is intense, logical, inspiring and expanding, not scattering. Academic and social life, as we understand the latter, are wholly distinct. In no country have riches and inherited rank been so weakening and hampering; in none have humble origin and meager resources, coupled with in- dustry, thrift and intellectual ambition, found success so surely attainable. No matter what you may think of Paris, wealth and social vanities have had almost no influence on education in France. In the United States our obstacles and difficulties make one hundred truly successful men where what we usually call special advantages make one. The wealth of our com- mercial age has come so suddenly that our eager effort to use it has often resulted in misuse and a semi-intoxication. This is doubtless the basis of the witticism of a prominent educator and keen critic: "When we survey the damage done by education, we are constrained to favor compulsory illiteracy." That education is best that most develops the individ- ual's capabilities, that teaches and inspires him to make the most of himself. School and college should be the furnace and forge to make iron into tempered steel. To teach the student to make the electric mental current start and flow — to charge and recharge youthful minds and give them a sense of creative energy stirring in the brain and quickening the pulses of the blood and compelling action, — that is the problem of education. In England the old classical curriculum has continued unchanged and unchallenged. The solidly trained English college men still play commanding parts, not only in the lit- erary and political life of England, but equally in maintain- 164 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS ing and extending her commercial power and in the com- plicated imperial responsibilities in India, Egypt, Australia and Canada. The value of the college man depends not upon the things he knows, but upon his mind, his character, his ambition and ideals, — upon his ability quickly and accurately to learn new things. Learning is the food of the mind ; but it is not what the mind retains, but what it assimilates, that strengthens it. The college should start the mental and moral growth, which should continue through life from the inward impulse ; — the essential thing is to have the devel- opment continue. The experiences of life will store and en- rich a well-trained mind. Longfellow in his old age ex- plained his continued literary production by the old pear tree in his door-yard, — which bore fine fruit because it made new bark — showed a new ring of growth — each year. Every item in the college course, its purpose, its spirit, should be manworthy ; should so set the plastic elements of will and aspiration, and purpose, that they will not yield or change in the tests of social and business contact. The theory of making college education immediately practical is based on a false premise. The college cannot and should not try to fit a man for any calling; but should fit him to prepare for any vocation. Education may come from wide reading alone ; but for most youths there is needed the per- sonal contact and direction of the strong, trained character and mind of the teacher. But the essential thing is mental unfolding and growth, however produced. The point to the familiar saying, "Beware of the man of few books," is that he has absorbed a few real books — their essential power — into his mental fiber and intellectual life. Lincoln is an illustration and demonstration of this truth. With almost the fewest possible advantages, he de- veloped a self-disciplined mind, and a character of singular moral intensity and purity. He taught himself to think cogently and to speak the result precisely and fearlessly. He thus became the master of articulated reasoning, and of an unerring moral sense. These two qualities flowered in HH y-^ 5 r > A VIEW ON THE REAR CAMPUS WHITING HALL The Knnx Conservatory occupies the east wing. ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI 165 the exquisite beauty of his Gettysburg address and his sec- ond inaugural, and they bore fruitage in the imperishable service he rendered to his country and to mankind. His success was not that of a genius, which, while it inspired wonder and admiration, discourages the average man. If culture is the art of doing easily what one does not like to do, is it not worth while in the earlier years of edu- cation to give serious attention to that art? The object and the fulfillment of life is living; to be all that one may be and to be that through doing worthy things well. College Education in a Commercial Age Wealth, no matter how great, commercial enterprise and success, no matter how vast and stupendous, are dangerous to the individual and to the state only so far as they affect moral standards or confuse the popular sense of values. But the fact is that great wealth is ambitious to make com- mercial credit and commercial standards supreme, to meas- ure men by what they have, rather than by what they are. Wealth often masters its possessor, and insidiously leads to weakening luxuries, to the glorification of material things, and supplants refreshing pleasures with wasting distrac- tions, or dissipations. Wealth and luxury present greater obstacles to individual development than do poverty or pri- vations, for they present the obstacles without the challenge or the need to surmount it. A Greek philosopher crowned himself with pine before his youths, and said : "Greater than the men of Leonidas or Themistocles, greater than the victors of the Olympic games, am I ; for I have overcome wealth, and luxury, and ease." When the triumph of forty centuries of ship-building and the latest expression of luxurious furnishings and cuisine, — with swimming pool, palm garden and orchestra, — sent six- teen hundred passengers to sudden death in the icy sea, the world stood aghast to learn that millions had been spent for luxury and speed, but only hundreds for the protection of life. The enrichment and ennoblement of life were wholly forgotten. "Luxury," said David Swing, "is the displace- 166 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS ment of life: it marks where life has been, — or might have been." Low standards are no worse with wealth than with pov- erty. The test of the man is not his ability to become rich, but his use of his riches. This is so difficult because wealth charms and bewilders ; it stimulates every natural appetite and weakness — vanity, pride, conceit, love of display, reck- lessness and notoriety. The mere possession of wealth im- plies absolutely nothing as to the greatness of the possessor. That depends upon how the wealth was obtained, and yet more on how it is used. For the man of great wealth may be like a puny prince, crushed by the armor and sword which a valorous ancestor won and skillfully wielded. It was wisdom born of wide experience that led the greatest ironmaster of the world to write, "To die rich is to die disgraced." In the splendid house of a wealthy packer in New York hangs a costly painting of a bull's head. When asked why he had such a picture, he answered, with admir- able humility, "I wish to be reminded that after all we are only butchers." The college should develop and make strong the higher and worthier impulses and purposes of life so that the char- acter of the college man, — in an environment of luxury or commercialism, or commercialized politics, — shall not be, "like the dyer's hand," "subdued to what it works in." College men should have and easily maintain intellect- ual ideals of life almost independent of material possessions. No scholar, no scientist, no man of letters, has ever said that to die learned, or wise, or loaded with the accumulated honors of an intellectual life, is to die disgraced. On the other hand, the struggle for wealth, if arduous and honest, may be an excellent education, a real refining of character, a development of moral forces. When Carnegie builds libraries everywhere throughout the English-speak- ing world, they are monuments not to wealth's patronage of letters but of wealth's willing and deserved tribute, and ac- knowledged fealty, to the sovereignty of learning. Wealth can poison the academic fountain if luxury or ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI 167 financial power touch never so lightly those higher and in- dispensable standards of the intellectual life ; when trustees or faculties permit endowments and foundations to fetter instead of free them, or admit, even to themselves, that this tribute of wealth to education creates an obligation, rather than satisfies one. The perfect giver comes like the three merchants from the East and lays his gift at the feet of Im- mortal Truth, cradled in the manger. The highest and most lasting use of the college is to in- culcate these essential distinctions, and to create men strong and fearless, perpetually active to preserve and disseminate a precise sense of real values ; men who are neither the courtiers of wealth, nor flout its power with scorn or resent- ment or even unfriendliness. When Pericles invited Diogenes to view a rich rug of recent purchase, the phil- osopher trampled upon it with muddy feet, saying "Thus I trample on the pride of Pericles !" And Pericles answered, "Yes, Diogenes, with a greater pride." How shall the value and worth of financial and political achievement be kept in its true relation with other worthy objects of ambition? How shall political life be given prob- lems of greater intellectual interest and wider human con- cern than tariff, currency, and the expansion of trade? How shall government so perform its duty as to retard instead of advance those inequalities of opportunity among our cit- izens which imperil the success of democracy? How shall moral and intellectual and patriotic and unselfish ideals dominate rather than be dominated by the commercial spirit? The college man, if true to his ideals, should devise the means and be an agency for the solution of these press- ing problems. To the scholar honesty is not a policy, nor yet a wisdom, but is a condition of higher and wider intelli- gence. The first concern, therefore, of a college like this is to be sure that present methods of education are preserving the type of scholarship for which it was founded. To know that in adapting our college courses to existing conditions, there is no surrender of the fundamentals of scholarship; 168 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS no sacrifice of true manhood in order to make men more skillful accumulators of wealth. There is a deep truth in Herbert Spencer's gloomy view of us : "Everywhere I have contended and I contend still that feelings, not ideas, determine social results ; that everything depends not upon intellect but upon character, I have only one message — be honest; regard the equitable claims of others while maintaining your own. ... A false trait in your society is the admiration of smart men. A people among whom there is admiration for smart men will come to grief." Aristotle said, "The inhabitants of the fortunate isles unless their virtue keep pace with their external prosperity become the most miserable of all mankind." Although the scholar is an aristocrat in the true sense, he does not recog- nize conventional distinctions of occupation or mode of life which do not affect personal worth. What the College Man Should Be to a Commercial Age The college man, whether he wins or inherits wealth, should increase its value by changing and directing its in- fluence. Mere wealth may be ennobling if devoted to the service of humanity. The commercial spirit and its achieve- ments he does not discredit, but rather directs them to higher uses. The final test of conduct in every field of en- deavor is the ethical test. Until recent years it has been lit- tle applied to the standards of trade, and is still almost neg- ligible in the rules of war. It should be the purpose of col- leges greatly to improve both. The severest count in the indictment of wealth is the character of its influence upon our political life. The su- perior rewards of business have withdrawn from activity in politics young men who would otherwise seek a public ca- reer, and the State is denied their needed service. Aggra- vating this loss is the indirect participation in politics of business and business men for business reasons. A half century of protection and of an uncertain and changing ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI 169 monetary system have compelled their attention to national legislation, but, unfortunately, few have left business for political life in order to promote a scientific treatment of these problems. That is the pressing political need of to- day: intellectual training and learning, coupled with busi- ness experience and sagacity devoted to the public service. Only when our public life gets its full share of the honest intelligence of scholarship and business, when it adopts the highest standards of efficiency and ethics, will either parties or politicians have the courage which goes with intellectual and moral strength and independence. The college man should have the superior mind: not so much in learning, as in thinking power, in judgment, in in- tellectual keenness, and courage to confront all social and political ills. His fidelity, his integrity of character, his trustworthiness, and his moral courage should be absolute. The college man should be superior in having his best qual- ities most highly developed. His character and knowledge and intelligence should give him an accurate philosophy of life and action and leadership. And although superior, he should be the guardian of true democracy ; he should show servility neither to wealth nor to temporary public opinion ; he should not "lose the common touch," but rather be the inspirer of hope everywhere, and recognize and aid all the aspiring. The colleges are to-day permitting, if not en- couraging, undemocratic and snobbish distinctions. College men too often assume a superiority by viritue of their de- gree which is not otherwise established. Wealth and luxury stifle ambition and discredit work. It is yearly becoming more evident that noble, wholesome and vigorous aims have almost been supplanted. But this was familiar wisdom in Plutarch's time, for he wrote that among the Epicureans there had not been a single great man, nor had they among them produced one great action. Instead of a modest and resourceful culture, we tend toward ostentatious conceits and affectations, which, like all pre- tense, undermine character. The main features of college life have been thus altered for the worse. 170 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS The fault is not with the student of to-day. He is the unconscious victim of social changes which have affected trustees and faculty and all of us, nearly as much as him- self. The notion of social position and influence has sup- planted manly ambition for independence and moral in- fluence. This is a time of critical uncertainty as to the future. A spirit of unrest, distrust and division permeates the indus- trial and political forces, not only of America, but of the world, — a spirit which seems to say : Whatever is, is wrong. The time needs the help of disciplined, informed, courageous, sympathetic and patient men. Despite the real dangers of the situation, there may be compensation in that it compels serious, independent thinking. It hales estab- lished principles, rules and customs to the bar of public judgment. They must once more prove their right to gen- eral acceptance. Our national permanence depends upon our being a constitutional democracy, yet not an inflexible and unchangeable democracy. We are, and always will be, in a state of mobility, within established bounds of freedom, regulated by law. But those bounds and that law are sub- ject to change. We cannot rest secure in rigid laws and constitutions. We cannot bind public opinion or the popu- lar will against all serious blunders. Our safety ultimately lies alone in the intelligence and sense of justice of our peo- ple. Their opinion and conscience should be informed, ap- pealed to, and helped; their will should be guided, not re- sisted, scorned, or shackled. But to promote popular in- telligence and justice, we must develop and cherish both in ourselves. We must "believe in the succor which the heart yields to the intellect, and draw greatness from its inspira- tions." And this changing democracy must be a real and self- preserving equality, not merely in the letter of the laws and rules of the courts, but also in actual administration. Noth- ing so rapidly and inevitably disturbs that equality as the growing disparity in the economic conditions of the people. The laws and the courts come to be appealed to by both ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI 171 parties in that ever increasing contest between the forces which are called capital and labor. But how vain is the ap- peal, how difficult is the performance of duty by legislature and by court when each party with powers so real and so persistent is seeking an unfair advantage over the other. And so we come to the same old conclusion that as all civili- zation and all ages have needed, so this age needs, true men whose ambition it is to serve their country in a whole- hearted devotion to "the dearest interests of mankind." This man of brains and character — of moral efficiency, — is the mainstay of society. Other qualities and capacities have their day, — "they have their day and cease to be." Our Robert Mather was of the highest type. As he said in his brilliant anniversary address five years ago, Knox College opened to him the door of opportunity. More than this : it inspired him to make the most of that opportunity. While he worked at lathe and bench in the railroad shops, or saved the small earnings of an insurance office clerk, he had the vision of a larger world. He girded himself for a college education; and then, having attained it, with a strong will, trained mind and sterling integrity, he entered the lists for the world's honors; and he achieved them in ample measure. He rose by his own clear brain, strong will, industry and character to leadership : first in the legal pro- fession, then in railroad organization and finance, and finally in the financial life of New York. Yet the spirit of a com- mercial age never dominated him ; never touched his moral standards or controlled his opinions. In all public and pri- vate afifairs his voice and influence were on the side of hon- est men and for civic betterment. He believed, and his ex- perience proved, that the old-fashioned college training in the classical course was not only a good preparation for an intellectual life, but also for meeting and overcoming the obstacles of a most practical life.* *The Board of Directors of the Westinghouse Electric & Manu- facturing Company, by resolution, said : "He was a self-made man in the best sense of the word ; and his 172 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Knox College should restore and serenely maintain the classical curriculum, and enrich it by thorough courses in ancient and modern history. There can be no sound ob- jection to increasing and modernizing courses in the sciences. Personally I think it is a mistake to make Greek elective; but, if this be done, compensation should be sought by making the study of Latin literature and Roman life thorough and lastingly interesting and practical. I see no objection to granting the degree of B. S., but this should also require a fair knowledge of Latin or Greek and the full course in English literature. Our Faculty should be increasingly composed of real teachers, — thorough, alert and inspiring. They must cherish true standards of education and of life and courageously in- culcate them. Our pride should be, not in numbers and en- dowments, and buildings and athletic victories, but in the rivalries of mental activity and in literary accomplishments. Whatever tends to make college life less than intellectual and of a serious purpose is its great enemy, and we must all at all times oppose it. The changes of the last seventy-five years have not al- tered the standards of intellectual power, of virtue and honor, or the canons of literature and art, or the principles of government. Now, as then, the man who is to play a leading part needs, first of all and always, the control of his own faculties, the power to rally them to his aid on the in- stant, and to unite them upon the task in hand. These words of President Eliot should never be forgotten: "A keen and sure sense of honor is the finest result of college life." We must still place the emphasis on character. "The flame of oil . . . casts a shadow in the path of the electric light. So does intellect when brought into the business career is a notable example of what untiring industry, courage and native ability can accomplish. "During his chairmanship of this Company ... he won the com- plete confidence of the officers and directors in his ability and integrity, and their unbounded admiration for his unfailing courtesy, his high, manly character, and his great administrative abiHty, all so con- stantly manifested under most trying conditions." THE LIBRARY THE RECEPTION ROOM In Whiting Hall ADDRESS BEFORE THE ALUMNI 173 presence of character; character puts out that light." And morality is a superior intelligence, as altruism is but the highest order of self-development. "When the gods come, the half-gods go." The wisdom and foresight and religious patriotism of the Founders have been demonstrated through the years. But Illinois and this great valley need to-day the active in- fluence of intelligence, character, and a militant morality, more than they were needed seventy-five years ago. Our State stands to-day disgraced and humiliated in the eyes of the Nation, and every worthy citizen feels the shame. How shall her name and her politics be permanently redeemed from the curse of low aims and a groveling civic dishonesty? As in the early days Knox College furnished many mission- aries of religion to distant lands, let her now provide clear- visioned and unfaltering home missionaries of political honor, civic righteousness, and the common good. And they can exert that influence most eflfectively by vigorous and generous participation in public affairs. Our past and our present give us confident hope of larger service in the future. Let the men and women of Knox seek position, power and wealth, as the Founders did; and let these be dedicated to the service of the com- munity and the country, and to the preservation in our af- fairs of those moral and political principles without which the Nation cannot survive. 174 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS [After the address by Mr. Bancroft, President McClelland in- troduced Mr. George Candee Gale, class of '93, great grandson of the Founder, who spoke as follows:] Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I have been as- signed a hard task to-night. It is always difficult to follow Mr. Bancroft, but, after such a speech as we have just heard, it is impossible for me to say anything that in the compari- son you can't help making can possibly seem worth while. Then, too, I've spoken so often of the founders and their work and both are so familiar to you that I think you must know all I have to say even before I begin to speak. The best I can do is to give you the old thoughts in new dress and try to deserve your leniency by being very brief. If it be true, as is so often said, that this middle West is the backbone of our Nation, it is due largely to the qualities of the early settlers. They who made it great were not mere land speculators seeking their own fortune, but were willing to forego their own advantage for that of others. Their qualities are typified in the Galesburg founders, among whom there was hardly one who was not, in a ma- terial sense, far better off in the East than he could ever be out here. And so, in a broad, yet very real and vital sense, any tribute to the Founders of Knox College and of Gales- burg, is a tribute to all the early settlers of the Mississippi Valley. We honor and revere them for their prophetic vision, seeing in the vacant prairies a populous and prosperous community ; for their willingness to give up the comforts of civilization for the hardships of pioneer life and, most of all, for that spirit of self-sacrifice, which impelled them to fore- go the present gain to serve the future needs; to surrender their own advantage, their own welfare, for that of their children and their children's children, of descendants of alien generations yet unborn, whom they might never know, yet whom and whose needs they visioned in their dreams. THE PIONEERS 175 In that spirit and with that idea, I pay tribute to-night to The Prairie Pioneers. THE PIONEERS GEORGE CANDEE GALE, CLASS OF '93. With widening vision in the plain they stood, And gazed with eager eyes the country o'er; Beheld her prairies and pronounced them good, And rested, satisfied to seek no more. Yet oft they looked and, looking, saw in view, The pictured prairies, framed by distant trees. Painted with flowers of ev'ry brilliant hue, And waves of changing color in the breeze; 'Neath drifting clouds the trailing shadows run; The morning freshness of the Springtime lawn; The sudden thunderstorm ; the reddening sun That fronts the rainbow at the eve and dawn. At eventide full many a golden West; And fair Spring mornings shimmering softly green; And dusky nights of starlit loveliness Their vision filled with Nature's charm hath seen. At home, where ripples soft the Mohawk blue, They dwelt in rustic solitude, afar From maddening turmoil, strife, and changes new; Unfelt the distant shock of trade and war. Ambitionless and quiet were their lives. Their narrow outlook all their thousrht confined: High destiny's for him alone who strives. Who toils, feels, dreams and thinks with open mmd. Thus might a stranger muse, yet in their blood Impulsive flowed the restless, racial surge, That swept their sires from England, in a flood Of righteous wrath and discontent, to urge The claims of conscience in a virgin land, The right of man to worship God alone; His only guide, the inner, still command; Each soul a monarch and each heart a throne ! Freedom they sought not, for that boon was theirs, That heritage of faith and blood and tears, Their ancestors, strong sires of worthy heirs, Bequeathed them, wrung from the reluctant years. 176 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Yet Freedom seems to them but empty sound, While Knowledge from their ken her wealth conceals; The freeman, ignorant, in chains is bound, 'Till Wisdom in his soul herself reveals. And Knowledge, bound by prejudice, is blind : System and dogma to the truth must yield, Else Learning rivets shackles on the mind : The hooded falcon dare not strike afield. Then deep within their consciousness, elate With high resolve, did noble purpose rise, For them, no toil too hard, no task too great, To make their learning, free, their freedom, wise. Like one aflame with inspiration rare. Who sees the future in his dreams unroll. They saw their city, church and school rise fair Within the templed precincts of their soul. And to that end in emulation rife. Each vied with each ; with ardent zeal they wrought, 'Till, true unto their high ideal, to life The very shadows of their dreams they brought. For them the sowing and the toil, the tear. Where others reap with laughter and delight. So cooling springs refresh the desert drear. From sources hid in some far mountain height. If you, who prize memorials, in scorn Ask why no stone, no bronze, to them we raise, No towering shaft, their memory to adorn With sculptured verses showing forth their praise, We answer : Look around ! You shall behold A smiling country and a land content, Where Justice is not bought nor Honor sold, Their true memorial and their monument. o o o o w "> > - 2 CO fr] COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM 177 Thursday, June 13, 10 A. M. The Sixty-Seventh Annual Commencement. PROGRAM Organ Processional — The Pilgrims' Chorus, ----- Wagner Prof. John Winter Thompson. Procession. Invocation. "Our College and the Education of Women," - Gladys M. Campbell "Galesburg before the Industrial Revolution," - Helen M. Ryan "Environment and Civilization," - _ - _ Martha L. Latimer "A Natural Foundation for the Peace Movement" - Jesse A. Crafton Water Lilies, -----__ hinders The Girls' Glee Club, "The Reform Movement in Education," - - - Josephine Wible "The Re-Alignment of Political Parties," - - Palmer D. Edmunds "Political Altruism," ------- Robert W. Caldwell "The Advance of the Progressive," ----- Ray L. Sauter (Miss Campbell, Mr. Edmunds, Miss Latimer, Miss Ryan, and Miss Wible are appointed on this program on the basis of superior scholar- ship. Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Crafton, and Mr. Sauter receive the honor of appointment in recognition of their record in oratory and debate.) Organ — Selected, ----- Prof. John Winter Thompson CONFERRING OF DEGREES AWARDING OF PRIZES BENEDICTION CLASS OF 1912 candidates for the degree of a. b. Barlow, Ada L., Galva Jacobson, Margaret E., Bishop Caldwell, Robert W., Galva Hill Campbell, Gladys M., Galesburg Joy, Ralph B., Keokuk, la. Coat, Bessie, Mason City Latimer, Martha L., Galesburg Collins, Nelle F., Knoxville Mehler, Hazel F., Galesburg Conner, Lucille, Vinton, la. Morris, Mildred V., Council Bluffs Dunseth, Mary M., Waverly Iowa Edmunds, Palmer, D., Chelan, Nelson, Johanna M., Oneida Wash. Potter, Lois, Galesburg Fox, John Russell, Hailey, Ida. Ryan, Helen M., Galesburg Good, Martha A., Neponset Slough, Howard A., Abingdon Green, Susie, Oklahoma City, Stansel, Belle I., Yorkville Okla. Turner, Helen M., Cambridge Hague, Lee Anna D., Galesburg Vose, James H., Macomb Harty Theresa A., Galesburg Warren, Worcester, Missouri Val- Irwin, Florence L., Galesburg ley, la. Wible, Josephine, Mendon 178 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF B. S. Barclay, Irvin C, Macomb Barter Glen A., Galesburg Beard Fred W., Augusta Bridge, Irene O., Galesburg Briggs, Violette M., Mount Ster- ling Burns, Charles M., Galesburg Crafton, Jesse A., Springfield Craig, Noel E., Kewanee Crozier, Fred W., Carmi Ehinsworth, Carl M., Galesburg Eastman, Orlo A., Galesburg Eldridge, Robert B., Sioux City, Iowa Goodsill, Marshall Max, Galesburg Hayes, Harry H., Brimfield Hill, Florence M., Dundee Hill, Oliver H., Mt. Carmel Ingersoll, Winifred C, Galesburg Meacham, Marvin E., Roseville Purington, Daniel Stewart, Chi- cago Quillin, Mary A., Ipava Robbins, Harriet L., Payson Sauter, Ray L., Galesburg Thompson, Geo. H., Chicago Thompson, Ruth L., Galesburg CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION IN THE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC Anderson, Lillian C, Alpha Bibbins, Nelle M., Galesburg Crane, Mary A., Oneida Epperson, Grace L., Oneida Gates, Amie Elizabeth, Stillwater. Minn. Helm, Hazel, San Diego, Cal. McClure, Vera W., LaHarpe Metcalf, Emma S., Illiopolis Morley, Irma L., Galesburg Nelson, Maude L., Blandinsville Newcomb, Claude R., Galesburg Osborn, William J., Galesburg Patterson, Elma Powers, Mon- mouth Shaver, Winifred, North Hender- son Soule, Ralph W., Seattle, Wash. Swigert, Leitha, London Mills Wilson, Alvin, Galesburg CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF M. A. Inness, Lucy Mabel, Galesburg Zetterberg, Arvid P., Avon CANDIDATE FOR THE DEGREE OF M. S. Peters, William W., Galesburg THE DEGREE OF A. B. (wiTH THE CLASS OF 1881) Mary Scott, Galesburg HONORARY DEGREES THE DEGREE OF D. D. •Rev. Arthur M. Little, Peoria Rev. Roy B. Guild, Topeka, Kan. Rev. J. Percival Huget, Detroit, Mich. THE DEGREE OF LL. D. Charles W. Leffingwell, Pasadena, John Van Ness Standish, Gales- Calif, burg John P. Wilson, Chicago. Edgar A. Bancroft, Chicago. THE DEGREE OF LITT. D. George Henry Perkins, Burling- ton, Vt. Ellen B. Scripps, La Jolla, Calif Thomas R. Willard, Galesburg THE DEGREE OF M. A. Ida M. McCall, Galesburg COMMEMORATION ADDRESSES 179 Thursday, June 13, 3 P. M. [The formal exercises in commemoration of the Seventy-fifth Anniversary included addresses of reminiscence and congratulation by the representatives of various educational institutions, east and west. The order of introduction was as follows:] John H. Finley, Knox, '87, President of the College of the City of New York, formerly President of Knox College, who spoke with a tenderness of feeling and an intimacy of address significant of his relations to Alma Mater. Edward D. Eaton, President of Beloit College. John S. Nollen, President of Lake Forest College. Charles A. Blanchard, President of Wheaton College, son of Jonathan Blanchard, second President of Knox Col- lege. Hon. Frank Hamlin, President of the Harvard Club of Chicago, representing Harvard College. Booker T. Washington, President of Tuskegee Institute, who spoke with great earnestness and eloquence, expressing the gratitude of his people to the citizens of Galesburg and to Knox College for their work in behalf of his race. Victor Exting, Alumnus, representing Columbia Univer- sity. George Shipman Payson, President of the Yale Club of Chicago, representing Yale University. Prof. Arthur Graves Canfield, representing the Univer- sity of Michigan. Letters of congratulations were read from J. H. T. Main, President of Grinnell College. Earnest Fox Nicols, President of Dartmouth College. J. G. Schurman, President of Cornell University. Wallace Buttrick, Secretary, the General Education Board. Hon. Charles S. Deneen, Governor of Illinois. Hon. William H. Taft, President of the United States. 180 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS NOTES OF ADDRESS JOHN H. FINLEY, KNOX, '87, President of the College of the City of New York. One cannot make a formal address on the occasion of a Mother's birthday. One generally uses then a language unknown to rhetoric. One brings instead of sentences and periods a handful of familiar flowers, a loved book or some other simple gift that speaks the filial greeting of affection. For the mother would smile at the son whom she had taught his ancient and modern lore if he should try to pronounce an oration over her. And, moreover, he would fail anyway. I should have brought you, Alma Mater, if I had had time to go out along the railroad track south of town, where the wild flowers used still to be blooming when I was a stu- dent, a handful of those flowers, such as you used to grow upon the prairies when you first saw them, not as a child, but as a woman grown, for you sprang full-panoplied as Minerva from the head of the Jove of this colony. If there came to you again their fragrance, you could hear the meadow larks again, and, I doubt not, the lonesome croaking of the frogs in Cedar Fork. And you would re-call the voices of the cranes that used to go honking overhead long, long before the automobiles came honking about you. But you are much as my own mother was, so gentle but puritanical, and you would not have me buy flowers at the greenhouse for your birthday. So, since I could not bring the wild flowers I have brought a book ; not a valuable book such as Mr. Lawrence finds now and then, printed by Aldus Manutius or some other famous printer, but one almost as rare. It is a book of books, a catalogue of the period before that of the card-catalogue, — a "Catalogue of the Books in the College, Adelphi and Gnothautii Society Libraries of Knox College." The College Library portion was compiled by Professor Hurd, the only person, except the student librarian and possibly the janitor once a year, who was ever COMMEMORATION ADDRESSES 181 permitted to enter the sacred place where the books were kept. * * * * I have modestly deferred as long as possible mention of the fact that I was the publisher. And I recall with a gratitude and pride, keen even to this day, that you, O Alma Mater, through the trustees, in recogni- tion of this service, awarded me my diploma without the payment of the usual fee. But I bring this book, — and I am thinking that if every graduate were to bring or send a book each year, we could not better mark your birthdays, — I bring this book, not to remind you of my part in its production (proud as I am of that excuse), but to avail of its help in giving you my affec- tionate congratulations. It was twenty-five years ago that you made gracious acknowledgement of the small edition of this publication fresh from the hands of the amateur printer, who learned his trade while setting up in Colville's shop his translations of "Prometheus Bound" or some other classic, for his next day's recitation. And it has become not merely the record of the world's progress in the quarter of a century since, but a means of estimating your own wonderful development. It tells us that the world was, or seemed, very young then. Since those days, which seem but as yesterday, it has grown tens of thousands of years older. The chemist, the biologist and the physicist have carried the boundaries of life back- ward and forward, till enternity of time has become con- ceivable. This catalogue reminds us too of changes in the defini- tions of things, — of matter, of magnetism, of the atoms themselves. But it tells us, too, that those great Knox teachers of that day had their eyes toward the infinite and that since their day the forces of the finite have but been moved farther out toward the infinite, unbounded fields. Then, as I was saying yesterday in Iowa, in these few 182 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS years has been completed the conquest of earth's distances. We have conquered the afar. We have come into "plane- tary consciousness." As one has recently put it there is now "nothing unknown this side of the moon." What this means is that the experience of all fractions of the race is being put at the command of the whole in its ideals, its ideas and its substance. We are not disposed to philosophize on this occasion. Dear Mother, but we cannot help wondering whether with the lengthening of time and the widening of the world you will keep your charming simplicity and impart to all who come the peculiar qualities which partake so strongly of heritage and locality. With all that the universal is to give, may you never lose these. So, O Mother, do I give you thanks on behalf of thy many children, and pray long life to the able and successful president and the devoted, high-minded teachers, who are making this our beloved college, a mighty power for right throughout the world, nourished as it is of wholesome tra- ditions, and established not for a single century, but for many centuries, here in the greatest valley of all the earth. COMMEMORATION ADDRESSES 183 NOTES OF ADDRESS CHARLES A. BLANCHARD, President of Wheaton College. The Pioneers It is a little embarrassing to be one of a number of speakers on an occasion like this without the opportunity of conference. One is liable to repeat thoughts which have occurred to others who are partners on the speaking list, but there is this compensation, if certain thoughts occur to a number of individuals on a given occasion it is safe to say that those thoughts are important. In this case they will bear repetition, so perhaps one should be quite at his ease even though he finds that his own words have been natural- ly suggested to others. Men of Vision The pioneer is always one who sees the invisible. In one of our magazines this month there is a story of detective work. Certain United States soldiers were set to guard the mint in San Francisco when the city was in ashes. Certain bank wreckers were engaged in seeking to find a way into the vaults without the knowledge of the guard above ground. Certain detectives were on the watch and felt sure that something of the sort was going forward though what it was they could not tell, but vigilant and watchful they discovered the effort in time to frustrate it. When after a fierce struggle below ground the thieves had been bound and the policemen dragged them out, the army officer in charge said to the chief of the police force, "I did not know any- thing about what was going on down there. How did you know?" and the policeman replied, "You are paid to see what you can see and you done it. I am paid to see what I can't see and I done that." The pioneer is not always paid to see what he cannot see but he must see what he cannot see or he will never be a pioneer. 184 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS My own memory of Galesburg falls twenty-five years short of the day we celebrate, yet as I remember this good old town it was absolutely primitive. Houses, stores, all were insignificant. Of course one may be mistaken, but I imagine that there are single dwellings in Galesburg to-day which are worth more money than all the buildings, public and private, in the city at the time I knew it. It was a triumph of the imagination for a group of men to gather in a room in central or western New York, in a day when there was not a railway line of any extent in the whole country, when the pioneer must creep along in a prairie schooner or a canal boat, and at that time to see the waves of population surging over the Alleghenies, flooding across the great valley, surmounting the Rockies and filling up the western maritime plain, to see these advancing waves of population carrying with them churches, homes and all the characteristics of a modern civilization. The average man who seeks for money or for pleasure is never gifted with such sights. Like the beast in the stall he eats what is before him, drinks what is at hand, lies down to sleep when wearied and rises to live a second day like the first. This is the life perhaps of the average man. The Men and Women of Heavenly Vision But the visions which came to our fathers were not sim- ply of material development. If they had been the lives of these men would have been in no essential particular su- perior to the lives of those they left behind. In all ages the pioneers have been frequently, not in every instance, men of spiritual insight and foresight. They did not see farms, buildings, railways and canals only, they saw men and women and children, and these men and women and chil- dren whom they saw were different from other men and women and children. The difference was caused by the spiritual ideals which controlled them. These pioneers took it for their life task to furnish those lofty ideals which were to make the nobler people in the coming age. They did not desire that people should have more or better things to eat, COMMEMORATION ADDRESSES 18S larger or more elegant homes in which to live, more costly apparel, more elegant equipments. They desired the men to be more noble in character, loftier in intelligence, more benevolent in willing, and to accomplish these things they placed themselves at the head waters of a great community. They built themselves with tears and toils into the founda- tions of that which we see to-day. They were puritans. They knew that greed and pleas- ure loving never could construct a glorious civilization. They were toilers as well as puritans. They did not play cards, nor go to dances, nor tolerate liquor shops, nor at- tend theaters, nor raise their sons for gamblers and liber- tines. They gave their weeks to labor and their Sabbaths to worship. There was with them no Sunday evening prob- lem at all. Mornings and evenings they thronged to the house of God. Prayer meetings were not left to women while men sat about in lodges and clubs smoking and tell- ing questionable stories. Not at all. In one end of the pew sat the mother, in the other end of the pew sat the father and between them sat the sons and the daughters. Sons — stalwart lads, and daughters — pure and fair and beautiful; these were the homes of the pioneers. Men and Women of Courage Whatever one may think of these magnificent men and women no one who knows a small part of the facts will deny to them a lofty and magnificent courage. To sell the home in the East to load a few scanty household effects into a wagon and to start by canal boat or lake schooner or prairie schooner on a voyage of hundreds of miles through an un- broken wilderness; to find a way across bridgeless rivers and bottomless swamps and through malaria and fever; to plant a new home miles away from their homes and to go through wet seasons and dry, with no markets for surplus produce and no provision for supplying ever recurring wants ; to toil on, struggle on, fight on, until the difficult sit- uation had been mastered and the new community had been born; these were not the tasks of weaklings, men of slug- 186 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS gish mind and flabby muscle. There were giants in those days; spiritual giants, intellectual giants, physical giants, men and women of might ; and we are their sons and daugh- ters. W^hat sort of sons and daughters are we? If sometimes we are ashamed of the unworldliness and the homely virtues of these pioneers do we ever stop to ask ourselves what they would think of us? If not, it might be well for, first or last, we must be rated at our real value. The frivolities, the extravagances, the follies and the sins of to-day do not show well against the stern integrity of seventy-five years ago. It is poor business to build the tombs of the prophets if we stone those who are sent to us. It will be no particular credit to anyone to laud the pioneers and to live a selfish and ignoble life. [Professor Frank Sargent Hoffman, of the Faculty of Union College, presented in an official letter the greetings of the institu- tion which he represented:] President McClelland: Two weeks ago to-day on the campus of the institution I have the honor to represent, was begun the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the city of Sche- nectady, N. Y. In the historical pageant that followed the most interesting and important events represented were those connected with Union College, which was founded in 1795, being the first college west of the Hudson River and the first undenominational institution for higher education in America. Over eight thousand young men have gone forth from its halls. Among others on its calendars you will find the names of William H. Seward, Abraham Lincoln's famous Secretary of State, Chester A. Arthur, once President of the United States, William McKinley of our Law School, twice COMMEMORATION ADDRESSES 187 chosen to that high office, John Howard Paine, the author of "Home, Sweet Home," Francis Wayland, the maker of Brown University at Providence, R. L, Thomas C. Brown- ell, the founder of University College at Hartford, Conn,, John Howard Raymond, the founder of Vassar College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and L. Clarke Seelye, the founder of Smith College at Northampton, Mass. But no names on the roll of Union are held in higher honor and esteem than those of the four young men who three-quarters of a century ago came to this unsettled west- ern prairie to lay the foundations of a modern Christian col- lege and to ensure to those who were to follow them the continued blessings of a refined and civilized life. First and foremost in this group we must put the name of George W. Gale — a name which, in my opinion, ought to have been given to the college as well as to this prosperous and beautiful city. While in college, Gale was a favorite pupil of its President, Dr. Eliphalet Nott, and later often consulted him regarding the establishing of a center of Christian culture in this valley. Gale was given his A. B. degree at Union in 1814 and his D. D. degree in 1857. Many of the colonists who came here with him had relatives and friends in the classes at Union and the names of Kellogg, Curtis, Johnson, Avery and Churchill are among the most familiar on our lists. Gale and his coadjutors had a much harder and a more heroic task before them than the other founders of colleges that I have already mentioned, for the latter located their institutions in populous cities and had the backing of wealthy patrons from the very outset. But the founders of Knox College established their homes in a region almost untrodden by the foot of man and furnished the means for the starting and continuance of this institution by depriving themselves, in many instances, of the common necessities of life. The second name on our honor roll is that of George B. Lawrence. He joined the Galesburg Colony almost imme- diately after graduating and was always a warm friend of 188 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Knox. He became the great jurist of this region and for many years filled the high office of Chief Justice of the Su- preme Court of Illinois. Next comes Philip Sidney Post, who rose to the position of Brigadier General in our Civil War, represented our country with marked ability as Consul at the Austrian Cap- ital and greatly honored this community as its represent- ative in our House of Congress. He was always devoted to the interests of Knox. Last, but by no means the least, of the Union men who early cast in their lot with Knox and Christian culture in this region that we delight to honor, is Charles W. Leffing- well, who left college at the close of his junior year and came with his parents to settle near this city. The cause of higher education here and elsewhere owes him a mighty debt of gratitude for all that he has done in its behalf. In view of these facts, Mr. President, when your invita- tion came to us to send a delegate to your 75th anniversary, we at once said that no less an officer than our Chancellor could fittingly represent us. But as our commencement came on the same day as yours, it was impossible to spare him. We then decided to send our senior professor, and as that person happens to be myself, I have the unusual priv- ilege and honor of coming to you in the dual capacity of a former pupil and as a delegate of the institution that in a very real sense gave this college birth. In our country and age the changes are rapid and what is done in one part of the land is soon felt in every other. No man or institution can live unto itself. In these latter years the debt that Knox owes to Union and the East is be- ing rapidly and amply repaid. If anyone to-day in our part of the country wishes to travel even to an adjoining city, he has to seek the aid of the President of the New York Cen- tral lines who is a Knox graduate. If we attend a national or international gathering of any sort in the metropolis we are almost certain to have the President of the College of the City of New York as our presiding officer, and he grad- uated from Knox. If we want to look up the latest thing in COMMEMORATION ADDRESSES 189 literature, or science, or art we shall probably find the gist of it in "McClures" or "The American," and the editors of both of these periodicals came from Knox. In the world of finance no man stood higher in general esteem in New York City than Robert Mather, the late lamented President of the Westinghouse Company, and he was a Knox graduate. Mr. President, although I now stand here as a delegate of Union, I cannot allow that fact to diminish one whit my sense of personal indebtedness to Knox College. Churchill fitted me for college and Comstock and Hurd took me more than half way through my undergraduate course. For three years I taught in the public schools of this city. All my life has been spent in academic circles and I have no hesitation in saying that no institution in the land has done or is doing better work for the progress of sound learning and the de- velopment of high moral worth in the young men and women of our country than Knox College. I extend to you. Sir, and to the Faculty and to the Board of Trustees and to the graduates and friends of the college the hearty greetings of old Union and the personal felicita- tions of a grateful heart. May Knox College under your guidance and that of your successors continue to be a mighty center of light and leading in this Mississippi valley, this state, this nation and to an ever increasing extent, throughout the world. 190 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON May 29, 1912 My dear President McClelland : Replying to your letter of May 24th, I am very glad to send my cordial greet- ings to Knox College and to those who have gathered to celelorate its 75th Anniversary. It would he a pleasure to be with you. I send you my best wishes for the continued prosperity and suc- cess of your Institution. Sincerely yours, President ThomasMcClelland, Galesburg, Illinois. THE HISTORICAL PAGEANT Thursday, June 13, 5 P. M. THE PAGEANT The Pageant is divided into five great periods I. The Indian Period. II. The Pioneer Period. III. The Ante-Bellum Period. IV. The Civil War Period. V. The Modern Period. 191 Each period is divided into a number of scenes (twenty- nine in all) which in general typify the most important events in the history of the town and college. The Herald, stationed at the left of the stage, will an- nounce the numbers of the scenes as they progress. These numbers are to be found in the second column of the scenario. I. THE INDIAN PERIOD Overture — "Morning, Noon and Night".. Knox Conservatory Orchestra THE STORY CAST OF CHARACTERS (1) Indian children rush in and indulge in games in the center of the plot, while Howard Holt Harold Givler Ray Givler Bernard Barnes Vernet Taylor Vivian Seaton Mildred Scott Irene Seaton Mabel Roberts Fern Grady Ida Rodenhauser Pupils from Boys Ralph Comber Julian Palmer Robert Swigart Stewart Gordon Horal Dickerson Girls Anna Arms Doris Housh Gertrude Hart Amelia Postelle Qeora Jones Irene Long the Cooke School. 192 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS THE STORY CAST OF CHARACTERS (2) A little later Indian chiefs and braves meet in council at the center of the plot, while (3) Simultaneously, In- dian squaws set up a tepee at the left of the plot and grind corn and scrape skins. While they do this (4) Indian boys run pony races across the plat in the rear, yelling and cheering. After this the herald blows his trumpet and the curtains of the stage part, revealing C A Stage Picture of "^ the signing of the circular and plan which embodied the purpose of the founders at Whitcs- boro, N. Y., Jan. 7, 1836. The Indians watch the picture, which is to them a premonition of the com- ing of the white man, and are about to return to their duties, when (6) An Indian runner comes in and announces to the council that the white man is coming, whereupon (7) The Indians strike camp and move out of sight to the westward, after which The Indian chiefs and braves are rep- resented by Messrs. Allensworth Church Crozier rCd. Grogan Larson Hands La Monte Joseph Wyne Lee Lewis E. Lewis Whitsett Neifert The Indian squaws are represented by the Misses Burton Brent Felt Dallach Gumbiner Painter Kline Ryan Woodman Kranz Bowman The Indian boys are represented by Messrs. Norman Dan Wheeler Leinhard Marriott Easum Pony girl: Miss Cowan, Chief in charge of the races represented by Mr, Ira T. Carrithers. The men representing the signers are Rev. Stuart Campbell,. Irvin Barclay Pastor First Presby Ray Brown terian church, Gales- Gustave Spitze burg. Curtis Cady The part of the Indian runner is taken by Mr. Rollin Wetherbee, '13. o t^ § < S l-J !> > « y, 'o THE HISTORICAL PAGEANT 193 THE STORY (8) The Spirit of the Prairie is seen sorrowful- ly to take her way to the westward; but soon (9) The Spirit of the Future overtakes her and reconciles her, pointing joyously to the Coming of the Pioneers, at which point the next period of the pageant begins. CAST OF CHARACTERS The Spirit of the Prairie is represented by Miss Martha Latimer, '12. The Spirit of the Future is represented by Miss Mary Quillin, '12. II. THE PIONEER PERIOD (10) This period is opened by the appearance on the green of a "Prairie Schooner" and two other vehicles which advance to the center of the plot. Here they are halted, while the women and chil- dren are helped out. They are welcomed by settlers in Henderson Grove who were already on the ground, and (11) A religious service of thanksgiving is held upon the prairie, after which (12) The horses are un- hitched, and the side cur- tains of the stage being drawn back, the log cab- ins of "Log City" are re- vealed, about which a busy scene of pioneer life is enacted, the men going out to work and the wo- men busying themselves about the cabins. After this, at the sound of the Herald's trumpet, there is shown The persons representing the pioneers are Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Wetmore Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Hammond Mrs. A. D. Stearns Charles Lass Orin Gentry Philip Gentry Fred McFarland Maxine McFarland Mrs. A. O. Lind- strum Herbert Lindstrum Fanita Ferris Geo. Minehan Louise Slattery The pastor in charge of the religious service, who was the Rev. George W. Gale, is represented by Rev. Stuart M. Campbell, pastor of the First Presbyter- ian church of Galesburg. The family established in the single cabin erected upon the arrival of the first settlers is represented by Mrs. A. O. Rich Beverly Rich Mrs. J. H. Losey Katherine Simonds Mr. Ray Brown Eleanor Simonds Harriett Rich Lee Schoettler Myrtle Schoettler Helen Booze Henry and Lawrence Wetmore Helen, Francis, Phil- ip and Virginia Stearns Caroline and Calvin Hammond Helen, Margaret and John Neal Marjorie, Katherine and Eleanor Si- monds 194 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS THE STORY CAST OF CHARACTERS 13 A Stage Picture, showing Prof. Lo- sey in charge of the school from which grew the Old Academy. At the close of this picture (14) A band of Indians is seen to take its way through the colony. As they pass by, they pick up Mary Allen West, at that time a baby in the crib, and carry her off, being pursued by the mother and other colonists, who finally recover the baby and bring it back triumph- antly. After this, the blast of the Herald's trumpet announces 15 A n old-fashioned singing school en- acted on the stage. This picture closes this period and leads to the next, the Ante-Bellum period. The part of Prof. Losey is taken by his son, Mr. James H. Losey. The children in the picture are those who appeared in the earlier scenes of the period. The Indian chiefs and braves are the same as those who appeared in the In- dian period. The Indian chief who kidnaps the baby is represented by Lee Lewis. The part of the mother is taken by Mrs. A. O. Rich. The baby is the infant daughter of Dr. and Mrs. William Maley. The ladies and gentlemen of the sing- ing school are represented by Mrs. E. E. Hinchliff Alice Lowrie Mrs. D. J. Griswold Florence Bentley Helen Thompson Mrs. W. S.Laurence Mrs. W. B. Horton Mrs. M. C. Eckley Mrs. S. E. Boggess Lillian Anderson Nellie Bibbins C. R. Newcomb E. E. Hinchliff J. M. Peddell H. F. Arnold D. J. Griswold W. S. Laurence Ray Arnold W. B. Carlton III. THE ANTE-BELLUM PERIOD (16) This Period is opened by a representa- tion of the Lincoln-Doug- las Debate, in preparation for which a group of men are seen to come upon the green, shaking newspapers and fists in each others faces, and talking excited- ly. They spread off to- ward the sides and as the women and children ap- pear upon the scene The persons involved in this scene are Vernon Welsh Ralph Roth Rollin Wetherbee Irvmg H. Prince Herbert Miller Mac Gillis Wallace Thompson Cecil Lescher Crawford Elder Norman Ives Russell Liedell Philip Colton Chas. Purviance Harold Rearick Lawrence Ingersoll Kendall Hinman Stuart Campbell Dana Clark John Qark Sydney Simpson J. C. Clark George Gale Gale Wallace Robert St. Clair Will Tomlinson Edwin Williams Bert Hurff Carl McKinley THE HISTORICAL PAGEANT 195 THE STORY CAST OF CHARACTERS (17) The drum corps is heard playing in the dis- tance and the cavalcade is seen approaching. Little boys run ahead and with the procession. The or- der of march is: 1. Drum Corps. 2. Military Escort. 3. Douglas' Carriage. 4. Escort of Ladies on Horseback. 5. Brass Band. 6. Military Escort. 7. Lincoln's Carriage. 8. Escort of Ladies on Horseback. 9. Floats of Young Girls. 10. Other Vehicles. The carriages of Lin- coln and Douglas are drawn on past, and out of sight, while most of the crowd congregate in front of the stage. Then at the call of the Herald's trum- pet there is shown 1 Q A stage picture dis- ^ playing the setting of the Lincoln-Douglas debate. Notables are seat- ed on the platform, Lin- coln is speaking, Douglas is seen sitting at the left, holding a cane. At the close of this picture the crowd disperses and an ante-bellum incident of unusual interest is en- acted. (19) The Underground Railway, which is repre- sented by the appearance of a load of straw, which is met by a number of white men. From the straw there then emerge runaway slaves, who are led away by white sym- pathizers, a few of whom remain, conversing with the driver. Drum Corps: J. T. Piatt, C. L. Brown, fifers. The drummers are from Company C, I. N. G. Young ladies in this scene: Vera Largent Anna Gale Stuck Vera Ockert Reba Fellingham Elizabeth Nicholas Gertrude Van Riper Blanche Canty Margaret Ayer Pauline Arnold Katharie Harring- ton Louise Harrington Alice Beadle Jeanette Gale Hortense Nelson Esther Mayes Frances Johnson Esto Carrier Violet West Ruth West Harriett Wilson Marjorie Felt Fern Webber Lucille Conner Baby Cox Alice Lewis Adaline Kohler Roxy Throop Mary Lewis Alice Porter Brass Band — College Band. The part of Lincoln is taken by J. Franklin Hedgcock, '14. The part of Douglas is taken by Alfred J. Keig, '15. Chairman, Mr. Henry F. Arnold. The parts of the slaves are taken by RoUin Wetherbee, Robert McClure. The part of the driver is taken by Mr. Earl Bridge. The other people in the scene are Miss Delia Spinner, Miss Marie Seacord, Mr. Harry Aldrich. 196 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS THE STORY (20) Soon, however, the sheri^ appears with his writ. All appear disinter- ested and lead the sheriff off in the wrong direction, after which (21) The slaves are brought back and hurried on their journey again This brings this period to a close. CAST OF CHARACTERS The part of the sheriff is taken by Mr. Ray M. Arnold. IV. THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD (22) This period i s opened by a group of young men entering upon the green, talking in a very excited manner. Their conversation is interrupt- ed by the appearance of — (23) A n officer who posts a proclamation call- ing for volunteers for the army. Two young men respond at once and are led away by the officer after which comes (24) The drilling of the "Awkward Squad." This is without music. After the "Awkward Squad" has been marched off, there is represented the (25) The departure of troops for the war. In this scene, after the troops have marched in, a dele- gation of ladies advances from the crowd which has entered from the opposite side, and presents the company with a flag. The troops then march out, the crowd disperses and at the blast of the Her- ald's trumpet, there is re- vealed upon the stage The part of the officer is taken by Capt. F. W. Latimer. The parts of the recruits are taken by Harvey McKemy, John H. Hedgcock. Squad No. i Paul Paddock Forrest Smith Ralph Ray Gustave Spitze Under Gerald Norman. Squad No. 2 Chas. Bates Ray Brown Ward Beard Howard Hammer Under Leo Krausse. The soldiers of this scene are militia men from Company C, I. N. G., and are under the command of Capt. F. W. Lat- imer. The flag is presented by Mr. Ver- non Welsh, '13. THE HISTORICAL PAGEANT 197 THE STORY CAST OF CHARACTERS 9 A A Stage Picture rep- _ ^ resenting the activ- ity of the women at home, while the men are at the front. Some are tearing bandages, others mending and knitting, etc., and at the back is a reproduction of the "Mother Bicker- dyke" monument on the Galesburg court house lawn. This brings to a close this period of the pageant. The persons in this scene are: At the Spinning Wheel: Pauline Ar- nold, Baby Cox. Writing Letters: Frances Johnson, Marjorie Felt. Packing Boxes: Mary Lewis, Fern Webber. Rolling Bandages: Alice Beadle, Kath- arine Harrington, Louise Harrington. Picking Lint: Margaret Ayer, Alice Lewis. The Bickerdyke Monument is posed by Miss Louise Willard and one of the 'soldiers of Company C, I. N. G. MUSICAL INTERLUDE V. THE MODERN PERIOD 97 This period is open ^' ed by a stage picture disclosing the portraits of the triumvirate: 1. Prof. Hurd 2. Prof. Comstock 3. Prof. Churchill At the unveiling of Prof. Churchill's por- trait the audience will sing one verse of "Work for the Night is Coming." 4. Pres. Bateman At the unveiling of President Bateman's portrait, the audience will sing one verse of "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." 5. Mrs. Whiting 6. Mrs. McCall And 7. Dean Willard. These will be crowned with garlands of flowers by young ladies from Whiting Hall, and the president of the Senior class. The young ladies who crown the por- traits are as follows: Prof. Hurd by Marjorie Carr. Prof. Comstock by Martha Good. Prof. Churchill by Helen Campbell. Pres. Bateman by Margaret Jacobson. Mrs. Whiting by Mary Dunn. Mrs. McCall by Irma Craw. The unveiling of the portrait of Dean Willard will be carried out by Carl Duns- worth, president of the Senior class, and Master Willard, grandson of Dean Wil- lard. The chair in which the portrait of Pres. Bateman rests is the identical chair used by him at Knox during his years of ser- vice. 198 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS THE STORY CAST OF CHARACTERS (28) At the close of the ceremony of crowning the portraits, the classes will form in procession and group themselves about the platform, whereupon — 29 The Grand Finale Picture will be dis- closed, representing the various activities of Knox students, past and present, Knox's spirit and ideals, during the contemplation of which the audience will rise and sing The Knox Field Song. The characters in this picture are rep- resented by: 1. The Man with the Plow— Ray God- dard. Blacksmith — Carpenter — Merle Winn, Surveyor — Harry Stock. Minister — Wayne Stevens. Lawyer — Ralph Lucas. Doctor — Herschell Halladay, Nurse — Edith Hardy. Dentist — Gregg Olson. Civil Engineer — Mac Gillis. Missionary — Lee Lewis. Chinese — Eudocia Bardens. Negro — Robert McClure. Turk — Walter Wyne. Soldier — Fred Beard. College Professor — Warner Lack- land. Conducting — Ralph Soule. Violinist — George Burns. Vocalists — Hazel Helm, Alvin Wilson. Co-education — Orlo Eastman, Lois Potter. Sprinter — Bates Marriott. Pole Vaulter — Robert Ryan. Football — Howard Slough. Baseball — Noel Craig. Basket ball — Edward Adams. Spirit of the Prairie — Miss Martha Latimer. Spirit of the Town — Miss Mildred Haeger. Spirit of the College — Miss Winifred Ingersoll. Chemist — Geo. Meeker. 29 [Unfortunately at the hour for the presentation of the Pageant, a brisk shower began which lasted through the remainder of the afternoon, interfering necessarily with some of the features of the program. The Pageant was given, nevertheless, almost in entirety and a great proportion of the spectators remained to the close.] w OJ u ffi y. < ^ w W H > Z O 05 Uh tjO THE ALUMNI DINNER 199 Thursday, June 13, 7 P. M. [The Alumni Dinner was attended by about seven hundred of the graduates, friends and guests of the college. Tables were placed in the dining-room, the Sunday School room and the parlors of Central Church. After dinner had been served those who had been seated in the dining-room on the lower floor gathered in the main auditorium of the church and were joined by others who had not attended the dinner. An audience of a thousand people was therefore present to listen to the program of toasts, the speakers' table having been placed upon a platform at the northwest corner of the Sunday School room so that the speakers could be heard from all parts of the building.] ALUMNI DINNER— PROGRAM OF TOASTS Introduction GEORGE CANDEE GALE, '93 President Alumni Association Toastmaster DR. JOHN HUSTON FINLEY, '87 "His worth is warrant for his welcome." THE SPIKXT OF KNOX Our Prairie Pioneers The Moving Spirit MRS. ELLA F. ARNOLD, '64 "Wind the mighty secrets of the Past and turn the Key of Time" Early Days The Spirit of Conquest HON. JOHN P. WILSON, '65 "They bear a train of smiles and tears, of burning hopes and dreams sublime" MUSIC — KNOX glee CLUB Our Teachers : Past and Present . .The Spirit of Consecration WILLIAM G. CASKEY, '91 "He was a scholar and a ripe and good one, Exceeding wise, fair spoken and persuading." Co-Education The Spirit of Womanhood MRS. LEAH CALKINS PEARSALL, '92 "O woman ! lovely woman ! Nature made thee to temper man" Twenty Years After The Spirit of Progress JUSTICE GEORGE A. COOKE, '92* "Since I saw you last there's a change upon you" 'Judge Cooke was unable to be present. At this point in the program a letter from the Knox Club of Log Angeles, Calif., was read by Mrs. Alta Marsh Phillips, class of '93. This club now has sixty-nine members representing twenty-seven different classes. 200 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS MUSIC — KNOX GLEE CLUB Knox To-day: Past and Present . . . The Spirit of Loyalty JESSE CRAFTON, '12 "I speak of the days that are" Willard Field The Athletic Spirit FRANaS H. SISSON. '92 "It is poor sport that is not worth the candle" SONG — KNOX FIELD SONG [At the conclusion of the program an oil portrait of Dean Willard, painted by Miss Harriet Blackstone of Chicago (formerly of Galesburg), was unveiled and in the name of the class of 1912 gracefully presented to the college by the class president, Mr. Carl Dunsworth.] GRADUATES IN ATTENDANCE 201 [As announced in the General Program, a Directory of Visit- ing and Resident Alumni and Representatives of Colleges and Universities, with their places of entertainment while in the city, was issued on Tuesday of Commencement week; it was not found possible to issue a second, revised edition later as had been planned. From this directory there has been compiled a corrected list of visiting and resident alumni, including all who registered during the week; unfortunately some failed to register and to that extent the list is incomplete. Where no place of residence is stated the person named is a Galesburg resident.] A LIST OF KNOX GRADUATES AND FORMER STUDENTS AND REPRESENTATH'ES OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS WHO WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COLLEGE 1850 Sanderson, Mrs. Ann Dunn 1856 Ferris, Mrs. Julia Helton Carthage. 1857 Gay, W. H. Quincy. 1858 Hennisee, Mrs. Mary Ford 1859 Scripps, Miss E. B. La Jolla, Calif. 1860 Merriman, Mrs. Mary McFar- land Chicago. 1861 Shaw, Cynthia Robbins Oneida. Smith, George C. St. Louis, Mo. 1862 Leffingwell, C. W. Pasadena, Calif. 1863 Arnold, Mrs. Ella Ferris Ayres, Mrs. Isabella Cothren Peoria. Birks, Maria M. Peoria. Marsh, Mary F. Ayers Normal. 1864 Latimer, J. F Abingdon. 1865 Dunlap, Mrs. Frances Willard Chicago. ' Edwards, Mrs. Celia White McKnight, Mrs. Mary J. Davis Wilson, John P. Chicago. 1866 Peck, B. S. Galva. Peck, George F. Watson, Miss Anna M. 1867 Hurlbut, Mrs. Sue Gould Tonopah, Nevada. 202 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS 1869 Webster, Mrs. Martha Farnham 1870 Clark, Miss L. Elizabeth Cooke, Forrest F. Lowrie, Miss Annie 1871 Burton, Rev. Nathan L. Coffin, W. R. Eau Claire, Wis. Jenney, Miss Adeline Marietta 1872 Brown, Mrs. Maud Tenney Carr, Mrs. Grace Mills Fahnestock, Mrs. Grace Carr Gale, Miss Harriet Gilbert, John W. Lowrie, Mrs. Caroline Gale Tenney, Miss Helen I. 1873 Adams, Edward Q. Eddy, Mrs. Laura Wright Winthrop, Iowa. Hanna, Mrs. Ella Kreider Orton, Elizabeth S. 1875 Hoffman, Frank S., (ex. 75) Schenectady, N. Y. Lawrence, Mrs. Ella Park Lawrence, George A. Manny, Mrs. Carrie Dieterich McCall, Miss Ida M. Orton, Miss Sallie A. 1877 Carr, Miss Lillie E. Hague, Miss Frances Thompson, Mrs. Hettie Linsley 1878 Bancroft, Edgar A. Chicago. Jaynes, Mrs. Amy Reed LaFayette. Jelliff, Fred R. 1879 Allensworth, Mrs. Mina Wein- berg Blood, Miss M. Isabelle Colton, O. J. 1880 Craig, Dr. Harvey A. Holmes, Frank F. Chicago. Hurd, Miss Mary C. New York City. Kelsey, Kate Fargo Des Moines, Iowa. Musson, Mrs. Jennie Scott Champaign. 1881 Comstock, Clara E. Peoria. Goshen, Emma M. Farmington. Hammond, Fannie C. Oneida. Hill, John B. Kansas City, Mo. Parkinson, J. B, Broken Arrow, Okla. Scott, Miss Mary 1882 Anderson, Mrs. Mary Winn Williams Kewanee. Boggs, Miss Isabel A. Gill, Miss Ella C LaHarpe. Priestly, Mrs. Mabel Sisson Princeton. Sidway. Miss Jessie Mead Aurora. Stone, Miss Cora F. Wylie, Mr. and Mrs. John (An- nette Williams) Utica. 1883 Brainard, Mrs. Bertha Chambers Craw, Mrs. Mary A. McChesney Morgan, Henry H. (ex. '83) Chicago. 1884 Armstrong, Miss Nettie H. McMillan, Chas. Quincy. Matheny, Mrs. Delia Rice Morse, Marietta Lay Morse, Robert C. Kewanee. A PRAIRIE FARM iTk^y VIEW IN STANDISH PARK ADJOINING THE CAMPUS GRADUATES IN ATTENDANCE 203 Patch, Miss Myra H. Turner, Chester M. Cambridge. Whitney, W. H. Cleveland, Ohio. Wyckoff, C. T. Peoria. 1885 Eastes, Mrs. Augusta Wiswell Gale, Mrs. Georgia Smith Gaylord, Joseph A. Holmes, Miss Jessie R. Ryan, Mrs. Margaret McChes- ney Smith, Miss Minnie L. Tryon, Miss Louise J. Wetherbee, Mrs. Nellie Watkins 1886 Anderson, Fred H. Boydstun, Maud Smith Finley, Mrs. Martha Boyden (ex. '86) New York City. George, Miss Minnedelle McCandless, Mrs. Mary Sisson Davenport, Iowa. Ryan, Dr. L. R. Seymour, L. K. Payson. Smith, Mrs. Jessie Lawrence Quincy. 1887 Coudray, May Gilman Meeker, Colo. Finley, Dr. John H. New York City. Hammond, Miss E. May Hinckley, Miss Pluma E. Lay, Corliss W. Kewanee. Lee, Mrs. Eula Bates Marash, Turkey. Scott, Miss Clara Taggart, Mrs. Bertha Davis 1888 Campbell, Dr. Stuart M. Comstock, Clarence E. Peoria. Morley, Effie Whiting West Mentor, Ohio. Sargent, Mrs, Mary Bates Stephens, Mrs. Emma Sanford Lacon. Willis, Mrs. Alice J. Tilden 1889 Crane, Frank W. Quincy. Green, David F. Kansas City, Mo. Hinckley, William B. Hinsdale. Hurlbut, Mrs. Georgiana Wal- dron Sedalia, Mo. Pankey, Mrs. Anna N. Peterson Schwartz, Rev. Albert Stephens, Rev. Thadeus Lacon. Wolf, Mrs. Alice Stewart 1890 Arnold, Henry F. Burt, Mrs. Lola Maddox Oak Park. Cleaveland, Mrs. Olive Cox Rock Island. Green, Alvah S. Hoffman, Miss Grace Love, N. M. Peoria. Rogers, Frank G. 1891 Arnold, Mrs. Anna Ward Bergland, Albert E. Galva. Boutelle, Addison J, Chapman, Dr. Ada Hinckley Gushing, E. B. and wife Tiskilwa. Clark, Mrs. Frances Vineyard Caskey, W, G. and wife Oberlin, Ohio. Corbin, Mabel L. Macomb. Finch, Alida E. Francis, Mrs. Lizzie O'Neil (ex. '91). Camp Point. Hinckley, Arthur E. King, Edward J. King, Mrs. M!ary Roberts Montgomery, Hattie Newcomb Middle Grove. Perry, George A. Scott, Miss Martha 204 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Sovereign, Miss Lora Roseville. Tressler, N. W, Madison, Wis. 1892 Boult, Blanche M. Curtis, Mrs. Lida Giffen St. James, Minn. Davis, Ardella Chicago. Davis, Katherine Folger, Miss Sarah B. Montgomery, Mrs. Lunetta Chandler Aurora. Orendorff, Margaret R. May- nard (ex. '92) Canton. Palmer, Caroline New York City. Pearsall, Mrs. Leah Calkins Elgin. Samuels, Miss Lydia A. Stevens, Miss Alta Miller Weston, Hugh S. Peoria. Woelber, Mrs. Mary L. Cassidy New York City. 1893 Charlson, Jennie Elliott, Mrs. Grace Kay Payson. Gale, George C. Hinckley, Bessie Loomis Lind, Miss Johanna C. Glasgow, Mont. Miner, H. R. Adair. Palsgrovc, Mrs. Cora McCooI Phillips, Mrs. Alta Marsh Los Angeles, Calif. Stetson, Charlotte H. Princeton. Sturgeon, James Fleming El Paso. 1894 Arnold, Wilfred Butcher, Miss M. Zelle Chapin. Copp, Herbert G. (ex. '94) Rock Island. Guild, Roy B. Topeka, Kan. Hardy, A. K. Klosz, Mrs. Etha Butcher Bombay, India. McCool, Nellie H. Maley, Dr. William H. Moreland, John R. Ogden, Mrs. Alice Hogan Sanderson, Fred R. Shinn, Bertha Alpha. Walker, Mrs. Elizabeth Freer Wasson, James T. 1895 Corbin, Dr. J. F. Garrett, Mrs. Myra Boyd Oklahoma City, Okla. Hurburgh, Charles F. Kellogg, Mrs. Forrest Horrell Kewanee. Lindstrum, A. O. Maynard, Mrs. Margaret Mont- gomery Dallas, Texas. Moore, Mrs. Margaret Edgerton Houston, Texas. Moreland, Armor Pratt, Mrs. Josephine McReyn- olds Roseville. Sheldon, Mrs. Florence West Stevens, Mabel Strain, Mrs. Edith Kimball Omaha, Neb. Woods, Mrs. Frances Arnold 1896 Bassett, Bessie Aledo. Bridgeford, Mrs. MoUie Taylor Aledo. Cooke, Sarah Belle Aledo. Farley, Mrs. Mary Davis Chicago. Fuller, W. Stancliff La Grange. Hammond, Flora M. Losey, Mrs. Elizabeth Stevenson McCreery, Sarah N. Burlington, Iowa. Peterson, Fred Rich, Mrs. Lucy Babcock Shrimpton, Elizabeth Syracuse, N. Y. GRADUATES IN ATTENDANCE 205 Willard, Frank C. Tombstone, Ariz. Williamson, Fred L. Kansas City, Mo. 1897 Cushing, Royal B. and wife Chicago. Fitch, George Peoria. Folles, Mrs. Elizabeth Eurgens Chicago. Gibson, C. N. New Windsor. Hammond, Dr. J. Jay Hipsley, W. L. (ex. '97) Table Grove. Lass, Chas. F. McCandless, George T. Hutchinson, Kan. Stearns, Mrs. Mary Wertman Thompson, Presson W. Los Angeles, Calif. Wetmore, Mrs. Nellie Parmenter Whitney, Mrs. Jessie Losey Williams, Grace S. Baltimore, Md. 1898 Baker, Mrs. Margaret Miller Winnetka. Chase, Miss Zora E. Farnum, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Peoria. Gentry, J. O. Hall, Florence I. Nichols Freeport. Lindstrum, Mrs. Winifred Chaiser McFarland, F. O. Peterson, Loren M. Smith, Mrs. Nellie J. Swanson, I. Winfred Tunnicliff, Mrs. Ella B. Mc- Laughlin Walker, William M. Rock Island. 1899 Brennemann, Minnie S. Hopedale. Danskin, Lucy Hampton Minneapolis. Finley, Dr. Clyde Hunt, George F. Lancaster, W. Emery Quincy. McCandless, Mrs. Loraine Gay Hutchinson, Kan. Murdoch, Thomas D. Preston, Nannine W. Prutsman, Sibyl M. , Slattery, Margaret C. Stoneberg, Philip J, Bishop Hill. Stout, George A. Strain, Geo. M. Omaha, Neb. Switzer, Robert M. Wertman, M. Leorah 1900 Allen, Nettie Barr, Mary Winn Quincy. Dilworth, Mabel Cox Table Grove. Dilworth, T. S. Envall, Mary Felt, Albert L. Grabill, D. Quincy Evansville, Wis. Hagans, Corban B. Ipava. Holloway, Fred G. Illick, Martha Elda Burlington, Iowa. Irwin, Mrs. Nannie Ingersoll Red Oak, Iowa. Lundgren, Edward Main, Maude A. "Nash, R. C. Chicago. Nelson, Stella Williamsfield. Parkin, Edna Rex Parkin, Harry A. Chicago. Slocumb, Mrs. E. C. Artesia, New Mexico. Stellwagen, Elizabeth Snyder St. Louis, Mo. Stone, Mrs. Elsa Ertel Quincy. Willis, Arthur W. 1901 Clark, W. C. Buda. Hammond, Theodore A. Johnson, Mrs. Miriam Bergland Krotter, Nellie M. Knoxville. 206 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Lake, Margaret Morse Shenandoah, Iowa. Leard, Laura and sister Prairie City. Love, Elizabeth M. Knoxville. Maley, Mrs. Clara Forrester Manning, E. T., M. D. Omaha, Neb. Parmenter, Robert O. Knoxville. Tate, Louis N., M. D. Brimfield. Van Cleave, Mina Knoxville. Webster, Daniel Davenport, low^a. 1902 Avery, G. Luzerne Peoria. Arnold, Ray M. Armstrong, Mary J, Barr, Russell T. Quincy. Caldwell, W. H. Dalrymple, J. and wife Reading, Mich. Gilmore, Newton R. Chicago. Glidden, Mrs. Fannie Hurff Kewanee. Hitchcock, Samuel Hope, N. D. Hughes, Minnie E. Stevenson Omaha, Neb. Johnson, Jessie Van Clute Los Angeles, Calif. Joy, Mrs. Laura Richards Greenville. Knowles, Laura Rushville. Moreland, Mrs. Josephine Cool- Peterson, E. F. New Windsor. Spangler, Mrs. Madge Barnes Washburn. St. John, Mrs. May Cooper Chicago. Stickell, Mrs. Daisy Lawrence Knoxville. Thomson, Vera B. Los Angeles, Calif. Willard, Florence E. Topeka, Kan. idge Barry, Mrs. Elizabeth Root Drake, Mrs. Mamie Selleck Elwood, Miss Lillian Hopkins, C. Charles Willard, Miss Alice 1903 Bone, Gratia Hyde Prairie City. Brown, Curtis H. Delavan, Mrs. Ethlyn Pine Ewing, Dr. Fred Green, Allen Ayrault Hinchliflf, Everett E. Lapham, Gail H. McLaughlin, Mrs. Helen Fergu- son Shutts, Daniel Sedalia, Mo. Whipple, Walter W. 1904 Felt, S. W. Goodsill, A. Clair Hardy, Mrs. Norma Wertman Piatt, Roy L. Terry, W. E., Jr. 1905 Burton, Jessie R. Chase, Ralph Knoxville. Clearwater, Cornelia Mosher Oneida. Edgerton, Erastus Frank, Mrs. Irene Olson Holmes, Jessie R. Junod, Chas. L. Lass, Edith Lowrie, Alice McClelland, Kellogg D. Rogers, Ella T. Sigsbee, Ray A. Sharp, Florence Scott's BluflF, Neb. Stanford, Dorothy Inness Chatsworth. Zetterberg, Arvid P. 1906 Arnold, Harriett Hall, Wallace S. Woburn, Mass. Jelliff, Richard F. Lass, Henry W. Maley, Fred L. Maley, Dr. George E. GRADUATES IN ATTENDANCE 207 Mars, Mary- Olson, Mae Granville. Patton, James M. Dahinda. 1907 Alden, Blanche H. Shenandoah, Iowa. Byram, Zella M. Giddings, Mr. and Mrs. Corwin Rockford. Graham, Hamill R. Denver. Hanna, Ruth Milw^aukee, Wis. Harper, J. Frank Moline. Harrison, Leslie Knoxville. Hilding, John W. Grand Rapids, Mich. Lampe, William B. Shelby, Iowa. Lowrie, S. Gale Madison, Wis. Orcutt, Albert Areola. Sapp, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Wyanet. Seacord, Marie West, Bessie A. Chicago. 1908 Avery, Harriette Carlton, W. B. Griswold, Mary Augusta Princeton. Ingersoll, Roy C. Ingersoll, Mrs. Lulu Hinchliff Johnson, Alice A. Johnston, Winifred L. Ladd, Harry P. Kewanee. McKee, Jean McKeighan, Laura M. Toulon. Orcutt, Edith Greene (ex. '08) Areola. Walker, Pearl Anna 1909 Avery, Mrs. Miriam Hunter Peoria. Ballans, Anna M. Neponset. Coad, Oral S. Delaware, Ohio. Dilworth, Anna Lee Table Grove. Inness, Lucy Mabel Jacobson, Helen C. Chicago. McBride, Louise Burlington, Iowa. McClelland, Bruce C. McLaughlin, Maud Montgomery, Martha P. Rock Island. Mooney, Jessie M. Hamilton, Mo. Page, Edith Pendleton, Ella Augusta. Ramp, Florence B. Knoxville. Rhodes, Letitia C. Rice, Mary (ex. '09) Lewistown. Weaver, Mrs. Grace Allen Woolsey, Robt. C. Chicago. 1910 Aldrich, Harry G. Bridge. Earl R. Callihan, Tressler William Diehl, Ruth Ipava. Bailey, Fern Marceline, Mo. Flynn, Con C. Gates, M. Ethel Goodsill, Inez V. Graham, Irving M. Carthage. Graham, Katherine E. Aurora. Johnston, Margaret Burnt Prairie. Kline, Flora A. Galva. Lampe, Mrs. Estelle Avery Shelby, Iowa. Lillie, L. F. Freeport. McCollum, Lavonna Margaret McKee, Mrs. Flo Bethard Nelson, Eily Edmond Vermont. Nelson, Sigvard Wataga. 206 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Peterson, Herbert E. Alpha. Smith, Harry L. Albion, Idaho. Spinner, Delia G. Swanson, Mr. and Mrs. R. May- nard Roseville. Trouslot, Marie L. Prairie City. Trump, Vera G. Frankfort, Kan. Wells, Helen B. Galva. White, Edna B. White, Ruby M. 1911 Carley, Alice M. Donichy, Mary M. Drake, Lucy E. Detroit, Mich. Dunn, Charles F. Lebanon, Mo. Dupuis, Dollie J. Savanna. Felt, Margaret Galpin, Stella B. Hazen, Mrs. Haroldine Ives Hedgecock, A, J, Plymouth. Jordan, J. N. Centerton, Ark. Keefer, Marie V. Sterling. Kerman, Geo. B. Macomb. Kornwebel, Augusta Larson, Harriet G. Latimer, W. Leslie Lawton, Howard M. Plymouth. Lewis, Mary McGowan, R. Ellen Peters, William W. Peterson, Alvah Randall, Winifred L. Strickland, Abbie C. Tanabe, Stetfan Tipple, E. Ruth Payson. Vanderburgh, Grace L. OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., Honorable Frank Hamlin. Yale University, New Haven, Conn., George Shipman Payson. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., Edgar D. Wing, M. D. Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, Prof. A. P. Carman. Columbia University, New York, N. Y., Mr. Victor Elting. Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Prof. Graham Taylor, D. D., LL. D. The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., President J. A. Marquis. University of Vermont, Burlington, Vt., Prof. George Henry Perkins, LL, D., Ph. D. Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., Prof. Francis Hoffman. Auburn Theological Seminary, Auburn, New York, Rev. Hugh Jack, D. D. OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES 209 Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, Prof. John Henry McMillan. Norwich University, Northtield, Vermont, Dr. J. V. N. Standish. Western Reserve University, Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. William Carver Williams. Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., Mr. Lucien F. Sennett. Western Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, Pa., Rev, Hugh T. Kerr, D. D. Illinois College, Jacksonville, 111., President Charles H. Rammelkamp. McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, 111., Rev. J. Gibson Lowrie, D. D. Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, Prof. William George Caskey. Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, Mr. C. B. Beach. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., Prof. Arthur Graves Canfield. Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass., Mrs. Edward D. Gaylord. Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, Prof. Francis Marion Austin. Beloit College, Beloit, Wis., President Edward D. Eaton. College of the City of New York, New York, N. Y., President John H. Finley. University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., Prof. George C. Comstock. University of Rochester, Rochester, N. Y. Prof. George T. Sellew. Northwestern University, Evanston, 111., Prof. Herbert Eugene Griffith. Tufts College, Tufts College, Mass., '' Prof. P. F. Wright. Wheaton College, Wheaton, 111., President Charles A. Blanchard. Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa., Superintendent F. G. Blair. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Mass., Mr. Richard E. Schmidt. Washburn College, Topeka, Kan., Miss Florence Willard. Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., Prof. W. G. Waterman. Talladega College, Talladega, Alabama, Prof. Wallace Hall. University of Illinois, Urbana, 111., Prof. Edward C. Hayes. 210 SEVENTY-FIVE SIGNIFICANT YEARS Carthage College, Carthage, 111., President H. D. Hoover. Park College, Parkville, Mo., Prof. Merlin C. Findlay. Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, 111., President John S. NoUen. Case School of Applied Science, Cleveland, Ohio, President Charles Sumner Howe. Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, President J. A. Marquis. Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama, Principal Booker T. Washington. University of South Dakota, Vermillion, S. Dak., President F. B. Gault. Clark University, Worcester, Mass., Prof. Raymond K. Morley. Pomona College, Claremont, Calif., Prof. Francis Harding White. Barnard College, New York City, N. Y., Mr. Victor Elting. University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, S. G. Paterson, Ph. D. Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, New York, N. Y., Mr. Clyde Furst, Secretary. William and Vashti College, Aledo, 111., President Frank C. English. « ' jp* LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 028 342 488 1