Beloit College - Codex Yearbook (Beloit, WI)

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28 CODEJI. of six children, one of them, Elizabeth C. Chapin, now wife of Rev. Henry D. Porter, M. D., is at present a missionary of the American Board in Pang-Chuang, China. The other remaining children are con- tributing to their father's later years the graces of a happy and honorable home. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on Mr. Chapin by Williams College, in 1853, and that of Doctor of Laws by the Univer- sity of New York, in 1882. In 1865, during a brief period of physical exhaustion, he passed several months in Europe. Again, in 1883, he visited the old world as member of a committee sent by the American Board to the Turkish mission for the purpose of adjusting certain differ- ences between the Armenian churches and the missionaries of the Board. He has served the Board of Missions as one of its corporate members for many years. In 1884 he was appointed to preach the annual sermon. For many years also he has been a director of the American Home Missionary Society, one of the vice-Presidents of the American Mis- sionary Association, President of the Board of Trustees of the State Institution for Deaf Mutes, and one of the directors of the Chicago Theological Seminary. I-Ie was one of the Board of Examiners at the U. S. Naval School at Annapolis in I872, and occupied the same position at VVest Point in 1873. ' In the midst of a busy life Dr. Chapin has found little leisure for the protracted labor of literary authorship. He has given to tlie press a few occasional sermons, addresses and reviews. In 1878 an edition of Way land's Political Economy was issued under his supervision, in which the original work was recast and partly rewritten by him. This revision has been adopted as a text-book in several schools and colleges, and is spoken of with honor. Dr. Chapin resigned the presidency of the college at the Annual Commencement in 1886, his long labors causing him to feel the pressure of advancing years. He retains, however, for instruction, the depart- ment of Civil Polity, which, with that of history, from the beginning has been attached to the office of the President. For the past few months our venerable teacher has been obliged to intermit the duties of the recita- tion room, by reason of physical infirmity. VVe trust that rest in the quiet of his home will bring back for not a few remaining years some- thing of earlier vigor. We may confidently expect it, if the unswerving love in which he is cherished can avail. A mind of remarkable poise and a heart growing through all these years in consecration to the

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Rev. A. La. Chapin, D.D., President Elngeritug. Aaron Lucius Chapin, first president of Beloit College, was born in Hartford, Conn., Feb. 4, 1817. His ancestors, on the side of both father and mother, were citizens of Connecticut, and were- persons of robust intelligence and character. He received his academic education in the Hartford Grammar School and at Yale College, graduating at the latter institution in 1837. Among the members of his class were several gentlemen of national reputation, Rev. A. L. Stone, D. D., Hon. Jeremiah Evarts, Chief justice Morrison R. Waite and Prof. Benjamin Silliman are of the number. During the year subsequent to his leaving college he was engaged in teaching in a family school in Baltimore, Md., and from 1838 to 1843 was a professor in the New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. He studied Theology while there engaged, and received his diploma at Union Theological Seminary of New York, in 1842. . The Western States were at this time opening new fields for enter- prise, not only in the pursuits of ordinary industry, but to the Christian Ministry and academical instruction. Mr. Chapin, under the appointment of the American Home Missionary Society, removed in 1844 to Mil- waukee, Wis., where he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. Here he remained six years. His pastorate in Milwaukee is spoken of as one of great thoroughness and efficiency, and his friendship in 'that city is affectionately cherished by not a few who were cognizant of his early ministry. In February of 1850, Dr. Chapin was called from Milwaukee to Beloit College, as its first President, and was inaugurated into the duties of that ofhce july 24th, of the same year. Rev. Iackson I. Bushnell and Rev. joseph Emerson, D. D., had just become professors of the new institution and to Dr. Chapin, in conjunction ,with these two nrst Professors, are, in large measure, due the wise principles and methods by which its administration has been rendered so eminently successful in the training of men. ' Dr. Chapin was married to Miss Martha Colton of Lenox, Mass., August 23, 1843. After her death, he married as his second wife Miss Fanny L. Coit, of New London, Conn., August 26, 1861. He is father

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R515 A. L. CHAPIM DHD., PRESIDEIVY' E1Wl:'A'17'US. 29 good of 'men, with a physical frame eminently qualified for exacting labor have all been given freely. It is our hope that the results of his life in the life of the college and of its sons, and in the direct contribu- tions he has made to the life of the commonwealth and the American church, may be to him a crown of joy, as it is manifestly a crown of honor, in allithe days that remain to him. i s l YES Fifi' in Af 21115