Bethany College - Bethanian Yearbook (Bethany, WV)

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Hleianber Campbell. ALEXANDER CAMPBELL was born in Comity Antrim, Ireland, September 12th, 17S6. In early boyhood he was more fond of field sports than of books. His first lessons were learned at an elementary school in Market Hill, Comity Armagh; later he attended an academy at Newry; and, lastly he was a student at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Thomas Campbell, had united with the Secession, or Antibnrger Presbyterian Church, and it was under its jurisdiction that he came to America, in 1807, and located near Washington, Pennsylvania, whither he was followed by Alexander in October of 1809. His first effort at public speaking was an exhortation before a small audience in a private house, and following a sermon by his father. He was then 24 years old. Shortly after this, in May of 1810, he preached his first regular discourse at Brush Run. A year later, March 12, 1811, he was married to Margaret Brown, at her father ' s residence. In 1812 he was formally ordained to the ministry. In i8i8he opened in his own house a school for both sexes, known as the Buffalo Academy. In 1827 his first wife died, and in 1828 he was married to Selina H. Bakewell. In 1830 he was a delegate to the Virginia convention for amending the state constitution. In 1 84 1 the crown and consummation of all his earthlv projects was reached in the founding of Bethany College. The life of Alexander Campbell was filled with arduous and varied labors. He taught, he traveled, he preached, at home and abroad; he wrote, early and late; he debated in private and in public, before vast audiences, with the representative men of the day, in behalf of a simple faith against the stronghold of creeds, in behalf of the Protestant world against Romanism, and in behalf of universal Christianity against Infidelity. In stature he was tall, and to the last his bearing was majestic. He died in 1S66 at the age of eighty. In the last days of a serenely beautiful old age — as in youth — his noble cheerfulness of disposition shone with none the less power to charm and bless those whose privilege it was to enjoy his companionship.

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William Ik. penMeton. WILLIAM KIMBROUGH PENDLETON was born in Louisa county, Virginia, September 8th, 1817. He was educated at the University of Virginnia, where he completed an elective course in classical, scientific and philosophical studies and was also graduated from the law school. In 1840 he was admitted to the bar, bnt soon after, in 1S41, having married a daughter of Alexander Campbell, he removed to Bethany to take part in the founding of Bethany College. He was Professor of Natural Science and Astronomy, and later divided with Professor Loos the classes of the ministerial course. After the burning of the first College building in 1857, he accompanied Alexander Campbell through the west and south, soliciting funds for the erection of the present building. He had been for some years Vice President of the College. On the death of Alexander Campbell, in 1866, he became President, and during the many years of financial distress, dating from the civil war, which crippled the work to which he was devoted, he also filled the difficult and laborious office of Treasurer. He was associate editor of the Millenial Harbinger from its beginning, and was for some years associated in the editorship of the Christian Standard. Amid these labors he found time for much preaching, for much traveling and a large corres- pondence in the interests both of the College and the Church; and to prepare and deliver addresses in behalf of almost every public interest. In 1876, as a result of a movement begun by the teachers of the state, he was elected Superintendent for a term of four years. During this period he gave to the labor of reducing to method the practical workings of a school system that he found in imperfect order, every moment that could be taken from the occupations of an already busy life. Dr. Pendleton has been thrice married; in 1S40 to Malvin M., and in 1S47 to Clarinda, both daughters of Alexander Campbell, and in 1855 to Catherine H., daughter of Judge L. King, of Warren, Ohio. In 1887, retiring from active service in Bethany College, he removed with his wife and younger children to Eustis, Florida, where he now resides.