Bethany College - Bethanian Yearbook (Bethany, WV)

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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.