Bluffton University - Ista Yearbook (Bluffton, OH)

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fly lfmfisrnl X fl N il l HN IMIENIGIRHAXIMI Dr. N. C. Hirschy, First president of Bluffton College 1900-1909 Born February 25, 1867 Died March 13, 1925 EPITAPH OF A NATURALIST To Dr. N. C. Hirschy by John F. Smith Go make my grave where the lilies grow, Where the song birds sing and the violets blow, VVhere soft winds sigh and the eagle soars O'er the mystic haunts of the out-of-doors. Lay me away on the mountain side Where the sunbeams gleam and the dews abide, Where the wild hawk nests in the towering tree, There let me rest where I long to be. And plant a shrub where my body lies In its early bed under vaulted skies, That my lone soul from beneath the sod May spring with Howers to its home with God. X fl Rx 17

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lm-719 TA I X ff f X X A HISTORY OF BLUFFTON COLLEGE For many years the need of an institution of learning was greatly felt by the mid- dle district conference of the Mennonites of North America. The background of Bluff- ton College is to be found in the school at Wadsworth, Ohio, tJanuary 2, 1868-Doc. 31, 18781 from which a number of real leaders went forth who spread the spirit of higher education among their people. Only a few years after the close of this school a new school sprang up in a larger and newer center of Mennonite settlements, near Halstead, Kansas 418823. Large immigrations from Russia and Germany were settling in Kansas and other western states. a fact which naturally resulted in centering edu- cational interests there. This new school was continued at Halstead for ten years and was a direct forerunner of Bethel College established in Newton, Kansas in 1893. No sooner did Bethel College open its doors than the people of Indiana and Ohio and Pennsylvania discovered that it was a long distance to Kansas for them to sen-I their children to school. Few went. Remarks were frequently heard that the distance was too great, even for those who had scholarships by reason of funds contributed by parents or friends. To induce students to go there teachers from Ohio and other east- Laying the Corner-stone of Main College Building ern points were placed on the facultyg but without apparent results. But where shouifl thc young people go to school? Many were studying in different schools near home. As early as 1894 the matter of establishing a College was urged before the conference and gradually from year to year the interest in thc school increased and the way to its erection became more clear. In 1894 the conference met in Bethel, Missouri. Dr. N. C. Ilirschy wrote a paper on XVass Kami die Mittlere Distrikt Konferenz fur die Schul- sache bezuglich unscrer Denomination thun . In it was put forth the claim that the confercnce should establish a school and that what ought to he done could be done. ln 1896 some investigation of the prospects of uniting the efforts of the Middle District Ks 18