DePauw University - Mirage Yearbook (Greencastle, IN)

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The reputation of Dr. Andrus as an educator has suffered from under-esti- 111ation,doubtless largely on account of the brevity of his term as President of the University, cut short as it was by his i11-hea1th. With some idiosyncrasies which did not tend to increase his popularity, and a temperament influenced by his ill-health, he was yet a man of tremendous energy and great effectiveness, both as a preacher and teacher. A sturdy and conscientious scholar, he Filled with credit the chair of his eminent predecessors. i SIXTH PRESIDENT. ALEXANDER MARTIN, D. D., LL. D., 1875e1889. Alexander Martin, Senior Professor in the University, and for fourteen years its President, was born in Scotland in 1822. In 1846 he was Principal of Kingswood Academy, Virginia. He graduated from Allegheny College in 1847. Subsequently he had charge, as aminister, of congregations in Charleston, Clarksburg, Moundsville, Wheeling and Parkersburg, West Virginia. For six years he was Principal of Northwest Virginia Academy. For ten years he was Professor of the Greek Language and Literature in Allegheny College. In 1868 he organized the West Virginia University, and for eight years was its President, for five of these years being Professor of Mental and Moral Science, and for three years Professor of Physics and Astronomy. Since 1875 he has been Pro- fessor of Mental and Moral Science in the Indiana Asbury, 110w DePauw Uni- versity. When Dr. Martin took charge as President, the Institution was greatly cramped for want of an adequate endowment and facilities, but during his presi- dency the great enlargement in grounds, buildings, libraries, apparatus, teachers and magnihcent endowment took place. The labor consequent on this and espec- ially in helping to secure the means to meet Mr. DePaqus proposition of two dollars for every one contributed by others in order to endow the Asbury Col- lege of Liberal Arts, was more arduous than many can now conceive. Having largely aided in this work, and harmoniously adjusted the new schools and branches of learning which constitute the University, and superintended the same for hve years after the change was made, he, in june, 1889, handed the University over to his successor with over one thousand students and with the above fine equipment in personnel and materiel. During the war Dr. Martin was President of the West Virginia Branch of the Christian Commission, and did signal service in the field, and especially in 18

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the hospitals among the sick and wounded of both armies. He served for a number of years as Secretary of the West Virginia Conference, has been highly honored by his brethren as a member of four General Conferences, as well as of the Ecumenical Conference in London and the Centennial Conference in Balti- more. He is a Director for Life of the American Bible Society, and also of the Missionary Society of his church. Dr. Martin served four years on the Book Committees, and four years as Director of the Freedmen's Aid and Southern Education Society. The degree of D. D. was conferred by the Ohio Wesleyan University, that of LL. D., by his alma mater. No one man, unless itbe Bishop Simpson, did more to advance the material interests of the University during his occupancy of the presidentai chair, than did Dr. Martin during his fourteen years of loyal and effective service as the head of the institution, and the students of the present generation owe more than they can appreciate to his eEorts. ' THE PRESENT PRESIDENT. JOHN P. D. JOHN, A. M., D. D., 1889. John P. D. John was born in Brookville, Indiana, November 25, 1843. On account of poor health he was compelled to leave school at the age of'twelve years, and his subsequent education was brought about by his own untiring effort. After several years of i11-hea1th, which seriously obstructed him in his studies, he commenced teaching in the schools of his native county, continuing in this work for three years. At the age of twenty he was elected to the Chair of Mathematics in Brookville College. In 1865 he was admitted to the Confer- ence, and in 1869 was elected President Of the institution. Early in 1872 Dr. John accepted the VicesPresidency and Chair of Mathe- matics in Mooreis Hill College. At the end of four years he was elected to the presidency of that institution, serving for six years-his service being intere rupted by a years absence in Europe. In 1882 Dr. John accepted the Chair of Mathematics in DePauw. In 1885 he was elected to the Vice-Presidency, in 1889 to the acting-presidency, and in December of the same year to the presidency of DePauw University. In spite of the fact that the advantages of higher education within college walls were denied him, President John is an educator of rare breadth of culture, an orator of marked powers, a linguist of great ability, and a scientist of wide 19