Franklin College - Almanack Yearbook (Franklin, IN)

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francis KI. Brown, H. M., Ph. D. PROFESSOR OF LATIN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. 5 EAR Cleveland Ohio 111 1838 was bo111 F1 '1,nc1s WV. Brown. About -1839 l1is father, Laba11 ' E' Brown, moved to Indiana and purchased a farm near Seymour. Here on the farm and in the country schools tl1e boyhood of F. W.. Brown was spent. The home was a model of piety and fllial affection. Among his early teachers were some of superior scholarship. These did much toward kindling to a flame an ambition for higher attainments in the realm of knowledge. Wliile yet a youth hexaccepted a position as clerk i11 the leading store of Seymour, and here during spare hours he pursued the study of Latin, Greek and German. All oppor- tunities were improved with a view to a mastery of these. A position as teacher in the Seymour Academy was given him, and the success of this first effort proved the beginning of a life work. He neXt taught mathematics in Bryantls Commercial College, at Indianapolis. This was a very pleas- ant position, yet the impulse to complete his literary studies brought him to Franklin College in 1858. Here he pursued his course until the college suspended work at the beginning of the war. Then, nearly through, and lacking means to go elsewhere he finished his work alone. But since his student life the purpose to master things undertaken has been intensified and has led him into broader fields of thought, especially of language, philosophy alld ethnology. In 1863 he married Miss S. J. McCoy, whose family has given more than 813,- 000 to Franklin College in time of greatest need. In 1865 he publically professed his faith in Christ and united with the .Baptist church at Seymour. 1 The same .year a position agfs-uperintendent of White River Academy, at Brownstown,

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Newton County, Ind., in May, 1874. Early in 1875, moved by his intense interest in the educational progress of his native state he gave up the cherished purpose of years, that of the -J ' 9 '1 itation to teach. in lfranklin pastorate, and accepted an iiv it College. In June, 1875, he was married to Theodosia Parks, and in September of the same year he began his service in the college. He taught in turn Greek, Science and Latin, but was permanently placed at the head of the Greek depart- ment in 1879. In 1885 he Was made vice-president of the college. In 1894 he spent several months traveling in Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land. In addition to his college Work he has continued to do some service as a pastor. He is now completing the nine- teenth year of his half-time pastorate of the Hurricane Baptist Church. He is alike enthusiastic both as preacher and as teacher, but the Work of his life, to which he has already devotednalmost a quarter of a century's toil, and the entire energies of his being, has been the service of Christian education as represented by our own Franklin College. . 3- N C- X. :G f A .

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Ind., was tendered him and was accepted. Vllhfls institution was then a center of education. for Southern indiana. His work here was complimented Very highly. Next came an offer from the college board of Lancaster, Ind. This position also was accepted. Shortly after the re-opening of Franklin College he was elected to the chair of 4' Languages. But three languages and six classes a day, in y l , failing health, to stop for recuperation. For nearly twelve years he was engaged in business in Cincinnati, Ohio. Health restored, he took charge of an institution located at Springiield, Ky., and later at Perryville, where he was called to manage Ewing Institute. He was afterward offered the presidency of two different institutions, lout was unable to a few ears made it necessary from accept either. He made many warm friends during his five years, residence in Kentucky. In 1887 he accepted a call to the chair of Latin in Frank- lin College. Since that time he has pursued the work with great pleasure. Here he remains in tranquillity, and his in- lluence will be revealed when the Master comes. To Him be all the glory. fl? ll, il, if ll y if ill?