Heidelberg University - Aurora Yearbook (Tiffin, OH)

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In the spring of 1849, when cholera broke out in this city, I left with my family and went into Fairfield County, Qhio. In my peregrinations through that county I came to Tarlton, where I found quite ra number of young men whose parents desired to afford them a better opportunity for education than they could obtain in the public schools, and yet without sending them away from home. Indeed, such Hatteringinducements were presented that I hired a hall and fitted it up with modern desks and appliances and soon had every desk occupied by diligent students. During the winter of 1849 and 1850 the citizens of Tarlton had meetings at different times and subscribed something over 85,000 for the purpose of securing the location of the proposed Theological Seminary. Meeting with such success, a special meeting of synod was called. The proposition of the citizens of Tarlton to donate 85,000 and a beautiful site of four acres on what was called Floral Hill, on the banks of Salt Creek, in the west part of the town, was accepted. The new institution was called Heidelberg College. This name was suggested by the late Henry Williard, who was always a warm advocate of such an institution. A committee of citizens was also appointed to collect the amount subscribed and erect a suitable building on the proffered site. Steps were immediately taken and contracts made to carry forward the work. I was appointed by the synod, President ofthe new institution and continued my academic work during the following summer. It seems, however, that after the synod had taken this action, the late Rev. Hiram Shaull who was then pastor of the Reformed Church at Tiffin, Ohio, conceived theidea of making an effort there for the re-location or transfer of this seminary. Having succeeded in getting subscriptions to twice the amount that Tarlton had subscribed, he presented a proposition of that kind to the regular annual meeting of synod held at Navarre, Ohio, in the autumn of 1850. After canvassing the advantages of the new location and larger amount to be secured, synod Hnally decided to accept this new proposition, and appointed a committee of three to visit Tarlton and arrange with its citizens in such a manner that they would not sustain any pecuniary loss on account of the action taken at the special meeting of synod locating the institution there. While it may have been a mistake to locate the college at Tarlton, yet if that effort had not been made, it is doubtful whether the effort would have been made at Tiffin at all, and without such an effort as was made at Tarlton, the church might still be without Heidelberg University. All hail for Tarlton. COLUMBUS, omo, April, 1898. 5, 5, RICKLEY, tPub1ished by permissionj

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qorehisforic Heidelberg. QU5 THE spring 1839 the Synod of Ohio and adjacent states met in E9 3 annual session at Lancaster, Qhio, and were generously dined by the guy? late John U. Giesy at his hospitable hostelry. The late Henry Wil- liard and myself were then boarding at the same place. During this dinner and meeting of synod a great deal was said about the necessity of establishing a Theological Seminary within the bounds of this synod. It was also learned that as early as 1835 this matter had been talked over, but no definite action taken. Although I was only twenty years old at that time, and had but an imper- fect knowledge of the English or any other language, Iunderstood very well the importance of the question before synod, and concluded that in my humble way I would do whatI could to accomplish the desired object. By the advice of my friend, the late Rev. Henry Williard, I went to Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, and entered Marshall College, hoping to learn in two years all that was necessary for the accomplishment of my favorite scheme, but Rev. E. V. Gerhart, who was then a post graduate there, said that if a young man found out in two years that he knew nothing he was making commend- able progress. This somewhat dampened my ardour, but 7ZZ.!LZ,6'SfE7'fZ7Z6l72!71'Z, I continued my studies, keeping steadily in view the object of my ambition. About the year 1846, the same synod appointed a committee of three to receive proposals for the location of such an institution, but people were in no hurry in presenting their offers. About the year 1847, the people of VVorthington, Franklin Co., Ohio, offered to donate for this purpose, a lot of about four acres containing a commodious building, but as the church had no membership there or in the vicinity it was thought inadvisable to accept the offer. About the year 1848, I attempted to interest certain citizens of this city to purchase a lot of four acres on the southeast corner of Town Street and Washington Avenue, which could be purchased for 32,0005 it is worth now not far from 8100,0o0. I went to mine host, Wm. Kelsey of the American House, whose elegant residence was just west of this piece of land, and asked him what he would contribute toward securing an institution of this kind for that locality. He answered very emphatically, I will give 8500 to keep it away. This virtually ended the effort.

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Historic Heidelberg. A 4275, NASMUCH as the current year marks the Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the Im.: E E FYI 'e ' 'i 4 founding of the institution, the Editors of the present issue of the AURORA 4 , propose to give their readers a fuller historical sketch of Heidelberg than ll usual. The present story opens at the point where the writer of the narra- tive on the pre-historic period closed. The original name of the institu- tion was Tarlton College, derived from the name of the first location. At a meeting of the Synod of the Reformed Church in Ohio and Adjacent States, con- vened at Navarre, Stark County, Ohio, on the 26th of September, 1850, it was Resolved, That the proposition of the citizens of Tiiiin tendering a donation of xII,O3O, and so much more as may have been, or may hereafter be, subscribed to the object, in consideration of the location of our Literary and Theological Institutions in Tifhn, be acceplezl, and that these Institutions be, therefore, transferred from Tarlton to Tiiiinfl In connection with the above action the following resolution was also passed, bearing on the adoption of the historic name of the school: Resolved, That in accordance with the general desire of the church, the name of Heidelbeljg College be chosen for the Literary Institution. At the same session, the Synod elected jacob Kroh, Esq., of Tiffin, as the nrst Treasurer of the new institution, also elected ten trustees, five of whom were to serve for one year, and five for two years, and further ordered the holding of a General Convention ' on the 14th of December, 1850, for the purpose of more fully maturing plans of location and organization. The said convention was held, pursuant to appointment, at which time the selection of a .vile for the proposed building was determined, the committee on plans and speciicationsj' previously appointed, reported, and a Constitution and By-Laws of Heidelberg College H was adopted. By this constitution provision was ordered for tive distinct courses of instruction in Heidelberg College, to wit:- I. A Classical Course, comprising four years. 2. An English Course, comprising llzree years. 3. A Farmers' Course, comprising llzree years. 4. A Teachers' Course, comprisin g lkree years. 5. A Preparatory Course, comprising lwo years. An Act of Incorporation was also formulated, and assigned to a committee with direc- tions to obtain its passage through the General Assembly of the State of Ohio. It may also be of interest to state that the Synod in this convention devoted considerable time to an examination of eleven proposed sites, and to a discussion of their advantages and disadvantages. On the fourth ballot the site for a building was chosen, and the Board of Trustees was directed to purchase from Josiah Hedges, Esq., live acres of ground for fI,OOO, assoon as may be possible and may be considered judicious. A plan for a build- ing was adopted, and the following members of the Board of Trustees were chosen as a building committee, viz : jacob Kroh, Esq., Louis Baltzell, Robert Crum, Henry St. john, and I. I-I. Good. From these items of business which claimed the attention of the conven- tion, it may readily be seen with what earnestness and zeal the Synod determined to carry forward the work of founding a new institution of learning. Having thus given a sketch of the preliminary steps taken by the Synod in the move- ment, we come now to the formal opening of the college, and the beginning of its historical 2 Easel!