Hiram College - Spider Web Yearbook (Hiram, OH)

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In athletics his tall and well-built form made him the general favorite of all. In foot-ball and basket ball he was one of the star players. He was a member of the Delphic Literary Society and always prized very highly his society fellow- ship. He possessed rare skill in council and executive ability, and probably, as much as any other member, he helped to mould the policy of his society while an active member. He was an orator of unusual merit, and in his senior year won second place in the local oratorical contest. James was a ready and industrious student. He was never satisfied simply with what he could get from the text-book, but sought the largest knowledge possible on a subject through library references and read- ings. Probably no student in the school used the library more than he. In one term he read Nicolay and Hay's great work on Life of Lincoln, complete. He was exceedingly courteous and deferential to all his teachers. But no trait of his character was more prominent to those who knew him best than his almost passionate fondness for his home. Many a time did he walk from Hiram to his fatheris home, a distance of thirteen miles, that he might spend his Sunday there. He never seemed so happy as when holidays and vacation seasons per- mitted him to renew for a time his home fellowship and to find gratification for his great love of nature in the scenes of his father's farm. I-Ie had large plans for the future, and had he lived he certainly would have made a high place for himself in life. His death in the very prime of young man- hood with powers of mind and body well developed is one of the inscrutable mys- teries of life 5 but where we cannot know we may withhold our judgment, in faith trusting that our Heavenly Father doeth all things well. SNODDY. , r - f ig or - ' fir f 1',, 'fy f ...,4g7 . , ,f'z'-W, e' ,- .ff 4 I 1 . ' ff'. tf e-fm' wf' . I , VW iff . 'M ' ff. W if , f Juv' . ff . ., .LA ,C f ,mga .1a54.1Z1'Z3ff 'feisff , gf iffh -3 : ML J W r J I, -Y - v.: - 't e' New 16

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james Garfield Benrv. AMES GARFTELD HENRY was born in Cleveland, Ohio, November Io, 188o. He belonged to one of the best known families in the Hiram fel- lowship. The Hiram spirit dwelt in his parents and grandparents before him. His grandfather on his mother's side, Frederick Vlfilliams, was a member of the first Board of Trustees, and one of the incorporators of the insti- tution. His father, Capt. C. E. Henry, was a student of the Eclectic Institute, as was also his mother, Sophia Williarns Henry. james himself was the last of a family of four children to graduate from Hiram College. Both his father and brother, Frederick A., are members of the present Board of Trustees, the former having served in that capacity for many years. His sister, Marcia, is the present Lady Principal and Assistant Professor of Greek and Latin. . James entered Hiram in 1894, and at the early age of nineteen was graduated with the Class of IQOO. Witli one exception he was the youngest graduate in the history of the College. After his graduation he entered the Law Department of Western Reserve University to prepare himself for his chosen profession. During the vacation following his first year's work in that institution he was taken ill with typhoid fever and died at his father's home near Geauga Lake, August 18, 1901. His death was so sudden and unexpected that it came like a shock to all his acquaintances. The funeral service was conducted by Prof. E. B. Wake- field, and was largely attended by his college friends and former teachers, ac- quaintances of the family and neighbors. ' Throughout his college career james took an active and prominent part in the student life of the college. His genial disposition and affable manners gained for him a large circle of admiring friends from the very beginning. His ready wit and good cheer made his company sought in every social gathering. In fact, a fullness of life, that manifested itself in great activity of mind and body, in a youthful gaiety and enthusiasm, in a hopeful and joyous outlook upon life, was one of the marked traits of his character. It is to such -a nature that religion al- ways makes a strong appeal. It was but natural, then, that, in the course of time, James should respond to the Christian influence of his home and college. This he did, in a revival meeting held soon after he entered college, by a public con- fession of his faith, and baptism along with a large number of his fellow students. I5

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william Bowler. VERY public institution is the resultant of a variety of forces, general and personal. The general forces may change from generation to generation and from century to century. The personal forces change from decade to decade, almost' from year to year. The men who, in I85O, created our beloved Institution, and who nurtured it in the years of its infancy, had mostly passed away or retired into the background in 1867, when the eclectic institu- tions took on the higher functions of college life. Moreover, but few of the leaders during the long administration of President Hinsdale, from 1872 to 1882, continued prominent in the advance movements of 1884 to 1900 that marked the administrations of Presidents Laughlin and Zollars. In that small but elect circle stood VVilliam Bowler. Mr. Bowler was born March 25, 1822, at Carlisle, N. Y. VVhile he was yet a lad his father came with the tide of westward migration to Ohio and settled in the adjoining township of Auburn. Students of ten years ago will remember that Mr. Bowler in his little informal chapel talks used to speak facetiously of the log college which he attended in Auburn, and which he helped to build. In 1851 he removed to Cleveland, where he resided till his death, November 15, 1901. As a business man he was prompt, energetic, and always a man of his word. His ideals of life were lofty and his liberality proverbial and wide spread. In the early history of the Y. M. C. A. in Cleveland he was in cordial sympathy with the work, serving at one time as president of the association. His liberality over- flowed his own immediate community, and many a silver communion service, now in use in Northern Ohio, was the gift of his thoughtful interest. He was a man of fine tastes and of strong domestic affections. He was twice married. The companion of his second marriage still lingers in the pleasant though shadowed home in Cleveland. Mr. Bowler first became a member of the College Board in 1873. From that time his service was unbroken until 1895, when failing health compelled him to resign his active membership. He was, however, an honorary member until the day of his death. The years of his most active participation in college enter- prises were from 1885 to 1892. During those years the original college building was remodeled, Miller Hall erected, Bowler Hall enlarged and considerable addi- tions made to the endowment, envolving a total expenditure of nearly SIO0,000. Of that amount he was probably the largest single contributor, and certainly no I7