Hiram College - Spider Web Yearbook (Hiram, OH)

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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

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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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f man of equal resources gave an equal measure. Had Mr. Bowler possessed a tions made to the endowment, involving a total expenditure of nearly SIO0,000. vided with a half-million-dollar endowment fund. But Mr. Bowler gave what is often more difficult to secure than money, he gave time, intelligent and sympathetic oversight. Through summer suns and winter storms he made frequent journeys to Hiram. Nothing that touched the welfare of the College escaped him. He gave SIOOO to improve the road to the station. The elegant cases of shells in the Museum were purchased and pre- sented by him. He had an eye to the healthfulness of the village and the comfort of the students. Hiram College will live to receive benefactions and develop a yet larger and richer lifeg but it is hardly possible that it will ever know a truer and more de- voted friend than William Bowler. if -E -- asf . --a f- .-vi lpn , '5 , - .q - E , X s Q 74 x I X: R55 QC xi N14 A nh X 5 X '7 U - ,.r. ' . QQ . i 1' Ulivia Udall white. LIVIA UDALL was born March 24, 1881, at Hiram, Ohio, where the greater part of her life was spent. At the usual age she entered the public schools, where she was a general favorite with both teacher and pupils. Completing her work here she entered Hiram College in the fall of 1895, continuing the work which she had so well begun. She pos- sessed an exceptionally bright mind, and both in the class-room and the Literary Society she was a leader. In the spring of 1900 she left school and took up the duties of a teacher, con- tinuing in this work until July 25, 1901, when she was married to Mr. William White, of Hiram. When she had been four months a bride she was again robed in her wedding garments, for death had claimed her. 18