Illinois Wesleyan University - Wesleyana Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

Page 22 text:

542525533 THE WESLEYANA 1911 EMQSRQ, Illinois es cyan niversity Founded THE CORPORATION. T11EO1JoRE KEMP, A.B., D.D., P1'1'sidf'11l of the IJIlf'Z'4'I'.Yffj' and E.r-Oflirio .llmzbvr of the Board of Tru.rz'cvs. OXN'EN T. REEVES, M.A., LL.D., f l'f'SIll1L'llf of the Board' of Trzcsfvcs. GEORGE P. D,w1s, AAI., LL.B., l'ivc-Pzvsidczzt. FR.xNc1s M. A1'sT1N, AAI., Sccrvtary. JAMES O. WVILLSON, Treasurer. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. TERM EX1'1REs IQIO. George P. Davis, A.M., LL.B., Bloomingtong Jesse Meharry, Tolonog Benjamin F. I-larber, Bloomingtong joseph S. Cumming, AAI., D.D., Odellg Rev. Leonard F. Cullom, Ph.B., Cambridge, Herbert Powell, A.M., LL.B., Fairburyg XVilliam A. XVatson, Normal. TERM Ex1'1REs 1911. I Mrs. Martha A. Buck, Dccaturg Sain XVelty. A.M., LL.D., Bloomington, XVilliam A. Sn1ith, A.M., D.D., Lincolng XVilliam A. Dever, Bloomington, Mrs. Emily S. Van- Dolah, Lexington, XN'illian1 R. XViley, D.D., Rock Islandg Charles O. McCulloch, D.D., Galvag R. B. XVilliams, D.D,, Rock Island. TERM Ex1'1REs 1912. Judge Owen T. Reeves, A.M., LL.D., Bloomington, Chalmers C. Marquis, Bloomingtong XVilliam H. XYilder, A.M., D.D., LL.D., XVashington, D. C.g Dr. Charles H. Long, M.S., MD., Pontiac, Richard Crewes, A.M., D.D., Normalg E. M. Kirkpatrick, B.S., Parma, Idahog R. E. Smith, S.T.B., Normalg -I. VV. VanCleve, D.D., Cham- paign. - OFFICIAL VISITORS ILLINOIS CONFERENCE. Christy Galeener, A.M.. D.D. .......................................... ...... S pringfield George E. Scrimger, A.M., D.D .... .... F armer City VVilbur D. Fairchild, A.M ........ ..... P ana, Ill. Joseph C. Nate, Ph.D., D.D ..... ..... I acksonville John C. VVillits, D.D ............................................................ Decatur Albert L. T. Ewcrt, A.M ................................................... Bloomington OFFICIAL VISITORS CENTRAL ILLINOIS CONFERENCE. Joe Bell, Ph.B., D.D .......................................................... Galesburg Frederick -I. Giddings, A.B ........... ...Preen1ption Thomas W. McVety, A.M., Pl1.D ..... ...., S treator Alanson R. Morgan, D.D ............. ..... N orn1al Marion V. Crumbaker, A.M., D.D ........................ .... F airbury VVilliam E. Shaw, A.B., S.T.B .................,,........... .... O narga EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE VVilliam VV. Whitmore, Chairman George P. Davis, Vice-Chairman James O. Vv'illson Sain VVelty Owen T. Reeves Richard Crewes Alanson R. Morgan Benjamin F. I-Iarber Chalmers C. Marquis William M. Dever George P. Davis Owen T. Reeves R. Elmer Sm Horatio G. Bent Thomas C. Kerrick John T. Lillard VVilliam A. Watson Rolland A. Russell Theodore Kemp A. L. T. Ewert Henry O. Stone ith AUDITING COMMITTEE 16 Sain Welty Benjamin F. I-Iarber

Page 21 text:

EYAHA. Us An SEQw+ + + + Mjjf 2 A C' 'UN ' 1 x Zu xy . if .17 EINE ix 'Egg 'ELCH PORTER P W L R J EATON AKESTKA NV AKRE'l l' KEISTER ENc.1.x-. 1' 15

Page 23 text:

sfewasana THE WESLEHYANA 1911 frzfaefmfsai istory o In 1850, a number of the leading citizens of Bloomington agitated the founding of a University to be under the control of the Methodist Church, although open to students from all religious denominations upon equal terms. In the winter of 1850-,5I, a prepara- tory school was opened in the basement of the Methodist Church with Rev. Reuben An- drus as principal. In July following, a second professor was secured, and one year thereafter Rev. John Dempster, DD., was elected presi- dent of the University, and although his name remained as such for two years, he never performed any of the duties of the office. At the session of the legislature, held in January and February, 18153, the University received a special charter, which vested the ownership and control of the institution in the Illinois Annual Conference of the Methodist Epis- copal Church-its hrst organization being under the gen- eral incorporation statute. One graduate composed the class of 1853. At the animal meeting of the trustees, held in July of that same year, the University granted its first degree-that of A.B. to James H. Barger. Soon after the organization of the first board of trus- tees, the question of a site for the building began to be discussed, and, after a number of proposals had been made, a ten-acre lot, lying north of Chestnut street and east of the Chicago and Alton railroad was chosen, and a deed received for the same from James Allin, one of the PYCS- MUUSGH- founders, Later, but not until a contract had been let for a building and the materials for the same had been collected on the ground, the location proved so unsatisfactory that proposals were invited for another site, and, on the 24th day of June, 1854, the present site was selected, the building material collected on the Al- lin lot was removed to the present site, and the present preparatory building was erected. Financial support had been sparingly given during these years, and the institution be- came involved in debt. In 1855, the faculty, as a result, resigned. However, in August, 1855. Rev. C. W. Sears was elected president, and under his management the school was opened October 1, 1855. and was continued until July, 1856, when President Sears resigned and the trustees decided to suspend the school until a sufficient sum could be raised to pay the indebtedness which it had already incurred. Thus, school was discontinued and the build- ing which had been so far advanced as in part to be occupied, was sold I under a mechanicls lien. In 1857, under a new charter and a new Board of Trustees, the building was redeemed and completed and the school re-opened. At the meeting of this board in July, Rev. Oliver S. Mun- sell, A.lXl., was elected president of the University. lle accepted the position. and, unasked, contracted with the board to conduct the school for three years at his own expense, provided full finan- cial control and the selection of teach- ers should be vested in him, a respon- sibility afterward shared by his brother, E. B. Munsell. All., who that year became a member of the faculty. At this time also the Rev. Charles W. Munsell, of the Illinois Conference. a brother of the president-elect, was elected Hnancial agent for the University. Although the school had been suspended for one year, and the building was unfinished and a heavy debt had been incurred, the Munsell brothers, by untiring Zeal and energy, inspired such confidence among the people of the patronizing territory that success was soon assured. They advanced money for completion of the buildings. finished and furnished it and opened the school in the following September. Its professors numbered three and its students seventeen. 17