Johnson C Smith University - Golden Bull Yearbook (Charlotte, NC)

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■;teph Mattoon 1870-1884: 1885-188« First President Dr. Mattoon was born in Champion, New Yorl{, May 5, 1815. He graduated from Union College. Schenectady, New York in 1842. He studied at Princeton Theological Seminary and was ordained as an evangelist by the Presbytery of Troy February 11, 1846. During the same year he became a mis- sionary to Siam. On his return to the States he served churches in New York and North Carolina before he was elected president of the Institution in 18139, On October 9, 1869, Reverend Stephen Mattoon was elected the first President of the institution and began his executive role in February of 1870. The first graduating class consisted of three per- sons who completed the course of study for semi- narians in 1872. In the beginning the purpose of the institution was to train ministers, teachers, and catechists. Later, however, other branches of a clas- sical nature were added and in 1876 the name of the school was changed to Biddle University. The same year, 1876, Daniel Wallace Culp became the first person to graduate from the College Depart- ment with the Bachelor of Arts degree. Calvin McCurdy Rome, Cenrgia B. F. McDowell Greenville, South Carolina Daniel Wallace Culp First to graduate from the College in 1876 B, F. McDowell, Calvin McCurdy, and Eli Walker were the first students to graduate from the Seminary — 1872.

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Major Henry Jonathan K major nenry jonainan niaaie Major Henry Jonathan Biddle lost his life fighting for the cause of the Union and human freedom in 1862. Colonel William R. Myers Colonel William R. Myers was born in Anson County, December 17, 1813. He studied law under Governor Graham of Hillsboro, North Carolina. When the founders were striv- ing for a permanent location for the infant institution, he donated the first eight acres of the pi-esent site. When Mrs. Mary S. Biddle, the widow of Major Henry J. Biddle who died fighting for the cause of the Union and human freedom, received information through the church papers concerning the prepara- tory steps, she made the first ma.jor donation to the infant institution. The first session of the school was held on May 1, 1867, in the Audience Chamber of the Old Colored Presbyterian Church (Now 7th Street Pres- byterian Church) with eight or ten students in at- tendance. In the fall of 1867 the charter was amend- ed naming the institution, The Henry J. Biddle Memorial Institute, honoring Major Biddle and ex- pressing appreciation for the widow ' s timely gifts. In 1868, Colonel W. R. Myers, Confederate Civil War veteran of Charlotte, North Carolina, donated eight acres of the present site as a permanent location for the school.

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iHK Old Colored Presbyterian Church (Now Seventh Street Presbyterian Church) reconstructed on the site of the original The Audience Chamber of this church was the first class room of the institution. After the school located permanently on the outskirts of town, now Beatties Ford Road, the students walked across town to attend Sunday School, prayer meetings, and church services at this church until a campus church was erected in the early twenties.