Lake Forest College - Forester Yearbook (Lake Forest, IL)

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fi 191: iionsrrisial. : f A New Chapter in Lake Forest History A line in the chronology in the college catalogue reads as follows: l86lfCol- lege work begun under Professor W. C. Dickinson,-discontinued in l863. Happily several members of the first freshman class, organized at that time, are still surviving, and we are able to present here somewhat further details than have heretofore been printed. What is here set down needs to be verified and amplified in some particulars, but is in the main accurate. Many of the data are due to the vivid recollection of Dr. Starkweather. In l860 the plan, proposed from the start, to develop a collegiate department in Lind University, took definite shape, and one young man named Heath, of whom we have no further trace, seems to have been regarded by his fellows as of superior rank, that is, as the first Freshman. But he did not continue in the institution, and it was in the Autumn of l86l that the hrst Freshman class was clefiniely organized. The members of this class were the following: Chandler, Charles Velasco, Macomb, Illinois. Mr. Chandler entered the Army. served through war, was wounded, has long been a leading citizen of Macomb. Chapman, Frederick-in the Army, according to one report, lost his life there: another impression is that he survived for some years. Manierre, C-eorge, Jr., Chicago. A prosperous business man, now of Dibblee and Manierre, Real Estate, 4l6-I35 Adams Street: residing at 61 Bellevue Place. Price, William D., Ottawa, Illinois. An attractive, brilliant fellow. Entered the Army, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 63rd Illinois Infantry, killed in Tennessee, October 5, IS63. Starkweather, Ralph E., M. D. Entered Williams College as sophomore in l862, was graduated in IS65. M. :,:. ,Z ... in fs' li D., College Physicians and Surgeons, New York, l868. ix. U fi Practiced medicine in Chicago until l892. Resicles at IZZ3 A X' S: 7 C-rove Street, Evanston. 5: Patterson, john C. Went from Lake Forest in l862 4 E, ' gf' to Yale: did not graduate. Lawyer in Chicago, 503-59 F Clark Street: resides l350 Wilson Avenue. The studies of the freshman year included Cicero De Officis and Livy, Xenophon's Memorabilia and Homer, Geometry and Conic Sections, with Declamation and English Composition. The requirements for admission were not greatly lower in quantity than they are now, but it is interesting to notice that the collegiate age was lower, as students could be admitted at fourteen. The college teaching was done chiefly by Professor W. C. Dickinson, afterwards pastor for a time of the church, and by the Principal of the Academy, S. F. Miller, I5

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AQQQW ' 1 VJAY' l his Hx DV l , As E 191: ,, . 'MWLA ns 09.6 0 Wljgr il f L J ee L fr' 3 f' H ' X f W I A SONG FOR OLD LAKE FOREST l-lere's a song for Old Lake Forest, Where life is free from care: Where nature smiles serenely, And the Spring is bright and fair. To the halls of Alma Mater, l We owe our loyalty: And the dear old Sons of L. F. C. 5 Shall ne'er forgotten he. Where'er our journey leads us O'er life's untrodden way: . Lake Forest, ever with us i Fhy memory shall stay. l And the friends, all tried and faithful Shall lead us back to thee, l And the dear old Sons of L. F. C. Shall ne'e-r forgotten be. j i iD. T. HOWARD, '07.j re fr qs -J Q by N ?Y?'M Q r - 3 K 74 f AI--3 Y I4

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l9lI who a little later devoted himself chiefly to the college work, and was succeeded in the Academy by Milford C. Buitler. Mr. C. T. Dickinson, a tutor, also gave instruction to Freshmen. The work was limited in range, but of such a nature that Dr. Starli- weather was admitted to level standing in Williams in the Autumn of l86Z. The life of the school and community was in a manner primitive, but spirited. Enterprise was in the air, and everyone lent a hand to everything that was going. A half- holiday was granted now and then on condition that the students help shingle the church or grub stumps out of the streets The boys were invited to the village tea parties and were made to feel themselves partners in all activities, social and religious, as well as educational. The life had all the zest as well as the hard work of that of pioneers. The effort to maintain a college failed only because the civil war absorbed all the energy that did not go into the industrial and commercial activity of the region. The student body at Lake Forest was thrilled with the fires of patriotism, which was heightened still further when that dashing and fascinating leader, Col. Ellsworth, came out here every Saturday for a number of weeks to conduct the Zouave drill. At least three of the little freshman class went into the army, and the college idea was abandoned for a time, to be taken up again as soon after the war as was feasible. . Q ,gy A? I6