Millikin University - Millidek Yearbook (Decatur, IL)

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The corner stone of the Liberal Arts building was laid by the Llasgnic fraternity on June 12, 1902, Grand Master George M. Moulton. officiating. The address was delivered by Dr. W. H. Penhallegon. of Decatur. Relying upon the promises of the general contractor that the main building would be ready for occupancy in September, 1902. the board an- nounced the opening of the institution at that time, but was later compelled to postpone it until 1903. The building was dedicated on June 4, 1903, with imposing ceremonies. the dedicatory address being given by President Theodore Roosevelt. ATUOHS' the other Speakers On the program were State Superintendent Schaeffer of Pennsylvania, and representatives of the leading collegeg of the state, of the various boards of the church, and of the different interests of the- city of Decatur. A vast throng attended these exercises. the occa- sion being one of great interest to the city and vicinity as well as to many friends from abroad. The exercises cf the opening day. September 15. 1903. were attended by a large company, a most gratifying proportion being prospective stu- dents. The organization of the classes showed that students had enrolled in every department in which courses were offered and that every class from the first academic to the junior collegiate had a sufficient number of memlb-ers to perfect an enthusiastic organization. Even the Senior class contained three prospective candidates for the bachelor-'s degree. The total enrollment for the first year was 7123 for the second year it was 764. representing 23 different states and territories and 163 cities and towns. , The present members of the general board of trustees of the lfniver- sity are as follows: W. J. Darby, president: VV. C. Uutten. vice president: H. E. Starkey, secretaryg S. E. Walker, treasurer: A. C. Boyd. li. G. King. L. D. Beck, W. H. Elvans. L. B. Stringer, F. E. Heil. .l. l-Z. Vfilliamson. George B. Spitler, J. C. Fisher, A. H. Mills, R. L. Vannice. The present members of the Board of Managers of the Decatur College and Industrial School are, E. A. Gastman. president: A. R. Montgomery. vice presidentg S. E. Walker, secretary: O. B. Gorin. treasurer: T. T. Roberts, W. J. Wayne, J. K. McDavid, A. R. Scott, Theron Powers. Adolph Mueller, E. P. Irving, and A. R. Taylor, ex-officio. Honorary members. Mr. and Mrs. James Millikin. The faculty is listed eisewiiere. College Commission The College Commission already mentioned was incorporated nn-lt-r th-- laws of the State and tlnough its w.sc ani nnliring efforts has not only raised large SUIUS of money for the institution lint has arouse-I wldt'-spri-.nl interest concerning it throughout the patronizing synods. Ur. W. -T. l':H'N' has from the first been its guiding spirit. though In-arttly se tiiw ndvd' hy scores of the leading pastors and laymen of the church. Rev. A. VV. Hawkins, pastor of the tfnmlwrland Presbyterian vlnin-It at Decatur at the time of the original proposition by Mr. Mtlltkln. soon after resigned his pastorate and became the financial agent of the vom- mlsslon. With marvelous energy and a most infections enthusiasm. he Visited it large number of localities and had great satisfaction in so--tnu the labors of the commission and of the local committee crowned with IT

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Indiana, president, XV. C. Outteln, Illinois, vice presidentg H. E. Starkey, Illinois. secretary: S. E. Walker, Illinois, treasurerg A. C. Boyd, J. T. Foster, IC. G. King, A. NV. Hawkins, W. T. M-Offett, F. E. Bell, R. M. Tinnon, W. S. Phillips, and A. H. Mills, all of Illinoisg J. E. Williamson, Indiana, and R. L. Vannice, Iowa. The new board of managers for the Decatur College and Industrial Schoolforganized on June 14, 1901. The membership was as follows: I. R. Mills. president, A. R. Scott, vice presidentg S. EL Walker, secretaryg O. B. Corin, treasurer, T. T. Roberts, W. J. Wayne, A. R. Mlontgomery, Peter Loeb, T. A. Powers, J. K. McDavid, C. S. Needham and A. R. Taylor, ex-officio. On May 1, 1901, an informal tender of the presidency of the University was made to President A. R. Taylor of the Kansas State Normal School. The formal tender was made June 11. With much hesitation he accepted the position and entered upon the discharge of its duties, July 1. In company with Mr. Millikin and Mr. Loeb, chairman of the building com- mittee of the local board, he visited a number of the leading a.nd best equipped institutions of learning in this country for the ptirpose of study- ing planls, buildings, and equipments. These gentlemen also conferred with several architects and on the recommendation of the full committee on architects, the board selected Messrs. Patton and Miller of Chicago, Sept. 28,1901,as architects for the construction of the buildings needed. On October 16, the board definitely located the college in Oakland Park and decided to purchase two tracts of land on the west and north respec- tively, making a campus of about 35 acres. - After a careful study of the topography of the site, together with a number of styles of architecture, the Elizabethan was selected as the most appropriate for the college buildings. The general contract for the erection of the three main buildings was let to H. B. Walter of Danville, Ill., on February 10, 1902, for 8107,160, the board furnishing the brick for the same. Other contracts were let as fol- lows: The stone, John Pasold, Decatur, 86,883. Painting, J. G. McCarthy, Chicago, 82,574 'Cement floors, etc., Fisher 85 Thimens, Decatur, 82,430. Heating and plumbing, Decatur Plumbing and Heating Co., 919,924 Electric wiring, etc., Decatur Supply and Fixture Co., 81,448 Hardware, Morehouse 8: Wells Co., Decatur, S1,184. The brick, Decatur Brick Co., 3S16,559.43. On September 29th, the general contract for the erection of the power house and machinery hall was let to B. S. Brooks, Decatur, for 2B21,626.50, the bo-ard furnishing the brsi-ck: the contract for the heating system includ- ing setting of boilers, engines, etc., to the Decatur Plumbing 8: Heating Co., for 34,388 The brick, account Decatur Brick Co., cost 33,999.20 The total cost of the four buildings including the equipment of the power house was about SB216,000. Considering their size and character, experienced co-ntractorls and builders express' great surprise at their low cost, while every one is delighted with their beauty and convenience. The cost of the equipment including furniture, apparatus, machinery, etc., was about 3330.000 which has sin-ce been increased by about S15,000. I6

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victory. In the lsipi-ing of 1903, his strength failed him and he was compelled to take 11 vacation. He failed to rally, however, a.nd on December 30, rested from his labors. He was laid away in Greenwood cemetery with honors befitting so useful, so devoted, so lovable a servant of the Kinig. His works do follow him. Rev. A. H. Kelso, of Alton, Ill., succeeded Mr. Hawkins in the agency of the commission, but after a few weeks' experience in the field accepted the pastorate of the church at Topeka, Kansas. In June, 1903, Dr. W. T. Ferguson of Charleston, Ill., was appointed financial agent. He brought to the position a long experience and a wide acquaintance that enabled him to awaken increased interest in the enterprise and to secure many thou- sands of dollars for its endowment. In the midst of his great usefulne-ss and when apparently in vigorous health he was suddenly stricken with paralysis and died -three-e days afterward without a word to his- friends. He was buried at his old home in Martinsville, Indiana, on Dec. 11th, 1905, with a multitude of devoted friends doing him loving tribute. He- was ing, deed a prince in Israel and a leader among men. The original m-embers of the commision were: Rev. W. J. Darby, D. D., Indiana, presidentg Rev. R. M. Tinnon. D. D., Illinois, vice president, Rev. J. W. Laughlin, Illinois, secretaryg J. N. Baker, Illinois, treasurerg Rev. A. W. Hawkins, Illinois, Rev. C. W. Yates, Illinois, Rev. A. G. Bergen, Illinois, W. T. Moffett, Illinois: Rev. R. L. Vannice, Iowa, Rev. J. W. Henderson, Iowa. The following persons constitute the College Commission at the present time: J. K. McDavid, Hillsboro, president, A. G. Bergen, Chicago, secre- tary, J. N. Baker, Decatur, treasurer, A. R. Scott, Bethany: J. M. Johnston., Petersburgg Samuel Anderson, Taylorvilleg W. J. Darby, Evansville, Ind.: A. M. Kenney, Broadlandsg R. L. Vannice, Waukon, Iowa. The Contributions to the College About eight hundred and fifty citizens, firms and organizations in Decatur and vicinity contributed to the first hundred thousand dollair-s raised at home for the college. One man, the late Honorable Orlando Powers gave ten thousand dollarsgfour-T. T. Roberts, D. S. Shellabarger, Mrs. Caroline M. Powers and W. H. Elnnis, gave five thousand e-achg one gave 2'52,l40g three 331.500, eighteen 251,000 and twenty-five 32500 each. ' Probably a still larger number contributed for the church in the syn- ods named. The largest contributor was the late Mrs. E. Thornton, Peters- burg, Ind., 320.000, the next was Mrs. E. J. Stansbury, Bloomington, Ill. Others in order were Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips, Danvers, 312.0003 Mrs. Sarah E. A. Davidson, Mft. Zion, 37,0003 A. R. Scott, Bethany, 2B5,000. Seven others gave one thousand dollars each. 18