Monmouth College - Ravelings Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

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Oor First President. BY MRS JENNIE LOGUE CAMPBELL. AVID A. WALLACE was born near Fairview, Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1826. He was graduated at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, with the lionors of his class, in 1S46. Entering the University, he was settled, first at Fall River, Mass., then at East boston. From the latter charge he was called to the Presidency of Monmouth College, and accepting the position, entered upon his work, October, 1S56, two months after the College was opened. Here he remained until January, 1S78, when he resigned on account of broken health, accepting a pastorate at Wooster, Ohio. In the Autumn of 1883, he was elected to a professorship in the Theological Seminary at Xenia, Ohio; but before he could enter upon this work, he died at Wooster, October 21, 18S3. These are the outlines of the life and work of Dr. Wallace. To the students of the present, his is only a venerable name associated with the kindly face which looks down from the portrait on the chapel walls. But to those who were with him in the Faculty, and to those who were his pupils, his is the hallowed memory of a noble life. To give anything more than the slightest sketch of his life and work is impossible in these brief lines Dr. Wallace had that characteristic of all great men — intense earnestness in his work. All the resources of his great heart and head, and of his scanty purse, were poured forth in bshilf of ths struggling College To build up on these western prairies, a distinctively Christian College — this was his great life-.iim. The financial system, the dis iplin;, the course of study, of the institution were the subjects of the most careful thought and investigatio.i. But it was in the moral and religious work of the College that nis mflaence was most felt. A very practical man of aff,iirs, he was also a deeply spiritual Christian, and many a young life was kindled to deeper devotion by contact with his earnest nature. Hrs method of government was largely by individual influence. Every student who came to College became the object of his personal solicitude. Was one beginning to stray into the path of evil — Dr. Wallace ' s eye was on him, and by direct approac-h, and by enlisting fellow- students in the wanderer ' s behalf, he strove to win him back to the right way. Even the dull and unattractive were the objects of his care, and he would permit no slighting reference to the intellect of a student in his presence. He was born to bear the burdens of others; and, both within and without the College, many were those who came to him for sympathy and advice, and none ever failed of patient hearing and helpful counsel.

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CLhE Svolution o! the DEpaFtmEnt oY ITlonmouth GollEge. HE beginnings of Monmouth College were small, her ambitions large; opportunity for a College education equal to the best, was the objective point. Toward this she h.is moved with constant and earnest effort. The first catalogue (1857) shows a President and two regular Professors — one of Mathematics and Natural Science combined, the other of Ancient Languages including Latin, Greek and Hebrew: two years later the latter was divided, making a chair of Latin and one of Greek and Hebrew. In iS5o Latin and German were combined. In 1S61 Latin was for the first time required in the Scientific course. In 1S63 the chair of Modern Languages was established. The year of 1864 was one of marked progress. The . cademy was organized under a regular principal. The depart- ments of Mathematics and Natural Science were separated and a profes-sor assigned to each. In the same year a professor- ship of English Language and Literature was established and its duties allotted to the President. In 1S66 English was made a separate chair. In 1S75 the Scientific course, heretofore two years, was lengthened to threo. In this year, also, the chair of Philoso- phy was established, and the Latin and Hebrew united in one dspartmsnt. The year 18S6 is another landmark in the history of the College. Philosophy was assigned to the President: a chair of Social Science established; a Professor of Elocution elected, an 1 arrangen ' nts mads f jr field work in Surveying. In 1890 the Musical Department was organized on a permanent basis. In the fall of 1892, another important advance was made. A new course of three years —the Literary — was a-;;-i ' jlishcd. Tj13 Scientific was mad; a full four years course, runi-ing parallel with the Classical. The Natural Science work was divided into two departments — Biology and Chemistry. There are now eleven Departments and thirteen Professors, Such has been the growth, along this line, of Monmouth College in her thirty-eight years of existence. In achievement, there is much that is gratifying: in promise, much that is encouraging. . J. H. W.

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To those associated with him in teaching, he was ever a source of strength. Ambitious he was indeed; but his was a noble ambition which never depreciated or underestimated the work of others. No man or woman ever taught with Dr. Wallace, or served the College in any capacity, without feeling that his or har merits received kindly recognition and appre- ciation- While he was all this to professors and students, he did not forget his obligations as a citizen. His policy was to bring the College and the town into close touch, and he was ever a leader in everything which concerned the welfare of the commu- nity. It was largely because of his power of inspiring enthusiasxr, that the College triumphed over all the difficulties which surrounded her early days, and became the noble institution she is to-day. A granite shaft in Monmouth cemetery, erected by his pupils and friends, perpetuates his name. But the foundations of a far nobler monument are laid in human hearts that loved him, in human lives transformed by his influence; and its top extends above the clouds.