Monmouth College - Ravelings Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

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19 TRAVELINGS 24 It was largely through the excel- lent leadership of Dr. Wallace that Monmouth College made such rapid progress in the early days of its exis- tence. There were various helpers in this work, but the bulk of the effec- tive work, was, after all, done by the president. His purpose, and that of his coadjutors, was to found a school where the higher education should be given for the glory of Christ. The de- sign was to build a Christian college which should move, as far as possible, by Christian principles and on the line of Christian life. In dealing with the students, while he sought their thor- oughness in educational matters, he desired, above all things, and at all times, that their hearts might be right and their Spiritual life rightly directed. Dr. RusseU Graham (From the First Ravelings ) Though at the time of the Civil War, Monmouth College was struggling in its infancy such a great number of the men of the faculty and student body left their educational work and fell in line with those who were endeavoring to save the union, that it nearly became necessary to close the school altogether. Dr. Wal- lace after much thought and prayer concluded that it was not for the best to halt the work of the college thus far carried on but rather said, We must educate whether there be peace or war! From its Board of Trustees, its Faculty, and its student body, the College furnished to the Union Army from 1861 to 1865 not only many privates but a large number of men who were placed in high positions of command, namely, one Brigadier General, four Majors, seventeen Captains, thirteen Lieutenants, etc. Aside from the officers there were one hundred and forty-three who served in the ranks, making a total of two hundred and thirty-two men as the contribution of Monmouth College to this gigantic struggle. ' Tis true there were many who did not return, one out of every eight gave the last full measure of devotion, but happy were the days on Monmouth Col- lege campus when in June, 1865, all the ' 62 troops came home. Tongue cannot tell nor heart feel the joy at their coming. They had opened up to four million black people the opportunity to make the best of themselves and revealed the per petuating power of republican institutions. It was a great work. Social recep- tions were given them. They were feasted and dined Public entertainments were arranged for them, at which tables were burdened with all the luxuries and delicacies of the season. Bells were rung and the nights made glorious with bril- liant fire-works. —13— J

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19 TRAVELINGS earlier years and which may long enrich its spirit and lay the foundation of great character for noble men and women. The first class was graduated in 1 858 with an enrollment of fourteen. Mrs. Margaret Find- ley Thompson, who was born in 1837, is the only surviving member of this class. For many years, she has made her home in Monmouth. She has always held a very deep interest in her alma mater. She is a woman of rare intellect and culture. Mrs. Thompson was a sister of Mrs. David A. Wal- lace. Mrs. Margaret Findley Thompson y ne JJ est a l urnnus Q f MonmOUth College is Rev. John S. Speer, who left Monmouth College in the second graduating class, that of 1860, there being no graduates in 1859. Mr. Speer was born on Novem- ber 25, 1836, being just one year older than his cousin, Mrs. Thompson. No alumnus of Monmouth College has iived a fuller life than this one. He has been a student, a teacher of schools, a professor in College, Muskingum; a superintend- ent of city schools, at Cambridge, Ohio; a soldier, serving in the Civil War, first as Captain of Infantry, Company A, 85th Ohio Volunteer Infantry; then as a Signal Officer; a minister, and not the least, a farmer. He has been a minister of the gospel for nearly fifty-seven years and still can conduct a service with as much vigor and ease as he ever could. He still serves as a minister at Cambridge, Ohio . That David A. Wallace proved to be divinely chosen to become the first first president of Monmouth College was evi- dent from his high quality leadership and per- sonality. His name was a synonym of loyalty, faithfulness, and devotion. He sent many a man and woman into the world who were trained and equipped by his care and faith- fulness, and inspired through his teaching, prayers, and heroic example. Two years after the first college faculty, above mentioned, began the great educationa work of our school, there came another bring- ing with him ability and resources, namely Dr. Alexander Young. He possessed the strength of will that won the the respect of everybody, with scholarship that feared no criticism, with thoughtfulness of the feelings of others that touched every heart — especially every student ' s heart. — 12— Rev. John S. Speer

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19 TRAVELINGS 24 In September many again entered Monmouth College; but the empty sleeves and the resounding crutch on conscious floor told too plainly the story of their sacrifice. Let us now come to the second president of the college, the one who for nineteen years was its guide and counsellor, Dr. Jackson Burgess McMichael. He was born near the Class of -93 (From the First Raveiings ) village of Poland. Ohio, where he spent his early years. These seventeen years of farm life gave the rugged strength of mind and body, the knowledge of simple, homely things, and provided the balance so often lacking in the scholastic mind. At this time came that stirring within for more and better education and a desire to read and study those things that other men had wrought in oth r days. Later he entered Westminister from which he graduated in 1 859. After teaching for a few months he decided to fit himself for the ministry, and in 1862, after his three years in the seminary, he was ordained and took up his pastorate at Sugar Creek, Ohio. It was from this place that Dr. J. B. McMichael was called to the presi- dency of Monmouth College in 1878. He found awaiting him a small co-edu- cational college which in the years of his administration was to meet and grapple with some of the most serious problems of its existence. Church colleges had especial difficulties to face as the bigotry of religious instruction was urged and the breadth of secular education. In those days it seemed to be almost a losing fight. Dr. McMichael had to meet the demand for a broader curriculum; to make response to the appeals along scientific lines; to keep the college abreast with growng, expanding thought He had to do this with conservative prece- dents and lack of sufficient funds. It is a matter of great congratulation that through all of these years, Monmouth College has remained a college with firmly established standards, which believes with President Parsons, of Parson ' s Col- lege, The purpose of such a school is to found character and character of the right kind; to turn out men and women who are symmetrical. In all Dr. McMichael ' s contact with others there was that ever-abounding sense of humor which is the salt of character and likewise the lubricant of human relationship. The personal and human side of things was very near to him. He was ever close to his students. In his own home he was the soul of hospitality, and a ready and efficient help to the boy or girl in need of good, wholesome, fatherly advice. Dr. McMichael was a great believer in old fashioned scholarship as the basic law of learning. Also he was heart and soul in favor of wholesome ath- letics, being a familiar figure at the thletic field. Through nineteen long years of faithful friend and counsellor of recurring generations of students and watched -14—