Oberlin College - Hi-O-Hi Yearbook (Oberlin, OH)

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16 OBERLINIANA. concluded to let you all know the result of my meditation, and it is this: Can we not substitute parched corn for our graham diet, and thus save something with which to feed G,od's lambs?'l The proposition did not meet with favor, however,-the students believing it necessary to draw the line right between graham and parched corn. ' I The following incident further illustrates the privations incident to the early life: ' One of the Theological Professors went to a brother out of town, who had a team, and told him he wanted some wood drawn, but that he had no money, and asked him how he should pay him. The good brother replied that he would draw wood for him for one day for nothing, and then pointing to his bare feet said: HBut you see I need pay for my work. The Professor imme- diately jumped from his horse and pulled off his shoes and throwing them to him said: H Here, take these: I have another pair and can ride barefootf' The following will illustrate the spirit which actuated the early students. It was related by Rev. E. B. Fairfield, D. D., of '45, at the dedication of Council Hall: t 'L I can but very imperfectly express what I felt on the occasion of my coming to Oberlin. Cincinnati I-Iall was just passing away. I came here a' young man, poor, and with nobody to help me, one hundred and iifty miles from home. After I had been here three months, I started to go back home, with two dollars in my pocket. It was a smallksum to go so far with, but I went, making the dis- tance on foot. After I reached home I said to my father, 'I want to go back to Oberlin, and I want you all to gof So I came back, and not long after the family all camef' One of the iirst colonists coming from Massachusetts, in 1834, built a log cabin that year, near Oberlin, 13x16 feet within its walls, with single roof. In the summer he built aframe barn 30x40 and could not obtain sufiicient help to raise it without calling on the students. A pig-pen that he afterwards built between his house and the street, and larger than his house, was often mistaken for his house, and people coming to see him generally knocked Hrst on the door of the pig-pen. His only vehicle for a number of years, for use on his farm, or for riding for business or pleasure, was a two- wheeled cart, drawn by oxen.

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'PIONEER REMINISCENCES. . 15 Rev. Wolcott B.'W'illiams, of the Theological Class of i53, said at the dedication of Council Hall: I . I suppose inquiry will be made to what became of Mr. Ship- herd. I will tell you. One day While he was here, he came home and said to his Wife, tWhat if we goto Michigan and found another college? After consultation, she agreed to do it, and they went to Michigan, and laid the foundation of Olivet college. I think Ober- lin did not, at that time, look very favorably upon other enterprises of that sort. I remember hearing from Oberlin people, expressions of Wonder and sympathy for Mr. Shipherd, after he Went away, and some time later, at Thanksgiving meeting held here, Bro. Pease thanked God that he chad gone to Michigan, had the ague, and got back alivef Meanwhile, Bro. Shipherd had found the site of Olivet, by losing his Way. When he got there with his colony, he found a house built, but it was not large enough to accommodate them, so they got some hay and made a bed out of doors. Mrs. Shipherd said to him, after looking over the ground, 4 Your college looks a great-deal better on paper than it does out here in the woods? tiThey stayed there till the next Spring, when he died. I have seen his grave, and on the head-stone is his age, 'forty-four yearsf We were in the habit of calling him tFather Shipherd,' and yet he was only in the prime of life. He Was hardly more than a young man in years, yet he had founded two colleges. I-Ie had done a great work. U V -: 1: Mr. Shipherd's one fault was an excessive virtue. He would never' accept a larger salary than 55400 a year, and on this meagre basis he had to take care of six bouncing boys. Wlieii he died Mrs. S. came back to Oberlin and battled for herself and family in a way which amazes us of today. She kept twelve boarders at one time, outside of her own family, and did all the Work herself! The sons are all living to-day, three of them being successful business men in Cleveland. I . Mr. P.,P. Stewart was a man of great largeness of heart-always doing for the poor. At one time, While he was in charge of the boarding hall, he rose after prayers one morning, when the students had Hnished their customary repast of graham .bread, thin gravy and salt, and made a speech something like the following: , Brethren, I have been thinking of a way in which We can bless others by the exercise of a very small sacrihce on our parts. I have

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' ,PIONEER REMINISOENCES. 17 It is often thought that Oberlin, was from the start an anti-slavery institution. This is erroneous. 'The settlement of that question was edected as follows: The students of Lane Seminary, near Cincinnati, began the dis- cussion of slavery. For eighteen successive evenings the discussion was continued most hotly. One young man, Theodore Welcl, was conspicuous for his burning eloquence. Superbly logical, and with an irresistible charm of person, he succeeded in fastening over- whelming conviction of the evil of slavery upon the rest. The Seminary trustees inet and prohibited this discussion. Four-fifths of the students left at once, and hiring a large building in the vicinity, proceeded to teach each other. It is interesting to note now, in connection with this action, the fact that a colored student carried off the honors at the last commencement at Lane Seminary, fl883j. What a revolution in principles is this! Arthur Tappan offered 555,000 and a professorship to the anti- slavery institution which would receive them, but there was no response. , In the meantime, good Father Shipherd, after prayerful consider- ation of this great question, feltiit a duty to petition the 'trustees of Oberlin topopen the new school to students irrespective of color, and so did. The trustees niet in the morning, and a long and most earnest discussion followed. All day the discussion continued. ' 'But Women's hearts are often truest on such questions, and Mother Shipherd, while discharging her household duties, frequently passed the open door. At length in her anxiety she stood before it. Father Keep stepped out and informed her that the result was very doubtful. Immediately she' dropped everything and gathered together the women of the place to pray' for the result. All day the discussion continued, and all day those holy women prayed that the right might triumph. At length the vote was taken. It was cn tie! Father Keep cast the deciding vote, and made Oberlin forever an anti-slavery school. 9-E In the Spring the thirty protesting students from Lane arrived, traveling by way of the Ohio Canal. But Oberlin was full already. However, they were not discouraged, but proceeded to erect what was afterward known as Cincinnati Hall, or 4' Rebel Shantyfi a building 1441424 feet in dimensions. Soon after fifteen students left WGSt61'11 Reserve college on similar grounds. The unprece- dented action of the trustees drew hither all anti-slavery young men. The place actually swarmed with students. Soon colonies