Ohio Northern University - Northern Yearbook (Ada, OH)

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Dr. Henry Solomon Lehr founder of Ohio Northern University

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Dr. Belt Dr. Smith The founder, Dr. H. S. Lehr, of Ohio Northern University retired in l902 and Dr. Leroy A. Belt was appointed President oi the University. ln 1904, Rev. Albert E. Smith was selected tor the posi- tion. The latter served in this capacity for twenty-five years. Upon the retirement ot Dr. Smith the Board oi Trustees elected Dr. Robert Williams as his successor, who held the office ior the iollowinq fourteen years. The present head of the institution, Dr. Robert O. McClure, entered office in 1943. A-. ' .1 Q .V K . v . 1 . 1 Dr. Williams Dr. McClure

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The beloved founder of Ohio Northern University, Dr. 1-1. S. Lehr, was born at Weathersfield, Ohio, on March 8, 1838. He began his teaching career at the age of sixteen. In 1854 he entered Mount Union College where he later received an A.B. degree. After serv- ing in the Union Forces during the Civil War, he was released in 1866 and came to Northwestern Ohio to establish his select school . The choice of location was made due to the wealth, health, and ease oi access oi Ada . The school was established with the educational ideals Lehr had formed as a student, which included: co-education, ability to enroll students at any time of the year in classes suitable to them, non-sectarianism, the honor system for students conduct, and minimum expenses. The first session opened on November 12, 1866, with an enrollment of fifty-six students. ln August of 1871 the name became Northwestern Ohio Normal. The first commencement exercises were held in 1874. There were eleven graduates and each was required to speak or to write a thesis. The name oi the growing institution was changed again in 1885 to the Ohio Normal University.