Texas A and M University - Aggieland Yearbook (College Station, TX)

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1 and Mechanical College at the beginning of the winter term, 1887, and graduated in June, 1889; was after graduation, appointed gardener of the College, and in 1890, made Assistant Professor of Horticulture and Botany. Before the last appoint¬ ment, he attended Cornell University for several summers, studying for the degree of M. S., which was conferred upon him in June, 1898. Professor of Botany since ’99. Frank P. Avery was born in Ionia, Michigan, in 1853. He entered West Point in 1874, and graduated as Second Lieuten¬ ant in 1878, since which time he has served as First Lieutenant and Captain. In 1898 he was retired and accepted his present position of Professor of Military Science and Commandant of Cadets in September, 1901. William Bledsoe Philpott, M. S., Professor of English, the subject of this sketch, was born in Brenham, Washington County, Texas, on the 13th day of December, 1865. The years of his early boyhood were spent at Austin, where he attended the public schools. For several years he was a student of lan¬ guages and mathematics under that rigid instructor, Professor J. G. James, of James’s Academy, and later continued these studies under Professor Jacob Bickler, of Austin. In Febru¬ ary, 1882, he entered the Agricultural and Mechanical College, took the course in Mechanical Engineering, and was graduated in 1884. After two years, spent in studying and teaching, he was offered the Assistant Professorship of English and History at his alma mater—an unsolicited position, which he accepted. On completion of graduate work, the degree of M. S. was con¬ ferred on him, and he was made Associate Professor of English and History. When the department of English and History wgs divided in 1900, he was elected Associate Professor of English and was placed in charge of the department, and was made full Professor a year later. In 1898 he was married to Miss Annie M. Derden, of Hillsboro, Texas, and is now the proud father of a charming little daughter of three years. Professor Philpott has been prominent in the Alumni Association, and has always been active in furthering the growth and develop¬ ment of the College. In society work, athletics, and all sub¬ jects pertaining to student life, he has ever shown unusual concern. William D. Gibbs, M. S., Dean of the Department of Agri¬ culture and Director of Experiment Stations, was born on a farm near Winchester, Illinois, in 1869. Attended the Winches¬ ter schools, graduating in 1888. Entered the Long course in agriculture at the University of Illinois in 18S9, graduating in 1893. Held the fellowship in agriculture in the University the following year, receiving the M.S. degree. Post-graduate stu¬ dent University of Wisconsin in 1895. Foreman of farm and assistant in agriculture in Ohio State University spring term 1895. Expert in Bureau of Soils, United States Department of Agriculture, summer of 1895, returning to Ohio State Univer¬ sity in September of that year as Assistant Professor of Agri¬ culture ; advanced to Associate Professor of Agriculture in 1896 and to Professor of Agronomy in 1900. Elected Director of the Experiment Station and Professor of Agriculture in the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts in December, 1901. Present position since September, 1902. Frederick S. Johnston, B.Sc., Professor of Agriculture. Born December 20th, 1873, at Oberlin, Ohio. Received preparatory education at Pierpont Academy Pierpont, Ohio. Entered the University of Ohio in September, 1893, and was graduated in June, 1899. Assistant Professor of Agriculture and Associate Agriculturist in the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts from July, 1899, to July, 1901. Associate Professor of Agriculture and Associate Agriculturist in Purdue University, LaFayette, Indiana, from September, 1901, to Sep¬ tember, 1902. Present position since September, 1902. E. Dwight Sanderson, B. S. Agr., Professor of Entomology and State Entomologist. Born in Clio, Michigan. Was edu¬

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chusetts Institute of Technology, during the summer of 1898. He was Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering from 1886 to 1888, and has since then been in charge of the Depart¬ ment of Drawing. J. C. Nagle was born in Richmond, Virginia, October 9th, 1865 ; moved to Texas in 1874; entered the University of Texas, in 1886, graduating with the degree of B. Sc., in 1889, and M.A., in 1892 ; received the degree of C. E. from the Western Univer¬ sity of Pennsylvania, in 1892, and that of M. C. E. from Cornell University, in 1893. Was Topographer on the Geological Sur¬ vey of Texas, from June, 1889, to October, 1890, in charge of work in the Central Mineral District of the State ; Draftsman in office of the Pittsburg Bridge Company during the summer of 1892; Chief Engineer Brazos and Burleson Railway, summer of 1894; Assistant Chief Engineer H. E. W. T. Ry., July, 1899, to January, 1900; Agent and Expert in Irrigation Investi¬ gations, United States Department of Agriculture, from May, 1899, to date. Past President Texas Academy of Science; Associate Member American Society of Civil Engineers; Member of Council S. P. E. E., etc. October, 1890, to June, 1892, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering and Physics in the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas; Professor of same from June, 1892, to June, 1899, and Professor of Civil Engineering from June, 1899, to date. Thomas C. Bittle, A. M., Ph. D., was born April 10, 1841, at Staunton, Virginia. In 1858, he graduated from Roanoke College, Virginia. From 1874 to 1879 he was Professor of Modern Languages at his alma mater. After this he taught private schools in North Carolina and Texas, being for fifteen years in charge of the Female Seminary at Manor, Texas. He then entered the ministry in 1SS5, and in 1890 accepted the position of Chaplain at the Agricultural and Mechanical Col¬ lege of Texas. In 1892 he was appointed Professor of Lan¬ guages in the same College. Charles Woodward Hutson was born September 23d, 1840, in Prince Williams Parish, South Carolina; took his degree from the South Carolina College in December, i860; served in the ranks of the Confederate army throughout the war; was admitted to practise in the courts of law and equity at Colum¬ bia, S. C., in December, 1865 ; taught since 1868, sometimes as head of private schools, sometimes as Professor in College or University; wrote at times for magazines and reviews; is the author of several books; was Professor of History and English in the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, from 1893 to 1900, since then has been Professor of History. David Wendal Spence, B. Sc., C. E., a native of Austin, Texas, was born on the 22d day of September, 1868. He first attended private schools in Austin and was four years at Pro¬ fessor Bickler’s Texas German and English Academy at that place. In 1889 he graduated from the University of Texas with the degree of B. Sc. In September of 1889 he entered Ann Arbor, where he remained one year at post-graduate work. After a year’s practical work at Denver he obtained the degree of C. E. at Ann Arbor. He continued as a draughtsman at Denver until November, 1891, when he went as chief engi¬ neer with the South Halsted Street Iron Works of Chicago. In August of 1892 he accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering and Physics, and of Drawing at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. In 1899 was made Professor of Physics in the same College. Hilge Ness, Professor of Botany, was born 186 , in Norway, where he attended the common schools, and at the age of fifteen a private academy for boys. In 1881 he emigrated to America and settled in Grundy County, Illinois, where he worked on a farm for three years, and then attended the Grundy County Normal School for one session. Moved to California in 1885, and came to Fort Worth, Texas, the following year, which was spent on a farm near Fort Worth. He entered the Agricultural 21

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cated in public schools and High School of Detroit and Lan¬ sing, Michigan. Entered Michigan Agricultural College in fall of 1894, graduating with degree B. S. in June, 1897. Was stu¬ dent-assistant in Zoological Laboratory and editor of College Annual. Entered Cornell University College of Agriculture in July, 1897, taking special work in entomology and histology, and graduating in June, 1898. In May, 1898, was elected Assistant State Entomologist of Maryland and Assistant Entomologist of Maryland Agricultural College and Experiment Station. In July, 1899, was appointed Assistant in Division of Entomology. United States Department of Agriculture. In September, 1899, was elected Entomologist of Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station, and the next year also Associate Professor of Zoology, Delaware College. Was elected to present position in Septem¬ ber, 1902. At Cornell was elected member of Sigma Xi Society. Author of Insects Injurious to Staple Crops and several ento¬ mological bulletins and reports. Edwin Jackson Kyle was born July 22, 1876, at Kyle, Texas. He entered the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas in the fall ’96, graduating with the B. S. degree in ’99. From the College of his State Mr. Kyle went to Cornell University, receiving the degree of B. S. A. from there in 1901, and of M. Sc. A. in 1902. In June, 1902, he accepted his present posi¬ tion as Instructor in Horticulture, and Horticulturist to the Experiment Stations. Howard Meng Lanham was born July 29, 1874, at Weather¬ ford, Texas. In 1893 he received the degree of A. B. from Wofford College, Spartanburg, S. C. He graduated from the Jefferson Medical College in 1896. He received an appoint¬ ment and served one year as resident physician in the hospital connected with that institution. Since then he has been engaged in the practise of his profession. In 1902 he was elected Physician and Health Officer, and Lecturer on Hygiene at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Robt. F. Smith is a native of Houston County, Texas. He attended school at the Austin College at Huntsville, Texas, and in 1881 graduated with distinction from the State Normal at the same place. The summers of 1894 and 1895 were spent at Cornell University in the study of higher mathematics. In 1881 and 1882 he was Superintendent of the Public Schools at Willis, Texas. He resigned this position in the fall of 1882, and accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Mathematics in the Agri¬ cultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Since then he has held successively the positions of Adjunct Professor and Asso¬ ciate Professor of Mathematics. He has always taken active interest in agricultural matters, and in 1897 formed a partner¬ ship with Mr. Jas. W. Carson in the lease of a large Brazos Bottom plantation, the latter gentleman taking the active man¬ agement. In 1900 they purchased a thousand acre plantation in Burleson County, Texas, where they are endeavoring to apply the principles of scientific agriculture. P. S. Tilson, M. S.,was born December 30, 1867, at Boston, Bowie County, Texas. Entered the Agricultural and Mechani¬ cal College of Texas September, 1885, graduating in 1888. His first chemical work was with the Texas Geological Survey in 1889-90, as Chemist, stationed at the Agricultural and Mechani¬ cal College. Since 1890 he has been connected with the Chemi¬ cal Department of his alma mater. He now fills the position of Associate Professor of Chemistry. Aubrey Leonard Banks, B. S., was born in Memphis, Tenn., November, i860. In 1872 he entered St. John’s College at Little Rock, where he remained till 1875, when his parents removed to Texas. He completed his A. B. degree in the last-named State, and afterwards took the degrees of B. S. and M. S. at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. In 1891 he was elected to the position of Adjunct Professor of Mathe¬ matics in his alma mater, and in 1898 was made Associate Pro¬ fessor.