Union University - Lest We Forget Yearbook (Jackson, TN)

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History of Union Uniuersitu. IV the year 1845, the Baptist General Assembly of Tennessee, feeling the need of an institution of learning of higher order, resolved to establish and endow a college known subsequently as Union University. The establishment of this college was the result of twelve years of arduous toil by tne members of that body, who had happily enjoyed the warm co-operation of their brethren and friends throughout the State, and North Alabama. The institution was organized as a college and began its first session the first Monday in January, 1 848. The college was endowed with Fifty-five Thousand Dollars, and was located in Murfreesboro, a handsome, thriving, and healthy village, the County seat of Rutherford County, in the center of one of the finest regions in the State; and, from the elevated character of its inhabitants for intelligence and morality, it was remarkably well adapted to the location of a literary institution of high order. As to site, the location was unusually good. The town of Murfreesboro was ac- cessible in every direction by good turnpike roads, and the great South-Western Railroad from Nashville to Chattanooga was in rapid progress, and cars were daily passing be- tween that place and Nashville. The University buildings were situated nearly a mile from the public squ are on an extensive and beautiful campus, commanding a splendid view of the adjacent country. Valuable apparatus in the departments of Natural Phi!o:ophy and Chemistry, also well selected cabinets in Mineralogy and Geology belonged to the University. The Library contained a number of choice volumes. The Literary Societies also had libraries of their own. The first president was Joseph H. Eaton, who held his position until his death in January, I 859. The first faculty was composed of the following members: Joseph H. Eaton, Pro- fessor of Mathematics; David Breidennthal, Professor of Languages; P. W. Dodson, First Tutor; George Jarmon, Second Tutor. The course of study was as follows: Freshman, Mathematics, Greek, Latin, Phy- siology; Sophomore, Mathematics, Greek, Latin, History, Rhetoric; Tunior, Mathematics, Greek, Latin, History, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Loaic; Senior, Intellectual Phi- losophy, Greek Philosophy, History, Political Economy, Geology, Moral Philosophy, Butlers Analogy, Mineralogy. There was also a Prepa ratory Department connected with the University, in which pupils of every degree of advancement were received; but for admission into the Uni- versity proper, an acquaintance with the following authors, and studies were required: Grammars of the English, Latin and Greek languages, with applications, Greek Reader; Geography, Ar.th- metic, and First Lessons in Algebra. During the years from 1 861 , inclusive, the school was suspended on account of the Civil War. The building was considerably damaged by the armies, the library and apparatus destroyed, and the endowment was wholly lost. The school was reopened in 1 866, and continued until 1873, when an epidemic of cholera and other causes led to a suspension of all work.