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

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1922 LEST WE FORGET 1922 fstnry of Union Inuiersttn, x N 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 the 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, 1848. 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 felevated 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 accessible in every direction by good turnpike roads, and the great Southwestern Railroad from Nashville to Chattanooga was in rapid progress, and cars were daily passing between that place and Nashville. The University buildings were situated nearly a mile from the public square on an extensive and beautiful campus, commanding a splendid view of the adjacent country. Valuable apparatus in the departments of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry, also well selected cabinets in Mineralogy and Geology belonged to the Uni- versity. The Library contained a number of choice volumes. The Literary Societies also had libraries of their own. Joseph H. Eaton, who held his position until his death ir The first president was January, 1859. 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 Jarman, Second Tutor. The course of study was as follows: Freshman, Mathematics, Greek, Latin, Physiology; Sophomore, Mathematics, Greek, Latin, History, Rhetoric; Junior, Mathematics. Greek, Latin, History, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Logic; Senior, Intellectual Philosophy. Greek Philosophy, History, Political Economy, Geology, Moral Philosophy, Butlers Analogy. Mineralogy. There was also a Preparatory Department connected with the University, in which pupils of every degree of advancement were received; but for admission into the University proper, an acquaintance with the following authors and studies were required : Grammars of the English, Latin and Greek languages, with applications, Greek Reader; Geography, Arithmetic, and First Lessons in Algebra. During the years from 1861. 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 1866, and continued until 1873, when an epidemic of cholera and other causes led to a suspension of all work. On the 10th day of April, 1874, a convention was called at Murfreesboro to consider the question of re-establishing a college for the entire State, and a committee was ap- pointed to locate it. Among the various propositions presented, Jackson was selected as the best site. On August 12, 1874, the Tennessee Baptist Convention, then in session at Trezevant, appointed a Board of Trustees consisting of thirty-five members. The institution was chartered by the State on June 25, 1875, under the name Southwestern Baptist University. Page eight

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H. E. WATTERS President

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1922 LEST WE FORGET 1922 On August 5, 1890, a deed was made to the Southwestern Baptist University of the campus, known prior to 1875 as West Tennessee College. Colonel J. W. Rosamon, as financial agent, in six months, raised the sum of Thirty Thousand Dollars. During the year 1890, Miss Willie Edwards, of Shelbyville, Tennessee, made a gift to the endowment fund amounting to Three Thousand Three Hundred and Ten Dollars. In November of this year, the American Baptist Educational Society appropriated Twelve Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars, as an endowment to the University under certain con- ditions, which were met. Through the liberality of W. T. Adams, of Corinth, Mississippi, a dormitory for young men was erected in 1895. And in 1896 this building was enlarged by the addition of a ihree-story front. In 1897, a dormitory for young ladies was erected, which in consequence of a large gift from Mr. J. R. Lovelace, of Martin, Tennessee, was named in honor of his son, Everett Lovelace Hall. In 1879, a movement to endow the chair of Logic and Moral Philosophy, in honor of Dr J. R. Graves, resulted in raising $10,000. Dr. H. C. Irby was secretary of the movement. Dr. Irby, through work and his liberal gifts in money, has been a great asset to the Uni- versity. His gifts in all have amounted to Twenty-five Thousand Dollars. A new chapel was completed in 1899, and in honor of Dr. W. D. Powell, was named Powell Chapel. In 1901-02, the Perry Estate became the property of the University. With this the Perry School of Bible Instruction was established in memory of Benjamin W. Perry, who gave his estate, amounting to Twelve Thousand Dollars, requesting it to be used especially in the education of young ministers. In May, 1905, the General Educational Society offered the trustees Twenty Thousand Dollars on permanent endowment, if the friends of the institution would promptly raise Seventy-five Thousand Dollars. The effort securing this offer in 1906 was successful under the leadership of President Hale. At a meeting of the Board of Trustees, September 17, 1907, the name of the institution was changed from Southwestern Baptist University to Union University, the name given it in its organization in 1845. In January, 1912, the chapel and main building of the institution were entirely destroyed by fire. On account of the liberal gifts of Colonel O. C. Barton, the new administration building was named in his honor, Barton Hall. The following are the names of the presidents who have served the University : J. .M. Pendleton, G. W. Jarman, who served as president both before and after the Civil War; Duncan H. Selph, Chas. Manley, Geo. W. Jarman, P. T. Hale, G. M. Savage, J. W. Conger, I. B. Tigrett, who served as acting president of the institution 1909-11, R. A. Kimbrough, R. M. Inlow, and A. T. Barrett, who served as acting president 1913-14, 1914-15. June, 1915. G. M. Savage was again elected president, and served until 1918, when Dr. H. E. Watters. the present head of the University, was chosen. —BESS POWELL.