University of Nevada - Artemisia Yearbook (Reno, NV)

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iteffi MiaiA Jose Normal School, but devoted the major portion of his time to business. He died in 1915 in San Jose. In 1890 the first dormitory for the use of students was established and the enrollment reached a total of 143, divided among the schools of Liberal Arts, Mines, Agriculture, Normal and Preparatory. The largest class was enrolled in physical geography and failures were so numerous in that branch that it was popularly known as the Physical Impossibility ' class. Professor Jackson was working hard to get the mining department on a definite and practical working basis, but had to do most of the work in the basement of Morrill Hall. Steps were soon taken to put up a •: : ;! ,- i Stewart Hall Hatch Station Morrill Hall modest mining building, and the present Experiment Station was built and furnished at a cost of $12,000. A training school was established for the education of teachers and was kept up for a number of years until the school board of Reno made it possible to do this work in the public schools. Lieutenant A. C. Ducat was succeeded by Captain John M. Neall of the Fourth U. S. Cavalry, who was a splendid disciplinarian. He established a firm basis for the military work and his four-year detail is a pleasant- recollection to the old-time students. In 1891 Prof. T. W. Cowgill was made Professor of English and his strong personality made its impression on all those who came under his influence. He was a graduate of Harvard and was in charge of the depart- ment until failing health made it impossible for him to stay in the class room. Prof. Nathaniel E. Wilson, a graduate of the University of Maine, was placed in charge of the chemical work in the Experiment Station and was 22

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rMIxSlA . m In 1889 two buildings, the old Experiment Station, which has since been destroyed by fire, and Stewart Hall were commenced. Two new members of the Faculty were appointed, Professor J. Warne Phillips in Chemistry, and Professor Fred H. Hillman in Botany and Entomology. President Brown ' s energies were directed to the organization of the best institution the circumstances permitted, and his work shows clean-cut progress. It is true that the course outlined in the School of Liberal Arts looks somewhat out of joint according to present standards, but it was a good course for its day. January 6, 1890, Stephen A. Jones, M. A., Ph. D., became President of the University and devoted four years of painstaking labor to the upbuild- ing of the institution. During his incumbency the University came into its own in the shape of the Agricultural and Mechanical fund given by the Federal government To be devoted to the maintenance of at least one col- lege where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and profes- sions of life. This fund commenced with $15,000 a year and increased a thousand dollars a year until it amounted to $25,000 annu- ally. It was afterwards increased to $50,000 a year. President Stephen Alfred Jones was born in China, Maine, March 21, 1848, and was a graduate of Dartmouth, re- ceiving his A. B. in 1872 and his A. M. in 1875. During his incumbency he pursued a steady policy of putting the existing plans in working order. His policy was successful in establishing the University on a firm basis so that future develop- ment was possible. After leaving the University in 1894, he went to San Jose and for a number of years did some teaching in pedagogical lines in the San Stephen A. Jones 21

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later in charge of all the work in chemistry. His long and faithful service in the department is remembered by a host of friends who benefitted by experience, and who learned to know their chemistry in an eminently practical way. The same year saw kindly Dick Brown appear on the campus to begin his work in the mechanical department, and to take charge General View from the Northwest of the varying fortunes of the host of young men who passed through Lincoln Hall in its pioneer days. In October, 1891, Professor Henry Thurtell took charge of the department of mathematics and mechanical drawing and continued this work until he was appointed State Engineer many years later. In June, 1891, the first class was graduated from the University and the three receiving the A. B. degree were Fred A. Bristol, Frank H. Norcross and Henry C. Cuting. Fred Bristol was for many years a very successful mining engineer in South Africa and died in Cali- fornia a few years ago. Judge Norcross went into the legal profession and after serving as District Attorney of Washoe county, was elected to the Lincoln Hall and Chemistry Building 23