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Page 33 text:
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KEMP PLUMMER BATTLE EMP PLUMMER BATTLE was born in Franklin County, North Carolina, December 19, 1831. He entered the University when thirteen years of age, and was graduated, in 1849, at seventeen. With two others, he shared the first honors of his Class. After graduation, he became tutor in Latin, serving one year, and then tutor in Mathematics for four years. In 1854, he entered upon the prac- tice of law in Raleigh. He was a member of the Convention of 1861, which signed the ordinance of Secession, and at his death was the la.st remaining member. In 1866, he was elected State Treasurer, holding this office until 1868, when he was forced out by the military government. He had been a trustee of the University since 1862, with the exception of the Reconstruction Period. In 1875, he took the lead in the reorganization of the University, securing from the Legislature, of which he was a member, an allotment of the Land Grant Fund, amounting to S3venty-five hundred dollars annually, and conducting a strenuous campaign over the State in which was raised twenty thousand dollars to provide equipment. In 1876, he was elected president of the University, which position he held until 1891. He has been justly called the Second Founder of the University. Perhaps no one else could have performed the task, or would have taken the responsibility which fell upon his shoulders. The income of the insti- tution was less than ten thousand dollars. Few teachers could be em- ployed ; apparatus and equipment were lacking ; many of the Alumni had fallen in the war, and the rest were widely scattered ; friends were few, and for a while the students numbered scarcely a hundred. The State was greatly impoverished. Life conditions among its people were hard, and the arduous work of the upbuilding of the Commonwealth lay heavily upon them. In the midst of their poverty, strong antagonism arose against State support of higher education. For fifteen years, President Battle struggled bravely and successfully against these adverse conditions, with cheef and encouragement for those who labored with him and indomitable hope in his heart. He met indif- ference, bitter antagonism, misrepresentation, and abuse — met them, and triumphed. He visited all sections of the State, spoke at county fairs and other public meetings in behalf of that cause which lay so near his heart. He had a vision beyond his time, establishing the first summer
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Page 34 text:
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school for teachers in the United States. He encouraged his faculty to go out in the State, and tell the people of things that might prove help- ful in their work and lives — the beginning of that University Extension which thru the years has grown into such varied usefulness. In those early years, it was hard work, as one who went on many such missions knows ; and it was something more than a labor of love, as the expenses could not be borne by the University treasury. Sometimes even the salary payments were made by borrowing money on the personal credit of President Battle. The toil, the wear of the conflict, the toll of the years — for he was sixty years old — led President Battle to resign in 1891, and he was elected to the chair of history. Surely he had earned a time of restful and congenial occupation if ever faithful servant had. From that time on, the years passed peacefully by, whitening his hair but not dimming his spirit as he taught his students or walked in his beloved forest. He kept young with the youth who came to him for instruction and guidance, and the classes, as they came and went, grew to love and revere him. He was granted the happiness of seeing the fruition of his labors, the fulfillment of his hopes as the University he loved so much grew in strength and usefulness and in the affection of the people of the State. In 1907, when seventy-six years old, he retired upon a Carnegie pension, after nearly thirty-six years in the active service of the University. He died on the afternoon of February 4, 1919, having lived eighty-eight years. Gentleman of the olden courtesy which sprang from the heart, faith- ful guardian of all that concerned your beloved alma mater, sincere Christian, gentle, loving friend, the University mourns the passing of your spirit, and would hold forever sacred the tradition of your service and your love. — Francis P. Venable
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