University of North Dakota - Dacotah Yearbook (Grand Forks, ND)

Page 17 text:

imminent Webster merrifielh ISTORY measures a man by his achievements. The practical world judges but results. It rejects the mere Visionary. Yet the practical dGrand Old Man of the U. N. D? has been led by a vision. In 1884 Webster Merrifield looked out over the barren, trcelcss plains and beheld a great institution of learning. Instead of the one. lone structure, he saw a dozen well-equipped buildings. Instead of a few instructors teaching elementary subjects. he saw a corps of trained specialists. Instead of an insti- tution battling for its very existence, he saw a modern university recognized far and wide because of its high standards. President Merriheld's dream has come true. He has achieved. The University of North Dakota has been fortunate in her head. He possesses those rare qualities which are needed to make up the successful college president. He is, as Professor Squires once aptly put it: WISE ' MANLY ENERGETIC ERUDITE BROADMINDED RELIGIOUS SCHOLARLY RESOLUTE TRUE-HEARTED INDEPENDENT ENTHUSIASTIC FATHERLY REASONABLE IDEALISTIC ENTERTAINING LIBERAL DEVOTED He was born in the narrow, conservative state of Vermont, in the little town of VVilliamsville, July 27, 1852, at a time when the west was the Great Unknown. After living for over thirty years in the self-centered East, breath- ing the air of refinement and conservatism, is it not surprising that Webster Merrifield should decide to come to North Dakota? But he was bigger than his environment. He saw the future growth of this great western state and desired to be a inaster-bnilder in the construction of her educational system. He resigned from the faculty of his Alma Mater. Yale University. to be a pioneer in a frontier land. He was here when the University of North Dakota opened her doors for the first time, on Sept. 8, 1884. He has been a member of her faculty ever since. and has served as president for eighteen years. Under his leadership. the student enrollment has increased from 131 to 906, the faculty from 13 to 61 members, the annual maintenance from $30,400 to $145,000. and the standard of scholarship has been raised until the University of North Dakota is recog- nized throughout the land as a model institution of learning. The North Dae kota plan of giving credit for quality and the ttAfhliation idea, two movements which have attracted the attention of the entire country, have both been put into operation largely through his initiative and enterprise. In view of these facts it is not surprising that the Board of Trustees should twice refuse to

Page 16 text:

math of $1115th 191m. 31. GE. dBunuzwon Mr. Gunderson is a resident of Aneta, N. D. He is, by occupation, a banker and a farmer. He has resided in this state for eighteen years, having come from St. Ausgar, Iowa, in the year Of 1890. At present he is a member of the State Senate, He has creditably served as President of the Board of Regents since April 23, 1905. Slang: 31.2. mmung Mr. Young, of Fargo, was born at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Jim, 28, 1862. After gradu- ating from the Law Department of Iowa State University in 1887y he began practicing law at Bathgate, N. D. In 1891 he received his M. A. from his Alma Mater. The following year he became State's Attorney of Pembinzl County, which position he held for four years. In 1898 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Supreme Court. and in the same year he was elected a judge of the Supreme Court, being re-elected in 1904. He was Chief Justice from 1902 to 1904. Mr. Young has been a Trustee of the University since July, 1907. 19m. 05.21211. dEnnmy Mr. Conniy is 21 resident of Pemhina, N. 17., where he carries on his profession as :1 lawyer. He received his education in Ireland, spending five years in St. Muredache Seminary in Ballina; and afterwards. four years in the College of Maynooth, near Dublin. He was admitted to the bar in St, Paul, Mimi, in 1881. Mr. Conmy has been :1 resident of this state for twenty-four years. From 1890 to 1899 he filled the office of Judge of the County Court of Pcmbina County. He was appointed on the Board of Trustees June 14, 1908. 191m. 9113. 31. 913mm Mr. Murphy was born in Dubuque County, Iowa, March 28, 1858. and resided in that state until he came to North Dakota in the spring of 1887. He is a resident of Grand Forks, where his occupation is real estate loans and banking. In 1889 and 1890 he was a member of the Grand Forks City Council, filling the position of President of the Council in 1890. He was a member of the State Senate during the years 1898-1902. He has held his position 011 the Board of Trustees since September, 1907. 19m. 19. Q11. ?Qzlgeaon Mr. Helgesen, whose home is at Milton, N. D., is a farmer by occupation. He has lived in this state for twenty-two years. coming to North Dakota in the spring of 1887 from Decorah, Iowa. From 1889 to 1896 Mr. Helgeseii lilled the office of State C0111- missioner of Agriculture and Labor. He was made Trustee of the University first in 1897, and served a four years. term. 111 the winter of 1907 he was again appointed Trustee.

Page 18 text:

accept his resignation and that the petition requesting him to reconsider his resignation was signed by every student attending the University and every alumnus within reach. The master architect must build so that his structure can withstand the storms. He must not build upon the sands. President Merriheld's structure has braved many a storm and now rises up as the strong and substantial foundation for the splendid superstructure 0f the future Greater University of North Dakota. The fiercest gale to sweep down upon the unfinished edifice was caused by the vetoing 0f the regular appropriation in 1895. It was a time to try menis souls, but the builders did not waver. Under the master-builder, and with the assistance of various publie-spirited men, each one sacrihcing comfort and money, the little band of workmen kept on building. President Merriheld was offered the presidency of the University of Montana, and also the presidency of a well known eastern college, but he declined and remained, in order to hold his faculty together and keep the University open pending the meeting of the legislature in 18971 The I'niversity will never forget the services rendered by President Merrifield and his faculty during its hour of greatest need. President Merrifield's work is state-wide. Tn I891 he organized the movement which, in 1895. resulted in the passage of the law creatingT the State High School Board. From 1891 to 1895 he acted as volunteer ex- aminer of high schools. and from 1891 to 1897 he personally defrayed the expense of conducting the high school examinations. President Merriheld organized the annual High School Conference and has presided at every meet- ing: He rendered signal service in the work of classifying the high schools of the state. He also called the first meetingT 0f the higher education section, the college and normal section. of the State Educational Association and served as its first president. But it is as a builder of character that President Merrifield will always live in the hearts of the boys and girls of the University of North Dakota. XYhile by no means insensible 0f the duty of the University to help to prepare its students to make an honorable and sufficient living for themselves and-those dependent upon them, he has consistently devoted his best energies to helping them to build for themselves a noble and serviceable life. The great aim of his administration has been to inculcate the idea that every student and gradu- ate owes to the public a duty of service commensurate with the service which the public has rendered to himeowes more than a beggarly quid pro qua. The esteem in which President Merrifield is held in the educational world is seen in the fact that. though representing one of the smallest of the state universities. he has been invited again and again to read papers before the National Association of State Universities and three years ago was chosen as vice-president of this important organization. The esteem in which he is held in this state is evidenced by the resolutions adopted at the last session of the State Educational Association. expressing appreciation of his quarter century of faithful and efficient service in leading in the educational development of the state. But the best evidence of President Merrifield's work is seen in the respect and affection felt for him by every boy and girl who. during these many years Of foundation building. has come under his stimulating and helpful influence.