University of Cincinnati - Cincinnatian Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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DIELVING INTO THE PAST: AN IIISiliOIQH-HL Slilf'l'fll Jufrobucfom Um I: L 1-19 Mchcmax, in hc- lluullhing 11in estate lu thc City of Cincinnati fur the purposes of higher cducnlirm, hemmu Lhc lluundur of tlm I'nivcrsily of Cincinnati. 11 must Ir; rummnhurul that twn distinct lmnrds of trustees have ndlninthL-rtd 111L- funds since his death in 1H5H: first. thu Board of Directors of McMickcn lTllivcrsity, frmn IH59 tn IHjtia, and since then the Burll'd ul' Dil'eulurs 0f 111L- I'nivcrsity of Cincinnati. Thu: AmdL-mic Dcpurtnwnt. nr MC- Micch-Il College uf the I'llivcrraity. rust calm: intu runl cxistcncu in I373 1'11 to that tima- McMickcn Univu-sity. 0r tlu- L'niVL-rsity of Cincinnati. 11-. '11 hccmne known through HIL- Act of 1570. had uxr istcd in 11mm: only: but, upon the passage 131' 111L- 111w referrud to, the runner board lxlhricd nut nf cxistcncc. its funds hcing transferred to UM: Board of Directors of tln: Knix'crsity of Cincinnati. Ill reading this Hlictch. 01' better, cmnpilutimi, which makes no pretensiuns tn being a complete nr OI: 'I'Ill': llNlVlfRSI-I'V. 19mm; 1. Jnst. detailed history. but which aims, rather. m shed light on somc nf lllL' more interesting: phases of the development of our lYnix'cmity. these main facts should bu kept in mind. 13

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HLD IH'IIJ'IXH. 1' H H

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CHARLES A'WPIICHI'IN, TIIIE IZOLINDER OF THE LlF-llt-TIQSI'IY OF CINCINNATI CHARLES McMIct-llix. the founder of the Univemity of Cincinnati. was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on November 23, ITHE, and came to Cincinnati, with 501116 means saved while surveying at Chillicothet in the Spring uf 1803. He secured employment here, and later successfully engaged in business as a cotton factor and merchant in New Orleans and Cincinnati. After 1335 he would leave New Orleans in March of each year, remain in Cincinnati till June. spend July and August in the East. and the Winter months in New Orleans. His first purchase of real estate in Cincinnati was at the north-east corner of Third and Main Streets in 1835. I11 134.0 he purchased the 01d MeMieken hnmestead. the grounds of which were, until last year. the seat of the Academic department. He added to his estate. from time to time. by purchases in this- eity, until it was estimated at more than onevhalf million dollars. He was a man of strong mind and memory, reserved in manner and expression. 111 his habits he was temperate, and in his business affairs 111ethodieal. He was selftreliant, possessed of excellent business qualifications. and in his multiplied deeds of charity showed no lHLU'm hTRl-NK. ostentation. He died 0f pneumonia contracted while journeying by boat from New Orleans to Cincinnati. on March 30, I355. in the seventy-sixth year of his age. His willt containing: thirty-nine sections. was prohated on April IO. I853. After Emlguage of flie . tltaking provisions fur the payment of several legacies and annuities to those united 'YDIW. $333 by blood, he hequeaths t0 the City of Cincinnati and to its successors all the residue of his real and personal pruperty fnr the purpose of building, establishing, and Illaiutaining two colleges. me for each of the sexes, embracing in extent a course of university education. The thirty-Flrst section of the will contains the devise to the City of Cincinnati, in trust, for build- ing. establishing, and maintaining two colleges. with directions :15 to sales, leases, investments, and :15 to certain charges on the devise. It is the spirit of the bequest. autl was written by Charles MeMieken himself. It is :15 follmvs: Having long Cherished the desire to found an institution where boys and girls might be taught, not only a knowledge of their duty to their Creator and their fellow-mcn. but also receive the benefit of a sound, thorough and practical English educa- I6