Westminster College - Blue Jay Yearbook (Fulton, MO)

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John Flemming Cowan, A. M., D. D. D1'.JOhIl F. Cowan, theoldest member of the faculty, was born of a Pennsyl- .vanian family, in Washington county, Missouri. His father, the Rev. john F. Cowan, a clergyman' of the Presbyterian church, was for more than thirty years a prominent minister of southeast Missouri, and for a long time a member of the Board of Trustees of Westminster College. ' ' The younger Cowan, himself desired to enter the sacred calling, in which his father become so prominent, and with a view to preparing himself for the Seminary, entered Westminster, graduating in 1857. Directly from college he went to Prin- ceton, New Jersey,and there entered the Theological Seminary,graduating with the B.D. degree in 1861. At the conclusion of his course, Dr. Cowan returned to Callaway county, and has, during his entire ministry of forty-tive years, been pastor of the Aux- vasse Presbyterian church. . In 1881, Westminster conferred upon him his Divinity de- gree. For years past Dr. Cowan has been President ofthe Board of Synodical Female College. bDr. Cowan, having served as a member of the Board of Trustees for many years, entered his present Held of activity, as Professor of Modern Languages and Hebrew, in the year 1888. As a linguist he has few equals, 'speaking with great fluency most of the modern languages,and being a master ofthe dead tongues. He is a man ofsuperior general culture, -and as a theologian, his views are considered of great weight. I-Ie is a logical and very interesting speaker, his rhetorical ability being of the highest order. Daniel Shaw Gage,.A. M., Ph. Dy ' The subject of this sketch was born at Calvay, now Robertsville, Franklin county, Missouri. His father, moving from Missouri to Ohio and thence to Illinois, Dr. Gage was reared on a farm near Macon. Having obtained a thorough foundation in the public schools of his county, at the age of eighteen, Dr. Gage entered his Freshman year at'Westminster. In college he made a record surpassed by few, always being a diligent and judicious student and manifesting from the first a keenness of intellect and shrewdness of perception. While in college, he captured the Latin, Bibical Essay, and Scholarship prizes. He graduated in 1889. I ' ' In the fall of the same year, he entered McCormick Seminary,'Chicago, and was there oneuyear, At the end ofthis time he was elected 'to the chair of Greek Language and Literature in Westminster, being only -twentyfseven years of age. Since that time he has continued in the position, and has constantly kept his department up to a high standard, so that today it is considered among the best in the central west. To say Dr. Gage thorough in his department, is putting itulightly. As a teacher he is ex- tremely iclear and precise, and makes his department one of the best possible mind- trainers. Dr. Gage,ias Chairman ofthe Home Missions Committee of Missouri Presby- tery, has for years, past done valuable service for the church. He was moderator of the Synod of Missouri in 1905. In 1900 Wooster University conferred upon him the Ph. D. degree. , l 4 . . As a man, Dr. Gage is a thorough,consistent Christian gentleman, quiet and un- ' - . 12 ' Y

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John Harvey Scott, A. M., Ph. D. Dr. Scott, the oldest member of the Faculty in point of service, is a Missourian, born and reared in Monroe county. His parents were Kentuckians and were among the earliest emigrants to old Missouri, coming here only a few years after her admission to the Union v Dr. Scott, as a youth, manifested a desire to acquire a thorough education, and after a satisfactory preparatory course at Watson's Seminary, at Ashley, Pike county, Missouri, took up his study at Westminster., He graduated at a time when the college had suffered much from the blows inflicted by the cruel war-time, in the year '65, being the only member of the class. From the first he showed a taste for mathematics, and is said to have made the best record in this department that has ever been made in West minster, either before or after this time. He was called to the chair of Mathematics, shortly after his graduation, a va- cancy having occurred in that department. Continuing there uninterruptedly to this day, he has ever kept the department up to the highest standard of efficiency and thoroughness. lnjune, 1892, the degree, Ph. D., was conferred upon him by Hanover College, Indiana. Dr. Scott is a most capable instructor and a profound thinker, keeping his de- partment thoroughly up-to-date by tireless and energetic study. He is clear and con- vincing as ateacher, a successful disciplinarian and in every respect a genial gentle! man. . Edgar Hoge Marquess, A. M., L. H. D. Dr. Marquess was born in Tennessee, of a Virginia family. When but a mere boy he entered Hampden-Sidney College, Virginia, taking both his A. B. and A M. degrees from that institution, the former at the age of 18. At the outbreak of war, evincixig his patriotism, he, together with nearly the entire body of students 'enlisted in the Cong ederate army, as the Hampden-Sidney Boys, commanded by J. M. I'. Atkinson, president ofthe college. Later in the war he was attached to Gen. Joseph E. johnstqnfs staff. At the close of hostilities, Professor Marquess took up the profession of teaching, conducting successfully academies in Mississippi and West Virginia. ln the year 1882 he accepted the proffered chair of Latin in Westminster, serving the board uninterruptf edly, in that capacity, since. In 1903 the degree of L. H. D. was conferred upon him Westminster College. At present Professor Marquess is also Bursar ofthe college and assistant Secretary of the Board of Trustees. I , Professor Marquess is a dignified, refined gentleman of the true Southern type, possessing in marked degree all the qualifications of a successful teacher. In the class? room, he is thorough and helpful, never tiring of giving needed assistance or advice, Out of the class-room, and at all times, he is a pleasant, polite gentleman, one whose very presence commands the respect of all vxllo meet him. 'A . He was a member ofthe Epsilon Alpha Fraternity. 11 ffl ., '1 ' -A lt i f . i'f:t3l,r MSU A 1 .

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assuming in his manner, and his record is worthy of the highest commendation, as he stands forth an excellent example ofthe selfmade man. -A Ross Albert Wells, A. M. Professor Wells was born in Belmont county, Ohio. After a preparatory course in the Bridgeport COhioJ High School, he taught for two years, and then entered Frank- lin College, Ohio. He graduated from that institution in 1898 with the degree oi A. B., having the year previous obtained the Ph. B. degree. During his last two years in Franklin College, he was assistant instructor in Mathematics and Chemistry. From 1889 to 1900 he was principal of the High School, Athens, Ohio, and in 1900-1901 principal ofthe High School, Cadez, Ohio. The ibllowing year he was elected to the chair of Mathematics in Franklin College, which he resigned, after serving one year, to accept the chair of Mathematics in Bellevue College, Neb. In 1904- he was called to the chair of Natural Science in Westminster College. Franklin College conferred upon Prof Wells the degree of Ph. M. in 1900, and the degree of A. M. in 1901. Professor Wells IS a good disciplinarian and a thorough teacher, and under his tuition, his classes make fine progress. Himselfa student, he keeps abreast of all the latest discoveries in his department. ' E Willis Holmes Kerr, A. M. Professor Kerr was born in Jamestown, Pennsylvania. In 1900 he graduated from Bellevue College, Nebraska, with the A. B. degree, 1900-1904, he was Registrar and Instructor in Economies and English in Bellevue College, in 1900 he was winner in the Nebraska Collegiate Oratorical Contest 1901-1902 was Assistant on the Library Staif, Columbia Universitygis a member ofthe American Library Association, and Second Vice-president ofthe Missouri Library Association. In 1904 he was elected Principal ofthe Academic Department of Westminster College, and later placed in the chair of Philosophy, and appointed Librarian. Profj Kerr is a man of varied parts, and possesses good administrative ability: He thoroughly understands the organiza- tion and conduct of a Library, and under his hand, the past two years has seen a wonderful change in the College Library, and it is 11ow a department of which the lriends of the college are proud. In 1902 Columbia University conferred upon Prof Kerr the A. M. degree. Benjamin F. Farber, A. B. Mr. Farber was born in Thorntown, Indiana. His preparatory education was obtained in the Frankfort CInd.J High School. He graduated from Hanover College, Indiana in 1905 with the degree of A. B. In the fall of 1905 he was appointed Physical Director in Westminster College, and also assistant Instructor in the Academic Depart- ment, both of which positions he has Hlled during the past year faithfully and with marked ability. He is a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. . 13,11 hir. .Av If W? 4 .J F 11'