|
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COLLEGE BY HON. JOHN C. PATTERSON, 1883
As a result of this mission, a deed of twenty-five acres of land, where the college now stands, and five hundred dollars in money was contributed by Mr. Blackmar. Seven citizens of Hillsdale subscribed one thousand dollars each, and the sum of sixteen thousand five hundred dollars was speedily raised in the township. Meanwhile the faculty, introduced and assisted by citizens of the village, were vigorously canvassing in the territory assigned to them. The county responded promptly and generously. Within three months it pledged twenty-one thousand dollars to the enterprise. The township and county contributed seven thousand five hundred dollars more to the building fund than had been required. These results were reported to the board of trustees on the 25th day of May, 1853. The board now determined to raise an endowment fund of one hundred thousand dollars for the college, and ten thousand dollars for manual labor purposes. Henry J. King was elected secretary and book-keeper of the corporation.
On motion of Ransom Dunn, a committee was appointed to negotiate with the authorities of Geauga Seminary, with a view to consolidating the two schools. This seminary had been established by the Free-will Baptist denomination in 1843 at Cherlis Cross Roads, in Geauga county, Ohio, and had been the result, to a very large extent, of the labors of Elder David Marks, who had acted as its financial agent. The trustees of this institution had rejected the first charter granted to it by the legislature of Ohio, for the reason it excluded colored students from the privileges of the school. It was here that James A. Garfield commenced his studies. He was persuaded to enter this seminary by Rev. Samuel D. Bates, one of the founders, and for many years a trustee of Hillsdale College. Here Garfield recited to Prof. Ransom Dunn and Rev. George E. Ball, then teachers in the seminary now of Hillsdale College, and here he determined to pursue a course of study.
EARLY MICHIGAN
Page 27
|
|
Please consider making a donation to help offset expenses to keep this site online.
Thank you
|
