}

Of the 101 already graduated, 29 are engaged in ministerial labors 2 and 50 in teaching. Some of the most responsible positions in each of these callings are held by Wilberforce graduates.

PRESIDENTS OF WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY.

1. Rev. Frederick Merrick, elected 1856, but did not serve.

2. Rev. James R. Parker, A. M., acted as principal from February 20, 1857, to July 1, 1858.

3. Rev. Richard S. Rust, D. D., July 1, 1858, to July 1, 1863.

4. Bishop Daniel A. Payne, D. D., LL. D., from July 3, 1863, to June, 1876; resigned.

5. Rev. Benjamin F. Lee, B. D., from June 19, 1876, to June 19, 1884; resigned.

6. Prof. Samuel T. Mitchell, A. M., elected June 20, 1884.

[AUTHORITIES: President D. A. Payne, contribution to "Historical Sketches Ohio Higher Educational Institutions," 1876; catalogues.] 714--15

XXVI.-URBANA UNIVERSITY.

(URBANA, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.)

[Sketch by President MOSES.]

In the year 1849 a number of New Church men, or persons holding to the doctrines set forth in the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, conceived the plan of establishing at Urbana, Ohio, an institution of learning to be known by the name of Urbana University. Ten acres of ground, finely wooded and affording eligible sites for the college buildings, were donated by John H. James, esq., a resident of Urbana, and at a meeting convened by Rev. James P. Stuart, at Urbana, of those interested in the enterprise, further donations were offered sufficient to insure the erection of a building for college purposes. At the same meeting an association was organized which accepted the proffered gifts, appointed a provisional board of trustees, and authorized an ap plication to the legislature of Ohio for an act of incorporation.

The charter bears date of March 7, 1850, and is very liberal in its character, giving the institution authority to establish whatever schools, seminaries, or colleges may be deemed necessary or desirable, and for the conferring of the usual academic degrees. The incorporators named in the charter were as follows: Milo G. Williams, of Montgomery County; John R. Williams, of Belmont County; Benj. F. Barrett, E. Hirnman, and Wm. E. White, of Cincinnati; David Groynne, of Champaign County; George Field, of Detroit, Mich.; Sabin Hough, of Franklin County; Samuel T. Worcester, of Huron County; John Murdock, of Clark County, and Richard T. Canby, of Logan County. The corporation is governed by twelve trustees, the persons named above constituting the first board of trustees. Vacancies in the board are filled by the remaining members. By the terms of the charter the trustees are required to be members of the New Church or attached to the principles thereof. The name of university was assumed before any schools existed to form it, and the board decided at the outset that the university should embrace the entire course of school training, from the lowest to the highest. A primary and preparatory department, were first organized, in which boys and girls were taught together. A separate school for girls was at the same time resolved upon, to be carried on in conjunction with the academic classes of a college. In one of the early catalogues published in 1860 it is stated that "the union of boys and girls in the same school may be viewed with distrust by those who

have no chance to witness its working. With the experience which they have now had, the trustees and faculty unite in opinions as to its ben7efits. They have found no evils resulting from it; and the benefits have beeu so obvious, in the formation both of manner and character-and this with girls no less than boys-that the present arrangement will not willingly be dispensed with." The plan of coeducation was thus early adopted by the institution and among the graduates of the classes of 1857, 1858, and 1859 appear the names of several young women. At the present time women are admitted to all the college classes without restriction.

On the 19th of June, 1850, since observed as foundation day, the corner stone of the first college building was laid. The college hall or students' dormitory and residence was soon erected and in 1874 a third story was added to the building. In 1875 a wing was added to the college building providing for a chemical laboratory in the lower story and a president's room above. In 1880, by means of the Loring and other contributions, a building was erected on grounds donated by the New Church Society of Urbana for the primary department and school for girls, and in 1884 a new wing was added to the college building, containing the museum and biological laboratory and a hall for public exercises. Shortly after the original donation of 10 acres by John H. James, esq., of Urbana, an additional donation of 5 acres was made by Mr. Edward Dodson, of Cincinnati, and at a later period an adjoining tract of 15 acres was purchased and donated by Hon. J. Y. Scammon, of Chicago, Ill. Thus the entire domain of the college embraces 30 acres covered with a pleasant grove of native trees and affording ample space for all future structures and for the recreation of the students. At the same time the college became the recipient of a donation of $10,000 from Mr. David Wilson, who stipulated in his bequest that the amount should form the basis of a chair to be known as the Wilson professorship; also a donation from Alvin Washburn, of Lynchburg, Ohio, of a tract of land, from the sale of which was realized the sum of $14,000.

Among the early professors in the college was Milo G. Williams, professor of science and dean of the faculty, who continued in the duties of his professorship until 1870, and remained one of the trustees until his death. Professor Williams furnished meteorological reports to the Smithsonian Institution for a period of over 20 years, and the publication of these reports formed the basis of the present weather bureau at Washington. Associated with him in the early days of the college were J. T. Leonhard Tafel, PH. D., professor of languages, member of a family of eminent scholars and brother of Dr. Emanuel Tafel, who edited and translated the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, while holding a professorship in the University of Tübingen; the Rev. J. O. Stuart, a clergyman, a writer of note in New Church literature; Joseph W. Jenks, A. M., professor of languages; Col. Adolphe Boyesen, of Nor