WASHBURN COLLEGE ENTERPRISE NORMAL ACADEMY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL, TOPEKA McPHERSON COLLEGE, McPHERSON, KANSAS THE KANSAS CITY UNIVERSITY

The story of the founding of Washburn College centers in Peter MacVicar, Harvey Dwight Rice and Colonel John Ritchie. Many other men gave their time, labor, and the little money they had to Washburn, but on these three men especially, fell the task of directing and leading the work.

Harvey D. Rice was born November 8, 1821, at Charlemont, Massachusetts. His father was a typical well-to-do New Englander, a farmer, storekeeper, and mill owner. New England was church-going and devout, and in this religious atmosphere Harvey Rice passed his boyhood days and reached his majority. In 1846, he married Miss Savina Barnes Tuttle. The next ten years were quiet, happy and prosperous and were destined to be the last period of quiet he would know for many years. During this time Mr. Rice became personally acquainted with many men and women of distinction, among them John Hooker, whose wife was the sister of Henry Ward Beecher. It was from this Mr. Hooker that Mr. Rice secured the loan of the first thousand dollars, which began the payment on the present college site.

Meanwhile, in Kansas all was turmoil, and when Topeka was not yet two years old, John Ritchie, William Bowker, Deacon Farnesworth, Harrison Hannahs, Harry Rice, Sherman Bodwell and Lewis Bodwell met and determined to build a house of worship. A foundation for the Free Congregational Church was begun in the fall of 1857. Mr. Rice furnished the lime, Mr. Ritchie attended to the quarrying of the stone. The Rev. Lewis Bodwell was general superintendent, and Mrs. Scales's old ox team hauled large cottonwood and oak logs cut by Sherman Bodwell, from the creek. The first sermon was preached in it on the first Sunday in January, 1861, by the Rev. Peter MacVicar, who had come to Topeka during the previous October.

In 1856, men began asking each other how a Christian college might be planted. The Congregationalists looked to their association. Altogether there were but twelve churches and probably not more than 120 communicants of this denomination in the whole territory. At the Congregational Association held in Manhattan, October, 1857, the project was brought up. The decision of the site was, for some time, in the balance between Lawrence and Topeka, but the day was finally carried in favor of the capital city. The beginning of Washburn Campus dates from 1859, and the charter was granted to Lincoln College February 6, 1865.

Since the site selected for the college was "so far out," a temporary plan was adopted and, as is always the case, after the beginning was once made, things moved more rapidly. It was decided to erect a stone building for immediate use on the corner of Tenth and Jackson streets. The college was to be called "Lincoln College" as a token of Topeka's respect and love for the President. But Topeka contractors had no faith in the new undertaking and refused to bid for the work. Harvey Rice, not to be stopped by any obstacle, proposed that he be given the contract at $7,000. The proposal was accepted and the building was thus constructed. United States soldiers from Maine to Massachusetts, then stationed in Topeka, dug the trenches. School opened in the new building on January 3, 1866, and we have Harrison Hannahs to thank that its doors were opened to young women as well as to young men. Between thirty and forty students were in attendance. These were all in the preparatory department. The next year there were two college students and sixty-five others. In 1868 Addison P. Davis was given his diploma, the first student to be graduated. In the last part of this year Lincoln College became Washburn College. There were several Lincoln Colleges in the country and so when Deacon Ichabod Washburn of Worcester, Massachusetts, gave $25,000, the name of the college was changed to Washburn in honor of the donor.

The next year the Rev. H. Q. Butterfield was elected president, and was succeeded in 1871 by the Rev. Peter MacVicar. Doctor MacVicar was of Scotch ancestry and was born June 15, 1829, at St. George, New Brunswick, Canada. In the fall of 1860, he accepted the call of the pastorate of the First Congregational Church of Topeka. Doctor MacVicar immediately set about to erect a building on the campus, and by 1872, $31,500 had been raised for its construction. The Academy building and site were sold to the city for $15,000, and by December, 1872, the new building was enclosed.

The northeast corner of the quarter section was chosen for the campus. It was plowed, and around it was planted an Osage hedge outside of which was built a high board fence. Four hundred and fifty trees were set out. By 1874 Science Hall was ready for occupancy. The few young ladies who boarded at the school had rooms in the basement. The boys had rooms in the second story and the members of the faculty occupied the floor between. On the first floor also were recitation rooms, the library and at the west end, the chapel. These were discouraging years for the president and trustees. In June, 1877, the vested funds of the college were reported to be a little over $45,000. But in the spring of 1878, the situation became more encouraging.

In 1877 there were only thirteen students attending Washburn College, in 1878, twenty. In 1879 Professor Stearns raised $3,000 in the City of Hartford, and Hartford Cottage was built as a dormitory for the girls. Before this time the girls who were not rooming in Science Hall made the trip to and from town in a hack. The evolution in the method of reaching the college from down town was "slow but sure." All transportation was first by hack. In 1884 the street railway was extended to the college and a "horse car" drawn by mules made nine trips a day out to the college. A few years later the electric line was put in. Later South Cottage was built, but burned to the ground in December, 1890. By January, 1883, Whitin Hall was ready as a cottage for the boys. In 1886 Holbrook was occupied. In this same year Boswell Memorial was completed. Prior to this, the books of the college were kept in Science Hall. They were not arranged in order, and while Professor Lovewell had made a list of them, there was no catalogue and no periodicals were subscribed for. When the books were moved to Boswell, which served as the library for nineteen years, they were classified and catalogued by Professor Whittemore, who was Washburn's librarian for twelve years after this.

The years following 1887 were years of rapid growth and change for the college. In 1889 the contract for the chapel was let. In 1890 it was occupied and was dedicated the afternoon of the baccalaureate Sunday. It was at this time that so many hundred trees were planted on the campus. In 1880, the trustees had purchased a tract of 135 acres north of the college site. This was divided into building lots and sold, the investment proving to be a splendid one for the college.

The endowment fund had now increased to over $100,000.

The remainder of Doctor MacVicar's administration was a trying period for both president and trustees, and in 1895 he was compelled to give up his active work. George M. Herrick was Washburn's third president. During his presidency a large yearly deficit in the college funds was stopped, facilities of instruction were greatly improved, and the number of students increased. The endowment fund also increased and there was a noticeable growth of college spirit. At President Herrick's resignation, the Rev. Norman Plass of Williamstown, Massachusetts, was called to the presidency of the college. To Doctor Plass, Washburn is indebted for the observatory building, the president's residence, the heating plant, Carnegie Library, engineering shop, law school and dispensary. On May 13, 1902, the Executive Committee honored themselves and the college by passing a resolution re-naming the chapel after Doctor MacVicar and "Old Science" after Harvey Rice. This tribute was most gratefully received by these workers who had given so much of themselves to Washburn. Ex-President Peter MaeVicar died June 9, 1903, and Harvey Dwight Rice, June 11. The spring of 1903 was a most depressing time, for it was near commencement time that the memorable flood was at its height. The schools were closed and many of the Washburn boys were at the front in the rescue work.

Dr. Frank Knight Sanders, formerly dean of Yale University School, assumed the presidency upon Doctor Plass's resignation in 1908, and held the position for about six years. He resigned in the spring of 1914.

For two years it had been known that when a sum of $75,000 for endowment had been raised, the college was to receive $35,000 more for a gymnasium. In the year 1908 that condition was more than fulfilled. For some time the donor of the gift was unknown, and the students spoke of him as the "gym man." At last, against his intentions, it became known that the "gym man" was Mr. Jonathan Thomas of Topeka. The building is a memorial to his son, Charles B. Thomas, who was at one time a student at Washburn. The gymnasium was dedicated in 1909.

In 1915 Doctor Sanders was succeeded by Dr. D. L. McEachron, who was made the acting president. In 1916 Doctor McEachron was succeeded by Dr. Parley Paul Womer, who was elected president and who is the present incumbent.

Some of the prominent citizens of Enterprise proposed in the spring of 1896 to the West German Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church that the conference accept their offer of the Enterprise Normal Academy building and the seventy acres adjoining it on condition that the conference maintain a prosperous school for six years and raise an endowment fund of $10,000 to $15,000. These conditions were met and the trustees hold a deed to the property now estimated to be worth not less than $60,000.

The West German Conference convened at Sedalia, Missouri, August 27, 1896, and accepted the proposition. School opened on the 6th day of October of that year.

In the summer of 1908 the ladies' dormitory was completed. It was named the Elizabeth Hoffman Memorial, in whose honor C. Hoffman had given such a substantial endowment gift.

The music hall was completed in the late winter of 1913 and the men's dormitory in the fall of 1913.

The main building is built of white stone, 60 by 70 feet, three stories high. There are also a music hall embracing accommodations for domestic art and manual training departments, and ladies' and men's dormitories. A museum, which occupies a part of the library, is a feature of Music Hall. The faculty of Enterprise Normal Academy comprises Prof. D. L. Katterjohn, the principal, and six assistants. There are about 150 pupils in the regular normal, commercial and musical courses and the summer class.

The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth have been doing a noble work since the arrival of their first mother superior (formerly Sister Xavier, Ann Ross) in 1858. Her father was a Methodist minister. One of the noteworthy institutions founded and managed by the Sisters is St. Francis Hospital of Topeka. It was opened in 1907, corner of Sixth avenue and Garfield street. St. Francis is a general hospital, but has a special maternity department and a training school for nurses. Its mother superior is known to the church as Sister Felicitas. She is a daughter of John McCarthy, the Topeka pioneer, and spent twenty-five years in the West, engaged in hospital work, before being placed at the head of St. Francis Hospital.

The first attempt to establish a seminary by the Church of the Brethren was made in 1861 by S. Z. Sharp. The same year Elder James Quinter attempted an academy at New Vienna, Ohio. In 1872 there was an attempt to start a school in Western Pennsylvania. It was not until 1876 that the Brumbaughs promoted what is now Juniata College at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. It began with three students in a room twelve by fourteen. Prof. Jacob Zook was its first president. Educational sentiment now grew rapidly. Mount Morris College, Illinois, was founded in 1879; Bridgewater College, Virginia, in 1880, and McPherson College in 1887.

Today the church has ten colleges and seminaries with over 2,500 students and properties and endowments amounting to $2,000,000; and this is a denomination of less than 100,000 communicants.

The pioneer college work met with strong opposition and required large vision and great faith and sacrifice. On the 21st day of July, 1887, F. B. Webster, H. B. Kelly, A. Bass, C. August Heggelund, O. Heggelund, Eric Leksell and E. F. Clarke applied for a charter under the title: "The McPherson College Building Association." The charter states that the purpose for which the corporation is formed is to secure the location of a college in or near the City of McPherson, Kansas, and to provide for the erection of suitable college buildings. On May 31, 1889, the charter was amended to reduce the number of trustees to three, said trustees to consist of E. C. Heggelund, C. August Heggelund, and A. Bass. April 25, 1890, the charter was amended so as to empower the association to maintain a college, and on the following July 25th the charter was amended "so as to have five directors," who must be members of the German Baptist Brethren Church, now the Church of the Brethren. The names of said directors were Elder Daniel Vaniman, A. W. Vaniman, J. H. Peck, J. L. Kuns, F. J. Bradly. August 1, 1890, the McPherson College Building Association accepted all the liabilities and resources of the McPherson College and Industrial Institute Association.

The organization of McPherson College was the result of a growing educational movement in the Brethren Church which recognized the need of such an institution west of the Mississippi River. A committee, appointed by an educational meeting at the Annual Conference, held at Ottawa, in June, 1887, located and organized the McPherson College and Industrial Institute. And McPherson citizens, July 21, 1887, organized the McPherson College Building Association. The function of the latter was to build and equip college buildings which were to be turned over to the former association, which was to conduct a college in the same. The funds for the erection and equipment of college buildings were to be derived from the sale of certain lots. The officers of the McPherson College and Industrial Institute Association were S. Z. Sharp, president; M. M. Eshelman, secretary; George Studebaker, business manager.

In the fall of 1888 the dormitory had been completed and September the 5th the first term opened with S. Z. Sharp president. Two hundred and one students were enrolled during the year. By June 17, 1889, the McPherson College Building Association had completed and furnished the dormitory, had laid the foundation of the main building, had passed between $80,000 and $110,000 through its treasury, had assets to the amount of about $40,000, and liabilities amounting to about $25,000. At that time the McPherson College and Industrial. Institute Association was dissolved and Daniel Vaniman, A. W. Vaniman and J. H. Peck, J. L. Kuns and F. H. Bradly became the directors of the McPherson College Building Association, and attempted the conduct and development of the college.

The burden assumed by the new management was a great one. At first they were successful, but when in 189395 the financial crisis came the attendance was reduced from over 300 in 1891-92 to less than 200 in 1894-95 and still less in 1895-96. The burden became too heavy, and the business management and faculty reorganized.

The trustees now leased the buildings for three years to five members of the faculty: C. E. Arnold, H. J. Harnly, E. Frantz, A. C. Wieand and S. B. Fahnestock, who elected C. E. Arnold president. The situation was anything but encouraging. There were two large mortgages besides other debts, but under the leadership of these gentlemen the friends of education rallied nobly; in a short time the last cent of indebtedness had been canceled, and in the fall of 1897 a third story and a permanent roof were put on the main building. Since that time the progress of the college has been steady, and now the institution occupies six fine buildings thoroughly furnished for comfort and the best work.

On February 12, 1898, the McPherson College Building Association was reorganized and named McPherson College. The new charter states the purpose of the corporation to be more fully to develop and maintain facilities for the attainment of higher Christian education in harmony with the principles of the Church of the Brethren as defined by her Annual Conference. There were five trustees, all of whom must be members of the Church of the Brethren. The board of trustees were perpetuated by a vote of such persons as had donated $100 or more either in money or property and held a certificate to that effect.

In June, 1902, McPherson College met an irreparable loss in the death of Pres. C. E. Arnold at the early age of thirty-six years. The following brethren have served as trustees up to time of recognition: M. M. Eshelman, G. G. Lehmer, G. E. Studebaker, F. H. Bradly, J. H. Bosserman, J. H. Peck, J. P. Vaniman, H. J. Harnly, D. Vaniman, A. W. Vaniman, J. L. Kuns, Samuel Miller, Henry Brunaker, F. A. Vaniman, Jacob Whitmore, D. P. Hutchinson, Noah Kuns, E. Frantz, S. B. Fahnestock, Chas. Miller, L. H. Butler, J. J. Yoder, J. Edwin Jones, W. A. Kinzie, C. J. Lichty, A. L. Boyd, F. S. Baker, I. D. Gibble, J. R. Pitzer.

The following elders have served as advisory board: Enoch Eby, J. D. Trostle, John Forney, B. B. Whitmer, John Wise, C. M. Yearout, S. W. Fitzwater, C. S. Holsinger, Thos. Winey, Wm. Johnson, M. Keller, A. F. Miller, A. D. Sollenberger, U. Shick, G. Mannon, A. C. Daggett, Wm. Davis, and J. S. Mohler.

Upon the death of President Arnold, Prof. E. Frantz was elected to the presidency and served until forced to resign on account of a nervous breakdown in 1910. During the year 1910-11 Prof. S. J. Miller was acting president. Dr. J. A. Clement was elected president in 1911 and resigned after two years. Dr. H. J. Harnly served as acting president during the school year 1913-14. During this year a reorganization was accomplished and Dr. D. W. Kurtz of the First Church of the Brethren of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was called to the presidency.

The reorganization was accomplished largely through the efforts of the acting president, Harnly, and the president of the board of trustees, J. J. Yoder.

Since the completion of the reorganization and the calling of Doctor Kurtz, McPherson College has progressed. The indebtedness has been paid, and a new central heating plant built, a new ladies' dormitory built, the endowment raised to $225,000; the faculty and budget almost doubled and the attendance increased 50 per cent.

At the annual stockholders' meeting February 6, 1912, it was decided, by vote of 239 for and 1 against, to increase the number of trustees from five to fifteen, and the first meeting of the enlarged board was called for May 10, 1912. At this meeting it was decided to encourage all the churches in the territory of McPherson College to have some kind of an educational programme or sermon at least once a year and to take in connection with it a free-will offering for McPherson College.

At an executive board meeting September 17, 1912, it was decided to take steps at the coming district meeting of Southwest Kansas and Southeast Colorado to place McPherson College into the hands of this and surrounding church districts.

The district meeting of Southwest Kansas and Southeast Colorado of 1912 appointed a committee to confer with the trustees of McPherson College, looking towards placing the college more directly under the control of the church districts from which it draws its patronage.

At an executive board meeting October 21, 1912, it was decided to call a joint meeting of the board of trustees, the committee appointed by the Southwest Kansas and Southeast Colorado district meeting and a representative from the General Educational Board of the Church of the Brethren.

By November 26, 1913, the election of the new board of trustees by state districts had been completed.

Presidents of McPherson College: S. Z. Sharp, A. M., 1888-1896; C. E. Arnold, A. M., 1896-1902; Edward Frantz, A. M., 1902-1910; S. J. Miller, A. M., 1910-1911, acting president; John A. Clement, Ph.D., 1911-1913; H. J. Harnly, Ph. D., 1913-1914, acting president; Daniel Webster Kurtz, A. M., B. D., D. D., 1914-

Present Board of Trustees of McPherson College: Southwest Kansas and Southeast Colorado - Elder J. J. Yoder, president, McPherson; F. P. Detter, vice president, McPherson; Dr. H. J. Harnly, secretary, McPherson; J. A. Flory, McPherson; J. N. Dresher, McPherson; Emery Martin, Bloom. Northeast Kansas - Rev. F. E. McCune, 1200 New York Street, Lawrence. Southeast Kansas - Gideon E. Shirky, Madison. Northwest Kansas - Elder Geo. W. Burgin, 1500 S. Pearl Street, Denver, Colorado. Northern Missouri - Elder E. G. Rodabaugh, Stet. Middle Missouri - Elder James M. Mohler, Leeton. Southern Missouri - G. W. Gitt, Cabool. Nebraska - U. C. Miller, Carleton. Oklahoma - Elder W. O. Bosserman, Tangier. Western Colorado and Utah - Elder S. Z. Sharp, Fruita, Colorado.

Enrollment by states, 1916-17: Kansas, 246; Missouri, 24; Nebraska, 18; Oklahoma, 13; Colorado, 12; Michigan, 3; Iowa, 2; and California, Idaho, Illinois, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Dakota, one each.

Departments maintained: Collegiate, Normal, Academic, Biblical, Expression, Commercial, Agriculture, Domestic Science and Art, Music and Art; number of professors, 23; number of assistants, 13; enrollment, over 400; number of graduates 1917 Collegiate A. B. 16, Academy 41. Total number of degrees conferred from founding of the college: D. D., 2; L. H. D., 2; B. D., 1; A. M., 17; B. S. L., 4; B. S. D., 189; A. B., 155.

Value of college property and permanent fund : College Campus, 10 acres, $10,000; Athletic Field, $1,100; College Agricultural Farm, 150 acres, $18,750; Richardson Farm, 160 acres, $14,000; Sharp Administration Hall, $35,000; Carnegie Library, $13,500; Gymnasium, $8,000; Fahnestock Hall (Boys' Dormitory), $25,000; Arnold Hall (Ladies' Home), $25,000; Central Heating Plant, $5,000; Furniture, Apparatus, etc., $10,000; Library, $5,000; and endowment (interest bearing) $157,000. Total, $327,350.

The Kansas City University is the result of an earnest purpose, persistently pursued. Nearly three-quarters of a century ago a young man by the name of Mather, a lineal descendant of Cotton Mather, of Colonial fame, "purposed in his heart" to some day found an institution of learning. He was poor and without immediate prospect of realizing his purpose; but, he cherished it until, at the age of eighty-four, he came into touch with a board of trustees, appointed by the General Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, to establish a school somewhere in the neighborhood of Kansas City. Although a Congregationalist, he recognized his opportunity, and, brushing aside denominational prejudice and preference, he gave his entire estate to this board to help them perform the task laid upon them. Thus, Dr. S. F. Mather of Kansas City, Kansas, became the founder of the Kansas City University, the only educational institution of collegiate grade in Kansas City. Among other friends of the university, without whose generous gifts the institution could not have been established, were Mr. H. J. Heinz of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Mr. Dexter Horton of Seattle, Washington, and Mr. W. S. Wilson of Ohio, Illinois.

In 1913 Campbell College of Holton, Kansas, under the control of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, was moved to Kansas City, and merged with the university. So that the Kansas City University is now under the joint control of a board of trustees selected one-half by the Methodist Protestant Church authorities, and the other half by the authorities of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. While not sectarian, the life of the university is distinctly Christian.

It is located at Thirty-third Street and Parallel Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas, and is most beautiful for situation. Its students come from Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, and other adjacent states. It has large property interests in and about Kansas City, Kansas, out of which it is expected a considerable endowment fund will be realized. Three large, modern and substantial buildings grace a very beautiful campus, and when the building scheme is complete, nine buildings will constitute the group. Seven schools constitute the university: Mather College, Wilson Academy and High School, the College of Theology, the College of Music, the College of Expression, the School of Art, and the School of Home Economics. The courses offered are thorough and complete.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOLUME 1 & 2
BIOGRAPHIES — VOLUMES 3, 4, & 5
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

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