Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-03-13
East Tennessee UNIVERSITY.

In 1850, the Hon. VIM. B. Reese was elected to
the Presidency of the University; and with him
were associated Messrs. R. L. kirkpatrick, Albert
NJ Lea, Henry Erni and Rev. j. d. Myers, as Pro-
fessors. Mr.. Lea did not long continue, and upon
his withdrawal from the Faculty, the duties OF his
Department were assigned to Mr.. Kirkpatrick. Mr..
Myers also held his position only year. His chair
was not Immediately filed. Two Tutors were
elected during 1851, Mr.. Lacy Jones and Mr.. JAS.
81. Cushing AT the close of the Collegiate year OF
1872, Mr.. Erni was succeeded BY Mr. }. b.
Mitchell, as Professor of Chemistry, and few
months later, Mr.. W. H. Hopper was appointed to
the vacant chair of Ancient Languages
In the Summer of 1853, general resignation OF
the President and Professors with the exception OF
Prof. MITCHELL occurred. Their places were not sup
piled at once Only the Rev. Geo. Cooke was chosen
President. a partial interregnnm in College exer-
cises, ensned for six months. Students were how
ever taught in some branches during the time
Henry E. ]. BOardman, was chosen il 1853, Profess
sor of Mathematics. For several years previous to
this point of time, tie Institution had been in rath
er languishing condition. This was owing to va
rious causes. In September, 1854, q visitation of
Asiatic Cholera to the town, contributed still fur
Their to diminish the number of students in atten-
dance and check the growth of the University.-
After the epidemic had passed away, an attempt
was made under the auspices of President George
Cooke, to form union of the Western Military In
stiute, before located at Tyree Springs, Tenn, and
OF which Col. b. R. johnson was Superintendent,
with this Institution But after considerable con-
ference between the parties the attempt, which at
one time promised to be successful was cut short by
the transfer of the Military Institute to the Nash
vile University
AT different times efforts had been made to estab-
lsha- Medical College in the University In 1916,
upon the receipt of a communication from the Med
ical Society Of East Tennessee, by the Board of
Trustees they appointed special committee to con-
fer with that Society on the subject But nothing
was dore in consequence. Again, in ls4s, Reso-
luton was adopted by the Trustees at the instance
of one of its members and Committee was appoin-
ted to inquire into the expediency Of creating
Medical Faculty. The Committee reported favora-
bly,, and Drs. VIM. ]. Baker, F. A. Ramsey j. P.
Evans and FL. Baker, were elected to Chairs in the
proposed Medical School. Owing to the difficulties
attending the enterprise it was not prosecuted for
any great length of time. Again. in 1856, SINH
lar project was entered upon A number of respec-
table physicians of the city addressed petition to
the Trustees for the organization of Medical De-
partment of the University. The request was
granted, the Department was created, eight Profess
sorships we're constituted within it, all of which
were filed by elections and special rules and regula
tions for its government were framed and adopted.
But the undertaking proved abortive Drs. Moor
man, Richard 0. Currey and JIG NJ. Ramsey were
active and prominent in the movement
Early in 1856, Mr.. Boardman resigned, and was
succeeded by the Rev. Samuel G. Pharr, as Profess
Sor of Languages; and the following Summer Prof.
Mitchell also resigned At this time, upon commu- |
nications from the University of Nashville and |
West Tennessee College to President Cooke con-
corning the es Establishment af an Agricultural De-
in connection with this University, Com
mittee of three Trustees was appointed to confer |
with the East Tennessee Agricultural Society the
subject. We are not advised that any further pro-
ceedings were had in the matter. In the Summer
of 1857, Mr.. Cooke resigned the Presidency and Mr.
Griswold his Professorship. Itwas not until April
of the next year that Mr. Cs Office was filed BY the
appointment of Rev. w. D. Carnes In July fol-
lowing, Messrs. NJ G. Butler and A. G. Carnes were,
elected Professors, and ]. Washburn was appointed
Principal Of the Preparatory Department Med
ical Department again created and to the chairs
were elected, Drs John w. King, B. Frazier, o. F.
Hill, John M. Boyd and r. O. Currey. In ccnse-
4uence of the inability of the Trustees TO furnish
the Department with the necessary means for its
work, it did not go into effective operation DR.. A.
Ansman was appointed to the chair of Chemistry,
&C., in July, 1859, and served six months Rev.
A. Blair was his successor. President Carnes
md Professor Carnes resigned in June, 1860. Soon
Rev. James Wilson withdrew from the
Preparatory Department, of which he had been for
'ome time Principal.
Rev. J. j. Ridley was then chosen President,
Professors Blair and Butler continued in their posi-
ions; Robert n. Strong was appointed Tutor.
md j. NJ Leonard, Principal of the Preparatory
Department. The University, which had begun
o revive before, now gave fresh signs of life and
capacity for usefulness. But scarcely had the new
of its affairs begun, when the civil
troubles in the land which had been for some time
brewing came to head and scenes of excitement.
turmoil and war rapidly followed each other
If young men in this region of country Their
minds were drawn away from study by the impor-
ant events that every week transporting in the
political world; and more than few Of them were
ed to cease from all efforts to learn.
In May 1861, Mr.. Strong made Professor of
Mathematics In June, Professor Butler resigned.
md Rev. A A. Doak was appointed in his stead, :
o the chair of Ancient Languages The following ,
February, DR.. Ridley also resigned. Professors
Blair, Strong and Doak continued to instruct the
tudents who remained, for several months longer,
7hen the Institution was altogether suspended and
ontinued SO until .hs close of the war
The work of instruction was resumed under the
resent Faculty, in the Spring of 1866 The in :
lred condition of the University buildings at that
me would not allow of their being used for Col +
,ge purposes; and until the autumn, when they !
-ere sufficiently repaired the Deaf and Dumb Asy- q
I'm was used instead. The Institution is now at a
ork successfully at its former locality.
1t has had, including its present officers, =
N Presidents, besides thirty Professors and q
Venty-two Preceptors and Tutors 1t has gradua- q
ID one hundred and sghty-three students, Of whom n
N or more have become Physicians, fifteen have
cen ordained Ministers Of the Gospel larger n
lumber still have entered the profession of Law, il
me have been representatives in the United States
ongress and others have filed judicial Offices T
ore than few have been or are now Teachers of a
outh and others are diligent and honorable mer- c.
lsnts. Some were removed by death whilst they e.
ere yet young, others have died at more matured u
res but much the larger portion still survive Y
ne is Judge of the Circuit Court of this District
lother is Mayor Of the city of Knoxville, another u
as Comptroller Of the State at the commencement
the war, and and another now represents Haw- I
ms county in the State Senate. One of those de- G
ased, was Judicial Chancellor in the Mississippi
ID another was Christian Missionary in Syria II
L. =. ~ = - ID