Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-02-27

Blountn College, so called in honor OF the Tower
nor.
1t is certainly worthy of honorable record, that
the pioneers of Tennessee at such esry stage of
the settlement of the country, while yet all the hor-
rors of Indian warfare threatened tn infant colony,
and but little of the primitive forest had been
cleared for cultivation should make it one Of their
frs duties to provide for the education of youth
The act above mentioned passed during the nrst
session of the Territorial Assembly, "began and
held at Knoxville, on Monday, the 18th of August,
1894" Greenville College was also chartered IN
September, "a; Washington College in July, So
The body polite and corporate of Blount College
originally consisted, by appointment OF the Assem-
bly,, of the Rev. Samuel Carrick President and the
following Trustees His Excellency William Blount
Hon. Daniel Smith, Secretary of the Territory,
Hen. David Campbell and Hon. Joseph Anderson,
Territorial Judges, Gen. John Sewer, Col. James
White, Col. Alex. Kelley Col VIM Cooke, Willie
Blount Joseph Hamilton, Archibald ROane, Frar-
els A. Ramsey, Charles McClung, Geo. Roulsto ne
Geo. McNutt, John Adair and Robert Houston.
The College did not and, could moi, under all the
circumstances greatly prosper. 1t was without
permanent fund.- and the country was too spsrsely
populated to furnish many students. The Rev. Mr.
Carrick continued to fill the place of Preside Mt of
the institution and the only instructor up to the
time of his death, in 1890 During that period the
College record is brief and unsatisfactory. No de-
grees were conferred. The routine of instruct on
was more properly Ac ademic than Collegiate, and
remained so for many years after his decease. In
the meantime, the old charter was repealed, new
one granted, and "Blonnt" gave place in 1907 to
"East Tennessee" College. The old charter was
surrendered upon condition that the new. College
should be established within two miles of Knoxville
Provision was made accordingly by law for its To-
cation ten acres of ground two miles from Knox
VILE which for that purpose was conveyed in trust
by Moses White. The funds and property what
ever they WERE of the old corporation, trans
ferred to the new. The change was created with
reference to an act of Congress the previous year.
appropriating 100000 acres of land south of the
French Broad and Holston, and west of Big Pigeon
rivers, to the use of two Colleges in The State one
of which the Legislature designated should be
"East Tennessee" The charter was granted Oc-
tober 26, 1907 On the Sd of the ensuing Deem
Der, supplementary act was passed appointing 90
Trustees apportioned among the different counties
representation, as follows:
Richard Mitchell and Andrew Galbreath, of
Hawkins; John Rhea and James King, of Sulli- |
van Augustine P Fore and John Gass, of Greene |
Matthew Stephenson and John Kennedy, of Wash
ington; George Dufield, of Carter; James Rice |
and Joseph Hamilton of Jefferson; John Cooke |
and Majors Lea, of Granger; Alexander Smith, of |
Cooke; Hopkins Lacy, of Sewer; Rev. Joseph E. |
Lapsly and DR.. Robert Gaut, of Blount; VIM. Ora
Thomas j. Van Dyke, of Roane, and George w.
Campbell, John Sewer and Thomas Emmerson of
Knox. Seven others were at the same time added,
selected from the adjacent country who might con-
venieny be present at the ordinary meetings of the
Board These were John Crozier, John Williams,
Archibald Roane, Francis A. Ramsey David Dead
erick, George Doherty and John Lowry
In October, $780, the Rev. Mr. Carrick being
lately deceased, the Rev. David Sherman was chosen
President of the College, and Daniel Watrous ap-
pointed Professor of Mathematics and Natural Phi
losophy. At the same time, union of Hamden
Sydney Academy was formally made with the Col
lege, and was not dissolved until October, 1926. It
may be that David s. Hart commenced his duties as
the absence of positive documentary evidence upon
the subject that it was in the spring of 1921. At
what time Messrs. Watrous and Hart withdrew from
the institution, unable to state. We find that
james McBath, ESQ., was appointed Tutor in April
1923, and Professor of Mathematics and Natural
Philoso ply in October of the same year, and their
departure probably antecedent to those appoint
ments. In October, 1926 President Sherman resign
ed his place The College was then given il charge
of Mr. McBath and Samuel R. Rodgers Esq. and
remained so until the spring of 1921 when the Rev
Chas. Coffin, d. D., and Rev. Stephen Foster, both,
Immediately prior to that time, of Greenevle Col
ege were elected the former Pres ident of the Col
lege and the latter Professor. The services of Mr.
McBath were also retained. Upon these acesssions
the prosperity of the College greatly advanced
but that prosperity in few years sensbly dimin-
ished Mr.. McBath resigned in April, 1928 Weare
not advised that his place was filed by new ap-
pointment The number of students did not, per-
haps require that it should be- DIR. Coffin retired
from the Presidency in the spring of 1885, and was
by he Board of Trustees at the time
of his withdrawal, with expressions of their high
esteem of his talents and just appreciation of the
eminent services he had rendered the country as
Preceptor of Youth The vacancy was supplied by
the election of Mr. Jas. II. Piper, of Virginia, who
resigned in April, 1884, when Joseph Estabrook,
Esq, was appointed President in his stead lie found
the College to all appearance, "upon its last legs"
Nothing daunted at the dpiritng aspect of its for
tunes he vigorously exerted himself for its restora
ion, and persevered in the most assiduou: efforts to
place it in the front rank of similar Institutions in
The South and West. His hopes and exertons in its
behalf met with the most fsttering success and al
though much credit is due TO others for the then :
of the University very far more belongs
to him.
In January 1895, Professor Foster died, much la
nented by all who were acquainted with his :
genuine simplicity of heart and extensive scholastic
ttainments. In April of the same year, Hugh
Brown, Esq, was appointed Professor in the place
# Mr.. Foster. The number of students demand 2
ng it. the Rev. William J. Keith and Rev - o
wifi were added to the Faculty. in December, 'a5 il
n the fall of SO, Mr. Swift was succeeded by Mr.
Henry Wright, who remained two years. In April, U
838, james Garvin ESQ, was appointed Profes- +
or and continued his connection with the inst q
utiOn for a number of years. Upon the with 7
rawal of Mr.. Wright, and the lamented death of +
DR.. Brown in the summer of 49, the vacancies were
lied in the autumn of that year by the appoint
lent of the Rev. Lucius T. Clark and Horace Nav 3
ard, Esq Mr. Clark's health proved to be very 7
lfrm. His mental energy was equal to any exsr t.
ION, and bis requirements large and solid; but he a
vas taken away by death during the autumn vaca y
on of 1910. Rev. RIB Nc Mullen was elected to y
dr, Carks place in January, ls4l, and resigned in
be spr ing of 1912. The Faculty in ls43 were Jos
Estabrook, Presidents Rev. VIM. j. Keith, Profess q
Dr. of Languages; james Garvin, Professor of 0
'aturai Philosophy and Chemistryi Horace NJ ay-
ard, Professor. of Mathematics and William d.
arnes Princinal of the Pr anaratnrv DenartrnnnA |