The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-03-05

AeAcncr, AAeV. samuel DOok
President OF Washington
College, Tennessee, and OF
AbldOn Presbytery Of which
He was "a N1eInber. and some
Occurrences.
CHAPTER VIZ.
Rev. Samuel Doak was born and
brought up in Augusta county, Virgin
il. He was educated at Princeston
College, under the presidency of DIR.
Wltherspoon. After having complet-
cd his college course, he studied divin-
ity and became a Presbyterian minis
ter. After spending short time of
his ministry in his native state, he em-
igrated to Eastern Tennessee. At that
period the Indians were troublesome (;
consequently in travelling he carried
"a gun as an instrument of defense.
He had with him his wife and two
children. All were on horseback, and
q third horse carried their household
goods. In this way he travelled humid
reds of miles, and in danger of being
attacked by the Indians. In progress
of time he came to the place that is
now the site of Washington College.
lie pitched his tent In the woods. He
erected a log building in which to
shelter himself and family, and as
families moved into that section lie
gathered them together on the Sabbath
and preached to them the way of saliva
ton. So soon as practical he estab-
lished high school, and, by employ
ing la6orers, he opened and cultivated
a good farm. He organized a church,
of which he became the pastor. His
school and his church both prospered,
and his farm yielded him some sup
port. He suffered many privations,
but was enabled to supply the main
wants of himself and family. He
taught In his school all the courses OF
learning then adopted at Princeton
College, and thus he qualified his stu
dents for studying any of the learned
professions. 1t was at this Institution
that Gideon Blackburn and Robert
Henderson were educated, and that be-
fore 1t was chartered as Washington
College. So great was the number of
physicians, lawyers, statesmen, and
ministers educated ut it while it was a
high school that the legislature of Ten
nessee was induced to charter it as
Washington College. After it was
chartered many eminent men were ed
ucated at it for the learned professions.
Among these were Rev. Samuel X.
Nelson and his brother, Rev. DIR. Da-
vld Nelson, author of a vnluable work
on intidelity, Rev. James Gallaher,
whose fame is in all the churches.
President Doak taught forty years at
that place. He seldom had any as
sistance In teaching. He taught all
the various branches of the college
course. The number OF students In at
tendance annually would average six
ty. They were geneally farmers
sons, and, with few exceptions, sue
ceeded well as professional men. And
during forty years great was the num-
Der he educated. AS previously stat
ell, he never retarded the progress OF
his students by keeping the weak and
the strong in the same classes. The
course to be taken was prescribed, and
every student might take it so soon as
he could do it; and when able to stand
thorough examination in the various
literary and scientific parts of the
course, he received his diploma. This
was great advantage as stimulent
to industry. He made excellent schol-
ars, and gave special attention to
composition and speaking; and hence
he sent forth many excellent orators
into the various departments of profess
sional life. After teaching forty years
he resigned the presidency of Wash
ington College, went to the vicinity of
Greenville to live with his son, Rev.
Samuel w. Doak. At that place he
established high school, taught seven
teen years, and founded Tusculum
College. In all he taught fifty-seyen
years and preached to Salem church
forty years. He continued to preach,
SO far as opportunity occurred, down
to the end of life. He lived to be
eighty-four years old. He preached
on the Sabbath preceding the one on
which he died. He brought up two
sons and five daughters. His two
sons were ministers of some eminence.
His son John w. Doak was an elo-
quent preacher, but did not live down
to old age. President Doak had sever
al slaves whom he taught to read the
SCRIP lures and caused them to attend
church and family worship, as he did
his own children, and he ultimately
set them free. He taught his students
that slavery was wrong. He was emf
nent as a preacher as we'll as tie acher.
His voice was exceedingly strong, and
he spoke with animation and ability.
At Washington College there was
no village. The farmers boarded the
students at dollar a week, and they
were taught Tor ten dollars a year, and
were required to assist the president
two days at harvesting.
The various results of President
Doak's labors cannot be estimated.
President Doak was the most promi-
nent member of Abingdon Presbytery.
He and his two sons. John and Samu-
el, and Rev. Edward Crawford and
Rev. Steven Bowel formed that Pres
bytery, which extended over a part of
Western Virginia and a part of East
ern Tennessee. The ministers of that
Presbytery were earnest opposers of
the HOpkinsian and EmOnite doctrines,
taught by some ministers of Union
Presbytery. That earnest opposition
caused o warfare between the two
Presbyteries of moro than thirty years
duration. By that warfare the minis
tiers of Abingdon Presbytery gained
theIname of Copperhead. That name
was given to them by ministers of I'm
lon Presbytery on account of the frey
opposition which they received from
the Abingdon ministers, who contend
ed earnestly for the truths taught In
the scriptures. Such was the Presby-
terry from which Mr.. Rankin received
his license to nraach the o,oanol