The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-06-05
Washington and Jefferson Col
lppp.

This institution, located At Washing
ton, Washington county, Pennsylvania, il
the result Of the union Of Jefferson Col
lege, formerly at Canonsburg, and Wash
ington College, formerly at Washington.
Both Of these Sprang from academies
started during the last quarter OF the 10Th
century in Western Pennsylvania, by the
pioneer Presbyterian preachers Of that
region, such as John Mcmillan, Elisha
McCurdy, bod, Power, Smith, Marquis,
and others Of like spirit.
Jefferson was the earliest to receive n
college charter Of any in that section, and
excepting one institution in Tennessee,
now devoted to female education, the first
college chartered west Of the Allcghnnics
The law transforming Cnnonsburg Acnd.
emy into Jefferson College IA dated
January Is, 1902. The trustees Of the
academy promptly awaited themselves Of
the powers thus received. and clccting
Key. John Watson their first President,
they threw their academy students into
the arrangement Of college classes,
hhd s.. the same year conferred the
Idergee Of Bachelor Of Arts on their
lirst-class, consulting Oflive men, namely:
Rev. Reed Brncken, Rev. j. Eaton, Rev.
WIN. Mcmillan, y. D., Hon. Israel Pick.
ems, and Rev, John Rhea, y. y. From
that time forward class Of larger or
smaller numbers WA graduated, unless ii
was In 1914, when the general catalogues
give no names. The first volume Of the
minutes Of the board Of trustees il lost.
The largest number ever graduated in
one year was under Rev. Joseph Alden,
b. b, Ill. D., In 1858, when diplomas
were granted 10 seventy.six men. The
oldest living alumni are Mr.. John Reed,
Of Washington county, Pa, and Rev.
George Vahcman, Of Findlny, Ohio; both
belonging to the class Of 1900 The insii.
tuition probably saw it's darkcst days
about the time Of the resignation Of Rev.
WIN. Mcmillan ns President In 1922.
Funds we're low, and students few, and
there was n general encouragement Of
public sentiment. In August Of that year
Rev. Matthew Brown wns elected prcsi.
dent, whose long administration oitwenty.
three years was a period Of unintcrrup.
ted prosperity. DR.. Brown combined
piils not often found in the came per.
son, hamely---fare ability in controlling
and attracting young men, and equally
rare gifts in understanding and inhucnC.
Ing the public. His memory il sill alice
tionateIy cherished by the very men who
felt his punishmcnts. The brief ptcsi.
tlency Of Dr.. J. Breckenridge followed
hia. In 1874 Rev. Alex. u. Brown, y. D.,
sOn Of Dr.. Matthew Brown, was called to
Npteside over the college, and though not
pnpyihg the place "a long "A his father,
Brown, Tho younger was, perhaps, as
shcccainl and popular while he did pre-
aide, Alter his resignation, in 1866,
came tho presidency Of Rov, Joseph Al.
,len. y, ~, on whose resignation, In 1862,
tho presidency again returned TO the
Brown family in the person Of Rev.
David n. Riddle, y. d., who WA in Of
fee In 1854, when II wAs merged In Wash.
lneton and Jefferson College by the
union, The following statistics arc from
A general catalogue, published by the
United College in 1872: Whole number
81 graduates, 1880; ministers, 92l; physi.