Morris tribune., 1881-01-20
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.
Prof Porter of pelaw re Cole e Accepts ;i'e
Chair of a 2 ricuiture.

Prof. Porter of pelaw re Cole e Accepts 'i!t
Chair of A. agriculture.
Since the retirement of Prof Charles Y. Lacy
from the head Of the department of agriculture
iu the university, the regents have been ii
search of i man of the highest qualifications to
take the place. They have reason, it would
appear, to believe that they lave at least been
successful in their quest. The professorship
of the theory and practice of agriculture,
which few days since was offered to Prof
Edward D. Porter of Delaware college, Newark,
Del, has b zen accepted by him. and that gentle
man places himself at the disposition of the
board: asking only few days delay to make
some arrangements for his family. He may
therefore be expected to report for duty with
in a very short time.
The personal history of this gentleman is
briefly follows: Born in Vermont m 1880;
spent six years of his childhood in Michigan
Territory; four years at school in Philadelphia;
five years in Vermont on sheep and dairy
farm; returns to Philadelphia for two years
more at SCHOOL, then for two years Is
changed to large farm in Chester county. Pa.
In 1913, entered the University of Pennsv VI
vania, and three years later graduated with the
highest honor. The very month of his gradua-
ton Mr.. Porter was elected to succeed Prof.
VIM. A Norton, now of Sheffield Scientific
school, in the departments of natural science
and civil engineering in Delaware college.
Three years later he was transferred to the
department of mathematics and astronomy,
succeeding the distinguished astronomer, Prof.
Kirkwood. This position he held till the out
treak of the war, when the college was closed
by reason of financial troubles. In 1869 Prof.
Porter was the chief agent in securing the re-
organization of the college, on the basis Of the
land grant of 1862 Declining the presidency,
Prof Porter
ACCEPTED THE PRoFEssoRsHP OF AGR1CUL-
TuRE,
which position he now vacates. For thirty
years Prof. Porter has been working farmer,
organization, all the purposes of an expert
mental farm. He has for years made large
quantities Of "gilt-edge" butter, selling readily
at ST. per pound. He was pioneer in the
sorghum culture, and his pamphlet on that
subject has had very wide circulation.
Prof. Porter was for eleven years adjutant
general Of Delaware, and afterward United
States pension agent He has been assistant,
resident or chief engineer in the construction
of five railroads. His family consists of a wife
and three grown-up daughters He is mem
Der of the Presbyterian church, in which he
has been ruling elder for twenty years.
Among the signers of Prof. Porter's testimo-
malls are the following:
John ]. Rosa, Esq, master Of the State
grange.P. Of II. of Delaware. This gentleman
says: Gas class in this State we owe him q
debt for his great service that We can never re-
pay, nor the vacancy FILL"
Hon. J. McIntire, collector Of internal reve-
Due, who says: "Prof Porter has just that
enthusiasm in his department which is sure to
win success"
Hon. Thos. F. Bavard, Hon. Eli Salisbury
and Hon. Edward L. Martin, the Delaware
delegation to congress-. commend Prof.
Porter as thoroughly competent and worthy
gentlemen for superintendent of any agrlcultu-
raj school
Hon. J. A. J. Creswell, ex-postmaster gene
and
| United States senator of Maryland. say: "Prof
Porter possesses combination of qualifications
| for that position not easily found in one per-
son. He ia an excellent scholar, skillful sci
| enlist. thorough and devoted agriculturist.
| an experienced instructor, and an accomplished
and most agreeable gentleman. Besides he is
earnestly practical and one of the most active
and industrious of men,"
Hon. VIM. Dean, chairman State executive
committee, Patrons of Husbandry of Delaware
says: Through his lectures before the Pa
irons Of Husbandry of the State of Delaware
and the farmers clubs of Maryland and Penn.
sylvania, and by his writings through the pub
lie press, he has disseminated throughout this
| peninsula vast amount of useful and practi.
| cal information bearing upon all questions OF
| husbandry. For his many labors and favors
thus gratuitously bestowed, we, the Patrons OF
Husbandry of the State of Delaware, the only
| organization Of farmers in the State. hereby
acknowledge our lasting obligations. Our or
| ganlZat1on has, for wears past, looked upor
| Prof. Porter rs the agricultural dictionary oi
the State Of Delaware"
Prof. VIM. NJ. Jefferis. a late colleague, says
"Prof. Porter's power of imparting wha
he knows is certainly far from ordi
nary, and, combined with his Theoretical
and practical attainments, gives him teaching
l power which I have never seen surpassed
/ Other colleagues and pupils give similar testi
mony. President Purrell speaks Of him as
"born teacher" who 'for many years has pur
sued agriculture, both as science and an art
with zeal and devotion"
Such are the testimonials which induced tn,
regents to invite Prof Porter to visit the univer
sity for personal negotiation. The visit con
nrmed the favorable impressions produced b,
the papers, and an engagement Is the result
The board believe that they have secured th
services Of strong, able, experienced, practi
cal man Of science, who will give characte
and dignity, not only to his own department
but to the university as whole. We congrat
ulate the faculty upon this accession to fhei
body.
|