The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-03-16
JAMES Tiff CHAMPLIN.
A Sketch of colby's First President

Rev. Dr. James Tiff Champlin, first presl-
dent of Colby University, died in this city, al
ter two years. illness, at his residence on
Congress street, at o'clock yesterday morn
ing.
James Tiff Champiin was born at Coiches-
ter, Conn, June Q, 1911. He entered Brown
University in 1880, during DR.. Waylandss pres
idency, and graduated with the highest nom
ors in 1884. The Hon. j. r. Bullock, aiter-
wards Governor of Rhode Island, and the hev.
DIR. Sias Bailey, late president of GranvlIe
College, Ohio, were among his classmates In
1885 he became tutor in the college ana
served three years. In 1888 he became pastor
of the Federal street-now First baptist
church of this city, and married Miss Pierce
of Providence. After three years OF pastoral
service, Mr.. Champlin was called to WAFER
vile in 1S41, to succeed the late Phlneas
Barnes as professor of the Greek and Latin
languages. Associated with him were DR.. d.
N. Sheldon, president and professor OF moral
and intellectual philosophy; DIR. G. w. keeiy,
professor of mathematics and natural philoso-
ply; DR.. J. r. LOOMS, professor OF chemistry
and natural history; DIR. M. B. Anderson, pro-
lessor of rhetoric. DR.. Anderson is now presi-
dent of Rochester University; DR.. LOOMS was
for twenty years president of Lewisburg Uni
versty. Keely, Loomis and Champlin were
all pupils of DR.. Wayland, and they pursued
his method of instruction.
In 1874 Prof. Champlin, encouraged by the
faculty. published an American edition OF the
Grafton of Demosthenes on the Crown; in 1S4S,
a volume of select popular orations of Demos
times; in 1849, translation of Runners Latin
grammar, from the German; in 1850, an edi-
ton of the Grafton of Eschines on the crown;
in 1852, a short and comprehensive Greek
grammar In 1855 he received the degree of D.
d. from Rochester University, of which DIR.
Anderson was then president.
In 1857 DIR. Champlin was elected president
of the college and professor of moral and intel
lectual philosophy. He published several text
books on these subjects. In 1860 he was made
a D. d. by Brown University.
DIR. Champln was man of great energies
and abilities In 1861, when the college need
ed money he went to work and it is due to him
that the college exists a prosperous institution
OF learning to-day. By the cooperation OF
Gardner Colby Esq, of Boston, two new
buildings were erected, admirably con-
structed; with commodious and airy recitation
rooms; with the dormitories reconstructed and
heated by steam; with the library and cabinets
growing in a wholesome, orderly way;
best of all, with an ample fund, which makes
it the richest college in the State When his
work was done, in 1873, he resigned his presi-
dency, and the grateful college conferred upon
him the title of LII D. Then he returned to
Portland, where he has lived during the last
nine years, enjoying well-earned repose. One
of his latest literary labors was the preparation
of an excellent paper on the educational insti-
buttons of Maine while district of Massachu-
sets, read before the Maine Historical Society
and included in the volume recently published
by that society.
In 1880 Dr. Champlin was overtaken by
partial paralysis, from which he never fully
recovered, and he has not left his house for
many months. Mrs. Champlin survives him
There are three children living--James P,
Champlin, of Twitchell, Champ'ln & Co.; Au-
gustus, who lives at home; and Frank, who is
with Twitchell, Champlin & Co. A daughter,
wife of the Rev. II. S. Burrage of this city,
died several years ago.
The funeral will be at Free street church,
Saturday afternoon at o'clock.