The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-18
Old MIAMI UNIVERSITY.
After a Recess of Ten Years, School Is
About to "Take Up Again.
A Gala Day Yesterday in Classic Little Oxford
Ceremonies of the ReOpening of the
Old University of Honored Fame.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.


OXFORD, O., June 17-This has been a red
letter day in the annals of this town of Oxford
named after the great university town of Eng
land one of those towns of learning" founded
by Cardinal Wolsey This quiet little town OF
Butler county, like its English namesake has
been famous university town in its time, and
the significance of to-day's proceedings is that
its departed glory is to return with new and ad
dtional brightness. To-day was held the reunion
of the alumni, students and friends of Miami
University The day was beautiful, Oxford was
in its holiday attire, with music playing flags
flying, and houses decorated, while the genial
hand of welcome was extended by the hos
pitable citizens to the many hundreds
Of visitors who came in upon the
trains and from the fertile valley for many miles
around. At half past o'clock in the morning
there was lengthy procession. which, passing
through the town. stopped in the college campus,
a magnificent stretch of rolling sward and
shade sixty acres great part Of it still thickly
covered with the original forest trees Here a
stand was erected, and an address of welcome
was made by Hon. Samuel F. Hunt. Ex-Gov-
ernor Charles Anderson, a brother of Major An
derson of Fort Sumter fame a worthy gradu-
ate of the university, also spoke, recalling many
incidents of the college days of AUD Lang
Syne"
Miami University had its beginning in land
grant from the United States government.
A contract was made by John Cleves
Symmes with the United States government
in 1877, which was modified by an act of Con-
gress in 1892, for the purchase of one million
acres of land between the Miami rivers. This
contract contained a provision for the reservng
of one entire township to be appropriated for
the support of an educational institution. When
Symmes made this purchase he neglected to re-
serve entire township for the purpose named
The United States government then gave the
State the privilege of locating any township in
this region she could find. The land could not
be got in an entire township and the equivalent
was'obtained by taking two and one-half sections
of an adjoining township.
The first meeting of the trustees who were
to establish this institution, was held
at Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, on
June Z, 1909 Meetings of the board
,ontinued to DE held until September 1878 The
business of the boards was chiefly in rela-
ton to settling and improving the college town
ship, and making arrangements for the erection
of the necessary buildings. Miami University at
length arose in the woods and was opened in
November 1924 the first commencement being
held in 1926. The grant embraced over $4,000
acres. This was disposed of by lease, the leases
running ninety nine years at per cent on their
valuation, renewable forever Under this ar
rangement the land paid to the university fund
an average each year of twenty-fou cents an
acre This is paid by the lessees in lieu of
taxes to the State of Ohio, but they
not released from county or municipal taxa
ton. This seems like an exceedingly sma II
rental and it is, but it cannot be remedied The
Ohio University, endowed with similar grant
almost wrecked in an attempt to raise the
rate paid by its lessees of entire township and
Miami University profited by that experience
However, when the lots are subdivided, there is
some gain. as no fraction Of an acre can pay less
than a dollar.
On the 1st of july 1873 the university closed
its DOORS the revenues not being sufficient to
keep it up: From the leased lands during these
years the revenue has been about
$4,000 a year, During the twelve
years In which the college has
had its doors closed a fund of over $50, geo
has accumulated. This has been loaned on
landed mortgage securely at per cent. and
there is now from all sources permanent an
nual income of about $40 000
The president of this nioneer of learning have
been as follows r. III. Bishop, from 1924 to 1871:
Geo. Junkin (father-in law of Stonewall Jackson)
from 184l to 1874; John Macarthur, pro tenn
1874; E. d. MacMaster from 1916 to 1849; w. G.
Anderson from 1849 to 1854: O. n Stoddard
pro tenn. 1854 J. W. Hall, 1854 to 1866; R. L.
Stanton. from 1866 to 1872; A. ID. Hepburn, from
1872 to 1873 when it closed
The university having now accumulated fine
fund.- with a fine line of rents, will reopen in
September. A provisional faculty has been
selected as follows President and professor of
mathematics Rev. r. W. Mcfarland, D. D.. of
Columbus, O.; Rev A. d. Hepburn, d. d.. of
Davidson College, North Carolina. professor of
English language and literature Rev r. H.
Bishop, of Oxford, professor of Latin; Rev H. ~
Snyder, professor of natural philosophy and
chemistry. Other professorships are to be
added.
Among the old teachers of the university at
tending the reunion were Rev. DR.. John w.
Scott one of the original faculty, and the sole
survivor OF tina. corps of teachers The venera-
BILE professor is now past eighty-fve years old,
having been born In January, 1900 He is still a
good walker and talker, his eye clear, his step
firm, his memory remarkable He IS the
father of Judge j. N. Scott and of
r. I'll. Bishop, who lives at Oxford, is a son of
the first president, and had been teacher in the
institution from 1888 until its suspension Prof
r. w. Mcfarland was teacher from 1855 until
1873. DR. j. w. Hall, of Covington, KY, who
was president from 1854 until 1866 was expected
to be present at the reunion, but was prevented
from coming by sickness in his family. Prof
Chauncey Odds, of Columbus, o., professor of
Latin from 1887 until 1910, was also prevented
from coming having met with an accident that
will disable him for few days. He was to have
delivered an address, but his place was happily
supplied by Ex-Governor Charles Anderson
During its continuance old Miami Uni
versity gave to the world, to occupy
fields of usefulness and to benefit
their fellow-men, nearly 1000 graduates. Be-
sides these were many who acquired a partial
education and took their places among the most
honored in the land Among the latter may be
mentioned the great war Governor of Indiana
Oliver p. Morton.
Miami University famous institution in
its day. In 1924, when DIR. Bishop, its first pres-
dent, came 20 open the College he found it
in the midst of scarcely broken forest. As he
aliphted from his horse he found three younp