Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-12-13
A STATE BEREAVEMENT
SOUTH DAKOTA UNIVERSITY ROBBED
OF IT'S PRESIDENT.


president of the University of Dakota, had
persisted in the Minneapolis holocaust.
AT first the report was regarded as II ca
nard, but confrmatory dispatches from
Prof Bristol, who accompanied .le plesi-
dent to Minneapolis, soon barished the
hopes of the most sanguine. DR.. Olson
had established himself in the affections
of oil with whom he came in contact, and
at the tidings of his death their love and
grief sought expression in the customary
insignia of sorrow.
The exercises of the school were suspend
ed until after the funeral, the faculty in a
body and many students departed for Min
neapolis to be present at his burial. Be-
fore departing the faculty met and drew up
the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, God in his infinite wisdom has
taken from our beloved president, DIR. Olson,
WHEREAS, We ore overwhelmed by our feel
ing of personal grief, and deeply conscious of
the loss to this institution and this state an
volved i'll his death.
Resolycd, That we attend his funeral ct Min
neapos.
That we extend to his relatives our heartfelt
sympathy.
That We invite all Interested In the great
purpose of DIR. Olson in connection with this
institution to unite with us in carrying on in his
spirit the work begun.
That these resolutions be published in the
Vermillion, Sioux City, Minneapolis and
Chicago papers. and that u copy Of them be
sent to his brother. s. E. Olson. and his sister.
Mrs. Brinstnd.
At the same time the board of trustees
were IN session and passed these resolu-
tions:
WHEREAS, In the untimely and sudden death
OF DR.. Edward Olson president of the State
University of South Dakota, the board OF trus-
tees realize that they have sustained ire
parable loss for, under his wise management,
tho school hIs been thoroughly organized, o
splendid faculty gathered, and the buildings
filled to overlooking with earnest students,
whose numbers constantly increasing AS
IL teacher he was perhaps without II superior in
power to interest instruct and enthuse, go that
the student IS life and work became delight
and those who took their studies because they
must, continued them from dosire. In scholar
ship accurate and thorough, Yet his education
was to him an atmosphere, and not q burden
1t was the spiritual essence of his being. In
temperament, genial, Astounding in humor. In
sensibilities Christian, there We're none whose
sorrows he did not share. There were
whose troubles he did not make his own. Am
bilious to be wise and useful, he was by nature
and instinct The patron of every studious
youth, many of whom have been generously
aided from his purse and encouraged by his
experience. AS q gentleman, without q super
ior. AS IL Christian, the ideal humble. devout,
spiritual, catholic. Therefore,
Resolued. That words fail to express our per-
6onal SORROW. That we do net believe that his
place can be fully filled. That the board OF
trustees will attend his funeral in Minneapolis,
OF, Tuesday, December3 in their official capn-
city That We extend to the survivors of his
family our hearrhfelt sympathy in their
bereavement. That copy OF those resolutions
be spread upon the journal of the board. printed
In tho city papers, and a copy furnished Moi. S.
E. Olson, OF Minneapolis, aud that they be read
at his funeral in Minneapolis.
The Students association met and made
arrangements for q memorial service TO be
held the following Sunday. and before adj
yournment passed resolutions to the fol-
lowing effect:
We, The associated students of the Universi
" OF Dakota, realizing tho great loss We have
sustained in the death of our beloved pres dent,
Dr. Edward Olson, do hereby pass the following
Resol.ed, That by this sad calamity each one
OF US has lost q personal friend That the
eeach1ngs and example of him, our adviser and
sympathizer, have lott an indelible impress up
on our minds. That by his death there has
been removed from our lives constant insptra-
ton to moral and intellectual development.
That these resolutions DO placed i'll the minutes
OF this association and that copies of them be
published in the college and city papers and in
copy OF these resolutions be sent to the rela-
tives of our deceased president, as q token of
our heartfelt sympathy.
Among expressions of sympathy received
by wire came the following dispatch from
Secretary Duncan, Of the Chautauquan as
sociation:
SYRACUSE, N. Y, Dec. Q. 1889. To Prof. Scott.
verlnilllon, S. D.: All Chautauquans sympa.
thize with South Dakota university on the sad
and sudden death of their beloved president,
Edward Olson.
W. A. DUNCAN, Secretary.
Edward Olson was born in Norway in
l64S and came to the United States in his
10th year. The next ten years of his life
were spent on his fathers farm in Wis
consin, and during the winter months he
attended the district school, At 25 wears
OF age, although entirely dependent upon
his own resources, he resolved to give
himself collegiate education and entered
the preparatory department of Beloit COL
!ege. The following year he matriculated
IN the university of Chicago with the class
of 1873 and graduated from that institu-
ton with the degree of bachelor of arts.
Desiring to prosecute his studies more ex-
tensively he went to Europe and spent
two years at the universities of Halle and
Gattingen. He was then recalled by his
alma mater and made professor of the
modern languages and had the degree of
master of arts conferred upon him. In
1877, while holding his professorship he
took the degree of bachelor of divinity
from Morgan Park theological seminary;
in 1879 the university of Chicago made him
professor of the Greek language and litera-
tuition suspended in 1856; in 1885 KaIama-
zoo college conferred upon him the degree
of doctor of philosophy, and in 1887 he
was called to the presidency of the uni
versity of South Dakota.
DIR. Olson was poor boy. His early
life was one of privation, but not of des-
titution. At 20 he left the paternal roof
with 1esolute heart and clear. receptive
intellect. His English was broken, his
manner rustic and his countenance ingen-
uous. At college he betrayed his expenses
by saving wood, serving Us janitor and
such other employment as he could obtain.
BY perseverance and vigorous application
to work he rapidly passed through his edu-
cational period, and in the face of disad-
vantages which would have disheartened a
less determined mind he became in brief
time the recipient Of combination Of
honors which few Obtain. His love of
learning was Unsuitable and his industry
unt1agging. When admonished that he
was taxing his constitution beyond its
power of endurance he replied: II got q
late start and must work under high pres
sure to catch up AS classical student
he had won position Of distinction
among the scholars Of America For four
wears he has occupied the Greek chair in
H Nh1A