The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-11
CLEMSON'S FIRST PRESIDENT.
The Man Chosen to Preside Over the
Farmers College-A Sketch of the Life
of President Strobe and His Work
for Observation-Disclosures of Lead
ing Scholars as TO His Quail
fications for the Place.
News and Courier. |

| chosen i'rOt. II. a. STROBE as president
of that institution. Few, except those
actively engaged in the work of the
school room, knew anything about the
man called to this trying and impor-
taut work. The people Of the State are
interested in Clemson College, and all
classes are anxious that it should be a
success, in the fullest and broadest
sense of the word. There is naturally
some curiosity among the people in
| reference to the man upon whose
shoulders more than any other rests
the responsibility of making Clemson
College powerful factor in solving the
agricultural questions before the peo-
pie.
President Strobe was born in the
city of Fredericksburg, Va, on Febru-
ary 9th, 1914. At 2 very early age he
developed strong tendency towards
mathematical and scientifical studies.
He quickly completed such courses in
these lines as the ordinary academies
of his native city offered and was sent
to Edgehiil, the school of the celebrated
Samuel Schooler, of Caroline County,
Va, for such further mathematical
and scientific preparation as a course
in engineering at the University of
Virginia might call for. Mr.. Schooler
was remarkable man in many ways,
and without doubt the finest mathe-
matician in the State. He was full of
the enthusiasm Of the true teacher and
kindled the same enthusiasm in the
minds of his pupils. After leaving
Edgehill, on account of his youth, Mr..
Strobe determined to wait one year be-
fore entering upon his course at the
University. Within this year the civil
war broke out and the day of Vlrginia's s
secession found him, at II years of age,
i'll the ranks as volunteer, where the
last day at Appomattox also found him.
After the war two years were spent
in teaching to provide the means for a
university course. In 1867 he entered
the University of Virginia, and in the
same year won the mathematical
medal, besides passing with distinction
in other departments. The following
year he was called to take charge of
the preparatory department of the
Richmond College on recommendation
of the University Of Virginia. The
year following he accepted an offer to
take charge Of the mathematical de-
partment of the famous McCabe School
of Petersburg, Va. During this year
the highest honorary degree of acade-
mic character was conferred on him by
one Of the oldest colleges in the country.
This degree he has never used. TIE
| following year he returned to the Uni
versity of Virginia to complete his
scientific training under the celebrated
chemist, DIR. J. w. Mallett, who had
recently been called to fill the new
chair of analytical and applied chemis-
try. During this year Mr.. Strobe was
nominated by the University as as
tronomer for DR.. Halls Arctic explor-
ing expedition to fill the place of the
gentleman first appointed, who had
fallen sick. The recovery of this gen.
tleman at the last hour deprived Mr..
Strobe of the perilous delights of that
experience. He completed all the
scientific courses of the University,
embracing all lines Of chemistry,
theoretical, applied, analytical, agricul-
turai.
On leaving the University he was
tempted by large offer of salary TO
take charge of the mathematical de-
partnent of the Norwood School, one
of the most successful then in the
State. Within year he was invited
to establish preparatory school for the
University of Virginia in the county of
Amherst, the citizens subscribing
$4,000 in aid of the enterprise as an in
ducement. This was the beginning OF
the Kenmore School, where Mr..
Strobe spent seventeen years of his life
as principal. The Kenmore School
was soon acknowledged to be among
the foremost in the State and num-
bered among its patrons many whose
names are familiar to the ears cf South
Carolinians, viz: Memminger, Man
ming, Hampton, Reed, Rion, Adger
and others. Its students maintained
remarkable record at the University,
not one having failed to graduate in his
first year on mathematics, chemistry
or natural philosophy who took one of
those schools, and two Of its students
having become later members of the
faculty of the University. Along with
his labors as principal of Kenmore, Mr..
Strobe conducted for eight years, as
editor, a journal devoted 10 the devel-
opment of the industrial resources of
that section. At the end of seventeen
years Mr.. Strobe was offered the chair
of mathematics in the University of
Mississippi, and on declining it was in
duced to accept the place by an increase
of salary.
Whilst principal Of Kenmore Mr..
Strobe was married to Miss Mile Ellis,
the daughter of Col. J. T. Ellis, who
fell in Pickett's charge at Gettysburg.
His family now consists of eight chill
dren, ranging in age from to lG years,
the oldest and youngest being boys,
and the others girls.
Prof. Strcde had already decided, en-
account of insut1iciency Of salary for
his support, to resign his chair in tie
University of Mississippi to resume lis