The Oskaloosa herald., 1892-06-23
PENN'S YEAR CLOSES.
End of this HOROred Institutions
Most Successful Year.
A Little Histoy-Its instructors
s.. Exercises of Commence
ment Week.
a PROUD RECORD.


Institutes sort of pioneer Normal
school-was located three miles north.
east Of OskalOOsa, and ThOrndyke In
Btitute was located two miles north of
the city. 1t was soon deemed best TO
merge the interests of both. This or
ganization was effected in 1866 under
The title of the Iowa Union College
association of Friends" Under this
management a school was conducted
for seven years-the last year or two
the work being carried on in the lower
room of the present Yearly Meeting
House. Some of the 1mprOViSed desks
Of that early period are still to be seen.
About this time through the energy OF
interested local Friends, and help
secured by Gilbert PInkham from
Friends in England the west wing Of
the present college building was erected
the name or the association having
been changed to Penn College. But
difficulties fell thick about the educa-
tional pioneers of OskalOosa. AS the
edifice neared completion, the walls
were blown down and the building
mpleUeiy wrecked. 10 rebuild seem
cd 10 most OF those interested. 10 be
impossible; but the energy and deter.
mlnatiun at this crisis OF one man
Henry L. Ninde-Was the chief agency
in its r rsDulIding, who up to that time
was the heaviest contributor TO the
new college, and without whose further
generous donations Of time and money
Il may we'll be questioned II the house
would of have been rebuilt. The open
ing In the new building as a chartered
institution was in the fall of 1873. and
the first class was graduated In June,
1876. In these early years the NUMBER
In the college classes was relatively
small, while the English and Normal
departments were often we'll filled.
Much credit is due Pres. John W.
Woody and his wife, Mary q. Woody,
in planning and carrying on the work
~ ths institution Under the many ex-
1nveniences. John w. Woody
office OF president for four
stirlngIn the spring OF 1887, for
study and travel, to be sue.
by Prof. Wm. B. Morgan, who
Ied after tRo years of efficient
4gement. Prof. Benjamin True
was called to the college at its
Inning holding the position of
eek and Latin for one year. He then
signed and for five years was Presi-
.sut of Wilmington CJllege, Ohio
Oeing recalled to Penn as President
in the autumn of 1879. DR.. TruebloOd's
eleven years work as President of the
college are well known to the citizens
- MahaskR county and the state Of
Iowa The institution young, and IN.
developed under his careful guidance
acquired a reputation for thorough.
substantial work ,unexcelled by the old
or institutions of this and adjoining
states. In the spring OF 1890 DIR. True
blood retired from the Presidency to
engage In the work Of Peace and Arbi-
tration in Europe, and later to accept
the Secretaryship Of the American
Peace and Arbitration society, with
headQ uarters at Boston. The Board
were fortunate in the election OF his
successor, Pres. Absalom Rosenberger
a man perfectly adapted to the posi-
ton in all its multiplicity Of require.
ments. With rapidly increasing in
terest and patronage by cit zens Of Os'
kRloOsa and the county, with many new
centers Of influence In this and many
other states, with the growing reputa-
tion Of the institution every where, the
future OF the college seems full Of
promise. With the four new depart
ments established within two years,
the Faculty at present Is constituted
As follows:
Absalom Rosenberger was born Dec.
%, IS49, in log cabin near ThOrntown,
Indiana. He went through the COM
moe duties of boys life. going to 3
country school. Then for short time
attended SplceIand Academy prepare
tory TO entering Earlhsm College. His
father died when he was sixteen years
old, his mother three years previous.
After his fathers death be was thrown
upon his own resources, with very
limited means, and his education is
therefore the result of his own exer-
ttOns. The lirst school he taught was
In the neigh0orhood he lived when
how He entered 4 ETlham College in
1872. taxing four years course. For
three years there be was connected
With the editorial work OF the EaTlham.
ika. He served as assistant proctor for
one year and held the Off 20 Of proctor
for one year. This IL = position In
which one can very easily get the iii
will of the boys, but during the two
wears in which he was connected with
thase duties he was honOred by all. In
1875 he gra auated from the classical
course with high honors. No graduate
from Z 4rIham College was ever more
. ,puIar among both students and
faculty. and there was no one whose
promotion was more desired. On Sep.
tamber S. 1877. be married Martha Il.
KendaII. Of rh0rnt0wn, Indiana, 20
cording 20 the beautiful old fashioned
method Of Friends. For dve years
after the completion Of his studies at
Earlham he was member OF the board
Of trustees. After graduation he ca.
tered st once upon the duties or teach
ar.sand Was for eeven years principal or
Uni0n High School, aE Westheld, and
for three years was engaged IN similar
duties in the academy st Thornt0wn.
While connected with these tnstitu.
tfona he won ropute Tor the manage
TlAnt and deyei0pneut OF schools, and
increasing success followed ia both.
Rnt from early life iaw had been bis
s.hanen Geld. and in 1888 be entered the !
{aw department &C Ana ArboF, gradu- |
akfuQ after two years Of close applica |
ts0n. Here he was also held In high !
eeteena bY tbs 0fleers Of the institu- /
sfe1s. and the oiiee 0f Quix maatsr was /
nrFsfFared him By the dean Of the law /
fsnarfn,ent, whleh be declined. He /
wtssl ID Wichita. Kansas. ia 1883. for /
- nrarsfes of law and antsred upon 4 /
s-srSesnfuI earesr from the start But /
zfuesffonaI work having druaeE hold /
- hIrn kizsn I4w. lie became prinelDaI /
- TAnno1n atreeS school, - Wichlta. /
s,,s Ear = rhfle waa also plaasor Of khe /
s 1890 rhnreh thkre. DuFina tie /
$500 s. f1 He Mas eieEH pfaeIs +
s.s,e feie - Eaz e. iekeE ~ +
= 8