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

a PROUD RECORD.
Thirty years ago the Spring Creek
Institutes sort of pioneer Normal
schOol-was located three miles north.
east of OskalOOsa, and ThOrndyke In
ntitute 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 tmprOVised 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 Plnkham from
Friends in England the west wing OF
the present college building was erected
the name OF the association having
been changed TO Penn College. But
difficulties fell thick about the educa-
tional pioneers of OskalOosa. AS the
editice neared completion, the walls
were blown down and the building
OmplsUely wrecked. 10 rebuild seem.
cd " most OF those interested, 10 be
impossible; but the energy and deter.
mlnation at this crisis OF one man
henTy L. Ninde-Was the chief agency
in its rebuilding, 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 If 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,
1875. In these early years the numOer
In the college classes was relatively |
small, while the English and Normal |
departments we're often we'll filled.
Much credit is due Pres. John W.
Woody and his wife, Mary e. Woody,
in planning and carrying on the work
~ the Institution Under the many ex-
3nVeniences. John w. Woody
office or president for four
stirlngln the spring OF 1897, for
study and travel, to be sue.
by Prof. VIM. b. Morgan, who
Ied after tWO years of efficient
AOAs DCul |
was called 70 the college at its
Inning holding the position of
eek and Latin for one year. He then
signed and for five years was Presi-
.ept of Wilmington College, Ohio
oeing recalled 10 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
- Mahaska county and the state of
Iowa The institution young. and I'm.
developed under his careful guidance
acquired a reputation for thorough.
substantial work ,unexcelled by the old
er institutions of this and adjoining
states. In the spring of 1890 DR.. 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 uarLers at Boston. The Board
were fortunate in the election of his
successor, Pres. Absalom Rosenberger
"a man perfectly adapted to the posi-
tion in all its multiplicity of require.
ments. With rapidly increasing in
terest and patronage by cit Zens Of Os
kalOOsa and the county, with many new
eenters of influence In this and many
other states, with the growing reputa-
ton Of the institution everywhere, the
promise. With the four new depart
ments established within two years,
the Faculty at present Is constituted
- follows:
Absalom Rosenberger was born Dec.
28, ISI9, in log cabin near ThorntOwn,
Indiana. He went through the COM
moa duties of boys life. going to q
school. Then for short time
attended Spiceland Academy prepara-
tory to entering Earlham College. His
father died when he was sixteen years
old, his mother three years previous.
After his fathers death he was thrown
upon his own resources, with very
limited means, and his education is
therefore tue result of his own exer.
tions. The first school he taught was
In the neighborhOOd he lived when q
boy, He entered EIrlham College in
1872. taxing four years course. For
three years there he was connected
with the editorial work OF the E2rlham.
Ita, He served as assistant proctor for
one year and held the Off 20 of proctor
for one year. This is = position in |
which one can very easily get the I'll
will OF the boys, but during the two
vsaTs Ia which he was connected with |
Ehase duties he was honored by all. In
1878 be gra auated from the classical
sOurse with high honOrs. No graduate
from z 4rIham College was ever more
D ypular among both students and
FacuIty. and there was no one whose
was more desired. On Sep.
,Ambor 5. 1877. he married Martha e
KendaII, Of rhorntown, Indiana, &C :
.ordInR 90 the beautiful old fashioned ,
nsthOd OF Friends. For ave years
sitter the completion OF his studies at :
Earlham he was q member OF the board !
II trustees. After graduation he en-. !
.Ared 1t once upon the duties OF teach. :
wand was for seven years principal Of
Dni0n High School, &C Westfeld. and
I0g three years was engaged In similar
iuties in the academy at ThorDt0wn,
While connected with these institu-
ions he won repnte for the manage.
nent GBd development Of schools. and Z
increasing success followed in both. I
Bat from early life Law had been his :
.h0ssn fele, and In 1885 be entered the Z
az department at Ann Arb0r. gradu- !
ting after two years Of close appliea. 1
ion. Here he was also held ID high 4
,efeem By the Oh dleers Of the inetiEu- 7
Ton. and the Office Of quiz master was I
rogered him By the dean of the law
which he declined. He
ssnf 10 Wichita. Kansas, IN 1888, for
- practice of law and entered upon =
S,eeasef ii career from the start. Bat S
fueaffonsl work having 6rmer hold
s him than law. he became principal s
e E.incoln afreef school, IN Wichita. d
~ fex While was also pastor Of tbs i 4
Fies,Ns i churen tbefe. Durine TIE !
=, ,.IsF nf 1870 te waa elected prezs. :.
- ,,rs ~. q Penn ~ 60. Istsf -. &
8 s e1t s