Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-06-22
WASHINGTON COLLEGE.
Historical Sketch Of this Ionorcd In.
stituti0n.
BY A. N. DoBsoN, NJ. D.


Inc minute In the journal OF tn
proceedings of the Board of Trustees o
Washinston College begins thus
Pursuant to an Act of the Legislature
of the Territory of the United States
south of the river Ohio, entitled al
Act for the establishment of Washing
ton College lin honor of the illustriou
President of the United States at Sal
EN-, in Washington County. passed
July Sth, 1906, the President and fol
lowing gentlemen, appointed Trustee
OF said college, met at SaIam July esd
l795, and took the oath of office.
Then follows the names of Rev. Sam
uel Doak, Pres, and quorum of the
charter members mentioned in las
article.
AT this meeting Col. Landon Garter
and David Deaderick were appointend
to sell some lands, donated TO Martin
Academy by Col. Avery, and collect q
subscription of e137, IS. Repairs on
the rude log academy were ordered, to
better fit it for college work. To secure
broader foundations for the new col.
lege in the future, at the next meeting
of the Board one of those noble Trus.
tees, Alexander Mathis, donated fifty
acres of land adjoining the land of DIR.
Samuel Doak, ON which Low stands
the college buildings.
So well were the students of DR..
Doak advanced, in Martin Academy,
that 1T was not long until some were
ready for graduation. On Aug. 10th,
l79B, the Trustees, after satisfactory
examination in the Greek, Latin, arts
and sciences, conferred the A. B. de-
gree upon James Witherspoon and
John w. Doak, the latter being the
eldest son of the President. Both of
these young men became distinguished
ministers in the Presbyterian Church,
and John w. Doak became President
OF Washington College after his faith
er's resignation.
DR.. Doak was an educator of superior
power, being linguist of the highest
order. He laid broad foundations for
his students, as was shown by the
great number of them who became
distinguished in their respective pro-
fessions and callings. lie was an
arduous worker in church G.ad school
and gathered around him tSe Scotch
Irish Presbyterians, who were his
equals in zeal and courage. The
church and college became o nucleus
OF pure Calvinistic Presbyterianism,
whose influence was felt far and wide.
The patronage of the college increas-
ed, and almost every year class of
noble young men were sent forth
from this fountain of religion and
learning who became leaders in the
South and West. The tuition was re-
markably low, and any deserving
young man who had pluck and energy
could meet the expenses; for DR.. Doak
did not labor for the love of money,
but to elevate the youth of the coun-
try; it is said, "he never turned one
away because he was poor" Thus he
labored on, in'his Log Cabin College,
moulding the plastic minds of the
youth according to his Puritanic ideas
of pure, Intellectual, Christian great
ness, until, in 1903, two.story frame
building, 24x40 feet, was erected at a
cost of $4,000, which was thought to
be an expensive building, and indeed
1t was an ornament in the wilderness.
The usefulness of the college con ntinued
to increase as better facilities were Of
fered, and larger Graduating classes re-
ceived the ABB. degrees each year,
thus giving substantial encourage
ment to this pioneer of solid education
and true religion.
DR.. Samuel Doak rendered his resig-
nation as President of Washington
College on FEBRUARY eth, 1918, which
was accepted very reluctantly by the
Board of Trustees. He had served 30
years as President of Martin Academy
and Washington College, and pastor
of Salem church 3S years. Church
and college were founded, together,
and have been inseparable in their
work and are at present writing.
John w. Doak succeeded his father
in the Presidency, but only lived to en-
JOY the honor and perform the labors
two years. Rev. Jno. V. Bovelle then
filled the responsible place for mum.
Der of years with much ability and
success.
To meet the increasing demands of
the country, in 1910 the Board of Trus.
tees erected fourstory brick building.
34xS6 feet, containing 80 rooms, at a
cost of $4,000, which was great i'm
provement ON the former buildings.
This building was used for recitation,
library, society rooms, and the rem ain
der was occupied by students board
ing themselves in order TO lessen their
expenses, and by this means many
were educated who could not other
wise have been. Several distinguished
occupied the Presidency
during the 20 years previous to the
Civil War; among them were: Rev.
James McLin, Rev. Samuel W. Doak,
Rev. Archibald A. Doak and Samuel
Hodge, d. D.
AS early as 1868 Dr. Samuel Doak
was a delegatet the General ASSEM-