Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-04
PROFESSOR DRIED PEACOCK.
Tho New President OF Greensboro tema's
CoIlece-A Youthful Educator.

GREENSBORO. y C.. November g.
(Special) -Prolessor bred Peacock. the
newly-electei President OF Greensboro
Female College. was born In wilson
county April L, 1854. and IS, perhaps, the
Youngest educator in the country 10 De
exalted 10 so important 4 position. That
fine honor is worthily bestowed, however,
and that II Will b. borne with credit 10
himself and to the institution over whose
destiny he is to preside 10 one uouD'7
who knows the man. professor / en-
cock. while a ripe scholar. is sill stu
dent in the fullest sense or ths worn.
Had IL been known twenty years ago that
e. would one day deyolvs upon him 10
stand at the head Of this grand OLD lhsll-
tuition Of learning he could scarcely hdNd
followed Il course which would better
have adapted him to the work. TOT
three years young Peacock was a student
at the Wilson Collegiate Seminary, Whlcn
vas NJ that time under the charge OF
Professor J. 3. Brewer. now president OF
Chowan Baptist Female Institute anu
Rev. Joseph II. Foy, -. D., La d. now
at the head of the largest public school
in 81. Louis. Mo- The two following
years he spent at the Wilson CO Iegla'e
institute under Professor Sylvester Has
ton for college he enjoyed the tutorship
of Professor j. l.. TomMnson at the VIII
son Graded school. IN the fail or iSs5
Mr.. Peacock first entered Trinity college,
where by his natural bonhOmie anu IN
excelled industry he early became a
fayorite with his fellow-students ana
teachers. At the 1855 commencement OF
this college he was awarded the b. craven
Scholarship medal, having made the
highest average grade that year on an
branches; also the German medal Tor
the best work in that department, TIE
following year he again captured the
Craven Scholarship medal. as well as the
Rode Medal for oratOry. year Iater
uSSD he graduated - Valedictorian with
the phenomenal grade of over 800 for
the whole four years, with not
\ blank space Of any kind on the grade
book. \ loss of five weeks time from
college caused by the death or his father'
the late DR.. c. G. Peacock. was not only
made up. but the same session ne TOOK
two medals in Il hard-fought contest.
Few men have such record anu HoI
only the Methodist Church but the whole
State is 10 be congratulated on having
M the head of ore of its leading instltu-
tions OF learning Il man who knows so
thorouehly what should be the quantity
az well as the quality OF the Work ac-
complished by n dillgent pupil Not only
10 president Peacock familiar with the
conacitv of pupils. however. but he Is an
experienced teacher. and Is eminently
qualified TO supervise the work or his
faculty.
In July, 1851. he was chosen principal
NJ tho Lexington Female Seminary, where
his success with his ninety-six pupils was
so satisfactory that he was unanimously
reelected. but declined In order TO accept
the professorship in Greensboro Female
College. which he has since held with such
eminent satisfaction TO every one within
the reach of his influence. Upon the death
OF the late lamented President Reid. Pro-
fessor Peacock was. in view or MS long
connection with the college. as well as
his established executive ability. at once
chosen chairman OF the faculty. In this
capacl.y he has added fresh laurels to his
brow, and won the full confidence and es-
TEEN OF the Trustees. teachers and pupils
of the institution. In Greensboro, where
President Peacock is best known, he ~
highly regarded as an exemplary Chris
tan gentleman Of large calibre. His char
acter Is az pure as the fresh fallen snow;
his influence Is constantly and accurately
exerted 10 fiji all around him with high
and noble purposes: and finally. his mot
TO is now what II has always been-qual
ity before quantity. II should be also noted
that the subject OF this sketch Is pre-emi-
nently q man OF affairs. He brings with
him into his new role OF college president
the same business capacity which has
made MIN successful TO an envlable de-
gree in the management of his private
business Indeed. he has refused nu-
merous offers OF most fiatterng nature
from business concerns which have real
lied his worth as financial manager.
and were anxious to secure his services.
His Life. however, was early conse-
Grated 10 the higher work OF education.
and nothing has ever tempted him 10 de-
fleet from that work merely for financial
gain.
The writer Of this sketch Is now. and
expects to be for many years. patron
of tho college to which President Pea
cock has pledged the best efforts OF MS
life, and he sees in his promotion not only
an act OF simple justice to tie profession
which tho Professor 20 ably representa-
but he sees s0ma<hing mora-he esss me