The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-23
The Opening Of th8
University in 1885
KEMP P. BATTLE, 40, In University Magazine.

Taylor, of Orange, and from Granvllit
William NJ. Sneed, and three sons OF
Robert II. Burton, then treasurer of the
University, namely, Hutchins, Francis
and Robert III. Burton, Junior 1t is
pleasant to announce that all these turn
ed out to be good men. The two MOores
were sons of Attorney General Moore,
afterwards Judge of the Supreme court
of the United States. Maurice served
Brunswick county in the General As
sembly and then became planter in
Louisiana. He it was who had the mis-
fortune to be embroiled in quarrel with
the cholcric general, afterwards Govern
er, Benjamin Smith, and in the duel
which resulted the bullet from his pistol
was lodged in the body of the general
and was found among his bones when
they were eXhumed for removal many
years afterwards. Alfred Moore whose
bust may be seen in Gerard Hall. was a
popular politician, reaching the dignity,
once considered as second to that of
Governor, the Speakership of the House
of Commons. His name and talents are
preEctuated in those of his scholarly
grandson, Alfred Moore Waddell. The
father of Richard Eagles gave the name
to Eagles's Island opposite Wilmington.
Inc son, like the father, was man Of
wealth ana high standing in a cuiti-
waited community. John Taylor son of
the first steward of the University, was
for many years clerk of the Superior
court of Orange and was grandfather OF
our Professor Ralph H. Graves OF
the Granville men VIM. Morgan Sneel
was seven times Senator and twice Com
moner; of the three Burtons, Hutchns
G.. became thrice Governor of the State.
after being Congressma". Francis Nash
Williams Burton was lawyer of large
practice in Lincoln and the adjoining
counties, while Robert, his partner, was
at one time Judge of the Superior court
A daughter of Judge Burton married
an eminent lawyer, Michael Hoke, and
was the mother of one of General Lees
best major generals, Robert +. HOke,
and grand mother of Secretary Hoke
Smith, and of late victorious captain
of our football team, Mike Hoke,
now an NJ ID.
The numbers reached forty-one in the
first term-during the second term they
rose to one hundred nearly but such
was the dearth of good schools in the
State that at least half of them were un-
prepared to enter the University classes.
1t became necessary to inaugurate a
Preparatory department, or Grammar
School," for the benefit of those juve-
niles, many of them belonging to the
Small Boy" genus. The profession oil
teacher WAS then, and years AFTERWARDS. |
at such a low ebb that obtaining profess
sors was most troublesome problem.
Among the earliest students besides ,
those above named we find men after
wards notable for good works; such for
example as Ebenezer Pettigrew, mem
Der of Congress, father Of General j. |
Johnston Pettigrew. still more emf |
nent son of the University; Thomas ID. |
Bennehan, famed for bounteous hospi- |
tality, long trustee of the institution, |
which his father Richard Bennehan, as
sisted in its young days; James Me-
bane, Speaker of the House of Com
mons, father of another University |
graduate, and Speaker of the Senate,
Giles Mebane. Il could name many 9th |
ers.
The increase Of numbers led to the
election of a Tutor of Mathematics in |
spring of 1876. The choice fell on one Of |
the family of Harris of Cabarrus of |
which in later days VIM. Shakespeare
Harris was a most worthy member. Inis
was Charles Wilson Harris, recent |
graduate Of Princeton with highest hon
ors, young man of great promise, of |
big brains, of literary tastes, of courtly |
manners, and weight of character These |
two, Ker and Harris, sustained the bur
den OF instruction and discipline, during
the first year of the University life-ani
sustained it with conspicuous faithfulness
and ability. 1t was great misfortune
that Ker the next year went off into m
fidelity and politics, being rewarded by
Jefferson, when he reached the Presi- |
Dental chair, with the jugdeship of the |
Mississippi Territory, and Harris two
years afterwards into law, in which he !
was winning a high name when, under
the exposures incident to a heavy prae-
ticc in an extensive circuit, he fell a !
victim, only thirty-one years Old, to pull
monary consumption.-Val deflendue
est.