New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-29
MIAMI'S DIAMOND JUBILEE.
sEvENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
FIRST WESTERN COLLEGE.
NOTED MEN IN MANY WALKS OF LIFE WHO HAVE
BEEN GRADUATED FROM THE FAMOUS OLD
OHIO rNsrrTUTroN-rHE EXERCISES
OF THE WEEK OF Jt,NE H.

BEP1N GRADUATED FROM THE FAMOUS ol<D
OHIO rNsrrruTroN-rHE EXERCISES
OF THE WEEK OF JUNE II.
The seventy-ffth anniversary Of the founding OF
Miami University which will be celebrated the
week of June H. will be OF the striking college
events Of the present year. 1t Is the diamond ami
versary OF the first and most noted among the col
leges earliest founded in the West and a reunion
of many prominent public men. who have been
students within It's halls.
Miami University was born In the spirit OF the
great Ordinance OF 1871. OF the chief mandates
Of which Is that religion. morality and knowledge
being necessary to good government and the hap
piness Of mankind, schools and the means OF edu-
cation shall ever be encouraged. Pursuant TO this.
Congress provided that complete township
should be reserved out OF the land grant to John
Ceves Symmes In 1892. for the support OF an IN
stituton for higher education In 1903 the state OF
Ohio accepted the trust OF management Of such an
institution and passed IAN act TO establish Miami
University" In 1918 the construction Of the build
ngs was begun and in 1924 the trustees opened this
college under the presidency Of DR.. Robert H.
Bishop who consecrated his life to 1t.
Miami University at the outset took high rank
and became a favorite for the youth OF the best
families Of the West and South. Its graduates
have taken prominent positions In all the walks OF
life and probably other institution at the West
when the comparison Is made by the NUMBER OF
almun has graduated so many distinguished men
Miami University. In early years IT was "a
miliarly known az the yale of the West" In
later years, the OF this famous institution
frequently honored with grave and respon-
sibe public duties. its undergraduates pleased
themselves by calling IL THE Mother Of Statesmen"
GLANCE AT THE ALUMNI ROLL.
glance at the alumni roll Of Miami University
shows what just claim might be made to these
popular phrases. In the OF 80 occurs the
name of Benjamin Harrison. distinguished lawyer,
Senator and President OF the United States. In the
same class is the name of David Swing. the great
pulpit orator who preached every Sunday to thou
sands in the Auditorium. at Chicago. until his
DEATH a few years ago. In this class also were
Milton Sayler at time Speaker OF the National
House of Representatives; Lewis w. Ross, Cham
ceor of the Iowa State University; Samuel T.
Lowrie a noted author and minister, and other
men OF usefulness and ability.
In the class OF IS was Albert s. Berry. now In
Congress- from Kentucky, and Whitelaw Reid. who
was some years ago chosen by the trustees as
the commencement orator for the seventy-f1fth an
niversary.
Among the earlier graduates of Miami the name
OF General Robert c. Schenck. who served as Min
lister to England under Grant is prominent. He
was a graduate of the second class at Miami. The
Rev. William Mcclure Thompson, author OF The
Land and the Book" graduated here In 1873.
Duncan Kenner who represented the Confederate
States at the Court OF Great Britain In 1854 was
Governor OF Ohio and the Rev. Benjamin w Child
law THE Robert Raikes Of America" were gradu-
aed in the class Of 80. William s. Groesbeck, who
defended President Andrew Johnson In the famous
impeachment trial, and whose speech on that occa-
sion electrified the whole country. was graduated In
1884. OF his classmates may be mentioned John j.
McCrea at time Governor OF Mississippi and
later Congressman; the Rev. Joseph G. Monfort.
who has been Editor OF THE Herald and Presby-
ter since 1856 and who enjoys the distinction OF
being the oldest living alumnus OF the institution,
and the Rev. Thomas +. Thomas, a noted minister
and college president William Dennison, the war
Governor of Ohio and Postmaster-General In LIN
coins second Cabinet, was member OF the class
of '35 Caleb b. Smith. student in the thirties,
was Secretary OF the Interior In President Lincons
first Cabinet. Another distinguished member Oh
this class was Samuel Fenton Cary. the temperance
lecturer who has appeared in thirty-two States.
the British provinces OF America and in England,
Ireland Scotland and Wales t.| a.,f
In the class OF 36 was James Birney who at
tanned much prominence In anti-slavery politics.
and who represented the United States at The
Hague for years. James Is. Howell, or the
class of 49, and John Stuart Williams. known as
"Cerro Gordo Williams, Of the class Of 3s; both
served in the United States Senate-the former
from Iowa. the latter from Kentucky. George E.
Pugh, of the class OF 40, was one OF the dis
t,nguished Senators from Ohio at the outbreak OF
the Rebellion. Charles II. Hardin. Of the class OF
n served the State OF Missouri as Its Governor
Tor two years. His classmate, Samuel Shellabarge
attained eminence a lawyer. and was appointed
United States Minister TO Portugal by President
Grant in 1859 but resigned two years later to
accept a Lace the United States Civil Service
Commission. oliver p. Morton, who was student
for three years, from 1872 to 1876, was the cee
brated war Governor Of Indiana and later served
four years in the United States Senate The Rev.
DIR. David A. Wallace, OF the class Of rs, was for
thirty-two years a college president, and one
OF the most sue ,essful administrators of college
affairs the West has known. The Rev. DR.. s.
g. Laws of the class Of 49, president of the
Missouri State University for thirteen years. Alex
ander c. McClurg. at the head OF the great pub
fishing house Of A c. McClurg & Co.. and Senate
James w. McDill. Of Iowa, were members OF the
class Of 49, The present Chancellor Of the New
York University. Henry NJ. MacCracken. and the
distinguished DR.. John S. Billings. at time of
the Army, but at the head Of the consolidated
Aston. Lenox and Tden libraries. of New-York,
graduated in 1851 The late Senator calvin s.
Brce, whose benefactions TO the university are
well known. a member Of the class OF SO. Gen.
eral Samuel f. Hunt polished speaker and prom
inent jurist. was graduated from Miami in 1864
MIAMI IN THE WAR
Prior to the Civil War Miami University had a
large representation from the Southern States
men who attained prominence and who were
among the influential Of that section To
that memorable conflict OF civil strife Miami con-
tributed many of her bravest sons to both the
Confederate and the Union armies. Miami In the
War" is a volume in itself An incident after the
battle of Shiloh illustrated this. Clifford Ross and
J. C. Lewis, OF the Union Army In looking the
field OF Confederate dead discovered in front Of the
historic Hornets Nest" their former classmate
and roommate Joel Allan Battle, OF the class OF
So They Immediately set about TO give to their
former friend. against whom they had been pitted
in battle but twenty-four hours before. a burial
After removing all articles OF value. which were
sent TO the family. coffin was improvised out OF
cracker boxes. and these two former classmates
assisted by John r. Chamberlain. of the class OF
s. respectfully and reverently laid away the re-
mains OF the gallant Confederate soldier War
had caused them TO be arrayed against each other |
in deadly strife. but could not that bond OF