Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-05-25

the thoughtful pioneer clergymen. The
young men could not he sent back to
New England to be educated. 1t was
a months journey and the poor frontier
folks had only money enough for the
forts of life. They had no means to fit
out boys and girls and send them away
on long and expensive trips TO the dis
tant East.
In the year 1901 Rev. Joseph Badger,
one of the two ministers on the Re
serve at that time, first applied to the
Territorial Legislature for a charter
to establish an academy or college in
Trumbull county. His appeal was de-
MED. His efforts, however, lead to the
formation of the Erie Literary Society,
that besought the Legislature of the
State of Ohio, after its first conven-
tion in March, 1903, to charter an
institution for higher education in
Trumbull county. This time the petit
! ton was allowed. The charter was
obtained that led to the building of an
academy at Burton in the year 1905.
This institution fourished for five
years, when the academy was burned
| nnH pnhnilt n ~.
1920. During the intervening decade
another academy was established in
TallmadSe
The Society of the Presbytery of
Grand River was formed in 1917 for
educational purposes. The following
year a similar society was organized
by the Presbytery of Portage. The
Presbyterian and Congregationalist
ministers, representing the two bod
les. met at Warren in April, 1922, and
steps were taken for the founding of
Literary and Theological Institute,
the first beginning of Western Reserve
University. The good men created
a board of managers to look after the
fund that had been provided, and
two years afterward another meeting
was held at Hudson. The following
commissioners We're appointed By the
Presbytery from Grand River: Rev
Giles III. Cowles and Rev. Harvey
Coe, and also two lawyers, Abraham
Grlswold and Eliphalet Austin jr.
The commissioners from the Presby
terry of Portage were Rev. John Sc
ward and Rev. Joseph Treat, alst
Colonel Lemuel Porter and John IL
, Whittlesey. AS between five towns
, Burton, Aurora, Euclid. Cleveland
and Hudson-the latter was selected
as the riost eligible location for thu
, proposed college.
The charter was obtained after The
settlement of sundry disputes regard
, Ing the religious character of the in
, stirution. 1t was signed and thereupOl
= the board of managers that had beeI
appointed at Warren four years pre-
viously became the trustees of West
, ern Reserve College, February 81, 1926
, -Four other colleges had been chartered
in Ohio previously by the State Lcgis
, lature, namely, the Ohio University
founded in 1908; Miami University
, 1924; Kenyon College, 1924; and Frank
, lin College, 1926.
While the rude forefathcrs OF thu
; Commonwealth were telling trees ant
letting light into the wilderness witt
their sturdy strokes, the lamp of learn
!. ing was made to shine as well. Those
early trustees labored with earnestness
and devotion. The work OF organizing
and building the college was begun al
once. Within two months after receiv
ing the charter the corner stone OF
Hudson College was laid with appro
pirate ceremonies on April 26. In Aug
ust of the following year it was com
Continued on third page, part two
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