The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-05
Or. M'VICAR DEAD
Ex- President of Washburn Col
lege Dies.
Passes Away This Morning from
Heart Failure.
WAS KANSAS PIONEER.
First State Superintendent of
Public Instruction.
Responsible for Most of the
Buildings at Washburn.

The Rev. Peter NIcvicar, ex-president
Of Washburn college. and one of the
earliest citizens of the state. died this
morning at $40 o'clock of heart failure,
at the age of "A years.
For the past four days, DR.. McVicar
has been very pesr to death, though his
enfeebled coalition has extended over
the past seven or eight years. He
served as president of Washburn college
for twenty-five years, resigning in 1896
because Of falling health.
No arrangements have yet been made
for the funeral. but it will probably be
held Sunday 1t may be held in the
Washburn chapel, across the street FROM
DR.. McVicar's residence
All of the Washburn commencement
week exercises, excepting the strictly
necessary events, have been abandoned.
1t had already been decided to omit
many of the commencement Festivities
on account of the North Topeka dis
aster A special meeting of the Wash
4 burn faculty. held at noon today, did
away with the other exercises OF un-
necessary character.
There are three members of DR. Nc
Wears immediate family namely his
wife, his son, Dana Collins McVicar,
! now resident OF New York city. and
I his daughter, Mary McVicar Morris,
Who with her husband lives at Dr. Me-
Wears residence on the Washburn
campus Tt is understood that Dana
McNlcar IS coming from New York to
attend the funeral and take charge Of
settling up his fathers estate.
DR.. McVicar was born just over the
state Tine Of Maine in the province Of
! New Brunswick. His parents were
Scotch Canadians. and he inherited from
/ them magnificent physique He was
a man of powerful frame. six feet three
/ inches tall. and weighing ESQ pounds,
when in his prime. Although born a
/ Canadian, he lived all his life in the
United States. He graduated with high
J honors from Beloit college in 1856. and
4 then took course in theology at Union
and AndOVer seminaTies. graduating in
1860 In October 1860 DR. McNicar ar
/ rived in Topeka, and accepted the pas
torate of the First CONGREGATIONAL
fchurch. He continued in this position
Tor six years; the period which included
/ first the disastrous drought of 1860 and
/ then four years of war. Ii was a dis
couraging tome for the upbuilding of
churches, and yet DR.. McVicar's church
made steady progress, completed its
church edifice and paid for it. thanks
! TO the great financial ability which has
( characterized Dr. McVicar's whole life
III 1866 he resigned the pastorata of
\ the church. and was elected first super
lnCendent of public instruction for the
state of Kansas He served two years il
/ was marked by great VigOr and ability.
Many amendments and improvement IN
/ the school laws were made at his sug-
gestlon- BY prompt action and q visit
! to Washington he saved 500, 900 acres
/ of valuable land to the permane 1t
school fund of the state which was
about to be alienated by the railroad
/ companies.
When DR.. Butterfield resigned the
/ presidency OF Washburn in 1870. DR.
McN lear took the place in 1871 He had
! been one of the original incorporators OF
the college, and served as a member Of
the board of trustees from the first A
/ that time, Washburn occupied the buill-
( ing at Tenth and Jackson now used by
jackson school house
4 DR.. McVicar went to work vigorously
to build up the struggling college He
( canVassed the west and the est for
funds, and one by one the present hand
some college buildings We're added 10
the Washburn possessions, With the
! exception Of the new Washburn ObserV-
atory and the heating plant. DIR. Me
Vicar raised the money to build every
one of the buildings now on the Wash
burn campus. He furthermore increas-
ed the endowment of the college to S100.
GOO. For the - wears of Dr. McNicaf s
administra ton. Washburn survived nard
times and misfortunes, and never lost a
dollar of its invested funds through bad
cement.
The following buildings were erected
on the Washburn campus with funds
raised by DR. McVicar.
Main building (Rice halD ..-..-. $50, coo
Chapel (DIcVicar chapel ....... 10000
Library boswell memoriaD .-.. 10000
Holbrook hall Observation-Disclosures Is 900
Hartford cottage Observation-Disclosures. 5000
Within han Observation-Disclosures. 5000
South cottage (burned) .....-...... 5000
Besides the $4,000 which was invested in
buildings. Dr. McVicar's work resulted in
the S109 GOO increase in the endowment and
hQ17T
finest land in the city lying at the south