Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-27

Founder Of Williams.
Tbo founder of Williams College was
Ephraim Williams, a descendant of stern
old Puritan, who came over from Norwich,
England, to Roxbury, Mass, in 1880. Eph-
rain was a sailor in his boyhood and
crossed the Atlantic several times; when
he was about twenty-five he came ashore
and followed his father into the wilder
ness Of western Massachusetts, to Stock
bridge, the mission of the Mohegan Indians,
where Ephraim became a farmer and a man
Of influence. At the outbreak Of the French
and Indian war he was employed to con-
struct line of log forts from Lake Georg
to the Berkshire Hills, and when they were
completed was commissioned to command
them. He had several fights with the French
and their Indian allies and showed consider
able ability in frontier warfare. He took
part in the campaigns Of Loulsburg. Quebec
and Crown Point. Afterward while en-
camped at the southern extremity of Lake
George, waiting for ammunition, his forces
were attacked by the French and Indians.
and during the battle he fell with his head
pierced by a musket ball. His body was
recovered and buried a few rods from the
spot where 1t was found, at the foot OF a
huge pine tree. There it lay unmarked for
nearly century until the alumni of this
college raised shaft of granite to his
memory.
previous to his death. he made a will. leav-
ing all of his property For the support
and maintenance of a free school In the
township west Of Fort Massachusetts for
ever, provided such township fall within
the jurisdiction of the province of Massa-
chusetts bay, and continue under that turis-
diction, and provided also that the gov
ernor of said province. with the assembly
of said province shall, when a suitable num-
Der of Inhabitants have settled there. in
corporate the same into town by the name
of Williamstown."
The Williams family continued to live at
| loo imDOrtant
They assisted literally to paay the expenses
of the mission to the Indians while II was
under the direction of Jonathan Edwards,
although Ephraim Williams did not admire
that eminent theologian. In a private letter
to the Rev. Jonthan Ashley of Deerfeid
he wrote that Mr. Edwards rs very
great bigot, and he would not admit any
persons into heaven but those that agree
fully to his sentiments. I had taken pains
to read his book, but could not understand
1t. / heard almost every gentleman In the
country says the same. And that, upon
the whole, believe that he does not know
1t himself"
Memorial to Williams.
There is a little monument in memory Of
Ephraim Williams in the old burying
ground at Deerfeld, on which the cpl
taph describes him as
"A who might
Have lighted up and led his age
The amount OF properly lelt Dy Epnralm
Williams would seem absurdly small for a
college foundation at the present day, but
1t was we'll invested and allowed to increase
for thirty years, when in 1875, board of
trustees, nearly all graduates Of Yale, was
appointed. The legislature authorized a
lottery by which Ell ,O37 1ss. I'd. was added
to the endowment fund. grant of $4,000
was made from the state treasury; the leg
islature granted two townships of land in
Maine, which were sold for $4,000; 81, 200
was contributed by the residents Of Will
Jamestown; s., 500 was subscribed by friends
Of the institution In other parts Of Massa-
chusetts. which enabled the trustees to
erect two buildings.
Instruction began October 20, 1901, with
the Rev. Ebenezer Fitch as principal and
young men came from all parts of New
England New York and Canada. The first
commencement occurred in 1913, when a
class of four was graduated. The original
catalogue, issued that year, II said to have