University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1912-10-08
MISSOURFS OLDEST ALUMNI.

James Love of Liberty, Mo-, who re-
Gently celebrated his ninety-second
birthday, probably is the Oldest living
alumnus of the University of Mis-
souri,, although several graduates of
the 1876 class are still living. He
was in the class of '53.
Mr.. Love was born in Kentucky at
a comparatively early day in its his
tory. In a recent letter to friends in
Columbia, he told about the clothes
worn by the girls and boys of his
generation.
The girls" he wrote, "were limited
to the product of the loom and spin
ming wheels. The cotton cloth after
being dyed was made up for summer
dress and linsey woolsey; the product
of the same loom, either plain or
plaid. was made up for winter. The
sunbonnets mot hats) for Sunday or
social occasions were made of new
linsey or of more pretentious calico
or gingham.
THE boys wore tow or flax linen
summer suits and jeans in winter:
! jackets, waists, coats and pantaloons,
with no underclothing or Overcoats
The woolen hat was made by the hat
| ter in town. The boy wore brOgan
shoes if he had any at all. this de-
! pending wholly upon the shoemaker
| having been able to reach the boys
| family on time in his annual circuit
of the neighborhood On his failure
to come. there was nothing left for
the boy and the rest of the drop
shot gang but to go barefoot until he
did come, which not infrequently was
at Christmas time or later"
, Mr.. Love left Kentucky in 1872 He
intended to locate in Texas but was
stranded in Fulton. Mo-. and taught
there and at Mexico until 1852. when
he entered the junior class at Mis-
souri, University The entire enroll
ment at that time was ia, and in the
graduating class of 1853 there were
fourteen including Mr.. Love. The
University then consisted of one
building, the columns of which are
still standing on the campus. The
building cost $4,000 and was after
wards enlarged and improved. There
were no railroads in Columbia at that
time but the University catalogue
said: THE University is easily acces-
sible by the river during the greater
part of the year At the landing at
Providence carriages will always be
in readiness to convey passengers to
Columbia. To this point plank road
has been completed. There is also
daily communication with st. Louis
and with most parts of the state by
stages. connecting with the North Mis-
souri, Railroad a Sturgeon and Cen
tralia and with the Pacific Railroad
at Jefferson City"
After his graduation from the Uni
versity. Mr. Love taught for several
years in William Jewell College and
since that time has lived in Liberty.
He says: "Of the 200 people found
in Liberty in 1853, not one who had
reached the estate of manhood or
wOmanhoOd is alive today: being
the only one of them whose name and
date of death is not entitled to
place on a tombstone. by which am
reminded of the pertinent lines of the
poet. Tom Moore,
When | remember all the friends so
kinly linked together.
I've seen around me fall like leaves
in wintry weather;
| feel like one who treads alone. some
banquet hall deserted.
Whose lights are fled. whose garlands
dead,
And all but he departed"
In 1850 he opened Clay Seminary,
girls school. and conducted it for ten
years. Since that time he has lived
a retired life in Liberty with the ex-
ception of two years spent in Europe
and the Orient At present Mr.. Love
enjoys good health: his eyesight and
hearing are normal and his memory
is exceptionally good for one of his
age.
J. S. Clarkson of Columbia received
his A. B. degree from the University
in 1916 and his A. NJ in 1S49. He
was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa