University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1913-03-09
TWENTY-FOUR OLD COLUMBIANS
lust Hint as to What Each Man Was IN the
Early History of the City-Thelr
Influence Still Lives.

up the high standard OF the past gen.
Grafton" is a motto which appeared
in the program of the recent annual
banquet of the Commercial Club. In
type surrounding this quotation were
the names Of twenty-four "Old Co
lumbians." They were James S. Rol-
Inns, James L. Stephens. A. w. Tur-
ner, Moss Prewitt Sinclair Kirtley,
Warren Woodson, Peter Wright. B.
McAlester, Benjamin Anderson, P. H.
Mcbride, Samuel Ashlock, William F.
Switzler, John Van Horn. David Todd.
Richard Gentry, Odon Guitar, George
C. Pratt, Thomas Miller. William
Jewell, William H. Duncan. Jefferson
Garth, David Gordon. Henry Crum-
baugh and Thomas w. Conyers.
This is by no means a complete list
of the distinguished citizens of early
days. Many more contributed to the
growth and advancement of the city.
But the men named represent almost
every profession and business and the
great movements in Columbia's early
growth. What each man was to the
community is worth considering Of
ten.
Columbia has grown as the Uni
versity OF Missouri has grown. 1t Is
not a mere coincidence. therefore that
the Father of the University" Is
first among the names Of early Co
lumbians. James 8. Rollins was the
author and advocate Of many impor-
tant bills passed by the Legislature
contributing to the maintenance and
advancement of the school. He was
instrumental in the establishment Of
the College of Agriculture and in re-
moving the requirement Of a tuition
fee for students in the University
|, HE was a lawyer, journalist, soldier
and statesman. He and his law part
ner, Thomas Miller. we're editors ol
the Columbia Patriot, a Wing paper
During the Black Hawk War, Mr.
D Rollins served as major on the stat
D of General Richard Gentry. He wal
elected to the National House Of Rep
resentatives and several times to tn
General Assembly of Missouri. HI
: was foremost in every good work. Hi
4 hand, his purse, his brain were al
A ways ready to serve his people.
The Father Of Stephens College.
James L. Stephens was the fathe
of another of the educational institu
tions of Columbia He not only en-
= dowed Stephens College with $4,000!
IS but advanced $4,000 to aid in erectin
its buildings. At another time h
raised in a general subscription
large sum toward enlarging and i'm
' proving the college property. MI
e Stephens was a dry goods merchar
J. and farmer. He installed the firs
successful cash system in business !
central Missouri He was electe
V state senator in 1880. His name, lik
l. that of Mr.. Rollins, was connecte
h with every good work in the con
E munity.
,f A. w. Turner was also a senate
IN from this district, elected in 1888. H
was a successful lawyer and also
stock raiser and farmer. Mr.. Turne
'e was secretary of one Of the earliest
ic not the first agricultural fair in Mi
le souri,, which was promoted by Boor
20 County farmers and held in Columbi
Mr.. Turner's jack, Tecumseh, won
certificate at the fair.
10 First a maker Of hats, then a me
re chant, a banker and finally a pol
tician-that was the record OF Mo-
% Prewitt. He was county treasur'
for several years. Business, not pc
" itics, however, was his specially. +
'n was clever, honest and successful, a
E. cording to men who knew him. +
es was a large contributor to Stephel
College and a member Of the fir
=. board Of curators.
Sinclair Kirtley, lawyer, was one
the first trustees of Bonne Femr
Oh Academy, then a school located
Id the banks of Bonne Femme Cree
south of Columbia. He was al
o.. among the first trustees Of Column
:, College, chartered by the General A
" sembly in 1888. Mr.. Kirtley was
ag breeder of fine horses and acted
ne Judge of horses at the first agric'
in tural fair. During the Black Ha'
an War, he was at the head Of one
4. the companies under General Richa
Gentry.
ne An Early Day Teacher.
Go The first teacher in Bonne FEM
Academy was Warren Woods
Nr But Mr.. Woodson's greatest rece
was as county official. For thir
~ nine years he was clerk of the coul
run court. His valedictory address to
les. court on January 1, 1860, was X
age in the records of the court and p'