urroughs, J. C., D.D., LL.D.—Dr. Burroughs is a native of Western New York, and was born in the year 1819. His literary education he received at Yale College, and his theological at Hamilton. His first settlement as pastor was at Waterford, N. Y., and his second at West Troy, in the same State.

Baptist Church History

5h  · Daily Baptist Encyclopedia Post by Jim Curran

Burroughs, J. C., D.D., LL.D.—Dr. Burroughs is a native of Western New York, and was born in the year 1819. His literary education he received at Yale College, and his theological at Hamilton. His first settlement as pastor was at Waterford, N. Y., and his second at West Troy, in the same State. He soon became well known in New York as an efficient pastor and a highly ac- ceptable preacher, and while yet in the early part of his ministerial career he was called upon for special service on important occasions, and his counsel sought in connection with the management of denominational affairs. In the year 1852, after a pastorate of some ten years in the East, he was called to the First Baptist church of Chicago. In the same month, October, 1852, that Mr. Burroughs began his labors with this church the house of worship, built in 1843, was burned. Immediate measures were taken for the erection of a new edi- fice upon the same ground, the church meanwhile worshiping in a small building near by. The corner-stone was laid July, 1853, and the new house dedicated in the November following, a commodious and tasteful structure, costing $30,000. In Con- nection with the labors of his pastorate, in these circumstances unusually exacting, Mr. Burroughs established, in association with brethren Weston and Joslyn, the weekly Baptist paper in Chicago, the Christian Times, now the Standard, having pur- chased, as preliminary to this, the subscription list of the paper previously issued by Rev. Luther Stout, The Watchman of the Prairies. About the year 1855, the presidency of Shurtleff College having become vacant, Mr. Burroughs was strongly solicited to accept that post. This he declined, but an opening occurring, providentially, for the found- ing of a university in Chicago, he felt it to be his duty to give himself to this, and with that view resigned his pastorate in 1856. ‘The deed of gift from Sen- ator Douglas for the university site of ten acres was procured by Mr. Burroughs. ‘To these two men, and to the latter certainly not less than the former, the Baptist denomination is chiefly in- debted for the university at Chicago. (NOTE: This is a completely different institution from the current apostate liberal institution that was also named University of Chicago several years after the demise of the original which is sometimes called “The Old University of Chicago”) Dr. Burroughs was the first president of the university, holding this: office until the creation. of that of chancellor, in the year 1876, to which he was elected, Dr. Lemuel Moss taking the presidency. He held the chancellorship until 1878, when he re- signed this office also. During the early years of the university he consecrated himself to its interest with absolute self-devotion. Large amounts were obtained by him in subscriptions and pledges,— much of it lost subsequently through the financial disasters which made collection impossible, but none the less a fruit of earnest and well-directed labor on his own part. In the whole work of uni- versity organization he of course largely shared, while in the department of instruction the quality of his teaching is witnessed by the strong affection cherished for him by his pupils in their after-life. Dr. Burroughs still has his residence at Chicago, although his official connection with the university has ceased. From the Baptist Encyclopedia by WIlliam Cathcart