Chicago, University of.—(Note: this is referred to as the “old University of Chicago.

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Chicago, University of.—(Note: this is referred to as the “old University of Chicago.” This is distinct from the current university by the same name that has had such a horrible negative impact on our nation with its rank liberalism. The old university closed in 1886 with the only surviving portion being the law school which was handed over to Northwestern University) About the year 1856, it was ascertained that Senator Stephen A. Douglas had made proposals to donate the site for a university upon lands owned by him in Cottage Grove, a little south of what was then the southern limit of the city. Learning this fact, and having reason to believe that Mr. Douglas would prefer that the proposed university should be founded under denominational auspices, as also that out of regard for the memory of his deceased wife, who was a Baptist, his choice among the denominations would be that to which she had belonged, Rev. J. C. Burroughs, at that time pastor of the First Baptist Church, decided to visit Mr. Douglas and secure the pro- posed site for a university to be under Baptist control. He found the views of Mr. Douglas to be as had been represented. After a full consultation upon the subject, with special reference to the character that should be given to the university, and the relations to it of the Baptist denomination, the desired arrangement was effected. Mr. Douglas gave to Mr. Burroughs, in trust for the purpose named, a deed of gift of ten acres of land in Cottage Grove, located near the lake, and fronting upon Cottage Grove Avenue. The terms of the deed provided that upon this ground a building to cost not less than $100,000 should be erected within a specified time, upon the completion of which a deed of the property should be given to the board of trustees, for the creation of which provision was made in the deed of gift; that the property as so deeded should be forever secured to the Baptist denomination for the uses of a university, and not to be alienated for any purpose whatever; that while denominational in the sense of being under the general care of the Baptist denomination, the university should be for purposes of general education only, while, save that the president and a majority of the trustees must always be Baptists, its board and faculty should be open to representation on the part of all denominations, as well as to those of none; and that no sectarian tests of any kind should ever be introduced. (Note: big mistake here!!) The deed of gift thus conditioned was accepted by Mr. Burroughs, who immediately proceeded to secure the necessary organization and charter.” This was speedily effected, and the university was regularly incorporated by an act of the Legislature under the name of the University of Chicago. Mr. Douglas was himself the first president of the board. Resigning his pastorate, Mr. Burroughs now applied himself to the work of raising necessary funds. Calling to his aid Rev. J. B. Olcott, an experienced agent, he, with his aid, prosecuted the effort with so much energy that by Oct. 1, 1856, he could report that the sum of $100,000 had been secured in the city of Chicago alone in subscriptions and pledges, while in the country the enterprise was viewed with similar favor. When, in Septem- ber, 1858, the grammar school of the university was opened and the work of instruction began, the pledges had amounted to above $200,000 in city and country. In the meantime, steps had been taken for the erection of a building suited to the present needs of the university. As it was found impracticable while providing for other needs of the enterprise to expend so large a sum as $100,000 upon the building at once, Mr. Douglas consented to waive this condition in his grant of the site and gave to the trustees a deed to the property. The cornerstone of the building, which in the general plan of the edifice is in the south wing, was laid July 4, 1857, addresses on the occasion being made by Mr. Douglas, Hon. I. N. Arnold, Rev. Robert Boyd, Rey. A. J. Joslyn, Rev. W. G. Howard, D.D., and others. The grammar school, pending the completion of this building, occupied a room in St. Paul’s Universalist church, on Wabash Avenue. The principal was Prof. L. R. Satterlee, of Roches- ter, who was also a Professor of the English Language and Literature. Prof. A. H. Mixer, also of Rochester, was a Professor of Modern Languages. For the time, however, these gentlemen gave instructions in all the studies of a college preparatory course. From the beginning, it was the wish of the trustees that Mr. Burroughs should be the president of the new university. His own preference was that the office should be given to someone with a reputation already national as an educator. He endeavored to secure, with this view, Dr. Francis Wayland and others, but failing in this effort, he finally accepted the presidency, which the hoard meantime had not ceased to urge upon him. Te held the office for some fifteen years, from 1858 to 1873. They were years of vicissitude, not only in the affairs of the university but in those of the city and the whole country. In about two years after the opening of the university came the War of the Rebellion. Following upon this were financial reverses, the disasters of two great fires in the city, with other similar causes seriously affecting all in- choate enterprises, in the West especially, The university was a sufferer to such an extent that only a small percentage of the large subscription noticed above, with others additional procured later, could be collected. Meantime, as the university grew expenses enlarged; additions to the building, making it what it now is, became necessary; an increased faculty was indispensable. The result was loans and arrearages eventuating in a cumbersome and threatening debt. The oversight of finances in these circumstances seemed in Dr. Burroughs’s view to fall to himself as a duty, while the association of such growing complications with the usual cares and labors of a college presidency, made his task one of extreme difficulty. He had associated with him, however, with able men and enthusiastic teachers: in the Greek department, first Prof. A. H. Mixer, afterward Prof. J. R. Boise: was thought best to make some changes in the administration of the university. With this view, an act of the Legislature was procured empowering the board to create the office of chancellor. Dr. Burroughs, resigning the presidency, was elected to this office, and Rev. Lemuel Moss, D.D., to that of president. This arrangement, however, continued only for one year, with Dr. Moss then becoming president of Indiana State University. After the interval of a year, Hon. Alonzo Abernethy, Superintendent of Public Instruction in the State of Towa, and who had been educated at the university, was chosen president. After some two years President Abernethy resigned, and Dr. Galusha Anderson was elected to the office, which he still holds. The faculty of the university at present is Dr. Galusha Anderson, President; Edward Olson, Pro-in Latin, Prof. J. W. Stearns, subsequently Prof. J.C. Freeman; in Mathematics, Prof. A. J. Sawyer, till succeeded by Prof. A. J. Howe; in astronomy, Prof. Safford; in Natural Sciences, Prof. McChesney, and subsequently Profs. Dexter and Wheeler. The university under his administration and the instruction of this faculty, achieved a highly creditable literary reputation, and even when most oppressed with financial embarrassment ranked in the real value of its work with the best colleges. In this connection should be mentioned the highly important service rendered to the university by Dr. W. W. Everts, especially in procuring, jointly with Prof. Mixer, the endowment of the Greek chair, amounting to nearly $25,000; which, however, we are sorry to say, was in the subsequent difficulties of the university absorbed. The limits necessarily assigned to this sketch compel the omission of many details. In 1873 it fessor of the Greek Language and Literature; D. A. Stuart, Professor of the Latin Language and Literature; J. H. Sanford, Professor of Rhetoric and Belles-Lettres; A. J. Howe, Professor of Mathematics; E. S. Bastin, Professor of Botany; Ransom Dexter, Professor of Zoology, Physiology, and Anatomy; C. Gilbert Wheeler, Professor of Chemistry.From the Baptist Encyclopedia by William Cathcart. photo from Wikipedia