Dakota University, Davison Co., SD - Methodist Episcopal Church Records, 1888 This information is from "Palmer's Directory of the Methodist Episcopal Church for Dakota Conference - 1888" by Rev. John G. Palmer. Page 67 - 70 Information transcribed by Joy Fisher, sdgenweb@yahoo.com Dakota University The first official action of the Methodist Episcopal Church looking to the establishment of an institution of learning in Dakota, was taken by the Dakota Mission Conference in 1882. At the session of that year, held at Parker, on recommendation of the committee on Education, a committee was appointed to receive bids from any town, desiring to secure the location of the university. The committee consisted of Wilmot Whitfield, L. Hartsough, A. F. Thompson, Wm. McCready and R. H. Doliver. Bids consisting of lands and money were presented to this committee from Mitchell, Huron and Ordway. These propositions were, by the committee, laid before the Mission Conference at its session in Huron, in 1883. The Conference accepted the propositions of both Mitchell and Ordway. That the acceptance of two bids was a serious embarrassment to our educational work, probably no one now doubts. It was looked upon by many of the projectors and supporters of both institutions, as an act of bad faith on the part of the Conference. Each competitor was presumably competing for the one University of the Dakota Conference. As a consequence the work of building these institutions went on very slowly. The financial embarrassments felt by all the Dakota towns during the summer of 1884, also retarded the progress of the work. When the Mission Conference convened in Mitchell, in October, 1884, the Committee on Education, after a very careful investigation, waas compelled to report that neither Mitchell nor Ordway had complied with the conditions of their own offers. Another year was granted them in which to make good their offers. The form of the incoproration secured by the institution at Mitchell not being satisfactory to the Conference, a Commission of nine persons, to be named by the presiding bishop, was created by the Conference. This Commission was to pass upon certain questions that had arisen, and, in certain contingencies, was to act for the Conference. These contingencies not arising, the Commission of necessity failed to accomplish any specific work. When the Conference met at Blunt, in 1885, the conditions of neither town had been fully met. The Committee on Education very carefully canvassed the questions involved and recommended the granting of another year to the corporation of the Dakota University and the citizens of Mitchell, within which to make good their pledges. These recommendations were adopted by the Conference. When the Conference met at Watertown in Oct., 1886, it was found that the managers and friendes of the Dakota University, had to such an extent fulfilled their pledges that the Conference might with reasonable safety adopt the Institution. On the recommendation of the Committee on Education, the Conference unanimously voted to accept the Institution and Dakota University became the child of the Dakota Conference. The management of the University is absolutely in the hands of the Dakota Conference. Its business affairs are entrusted to a Board of Directors consisting of 10 persons, who are elected by a Board of Members consisting of 21 persons, who in their turn are elected by the Dakota Annual Conference. Hon. A. J. Edgerton, well known as a man of broad scholarship and of long experience in educational matters, is the president of the Board of Directors. Judge Edgerton is peculiarly adapted to pilot the institution through the dangers incident to the early existence of all our educational institutions. The University while seriously embarrassed by its financial obligations, is, taking into consideration its age, in a very fine condition financially. According to the report of the Board of Directors to the last session of the Dakota Conference, the assets consisting of land building, notes, etc., amount to $133,778.78. The total liabilities, according to the same report amounted to $29,804.29. Showing the University to be worth over and above all indebtedness nore than $100,000. The Board of Directors have been fortunate in securing an able corps of professors. Rev. Wm. Brush, D. D., the president is a man of long and successful experience in educational work. Owing to the financial problems pressing upon the institution, Dr. Brush has consented at the urgent request of the Board of Directors to spend this year in the east, soliciting funds for the liquidation of the indebtedness. Rev. P. A. Reno, Vice-President, and acting president, is a ripe scholar, an enthusiastic teacher, a genial, plesant and thoroughly Christian gentleman. Prof. F. C. Eastman, A. M., professor of Ancient Languages, has been in the University since its opening for the reception of students. He is thoroughly master of his department and a rare teacher. With him the "dead" languages are not dead, but full of life and abounding in living wealth. Prof. T. A. Duncan at the head of the department Mathematics and Natural Sciences is a ripe scholar and in addition to his work in the recitation room brings to the institution the benefit of his very fine talent as a business man. Prof. J. A. Wakefield at the head of the Commercial department is an enthusiast. What he thinks his department needs to increase its efficiency he manages in some way to bring about. His work is not merely theoretical but practical, and young men and women have the opportunity of receiving such instruction and training as shall fully fit them for active business life. Instruction is given in Stenography and Type writing by Miss Fannie B. Chapman. The department of Vocal Music, Prof. Wm. Richardson; Instrumental Music, Miss Edith Rodgers; Elocution, Miss Hattie J. Taylor; Drawing, Painting and Fine Arts, Mrs. T. H. Walker; are in successful operation and ably conducted. The Board of Directors consists of the following persons: Hon. A. J. Edgerton, A. M. President Rev. C. B. Clark, Secretary R. N. Kratz, Esq., Treasurer Rev. A. W. Adkinson, A. M. E. B. Bracy M. D. Rev. Wm. Fielder Rev. O. H. Sproul Rev. L. Bradford E. S. Ormsby, Esq. Rev. A. D. Traveler, A. M. Additional members of the Corporation: Rev. Bishop Thomas Bowman, D. D., L. L. D. Hon. Hiram Barber Rev. Wm. Brush, D. D. Rev. H. T. Curl Rev. L. Hartsough Rev. H. M. Springer Rev. I. N. Pardee T. A. Duncan, A. M. T. A. Blanchard, Esq. Rev. A. R. Boggs Hon. D. W. Diggs The Executive Committee consists of: Hon. A. J. Edgerton Rev. C. B. Clark E. B. Bracy R. N. Kratz Rev. A. W. Adkinson Conference visitors: Rev. A. R. Boggs Rev. J. G. Palmer Rev. C. E. Hager Rev. A Jamieson Rev. J. C. Shelland Rev. A. F. Thompson Rev. W. H. Selleck Names of Students Last Name First Name Course of Study Angell Hattie Normal Babcock Emma Art Babcock Emma Music Babcock Emma Normal Bell Wm. A. Commercial Bell Wm. A. Elocution Bell Wm. A. Preparatory Bement William Commercial Brashear Lizzie Art Brashear Lizzie Commercial Brashear Lizzie Preparatory Brough Edward Music Brough Edward J. Preparatory Carson Maud Normal Case Wm. H. Preparatory Chapman Fannie Normal Chapman Fannie B. Preparatory Clark Fred H. Preparatory Cross Emma J. Preparatory Day Mabel Art Day Mabel Preparatory Day Maud Art Day Maud Preparatory Day Zetta Music Dundass Marvin Freshman Edgington Dora Normal Foster Fannie Normal Gibson Clinton R. Normal Gibson Lula Preparatory Gibson Milton B. Normal Gipson James S. Preparatory Green Birdie Normal Gregory Ernest I. Preparatory Groves Lizzie Normal Guilder Jennie Music Guilder Jennie C. Normal Haynes Edward J. Preparatory Hazelton Clara Normal Hillman Libbie Normal Hooker Leonard H. Preparatory Hooker Walter Preparatory Horader Jennie Normal Hutchins Charles O. Music Hutchins Charles O. Sophomore Hutchins Lura Freshman Hutchins Lura Music Hutchins Ruth Normal Irons Etta Preparatory James Azra Preparatory Keeler Ray W. Preparatory Kline Eli F. Normal Kruse Henry J. Preparatory Linsday Jennie Music Linsday Jennie Normal Linsday Laura Normal Little Ella Freshman Lowe John G. Preparatory Major Anna Music Mark Grace Art McKeel Arthur B. Normal McKnight Agnes L. Normal McMasters Robert E. Preparatory Moore Don V. Preparatory Moore Morgie Preparatory Morton David N. Preparatory Morton Thomas Preparatory Parkin Giles Preparatory Perry H. N. Preparatory Pine Leslie A. Normal Pitcher Horton L. Freshman Porterfield Maggie Music Porterfield W. H. Preparatory Reeves Clifton E. Preparatory Rice Steven A. Preparatory Rice Steven A. Preparatory Richardson Enas Preparatory Richardson Enos Art Risdon Will W. Preparatory Rogers Carrie Preparatory Rogers Emily Normal Rogers Wilfred D. Preparatory Sage Lewellyen Preparatory Schang Ida M. Normal Shanard Thomas J. Freshman Shanard Will J. Preparatory Shepherd Arthur C. Preparatory Shepherd William S. Freshman Skinner May Normal Smith David Preparatory Smith Gale V. Normal Smith Grant Music Smith Grant Preparatory Smith William T. Preparatory Spink May Normal Stanton Anna Normal Stevens Allen D. Preparatory Stillwell Horace C. Preparatory Swayne Arthur Preparatory Taylor Harry Elocution Taylor Harry Music Taylor Harry Preparatory Teachnor Ernest Elocution Teachnor Ernest E. Freshman Thomas May Normal Utley Homer G. Normal Walker Carrie Normal Walker Henry Preparatory Walker Minnie Art Walker Minnie Music Walker Minnie Preparatory Walker Will T. Preparatory Wallace Lizzie Normal Wedchase Dell Commercial West Jennie C. Normal Wilson Grant Commercial Windle Beulah Elocution Windle Beulah Normal Summary of Attendance College department 8 Preparatory " 36 Normal " 33 Commercial " 16 Elocution " 17 Music and Art " 19 ____ Total 129 Names repeated 30 ____ Different students in attendance for college year 99