Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/912

598 many years it was the only school offering instruction in collegiate studies; and its growth has been steady, continuous, sturdy and influential on the thought, development and uplifting of the whole mass of the population of Old Oregon embraced in the states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho. For these reasons this veteran institution of learning has always had a strong hold upon the affections and substantial support of the people, until now, when it can rely on the largest endowment fund contributed to any college in the state by the people of the state. This university has never received one dollar from the state, or any public tax or emolument; and is now after all these years of labor able to offer instruction in a college of Liberal Arts, and in schools of Theology, Law, Medicine, Oratory, and Music, with a corps of fifty-four professors and teachers. The activities of the University are carried on in seven buildings, all of which have been the gifts of enthusiastic Oregon friends. Recently a cash endowment of half a million dollars has been raised by friends of the institution in and out of Oregon; with an additional gift of a lump sum of one hundred thousand dollars by Mr. P. W. Severson of Portland which is to be devoted to a special purpose. The first president of Willamette was Rev. Francis S. Hoyt, who served in that office from 1850 to 1860, and who only died within the past year at the age of 90 years. The present head of the institution is the Rev. Fletcher Homan.

Among thousands of former students and over a thousand graduates from her different departments are numbered preachers, missionaries, teachers, professors, congressmen, judges of county courts, of superior courts, of circuit courts, of supreme courts, of United States district courts, editors, authors, explorers, municipal officers, physicians. United States senators. Governors, United States attorneys. Consuls, Secretaries of State, United States Surveyors General, President of State Senate, Speaker of House of Representatives, and scores of prominent and successful citizens.

. Next in point of age among the Collegiate institutions of Oregon is "Pacific University." This institution dates back to 1849 for its incorporated authority under the name of "Tualatin Academy;" which was by the Legislature of 1853 enlarged to "Pacific University." This was in the early days called a Presbyterian institution because of the connection of Rev. Harvey Clark with it, who was in those days regarded by the people as an independent Presbyterian missionary. Clark's theology was substantially Presbyterian, but his independence led him into the fold of Congregationalism; and where his most effective labors were displayed. He was unquestionably a very devout and thoroughly Christian man, unselfishly seeking to help, enlighten, lift up and benefit the human race without regard to color or social distinctions.

In connection with Pacific UniverstiyUniversity [sic] a nice historical question has arisen as to which of two persons is entitled to the greater honor of founding that Institution—the Rev. Harvey Clark, or Mrs. Tabitha Moffat Brown. The facts attending the origin of this school are as follows: Mrs. Brown was the widow of Rev. Clark Brown, an Episcopalian minister of Stonington, Conn., who, dying in early life, left his widow without property and three small children to support. To accomplish this task she resorted to teaching, first in the state of Maryland, and then afterwards removing to Missouri where wages would be better. In the year 1846, after rearing her family, and at the age of sixty-six,