Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/342

 282 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY became very much interested in its location, and, with what he claimed to be a prophetic vision, declared that the little village of Red Wing, with its three hundred inhabitants, and a total valuation of real and personal property for taxation less than $70,000, was in the future to be a city that would rank high in intelligence, wealth and population among the cities of Minne- sota, and demanded that the new university be located there, as a matter of right, claiming that myself and others had so prom- ised. The fact was admitted, and Red Wing became the home of Hamline University." The first board of trustees was a remarkable set of men. Among them representing the clergy of the Methodist Episcopal were Rev. Chauncey Hobart, Rev. John Kearns, Rev. David Brooks, Rev. Matthew Sorin and Rev. Thomas M. Fullerton. The others were Parker Payne. Ira Bidwell, P>. F. Hoyt, Willis A. Gorman, Alexander Ramsey. Samuel C. Thomas, Merritt Allen, Hart Boughton, William Freeborn and W. D. Woodbury. As soon as the location was decided upon, the trustees began to make preparations for opening the school. Bishop Hamline gave $25,000, $12,000 in real estate in New York and $13,000 in real estate in Chicago; the citizens of Red Wing subscribed liberally, and the way was thus opened for immediate action. At that time there was a young man who was preacher in charge of Jackson Street (now Summerfield) Church, Milwaukee. He had graduated with high honors from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., in 1850. He knew something of the begin- ning of the settlement of Minnesota and was attracted by its possibilities. So when he was invited to become principal of the preparatory department of Hamline University, to be opened in the fall of 1854, he readily consented and hopefully set out for his new field of labor. This was the beginning of the connection of Dr. Jabez Brooks with Hamline University, a connection not to be permanently severed so long as the institution remained at Red Wing. On November 16. 1854, the preparatory department was opened with an attendance of thirty-three. Two rooms were secured on the second floor of the store building of Smith, Hoyt & Co., near the river, and here the history of higher education in the state of Minnesota began. The beginning was humble. Fine buildings, great libraries, extensive laboratories — all were want- ing; but the essential elements of true education were there — cultured Christian teachers and pupils eager for knowledge. The faculty was small. In the first annual catalogue, pub- lished in 1855, were but three names — Rev. Jabez Brooks, A. M., principal; Miss Louisa Sherman, teacher of modern languages, painting and drawing; Mrs. Frances L. Dunning, teacher of