William Townes, Sr., Col. Thomas Carter Johnson, A. M. (Class 1842), was
elected President and Professor of Moral Philosophy.
The Board then adjourned to meet at the session of the Virginia Annual
Conference, November 22, 1866. Colonel Johnson was then a citizen of
Montgomery, Ala., practicing law. He accepted the office tendered,
but did not take the position until near the close of the year.
At the adjourned meeting held at Norfolk, November 22, 1866, the Board,
on motion of Dr. William A. Smith, resolved to establish "The School of
Commercial Science" in the College. This was never done.
At this meeting a representative from Ashland, Hanover county, Va.,
presented a communication from owners of property in that town offering
to sell certain property in case the Board should determine to move the
College. A committee, consisting of D'Arcy Paul, R. M. Smith and D. S.
Doggett, were appointed to investigate and report in regard to the
matter.
At the adjourned meeting in December, held at the College,
President-elect Johnson appeared before the Board and was formally
inducted into office. He was requested to visit the Baltimore Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, which had recently adhered to
the Southern Church, and endeavor to secure the patronage and
co-operation of that Conference; also, to visit Baltimore and other
cities with a view to securing financial help for the College.
An overture was also made to the North Carolina Conference with a view
to the restoration of former relations and the securing of its
patronage.
President Johnson subsequently reported the result of his visit to the
Baltimore Conference, and submitted the action of that body, which was
as follows:
"BALTIMORE CONFERENCE, M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.
"REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON COLLEGES.
"The Committee on Colleges submit the following report:
"_Resolved_, 1. That the Conference accepts the proposition of the Board
of Trustees of Randolph-Macon College to give its patronage to said
institution and to participate equally with the other patronizing
Conferences in its government and privileges, and we hereby nominate
four suitable persons to be elected Trustees from this Conference to
represent our interests on said Board.
"_Resolved_, 2. That when a Trustee shall locate, it shall be his duty
to resign.
"_Resolved_, 3. That we will give the full weight of our influence in
extending the patronage of Randolph-Macon College."
"(Signed) S. S. ROSZEL, _Chairman_."
These resolutions were adopted by the Conference March, 1867.
On the recommendation of the Baltimore Conference the following
gentlemen were elected Trustees of Randolph-Macon College, viz.: Rev. S.
S. Roszel, Rev. John Poisal, Rev. S. S. Register, and Rev. John
Landstreet.
At the first annual meeting of the Trustees held at the College, June
25, 1867, after President Johnson had assumed control, eleven Trustees
were in attendance.
Ex-President W. A. Smith had gone to Central College, Fayette, Missouri,
of which he had been elected President.
The President's report stated that the attendance for the session of
1866-'67 had been in all forty-five students; a large proportion of them
were on scholarships. The net receipts from fees were necessarily very
small.
The degree of D. D. was conferred on the following: Rev. Nelson Head,
Rev. John E. Edwards, and Rev. W. W. Bennett, of the Virginia
Conference; Rev. Samuel S. Register, Rev. S. S. Roszel, Rev. John
Poisal, and Rev. John S. Martin, of the Baltimore Conference; Bishop
Enoch M. Marvin, of the M. E. Church, South, and Rev. Smith W. Moore, of
the Tennessee Conference.
The degree of LL. D. was conferred on Bishop George F. Pierce, M. E.
Church, South, and Hon. James F. Dowdell and William F. Samford, of
Alabama.
The degree of A. M. was conferred on Thomas J. Jarvis, of North Carolina
(class of 1860).
REMOVAL OF THE COLLEGE.
The College year, 1867-68, was not a prosperous one. The financial
condition of the country was anything but favorable to a successful
year. The dissatisfaction with the location of the College had been
increasing since 1863. At the annual meeting in 1868 it was to
culminate. The President had become convinced that something must be
done or the College would have to close its doors. Some who had opposed
removal heretofore now favored it.
In the notice for the meeting a special request was made for a full
meeting, and the object was generally understood. The meeting commenced
its session June 24, 1868. There were present the following: Revs. James
Jamieson, H. B. Cowles, Robert O. Burton, W. B. Rowzie, L. M. Lee, T. S.
Campbell, Geo. W. Nolley, L. Rosser, J. P. Moore, Wm. Carter, John E.
Edwards, J. C. Blackwell, Nelson Head, J. C. Granbery, John Landstreet,
and Messrs. N. Alexander, D. Paul, E. R. Chambers, Wm. Townes, Sr.,
Thos. Branch, R. B. Baptist, J. J. Daly, R. Irby, R. M. Smith, T. P.
Jerman, T. M. Jones, T. C. Johnson, C. S. Hutcheson, W. Townes, Jr., and
O. H. P. Corprew--thirty in all.
President T. C. Johnson presided, and Professor Corprew was secretary.
The feeling prevailed generally that this meeting would decide the
question of removal. There was early skirmishing by the opposing sides,
and it was some time before the decisive vote was reached and taken.
Finally, the motion of Dr. J. E. Edwards, which was as follows:
"Resolved, That in the judgment of the Board of Trustees for the greater
prosperity of the institution, Randolph-Macon College should be removed
from its present to a more accessible and eligible location"--was
adopted by the following vote:
_Ayes_.--Paul, Cowles, Burton, Rowzie, Branch, Lee. T. S. Campbell,
Irby, Nolley, Rosser, Edwards, R. M. Smith, Jerman, Blackwell, Head,
Granbery, Jones, Johnson, and Landstreet--19.
_Noes_.--Alexander, Chambers, Townes, Sr., Baptist, Daly, Moore, Carter,
Townes, Jr., and Corprew--9.
[Illustration: REV. JOHN ELLIS EDWARDS, A. M., D. D., _Virginia
Conference, M.E. Church, South._]
On motion of D'Arcy Paul, the Board took steps to secure the authority
of the constituted authorities for the necessary change of the charter,
so as to allow the change of location.
On motion of Dr. J. E. Edwards it was--
"_Resolved_, That so soon as the gentlemen (Messrs. Branch, Irby, Snyder
and Watts) who have purchased the property and premises at Ashland are
prepared to make a tender of the same to the Trustees for the use of
Randolph-Macon College, free from any encumbrance as to title, and so
soon as the legal authority is secured for the transfer of the
institution, the Trustees bind and pledge themselves to make the
transfer and removal to Ashland; and also pledge themselves further to
open the next session of the College exercises at that place; provided
the above-named conditions are complied with in time to enable the
Trustees to carry out this pledge."
A committee, consisting of D. Paul, R. M. Smith, Drs. L. M. Lee, J. E.
Edwards and N. Head, were appointed to secure the legal authority to
remove the College to Ashland, and to secure proper title to the
property to be used for the location of the College.
The President was authorized to employ an Agent to have the furniture,
libraries, apparatus, etc., removed to Ashland.
Thus ended the struggle in regard to moving the College. The majority,
while taking this step, which they deemed absolutely necessary in order
to carry out the object sought in the establishment of the College, took
it with the greatest reluctance. They could not grieve so generous a
people as those living in the vicinity of the College without feelings
of the utmost regret and pain.
The minority could not see what had been the pride of the community and
section taken away, without feelings of sorrow. Many of them had for
many years been the strongest and warmest friends of the College, and
had often manifested their friendship by generous acts and steadfast
devotion to it in adversity and prosperity.
After transacting a few items of business, one of which was the
conferring the degree of D. D. on Rev. Robert S. Moran, of the North
Carolina Conference, the Board adjourned to meet again in Centenary
Church, Richmond, Va., July 29, 1868.
After the adjournment of the Board the opponents to the removal of the
College sued out an injunction restraining the Board from taking the
step contemplated.
When the adjourned meeting of the Board assembled in Centenary Church,
Richmond, July 29, 1868, this action was reported, "whereupon a motion
was adopted to appoint a committee to wait on General Stoneman, in
charge of the District."
This committee addressed the following communication to General
Stoneman:
"RICHMOND, VA., _July 29, 1868_.
"_Major-Gen. Stoneman, Commanding General District No. 1_:
"SIR,--We are instructed by the Trustees of Randolph-Macon College, now
in adjourned session in this city, to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of the 8th instant, addressed to a previous committee of this
Board, touching the interests of the College under their management.
"Since the communication on behalf of the Trustees, to which your letter
of the 8th instant was in reply, a contingency then contemplated has
arrived. A minority of the Trustees have sued out an injunction
restraining the Board from making the contemplated removal of the
College, the writ being returnable on the first Monday in August at
Charlotte Courthouse for hearing before Judge Marshall. We are advised
that the suit will prove very tedious as well as very expensive, and
will thus operate very disadvantageously to the interests of the College
whatever the decision. We therefore add to the former application made
to you in behalf of the Trustees, that you will issue an order
protecting us, both from obstruction and from delay, through these
appeals to the courts, until such time as the legislative authority of
the State, of which you are at present the sole representative, shall be
regularly organized and open to the application usual in such cases.
"Very respectfully yours,
(Signed) "J. EARLY, ETC., ETC.,
"_Committee_."
To this communication General Stoneman submitted the following reply:
"HEADQUARTERS FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT,
"RICHMOND, VA., _July 29, 1868_.
"GENTLEMEN: I am directed by the commanding General to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of this date in relation to the subject of the
removal of Randolph-Macon College, and in reply thereto, to inform you
that authority is hereby given to the Trustees of that College to remove
that institution, with all the appurtenances and fixtures thereunto
belonging, to such place and at such time as the majority of the
Trustees may think proper, this removal to be subject to the conditions
set forth in a former letter from these headquarters, dated the 8th
instant.*
*This letter is not found in the record.
"I am, gentlemen, very respectfully,
(Signed) "S. F. CHALFIN,
"_Assistant Adjutant-General_"
"_To Messrs. John Early, D. S. Doggett, Richard Irby, R. M. Smith, and
others, Committee of the Trustees of Randolph-Macon College._"
The owners of the property at Ashland, who had purchased the same for
the Trustees, submitted the conditions on which they proposed to turn it
over to the Trustees, and the same were, on motion, accepted. This
property embraced all the buildings then standing on the thirteen acres,
now constituting the campus of the College at Ashland, with some other
lots adjacent. Thus the location was provided for the College with
accommodations for professors and students, and the way was cleared for
the removal of the College to it.
At this juncture President Johnson submitted the following
communication:
"RICHMOND, VA., _July 30, 1868_.
"_Gentlemen of the Board of Trustees of Randolph-Macon College:_
"The experiment upon which you are about to enter, with my aid and
approbation, seems to me to demand that you should have the widest field
for the choice of a man to fill the position I now hold. The general
troubled condition of the country, excluding many distinguished men from
the arena of politics, in which the talent of Virginia and the South has
heretofore been employed, and also the returning to this State of many
unemployed scholars and literary men, affords you a wide field of
selection for this purpose. I feel that in your straitened condition,
having to make a new appeal for students and for friends to re-endow
your College, you are entitled to every possible advantage in your
arduous undertaking. A son of the College, I love her too well, and the
church which has founded and supported her in the past, to stand in the
way of any possible effort that may give prestige to your labors to put
her once more on the high road to prosperity.
"With this view and the kindest wishes to every member of the Board, I
hereby resign the presidency of the College.
"Very truly, your obedient servant,
(Signed) "THOMAS C. JOHNSON."
On motion of Rev. J. C. Granbery, the following resolution was
unanimously adopted:
"_Resolved_, That in accepting the resignation of President Johnson it
is due to ourselves as well as to him that we express the high esteem
which we feel for him as a Christian gentleman and our admiration of the
great zeal and fidelity with which he has discharged the duties of his
oflice at a most critical and embarrassing juncture in the history of
the College, also our warm appreciation of the disinterested and
generous motives which have prompted him to tender his resignation."
On motion of Dr. N. Head--
"_Resolved_, That in the absence of a Legislature having obtained
authority from General Stoneman to do so, the College be removed from
Mecklenburg county to Ashland, in Hanover county, Va., and that a
session of the College be opened at that place on the first day of
October next.
"_Resolved_, That in deciding to change the site of Randolph-Macon
College this Board has been actuated only by the solemn conviction that
it was imperatively demanded by the educational interests of the church
and community at large, and that the opposition which has been offered
to this action by a minority of the Trustees is deeply deplored by their
colleagues of the Board, who here now and hereby respectfully request
that those members will withdraw that opposition, as injurious to the
interests dear alike to all, this earnest and fraternal appeal being
prompted and encouraged by the very high esteem and respect entertained
for the gentlemen to whom it is addressed by their associates of the
Board."
On motion of Richard Irby--
"_Resolved_, That this Board holds itself in readiness to make such
arrangements as will secure to the county of Mecklenburg a High School
at the present site of Randolph-Macon College on terms such as may be
desired, said school to be a preparatory school to the College."
Preparatory steps were taken to have the College furniture, libraries,
etc., removed at once to Ashland.
The Board then proceeded to fill the place of President, vacated by the
resignation of President Johnson.
Dr. Landon C. Garland, of the University of Mississippi, was unanimously
elected President.
A committee of nine members was appointed, who were authorized, in
conjunction with Dr. Garland, to elect the professors of the College;
and in the event that Dr. Garland declines to accept the presidency,
then said committee shall be authorized to elect another man to be
President.
The following were then, on nomination, elected to constitute said
committee, viz.: Bishop John Early, Bishop D. S. Doggett, Drs. N. Head,
L. M. Lee, J. E. Edwards, L. Rosser, Rev. H. B. Cowles, Rev. J. C.
Granbery, and Richard Irby.
Professors Corprew, Jones, Blackwell, and La Garde severally submitted
their resignations.
The duty of removing the College and preparing the buildings and
premises at Ashland, and making other necessary arrangements, was
devolved on the "Executive Committee, which consisted of Richard Irby,
Dr. N. Head, D'Arcy Paul, Thomas Branch, and Rev. T. S. Campbell.
THOMAS CARTER JOHNSON.
In Memoriam.
Colonel Thomas C. Johnson was born near Lynchburg, Va., on the 22nd of
March, 1820. He was converted and joined the Methodist Church in his
seventeenth year. In 1842 he graduated with the highest honors of his
class at Randolph-Macon College. In the fall of the same year he was
married to Martha R. Scott, daughter of H. B. Scott, of Nelson county,
Va., and was soon after appointed Professor of Mathematics and Natural
Sciences in the Female Collegiate Institute in Buckingham county. This
position he filled ten months, when he removed to Potosi, Washington
county, Mo., whither the parents of his wife had preceded him. Here he
accepted a position in a classical school, in the meantime assiduously
prosecuting the study of law. He was soon after admitted to the bar, and
took a position with the foremost in the ranks of the profession in his
district. The year 1849 was an eventful one. He conceived the idea of
building the Iron Mountain railroad, and suggested it to the people of
the county. He was by them nominated and elected to the General Assembly
for the purpose of securing the passage of a bill for the establishment
of that road.
In June, 1849, the cholera raged in Potosi. He was stricken down, and,
while violently ill, his wife and infant daughter died of this disease.
The following winter he served in the Missouri Legislature, and secured
the passage of the bill for the Iron Mountain road. He was subsequently
largely concerned in developing and mapping the entire railroad system
in that State.
In 1851 he removed to St. Louis, and was appointed land agent and
attorney for the Pacific railroad. In the year 1853 he was married, the
second time, to Pattie B. Scott, eldest daughter of Rev. Robert Scott,
deceased, of the Virginia Conference. He was elected in 1858 a member of
the Missouri State Senate from the city of St. Louis. In this body he at
once took a prominent position, and was a member of nearly every
important committee of the body. In the session of 1860-'61 he was
chairman of the Committee on Federal Relations, at that time the most
important committee of the Senate.
He was decidedly conservative in his views, and anxious to secure the
preservation of the Union, if it could be done consistently with the
rights of the South; but when the Peace Congress proved a failure, the
Crittenden Compromise was rejected, and Virginia seceded, he became a
secessionist, and was heart and soul with the South throughout the
struggle. His position and opinions on the vexed question forced him to
leave Missouri. Without hesitation he sacrificed all for his principles,
left his family in St. Louis, and joined the forces under General
Sterling Price, on whose staff he served for two years as volunteer aid.
Being convinced that the many reverses in that department, at that
period, were due in a great measure to lack and inferiority of
transportation, he called the attention of the authorities at Richmond
to this point. He was soon after authorized to establish the Confederate
Transportation Works at Columbus, Ga. To this important interest he
directed his whole energies, and succeeded in establishing one of the
best arranged, most extensive and complete machine shops in the
Confederacy. This position he retained until the close of the War, when
he removed with his family to Montgomery, Ala., and returned to the
practice of law. While there he was elected to the Presidency of
Randolph-Macon College. On reaching Virginia and entering upon his
duties he found great difficulties in his path. But with characteristic
energy he at once addressed himself to the task of re-establishing the
College. Nearly two years of unremitted toil, under the most
discouraging circumstances, convinced him that success could never crown
his efforts at that location. He felt that to make the College a success
it must be removed to a more accessible point. Fortunately, just at this
juncture of affairs, the hotel property at Ashland was thrown upon the
market. With his quick foresight, Colonel Johnson realized the
importance of securing this eligible location.
It was not to be expected that the removal of the College would be
accomplished without strong opposition on the part of some of its
warmest friends. But in the midst of the contest Colonel Johnson bore
himself like a Christian gentleman. He could appreciate the views of
others, while he felt that the very existence of the institution
depended on its removal to a more suitable site. We believe, indeed we
have reason to know, that he entertained for those who opposed him in
his plans no other feelings than those of friendship and Christian
affection. To his particular friends, who were often indignant at the
hard speeches uttered against him, he would reply, "Never mind, I keep
my heart right before God." Believing that he was acting for the best he
went forward like a true and earnest man in what he regarded as the path
of duty.
Having seen the removal of the College determined upon, to relieve the
Trustees of all the embarrassment in the election of a Faculty, he
generously came forward and tendered his resignation, and soon after
started to the West, the scene of his early labors and successes. It was
while en route to St. Louis (on August 8, 1868,) that he met with the
terrible accident that in a few hours closed his noble and useful life.
The death of Colonel Johnson was a calamity to our church and to our
country. He had passed the period of life when men are seized by
ambition and borne off in pursuit of wealth or fame. He had gained both;
the former he had lost in standing for his native land and State rights;
the latter he still possessed in a more valuable form, as purified by
the power and faith of his religion. Repeatedly has he said to the
writer, "I only wish to live to do good." To the Christian education of
the young men of the South he was ardently devoted, and to this work we
know he wished to devote the energies of a manly and mature intellect.
The spontaneous tributes to the memory of this good man will best show
how he was appreciated by those who knew him.
In a letter now before us from Rev. Charles K. Marshall, D. D., of
Mississippi, to his bereaved family, that eminent minister says: "From
my first acquaintance to this hour my affections took to and clung
around him as one of the highest and noblest types of exalted manhood,
as a true, steadfast, appreciating friend; and as a brother in Christ
with whose inward spirit it was a joy to commune. Few men cherished so
high and sacred views of the dignity and ends of life. Usefulness was
the keynote of his being. Unselfish, wide-minded, spiritual,
transparent, pure, he was a living epistle known and read of all. His
life was hid in Christ, and the highest ambition of his soul was to live
to and for Christ."
Rev. Dr. Deems, of New York, says: "His abilities and virtues rendered
him one of the most useful men I have ever known. Every interview I have
had with him since our acquaintance began has served to deepen my
respect for the loftiness of his character."
Bishop McTyeire, who was a fellow-student with him at Randolph-Macon,
says: "In church and state it seemed to me he was just such an one as we
need now. With gratitude I remember his high Christian influence as a
student. Our meeting and reunion at Montgomery, twenty-five years after,
was one of the most pleasing events of my life. Who of us has not
coveted his gifts?"
Such is the testimony, voluntarily given, by this eminent minister.
We are enabled to give a more detailed account of this sad event from a
letter written by the proprietor of the hotel at Mattoon: