History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

1539

and the sale of these lands in subsequent years has netted him very good
returns upon the original investment, inducing lack of activity in his profession. He is regarded as one of the substantial men of the city, and
has acquired his prosperity in such a way as to justify the admiration
rather than the envy of his fellow men. His diversions are fishing and
automobiling, and every year he makes pleasure trips to the Eastern
States and elsewhere over the country, and usually has several close
friends who accompany him on these pilgrimages. A whole souled and
hospitable gentleman, he has always had the faculty of making friends,
and has a host of them not only in Genesee county, but throughout the
state.
On October 27, I9oo, at Davison, Mr. Brown married Miss Etta E.
Wood, a daughter of William Wood, who was of Scotch ancestry, and a
Canadian by birth. Mrs. Brown died at Flint in I902, leaving one daughter, Etta Elizabeth. Mr. Brown's home is at IOI6 Beech Street.
JAMES BURRILL ANGELL. From 1871 until I909 active president of
the University of Michigan, and since the latter date president emeritus,
the life and work of James Burrill Angell are best known through the
institution which under his administration came to rank as one of the
recognized centers of higher education and training in America. Because of his services as president of the University of Michigan for more
than a third of a century and his work as a diplomatist in several government positions, Dr. Angell has won a national fame, but it is with
both honor and affection that the people of Michigan regard this venerable educator and statesman.
James Burrill Angell was born in Scituate, Rhode Island, January 7,
I829. His preliminary education was supplemented by study in Brown
University. Matriculating in the freshman class in September, I845, he
was graduated in 1849 with highest honors. In 1853 he received the
degree A. M. from his Alma Mater, and in later years was honored with
the degree LL. D. as follows: By Brown University, I868; Columbia University, I887; Rutgers College, I896; Princeton University, i896; Yale
University, I901; Johns Hopkins, I902; University of Wisconsin, I902;
University of Vermont, I904; Harvard University, I905; Michigan
Agricultural College, I907; Dartmouth, I909; Miami University, 1911II;
University of Michigan, 1912; Peking (China) University, I19I3..An aptitude for the various studies constituting the curriculum characterized his college course. He was prominent as a classical scholar and
displayed equal facility in mastering the sciences. His enthusiasm for
literary studies and his comprehensive, accurate and philosophical and
historical spirit, which have since been strongly developed, were then
awakened. It would perhaps have been difficult to predict at the close
of his college career in which department of learning he would be most
successful if he chose to concentrate his energies upon a single line.
During his collegiate course under the influence of President Wayland's
thorough and simple Christian faith, Dr. Angell also announced his allegiance to the cause of Christianity, attaching himself after a long and
thoughtful examination of denominational peculiarities and claims to the
Congregational church. During the last years of his university course
he became imbued with the desire of entering the Christian ministry-a
purpose slowly formed and afterwards reluctantly abandoned under the
pressure of opposing circumstances.
During 1849-50 Mr. Angell was assistant librarian in Brown University. The vears I850 to I853 were spent in study in Europe, and from his
foreign residence he was recalled to accept the chair of modern languages
and literature in Brown University. This position he filled to the satis