History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

90

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

people, two every second year. Rev. Henry B. Tappan, D. D.,
was president from 1852 to 1863, then Erastus 0. Haven, D. D.,
LL. D., to 1869, then Prof. H. S. Frieze (acting) until 1871, since
which time the reins have been held by Hon. James B. Angell,
LL. D.
Tle value of the buildings and grounds was estimated in 1879
at $319,000, and the personal property at $250,000.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
John D. Pierce, the first superintendent of public instruction, in
his first report to the Legislature, urged the importance of a normal
school. Ill this enterprise he was followed by his successors in office
until 1849, when Ira Mayhew was State Superintendent, and the
Legislature appropriated 72 sections of land forthe purpose; and
among the points competing for the location of the school, Ypsilanti won, and in that place the institution was permanently located.
The building was completed and dedicated with appropriate ceremonies Oct. 5, 1852; next year the Legislature appropriated $7,000
in money, for expenses. Prof. A. S. Welch, now President of Iowa
Agricultural College, was elected the first principal. In October,
1859, the building with contents was burned, and a new building
was immediately erected. In 1878 the main building was enlarged
at an expense of $43,347. This enlargement was 88x90 feet, and
has a hall capable of seating 1,200 persons. The value of buildings
and other property at the present time is estimated at $111,100.
Number of students, 616, including 144 in the primary department.
Each member of the Legislature is authorized by the Board of
Education to appoint two students from his district who may attend
one year free of tuition; other students pay $10 per annum. Gradnates of this school are entitled to teach in this State without re-examination by any school officer.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
The Michigan Agricultural College owes its establishment to a
provision of the State constitution of 1850. Article 13 says, "The
Legislature shall, as soon as practicable, provide for the establishment of an agricultural school." For tie purpose of carrying into
practice this provision, legislation was commenced in 1855, and the
act required that the school should be within 10 miles of Lansing.
and that not more than $15 an acre should be paid for the farm and
college grounds. Tie college was opened to students in May, 1857,
the first of existing agricultural colleges in the United States.
Until the spring of 1861 it was under the control of the State Board
of Education; since that time it has been under the management
of the State Board of Agriculture, created for the purpose.