Latest Southwestern College Additions

Reminder: Put in all of the April 1886 items you find. 12/18/2001

                                               THE COLLEGE TRUSTEES.
                     A Most Harmonious and Important Meeting Here Yesterday.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 1, 1886.
The Board of Trustees of the Methodist College of the Southwest Kansas Conference met in Winfield Thursday, in the lecture room of the M. E. Church. All were present except Rev. Hodgson, of Wichita, who is in New Orleans. Those here were: Dr. D. W. Phillips, of El Dorado; Rev. W. H. Cline, of Arkansas City; Rev. J. D. Botkin, of Wichita; Rev. H. Waite, of McPherson; H. H. McAdams, of Newton; Rev. B. Kelly and W. C. Robinson, of Winfield. The Board organized by electing as permanent officers: Dr. D. W. Phillips, president; Rev. J. D. Botkin, secretary; M. L. Read, treasurer. The Building Committee are: B. Kelly, M. L. Gates, T. B. Myers, and N. S. Buckner, of Winfield; and W. H. Cline, of Arkansas City. N. S. Buckner, formerly M. E. pastor at Arkansas City, was elected Financial Agent of the College and directed to proceed at once to raise endowment and other funds for the college and take charge of its entire financial business. Rev. Buckner will move to Winfield at once, occupying at present the Laycock residence on east Tenth and building later in College Hill, where he owns lots. Architect Ritchie was instructed to advertise for bids at once for the completion of the College building. The Board resolved to open correspondence with a view of selecting a first-class College man to take charge as president, who will probably be elected at the Board’s April meeting. The Board also resolved to be satisfied with none but the best material and to make this college second to none in the west. The Board, as well as the entire conference, are a unit in the determination to spare no effort to make this college a grand success. No Methodist college in the Union ever started out with more flattering prospects than the Southwest Kansas M. E. College. It is a plant that means great things for Winfield. The trustees are gentlemen of the highest integrity, energy, and ability, and will manage the affairs of the college in a manner eliciting the greatest pride and satisfaction of the conference and the people of Winfield. The building, beyond a doubt, will be done in time to open the various departments, a full-fledged college, in September. The Board adjourned to meet April 20th, when the contract for the remaining construction will be let. There is not a voice in this conference that objects to location of this institution to Winfield, and all are enthusiastic in the desire to make it an honor to its founders and the whole State of Kansas. The trustees examined the basement and first story, now almost completed by contractor J. Q. Ashton, and found the work to be exceptionally well done.
Excerpt...
Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 1, 1886.
Today all hands went on to the College walls and in a short time will have it up to the top of the first story, as far as the contract is now let.
Excerpt...
Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 1, 1886.
The Methodist College will be finished by September 1st, and opened for students. Already there is over one hundred and fifty enrolled for the commencement term. This will bring at least three hundred more families to this city this year.