Franklin College (founded 1818) was a college in
New Athens, Ohio, founded by
abolitionist
Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world.
The first country to fully outlaw slavery was Kingdom of France, France in 1315, but it was later used ...
John Walker (1786–1845), a Presbyterian minister in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The college was called Alma College from 1818 until 1825, when the name was changed to Franklin College. Classes were suspended during the Civil War after most of the student body enlisted for military service, but the college was revived in 1867 with 40 students. The college ceased operation in 1919, and became associated with
Muskingum College until 1927. The college building houses the Franklin Museum which showcases the span of the college and its history.
Over the course of over 100 years, the college was key in the education of two governors, eight
U.S. Senators, and nine
U.S. Congressmen and twenty
state legislators. The college also graduated Titus Basfield, an African-American student and former slave, as well as several prominent women.
While at Franklin College, Basfield became close friends with classmate
John Armor Bingham, who later became primary author of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and the longest-serving chief American diplomat in Japan, 1873–1885.
List of presidents
*Rev.
William McMillan, 1825–1832
*Rev. Richard Campbell, 1832–1835
*Rev. Johnson Welsh, 1835–1836
*Rev. Dr.
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805June 27, 1844) was an American religious and political leader and the founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. Publishing the Book of Mormon at the age of 24, Smith attracted tens of thou ...
, 1837–1838
*Rev. Jacob Coon, (pro term), 1838–1839
*Rev.
William Burnett, 1839–1840
*Rev.
Edwin H. Nevin, 1840–1845
*Rev. Dr. Alexander D. Clark, 1845–1861
*Presidency Vacant. Dr. William Wishart, vice-president, 1861–1867
*Rev. R. G. Campbell, 1867–1871
*Dr. Andrew F. Ross, 1871–1877
*Rev. Dr. George C. Vincent, 1877–1884
*Dr. William Brinkerhoff, 1884–1885
*Rev. Mr. Black, 1885–1886
*Rev.
William Asbury Williams, 1886-1901
See also
*
Franklin College Building No. 5
*
John Bingham
*
William McMillan (college president)
William McMillan was elected the fourth president of Jefferson College on September 24, 1817.
McMillan was educated at Jefferson College, the institution founded by his uncle, the Rev. John McMillan, graduating with the Jefferson class of 1802, ...
References
*
External links
History of the CollegeFranklin Museum Website
Defunct private universities and colleges in Ohio
Presbyterian universities and colleges in the United States
Education in Harrison County, Ohio
Educational institutions established in 1818
Educational institutions disestablished in 1919
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