378 ■ STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



bill, when it came down to the House, was passed instead by a vote of 58 to 

 18. Hon. J. Webster Childs had charge of the bill. 



With few changes the organic act under which the college is managed 

 exists to-day as it was passed in 18G1. The law is to be found in this volume, 

 page 181. 



The persons who were to constitute the first Board are named in the law, 

 Sec. 30. They all served the periods for which they severally drew lots, except 

 Mr. Silas A. Yerkes, of Lowell, Mich. He met two or three times with the 

 Board, and in October resigned his place to enter the army. He entered as 

 second lieutenant of the 13th infantry, became captain Feb. 26, 1863. He 

 was wounded at Chickamauga Sept. 19, 1863, was brevettgd major for meritori- 

 ous conduct, and discharged v/hen no longer able to serve his country as a 

 soldier. May 15, 1865. Mr. Yerkes's place was supplied, by election of the 

 Board, by Abraham 0. Prutzman, of Three Kivers, wlio remained a member 

 of the Board until 1873. When his term expired he was a member of the 

 Senate, and ineligible to a renewed appointment. 



February 27 was the time for the beginning of the term, under the old 

 regime, but by legislative action the opening was deferred until such time as 

 the new board should set for it. The board held their first meeting April 4. 

 Governor Blair, member ex-officio, was elected president of the board, and 

 lots were cast for terms of office. Mr. Philo Parsons of Detroit and Mr. 

 Justus Gage of Dowagiac drew for two years. Mr. David Carpenter of Bliss- 

 field and Mr. Hezekiah G. Wells of Kalamazoo drew for four years, and 

 Messrs. Yerkes and Charles Eich of Lapeer drew for six years. Mr. Langford 

 G. Berry was made treasurer. 



The 17th of April the term opened. Messrs. Fisk, Abbot, Thurber, and 

 Miles were reappointed to their professorships in accordance with the course of 

 study required by law, Mr. Abbot taking as his department, History and Eng- 

 lish Literature. Mr. J. G. Ramsdell, now Judge Ramsdell of Traverse City, 

 gave instruction in Book-keeping, and the laws and rules of business. 



A catalogue was issued in 1861, which has been followed annually by others. 

 A report was issued in 1862, and regular reports have been issued since that 

 time, so the record of succeeding events is plain. 



Under the new law the Board of Agriculture consists of six appointed mem- 

 bers, two being appointed every other year, by the governor of the State. 

 The term of office is six years. The governor of the State and the president 

 of the college are ex-officio members of the board. The course of study is to 

 be of not less than four years, and is liberal in its range, languages being 

 neither mentioned nor excluded. The law is published in this volume, page 

 181. Soon after the opening of the spring term of 1861, a four years' course 

 of study and an additional preparatory course of one year was adopted. 



Although the civil war had broken out, and students were leaving the col- 

 lege to enlist, the attendance was sixteen greater than in 1860. 



Since its reorganization in 1861, the college has gone steadily on, making 

 progress and friends. 



In 1862 the congressional grant of 240,000 acres was made, and serves now 

 (1883) to yield the college an annual income of $22,000. The present presi- 

 dent of the college was elected to his position in November, 1862. The 

 calalogue of 1861 shows a faculty of four professors, an instructor, and a 

 superintendent of the farm. The catalogue for 1883 shows a president, nine 

 professors, a secretary, who is a member of the faculty, a librarian, and six 

 subordinate officers of instruction. The college buildings in 1861 were a col- 



