PETER McVICAR. 



By Q. P. Geimslet. 



"OEV. PETER McVICAR was born in New Brunswick, Canada, 

 -^*^ in 1829. When thirteen years of age he moved to Waukesha, 

 Wis., where he lived until 1860, when he became one of the pioneers 

 of Kansas, to work for the welfare and progress of this state. 



He graduated with honor from Beloit College in 1856 and took a 

 course in theology at Union and Andover Seminaries, graduating in 

 1860. In 1863 he was married, at Waukesha, Wis., to Miss Martha 

 Porter Dana, who survives him, with one son, Dana Collins McVicar, 

 and one daughter, Mary McVicar Morris. His first charge was that 

 of the First Congregational Church of Topeka. In 1866 he resigned 

 his pastorate and entered the educational field, where he achieved such 

 great success, and that year was elected the fourth superintendent of 

 public instruction of Kansas, a position held for four years. His 

 bold perseverance and strong courage established the school funds of 

 the state on a firm basis in the face of the strongest opposition, and 

 as a result 500,000 acres of valuable land were saved for a permanent 

 school fund. 



In 1865 Doctor McVicar aided materially in the organization of a 

 Congregational college, and was made president of its board of trus- 

 tees from the beginning. In 1871 he was elected to the presidency of 

 the college, succeeding Doctor Butterfield. At this time there were 

 two professors and a small number of students. This position he 

 held until compelled to resign by ill health in 1896, when he was 

 made president emeritus. 



During this quarter-century of active work in Washburn College, 

 Doctor McVicar, mainly by his own efforts, established an endow- 

 ment fund of $100,000, and added $160,000 in buildings, located on a 

 campus valued at $200,000. Washburn College to-day in its prosper- 

 ous condition, with its very bright future, stands as a fitting memorial 

 to this man. 



After the failure of health his interest continued in the welfare of 

 this institution, and he remained as a member of the board of trus- 

 tees taking part in its meetings up to the time of his death, June 5. 

 1903, having reached the age of seventy-four years. 



Doctor McVicar was not only a pioneer in the public schools and 

 colleges of Kansas, but also in our Academy. In the original call for 

 "all persons interested in natural science to meet in Topeka on the 



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