IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 28 



and needs of the student body. He outlined policies that 

 were not narrow or one sided. He always worked for the 

 full and complete development of the student. Mental 

 training was not sufficient, but the social side of the student 

 as well as athletics must needs receive attention. He 

 wished the college to turn out men and women in the 

 broadest sense. 



J>r. Beardshear had two requisites for a successful col- 

 lege president. One was a commanding presence, which 

 at once caused him to receive respectful consideration. He 

 never had to resort to unusual methods as the student obe- 

 diently followed his suggestions. Secondly, he had splen- 

 did executive ability. He was careful never to commit 

 himself to a student, and by an instinctive process brought 

 out what the student had to say. He then dealt with the 

 student body as his conscience dictated. 



Dr. Beardshear was a great lover of the beautiful in nature; 

 the trees and flowers were an inspiration to him. He knew 

 them from boyhood. When as a boy he had to cut trees on 

 an Ohio farm, or afterwards roaming through the woods on 

 a hunt, the trees and flowers became an open book to him. 

 I remember a long talk I had with him when he returned 

 from Montauk, New York, where he had been attending a 

 meeting of the United States Indian Commission. The 

 beautiful chestnut oaks on those grounds appealed to him. 

 He had a strong affection for his old home in Ohio where 

 his aged mother continued to reside until her death, and 

 where he made a yearly visit. His home ties were equally 

 strong and he had the strongest affection for his family. 



The chief events of his life are as follows: He was born 

 at Dayton, Ohio, November 7th, 1850, and his boyhood was 

 spent on the farm. He entered the army of the Cumber- 

 land at fourteen years of age, his early education having 

 been attained in the public schools of Ohio. He received 

 the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Otterbein University 

 in 1876, and later the degree of Master of Arts from the 

 same school; he also received the degree of LL. D. from his 

 alma mater. He took two years post graduate work at 



