SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 95 



Never once, while he was a member of the Board of Agriculture, 

 did he falter in his purpose to make this first attempt in giving 

 an education toward agriculture a successful object-lesson in the 

 state of Michigan. While he did not live to see the full fruition 

 of his faithful service, the dawn appeared before he laid his 

 armor down. 



Mr. S. O. Knapp, of Jackson, came upon the board when his 

 practical knowledge of affairs was most needed in the erection of 

 the second set of buildings and in the development of the campus. 

 Unusual duties were placed upon the shoulders of Mr. Knapp 

 because of his ability and his nearness to the College. His knowl- 

 edge of business methods enabled him to economize the re- 

 stricted appropriations granted by the legislature so as to make 

 every dollar count for the institution. For many years he gave 

 freely of his time and energy, and to him, perhaps more than to 

 any one of the earlier members of the board, belongs the credit 

 of instituting the policy of definiteness in the financial policy of 

 the institution. 



J. Webster Childs, of Ypsilanti, came upon the board after 

 having political training and the acquirement of knowledge as 

 to the points of view taken by the farmers of the state. He was 

 a leader hi the Grange movement and it was through the in- 

 fluence of his strong individuality that the farmers, through this 

 organization, new at that time, were brought into sympathy with 

 the College and began first to understand the possibilities in its 

 methods of education. 



George W. Phillips, of Romeo, was a leading stock man and 

 one of the managers of the Michigan State Fair. He was also 

 interested in the first movement to establish farmers' institutes 

 in this state. He brought great strength and sympathy to the 

 College through his commanding position in agricultural organi- 

 zations and his profound faith in the purposes of the College. 



Franklin Wells, of Constantine, performed the longest service 

 of any man in the history of the Board of Agriculture of Michigan 



