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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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168 History University of Illinois sity." Under its new name it began operations in Springfield, April, 1852, in a building previously occupied by the Mechanics' union. A family by the name of Enos gave the ground on which a new building was erected. As originally designed it was to be of brick, four stories in height, the main center being seventy by sixty-five feet wide with wings on each side forty-one feet wide, the whole to cost $35,000. Only the main center was completed and at a cost of $25,000, It was dedicated in 1854 in the presence of Abraham Lincoln, who, it is said, delivered an oration on that occasion.24 At the first session, 1852, there were seventy-nine students enrolled and in 1853-1854 the number had increased to one hundred and sixty. After 1858 the institution did not prosper, but struggled along until 1867 when it ceased to operate under the name of "university." 25 The general synod of the Lutheran church, Among the early students was Robert Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln. I t is reported that Robert did not care much for his studies but was interested in political discussion of the time, so much interested in fact that instead of attending to his school duties he left Springfield and followed some of the stump speakers around from place to place. His father, learning of this, called to see what could be done to get his son to attend school regularly. "In view of the fact that a holder of a scholarship in this institution wrote a few years ago to the University of Illinois to ask if the scholarship was good in the state university the following copy of one of those early scholarships will be of interest. Thanks are due Mr. H. A, Cress of Hillsboro for the original. No. £. $$00 CERTIFICATE OF SCHOLARSHIP In the Illinois State University 24 KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That the Board of Trustees of the Illinois State University, for and in consideration of the sum of Three Hundred Dollars, in hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, do hereby grant and guarantee unto Absalom Cress, of the County of Montgomery, and State of Illinois, his heirs or assigns, the perpetual privilege of sending one student to the Preparatory or Collegiate Department of said University, for instruction in any or all the studies pertaining to either Department, without any further charge for tuition. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF said Board of Trustees have caused this Certificate of Scholarship to be signed by the President and Secretary, and their official Seal to be attached thereto this first day of October A. D. 1854. John T. Stuart, President SEAL Edmund Miller, Secretary
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