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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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846 History University of Illinois in the conduct of institutions of learning of the higher grades. By profession he was a lawyer, and possessed a cultured mind. He served with a great degree of usefulness upon the c omniittee on agricultural department, as its chairman, and was looked upon as one of the best qualified men on the board. Dr. John W. Scroggs (1817-1874), who served as trustee from 1867 to 1869, was the only physician named upon the first board. On his election to the legislature in 1868 he resigned his position as trustee. His services in the legislature were valuable to the university as he helped to obtain its first appropriation from the state treasury. He was an active agent of Champaign county in the work of securing the location of the university. He was a vigorous man of cutting speech who made many friends and many enemies. Clark Robinson Griggs (1824-1916) was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Dr. Scroggs and served as trustee from 1869 to 1873. He was born in East Hawley, Massachusetts. In his youth he preached as an evangelist of the Second Advent Church, and served a term in the Massachusetts legislature. He was appointed by Col. W. N. Coler sutler for the 25th regiment, resigning to build a bakery at Memphis, Tennessee where he catered for regiments of the post until the close of the war. At the close of the war he returned to Urbana, engaged in agricultural pursuits, became mayor of the town, and as representative to the legislature was very active in obtaining the location of the university for his home town. He served upon the executive committee of the board of trustees. Charles H. Topping, wjio served as trustee from 1867 to 1868, was a farmer and fruit-raiser, intelligent and educated, with an ardent desire to see the industrial classes provided with opportunities for education along the lines of their several occupations. Hel served upon the committee upon mechanical and horticultural departments. John M. Van Osdel (1811-1891), who served as trustee from 1867 to 1873, was a professional architect of many years' practice, and one possessing the confidence and esteem of a state-wide acquaintance. His appointment was a most fortunate one for the young educational enterprise. He well understood the great £k *
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