WHEN political advancement by steady grades to a position of honor and responsibility comes to a man in a community in which his days had their commencement and where his youth was passed, it may be taken as a conceded fact that he possesses not only unusual capability, but a character that has been tried and proven and a reputation that stands fair in the sight of men. When this preferment comes at an early age it also argues much more, and shows that it has not come as a concession to a long life in party service or a reward of years in party toil. When the Republican party of Cuyahoga county, in the fall of 1887, looked about for a man who could retain the support of the people in a season when voters were disposed to be independent at the polls or remain altogether therefrom, it was no small compliment to David Morison, then on the sunny side of forty, to be placed at the head of the ticket as a nominee for the honorable and important trust of state senator; nor was that compliment lessened when the people, in the election of November, made him their choice by the expressive majority of 3,425 votes. The same qualities of sound business judgment, personal honesty, conservativism, and squareness and fairness even in matters of partisan discussion, led his own ward, the careful old Second, to make him its representative in the city council in 1877-a time when the city was more attentive to the character and bear

ing of that important body than, unfortu nately, it has been upon many important occasions since. So well did he perform the duties of his office that upon the expiration of his term he was renominated and reëlected-a programme twice afterwards repeated, which gave him eight years of continuous service. His preparation for the careful and economic administration of the affairs of the people had been thorough in several directions. He was born in Cleveland, on October 16, 1848, of a Scotch-American parentage, and was thus equipped by natural gifts with some of the best gifts of nativity to which man can fall heir--the Scotchthoroughness and thrift and the American keenness and practical insight into things. His mother, Charlotte C. Bidwell, was a descendant of an excellent New England stock, and came to Cleveland in 1826. She was one of the founders of the old Stone Church society, and was a lady in all ways worthy of the high respect in which she was held. His father came to Cleveland in 1833, and was of Scotch descent. The early days of the son were passed in the public schools, and at twelve years of age he was sent to Oberlin, where he expected to finish its regular course; but before that time the death of his father compelled him to give up the purposes of an ambitious youth and take a place in the ranks of men. The management of his father's estate and the care of two sisters and a brother fell upon him, and kept his

hands full for several succeeding years. Although not yet arrived at maturity, he proved himself worthy of the trust imposed upon him, and so carefully conducted the private business of the heirs as to show himself fitted for like labors in behalf of the municipal corporation. The highest compliment that could have been paid to his efficiency and personal conduct as a member of the city council was tendered him by that body when, after five years of service, he was made its president, in April, 1882. The choice met with the general satisfaction of the people, and the pledges of renewed faithfulness that he made upon taking his seat were amply fulfilled. In his remarks upon that occasion, Mr. Morison said: "I feel deeply sensible of the magnitude and importance of the position to which you have elected me. Forty-six years ago Cleveland emerged from its village infancy into a full-fledged city with a population of but little over five thousand. To-day, the second in the state, she has a population of over one hundred and eighty-five thousand. The council, as the sole legislative body of this great city, holds in trust its interest, welfare and prosperity. To preside over the guardians of so important a trust is indeed an honor, but that honor carries with it duties difficult of performance. While I shall in all things endeaver honestly, conscientiously and impartially to fulfill those duties, I feel that the task will be impossible without your indulgence, assistance and coöperation.

"Never did our city enjoy more unexampled prosperity; never was its growth more marvelous; never was its financial affairs more sound. During the

last four years its (bonded) indebtedness has been reduced over three millions, and during the last two years, from the Federal census of 1880 to the police census of 1882, our population has increased over twentyfive thousand. It can excite no wonder that, under these circumstances, matters of interest and importance will in the near future demand your earnest and thoughtful consideration. Among these, I may mention, are an improved system of sewerage, the paving and repaving of streets, the extension of water-works, and new thoroughfares to the flats, rendered necessary by the extensive growth in manufactories. I may also mention the necessity of enlarging several departments of the city that they may be commensurate with the increased necessities of the public service. Whatever steps we may take in improvements requiring expenditure, we will be limited by the rate of tax levy allowed by law. The making of these improvements will call into exercise the highest degree of judgment and ability, ever keeping in mind the need of improvement and the jealousy of the citizen of increased taxation. Excessive taxation defeats its own end, and will strangle and cripple the growth and the prosperity of the city.

"In administering our trust it is our duty to use the same careful tact and policy that a careful and successful business man resorts to in the management of his business affairs. We must remember that we are not here as partisans, that we are trustees of the city, and that the city's affairs are to be fostered regardless of party considerations."

In addition to his services in the council, Mr. Morison was also an active member

of the board of city improvements during several terms, being the representative of the council in that body during 1880 and 1881, and the citizen member in 1886. Among the measures for the good of the public completed or carried forward during his public service, and which received the aid of his judgment and vote, the follow ing most notable are worthy of mention: The legislation by which Wade park was accepted and made available for the free and perpetual use of the people; the measures by which the great New York, Chicago & St. Louis railroad found a right of passage through the city; the authorization given the water-works trustees to purchase lands for the new Fairmount Street reservoir; the extension of the franchise of the Brooklyn Street railway line from Bank street through to Woodland cemetery; and it is due largely to his influence and labor that the old methods of cheap and uncertain paving were cast aside and the trimmed Medina stone introduced. The individual, minor matters of improvement of which he was the originator were numerous, but are needless to speak of in detail in this connection. His business training always led him to the sound view of any municipal question. He approached his duties as a tax-payer and a representative of other tax-payers, and never allowed his vote upon questions that were not purely politics to be controlled by partisan considerations and appeals to passion. Slow and careful in his deliberations upon any question, he did not commit himself until he had examined it from all points of view, and when once grounded upon an opinion, he was not to be led or

stampeded therefrom until a better method or more useful way was clearly pointed out. Never parading as an orator, he could still express himself in a clear, clean-cut manner that went to the heart of the matter and appealed to the judgment and goodwill of his hearers, and made his speeches in council far more effective than those of other men who supplied rhetoric for logic and made flowers of speech take the place of sincere convictions. And let it be set down to Senator Morison's credit in these days of broadcast charges that, in all the heat of municipal contests, and the still more aggressive and less considerate campaigns of politics in which he has taken part, no man has ventured to make a charge against his personal integrity, or dared to suggest that he was ever connected with any scheme that was not square and honest or open to the free inspection of the world.

Mr. Morison was a Republican from the early days of his boyhood, taking from the first a deep interest in political questions and always having an opinion of his own. He has also, for years past, been one of those who believed that it was the duty o every good citizen to take a part in polit. ical affairs, and in consequence he has been an active worker in support of the principles and party in which he believes, and has been a member of committees having in charge a number of important campaigns. A hard worker, popular, endowed with many generous and admirable qualities of head and heart, thoroughly acquainted with the needs of the city and state, ready to listen to all, but controlled by none, and ambitious to do his duty

J. H. K.

THIS was a loud name for a "university" in a very small but very busy little village on the west bank of a small stream, or river, as it was then and is now called, that empties its waters into Lake Erie about twenty miles east of the Cuyahoga at Cleveland.

Chagrin, now Willoughby, was one of the first towns on the Western Reserve that organized a "circulating library." Its books were well selected. It had a large number of good histories, with good selections of works of fiction, travels, biographies, poetry, religious works, etc.

In the winter of 1833-4 a lyceum and debating society was established, in which lectures on various historical and other subjects were delivered, and the current political and social questions of the day were discussed. The lectures and the debates never failed to draw "crowded houses" and attentive listeners of both sexes. In 1832 Chagrin, for its population, had a larger number of intelligent and energetic business men and cultivated, interesting young ladies than any village in all the region of the lake. It was famous all over the "Reserve " for the beauty and character of its young society.

In 1834-35-36 "The Willoughby University of Lake Erie " was born of the

"lyceum." Dr. George W. Card, Judge N. Allen, J. Lapham, esq., Mr. Samuel Wilson and a few others were its sponsors and godfathers. It had a regular faculty, board of trustees, president, treasurer and secretary. Its medical department-H. A. Ackley, M. D., professor of anatomy; Amasa Trowbridge, professor of surgery; Daniel L. M. Peixotto, M. D., professor of theory and practice of medicine, etc., etc.; J. Lang Cassells, M. D., professor of chemistry; William M. Smith, M. D., professor of materia medica and botany. Some of these professors of this young "university" were well known to the country and had made their mark in their professions. Dr. Trowbridge from northern New York stood very high as a skillful surgeon. Dr. Peixotto* was a medical author of the city of New York of acknowledged learning and ability, an elegant classic scholar, an eloquent writer and lecturer, and whether on literature, history or the healing art, was always interesting. In the wonderful science of anatomy Dr. Ackley was rapidly gaining an enviable reputation, and in after years was one

* Dr. Peixotto was the father of Benjamin F. Peixotto, esq., now of the city of New York, and our late consul at Roumania and at Lyons where he won an enviable reputation.

of the most skillful surgeons in the country. Professor Cassells was for long years well-known in Cleveland. In 1835-6 the university had twenty-three students. Tickets for the lectures, $55; matriculation and library tickets, $5; graduation fee and diploma, $15; board from $1.50 to $2.25 per week. Five doctors were graduated in 1836 and four honorary degrees of M. D. were conferred.

A very good three-story brick building was built at Willoughby for the use of the "university," and its enthusiastic founders hoped to make it one of the permanent and useful institutions of the state. The legislature of Ohio had voted money to aid institutions of learning in southern Ohio, but I believe it has never been rightfully chargeable of doing anything of the kind for northern Ohio.

After some changes of professors at 6

different times, and struggling bravely for a useful life, the professors thought it best to remove the medical school to the city of Cleveland, and it was established there soon after the year 1840-42, with Dr. J. P. Kirtland, the Delamaters, Dr. Ackley, Dr. St. John, Professor Cassells and others as medical teachers, and it was a success as a medical school. A medical college in a young and growing city like Cleveland, with professors of the ability of the late Dr. Kirtland, the elder Delamater, Dr. Ackley, Dr. St. John and Professor Cassells as lecturers and teachers could not fail of success. They were among the strong men of the land.

Let me hope that Dr. Elisha T. Sterling or Dr. H. K. Cushing of Cleveland will furnish you with a history of the Cleveland Medical college.

JAMES A. BRIGGS.