My Genealogy Hound

REV. PETER MacVICAR.
Rev. Peter MacVicar, deceased, who became president of Washburn College, Topeka, in 1871, and held that office for many years, was one of the leaders in educational work in Kansas. He was born June 15, 1829, at St. George, New Brunswick, Canada, and was a son of George and Christiana MacVicar.

Rev. Mr. MacVicar came of Scotch ancestry and possessed many of the leading traits of character which placed his ancestors, in years gone by, in the front rank of professional eminence. His father was a farmer and he grew up in healthful country surroundings but his tastes did not lead in the direction of agriculture. In his boyhood the family removed to the Territory of Wisconsin, settling near Waukesha, where the youth was able to attend school and in 1852 became a student at Beloit College. When he graduated four years later, as valedictorian of his class, his friends predicted for him a bright and successful future. They never had occasion to change their opinions, for his whole subsequent life demonstrated on what a firm foundation his early success was founded.

After one year as a member of the faculty of Beloit College, he entered Union Theological Seminary and completed his theological course at Andover, in 1860.

In the fall of 1860, Rev. Mr. MacVicar came to Topeka and accepted a call to the pastorate of the First Congregational Church. In the changes brought about by the Civil War, his energies were diffused in many directions, and he was a member of the State militia during the period when troops were called out to repel the advances of the Confederate forces.

In 1866 our subject accepted the superintendency of the Department of Public Instruction for the State of Kansas, although, at that time, no suitable provision had been made for the carrying on of the work. It was at this time that his influence was shown, by which the school land in the Osage Indian Reservation was secured as a part of the school fund. He was one of the leaders in securing this great public service to the State, and during his whole incumbency, lasting until 1870, his efforts were never relaxed.

One of the great results of the united efforts of a body of educators, who were also practical business men, was the establishing at Topeka at the close of the Civil War of an educational institution which, in its scope, was far beyond any other school in the State. Thus Washburn College came into existence in 1865. Rev. Mr. MacVicar had much to do with the drawing up of its charter, and remained closely identified with its interests until his death, which occurred January 5, 1903. Today the institution stands as an an enduring monument to his disinterested public spirit, to his great executive ability as well as to his persistence, courage and culture.

From nothing tangible has arisen a magnificent group of buildings which have been erected at a cost of $150,000, surrounded by a campus of 160 acres. Every opportunity for educational development is given here where great libraries offer their store of the wisdom of the past and present, and equipped laboratories invite scientific research. Its faculty has been called from other great institutions, and its finances are in such shape that its future progress is well assured.

In September, 1863, President MacVicar was married to Martha Porter Dana, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, who is a lineal descendant of Gen. Israel Putnam. Our subject was survived by his widow and two children: Dana C., an attorney, of Topeka; and Mary (Mrs. W. H. Morris), of Topeka.