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HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
85
the memorial to President Lincoln urging
a proclamation of emancipation of slaves,
and headed the Committee which took it
to the President; the following day the
preliminary proclamation was issued.
From 1865 t° 1867
travelled abroad.
In 1867 he resigned his pastorship and
became editor of
The Advance
, published
in Chicago. After the u great fire” he
became Secretary in the West of the
American Missionary Association.
He
wrote u Prayer and its Remarkable An
swers.” He next lectured at Oberlin and
Chicago Theological Seminaries.
I11
1877 became President of Howard Uni
versity. His wife died in 1880. He re
signed, his resignation to take effect
December 31, 1889, 011 which date lie died
at Westfield, N. J. Buried at Hartford,
Conn. He was the author of many maga
zine articles. Was the first President of
the University who gave his undivided
attention to its interests or for any length
of time presided over it. Dr. Rankin
says : u He was a man of clear, logical
mind, great industry and force and excel
lent business capacity. His portrait was
presented to the University by his chil
dren in 1891, and now graces the Upper
Chapel.”
JEREMIAH EAMES RANKIN, A. M.,
D. D., LL. D.
— Trustee 1870-3 and 1890
to date ; President since January 1, 1890.
Born of Anglo-Scottish parentage, Janu
ary 2, 1828, Thornton, N. H. Son of
Rev. Andrew and Lois (Frames) Rankin.
Wm. Williams, his mother’s grandfather,
commanded a regiment at the battle of
Bennington ; and Zilpah Wilder, wife of
Wm. Williams, was a
descendant of the Wil
der family which still
occupies an estate near
R ead in g , E 11g 1a 11d ,
given by Henry VII.
I
President Rankin fitted
for college at Berwick
Academy, South Ber
wick, Me., beginning
the study of Latin
when nine years old.
He continued his pre
pa ra to ry stud ies at
academies at Concord,
N. H., and Chester, V t.;
entered Mi dd
1
ebu r y
(Vt.) College in 1844
and graduated in 1848;
in 1851 received the de
gree of A. M. in course,
delivering the master’s
oration. Graduated at
Andover (Mass.) Theo
logical Seminary in
1854. After declining
a twice-repeated call
to the Presbyterian
Church at Potsdam,
N. V., which he sup
plied for two years, he
was, in 1856 settled
over the C o n g re g a
tional [Church at St.
Albans, Vt., his father
JE R EM IA H E AM E S R A N K IN .