Histories: Trempealeau Co. Historical Accounts:
"History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917":
Chapter 23: More Historical Papers
Galesville University
-As transcribed from pages 884 - 888
Galesville University, recently
renamed Gale College, is located at Galesville. It was founded by
the labors of the Hon. George Gale, LL.D., assisted by donations of the
citizens of Galesville, La Crosse, Winona, and a few other friends of
education, mostly residents of Wisconsin. The charter was
obtained from the Legislature of Wisconsin in January, 1854. The
board of trustees was organized in 1855; the college building commenced
in 1858; the preparatory department opened for students in May, 1859,
and the collegiate department in September, 1861, the first college
class graduated July 13, 1865.
Judge Gale, the founder, was the first president, though the
educational and literary management of the institution was under the
supervision of the Rev. Samuel Fallows, later a Bishop of the Reformed
Episcopal Church, Chicago, Ill. During the years in which the
building was under construction the school was conducted in the county
court house.
The first epoch in the history of the school includes the years between
1859 and 1877. It was deemed desireable to place the institution
under the control of some church organization, and this was
accomplished when, in 1859, the Methodist Episcopal Church accepted
this trust, which remained in its charge until the year 1877.
During this period the school board labored under great
difficulties. A considerable amount of money was required to
erect the building, and to meet the requirements from time to time, and
being in the early settlement days, the number of those who were able
to render pecuniary aid was very small; hence the burden fell heavily
on these few. The attendence, which had averaged about 50
students per term, was greatly decreased by the outbreak of the Civil
War. Many of the young men in attendance responded to their
country's call for soldiers. This decrease in attendance added to
the difficulty of meeting the financial requirements. But, with
the firm conviction that the attainment of greater educational
facilities was worthy of their best efforts, the pioneers willingly
assisted to the extent of their ability, and the enterprise was not
abandoned.
In 1861 Prof. Fallows resigned his position as principal, and was
succeeded by Mr. Magill, who served in that capacity only a short time,
and who was in turn succeeded by the Rev. J. L. Farber, of New
York. Rev. Harrison Gilliland was the next president, and he was
elected to fill the office of president of the Board of Trustees, which
had been made vacant by the resignation of Judge Gale.
For a time after President Gilliland took charge the school seems to
have prospered, the records showing an attendance of more than 100
students per year. But the financial condition of the institution
caused the officers much anxiety, and application for aid was made to
the church. The Conference of the M. E. church accordingly passed
a resolution to raise a sum of $50,000 among its members. An
attempt to solicit this money was made, but proved futile.
President Gilliland then tendered his resignation, and recommended that
the institution be placed under the control of some religious
denomination which was able to render the necessary financial
support. Accordingly, in 1876, the Chippewa Presbytery then in
session in La Crosse was requested to appoint a committee to confer
with the local board for the transfer of the control of Galesville
University from the M. E. church to the Presbyterian General
Assembly. After some reluctance the charge was accepted by that
body, and a board of trustees was appointed which assembled for the
first time on May 15, 1877. This body made provision for
ascertaining and meeting claims against the institution and for
procuring pecuniary means for the operation of the school. The
course of study was readjusted so that the schedule, instead of being
collegiate grade, was modeled after the plan of Philip's Academy.
A Normal Course for teachers was also developed. A faculty was
appointed with R. S. Winans as president. The following year John
W. McLawry was made president, and Rev. John Moore, the resident
pastor, also became a member of the faculty.
At a meeting of the officers in March, 1878, a resolution was made to
petition the War Department to provide for an instructor in military
tactics and drill in Galesville University. This petition was
granted, and in 1880, Lieut. John L. Clem, known in the story of the
Civil War as the Drummer Boy of Chickamauga, was appointed as such
instructor and entered upon his duties at once. This arrangement
which provided military training for the young men at the university
was a happy one. The real advantages to be derived from such
training were appreciated, and a lively interest was aroused, which
together with the well-deserved popularity of Lieut. Clem, combined to
attract a large attendance of students. This increase entailed
the need of more room and the enlargement of the building was agreed
upon. In 1881, the building, which originally was two stories
high, was enlarged by the addition of a thrid story, thus providing
space for more students and also for drill room in winter.
Lieut. Clem was succeeded in 1882 by Lieut. G. N. Chase, who served in
that capacity until 1883, when the military department was
discontinued. In January, 1884, the main building was destroyed
by fire. This was such a terrible blow to the institution that
for a time its fate seemed dubious. But such was the untiring
zeal of the friends of the institution at home and abroad that in the
course of a year a new building was erected on the site of the one
destroyed. For several years during the early '80s excellent work
was done at the college. Under the able guidance of such
scholarly men as Moses Peters and E. O. Hagen, a large number of men,
since prominent in their professions, laid the foundations of their
education. Rev. McLawry, having tendered his resignation, Dr. J.
Irwin Smith assumed the presidency in the year 1886, and continued in
the discharge of the duties appertaining to that office for a period of
two years. Rev. Smith had previously rendered the institution
valuable aid in the capacity of financial agent. In the early
'90s the attendance began to decrease from year to year, until the
number of students became so small that to maintain the institution
under those conditions was impossible. Something had to be done
to give the school a new impetus.
In March, 1901, the deliberations, which finally resulted in the
transfer of the control of the institution from the Presbyterian Board
of Trustees to the Lutheran Synod, were commenced. The La Crosse
Conference of the Lutheran Synod, then in session in La Crosse, elected
a committee to go to Galesville for the purpose of examining the
property, and to confer with the local board to determine the condtions
under which the transfer might be effected. The committee, after
having performed its duty, reported that by the payment of $6,500 the
transfer could be made. The city of Galesville pledge itself to
furnish $2,500, and the purchase was made in August, 1901.
It was deemed necessary to make extensive repairs on the building
before the school could be opened. A sum of more than $2,000 was
contributed by members of the Lutheran congregations in the district
and judiciously expended in repairing and improving the
building. This work was completed in the fall of the year
1901. On the first day of December the institution was dedicated,
its name being changed from Galesville University to Gale
College. Prof. H. G. Stub, of Minneapolis, performed the
ceremony. On the following day the school commenced its work
under the new administration with Rev. L. M. Grimmestad, who has since
remained with the school, as president.
The time during which the school has been under Lutheran supervision
has been a period of success and constant progress. The old
courses have been improved, and additional courses have been
introduced. In 1908-1909 a music department was established,
whcih has now become a permanent and prominent feature of the
school. During the same year the Classical and Scientific Courses
were introduced, taking the place of the Academical Course. To
the Commercial Department was added a Four-Year Course leading to the
degree of Bachelor of Accounts. All of these courses, as well as
the Luther Colleg Preparatory and the Normal Parochial Courses, have
continually been improved and broadened. In addition to the
courses mentioned above, some work of Collegiate grade has also been
carried on.
Music and literary organizations ahve always played an important part
at Gale College. A band was organized by Prof. A. F. Giere in
1903. Several tours were made during the summer months.
Perhaps the most successful was the tour of 1909, when a distance of
800 miles was covered, the route of travel being through Western
Wisconsin and Southern and Central Minnesota. An orchestra was
organized by Prof. H. Onsgard in 1911. This work is now being
successfully carried on by A. M. Fredrickson.
The Utile Cum Dulci, a literary society organized by students of the
school 35 years ago, is still in a flourishing condition. All
students are members. Normannalaget is a Norwegian society based
ont he same general principles as the Utile Cum Dulci. At this
point may be mentioned the Gale College Club, organized in 1906, which
has for its objects the lending of moral and financial support to the
institution. All friends of the school are kindly requested to
become members of this organization.
Literary activities are being stimulated further by the publishing of
The Gale Pennant, a student's publication, first issued in 1908.
The work of the school is facilitated by a good library, the value of
which was much increased by a careful cataloging in 1912-1913.
The Boys' Dormitory, built in 1906, furnishes comfortable
accommodations for 55 students. The Ladies' Hall, completed in
1915, is a beautiful structure which accommodates about 50
students. This building contains also a gymnasium which fills a
long-felt need.
For a church home the students have the Trinity Lutheran church, a
pleasant and attractive building, erected by the Galesville
congregation of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod in 1909. (By L. M.
Gimmestad, President.)
The advantage of a college of this size and order, is the individual
attention that can be given pupils to develop them in accordance with
their mental qualifications and ability. In other words it brings
out the individual brain strength and character of the pupil, thus
enabling action on the part of the faculty, along the most beneficial
lines, in other words, give the students a harmonious education.
The faculty comprises the Rev. L. M. Gimmestad, A. B., President, and a
staff of five assistants, each well qualified for the work of
educaiton. It well becomes the character of this work to
compliment Rev. Gimmestad on the splendid success he is making of the
college and in qualifying the graduates for the position in life they
desire to occupy. He is also entitled to the graditude and
unqualified consideration of all those who are interested in the
college. He has sacrificed his personal ambition in a worldly
way, to build up an institution creditable to himself and the
denomination he represents. He is a scholar of fine attainment,
an orator of finished ability, and a man of affairs, who honors
Galesville and its people by his association therewith.