The Morrills and Reminiscences - C. H. Morrill

pay interest on their mortgages; land could not be sold at any price; foreclosure of mortgages was the general order. When these lands were offered for sale on foreclosures they were sold to owners of the mortgages. In the central and western sections of the state the price of land fell to almost nothing. In Custer County, a very large acreage went into the ownership of eastern real estate and loan companies. These lands were mortgaged for five hundred to seven hundred dollars on each one hundred and sixty acres. One eastern loan company offered to sell me forty quarter sections at two hundred dollars each. The crop for 1895 was almost a failure. The result was that all confidence in Nebraska real estate was gone. Trees which, in twenty years, had grown to one foot or more in diameter, died for want of moisture; in many places entire groves were killed. Good farm lands in Polk and other eastern counties sold as low as twenty-five hundred dollars for one hundred and sixty acres. Many of these farms had improvements thereon valued at fifteen hundred to two thousand dollars. No one desired to purchase while almost everyone wished to sell. Many farmers who were out of debt at the beginning of the dry years, and who had declared that "no mortgage would ever be put on their land" were forced to mortgage to obtain food for their families and what live stock they had in the way of work-horses and cows and hogs. Nearly every family discussed daily the question of the impossibility of remaining in Nebraska and debated where it would be wise to go.

     In 1890 I was elected a Regent of The University of Nebraska and in 1891 moved to Lincoln in order that my children might have the advantages offered by the State University. In 1893 I was elected president of the Board of Regents, which office I held until 1903.
     My connection with the University gave me an opportunity to become acquainted with all professors and instructors connected with that institution. Professor Charles E. Bessey was Acting Chancellor; he was one of God's noblemen, always for peace and harmony. The position of Chancellor was neither sought by him nor was it agreeable to him. He often requested the Board of Regents to find another man for that position, so that he might return to his life work, botany.
     In the year 1891, James H. Canfield, a professor in the University of Kansas, was made Chancellor. Though this was his first chancellorship Dr. Canfield was so very forceful, tactful, and energetic that he was marked for success from the outset. He was a dynamo in human form, a ready speaker, a good mixer, and soon made many friends for himself, as well as for the University. The institution grew rapidly under his administration and no Chancellor did more to unify the schools of the state and to popularize the University than Dr. Canfleld. He was always courteous in the discharge of his duties as an executive, yet firm in his

convictions. At the end of four years he was called to, and accepted, the presidency of the University of Ohio, afterwards he was made librarian of the Columbia University of New York City for life. We were always firm friends. I was in regular correspondence with him up to the time of his death.
     Dr. George E. MacLean followed Dr. Canfield as Chancellor. He too was a real scholar, and a man of high ideals; his ambition was to make the University of Nebraska great, scholastically and numerically. Dr. MacLean was over-flowing with good fellowship towards all men. During his chancellorship he secured the passage of an act making an annual levy of one mill on the grand assessment roll of the state for University purposes. This was the greatest financial move made by any Chancellor for the institution. It took the University out of legislative politics, and as the grand assessment roll grows, the sum of money available for University work will grow. After four years' service, Chancellor MacLean accepted the presidency of the University of Iowa.
     Dr. E. Benjamin Andrews was our next Chancellor. He already had a national reputation as one of the leading educators of the United States. His administration as Chancellor of the Nebraska State University was successful. The administration of the different chancellors, as named, covered the period of twelve years that I was a member of the Board of Regents.
     My duties as president of the Board and resident

Regent required many visits at the University and I became closely acquainted with J. S. Dales, secretary-treasurer of the University of Nebraska. His service as financial officer of the University began in 1875. During the many years that lack of funds was most distressing, the position occupied by Mr. Dales was a very difficult one. He performed his duties in a pleasant yet decided way; his accounts were always kept in plain form and were correct. Great credit is due him for his long and faithful work.
Many students of the University were greatly indebted to Miss Ellen Smith, the registrar. When students became delinquent, they were called to the office of the registrar and reminded, kindly but in no uncertain terms, of their remissness. After picturing the disgrace that would follow dismissal or suspension from classes, Miss Smith would encourage and assist the students. Many graduates have informed me that they never would have finished and received their degrees had not Miss Smith both awed and encouraged them.
If asked what office is especially desirable and honorable for a young man to hold, I should answer, to be a regent of a state university without pay for services. No man serving as Regent did as much to benefit the University of Nebraska as Charles H. Gere. In his capacity as editor of the State Journal, he always did everything possible for the best interests of the University. Mr. Gere was a man of fine scholarly training. He was absolutely sincere and firm in his


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