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Excerpts from Grinnell College in the Nineteenth century: From Salvation to Service by Joseph Frazier Wall:
“At the June Association meeting, the discussion was spirited, with pro-Davenport forces, led by [Julius] Reed and [Ephraim] Adams, armed with [Theron] Baldwin’s letter, clearly in control. Exasperated by the continuing debate [over location and building of the College], James Hill suddenly arose and dramatically threw down on the table a silver dollar. “Now then!” he exclaimed. “Appoint your trustees to take care of that dollar for Iowa College.” Quickly the Association then voted to accept Davenport as the site for the college providing the people of Davenport would give $1,500 in cash and provide thirteen acres of land. The election of a board of twelve trustees followed: the three stalwart Yale pioneers ― Asa Turner, Reuben Gaylord and Julius Reed; five of the Iowa Band ― Ephraim Adams, Harvey Adams, Ebenezer Alden, Daniel Lane and Alden B. Robbins; one other of the Iowa Congregational Patriarchs―John Holbrook, who was the least supportive of the enterprise; two New School Presbyterians (the AHMS had insisted upon this being a join enterprise) ― J.M. Boal and William Woods, and one interested layman, W.H. Starr. The long-hoped-for college had now a site, an endowment of one dollar, and a Board of Trustees to guard that endowment. Gaylord could take satisfaction in thinking that what he had first proposed in 1837 was at last launched.” (pg. 45)
“The preponderance of Iowa College graduates had chosen careers as teachers, ministers, small-town lawyers or housewives, vocations not noted for their munificent pecuniary rewards. Poor as most of Iowa College’s alumni were, however, they had responded eagerly and generously to the college’s great need following the tornado of 1882. In recognition of their contributions to a devastated alma mater, the trustees named one of the three new buildings Alumni Hall. Of greater import to the Alumni Association was the privilege of electing, from 1884 on, three alumni to the Board of Trustees.” (pg. 203)