Marion College (Missouri)

rdf:langString Marion College (Missouri)

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rdf:langString Marion College

rdf:langString Marion College

rdf:langString David Clark

rdf:langString William Muldrow

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rdf:langString David Nelson

rdf:langString John Blatchford

rdf:langString Hiram P. Goodrich

rdf:langString William S. Potts

rdf:langString Marion College was the first college to be chartered by the Missouri state legislature, and the second educational institution in Missouri to be granted the right to confer college and university degrees. Founded in 1831, Marion College was originally planned as a manual labor college focusing primarily on agriculture, while also teaching classics. From 1835, it also incorporated a theological seminary. The school was founded by private individuals, but was strongly Presbyterian. Its three schools were located in Philadelphia, East Ely and West Ely in Marion County, Missouri. The college attracted many investors, faculty and students from the East. It was opposed by proslavery residents of northeastern Missouri, who were particularly critical of founder and president David Nelson, an antislavery activist. Marion College was also part of a speculative bubble in Marion County, involving investment in Marion City, Philadelphia, and a planned railroad line. Enrollment dropped following the financial crisis of 1837, and by the spring of 1844, the college had closed.