XCbe bto HXHeslean Transcript Vol XXXVIII Delaware Ohio October 19 1904 No 5 W O SEMANS A PASSING strict morality and Christian integrity verifying the truth Scripture passage Train up a child the way he i i of the in should go and when he is old he will not depart from It He was prepared for college in the private school 6f a Presbyterian minister and entered the Freshman class of Ohio Wesleyan University in the fall of 1852 and graduated in 1857 Imme- faitely after graduation he was chosen as a 1 place two years A tutor In Ohio Weslean and held the I i At the earnest wish of his father he reluctantly resign- ed his place in the University to take charge of a buslneas enterprise in Leavenworth Kan established and promoted I by his father He remained in charge for two years but was not content or happy for he felt continually that his life work was that of a teacher Soon after his fathers de- cease he gave up his position and returned to Delaware wes- V having been elected Professor of Science in the Ohio leyan Female College In 1867 he was made professor of Chemistry and Physics and in 1894 professor of Chemistry in which capa- city he served up to the time of his fatal illness Prof Semans succeeded tlhe late Prof Nelson as editor of the Quinquennial Catalogue and was Untiring in collect- WILLIAM OLIVER SEMANS ing the valuable records of our large and ever Increasing family of alumni He also acted as auditor of the Uni- versity for a number of years In the minds of every student alumnus and faculty Prof Semans was not only a teacher but an honored member tlhe announcement of the death of Prof W O Se- citizen He was elected mayor of Delaware in 1874 on a mans awakened the most sincere grief His decease oc- non- partisan temperance ticket and administered the af- curred at 830 Saturday morning October 15 and was not fairs of that office for two years with great fidelity to the entirely unexpected as his condition had been very serious principles upon which he was elected He was a member for the past couple of weeks of the city school hoard and served faithfully for 12 years His last illness dates from early in the spring of 1904 He was also memher of the Board of Public Health for when he Was compelled to retire from active duties at the imany years and served in recent years as its active cfhaj- University Since then his heaa had been gradually fail- rman up to the time of his last Illness ing His relatives were all gathered at the family home Prof Semans was a Mason and stood high in that fra- on South Liberty street when the end came The Im- ternity serving in every office in the gift of Hiram Lodge mediate cause was dilation of the heart He continually did overwork which possibly was a mistake for it undoubtedly shortened his life HIS PUBLIC LIFE In February 1861 he was married to Miss Abigail Merrick niece of the late Frederick Merrick one of the William Oliver Semans was horn August 23 1835 at founders of this university and later one of its professors Defiance Ohio His father was a prominent lawyer of that and finally president Four children were born all of whom city and a leading member of the Methodist Church of that survive Dr William M Semans and Dr Edward M Se- place The boy Semans was converted at the age of twelve mans of Delaware Dr Harry M Semans of Columbus and and Joined the church of which he Was ever after a faithful Mrs Mary Semans Phillips of New York wife of the late member Phillip Phillips There are also two sisters left to mourn 1 The influence of a Christian home and his early conse- Mrs Mary Weaver of Leavenworth Kansas and Mrs Anna cration kept his youthful feet in paths of virtue and up- B Nave wife of Chaplain O J Nave of the United States rightness There were the foundations of a long life of Army 84 THE OHIO WESLEYAN TRANSCRIPT William Street Church is bereaved for our loved pro- teachers In this University Only five of the class are now fessor was a member of that congregation for forty- five living years acting as an official member from the beginning first Professors Merrick McCabe and Williams founders as steward and for the last twelve years astrustee He of this University formed a trio whose long and devoted was faithful In the discharge of his official duties and will service la without a parallel in the history of colleges be sadly missed v Whitlock Semans and myself were their pupils and associated with them as teachers until they passed one by LIFE AS STUDENT AND AS PROFESSOR one to the other shore We formed a second trio which is now broken 1 Prof H M Perkins who was a memiber of Prof Se- The faculty and university are deeply and sorely be mans graduating class and subsequently associated with reaved he was not only a loved associate but a wise and him in all his college work thus sketches the career of the safe counselor in the administrative affairs of the univer- deceased while a student and later as a professor sity Reared in a lawyers office and quite familiar with Prof Semans was prepared In the private school of a law we turned Instinctively to him when legal questions Presbyterian minister and entered 0 W U In 1852 were Involved He graduated In 1857 losing one year on account of The students are bereaved for they have not only sickness While in school he was a member of Phi Kappa lost a highly esteemed teacher but a true friend Being a Psl fraternity and of Zetagathean literary society father himself he sympathized with the parents of the I speak what I know being his classmate when I wayward boy or girl and favored tne mildest punish- say that during his whole college course1 he was diligent ment consistent with the welfare of the University faithful earnest lionest and successful In his work show- He loved the students and he loved Mb work Dur- ing marked ability and superior scholarship ranKing ing his last sickness when his mind was clear he con- among the very best In his class These facts were but a stantly talked of his classes and his work deeply regret- prophecy of the successful and popular teacher he became ting his enforced absence and longing to toe back in his In after years accustomed place for If he could not work he did not Immediately after graduation he with W F King and wish to live Even when his mind wandered under the In- myself all of that class were elected tutors in the Uni- fluence of the disease he was calling his roll dividing his versity We served together for two years and then our students into sections and going through the teachings of loved comrade went West to engage in business his familiar text books After his fathers decease he returned to Delaware hav- ing been elected Professor of Natural Science in Ohio Wesleyan Female College Here he entered cheerfully RESOLUTIONS BY STUDENT BODY and heartily upon his life work as a teacher His success and popularity were such that at the end of three years Whereas The Almighty In his infinite wisdom has seen he was elected adjunct professor of Chemistry In 1867 fit to take from our University Professor William O Se- he was made Professor of Chemistry and Physics and in mans who by his untiring service of forty- four years has 1894 Professor of Chemistry won for himself the respect and esteem of every student of The summer preceding his entrance upon his work Ohio Wesleyan and in this University lie spent at Ann Arbor to equip him- Whereas We the student body are deeply grieved at self more carefully for his new position In 18G9 and 1870 the loss which has befallen us and the University Be It the trustees gave him a year off which he spent not in Resolved First That we tender our heartfelt sympathy recreation but in most diligent work in the Lawrence to the family of Professor Semans and to the faculty of the Scientific School of Harvard University that he might be University In this our mutual bereavement of greater service to his loved pupils In fact Prof Se- Second That we In a ibody attend the funeral services mans never took any recreation he spent his vacation from Gray Chapel to the Cemetery with his students in his laboratory or in diligent study in Third That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the connection with his department Prof Semans was an family and a copy to the faculty indefatigable worker He took up the study of German Fourth That these resalutions be published In the Col without a teacher and became sufficiently proficient to lege Transcript read scientific works in that language to aid him in the labor of his department Prof Semans was a worthy and prominent member ETAGATHEANS TRIBUTE of a somewhat distinguished class among whose mem- bers were King William L who for many year3 has been In the passing of Professor William O Semans from president of Cornell College Mt Vernon Iowa John P his earthly activities the whole university has suffered a LaCroix for many years professor of modern languages distinct loss and mourns for man that was a Christian a in O W U James R Taylor former professor in 0 W scholar yea a friend in the deepest sense U and now member Ohio a of the Conference Allen We the members of Zetagathean literary society on Thompson Trimbel formerly president of Hillsboro whose rolls he inscribed his name fully fifty years ago Female College Five this class of of twelve have been have sustained In his death a double bereavement In ttife OklO WESLEYaN TRANSCRIPT 1 a5 him the society found a true counselor and a loyal helper In his companionship we were given an example of good PROFESSOR SEMANS AN IMPRESSION fellowship which when imparted to others has helped