John W. Hall, D.D.
John W. Hall, D. D., was president of the Miami University from 1854 to 1866, and during that time a citizen of Oxford, Ohio. He was born January 19, 1802, in Orange County, North Carolina, and was educated chiefly in Harpeth Academy, near Franklin, Tennessee, then under the presidency of the celebrated Rev. Gideon Blackburn, D. D., who was afterward president of Center College, Kentucky, and the founder of Blackburn University, Illinois. After completing his academic course, Mr. Hall studied theology under Dr. Blackburn, his former teacher, and in the year 1824 was licensed to preach as a Presbyterian minister. He became successively pastor of the Presbyterian Churches at Jackson, Murfreesboro, and Gallatin, Tennessee, when, in 1840, he was chosen pastor of the Third Street Presbyterian Church at Dayton, Ohio. His efforts in this field were eminently successful.
In the year 1852 Mr. Hall removed to Huntsville, Alabama, for two reasons: taking charge of the Presbyterian Church and assuming control of the presidency of the North Alabama College, which was about to be located at that place. While here he was elected to the presidency of the Miami University, of Oxford, Ohio. This position was unsought, and Mr. Hall knew nothing of the honor conferred upon him until he received official information of the fact. By the same mail came congratulatory letters from old friends, urging him to accept the situation. After mature deliberation and the advice of his most intimate friends, he removed with his family, in the latter part of 1854, to Oxford, and on the first day of January, 1855, entered upon his duties.
When Dr. Hall took charge of the university he found that the preparatory and normal departments were largely attended by students, but he found that the finances were in a bad condition. He immediately proposed a change, and at the end of his administration, in 1866, there had accumulated a surplus in the treasury of over $10,000.
Notwithstanding the eminently successful presidency of Dr. Hall, a majority of the board of trustees, during 1866, became dissatisfied, and, if possible, would have forced his resignation; but Mr. Hall, hearing of their intentions, refused to allow his name to go before the board as a candidate for election, and Dr. R. L. Stanton was chosen his successor. Previous to this action the board had been presented with a memorial, signed by nearly all the alumni who had graduated in the twelve preceding years, the students of the university at this time, and the leading citizens of the town, protesting against the change. Dr. Hall bade farewell to Old Miami, and has since resided in Covington, Kentucky, honored and respected by all.
On Thursday, July 5, 1866, 3 P. M., the trustees elected a new faculty, all the chairs having been declared vacant at the end of the college year. As soon as the above action was made known the students assembled on the streets and at the depot, when the train was leaving, cheering for Dr. Hall and hooting, yelling, and swearing at the trustees. In the evening Dr. Hall was serenaded by the Oxford brass band.
From A History and Biographical Cyclopædia of Butler County Ohio, With Illustrations and Sketches of its Representative Men and Pioneers, Western Biographical Publishing Company, Cincinnati Ohio, 1882.