This photo was taken by J. G. Vail.

The End

The complete Journal of Abner Jackson, as we have it, is now available on the blog.

July 4th, 1867

We had a few crackers fired off last evening over at College, but very little noise. Perfectly quiet to-day.

June 30th, 1867

I cannot but think with solemn feeling that this is my last Sunday but one in Hobart College, where I have gone in and out with chief responsibility, for over  ??? years… It is a day of solemn and sad thoughts – only one day more (one Sunday more) in that Chapel. After that, if I ever see it again, it will be only as a visitor! May God in His mercy forgive the sins of wandering thoughts, coldness and in devotion which I may have committed, and all others known or unknown, which I have committed in that holy place.

June 20th, 1867

Hartford.

Bishop Williams and the Professors had requested the students to be in front of the College Chapel at five o’clock, when I was to be presented to them. We all went out from the Vestry and the Bishop presented me to the students in a very cordial speech. Prof. Brocklesby then spoke in like terms – commending me warmly to the students as one who was entirely worthy of their confidence – one who knew every rope of the ship – one who understood the whole structure of the College from turret to foundation. The students cheered heartily. When I ended speaking, they were presented to me individually by Prof. Brocklesby.

June 19th, 1867

Go out in a boat to see the race between the Alpha Delta Phi boat, Meerschaum and the Sigma Phi boat, Ariel – a three-mile row. The Alpha Delta Phi’s beat by two minutes and one second – bad beat. The scene on the lake was very gay – a great many boats out filled with gentlemen and ladies. Mr. Bogart of Aurora, presented a flag to the victors, with a neat speech. The water was a little rough, which was against the Sigs – their boat lying low in the water.

June 16th, 1867

Received assurances from the Trinity Professors, and some of the Alumni, of warm support in my plans for the College.

June 15th, 1867

Strong expressions of regret and friendly appreciation from Dr. Schuyler.

I got Bishop Williams’ official notification of my election this morning. I got every vote on the first ballot. The feeling was strong, Bishop Williams said; no President had got so strong a vote since Bishop Williams’ own election in 1848. He wrote a most cordial private note, saying it was the fulfillment of the wish of his life. He asked me to meet him at Evening Prayers at Trinity College on Thursday, the 20th. inst. I telegraphed him I would do so.

I also wrote my official acceptance to take effect July 16th.

June 12th, 1867

Board of Trustees met at four. After some preliminary business of routine, I asked Bishop Coxe to take the Chair and I explained at some length the considerations which had led me to offer my resignation – my long and intimate connection with Trinity College (twenty-four years in all, four as a student, over twenty as an officer) my relations to the Alumni and friends of the College, and hence a peculiar ability to serve it.

The secretary read my resignation. Dr. Shelton, after a long pause, began to speak of my Presidency as having united all voices in and out of College in its praise, so I thought it best to retire, and I took quite a long walk. When I came back, I found the Trustees were on the organization of the College.

They finally appointed a committee of seven, with power to choose a president, and to make any changes in the College deemed advisable. They were evidently bent on radical measures – to make the College a unit. They accepted my resignation very kindly, and said all sorts of good things of me (as I was told by Bishop Coxe) during my absence.

The committee of seven- Bishop Coxe, Doctors Shelton and Schuyler, James C. Smith, and Mr. Douglas (Dr. Dix and Mr. Swift belong to this Committee) met at the close of our meeting, and met again in my study in the evening.

June 9th, 1867

Finish writing my resignation of the Presidency of Hobart College.

June 3rd, 1867

Mr. C— was emphatic in his regrets about my going away, and energetic in his disapproval of Mr. Douglas’ course.

May 29th, 1867

Bishop Neely writes he is very glad I am going to Hartford – says I have decided “wisely and for my happiness”.  He is now glad he is a New Englander and to have me near at hand, and at the head of our New England College.

Confer with the Misses Bridge about a plan of going to Canandaigua to establish themselves in a female seminary there, and give it a Church character. I advised them to be sure that they can work harmoniously with Mr. Richards, who proposes to remain as he is now, a partner in the concern, and to carry on its financial affairs, board the students, &c.; and that the Board of Trustees, a majority of whom were Congregationalists, be so organized as not to hamper them.

May 27th, 1867

Bishop Coxe writes asking me to preach the sermon at the consecration of the Church at Branchport, June 11th, and arrange a meeting of our Board of Trustees for June 18th, as I had proposed to him. He says in reference to my going away “I never wish to enter that house again”. I feel for him most truly.

 Leffingwell and Dr. Van Ingen came to see me to-day about the Canandaigua Female Seminary, which is ready to be passed under the control of the Church.

May 24th, 1867

The Gospel Messenger came to hand to-day, saying I had accepted a call to the Presidency of Trinity College.  I saw Dr. Gibson at Waterloo. He told me it had gone in and could not be recalled. I was very sharp with him. I told him it was the third time he had done the same thing in reference to Trinity College. He had hear it talked of in Rochester as a settled matter, and supposed of course that it was true that I was elected. I had written him a letter begging him to say nothing on the subject, but all in vain, it seems.

May 23rd, 1867

Get a letter this morning from Bishop Williams saying that they could not get a full meeting of the trustees of Trinity College on the 22nd, and concluded to defer the meeting till the 11th. of June at the Convention at New Haven. They want, Bishop Williams writes, to give me a loud call. I am sorry for this delay. It keeps us from taking action here, and creates some surprise in my mind. Bishop Williams says the action of the Board will be unanimous.

Get a letter from Bishop Coxe in reply to mine, expressing strong and painful regret at my purpose. It made me feel very badly.

May 22nd, 1867

Attend the business meeting of the Convocation in Waterloo.

May 21st, 1867

Continue this work.

May 20th, 1867

Work on the appeal, on behalf of the Diocese, to the Society for the Promotion of Religion and Learning.

May 17th, 1867

Am present at Prof. Russell’s concluding exercises with the sophomores. He wished me to see how they were profited by the instruction.

May 16th, 1867

Write part of an appeal to the Society for Promotion of Religion and Learning, as Chairman of the Committee for the Diocese.

Russell told me to-day that Dr. Metcalf was blowing away at everybody and everything about my going to leave – very cross and savage. He called to see me, but did not open his budget, and went away very abruptly – evidently in no good humor. I walked down with him after Prayers, and he was quite pleasant.

May 14th, 1867

Begin my report, for the next Diocesan Convention, on the division of the Diocese; and write part of it.

Write a long letter to Bishop Coxe, explaining my position in reference to Hartford. I did think of going to meet him in Rochester; but on the whole I was quite as willing to write – the subject of my conference with Bishop Coxe being painful, at the best, painful to both of us. 

May 11th, 1867

Dr. Metcalf talked at length with me about the Presidency, and persons who might answer for it.

May 9th, 1867

Delivered an address at DeVeaux College.

May 4th, 1867

Write to Bishop Williams, saying that after much consideration, I find it hard to say either yes or no, but that I see no reason to believe that I will fail to accept if they elect. This is an important act- fruitful in consequences. It severs me from Geneva in any event; for if now anything should happen to prevent my election, I would certainly feel bound in honor to resign my present position, and quit Geneva at the close of the present college year.  Having after long deliberation decided in favor of Trinity College against Hobart, I could not now consent to remain President of the latter. I should find some other sphere of labor. So that the determination to write the letter which has gone to-day, certainly carries me from Geneva. I cannot suffer myself to dwell on the thoughts which this prospect forces on me. Geneva must ever remain to me one of the dearest spots on earth.

Tell Dr. Rankine of my purpose. He deplores it; says he never was more hopeful of the College; that its internal condition was never so satisfactory; that public opinion in town and abroad was never so strong in its favor.

May 3rd, 1867

Dr. Metcalf talked a long time about the College, deploring my resignation, and considering who could possibly be my successor. After Prayers, when talking of the matter, he had been rude and harsh, so he came up to apologize.

May 2nd, 1867

Make out the order of studies for the term. This, the third term of the year, opened with full Morning Service at 10:30, about one-third of the students being present.

April 30th, 1867

Hartford.

Talked with Prof. Brocklesby, who asked me what I thought of coming here. I said there were some considerations in its favor – that it had seemed as if it would be pleasant to have the co-operations of old friends and pupils. He asked me if I had not had some trouble at Geneva. I replied, nothing that amounted to anything – that in the matter he referred to, the Trustees stood by me, and the thing was quite manageable. Called on Mrs. Brownell, who told me she had heard of the probability of my coming, and had cried over it for joy. She cried again over it while speaking of it to me. She has just entered her eighty-first year.

April 28th, 1867

I had considerable conversation with Bishop Williams last evening and to-day about the object of my visit- to look into the reasons for my taking the presidency of Trinity College.

April 28th, 1867

I had considerable conversation with Bishop Williams last evening and to-day about the object of my visit- to look into the reasons for my taking the presidency of Trinity College.

April 27th, 1867

New London.

Talked over very thoroughly the affairs of Trinity College with Huntington.