DEWSNUP, Ernest Ritson
RITSON, DEWSNUP, PENCE, HARKNESS, BARBER, GIBBS
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/11/2016 at 14:22:51
BIOGRAPHY - ERNEST RITSON DEWSNUP
Graceland University, Lamoni, IowaErnest Ritson Dewsnup was born in Manchester, England, on April 1 [or 17], 1874, the son of Joseph and Ann (Ritson) Dewsnup.
He received his education at the University of Manchester and Owens College (Victoria University).
Professor Dewsnup arrived at Graceland in 1898 from Manchester, England, as the first person to officially hold the title of Graceland College President. He was preceded as Graceland's top administrator by Joseph T. Pence, who had held the title of "senior professor." The Board of Directors decided to offer Professor Dewsnup the position on May 13, 1898, and he was confirmed as president on June 15. Professor Dewsnup's delay in obtaining passage to America prevented him from sitting on a Board of Directors meeting until October 17, 1898. His resignation was read to the Board on June 12, 1899, although he was retained as president for the 1899-1900 school year with permission to abroad.
Professor Dewsnup was the first person to lead Graceland during two different periods: he was succeeded by Richard A. Harkness in 1900, then reassumed the position in 1903-[June] 1904 following the departure of Charles Barber. In between that time, Professor Dewsnup returned to England and obtained his M.A. degree in economics from Victoria University of Manchester.
During his second term as president, he suggested the office of voce-president be added to the college's adminstration.
After being succeeded by Rolland Stewart in June of 1904, Professor Dewsnup went to Chicago. He had expressed his wish to return to teaching and had accepted an appointment to the Chair of Railroad Economics at the University of Chicago. He later taught at Liverpool University in England.
Professor Dewsnup authored several articles which include: "Railway Organization and Working: A Series of Lecturs Delivered Before the Railway Classes of the University of Chicago" (University of Chicago Press, 1906); "The Housing Problem in England, Its Statistics, Legislation and Policy" (Manchester University Press, 1907); "Freight Car Efficiency" (Chicago, 1908); and, "Freight Classification" (LaSalle Extension University, 1913).
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OBITUARY
Emeritus Professor Ernest Ritson Dewsnup, Chaddock Professor of Commerce at Liverpool University from 1919 to 1939, has died at his home, Heybridge Houst, Burton, Wirral, at the age of 77. He was an expert in railway administration and economics, and held professorships at the Universities of Chicago and Illinois from 1904, until he accepted the Liverpool chair. For a short time, during, and after, the 1914-1918 war, he was statistical and finance officer of the Department of Military Movement at the War Office.
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NOTE: Professor Dewsnup died on May 1, 1950, Burton, Cheshire, England. Professor Dewsnup married in 1897 to Sarah Jane Gibbs, who was born on October 23, 1872, Swansea, Wales, and died March 5, 1967, Burton, Cheshire, England. They were interred at the Parish Church Graveyard, Burton, Cheshire, England. Professor Dewsnup and Sarah were the parents of 2 sons and 4 daughters: Sarah Josephine, born 1901; Edmund Ritson, born 1902; Annie Ritson, born 1903; Roger Ritson, born 1906; Ernesta Ritson; and Esther Ritson, born 1907.
SOURCES:
Howell, Prof. J.M. & Smith, Heman C. "Graceland College." History of Decatur County and Its People. Vol. 1, Chapt. 9. S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Chicago IL. 1915.
Edwards, Paul M. "The Hilltop Where. . . . An Informal History of Graceland College." p. 32. Venture Foundation. Lamoni IA. 1972.
Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.” p. 402. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.
"Who's Who: 1941-1950." p. 313.
Transcriptions and note by Sharon R Becker, January of 2016
Decatur Biographies maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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