Magoun, Dr. G.F. 1821-1896

MAGOUN, HYDE, EARLE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/30/2012 at 08:14:27

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Jan. 31, 1896

DR. G.F. MAGOUN
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President of Iowa College from '65 to '84, died on Wednesday Morning at 1:30.
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FUNERAL AT THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
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Rev. George F. Magoun, D.D., died at 1:30 A.M. Thursday, at his home in Grinnell, Iowa, of heart failure after an illness of several weeks.

Dr. Magoun was born in Bath, Maine, March 29, 1821. He graduated from Bowdoin College with high rank in 1841, and studied theology at Andover and Yale Seminaries. He came west and was principal of an academy in Plattsville, Wisconsin, for some time and was then successively pastor of churches in Galena, Illinois, and in Davenport and Lyons, Iowa.

He was elected president of Iowa College in 1862, but before entering on his office he spent some time in Europe and in further work of the ministry. He began teaching in March, 1865, and entered upon the duties of the presidency of an infant college with great zeal and energy, and prosecuted them through difficulties and discouragements with distinguished ability and success for twenty years. He resigned the presidency in 1884, but he still continued for some time to teach in his favorite department, mental and moral philosophy. He had secured for the college considerable means and endowments; had drawn to it the attention and sympathy of christian men and scholars througout the country. He left it with a reputation for sound scholarship and christian influence that was drawing large and increasing patronage from all parts of the state and the country. It was foundation work he was doing--much of it never to be seen of men. Yet multitudes in this and other lands are living witnesses to its strength and enduring reality.

Since his resignation Dr. Magoun has led a quiet yet busy life at his home. He has been a frequent contributor to religious and literary journals east and west. His pen has been especially busy of late in aid of prohibition in Iowa. His influence and wise counsels in every good cause, and especially in foreign missionary work, will be greatly missed.

Dr. Magoun was twice married--in 1847 to Miss Abbie Anne Hyde, of Bath, Maine, and in 1870 to Miss Elizabeth Earle, of Brunswick, Maine, who survives him. Of the twelve children born to him three only survive, a son, and a daughter of the first marriage, Mrs. Professor S.G. Barnes, of Longmeadow, Massachusetts; and of the second marriage, Mrs. Jesse A. Miller, of Des Moines.