Transcribed from volume II of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... / with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar.

Marvin, James, third chancellor of the University of Kansas, was born in Peru, Clinton county, N. Y., Aug. 17, 1820. His childhood and youth were spent on his father's farm. His early education was obtained in the common schools of the township and in the Keeseville and Alfred academies. He engaged in teaching during the winter months in rural districts until 1849, at which time he entered Allegheny College, where he was graduated in 1851 and was appointed professor of mathematics in Alfred Teachers' Seminary in New York. In 1854 he went to Warren, Ohio, as superintendent of the city schools and remained there until 1862, when he returned to Allegheny College as professor of mathematics. On Nov. 19, 1874, he was elected chancellor of the University of Kansas, resigned from Allegheny College, and assumed control of the university early in the winter. The institution under his administration made considerable progress notwithstanding adverse conditions. He served for eight years and eight months, and in the autumn of 1880 accepted the superintendency of Haskell Institute, the government school for Indians at Lawrence, Kan. Dr. Marvin spent eighteen months organizing Haskell, but resigned because he thought the school needed a younger man. In early life he had become a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in 1847 was given permit to preach that faith. When he resigned from the Indian school he accepted the pastorate of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Lawrence. He was pastor five years, and during the last two years a new church edifice was erected at the cost of $40,000. In 1865 the degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by Alfred University and in 1883 that of LL. D. by the University of Kansas. On July 14, 1851, he married Armina Le Suer. To them were born two children, a son, Frank O., who is dean of the engineering school of the University of Kansas, and a daughter, Armina, wife of Prof. A. F. Wilcox of Lawrence.

Page 245 from volume II of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... / with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar. Transcribed July 2002 by Carolyn Ward.