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June 16 1886
Prof. C. E. Bessey Lincoln Neb.
Sir,
Won't you please tell me whether or not the old belief that the [rowan?] influences vegetation is an entire fallacy? May it not have some effect on the currents of protoplasm?
I am making a collection of the flowering plants of this newly organized county and have found several which are not described either in Gray's Manual or Coulter's Rocky Mountain Botany.
Could I sell such a
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William H. Willcox Clarence H. Johnston.
Willcox & Johnston, Architects.
Room 74, German American Bank Building.
Saint Paul, Minn. Dec 9th 1886
My Dear Prof. Bessey
Accompanying please send practical sketches for the building proposed to be [?] to the purposes of yourself and Prof. Hicks (with whom please talk).
I have endeavored to embody the wishes, and regiments of both, and as I understand the Meds are to have no lodgement have not provided accomodations – which however may be arranged for as originally intended if desired.
If you desire any changes, please [make?] them in pencil upon the sketch and return and we will alter plans to suit. What height of ceilings (stories) do you suggest?
With best wishes Sincerely Yours William H. Willcox
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62[0?], Cor. 8th & Park St Des Moines Jany. 20th 86
My dear Prof.
You will see by my heading that we are in Des M. We made our escape from the blizzards and other unpleasant associations to this great and glorious city for the winter. We – Prof. Stanton's family and mine – concluded that as every body else had gone from the farm we had better do so too. Accordingly we both [?] furnished quarters in the city, and have been quite sheltered during all this terrible weather; besides have had many valuable privileges and social enjoyments in the sojourn. We are warned that only about one month remains for this season of diversion, and we shall have to go back to a very disagreeable condition of things. We have a kind of a
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manual for Pres. and it would seem a sit of fools for Board of Trustees. They have put absolute power into his hands over favulty and students; this he used so cruelly last year as to expell 17 students without investigation, and with some 8 or 10 more on the rack. He dismissed one Prof. and put 6 of us on the rack. Considering now that he is only 28 yrs of age, was never in a college until he became Pres. of ours, that he has not scholarship enough to teach the simplest of our classes; has not public ability enough to make an announcement from the [?]; looks like an escaped convict; was never known to tell the truth; has not information enough to engage in conversation with any one of the faculty, unless with [?] in plotting mischief; that he was only 4 yrs in the state before he was elevated to his his
high post, some in the interval was a fugitive from justice in his own state (Indiana); that all sorts, of [?] are charged upon him – particularly, as the boys write, on the fly leaves of their Hymn-Books, is the "greatest hair in the state of Iowa" – considering all these things what very hopeful outlook can there be for our college. [?] such adventurers have not a long lease of success, and the whole city of D. M. is on the scent of him; and the legislation is in the [temper?/tamper?] to look scrutinizingly into his history. The feeling prevails here that he will be compelled to resign. I cannot see how any college could carry such a load. [?] [?] put him in; he was deceived I think, [?] I have no evidence that he has been disinchanted. If he has not been, he will have to be. I shall be very much