From the A R C H I V E S LETTERS to the E D I T O R GEORGE MILLER EXTENDED HIS LOVE OF HISTORY I was saddened to hear of the death of Dr. George Miller in the Ripon Alumni Newsletter. I was fortunate enough to take several classes with Dr. Miller during my years at Ripon. He was an outstanding instructor. I will always remember him as the consummate gentleman who always encouraged his students to enjoy the classes they were taking, and the experience they were having at Ripon College. Several times, the classroom discourse couldn’t be finished in the 50 minutes of class time, so he would invite the class over to his apartment later in the evening to finish our discussions. He would instruct Jack Bennett and I to “bring potato chips and pretzels,” and he would provide the coffee or soft drinks. Those were special evenings and moments for everyone. Dr. Miller opened his home to us and opened our minds to the study of history. I believe everyone knew that we were privileged that he would share his knowledge with us, as well. TERRY CAPES ’71 WAUWATOSA, WIS.
WRONG NANCARROW I was pleased to receive my copy of the Ripon Magazine for the summer, and I am impressed with the new all-color format. I must, however, point out an error in the Class Notes section. On page 20, next to an item in which Phil Nancarrow speaks of his leukemia diagnosis, you’ve printed my picture. Phil is my cousin, and he graduated from Ripon 13 years before I did. It’s an understandable mistake — you have three Nancarrows among the alumni, two Pauls and a Phil. But I’m sure that Phil’s friends who are concerned about his illness are also now wondering what happened to his face! PAUL S. NANCARROW ’78 STAUNTON, VA. (Editor’s note: We apologize for the error. Philip Nancarrow ’65 has since died. His obituary and proper photograph can be found on Page 31.) SUBMIT YOUR LETTER TO: Letters to the Editor, Ripon Magazine, PO Box 248, Ripon WI 549710248 or email aldersonj@ripon.edu
Diploma gift prompts search into Davies’ story A shining example of an accomplished life was recalled when the College recently received a donation of an original diploma from 1877. The diploma is printed in Latin on sheepskin and is signed by Ripon College’s second president, Edward H. Merrell (1876-1891). It is the first of three diplomas presented by Ripon College to the Rev. David Davies (1845-1902). At the time of his death, he was a trustee of Ripon College and had been pastor of the Welsh Calvanistic Methodist Church in Oshkosh for nearly 25 years. Davies entered Ripon in 1868 and graduated from its “classical course” of study in 1877 after delays due to finances. After completing the theological course at Lane Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio, he subsequently Photo courtesy of the Oshkosh Public Museum, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. All rights reserved. received from Ripon a master’s degree in 1887 and an honorary doctorate of divinity in 1898. For several years, he was president of the Ripon College Alumni Association, and he served as a trustee from 1891 until his death. Davies was born at Prion, near Denbigh, Wales, May 2, 1845. He came to America in 1865 and lived with his parents, Ioan “John” and Elizabeth Davies, on a farm about 10 miles south of Oshkosh. He worked as a carpenter before joining the ministry. He was married twice and had five children. He wrote several books, including a Sunday school lesson book on 1 Samuel for the Welsh Sunday schools of America and Wales; and a Welsh and English catechism. For five years, he was the first editor of The Lamp, the Welsh Christian Endeavor Magazine. Available at Lane Library is his book “Welsh Settlement Centennial 1847-1947.” It is a translation of “Hayes y Cymry” (History of the Welsh) the jubilee book of 1897, giving the history of the Welsh in the Wisconsin counties of Winnebago and Fond du Lac. The original portion was edited by Davies, and it was translated into English in 1947 and supplemented with additional chapters by his son, the Rev. Howell D. Davies. Davies died of consumption in 1902. At his funeral, 28 ministers attended from around the country, and the many speakers included President Merrell. At its next meeting in June 1903, the Ripon Board of Trustees resolved: “… We record our deep sense of loss and bereavement. His high pure vision, his faithfulness to the College trusts, his fine clear sense of right, his firm faith in the Christian mission and future of the College, his painstaking attention to its calls and loyalty to its noblest traditions, made him an invaluable trustee and a man to be honored.” The diploma is in an aged condition and in need of restoration work at this time. n WINTER 2012
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