To the office thus vacated Thomas Branch, Esq., of Richmond, Va., was elected. He was the only layman ever elected to that office.
Mr. Branch had been a trustee for thirty years. He was one of the most zealous and constant friends the College had. His donations to the College had been frequent and liberal. He had been largely instrumental in having the College moved to Ashland. Recognizing the faithful service and devotion of Mr. Branch to the College, the Board thus unanimously elected him president. At the same time Rev. Alpheus W. Wilson, of the Baltimore Conference, was unanimously elected vice-president.
[Illustration: GEORGE MERRITT NOLLEY, A. M.]
The attendance of students for the closing year had been 235, one in excess of the previous year's number.
In the record of this year the regular report of the President and
Faculty is not found, though doubtless one was made.
On the recommendation of the Faculty, the following degrees were conferred:
A. M.—George Merritt Nolley, of Virginia; Robert Emory Blackwell, of
Virginia.
D. D.—Rev. C. Green Andrews, of Mississippi; Rev. William A. Harris,
President of the Wesleyan Female Institute, Staunton, Va.
On motion of Rev. J. C. Granbery, the following was adopted:
"Whereas, since the last annual meeting of the Board the venerated Bishop John Early, for many years the president of the Board, has been taken from us by death: therefore,