Marvin College in Waxahachie, TX

Since I thoroughly enjoyed my excursion to Waxahachie a couple of months ago, I have decided to write a brief blog post on Marvin College, one of Waxahachie's first schools. The city's District Conference of the Methodist Church had established a district school in Waxahachie in November 1868. This academy was housed in a two-story building on the corner of Jefferson and Monroe Streets (currently where the Ellis County Women's Building sits). At the fourth session of the Northwest Texas Conference in Weatherford in November 1869, the education committee voted favorably to turn the district school into a college. The Reverend W.G. Veal was appointed financial agent, a proposal charter was drawn up, and Reverend S.D. Akin and Professor Smith Ragsdale were selected as co-presidents. Waxahachie citizens, elated at the fact that a college was going to be in their back yard, subscribed over $15,000 in cash, land, and service for the "purpose of erecting suitable school buildings and endowing a first class school, college or university, to be under the control of trustees for the M.E. Church, South, said school to be located in the town of Waxahachie, in Ellis County, Texas..." Emory W. Rogers, one of Waxahachie's elders who had been given a 640-acre grant from the state in 1849, donated 40 acres of land for the college. Reverend F.P. Ray, Board President, and secretary Sallie A. Kincheloe both played pivotal roles in whipping up support for the new school; in total, 1,500 Waxahachie townsfolk donated to the college's establishment, sums ranging from $50 to $1000. 114 students enrolled in the first year of operation, 1869-1870. Marvin College, named in honor of Bishop Enoch M. Marvin, the presiding bishop of the Trans-Mississippi Conference of the Methodist, Episcopal Church, South, opened to much success.

The Administration Building at Marvin College, c. 1871. Ellis County Historical Society.

The first administration building was completed by the fall of 1871. At a whopping cost of $22,000, the two-story, red brick, 28-foot structure was a massive undertaking for Hoffman Brothers, the contractor. The building had a 4-foot rock foundation as well as 18 inch walls. 6 classrooms and a 40-foot study hall (which could fit 300 people, according to testimonies) graced the first floor, while a large chapel (which could impressively squeeze 800 occupants) was located on the second floor. A huge bell, crafted by New York City merchants, hung in the college's clock tower-- it's booming tones to signify the start and end of the school day could be heard within a radius of five miles. A mansard roof, an comfortable feature to the dreary concrete structure, was built between 1880 and 1882. Although the college had ceased its operations much earlier, the administration building was repurposed by the new city school district at the turn of the Twentieth Century until its demolition in December 1920. The college also had two on-campus dormitories, one male and one female (in hopes of attracting far-reaching students) and a observatory. The two-story observatory, quipped by many as "the most handsome building in North Texas," housed a laboratory and a $1,200, 9-foot telescope, created by Benjamin Pike and Sons in New York City. Additionally, these buildings were razed at the start of the new century.

Marvin College, c. 1880 (just years prior to its closure). Ellis County Historical Society.

The college, a private Methodist school, required each student to attend chapel as well as enroll in Bible classes. The curriculum (at first a classical and later changed to a practical) was spread over 10 years and comprised of a variety of rigorous primary, preparatory, and collegiate classes, including geology, military science, chemistry, and telegraphy. The college also had a renowned music program, based on collegiate music programs from European universities. Owing to the challenging coursework and distinguished professors, Marvin College was "soon to be the Cambridge of Texas," reported the editor of the Waxahachie Enterprise. Although its life span was brief, Marvin College had a student band, campus newspaper, literary societies, and an alumni association. The college granted Bachelor of Arts, Mistress of Arts, Master of Arts, and Mistress of English Literature degrees. At its peak, the college had a healthy enrollment of 350 students and a handful of award-winning faculty members.

Levin Major Lewis, a former Confederate general, was the final president of Marvin College between 1879 and 1884. Prior to this appointment, he was a professor of English at Texas A&M College. In 1884, he was appointed pastor of the First Methodist Church in Dallas. FindAGrave.Com.

Despite the successes, Marvin College's life was cut short due to a big number of leadership issues and financial burdens. The college had a string of 1-year presidents between its opening in 1869 and 1876. Mrs. E.H. Horner gave the college a little boast between 1876 and 1877 when she increased the female student enrollment. However, the college had little leadership between 1877 and 1878 (Mrs. Horner retired and interim leader Charles E. Brown was too focused on other matters). The college split its ties with the Methodist Church after 1879; attorney James A. Walkup purchased the college with his own funds and selected Confederate General Levin Major Lewis as the new president. Lewis was a talented administrator and served in that top position until his sudden retirement in 1884. In addition to the unstable and non-continuous leadership, Marvin College had a debt problem. The college held a $6,000 mortgage with J.B. Watkins and Company, and unpaid tuition bills added fuel to the fire. Moreover, the college used 30 tons of expensive coal during the 1883-1884 winter, which toppled all the remaining safety financial blocks. The final straw was in the summer of 1884 when Mr. Charles E. Brown, a huge beneficiary, stopped donating money since he became associated with H.W. Graber and Company. The final commencement occurred in June 1884, and Marvin College closed its door soon after. The school buildings were repurposed, and later razed at the start of the new century.

A historical marker was erected on the former site of Marvin College in 1977 (more than 100 years after the school's closure!). Flickr.

In conclusion, Marvin College had a very successful, yet short life. In its 15-year existence, the school was a point of pride for the City of Waxahachie (and despite the constant dark financial cloud that hung over, the townsfolk still donated large sums of money and many services to ensure the college stayed afloat until the last year). Also, the college was a tribute to the Methodists of the Waxahachie District of the Northwest Texas Conference, who had conceived the idea of a first-class college and had tirelessly supported it during the joys and challenges. Marvin College holds a stoic, profound, positive place in Waxahachie's history.

Cited Sources:

Billy R. Hancock, "Marvin College," Ellis County Museum Inc., accessed July 29, 2021, https://sites.rootsweb.com/~txecm/marvin_college.htm. 

Charlie C. Haynes, Jr., "Marvin College," Handbook of Texas Online, accessed July 29, 2021, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/marvin-college. 

Edna Davis Hawkins et al., History of Ellis County, Texas (Waco: Texian, 1972). 

William Franklin Ledlow, History of Protestant Education in Texas (Ph.D. dissertation, University of Texas, 1926).