HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
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uted from their scanty means, $1,385. Instruction began, Nov. 24, 1828, under Rev. Edward Ames, afterwards a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1830 Bishop McKendree made a donation of land to the infant institution, and the school was named in his honor. It cannot be said to have become really a college until 1886, and its first class graduated in 1841. University powers were granted it by an amendment to its charter in 1839. At present the departments are as follows: Preparatory, business, classical, scientific, law, music and oratory. The institution owns property to the value of 890,000, including an endowment of $25,000, and has about 200 students, of both sexes, and a faculty of ten instructors. (See Colleges, Early.)
McLAREN, William Edward, Episcopal Bishop, was born at Geneva, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1831; graduated at Washington and Jefferson College (Washington, Pa.) in 1851, and, after six years spent in teaching and in journalistic work, entered Allegheny Theological Seminary, graduating and entering the Presbyterian ministry in 1860. For three years he was a missionary at Bogota, South America, and later in charge of churches at Peoria, Ill., and Detroit, Mich. Having entered -the Protestant Episcopal Church, he was made a deacon in July, 1872, and ordained priest the following October, immediately thereafter assuming the pastorate of Trinity Church, Cleveland, Ohio. In July, 1875, he was elected Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Illinois, which then included the whole State. Subsequently, the dioceses of Quincy and Springfield were erected there from, Bishop McLaren remaining at the head of the Chicago See. During his episcopate, church work has been active and effective, and the Western, Theological Seminary in Chicago has been founded. His published works include numerous sermons, addresses and poems, besides a volume entitled "Catholic Dogma the Antidote to Doubt" (New York, 1884).
McLAUGHLIN, Robert K., early lawyer and State Treasurer, was born in Virginia, Oct. 25, 1779; before attaining his majority went to Kentucky, and, about 1815, removed to Illinois, settling finally at Belleville, where he entered upon the practice of law. The first public position held by him seems to have been that of Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk of both Houses of the Third (or last) Territorial Legislature (1816-18). In August, 1819, he en
