William E. Merriman

First president

1863-1876

On April 23, 1863, the Rev. Dr. William E. Merriman, a graduate of Williams College and Union Theological Seminary, was elected the first president of Brockway College, at a salary of $1,000 a year. He immediately relinquished his salary (except for living expenses) to bring the College out of debt. There were two unfinished buildings and a debt of $20,000. The faculty included himself and one other professor for a mere half-dozen students. Within a year, he brought East and Middle colleges to completion, liquidated the debt and obtained a new charter with the institution’s name as Ripon College.