Edgar Stanton

From Rofflehaus

Edgar "Stanty" Williams Stanton (October 3, 1850 – September 12, 1920) was a member of the first graduating class of 1872 and sought the building of the campanile.

Stanton was born in Waymart, Wayne county, Pennsylvania and was educated at Waymart Normal Institute and Delaware Literary Institute prior to coming to Iowa in 1869 to attend Iowa Agricultural College. He graduated three years later with the class of 1872 and was the first person to receive a diploma. Shortly after graduating in November 1872, he was elected a member of the faculty.

Before his death on September 12, 1920 he occupied the positions:

• Economics Department Chair
• Head of the Department of Mathematics from 1876 to 1920
• Professor of the Department of Mathematics from 1872 to 1920
• Secretary of the Board of Trustees from 1874 to 1909
• Dean of the Junior College
• Vice President
• Acting President
  1. 1890 – 1891 (interim between William Chamberlain and William Beardshear)
  2. 1902 – 1903 (interim between William Beardshear and Albert Storms)
  3. 1910 – 1912 (interim between Albert Storms and Raymond Pearson)
  4. 1917 – 1918 (during Raymond Pearson's presidency)

When his first wife, Margaret MacDonald Stanton, died on July 25, 1895 he chose a site on Cantral Campus north of the Memorial Union with the help of president William Beardshear. The first 10 bells of the carillon were dedicated in Margaret's memory.

When Stanton himself died on September 12, 1920, his second wife, Julia Wentch Stanton, asked for an additional 26 bells be installed with the estated he had willed to the university. The, now, 36 bell carillon was named the Edgar W. and Margaret MacDonald Stanton Memorial Carillon and remains so named today.

George Washington Carver said the following about Stanton:

Stanton, "Stanty," as he was affectionately called, did all within his power to enthuse, and inspire in me the science of plane geometry, but, having such poor material to work with, his efforts were not crowned with very brilliant success, which of course was not his fault.

Prof. Stanton was the finest teacher of Mathematics I have ever seen. He was universally loved by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

[edit] See also

• Stanton Avenue and Stanton House (north Friley Hall) is named after Stanton