Lancaster co, NE: EDMUND BURKE FAIRFIELD, S .T. D., LL. D., Chancellor of the University of Nebraska, was born in Parkersburg, W. Va., August 7, 1821. His father was a slave-holder, but when he removed his family to Troy, Miami Co., Ohio, put in force a private proclamation of emancipation. At eight years of age the son, Edmund, commenced setting type in his father's printing office, attending school and acquiring a valuable trade, at the same time, until he was fifteen. Being sufficiently advanced at this early age, he entered Denison University, Granville, and in 1837 Marietta College. Three years later he became a student at Oberlin College, from which institution he graduated in 1842, and was soon afterwards appointed tutor of Latin and Greek. His energy of character was not satisfied merely with this occupation, but while teaching he also studied theology for three years. After spending two years in the ministry in New Hampshire, and two in Boston as Pastor of the Ruggles Street Baptist Church, Mr. Fairfield accepted a call, in 1848, to the Presidency of the Michigan Central College. The name of the institution was, in the course of seven years, changed to Hillsdale College, and it is the best possible evidence of Professor Fairfield's stability and ability of character that for twenty-one years--until 1869--he continued to retain the presidency. In the meantime, however, political and educational honors had fallen thickly upon him. During the years 1857-61 he was called by the State to assume the duties of Senator and Lieutenant- Governor, and made a wide reputation by his powerful speech on the Prohibition of Slavery in the Territories. It is said that 50,000 copies of it were published and put in circulation. In 1857, Chancellor Fairfield received from Madison University, New York, the honorary degree of LL. D., and in 1863 the Indiana University conferred the degree of D.D., upon him. From Denison University, Ohio, came the degree S. T. D. In 1863-64 Chancellor Fairfield spent ten months in an extended tour through Europe and the East. With his usual genius of improving his time to the fullest extent this trip laid the ground-work for a series of lectures which he delivered in fifteen States and which gave him an extended and enviable reputation. His lecture tour extended through Providence, Lowell, Lawrence, Concord and other leading cities in New England, New York State, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Among other topics which the lecturer treated so ably were: "Thirty-three Days in Rome," "Tent Life in Palestine" and other descriptives, in which he has few rivals. In the anti-slavery and war campaign he took a prominent part in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. In the pure field of literature, in the treatment of such subjects as "Radicalism," "Labor and Learning," etc., he has few equals on the lecture platform. Both as a lecturer and an educator Chancellor Fairfield has made his mark. During his twenty-one years as President of Hillsdale College his departments of instruction were ancient languages and mathematics, besides these which he fills at the University of Nebraska, viz.: mental, moral and political philosophy. After resigning the presidency of Hillsdale College he spent seven years in Mansfield, Ohio, and in Western Pennsylvania. In 1876 he was elected Chancellor of the University of Nebraska. For this position he was recommended, in the strongest terms by United States Senator Zach Chandler and Thomas W. Perry--by all those who had been Superintendents of Public Instruction in Michigan for fifteen years, by the Governors of the State who had served for twelve years, by Professors Olney and Boise, of the Michigan and Chicago Universities, by the presidents of ten colleges in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, by Governor Cox, of Ohio, and by a score of others distinguished throughout the country in literature and authorship. All of them had been old and familiar acquaintances. The strongest of these recommendations were from those who had been for twenty years trustees of Hillsdale College during his connection with it. Of Chancellor Fairfield's record since his connection with the University of Nebraska too much can not be said, and scores of graduates who have gone out into active life bear abundant and conclusive testimony to his worth and ability.