MacKintosh - George Lewes - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Dr. George Lewes MacKintosh, 72, President Emeritus of Wabash College died of bronchial pneumonia at his residence, 609 Crawford St, Monday night at 9:40. The former Psresident of Wabash College was taken seriously ill Thursday shortly before noon. He lapsed into a coma and was conscious only intermittently until his time of death. The widely known educator and theologian was first stricken last December. His illness prevented him from conducting the funeral of Theodore H. Ristine, friend intimate and associate of many years. Dr. MacKintosh was associated with Wabash College for over a ½ century. His name was synonymous with that of the school he attended as a student and served as instructor, professor and president. He was born in Antogonish, Nova Scotia Jan 1, 1860, the son of John and Elizabeth Bruce MacKintosh. His boyhood days were spent in Nova Scotia and Canada. He entered Wabash preparatory school spending two years there. He then entered the college graduating in 1884 with a bachelor of arts degree. He received the master of arts degree in 1887. Later he graduated from the Lane Theological seminar, Cincinnati. He was awarded the doctor of divinity degree by Wooster College in 1903 and the doctor of laws degree by Hanover in 1908. He was ordained in the Presbyterian ministry in 1889 and 1891 assumed the pastorate at the 4th church in Indianapolis serving until 1907. From 1905-07 he acted as instructor in Wabash College, teaching classes at the local school while holding the pastorate in Indianapolis. On April 1, 1907 George Lewes MacKintosh was inaugurated as President of Wabash College, succeeding Dr. William Patterson Kane. Dr. MacKintosh served as president of Wabash until 1926, then retired. He was succeeded by Dr. Louis Bertram Hopkins, the present head of the institution. Dr. MacKintosh was 1st married to Martha Garfield Stowe of Montreat, NC on Sept 11, 1902 who passed away several years later. He was married to Jean Mitchell of Lafayette, In., June 17, 1912. During his connection with Wabash Dr. MacKintosh made thousands of friends, all of whom will mourn his loss. His ability as an educator was recognized nationally as was attested by the many honors conferred on the local school while he was President. Every Wabash man was counted as a son by Dr. MacKintosh and his wife, Jean MacKintosh. Ever solicitous of the welfare and the student, he won and merited the undying affection of every Wabash man with whom he came in contact. While to Wabash College Dr. Mac was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and members of that organization showed their high respect for him by working at his home in relays during his fatal illness. “Doc Mack,´ as he was affectionately known to all his students was wonderfully well versed in classical literature. After his retirement as President of the College, Dr. MacKintosh spent his time in travel and study, supplementing an already voluminous knowledge. Although it was not generally known that the former president of the school was seriously ill, members of his family and close friends were literally besieged with inquiries as to his health during the past few days.

He was a member of the local Masonic lodge; Ouitaenon club and numerous other local fraternal organizations. He was also a member of the Indianapolis Presbytery. Surviving Dr. Mac are his widow, Mrs. Jean MacKintosh; six children: Marjorie Jean; Duncan; John; William; Jean Argyle and Margot Ellen; two sisters, Mrs. Morse and Mrs. Nelson of Massachusetts and a sister-in-law Mrs. Duncan MacKintosh of Vancouver, BC. Two children preceded Dr. MacKintosh in death. Roderick passed away 14 years ago and the age of 17 with pneumonia. One daughter, Josephine die din infancy in 1913. Two brothers also preceded him in death. One, John MacKintosh was killed in a mountain slide in BC 12 years ago and another, Duncan died at Vancouver a little more than a year ago. While in Wabash, Dr. MacKintosh won considerable fame as an orator. He won the Baldwin oratorical contest and later captured the state contest. He placed 2nd in the interstate competition. While in the pulpit and classroom he taught his congregation and students the wholesome doctrines of the Lord. While president of the college his daily chapel talks were eagerly awaited by the student body for their frequent philosophical gems. With Dr. Mac at the time of his death was his wife, who has been in constant attendance to him since stricken with his fatal illness. Although he was conscious only at intervals, members of his family held steadfast faith in his recover until the end. In 1928 Dr. MacKintosh was the Democratic nominee in the race for rep to the US congress from the 9th district. He polled a large Democratic vote in the counties that made up the 9th district. A Presbyterian minister of more than state wide note, it was to that profession that he devoted his earlier years. The fire of his eloquence, the ability to impress others with the firmness of his convictions, won him recognition as a religious leader. He also participated in important oratorical contests, being the recipient of high honors on several occasions. 18 year sin the ministry gave D.r Mac a splendid foundation for the 2nd step of his life work –- that of heading a college devoted only to the education of young men. So, when in 1907, he left his charge in Indianapolis to assume the presidency of the local college, he was welcomed not only as a leader but as a son of the school. Conservative, but friendly, he held the respect not only of every member of the faculty but of the student body to a man. Of the little more than 400 young men who annually attend Wabash, the tall spare figure of the president became a familiar sight and he was ever ready to lend personal assistance to the students. His lectures in philosophy, which he gave regularly for several years, on occasions bordered on being classic. He was a deep student of the Bible. After placing the institution on the soundest financial and academic footing that it had enjoyed since its founding in 1832. Dr. Mac resigned the presidency after 20 years´ tenure of the office. He was succeeded in 1926 by Dr. Louis B. Hopkins. During the 20 years that he was at the helm, Dr. Mac saw the endowment of Wabash increase to more than twice what it was in 1907, although it did little more than keep pace with the growing funds of neighboring institutions. Substantial subscriptions were obtained from the Rockefeller Foundation and the general board of education of the Presbyterian church. Little physical expansion was undertaken, the principal force of the new revenue being directed into expansion and improvement of the curriculum and faculty. As a memorial to the Wabash men who entered the country´s service in time of war a gymnasium was built and a new athletic field was laid out. To keep pace with the advancing tide of education, several of the departments undertook to modernize their courses, especially those of economic character, but Dr MacKintosh a classicist himself had little sympathy with vocational tendencies and made no effort to change the traditional liberal arts character of his alma mater.