Thaddeus Reade

Thaddeus Reade. . , Thaddeus C. Reade (1846-1902) served as the president of Taylor University from 1891 to 1902, led the relocation of the institution from Ft. Wayne to Upland in the summer of 1893, wrote a biography of Samuel Morris, sustained the University with his personal funds, and helped construct the first Morris Hall dormitory. He is the namesake for both the Reade Memorial Liberal Arts Building on Taylor's campus and for Reade Avenue in Upland., Born with a strong work ethic, Reade paid his own way through college with his axe. Several acres of fields in northwestern Ohio were initially cleared for the plow by his labors. For a time he was a circuit riding minister in that same region., Shortly after taking the Taylor presidency, while preaching in the Upland Methodist Church, Dr. Reade met Rev. John C. White, and the two men, along with J.W. Pittinger, worked to relocate Taylor to Upland, which was then experiencing the benefits of the Gas Boom. Local citizens provided $10,000 and 10 acres of free land to assist with the move. The family of Jacob Bugher-who helped found Upland-was closely involved in the move as well, and Dr. John Bugher, class of 1921, went on to become one of Taylor's most distinguished graduates., Initially, most students lived in private homes and classes were typically held in the Methodist church. For several years, Reade maintained the president's office in downtown Upland. The first dormitory in Upland, Samuel Morris Hall, was constructed in 1894 thanks to the personal generosity of Dr. Reade. The current Morris Hall is the third such structure to bear the name, and is designed to mirror the architecture of Taylor's original academic building from the 1840s., To further sustain the institution in the early years in Upland, Dr. Reade contributed a substantial portion of his own money, including proceeds from his biography of Samuel Morris, to pay faculty salaries and to cover other costs., Reade gave his full measure to sustain the college and is buried on campus. His grave is just west of Helena Memorial Hall.