On Feb. 17, 1809, Miami University was chartered in Oxford. It was supposed to be built on land owned by John Cleves Symmes. He was a congressman from New Jersey who had purchased 311,682 acres between the two Miami rivers from the federal government. The sale included an agreement that Symmes would set aside land for schools. Instead, he sold the property. Pressured by the government, he tried to renege on a deal to sell half of Green Township to Elias Boudinot - to offer that land as the "college township." The courts upheld the contract with Boudinot. A congressional act of March 3, 1803, was necessary to authorize the state legislature to designate a different lot within the Cincinnati Land District. That property was selected outside the Symmes Purchase. An academy was established on the Butler County land in 1818. The first university classes started in 1824, and the first class was graduated in 1826. Despite Symmes' failure to live up to his agreement, Miami University named Symmes Hall, a student residence, after him.

Rebecca Goodman

Ohio Moments will appear here daily during 2003. Have a suggestion? Contact Rebecca Goodman at rgoodman@enquirer.com or (513) 768-8361.