Washburn University was created in February 1865 as Lincoln College by a charter issued by the State of Kansas and the General Association of Congregational Ministers and Churches of Kansas. It was built on land given by abolitionist John Ritchie. The school was renamed Washburn College in 1868 after Ichabod Washburn gave $25,000 to the school. Washburn was a church deacon, abolitionist and industrialist who lived in Worcester, Massachusetts.