William S. Denison pledged $10,000 toward the Granville College, which was a Baptist school. Honoring an earlier commitment, the trustees accordingly changed the name of the institution to Denison University. They also voted to move the college to land then available for purchase in the village of Granville. Denison died in 1880. William S. Denison William S. Denison (17941880) was a Baptist farmer who was a major benefactor and namesake of Denison University in Ohio. William S. Denison was born in Colrain, Massachusetts on November 13, 1794 as the youngest of eight children. His family was originally from Stonington, Connecticut. Denison migrated to
William S. McKinnon William S. McKinnon William Stranchon McKinnon (December 19, 1852 – November 17, 1908) was a Republican politician in the U.S. state of Ohio who was Speaker of the Ohio House and Ohio State Treasurer from 1904 to 1908. William S. McKinnon was born at Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. He was moved to Cleveland, where he grew up, and became a machinist. McKinnon relocated to Ashtabula, where he owned machine shops, was a member of the Board of Education and city council, and was Mayor of Ashtabula. He married Octavia J. Porter April 2, 1878, and had four sons and one