"The early settlers of Western Pennsylvania, like those of New England, were distinguished for love of religion and of learning. They planted the church and the school-house side by side. The first ministers who were settled in this region, early directed their attention to the raising up of a ministry at home, for the supply of the wants of the growing population. For this purpose, mainly, several of them opened classical schools, in log-cabins near their own dwellings. The Rev. Messrs. John McMillan, Joseph Smith and Thaddeus Dod, pastors of the congregations of Chartiers, Buffalo and Ten Mile, had such schools in operation between the years 1780 and 1790. The first of these men, if not the earliest, as is commonly believed, was the most efficient in this good work; and his 'Latin School' gained the most celebrity, from its intimate connection with the origin of Jefferson College. The Canonsburg Academy was commenced in 1791, under the patronage of Col. Canon, and Judges Allison, McDowell, and others. To this the pupils under the care of Dr. McMillan were soon afterward transferred." --Biographical and Historical Catalogue of Washington and Jefferson College, 1902. Three years later, March 11, 1794, this school was chartered "The Canonsburg Academy and Library Company of the Town of Canonsburg." Jefferson College succeeded the Academy and Library Company in 1802. An Act was passed, January 15, 1802, establishing a college at Canonsburg, Pa., to be called Jefferson College.

During its 64 year existence the school graduated 1936 students. Among the distinguished alumni of Jefferson College are: George Junkin (1813), author and president of Lafayette College, Miami University, and Washington College, Virginia; David McKinney (1821), founder and editor Presbyterian Banner; John Hemphill (1825), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and United States Senator; John White Geary (1839), Governor of the Territory of Kansas and of Pennsylvania; Dr. William A. Passavant (1840), founder of many orphanages and hospitals; Stephen Collins Foster, noted composer; John McDowell Leavitt (1841), author, founder and editor of International Review, and president of Lehigh University and St. John's College; Ulysses Mercur (1842), Chief Justice of Pennsylvania; Joseph R. Wilson (1844), theologian and father of Woodrow Wilson; Dr. Jonathan Letterman (1845), medical director of the Army of the Potomac in the Civil War and developer of field medical service including ambulance service to evacuate the wounded from the battle fields; Matthew S. Quay (1850), United States Senator; Benjamin H. Bristow (1851), Secretary of the Treasury; James Addams Beaver (1856), Governor of Pennsylvania; William L. Alden (1858), writer and U.S. Consul at Rome; James R. Mellon, banker and financier.