USA > Ohio > Ohio's progressive sons; a history of the state; sketches of those who have helped to build up the commonwealth > Part 72
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B. O. MARTIN
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and has faithfully performed his work and won the respect of his people. Mr. Martin is an advocate of thorough, practical education, a firm believer in self-control in High Schools, and a deep thinker for himself. Frank in speech and full of spirit and energy, he is a leader among men. Endowed with more than his share of backbone, he sometimes makes enemies by standing firmly on his convictions, but he is broad-minded enough to give other men the right of their own convictions, and can give his antagonists credit for their true worth. Mr. Martin is a writer and orator of some merit and does excellent work as an institute instructor in history and kindred subjects. While it may be a mis- fortune to be born poor, Mr. Martin has made most of his opportunities, and bids fair to run well the race of life.
Clement Luther Martzolff,
Now Superintendent of Schools at New Lexington, Perry County, Ohio, was born seven miles southwest of that village in Mon- daycreek Township, on the 25th of November, 1869. His grandparents, paternal and mater- nal, came from Alsace, Germany, in 1834, and settled on the farm upon which he was born. Here he lived until he was twenty-two years of age. His time was spent in working on the farm and going to the district school. At the age of nineteen he began teaching, and he has devoted his time to that profession, with the exception of different periods, when he has done college work-first at Capital University, Columbus, Ohio; later at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, and more recently at Harvard University. From the time he began he has been considered a leading teacher of his county. His experience has covered a wide range of work. From the country school, the CLEMENT LUTHER MARTZOLFF village district school, township High School, the Superintendency of Schools and normal work, he has had a varied course. One year also he had charge of a parochial school at Circleville, Ohio. Superintendent Martzolff served with credit for six years upon the County Board of Examiners. He has held various positions in the County Institute, and has been a strong advocate of more profes- sionalism and better training among the teachers. He championed the cause of the Ohio Teachers' Reading Circle, and urged it upon the teachers.
At the age of sixteen Mr. Martzolff began the practice of writing and speaking, in both of which he excels. By writing for the county papers and attending the debating societies in the neighborhood he rapidly gained a reputation in both. His writings on various sub- jects are read with interest, while his reputation as a public speaker extends to the bounds of the State. During the winter season he delivers many lectures to popular audiences, and in the spring and early summer months he is in much demand for commencement addresses. He also does institute work before the teachers in different counties.
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Mr. Martzolff has always been an omnivorous reader, especially of history. He has taken special interest in the history of his own county and State. A few years ago he published a neat little history of his native county, which was enthusiastically received by the people. He has done considerable original research along these lines, among the most important result of which is his more recent history of "Zane's Trace-the First Roadway in Ohio." Mr. Martzolff is a life member of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society, and at the time of election and for several years subsequently had the distinction of being the youngest member. He is now one of the trustees and a member of the Executive Committee. If Superintendent Martzolff can be said to have a "hobby," it is along the lines of geology. Even in childhood he had the back yard filled with curious-shaped stones and varied colored pebbles and limestone fossils. This grew upon him, and while he has never made the subject a deep study, there are few men who are better acquainted with the geology and geography of his and adjoining counties. A geological map of Perry County, published several years since, has been widely used by men interested in the mineral deposits of that region. He has for a number of years been a member of the National Geographical Society.
In religious faith the subject of this sketch is a Lutheran. He was reared in this church, and has been a communicant member since he was fifteen years of age. He is active in his church duties, and has filled many places of responsibility and honor in his denomination. In politics he is a Democrat, and in the councils of that party he holds no mediocre position. He has served with credit on various boards and delegations, and fre- quently presides at conventions. He has, no doubt, presented in nominating speeches more candidates than any other man in his county. For four years he represented his party on the Board of Elections.
In his domestic life, Superintendent Martzolff has been fortunate in the selection of a wife. He married in 1894 Miss Candus Mace, a prominent and successful teacher of his county. Mrs. Martzolff has been truly a help- mate to him. Her intellectual abilities and her social qualities have in a great measure assisted in the success of her husband. They have a beautiful home in New Lexington, filled with books and everything that pertains to the home of a liberal-minded and cultured family.
George C. Maurer,
Superintendent of the Public Schools at New Philadelphia, Ohio, was born on the 4th of September, 1862, at Bolivar, Ohio. He is the son of Jacob Maurer and Margareth Maurer, the former being a native of Germany, who came with his father to this country in 1836 when a boy. The mother was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born near Philadel- phia. Mr. George C. Maurer's father was one of the most successful farmers in the State. He owned a large and well-improved farm near Bolivar, Ohio. It was his pride and
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ambition to raise the finest live stock and have the most luxurious crops in his neighbor- hood, as well as to rear most carefully his family of boys and girls. In the country schools, at Smithville Academy, the Ohio Normal University and the University of Wooster, Ohio, Mr. Maurer obtained his education. At the latter institution he received the Edward Taylor Prize Scholarship in 1888, for the highest class standing during the Freshman and Sophomore years in a large class. He graduated from that seat of learning in June, 1890. Since graduating from Wooster University he has done special work with the leading pro- fessors of Clark, Chicago, Harvard and Cornell Universities. He holds the degree of Ph.M., given to him in 1893, from Wooster. At the early age of seventeen years he began teaching school in the rural districts of Tuscarawas and Stark Counties, and for six years his name is to be found enrolled among the teachers of the country and village schools. Immediately upon graduating from college in 1890, Mr. Maurer became Superintendent of Schools at Loudonville, Ohio. After serving in that capacity for three years he was elected to the Superintendency of the New Philadelphia schools, in which position he is now serving his twelfth year. These schools have steadily grown in efficiency under the administration of Mr. Maurer, and are now classed among the finest in the State. The pri- mary schools have been graded, with three divisions to each grade, so that pupils failing need not go over an entire year's work a second time, but need only to review one-third of a year's work. Bright pupils can easily gain time by this system without skipping any work, thus enabling them, under what is known as the "New Philadelphia" system," in many cases to save one year's time. The New Philadelphia High School has one of the best courses in the State. Its graduates are recognized for their thorough preparation and excellent habits of study in all the leading colleges. A diploma from there at once gives the graduate a pres- tige and recognition for thorough scholarship and training. On the 29th of July, 1891, he was married to Miss Georgia Pocock, of Wooster, Ohio, and by that union he is the father of a son, Horace, now thirteen years old. Mr. Maurer has been a church member since his early childhood. His pew is never vacant when he is in his home city.
J. L. McDonald,
Superintendent of Schools in the city of Wellsville, Columbiana County, Ohio, has spent a life-time, not only in the same field of labor, but also in the same position which he now occupies. Mr. McDonald, the veteran Superintendent of Schools of his home city, has filled his present office for more than thirty years, a record it is doubtful if any other man in Ohio has duplicated. He has guided the intellectual and moral growth and development of many thousands who are now and have been instrumental in the shaping of the destiny of our great State. Three generations have come under his supervision, and there is many a grandparent in the northeastern part of Ohio who spent his last years of school life under the direction of Mr. McDonald. He enjoys a wide popularity in his home county, not only by reason of his splendid abilities as an instructor, but also by reason of his many sterling qualities. He is a keen student of human nature, and takes a deep interest in the develop- ment of the youthful mind that comes under his care. Having been all his life a stalwart Republican, he was induced during the summer of 1904 by his many friends in his party to become a candidate for the office of Auditor of Columbiana County. He consented to have his name brought before the people for that position, but was defeated for the nom- ination by trickery and chicanery. However, his friends insisted that he should become an independent candidate for that office, and 2,500 voters petitioned the Board of Elections to place Mr. McDonald's name on the ticket as an independent candidate. He was defeated, however, owing to the fact that many voters misconstrued the meaning of the ticket which
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they voted. Mr. McDonald has always taken the most lively interest in all educational matters of the State, and he is well and favor- ably known as lecturer in many teachers' institutes. He is a married man, and resides at Tenth and Walnut Streets, Wellsville, Ohio.
Allen W. Mckay,
Superintendent of the Public Schools at Middleport, Ohio, was born on the 13th of January, 1868, at Portland, Ohio. He is the son of Ruben and Irene (Lockhart) Mckay, the former being a farmer and a native of Virginia and the latter a native of Ohio. His parents are of Scotch-Irish descent, who for many generations have resided in the Eastern States. His father's ancestors fought in Greene's army in the Carolinas, and his mater- nal grandfather in the War of 1812, being present at the surrender of Detroit. Mr. Mckay received his education in the common ALLEN W. MCKAY schools and at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, graduating from the same in 1896. In 1887, when nineteen years of age, he began teaching, to obtain the necessary funds for his further education. Prior to that time he was engaged in farming. For three years Mr. Mckay was Principal of the school at Racine, Ohio, and was Principal of the Pomeroy High School for one year. He has occupied his present position as Superintendent of the public schools of Middleport since 1901, and his work in that locality has been very successful and gratifying. Mr. Mckay is a member of the K. of P., and of the Methodist faith. He is President of the Meigs County Teachers' Institute, and resides at Middleport.
WILLIAM MCKENDREE VANCE
William McKendree Vance,
Superintendent of the Public Schools of Miamisburg, and an educator of recognized authority, was born on the 3d of March, 1858, in Champaign County, six miles east of Urbana, Ohio. He is of Scotch-Irish descent on his father's side, and of English ancestry on his mother's. His parents, Rev. John Vance and Mary Elizabeth Vance, are both natives of Ohio. His great-grandfather came from North Carolina and settled in Kentucky. The original Vance family emigrated to this coun- try before the War of the Revolution, and the name is enrolled on the roster of the Revolutionary army, while his ancestors on his
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mother's side also fought on the battlefields of the Revolution and of the War of 1812. Mr. Vance's elementary education was obtained in a number of different schools, due to the fact that his father was an itinerant minister. He was graduated from the Urbana High School in 1876; later he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, graduating from that well-known institution in 1883, receiving the degree of A. B., and afterwards that of A.M. At the early age of fifteen years he began to teach in a country school located thirteen miles east of Springfield, Ohio. By his own unaided efforts he paid for his education through High School and college. After graduation from the High School and prior to his college course, he taught for one year in the neighborhood of Springfield, and for two years in Hamilton County. During the last two years of his college career he was employed by the University as instructor in preparatory classes. After leaving college he was for one year Principal of the High School of Gallipolis; for the same length of time instructor in mathematics in Kenyon Military Academy at Gambier; Principal of the High School at Washington C. H. for one year, and for five years Principal of the Urbana High School. At the expiration of that time he was elevated to the position of Superintendent of Schools in the latter place, which he held for ten years. During this time he established his reputation as one of the foremost educators of the State, always advocating progressive ideas in educational practice. Four years ago he was elected Superintendent of Schools at Miamisburg, and has recently been re-elected to this office for a period of three years. Mr. Vance has done a great deal of work in teachers' institutes, and has lectured in almost half the counties of the State. He has contributed to a number of educational periodicals. For ten years he was a member of the Board of Examiners of Champaign County, and for thirteen years he belonged to the City Board of Examiners of Urbana and Miamisburg. He is a member of the National Educational Association, the Ohio State Teachers' Association, the Central Ohio Teachers' Association, and the Southwestern Ohio Teachers' Association. For four years he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Central Ohio Teachers' Association, and for one year was its President, when it was the largest educational body in the country save the National Association. He is also Chairman of the Executive Committee of the S. W. O. T. A. He is a member of all of the Masonic bodies of the York Rite, and has been the presiding officer of each. In 1884 Mr. Vance was married to Miss Amy Sutherland, of Cincinnati. He is the father of four children, two girls and two boys. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and is the Superintendent of the Sunday School. 'His residence is located at 24 South Fifth Street, Miamisburg, Ohio.
WILLIAM HENRY MECK
William Henry Meck,
Teacher of American History and Civil Government in the Senior classes of Steele High School, Dayton, Ohio, was born on the 19th of June, 1865, at Broken Sword, Ohio, the son of John F. and Christina Meck.
Mr. Meck is a typical Buckeye - born, reared and educated in Ohio. He embodies,
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besides the highest intellectual and moral traits and qualities, that honest aggressiveness long since identified with her sons; his prominent connection with the representative schools of the State has kept him in close touch with the system of education, enabling him to con- serve the best interests of pupils, teachers, officers and patrons.
His advancement in his professional career is but natural and legitimate when his broad preparation by education, training and experience is considered. Naturally of scholarly instincts, he early took advantage of the best facilities, and in 1888 was graduated from the Ohio Normal University ; later entering the Ohio Wesleyan University, he graduated from that splendid old institution in 1894, with high honors and the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Continuing his scholastic pursuits, Mr. Meck has won recognition from the Miami University, which in 1898 conferred on him the degree of Master of Arts. In addition, he holds High School certificates from Ohio and Michigan. . He has frequently been called upon to address teachers' associations and to lecture before institutes. In 1898 he was chosen President of the High School section of the Ohio State Teachers' Association.
Mr. Meck combines in a marked degree the attainments of a scholar and the rare quali- ties of a true teacher ; his nine years' work in the Steele High School is of itself an enviable record and a, fitting testimonial of his superior qualifications as an instructor. He is also fortunate in an intimate knowledge of men and affairs, and his genial social qualities are evidenced by his wide acquaintance with the leading men in the educational and business world. Mr. Meck is prominent in fraternal circles.
In 1898, Mr. Meck was appointed member of the State Board of School Examiners, and after the expiration of his first term he was reappointed, in 1903. His reappointment is the first instance of the kind since the five-year law went into effect, fifteen years ago. Mr. Meck is the only High School man ever accorded the honor of a place on the State Board of School Examiners, a gracious compliment to his broad culture and executive ability.
Mr. Meck in politics is a staunch Repub- lican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the Tribe of Ben Hur and a thirty-second-degree Mason. He is a single man, and a member of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, Day- ton, Ohio.
Harvey C. Minnich,
Dean of the Ohio State Normal College of Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, was born on the Ioth of March, 1861, in Montgomery County, Ohio, one mile west of Union, Ran- dolph Township. His father, Adam Minnich, was a successful farmer, and like his mother, Elizabeth Zeigler, a resident and native of Ohio, and a descendant of the sturdy Penn- sylvania Germans who migrated to Ohio in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. Dean Minnich received his education in the district schools of Darke County, the Green- ville High School, the Ohio Northern Uni- versity, the Ohio Wesleyan University, and Harvard University, and has received the
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degrees of M.Sc. and A.M. His career as an educator touches almost all phases of public school work. In 1879 he began teaching in the district schools, and wrought in this capacity three years. He was Principal of the schools at Castine, Ohio, in 1881-1882; of the Pyrmont village schools in 1883-1884, and again of the Castine schools from 1885-1887. In 1889 he was elected Superintendent of the Hutchinson public schools, in Kansas, and served until 1892, resigning in October, 1892, to accept a call to the Superintendency of the Hillsboro (Ohio) public schools. He served on the Board of Education in Hillsboro from 1892 to 1902, resigning to become Superintendent of the public schools at Middletown, Ohio. In 1903 he was elected to the Deanship of the newly created Ohio State Normal College of Miami University. For a number of years Dean Minnich filled the position of County and City School Examiner. He has been closely identified with the educational interests of the State for the last twelve years, and has lectured widely in institutes and educational con- ventions. He is President of the Central Ohio Teachers' Association, a member of the National Educational Association, the Harvard Teachers' Association, Society of College Teachers of Education. Socially, he is a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, and is a Knight Templar. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and represented his church as lay delegate in the General Conferences of 1900 and 1904. Bertha B. Minnich became his wife on the 25th of February, 1889, and to this union were born two children, Dwight Elmer, born on the 28th of January, 1890, and Helen Marguerite, born on the 5th of February, 1896.
R. W. Mitchell,
Superintendent of Schools of the historic city of Defiance, undoubtedly belongs to the the most efficient and able educators in the northwestern part of Ohio, and thanks to his energy and ability the schools of Defiance compare favorably in all grades with any similarly situated in Ohio. Under his able Superintendency the schools are proficient in all details, and the advancement made by the pupils is satisfactory from all points of view. Mr. Mitchell is interested in all educational move- ments of the State, and he has always taken an active part in school work throughout Ohio, since he began teaching, when a young man. He has a wide experience in all kinds of educational work, having served in all grades of teachers' work. Prior to his election to the Superintendency of the Defiance schools, he was for a number of years Principal of the High School in his home city.
W. H. MITCHELL
W. H. Mitchell,
Superintendent of the public schools of New London, O., and a member of the State Board of Teachers' Examiners, is one of the best educators in the State of Ohio. Progressive, intelligent and energetic, under his direction the schools of New London occupy an enviable position among the schools of Ohio. Mr. Mitchell is the youngest son of Rev. Waiter and Mary E. Mitchell, and was born in Boone-
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ville, Warrick County, Indiana, on the 3d of August, 1853. At an early age he came with his parents to Ohio, and obtained his preliminary education in the public schools of Gal- lipolis, Ohio, and his collegiate training at Marietta, Ohio, from which institution he grad- uated in 1874 with the degree of A.B., later receiving the degree of A.M. Returning to the town of his boyhood after graduation from college, Mr. Mitchell immediately engaged in the profession of teaching, accepting the position of Principal of Gallia Academy, at Gal- lipolis. He was at once appointed a member of the Board of Examiners of Gallia County, and that of the city of Gallipolis, serving as clerk of both Boards until 1883, when he resigned from his different positions in Gallia County to accept the Superintendency of the Mon- roeville public schools. He continued in that capacity for fifteen consecutive years. For a number of years during the latter part of that period he was also Superintendent of the Ridgefield Township public schools. In February of 1885 he was appointed a member of the Huron County Board of School Examiners, on which body he is still serving. In August, 1898, he was called to New London to the Superintendency of the public schools of that place, a position he occupies at the present time. In 1879 he received a High School life certificate. There are few educators in the State of Ohio who have had the long and varied experiences in teaching that have been enjoyed by Mr. Mitchell. He has taught in the sub-district schools, been Principal of an academy, Superintendent of town and township public schools; served on city, county and State Boards of School Examiners, to which latter Board he was appointed by State School Commissioner Bonebrake ; he has been later employed as an institute and summer school instructor, and repeatedly honored with places upon the program of county, district, State and National teachers' associations. On the Ist of May, 1879, Mr. Mitchell was married to Clara C. Langley, of Gallipolis, the youngest daughter of the late W. H. and Caroline M. Langley. To this union have been born two children, Caroline L. Mitchell, on the 25th of April, 1885, and Walter E. Mitchell, on the 3d of December, 1888, both of whom are living and possessed of a most promising expect- ancy of life and usefulness. Mr. Mitchell takes an active part in Masonic affairs, and is Worshipful Master of Ruby Lodge in his home town.
John E. Morris,
Superintendent of the Public Schools in the pretty city of Alliance, Ohio, has occupied his present position for a number of years. It can truthfully be said that the high standard of his schools are due largely to the splendid influences of the able gentleman who at present dominates their destinies. He has brought to his present position a life-time of study and long years of experience. In the public schools of the State he has occupied all the different educational positions. A man of high honor, fair in his dealings, a natural educator and a conscientious and painstaking teacher, Mr. Morris has during all his active life in his chosen profession evidenced a keen interest in the intellectual advancement of the State, and has been a contributor and lecturer before many teachers' institutes. His ideas are modern, and he constantly searches for improvements in the system of teaching. He is a member of a number of educational bodies, as well as social organizations. His efforts are thoroughly appreciated in the community in which he resides. He has a host of friends all over the State, and resides with his family at Alliance, Ohio.
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