USA > Ohio > Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state, Volume I > Part 9
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Miss John has been a life long resident of this state. Born in Delphos, February 29, 1860, she is a daughter of Ernest August and Louise (Mueller) John, both natives of Germany. The father came to America when a young man and was married in this country. He was a druggist who started out in that field of business in Cincinnati and later removed to Delphos, where he owned a pharmacy. He enlisted in defense of the Union at the time of
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the Civil War and was wounded in battle, dying soon afterward, his remains being interred in the national cemetery at Nashville, Tennessee. His widow, the mother of three children, became a seamstress in order to provide for her family.
Her daughter Louise Henrietta John obtained her early education at Delphos, graduating from high school there and later she attended the Central Normal School of Ohio at Worthington. Subsequently she was a student in the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and next attended the University of Michigan, while she won her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Chicago.
Miss John was an Ohio school teacher for more than half a century, beginning her career as an educator when but fifteen years of age and attend- ing summer school in order to obtain her degree. For seventeen years, from 1875 to 1892, she taught at Delphos and was principal there for several years. In the latter year she went to Tippecanoe City as principal, serving in that capacity until 1896, when she came to Galion, being connected with the schools here as a teacher for thirty-seven years or until 1933, when she retired. She served as principal of the high school for several years and throughout the entire period was with the high school, teaching Latin, Ger- man, Spanish and French. No higher or more indisputable proof of her ability can be given than the fact that she was retained as a teacher through- out this entire period and at all times she kept abreast with the trend of modern professional thought and progress through wide reading and study and through her connection with the National Education Association and the Ohio State Education Association.
Miss John is a member of the Progress Club, a literary society and is an honorary member of the Child Conservation League. She also belongs to the Galion Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Guild, nor has her interest in educational activities ever abated. For twenty years she has been secretary of the Galion library board and is still filling the position. Since 1930 she has been president of the Galion Public Health League and from 1936 has been secretary-treasurer of the Nursery School advisory board, a federal relief project. She is deeply interested in children, especially in seeing that the underprivileged are given an "even start," as shown in her work in the Nursery School. She has given generously of her time to the board of education and the library, as well as numerous other projects of public worth, was active in the suffrage campaign when it was instituted and during the World War was chairman of the Liberty Loan committee in Galion. Her sister, Miss Doris John, who has been librarian in Galion for many years, lives with her, and both are regarded as among the foremost representatives of intellectual interests of the city.
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SARAH G. JONES
SARAH G. JONES, born in Alexandria, Virginia, April 13, 1843, came to Cincinnati in 1849 with her parents, who paid a fee of twenty-five cents per week in order that she might attend a school for the education of negro children.
She was graduated, however, from the public schools and in 1863 entered the school system as a teacher. After five years in Eastern District School and two years at Mount Healthy, Sarah accepted a position to teach in Co- lumbus, Ohio, remained there until 1875, then returned to Cincinnati, to Douglass School, where she taught for 36 consecutive years.
When, in 1911 she retired after 48 years of service, Sarah Jones was rated among the great educators of the state. She was, in fact, the first teacher of her race to be placed upon the teacher's pension roll.
Married in 1865 to Marshall P. Jones, Mrs. Jones was the mother of three children. Only one was spared to grow to manhood, Joseph L. Jones, who became one of the successful business men of Cincinnati.
From early girlhood, Mrs. Jones was a member of Union Baptist Church, working in Sunday School, singing in the choir and rendering loyal service wherever needed.
She was active in community service and was among the original group of women who organized the Home for Aged Colored Women. During the World War, she rendered patriotic service as president of the Soldiers Com- fort Club which sent sweaters and other comforts to Hamilton County Soldiers.
She was a poet of rare ability and for 29 years held title of "poetess laureate" of the Ohio State Federation of Colored Women. She wrote most of the songs used in their meetings.
After a nine year illness Sarah Jones died on October 21, 1938.
She ranked among the best educators in the state, not alone because of her ability as an instructor but also through the example she set for youth in the high standard of Christian character she ever portrayed. She was able to awaken "the angel which is within us all."
HARRIET L. KEELER
HARRIET L. KEELER (1846-1921) of Cleveland was born in New York State and was a pupil of Betsy M. Cowles. Miss Cowles so fired the imagina- tion of Miss Keeler for a higher education that she prepared herself for Oberlin College and graduated from there. For thirty years Miss Keeler was a brilliant and inspiring teacher of English at Central High School.
For a short time she served as superintendent of schools of the city of Cleveland. Miss Keeler was a famous botanist and among the widely known books she has written are: "Our Garden Flowers," "Our Northern Shrubs" and "Our Native Trees," all of which are classics.
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Because of her outstanding distinction in this field, the Metropolitan Park Board has set aside 300 acres in the Brecksville woods and dedicated them as the Harriet Keeler Memorial Woods.
Miss Keeler was devoted to the cause of woman's suffrage. As one of the presidents of the Cuyahoga County Woman's Suffrage party, she did much to bring credit and respect to the movement in Cleveland. She was also a member of the National American Woman's Suffrage Association.
ANNIE LENNOX KINSELLA
ANNIE LENNOX KINSELLA taught in the Avondale Public School of Cincinnati from 1909-1930.
She was a woman of slight physique and during the last years of her life suffered much from ill-health, but she possessed a remarkable brain and a vibrant personality.
In the spring of 1930, Miss Kinsella went to Florida hoping to regain her health. She was drowned while bathing at New Smyrna, Florida.
An article which appeared in the Cincinnnati papers at the time of her death was headed, "She Never Had a Bad Boy" and this was the keynote of Annie Kinsella's teaching. She never had a bad boy. Under her influence all children became good, at least for the time being.
Miss Kinsella possessed artistic ability, a fine mathematical brain, and much literary talent. She was qualified, it was said, for advanced fields of teaching but preferred to dedicate her life to little children.
ADA E. LAIRD
ADA E. LAIRD, former principal of Waverly School, Cleveland, Ohio, was born at Burton, Ohio, the daughter of Justin Williams. She attended the public school at Painesville later taking a course at Lake Erie Seminary.
Her first school was in the Painesville district. She then taught at Geneva, Ohio and then at Cleveland where for more than thirty years she made and maintained a record for understanding of and devotion to the art of teaching.
JANE LINDSAY
JANE LINDSAY was principal of Fairhome school in Lorain for 50 years and during that period has taught thousands of children, including many Lorain business and professional men.
She came to Lorain at the age of seven from Glasgow, Scotland, her birth place. She attended Kent College and entered the Lorain school system after graduating.
Miss Lindsay was the originator of Fairhome May Day, an annual May festival held by pupils of the school of which she has been principal. The May Day event has been held each May for nearly 30 years.
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A reunion in her honor was held a year ago by all pupils who at one time or another were members of her class.
CLARA MAYER
CLARA MAYER for many years principal of Landon School, Cleveland was born in Forest City and educated in the Cleveland public schools.
She then entered Normal school, graduating in 1880.
Miss Mayer began as a teacher at Hicks Street School, Cleveland. Was later transferred to West High School where she demonstrated her outstanding ability that won her appointment to the principalship of the Landon School.
AUGUSTA MCCLINTOCK
AUGUSTA MCCLINTOCK, born in Hebron, O., attended the public schools there, then studied at Granville College and later at the Worthington, O. Normal School.
She is said to have been especially fortunate in her ability to acquire knowledge and to impart it and particularly earnest in her conviction of the responsibilities of her profession. Mrs. McClintock taught first at London, O., then for five years at the Brownwell School of Cleveland. On promotion to principalship she was made head of the Fremont School, of which she had charge more than 20 years.
MARCELLA SWINGLEY MODERWELL
The late MARCELLA SWINGLEY MODERWELL, was the first woman superintendent of Bucyrus schools before her marriage to Major Crat Moderwell.
Two of her sisters, MARY SWINGLEY FISHER, wife of Col. Cyrus Fisher and KATE SWINGLEY FULTON, were also teachers. Mrs. Fulton is the only survivor.
BELLE MONTGOMERY
When BELLE MONTGOMERY, former teacher of Latin at Chaney High School died at Youngstown, O., last year (1938), newspapers of both city and county paid editorial homage to her long career in public education. In summing up, one of them said, "So Belle Montgomery's death closes a career which was an example of the best educational tradition-the development of an imaginative, lively mind alert to all that is modern but weighing it in the scale of the centuries. Her character required of her that she devote her great talents untiringly to the high duty of developing the attributes of others. And she did so."
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MARY HENRY MULLIGAN
MARY HENRY MULLIGAN was born in Belfast, Ireland, but came to Columbus with her parents when barely out of babyhood. She was educated in the Columbus schools, at Ohio State University and in 1891 was graduated from Columbus Normal School.
Her first appointment as teacher was to the Eighth Avenue School. She taught successively and successfully at both Douglas and Main St. Schools, so much so that when the Livingston Avenue School was opened, Miss Mulligan was made principal, a position which she filled with distinction for many years.
MAUDE IRENE MYERS
MAUDE IRENE MYERS, born in Darke County, was graduated from Delaware High School, then entered Ohio Wesleyan University, where she received her B.S. in 1897. The following year she was given her M.A. While majoring in literature and philosophy, this outstanding woman educator was also unusually proficient in the classics and taught Latin during the latter part of her stay there. In the fall of 1898 she went to Bowling Green as assistant principal of the public school, remained two years, then returned to Delaware as assistant principal of the high school. Again her ability was strikingly demonstrated, so much so that in 1904 Miss Myers was made principal of the Delaware High School. At the time such an appointment was even more unusual than it is today, the achievement of the Ohio teacher centered general as well as professional interest.
MARY L. PETERSON
One of the earlier teachers of the Cleveland public schools who con- tributed definitely to the development of the system was MARY L. PETER- SON, for many years principal of the Denison School.
Mary was only 14 years old when she began her career. She taught a country school in Stark County long enough to earn money for further education, then returned to high school in Salem, her native town. She con- tinued special study, teaching meanwhile, in the Salem Schools and presently was given an appointment in the public schools of Cleveland, then being re-organized.
It is said that the first school to which Mary Peterson was assigned had been too much for several of her predecessors. Her pupils were all boys and some of them unusually hard to handle.
Not, however, for Mary Peterson. She taught in various grades in various schools, her fine work resulting from time to time, in promotions that finally took the form of a principalship.
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GRACE E. RICHARDSON
GRACE E. RICHARDSON commenced her teaching career in Ludlow, Ky., and taught for a period in Indianapolis, Indiana. She came to the Avondale School, Cincinnati, in 1904 and continued there until 1938, when she retired. Miss Richardson was a teacher of great ability. She achieved her greatest success in the fields of English and mathematics.
Quiet dignity, perfect poise, unfailing gentleness, and low voice com- bined to make her schoolroom a center of child happiness as well as of child development.
Miss Richardson had remarkable influence over her pupils and will, it is believed, be remembered as one of the outstanding and beloved teachers of Cincinnati.
REBECCA DAVIS RICKOFF
The "married teacher problem" which has so agitated taxpayers in the past few years does not seem to have greatly troubled our forebears, although matrimony seems to have been even more popular in the past than in the present. To be fair, most teachers of yesterday did, on being decorated with the wedding ring, yield up chalk and blackboard in favor of the domestic hearth. But it is surprising how many of them did not. For instance, MRS. REBECCA DAVIS RICKOFF, the daughter of Professor Monroe Davis of Cincinnati, who was graduated at 16 from Hughes High School as the valedic- torian of her class, became a teacher at 21 and two years later the wife of Andrew J. Rickoff, then superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools.
And did young Mrs. Rickoff immediately discard all the educational interests and occupations of Rebecca Davis? She did not. It is true that she did not continue in the employ of the public schools but it is more than indi- cated that this or almost any other educational system would have felt quite lucky to get back this young woman, matron though she was, in view of the furore her lectures and writings on vital phases of education already were creating.
In 1873 Mrs. Rickoff, editing leaflets for supplementary reading, having recently made the principal address before the National Education Association. Soon thereafter she was moving heaven and earth to establish the first kindergarten in Cleveland, O. She brought Elizabeth Peabody there to lec- ture on this new development in education. Professor Rickoff became superintendent of Cleveland public schools after-before-he headed those of Cincinnati and both he and his wife seem to have been equally distinguished in both cities. So presently we find Prof. and Mrs. Rickoff, in collaboration with Dr. William T. Harris, editing the famous "Appleton Readers." Nor did this wide awake woman educator lack active interests outside of her
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profession. She was a member of the Women's Congress when the first meet- ing was held in Cleveland, she was at one time president of the Young Woman's Christian Association, of the American Social Science Association.
When she made an extensive tour abroad, Mrs. Rickoff took time out from sightseeing to study the English "education act." She-and her daugh- ter also-were presented at court-to Queen Victoria. That sort of thing doubtless took a little time also. But by far the greater portion of her brilliant mind, charming personality and indomitable will seem to have been devoted to her chosen field of service-the development of newer and better educational methods from within, in place of harsh methods of compulsion from without.
MARY ALICE ROSS
MARY ALICE ROSS, long regarded as one of the most successful women teachers of Columbus, Ohio, was educated in that city, graduated from High School in 1878 and soon afterwards appointed teacher.
So efficient was her work that a comparatively short interval elapsed before she was made principal of the Spring Street School, in which capacity she served several years. Her final appointment was as principal of the important Franklinton School, where her reputation as expert educator became wide-spread.
MELANIE A. SCHUTE
MELANIE A. SCHUTE, 1882-1922, was one of the outstanding primary teachers of Ohio. Her first four years of teaching were passed in a small country school, but the last forty years were spent in the Avondale Publie School, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Although crippled from a childhood illness, her marvelous spirit over- came all physical handicaps.
Miss Schute realized that the mission of a primary teacher is not to drill but to establish in the minds of the pupils the right relations towards all those things which are most worthwhile. She was most advanced in her methods. But in her skilled hands, school authorities agreed: "any method would have been the best method."
SALLIE HARRIS SEARS
SALLIE HARRIS SEARS (Mrs. B. V. Sears), was the first principal of Bucyrus High School. Mrs. Sears is the daughter of the late Stephen R. Harris, member of congress from the Eighth Ohio district. She was educated in the Bucyrus schools and at Ohio Wesleyan university. In 1885 she was engaged as principal of Bucyrus High School at a time when there were 90 pupils.
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She has been a member of the First Methodist Church since 1870 and a charter member of the missionary society. She is also a member of the Hannah Crawford Chapter D.A.R., Woman's Christian Tmperance Union, and New Era Study Club.
She is the mother of three sons-Dr. Paul Sears, professor of botany at Oberlin University, author of "Deserts on the March" and "This is our World"; Attorney Lindley Sears of Toledo and Attorney J. Dudley Sears of Bucyrus.
MATTIE SIMONTON
When MATTIE SIMONTON, one of the highly successful early teachers in Columbus Public Schools, was a little girl, her home was in the old Buckeye House, a hotel famous in its day, of which her father was proprietor. Its site was later occupied by the Columbus Board of Trade, not very far from the Central High School, where Mattie was a pupil.
Later she attended Heyl's Seminary, graduating with honors. She taught first in the old Mound Street School. Almost as soon as appointment of women to principalships was authorized by law, Miss Simonton was made head of the Rich Street School, remaining there until 1895, when she was given charge of Ohio Avenue School, then one of the largest of the city.
Her duties and responsibilities were heavy but not too much so for this veteran in the cause of public education. She was said to have been a good disciplinarian, not through the still prevalent methods of force and coercion but because of an intuitive understanding of a more effective and efficient appeal-the sort of thing with which all modern teachers are conversant, under the name of educational psychology. The phrase had hardly been invented in Mattie Simonton's day. But she would have known what it meant because she was a natural born teacher.
SARAH A. SMITH
Many of the older men and women of Columbus preserve a lively recol- lection of MISS SARAH A. SMITH, who began her career as teacher in that city in the old Mound Street School in 1870. She remained there sereval years, was transferred to the Sullivant School, then returned to Mound Street and in 1891 was made principal of the district. Her intuitive understanding of child nature and her skill in developing and satisfying the intelligent curiosity of her pupils were manifest throughout her teaching life. In 1893 she was made principal of the Medary School, then one of the most important of the Columbus system, a position which she filled with great satisfaction to herself and even greater profit to her hundreds of pupils.
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EDNA MEADE SPILLARD
EDNA MEADE SPILLARD came to the Avondale Public School, Cincin- nati, in 1906 and remained until her retirement in 1935.
Miss Spillard was a graduate of Woodward High School and of the Cincinnati Normal School.
She was a woman of many interests, a great traveler, very fond of the out-of-doors and had much artistic talent.
She was a most earnest, conscientious and interesting teacher. She gave to her pupils the best of herself, and her broad outlook on life enriched the lives of many to whom she is still endeared.
NELLIE M. STANSBURY
NELLIE M. STANSBURY, 1869-1899, commenced her teaching in Avon- dale School at sixteen years of age and remained until her death in 1899.
She was a woman of great beauty, dignity, and poise. During the time of her teaching classes were large, but she is said to have maintained perfect order with no apparent effort.
She had merely to step before her class to command it.
Her teaching ability was exceptional. In those days, pupils entered high school only by written examinations and the records show that no pupil prepared by Miss Stansbury ever failed.
Her influence in the community was very great, and endures even until today among those who had the good fortune to fall under the magic spell of her strong and beautiful personality.
LUCIA STICKNEY
Ohio's two largest cities can each claim with pardonable pride that LUCIA STICKNEY had important place in their public school systems. Her 45 years of teaching service were virtually divided between Cincinnati and Cleveland.
She was born in Medina Co., attended district school in Brooklyn, near Cleveland and was graduated from high school at Cleveland in 1858. Lucia Stickney wanted a college education and obtained it. She received the degree of M.A. from Oberlin College, to which she returned for graduate work from time to time, after taking a two years intensive course at the outset of her professional career. She taught first at Medina, then at Cleveland. In 1877 Miss Stickney received an appointment as teacher of Latin at Woodward High School, Cincinnati and remained in this position for 22 years.
Then came a period of travel and study in Europe, after which this highly informed and cultured woman again returned to the profession of her choice, this time back to Cleveland, in 1900. She was made head of the
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English Department of the East High School and retained this position for many years. During her trips abroad-she made three and always hoped to make another-Miss Stickney made a special study of schools for under- privileged children. The problem of how to adjust educational demands to the needs of children handicapped by unfortunate home conditions and environment deeply interested this far-visioned educator, who foresaw, long ago a growing necessity for the social as well as educational services of the schools of today.
AMELIA C. TAYLOR
AMELIA C. TAYLOR, daughter of Mary Beckley and James A. Taylor was one of twelve children, three of them pioneer women teachers in the Cincinnati Schools. They were educated in the former "Gaines High School" and graduated when the school was nationally famous. Miss Taylor attended the Old Cincinnati Normal School, belonged to the Ohio Teachers' Reading Circle, supervised cadet teachers from the University of Cincinnati and attended many extension courses at this University.
She was one of the founders of the Children's Charity Club of Douglass School, where she taught for many years. At that time she was a member of the National Educational Association, South Western Teachers Association and the Ohio Educational Association.
Miss Taylor is still active in Calvary M. E. Church, a charter member of the Wheel of Progress Federated Club, also charter member of West End Branch of Y.W.C.A., member of Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church and has served on the Local Board of Friend- ship Home.
She retired a decade or more ago.
Her sister, HETTIE G. TAYLOR, also one of Cincinnati's early teachers, after graduating from Gaines High School worked zealously in the West End of the city where underprivileged children look upon her as a guardian angel. She retired early and spent many years traveling in the United States.
She passed away September 12, 1937.
LOUISE M. TROY
LOUISE M. TROY, gifted Dayton, Ohio, teacher, now retired, was born at Xenia the daughter of Samuel and Maria Troy, who came to Cincinnati from Virginia and lived there eleven years, then moved to Xenia where her uncle was for years a school principal.
Louise entered school in the third grade and while quite young began to teach in Bloomingburg, Ohio. She also taught Sunday School and played the organ for Sunday services. She left Bloomingburg to teach in Harveys- burg, Ohio. Then a principal from Dayton met Louise while attending summer school and called the attention of his superintendent to the unusual work of
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