educator, b. Goldens Bridge, N.Y. He moved to Wisconsin with his parents in 1869, settling in Prescott. He began teaching in 1885, supplementing his common school education with private study, and thereafter held various positions in the public school system. He was state director of vocational education (1918-1921) and in 1921 was elected state superintendent of public instruction. During his administration (1921-1949) he helped establish a state equalization fund to prevent excessive local school tax rates, raised teacher certification requirements, and successfully campaigned to make the superintendent the sole authority for issuing teaching certificates. He was also successful in creating schools for the mentally and physically handicapped and ensuring them state financial support. He secured passage of laws consolidating many school districts and making school attendance compulsory for nine months of the year. He was president of state, regional, and national educational associations and from 1938 to 1945 served as president of the Wisconsin Anti-Tuberculosis Association. Milwaukee Journal, May 11, 1956; Madison Wis. State Journal, May 11, 1956; Wis. Blue Book (1927); Wis. Journal of Educ., 81 (Feb., 1949), p. 6, 81 (May, 1949), p. 19.

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[Source: Blue book]