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uoln CentennialDU QUOIN (ILL.) EVENING CALL1853—Du Quoin Centennial—1953wTaught by Mary Grills StanliouseJohnWard Made Du Quoin an EarlyVV- t-x'-1 . •*' ,»••lt; * « - I.....- lt;T. , , . , ’• ' 'V . *i \I i i ' £ lt;1 ^. ■ \ *..... •.‘.-.••I. ’,x . A. • -• ’ ’ . - v ‘ • • • ' i-V. •.*»* »».■ V-jN*»V.v/ ‘-p% i ■■'■■ *V.4 * ' ■ t **•»«. * .• •-. f*vlt;- y.-v*-' ’ • ■«■».‘a %' k- .* -'«• i - (rv • *1 ‘ - v ' i ’ J»/ » V* “v*^ W'A/.W lt;*Leader in the Educational Field/-Y • ' ’A ^VH».' ».•:v; •-. • •/'••I. , v , «. . . A-vY-S'-V • K - • X- *.• k*.:' •' 'v'rt •Y -- :Tt ■ •• : - rf i TfTlf •f..lt;’■ •'••/*» k* ■ •.* * » V - ^ - • •* v, '•*• ^ - •' '* ;'y * *** *x ■' -r: —v.kProminent Educator Gave Hisw. .V;-.x* *' V' ••■.■■%;• • * \. Xx* x ' h- K'-*.* ***• %•lt; W ' • % ’ « » \•V^ j**AName to Largest Grade-w,lt; ■'Huo,^ • ,-*% *A\«, »sW--J *kt--'School in City's SystemJ. B. Ward School-Before 1937i . i...;V!U«f. -V-'*■% Won ^ .V.MljtV*....' ^i % %J\‘ • V,N tN *nmy ?+H y.***-m*'vr/'viv. a* '•»y/r-Vi•» .*r\-kLI‘A .fThlf early clasi at John B. Word school was taught by Mary Grills Stanhouso Uxtroma right,An S. T. Ring photo, it is tho property of J, S. Axloy,back row), but Idontificatson of th# pupils was Impossiblo,¥ V ■ -1 • *-Joseph R. HarkerQuoin Coal Miner with LittleFormal Education. Became President of FamoussCollegeWomen at Jacksonville, IllinoisThe Du Quoin community has played a oonspiclous part in educational leadership of Southern Illinois tor jver 100 years.One cannot, road of Locust Hill Academy, operated by the master-tul B. . Roots; the Du Quoin Female Seminary, the perseverance and couraso of Joseph R. Marker', —the splendid educational leader- educational leader, inspired ship* of John B Ward; and the many vouth. strong educational Influence of! Born in Cavuga county, New other school leaders and not feel York, Juijf 18* 1830,,he came to that the Hu Quoin area has boon *the Du Quoin community from potent in the advancement of Ohio. Soon after his arrival-he American education. | begun leaching in a rural school'Under the guidance of Taler near Du Quoin. jloaders like the principals James; Later he taught in Du Quoin G. Stull and R. L. Foster, and and records ahoW him at work in Superintendent Joe Strlckler, a building on the site of the schools grew hi si/e,. .physical present, school 'that bears his plant, and quality of Work, * name,'This li how John B, Ward school, largest building in the ci\y*s grade school system, appeared_ prior to 1^37, w,heri a major remodeling program was T* carried out, The towers on each side were removed.(Editor’s Note—The following story consists of excerpts, reprints bv permission, from the story “Idols of Egypt” by the late WillGriffith of CarhiWlalc, which appeared in the October, l'*M issue-of “The Egyptian Key.”)41Born in poverty in England, developed in Egypt, Illinois, Joseph!R. Marker, once a Du Quoin coal miner, without the benefit of abecome the----.--------------- .4His first Job was in a grocerystore, hut in a lew months he was put to work in Sarriston colliery as a pick carrier. When anew imcntion. the telegraph,for mhl education,guiding genius that developed a great institution for the college paining of young women...On a winswepl lull in Durhamcounty, England, a coal miner talked of flic future to his son. He told of the opportunities there were? in a land on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. He told theson that someday they would gothere.The coal minor was Ralph Marker, who with his w ife, Mary,and their family lived in one oftjte homes in a row* of company-owned houses known as “Milk and Water Row«*» • •Ilit fcame into use, Joseph, who was one of the lew miners who could road'and w rite, was trained as an operator.In 1S7I, Ralph Marker and his wife, Mary, along with their family which inehuh'd son Joseph, left in a party ot 12 on tin1 journey to America, it rctptired only about Jyluo to bring the family to Illinois—a distance ol l.tun miles. Halt o| that amount was sent by Joseph s brother, Thomas.Foster, superintendent *of the Du Quoin Public schools; and Rev- Giure, prccroud William T. Hamilton, a aremacleLikewise, under the present alert and conscientious Ruid-ance of Prinol^hl R. p. Hibbs and Sueprintendcnt Orcn D. McClure, progress and advancementin the present programJohn B. V^ard* was reared on a farm ami, attended the district schools of a Claremont county, Ohio, during the winter months to receive his primary education.He entered the high school and then Hie academy of the courtly and, in those institutions, he laid the foundation of his learning, which vvas afterward improved by self-culture, extensive reading, and many years of teaching.In the spring of 1855 he came west to iliinois and stopped at Galesburg, in Knox county,fn May of the same year, he came to Du Quoin and here served an apprenticeship at the plasterers trade and worked at the business for 3 years. During those years, he taught school in the winter months, returning to his trade with the opening of spring.He is credited with teachingthe first school’established in the city of Du Quoin. He then concluded tc adopt the profession of teaching and make it his life’s work, and with this in view he studied the various methods andDr, Joseph R. Harkerof it and of “Warren’s Physical Geography” were purchased byPresbyterian minister.They encouraged Marker with his studies and Joseph progressed until ho was lighting through Latin and Greek.In I lie early winter of 1873, Superintendent Ward suggested 1 to Marker that he should be readyto teach in the schools. The young man had not been in a school since he was 10 and had! I never been inside an Americanschool.Ward advised Harker to visit1 J)u Quoin schools when he had! a chance and called upon him as a substitute teacher. In December,; 1873, when a vacancy existed in the Negro school, he offered the place to Marker, gave him an examination and presented him \v it h ato meet the educational needs of the communityJohn B. Ward, the city’s pioneerment was 540 - and* property value was $1,250,000 From 18.93 to 1925-32 years—Dr. Joseph R, Harker steered thecottr.se o*f the college. First known as Illinois Female Academy, its name was changed In 1899 to Illinois Woman’s Cbllege. In re. cent years it is known all over the world as MacMurray College.Upon the close of the school term in 1925, Harker submitted his resignation as president. Hewanted to quit before advance age began to impair his abilities and while he could expect a few years of life in which to enjoyuii cum iMtncintu niiii; , . third-grade certificate; e*sure a*lc! family,ne year 1 addition to his daughter,. * Vlaiwln hir fit***# j _ t____I Igood for one .. . . . . ,, -Young Marker was a success at ; *auclo hy his first wife, his fain.hie lirwl tnurhinnr inh ulthnm'h $ COHSlStOn Ol thl‘00 daUEfhlorS.to a standard second to none.In 1.882, he was an independent Candidaie lor the same position* bdt was defeated by the smallof 36 votes. Mr, Ward first vote for Abraham and the Republicanmajority cast his LincolnticKet.On the 18th of September, 1857, , . .lie married Marjory, daughter of serves the community.for school purposes on January2, 1807.This building vras used until 188$ when construction was begun on a new building on the same site. The building was finished and occupied in October, 1889. This school was the well-known John B. Ward schoolSilas and Elizabeth (Emery) Hutchinson, She was born in Claremont county. Ohio, April 14, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Ward reared four children Their names in order of their birth were Ava,In March, 1937 construction on complete remodeling of the School building vvas begun. It was completed and the building in readiness for classes in Decern bei of the same year.who was the wife of Eli T,I * For thirty-five years, Mr. WardBlaKeslee; Hattie Gertrude, wife of Valle Nettleton; Harry B. and Charles E. vVaad. The family were members of the Presbyterianchurch.John B. Ward lived and toiled in the formative years of educa-followed nis profession, serving in turn as teacher, principal, and county superintendent of schools. The records do not show at what time the giade school was given his name,Mr. Ward was obliged to retiretion in the mid-west. Inspired j account of HJ health. After hisby his own lack for formal education and the desire to improve himself, he worked diligently and served as an inspiration to hundreds of Du Quoin youth. John R. Harker. especially.The oar'ics! seat of learn in aretirement from teaching, ho sep'ecl for a number of years as secretary on the grade school board. He died in 1907.COUNTY'S FIRSTrAfTDTUATTOP UTTfT
Newspaper Details
Du Quoin Evening Call
Du Quoin, Illinois, US
Sat, Sep 19, 1953
Page 10
Full Page
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Darren H.
USA 17 Jan 2021
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Du Quoin Evening Call
