The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1868-12-03
The Late D. Franklin Wells.

1t il will, unfeigncd sorrow that We
record the death Of Prof. ID. Franklin
Wells. State Superintendent Of Public
Instruction. He was, on Sunday the
18th uitimo, suddenly attacked with
pleuro pneumonia. at his residence in
Iowa City, and though all was done
/ that affection and medical skill could do
/ for him, he died on Tuesday, the 24tli,
! about ) O'Clock p. ". y*. j. s.
! Prof Wells was born at Holland Pat
ent, Oneida county, New York, June
d, 1880, and was reared on his father $
farm in the habits Of industry and perse-
: verance that characterize his class. The
only advantages he possessed of acqnir-
ing All education were such AS Were
afforded BY the common school i'm win
| ter, and n short season i'm the academy
| in his native village. He commenced
! in district school with . salary Of
twelve dollars q month, boarding
around" the district. His second school
was at Trenton Falls. n. J. At the
close ofthis school he entered the Normal
School at Albany. n. v. borrowing the
money with which TO pay his expenses
From this school he graduated in lsss-
After his graduation he was constantly
engaged n teacher, at larry
town on the Hudson. and AT Mus
catine, Iowa. in which latter place lac
was in 1858 employed as principal of =
public school. This school he orSa-
niged. graded and conducted suceesSsul-
ly until August, 1864. when he accepted
the profe~~or>hip OF Theory and Pra>-
tice Of Teaching. in the Iowa Stale
University This position he held.
with marked ability and success. most
clearly demonstrating she beneficial re-
suits to he obtained from such depart
ment, wisely conducted. unit! IN
1856.
At the annual meeting OF the State
Teachers Association. held August.
1855. he was elected State Agent of that
body. and at once entered upon the du-
ties of his office
AS State Agent he evincei peculiar
ability. and wherever he iourneyed he
infused new Zeal into the minds and
acts of teachers and friends of education.
He was an officer OF tile first State
Teachers Association i'm 1854: was elect
ed President of the Association i'm lSo5,
and again in 1850. He was mainly in
sirumental in establishing the Voice Of
IoTd. the first organ of the Association,
and has been identified with each of its
SUCCESSORS.
In 1867 he was, by the State Teachers
Association. elected resident editor of
the Iowa School Journal, and e-elected
in 1865.
On the resignation of Oran Faville, he
was appointed. March lst, 1867, by Gov.
Stone. his successor to the office of State
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
In 1867. he was elected to the same
office by the vote of the people, having q
large majority over all candidates on the
ticket.
Time has only proved his pre- eminent
! fitness for the arduous and highly re-
sponsible position at the head Of the
Educational System of SO great and
progressive State as this.
| As a public officer he was ever cour-
teous, and although his lahors were
onerous, aud his responsibilities great.
he discharged ali with marked fidelity
and promptness. ASS citizen, he was
characterized by steady devotion to all
that can make people truly great. His
influence was always given in behalf Of
justice and humanity; and in society he
will long be remembered for his nobili
ty of character aud christian example.
lii his death the State has lost a noble
! worker. and the common schools sage
and master guit!a-one whose cOuDse!s
! will be remembered long years hence
State Register.