Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1870-12-21
JAMES p. WICKERSuAM,
sUFIRISTrNDENT OY TIE PKSSsYLyASIA
FrELIC SCHOOLS.


Mr WickersEam was born in 1923, in
Chester county, Pa. about two miles
from the house originally built, in 1905,
by Thomas Wickersham, his lineal prog
enitor. On both his fathers and mother 8
sides he descends from the Quaker set
tiers of that section, who emigrated from
England during the proprietorship Of
William Penn. His parents are both
still living, and are noted for their integ-
rity and strength Of character.
James entered school at the age of
seven, and though he was prevented
from attending regularly. he was, while
there, always at the head of his class
When, in 1884, the question of free
schools came up, he though but eleven
years old, took lively interest in dis
cussing it. and even contended with its
oppOsers. He was great reader, and
at the same time an expert in all the ath.
letic labors aud sports of the day.
He spent some six sessions at the
Unionville Academy, Chester county,
where he made great progress in mathe-
matics, natural science, history, and the
English, French, and Latin languages.
This was all he had of theoretical educa-
ton. His literary degrees are all homo
rary. At sixteen rather than work on
the farm, he determined to make move
for himself, and accepted an assistant
teachers position in the Academy where
he had been a student. In 1S4l-42 he
taughta common country school at twenty
dollars per mouth. returning to school
and study himself after his school closed.
This alienation of going to school and
teaching he continued until 1s45, when
he became principal of the Marietta
Academy, located at Marietta, Lancas-
ter county, Pa.
Mr.. Wickersham q success as q teach
er was marked from the first. Resolu-
tions, extra pay, and premiums from his
employers are the best proofs that bis
services were highly appreciated. As a
consequence, his promotion was rapid.
permanent, and Profitable. He was
twenty years of age when he became
principal of the Marietta Academy. At
twenty three he married Miss Emeline
l.. Taylor. In 1854 he was elected
Superintendent of Schools for Lancaster
county, and was paid $500 more salary
than any other Superintendent in the
State. 1855 he founded and temporarily
presided over the Lancaster county Nor
NAL Institute at Millersville, which form.
ed the basis of the first Normal School in
Pennsylvania and was the pioneer Of
Normal instruction in this and other
States. Resigning the position of princi-
pal of this school in 1861 with the in
tention of going to Europe, and compile
ting on his return series of works on
the "Science of Teaching'-which be
had already commenced-he was pre-.
vented from carrying out his plan by ac.
ceptiug the appointment by Gov. Curtin
to the State Superintendency of public
Schools, in which position be served one
term, and then was reappointed by Gov
Geary and unanimously confirmed by
the State Senate.
Under his administration the number
of city, borough. aud county superin.
tendents have been increased; thousands
of children brought into the schools
greater interest awakened in Teachers
Institute; and. in fact. all possible means
used to give greater efficiency to our no,
bic free school System, He has written
many articles for the newspapers and
magazines, mostly of an educational char
acter. He assisted in organizing the
Lancaster County Association, and wa;
its second President in 1858; assisted
in establishing the State Teachers Asso
citation, and was elected its fourth Presi
dent in 1855; he assisted in establishing
the National Teachers Association, ant
was elected its seventh President in IS
65; is now President of the Na:iona
Superintendent Association, composed
Of the leading educational men. Of th'