Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-30
DEATH OF DAVID W. HARLAN.
The Late Superintendent Of Bubble School
Died Last Evening.

4 y
The Late superintendent Of Bubble Schools
Died Last Evening.
David w. Harlan, fof 20 years super
intendent Of The public schoois, died
yesterday week at his residence, loo
West street, after a nrotracted illness
OF a complication OF diseases. His
health had been failing for the past
few years, but he was able to continue
his duties until June, when he pre-
scented his resignation to tako effect
August 3lst, so that be died, IA ii
were, in the harness. He became con-
fined to his he'd shortly after resigning
and his physician gave no hope Of his
recovery,
Mr., Harlan was beloved by teachers
and pupils of the schools, and since the
beginning Of his last illness many have
been the inquiries concerning his cons
dition, f'$sf
David W. Harlan was born at East
Fallowtield, Chester county, In 1885.
As a youth he divided his time be-
tween working on the farm aud attend
ing the district schools. He later
attended Darlington Academy near his
home and after leaving there taught
school for FIVE years, and worked at
canpassing for q hook publisher,
During this time, by industry and
economy, he saved money to attend
Oherlin College, but before finishing
bis course was taken seriously i'll and
had to abandon his studies. In 1876
his alma mater recognized his worth
aud conferred upon bin the degpee Of
A. NJ, Uron his recovery he became
| successfully principal of tho high
schools of Kenneth Square, Media and
Chester, Pa. Following this he served
as superintendent OF Sunday school
missions in Pennsylvania for three
years under the American Sunday.
school teaching. and became principal
OF the schools at Coatesville, Pa, and
New Castle, this State. Z.
/ In 1871 he came to Wilmington and
accepted the position Of superintendent
| of schools. He always took an active
interest in religious work and for many
| years waa an elder of Hanover Freshly
| terrain Church. He was Also active in
| Sunday school work, 10th with the
| Sunday school Union, and the New
| Castle Sunday school Association, For
time he was n member Of the Board
Of Managers of the Ferris Industrial
| School, aud OF the executive oom-
mittee of the Wilmington Institute, Of
| which he served one term as president.
Mr.. Harlan, in 1869, married Miss
| Hattie g. Aviator of Oberlin, D. She
died, aud in 1871, he married Miss
| Clara Houston OF Ateleu, Pa, She and
two children, Dir. Houston Hank and
Miss bertha Harlan, survive HIM.
Mr.. Harlan presented his resignation
to the Board of Education on June
26th, to take effect August 31st. II
offer this resigpatlon," he wrote, ''be-
cause failing health renders me unable
to do the work of my office as well as
have been doing it, lie referred also
to the existenos Of the most pleasant
relations with members Of the board,
tho teachers and the scholars and to
the building up of school system
through their cooperation that had
won the praise of visitors.
The board, In accepting the Resigns
tion, recorded its great regret that the
condition Of Mr.. liarlau's health ccm.
PEELED him to take the stop and OK .
pressed the hope that he would be
restored to health, Tribute was raid
also to his long and honorable services.
] and the following statement OF his work
was given. 't
"Unaer his wise and efficient
direction tho number Of schools has
increased from IL to 20. Tho number
Of enrolled pupils from $3.50 to ll,0oi,
Tho High School has been organized,
from which l,0l1 pupils have been
4 graduated, also the Howard High
School which has graduated3 G colorod
| pupils A school Of pedagogy has been
organized for the training OF teachers
after their graduation, -
Largely through his personal interest
the curriculum Of study has been vastly
improved and all the latest and hest
methods of Instruction have been intro
duced into the schools so that the
public schools OF Wilmington have
taken rank with the bout in the
country, s ilA,
| "Mr. Harlan has always been an
! inspiration to the teachers by his in
defatigahle industry and zeal, and he
has by his example and encouragement
produced in Instructors and pupils an
enthusiasm and fidelity which is rarely
seen In school work,
'The board would also make record
OF its high esteem for Mr.. Harlan as
an exemplary Christian gentleman, and
its appreciation of the courteous and
affable manner with which he has
always executed the wishes of the
board, and would testify to the pleasure
it has always been TO them in trans
acting the important duties which
called them into personal relation
with him, !.
The boards resolutions were finely
engrossad, one copy being, made for the
board room and another for Mr..
Harlan, An oil portrait of tho super
intendept was placed in the meeting
room.