The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-07-24
O.Y.TOUSLEY IS DEAD.
Suffers a Fatal Attack While in
New Jersey.
FATHER OF SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE
Under His Leadership the Various
Districts Were Consolidated,
with -One management.

o. V. Tousley, father OF they public
school system Of Minneapolis, and IN his
day one of the leading citizens Of the
state, died last Friday at Spring Lake,
N. j., after brief illness. He had been
in Washington, and was preparing to go
to Carlsbad and later on to Egypt On
July 10 he left Washington for Spring
Lake, and soon after, his arrival became
delirious. He grew steadily worse, and
on July Is he passed away.
Orson Valentine Tousley, for fifteen
years at the head of the school system OF
Minneapolis, during its formative period
was born at Clarendon, Orleans county,
New York, March II, 1884. He was edu-
Gated in the common schools near his,
home, at Albion academy, at Oberlln,
where he spent two years, and at Wal
liams college, where he graduated in 1854
Among his fellow students at Williams
were the late President James A. Gar
field and the late Senator ]. ]. ingalls,.
After graduating he took up the study OF
law, completing the course at the Albany
law school, which at that time had fac
ulty of most eminent men. He read+much
at this time, and was also occupied In
closing up the estate of his father.
In 1857 Mr.. Tousley came west, making
short stays in various places in Illinois
taught school for a year or two at Sauls-
bury, Tenn. About the time the war
broke out he opened school In New Al
bany, Ind, which was known throughout
that section Of the country as Tousley's
academy.
Came to minneapolis In 1860.
Minneapolis was one of the rising cities
of the west after the war, and 1t came
quite natural for Mr.. Tousley to find his
way here, which he did in 1869.
While much of his time heretofore had
been spent in teaching, the law had al
ways been Mr.. Tousley's chosen profess
sion, and on his arrival here he entered
the office Of Atwater & Flandrau, then
the foremost legal firm In the state.
Fate had, however, more important
work in store for him than to become a
successful lawyer. He had not been In
the village more than six months BEFORE
a vacancy occurred in what was then
called the high school. The young law
yer was importuned to take the place,
and finally accepted, but very reluctantly,
and with the express understanding that
his engagement was but temporary one.
Nevertheless he went to work with MS
customary energy, and when w. o. HIS
key died, Sept. %, 1871, just as the school
year had begun, the city was OF one NINA
on the question of his successor.
Mr. Tousley saw his duty and met 1t
cheerfully. There were many difficulties
in his path, but he was ever resourceful,
and being endowed with splendid men
tai equipment, a strong physique ana an
even stronger will, he was able to meet
all issues with confidence and master all
difficulties in the best manner It was
fortunate for the city and schools that
Mr.. Tousley was available at such try
ing time in their history. It was he who
was instrumental in combining the
schools of the. east and west divisions
into one system under the present form
of board.
Until 1886 he remained at the helm,
being in direct control all that time, Win
the exception of two years spent at
Trieste and Leipzig as United States
counsel.
Mr.. Tousley was very strict In his ad-
ministration of the schools and some
were inclined to criticize him as unduly
severe, but he was just man-though
very firm-a man of undoubted capacity
and decided executive ability.
The extraordinary growth of the city
In the seventies and the consequent great
| increases in the school enrolment, the
unsatisfactory teaching material avail
able in the far west in those days, raised
problems which required master mind
l to solve and strong hand to execute In
order to bring out of chaos an orderly,
harmonious school system The teachers
often referred to him as 1.-THE Iron Hand"
and among the pupils the initials of his
name were often said to stand for "Old
Voracious," but the wiser parents and
the citizens saw what great work was
being accomplished before their eyes
and recognized in Mr.. Tousley the man
for the place and the times.
Discipline was one of his strongest
points and he enforced 1t most vigorously.
It must be admitted that 1t was indeed
needed. Wild. western ideas prevailed to
more or less extent among both teach
ers and pupils, as many Of those who
attended school here In the early days
can testify.
Mr.. Tousley felt called upon to lay
aside his onerous burdens In 1886, when
he was succeeded by John e. Bradley