The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-07-24
AN EDUCATOR DIES.
W. W. Prendergast Passes Away at
His Home Yesterday.
From Saturdays Daily.

Hutchinson Mimi, July lS.-W. w.
Prendergast, former superintendent of
public instruction, died here yesterday
after a long illness.
The funearal will be held at Hutchin-
son Sunday afternoon at 2 O'Clock.
Prof Prendergast was born in New
Hampshire in 1888, where he attended
the country academies and then entered
college at Bowdoin. After his gradua-
ton he taught school in Massachusetts,
for a time and in 1856 went west to To-
cate with the Hutchinson family at
Hutchinson, MINI. Here he built an aca-
DENY and conducted school work until
it was burned by the Sioux in the upris-
inc of 1862 He was the chief leader IN
the work of building an emergency fort
at that time in which the settlers held
their ground until relieved by the govern
Inent.
The next three years Mr.. Prendergast
and his family again lived in New Eng
land, where he was in demand as an
educator. After holding the position OF
principal of the high school in Ames-
bury. Mass, for three years he returned
to hutchinson, MINI.
As soon as arrangements could be made
for a public school Mr.. Prendergast as
samed the position of principal, which he
held continuously from 1866 until 1882,
when he was appointed clerk to the
state superintendent of public instruc-
ton. During the period from 1870 to
1873 he also performed the duties OF
county superintendent of schools In con-
nection with his duties as principal OF
the Hutchinson schools.
! Only two months had lapsed from
the date of his appointment as clerk to
the state superintendent when he was
made the assistant superintendent OF
public instruction, a position which ne
held until his appointment as principal
OF the school of agriculture AT its flrst
organization in 1888.
i After five years service as principal
of the school of agriculture, Prof. Prem
dergast received the appointment OF state
superintendent of public instruction
where again his wide experience In all
phases of educational work made his ser
vices very valuable to the state. After
little over five years service at the
head of the educational forces OF the
state, Supt Prendergast felt himself
wearying of public service and longing
for the peace and rest of home life. Yet
he had scarcely announced his determl'
nation to decline further appointment as
superintendent of public instruction
when he was elected president OF the
Minnesota State Horticultural society.
Prof. and Mrs. Prendergrast have beer
enjoying an almost ideal repose IN then
home at Hutchinson since his retirement
from the office of state superintendent o.
public instruction. The home and thu
superintendent of few farms neal
town have required interested attention
from both. His office as president OF thu
Minnesota Horticultural cociety wa
most delightful to him, as good will ant
co operation abounded throughout Dur
ing the four years of his presidency tina
, society made the most rapid growth am
reached the largest number of any SINH
: lar American society. Realizing his fail
ing strength, he refused again to becom
president at the last meeting, but lef
lii the most admirable society of countr
> people in America.