The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-02-04
WAS 4 MODEL IN SCHOOL LIFE
Former Principal of the Kenosha High
School Was One of the Early Teach
ers of Head Executive of State and
He Gives Guarantee of Honesty.

Z. c. Wiswall former principal of
the Kenosha high school and his wife,
who are now living in Madison, are
among the closest friends of Gov. Z.
l.. Philip and the most interesting ac-
count of the early life of the new Bad
ger governor is given out by the form
err Kenosha school teacher and his wife.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Wiswall were form
er teachers of the governor. Over in
Sank county a good many years ago
Governor Philip went to school.
In 1877-7S in the "little red school
house" in the Otter Creek district,
which is about three miles west of Sank
City, Miss Ella A. Taylor, now Mrs.
Wiswall, was engaged by the school
board to teach the younger generation
the three RS, readin' 'ritin 'rithme-
tic. In those days country school did
not begin in the autumn until corn
husking was over, which was usually
about the first of November. At the
opening of the fall term of this par
ticular year a boy of about sixteen
years, short and slender, swarthy of
complexion with luminous black eyes
and hair of the color of the raven, pre-
scented himself to the teacher and for
the succeeding five months was al.
earnest, conscientious pupil. This boy
was Emanuel l.. Phillip.
81 have taught many schools and
had many pupils, but never had one
who was better than "Nalie" Philip,
as he was called in that neighborhood, "
said Mrs. Wiswall. His people were
poor, most people in the country were
then-and there was much hard work
for him to do at home, but he always
was prepared with his lessons. He had
q remarkable mind and when told a
fact would always remember it. Every
teacher who taught in that district in
those days always said wasr' It "Na-
lie - Philip the greatest comfort.
cone day at recess, Ulrich T. Won
Valid, now Madison merchant, while
engaged in play with some of the larg-
err boys, had his leg broken. Young
Philip Immediately picked up the
crippled lad and carried him into the
schoolhouse, and then trudged across
the prairie through the deepest sort
of snowdrifts for distance Of more
than mile to bring Mr.. Won WaId
back with conveyance to carry his
son home.
In those days every county school
had its bad boy If the teacher was a
man, unless he was pugilistically in
clined, he was liable to be licked by
the bully. If the teacher was of the
gentler sex the bad boy would not re-
sort to physical violence, but he would
prove himself an annoyance and a seri-
Gus menace to discipline in more ways
than one. / remember that one after
noon [ had terrible session with such
q boy. l could read approval of the
steps [ had taken to restore discipline
in Emanuel Philips eyes. They seem
ed to say, I'VE are not here for foolish
mss, we are here for work. I imme-
diately complained to the board about
the boys actions and he was forth
with expelled. The next day he came
to get his books and [ told him that I
was sorry that such course had to be
taken. Then young Philip made the
remark that the boy evidently did not
realize the opportunities that he was
letting slip through his fingers
"I have not seen Mr.. Philip since I
finished my school year in that district
but | have followed his career with in
terest. / feel happy over the honor that
has come to him. The people of Wis
cOnsin have certainly chosen worthy
man for their governor.
in 1878 Mr.. and Mrs. WiswaIl were
married and the following year they
moved to Sank City where Mr.. Wis
wall became principal of the local
schools. That fall the former governor
enrolled as one of the pupils in the high
school and continued as such for year.
Mr.. Philip used to walk in from
the farm home three miles oat in the
country and at the close Of the school
day trudge home again. in all sorts of
weather, and over all kinds of roads, y
said Mr.. Wiswall. In the high school
work he maintained the excellent repu-
tation that he established for himself
in the grades for scholarship of very
high degree His people were poor and
he had to struggle to obtain an educa-
ton and he believed in making the
most of his opportunities. l placed my
o. K. upon Emanuel L. Philip some
thirty years before the people of Wis
eonsin did, for as superintendent Of
schools of Sank county I had such
faith and confidence in his ability that
I issued to him certificate which