Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-10-06
c. A. BIRCH PASSES
At VALLEY. Wash.
Former Postmaster, Editor and
SchooI-nlan Of Wi|Imar
Died Sept. Is. -. -.

cause of death was cancer in the alb
domen. He left Spokane June IL, and
was operated upon by DR.. Cartwright,
recognized surgeon of Washington,
for piles, who then discovered the
cancer, but was unable to remove it
without injury to vital organs. After
five weeks at the hospital the patient
was removed to a cabin near a run
ming brook, with splendid mountain
scenery, where he spent the summer
attended by his wife and daughter,
Gladys. The last week Mrs. Birch
was alone with her husband, Miss
Gladys having gone to Republic to
teach school. The funeral occurred
on Sunday, Sept. 26.
1t is over five years ago since the
Birch family left Willmar for Spo-
kane, where Mr.. Birch engaged in the
insurance business. The news of his
death is heard with regret by the peo-
pie of this county where he was so
we'll known. The wife and daughter
have the sincere sympathy of their
many Willmar friends in their great
sorrow.
The following biographical sketch is
substantially as it appears in the Kan
diyohi County History:
Charles A. Birch was born in South
ampton, London, England, Oct. Is,
1856. His parents emigrated in 1864
to Toronto, Canada. Young Birch at
tended the Model School at Toronto
and lockwood Academy. After the
death of his mother, he, with his faith
er, came to Minnesota in 1868 and set.
tied in Kandiyohi County in 1869.
Here he attended school in District
No. l, town of Roseville. In a few
years, the father moved to Chicago,
where he died, leaving his son in Min
nesota without single relative on
this continent. In couple of years,
we find this boy attending school at
New London, MINI. Afterwards he
took a course at the State Normal
School at st. Cloud, Mimi, gradual
ing from there in 1880, and in the
academic course in 1881. During the
years from 1876 to 1881 when not at
tending school, he taught in Burbank
and New London. In 1881 he was cleo
ted county superintendent of schools
of Kandiyohi county. At this time the
schools of Kandiyohi county were in
a deplorable condition, no practical
teacher having held the position of
superintendent of schools, and the Of
flee had been looked upon as the tail
to the political kite in flying the pol
itical ticket. The superintendent of
schools had no official home. The en-
tire records Of the Office were found
in cracker box in the auditors Of
flee. The county commissioners gave
Supt. Birch the old poor house in the
court yard for an Office, and had a
desk made for him. It was in this
den that he planned out and put into
effect the foundation of our present
splendid school system. The first step
was to reach the teachers. In the
spring of 1882 he held the first teach
er's meeting in Kandiyohi county in
the old First Ward school house.
About twenty teachers were present.
Here teachers organization was
formed, and course of study out
lined and presented, which was print
ed and placed in every school in the
county in the fall of 1882. The teach
| er's meetings became prominent
| necessity to recommendation. Per-
mits to teachers were abolished, and
the third grade certificate was no long
er looked upon as qualification as
a teacher. The school boards began
to see the difference between keep.
ing" and teaching" school. In 1883,
a teachers library was placed in the
superintendent's office, so that teach.
ers, members Of the teachers asso'
citation, had access to some of the best
books on teaching and educational
topics.
In 1883 one Of the largest institutes
in the state was held in Kandiy0hi
county, and the good seed sown in or
ganizing brought forth a rich harvest
School boards wanted the best teach
ers, and the Normal graduates were
given the preference, so that in 1873:
a large number came into the count,
to transform the cold, bleak barre1
school houses into attractive ones. II
the early part of the eighties, ther'
were not a half dozen blackboards IL
the schools of Kandiyohi county tha
were fit to write on. Tar paper wa
the standard blackboard. Soon tn
good blackboard became an establish
ed necessity; maps, globes and die
: tionary, the teachers working tool
were placed in nearly all schools
There was progressive movemen
all along the educational line in tn
county. The course of study and tn
program placed on the blackboar
showed at any time to the superb
i tendent who visited the schools If
definite time was given to each stud
by the teacher, and what was bein
accomplished by the different grade
A criticism sheet was handed to eac
teacher by the superintendent at th
close Of his visit. This was regar,
ed at first as an insult, but it was ke]
up, and it opened the eyes of some ,
the school keepers" to the fact tn,
the teacher was the ideal of the pup
and that order, correct address, co
rect speech, cleanliness and love
work were some of the great esse
tials to a teacher.
\ Superintendent Birch was electe
member Of the Board of Education
Willmar in 1883, and continued as
member of the board until 1899, bei1
president for number of years, wht
his duties as postmaster COMPEL,
him to resign. He was deputy audit
in 1882, and for one term was ci
Justice. In 1889, he purchased Il
Willmar Argus, and conducted it t
1899, when he sold the plant. He W;
appointed postmaster of Willmar
January, 1899 by President McKinle
and re-appointed by President Roos
velt in 1903. .. sz... 5s.. .*5
~ Mr.. Birch has been twice marie