The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1932-05-05
Samuel ]. Race Dies
at Minneapolis Home
CONTINUED from Page one)

ALL. 1s1SS SosS up IiS SoiiA1Ae~AAu -
January 1, 1907, Redwood county
rural schools were pointed to as be-
ing the best in the state, with better
teachers, and receiving the highest
apportionment from the state Tor
their operation and progress. Drlv-
ing through the farming sections OF
Redwood county today the residents
of Mr.. Races years of superintendent
cy proudly and cheerfully recall, as
each school house is passed, what Mr..
Race did to not only have the build
ing improved, but also to secure the
best teacher, the best library and
the best equipment the district could
afford. Many a pupil Of the "littie
red school house" of that period,
whose eyes may read these lines, will
applaud these words of commenda-
ton. Those who recall that ne sue
ceeded r. L. Maeshman, formerly
principal of the Redwood Falls
schools, and afterwards chosen coun-
ty superintendent, only to resign on
December 1, 1886, to remove to Kan
sas City, of which place he after
wards became mayor, will likewise
recall that Mr.. Race had predeces-
sor who laid a foundation for Red
wood county schools of the future OF
which the successor must erect sup
erstructure commensurate with the
preliminary work.
Samuel J. Race was born on July
10, 1858, lacking but few months OF
being seventy-three years old at the
time of his passing away. From the
common and graded schools through
which he matriculated there came
desire to acquire a university educa-
ton. By sacrifices and by stubborn
determination he graduated from the
University of Pennsylvania, receiving
the highest academic degree of that
time. He was a devout follower OF
the Ralph Waldo Emerson and Oliver
Wendell Holmes theories advanced
then and in later years. He was
popular with his fellow students and
graduates, was a member of various
clubs of the university and its alum
nj. He served as president of the
National University for two years.
Coming west to Minnesota after
his university experiences he became
a public school instructor, his later
years of work along that line being
at Hampden, Dakota county, this
state. It. was while teaching in that
village that he met and married Miss
Lucinda Isabella Mckay, daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Gilbert Mckay, then
residing there, and to which union
five children were born.
G. E. Mckay, brother of Mrs.
Race, was then residing at Hampton,
and shortly after the union above
mentioned, Mr.. Mckay and Mr.. Race
decided upon a mercantile partner
ship. Redwood Falls was regarded
as a coming town by both OF the
young men. A two-store frame build
ing stood on the corner of Second
and Mill streets, where the Montgom-
ery Ward store now stands. In one
of the store rooms was the grocery
store of Sewall & Green. Mckay q
Race purchased the stock and good
will of Sewall & Green and embark
ed in a successful business extend
ing over many years, or very nearly
I'D to December 1, 1886, when Mr..
Race entered upon his work as coun-
ty superintendent of Schools.
At the close of 20 years service
for the schools of Redwood county
he moved to Minneapolis, where ne
became director and manager of a
teachers bureau, acting in that capa-
city for a period of another 20 years,
and during the interim he was as
signed by the state education depart
ment to lecture and speak upon edu-
cational topics before school board
members and at teachers Institutes.
1t was during his latter day resi-
dence at Redwood Falls or shortly
after taking up his residence in Min
neapolis, that Mrs. Race, long
physical sufferer, passed away. In
later years Mr.. Race married a we'll
known and popular Redwood county
School teacher, Miss Flora Patterson,
who has been his active assistant as
secretary-treasurer of the Race
Teachers Bureau.
AS a mark of appreciation OF his
labor in the cause of education and OF
the common schools Mr.. Race was
awarded life state professional
certificate in 1898, and that same
year he became member of the state
examining committee for teachers
certificates, the other members OF the
board for that year, including the
distinguished educators: Superintend-
ent A. B. Gilbert of st. Paul, Profess
sor Willis M. West of Minneapolis,
Doctor D. L. Kiehle of the Univer-
sity of Minnesota, and Professor z.
w. G. Hyde, assistant superintendent
of public instruction, all educational
leaders of that period.
Mr.. Race was president of the Min
nesota State Educational association
in 1902. His address on the 10th an
niversary of that association is still
yo;ntod RI h., oduca tinpa1 man and