*
Vol. Xlll
No. 45
M o n m o u th , Polk C o u n ty , O reg o n , F rid ay , Ju ly 15, 1921
Monmouth is Located in the Best Section of the Best Valley* of the Best State in the Nation
Chautauqua Season J. II. Ackerman, Normal President
Items of Interest
Is Opened Today
At Oregon Normal
Ends Long Career in Public Service
*
Normal students, aiumni and fac­ This afternoon is the opening
ulty members were deeplyj shocked date of Monmouth’s second Chau­
to learn of the very sudden death tauqua which continues in session
of President J. H. Ackerman at his for six days. The death of Presi­
home on last Sunday morning. dent Ackerman upset somewhat the j
Mr. Ackerman, though a native plans for the week but by Wednes­
of Iowa, has been identified with day night over seven hundred dol­
the educational history of Oregon lars worth of tickets had been sold
since his coming to Portland in and the prospect was good that the
1889. As a teacher, principal and requisite amount would be placed
superintendent in the city schools in time. Miss Plaat of the Lincoln
of Portland and as state suprein- circuit has been in town for the past
tendent of public instruction, he week assisting in getting things
served the state of his adoption going. The tent man and Miss
well and faithfully, and crowned Cameron, who is to entertain the
his life-work by ten years of devot­ children, arrived yesterday and the
ed servicers president of the Ore­ tent was put up in the lot across
gon Normal School. To this posi­ from the post office. The superin
tion he brought the ripe experience tendent is expected to arrive today
and tried judgment of maturity, to from Ilwako, Wash. We have a!
which qualities he added a very good program this year.
real dedication of himself to his
work in the highest sense of the
words. Those who studied under
him valued exceedingly his interest­
ing lectures and clear-cut explana­
tions and those who served on
Argument on Attorney Devers’
his faculty found his advice unfail­
ingly sound and helpful. Moreover, motion to make more specific the
in a marked degree he made himself complaint died by Independence
a real friend to all with whom he people in the highway matter, has
came in contact; all felt the close been set for hearing July 18 in Dal­
J. H. Ackerman president of the
bonds of his personal interest and las, according to a late report. In Oregon Normal School, died sud­
his friendship; all now feel distinct­ case the motion is not favorably denly last Sunday morning following
ly t^at’his loss is a very great one considered, a demurrer to the com­ a stroke of apoplexy. He was
to each individual. Mr. Ackerman plaint will be filed on behalf of the stricken shortly after seven o’clock
rendered durable services to his state. This would bring the suit at the home'of M. W. Jones where,
state; wrote his name clearly in to an immediate issue and guarantee with his daughter, Mrs. Carlton, he
the educational record of his time; its disposition without unnecessary had just eaten his breakfast. He
and, above all, was ever kindly and delay.
sat down to read a paper and very
Portland papers report that the shortly after the stroke came, caus­
loyal in his associations.
“That which should accompany counties a b o - e —id L» it '. u^wnubt ed by the bursting of a blood vessel
old age, as honor, love, obedience, west side in the Willamette valley in the brain. Dr. Bowersox was
are waxing indignant over delays in summoned but the president was
troops of friends” , all were his.
the highway matter in this county breathing his last when he arrived.
Mr Dunsmore of Independence
and have asked permission of the
Mrs. Ackerman was in Salem at
spoke to the students at the chapel
highway commission to intervene in the time, at the home of their
hour last Friday morning. He gave
the suit filed by Independence peo­ daughter, Mrs. Burton, recovering
a most interesting account of his
ple in this county. Yamhill and from the effects of an operation.
trip to the Holy Land.
Lincoln have acted and it is under­ The operation was a serious one but
There will be no motion picture stood that Benton and Washington
she was recovering nicely and plan­
at the chapel this week end as the will do similarly.
ned to come to Monmouth on the
Chautauqua will be in session at
However, at present there is no Sunday the president’s death occur­
that time.
delay in the county. The contrac­ red. For some time past Mrs.
Mr. Butler spoke to the students tor on the road south from this city Jones had been assisting at the
at chapel hour on Wednesday of is getting his plant ready for the Ackerman’s with the housework and
last week. He discussed in his usu­ moving of dirt on a large scale. when Mrs. Ackerman was absent in
al stimulating manner, some pres­ The grading crew has been busy for the hospital, to save work the presi­
ent-day problems in educational cir­ some time on the Dallas-Salem road dent took his meals at the Jones'
cles.
and the laying of asphalt is expect­ home. It was characteristic of him
Superintendent Strange of Astor­ ed to start shortly.
that he did not want to put any one
ia visited the Normal ¡this week to
to extra trouble to accommodate
Joint Installation
interview teachers for the coming
him. With his daughter, Mrs.
A joint installation was held by
year.
Carlton, he attended the picture
the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs last
show at the Normal chapel the even­
Governor Olcott has accepted the Thursday night when officers for
ing before and seemed in the best
invitation of the Normal to speak the ensuing six months were in­
of spirits.
to the students at the chapel hour ducted into their jobs without any
The news of his death spread like
on Friday morning, July 15. Towns­ abbreviation of the ritual. District
a shock over the community. Peo­
people are invited to this chapel ex­ Deputy Grand Master E. B. Pace
ple found it hard to believe that the
was in charge for the Odd Fellows
ercise.
familiar figure, so closely linked
and Mrs. Cornelius, district deputy
with the life of the town, was no
president of the Rebekahs perform­
more. Members of the faculty im­
ed a like duty for the ladies. The
mediately took charge of the situa­
following ¡are the newly installed
tion, notified absent relatives and
officers: N. G., A. B. Sacre; V.
the board of regents and prepsred
G., Clarence Grund; Secy., Paul
for the funeral.
Mrs. L. H. Treat, an old resident Tâcheron; Treas., F. E. Chambers;
The body was conveyed to Salem
of this city died at her home yester­ R. S. N. G., W. R. Graham; L. S.
and prepared for buriai. In the
day afternoon following a stroke of N. G.. Herbert Evans; warden, R.
Webb & Clough chapel in Salem it
paralysis. She suffered a stroke B.Swenson; conductor, Ernest Rid­
laid in state until 11 o’clock Tues­
some years ago and for years was dell; chaplain, J. L. Murdock; I.
day morning, when it was brought
helpless, being carried about in a G., W. G Powell; O. G., E. N.
to Monmouth for funeral services
wheel chair. Last winter she grew Keeney; R. S. S., M. W. Jones; L.
which occurred in the Normal chap­
strong enough to walk again and S. S.. E. C. Pollan; R. S. V. G.,
el Tuesday afternoon, starting at
was about quite a little at different James Gentle; L. S. V. G., Paul
1:30 o’clock. While in Salem the
places.
Riley.
body was viewed by many old
The Rebekahs installed the fol­
She was 73 years of age and w as
friends, for he had a wide acquain­
a native of Michigan. Her maiden lowing: Mrs. Sickafoose, N. G.;
tance in Oregon, and especially in
name was Sarah Helen Fisk and she Mrs. Cole, V. G.; Mrs. Crofoot,
Salem where he resided during his
was married to Mr. Treat at South secretary; Mrs F. Murdock, treas­
three terms as state superintendent
Riley, Michigan in 1871. The urer; Mrs. Forc^ R. S. N. G.:
of schools.
couple celebrated their golden wed­ Mrs. Jones, L. S. N. G.; Miss Alice
In the Normal chapel the body
ding last January. Beside her hus Butler, conductor; Mrs. Stanton,
reposed in its casket at the foot of
band she is survived by a son and a warden; Mrs. G. Boothby, K. S. V.
the platform which was banked
daughter, Gordon Treat of Salem G ; Mrs. McCollum, L. S. V. G.;
with many beautiful floral tributes.
Mrs.
O.
Butler,
Chaplain;
Mrs.
and Mrs. Alta Rogers of this city.
Beckley, I. G.; Jessie Webber, O. G. Some of these represented friends
At the time of publication funeral
Following the installation, re­ and relatives, the students, faculty
arrangements had not be en made. freshments consisting of cake and
and hoard of regents, the business
ices were served and this was fol­ men of Monmouth, the Masonic or­
Rev. Roaeell was in Portland on lowed by a social time*that lasted
ders and one beautiful piece bore
business Thursday.
to a late hour.
Neighbor Counties
Becoming Resentful
*
«
Paralysis Takes
Mrs. L. H Treat
*
the inscription, “ Pendleton’’. Mem­
bers of Washington lodge, A. F. &
A._M. of Portland had active charge
of the funeral program. The presi­
dent was an enthusiastic Mason.
He was raised to the master mason
degree at Arcadia, Wisconsin, but
joined Washington lodge when he
came to Oregon and has since held
membership in it.
The large auditorium of the new
chapel was filled with people who
came to attend the services. Many
prominent people of the state were
there. The honorary pall bearers
were: Governor Olcott, Secretary
of State Sam A. Kozer, State Treas­
urer 0 . P. Hoff, I. L. Patterson, J.
A. Churchill. W. J. Kerr, P. L.
Campbell B. F. Irvine and Judge
George H. Burnett.
The active
bearers were: Ira C. Powell, W.
G. Beattie, J . B. V. Butler of this
city, C. L. Starr and D. A. Grout
of Portland and E. D. Ressler of
Corvallis.
Mrs. Fairfax Parrish of Dallas
rendered the beautiful solo. “Cros­
sing the Bar” and the Normal chor­
us, under the capable ¡leadership of
Miss Schuette, sang "Lead Kindly
Light” end “ Send Out Thy Light”
both of which were favorites with
the late president.
Rev. W.G. F.lliott, J r., pastor of
the First Unitarian church of Port-
alnd preached the funeral sermon.
He had, he said, known Mr. Acker­
man intimately for a quarter of a
century. He was associated with
him in the educational conference
at the Lewis and Clark fair; he
had known him in his home and had
officiated at the weddings of his
three daughters. He recalled three
pictures that hang on the walls of
the president’s office in the Normal
building. One depicts a storm, Na­
ture at war, with the clashing of
the elements; the second depicts
mankind at war, rather, it was a
scene that followed a battle but in
it were the instruments and uni­
forms associated with civil strife;
the third shows a young woman
reading a book, and to him it was
significant as depicting the weaker
of the sexes, dispensing knowledge
which in itself is stronger than any
agency of physical power. It was
hard, he said, to dissociate the per
sonality of a man with his physical
body; but the two were separate.
The body was merely the instru­
ment with which the soul signaled
its desires and ideas and the spirit
itself could not be laid away in the
grave.
President W. J. Kerr of the
Agricultural college followed with
a brief eulogy, the tribute to a man
who he said had ideas and ideals.
He had met him first at the Lewis
and Clark fair and when, two years
later, he came to Oregon, he had
been associated with Mr. Ackerman,
the latter being a regent of the
Agricultural college at that time
Their associations had given him a
high opinion of the late Normal
president.
President P. L. Campbell of the
university said he met Mr. Acker­
man at a teacher's meeting when
he first came to Oregon and felt
immediately that a new power had
been added to the state’s teaching
force. The impression had been
strengthened with each succeeding
year since that time. Such had
been the power and capacity of the
man, as exhibited during his years
as state superintendent, that when
the report came that he would de­
cline to seek a re-election at the
end of his third term, Mr. Campbell
felt they had room for just such
ability at the university and ap­
proached Mr. Ackerman with a pro­
posal to this end; but the latter
had alreadv accepted the work in
Monmouth. And, added Mr. Camp­
bell, he could not quarrel with the
decision. Because of his own earlv
association with the school here,
because of his interest in the ele­
mental y schools of the state, be­
cause of «.he unsettled status of
normal training in Oregon at the
time, he felt that the strong mind
and the organizing genius of Mr.
Ackerman could be applied to no
more worthy cause. He knew he
would succeed and he rejoiced in
the splendid success which has a t­
tended the re-establishment of the
Monmouth Normal.
Among the people who came to
attend the funeral of President J.
H. Ackerman weie: H. G. Stark­
weather of Milwaukie, Miss Mar­
vin of Salem, F. J . Miller, Albany
Geo. Hug. W. M. Smith, E. E. El­
liott, R. E. L. Steiner »nd wife and
Miss Cosper of Salem, A. Strange
of Astoria, J. Q. McLaughlin of
Corvallis, Mr. Boettiker of Albany.
Following the services the body
was taken to Salem where the im­
pressive Masonic services were ren­
dered by the Washington lodge of
Portland, with the'assistance of Sa­
lem brethren. Burial was in the
Odd Fellows cemetery.
The following facts relative to
Mr. Ackerman’s early years were
taken from a Willamette Valley
biographical record published some
years ago.
John Henry Ackerman was born
in Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio,
November 7, 1854. His father.
John I Ackerman was a native ot
Wurtemberg, Germany, and was a
blacksmith by trade. His mother
before marriage was Caroline H art­
man, a native of Ohio. When J.
H. was one year old the family mov­
ed to Toronto, Clinton county, Iowa.
He grew up in Toronto. Iowa then
was a pioneer state and he was
early thrown on his own resources.
Between the ages of seventeen and
twenty he followed the trade of
carpenter and when the financial
panic of 1873 overtook the country
he was working for a railroad con­
tractor on the Northern Pacific r*il-
road. He was thrown out of em­
ployment and went to Arcadia, Wis.
where he had an unc!e*engaged as
a contractor and builder. His
uncle advised him ¡to go to school
and his teacher advised that he
should teach. His exceptional abil­
ity in this line soon manifested it­
self. He received a certificate in
1876 and became a district school
teacher at a salary of $25 per
month.
He taught district schools in Min­
nesota and Iowa and [for six years
was principal of the school at Ar­
cadia. In 1888 heenteredthe state
normal ach'iol at Milwaukee, Wis.,
and completed the course. Practi­
°f oT.
cally self taught his native'ability
had already attracted attention in
Wisconsin but he saw greater op­
portunities in the west and came to
Oregon shortly after he received his
diploma. He located in Portland
and was engaged as principal of the
Holloday school in that city. A
year later he was elected city sup­
erintendent of schools of Eart Port­
land. In the following year the
schcoh of the whole city were con­
solidated and he was made assistant
superintendent.
In 1892 the Republicans nominat­
ed him for 'county superintendent
of Multnomah county and he was
elected. In 1894 he was re-elected
receiving the highest vote on the
ticket. For four years he was not
only county superintendent but was
also principal of the Harrison street
school. In 1898 the Oregon repub­
licans nominated him for state sup­
erintendent at their convention held
in Astoria and he w bb elected, tak­
ing up his duties in January of the
following year. He was re-elected
in 1902 and again in 1906.
He was a tireless ¡worker, was
ardent in pushing every educational
move that appealed to him as prac­
tical. As state superintendent he
visited every corner of the state and
had friends and acquaintances every­
where. People say he could have
been governor or U. S. Senator if
he^ad stuck to politics, bu^schools
and teaching were his lifework and
he chose rather to retire as presi­
dent of the Normal where his keen
organizing ability is reflectedjin the
present solid and substantial foun­
dation on which J the schooljnow
rests.
A review of the achievements
that have come to the Normal witb-
in the past ten years must include
the building of the girls’ dormitory,
the training school building, tne
gymnasium, the senior cottage, the
enlarged chapel, the enlarged heat­
ing plant, enlarged sanitary facilit­
ies, the acquisition of the junior
cottage and the present enlargement
of the dormitory. The passage of
the millage bill in May, 1920 is per­
haps the most important achieve­
ment. Because of it the Normal
now, for the first time in its exist -
ance, has financial backing some­
where near its necessities for carry­
ing on the work of preparing teach­
ers for the elementary schools of the
state. In addition to this must be
mentioned the city’s progress in
sidewalks, paving, the gravity water
system and the high school building.
President. Ackerman’s early ex­
perience in the elementary schools
inspired in him a tender regard for
their welfare. Rural schools espe­
cially he wished to see put upon a
higher plane of excellence. He
used to say that the child in the re­
mote corners of the state had just
as good a right to proper instruc­
tion as the city child. For this rea­
son he backed such measures as the
two mill tax law and the county
unit proposal. Educational legisla­
tion strongly interested him and he
took an active part in furthering it
wherever practical.
While in Arcadia, Wis., Mr. Ack­
erman was married to Miss Ellen
Boorman, who survives him. They
have three married daughters, all
living close by. They are Mrs. Lil­
lian Carlton of Eugene, |Mrs. Caro­
line Burton of Salem and Mrs. Isa­
bella Lunn of Corvallis.
Mrs. Ophelia Anderson a sister
of D. M. Hampton, has been here
the past week from Pendleton visit­
ing the latter and family. With her
is h e r daughter a n d husbaAd.
Dr. and Mrs. Idleman, al«o of Pen­
dleton. Dr. Idleman has been ap­
pointed to a position as dentist for
the home for feeble minded and the
industrial school for boys in Salem
and takes up his duties immediately.
Miss Nets Waller is visiting with
friends at Gladstone this week.