Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....George, Prof Austin June 15, 1841 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 20, 2006, 3:28 am Author: American Bio History - MI - 1878 GEORGE, PROF. AUSTIN, Superintendent of the Kalamazoo Public Schools, was born June 15, 1841, at Litchfield, Hillsdale County, Michigan. His father, Austin George, was a native of Massachusetts, and his mother, Roxana (Smith) George, of New Hampshire; five sons and four daughters comprised their family. When only twelve years of age, Mr. George unfortunately lost his right arm in the machinery of a flourmill, at Jonesville, Michigan. His early educational advantages were good, and were well improved; he attended the Union School, at Jonesville, and made fine progress in all his studies. In 1858 he graduated from the Detroit Commercial College, and, in 1863, from the Michigan State Normal School, at Ypsilanti. Not satisfied with his acquireinents, he entered Kalamazoo College, graduated from the classical course, in 1866, and spent a year at the University of Michigan, in the study of law and history. While still engaged in his studies, he taught, both at Minooka, Illinois, and at Kalamazoo, Michigan. After completing his course, he engaged, for a time, successfully, in a general insurance agency, with head-quarters, first, at St. Louis, and, afterwards, at Chicago. After the Chicago fire, in 1872, he occupied the chair of Literature, in Kalamazoo College, until July, 1873, when he was elected Superintendent of the Public Schools of Kalamazoo. This position he now holds, to the great satisfaction of those interested in popular education. When in attendance at the State Normal School, in 1862, he was mainly instrumental in raising a company from among the students, which became Company E, of the 17th Michigan Infantry. Although, under the law, he was disqualified from bearing arms, yet, in his zeal to serve the country, he went to the front as company clerk, and became successively regimental, brigade, and division postmaster, and clerk at brigade and division head- quarters. He took part in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. Professor George is still a young man; he has seen much of the world, and has been greatly benefited by this contact. His fine scholastic attainments, great command of pure Saxon, his activity and energy, have given him a prominence which few attain. His knowledge of books, good common sense, and the discipline of a busy life, have made him self-reliant and confident, and not easily moved from his convictions. He has shown great knowledge of human nature in his work as teacher and superintendent of schools. His remarkable quickness in acquiring knowledge, his fluency in communicating, fit him for the business of teacher. With untiring energy, he is thoroughly at home in all departments of his work, and illustrates his practical common sense in his success in grading classes, and in the distribution of duty in the school- room. A writer of no mean repute, he loves books and is a great reader of the best authors. An admirer of the beautiful in art and the grand in nature; eminently social in his instincts and habits, he is never more happy than when imparting knowledge. Hopeful, cheerful, and full of humor, he carries sunshine with him, and is always welcome in every circle. Liberal in his religious views, and an independent Republican in politics, there is no intolerance in his disposition. He married, December 24, 1868, Sarah M. Wadham, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; they have four children. Source: American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men with Portrait Illustrations on Steel - Michigan Volume, p 28-29. 1878, Cincinnati OH: Western Biographical Publishing Co. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/george139nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb