My Genealogy Hound

James H. Harris, superintendent of the schools of Pontiac, belongs to one of the old settled families of the Northern Peninsula of Michigan, one which has been prominently identified with the copper mining regions. He was graduated from the University of Michigan in 1891, with the degree of A. B., and in the following year was made instructor in Latin and Greek in the Saginaw East Side High School.

During the summer of 1892 Mr. Harris was offered the instructorship in Latin and Greek at the Michigan Military Academy at Orchard Lake, and accepted, remaining five years in that position. He was then elected principal of the Bay City High School, and entered upon the duties of that position in the fall of 1897 and held the position until the close of December, 1900. During 1894 and 1896 he did a year’s graduate work at the University of Chicago, devoting himself especially to the study of Latin. In December, 1900, he was summoned back to Orchard Lake as principal of the Michigan Military Academy, and although he found the affairs of the school in a somewhat complicated condition he entered upon his duties with characteristic energy and soon had placed the school again in a prosperous condition. In 1901 he was offered a division superintendency in the Philippines, at a salary of $2,500 a year, but declined the offer, as he also did that of the principalship of the schools of Youngstown, Ohio. He was proffered his present position during the holiday season of 1902-03, and accepted, taking charge in February of the latter year of all the schools of the city of Pontiac, with a total enrollment of 1,853 pupils, including the High School, which has an enrollment of 192. There are seven school buildings, 46 teachers, 12 grades and four kindergarten schools which prepare for first grade work. The contrast presented to the early educational advantages afforded in Pontiac is very marked, as a short resume will show.

The earliest schools in Pontiac date back to 1822, private schools supported by subscription, and were taught at first in the dwellings of the most prominent and intelligent settlers. Among the very earliest teachers were two daughters of Jacob Stevens, who probably taught in 1822. Another early remembered teacher was Ira Hodges. The first school building erected in Pontiac — a small one-story frame building built about 1824 — stood a little west of the location of the old court house. On April 23, 1833, the legislative council granted a charter to the Pontiac Academy, and the enterprise and energy of the citizens were shown by the immediate erection of a suitable frame building, near the corner of Saginaw and Huron streets, and one of the early instructors here was Charles Draper. The school was continued until the advent of the Pontiac branch of the University, which opened September 12, 1837, under the management of Prof. George P. Williams, of the Central University of Ann Arbor. The school continued but two years.

For some succeeding years schools were taught in various parts of the town, there frequently being several in operation at the same time. In the spring of 1835 an institution called the “Pontiac Literary Association” opened an English and Classical High School, with Mr. Griswold as principal. Rev. Isaac W. Ruggles, the first Congregational minister in Oakland County, who came to Pontiac from Chenango County, New York, in 1824, as a missionary, also taught a classical select school for several years in his own dwelling.

In 1844 a High School was opened by S. S. Gale and J. W. Crain. In 1849 Union District, No. 2, was formed, being the inception of the union and free school system here. The charter of the Pontiac city schools, under which they are at present incorporated, was granted by the Legislature in 1889, the act of incorporation being introduced by the late Dr. Galbraith, then Senator from this district.

The principals and superintendents from 1849 to 1875 were: from 1849 to 1851, no one particularly designated; Jacob Safford, 1851 to 1853; Byron G. Stout, 1853 to 1854; Johnson A. Corbin, 1854 to 1864; Charles Hurd, September, 1864, to April, 1867; Johnson A. Corbin, spring term of 1867; Leander W. Pilcher, September, 1867, to January 1, 1869; Johnson A. Corbin, January 1, to February 1, 1869; T. C. Garner, February 1 to June 25, 1869; J. S. D. Taylor, 1869 to 1870; C. S. Fraser, 1870 to 1872; Joseph C. Jones, M. A., 1872, 1875 and 1876, superintendent, J. G. Pattengill, B. A., being principal of the High School. Since that date the following have served as superintendents: O. C. Seelye, Ferris S. Fitch, Frank S. Converse, Hugh L. Brown, Ralph B. Dean and James H. Harris.

The present Grove or High School building on Huron street was dedicated August 30, 1871, it being one of the finest school structures in the state at the time and still ranks as the same. It is finely equipped also. Under the able administration of Superintendent Harris, great things are in store for the public schools of this city. He has few superiors as an educator, while he is also noted for great executive ability.

Mr. Harris has long been prominent in all educational movements and matters in the State, and during 1900 and 1901 he was the efficient president of the Michigan Schoolmasters’ Club and during the same year was chairman of the High School section of the State Teachers’ Association. He is a member also of the National Educational Association and in 1901 read a paper before the secondary department on “English in the Secondary Schools.” An abstract from this valuable paper appears in the proceedings of the association for 1901. He has been a frequent contributor to such educational journals as the Educational Review and the School Review. Among the many thoughtful and practical articles which have appeared in these journals during the past few years may be recalled: “The Natural Limitations of the Elective System,” “Preparatory Greek in the University,” “The Elective System,” “Review of Bennett’s Latin Prose Composition,” “Report of the Committee of Twelve on College Entrance Requirements” and the September (1902) School Review contained a most timely and interesting article from his pen on “The Present Status of the English Curriculum.”

In August, 1901, Professor Harris was married to Grace Galbraith, who is a daughter of Dr. Franklin B. Galbraith, and a daughter has been born to them. Their present and attractive home is situated at No. 132 Huron street, West Pontiac.

Professor Harris retains his membership with his Greek letter fraternity Delta Upsilon of the University of Michigan and belongs also to the Masons, being connected with Lodge No. 21, of Pontiac.