My Genealogy Hound

William Oliphant Wilson, who has so capably and acceptably filled the position of superintendent of schools for Posey county, occupies a notable position among the educators of Indiana. He was born on his father’s farm in Center township, Posey county, on September 22, 1878, a son of Lewis M. and Missouri (Record) Wilson. John S. L. Wilson, grandfather of the subject of this review, was the founder of this branch of the family in Indiana. He was a native of Butler county, Pennsylvania, and came to Posey county previous to 1820. It is probable that the Wilson family have had a more important part in connection with the development of Lynn township than has any other. They were among its first settlers, accumulated extensive land holdings, were active in practically every movement which concerned the progress of the community, and were, without exception, men of influence. Lewis M. Wilson, the father of Superintendent Wilson, was born in Lynn township. His early life was spent on the farm of his father. After acquiring his education he was for some few years a teacher, but later returned to farming. He was a Democrat, but political office never appealed to him, although he served for several years as a justice of the peace. He married Missouri Record, who died in 1888. Mr. Wilson died in 1895. They are survived by the following children: Clara E., the wife of Rev. William L. Rhein, of Francisco, Ill.; William O., the subject of this sketch; Nina D., the wife of E. Benson Oliphant, a salesman in the employ of the Vincennes Bridge Company, who resides at Fort Branch, Ind.; Lewis O., a well known educator of Tulsa, Okla.; and Ethel M., the wife of Charles Fox, a farmer of Center township, Posey county, Indiana. Two children are deceased, viz.: John, who died in infancy; and Ernest Cleveland, born in 1887, a graduate of the Mt. Vernon High School, who completed a two-years course in the School of Mines at Rolla, Mo., and who died at Bisbee, Ariz., on September 29, 1911. In 1884 Mr. Wilson removed to a farm near Carmi, Ill., his place of residence at the time of his death. Here also occurred the death of his first wife and his marriage, in 1889, to his second, who was Miss Anna Donoghue. One child, a daughter, was born of this union. She died aged three. William Oliphant Wilson was graduated from the high school at Mt. Vernon with the class of 1899. He initiated his career as an educator in the fall of that year as a teacher in the Mt. Vernon schools. From 1901 until the close of the spring term in 1904, he was principal of the Wadesville, Ind., schools. During the summer months of the years in which he was employed in teaching he was a student, completing a one-term course in the State Normal School at Terre Haute in 1900, a similar course in the State University at Bloomington in 1901-02-03 and returned to the latter institution in the fall of 1904. In August, 1905, he was elected superintendent of schools for Posey county for the unexpired term of Charles A. Greathouse, who had resigned. He was elected to succeed himself in 1907 and in 1911. During the eight years in which Professor Wilson has been at the head of Posey county schools, he has proven the possession of administrative ability of a high order, has initiated reforms which have greatly benefited the pupils of the county, and has been a consistent advocate of system in all departments of school work. He has brought about uniformity in length of school term in all district schools, uniform reports, and has developed interest among the pupils as regards the Young People’s Reading Circle, which has resulted in an increase in the number of books read of about 700 volumes. There is not a school in the county which does not possess a good library, well selected and of wide range, and numbering 200 or more volumes. His administration has been marked by the harmony which has prevailed between superintendent and teachers. Agriculture was included among the studies for students of the seventh and eighth grades in 1912, anticipating by one year its introduction by law. Domestic science was introduced in the country schools in 1913, and although entailing an expense of $2 per student, it is proving generally popular and cannot help but be beneficial to the pupil. Mr. Wilson is a member of the National Educational Association, the Indiana State Teachers’ Association, the Southern Indiana Teachers’ Association and the Southwestern Indiana Teachers’ Association, and of the last named was one of its most active organizers and has served as secretary of the organization. He has attained to the Council degrees in Masonry, is a member of the Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 277, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Court of Honor, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows—a charter member of Wadesville Lodge. He is an influential factor in the political life of his county, is a Democrat and chairman of the county central committee of his party and treasurer of the Mt. Vernon city committee. Mr. Wilson married on June 29, 1910, Miss Harriet Brinkman, a daughter of Henry Brinkman, of Mt. Vernon, personal mention of whom is to be found elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Wilson is a graduate of the Chicago Musical School and popular in the social circles of Mt. Vernon, in which she is a leader.