1900 Traversians Yearbook
Teachers f or The Year.
Traverse City, Grand Traverse, Michigan

This is an extraction of the biographies on the teachers of the Traverse City High School for 1900.

Index for Bios on this page 
Edith Atkin
Harriet L. Bouldin
Myron A. Cobb
Charles T. Grawn
Lillian I. Downing
Charles Henry Horn, M. A.
Euphemia Jickling
Marie McLaughlin
Helen A. Norton
Edward H. Ryder - Principal
E. R. Swift
Beulah Weeks

Past Superintendent Of Traverse City Schools
Charles T. Grawn, B.Pd., M.P.D. For fifteen years the public schools of Traverse City were under the supervision of Mr. Charles T. Grawn.  Under his management, during that time, they have increased from twelve teachers to over forty.  Their growth in tone, efficiency, and influence was no less conspicuous, giving them a good name throughout a wide region in Northern Michigan.  Good buildings were erected, and peace, harmony, and progress prevailed.  These schools are a monument to Prof. Grawn.  What better monument can man build? Mr. Grawn was born in Washtenaw County, Michigan October 4, 1857.  His parents were Swedish pioneers.  His boyhood days were spent on a farm in Kent county where he took many of his lessons in nature study.  His toil was that of the ordinary farm boy, when not in school.  For several months each year he was required to learn to read Swedish, Danish and Norwegian, but in the winter he attended the district school of the neighborhood.  When he was seventeen years of age he entered the Newaygo High School, which he attended for one year.  While in this school he did janitor work and chores to pay the usual expenses of board and books.  After attending the high school for one year he began teaching.  His first experience was a term of four months in a district school at twenty dollars per month, boarding around.  In the spring of 1876, he entered the State Normal School, and was graduated from that institution in June, 1880, having completed the classical course.  During these four years his summer vacations were spent on the farm earning money to pay his school expenses.  After completing his work at Ypsilanti he went to Plymouth, as Principal of the public schools, where his real career as an educator began.  For four years he taught in the schools of Plymouth with ability and devotion.  The people there have not forgotten him and they still turn to him for advice and counsel in educational matters.  During a part of his time he was Secretary of the Wayne County Board of School Examiners.  It was during this time, also, that he began a family for himself.  On November 25, 1881, he married Helen J. Blackwood of Northville, Wayne County who had been a student with him in the State Normal School.  Thus was begun a happy home life which has grown with the years. In the fall of 1884 Mr. Grawn came to Traverse City as Superintendent of her public schools.  Since that time he has labored here and grown with the growth of the city.  On the presentation of two thesis in 1892 the State Normal College conferred upon him the degree of B.Pd., and the M.Pd. was added in 1897 by the same institution.  The State Teachers' Association claimed him as its president in 1894. By hard study and frequent attendance at professional meetings of all kinds Mr. Grawn has kept himself fully up to the times.  Besides being successful in school he has been very successful in business ventures, and is now one of the few teachers in Michigan who can show financial results for their labors. Personally Mr. Grawn is pleasant, genial, sincere.  He is greatly esteemed by his patrons, teachers, and pupils.  His heart is warm and bright, and the generous kindness of his nature shines out from every feature of his open countenance, and his presence is like a benediction that is not soon forgotten. In June, 1899, Mr. Grawn was appointed Superintendent of the Normal College Training School at Ypsilanti.  He began his work there in the following September, and in a few months had won the hearts and confidence of both students and faculty, when, on the resignation of Principal Charles McKenny of the Central State Normal, the State Board of Education again showed their high appreciation of Mr. Grawn by electing him to succeed Principal McKenny.  He entered upon his duties as Principal of that young but vigorous institution in April last.  The reception given him be the students, teachers, and citizens of Mt. Pleasant is prophetic of a long and successful administration in this important position.
Superintendent of Traverse City Schools
Charles Henry Horn, M.A. Charles Henry Horn, Superintendent of the Traverse City schools, was born in a log house in Eaton County, Michigan, January 6, 1865.  During his boyhood days his education advantages were confined to a little red school house in the country district, but to was here that his ambition for an education began.  As he was not very strong physically, his teacher suggested to his father the advisability of sending him to a high school.  He father was pleased with the suggestion, and accordingly Mr. Horn entered the Charlotte High School at the age of sixteen, where he graduated, valedictorian of his class, in 1885. During the early part of Mr. Horn's struggle for an education, he admits that he fell in love frequently and desperately.  He determined, however, that he would not let any girl stand between him and an education.  The result was that he lost all the girls, as he would not ask them to wait for him, thinking they should take the hint without being asked. Before finishing the high school Mr. Horn taught one term in a district school and after graduation he accepted a position as teacher in the grades at Vermontville, Michigan.  During the winter he was severely afflicted with the rheumatism, so that he was obliged to give up teaching, and in the spring he left Michigan for California, thinking that a change of climate would benefit him.  Returning from California much improved in health, e taught school winters and worked on the farm summers for nearly two years.  About that time he was employed by the home Missionary Society, and spent one summer in Dakota doing missionary work. In 1888 Mr. Horn entered Olivet College, and, with the money he had saved, together with that which he earned during his course, graduated A.B. in 1892. During his college course he was much interested in literary work, and during his junior year won the first prize in the regular oratorical contest.  It was during the latter part of his college course that he fell in love for the last time, and fatally. Shortly after his graduation he was elected principal of the Eaton Rapids School and served in this capacity for one year.  His work in Eaton Rapids was very satisfactory and he was urged to remain for a longer time, but having received a call from Traverse City, he decided to accept the position as principal of the Traverse City High School.  A short time before coming to Traverse City Mr. Horn married Miss Hila Meads, of Olivet.  After spending a short time at the World's Fair, Mr. and Mrs. Horn cam to Traverse City and has remained here since. As principal of the Traverse City High School, Mr. Horn has been very successful, winning by his good judgment, tact and fidelity, the respect of all with whom he comes in contact.  During his life as principal he found time to pursue studies along advanced lines, especially in History and Latin.  In 1895 Olivet College conferred upon him the degree of M.A., as evidence of the completion of the advanced studies required for this honor. Last year upon Professor Grawn's resignation Mr. Horn was appointed to fill the vacancy as superintendent.  Mr. Horn is not only a thorough and devoted schoolman but he has always manifested a deep interest in whatever pertains to the social, moral, and spiritual welfare of the community in which he labors.  His influence on the young people is always that which he labors.  He will be remembered by his associates and students as an inspiring and helpful friend.  Long may Traverse City be able to retain him as Superintendent of her Public Schools.
Principal T. C. H. S.
Edward H. Ryder Edward H. Ryder, principal of the Traverse City High School, was born in Northville, Wayne County, Michigan, August 9, 1871.  He attended school at Northville, and completed his high school work there at the age of sixteen.  Two years later he went to the Normal College at Ypsilanti from which he graduated in 1893.  After graduation Mr. Ryder spent four summer terms doing advanced work in science and mathematics at the Michigan Agricultural College. In 189e he was engaged as instructor of science in the Traverse City High School, remaining four years.  He then received a higher position as principal of the Plymouth High School, where he taught two years.  Mr. Ryder engaged for a third year at Plymouth, but resigned when being recalled to Traverse City as principal. December 23, 1896, Mr. Ryder married Miss Georgia Smyth of Marshall, Michigan, who, after graduating at the Normal College, taught in the Traverse City schools two years. His work in the school has been very satisfactory, and during his year as principal, he has won the respect of the students who feel they have in him a warm friend and true counselor.
Teachers
Edith Atkin Edith was born in Lyndondale, Orleans County, New York.  Later her home was at Petoskey, Michigan where she attended and graduated from the High School.  She afterwards attended the Normal College at Ypsilanti graduating from there in 1896.  After teaching three years in Petoskey she came to Traverse City, where she teaches mathematics.
Harriet L. Bouldin Harriet L. Bouldin was born in Clare County, Michigan.  Soon afterwards her parents moved to West Saginaw, which place has been her home since.  She graduated from the Saginaw High School in the Latin-German course.  After teaching two years in a village school near Saginaw, she entered the Normal School at Ypsilanti, from which she graduated in 1896, after two years work in the  Latin-German course.  Since then she has taught Latin and German in the Traverse City High School. Last summer she attended the Sauveur School of Languages, Amderst Collage, Massachusetts taking special work in Latin and German.  This summer she intends to take special work in Latin at Cornell University.
Myron A. Cobb Myron A. Cobb was born near Ypsilanti, Michigan.  He attended school in his home district for ten years, then entered preparatory department of the Normal College, graduating in 1896.  Mr. Cobb came to Traverse City in the fall of '97, and taught the branches of Mathematics and Science since.  During the summer of '98 Mr. Cobb attended the summer school at the University of Michigan.
Lillian I. Downing Lillian was born in Romulus, Wayne County, Michigan, where she lived until fifteen years of age.  Later she attended school at Ypsilanti for two years, then taught in a primary school until she entered Olivet College, in 1891.  She attended this college one half year of a year, then taught kindergarten at Bangor.  In '95 she again entered college at Ypsilanti, graduating in '97, then came to Traverse City High School where she teaches history and literature.
Euphemia Jickling Euphemia Jickling was born in Canada, her early school days being spent at Youngsville, Ontario.  She afterwards came to Michigan, where she took the teachers examination and taught in a district school for some time.  She was then engaged as primary teacher and later as principal of the Chase School in Lake County, where she spent two years. Miss Jickling then entered the Flint Normal College, where she studied stenography.  She afterwards attended the Ferris Industrial School, graduating from the Commercial course.  She was engaged as assistant teacher of the same work until she came to Traverse City in 1897.  Her first year here was spent in the High School where she taught the Commercial branches, Physiology and Physical Geography.  The last two years have been spent as special teacher of penmanship in the grades and of the Commercial branches in the High School.
Marie McLaughlin Marie Mclaughlin was born in Allegan County, Michigan.  She attended the Otsego High School and afterwards the Michigan Normal College at Ypsilanti.  She came to Traverse City, March 10, 1888, and has been here since. She began her work as teacher of the sixth grade, and has taught all the grades from that up to the High School.  Her line of work since teaching in the High School has been principally mathematics, although at one time she taught English and the elementary sciences.  At present she teaches mathematics.
Helen A. Norton Helen A. Norton was born on a farm near Hudson, Michigan.  She attended the district school near her home and later entered the Hudson High School, from which she graduated in the famous class of seven girls.  She then taught in a district school near Stillman Valley, in Northern Illinois, for nearly three years. Miss Norton entered the Normal College at Ypsilanti, Michigan and remained there three years, or until 1893.  She left her school work in the spring of her Senior year to accept a position as principal of the Decatur High School, which position she held for two years.  Miss Norton later came to Traverse City, where she has been fives yeas as teacher of the Latin and English branches.
E. R. Swift E. R. Swift was born in Cleveland, Ohio.  He attended school at Olivet, where he graduated in 1897.  The year following he attended the University of Michigan.  He has spent two years here teaching Botany, Physical Geography, Physiology, Geometry and Algebra.
Beulah Weeks  Beulah Weeks was born in the country and brought up on a farm five miles from Decatur, Michigan.  She attended a district school for a number of years, then entered the High School at Decatur, attending there for four years.  At the expiration of that time she completed the work, graduating with honors.  After teaching one year in a district school, she went to California, where she entered the Leland Stanford Junior University for one year.  Miss Weeks then returned to Michigan and entered the University in the fall of '96, and graduating in June '99. Miss Weeks was appointed, last December, to fill a vacancy in our school.  She teaches the ninth grade English and one class in tenth English.
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