Individual Details
William Alexander FURR
(October 2, 1863 - May 6, 1935)
The subject of this sketch, William A. Furr, was born in Indiana Oct. 2. 1803. After the usual common school course he entered the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute. Ind.. from which he graduated in 1893. Continuing his college work he received the degree of A. B. from the Indiana University at Bloomington, Ind., in 1896. and in 1897 the degree of A. M.
The same year he was employed as principal of the old Lincoln school of this city, and upon the completion of the new Lincoln school building, was appointed principal of that school, where he remained and worked with favor and success until the resignation of Supt. Heidler in the spring of 1899 when he was unanimously elected as his successor, and has been recently elected by the board of education as superintendent for the ensuing year. Mr. Furr has had large and varied experience in teaching, and has taught in schools of every grade and character, beginning with the small country school and progressing through the village and city schools to his present exalted and responsible position. He states with emphasis that he esteems the work he did. and was required to do in the Indiana State Normal School, during the three years spent in that institution, as worth vastly more to him in his profession than any subsequent college course. He is a living representative and advocate of the wisdom and benefit of our public school teachers of the training given at our own normal schools. He regards teaching as both an art and a science, and recommends that, for our graded schools especially, care should be taken to employ teachers carefully trained for the work. In line with and in furtherance of Mr. Furr's ideas, our own board of education, by way of encouraging our teachers, has lately adopted a resolution granting to any teacher, who shall wish to pursue a course at any reputable normal school, a leave of absence for one year with the promise of her position when she shall return. Under Mr. Furr's administration our schools are much improved and improving, and our people appreciate his excellent work.
The same year he was employed as principal of the old Lincoln school of this city, and upon the completion of the new Lincoln school building, was appointed principal of that school, where he remained and worked with favor and success until the resignation of Supt. Heidler in the spring of 1899 when he was unanimously elected as his successor, and has been recently elected by the board of education as superintendent for the ensuing year. Mr. Furr has had large and varied experience in teaching, and has taught in schools of every grade and character, beginning with the small country school and progressing through the village and city schools to his present exalted and responsible position. He states with emphasis that he esteems the work he did. and was required to do in the Indiana State Normal School, during the three years spent in that institution, as worth vastly more to him in his profession than any subsequent college course. He is a living representative and advocate of the wisdom and benefit of our public school teachers of the training given at our own normal schools. He regards teaching as both an art and a science, and recommends that, for our graded schools especially, care should be taken to employ teachers carefully trained for the work. In line with and in furtherance of Mr. Furr's ideas, our own board of education, by way of encouraging our teachers, has lately adopted a resolution granting to any teacher, who shall wish to pursue a course at any reputable normal school, a leave of absence for one year with the promise of her position when she shall return. Under Mr. Furr's administration our schools are much improved and improving, and our people appreciate his excellent work.
Events
| Birth | October 2, 1863 | Fountain County, IN | |||
| Marriage | September 6, 1888 | Fountain County, IN - Alpharetta B. BROWN |  | ||
| Occupation | 1920 - 1930 | teacher's college teacher - Carbondale, Jackson County, IL | |||
| Death | May 6, 1935 | Carbondale, Jackson County, IL | | ||
| Marriage | Lucie RIGDEN | ||||
| Burial | Oakland Cemetery, Carbondale, Jackson County, IL | |
Families
| Spouse | Alpharetta B. BROWN (1868 - 1900) |
| Child | Coral B. FURR (1889 - 1974) |
| Child | Paul Marcus FURR (1892 - 1982) |
| Child | Homer Noah FURR (1894 - 1977) |
| Child | Clarence Lee FURR (1899 - 1918) |
| Spouse | Lucie RIGDEN (1876 - 1958) |
| Child | Dorothy Alice FURR (1907 - 1990) |
| Child | Mary Elizabeth "Betty" FURR (1913 - 1976) |
| Father | Marcus DeLafayette "Mark" FURR (1838 - 1915) |
| Mother | Sarah A. JUSTICE (1838 - 1875) |
| Sibling | Serena Ella FURR (1861 - 1934) |
| Sibling | Sina M. FURR (1869 - 1870) |
| Sibling | Charles F. FURR (1872 - 1877) |
Endnotes
1. Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005.
2. "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916–1947." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2010. Index entries derived from digital copies of original records..
3. findagrave.com.