Biography - LEWIS OGILVIE
A fortunate example of the right man in the right place is Prof. Lewis
Ogilvie, who is making an excellent record as superintendent of the Albion
schools. No one is better entitled to the thoughtful consideration of a free
and enlightened people than he who shapes and directs the minds of the
young, and adds to the value of their intellectual treasures and moulds
their characters. This is preeminently the mission of the faithful and
conscientious teacher and to such noble work is the life of Professor
Ogilvie devoted.
Professor Ogilvie was born April 10, 1874, in Plymouth, Illinois, the son of
William F. Ogilvie, a native of Ohio, and the grandson of William Ogilvie, a
native of Scotland, who left his native heath in early life and crossed the
Atlantic in quest of the much vaunted American opportunity. He soon came
westward to Illinois, locating first in Schuyler county and in 1833 taking
up his residence near Carthage in Hancock county. His son, William F.
Ogilvie, was born on his Hancock county homestead in 1842 and when it came
to choosing a life-work he followed in the paternal footsteps and became an
exponent of the great basic industry of agriculture. He now resides in
Plymouth and is a prominent and highly respected citizen. He chose as his
companion in life's journey Mary A. Bell, daughter of Jesse Bell of Hancock
and four children were born to them, Lewis being the eldest in nativity;
Lida, the only daughter, is deceased; Guy resides in Bushnell, Illinois; and
William T. is deceased.
Professor Ogilvie received his preliminary education in the schools of
Plymouth and was in due time graduated from the high school of that place.
Desiring a deeper draught at the "Pierian Spring" he studied at a number of
colleges, first at Eureka College, from which he entered the Western
Illinois College, then becoming a student at the State Normal University at
McComb, and finishing in the State University of Illinois. It is thus to be
seen that his educational equipment is of the highest order and he possesses
very enlightened ideals on the question of the proper development of the
youthful mind. He inaugurated his pedagogical career in 1894, at the age of
twenty years, teaching for four years in the rural schools, and following
that he spent six years as ward principal of the schools of Nauvoo,
Illinois. In 1909, he became superintendent of the schools of Mendon,
Illinois, and remained as such until 1911, when he was appointed to the
superintendency of the Albion schools and here, as elsewhere, has given the
greatest satisfaction in his important office. He is not of the type which
is content with "letting well enough alone" and has inaugurated several
excellent measures. He is at the head of a corps of twelve teachers and 360
pupils are enrolled. The high school is accredited and in the work of
instruction Professor Ogilvie has two assistants in this higher department.
The course is four years in length and a diploma admits the graduate to
college or university.
Professor Ogilvie was married in 1897, Anna Hubbard of Bowen. Illinois,
daughter of John G. Hubbard, becoming his wife. They have two children,
Helen and Leslie. Their home is a hospitable one and they occupy an enviable
position in social circles where true worth and intelligence are received as
the passports into good society. They are members of the Congregational
church and the Professor enjoys fraternal relations with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen, both of Nauvoo.
Extracted 11 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 History of Southern Illinois, by George W. Smith, volume 3, pages 1598-1599.
