teachers from 16 counties attended. Many persons of note were present during the session as visitors or students, carrying abroad the "sacred fire." By February '71, pursuant to plan announced at this Institute, Washington County was thoroughly organized into Township educational associations, gathering together school officers, teachers and patrons. Sickness of County Superintendent, and other causes postponed the Normal Institute for '71. As a result of thorough energetic effort in the winter schools, at their close in '72, was held a wonderful convention in Washington, fully 1000 attended, many coming from a distance. The weeks session followed the outline published by Supt. Eldridge, who presided at the meeting. Here was perfected the plan to forward the work of the "Normal Institute' of '70, under organization as the "Washington County Normal and Training School," with Sen. J. D. Miles, Wm. Wilson Jr.. Rev. B. Eicher, G. L. Reed, Robert M. Dihel and J. H. Sargent as directors. Mr. Eldridge was elected superintendent of the school. A four weeks session was held in July and August, '72, with a large enrollment, His fame extending, Supt. Eldridge was invited during this year and next to Adams, Louisa, Clay and Kossuth Counties. Other counties caught the infection and held similar gatherings. At the second session of the "Training School" in '73. State Supt. Abernethy called a County Superintendents' convention at Washington to observe its workings, There Supt. Eldridge presented the "Normal" idea, as worked out in the school. They were highly pleased. After earnest conference, Col. Abernethy formulated the results in a bill presented and strongly advocated by him in the Legislature, It passed and the Normal Institute, as initiated and conducted by Supt. Eldridge, became a fixed thing in Iowa's educational economy. In '75, he was elected by the S. T. A. with Hon. Alonzo Abernethy and Hon. J. W. Akers, to organize and manage a state "Normal Institute," and was appointed conductor, with C. W. von Coelln, C. P. Rogers, J. H. Thompson; A. N. Ozias, Geo. W. Wedgewood and Carrie A. Bassett as co-workers. This Institute was held at Des Moines in the summer of,76, and did much toward shaping the new "Normal Institute' work.

Thus the Normal Institute, the product of Prof. Eldridge's brain, is his living monument, erected to a living soul, for this season will finish his 58th session as cor.ductor. He has returned eight times, and been recalled as high as twelve times to the same county. During his term of office as superintendent, he, as previously stated

organized the county into Township Educational Associations, a departure from the old Township Teachers Institute. His previous study of law was of great advantage, though some of the most complicated cases came before him, his decisions were never reversed. Appeals to State Superintendent and tests in District Court failed to shake his rulings. High encomiums were passed on the legal ability displayed. Supt. Eldridge was invited to take charge of Grandview School under seminary charter, to be raised to college grade. The Eastern-Iowa Normal School was opened in Sept. 1874. Remaining at Grandview seven years, it was removed to Columbus Junction in '81, induced by the superior location and the proffered free deed to its present fine building. 1886 sees the completion of its twelfth year. Its students numbering 2500, its graduates 76. Always with plenty of work, unsolicited, Pres. Eldridge has labored incessantly, never halting a week unless forced to do so by the ever-recurring army sickness, which often prostrated or disabled him. Time, however, is gradually wearing that out to the decided improvement in health. He has delivered over 2000 formal lectures, the material of these covering every phase of school and citizen life, will doubtless soon be put into more enduring form. He is a a laborer also in other fields. The temperance work was commenced by him as early as 1874. In 1877 he hit some telling blows and was a strong factor in procuring the present status in the state. Great reliance is placed on his cool judgment and wise management. Always an ardent republican of the Hamilton stamp; his unobtrusive influence has been felt in every important canvass since obtaining manhood. The silent work of his pen has influenced many matters of moment in Iowa. He has held many positions of trust and honor. Was president of Southeastern Iowa Superintendent's and Principal's Convention in 1873, and presided alternately with Pres. Thompson at its joint session with the State Teacher's Association. He was elected to the S. T. A. Ex-Com. in 1876, its chairman in 1879. Now a member of the Educational Council and State Superintendent's Advisory Board (elected in '83;) also, of Board of Directors of the State Reading Circle, (elected at its organization). Pres. Eldridge is an elder in the Presbyterian Church. His teaching, practice and religion, present a grand whole, broad, deep and concrete, all can be summed up by quoting the expression used to the writer by a popular County Superintendent' "As Howard among soldiers so is Eldridge among teachers, strong, wise and irreproachable."

WM. M. CROAN, Supt. Western Normal College, Shenandoah.

Prominent among the younger class of school men it the state,

who are gaining public recognition, is Wm. M. Croan, superintendent and proprietor of the Western Normal College and Commercial Institute, located at Shenandoah, Page County, in the south-western part of Iowa. Professor Croan is a native of Indiana, and came to Iowa but a little more than two years ago.

In Indiana he had established a reputation as an energetic and progressive educator of high order, and came to Iowa with the most flattering com

mendations from those who had known him long and tried him well, and these were from the most prominent educators of the "Hoosier" state. The Post, published at Shenandoah, of February, 23, 1884, says: Changes in the College transpired yesterday, that places the sole proprietorship of the Western Normal College in the hands of Prof. Croan, who is an able, affable and popular gentleman, full of the vigor and progressive spirit of youth, combined with the matured judgment of superb and noble manhood. Of cultured, prepossessing appearance, and dignified but easy and winning address, Mr. Croan has been warmly received in the hearts and homes of an appreciative people. Our people now feel that the right hand is at the helm, and no doubt is entertained of the future growth and greatness of the institution. The change of proprietorship was announced at Chapel exercises Monday morning and was received by the assembly of future greatness with demonstrations of their pleasure and warmest approval.

The Indianapolis, Indiana, State Sentinel, had the following to say of Prof. Croan, when he came to Iowa:

"We see by the Anderson Review that Wm. M. Croan, Esq.,

county superintendent of Madison County, has resigned his office, and will remove his interesting family to Iowa, where he has purchased a half interest in a Normal College, located at Shenandoah. Page County, in that state. Mr. Croan is a professional educator, whose high attainments have won for him acknowledged prominence in the most advanced circles of Indiana Scholars. As a County Superintendent his career has been exceptionally, meritorious, and the superior excellence of the schools of Madison County bear testimony to his scholastic acquirements and high executive ability. The pride of Indiana is her noble school system. In this regard she occupies a high and enviable position, and it is no ordinary compliment to Mr. Croan to say that, among the men charged with the responsibility of maintaining this prestige, none have won a more enduring popularity. A student of character as well as of books, familiar with men and methods, cautious and courteous, affable but firm, quick to perceive and as ready to act, Mr. Croan will bring to the more exacting task which he has assumed qualities of head and heart, which can scarcely fail of achieving the largest measure of success he may anticipate, and which his army of friends in Indiana hope may crown his labors. We congratulate the people of Iowa upon their valuable acquisition, and bespeak for Mr. Croan the friendship and esteem of the people with whom he has cast his lot."

Prof. Croan has not only fully sustained his Indiana reputation, but has added many new laurels since coming to Iowa. We have met Prof. Croan and find him to be an enthusiast, and though he has not yet reached the prime of life, is active and vigorous in an extraordinary degree. He is a very liberal advertiser and students attend his school from as far south as Texas, and north as Nova Scotia, and east and west from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Under the present management the Western Normal grows more popular every year, as is evidenced by the largely increased number of students each year. Prof. Croan is an outgrowth of Western strength and opportunity, and as a representative of its spirit he is reaping both success and honor, and is contributing his full share toward bringing Iowa's educational affairs to the highest standard possible.

J. C. GILCHRIST A. M., Principal of Northern Iowa Normal School at Algona, Iowa, was born in Alleghany City, Pa., May, 20, 1831. His parents were Scotch, having immigrated to America about 1820 and settled at Pittsburg. In 1838 the family removed to a farm in Coitsville, Mahoning County, Ohio, and on this farm the boy, James, labored until he was nineteen years old. During his youth he received only such an education as could be obtained in the district schools of that time.

On December 3, 1849, he become a student of Mahoning Institute,