22 R. A. BOOTH He is now principal of the Sunnyside School at Port- land and has a long, successful record to his credit as an Oregon teacher. His sister, Mrs. Josephine Robb, now of Portland, was vice-principal. They left their impress upon the students of old Umpqua as few other teachers have done. Nellie Spencer assisted them. In 1876-7 Prof. F. H. Grubbs became principal. His wife, an only daughter of Rev. Jason Lee, Missionary, was pre- ceptress and Miss Mary Hill, now Mrs. Capt. G. W. Short, was assistant. Other assistants were Miss Mary A. Goodsell, now Mrs. Henry Burt, of Yoncalla, and Miss Sue Clinkinbeard, later Mrs. E. T. Woodruff, of Coles Valley. In the fall of 1880, H. L. Benson, now associate Supreme Judge, became principal under a contract extending over three years. With him came his brother, Frank W. Benson, later Secretary of State and Governor, as vice-principal. These men, splendid educators, full of vim and ambition, gave the best within them to the academy work. They rendered splen- did service and became immensely popular, laying the founda- tion for their succeeding wide and favorable acquaintance. They were assisted by Mrs. H. L. Benson, Miss Emma Benson, Miss Mary Hill and Miss Helena Holman. Next as principal came Willis C. Hawley, now serving in Congress. He was elected in 1884 and was assisted by Miss Anna Geisendorfer, who later became Mrs. W. C. Hawley. They made many friends who have remained steadfast and many students remember them with delight. In August, 1886, Prof. L. A. Edwards was elected prin- cipal. He was assisted by his sister, Miss Edwards, who re- cently visited the scenes of her former labor. He was suc- ceeded in 1887 by Prof. A. J. Garland, who was the last of the academy teachers. The work heretofore done by the academies of the state was being superseded by the public schools. The church felt that it had fulfilled its mission in pioneering the educational work and with common accord it appeared best to abandon further denominational effort in the school work at the old stamping
Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/32
This page needs to be proofread.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Oregon_Historical_Quarterly_vol._19.djvu/page32-1024px-Oregon_Historical_Quarterly_vol._19.djvu.jpg)