Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/495

 HISTORY OP SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 435 tive, but also an able and successful teacher. Under him the school prospered and won a place in the educational system of the state. President Richard Chapman Norton, LL. D., was born in Ohio in 1840. He was edu- cated in the public schools and Hiram college, where one of his teachers was James A. Gar- field, afterwards president of the United States. After Mr. Norton was graduated in the year 1861, he immediately enlisted in the army and served throughout the war. In 1866 he came to Missouri and was for a time con- nected with a railroad as a surveyor and en- gineer. He then accepted a position as super- intendent of public schools in Trenton, Mis- souri, a position which he held for two years. He then became a member of the faculty and vice president of the State Normal school at Warrensburg, remaining tTiere until he came to Cape Girardeau in 1880. After his resigna- tion from the presidency of this school he was for a time connected with the Kirksville Nor- mal, then he retired to his home near Tren- ton, and spent the last years of his life quietly there. In all he was connected with the Nor- mal schools of the state for nearly a quarter of a century and few men impressed them- selves more upon the young men and women with whom they came in contact. Mr. Norton exercised a remarkable influence over students, especially yoimg men. His in- fluence had for its secret an uprightness of character and unfailing earnestness of pur- pose which were the foimdations of a noble and successful life. Everj^ student knew that in him could be found a wise and faithful coimselor and friend. He was called "Uncle Dick" by the students and this was an ex- pression of the real affection in which he was held. On the resignation of President Norton in 1893 the board selected as his successor Wil- lard D. Vandiver, a native of Virginia. Mr. Vandiver had been engaged in school work for many years. He was graduated from Central College in 1877 and was immediately elected professor of mathematics in Bellevue Collegiate Institute at Caledonia. After three years' connection with the institution he be- came its president. His administration was very successful and he attracted the attention of school authorities on account of his suc- cess in this institution. In 1889 he was made professor of science in the Normal school. Here again he was successful in his work and on the presidency of the school becoming vacant, he was elected to that position. Mr. "Vandiver remained at the head of the institu- tion for only four years. His administration was marked by great progress in the school. He terminated his connection with it to ac- cept a position as a member of Congress for the 14th congressional district as a Democrat. Since that time he has been active in political life, serving three terms in Congre.ss and then being appointed insurance commissioner of the state of Missouri. He is now connected with an insurance company of St. Louis. John S. McGee, who was president from 1897 to 1899, was a native Missourian. He was born in 1849 and spent most of his early life in Wayne county. He was educated in an academy at Greenville and in the State Noi-mal school at Kirksville. After his grad- uation from the latter he was elected to the principalship of the public schools at Pierce City, a position he filled for two years. In 1879 he became professor of mathematics in the State Normal school at Cape Girardeau- Here he made a place for himself in the life of the school and became known as one of the strong men of the faculty. On the resigna- tion of President Vandiver in 1897, Mr. Mc- Gee was chosen as the head of the school. He