William Arnon Henry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Arnon Henry
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| Born | June 16, 1850 Norwalk, Ohio
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| Died | November 24, 1932 (aged 82) San Diego, California
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| Occupation | Academic, agriculturist |
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William Arnon Henry (born June 16, 1850 – died November 24, 1932) was an important American expert in farming and education. He came from Ohio. William Henry went to college at National Normal University and Ohio Wesleyan University. After that, he became the principal of two high schools.
Later, he studied at Cornell University. From 1876 to 1880, he learned even more about farming. Then, he became a professor at the University of Wisconsin. He helped the College of Agriculture grow a lot. In 1891, he became its very first dean. He stayed at the university until 1907. Then, he was named a professor emeritus, which means he retired but was still honored by the university.
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Meet William Arnon Henry
William Arnon Henry was born in Norwalk, Ohio, on June 16, 1850. When he was a kid, he helped out on his family's farm. He also went to a public school in Defiance.
His Early Education
Henry went to the National Normal University. He worked as a teacher to earn money for his college fees. In 1869, he started studying at Ohio Wesleyan University for a year. In 1871, Henry became the principal of New Haven High School in New Haven, Indiana. He led that school until 1873. Then, he took a similar job at Boulder High School in Boulder, Colorado.
Learning at Cornell
Henry stayed in Boulder until 1876. That year, he became a student at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. During the summer before his last year, Henry worked as an assistant. He helped Charles Valentine Riley at the United States Entomological Commission. This group studied insects. In his final year, he taught botany, which is the study of plants, at Cornell. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1880.
Building Agriculture at Wisconsin
After graduating, Henry became a professor at the University of Wisconsin. He taught botany and agriculture. In 1881, he married Clara R. Taylor.
The Wisconsin State Assembly asked Henry to study how to make silage. Silage is a type of stored animal feed. He also studied how to get sugar from a plant called amber cane. In 1883, he stopped teaching botany. This allowed him to focus on building the College of Agriculture.
In 1887, he became the director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station. This is where new farming ideas are tested. Then, in 1891, he was named the first dean of the agricultural school. Under Henry's leadership, Wisconsin started the first short course in agriculture. This was a quick way for people to learn about farming. They also opened the first dairy school.
Later Life and Legacy
Henry retired in 1907. He became a professor emeritus, which means he was still respected by the university even after retiring. He received special honorary degrees from other universities. These included the University of Illinois, University of Vermont, and Michigan State University. He had one son named Arnon. William Henry passed away on November 24, 1932, in San Diego, California.
