William Henry Harrison Beadle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Henry Harrison Beadle
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| Born | January 1, 1838 Parke County, Indiana, US
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| Died | November 15, 1915 San Francisco, California, US
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William Henry Harrison Beadle (born January 1, 1838 – died November 15, 1915) was an important American who served his country in many ways. He was a soldier, a lawyer, a teacher, and a leader. Beadle is best known for his work to protect land for schools in new states.
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Early Life and Education
William Henry Harrison Beadle was born in a log cabin in Parke County, Indiana. He grew up in a frontier area, which means it was a wild, undeveloped region. His father offered him a farm, but Beadle chose to get an education instead. He used $1,000 to study civil engineering at the University of Michigan.
Serving in the Army
Soon after finishing college in 1861, Beadle joined the Union Army during the American Civil War. He fought bravely and rose through the ranks. By the end of the war, he became a brigadier general, which is a high military rank. After the war, he went back to the University of Michigan and earned a law degree in 1867. He worked as a lawyer for a short time.
Protecting School Lands
In 1869, President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Beadle as the surveyor-general of Dakota Territory. This job meant he traveled a lot through the territory. His travels and his experience growing up on the frontier made him realize something very important. He believed that land set aside for schools should be protected for future generations.
A Vision for Education
Beadle strongly felt that school lands should be sold at their true value. He insisted they should never be sold for less than $10 an acre. This idea became the most important goal of his life. He worked hard to make sure these lands would provide money for schools forever.
He helped write the laws for the territory in 1877. He also led the judiciary committee in the territorial House of Representatives. In 1879, he became the superintendent of public instruction, which means he was in charge of public education.
Making a Difference
Beadle played a key role in drafting the school lands rule for the South Dakota constitutional convention in 1885. When the United States Congress approved South Dakota's constitution in 1889, they were very impressed. They liked Beadle's idea so much that they required similar rules for other new states. These states included North Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming.
Thanks to Beadle's efforts, about 22 million acres of land were saved to support schools in these states. This was a huge achievement for education.
Later Life and Legacy
From 1889 to 1906, Beadle served as the president of the Madison State Normal School. This school trained teachers. After that, he taught history there until he retired in 1912.
William Henry Harrison Beadle passed away on November 15, 1915, in San Francisco while visiting his daughter.
Honoring His Contributions
In 1938, the state of South Dakota honored Beadle by donating a bronze statue of him. This statue is now part of the National Statuary Hall Collection at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. There are also copies of his statue at the South Dakota State Capitol and at Dakota State University.
Beadle County, South Dakota is named after him to remember his important work. In 2013, Dakota State University named its General Beadle Honors Program after him, continuing to honor his legacy.
