George R. Shawhan

 

SOURCE: "Early History and Pioneers of Champaign County, Illinois," by Milton W. Mathews and Lewis A. McLean, editors of the Champaign County Herald, published by the Champaign County Herald, 1886

SURNAMES: BROWN, REDMOND, SHAWHAN

 

GEORGE R. SHAWHAN. This old settler and prominent educator of Champaign county, was born near Falmouth, Rush county, Indiana, March 30, 1844. His father was William M. SHAWHAN, whose portrait and biography appears elsewhere. His mother was Nancy REDMOND. He came with his father’s family to Raymond township in this county in the spring of 1856. For three years he was deprived of the opportunity of going to school for the reason that schools did not get established there until in 1859. He then worked on the farm and attended school in winter till 1861. Though his opportunities were limited, he had applied himself with such industry that he was able to teach in 1861. He taught three months for fifty dollars, and he says now he thinks that was more than it was worth. In the winter of 1863-4 he attended school in Homer about 4 months. He taught two years in Camargo, Douglas county, and enrolled 123 pupils in one room. The average for six months was over 70. The next year he graded the school and had an assistant.

In 1867 he married Sarah Vista BROWN, daughter of Samuel BROWN, an old settler in this county. She is still living. They have two children, Gertie and William Warren, both at home and attending school. He joined the Christian church in 1861 and is yet an adherent to the doctrines of that sect. After his marriage he taught four years at Sidney. Here he saw his need of a better education and abandoned teaching to attend the University of Illinois in this city. He took the Literature and Science course, graduating in 1875 with high honors. He is prominent among the alumni of the University, and has been selected by them for a member of the board of trustees of this grand state institution. If Governor Oglesby consults the best interests of the University he will accede to their demand and appoint him to that honorable position. During this period of his career is where the indomitable pluck and energy that characterizes the man was first displayed. He worked upon the University farm and taught preparatory classes to pay his way through the University.

He solemnly asserts that he never should have succeeded in getting through to graduation at this great University had it not been for the self-denial, ambition and assistance of his wife, who was a constant aid and inspiration that never faltered in the darkest hour.

Graduating at the University, he found all the schools in this county taken, so he went to Mansfield, Piatt county, and taught there for two years. Coming back to Homer in 1877 he took charge of the schools there and had taught four years and two months upon his fifth year, in 1881, when he was appointed county superintendent of schools of this county to fill vacancy caused by legislature changing time of election. He was nominated by the republicans in 1882 for school superintendent and was elected by the largest majority of any man on the ticket.

He has been renominated by the republicans for re-election and will certainly be triumphantly elected. Mr. Shawhan’s record as a school officer is well known to our readers. He has brought the country schools of this county to a higher standard than they have ever reached before. He was chairman of the committee of the alumni that pressed to a successful issue the change of name of the University.

Mr. Shawhan is a conscientious worker in the cause of education, and does far more hard work and spends far more hours of toil than is required by law or contemplated by the law-makers. He is strict with reference to examinations of teachers and it is impossible for a drone or fraud to work his or her way into the schools of the county. He has established a high grade for teachers and by his efforts teachers’ conventions and organizations to improve their methods of teaching have become numerous. He has inspired the pupils with high aims and laudable ambition by keeping before their minds the possibilities to be wrought out by hard work ad close application. He has utilzed the columns of the Champaign County Herald to accomplish reforms in school work. By the free and liberal use of this paper he has painted the school houses and introduced trees and pictures, maps, and flowers, libraries and beautiful lawns to the various districts. No man has done more than G. R. Shawhan for the good of the schools of this county, and he is destined yet for still greater successes in his chosen calling as an educator.