Kritz - Henry Seymour
Source: Portrait &
Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain County Indiana
(Chicago: Chapman Brothers 1893) p 646
Prof.
Henry Seymour Kritz, Ph.D., Principal of the Preparatory Department of Wabash
College, is one of the most valuable men in the institution. His is the task of
laying the foundation for later instructors to build upon. He is a very
pleasant and genial gentleman and by his earnest, conscientious devotion to
duty has won the esteem and confidence alike of professors, students and
citizens. The subject of this sketch was born in Jefferson County, Indiana Feb
14, 1826 of parents who had emigrated a few years before from New York and
Pennsylvania. After receiving the best education afford in the public schools
of that day, he learned the trade of paper making. While working at his
business in Indianapolis in 1845, he was caught in the machinery and so
disabled in his right hand as to be disqualified for working longer at this
employment.
Finding
a change of occupation necessary, he entered Hanover College in 1847 with a view
to becoming a professional teacher. Here he applied himself with such diligence
that, although he was working his way through college by tutoring the
preparatory classes two hours a day, he completed the full classical course in
a year's less time than that usually required, and graduated second in a class
of 20. In 1852 Prof. Kritz took charge of the Presbyterian Academy at Waveland,
and remained there more than 20 years or until 1873. The academy was of high
school grade, preparing students also for college. At that time it employed a
corps of 4 teacher and had from 100 to 150 students. Under the administration
of Prof. Kritz the school became widely known, receiving students from 10
different state many of who m have since become distinguished in the professions
and in the various pursuits of business life. The school also made a splendid
record during the civil war, furnishing not only a large number who served in
the ranks but also many who attained distinction as colonel, majors and
captains in the armies of the union. In 1873 Prof. Kritz came to Crawfordsville
as Principal of the HS and 3 years later was made Superintendent of the city
schools. While serving in this capacity, he was at the earnest request of Prof.
Bassett, then principal of the Preparatory Dept. of Wabash College made his
associate. Entering Wabash College in 1877 with the rank of full Professor he
taught the Preparatory Greek and English until 1881. Oh the resignation of
Prof. Bassett in that year he was made principal of the department and has
since had charge of the preparatory Greek and Latin classes. He has been aided
by able assistants especially Prof JH Osborn who is now his associate. The
department has from 75 to 100 students annually and has acquired a reputation
for efficiency and thoroughness enjoyed by very few preparatory schools. While
engaged in the public school work Prof. Kritz was a frequent and very
acceptable institute worker and teacher, and has been long and widely known as
an enthusiastic progressive educator. He has always taken great interest in
public affairs and although he has never sought or desired office he is a
constant and intelligent reader of political journals, and always votes the
Republic ticket. He has also very decided religious convictions, and since his
college days has been a member of the Presbyterian Church in which he has been
for many years a ruling elder.
Prof.
Kritz was married in 1855 to Miss Mary A. BRUSH of Waveland. They have a family
of 11 children, 5 sons and 6 daughters. The family have always lived at
Waveland, where they have a pleasant home with spacious grounds in town and a
farm adjoining. The oldest of the sons, Charles S. recently married, is a
druggist at Montezuma; Frank W and Herbert S. are merchants at Waveland. The
other sons are not in business. Four of the daughters are married Stella K is
the wife of Rev. RV Hunter of Terre Haute; Alice is the wife of James W.
Robertson a retired druggist of Waveland; Jessie is the wife of George M. Cowan
of the Woolen Manufacturing Company of Yountsville, Ind; Victoria is the wife
of Dr. Reese Kelso of Waveland and Lena and Nellie, twins 16 years old are at
home with their parents. But few professional teachers have made so long and so
successful a record and still fewer have so impressed their personality on
their pupils. Hundreds of young men and men now in middle life, widely
scattered in many states regard with the highest respect and veneration their
old friend and teacher and rejoice that he still retains so much of the vigor and all the enthusiasm of his earlier life -- kbz