Randolph County, Indiana
Lee Ault
LEE AULT, of Cambridge City, now retired, is a veteran educator, and spent nearly half a century in schoolwork in various communities in Eastern Indiana. Mr. Ault was born at New Madison, Ohio, April 29, 1846, son of Jacob W. and Rachel (Wallace) Ault. His father was born in Germantown, Ohio, and his mother near Hamilton in the same state, and they were married December 27, 1840. His life was devoted to farming. He died April 25, 1893, and his wife on July 25, 1909. Lee Ault attended the Whitewater Academy of Indiana and the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, a school which, under the Holbrook's, became one of the best institutions of higher learning in the Middle West. Mr. Ault began his work as a teacher in Darke County, Ohio, on September 5, 1864, and he was in close contact with schools and school interests until he retired in 1912. In 1869 he became superintendent of schools at Farmland, Indiana, remaining there three years, was superintendent at Winchester five years, at Hagerstown eleven years, at Centerville one year, at Williamsburg six years, and rounded out his work as superintendent of schools at Cambridge City, where he remained ten years. From 1883 to 1887 he was out of schoolwork, but still connected with educational interests as a representative of the American Book Company of Cincinnati and of the Lea Brothers & Company of Philadelphia in territory comprising the states of Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia. At the close of his last term as superintendent of schools at Cambridge City Mr. Ault acted as a salesman for the Collier Company until 1917. During the World war period he was appeal agent and chief clerk of conscription board No. 2 of Wayne County. He has always found opportunities for useful work and he was bookkeeper for a coal firm at Cambridge City until ill health compelled him to desist from a regular routine of business duties. Mr. Ault for five years was associated with Enos L. Watson as editor and publisher of the Herald at Winchester, Indiana. He has served on the town board and for two and a half years was president of the town council of Cambridge City. Mr. Ault has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1871 and has filled chairs in the Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter and Council, and also in the Knights of Pythias. He made an interesting trip of study and observation abroad in England during 1907. On May 25, 1869, Mr. Ault married Mary E. Bowen, who died August 25, 1904. She was born at Hagerstown, Indiana, daughter of Rev. William C. and Priscilla (Magee) Bowen, the former a native of Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, and the latter of Hillsboro, Ohio. Mr. Ault and wife had a family of six children: Miss Harriett, who taught in public schools for twelve years, now her father's housekeeper; Emma May, wife of Dr. C. E. Canaday, of Newcastle, Indiana; Harry, head of the auditing department of Sprague Warner & Company at Chicago; Frank, with the Charlton Silk Company of Chicago; Charles, a manufacturer of women's shoes at Auburn, Maine; and Edgar, in the china and glass business at Chicago.
Typed by Lora Radiches