DELAWARE COUNTY, INDIANA, PUBLIC SCHOOLS/ COMMON SCHOOL DEPARTMENT/ THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT IRA KAIN HAVING COMPLETED THE COMMON SCHOOL COURSE OF STUDY PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF DELAWARE COUNTY, INDIANA IN HAMILTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MERITS THIS DIPLOMA./ IN WITNESS WHEREOF, THE SEAL OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE SIGNATURES OF THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT, TRUSTEE AND TEACHER OF DISTRICT NO. NINE ARE HEREUNTO AFFIXED THIS SEVENTY FIFTH DAY OF MAY, 1899. / [signed] JOHN WATSON, TEACHER; TOM CAMPBELL, TRUSTEE; AND CHAS. A. VAN MATRE, COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
[Indiana: 1899]. Large broadside, 19" x 23-1/2". Black and white printed document completed in ink manuscript. Elegant typesettings, large decorative education related emblems with a picture at the center depicting an oil lamp atop a pile of books with a globe in the background, with ribbons, ivy and birds interwoven. All is set within an ornate border. Signed in ink by John Watson, Teacher; Tom Campbell, Trustee; and Chas. A. Van Matre, County Superintendent. Gold foil seal of the Delaware County Public Schools. Uniformly tanned, light dustsoiling. Else, Very Good.
Ira Edward Kain [1882-1925] was born in Delaware County, Indiana, to Oliver P. Kain and Mary J. Schideler Kain. He spent his life in Delaware County, working as a farmer in the town of Shideler, marrying Oletha Wingate in 1902, and then moving in the nearby town of Albany.
Charles A. Van Matre [1869-1931], a native of Delaware County, began teaching at the age of 18, took two years off to attend state college, and then returned to the profession. He was elcted the County Superintendent of Schools in 1897. He was hailed in his obituary as "the father of the consolidated school system in Indiana" due to his many years dedicated to construction of modern school buildings in central lcoations. In addition to his many years as superintendent, he was also active in Republican Politics, served as president of the Indiana State Teachers' Association, was a member of the Delaware County Bar, and member of the Delaware Masonic Lodge, the Knights of Piythias, and the Odd Fellows. [The Indianapolis News, July 20, 1931, p.15.]. Item #33519
Price: $75.00