ROY, Professor Albert A.

ROY, HAMILTON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/13/2014 at 01:46:52

Biography ~ Professor Albert A. Roy

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 624:

PROFESSOR ALBERT A. ROY, principal of the schools at Lamoni, was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, August 13, 1852, a son of ABRAHAM and MARY ANN ROY, the mother dying when he was a babe of nine months, and his father before he reached his fourth year. After the death of his father he was cared for by his uncle, CHARLES ROY, till he was twelve years old, and at that early age he was thrown practically upon his own resources. With a firm resolve to make a man of himself he commenced life’s battle, working during the summer seasons on farms, and in the winters attended schools, paying for his board by doing chores after school hours. At the age of eighteen years, having so well improved his opportunities, he was engaged as a teacher, and for two years following he taught and attended school alternately. When twenty years of age, in 1872, Professor ROY left Canada, and the two winters following were spent by him chopping in the woods of Wisconsin. In 1874 he attended Bryant & Stratton’s Business College, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in 1875 he spent two terms at State Normal School, at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In the autumn of 1876 he came to Iowa teaching school in Jackson County the following winter. In March, 1877, he entered McLain’s Academy at Iowa City, for the purpose of preparing himself for the law department of the Iowa State University, but his means becoming exhausted he was obliged to teach school again before his object had been gained. He engaged in his profession at Pleasanton, Decatur County, and later was appointed assistant principle of the high school at Leon, and in 1883 he was appointed principle of the high school at Lamoni, which position he has since filled acceptably. Thus is will be seen that Professor RAY is a self-made and a self-educated man, and being still a constant student he is always adding to his store of useful knowledge. March 2, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss EMMA HAMILTON, who was born at Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, December 23, 1858, a daughter of Dr. A. HAMILTON, who is now living at Pleasanton. This union has been blessed with one daughter – EDITH, born June 6, 1879. Mrs. ROY is also engaged as a teacher in the elementary schools of Lamoni.

Submission by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historical Society Museum, January of 2014