Edgar R. Stoddard

STODDARD, SAGERS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 5/8/2010 at 18:16:10

History of Jackson County, Iowa, James W. Ellis, 1910

EDGAR R. STODDARD.

The life record of Edgar R. Stoddard is in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country, for in Jackson county, the place of his nativity, he has won distinction in educational circles and by the vote of his fellow citizens has been called to the office of county superintendent of schools, in which position he is now serving. His birth occurred in Monmouth, May 3, 1870, his parents being Horace and Matilda (McCarty) Stoddard, both of whom were natives of Jefferson county, New York, where they were reared and married, coming to Jackson county, Iowa, in 1869. They located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres a half mile south of Monmouth and there the father continued to carry on general agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1892, when he was sixty years of age. The family afterward left the farm and took up their abode in the town of Monmouth, where the mother is still living at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. Stoddard was a democrat in his political views and, although he never sought nor held office of a political character, he served for many years as a member of the school board and always took an active and helpful interest in promoting the cause of education. He was also a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mrs. Stoddard still belongs.
Edgar R. Stoddard, of this review, was reared at home and acquired his education in the Monmouth high school, from which he was graduated in 1890 as a member of the first class that ever held graduation exercises there. He then took up teaching as a life work and for two years had charge of the country schoals rear Monmouth, when in order to further qualify for his chosen profession he pursued a three years' course in the Northern Illinois Normal School and was graduated therefrom in the class of 1895. He next accepted the position of principal of the schools of Oxford, Iowa, and a year later was called to the principalship of the Welton (Iowa) schools, with which he was thus connected for four years. He was afterward principal for a short time of the schools of Low Moor. Iowa, where he filled a vacancy, and then returned to Monmouth to become principal of the schools of that place. He had been teaching for eight years when he was elected county superintendent of schools in the fall of 1908. While teaching in Monmouth he attended the Iowa State Normal for three terms, and throughout the period of his manhood he has embraced every opportunity to further qualify for his chosen profession, in which he manifests great interest and zeal. He came to his present office ably fitted for the work at hand and is now one of the popular officials of the county, whose efforts are of a practical and progressive character, giving an impetus to the schools that will be felt for years to come.
In 1903 Mr. Stoddard was married to Miss Rose Sagers, of Iron Hills, Jackson county, and unto them were born two children, but both died in infancy. Mrs. Stoddard was a teacher in the Jackson county schools for a number of years, acting as first primary teacher at Monmouth for eight years. Sinc< her husband became county superintendent she has assisted him in the work of the office. Mr. Stoddard is a democrat in politics and socially is connected with Peerless lodge, K. P.. of Maquoketa, and Ben De Meer Temple, D. O. K. K. He is interested in all that pertains to the social life and general progress of the community, but regards the profession of teaching as his real life work and in that his interest centers to an extent that has made him one of the foremost educators of this part of the state.