MERWIN, Fannie (SPAITS) 1872-1942

MERWIN, SPAITS, MARSHALL, HEYL, MCLAUGHLIN, FIRTH, GRAHAM, PERRILL

Posted By: Betty Hootman-Volunteer
Date: 3/15/2014 at 19:51:30

FANNIE SPAITS MERWIN DIES IN MANITO
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FUNERAL SERVICES FOR NOTED EDUCATOR
IN MANITO SATURDAY

Mrs. Fannie Spait Merwin, 70 years old, who was engaged in the teaching profession more than four decades before retiring 10 years ago, died at 3:20 o’clock Wednesday at her home in Manito. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 o’clock Saturday afternoon at Community Methodist church in Manito with Joseph Hobbs officiating. Burial will be in the Meadow Lawn cemetery. Friends will be received at the Johnson funeral home in Manito until 10:00 o’clock Saturday morning, when the body will be taken to the church to lie in state.

Ill for several months, Mrs. Merwin underwent a major operation early this year in Methodist hospital, Peoria.

Born near Manito January 16, 1872, she was the daughter of Jacob and Rebecca Marshall Spaits. She and her sister, Miss Jessie Spaits, made their home together.

Mrs. Merwin was the aunt of Clarence and Harry Heyl, Peoria attorneys, and Mrs. Arthur McLaughlin, formerly of Peoria, who now resides in Ames, Iowa. Her half-sisters are Mrs. Jennie Firth of Delavan, Mrs. Ellen Graham of Havana and Mrs. Mrs. Minnie Perrill of Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

When she was 17 years old, Mrs. Merwin began her teaching career in a rural school founded by her father and uncle John Spaits of Manito.

Elected superintendent of Mason county schools in 1910. Mrs. Merwin served two terms. She was a member of the faculty of Illinois State Normal university at Normal, Ill. and Eureka college, Eureka.

After retiring from public office, she lectured at 125 teacher’s institutes or conferences in 49 counties in Illinois delivering more than 1,000 lectures.

In four decades of teaching she taught at the rural school near Manito, Manito grade school and at Hickory Grove rural school.

In 1928 she was named president of the Illinois State Teachers' association, now the Illinois Educational association.

Mrs. Merwin also attained wide prominence as an author. Chronicling her own experiences in the teaching profession, she wrote “Eye Single”, a story of school life, which has been placed on Colorado state schools’ reading list, Sequels to “Eye Single” were “Added Proof” and “The Second Mile.”

She also was author of articles in several school journals, and in 1890 wrote a column for the Peoria Journal under the pen name “T. ?ands”. A columnist for more than four years, Mrs. Merwin won a trip to Colorado as reward for her writing.

She resigned from teaching and other activities associated with educational endeavors in 1932, and had since retired in Manito to do the many things she could not do when teaching. She spent much time sewing and gardening.

Fannie Spaits Merwin was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Spaits. She was born on Jan, 16, 1872 at the country home about four and one half miles south of Manito. Early in life she gave evidence of an unusual mind and as she grew year by year, a wonderful personality developed.

When a mere baby she learned to read and write, and during her sixth year she read the Bible through. Her early girlhood was spent on the farm, and every school day found her trudging across road to the little white school house where later she taught the neighbor hood children for many years. After she had completed the work in the country school she was sent to the high school in Havana; here her record was remarkable --- three year course was completed in fifteen months, and in 1890 she graduated and the years following this she was a country “school ma’am” and in her school room, methods were used that were unheard of at that time ---methods far in advance of those days. Every child under her care received much more than instruction in the three R’s --- real character was builded(sic), and the foundation laid for better and happier lives.

During this time “The Country Girl” made her appearance in the Peoria Journal, for several years a column appeared in each issue of this paper signed by “The Country Girl” and every article was enjoyed by friends and strangers.

In 1900, the family gave up the country home and made a new home in Manito; the primary room in the Manito School found a new instructor and more life-long friends were added to Fannie’s long list of devoted ones. Never a sick bed among her flock at which she did not minister; never a wedding among her families whose bride she did not dress; and never a death that she did not offer the service of hand and heart.

In 1921 she was teaching another rural school which had become dear to her through a dozen years of service, and the members of the Hickory Grove school district have only love and loyalty in their hearts for “Teacher”.

One of the greatest honors that can come to an educator in the home county came to her when she was elected County Superintendent in November 1910. A splendid record was hers ---new schools were started; teachers were trained, and much inspiration was sent out from the little office in the Havana Court House. From the beginning to the end of term she spared neither time nor strength to make the schools of Mason County better schools and to make the children of Mason County better fit for the life before them. During this time she was made a member of the P. E. O. Sisterhood and was greatly loved by this fine society of women.

Many honors and splendid positions had been offered her both in the political and educational world but she refused one after another because of home ties. One of the most beautiful things in the world was her devotion to her aged mother, and because the mother was very frail and could not be moved, Fannie was happy and content to do what was at hand. Her spirit was one that could not be daunted for as she said, “I like to do whatever I am doing better than anything else.”

Volumes could be written about her --- her talents and her good works; a splendid cook, an artist of no small ability; a poetess, an author, a student, a public speaker, a fine instructor --- all these and many more accomplishments are hers.

A number of magazines --- both popular and educational published her articles and short stories. She was a member of the National Pen Woman’s Club, and several of her poems were set to music by the Instructor of Music in the State Normal University. Some of the little poems written for small nephews and nieces are being used by wee tots in the next generation, and are enjoyed all the more because they were written by Aunt Fannie.

During her term as County Superintendent of Schools her fame spread, and every year she had an increasing number of engagements as Instructor in County Insti8tutes; her lecture rooms were always crowed, and the big feature of each institute which she attended was Mrs. Merwin’s work. Young teachers frequently remarked “We have never forgotten what Mrs. Merwin said at her first institute.” The subject she liked best to discuss was something like this: “Methods in Rural Schools” and on one occasion she made an address on Rural School work before the Constitutional Convention in our State Legislature at Springfield, Illinois.

She was married in 1903 to Frank D. Merwin, a druggist in Manito. For a long time she was Superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School in Manito and indeed, the churches have always had a great share of her interest and support; she was a woman of deep religious convictions and was a living testimony of the Faith. Her daily life was more eloquent than any words written.

Mrs. Merwin attended 365 days of Institute and made between 1000 and 1200 lectures and that would make about a hundred-thousand teacher contacts. She was the author of thee books including the Eye Single. She was chairman of the Legislative committee at the State Teachers association from 1925 to 1928 and p-resident o9f the State Teachers association from 1928-29.

Mrs. Merwin passed away Wednesday afternoon at 3:20, after a long protracted illness with a malignant disease. She is survived by two sisters, Miss Jessie Spaits, at home and Mrs. Ellen Graham of Havana. Besides nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 o’clock at the Methodist church with Joseph Hobbs officiating. Interment will be in Meadow Lawn cemetery.

Those desiring may call at the Johnson funeral home until 10 a.m. Saturday and at the church until time of service.

Most of the above was written by her niece Mrs. Elsie McLaughlin.

**Note: Hand written on the top “April 1, 1942”

Source: Scrapbook of Unknown Origin, page 94