Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 120, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1912 — B. Wilson Smith, Oldest School Teacher, Here Today. [ARTICLE]

B. Wilson Smith, Oldest School Teacher, Here Today.

B. Wilson Smith, who came here in 1849 at the solicitation of Rev. Samuel Campbell and taught school, revisited Rensselaer today. Mr. Smith will doubtless be remembered by many of our older residents. He has visited Rensselaer at infrequent intervals since be taught school here 63 years ago. He is now 82 years of age and bears his years lightly. His recollection is vivid about the early history of White, Jasper, Warren, Fountain and Tippecanoe counties and he is sure he has the distinction of being the oldest living teacher in any of the five counties named. When he taught 'school hero the court bouse was a frame building on the lot where Dr. Loy’s office now is. Rev. Samuel Campbell and Dr. Mora occupied a double bouse where the county jail jow stands. It was many years before a railroad passed through Rensselaer and Mr. Smith came to Rensselaer on Toot from Seafleld, White county. In later years he was elected to the chair of Latin and Greek in Valparaiso College and still later was the president of that great institution of learning. Mrs. Cordelia Williams and Mrs. Almira Stockton, daughters of John Makeever, graduated from the school at Valparaiso during the time Mr. Smith was associated with the college. He called upon them today. He is one of the state board of accountants and has been employed most of the time checking up the accounts of township trustees. He is still a competent clerical'officer and accountant, notwithstanding his advanced years. His visit here was not an official one but he was looking after private business.