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Professor Charles Viebahn
Early Educator
1905, 12 29
Prof.
C. F. Viebahn was in attendance yesterday at the
State convention of state superintendents. He made a very interesting report on
the teaching of geography in which he urged the practice of making vivid word
pictures for the pupils to base their lessons upon. It was a good principle to
have the pupils draw outline maps of continents and countries from memory which
would be of inestimable benefit to the child. He also suggested the study of
the globe in which cities and countries with certain conditions exports,
peculiarities of the people and historical incidents could be associated as
worthy reference.
1911
05 18 Compliments
Prof. Viebahn
Professor
Viebahn needs no defense in connection with the
so-called book trust legislation. No
fairer man exists among all the solons.
That fact we all know — and those of us who have known him longest know
it best. Prof. Viebahn
is a fine, scholarly, upright character, and old friends will not remain silent
a moment when, even in remotest manner or by vaguest innuendo, his honored name
becomes carelessly linked up to a legislative transaction the least
questionable. To be sure, no insinuation
really worth recognition has been voiced, yet one who has noted with respectful
appreciation and almost affectionate interest the high-minded course of this
cultivated gentleman for nearly forty years will be pardoned for a quick
assumption of the defensive at the very first intimation that might in any
degree involve his integrity. [Madison Democrat] WG
1915, Obituary
One of
Watertown's most beloved and highly respected educators in its public school
system was the late Prof. Charles F. Viebahn. He was
not only an outstanding school man who helped introduce many modern
transformations into the public schools of the city; he was also a civic leader
and had an active public career aside from his education activities.
Prof. Viebahn died at his home at South Seventh and Western
Avenue. He had held the position of principal of Watertown
High School and superintendent of schools for 24 uninterrupted years - from
1880 to 1904. Before that he had also been county superintendent of schools in
both Sauk and Manitowoc Counties.
Watertown
knew him in many different capacities. He was a legislator, instructor and
counselor.
No
educator in the State of Wisconsin was better or more favorably known over the
state than Prof. Viebahn, who in addition to the
laurels won as instructor par excellence, was three times selected to represent
his district in the Legislature.
Educator
Mr. Viebahn was the first in many things: while he was
principal of the schools of Manitowoc in 1873 he established the first
kindergarten in the state to be operated in connection with a public school;
while he was county superintendent of schools of Sauk County he prepared and
introduced a course of study for country schools, the first course of the kind
in the state; he was the first teacher in the state to be granted an unlimited
teachers' certificate.
Honored
as an educator from one end of the state to another, Mr. Viebahn
had been president of the Wisconsin Teachers' Association, and had frequently
conducted teachers' institutes and presented many papers before educational
bodies. He had been a member of the state board of examiners for many years,
serving under five different state superintendents, and was at the time of his
death its chairman.
Born in Germany
Mr. Viebahn was born in Germany, near the city of Cologne, in
1842. At the age of ten years he came to Wisconsin with his parents, and for
the next ten years his home was on a farm. He was educated in the public
schools, by private instruction and study and by attending the University of
Wisconsin for three years.
During
two winter terms his course as a student was interrupted by teaching a country
school. He studied law and was admitted to practice, but finally decided to
adopt teaching as a profession.
The
honorable and responsible positions he held in his lifetime followed in rapid
succession until his retirement in 1904.
Legislator
Elected
to the Legislature in 1908, 1910 and again in 1912, Mr. Viebahn
served with honor, and was chairman of the committee on education during one
term and also member of the committee on legislative procedure.
Mr. Viebahn was in the University of Wisconsin with John Muir,
famous naturalist and explorer. In the
Legislature in 1912-13, a Democratic colleague of Mr. Viebahn
was I. N. Stewart, Appleton. The three students, Muir, Viebahn
and Stewart, roomed in the same house back in 1861. Viebahn
and Stewart were the oldest Legislators in the session of 1913.
After
completing his last term in the Legislature, Prof. Viebahn
lived quietly and unostentatiously in Watertown, yet by no means without
interest in the life of his fellow citizens, for he retained till the last his
interest in the affairs of life, and most particularly the affairs of
education.
He was
an almost daily visitor at the high school of the city, and even during the
last winter before his death had taught classes in the schools, relieving
teachers who were ill or forced to be absent for other reasons. In November,
1914, he took an active part in the meeting of the Wisconsin State Teachers'
Association at Milwaukee.
Mr. Viebahn mastered one of the most difficult of arts, that of
growing old gracefully. During the months before his death, his friends noted
with regret that he was failing in bodily health. The tall, impressive figure
was growing stooped; the old educator walked more slowly and was less light on
his feet. But his every-day smile was always in evidence and his words of
greeting were as bright and cheery as of yore.
With
the passage of Prof. Viebahn, Watertown lost one of
its most honored and best loved citizen, a man whose honesty and integrity,
faithfulness and abilities were never questioned.
Married Twice
Prof. Viebahn twice was married. The first wife, who was Miss Lona Fischer, to whom he was wedded in 1868, died in 1893.
One son was born to the couple, the late Gustave O. Viebahn, a brilliant man with many of his father's talents,
who served the city of Watertown for several years as city engineer. The
professor was saddened by the death of this son, which occurred Feb. 2, 1897.
In the fall of 1895 Prof. Viebahn married Mrs.
Josephine Hall, who had two daughters of a former marriage.
Prof. Viebahn's grave is in Oak
Hill Cemetery. In the history of Watertown schools and its progress in
education his name will always loom large among the men of the city's first
century.
Prof. C. F. Viebahn
As a
man of sterling integrity he whose name heads this sketch ranks high. As an
earnest, conscientious, progressive educator he occupies a leading place, and
has achieved honor in his county and among his own people. In the enthusiastic
pursuit of his chosen profession he has awakened public sentiment to a higher
appreciation of the benefits of education that will bring renown to his memory
as well as satisfaction to his highest aspirations. He is well entitled to the
reputation he has certainly acquired of being one of the most successful
educators of Wisconsin, and as superintendent of the public schools and
principal of the High School of Watertown, Wis., he has proven himself equal to
the task imposed upon him, and enjoys to the fullest extent the respect of his
fellow men, as well as of his pupils. Public education has no more earnest
advocate and co-operator than he, and as he is a man of action, of original and
positive character, he has left his impress upon his sphere of public duty.
He was
born in Cologne, Germany, April 20, 1841, and possesses some of the most worthy
characteristics of that race, being intelligent, persevering, and at all times
to be relied upon. His parents, Peter V. and Wilhelma
(Deitenbach) Viebahn, came
to the United States in 1851, and after a short residence at Baraboo, located
on a farm near Mauston, Wis., where they were both eventually called from this
life. The father was a notary public when in his native land, and although he
gave some attention to agriculture after reaching this country, he was
practically retired from the active duties of life. Two of three children born
to them are living: Prof. C. F., and William, who is a farmer in the vicinity
of Blue Earth City, Minn.
The
youthful days of Prof. Viebahn were spent in his
native land, in the public schools of which country he received his initiatory
scholastic training. At the age of ten years he was brought to the United
States by his parents, and until he attained his eighteenth year he made his
home with his father on the farm and pursued his studies in the district
schools near his rural home. He then began the calling of a pedagogue, in order
to acquire means with which to put him through college, and as he pursued this
occupation during the winter months, he was enabled to attend the University of
Wisconsin during the summer.
In
1862 he became principal of the Sauk City public schools, continuing as such up
to 1869, with the exception of one year, and from 1870 to 1872 was county
superintendent of schools of Sauk County, Wis. From that time up to 1879 he was
the efficient principal of the public schools of Manitowoc, Wis., then was
elected to the responsible position of superintendent of schools of Manitowoc
County, a position he filled with marked ability, as he had also in Sauk
County, until 1881. Since that time he has been
superintendent of the public schools and principal of the High School of
Watertown, positions for which his varied talents eminently fit him.
The
present high school building of the place was erected under his supervision,
contains seven rooms, and has an average attendance of 120 pupils in the high
school. Prof. Viebahn is a man of fine intellect, is
a fine disciplinarian, and has the faculty of presenting his explanations in a
clear and forcible manner, and in language fitted for the comprehension of the
dullest pupil.
He is
with reason regarded as one of the ablest educators of the State, and his heart
is in his work, a secret, no doubt, of his success. He keeps well posted on the
progress made in his profession, takes some leading educational periodicals,
has a well selected, though small, library, and is advanced in all his views.
He was
married in 1868 to Miss Lona Fischer, by whom he has
one son: G. O., who is the present city engineer of Watertown, and a
substantial and intelligent citizen. Prof. Viebahn is
a member of the Sons of Herman, but as a rule has not interested himself in
secret organizations. He has been a widower since 1893.
Reference:
Above section derived from Memorial
and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin,
Chicago: Goodspeed Brothers, 1894.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
PROF.
VIEBAHN CALLED BY DEATH
Well Known Educator Passed Away At Watertown March 17, 1915.
BURIAL SERVICES SATURDAY
Watertown Daily Times, 03 26 1915
Hon. Charles F. Viebahn died at his home in
Watertown, Wednesday evening, March 17, 1915, at 8 o’clock.
The immediate cause of his death was pneumonia, his sickness covering a
period of less than ten days. Previous
to the fatal attack he enjoyed his usual health. The announcement of his death came as a
surprise to the people of Watertown as well as to many friends all over the
state.
Mr. Viebahn was born in Cologne, Germany, April
20, 1841. In 1851 he came to this
country with his parents and located at Baraboo, from there they removed to a
farm near Mauston, Wis. Mr. Viebahn received his early education in Germany and later
in the public schools in and around Mauston, teaching school at various times,
which enabled him to get a University of Wisconsin education, from which
institution he received a life state certificate. From 1862 to 1869 he was principal of the
Sauk City public schools and from 1870 to 1872 was county superintendent of
Sauk County, and from 1872 till 1879 he was principal of the city schools of
Manitowoc, and was then elected superintendent of schools of Manitowoc county,
filling that position till 1881, when he was appointed superintendent of
schools and principal of the High School of Watertown, Wis.., filling this
important office with great distinction for 24 years. He was twice married, his first wife and one
son, Gustav Viebahn, former city engineer at
Watertown, dying quite a few years ago.
His second wife survives him, also her two daughters, the Misses Lucy
and Catherine Hall. After retiring from
his school work in Watertown Mr. Viebahn represented
his assembly district in the state legislature from 1908 till the close of the
1913-1914 session when he retired voluntarily.
He has been president of the State Teachers’ Association and for many
years previous to his death, was chairman of the state superintendents of
public instructions. He was earnest,
conscientious and progressive in all his work and was honored and esteemed not
only at home but throughout the state as a man of high ideals and worthy
motives. He was an earnest advocate of
purity in politics and as a public educator there was no more earnest advocate
in the entire country than he. In his
death the city of Watertown has lost one of its very best citizens, and all
classes of people mourn his death sincerely. His funeral services were held at Watertown,
last Saturday, Mar. 20, 1915.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Through
the death of Mr. Viebahn, which occurred March 17th,
the high school lost a warm friend, a faithful supporter, and a fair critic,
whose presence encouraged pupils and teachers.
Mr.
Viebahn was sympathetic and kindly disposed towards
us at all times. His wide experience as teacher, supervisor, and
superintendent, made him a valuable counselor.
He
was for twenty-four years, from 1880 to 1904, superintendent of Watertown
Public Schools. During that time he made many friends for the schools and his
high ideals became a part of the life of students who worked with him.
Within
the memory of the class of 1915, he has conducted classes in botany, in algebra
and in German in the high school. He visited classes often and usually left
some word of encouragement or advice. His
death is mourned by the entire student body.
He will be remembered as a kindly, venerable man, whose place will never
be fully filled by another.
Thomas
J. Berto, Superintendent of Schools
1915
Watertown High School Orbit
Cross-References:
No 1: Viebahn, C F, 1917,
Watertown library citation
No
2: Viebahn
genealogy on the web
No 3:
Watertown High School from 1881 to 1904
