Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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Ehp jjnhpx Page Sixteen ship high school in 1874. In 1875-76 he taught a rural school near Princeton, during 1876-77 we find him at Keokuk Clad, at Decatur lIll.l the next year, and from 1878-81 he again taught in the Princeton high school. Mr. Colton was a characteristic product of his times. The modern scientific movement with its inductive method of study and its courageous freedom of thought was making wonderful discoveries in the world of natural truth, and in the control of natural forces, all of which was contributing richly to the well- being and progress of mankind. The importance of the biologi- cal sciences was so clearly foreseen that as early as 1872 the legislature of Illinois was induced to enact a law requiring every candidate for a teacher's certificate to pass an examination in the natural sciences. Neither teachers nor schools could meet the requirement in any adequate way. Thus a special demand was made for better preparation of teachers in these sciences. Mr. Colton caught the inspiration and discerned the great meaning of the scientihc movement, and with characteristic judgment sought the most thoro preparation possible for teach- ing his chosen specialties-Zoology, physiology, and botany. Be- fore going to Johns Hopkins he spent one or two summers with Professor Forbes at Normal. On his return from johns Hop- kins he became teacher of science in the Ottawa township high school, where he spent five years, the last three of which he was also principal. In 1888 he was called to the chair of natural science in the Illinois State Normal University. In the words of one most competent to judge, The place was his as much by manifest fit- ness as by the vote of the board of education. For eighteen years a steady stream of students pa.ssed thru his classroom to the teacher's desk. They have been illumined by his thought and touched by his spirit. 'iIn his teaching Mr. Colton carried out better than anyone else I have known, President Eliotis doctrine that to observe carefully and record faithfuly are vital preliminaries to accurate comparison and generalization. He possessed rare skill in di- recting and questioning .... Mr. Colton was very apt in illustra- tion, his laboratory abounded in original devices .... He was orderly and systematic in an unusual degreef, Professor Colton wrote two series of textbooks, one on zool- ogy, the other on physiology. These textbooks grew out of the author's teaching experience and form an organic part of his educational work. Both series of books have exercised an im- portant influence upon the teaching of these subjects, and will continue for many years to be standard textbooks. The Prac- tical Zoologyw was a pioneer i nits field. and revolutionized the teaching of that subject in the high schools of Illinois. The personal traits of Professor Colton are well described by .one.who was once his pupil and later a colleague and intimate - 1 i 1

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Page Fifteen Elp' glllhrx .1 212 . , l 4 .u BUEL PRESTON COLTON. - 3111 mvmnriam. 1 The sudden and unexpected news of Professor Colton's death September 7, IQO6, struck like a blow upon the hearts of those who knew him best and who were looking for him almost daily to resume his work at Normal. XV e now know that he had been facing death for a year or more, but like the heroic spirit he was, he obscured his suffering and kept at his post of duty to the last. He died at Battle Creek, Mich., where he had gone during the last weeks of vacation with the hope that he might recuperate and be able to continue his work another year. Mr. Colton was born March 23, 1852, on a farm near Prince- ton, lll. His education was begun in a little brick schoolhouse on his father's farm. He attended his uncle's private school a while, and at the age of fourteen entered the Princeton township high school and was graduated with its first class in 187o. After one year of post-graduate high-school work he took a year at Knox College and Finished his college course at Amherst. taking his A. B. degree in 1874. Later he spent two years 51881-18823 in special scientific post-graduate work at Johns Hopkins Univer- sity. Here he was honored by election to a graduate scholarship in 1882. Mr. Colton taught for thirty years, twenty-nine of which were in Illinois. His professional career began in the Princeton town-

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Page Seventeen L-llltl' EIIIDPX associate for years. .l'erhaps his most striking personal traits were his love of truth and nature and a hearty hatred of shams and pretention. His love of honesty, simplicity, and brevity led him at times to appear almost uimecessarily harsh in the class- room .... '. .Xlr. Colton cared little for artificial nature ...... llis greatest pleasure was to leave behind all the environs of civiliza- tion and in company with a few companions go forth into the wildest woods and there live in close touch with untamed nature. Under such surroundings Mr. Colton's very nature seemed changed. Students who had known him only in the classroom were surprised beyond measure at the new revelations of the man. He often seemed like one intoxicated with the spirit of vivacity, generosity, forbearance, human kindness, and love of the whole world ...... The cowardly and the cringing could not appeal to him, the two-faced and insincere received his scathing rebuke, the conceited and ostentatious were humbled by his fear- less words, and the pedant received his silent commiserationf' Xo doubt Mr. Colton's intense love of nature touched all his pupils in some degree, but there were always a few who were more susceptible than others to their teacher's enthusiasm. These were drawn to him like disciples to a master, and many of them have become efficient teachers of science in Illinois and other states. One of the most significant questions that can be asked of a man is, 'tXYhat was his guiding purpose ? Mr. Colton did not consider it his calling to make new contributions to scientific knowledge, but his lifework was rather to extend scientific knowledge to the masses of the people. So we find him in the true line of apostolic succession from Darwin, Huxley, Agassiz, Youmans, and others-those great heroic missionaries of truth who have opened the way for the masses of the people, including the little children, to comprehend and enjoy the beauty of God's thought and love in nature. He persistently brushed aside any- thing that interfered with the fulfilment of this noble life. Friends, students, and strangers will never forget the kind- hearted hospitality of the Colton home. Mr. Colton was fortu- nate in having a wife whose charm of manner, thoughtful atten- tion, and ready wit never failed to make the guest feel at ease, nor leave a pleasant memory of the visit. Mr. Colton was a man of striking individuality and distinctive character. That part of the world's work for which he assumed responsibility he did faithfullyancl well. Lifeis wearing strug- gle ended his career too soon. He was buried in the cemetery at Princeton, and in due time in accordance with his wish, the grave will be marked by a rugged boulder that has lain for some years in his front yard at Xormal. This incident is characteristic, for such marking is eminently Htting. It becomes the character of the man, his love of simplicity, his assuming modesty, and his passion for nature as it came from the hand of the Creator.