Ohio Northern University - Northern Yearbook (Ada, OH)

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DR. HENRY S. LEHR S EVENTY-THREE years ago on the 8th of March, in Oldtown. Mahon¬ ing County, Ohio, was born a babe that was destined to become a great factor in the educational world anti a leader among men. This charac¬ ter was no other than Dr. IT. S. Lehr. Though, like many other great men, he was born poor, yet he became rich in character anti reputation. When but a boy of eight he began work making quills and later worked on a farm. He remained there until the fall of 1854 when he began teaching anti continued at that until 1861. He enlisted in Co. G., 86th O. Y. 1. in the year 1862 and remained in the service until 1865. Through many years of toil he has kept all his patriotic spirit. At the close of the war Di-. Lehr studied medicine for about four months and, in the winter of 1865 began teaching in the public schools again. In 1866 he traveled through the state in search of a suitable location in which to estab¬ lish a school for the common people anti eventually founded what is now the Ohio Northern University. During hi.; presidency of this University over 32.000 stu dents were under his supervision : the largest annual enrollment during this time was 3.349. He remained at the head of this institution until the year 1902 , when he resigned and has since assisted in organizing a number of schools and is still working in the interest of the University which he founded. Dr. Lehr is one of tlie prominent anti successful educators of Ohio anti although he ha.; retired, his work is well remembered and will leave a lasting impression, for he ha.; installed many modern methods and ha worked unceas¬ ingly for the cause of education. His untiring efforts for the advancement of learning have won anti retained tlie confidence anti esteem of all who have worked with him or studied under his direction. He is a man of rare intellectual ability anti high attainments —a man •whose high character anti sincere manner have been generally recognized. And when this flower is plucked from the family garden we trust we may all meet again in that eternal garden where, moistened by the fountain of God ' s love, we shall live on forever.

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DR. HESRY S. LEHR.

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PROPOSED LEHR MEMORIAL A S a fitting and lasting monument to the labors of Dr. I.ehr. the beauti¬ ful and massive Lehr Memorial will soon be erected on the campus of Ohio Northern. During the past few years, the plans for this build¬ ing have been merrily in progress; and soon, the Memorial will pass from an abstract iancy into a concrete fact. In 1907. the services of Rev. A. A. Thomas were secured as Field and Fiscal Secretary, and since that time he has been active in procuring subscriptions for this worthy project. The approximate cost of the Memorial will be $ioo.coo: and at the present time, almost half of this has been subscribed. Most of this money has been received from graduates and ex-students of O. N. U.. who are prompted by their love and devotion for the old school. During the commencement season of 1912 , it is hoped, the corner stone of this building will be laid. OR. LEHR FOUNDER