Withrow High School - Withrow Annual Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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THE LIFE OF DR. WITHROW HIRTEEN years ago East High School opened its doors to its first student. Standing on the steps among its graceful Counthian columns were two men, there to greet this first student. The one was Mr. Edmund D. Lyon, who has been principal of our school throughout its entire thirteen years. The other was Dr. John M. Withrow, the man whose untiring eForts are largely responsible, both for the high standing of the Cin- cinnati school system among other school systems of this country, and for the classihcation of our school as one of the model high schools of the country. Dr. VVithrow was especially suited for the prominent part he played in changing the schools of Cincinnati from the poorly heated, inadequately equipped buildings of 1900 to the modern, sanitary, well- equipped schools of todair with the most experienced of teachers, and in bringing about the change in the school board of Cin- cinnati from 21 stepping-stone for 21m- hitious politicians to 21 body of men weii-fitted for their task of making Cincinnati schools the best possible. John Withrow, the son of a farmer who lived in Butler County, Ohio, early began work in the field. Although he never was known to consider archi- tecture as :1 vocation, he showed an interest in this type of work. While still very young, he planned and helped build a house larger than the small frame house in which he was born on October 10, 1854. He came from a weil-educated fam- ily. His grandfather, Samuel Pottinger Withrow, was a man ofunusual learning and of remarkable character. There- fore, it is not strange that we find young John at an early age deeply interested in school work. Because of lack of funds, he con- tinually found it necessary to interrupt his schooling with a term of teaching. After attending Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, for two years, he taught a year at the country school ofJaCkson- burg tthen Jacksonbomi, Ohio. With the money saved from this year, he entered Ohio hVesl eyan Lniversity at Delaware, Ohio; but he was forced to work a year as principal at the school at Amanda, Ohio, before he graduated. After leaving Ohio Wesleyan, he re- turned to Amanda, where he taught another year. During this year he roomed with 21 doctor in a near-by village, riding to and from school on horseback. He slept in the doctor's laboratory, :1 room which contained seven skeletons, each ofwhich he named appropriately. It was perhaps his boarding here that changed his child- hood ambition to become a doctor into a fixed purpose. While teaching in Amanda, he was elected superintendent of the public schools at Eaton, Ohio. He accepted the position and remained there for four years, at the end of which time he entered the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati. His student days were Characterized by hard work in the midst of much privation. During these years, in which he formed so many ardent friendships, his understanding of human nature and his sense of proportion were growing;

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T0 the memory of DR. JOHN M. WITHROW, the Class qf :32 imermtly dedicates this Yearirook.

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both of which were fitting him for his large and varied services in the future. Dr. Withrow,s exuberance of humor added to his enjoyment of life. During his college days his very handsome and popular roommate invited him to go along on a Visit to a young lady. John was so inexperienced in such matters that he was nearly petrified by the idea of being in the girl's presence. He was especially afraid that his roommate's superior knowledge of social proceed- ings would make him appear even more awkward; but the conditions were such that he could hardly refuse, and the young lady herself was a great attrac- tion. In return for the favor John offered to blacken his roommate s boots. In doing so, he arcidemzzll-v mixed quite a bit of sugar with the polish. When they had arrived at their hostess, home, the parlor sheik was kept so busy fanning Hies off his boots that John had all the chance he needed to do himself justice. The years previous to his graduation from medical college were full of priva- tion and hard work; both of which found their reward in his overwhelming success in winning six out of the eight prizes onered at graduation. Dr. Withrow became one of Cin- cinnatfs most successful-physicians and surgeons. Governor Campbell ap- pointed him president of the Cincinnati Hospital. He was connected with the Presbyterian, the Christ, and the Gen- eral Hospitals, and he was a member of the board that built the Christ Hospital and 0f the Commission that built the General Hospital. When Dr. Frank B. Dyer was elected superintendent of the C i n c i n n a ti schools, he suggested that Dr. Withrow have, through administrative work on the Board of Education, a share in the accomplishment of many reforms which both agreed were needed in our school system and in our schocl buildings. Throughout his life, Dr. Withrow had always had a desire to be of some service to his generation besides through his profession. In this oHer to run as a candidate for the Board of Education, he saw the opportunity to fulfill this desire. After his subsequent election to the school board in 1904, his long years of hard work and faithful service testify to his sincerity of purpose. Dr. With- row remained on the school board twenty years, acting as president eleven years. He was ideally fitted for the task to Which he had set himself, and he daily strove to acquire the knowledge that would enable him to accomplish his purpose. He made a tour of the coun- try, studying public- school conditions and requirements everywhere. He viS- ited the schools of this city, noting the individual needs and failings of each. In the A'ppreritztion 0f the Cincinnati 8512001 Board, written at the time of his death, the following tribute was paid: He was a zealous educational re- former, believing that through educa- tion the ideas and ideals of a city may be transformed in one generation. To this task he set himsel f, devoting more time and energy to his cause than to his profession. iiHe did not conhne his efforts to this city, but went to the State Legis- lature, securing bili after bill to take the schools out of politics, to increase educational requirements, and to im- prove the condition of the schools throughout the state. It was largely through Dr. VVithrow's efforts that the Five million dollar bond issue for new school buildings was ap- proved several years ago, and a new