There are few who have served their country in the training of its youth, more deserving of its love and gratitude than Dr. Asa D. Lord. He was born in Madrid , St. Lawrence County, New York, June I7, 1810. His early youth was passed on a farm. From his mother, who had herself been a most successful teacher, he is said to have inherited his love for study. In 1839, he accepted the position of principal of the Western Reserve Teachers' Seminary, at Kirkland , Ohio , which he held for eight years. Here his zeal, his energy, his professional enthusiasm, his interest in all who strove for something better than they had yet known, were signally displayed. He made the seminary a center to which the youth of both sexes crowded from the adjoining counties. Many of these have since occupied useful and honorable positions as teachers, cherishing with the warmest gratitude the memory of him who first kindled in their young hearts a love for the teacher's calling. Here, in 1843, was held what was in substance the first Teachers' Institute in the State.

From Kirtland, Dr. Lord removed to Columbus . Here he inaugurated the first graded school in the State. He had bad the system under consideration for some time, and bad become satisfied that it offered the best advantages to the children of towns and villages. For his service as superintendent and as principal of the high school, he received the first year a salary of $600, of which $100 was contributed by a public spirited citizen.

Dr. Lord's services as editor of the "School Friend," the "Ohio School Journal," the "Public School Advocate," and "Ohio Journal of Education" are referred to in the next chapter.

For one year, his connection with the schools of Columbus was suspended, while he acted as agent of the State Teachers' Association, which he had been active in establishing.

He had, while at Kirkland , taken his degree in medicine. He now added to his other labors a course of systematic theology, and, in 1863, was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Franklin. Those who knew him well assert that he never intended to practice either calling exclusively. He strove to make himself thoroughly acquainted with the wants of both soul and body, that he might the better administer to those committed to his care. He made the Institution for the Blind, at Columbus , to which he was appointed in 1856, an honor and a blessing to the State. He taught its pupils valuable lessons in workshop and school-room, and thus won to his views legislators of widely different politics, who voted liberally for the erection of a building in which his plans could be successfully carried out.

After over twelve years' experience as an instructor of the blind in Ohio, Dr. Lord was given charge of the new State Institution for the Blind at Batavia, N. J., where he remained its zealous, kind-hearted, philanthropic superintendent and instructor up to the time of his death, which occurred March 7, 1875. He died beloved and esteemed by all, and the world will truly he better because it has once felt the inspiration of his life and presence.
(Source: Educational History of Ohio by James J. Burns.  Published 1905)

Submitted by Linda Rodriguez

Of the many educators who have attained distinction in Ohio , and at the same time acquired a lasting reputation in the educational world, probably few are better known or held in more affectionate remembrance than Mrs. Elizabeth W. Russell Lord, whose life energies were consecrated to the public service and the uplift of humanity. Her labors as a teacher and humanitarian extended over a period of sixty-five years, a greater part of the time in co-operation with her noble husband. Asa D. Lord. M. D. (deceased, 1875), one of the nation's greatest public educators, and to them, unitedly, much of the present excellence and efficiency of the public schools is due.

(For some of the facts that follow we are indebted to a sketch written by Mrs. Sarah Cowles Little, graduate of Oberlin College. 1859, and a life-long friend of Mrs. Lord.)

Elizabeth W. Russell was born in Kirtland , Ohio , April 28, 1819, her parents, who came from New England, being among the early settlers of the Western Reserve , and she shared all the experiences and hardships of their pioneer home. When nine years old she performed a daily task on the spinning wheel, and at an age when girls of to-day arc "playing mother" with dolls, she was bearing her full share of the household duties, beside being her father's companion and helper.

Her occupations gave her habits of industry and thrift, and that fidelity to duty which has been her marked characteristic through life. In March, 1838. Miss Russell went to Oberlin College , Oberlin , Ohio , as a student, traveling by stage coach, and having to walk the last eight miles to reach her destination, as the coach could not proceed farther because of the mud. At Oberlin she was untiring in her studies, and in 1840 was referred to as "the indefatigable Miss Russell." About that time the Western Reserve Teachers' Seminary was established at Kirtland, and for some years Miss Russell divided her time between that institution and Oberlin. She did not fully complete the College Course at Oberlin. but in 1901 was given the honorary degree of Master of Arts in recognition of her services as an educator. In 1842 Miss Russell was married at Oberlin to Asa D. Lord, M. D., and returned to Kirtland to share his work as a teacher in the Seminary, of which he was the principal, and which was a co-educational school.

Five years later Dr. Lord went to Columbus , Ohio , to establish a system of graded schools, the first in the State, and when the High School was opened, Mrs. Lord was appointed its first lady principal.

In 1850 Dr. Lord became superintendent of the Ohio Institution for the Blind, at Columbus , and his wife a teacher. Then followed nearly thirty years of unselfish, skillful educational work for the blind, first in Ohio and later in New York . Mrs. Lord's individual work was largely in the schoolroom, but for more than two years subsequent to Dr. Lord's demise in 1875, she served most ably as superintendent of the New York Institution for the Blind, at Batavia . Without doubt she has instructed more blind persons to read than any other in the world, and these blind pupils remember her motherly sympathy with the deepest affection.

In 1884 Mrs. Lord responded to a call from Oberlin College to serve as Assistant Principal of the Woman's Department. From 18D4 to 1900, when she resigned, she was known as Assistant Dean. During these sixteen years she did not once miss attendance upon the weekly meetings of the Young Women, called "general exercises." and her record of attendance upon daily chapel prayers was almost as perfect. Among other things in her resignation, which the trustees were regretfully forced to accept, Mrs. Lord said: "My work has been a continual pleasure and delight. * * * In all my relations with our young people it has been my aim to do for them whatever intelligent and judicious parents would wish to have done for their sons and daughters while absent from their own care."

Mrs. Lord's interest in Oberlin has had material expression in various substantial gifts, — notably scholarships, and a large share in the cottage which bears her name. But her best gift to Oberlin is her own life, given without stint, with utmost faithfulness, so many years. The hundreds, yes, the thousands of young people who have felt the touch of that life, have had an example, seldom equalled, of kindness and courtesy, of modesty and loyalty, of promptness and fidelity to duty whatever cost to herself. Her gracious presence was a benediction, her daily life an inspiration.

Advancing years have called Mrs. Lord to lay down the more active duties of a long life, but age has not touched the heart that beats a warm response to every human interest. She is now enjoying a well-earned retirement in the pleasant home of her daughter. Mrs. Henrv F. Tarbox, of Batavia . N. Y.
(Source: Educational History of Ohio by James J. Burns.  Published 1905)

Submitted by Linda Rodriguez