Biography - EMMA REBMAN
In this day when the capacities of woman are recognized in their
infinite variety; when the industrial and the professional spheres have been
added to the domestic in the feminine universe; when the pedagogical world,
particularly, is claiming the talents of exceptionally able women not only
for its obscure but its prominent fields of activity in such an era it is
with great satisfaction that the historian can point to such intellectual
leaders as the superintendents of the Chicago and Cincinnati schools and the
present incumbent of Johnson county and to many others.
Public interest in the subject of this article makes desirable a
genealogical as well as biographical review of Miss Rebman's history. In her
paternal line she is of German ancestry, two of her great-uncles having won
distinction as Prussian soldiers in the Napoleonic wars and later having
helped to guard the ill-starred Bonaparte until his death on the Island of
St. Helena. The founder of the Rebman family in America was John Frederick
Rebman, who came from Germany in 1817 and settled first near Mocksville,
North Carolina. He was a man of superior education and a member of the
Lutheran church. His vocational pursuits combined farming and
cabinet-making, in the latter of which he was particularly skilled. In 1836
John Frederick Rebman removed with his family to Montgomery county in
Illinois, later changing his location to Union county and finally to Johnson
county, the subsequent home of the family. His wife, who in her girlhood was
Miss Margaret Setzer of near Mocksville, North Carolina, was also a
descendant of a German line. Their children were John, Elizabeth, Frederick
Augustus, Jacob and Andrew Rebman. The last two were volunteers of Company I
of the 120th Illinois Infantry in the Civil war, Andrew Rebman giving his
life for his country at Memphis, Tennessee, May 14, 1863.
The birthplace of Frederick Augustus Rebman, the father of Miss Rebman, was
in the environs of Mocksville, North Carolina. He was born December 27,
1833, and was educated in the public schools during his early years and
supplemented this education by a course in the Hillsboro Academy. In 1858 he
was married to Miss Louisa Slack, whose birthplace was in the vicinity of
Vienna, Illinois, her natal day being March 10, 1840. Her death occurred at
her home near Vienna on April 7, 1877. Frederick A. Rebman died March 29,
1879. To this union seven children were given, all of whom have grown to
maturity except Lily, the youngest, who was born November 25, 1876, and died
January 9, 1877. Flora Isabel, the eldest, who is Mrs. Thomas D. Carlton,
resides in Johnson county; Milford Young Rebman is a successful
agriculturist; Emma, the superintendent of the Johnson county schools, is
the subject of this biography, the details of her career being given fuller
consideration below: William Augustus who served in the Spanish-American
war, is now a farmer, Louise is assistant cashier of the First National Bank
of Vienna, Illinois; Thomas Frederick Rebman is a well-known teacher and is
deputy county superintendent of schools.
In the rural schools of Johnson county, Emma Rebman who was born on the
parental farm three and one-half miles from Vienna began those intellectual
pursuits for which she has become notable. She sought further educational
development in the Illinois Normal University at Normal, Illinois. Later she
was graduated from the Valparaiso University.
From her earliest professional years Miss Rebman showed marked ability as an
instructor and as an administrator of public school affairs. This was
evident first in her rural school teaching, from which she was called to the
more prominent though not more arduous duties of the village schools. Her
executive ability presently brought her the appointment to the principalship
of the Grammar Department of the city schools of Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
When it became necessary that she accompany her younger brother on a western
tour demanded by the state of his health, her reputation in the pedagogical
world was of such a superior quality that her services were soon called into
requisition in the city schools of Phoenix, Arizona, where she taught for
several years and while there she took a very active part in the educational
interests of the southwest, delivering some of the principal addresses
before the Annual Arizona Teachers' Association.
While in the west, Miss Rebman took frequent opportunities for traveling and
made numerous extensive tours through the west and southwest. Some of the
interesting and valuable information thus gained was incorporated in
magazine articles written by Miss Rebman.
On her return to Illinois in the spring of 1910, Miss Rebman's large circle
of acquaintances were glad to take advantage of the opportunity of offering
her an important office of public trust. She was elected superintendent of
Johnson County schools, by the largest majority any nominee of the coiinty
had ever received. The heavy duties of her office have been discharged with
exceptional efficiency and a rare quality of discrimination which is the
result of her wide experiences, keen pedagogical instinct and her logically
practical mind.
Miss Rebman's distinguished personality is one that is appreciated not only
in affairs pertaining particularly to the school but also in other
organizations. She is an intelligent student and critic of public affairs,
though by no means one of masculine affectations or one who is a militant
seeker of votes for women. Her economic theories are those of the Republican
party. In addition to her distinctly public relations and duties, she finds
time to lend attention to lend attention to both church and club interests,
being a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Woman's Club of
Vienna. She is also a prominent member of the Rebekah lodge. In addition to
these non-professional organizations, she holds active membership in the
National Educational Association.
Extracted 07 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Southern Illinois, by George Washington Smith, published in 1912, volume 3, pages 1709-1710.
