Biography - ALONZO L. WHITTENBERG
Alonzo Lindollph Whittenberg was born in the summer of 1869, on the
fourth day of August, on a farm in Tunnel Hill township, Johnson county,
Illinois. His father, John S. Whittenberg, was a farmer, teacher and
Methodist preacher, a combination of activities well suited to the
development of the best there is in life. Alonzo L. was thus born and bred a
farmer and teacher, and follows the two professions, agriculture and
teaching, with equal interest and pleasure. He began teaching at seventeen
years of age in the country schools of Johnson county, Illinois, since which
time he has been continuously in school, either as student or teacher. When
a mere youth he bought a farm in Grantsburg township, which he still owns;
he has continued buying land occasionally until he now owns and operates by
the help of tenants more than a thousand acres, much of which he has
developed from woodland into fine farms with good improvements. Mr.
Whittenberg thoroughly enjoys the care and labor of the farm, and has been
very prompt in applying to his agricultural interests all the time which his
duties as teacher do not demand. He has been rather extensively engaged in
breeding pure bred livestock; his specialties have been standard bred horses
and Hereford cattle.
But whatever measure of success Mr. Whittenberg may attain as a farmer and
stock breeder, his life work is clearly that of a teacher. In this
profession he enjoys the confidence and high esteem of his large circle of
acquaintances. His clear conception of the needs of his pupils, and of youth
generally, his pleasing personality, his simple yet elegant and forceful
manner of expression, are some of his well known characteristics and render
him deservedly popular as a school man.
In early life Professor Whittenberg became a member of the Methodist church,
and has been active in Sunday-school and church work since boyhood. When
twenty-one years of age he became a Mason, and has been regularly advancing
in the various degrees and orders of the fraternity. He is a member of
Metropolitan Chapter, No. 101, Royal Arch Masons, and of Gethsemane
Commandery, No. 41, Knights Templar, of Metropolis, Illinois, York Rite
Masonry, also of the various orders of the Scottish Rite Masonry up to and
including the thirty-second degree, S. P. R. S., Valley of East St. Louis.
In 1892 Professor Whittenberg was married to Miss Eva Rice, daughter of
George M. Rice, of Massac county, Illinois. Six children have been born into
this home, all of whom are living with their parents: Clarice, nineteen
years, a graduate of the Murphysboro township high school, class of 1911,
and who taught in the Vienna public schools this year; Inez, seventeen
years, graduate of the Vienna high school, class of 1912; Bess, fifteen, and
Marjorie, thirteen, both of whom are second year high school students;
Tennie Isabel, seven years; and the baby, Eva Katherine, two years old.
Professor Whittenberg has recently resigned the superintendency of the
Vienna city schools to accept a place in the department of education, office
of state superintendent of public instruction, at Springfield, Illinois, in
which city he now resides.
Extracted 07 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Southern Illinois, by George Washington Smith, published in 1912, volume 3, pages 1680-1681.
