WILLIAM HENRY ISELY

 

“Teacher, Citizen, and Friend.”

 

    “Teacher, Citizen and Friend,” were words often used in speaking of Dean Isely of Fairmount College, Wichita, Kansas.

 

    W. H. Isely was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, August 8, 1865. At the age of six, he moved with his family to live on a farm near Fairview, Brown County, Kansas.

 

    At the age of seven, he was the assistant to his father, C. H. Isely, on the farm. His tasks were often arduous for one so young, but as the early years came and went, he developed many interests. In his outdoor life, he began a collection of butterflies and geological specimens. Learning of the telephone, he with his neighbor boy friend, Merrill Boomer, rigged up a telephone connection between the two farm houses, a mile apart, which was often used for communication. The public telephone came years later.

 

    When the time came to go to College, W. H. Isely was most appreciative of the help and encouragement given to him by his father, who from his small herd of cattle sold a steer to give his son the necessary aid to begin his College work. The good friend and neighbor, Mr. Boomer, did much to encourage this college venture, where his son was in attendance.

 

    In the College, the Freshman student found work to help him carry on in addition to the help he had from home. W. H. Isely was graduated from Ottawa University in 1891. After his graduation, he was offered a teaching position in his Alma Mater. After teaching there a year, he decided to further pursue his studies. He went to Harvard University for a year and received his Masters Degree in History and Economics.

 

    In the fall of 1894, with his wife and young son, he came to take a position in what was then Fairmount Institute, which soon became Fairmount College, and later the University of Wichita. As Dean and Head of the history Department, he had a strong place of leadership, and had the admiration of students and faculty associates.

 

    Although the work of the struggling College was demanding, there were many calls for the time and effort of this talented man. He became interested in Civic affairs, and was a valued charter member of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the National Guard, and a Councilman from the Fourth Ward at the urgent request of the community. Although his various activities were great, there was time for his home and family to which he gave love and devotion. He was an early member of the Fairmount Congregational Church, and was its first Sunday School Superintendent.

 

    Such were some of the factors that made Dean Isely a valued Citizen. He was a person of versatile ability and resources. Death Claimed him, August 14^th, 1907. A Home, a Church, a College and a City were bereft. To all of them, he was unforgettably, “Teacher, Citizen and Friend.”

 

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    The above was written by his twin sister, Miss M. Alice Isely, who was one of those, who handled the spade at the “Breaking of the Ground Ceremony: for Isely School in 1949, and long the Librarian at Fairmount College and the University of Wichita. This picture was presented to the Isely School at the Founders Day Program, February 12^th, 1963, by his oldest son, Merrill N. Isely.