Hines - Linnaeus Neal
Source: History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: AW Bowen,
1913.
Of high professional and academic attainments and
possessing organizing force and executive ability of a superior
order, Prof. Linnaeus Neal HINES, for 5 years the efficient
superintendent of the educational system of the city of
Crawfordsville, has achieved honorable distinction in one of the
most responsible and exacting callings, occupying a conspicuous
place among the leading educators of western Indiana. As an
organizer he has few equals as his work in various places
abundantly indicates; as an executive he possesses rare judgment
and foresight, together with the ability and tact which has
enabled him to take advantage of circumstances and mold them to
suit his purposes, and as an instructor he has the happy faculty
of imparting to others precisely and specifically what he knows
so as to obtain the best possible results. Distinctively one of
the most successful educators of the present day in this section
of the Hoosier commonwealth and a gentleman of commanding talents
and sterling worth whom to know is to esteem, he has left his
individuality deeply impressed upon his various fields of labor,
raising the schools where his talents have been employed to a
high state of efficienty through his ability and paintaking
endeavor. Professor Hines was born Feb 12, 1871, at Carthage,
Jasper Co, Missouri. He is a son of Hiram and Sallie (Neal)
Hines. The father was born on May 20, 1840, Coshocton Co Ohio and
when 2 his parents brought him to Hamilton Co Indiana and there
he gerw to manhood and received a common school education. When
21, he enlisted for service in theUnion Army during the CivilW
ar as a member of Co. H 57th Indiana Vol. Infantry he saw much
hard service during his 4 1/2 years at the front. For meritorious
conduct he was promoted to the rank of Lt. At the close of the
war, having received an honorable discharge, he moved to Missouri
and resided there a few years, then returned to Hamilton Co,
Indiana and while living there was elected county auditor. He
spent part of his life as a contractor and later in the mail
service for several years. His death occurred March 18, 1913. The
mother of the subject was born Spet 12, 1851, in Hamilton Co, In
and there grew to womanhood and received a common school and
academy education. She is still living.
Prof. Linnaeus N. Hines received a common school education and he was graduated from the high school atNoblesville, Indiana, 1889. He subsequently entered the university of Indiana, Bloomington where he made an excellent record for scholarship, and was thre graduated with the class of 1894. During that time he had spent one year aaway from the University teaching, having been principa of the 1st ward school in Noblesville. After his graduation he taught and acted as assistant principal at Evansville HS from 1894 until 1899. In order to further prepare himself for his chosen life work he took a post graduate course in Cornell University, also in Indiana and Columbia Universities, after which he taught in Shortride HS at Indianapolis, Indiana. later he engaged in editorial work on the daily papers of that city for ayear and although he was making an excellent start in the field of journalism the school room seemed to have greater attraction for him and from 1901 until 1906 he was superintendent of schools at Union City, Indiana and from 1906 until 1908 he filled a like position at Hartford City, then became superintendent of schools at Crawfordsville, the duties of which he continues to discharge in a manner that reflects much credit upon his ability and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. As a superintendent, Prof. Hines, according to those whoknow of his work, has no superiors. An excellent disciplinarian, the schools under his management are always orderly and in the highest degree systematic, and between his teachers and himself a mutual confidence has ever obtained, while his relations with pupils are such as to gain their good will and profound regard. Personally, he is the most companionable of men, possessing to a marked degree the qualities that win and retain strong friendships, and his high standing as a citizen with the best interests of his fellow men at heart gives him influence in the community such as few exercise. He is easily approached, affable, obliging and though entirely unostentatious in his relations with the workd, he makes every other consideration subordinate to duty regardless of consequences and lives in harmony with his highest ideals of manhood and citizenship. He has ever remained a profound student. He has accepted labor as the motive duty and destiny of man and never has he been known to shrink timidly from its mandate or injunction. Work to him is a joy and a pleasure and his ambition to excel in the noble field of endeavor to which his talents are devoted has become the predominate incentive of his life. That he is rapidly rising to a high and honorable position among the distinguished educators of Indiana and winning a reputation second to none of his contemporaries is due to his inborn ambition and determination to succeed and in thebroadest and best sense of the term he is the architect of his own fortune and is eminently worthy to wear the proud American title of a "self made man." On Feb 26, 1907, Prof. Hines was united in marriage to Bertha G. WIGGS of Chicago, a lady of many estimable attributes. She is a duaghter of George W. and Anna Oldfield Wiggs, an excellent old family. She received her education in private schools of Chicago and in the Chicago University. The union of our subject and wife has been graced by the birth of one child, Neal Oldfield Hinest, born Nov 22, 1908. Professor Hines owns a cozy and neatly appointed home in Crawfordsville. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masons, to Phi Kappa Psi, a college fraternity. He is a member of the national Education Association, national Superintendents' Association and American School Hygiene Association, holding office in thelatter; he is also a member of the Indiana Association of Superintendents, the Indiana State Teachers Association and Northern Indiana Teachers' Association and editor of the proceedings of the Indiana Teachers' State Association. - kbz