WILLIAM ULLRICH. Having devoted his active career to the profession of
teaching, William Ullrich, superintendent of schools of Ava, Illinois,
occupies a prominent place among the educators of Southern Illinois, and is
popular alike with his co-workers and pupils. He is a man of progressive
ideas, many of which have taken shape in reforms long needed here, and his
work along all channels has been earnest and sincere. Professor Ullrich is a
native of St. Clair county, Illinois, and was born on a farm near Mascoutah,
September 2, 1872, a son of Fred and Elizabeth (Ferbert) Ullrich.
Fred Ullrich was born at Rheinpfaelz, Germany, February 22, 1848, and came
to the United States when he was twenty-one years of age, locating on a farm
near Mascoutah. He followed agricultural pursuits there until the 'nineties,
at which time he went to a farm near New Baden, and there he still resides.
Possessed of characteristic German energy, industry and thrift, he has
succeeded in his chosen vocation, and has the respect and esteem of all with
whom he is acquainted. In 1870 Mr. Ullrich was united in marriage with Miss
Elizabeth Ferbert, also of Rheinpfaelz, Germany, the marriage being the
outcome of a courtship that had started in the Fatherland. Seven children
were born to them, of whom two died in infancy, while those who reached
mature years are: William; Fred, who is a member of the faculty of the
Normal University school at Normal, Illinois; Anna, who is single and
resides with her parents; John, who is married and is engaged in
superintending the operations on the home farm; and Barbara, who married
Elmer Downs, of Normal, in 1911. The parents of these children are faithful
members of the German Evangelical church, and Mr. Ullrich is identified with
Democratic politics.
William Ullrich spent his early life on the
farm on which he was born, and when he could be spared from his duties on
the home place began his education in the country schools. During 1894 and
1895 he fitted himself for the educator's profession by attendance at the
normal school, Normal, Illinois, and in 1890 he also attended the summer
schools at Bushnell. As early as 1895 he engaged in teaching, his first
school being a country school near Summerfield, St. Clair county, and he
next was made principal of the schools at New Baden, an office which he
filled very satisfactorily for twelve years. Mr. Ullrich has acted as
principal of the Ava schools for the past two years, and his administration
has been marked with a number of progressive innovations. The course here
includes three years of high school, and the year 1912 marked the largest
graduating class that the city has known. A studious man and a deep thinker,
Professor Ullrich has not allowed his studies to narrow his mind as to other
matters, but may be found giving his support to anything which promises to
be of benefit to his community, and he is looked upon not only as a careful,
capable and conscientious educator, but a public-spirited citizen from whose
influence the city gains a large measure of benefit.
In 1900
Professor Ullrich was united in marriage with Miss Helena Mueller, of New
Baden, daughter of Andrew Mueller, and four children have been born to this
union: Eugene, Dora, Gilbert and one who died in infancy. Politically he is
an active and interested Democrat, and his fraternal connections are with
the Odd . Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Extracted 15 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, volume 2, pages 931-932.