WILLIAM A. WETZELL. – The gentleman of whom we write was born in Washington, Virginia, on October 3, 1852. His parents are Jefferson and Catherine Wetzell, of good old Virginia stock.
He lived with his parents in Virginia until 1861, when they moved to Farmer City, where William A. attended the public schools. At the early age of seventeen years he began teaching in the same. In 1876 he was admitted to the Illinois Wesleyan University, where he took an eclectic course, and was regarded as one of the brightest and most promising students of that institution. After finishing the course, he entered the State University, where he occupied the chair of professor of elocution and assistant teacher of English, both of which positions he filled to the entire satisfaction of the board of regents, and with honor and credit to himself.
After two years he resigned his position and accepted the one tendered as superintendent of the East Portland schools, in 1884. The Professor brought to these schools the ripe experience of fifteen years as teacher in the best schools of Illinois. The success in East Portland has been almost phenomenal; and no educator in the public schools stands higher in the esteem of the pupils and patrons. The people of East Portland are justly proud of their schools, and believe Professor Wetzell to be the right man in the right place. In 1888 he was elected school superintendent for Multnomah county, and has there, as always, proved himself equal to the emergency. The schools under his management have grown in efficiency until they are unexcelled by any in the Northwest.