John W. Heston
Encyclopedia
John William Heston was an American academic who served as the second president of Washington State University
, the third president of South Dakota State University
and the fourth president of Dakota State University
.
, Centre County, Pennsylvania
, the son of Elisha B. Heston and Catherine Eckel Heston. His father was a carriage manufacturer for many years. John Heston grew up and attended public schools in Boalsburg
in the same county. Then at age 18, he studied for two years at the Centre County normal school in Centre Hall.
After teaching for one year, he enrolled at the State Agricultural College of Pennsylvania
at Bellefonte, today the Pennsylvania State University
. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree as a member of the class of 1879, adding a Master of Arts degree in 1881. In 1879, Elisha Heston moved his family to Kansas, settling in Plainville
, Rooks County
.
to practice.
Preferring education, in 1890 he became the principal of the Seattle high school. He became a prominent figure in education in Washington, and spoke at the meeting of the Washington State Teachers Association in December 1891, addressing the topic "Purpose and Methods of Secondary Schools."
On December 13, 1892, the Board of Regents of the new Washington Agricultural College and School of Science, today Washington State University
, selected Heston as the institution's second president, replacing George W. Lilley
who had seen the school through construction of its first building on the Pullman, Washington
campus and the opening of classes on January 13, 1892. Heston's tenure at Washington's land-grant
institution was brief as the state legislature replaced the entire Board of Regents and the new board preferred to appoint its own president. They selected Enoch A. Bryan
as the college's third president.
Heston practiced law in Seattle, Washington
, for two years before assuming the presidency of the South Dakota Agricultural College, today South Dakota State University
, a post he filled for seven years, 1896-1903. He is remembered for modernizing the institution, adding academic majors and minors, new degrees, and enriching the agriculture curriculum with more scientific study. In 1905 he became president of Madison State Normal School, founded in 1881 as the first teachers' college in the Dakota Territory and known today as Dakota State University
. He served there until his death in 1920.
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, the third president of South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
and the fourth president of Dakota State University
Dakota State University
Dakota State University is a public university located in Madison, South Dakota. The university has a technology centric focus with programs in computer and information science, business, education, physical sciences, among other graduate and undergraduate programs...
.
Early years and education
Heston was born February 1, 1854, in BellefonteBellefonte, Pennsylvania
Bellefonte is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies about twelve miles northeast of State College and is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 153,990....
, the son of Elisha B. Heston and Catherine Eckel Heston. His father was a carriage manufacturer for many years. John Heston grew up and attended public schools in Boalsburg
Boalsburg, Pennsylvania
Boalsburg is a census-designated place in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,578 at the 2000 census. The village claims to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. The name Boalsburg comes from...
in the same county. Then at age 18, he studied for two years at the Centre County normal school in Centre Hall.
After teaching for one year, he enrolled at the State Agricultural College of Pennsylvania
History of the Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University was founded on February 22, 1855 by act P.L.46, No.50 of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania. Centre County became the home of the new school when James Irvin of Bellefonte donated 200 acres of land...
at Bellefonte, today the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree as a member of the class of 1879, adding a Master of Arts degree in 1881. In 1879, Elisha Heston moved his family to Kansas, settling in Plainville
Plainville, Kansas
Plainville is a city in Rooks County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,903.-19th century:The area was first settled in 1877 by Hiram Keas. Plainville, previously known as Paradise Flats, was established in 1888, in Rooks County, Kansas...
, Rooks County
Rooks County, Kansas
Rooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 5,181. The county seat is Stockton and the largest city is Plainville. The county was named for Private John C...
.
Career
Soon after his graduation from what is today Penn State, John W. Heston joined its faculty, where he taught for 11 years. His responsibilities included serving as principal of the preparatory department for seven years, as an assistant in agriculture, and for three years as professor of the science and art of teaching. The latter appointment is described as the first professorial chair of any kind in Pennsylvania. He also studied law and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar as an attorney in 1890, and then moved to Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
to practice.
Preferring education, in 1890 he became the principal of the Seattle high school. He became a prominent figure in education in Washington, and spoke at the meeting of the Washington State Teachers Association in December 1891, addressing the topic "Purpose and Methods of Secondary Schools."
On December 13, 1892, the Board of Regents of the new Washington Agricultural College and School of Science, today Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, selected Heston as the institution's second president, replacing George W. Lilley
George W. Lilley
George W. Lilley was an American academic, professor of mathematics, and the first president of two American universities, today known as South Dakota State University and Washington State University....
who had seen the school through construction of its first building on the Pullman, Washington
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
campus and the opening of classes on January 13, 1892. Heston's tenure at Washington's land-grant
Land-grant university
Land-grant universities are institutions of higher education in the United States designated by each state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890....
institution was brief as the state legislature replaced the entire Board of Regents and the new board preferred to appoint its own president. They selected Enoch A. Bryan
Enoch Albert Bryan
Enoch Albert Bryan was president of Vincennes University in Indiana from 1883-1893 and of Washington's land-grant institution, today called Washington State University, from 1893-1915. At the latter institution he was the third president but the first with a long tenure, following George Lilly,...
as the college's third president.
Heston practiced law in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, for two years before assuming the presidency of the South Dakota Agricultural College, today South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
, a post he filled for seven years, 1896-1903. He is remembered for modernizing the institution, adding academic majors and minors, new degrees, and enriching the agriculture curriculum with more scientific study. In 1905 he became president of Madison State Normal School, founded in 1881 as the first teachers' college in the Dakota Territory and known today as Dakota State University
Dakota State University
Dakota State University is a public university located in Madison, South Dakota. The university has a technology centric focus with programs in computer and information science, business, education, physical sciences, among other graduate and undergraduate programs...
. He served there until his death in 1920.