Jacob Bickler (November 29, 1849 – April 30, 1902) was a German-born American scholar and educator, who was president of the Texas State Teacher's Association. He was founder of the boys' Texas German and English Academy and the co-educational Bickler Academy, both located in Austin, Texas. In 1969, Recorded Historic Texas Landmark 6438 was placed at the site of the Goodman Building, noting the location on the second floor of Jacob Bickler's German and English academy.[1]
Jacob Bickler | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 20, 1849 |
| Died | April 30, 1902 (aged 52) Austin, Texas, US |
| Resting place | Oakwood Cemetery |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin |
| Occupation(s) | Scholar Educator |
| Spouse | Martha Lungkwitz |
| Children | Jenny Marie (1875–1949) Camilla Therese (1876-1949) Harry Pitt (1879–1958) Max Hermann (1881–1971) Katherine Magdalene (1883–1963) Viola Babetta (1886–1892) Jacob Franz (1888–1891) Ralph Adolph (1891–1974) George Washington (1893–1983) |
Early life
editJacob Bickler was born on November 20, 1849, in Bad Sobernheim, Kingdom of Prussia, to Peter Bickler and his wife Katherine Schöffling Bickler. He received his early education in the public schools of Bad Sobernheim. Peter Bickler married a second time and moved to Milwaukee, where the teenaged Jacob joined the new couple in 1863. From 1863 to 1867, young Bickler attended Milwaukee high schools and Milwaukee Markham Academy College Preparatory School.[2] In 1870, Bickler earned his Bachelor of Arts in pedagogics from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He became fluent in six languages. From 1871 to 1872, Bicker was a principal in the educational system of La Crosse, Wisconsin.[3]
Texas
editOn December 24, 1872, Jacob Bickler moved to Austin, Texas, and joined his uncle Philip Bickler in teaching at the Bickler German English Academy, where artist Carl G. von Iwonski had also once taught. Land Commissioner Jacob Kuechler appointed Bickler assistant draftsman and calculator in the Texas General Land Office on April 1, 1873. On January 24, 1874, the date of Bickler's wedding, he resigned from the Texas General Land Office to resume his teaching career.
In 1876, Bickler founded the Texas German and English Academy in Austin, a boys' school that remained in operation until 1902.[4] In 1880, the Wahrenberger House in Austin was leased to Bickler. He operated the academy at this house. According to the Texas Historical Commission, the school was located here until 1886.[5] Conflicting information, though, states that the academy was located in the Texas Military Institute Castle in Austin from 1884 to 1887. Bickler conceivably started the academy in the Wahrenberger House and kept his headquarters there, while moving the institute to the larger location as enrollment grew.[6][7] In 1887, Bickler was elected president of the Texas State Teachers Association. He served as superintendent of Galveston public schools 1887–1892. In 1892, he founded the co-educational Bickler Academy in Austin, which was located in the Goodman Building until 1897. In 1969, Recorded Historic Texas Landmark 6438 was placed at the site of the Goodman Building, noting the location on the second floor of Jacob Bickler's German and English academy.[1] In summer months, Bickler taught classes at both Fredericksburg and Mason.[3]
Bickler was a member of the summer faculty at the University of Texas. He was a leading proponent for establishment of the 1891 College of Education at the university.[8]
Personal life and death
editOn January 24, 1874, Bickler married Martha Lungkwitz, daughter of artist Hermann Lungkwitz. The couple had nine children, eight of whom survived infancy.
Jacob Bickler died in Austin on April 30, 1902, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas.[9]
Memberships
edit- Ancient Order of United Workmen
- National Education Association[10]
- President (1886–1887), Texas State Teacher's Association
Memorials
edit- 1902 Jacob Bickler Medallion, artist Elisabet Ney
References
edit- ^ a b "THC-Bickler Academy". Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
- ^ Steiger, Ernst (2010) [1878]. Steiger's Educational Directory for 1878. Nabu Press. p. 85. ISBN 978-1-142-36339-0.
- ^ a b Bickler, Ralph A. "Jacob Bickler". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ^ "Texas German and English Academy, 1876–1902". Austin Genealogical Society. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ^ "Wahrenberger House". Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ^ "TMI Castle". Texas Historical Markers. Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ^ "Texas Institute Military Castle". Castles of the United States. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ^ "The College of Education". UT-Austin. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ^ "Prof. Bickler Is Dead". Austin American-Statesman. May 1902. p. 8. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ "National Education Association". National Education Association. Retrieved 17 January 2011.