Union Academy of Southern Illinois, one of the leading educational
institutions of this section, which is fully accredited with the State
University at ChampaignUrbana and with the leading colleges of the Central
West, is located amid picturesque surroundings, on the divide between Anna
and Jonesboro, and about one-half mile distant from the business center of
each place. It was founded in 1883, on September 17th of which year it was
opened with an enrollment of forty-seven pupils. Each year has seen new
buildings erected, numerous improvements made and an increase in attendance,
and the latter has been especially marked during the last seven years,
during which time the Rev. Frederick William McClusky has acted as senior
principal.
Rev. McClusky was born at Alder Creek, New York, June 27, 1866, and when
four years of age was taken to Forestport, where his father was engaged as a
merchant and lumber dealer until Frederick was fifteen years old. He was
educated in the graded schools of Forestport, and then attended Holland
Patent Academy, Clinton Grammar School, School Park College, Missouri, and
the Union and Auburn Seminaries, graduating from the latter in 1894, at
which time he became principal's assistant at the Evening High School,
Brooklyn, New York, which had an attendance of from fifteen hundred to
eighteen hundred students. In the same year Ee became Presbyterian minister
at Forestport, and from 1895 until 1899 had the charge at the Memorial
church of that faith in Brooklyn. While still in the seminaries, Rev.
McClusky was stenographer for the student volunteer movement for foreign
missions, as well as precentor of the Sunday-schools of Olivet Chapel, with
upwards of one thousand members. For nine years he was a member of the
Second Battery of the National Guard, and during the summers of 1891 and
1892 served as orderly and stenographer on the staff of Adjutant General
Josiah Porter, at Peekskill State Camp. Also, while at Auburn Seminary, Rev.
McClusky was baritone of the seminary male quartette. From 1899 until 1902
Rev. McClusky filled the charge at Whitesboro, New York, and for nineteen
months was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Unionville, Missouri, at the
end of that time coming to Union Academy as principal, in which capacity he
has served to the present time, a wise and unbroken administration of more
than seven years. From the first the large colleges have recognized the
indispensability of preparatory schools. The earliest efforts at
realizations were crude and ineffective; but they have paved the way to the
marked success of later years. It is impossible and unnecessary to trace in
detail the advance in pedagogical thought; it has been gradual, never
revolutionary, and more discernable in the present result than in the stages
of its progress. It would be invidious and inaccurate to attribute
leadership in this advance to one school or another, all have contributed to
it in a greater or less degree; but no one will take exception to the
assertion that great credit is due, in the general reckoning, to the wisdom,
insight and persistence of the principal of Union Academy. Rev. McClusky is
a man of remarkable mental attainments, and it is rare to find a man who has
a grasp of more of the facts that constitute human knowledge than he. Since
coming to Union Academy he has taught literature, history and elocution, and
it has been the subject of universal remark that he is familiar with all the
innumerable facts throughout the whole realm of his departments. He has,
furthermore the faculty of apt illustration and is always able to apply the
principles under consideration. Rev. McClusky has been blessed by a spirit
of generous toleration, and although he is. a man of strong convictions,
those convictions have never led him to intolerance of the opinions of
others, nor have his convictions ever led him to personal prejudice against
those who have held opposing views. Since he has been in charge of the
fortunes of Union Academy, the attendance has nearly tripled and twenty
thousand dollars of new buildings have been erected. Rev. McClusky is very
popular with the students, as well as those who have met him ,in a social or
business way.
In 1894 Dr. McClusky was married to Miss Lillian B. Dean, who was born at
Salem, Ohio, and four children have been born to this union, aged as
follows: Frederick D., fifteen years; Howard Y., eleven; Margaret E., nine;
and William Kenneth, who died at the age of two days. Mrs. McClusky moved to
Kansas with her parents when she was still in young girlhood and at the age
of fourteen years entered Park College, Parkville, Missouri, having received
her preliminary training in the public schools of Clinton, Kansas. In 1888
she received the degree of A. B. from Park College, and then studied music
under a private teacher, Mrs. Agnes Lockhart Richards. Eventually she took a
course in Frank Herbert Tubbs' private school, went to the musical
department of the Pierce City (Miss.) Baptist College for less than one
year, and the two years following were spent at Fort Smith. Arkansas, where
she maintained a private vocal studio. She has taught music ever since, and
has engaged in concert and lecture work. While engaged in pursuing her
musical studies Mrs. McClusky taught for two years at Park College having
the classes in history, mathematics and Latin, then became superintendent of
public schools of Parkville for one year, and for some time was a teacher in
the grammar schools of Eureka Springs. She is a lady of culture and
refinement, and has been an admirable assistant to her husband in his
arduous work.
Extracted 13 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, volume 3, pages 1291-1293.
| Jackson | Williamson | |
| MO |
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Johnson |
| Alexander | Pulaski |
