Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
WILLIAM J. LANSING is superintendent
of schools in Adams county, having been elected to that office in the fall
of 1902. He was born in Ontario, Canada, December 12, 1871, the son
of William and Minerva J. (Hart) Lansing, both also natives of Canada.
William Lansing's parents were of Canadian birth and of Holland descent.
The original family settled first in New York state, and later, some of
the second generation removed to Canada. The family is a prominent
one both in New York and Canada. Mrs. Lansing's father was a native
of Vermont and her mother of Canada. Both of Mr. Lansing's parents
died in Michigan, the father June 25, 1894, and the mother October 11,
1902.
William was reared principally in Michigan,
where the family migrated when he was five years of age. He was educated
in the grammar and high schools of Clare, Michigan, in Ferris Institute,
at Grand Rapids, and in the state normal at Ypsilanti. In 1896 he
commenced teaching at Elmhall, Michiagan, where he was principal of the
graded school for two years, which position he held later at Coopersville,
Michigan. He came to Adams county and for four years was principal
of the Lind public schools at Lind, which position he resigned in order
to qualify for the office he now holds.
Mr. Lansing has two brothers and four sisters:
Dr. John W., in Ritzville, a sketch of whose life is given elsewhere in
this book; Henry S., a book-keeper of Boyne City, Michigan; Margaret A.,
wife of Henry N. Cleveland, a farmer of Clare, Michigan; Catharine; wife
of Joseph DeGeer, also a Clare farmer; Anna, in Michigan; and Minnie, a
teacher at Hillyard, Washington.
Socially, Mr. Lansing is a member of the Masonic
lodge of Coopersville, Michigan, and of Lind lodge, I. O. O. F., Lind,
Washington.
He is a man of many friends, and of pronounced
ability as an educator. He is an adherent to the principles of the
Republican party, and although he has for years been an active worker in
the ranks of his party he has never manifested greed for office.
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