Page 27 - MFM Nov Dec 2021

republican in form, educati on of all the people
becomes the highest duty of the state. . . The genius
of the poorest must have equal chance with the
opportunity of the rich.”

When Congress accepted the South
Dakota state consti tuti on in 1889, it was
so impressed that similar provisions
were required for North Dakota,
Montana, Washington, Idaho, and
Wyoming.

In the short book enti tled the “Biographical Sketch
of General William Henry Harrison Beadle” (O.W.
Coursey, 1913), the opening line reads “The leaders of
today become the historical characters of tomorrow”.
In 1911 a life size statue of Beadle was unveiled in the
South Dakota State Capital funded by school children
from across the state. Inscribed at the bott om it read
“He saved the school lands”.

Beadle was a man of many talents. He was a soldier,
statesman, and educator. He authored four diff erent
diverse books enti tled “Codes of Dakota”,” Life In
Utah”, “Geography, History and Resources of Dakota”,
and “Natural Method of Teaching Geography”. He was
one of two individuals representi ng the state of South
Dakota in Statuary Hall in our U. S. Capitol Building in
Washington, DC. He was also a 33 Degree Mason.

Beadle passed away in 1915 and is buried with his
wife in Albion, Michigan.

Reprinted by permission of: Chuck Clampitt , Mt Etna
Lodge No 333, A Hoosier Nati ve Son William H. H.
Beadle, Indiana Freemason Magazine, Summer 2018
issue.

Addendum

General William Beadle is remembered as “The Father
of Educati on” in South Dakota by implementi ng a
public land leasing and set-aside program for the
purposes of funding public educati on.

Beadle County, South Dakota was named for
Brigadier General William Henry Harrison Beadle.