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Enoch B. Seitz Was a 'Teacher of The Great' One of the Country's Greatest
Mathematicians Was Born in Ohio, Acquired an Education Only After the Greatest
Struggle, and Had Such Pupils as General Pershing and Former Governor Carroll
By R. C. HALL When a teacher has a pupil who
becomes truly great it may be largely the result of the pupil's own effort or
it may be partly at least the result of the inspiration and knowledge imparted
by the instructor. No doubt !t is more often a result of both, with many
contributing factors, while as has been said some people "have greatness thrust
upon them," and it is not much due to their own effort or that of any instructor
that they have reached a position which the world calls "great." But when one
teacher's pupil are found In numbers among the leadIng military and civil
officers of the nation as well as among the outstanding business and
professional men of the country and when numbers of these same outstanding
citizens after many years love to point to him as a model gentleman and a genius
in his line of study, It would seem safe to say that that instructor had more
than a little to do with the success which has come to so many of his former
pupils. Such an honor which has come to few. at least in so great a degree, came
to a once poor Ohio boy, later known and honored throughout the educational
world as one of its greatest mathematicians. Enoch Beery Seitz was born on
the 26th day of August, in the year 1846, near New Bremen, in Fairfield County,
Ohio. Although he had practically no early opportunities, he came from a family
that on both his mother's and father's side had already exhibited signs of true
greatness and one that has since produced a number of more than ordinarily
distinguished men and women. The Seitz Family The Seitz
family came to America from Baden-Baden, Germany, in 1730. Of this family,
Daniel Seitz was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1791. He married
Catherine Beery who was born in 1807 and who was a member of the Beery family
which came to America from Switzerland, in 1720. It may be well to mention
here a third family which came to this country about the same time as the Seitz
family. This third was the Kellar family which migrated from Germany also. There
have been many intermarriages among these three families during the past two
centuries so that It Is practically impossible to consider the family
connections of any one member of either of them without getting into the history
of one or both of the others. Accordingly the great names of one family are
shared by the others. Thus among the relatives of Professor Seitz are Noah and
Wallace Beery, the noted moving picture actors, on the one hand, and Helen
Kellar, the blind and deaf prodigy, on the other. Among other present day
notables who are also his relatives, may be mentioned United States Senator
Clarence Dill of Washington. When they first came to this country, the Seitz,
Beery and Kellar families all settled In and about York, Pennsylvania, and the
records at the county court house at York in that state. show many original
entries of land made out to members of all three direct from the proprietor,
William Penn. Under these circumstances -- three families of much the same
ideals and nationality migrating so far at about the same time and settling near
each other in a strange land -- it was perhaps natural that they should
Intermarry to a great extent just these have done. Youngest of
Nineteen But to return to the professor more immediate kindred. One
member of the Seitz family pushed down from Pennsylvania to Virginia where, as
we have seen, Daniel Seitz was born. While still a young man he married and had
11 children. It would be Interesting to learn more of him but since this sketch
deals chiefly with his illustrious son, we must pass on with but a brief
reference to him previous to his second marriage. Daniel Seitz married for
his second wife Catherine Beery, his third cousin, and shortly afterward with
his bride and the 11 children by his former wife, set out for a new home in
Ohio. Reaching the Ohio river they came on down it and the Hocking by boat to
Fairfield county. After settling therd Daniel Seitz had, by his second wife,
nine more children. Enoch Beery Seitz was the eighth child of the second set,
but since the last one died In infancy, Enoch was raise as the baby In a family
of I9 children. It was not the custom, In those days, however, to "spoil" the
baby of a family. At least it was not in such families as the Seitz family and
In such communities as those of Fairfield county at that time. For the family
was essentially a hard pioneer family with strict Ideas of duty. while the
community in which it had'settled must have been not far removed from real
frontier conditions, almost two decades before the Civil War. Early
Training Enoch Beery Seitz was born on August 26, 1846, as has been
said, and so could have had little advantages of early education since no
efficient public schools existed in Ohio at that time. What few common schools
were available were few and far between while the teachers were generally poorly
prepared and the equipment negligible. Moreover, If one succeeded in preparing
for higher studies, he had to go to some academy or college preparatory
department to prepare for college unless he could acquire enough knowledge by
himself to pass the entrance examinations, for high schools were unknown.
This will give some Idea of the obstacles Enoch Beery Seitz had to overcome to
secure an education, but there were added difficulties for him not to be
observed in this picture of general conditions. His father strenuously objected
to his going to college. His father was described In the language of the day
as a "Straight laced, God fearing, hard shelled Baptist," and also as a
"fireside preacher" meaning doubtless that he was a sort of irregular preacher
In the most conservative branch of the Baptist denomination. Thus he was
doubtless a good citizen in the usual meaning of the term and a man who wished
well for his family, but one who could not see the need for education and
training for his children beyond what he had himself attained. Perhaps, too he
was influenced somewhat by the necessity, or what be considered the necessity,
of keeping his children at work on the farm. Thirst For
Knowledge At any rate, we learn that Enoch while still a mere boy was
following a plow like an old hand at the business. But we also learn that from
his earliest years he had athirst for knowledge which nothing would quench. He
managed to avail himself of all the knowledge of the teachers of the vicinity,
but within a few years had gone far beyond them all, especially In his knowledge
of mathematics. So great was his interest in this subject that he arranged a
shelf on his plow and thus by "borrowed time" continued his studies while doing
his work on the farm. Enoch's mother was a more liberal and broad minded
person than his father so that after the death of the latter she was perfectly
willing that the boy should satisfy his great desire and attend college.
AccordIngly It was soon arranged and accordingly he entered Ohio Wesleyan
university, where he attracted much attention by his genius for mathematics and
by which Institution he was graduated in the year 1870. His friend, Professor
John S. Royer, said of him: "Having a special fondness for mathematics, he
devoted his leisure hours to the broad fields and hidden beauties of Its higher
branches, delving deep Into the mine of origInal investigation, and astonishing
the world by the aptness with which he unfolded the beautiful and mysterious
relations of numbers." A Magazine Writer During his youth,
Mr. Seitz subscribed to the "Schoolday" magazine which had a department of
mathematics which was edited by the great mathematician Artemus Martin. Mr.
Seitz displayed so great skill in solving the problems in this magazine,
especially probability problems of great difficulty that he was asked what books
he had and what studies he had pursued on that exceedingly difficult branch of
mathematics. Astounding as it was, he replied: "I have no books on that subject,
but what I know of it I earned. by studying the problems and solutions in your
magazine." Meanwhile. Mrs. Seitz had moved to Greenville, in Darke county,
Ohio, and Enoch taught several terms of school In that vicinity where he
endeared himself to the hearts of the people as be apparently always did
wherever he went, for In addition to being a genius in mathmatics he also proved
to be a skilled teacher and a young man of pleasing personality, three qualities
which are seldom blended in one person. After graduating at Ohio Wesleyan
university, Mr. Seitz was chosen as one of the teachers in the Greenville high
school, as by that time some of the more progressive towns of Ohio had
established these modern institutions of learning. On the 24th day of June,
In the year 1875, Professor Seitz married Miss Anna E. Kerlin, and about four
years later, in 1879, he was elected to the chair of mathematics in the
Kirksville State Normal college, at Kirksville, Missouri. It was in this
position that he attained his greatest fame, as an instructor, although the
full force of hisinfluence was not felt until years afterward when so many of
his pupils attained positions of influence and power. It was while there, too,
that the educational world seems to have come to a fuller realization of his
genius as a mathematician. Therefore a brief history of the institution,
now known as the Northeast Missouri State Teachers' college of Kirksville
will not be out of place. Founded In 1867
The Northeast Missouri State Teachers college was founded,
on September 2, 1867, by Joseph Baldwin and was at first called the
North Missouri Normal school. it was made the First District Normal school
of the state by an act of the general assembly of Missouri March 19, 1870.
On the first of the following January it began work as a state institution. It
will thus be seen that the school was rather in its infancy when
Professor Seitz became a member of its faculty. But the firm
foundation laid by him and others is still bearing fruit, for
this school is still one of the leading educational institutions
of Missouri. An act of the general assembly of May 20, 1919 changed
its name to the Northeast Missouri State Teachers college, while In
February, 1928, It was placed on the first list of teachers colleges
in the United States by the American Association of Teachers Colleges.
In March of the same year it was accredited on the list of
colleges and universities by the North Central Association of Colleges and
Secondary Schools. A few years ago Baldwin Hall and the old Library Building
were destroyed by fire. The latter has been replaced, by the Pickler Memorial
library, and was dedicated In 1925. Science hall, which was erected in 1905, was
also burned In 1919, but has likewise been restored. The Friendly Little
theater, the John R. Kirk auditorium and the Ophelia Parrish building are other
fine structures adorning the beautiful campus of 15 acres at Kirksville. Three
blocks from the campus is the college farm of 25 acres and there also Is located
the stadium. The school is under the guidance of a well trained and efficient
faculty some of whom were students there in the time of Mr. Seitz'
professorship. Famous Student When Professor Seitz went to
Kirksville, in spite of the youth of the institution, he found an enthnsiastic
and capable body of students. He entered upon his work with his usual energy and
the results of it are still felt throughout the country. He had in his class in
algebra at one time, in the autumn of 1880, John J. Pershing who was destined to
be the head of the armies of the United States In the World War, and Enoch
Crowder who became head of the draft boards in the same conflict. He also had as
a student at Kirksville. B F. Carroll, who later became governor of the state of
Iowa, and John. R. Kirk who became president of the same institution in which he
was then a student of Professor Seitz. Meanwhile. children had come to bless
the home of Professor and Mrs. Seitz. Their eldest child, Ray E. Seitz, was born
on October 30, 1870; William Kerlin Seitz, born on October 19, 1879; Clarence
Daniel Seitz, born on October 1881, died In 1886; and Enoch Beery Seitz, Jr..
born on July 26, 1883. All of the surviving children hold positions of
Importance and show the effects of a good inheritance and the noble example and
training of their parents. Professor Seitz as time permitted continued his
studies and research in the higher branches of mathematics. His greatest work
was in"probabilities" In which be succeeded in solving problems hitherto
considered impossible of solution by the greatest students In the mathematical
world. To the School Visitor alone be furnished over 500 model solutions. The
best scholars of the day pronounced them striking evidences of his genius as a
mathematician and stated that his solutions exhibited originality. accuracy and
beauty in a marvelous degree. Elected To Society It is said
that many readers acquired a liking for mathematics which they would perhaps
never otherwise have had through his enthusiastic labors in this line. He became
a regular contributor to the "Analyst," the "Mathematical Visitor" and the
"Educational Times," of London, England. In commenting upon his rank among
other contributors to the latter publication, one historian has written: "The
latter has a department sustained by the greatest mathematicians in Europe and
America. In this everything Is found starlight, but our lamented friend
represented a most brilliant star, standing upon the eminent plane side by side
with Woolhouse, England's acknowledged mathematical champion, and In his
especial branches -- 'Average' and 'Probabilitles' -- Prof. Seitz had no
superior in the world." In the year 1880. Professor Seitz was elected a
member of the London Mathematical society, being the second American to receive
this honor. However, he, was more interested In his work itself than in such
honors for he did not even reply to the notification that he had been elected a
member or the Royal Society until about two years after he received it. Such
action was In line with his natural modesty and carelessness of what many people
call honors and not because of a lack of appreciation for the respect in which
he was held by scholars generally. An Untimely End The real
genius of Professor Seitz was just beginning to receive just recognition when
his career came to an untimely end. His predecessor at Kirksville, Professor J.
M. Greenwood who resigned there to become superintendent of schools at Kansas
City, Missouri, and who was In an excellent position. both because of his own
ability and his knowledge of Professor Seitz to speak with authority on the
subject, wrote a great many magazine articles during the decade from 1880 to
1890 concerning the great contribution Mr. Seitz made to the mathematical world.
In the summer of 1883, Professor Seitz was chosen to head the department of
mathematics in the University of Texas and was to have taken up this new work in
the autumn of the year 1884 but did not live to enter upon it. It is
interesting to note that his mother who had shown faith in him In his youth when
his father opposed his going to school lived to see his great triumph both as an
educator and a scholar. During the last three years of his life she resided with
him at Kirksville. After his death, she returned to Ohio and made her home with
her eldest daughter In Putnam county. It Is also interesting to note that
whereas Professor Seitz himself passed away at the early age of 37 years while
his mother lived to be 96 years of age and his sister, who passed away but a few
months ago, lacked but five months of reaching the century mark.
Scholar And Teacher It is a proverbial saying that great scholars
are poor teachers. While, of course. this is not always so, yet,the exceptlons
seem to practically prove the rule. It seems that the scholar is generally
unable to put himself down upon the same plane of learning as his pupil, fails
to get his viewpoint and to appreciate his limited range of knowledge in the
subject and consequently talks above his head. But such was not the case with
Professor Seitz. Although he was one of the greatest mathematicians of his day
he was able to take a class In college algebra, for instance, and make it so
interesting and teach it so efficiently that practically every one in the class
caught something at least of his own enthusiasm for the science of numbers.
Nor was this merely the enthusiasm of youth. Many of his former students,
looking back now after years of experience and learning, still recognize his
marvelous ability as a teacher and love to pay tribute to him as a teacher, a
scholar and a gentleman. For instance, the Hon. B. F. Carroll, former governor
of Iowa, in a personal communication to this writer says: "I was a student at
the North Missouri State Normal school at Kirksville, Missouri, while Professor
Enoch B. Seitz was at the head of the department of mathematics at that
institution, and, knew him well, not only In the class room but elsewhere, and
was with him at the time of his last illness. Six students were detailed to wait
upon him, two each night, and I was one of the six. An Unassuming
Man "He was one of the most unassuming, even tempered men that I have
ever known, and one who by the very simplicity of his bearing commanded the
highest respect. I never knew any one who In a few words could illuminate a
perplexing proposition in mathematics as he could do it. His profound knowledge
of mathematics never led him away from the simple method of Imparting knowledge
to others who were lacking In knowledge. "I have always felt that if his life
had been spared, he would have become one of our most noted mathernaticians, as
he was a great student, a remarkably successful instructor, and possessed all
the elements of greatness." As has been stated General John J. Pershing was
also a student of Professor Seitz who tutored him for the West Point
examinations. A few years ago a memorial high school was erected near the
birthplace of the great mathematician at New Bremen, Ohio, and a memorial tablet
dedicated to his memory was put in place together with his picture and a letter
from General Pershing expressing his high regards for his former teacher and his
sincere approval of what his old home town citizens were doing to honor him.
Captain G. E. Adamson, the general's secretary, In the general's absence from
Washington has sent the writer a copy of this interesting communication with
permission to quote from it. The general says: Pershing's
Letter "I am indeed pleased to learn of your plan to honor the memory
of the late Enoch Beery Seitz by the erection of a tablet in your new high
school. "I remember Professor Seitz as a fine mathematician, for whom
all of his pupils had the greatest respect. He not only had complete knowledge
of mathematical subjects, but he knew how to teach others." Such
testimonials might be duplicated in substance many times but these from two such
outstanding personages as the general of the armies of the United States and the
honorable ex-govemor of the great state of Iowa are certainly sufficient,
however interesting others might be. Professor Seitz' earthly career was too
short for him to give to the world in book form the result of his investigations
and study, although he had amassed a wealth of material and, at the time of his
death. was preparing to have published a text book on college algebra.
Fortunately, his youngest son has r this material as well as hundreds of
solutions of various problems which he prepared for publication and which
appeared in various educational magazines throughout the country. It is the
intention of this son, so he Informs the writer, to assemble all this material
and present It with an endowment to his father's old school at Kirksville,
Missouri, where he, his father and mother all taught and where he attended
school. Wife Also Taught Speaking of his mother, Professor
Seitz's wife was a worthy companion of so notable a man. She was a noble wife
and mother but her most sterling qualities were manifested after the
professor's death. He left her with a family of three boys to raise. Her great
success in this as well as their good inheritanceis shown by the useful and
successful lives these three have lived and the work they are still doing.
In addition to her family affairs. Mrs. Seitz in a sense took up the
work her husband laid down, when a he passed away, i.e., the work
of a college professo, although in a different line from his
work. She became professor of psychology in the State Teachers' college
at Kirksville. She held this position from 1883 to 1899. Then at an age
when many people would have thought of doing nothing but retiring, she
took up another line of work and took a five year course in osteopathy
at the parent school in Kirksville. Her husband's remains having been
brought back to his old home at Greenville, Ohio, for burial, she no doubt
considered that place her real home, and after completing her course In
osteopathy, she returned to Greenville and practiced her profession there
until she passed away in the year 1918. The relatives of great men and
women are always interesting individuals, because of that
relationship, but sometimes they are very much worth our consideration
because of their own merit. It has already been shown that the relatives
of Professor Seitz have in large numbers attained more than ordinary fame
because of their own accomplishments. Brothers and Sisters
So far we have considered only his ancestors but his own brothers and sisters
should not be entirely omitted In a sketch of his life. Two of his brothers,
Louis and George served in the Union army during the Civil War, the former died
of typhoid fever In an army hospital while the latter Is still living In Los
Angeles, California. He will be 92 years old next December. His sister, Saphrona
Seitz Blosser, the oldest of the second set of children In the family, who was
born In 1833, passed away in May 1932, thus lacking approximately one year of
reaching the century mark. Another sister, Diana, married Dr. Joseph Morris of
Columbus Grove, Ohio. Their child, Lizzie Morris, married Charles A. Harbaugh,
chlef clerk of the budget, United States treasury, Washington, D.C. All of the
brothers and sistes of both sets of children of the family, except as noted
above, have now passed to their rewards. It is interesting and important to
note too that the descendants of Professor Seitz have lived right nobly up to
the high standards of scholarship and service set by him. While perhaps none of
them have and may never exhibit his remarkable genuis as a mathematician all of
his surviving children, and that In all of them except the one who died in
Infancy, are scholars of ability and are or have been educators and educational
workers. A brief mention of each Is certainly in place here. Ray E. Seitz
received a good education in his father's old school at Kirksville, Missouri,
and became a school teacher. When the World war broke out, that is, when
theUnited States entered it, he patriotically offered his services to his
country and became captain adjutant of the 142nd infantry, 35th division. After
the war he re-entered the teaching profession and is now principal of a number
of consolidated schools in Normandy, St. Louis county, Missouri. Named
After Death William K. Seitz also received a good education, but
before he took his university course he taught school also. Later he entered the
University of Missouri where hegraduated in engineering. After graduation, he
taught in the engineering school of the University of Missouri. Few men have had
wider experience as a professional engineer and in as many and widely separated
places. After teaching for a while at the University of Missouri, he became city
engineer at St. Joseph, Missouri. Later he was city manager of the city of
Melbourne, Florida. He is now consultant engineer for over 100 cities in three
states, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. Enoch Beery Seitz, Jr., the
youngest son of professor and Mrs. Seitz was a mere Infant when his
distinguished father passed away. In fact he was but 10 weeks old at that time
and still unnamed. Six young men had been detailed to escort the remains of the
great mathematician back to his old Ohio home. One of these six young men was B.
F. Carroll, later governor of Iowa. These young men who had been so deeply
influenced by the personality of their lamented instructor urged upon his widow
that she give his name to the unnamed baby. This she did. Enoch's
Record Like his brothers, Enoch secured a good education and
for 12 years taught school and was superintendent of schools in various
Missouri towns. Later he was a teacher in the department of psychology, State
Teachers' college, Kirksville, Missouri. In conjunction with his brother William
he built an East St. Louis river front, contract price of which was 76
million dollars. Thus it seems that he inherited some outstanding
characteristics of both of his parents, his mother's love for psychoIogy and
his father's love for mathematics. He Is now the head of a large washing and
ironing machine company in Chicago, Illinois. He has kept his father's library
intact and, as already stated, has many of his manuscripts, solutions,
etc. Even the grandchildren of Professor Seitz seem to be following in
his footsteps so far as a desire for an education is concerned. Perhap one or
more of them may also show something of his genius yet. William Kerlin Seitz,
Jr., son of William K., and grandson of the mathematician, was born in 1913 and
studied at the University of Missouri. Ruth Seitz, born in 1908, and Kerlin
Seitz, born In 1916, are the children of Enoch Beery Seitz, Jr., and
grandchildren of Professor Seitz, the former a graduate of Radcliffe college and
the latter still in his student days, of course. Thus we see how the high
standard of scholarship and citizenship set by Enoch Beery Seitz is maintained
by his children and grandchildren. Let us hope that it persists down through
the succeeding generations. From all accounts his was a remarkable life.
Overcame Obstacles Harassed In youth by obstacles that would have
defeated most Individuals without a struggle, he overcame them all and attained
his one great ambition, an education. Endowed with a genius in mathematics far
beyond that of the average scholar he freely gave to the world the benefits of
his study and research. Possessing . knowledge which few had, he was able in a
marvelous way to transmit that knowledge to others and inspire in them a thirst
for still greater knowledge. Known to the educational world at large
as one of its greatest mathematicians, the average American may take more pride
in him, at least be more understanding of him as a teacher of many of the
nation's great citizens and servants. General Pershing, General Crowder,
Governor Carroll and Dr. Kirk are but a few of the dozens. If not hundreds, of
distinguished Americans who came under his influence. Although, all too many
Americns never heard of Enoch Beery Seitz, it is high time that historians give
him the place he deserves among their discussions of the nation's great. The
state of Ohio should be proud that she gave him to the world and that his
remains and those of his devoted wife and mother rest in her soil. The state of
Missouri should be proud that he was once associated with one of her outstanding
educational institutions. And every American should be proud that the savants of
proud Britain felt bound to recognize him as one of the world's
greatest mathematicians. The greatest tribute ever paid him, according to
this writer's opinion, was unconsciously given by his youngest son who once
remarked: "What a marvelous thing it is to be born among the humble, to secure
enlightenment by fairly hypnotizing obstacles, to soar into heights as yet not
trespassed, to do all this in 37 years and to earn after 50 years. a remembrance
of tens of thousands." Go to corrections of
article's genealogical errors
Return to Seitz Site:
Rev. 08/07/05
These pages are from the magazine section of the Oct.
8, 1933 edition of The Herald-Advertiser of Huntington, W.Va. Unfortunately, I
have not yet found any information on the writer, R.C. Hall, but I have seen a
similar article he did on another individual. It appears he wrote a regular
feature combining history and genealogy. The complete text is found below. A
link to corrections of the article's genealogical errors can be found at the end
of the article. 
