William Henry Banta, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
William Henry Banta
FORMER VALPO SCHOOL MAN BURIED TODAY
Prof. W. H. Banta, for Twenty-fout Years Superintendent of Our City Schools Buried Here.
FRIENDS PAY TRIBUTE
Prof. W. H. Banta, for twenty-four years superintendent of the Valparaiso city schools, was buried here today, following the funeral service conducted at the Methodist church this morning with three ministers officiating and with the Valparaiso community present in a body, besides numerous old friends and associates of the deceased. The body was brought from Springdale, Ark., that it may be laid away in the community where Prof. Banta had spent the most enjoyable period of his life.
The first news of Prof. Banta's death was received here Monday by telegram, by Mrs. Grace Cornell, but too late for announcement in the papers issued that day. The casket reached here last night and was taken to the home of Mrs. Cornell to await the services.
Prof. Banta was born in Ohio in 1846, and in his childhood moved with his parents to southern Indiana, and later to Kokomo. At the age of 17 he began teaching, and for several years struggled for a higher education by alternate teaching, attending colleges and employing tutors. He resigned the position of superintendent at Rochester and came here as an instructor in the Valparaiso Male and Female college. He left this institutition and became superintendent of the city schools, which position he filled with much satisfaction to all during his twenty-four years of service.
Prof. Banta was married to Miss Rhoda Bates here in 1870. One daughter, Mabel, survives. His second wife was Mary A. Keyes, who is left with two children, a son and a daughter.
In 1895 Prof. Banta resigned from the Valparaiso schools and went to Rochester to take charge of a normal school, and remained there thirteen years. Poor health caused his removal to Fayetteville, in the Ozark region of Arkansas. After two years he had fully recuperated. He then took the superintendency of the Springdale schools, which he retained until his last illness. The end came at 1:45, the morning of May 28th.
Prof. Banta was a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Besides his wife and children and numerous close friends, one brother and three sisters are left to mourn his loss.
In the services here today Rev. T. J. Bassett, his close friend; Rev. Mr. Switzer, his pastor at Rochester, and Dr. C. A. Brooke, paster here during the educator's career, each took part in paying tribute to his memory.
Those here from away to attend the funeral were A. C. Banta, Mrs. S. Jane Conwell, Mrs. Mabel Hockett and Mrs. Lyda Sellers, brothers and sisters of the deceased, residing at Kokomo; Mrs. W. H. Banta, Katherine Banta and James P. Banta, wife and children, from Springdale, Ark.; Mrs. C. J. Runnells, of Indianapolis, daughter; Miss Grace E. Leas, Indianapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Conwell and Charles Banta, Kokomo; Mrs. Alice Rathburn, Roy Rathburn, Mrs. Hale Bates, Roger Bates, and Mrs. Rhoda Bates, of Hebron; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Talcott and Mrs. Sinclair, of Chicago.
Interment was in the family lot at Maplewood.
Newspaper: The Porter County Vidette
Date of Publication: May 31, 1916
Volume Number:
Issue Number:
Page: 1
Column(s): 5
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook