History abounds with school teachers who have earned fame outside of the classroom. This is true of Samuel Youngs, an American school teacher who was a close friend of famous American author Washington Irving. In fact, scholars speculate that Samuel served as the inspiration for the character of Ichabod Crane in Irving’s story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

Samuel Youngs was born December 4, 1760. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a lieutenant in the 4th New York Infantry Regiment led by Baron Frederick von Weissenfels. Throughout the war, Samuel served the fledgling American army as a guide over the roads and trails in the county around his home. He was one of a dozen native soldiers known as The Westchester Guides. His father’s farmhouse, located near the intersection of Bradhurst Avenue and Grasslands Road in Eastview, was the scene of a British raid during the Revolution.

After the war was won, Samuel served as a Federalist member of the New York State Assembly from 1796-1797, 1809, and 1810. Additionally, Samuel served as a Surrogate of Westchester County in 1800, 1807, 1810, 1811, and 1819.

The intrepid school teacher and veteran passed away on September 12, 1839. He was originally buried in the yard of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow in New York. There he was honored with other citizens of Tarrytown who fought during the Revolutionary War. His service was recognized with a monument, pictured at left. The inscription at the bottom of the monument reads: “This monument is erected by Major General Aaron Ward, 9 division, N.Y.S.M. in testimony of his high appreciation of the services of a brave officer and a true patriot.” In 1851, Samuel’s remains were relocated to the Dale Cemetery in Ossining, New York. He was the first person to be buried in that cemetery.

To read more, click on this link about Samuel Youngs.

Former school teacher and principal Claire Lee Chennault became a distinguished military man and commander of the world-famous Flying Tigers during World War II.

Many talented educators have also earned distinction in professions other than education. One of these is Claire Lee Chennault, a former rural school teacher who became a brilliant military man. He is probably best known as the commander of the world-famous Flying Tigers during World War II.

Claire was born on September 6, 1890, in Commerce, Texas. He was raised in the town of Gilbert, near Waterproof. The young boy was just ten years old when Wilbur and Orville Wright made their first powered flight in 1903. This event gave birth to Claire’s lifelong interest in aviation.

As a young man, Claire attended Louisiana State Normal college, now known as Northwestern State College of Louisiana. He also participated in ROTC, the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, an organization that trains individuals to become commissioned officers in the US Armed Forces. After earning his degree, Claire inaugurated his career as a teacher in a one-room school in rural Athens, Louisiana. He also served as the principal of Kilbourne School from 1913 to 1915.

When Wold War I broke out, Claire enlisted in the US Army and was sent to officers training camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Lawrence Township, Indiana. When he completed his training, he accepted a commission as a first lieutenant in the Infantry Reserve. A short while later, Claire became both a pilot and a flight instructor. He continued to teach flight school until 1937, when hearing loss forced him to retire from the military.

After leaving the US Armed Forces, Claire decided to go to China. There he took command of the First American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, known worldwide as the Flying Tigers. Members of the group were pilots from the US Army Air Corps, the US Navy, and the US Marine Corps recruited under President Franklin D. Roosevelt prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The mission of these courageous aviators was to defend China from a Japanese invasion, but after the outbreak of WWII, they flew in combat against Japanese forces.

Claire earned many medals and decorations for his military achievements. Among these are the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal.

This former chalkboard champion succumbed to lung cancer on July 27, 1958. He was 67 years old. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington Cemetery. In December 1972, Claire was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

Former rural school teacher and General of the Armies John J. Pershing

Many people are familiar with the accomplishments of World War I General John J. Pershing, but did you know that he was once a classroom teacher in a rural school?

John Pershing was born on September 13, 1860, in Laclede, Linn County, Missouri. His father was the son of a railroad switch man. Determined to gain a college degree, John was only 17 when he enrolled at Kirksville Normal School. The institution, located in Kirksville, Missouri, is now known as Truman State University.

To pay for his college education, John accepted a position as a teacher in a rural school for African American youngsters. Even though he was just a teenager himself, John demonstrated an unusual strength for confronting and controlling wayward students. And even their parents, when necessary. In one case, the neophyte teacher was confronted by an angry father who rode to the school bent on murder, packing a gun, and seeking vengeance against the school master who had dared to whip his son for kicking a dog. John persuaded the muscular farmer to lay down his weapon and settle their differences in a fistfight. Then the school master hammered the brawny man.

While still in the classroom, John came across an advertisement for the entrance exam for the US Military Academy. The young teacher took the test in 1882, and with his high scores, he gained entry to West Point. John graduated in 1886 as the president of his class and the captain of cadets.

After his graduation from West Point, John was given a commission in the US Cavalry. When the Spanish American War broke out in 1898, he was ordered to the Philippines. For his service there he earned a Silver Star. By 1906, John had risen to the rank of Brigadier General. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson sent the former school master to the American Southwest to capture Mexican guerrillas fighting under Pancho Villa. The mission was successful, earning John a promotion to Major General. Next, John commanded the 10th Cavalry, a distinguished regiment of African American troops known as the Buffalo Soldiers.

Once the United States entered World War I in 1917, the former school teacher took command of the American Expeditionary Forces and sailed to France. Under his command, American forces defeated the German army at St. Mihiel in September, 1918. The next month he led American soldiers in the brutal battles of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. When the Armistice was finally signed on November 11, 1918, John Pershing returned home to a hero’s welcome. For his accomplishments on the battle field, Congress conferred upon John Pershing the title of General of the Armies, the highest rank ever awarded an American. Before him, only George Washington had earned the title. 

In his next assignment, John served as the Army Chief of Staff. He held this post from 1921 until he retired in 1924. He then penned his two-volume life story, My Experiences in the World War, which was published in 1931. The book earned him a Pulitzer Prize. 

John Pershing passed away in Washington, DC, on July 15, 1948. He was 87 years old. The former teacher and military man is interred in Arlington Cemetery. His grave is marked by a simple granite headstone.

To read more about this chalkboard hero, click on this link to History on the Net.