History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Josiah L. Pickard
JOSIAH L. PICKARD, educator, was born at Rowley, Massachusetts, March 17, 1824. His education was completed at Bowdoin College. His career as an educator began in 1849 when he taught in the Teachers' Institute at Dubuque. From there he went to Plattsville, Wisconsin, where he was principal of an academy for many years. In 1859 he was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction for Wisconsin, serving six years. In 1864 he was chosen superintendent of schools in Chicago where he remained thirteen years, accomplishing much in the organization and unification of the system. In 1878 he was elected President of the Iowa State University, serving until 1887.
“In his educational work Dr. Pickard emphasized the acquisition of knowledge, not for its own sake, but for the sake of life and character. He led the young to seize upon ideals and to hold and cherish them.”
In 1894 Bowdoin College conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. Dr. Pickard was for some time president of the State Historical Society and contributed many valuable papers for the Historical Record and the Annals of Iowa, in addition to those for educational works. In 1900 he removed to Portland, Maine.