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Below is a family biography included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published by Standard Publishing Company in 1913.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Edgar J. Llewelyn, superintendent of schools of Mt. Vernon, and one of the leading educators of the State, is a native of Ohio. He was born at Martinsville, Ohio, Clinton county, November 21, 1876. He is the son of John and Anne Elizabeth (Kester) Llewelyn, both natives of Ohio, the former of Welsh descent and the latter of German; the former was born at Pennsville, Morgan county, Ohio, and the latter near Martinsville, Ohio. Both parents are now deceased. The mother died in 1881, when the subject of this review was only five years old, and the father departed this life in 1905. There were six children in the Llewelyn family, only two of whom survive: Edgar J. and Mrs. G. D. Burgnoon, of Lawrenceville, Ill. Prof. Llewelyn is a descendant from teachers on both sides, which, no doubt, had its influence in shaping his career in that profession, while good, hard, honest work has been the master force of his success. When young Llewelyn was about six years of age, and about the time of his mother’s death, the father settled near Marion, Grant county, Indiana. Here Edgar attended the public schools until he was thirteen years of age, when his father broke up housekeeping. From this time on the boy made his own way in the world. He went to Hamilton county and completed the course in the Westfield High School, graduating in the class of 1899. In the meantime he had taught school and at one time was engaged in threshing, owning and operating his own machine. In 1900 he entered Earlham College, devoting part of his time to teaching, and graduating in 1907 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1908 he entered the University of Indiana at Bloomington, where he was graduated in 1910 with the degree of Master of Arts, and at the present time is taking a course in Columbia University, New York City. Mr. Llewelyn’s life, so far, has been a busy one. He has done things from the start, and at all times has been a close student, taking advantage of every opportunity for improvement and advancement. His career as a teacher began in the district school before he was nineteen, and three years later we find him holding the responsible position of superintendent of city schools at Fishers, Ind. He held this position three years, when he accepted a similar one at Arcadia, Ind. He remained there four years, during which time his salary was nearly doubled, which is the best evidence of the appreciation of his services. In 1905 he was elected superintendent of city schools of Sheridan, Ind., where he was engaged until 1911, with the exception of one year spent in special study at Earlham College. July 1, 1911, Mr. Llewelyn was elected superintendent of city schools of Mount Vernon and has since maintained the high standard of the Mount Vernon schools, which are second to none in the country—with its corps of thirty-nine of the most efficient teachers to be found anywhere. Prof. Llewelyn was married May 17, 1899, to Miss Florence E. Mendenhall, of Westfield, Hamilton county, Indiana. They have one child, Martha Myrtilla, born at Mount Vernon October 14, 1913. Several years ago Mr. Llewelyn became interested in the Men’s Bible Class movement. He has made an exhaustive study of the subject and is an enthusiastic promoter of that organization. While at Sheridan, Ind., he organized a class of 200. When he came to Mount Vernon he continued the work of organization with the same untiring zeal which he had manifested at Sheridan. In January, 1912, he organized a class with seventeen members, which has grown to a membership of nearly 700. Mr. Llewelyn has taken an active part in the broader field of educational matters, outside of the school room. He takes an active interest in State and national matters, generally attending conventions of that character. As a public speaker he is well known in many sections. He has delivered a number of addresses at commencement exercises, as well as a number of lectures, and on several occasions acted as an instructor at various teachers’ institutes, etc. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Masons.

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This family biography is one of 232 biographies included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published in 1913 by Standard Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Posey County, Indiana History and Genealogy

View additional Posey County, Indiana family biographies here: Posey County, Indiana Biographies

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