Charles A. Philhower

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

The career of Charles A. Philhower, of the town of Chatham, New Jersey, illustrates most forcibly what may be accomplished in a comparatively few years by systematic work combined with energy and determination. He is the son of Peter W. and Fanny M. (SCHUYLER) PHILHOWER his father having been a painter by trade.

Charles A. PHILHOWER was born in Mountainville, Hunterdon county New Jersey, July 2, 1878. His elementary education was received in the graded school of his native town, where he was also under private instruction. At the unusually early age of sixteen years he passed successfully the county teacher’s examination at Flemington, New Jersey, which entitled him to teach in the State. Three years were spent in this occupation in Hunterdon county, two years at Bissell, and one year at Centre. He then became a student at the State Normal School at Trenton, New Jersey, completing the three years’ course in two and one half years. The half year which he was thus enabled to cut out was spent again teaching at Bissell. After the completion of his course at the Normal School of Trenton, he was engaged two years in teaching at Hopewell, New Jersey, at the same time filling the responsible office of principal of this school. While there he refused an offer to become the educational director of the work done at the Young Men’s Christian Association at Trenton, accepting instead the principalship at Belvidere, New Jersey, and remained there for a period of two years. At the close of this engagement he entered Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he completed a four years’ course in the space of three years, and during two years of this period was assistant to the professor in charge of the biological laboratory. In the year 1912 Mr. PHILHOWER received his Master of Arts degree from his alma mater. He also during his stay at this institution, conducted the College Commons, was a member of the College Senate, which was a self governing body, and was captain of the tennis and gymnasium teams for two years. He was also associate editor on the Microcosm, the History of his class, and was elected a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

Upon the completion of his course at Dickinson College, Mr. PHILHOWER was elected supervising principal of Chatham, in which capacity he has now been serving four years (1913), greatly to the benefit of the educational system of the town. He has introduced a number of new ideas which have found great favor, not alone with those directly connected with educational matters in Chatham, but some of them have been adopted in other communities. At the present time Mr. PHILHOWER is doing post graduate work in education and English at the University of Columbia, which will lead to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Mr. PHILHOWER married, October 9, 1909, Alice Edna, daughter of William Henry and Delia (McPHERSON) HAYNES. She was a graduate of the State Normal School and taught in Hopewell, New Jersey, and her father was a commission merchant in the city of New York. Mr. PHILHOWER is a member of Hopewell Lodge, No. 155, F. and A.M.; Chatham Fish and Game Protective Association; was president of the Morris County Teacher’s Association; held a similar position in the Warren County Teachers Association and has served as a member of the Teacher’s Examining Board of Warren county. When the syllabus for the teaching of elementary composition and grammar was to be made for the schools of New Jersey, Mr. PHILHOWER was asked to act as one of the committee. Not only in this particular, but as a member of the council of education of New Jersey is he directly in touch with the education of the State. So much has already been accomplished by Mr. PHILHOWER, that in the many years of life presumably yet before him, still greater things may confidently be expected.

Transcribed by E.J.Carlson.