Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record - Published 1894 by Excelsior Publishing Co., Chicago" Page 636

The character and condition of the public schools of any city or community are a truthful index of the intelligence and progressive spirit of its people. Sheboygan is fortunate in having at the head of its public schools a man who is an educator, both by training and by natural adaptation. John E. Riordan, who as Principal of the High School has general supervision of all of the schools in the city, has occupied his present position since the beginning of t he school year of 1889, and was Assistant Principal for the two preceding years.

Mr. Riordan is a native of Wisconsin, and was born in Washington County, April 24, 1863. He secured his primary education at a district school in the town of Trenton, Washington County. Later he was for some time a member of the West Bend High School, and began teaching in a district school in Washington County at the age of sixteen years. In 1880 he entered the State Normal School at Oshkosh, graduating in the Class of '87. During his Normal course he taught at intervals to secure the means to enable him to continue. In the mean time Mr. Riordan was principal of the graded .school at Newburgh, Washington County, and also taught two years at Hamilton, Ozaukee County.

The school buildings of Sheboygan comprise six large structures, situated in different parts of the city, and two smaller buildings. Four teachers are employed in the High School, the entire corps of teachers numbering sixty-nine.

To Mr. Riordan is largely due the effective work and excellent reputation wdiich the schools of Sheboygan have attained, and the years of his principalship and supervision have been marked by new and improved methods of instruction; and it can be safely and truthfully said that for thorough, systematic and efficient work, the schools of Sheboygan are not excelled by any in the State.

It might be of interest to remark that the graduates of the Sheboygan High School are admitted without examination to any of five courses of the University of Wisconsin, namely: Modern Classical, General Science, English, Engineering, and Agricultural. They are also admitted without examination to the junior year of any Normal School in Wisconsin, and may complete the advanced course in two years.

Mr. Riordan has been called upon to do institute work for many years, and has proved a most efficient and valuable worker in this field.

Prof. Riordan was married in 1892 to Miss Mabel A. Corrigal. Mrs. Riordan was educated at the Oshkosh Normal School, and was for five years previous to her marriage a member of the corps of teachers of the Sheboygan City schools.

Return to the Sheboygan Page

Return to Bios page