William J. Willard

http://deafheritage.net/

ID: I68

Name: William WILLARD

Sex: M

Birth: 1 NOV 1809 in Brattleboro, Vermont

Death: 15 FEB 1888

Change Date: 6 AUG 2007

Father: Isaac WILLARD b: 27 JUN 1776 in Lancaster

Mother: Sarah GOODRICH b: 13 MAR 1774 in Winchendon

Marriage 1 Eliza YOUNG

Married:

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1870 United States Federal Census about William Willard Name: William Willard Age in 1870: 61 Birth Year: abt 1809 Birthplace: Vermont Home in 1870: Indianapolis Ward 9 (2nd Enum), Marion, Indiana Race: White Gender: Male Post Office: Indianapolis Value of real estate: View image Household Members: Name Age William Willard 61 Eliza Willard 52 Josephine Willard 21 James A Ilif 26 Cynthia Ilif 25 Charles W Ilif 3 Arthur R Ilif 1 Henry E Giimball 20 Emily Fiddler 19 Charles Hannaway 30 John Aubeck 23 John W Hellwig 21 Frederick Brarman 24

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1880 United States Federal Census about William Willard Name: William Willard Home in 1880: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana Age: 70 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1810 Birthplace: Vermont Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head) Spouse's Name: Eliza Willard Father's birthplace: Massachusetts Mother's birthplace: Massachusetts Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Capitalist Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Cannot read/write:

Blind:

Deaf and dumb:

Otherwise disabled:

Idiotic or insane:

View image Household Members: Name Age William Willard 70 Eliza Willard 61

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William Willard Memorial Photos Flowers Edit Learn about sponsoring this memorial... Birth: Nov. 1, 1809 Vermont, USA Death: Feb. 15, 1881 Indianapolis Marion County Indiana, USA

William was born November 1, 1809 in Brattleboro Vermont. William was born deaf and he attended American School for the Deaf in Hartford Connecticut. Later in his schooling he was a student at Laurent Clerc where he was considered "Father of deaf education". After he graduated he taught at the Ohio School for the Deaf. William met his future wife Eliza Young whom was also deaf and taught at the Ohio School for the Deaf. After marriage William and Eliza traveled to Indianapolis Indiana and William proposed the establishment of a school for the Deaf. William and Eliza traveled throughout Indiana recruiting potential deaf students in order to form a school. They succeeded and the first day of school was on October 1, 1843. William's school had twelve students. Eventually, Indiana passed a law that established the school as a state institution. William became Principal of the school. Indiana passed a law that officially declared Indiana School for the Deaf as the sixth state school for the Deaf to provide free education to all deaf and hard of hearing students. He died on February 15, 1881 in Indianapolis.

Burial: Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis Marion County Indiana, USA Plot: Lot 246 Section 25

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William Willard Memorial Photos Flowers Edit Learn about sponsoring this memorial... Birth: Nov. 1, 1809 Brattleboro Windham County Vermont, USA Death: Feb. 15, 1888 Indianapolis Marion County Indiana, USA

founded Indiana's school for the deaf in Indianapolis, Indiana, which later became the Indiana School for the Deaf. He was one of the most important deaf persons in the deaf community.

Willard was born on November 1, 1809 in Brattleboro, Vermont. He grew up in Rockingham, Vermont, and attended American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. During his schooling, he was a student of the famous Laurent Clerc, who was and is considered the "Father of Deaf Education" in America. After he graduated, he taught at a school for the deaf in Columbus, Ohio, which was called Ohio School for the Deaf. There, he met Eliza Young, who was also deaf and a teacher, and married her. Eventually, the both of them traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, and William proposed the establishment of a school for the Deaf.

His wife, Eliza Young Willard, was an alumnus of the Ohio School for the Deaf. Together, they advertised throughout the state of Indiana for potential students. Willard traveled the state on horseback that summer demonstrating his methods and recruiting students for the school. On October 1, 1843, the Willard School opened with twelve pupils. William and Eliza both served as instructors with Williard being responsible for the boys' general care and his wife responsible for the girls' general care.

The school prospered and in December of that same year, the state passed a law that established the Willard school as a state institution. Willard was appointed principal of this school which, after a law passed in January 1846, became the sixth state school for the Deaf in the nation and the first state school to provide free education to Deaf children. In 1850, after being located in three different rented quarters in the downtown area of Indianapolis, the state built a spacious new school east of the city on the National Road.

The Indiana School for the Deaf, at that time named the Indiana Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, remained at this location on the corner of State and Washington Streets for many years. Willard continued as a teacher at the school until his retirement in 1860. Across the street from the school, Willard had a beautiful Greek Revival home built. There, he and his family resided in what was considered one of the finest homes in Indianapolis. After much wear and decay on the State Street campus, the state approved the construction of a new campus for the school on East 42nd Street on the north side of Indianapolis.

The construction and opening of this campus was delayed from 1907 until 1911 due to the cost overruns and faulty construction. Much public debate was held about the cost of such magnificent buildings of monumental stature that became the present day campus of the Indiana School for the Deaf. Located on 80 acres in a beautiful campus setting, the school's main buildings are registered as historic landmarks. The Indiana School for the Deaf is a fully accredited school and a national resource center. It is recognized nationally for its leadership in education, its advocacy of American Sign Language and being the first state Deaf school to adopt a Bilingual/Bicultural Philosophy.

Death Cause: Cancer

[Note: Other members of the Willard family are also buried on this plot.]

Family links:

Spouse:

 Eliza Young Willard

Burial: Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis Marion County Indiana, USA Plot: Lot 246, Section 25