Jacob Bickler
Encyclopedia
Jacob Bickler was a scholar, educator and president of the Texas State Teacher's Association. He was founder of the boys' Texas German and English Academy and the co-educational Bickler Academy, both located in Austin, Texas
. In 1969, Recorded Historic Texas Landmark 6438 was placed at the site of the Goodman Building, noting the location on the second floor of Jacob Bickler's German and English academy.
in Rhineland-Palatinate
, Germany
to Peter Bickler and his wife Katherine Schöffling Bickler. He received his early education in the public schools of Bad Sobernheim. Peter Bickler married a second time and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin
where the teenage Jacob joined the new couple in 1863. From 1863–1867, young Bickler attended Milwaukee high schools and Milwaukee Markham Academy College Preparatory School. In 1870, Bickler earned his Bachelor of Arts
in Pedagogics from the University of Wisconsin. He became fluent in six languages. From 1871–1872, Bicker was a Principal in the educational system of La Crosse, Wisconsin
.
and joined his uncle his Philip Bickler in teaching at the Bickler German-English Academy, where artist Carl G. von Iwonski
had also once taught. Land Commissioner Jacob Kuechler appointed Bickler assistant draftsman and calculator in the Texas General Land Office
on April 1, 1873. On January 24, 1874, the date of Bickler's wedding, he resigned from the Texas General Land Office to resume his teaching career.
In 1876, Bickler founded the Texas German and English Academy in Austin, a boys' school that remained in operation until 1902. In 1880, the Wahrenberger House
in Austin was leased to Bickler. He operated the Academy at this house. According to the Texas Historical Commission, the school was located here until 1886. However, conflicting information states that the Academy was located in the Texas Military Institute Castle in Austin from 1884–1887. It is conceivable that Bickler started the Academy in the Wahrenberger House and kept his headquarters there, while moving the institute to the larger location as enrollment grew. In 1887, Bickler was elected president of the Texas State Teachers Association. Bickler served as superintent of Galveston
public schools 1887–1892. In 1892, he founded the co-educational Bickler Academy in Austin, which was located in the Goodman Building until 1897. In 1969, Recorded Historic Texas Landmark 6438 was placed at the site of the Goodman Building, noting the location on the second floor of Jacob Bickler's German and English academy. In summer months, Bickler taught classes at both Fredericksburg
and Mason
.
Bickler was a member of the summer faculty at the University of Texas
. He was a leading proponent for establishment of the 1891 College of Education at the University.
. The couple had nine children, eight of whom survived infancy.
Jacob Bickler died in Austin on April 30, 1902, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. In 1969, Recorded Historic Texas Landmark 6438 was placed at the site of the Goodman Building, noting the location on the second floor of Jacob Bickler's German and English academy.
Early life
Jacob Bickler was born on November 20, 1849, in Bad SobernheimBad Sobernheim
Bad Sobernheim is a municipality in the district of Bad Kreuznach, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated on the river Nahe, approx. 20 km south-west of Bad Kreuznach....
in Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to Peter Bickler and his wife Katherine Schöffling Bickler. He received his early education in the public schools of Bad Sobernheim. Peter Bickler married a second time and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
where the teenage Jacob joined the new couple in 1863. From 1863–1867, young Bickler attended Milwaukee high schools and Milwaukee Markham Academy College Preparatory School. In 1870, Bickler earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Pedagogics from the University of Wisconsin. He became fluent in six languages. From 1871–1872, Bicker was a Principal in the educational system of La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
.
Texas
On December 24, 1872, Jacob Bickler moved to Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
and joined his uncle his Philip Bickler in teaching at the Bickler German-English Academy, where artist Carl G. von Iwonski
Carl G. von Iwonski
Carl G. von Iwonski was a painter born in Germany who became a naturalized American citizen. He was artistically active in San Antonio and New Braunfels, and best known for his portraits of Texas pioneers.-Early life:Carl G...
had also once taught. Land Commissioner Jacob Kuechler appointed Bickler assistant draftsman and calculator in the Texas General Land Office
Texas General Land Office
.The Texas General Land Office is a state agency of Texas. It manages state-controlled lands and mineral rights properties. The agency originally collected and kept records regarding lands controlled by the state. The agency has its headquarters in the Stephen F. Austin State Office Building in...
on April 1, 1873. On January 24, 1874, the date of Bickler's wedding, he resigned from the Texas General Land Office to resume his teaching career.
In 1876, Bickler founded the Texas German and English Academy in Austin, a boys' school that remained in operation until 1902. In 1880, the Wahrenberger House
Wahrenberger House
The Wahrenberger House is located two blocks from the Texas Capitol, at 208 W. 14th Street, in Austin, Travis County, in the U.S. state of Texas. The home was built between 1867–68 by Friedrich Huster and sold to Charles Klein after completion. The house is named for Klein's daughter Caroline...
in Austin was leased to Bickler. He operated the Academy at this house. According to the Texas Historical Commission, the school was located here until 1886. However, conflicting information states that the Academy was located in the Texas Military Institute Castle in Austin from 1884–1887. It is conceivable that Bickler started the Academy in the Wahrenberger House and kept his headquarters there, while moving the institute to the larger location as enrollment grew. In 1887, Bickler was elected president of the Texas State Teachers Association. Bickler served as superintent of Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
public schools 1887–1892. In 1892, he founded the co-educational Bickler Academy in Austin, which was located in the Goodman Building until 1897. In 1969, Recorded Historic Texas Landmark 6438 was placed at the site of the Goodman Building, noting the location on the second floor of Jacob Bickler's German and English academy. In summer months, Bickler taught classes at both Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530...
and Mason
Mason, Texas
Mason is the seat of Mason County, Texas, United States. The town is an agricultural community on Comanche Creek southwest of Mason Mountain, on the Edwards Plateau and part of the Llano Uplift. The population was 2,114 at the 2010 census.-History:...
.
Bickler was a member of the summer faculty at the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. He was a leading proponent for establishment of the 1891 College of Education at the University.
Personal life and death
On January 24, 1874, Bickler married Martha Lungkwitz, daughter of artist Hermann LungkwitzHermann Lungkwitz
Hermann Lungkwitz was a 19th Century German-born Texas romantic landscape artist and photographer whose work became the first pictoral record of the Texas Hill Country.-Early life:...
. The couple had nine children, eight of whom survived infancy.
Jacob Bickler died in Austin on April 30, 1902, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas.
Memberships
- Ancient Order of United WorkmenAncient Order of United WorkmenThe Ancient Order of United Workmen was a fraternal organization in the United States and Canada, providing mutual social and financial support after the US Civil War. It was the beginning of the American network of fraternal benefit societies.-History:...
- National Education AssociationNational Education AssociationThe National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
- President (1886–1887), Texas State Teacher's Association