WI BIO - Dane Co - STERLING, John W.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 550-552

Professor John W. STERLING, a scholar of ripe attainments, an eminent 
literary man and a successful educator, was particularly notable as having 
from the first identified himself with the University of Wisconsin [Madison, 
Dane County] at a time when its future lay deeply hidden in obscurity as did 
the objective point of the visionary Genocese of 400 years ago. By faith 
both undertook monumental enterprises, and by faith both attained the 
cherished goal of their desires. In the case of the university, indeed 
before Professor STERLING became connected with it, petitions had been sent 
to the Legislature, asking for its abandonment and for a division of the 
funds among denominational colleges in the State, and a bill was once 
actually introduced to that effect. Subsequently the Legislature, with a 
more enlightened policy, determined to build up, rather than to destroy, but 
met with only partial success against this unaccountable opposition. The 
election by the Board of Regents, on 07 Oct 1848, of John H. LATHROP, LL. D., 
as Chancellor, and John W. STERLING, A. M., as Professor of Mathematics, was 
the first action looking toward the organization of a faculty for the 
institution, and from that day, and notably through the influence and 
management of Professor STERLING, it has ever since prospered.

Professor [John W.] STERLING was a born in Wyoming County [Luzerne County], 
Pennsylvania, 17 July 1816. [Wyoming County, PA, was not created until 1842, 
and prior to 1842 was part of Luzerne County, PA, formed in 1786.] His 
earliest education was such as could be obtained in common schools, but 
aspirations for more liberal instruction caused him to attend an academy at 
Hamilton [Madison County], New York. At this institution, and at a similar 
one at Homer [Cortland County], in the same State, he received the necessary 
preparations for entering college. At this point in his life a desire to 
study law induced him to spend two years in the office of Judge WOODWARD, at 
Wilkes Barre [Luzerne County], Pennsylvania, and although qualified, he did 
not enter upon the practice of that profession. When twenty-one years of age 
his desire for broader culture and more complete education induced him to 
enter the Sophomore class of the College of New Jersey, where he completed 
the regular course and graduated with honor in the class of 1840.

In the meantime he [John W. STERLING] was elected Principal of the Wilkes 
Barre Academy, and entered upon his duties there as instructor, where he 
continued one year. He then resigned to enter upon another course of study, 
this time in the Theological Seminary at Princeton [Mercer County], New 
Jersey. Here he completed the course in the spring of 1844, during which 
time he had performed the duties of tutor in the College of New Jersey. His 
proficiency was so great and his talent so manifest that he became a great 
favorite and friend of the Princeton professors, whose names he always 
revered.

After this the subject of this sketch [John W. STERLING] preached in the 
Presbyterian Church in his native county [probably means he preached in 
Wyoming County, PA, but his birth occurred in Luzerne County, PA; see above 
note] for one year, and was then honored by a call to take charge of Carroll 
College at Waukesha [part of Milwaukee County, WI, until Waukesha County was 
formed in 1846]. This brought him to the State of Wisconsin, and later to 
the city of Madison [Dane County], to fill the chair to which he had been 
elected in the university [University of Wisconsin, Madison].

As an instructor he was conscientious, prompt, painstaking and accurate. 
Other teachers could, perhaps, carry their pupils over more ground in a given 
time, but none could instruct them better. His methods and manner of 
teaching had this important characteristic, that they produced satisfactory 
results. Of his ability in the classroom, hundreds of students who had the 
benefit of his instruction can testify. But not alone as a teacher was the 
career of Professor STERLING an honorable one. He was in fact the acting 
head of the university. The connection of Chancellor BARNARD with the 
institution was little more than nominal, particularly as regards the actual 
administration of affairs, and the burden was upon the shoulders of Professor 
STERLING, who was during the whole time virtually its chief officer.

From the resignation of Dr. BERNARD [BARNARD?] to the installation of 
President CHADBOURNE, a period of more than six years, he was, by the 
authority of the regents, acting chancellor. He proved himself, during this 
period, a wise counselor, a faithful friend to students, extending 
encouragement and generous aid to all who were in need, ruling the university 
affairs with a firm but kindly hand, and by precept and example stimulating 
all of the classes to higher culture and nobler manhood.

Throughout all of these university years, besides the care and numerous 
duties connected with the office, he was engaged most of the time five hours 
daily in the classroom. Professor STERLING's unselfish devotion to the 
university, through evil as well as good report, his faithful stewardship, 
whether as professor or as chief officer, endeared him in a peculiar way, not 
only to those immediately connected with the institution, but to its friends 
everywhere.

Having previously acted as Dean of the Faculty he was in 1860 continued by 
the regents in that office, and in 1865 he was elected vice chancellor, and 
in 1869 vice president, which office he [John W. STERLING] held until the 
date of his death, 09 March 1885. In 1869 he was offered the presidency of a 
college in San Francisco [CA], which he declined. For one year after the 
resignation of President CHADBOURNE, he was the acting head of the 
university, by virtue of his office of vice president, and again after the 
resignation of President TWOMBLY. In addition to the Chair of Mathematics, he 
filled those of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy from the time the first 
instruction was given in those branches down to 1874, when they were assigned 
to others. While acting chancellor, after the resignation of Dr. BERNARD 
[BARNARD?], Professor STERLING presided at commencements until Dr. CHADBOURNE 
took charge, giving a brief address at each, which are models of excellence 
and show the caliber and character of the man.

In 1866 Professor [John W.] STERLING received from his Alma Mater the 
honorary degree to Doctor of Philosophy and the same year from Lawrence 
University at Appleton [Outagamie County], Wisconsin, that of Doctor of Laws, 
honors worthily bestowed, not only upon an earnest and faithful teacher, an 
intelligent and high-minded citizen, but upon a conscientious, Christian 
gentleman, for as a man Professor STERLING was above reproach, his integrity 
of character and exalted sense of honor are beyond question.

Professor [John W.] STERLING was married in 1851 to Miss Harriet DEAN, a 
native of Massachusetts. She was a woman of culture and refinement and made 
for Professor STERLING a bright and happy home. She was of material 
assistance [p 552] in the management of all financial affairs, possessing 
rare executive ability. She [Mrs. Harriet (DEAN) STERLING] now lives at the 
old home pleasantly situated near the university. She is the mother of three 
children now living: (1) Grace, who was educated at the university, married 
George L. LINDSLEY, of Portland, Oregon, where his father [Mr. LINDSLEY] was 
for years one of the greatest Presbyterian divines of the Pacific coast; (2) 
Susan, the second daughter, was also highly educated; after graduating at the 
university, she spent a year at Wellesley College and studied a year at 
Brunswick and Berlin, Germany. She [Susan] taught at Lake Forest [Lake 
County], Illinois, and is now instructor in German at the University of 
Wisconsin. (3) Charles G. also graduated at the university with the first 
honors of his class in 1880. He [Charles G. STERLING] subsequently attended 
Princeton and afterward graduated at the McCormick Theological Seminary, in 
Chicago [Cook County], Illinois, in the class of 1886. Prior to this, for 
the benefit of his health, he [Charles G. STERLING] had spent two years in 
the Northwest in the employ of the Northern Pacific and Canadian Pacific 
Railroad companies. He spent five years at Pine Ridge agency as a missionary 
to the Sioux Indians. This was during the late troubles there. He [Charles 
G. STERLING] is now pastor of the Lowe Avenue Presbyterian Church in Omaha 
[NE], and fills a chair in the Omaha Theological Seminary. He received the 
degree of Ph. D. from the Omaha University. He [Charles W. STERLING] married 
Miss Lulu FISHER, of Madison [Dane County, WI], who was formerly a teacher. 
Thus will be seen that the family of Professor STERLING inherited in great 
measure the characteristics so prominent in their father, which have made of 
them persons worthy to bear his honored name.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly