William B. Horton

William B. "Willis" Horton (born July 2, 1849 in Great Britain , † September 29, 1887 in Tucson , Arizona Territory ) was an American teacher, school principal, businessman and politician .

Career

William B. Horton was born and raised in Scotland during the reign of Queen Victoria . He graduated from the University of Edinburgh . In the following years he emigrated to the United States . He lived in Holmes County ( Mississippi ). In 1874 he moved to the Arizona Territory to take up the position as principal at the Tucson, Pima County public school . He held the post for several years.

In the fall of 1882 elections, he successfully ran for the post of Superintendent of Public Instruction of the Arizona Territory. Horton took up his post in early 1883 and held it until 1885. He was the first incumbent who devoted himself entirely to his office.

Horton ran a trading post in Tucson. On September 29, 1887, he was shot dead in front of his shop by an Apache scout named Corporal John. The Indian tried to escape but was caught after two hours.

After his death, Horton was buried in Pima County Cemetery in Tucson.

literature

• Bury, John Charles: The Historical Role Of Arizona's Superintendent Of Public Instruction , Volume 2, Northern Arizona University, December 1974, pp. 166-182

Web links

• William B. Horton in the database of Find a Grave (English)