Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
WILLIAM A. DAGGETT. Believing with Longfellow that "within ourselves is triumph or defeat," William A. Daggett the present librarian at the Springfield State Normal school, determined at the outset of his career to so shape his course that when life's goal was reached he could look backward along the labyrinthin highway without compunction or regret, and so far he has left no stone unturned whereby he might honorably advance himself.
Mr. Daggett was born on March 14, 1876, at Waldoboro, Lincoln county, Maine. He is a son of Athern E. and Helen M. (Parsons) Daggett, both natives of Maine, each representatives of old families there. These parents grew up and were educated in the early-day schools of that state and were married there in 1875 and have since resided near their early day home. To this union, one son, William A., was born. The mother was a daughter of William and Margaret (Fitzgerald) Parsons, descendants of English emigrants who established the future home of the family among the early settlers of Maine. The father of our subject was, reared on the farm of his parents and he devoted the major portion of his active life to agricultural pursuits; however, he engaged in other lines of endeavor, including the confectionery business, for a period of twenty years. Politically, he is a Republican and he belongs to the Congregational church.
William A. Daggett attended the public schools in his native state and when fourteen years of age left there and spent two years in Tabor Academy at Marion, Massachusetts, then came to Springfield, Missouri, in 1893 and studied two years in Drury Academy and four years in Drury College, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1899. Soon thereafter he accepted a position as assistant principal at Rogers Academy, Rogers, Arkansas. He taught mathematics and science there for two years. His advancement as an educator was rapid and it was not long until his services were in demand in other and larger fields than the one at Rogers where he won such a creditable record during his two years at that place as an instructor. Learning of his success the board of the Springfield high school tendered him the position of instructor in history, which position he accepted, and in which he accomplished a work of far-reaching importance, such as had probably never before been attempted here and more, signally successful than his former efforts as teacher. After spending six years in this school in the department of history, he was selected librarian at the Springfield State Normal, the duties of which position he has since discharged in an able and highly satisfactory manner, and at the same time has taught some in the history department; however, he has had no classes for two years, his increasing work as librarian claiming all his time and attention, including his committee work in the school and the library instruction course by him. He has also held positions as an instructor in athletics and physical culture, in which lines he has pronounced natural ability of a high order.
Mr. Daggett was married on June 12, 1900, to Evelina Park, youngest daughter of Dr. William H. Park, a pioneer doctor of Greene county, Missouri, also a prominent business man of Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Daggett are the parents of two children, Athern, born on January 10, 1904, and Algoa, born on April 11, 1906, and died January, 1914.
Politically, Professor Daggett is a Republican, and a member of the First Congregational church, in the work of which he has been active and influential for a number of years, having been identified with the various branches of the church of this denomination in Springfield. Personally he is an unassuming, accommodating and likable gentleman.
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