The subject of this sketch has lived in Wisconsin since the
seventh year of his life. He was born at Johnsburgh, New
York, on September 16, 1848. With his parents he removed to
Wisconsin, where he came to love the products of the soil and
the processes by which they might be made more and more
beautiful. Not merely plant growth has been of interest to
him; the development of Wisconsin institutions also,
especially its schools, has been of the most vital concern to
him. Few men have been more deeply interested in the schools
of any community than has Mr. Rexford in the schools of his
village, and few have more effectively encouraged the
teaching of agricultural facts in the schools than he.
Mr. Rexford's life has been spent quite largely at his
country home near Shiocton, where he has found much of the
material for the line of writing in which he has been
especially interested. The country home has furnished him
with opportunities for pleasurable development of which few
have even dreamed. His career is worth studying, if for no
other reason than to disprove the thought that rural life is
a life of toil and hardship devoid of the privilege of
acquiring that finer sense for the beautiful. Mr. Rexford's
life has been rich in the companionship of people and of
animals and plants. This last has given that training which
makes him an authority along the line of floriculture.
Mr. Rexford received his training beyond the rural schools at
Lawrence College, Appleton, where he pursued the college
course until his senior year. When he had gone thus far in
his course, the care of his home demanded his attention; and,
characteristic of the man, he sacrificed his own personal
interests for the greater good he might do. The city of
Appleton and its institutions, especially its college and its
churches, still possess strong bonds of interest for him. The
college, in turn, is justly proud of his attainments and
conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Literature in
1908.
After his school career, Mr. Rexford took up his work at his
country home near Shiocton, where he has been actively
associated with all phases of the development of community
life. Good roads found a strong advocate in him; the
introduction and development of farm machinery and farm
improvements have found him a leader. For school programs and
for church exercises he has contributed much in providing
music, or in directing the musical part of the program.
Early in life Mr. Rexford conceived the notion of sharing his
best thoughts with his fellows through expressing them for
publication, and it is said that he has been a contributor to
the press since the age of fourteen. He has written
extensively for a large number of magazines. The Ladies' Home
Journal and Outing have published more of his articles,
perhaps, than any other magazines. These magazine
contributions comprise poems and articles upon gardening,
flower culture, and the making of the country home. While the
articles show extensive scientific knowledge, they are so
written as to be easily comprehended by the ordinary reader.
The various articles have been collected into book form and
the following discussions upon the garden and its plants were
listed in the 1912 catalogs: Flowers, How to Grow Them; Four
Seasons in the Garden; Home Floriculture; Home Garden; Indoor
Gardening. These discussions are made up largely of Mr.
Rexford's own experience in doing the things he writes about.
From among the flowers in his living room or the plants in
his garden you can easily imagine him in his quiet,
neighborly way telling you the things that will aid you in
successfully raising flowers or vegetables. We are closely
drawn to him, for there is no show about what he does, but
that simple kindliness of one who desires to help.
While extracts from books of the type above listed would not
generally form good selections for reading, yet so different
is the style of composition of Mr. Rexford that we feel that
a few illustrations here will be of great interest as showing
the qualities above mentioned. The first two selections are
taken from his "Home Floriculture," a book published by the
Orange Judd Company, and will illustrate Mr. Rexford's
intense interest in his plants as well as his simple style in
telling us the things of help to us.
[Illustration: EBEN E. REXFORD]