This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Boring, Smith, Shackelford, Pickett Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FCC.2ACE/1934 Message Board Post: PROF. HANSON BORING Prof. BORING was born in Brooke county, Virginia, which is now West Virginia, March 10, 1825. He was reared on a farm, on which he labored until nearing his majority. From his childhood he was fond of books, and his father, though of limited means, proffered him an education to fit him for teaching. But his fondness for mechanism led him to adopt the trade of a house-joiner. In 1846, when he was just 21 years of age, he was working in a shop, where, in addition to house-building, wheat fans and wheat threshers were built. On the 13th of August of that year he was assisting in operating a thresher--then called a "groung-hog" thresher--when he was caught by the wheels of the machine and both his arms were torn off above the elbow. Thus his whole course of life was changed. All the rosy hues of life pictured to his ardent imagination suddenly vanished. Besides the discomforts of being maimed, the dread of eating the bread of dependence hung like a pall over his sensitive, independent spirit, and this stimulated him to discover means by which he could earn a living. His natural aptitude to mechanism, stimulated by necessity and assisted by the skill of a smith brought forth a pair of artificial arms with which he performs so many things and with such facility that we who know him almost feel that he has little need of natural arms. Shortly after this mishap, he began teaching a primary school, and continued until the spring of 1849, when he entered Bethany College, Va. In 1853, he graduated, sharing the first honors of his institution with Judge W.B. SMITH, now of Richmond, Ky. Immediately after graduating he came to Kentucky and settled in Madisonville and engaged in teaching. His first years teaching was in partnership with General now Judge SHACKELFORD. He then established the Madisonville Female Academy, which he conducted successfully until 1861. He then spent four years during the war teaching in Christian and Triggs counties. In 1865, he established the "Hansonian Institute" in Madisonville, which he conducted for two years. In 1867, he was called to the chair of Mathematics and Languages in Eminence College, Ky. He then returned to Madisonville and conducted a private school for ten years under the title of "Borings School". In January, 1884, he was again called to the chair of Mathematics and ! Languages in Eminence College, and remained till June, 1889, when he again returned to Madisonville and established the Hopkins Institute, which, with three assistants, he conducted successfully, enrolling near 150 pupils. But at the close of the academic year, he decided that he no longer wished the responsibilities of a large school, and fitted up a room at his residence, where he is now teaching a select class of young ladies and gentlemen under the title of "Boring's School". In 1887, the Professor was a candidate for Superintendent of public Instruction of the State of Kentucky and with only three or four weeks canvass, he went into the Democratic State Convention with more instructed votes than any of his four competitors. But while he was successful over three of his competitors, he could not vanquish his old friend and college mate, Joseph Desha PICKETT, who defeated him by a few votes. In point of scholarship, he has but few equals in this part of the State, and as an instructor stands at the head of his profession. Personally he is one of the most pleasant and affable gentlemen to be met with anywhere, and has a host of friends who love and reverence him with a sincere devotion. (Source: Madisonville Hustler, Fri., Feb. 24, 1893) note: An etched portrait accompanys this article. prb