The Biographical Dictionary of America/Skinner, Charles Rufus

SKINNER, Charles Rufus, educationist, was born at Union Square, Oswego county, N.Y., Aug. 4, 1844: son of Avery and Charlotte Prior (Stebbins) Skinner. His father, a native of New Hampshire, settled in Watertown, N.Y., in 1816, and in Oswego county in 1826. The son attended Clinton Liberal institute and was graduated from the Mexico academy, N.Y., 1866, meanwhile teaching in the schools which he attended. He was assistant postmaster at Watertown, 1866–67; in charge of the New York house of the Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine Company, 1867–70; part owner, business manager and city editor of the Watertown Daily Times, 1870–74. He was married, Oct. 16, 1873 , to Elizabeth Baldwin of Watertown, N.Y, He was a member of the board of education of Watertown, 1875–84, of the New York assembly, 1876–80, and a representative in the 47th and 48th congresses, 1881–85, where he was instrumental in securing the reduction of letter postage from three to two cents, and was the author of the bill providing for the special delivery system. He was deputy state superintendent of public instruction. 1886–92; supervisor of teachers' institutes and training classes, 1893–96, and state superintendent of public instruction from April 7, 1895. He was elected president of the National Educational association in 1896; was a life member of the New York State Press association, a trustee of St. Lawrence university, and of the Albany Home School for the Deaf. He received the degrees: A.M from Hamilton, 1889, LL.D. from Colgate, 1895, and Litt.D. from Tufts, 1901. He is the author of: Commercial Advantages of Watertown, N.Y. (1876); New York Question Book (1890); Arbor Day Manual (1891); Manual of Patriotism for the Schools of New York (1900).