John Ogden

John Ogden (February 12, 1824 – July 23, 1910) was an American military officer, minister, veteran educator, and abolitionist. He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, being captured in 1864 and held prisoner until the conflict ended. He became an education official with the Freedmen's Bureau in Tennessee and co-founded a school for African Americans, Fisk School, that preceded Fisk University. He also served as the third North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction in the early 1890s.

Early life John Ogden was born on February 12, 1824 in Mount Vernon, Ohio.

Early teaching career Ogden began teaching at a common school in Crestline, Ohio in 1842. Throughout the 1840s he continued to teach in small schools until he was named principal of a grammar school in Columbus.

Military career Not long after arriving at Winona State Normal School, Ogden enlisted to fight in the American Civil War. He served in the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment. On January 9, 1866, they opened the Fisk School, named for Freedmen's Bureau official Clinton B. Fisk. Ogden served as the school's first principal, and on August 12, 1867, a charter was signed, transforming the institution into Fisk University.

Later career After serving as principal of Fisk School, and later president of Fisk University, Ogden moved back to Ohio. During the 1870s and early 1880s, he worked as principal for colleges and normal schools.

In 1887, Ogden moved to Dakota Territory (modern-day North Dakota) and lived on a homestead in McIntosh County. He later moved to Sargent County and served as the principal of the Milnor State Normal School in Milnor, North Dakota.

In 1890, Ogden received the Republican nomination for Superintendent of Public Instruction over William J. Clapp. Frederick W. Cathro stayed on with Ogden and served again as Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction. In 1866, he married Anna Augusta Brewster, a former pupil at Winona State Normal School, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Following his retirement in 1892, Ogden lived in Minneapolis. He moved to Seattle in 1907. He died there on July 23, 1910.