C. Rome Dustin, born on July 26, 1887, near Kunkle, Madison Township, Williams County, Ohio, is the superintendent of Montpelier public schools. He is the son of John H. and Mary W. (Barckley) Dustin, both high school graduates and former teachers. Dustin earned his Bachelor of Science from Tri-State Normal College and furthered his education at Ohio University and Teachers’ College, N.Y. His teaching career includes positions in Bridgewater and Superior Townships, Pioneer, Kunkle, and Montpelier. During World War I, he served in the Naval Officers Training School. Married to Ruth Elder on August 2, 1917, they have a son, Richard E. Dustin is a member of the Church of God and a supporter of the Democratic Party.
C. Rome Dustin.— The County of Williams numbers among its citizens many skillful physicians, lawyers, manufacturers and business men of more than local reputation; while proud of them, she is not lacking in others who have achieved distinction in callings requiring intellectual abilities of high order. Among the latter, C. Rome Dustin, the popular and efficient superintendent of the Montpelier public schools, occupies a deservedly conspicuous place. No one is more entitled to the thoughtful consideration of a free and enlightened people than he who shapes and directs the minds of the young, adds to the value of their intellectual treasures and moulds their characters. This is preeminently the mission of the faithful and conscientious teacher and to such noble work is the life of the subject of this sketch devoted.
C. Rome Dustin was born near Kunkle, Madison Township, Williams County, Ohio, on July 26, 1887, and is a son of John H. and Mary W. (Barckley) Dustin. The father was born near West Unity, Ohio, on February 16, 1851, and the mother was born at Decatur, Indiana, on January 17, 1854, while their marriage occurred in Williams County, Ohio. They both were high school graduates and held to high ideals in educational matters. John H. Dustin also attended normal school and became a successful and popular teacher in the public schools of Williams County, teaching first in Madison Township and later becoming principal of the schools at Kunkle. Mrs. Dustin also taught one term of school prior to her marriage. They were members of the Church of God and in politics Mr. Dustin gave his support to the democratic party. They became the parents of five children, three of whom are living, namely: Kahl, who graduated from high school and then won his degree of Bachelor of Arts at Findlay (Ohio) College, is now a minister of the Church of God at Columbia City, Indiana; Cleveland R., who is a graduate of the Tri-State Normal College at Angola, Indiana, is now superintendent of schools at Kunkle; C. Rome, the subject of this review.
C. Rome Dustin received his elementary education in the public schools of this county, graduating from the high school, and then entered the Tri-State Normal College, at Angola, Indiana, where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science, following which he took special work in the Ohio University and Teachers’ College, N. Y. He then engaged in teaching school, his first work being in Bridgewater and Superior Townships, this county, following which he had the grammar school at Pioneer for three years. During the following year and a half he was principal of the Kunkle school and then for six years was principal of the Montpelier High School. On May 31, 1918, Mr. Dustin resigned the latter position and entered the Naval Officers Training School, at the Municipal Pier, Chicago, and from there he was sent to Chicago LTniversity for three weeks of special training. He was then transferred to the United States steamship Commodore, stationed at Grant Park Chicago, where he remained until October, 1918, when he was transferred to the Pier. On November 3, he was selected as one of the twenty-five who were to be sent to Pelham Bay, New York, but before sailing he was stricken with an attack of the “flu,” which necessitated his being sent to a hospital. After his recovery, he received a furlough and on December 6, 1918, he was honorably discharged from the service. He returned home and finished the year as a teacher at Kunkle, and the following year was elected superintendent of the Montpelier schools, in which position he is now serving. Prof. Dustin possesses in an eminent degree the essential qualifications of the successful educator and has rendered appreciated service in every position which he has filled.
On August 2, 1917, Mr. Dustin was married to Ruth Elder, of Pioneer, Ohio. Mrs. Dustin is a graduate of Pioneer High School, and the State Normal School at Oxford, Ohio, and taught in the public schools for two years prior to her marriage. To them has been born a son, Richard E., born on August 14, 1919.
Mr. Dustin is a member of the Church of God at Deerlick, Ohio, and his political support is given to the democratic party. Although a quiet and unassuming man, Mr. Dustin has contributed to the civic, moral and educational advancement of his community, while his admirable qualities of head and heart have won for him the esteem and confidence of the circles in which he moves.
Source: Bowersox, Charles A. ed. A standard history of Williams County, Ohio: an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development , 2 vols. Publisher Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1920.