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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 373-374
WILLIS P. COLBURN, the well-known and efficient principal of the Cassville public schools, is a native of Grant county, his birth having occurred in Platteville in 1866.
T. J. COLBURN, his father, was born and reared in Vermont. In 1845, at the age of nineteen years, he came to Platteville, where as a carpenter and contractor he successfully engaged in business for many years. He married Miss Margie JEARDEAU, and to them were born six children, namely: Mrs. C. J. HOSMER, a resident of Westfield, Mass; Margie a seventh-grade teacher in the schools of Milwaukee, Wis.; Mrs. Dr. E. E. COERPER, of Milwaukee; Philip, of San Diego, Cal.; Willis P.; and Roy Victor, who died in 1884. The father, who was a great lover of music and possessed an excellent voice, taught that art in the Platteville Academy, and also in the State Normal School after it was established at Platteville. He continued teaching for a number of years, and was also leader of the choir in the Congregational Church, of which both he and his wife were prominent members. He died in Platteville in 1890, and his widow now resides in San Diego, California.
During his boyhood and youth Willis P. COLBURN attended the public schools of Platteville, and later entered the State Normal School at that place, where he was graduated in the class of 1891. He has since devoted his time and attention to teaching. In 1885 he took charge of his first district school, and taught one winter in Smelser township, Grant county; in 1887 he had charge of the school in Benton; and in 1888 was at Hurricane Corners, near Lancaster. He became principal of the Potosi public schools in 1891, and remained there until coming to Cassville, as principal of the public schools at this place, in September, 1894. For seven years he has been principal of the high school, with Roscoe WOODWARD as assistant, while in the grammar grades under his charge are three teachers: Prof. Clarence BROCKET, who has charge of the upper grades - the seventh, eighth and ninth; Miss Marguerite BAUMGARTNER, the fourth, fifth and sixth grades; and Miss Mamie PRIOR, the first, second and third grades. The entire enrollment is 220, forty-five being in the high school, which was organized in 1889, and is supplied with a physical laboratory and a good reference library of 350 volumes.
Prof. COLBURN is a member of the State Teachers Association and also of the Principals Association, and is one of the leading educators in Grant county, having met with excellent success in his chosen profession. Socially he is connected with Cassville Lodge, No. 235, F. & A.M., of which he is secretary, and also belongs to Platteville Chapter, R.A.M. In religious belief he is a Congregationalist, and has been leader of the choir in the Congregational Church at Platteville.
Our subject was married, in July, 1900, to Miss Jennie Helena GRIMM, daughter of Hertmann GRIMM, of Cassville.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck