VENABLE, William Henry, author, born in Warren county, Ohio, 29 April, 1836. He began to teach at seventeen years of age, and during his vacations attended teachers' institutes in Oxford, Ohio, being one of the first teachers in the state upon whom the Ohio board of examiners conferred a life certificate. He was graduated at the Normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, in 1862, became professor of natural science in Chickering classical and scientific institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, in the same year, was its principal and proprietor in 1881, organized and was first president of the Cincinnati society of political education, and in 1882 founded and conducted in that city the African school of popular science and history. He retired from teaching in 1886, has since devoted himself to literary work and to lecturing, and is an editor of the "Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly." He is actively connected with many educational associations, and is a member of several learned bodies. The University of Ohio gave him the degree of LL.D. in 1886. He has published "June on the Miami, and other Poems" (Cincinnati, 1871) ; "A School History of the United States" (1872) ; "The School Stage, 's a collection of juvenile acting plays, original and adapted (1873); "The Teacher's Dream," a poem (New York, 1880); "Melodies of the Heart, and other Poems" (Cincinnati, 1884); "Footprints of the Pioneers in the Ohio Valley" (1888) ; "Biography of William D. Gallagher" (1888); and " Historical Sketch of Western Periodical Literature" (1888). He has also published several pamphlets, addresses, etc., and edited "The Dramatic Actor," a collection of plays (1874); and "Dramatic Scenes from the Best Authors" (1874).