SILL, John Mahelon Berry, educator, born in Black Rock, Erie County, New York, 23 November, 1831. He was educated at Jonesville, and at the Michigan state normal school, of which he was the first male graduate, concluding his course of study in 1854. He also received the honorary degree of A. M. from the University of Michigan in 1871. From his graduation until 30 June, 1863, he was professor of the English language and literature in the Michigan state normal school. He was then , chosen superintendent of the public schools of Detroit, which office he held until 1865. In 1865-'75 he was principal of the Detroit female seminary, and from the latter year until his resignation in 1886 he was again superintendent of the public schools. Since that date he had been principal of the Michigan state normal school. He Was president of the Michigan state teachers' association in 1861-'2, a member for two years of the Detroit board of education, and one of the board of regents of the University of Michigan in 1867-'9. Mr. Sill has published "Synthesis of the English Sentence" (New York, 1856), and "Practical Lessons in English" (1880).