USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 56
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Miss Magie left Dover in 1865. In 1867 she went to Chester to take charge of the Chester Institute. She remained there until 1875, married Mr. Coley James in 1877; died in 1893.
"Prospect Hill School" was opened at 19 Prospect street, September, 1877, by Miss L. B. Magie, as a boarding and day school for girls; but, a little later, boys were admitted to the day school. The school rapidly increased in numbers, the standard of scholarship was high, and for the first time in the history of Dover, a school was being successfully conducted where young men and women could be fitted to enter any college in the country. The school was carried on in the Magie home and the capacity of the house was severely strained to accommodate so many pupils. The average attendance in the day school for nearly twenty years was fifty. Miss Magie's health began to fail about 1897, but she continued teaching until 1900, when the school was closed. She died in 1909.
Miss Magie had a number of able assistants,-Miss G. A. Craigie, Miss Massey, Miss Huntington, Prof. Routledge, and Miss A. F. Magie. (It is said that "Miss Abbie" used to inject a little mildness into the discipline of the Magie school .- Editor.)
Rev. Burtis C. Magie, D.D .- Burtis C. Magie was born in New York City in 1813, and graduated from the University of the City of New York in 1835. From this university he received in 1875 the degree of doctor of divinity. In 1838 he graduated in the second class which Union Seminary sent out, and in the same year he was ordained and married. He became pastor of the young Presbyterian church of Dover, New Jersey, in July, 1839, and continued in that pastorate thirty-seven years. From 1876 until 1888 he was pastor of the Pleasant Grove Church in Morris county.
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Dr. Magie was a Presbyterian of the Presbyterians. His family was of the good old Scotch Covenanter stock. In old Elizabethtown, where rest the bones of his ancestors, who were among the earliest settlers in New Jersey, the name of Magie has been associated with the principles of Scotch Calvinism for more than two hundred years. In the old Rockaway Presbytery he was stated clerk for many years. After the reunion of the old and new school churches the Presbytery of Rockaway was enlarged into the Presbytery of Morris and Orange. Dr. Magie was chosen clerk of that body and continued in that position until a year before his death, when he resigned the office on account of the pressure of his duties as County Superintendent of Schools.
As a preacher his peculiarly masculine type of mind gave him a much larger proportion of men in his congregation than is apt to be found. His sermons were as logical as a lawyer's brief, and as scriptural as logical. He aimed to give his hearers something to think about, and his pastoral life had furnished him with an inexhaustible fund of incident, which he never used except to enforce and illustrate a logical line of argument. No oc- casion of speech ever threw him from this course. Whether preaching in his own pulpit, greeting a president in the White House, sharing the festivi- ties of a social gathering or the routine of an ecclesiastical meeting, he aimed to leave behind him a clearly defined thought to give point and value to his participation. As a public man he was held in esteem in his state, being appointed, at the age of seventy-four, the County Superintendent of Public Schools. His administration of that trust was marked with the same vigor and energy that he had thrown into every undertaking of his life.
Before and during the Civil War he was a strong Republican. In 1863 he joined the Christian Commission and served as Chaplain with the army in Tennessee for several months. At this time he contracted a severe case of typhoid fever. This was the only serious illness that he ever ex- perienced. An opportunity to do good was to him a duty, and to see a duty was to do it as far as it could be done.
From his own home in Dover, at midnight, June 12, 1890, he passed suddenly, after a long, happy, and useful life on earth, into the mystery of the spirit world. He was buried in the Orchard Street Cemetery, among the graves of the men, women, and children who had once worked with him and through him to promote temperance, morality, and religion by means of the Dover Presbyterian Church.
Contributed by Mrs. Charles E. Wortman, Brookside, N. J .:
July 29, 1913.
Our neighborhood was formerly called Harmony, and is an old settlement. The house across the way is more than a hundred years old, and a part of ours is perhaps not a great deal younger. Mr. Wortman sometimes plows up old coins of early dates. On the farm adjoining ours slaves were owned. One ran away, but was captured. The owner had an iron collar made for the poor creature that would have shamed a Simon Legree invention. I have seen the collar. It was made in two parts bolted together, and was heavy. The edges were rough and jagged. Nails were made by hand where our garden now is, and this collar may have been made by the same smith. The slave's owner afterward hanged himself, so tragedy was here also.
Dirck Jans Woertman came from Amsterdam, Holland, in 1647. Charles E. Wortman is descended from James 1825-84, son of Benjamin 1788, son of John 1755-1831.
August 2, 1913.
Today I drove to my sister's, who lives next door to my old home near Dover. We found in her. attic an old teapot containing old papers of my father. Among
James Cooper, Principal of Dover Public School, about 1860.
Rev. B. C. Magie, D.D.
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them were the ones I enclose to you. They may not be useful, but I doubt if others have preserved the like. These are a bill for tuition in the old Stone Academy of Dover, and a monthly report in the same school.
Dover, N. J., March Ist, 1869.
Mr. Crane
To St. John's School, Dr
To One Month's Tuition. of Louisa $3.00
Received Payment,
A. L. Forgus.
"The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom."
(The above settles one point of dispute. It has been stated positively by good authorities that the teacher's name signed above was "Forbus." Here we have her own signature. Q. E. D.)
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, DOVER, N. J., PARISH SCHOOL. "For of such is the kingdom of Heaven."
Rev. JAMES A. UPJOHN, A. M., Rector. Miss A. L. Forgus, Teacher. Report of Louisa Crane for the month of February 1869. Conduct 10, Punctuality 9, Catechism 10, Sunday Lessons-, Latin-, Arithmetic 10, Spelling 10, Reading 10, Grammar 10, Geography 9, History 10, Astronomy -, Writing 10, Dictation -, Composition 10, Declamation 9, Drawing -, Vocal Music -, Instrumental do. - , French 10.
Highest mark in Conduct or Lessons, 10. The Rector requests that the Parents will carefully read this Report, and preserve it for comparison with future Reports. JAS. A. UPJOHN, Rector.
(These two documents constitute, incidentally, a report on education in Dover in 1869.)
(Mrs. W.'s letter, continued.) Since then I have thought that what I might add would be more interesting than valuable. My mother, whose memory was excellent, was a "famous story teller." In the early sixties I went with her through what was then a deep wood with tangled undergrowth to Indian Falls. In the brook were remains of a waterwheel. She told us that Mr. Burchell, a cabinet-maker, manufactured, in a shop that had fallen down, some time since, our rush seated chairs and cherry table. I remember the latter was the natural color of the wood, showing well the beautiful grain, and as smooth and polished as ivory.
Years before this, one Clark owned the land about the falls, and built a log cabin there. Lacking materials for a door, a blanket served for one. Wolves were in that locality and the boldest poked their noses behind the curtain. Clark's wife, whose name was Nellie, told mother that when her husband was belated, re- turning from work, she met him with flaming firebrands to keep away the wolves.
Mrs. CHARLES E. WORTMAN.
Brookside, N. J., Aug. 9, 1913.
Mr. Charles D. Platt : According to promise I herewith enclose some historical facts about Chester Institute and something about Miss Susan C. Magie. (She wrote Magie.) Few, if any, knew Miss Susan C. Magie as I knew her. After teaching four years in Public Schools, in the fall of 1877 I went back to Chester as Miss Magie's first assistant.
In the year 1854, through the instrumentality of Major Daniel Budd and Mr. Spafford Dickerson, William Rankin started a boarding and day school in the building now (1913) known as "Chester House," at Chester, N. J. He remained there until 1862, and in the fall of 1863 Rev. Luke I. Stoutenburg became owner and manager of the school. In 1867 he disposed of the same to the Misses Susan C. and Lucy B. Magie. The school was co-educational, large, and prosperous. In 1869, I think, Major Daniel Budd had erected a new school building, the substantial stone mansion now used as a summer residence by his son Joseph D. Budd. Here seclusion, quiet, spacious grounds, large well ventilated rooms, and scenery unequalled in beauty when viewed just at sunset were conducive to the success that followed.
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Doubtless, at that time Miss Susan C. Magie was the best read woman in the state. She possessed the unexampled faculty of imparting knowledge. She was perfect as a disciplinarian, and altogether impartial as a teacher.
I remember the interior of the new Institute and could draw a plan of it and name every boarder who was there in my school days, '72 and '73. I quote from a letter of Miss Magie written to me May 18, 1874.
"My dear Miss Crane,
No one outside of your own family can possibly take greater interest in your welfare than do I. I have heard of your success as a teacher. Let me urge you not to forget to develop the mind spiritually as well as to stimulate the intellect and enforce discipline. Never forget to teach your pupils both by precept and example that they are only preparing for another world. This kind of teaching gives the most lasting and the most satisfactory results."
You will agree with me that the above shows ennobling sentiment.
LOUISA C. WORTMAN.
The Dover Mail of June 4, 1874, was found in the Vail Home. It contains an advertisement of Chester Institute which I quote in part for the light it sheds upon the career of a Dover lady, Miss Susan C. Magie :
Location .- The Institute for Young Ladies at Chester, New Jersey, which has been in successful operation for eighteen years, is now under the care of Miss Susan C. Magie, formerly of the Don Bernard French and English Institute of New York City.
The new buildings .- The next term will commence on the 4th of May in the new buildings just erected at great expense and provided with all the modern im- provements. Ample grounds for exercise and recreation, a bathing house and a skating pond are connected with the premises.
Course of study .- Teachers of French and German reside in the buildings, affording rare facilities for conversation in these languages *
* Dio Lewis' system of Calisthenics is used.
I. Primary department .- Reading, Spelling, Practical Arithmetic, Mental Arith- metic, Geography, English Grammar, History of the United States.
II. Preparatory department .- Arithmetic, Algebra, History, Natural Philosophy, Botany, Latin, French, Composition.
III. Middle class .- Geometry, Trigonometry, History, Rhetoric, Astronomy, Physiology, Botany, Philology, Kame's Elements of Criticism, Latin, French, Com- position.
IV. Senior class :- English Literature, Mental Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, Butler's Analogy, Evidences of Christianity, Chemistry, Geology, History, Logic, Latin, French, German.
Sessions .- The year is divided into three terms, beginning in May, September and January.
Expenses .- Per 14 weeks, Board, Washing, and Tuition in English Branches -- $75. Day Scholars-$10. Extra Branches: Music on the piano $15. Use of Piano $5. Music on the Organ $15. Oil Painting $10. Water Color $10. Drawing $5. Wax Flowers $5. French or German $5.
Those Wax Flowers are part of the education of our grandmothers from a century back. Probably they did not maintain their place in the curriculum much later than 1874. But they are an incident. Some solid meat is here offered for young ladies-I wonder how many said "I'll take a little of both."
It was a strenuous life that Miss Magie led in administering such an institution : and she is said to have been fully equal to it. Perhaps we gain from this advertisement some inkling of what was aimed at in the Magie Schools of Dover. Such was the standard of education in other private schools in the State. Domestic Science was taught by the mothers, no doubt.
John O. Hill, by Miss Katharine Ayres :
More than one hundred years ago, on March 27, 1812, in Franklyn, near Dover, was born to "Deacon" John Hill and Alice Simcox-Losey Hill, a son. This son, named John Ogsbury, inheriting traits of his Dutch, French, and German ancestors, grew to a
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sturdy manhood. As a boy, he was quick to see, keen to observe, prompt to act; as a man, he was known in his own neighborhood, in the township, and in the county, as possessing these same qualities, having also a bright and cheery disposition, a sense of humor, and a courage that would not down.
His father was for many years a deacon in the Baptist Church of Morristown, and John Jr. often accompanied him to the Sunday services. On one occasion John's eyes seemed to be roving about the building instead of being fixed on the speaker, and "Deacon" Hill, thinking he had not paid proper attention, began to question him. He found that eyes and ears had both been used to some purpose, as young John could tell not only the text, but the gist of the sermon, besides giving the number of windows and panes in the room, of the steps up to the pulpit, and of the rafters overhead.
John's education was that obtained in the ordinary country school of his time, the three "r's" being considered the most important branches of study, nor did he give much thought to further advancement until some time after his marriage to Nancy Beach Talmage, which took place Sept. 27, 1836. A few years later an accident which kept him in the house all winter made a change in his whole after life. Being a man who could never endure idleness and having the true progressive spirit, he proceeded to carry out his own rendering of an old proverb which he often quoted: "What can't be endured must be cured." He gathered about him his old school books and some new ones and spent hours of the short days and long winter evenings in reviewing and mastering their contents.
He decided to try teaching and in 1840 he took charge of the Dover school for the summer term. The children of the district numbered one hundred and thirty-six, some of these being pupils in summer only and others only in winter. While in this school Mr. Hill was visited by a friend, who found him at his desk in a room occupied by eighty pupils. He was hearing a class read, showing a boy how to solve a problem, and mending a pen. If a word was mispronounced or any mistake made by one of the class, he knew it at once; if the boy at his side made a wrong figure the teacher saw it; and any disorder in the room was also quickly noted and remembered for future consideration.
He was a successful teacher and had no difficulty in securing positions-records showing terms spent in Denville, Union, and other schools in the vicinity of his home. (Mr. Isaac W. Searing of Dover remembers going to school to him in Mill Brook.) While in Whippany school, some eight miles distant, he walked back and forth each day, besides doing the winter work about his place.
But teaching, however successful, was not active nor stirring enough for his inclinations, nor was the income derived from it sufficient; so he left the school room and entered the world of business. There he succeeded beyond his expecta- tions, and for many years every business transaction brought a gain.
At the age of sixty he had some thought of retiring from active service, but eighty found him still employed. Even on the last morning of his life, March 18, 1893, he was out inspecting the work and giving suggestions to the workmen on his farm. One who knew him well says: "John Ogsbury Hill was an obedient son, a loving father, a kind friend and neighbor, a successful teacher, a shrewd business man, a helpful citizen, and a worthy Christian."
He united with the Morristown Baptist Church in 1838, and like his father, was a deacon in that church for many years. His last resting place is a quiet spot in the Hill cemetery on his home farm in Franklyn.
Written by Miss Katharine Ayres.
Dover District No. 1, 1853. Number of children is 275. Aaron Doty, W. L. Young, J. H. Butterworth, trustees.
Parents' names, and children's names and ages :
Aaron Doty-Harriet Doty, 17; Vic- toria Doty, 15; William H. H. Doty, 13; Hudson Doty, 5.
Emely McDavit-William H. McDavit, 15; James McDavit, 13; David Mc- Davit, 9.
Oliver Sayre-James Sayre, 13; Jack- son Loveat Sayre, 12.
J. P. Francisco-Guy Francisco, 17; Harriot Francisco, 9; Ellen Fran- cisco, 6.
J. A. Willson-George A. Willson, 15; Jane A. Willson, 12; Isabella Willson, IO; Sidney C. Willson, 8.
G. M. Hinchman-Suffrance Hinchman, 14.
P. Cavenaugh-Dennis Cavenaugh, 15. Joseph-John Rogers, II.
A. A. Trowbridge-Sarah E. Trow- bridge, 14; John L. Trowbridge, 10; Charles F. Trowbridge, 7; Lucy M. Trowbridge, 5.
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Richard McPeek-Mary Ann McPeek, 6. Eliza Massaker-Mary Massaker, 17; Elizabeth Massaker, 14.
Mahlon Clark-Ann Clark, 14; Eliza- beth Clark, 12; Almira Clark, 10; James Clark, 6.
John Writner-John H. Writner, 17; Margaret Writner, 14; Martha Writ- ner, II; Harriet Writner, 9.
Samuel Cooper-Margaret Cooper, 15; William H. Cooper, 13; Hester Ann Cooper, II; Carroline Cooper, 9; Ellin Cooper, 5.
Patrick Bloomer-Celia Bloomer, 6.
David Jones & Mrs. Henderson-Mary J. Henderson, 10; James Henderson, 14; John Henderson, 17.
Gasper Stage-Mahlon M. Stage, II; George D. Stage, 9; Matilda J. Stage, 7; Chileon Stage, 5.
Daniel Smith-Joseph Smith, 17; Daniel Smith, 15; Charles Smith, 13.
James A. King-Elizabeth A. King, 17; Joseph B. King, 14; Ruth A. King, 12; Richard R. King, 9; John H. King, 6.
William Kinney-Mary Kinney, 13; Ed- ward Kinney, II; Jane Kinney, 9; Ellin Kinney, 7; Sarah Kinney, 5.
Mrs. Riley-Julia Ann Riley, II ; Mary Ann Riley, II, (twins) ; Elizabeth Riley, 7; James Riley, 14; Jane Riley, 5.
Abner Coonrod-Jabez Coonrod, 16; Roda Coonrod, 13; Electa Coonrod, 9; Phebe Coonrod, 7.
John McKin-Ann Shelley, 13.
William Phillips-William Phillips, 17; Ritchard Phillips, 9.
John Wear-Sarah Ann Wear, 16; Anna J. Wear, 13; William Wear, II.
Elias Garrigus-Elias A. Garrigus, 15; Laura Garrigus, II.
Patrick Bucannan-Delia Bucannan, 17; William Bucannan, 14; Mary Bucan- nan, II; John Bucannan, 9; Joseph Bucannan, 7.
John Sanford-James Sanford, 15; George Sanford, 13; Eliza Sanford, IO.
Lips-Catharine Lips, 14.
Thomas Lindsley-Martha Lindsley, 12; Margaret A. Lindsley, 9.
Daniel L. Denman-George L. Denman, 9.
J. Lamson-Alfred Lamson, 13; c. Marcus Lamson, 10; Martha Lamson, 9.
W. F. King-David King, 15; Joseph King, 13; Ford King, II; Mulford King, 9; John H. King, 6.
J. Scryminger-Emmer Scryminger, 8.
J. B. Ball-Harriot Ball, 12; Lyman G. Ball, 8; Lucinda Ball, 6.
Charles Berry-Charles Berry, 12.
Charles Riley-Brigget Ryley, 8; Rose Riley, 7; John Riley, 5.
Patrick Mulvey-Patrick Mulvey, 15; James Mulvey, 13; Margaret Mulvey, II.
James McKenan-James McKenan, 13; Mary McKenan, II; Ann McKenan, 6.
James Conley-Morgan Conley, 7; John Conley, 5; Peter Hughs, 8.
John McElhose-Malvinay Mclaughlin, 17.
James Ford-Ellen S. Ford, 14; Han- nah M. Ford, 12; Mary E. Ford, 6. William Love-Ann M. Love, 17. Jacob Hurd-Lawrence Conley, 14.
Robert Crittenden-Ann Crittenden, 5. Alexander Searing-Mary Searing, 5. Thomas Robert-Henry Robertson, 5.
J. H. Ford-John Ford, 14; James Ford, II; Marcus Ford, 7.
Zenas Prudden-Olivia Prudden, 16; Suzan Prudden, 13; David Prudden, II.
D. W. Hamilton-Ann Hamilton, 13; Mary Hamilton, II; Stephen Hamil- ton, 9; John Hamilton, 7; William Hamilton, 5.
Francis Oram-Sarah A. Oram, 8; Naomy Oram, 5.
Mrs. Champian-Alizabeth A. Cham- pian, 17.
P. McMaughan-Mary McMaughan, 15; Ellen McMaughan, 14; Mackley Mc- Maughan, 12.
Francis Meagher-Harriat Meagher, 14; Amelia Meagher, 12; Emma Meagher, IO; Richard Meagher, 8; Maria Meagher, 6.
R. F. Oram-R. F. Oram, 14; Lovedy Oram, 12.
Henry Berry-John Stage, 13.
Asa Berry-Asa Berry, 12. John Clark-Emily Clark, 16; Jane Clark, 12.
Charles Smith-Mary Smith, 10; Ros- anna Smith, 6.
James Devore-Elizabeth Devore, 14; Phebe Devore, 12; William Devore, 9; George Devore, 5.
Sylvester Dickerson-Susan Dickerson, 8; Ezra Dickerson, 6.
Ephram Lindsley-Sarah Lindsley, 12; Harriot A. Lindsley, 7; William Lindsley, 6; John Searing, 14.
James Searing-Elizabeth Corby, 13; Mary Searing, 17; Margaret Teabo, Io; John Teabo, 8.
Alexander Hance-John Hance, II.
William Losey-Marshall Losey, II. A. W. Garrigus-John E. Garrigus, 17; Sanford Garrigus, 15.
P. H. Hoffman-Martha Adams, 17; Mary Byram, 13.
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J. L. Lawrance-Mary Lawrance, 7; Walter Lawrance, 5; E. Corby at J. L. Lawrance's, 14.
J. L. Allen-Samuel Allen, 10; Morah Allen, 7.
S. Sutton-Abraham Davenport, 10.
B. C. Magie-Charles Jefferds, 14; Ed- win Jefferds, 12; Frank Russel, 5; Susan Magie, 12; Lucy Magie, 9; Abby Magie, 7; Walter Magie, 5.
J. Fergason-Alfred Fergason, 8; Hor- ton Fergason, 10.
W. Minton-Caroline Minton, 16; Sarah L. Minton, 13; Harlin Minton, 9.
Charles Palmer-Delia Palmer, II; Stephen Palmer, 9; Oscar Palmer, 5. M. B. Titman-Sarah Titman, 7.
M. Sigler-Adah Sigler, 5.
W. L. Youngs-Alexander Youngs, 16; Janie Youngs, 10; David Youngs, 7; John McBeth, 16.
Moses Hurd-Mary E. Hurd, 15; Har- riot Hurd, 10; Frank T. Hurd, 6.
J. M. Losey-Ella Losey, II ; Fowna W. Losey, 6.
A. Beemer-Elizabeth Beemer, 14.
J. Kelly-Catharine Kelley, II.
A. Heinl-John Heinl, 17; Andrew Heinl, 14; John Heinl, 12.
A. C. Whittlesey-Charles Whittlesey, 9; Samuel Whittlesey, 7.
W. S. Brown-William H. Brown, 5. A. Whiting-Robert Whiting, 8.
J. Farrel-John Farrel, 7.
G. B. Segur-Anson G. P. Segur, 14; Waren Segur, 10; Olivia Segur, 5.
J. E. Hoagland-Racilia Hoagland, 10; Whitfield Hoagland, 8.
William Orsborn-Harriot Orsborn, II ; William Orsborn, 9; Mary Orsborn, 7; Jacob Orshorn, 5. Aaron Kinney-Sarah B. Kinney, 6.
David Whitehead-Elma Whitehead, 17; Margaret Whitehead, 13.
H. C. Bonnell-Catharine Bonnell, 16; George W. C. Bonnell, 6.
Tytus Berry-Charles Berry, 15; Pason Berry, 14; Electa Berry, 12; Tytus Berry, 10; Franklin Berry, 8; Anna Berry, 6.
S. S. Carpenter-Johanna Lyon, 13.
C. B. Gage-A1 L. Gage, 6; Mary Kin- dred, 17; Mary J. Pierson, 17.
Mary Gage-Charles Gage, 13; Cornel- ius Gage, 9; Sarah Gage, 7.
S. B. Coe-Judson A. Coe, II.
E. A. Stickle-Emely Stickle, 14; Susan Stickle, 10; James Stickle, 8; John Stickle, 6. Nelson Moore-Robert Moore, 16; Mary J. Moore, 14; Sarah Moore, II. Suthard Wire-Virginia Wire, 5.
John Swain-Charles Swain, 16; Ed- ward Swain, 13; Ellen Swain, 10; Mary A. Swain, 8; James Swain, 6.
Patrick Cuzack-Rosa A. Cuzack, 13; John Cuzack, 10; Mary Cuzack, 8.
W. A. Dickerson-Joseph Dickerson, IO; Eilzabeth Dickerson, 8; Rebecca Dickerson, 5.
Sidney Brees-Carroline A. Brees, 16; Hila S. Brees, 14; M. L. Brees, 10; S. H. Brees, 8; H. A. Brees, 5.
E. A. Jackson-Mary Jackson, 9; Harry Jackson, 6
Abraham Van Gilder -- Ann E. Van- gilder, 16; Hannah Vangilder, 14; Catharine Vangilder, II; Robert Van- gilder, 15.
Joseph Gaffeny-Patrick Farrel, 14; John Farrel, II.
Total, 275.
No. I Dover District School, the num- ber of Children in said District is two hundred and seventy-five.
AARON DOTY, W. L. YOUNG, J. H. BUTTERWORTH. Trustees.
From Mrs. James Brannin's Scrap-Book :
Mrs. Sarah A. Pruden died in 1895 at the age of 90. She was born on the 18th of September, 1804, in the farm house of the George Richards farm, which was then owned by her father, Jacob Lawrence. She lived there with her parents until August, 1824, when she was married to Zenas Pruden, and with her husband moved to Sperrytown, on Schooley's Moun- tain, where Mr. Pruden was engaged in the wheelright business.
(It is well to note the above dates and facts as bearing upon the his- tory of the Jacob Lawrence house.)
After two years they returned to Dover and here she spent the remain- ing years of her life, having lived for fifty-six years in the house from which she was buried. * Her memory was remarkable. She was a * most entertaining talker, and her sunny disposition endeared her to all with whom she came in contact. They spoke of her lovingly as "Aunt Sally."
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Her husband died in 1868. She was the mother of seven children. Her son, Major Octavius L. Pruden, was assistant secretary to the President of the United States.
Major O. L. Pruden began his career in a New Jersey country store and was early noted as an artistic penman. He must have been born about 1842, for at the time of his death in 1902 he was about sixty years old. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted with the Eleventh Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers. The recruiting clerk noted his penmanship and at once assigned him to clerical duties. He remained in the War Department as a clerk after the war and President Grant appointed him to one of the principal clerkships in the White House in 1872. He was appointed As- sistant Secretary to the President during the Hayes administration and retained the office until he died. He wrote all the President's messages to Congress, prepared all Presidential commissions to cabinet officers, and en- grossed formal documents to foreign powers. Several of these he finished with borders in water colors, and examples of his work are on exhibition as works of art in different capitals throughout the world. Hence he ap- pears to be Dover's most notable penman.
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