Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 51

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Youngstown > Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 51

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The three following associations are con- ducted on broadly Jewish lines, independent of congregational affiliations.

The local section of the Council of Jewish Women, devoted to religious, philanthropic and educational work, was established some eleven years ago, Its present officers are : Mrs. Maurice Moyer, president ; Miss Esther Ellis, vice-president ; Mrs. Harry Guggen- heim, treasurer; Mrs. Elias Guthman, secretary.

The Youngstown Hebrew Charity So-

ciety has been an efficient instrumentality in relieving distress, more particularly in find- ing employment for poor immigrants. Its practical labors, consisting in careful investi- gation of every case presenting itself, dona- tions of money, clothing, provisions, etc., have been of great usefulness. Emanuel Hartzell, president ; Nathan M. Hartzell, secretary ; E. L. Guthman, treasurer.

A prominent rank among the list of fra- ternal and beneficial institutions belongs to Mahoning Lodge, No. 339. of the Independ- ent Order of B'nai Brith. This lodge is the result of an amalgamation of Youngstown Lodge and Herman Rice Lodge, and contains about fifty members. Part of the dues paid by the members goes to the support of the Hebrew Orphan Asylum in Cleveland, and for the National Home for Consumptives in Den- ver. Colorado. Emanuel Hartzell, president; L. Hoffman, vice-president : Nathan M. Hart- zell, secretary; Isidor S. Weil, treasurer.

At different periods prior and subsequent to the organization of Rodef Sholem Congre- gation, there arrived Jewish people who were not in sympathy with the Reform service at the Temple, being desirous of preserving the traditional ritual and customs of orthodox Ju- daismt. This led to the organization of an orthodox congregation some twenty-five years ago, and known as "Children of Israel." Its place of worship was at first in the Porter building, but the members increasing rapidly, it was determined to build a synagogue on Summit avenne, which edifice was eventually completed and dedicated in 1803. The con- gregation is in good financial condition, but at the time of this writing without a spiritual leader. Its present officers are: I. Freidman, president : B. Feldman, vice-president : record- ing secretary, E. Geiger; corresponding secre- tary. Dave Korenhanser. The cemetery of this congregation, purchased about 1875, is situated on Church-hill road. An offshoot of the congregation is a Ladies' Benevolent So- ciety, who are doing quiet and effective work in distributing food, money and clothing among the deserving poor. Mrs. A. M. Fran-

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kle, president; Mrs. L. Spitzer, vice-presi- dent; Mrs. B. Klein, secretary; Mrs. M. F. Lazarewich, treasurer.

Another congregation formed on conserv- ative lines in the course of the past summer, is "Emanuel Congregation." The members as- semble for regular worship at 349 East Fed- eral street. The officers are: Nate Ozerski, president; M. Altshuler, vice-presi- dent; H. Myerson, secretary; I. Edelman, treasurer; Louis Ozerski, trustee.

A Zionist Society, called "Degel Zion,"

about fifty strong, meets every two weeks; Louis Ozerski, president; M. Altshuler, sec- retary ; I. Edelman, treasurer.

Of the societies of a distinctly social char- acter we have to mention the "Progress Club," situated in the Truesdale block on Phelps street. It was first founded in 1892 and has a present membership of about eighty. Its of- . ficers are: President, Louis S. Weil; vice- president, D. H. Weinberg; recording and financial secretary, Max E. Brunswick; treas- urer, Simon Hartzell.

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CHAPTER XXIV

EDUCATION

The Public and Parochial Schools of the County-Their Growth and Present Efficiency -- Some of the Early Educators-The Growth and Progress of the Public Schools of Youngstown and Their Present Enconraging Condition.

NOTE. - In the following chapter we have quoted largely from an article written by Dr. N. H. Chaney and Principal E. M. Faust, which was published in the Youngstown Daily Times of Nov. 26, 1903, under the title of "The School Board of Long Ago." The data, which pertains to the period sinnce 1890, was kindly furnished by Mr. W. N. Ashbaugh. the present clerk of the School Board. The rest is from miscellaneous sources.

As early as 1788 a resolution was adopted by the directors of the Ohio Company author- izing the employment "for the education of youth and the promotion of public worship among the first settlers, an instructor eminent for literary accomplishments and the virtue of his character, who shall also superintend the first scholastic institutions and direct the man- ner of instruction."

The ordinance of 1787 under which the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river was organized contained a strong declaration in Article Third, which is destined never to pass from the history of Ohio: "Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary for good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged." Congress also provided that the public lands be surveyed into townships six miles square. i Brush, the pioneer school-master of Youngs-

reserving section sixteen of each township for school purposes. A later law by the same body set apart two townships for the perpetual support of a seminary.

The settlers of Ohio never varied in tastes and habits of living. The descendants of the Roundheads from New England, of the Cav- aliers of Virginia, and the Germans from Pennsylvania, came in groups and settled in knots throughout the state. Schools of some kind were maintained in every locality set- tled, notwithstanding the poverty and priva- tions of pioneer life, and the encroachments of hostile Indians.

But very moderate qualifications were de- manded of the pioneer school teacher, and he usually received but moderate remuneration, Sio to $12 per month for male teachers and $4 to $5 per month for females. A fair mas- tery of "the three R's," with an equal, or more than equal ability to wield the rod or birch, and the pedagogue of the early settle- ments would pass muster. Possibly the su- perior muscular endowments of the male teachers was the cause of their receiving more than double the salary paid the females. There were not a few teachers, however, who had superior literary attainments. Thus Perlee

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town, who had charge of the school on the Diamond as early as 1806, was a good Greek and Latin scholar, and was also one of the earliest lawyers on the Reserve. The usual charge for tuition for reading, spelling, writ- ing and arithmetic was $1.50, and when gram- mar and geography were added, $2.00 per quarter. This was usually paid in produce, the only money in use on the Reserve at that time being what was received at Pittsburg in exchange for the whiskey into which the greater part of the corn and rye crop was con- verted.

Up to 1838 the studies above mentioned were the only ones pursued in the Youngs- town schools, and the schools throughout the county, outside of Youngstown were no more advanced. The Bible was often used as a reading book, in connection with Dillworth's or Webster's spelling book and Adam's arith- metic. There were usually two terms of school each year, the winter term of December, Jan- vary and February-and the summer term which lasted until harvest time. It was not unusual to see married people considerably older than the teacher, occupying the benches of the school house during the winter months, in this way making up to some extent for their meagre opportunities in early youth. In ad- dition to the payment of the regular school fees, the residents were obliged to contribute a certain portion of wood to be used for warm- ing the school house during the winter. Quill pens were used for writing, the only desk for this purpose being a long board attached in a slanting position to the wall, before which the scholars sat on rough log benches. For their books they had no support but their knees.

Among the carly teachers of Milton town- ship were Peggy Stevens, Gain Robinson, Jo- seph Duer, Phoebe Canfield. and Billings O. Plympton, who afterwards became a famous Methodist preacher. For many years teach- ers in this township were paid by subscrip- tion, receiving during the summer terms from $4 to $5 per month and very often taking their pay in grain or orders on the neighboring

stores. On one occasion a teacher who was to be paid in grain ordered it to be taken by the farmers to J. Orr's distillery, and a few months afterward he carried his winter's wages home in liquid form in a barrel.

In Jackson township the public schools were few, and but little interest taken in edu- cation until 1840, when a new impulse moved the settlers. They divided the township in eight school districts with a fractional district in the southwest corner. They hired compe- tent teachers, secured a good attendance of scholars, and from that time until the present the citizens have felt a deep interest in the cause of education. An academy was erected at the center in 1859, and the efforts of those who erected it were crowned with fair success.

The first school in Coitsville township was taught by Jeremiah Breaden, in a log cabin on the farm of Joseph Beggs, a little distance west of center. The second school organized was in the Harris district in the northeast por- tion of the township. It was held in a cabin house erected for the purpose which was after- wards taken away, and a frame house built on its site. The new one was used for a number of years, and was finally burned about the time when the first laws for the regulation and support of common schools were enacted in Ohio. In that school the Bible was one of the most important school books used. Rev. William McGuffey, author of the popular and excellent series of school books entitled Mc- Guffey's Eclectic Readers, was born in Wash- ington, Pennsylvania, in 1797, and subse- quently became a resident of Coitsville. He probably did more for the cause of common school education than any other person of his day, his school books being used throughout many, if not all the states of the Union. His parents had emigrated to this country from Scotland and were old school Presbyterians. He was a graduate of Oxford College. Eng- land, and although licensed to preach the gos- pel, was never settled as a pastor over any con- gregation, but spent his life in promoting edu- cation. He presided at different times over several colleges in this state and in Virginia.

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He died at the residence of his daughter in Dayton, Ohio, in the sixty-seventh year of his age.

In Greene township the early settlers took a deep interest in education and when there were only eight families in the township, and but cighteen prospective pupils, and some of these living three miles apart, a school house was erected, and in the winter of 1818-1819 Roswell Bartlett taught the first school. In the following winter the teacher was John Harrington, in 1821 William Harrington, and in 1822 W. Bartlett. The summer schools during these four years were taught by Rhoda Rice, Mary and Syrena Evans, and Charlotte Bascom. Good schools have always been maintained in the township.

EARLY YOUNGSTOWN SCHOOLS.

The first" school house in the village of Youngstown, which was erected about 1805, or possibly a little earlier, was a one-story log building, containing one room which stood on the Public Square, on the spot where the Sol- diers' monument now stands. Perlee Brush, as has been already mentioned, was teaching this school in 1806, though it is not certainly known whether or not he was the first teacher. He was followed by James Noyes, whose de- scription has come down to us as "a tall, slim man from Connecticut." In 1818, Jabez P. Manning occupied the school house on the Diamond, and in the following year Fanny Roth, or Ross, taught school either in Youngs- town or just south of the village. Besides the school house on the' Diamond there was one near the residence of Isaac Powers, a building that served both as a church and school house at Cornersburg, and another near Parkhurst Mills.

In 1820 Miss Phebe Wick taught the school on the Public Square; Miss Mary Case, afterwards Mrs. Benjamin Stevens, also taught in the village about this date.

THE ACADEMY.

In 1823 the second school house in Youngs- town, sometimes known as the academy, was

built in Youngstown village by A. R. Bissell, and paid for by subscription. It stood upon the present site of the Diamond Block, near the southwest corner of the square. It was taught about 1827 by a Mr. Robinson, who at the same time was studying for the Methodist ministry. Upon the introduction of the union schools system in 1851, this school building was sold to the Disciples congregation, who used it as a church until 1873, when it was moved over on East Federal street and occu- pied as a store. According to the best infor- mation at hand, Miss Phoebe Wick and Jabez P. Manning were the principal teachers in Youngstown between 1820 and 1827.

STATE LAWS.

In a true sense the early schools were not public schools, and, as we have seen, were far from being free schools. Land grants were for many years not productive of any revenue, and school taxes were unknown before 1821, when an enabling law was enacted by the legislature providing that the townships might be divided into independent districts by the trustees if authorized by the electors, and that each independent district might elect three directors, who were empowered to erect a school building, employ a teacher of whose qualifications they were the sole judges, and make assessments for expenses with the con- sent of two-thirds of the electors. This law, being permissive, was of little consequence, and was followed in 1825 by what is usually referred to as "the first school law of Ohio." and was mandatory in its provisions. This law made it the duty of the township trustees to lay off the respective townships into school districts, hold annual elections for school di- rectors in each district, and authorized them to build a school house and maintain a school. .\ penalty was imposed if they failed to em- ploy a teacher. The law also provided for a board of county examiners to examine teach- ers.

In 1837 a law was enacted creating the office of superintendent of common schools of Ohio, and elected Mr. Samuel Lewis as super-

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intendent at a salary of $500 per year. Mr. Lewis was a man of remarkable ability and had the

STATE THOROUGHLY ORGANIZED

at the end of his three years' of service, when he resigned. The reactionists then came into , power, and so many laws were enacted and repealed that it is very difficult to determine what the exact condition was when the Akron Law of 1847 was enacted, providing for or- ganizing all the independent districts in the borough into a union school, with a board of six members with full authority to employ a superintendent and conduct graded and high schools, followed in 1849 by a general law providing for the organization of union schools in all towns with a population of 200 or over, similar to the union schools of Akron. It was under this law that the Youngstown Union Schools were organized. Youngstown had at that time a population of about 1,800, with a school enumeration between the ages of 5 years and 21 years of 530. There were three school buildings, the West Side, the Middle or Front street building, and a building situated on East Federal street. Additional rooms were rented.

THE FIRST MEETING.

"At a meeting held by the directors-elect -elected under the Act of Assembly of Febru- ary 21, 1849-for the borough of Youngs- town and the territory attached thereto for the school purposes-on the evening of the 3d of May, 1851, .Dr. H. Manning was elected president of the Board of Education; William J. Edwards, secretary, and Wilson S. Thorn, treasurer of said board.

"Homer Hine was appointed school exam- iner for one year; R. J. Powers was appointed for two years, and R. W. Taylor for three years.

"It was ordered by the board that the treasurer give bond and security for the faith- ful discharge of his duties to the amount of two thousand dollars."

With this auspicious beginning the union schools of Youngstown began their history with a board of education composed of Dr. Henry Manning, Theodotius Garlick, William. J. Edwards, Wilson S. Thorn, Jesse Baldwin and A. D. Jones.

Mr. Samuel F. Cooper was employed as. superintendent and teacher in the High School at a salary of $500 for forty weeks. Mrs. Cooper was employed as assistant teacher in the High School at a salary of $160 per year. Teachers in the primary and secondary schools were employed at $140 per year, each teacher in the primary, secondary and grammar schools to sweep her own room and build her own fire.

Mr. Cooper was elected superintendent July 9. 1851, and served until July 9, 1853. Mr. Cooper remained in the service of the board two years.

Mr. W. S. Gray, who was a Disciple min- ister, was in the employ of the board in the secondary schools at a salary of $300 per year. Mr. Gray enjoyed the reputation of being a clear, incisive teacher, was much interested in oratory and oral reading, and a profound be- liever in the virtue of the rod. If pupils were truant, Mr. Gray would assign work to his pupils and then act as truant officer.

The board met August 15, 1853, and "W. S. Thorn was appointed to visit Mr. McMillen and hire him for a sum not exceeding $500 per year, to superintend our schools," is the entire record of the proceedings of a meeting. Mr. McMillen resided at Canfield, where he was employed in a harness shop. On August 16 the board met and confirmed the action of Mr. Thorn, who drove to Canfield and closed a contract with Mr. McMillen to superintend the schools and teach the High School. Mrs. McMillen was employed as assistant teacher at the rate of $20 per month. Schools were to be open forty weeks of five days each, and teachers were expected "to spend a portion of cach Saturday together for mutual improve- ment."

1853 marked an era in school legislation. By the law of 1849 town and city schools were reorganized, but township schools were still

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managed in part by the township trustees, and by the directors of the independent dis- tricts. By the new law a township board of education was created, consisting of one repre- sentative chosen from the board of local di- rectors from cach sub-district, with the re- sponsibilities divided between the two boards. A provision to maintain a free school library was included, with an annual levy of one-tenth of a mill for its support. This law was in effect until 1860, when reactionary legislation repealed this excellent law. By this law the best literature found its way into every school house in the state, and many of the books then distributed are yet to be found in city and vil- lage libraries.

The schools were supported by the various state funds and a local levy of two and one- fourth mills to four mills each year during the first twenty years of the union schools. If a deficit was encountered, pupils were assessed in the High School one dollar, in the grammar school seventy-five cents, and in the secondary and primary schools, fifty cents.

Mr. McMillen was engaged June 26, 1854, for $650 for the ensuing year. On July 13, 1855, the board proposed to employ Mr. Mc- Millen one year for $800, which he declined and Ephraim Miller was employed for $350 a year. The following year an effort was made to secure Mr. McMillen, but without effect. Mr. Charles 11. Lathrop was employed at $600 per year "unless the board should become dis- satisfied with his management, in which case they are at liberty to discharge him." Mrs. Lathrop was made assistant at $200 per year.

During 1857 and 1858 Mr. A. B. Cornell was superintendent and was succeeded by Dwight Hubbard in 1859, and Mr. Hubbard by H. A. Hall in 1860. In 1861 Reuben Mc- Millen was elected at a salary of $1, 100.

In 1860 a union school building was erect- ed on Wood street, on the site of the present structure (then Coal street). at a cost not to exceed $6.500, the bnikling to be three stories high and 76x50 feet.

The journal of the board shows that on June 16, 1862, an order was drawn for $326 in payment of "eleven weeks' salary tor Mr.

McMillen, deducting $24. his share of keeping school house clean. He is engaged at the same miecting for one year at a salary of $1,100.

On May 4, 1866, a regulation was made requiring the schools to commence at 1:30 in the afternoon and close at 4:30. At a meet- ing of the board on July 10th of the same year, the board made its first agreement record- ed in the minutes, by which the public schools and Rayen school, which was opened in 1863. co-operated. By this arrangement the Rayen school was to assume the salary of the princi- pal of the High School, $1,000; assistant teacher of the High School, $500; one-half the salary of the superintendent, $750; salary of teacher for lower grades at Rayen school. $350, and janitor and incidental expenses amounting to $400, making a total of $3,000. It was arranged that a joint meeting of the two boards be held every three months.

In 1867 Superintendent McMillen again severed his connection with the schools of Youngstown, and Mr. P. T. Caldwell served until 1873, when Mr. McMillen's name ap- pears upon the pay roll again.

On June 8, 1871, the board closed the con- tract for the construction of

THE FRONT STREET SCHOOL

The cost aggregated $22.186,96.

Ironclad rules were adopted for the man- agement of teachers and pupils. Early in the sixties, a teacher who was tardy three times in one term was to be discharged unless a good reason for tardiness was given to the Inard.

In 1867, on the return of a pupil who had been absent, the parent or guardian was re- quired to give excuse in person or writing. stating the cause of absence.

"In every case of the absence of a pupil for more than three half days in any four con- secutive weeks without a satisfactory excuse to the teacher. the absentee shall without excep- tion or favor, with the approval of the super- intendent. be suspended from school, and the facts immediately reported to the board or

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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL. YOUNGSTOWN

CITY HALL AND FALL. YOUNGSTOWN

WEST FEDERAL STREET. YOUNGSTOWN LOOKING WEST

ST. COLI MBA & SCHOOL AND URSI'LINE CONVENT. YOUNGSTOWN

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their chairman, and shall not be readmitted until the beginning of the next term, unless by a written order from the board."

Mason Evans elected clerk, March 23, 1876-79.

August 7, D. A. Wilson resigned as prin- cipal of Front street school, and on September 4 H. C. Muckley was employed to fill the vacancy.

RAYEN SCHOOL.

The Rayen school owes its existence to the farsighted beneficence of Judge William Rayen, one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of early Youngstown, who, dying in 1854, set apart by will a residuary fund of over $31,000 to be vested in trustees, the interest of which was to be expended in establishing a school to be known as the Rayen school. By an act of incorporation passed in 1856, it was provided that five trustees should be appointed, one each year, each to serve five years. The appointments were to be made by the judge of the court of common pleas. The first board appointed in June, 1857, consisted of Jonathan Warner, Charles Howard, Charles E. Cook, James Mackey, and Robert W. Tay- lor. With the accrued interest a lot was pur- chased and the original building completed in 1866.

In the same year .the trustees made a working agreement with the city Board of Ed- ucation under which the Rayen school became the High School for the city and township. This arrangement still continues, the board of trustees being organized under the Ohio state law governing endowed schools, and the property belonging to the township. The ground and school buildings now have an endowment of $60,000.

Prof. Edwin S. Gregory, who had had a previous experience of thirteen years as pro- fessor of Latin and principal of the prepara- tory department at the Western Reserve Col- lege, was elected principal, Miss Mary Emma Cutter being chosen as assistant teacher. His efficient administration gave Rayen a high standing, and he gained in a high degree the

love and respect of his pupils. He was suc- ceeded by Mr. Mitchell, who served one year. In 1879 Mr. M. S. Campbell, superintendent of schools of Portsmouth, Ohio, a thorough scholar and man of rare wisdom, became prin- cipal. He left in 1883 to become principal of the Central High School of Cleveland, Ohio. The next principal of Rayen was Mr. Hill. Mr. Jewett came in 1891 and served until the present principal, Prof. Wells L. Griswold, was elected in 1901. Prof. Griswold, who is a graduate of Oberlin College (class of 1894) was superintendent of schools in Collonwood, a thriving suburb of Cleveland, before coming to Youngstown. He has proved himself a very efficient and successful instructor and is a man of exceptional executive ability.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 51

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 993