A century of education; or, The history of the schools of Burgettstown, Washington County, Pennsylvania, for one hundred years, Part 4

Author: Melvin, William, 1837-
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Claysville, Pa., Melvin printing company
Number of Pages: 124


USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Burgettstown > A century of education; or, The history of the schools of Burgettstown, Washington County, Pennsylvania, for one hundred years > Part 4


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BIOGRAPHY.


organize the society, which has been so successful and useful, and which has been in existence ever since-now 1897-and to which they gave the name of "The Union Agricultural Asso- ciation," of Burgettstown. At this meeting he was called upon and made an address on the subject of Agriculture, urg- ing the importance of and showing that in all ages it has been held in high esteem as a healthful, profitable and useful employment. After this he taught for several years in the fol- lowing named places : Half-Crown, North Star, and at last finishing up as a public teacher at Clinton, Pa. After this he taught several scholars the rudiments of Latin at his home. He died in 1876, in the 76th year of his age. He was the father of seven childen, viz: Win. Guinn, Mary Ann, John, Andrew J., Julius Cesar, George W., and Armanella, who died in her childhood. The names are in the order of their birth : George W. is at present in the mercantile business at Virsoix, Pa .; a postoffice was established at this place and he was appointed postmaster ; Julius Cesar was by profession a school teacher-he died in 1860; Andrew J. followed the same profession, having obtained a professional certificate, being the highest and best the state then issued, and was successor to William Melvin as teacher in the brick school house, on James Stevenson's farm, in Smith township; after teaching six years he engaged in the mercantile business at No th Star, Pa., in which business, together with the post- mastership at the same place, he has been continuously engag- ed for thirty-eight years. His son John chose farming as an


occupation, and after the war of the rebellion broke out he volunteered to serve his country and enlisted in Company C, 116th Pennsylvania regiment, belonging to what was called The Irish Brigade -was wounded in the battle of the Wilder- ness, after having been promoted to corporal ; he resides near


Enlow Station, on the Montour R. R., at present.


Mary


Ann had a very liberal education, being taught principally by the "Master," which was the invariable nom de plume of her father, and near the beginning of her first teaching was that of assistant teacher in the Frankfort Academy, after which she devoted seven or eight years, (or terms) in the cause of


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education in the common schools, which were then under the vigilance of a county superintendent, which was inaugurated in 1854. She now resides on the farm about one mile north of Imperial, and two of her daughters are following the ver- nacular occupation ; Miss Esther Wilson at North Star and Miss Dillie Wilson at Imperial, Pa. And now we will come to the first of his children lastly, William Guinn, who fol- lowed the occupation of his father until his death, in 1856. He was a very fine scholar-splendid arithmetician, and one of the best penmen in the state. He also studied surveying and trigonometry, and was widely known in this end of the three counties, Washington, Beaver and Allegheny, and now at the close of this brief record of Master Jardine -- It may be said as the queen of Sheba said to King Solomon : It was a true report I heard of thee in mine own country, and behold the half was not told me. "Master" Jardine certainly deserves a page in history for the many faithful years spent in the cause of education.


William H. Hammond


Taught the public term of 1856-7 and the summer term of 1857. He was born near Hickory, Washington County, Pa., October 22, 1829. He began teaching in April, 1850, and closed the last term he taught in Washington county, in the spring of 1860. Resumed teaching in Hancock County, W. Va., September, 1866, and closed his last school in March, 1876. He was a member of the board of examiners of Han- cock County, W. Va., three years. One son, James M., is principal of one of the ward schools, Wheeling, W. Va. His daughter, Kate M., taught four years or more in Smith town- ship. She was ranked as one of the best primary teachers in this county at that time. Mr. Hammond resides in Steuben- ville, Ohio.


James F. McCarrell, M. D.,


Taught five months of the public term, 1857-8. Doctor Mc- Carrell is the son of Samuel McCarrell, and was born in Han- over township, Washington County, Pa., November 26, 1836. He began to teach in 1857 and quit in the spring of 1863.


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He began the practice of medicine in Hickory, Pa., in April, 1864. Removed to Buffalo, this county, September, 1864. December, 1865, he removed to Eldersville, Pa., where he re- mained until about 1891, when he removed to Brushton, now the 37th Ward, Pittsburg, Pa. He served one term as school director of Jefferson township while residing at Eldersville. He resides in Brushton, 37th Ward, Pittsburg, Pa.


William Melvin,


Son of John and Mary ( Moore) Melvin, was born in Bur- gettstown, Pa., January 8, 1837. His first teaching was as- sisting W. W. VanEman in Burgettstown three months of the term 1854-5. He had charge of two classes. He took charge of his first school, No. 7, in Smith township, this coun- ty, September 19, 1855. He quit teaching in the spring of 1863 to accept a position as clerk in a dry goods store in Chat- ham, Sangamon County, Illinois. He resumed teaching in 1865, and continued until May 6, 1897. He has taught forty years, one year in Schuyler County, Illinois; three years in Jefferson County, Ohio ; four years in Brooke County, W. Va .; one year in Hanover township, this county, and thirty-one years in Smith township and Burgettstown. He taught twenty-six and one-half terms for the Smith township school board, five of which were in Burgettstown before its incor- poration. He taught five years for the school board of the borough of Burgettstown. He was employed by the Smith township board in 1862 to teach school No. 4., and taught six days, when the house was burned. This was during the days of the Civil war, after he had served for a short time as Deputy U. S. Marshall. He removed from the state and re- turned in 1871. He taught in Burgettstown the public terms of 1858-9, 1860-61 and 1861-2. The summer terms of 1858, 1861 and 1862. Principal of the Union school 1875-6 and 1876-7, and the summer terms 1875 and 1876. Assistant prin- cipal the public terms of 1886-7, 1887-S and 1888-9. Princi- pal 1890-91 and 1891-2. He was a member of the first school board in the borough of Burgettstown, being elected for three years, and served as secretary of the board during that time.


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that time. He was elected county auditor in 1884, and re-elect- ed in 1887. He was elected secretary of the Union Agricul- tural Association of Burgettstown in 1862, re-elected in 1881, which position he still retains. He was again elected school director February 15, 1898. He resides in Burgettstown.


Miss Mary Patterson


Taught the summer term of 1859. She is a daughter of the late Hon. Finley Patterson, a native of this county. He served in both branches of the General Assembly of Pennsyl- vania. He was a resident of Armstrong County, this state, when serving as State Senator. He was a resident of Bur- gettstown at the time of his death. Miss Patterson married James S. Vance, and resides with him in Pittsburg, Pa.


James Edgar Stevenson


Taught the public term of 1859-60. He was born in Smith township, this county, September, 1832. He taught eleven years in all. He was principal of the Strasburg Union school, Lancaster County, Pa .; taught one year each in Maryland and Delaware; principal of the Sewickley, Pa., Union school one year ; principal of the Second Ward school, Allegheny, three years, and taught one year in the Curry Normal Institute, of Pittsburg, Pa. He resides in Sewickley, Pa. He is agent for the American Surety Company, 341 Fourth avenue, Pittsburg, Pa.


Hon. Joseph Hays


Son of Alexander and Ann (Stevenson) Hays, was born in Smith township, Washington County, Pa., January 9, 1832. He graduated from Washington College, Washington, Pa., in 1857. He spent about five years teaching common schools, and four years teaching academical schools, and was for two years principal of what is now the Thirty-sixth Ward schools, Pittsburg, Pa. In 1860 there was no summer term. Mr. Hays occupied the brick school house for his academical school. He was a member of the General Assembly of Penn- sylvania 1875 and 1876. He is an attorney-at-law, and re- sides in the 36th Ward, Pittsburg, Pa.


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William Scott Fulton


Taught the summer term 1861. He is the son of John J. and Margaret (Cannon) Fulton, and was born in Smith township, this county, in 1842. He taught four years in all. He re- sides in Burgettstown, and is the agent for the P. C. C. & St. Louis (Panhandle ) Railway Company.


William Parker Montgomery


Taught the public term 1862-3. He is the son of Moses I. Montgomery, and was born in Smith township, this county, July 9, 1841. He commenced teaching in Smith township in 1859. The early part of his teaching was in Cross Creek and Hanover townships, this county. He was for two years prin- cipal of the Brownstown school, Lower St. Clair township, Allegheny County, Pa., now the Twenty-fourth Ward, Pitts- burg, and fifteen years principal of South Pittsburg school, now Knox school, Thirtieth Ward, Pittsburg. About the year 1883 he bought a farm in Montgomery County, Mary- land, and moved there. He returned to Pittsburg in 1885. He has been teaching in public and private schools about one- half the time. He resides in Pittsburg.


Miss Nancy McNary


Taught the summer term of 1863. She was the daughter of Joseph McNary, and was born in Smith township, this coun- ty. She spent several years in teaching. She married Eli Marquis and resided with him in Cross Creek township, this county, until her death in 1881.


Samuel R. Allison


Taught the public term 1863-4, and the summer term of 1864. Mr. Allison was born in Hancock County, West Vir- ginia, April 16, 1841. He commenced teaching in Hanover township, Beaver County, Pa., in the fall of 1860. He con- tinued to teach, but not continuously, until the spring of 1870. He taught in Cross Creek Village and Hickory. He attended the Millsboro normal school one term. He died in Allegheny, Pa., April, 1887.


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Milton Paxton


Taught the public term of 1864-5. He came here in the sum- mer of 1864 with a portable photograph gallery from his home in Columbiana County, Ohio, where he died in 1866.


Miss Sallie Marshall


Taught the summer term of 1865. Miss Marshall is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and is the daughter of Stewart Marshall. She married John Barnes and resides with him in Fairfield, Iowa.


Van B. Baker


Taught the public term of 1865-6. He was born November 4, 1841, in Independence, Washington County, Pa. He com- menced teaching in 1858. The Burgettstown school was graded for the term 1865-6. Prof. Baker's department occu- pied a room in the house now owned and occupied by Miss Nancy Shillito. His wife had charge of the primary depart- ment and occupied the brick school house. Prof. Baker was afterward principal of the schools of East Liverpool, O., Bea- ver Falls, Pa., and Sidney, O. In 1883 he was one of the ed- itors and proprietors of the Irontonian, published at Ironton, Ohio. He died November 28, 1893.


Mrs. Van Baker


Was a daughter of Andrew Martin, a carpenter, residing in Cross Creek township, this county. She was assistant teacher during the public terin 1865-6, and had charge of the summer term of 1866. Her death occurred in 1883.


Samuel L. Farrar


Taught the public term of 1866-7. He was the son of Samuel Farrar, and was born in 1833, on Cherry Run, in Mt. Pleas- ant township, this county. He taught his first term the win- ter of 1855-6, and taught irregularly until the fall of 1861, when he left the desk and the children for the tent as a mem- ber of the Sixty-fifth regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and


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was discharged July 8, 1862. He taught several years after leaving the army, but not continuously. He died January 5, 1891, in Washington, D. C.


Miss Cornelia A. Leopold,


Daughter of Lewis Leopold, was born in Burgettstown. Pa. She taught the summer term of 1867, which was the last term ever taught in the brick school house. Miss Leopold taught four years in all. Her first public term was in Jefferson town- ship, this county. She married David Pettibon, of the same township March 7, 1871. She has resided in Burgettstown with her husband since the spring of 1882.


Dr. George Thornton McCord


Was the first principal of the Burgettstown Union schools. He was the son of John A. McCord, Esq., and was born in Cecil township, Washington County, Pa., September 1, 1845. Dr. McCord taught a four-months' public term here in 1868. be- ginning April 1 ; the public term of 1868-9, and the summer term of 1869. He began to teach in 1864, after his return from the army, and spent thirteen years in all in teaching. He was educated in the public schools, and at California State Normal School, California, Pa. The honorary degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him in 1876, by Waynes- burg College. He was principal of the following schools : Sharpsburg, West Liberty, Etna, Second Ward Allegheny, and principal and proprietor of Curry Normal Institute, Pittsburg, Pa. While principal of Curry Normal Institute he traveled over Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia, lecturing at County Institutes. In 1877 he left the last named institution and attended Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., from which he was graduated with the highest honors of the class in 1879. He located in Pittsburg, Pa., where he enjoy- ed a lucrative practice. He was freqently called as an expert before the Courts. He was one of the most successful educa- tors in Western Pennsylvania. He was for many years a member of the Franklin and the Moorehead school boards.


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He was a member of Post 230, G. A. R. He died June 7, 1897, at his home, 44 De Soto Street, Oakland, Pittsburg. In 1872 he married Miss Ella Hunter, of Dinsmore, Washington County, Pa., who survives him. He is also survived by his son, Thomas C. McCord, a student in the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and Miss Bessie, a teacher in Moore- head school, Eleventh Ward, Pittsburg.


Miss Kate W. Ghrist


Is a native of Smith township, this county, and is a daughter of the late Samuel J. Ghrist, of Burgettstown. Miss Ghrist was an assistant during the public terms of 1868, 1868-9, and 1871-2, and an assistant during the summer term of 1869. It was customary for a number of years after the occupancy of the Union school building, for the summer pay schools to be conducted on the graded plan. The citizens, at a public meeting, selected the principal and his assistant. The principal to grade the school. Miss Ghrist began to teach in 1865, and with the exception of two years, taught until the spring of 1874. She began at Braddock, Pa., and taught two years. The fall of 1867 at Russells, Smith town- ship. Two months at Cinder Hill, Smith township, in 1868. In 1872 at Mt. Pleasant township, this county ; 1873 at Inde- pendence township, this county. Miss Ghrist was married November 11, 1875, to Joseph R. McNary, and resides with him on his farm in Smith township, this county.


Miss Caroline A. Brockman


Is a native of Burgettstown, Pa. IIer father, M. M. Brock- man, is now a resident of Smith township, this county. Miss Brockman taught eleven years. She taught as assistant the summer term of 1869, and the public terms of 1869-70 and 1870-71, and seven years in the East Liverpool, Ohio, Union school. She was married July 21, 1881, to Robert E. Hill, of East Liverpool, and resides with him in that city.


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Dr. Hibbard S. Phillips


Taught the public term of 1869-70 and the summer term 1870. Doctor Phillips was born at the "Rural," in Cecil township, this county, April 9, 1845. He attended the spring term of the Millsboro school in 1864 and began teaching in Cecil township the term of 1864-5. Attended the State Normal school at California, Pa., in 1865, and taught in Carroll town- ship, this county, the term of 1865-6; in Cecil township the term of 1866-7; in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, 1867-8. In the fall of 1868 he entered Washington and Jefferson Col- lege, Washington, Pa., and remained there until June, 1869, when he came to Burgettstown. Principal of the Browns- ville, Pa., school 1870-71; Uniontown, Pa., 1871-2; Browns-


ville, Pa., 1872-3. In the fall of 1873 he located in Pierce City, Mo., and published the South- West Immigrant and sold out in three months, January 1, 1874, to accept the position of principal of Pierce City schools, teaching until June 1, 1874. Principal of the Connellsville, Pa., schools 1874-5 ; Superintendent of Johnstown, Pa .. schools 1875-6. He was first assistant to Dr. Pershing, president of the Pittsburg Female College-being professor of ancient languages and natural sciences 1876-7 and 1877-8. He received the honorary degree of A. M. from Washington and Jefferson College in 1877. Principal of the Fourth Ward schools, Pittsburg, Pa., 1878-9 and 1879-80, resigning in April, 1880, on account of ill health. Attended Hahnemann (Homopathic) Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, Pa., 1880-81. In the spring of 1881 he went into the newspaper business at Brownsville, Pa., and remained in it until January, 1882, when he accepted his for- mer position in the Pittsburg Female College, and taught until June 21, 1882-declining a re-election on account of his health. In 1883 he was one of the editors and proprietors of the Rural Notes, published in Canonsburg, Pa. He returned to Philadelphia in the fall of 1883, and graduated April 1, 1884. Practiced in Canonsburg, Pa., five years, but took a post-graduate course in the winter of 1885-6. Removed to Pittsburg in February, 1889, and practiced there until May, 1893. His health giving way, he went to Toledo, Ohio, and


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did office work for another man. Returned to Pittsburg Oc- tober 3, 1895, and re-opened office. He resides in Pitts- burg, Pa.


Miss Sarah Hays


Was an assistant teacher the public term of 1869-70, and the summer terms of 1870 and 1871. She had charge of an inde- pendent school the summer of 1874, in the old store room in the Gormly building. She is the youngest daughter of Levi and Jane (Mason ) Hays, and was born and raised in Cross Creek township, this county. Attended the common schools of that township and afterward the Steubenville, Ohio, Female Seminary. She commenced teaching at Beech Knob, in her native township, 1867-8, and taught two consecutive terms. She has taught at Independence, Pa. Some years ago she removed to California, and now resides in Pasadena, that state.


Daniel N. McCracken, Esq.,


Taught five months of the public term of 1870-71. He was born in Buffalo township, this county, December 24, 1847. He was admitted to the bar of the Washington County, Pa., Courts, April 10, 1871. He resided at Washington, Pa., from December, 1872, until his death, July 8, 1888.


Miss Sarah Ann McFarland


Is a native of Smith township, this county, and is a sister of the missionary to Siam, the late Rev. Samuel G. McFarland, D. D., who died in Canonsburg, Pa., April 25, 1897. Miss McFarland was an assistant the public term of 1870-71. Sep- tember 6, 1883, she married D. P. Rogers, at Northwood, Ohio, where she resides with her husband.


Wycliffe C. Lyne


Taught one month of the public terin of 1870-71, and the public term of 1871-2; also the summer terms of 1871 and 1872. He was born September 22, 1850, in Henrico County, Virginia. His father, Dr. Robert B. Lyne, removed to Rich-


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mond when he was a child. At nine years of age he entered Pettigrew's Classical school, and completed the academical course in the Jefferson Male Academy, both of Richmond. He taught as an assistant teacher in the academy in the Latin classes. He entered Bethany College, W. Va., at the age of sixteen and graduated with distinction at nineteen. While teaching the public term here his salary was supple- mented by thirty dollars extra per month, raised by subscrip- tion by the citizens. The same committee of citizens offered to give him fifty dollars extra per month if he would remain. He taught a normal term in Claysville, Pa., in the summer of 1872. He was principal of the Washington, Pa., Union school from September, 1872, until June, 1881, when he re- signed, in order to enter journalism, purchasing a half inter- est in the Review and Examiner, Washington, Pa. At the end of one year he sold out and accepted the principalship of the Park school, Pittsburg, which position he held until June 30, 1884. In addition to graded schools he has been in normal school work. While principal of the Park school, his services were engaged by Curry University, to take charge for three years of the Saturday normal department in literature, his- tory and methods of instruction. The Washington Reporter published in Washington, Pa., in its issue of April 18, 1883, says : "Prof. W. C. Lyne, who was one of the best principals the public schools of Washington ever had, is making his mark in Pittsburg. Here he did some of the best work ever done in our schools ; his pupils afterwards carrying off the hon- ors at the seminary and ranking high at the college. He was offered the professorship of Latin and Greek at Bethany Col- lege, which he declined, preferring the hard work to be done in the public schools. His energy and industry combined with a high order of intellect. rendered him invincible in his chosen field, and his numerous friends here will be glad to hear of his great success in his new field of labor as pointed in the following from the Pittsburg Post: 'Only six of the fourteen applicants for admission to the high school (Com- mercial Department) were successful in passing the annual spring examination. Five of the six were pupils of the Park


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school, Sixteenth Ward. The principal of the school, Prof. W. C. Lyne, has never failed to pass the entire class offered by him for the academic, commercial and normal departments for the past four years, a rather notable record for thorough teaching.'" In 1884 he accepted the management for Western Pennsylvania of the National Life Insurance Company, of Vermont. In the field he built up so large and lucrative a business that his territory was enlarged to include Iowa and West Virginia, which management he still holds. He is a trustee of Pittsburg Academy and of Bethany College. Prof. Lyne was married in 1878 to Mary Vowell, daughter of the only sister of the Brown brothers, founders of the noted American and European banking houses. Prof. Lyne taught his first school in 1870-71, at the Miller school house, in Han- over township, this county. Prof. Lyne's father, Dr. Robert B. Lyne, was a brother to the mother of William Lyne Wil- son, author of the Wilson tariff bill, and Postmaster-General in the cabinet of President Cleveland. Professor Lyne is still a resident of Pittsburg, Pa.


Miss Emma M. Burgett,


Daughter of the late Boston G. Burgett, of Smith township, this county, taught an independent term the summer of 1871, in room No. 2, Union school building. She married Frank McCune, February 15, 1876. Mr. McCune is yard master for the P. C. C. & St. L. Railway Company, at Sheridan, Alle- gheny County, Pa.


Miss Eva Simmons


Is a native of Cross Creek Village, Washington County, Pa. She was a very successful teacher of several years experience. She was an assistant the public terms of 1871-2, 1874-5, 1875-6, 1876-7 and 1877-8, and the summer term of 1875. She resides in Cross Creek Village, Pa.


Miss Sallie McCalmont


Taught as an assistant the public terms of 1872-3 and 1873-4, and the summer terms of 1872 and 1873. She had sole charge


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of the summer term of 1873, and was assisted by her sister, Esther A. McCalmont. She is a daughter of James McCal- mont, Esq., and is a native of Robinson township, this county. She taught fifteen years or more. She married W. F. McClure, August 17, 1882. He is a minister in the M. E. church. They reside in Bishop, Inyo County, California.


Charles W. McCord


Was principal of the Union school 1872-3. He was a son of John A. McCord, Esq., and was born October 21, 1850, near Venice, Cecil township, Washington County, Pa. He at- tended Linnean Academy, at Canonsburg, Pa. Began teach- ing in the fall of 1868-teaching four years -- three in Alle- gheny County, Pa., and one in Washington County, Pa. He was admitted to the Pittsburg bar in 1875, and removed to Denver, Colorado, in 1879. He was a brother of Dr. George T. McCord, the first principal of the Burgettstown Union school. Charles W. McCord died at the Tremont House, Gal- veston, Texas, July 14, 1891, en route to Pennsylvania. At the time of his death he was a member of the firm of Rogers & MeCord, attorneys-at-law, Denver, Colorado.


Miss Esther Agnes McCalmont


Assisted during the public term of 1872-3, and assisted her sister, Miss Sallie McCalmont, the summer term of 1873. That was her last term. She is a native of Robinson town- ship, this county, and the daughter of James McCalmont, Esq. She was married June 15, 1888, to Rev. Joseph McNeb, of the U. P. church. They reside at Blanchard, Iowa.




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