USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 45
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tions, all the pupils that ever gathered in this old building have passed to the great beyond.
Of other old teachers who taught here before and at the time of the introduction of the common school system may be mentioned John A. Donne who was located here prior to 1820 and taught at various locations. He was a scholarly man and a proficient teacher. He lies buried at Mt. Olivet cemetery, at Frederick, Md.
A Mr. Cole taught in the M. E. school house as did Mrs. Daughiday. Mr. and Mrs. Baker taught school and sewing, in 1820. Samuel Wilson taught " Fayette Seminary " in 1837, and was succeeded by Smith. F. Greer in 1839-40. J. M. Smith taught "Union High school " at the time of the opening of the free schools. Aunt Betsy Hedges was an early teacher of small children as were Aunt Ruth Dorsey and Aunt Betsy Fausett and Mrs. Emily Connell.
One Billings (not Josh Billings.) taught a school of colored children at the colored church on Morgantown street in the 50's, and from the number and size of the switches he carried to the school, one would have been justified in concluding that he was engaged in the nursery business.
In accordance with the act passed by the assembly April 2, 1831, the court of Fayette county, at January term, 1835, appointed Richard Beeson and James Piper, school directors of Uniontown to carry out the law. On October 1, 1835, they re- ported to the county treasurer that the terms of the law had been complied with. This entitled the borough to an appropria- tion from the state for that year of $73.66, and from the county $147.32, or double the amount appropriated by the state, as re- quired by the act.
The first board of school directors elected was as follows: John Dawson, William Redick, Hugh Espy, Alonzo L. Littell, James Boyle and William Wilson. They announced that they would open four schools to commence about April 15, 1836, and continue for six months, divided into two sessions of three months each, with a vacation of one month in August. They also solicited proposals from persons desiring to teach, said pro- posals to be received until the 8th of April, and to state the wages expected. At least one room was to be in charge of a female teacher. This notice was dated March 19, 1836.
On September 6, 1838, the school board purchased from
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William Salter a two-story brick building which stood on the corner of what was then known as Foundry alley and South street. This building had been used as a foundry and was always referred to as the old foundry school house. This was converted into four school rooms, with a hall passing through and stairway in the hall. Here the schools were taught until in 1850 when an additional building was erected on this lot, facing on Church street. This building stood back from the sidewalk and had a portico in front. It was two stories high and contained four rooms, with hall through the center. There was ample space for play grounds between the two buildings, and the time spent on these play grounds is more pleasantly re- membered than that spent within the walls of the old school buildings. Much of the time the girls were taught in the new building and the boys in the old foundry building.
A report of the schools of 1854, shows an enrollment of 401 pupils and seven teachers. Among the old-time teachers who taught in these old buildings may be mentioned : Betsy Hedges, Betsy Fausett, Sophia Stevens, Mary E. Coburn, Elizabeth Beck, Sarah Ann Sampsel, Emma Salter, Rebecca Krepps, Martha White, Ella Gadd, Sarah Swisher, Rebecca Jones, Hal- lie Kerr, Sarah Yeagley, Mary Redick, Mrs. Walker, Polly Canon, William B. McCormick, William Lyon, W. Whitton Redick, George H. Leithead, George L. Osborne, James Darby, Miller Dunn, William A. Patton, Alpheus Sembower, John Jackson, Joshua V. Gibbons.
The board of school directors resolved to open eight free schools for the ensuing summer of 1847; E. P. Oliphant, presi- dent; R. G. Hopwood, secretary.
The common schools of Union borough, for males exclusively, will commence in the old foundry building on the first Monday of May, 1849. Teachers, William B. McCormick, E. J. Elliott, N. B. Richards.
The female schools will be opened in the new school build- ing on the second Monday of May, 1849. Teachers, George W. Brown, Miss Elizabeth Hedges, Miss Sophia Stevens and Mrs. N. Walker. No scholar, by positive enactment, admitted under four years of age.
Under the act of 1809, assessors returned the names of in- digent children to the county commissioners who drew an order
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on the county treasurer for the amount of the tuition money. This law was in operation for twenty-five years.
The schools of Uniontown were first graded in 1855, under James H. Springer as the first principal, and he was succeeded by William B. McCormick, W. Whitton Redick, George L. Osborne, Michael D. Baker, B. M. Moore, Samuel Espy, H. O. Gibbons, Burkey Patterson, Hibbard Phillips, R. F. Wilson, Fulton Phillips, T. L. Axtel, William H. Cooke, William A. Alexander, George F. Mead, Lenora H. Phillips, O. J. Sturgis, E. H. Reppert, A. M. Claybaugh, J. S. David, Lee S. Smith, H. L. Brooks, Edward P. Johnson, C. J. Scott.
On August 19, 1857, Moses Shehan conveyed to the school board a lot having a frontage of forty-five feet on Church street, next west of the school grounds and on June 6, 1860, the lot, formerly of Molly Lyon, was purchased at sheriff's sale and also added to the school grounds.
In 1868, the two old school buildings were torn away and a three-story building, 65 by 90 feet, at a cost of about $33,000, was erected, and in 1891, an addition was added to this building, 45 by 150 feet, at a cost of $38,500.
The school systems of Pennsylvania have passed through several evolutions, viz .: The subscription schools, which only those who were able to pay, could attend: The pauper schools, where distinctions between the rich and the poor were made ; the common schools of 1834, with great improvements over the former systems, and obliterated the lines between the rich and the poor ; and the present public school system, with all the ad- vantages of more than a century's experience.
A frame school building was erected on East Fayette street in 1870 at a cost of $1,500 for the exclusive use of the colored children and was used as such until the legal question as to their right to be educated with the white children was decided in their favor, from which time the colored children have been mingled with the white.
Subsequently this building was renovated and named the White school building in honor of Joseph White who had served so long and faithfully on the school board, and the smaller chil- dren of that neighborhood were taught there. This property was exposed to public sale and was transferred to Solomon Cohen, in trust for the Tree of Life congregation of the Jewish
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church, which sale was confirmed January 12, 1909, and since which time the building has been used as a synagogue.
GALLATIN SCHOOL HOUSE.
The Gallatin school house was erected on the west side of North Gallatin avenue in 1908. It was built of cream colored brick and trimmed with terra cotta, two stories high, with base- ment, and contains eight class rooms and offices.
This building was opened for school on Monday, Decem- ber 28, 1908, with an enrollment of 350 pupils. Thomas H. Jones was principal and instructor of room No. 8; Miss Lillian Hammett, No. 7; Miss Mayme Shrock, No. 6; Miss Lila Ridge- way, No. 4; Miss Harriet Hampton, No. 3; Miss Florence Bierer, No. 2; Miss Drue West, No. 1. No. 5 was vacant.
The Craig school building was bought from South Union township when it was brought into the borough, and Miss Lucy South was placed in charge as the first teacher.
Third Ward school building, known as the Berkeley street school was opened for school September, 1904. The first teachers here were Misses Minnie Gilmore and Lida Jaquette.
East End school building erected in 1907, was opened that fall. The first corps of teachers was John Hopwood, principal ; Mrs. David Hopwood, Misses Emma Swearingen, Helen Darby, Iola Smith, Ida May Wismer, Jean Townsend and Mrs. Olive Davidson.
Park Place school building was purchased from North Union township and opened for school in the fall of 1910, with William Huston as principal and Mary Keenan, Miss Knopp, Sarah Smith, Nellie Sharps, Josephine Hankins and Mrs. Olive David- son as teachers.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.
An act of assembly of 1854, creating the office of county superintendent, required an election on the first Monday in June of that year. The candidates for the position were Joshua V. Gibbons, George P. Fulton and L. P. Parker; the fight laid prin- cipally between Gibbons and Parker. Gibbons was elected and held his first examination for teachers at the Gould school house in Bellevernon. Only one applicant appeared for examination, John C. Hasson, and he had the honor of receiving the first certificate from a county superintendent.
The list of county superintendents is as follows: Joshua
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Gibbons, 1854-63; George Yeagley, 1863-66; C. W. Wanee, 1866-72; Joshua V. Gibbons, 1872-75; W. H. Cooke, 1875-81; R. V. Ritenour, 1881-87; L. M. Herrington, 1887-93; E. F. Porter, 1893-99 ; John S. Carroll, 1899-1905; C. Gregg Lewellyn, 1905.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Under an act of the legislature passed in 1885, a high school was established in Uniontown. Professor A. M. Claybaugh as principal and Ella Peach as assistant were the first teachers. The first class was graduated on May 12, 1885, and consisted of two young ladies ; Miss Minnie Baker and Miss Carrie Costello.
The High School building was erected on East Fayette street at a cost of $90,975, plus the heating and ventilating system which cost $16,327. This building was opened for school Mon- day morning, September 11, 1911, with an enrollment of 434 pupils ; 46 seniors, 62 juniors, 103 sophomores, 58 commercials and 165 freshmen.
Opening exercises were held Tuesday morning, November 21,1911.
Those in charge of the high school were: Superintendent, C. J. Scott; Professor F. W. Wright, principal; Ella Peach, vice-principal; Mattie Wright, Greek, French and German; Clara Smith, commercial; Alice Horner, English; Alfred T. Miller, Latin and History ; P. H. Rinehart, science ; A. J. Dann, algebra and director of music; Minnie Gilmore, English; Bessie Leonard, freshman English; Hannah Jefferis, freshman algebra; Carl A. Sutter, advanced mathematics and athletic director ; Dewitt Conway, freshman science; William Bryson, freshman Latin; G. U. Eastman, commercial work.
The total enrollment of all the schools is over 2,500.
The ward principals were: T. H. Jones, L. E. Pollock, Jesse McKnight, W. E. Hutson.
By an action of the school board on May 13, 1896, the superintendency system was adopted in the Uniontown schools, and Principal Lee S. Smith was elected for a term of three years. This action was in accordance with the provisions of the act of assembly of June 10, 1881, thus combining the position of superintendent with that of principal. But at the expiration of three years, the schools were placed back into the county, and there remained during the principalships of H. F. Brook and of E. P. Johnson, a period of five years. Union borough
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again became an independent district, under the superintendency of Clifford J. Scott.
The nucleus of a public school library was established in 1880. The compulsory school law was enacted in 1885.
The dedication of the High School building was observed with appropriate ceremonies on Wednesday evening, November 29, 1911, at which a most able address was delivered by Dr. Edwin E. Sparks, president of Pennsylvania State college on the subject, " The Great Crucible."
The Uniontown public schools held their first city institute December 8, 1911, at which Dr. Shaver was an instructor.
The New School Code was adopted May 18, 1911.
CHAPTER XXII.
OLD MADISON COLLEGE.
Old Madison college doubtless dates its inception back to 1791, when John Hopwood laid out a plat for a town which he named Woodstock and which is now covered by the present vil- lage of Hopwood, two and a half miles east of Uniontown. Mr. Hopwood was a friend of education and set apart a site in his prospective town for an academy of learning, and also made liberal provisions for the erection and maintenance of the same.
That such an academy of learning was established accord- ing to the provisions made by Mr. Hopwood is evidenced by the minutes of the Great Bethel Baptist church, of which Mr. Hopwood was an active member, of July 19, 1794, in which the patronage of the Baptist denomination is recommended. Col. Alexander McClean, Dennis Springer and Joseph Huston were named as trustees of this academy, but by the death of Mr. Hopwood, June 2, 1802, the academy lost its promoter and was soon reduced to a struggling existence.
It was soon apparent that Uniontown would be a more favorable location for the academy than the village of Wood- stock, and in a few years after the death of Mr. Hopwood " Union academy " was established on a tract of land purchased by Jonathan Downer from Henry Beeson, June 8, 1793, located on the east side of Redstone creek. By an article of agreement dated June 13, 1808, Jonathan Downer set apart one acre of the above tract to Zadoc Walker, Christian Tarr and Thomas Meason, trustees of Union academy, and doubtless this academy was in operation before 1807, as John St. Clair was advertised as a professor of languages and mathematics in Union academy March 30, 1807.
On July 31, 1794, Henry Beeson conveyed to Rev. Charles Conaway and his associates as trustees of Union District school a tract of land near the Methodist Episcopal church on Peter street, on which a building was erected and in which a school was conducted for some time. These two schools were, doubt- less the forerunners of Union academy which in the course of time became Madison college.
By an act of the legislature of Pennsylvania passed Febru-
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ary 4, 1808, Union academy at Uniontown, Pa., was incorporated, in which provisions were made for the admission of a certain number of poor children of the county to be taught gratis, and the sum of $2,000 was appropriated out of the state treasury towards its establishment. The trustees named were: Rev. James Guthrie, Thomas Hadden, Esq., Presley Carr Lane, James W. Nicholson, Christian Tarr, Charles Porter, Thomas Meason, John Kennedy, Esq., Zadoc Walker, James Allen, Maurice Freeman, Jesse Penell and James Findley. The trustees secured the services of John St. Clair to teach Latin, Greek, etc .; the term to commence in April, 1808.
As time passed interest in Union academy began to wane and, in 1822, a new board of directors was elected, composed of John Kenndey, Esq., Hon. Thomas H. Baird, Thomas Irwin, Esq., Hon. William Nixon, Hon. Charles Porter, John M. Austin, Esq., Joshua Hart, Thomas Hadden, Esq., Rev. James Guthrie, Christian Farr, John B. Trevor, Esq., Nathaniel Ewing, Esq., and Samuel Y. Campbell. These determined to revive the academy. The appropriation made by the legislature was in- sufficient to complete the building, and although used for a time, had become badly out of repair by laying unused for some time past, and an effort was begun to raise funds with which to make needed repairs and revive the institution. They advertised for sealed proposals to be received until January 10, 1823, for doing certain carpentering, plastering and glazing on the building.
William Thompson, an Englishman, came here from Rom- ney, Va., and opened a school in the academy building with his wife and John Morris as assistants, and the trustees announced that they had placed the institution on a high standing, and recommended it as an institution worthy to be patronized, and that Mr. Thompson had been engaged to commence his duties as principal about July 1, 1824, and that the institution is now in a flourishing condition. Mr. Thompson taught this academy successfully for five years. He was a good scholar and a suc- cessful teacher. He published a small pamphlet of 96 pages while here, in which among other matters, was an account of General Lafayette's visit to Uniontown, including Hon. Albert Gallatin's address of welcome and General Lafayette's reply. The body of the work was composed of the author's own poetic productions, and it is quite evident that the author was well pleased with them.
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Moses Hampton succeeded Mr. Thompson as principal of what he called Lafayette college. He taught here two years, during which time he became a student of law under John M. Austin, and was admitted to the bar, March 3, 1829. Mr. Hampton was born in Beaver county, Pa., near Darlington, October 28, 1803, and served as an apprentice under his father as a blacksmith by which he paid his way at school. He completed his course at Washington college, and in 1826 he accepted the principalship of Union academy. About 1827, he married Miss Ann, daughter of John Miller, and in 1829, he removed to Somerset county and became associated with Jerry S. Black and Charles Ogle in the practice of law. In 1838 he removed to Pittsburgh where he attained prominence as an attorney and spent the remainder of his life.
By an act of the Legislature of March 7, 1827, Madison col- lege was established at Uniontown, Pa., with a charter confer- ring the usual powers, and especially authorizing an additional department of agriculture in which should be taught scientific- ally the art and uses of all and every kind of husbandry. The property belonging to the Union academy was by the same act of assembly vested in the trustees of the college subject to its original uses. The college was named in honor of Dr. James Madison, late bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church in Virginia, and president of the college of William and Mary, and one of the commissioners on the part of Virginia who settled the dispute as to the location of the boundary line between that state and Pennsylvania.
The names of the trustees as they appeared by the act of incorporation were as follows: Thomas Irwin, John Kennedy, Thornton Fleming, John M. Austin, Samuel Evans, Henry Ebert, Nathaniel Ewing, Robert Skiles, Isaac Beeson, all of Uniontown; James Barnes of Greene county; Richard Coulter of Greensburg; Robert Darrah and Abner Lacock of Beaver county ; John Davenport of Burnsville, Ohio; John C. Wright, David Seaton and George Brown of Steubenville, Ohio; Shad- rach Bostick of Canfield, Ohio; Noah Zane of Wheeling, Va .; Asa Shinn and Samuel Hazlett of Washington, Pa .; Henry D. Sillers, Charles Avery, Charles Cook, Ross Wilkins and John Waterman of Pittsburgh; B. S. Pigman of Cumberland, Md .; George Hogg, Michael Sowers and Isaac Miller of Brownsville ; Hugh C. Todd of Cookstown; Charles McLain and Eugene Wil- son of Morgantown, Va .; James W. Nicholson of New Geneva;
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Isaac Meason and William Davidson of Connellsville; Edwin S. Duncan of Clarksburg, Va .; John Leech of Mercer, Pa .; Chauncey Forward of Somerset and Isaac Slater of Waynes- burg, Pa.
The annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal church which met in Pittsburgh in April, 1827, decided to take Madison college under its care. The first general meeting of the trustees of the college was held the 30th day of June, 1827, and was organized by electing Thomas Irwin, Esq., president; Samuel Evans, Esq. secretary and Isaac Beeson, treasurer; they then proceeded to the election of the faculty of the college, when the following gentlemen were duly elected to fill the offices at- tached to their names: Rev. H. B. Bascum, principal and pro- fessor of moral science, comprising mental and moral phil- osophy, natural theology, christian ethics and evidences of christianity ; Rev. Charles Elliott, professor of languages, and John A. Fielding, professor of mathematics and natural phil- osophy. At a subsequent meeting of the board John Lyon, Esq., was elected professor of rhetoric and belles-lettres, and Hugh Campbell, M. D., professor of chemistry, including agri- culture and botany. Moses Hampton was chosen tutor in the classical department, and John Robertson and R. E. Stokes tutors in the English department. The price of tuition for the college course was fixed at $20 per annum, and it was stated that good boarding could be had at $1.25 per week. The Board of Trustees was very sanguine of the prosperity of the college, and announced that the solemnities of the opening under the new régime would take place September 15, 1827. On that day a concourse of the citizens of the town assembled at the Methodist Episcopal church on West Peter street where a pro- cession was formed and proceeded from that place to the col- lege in the following order: 1st, Students-candidates for ad- mission; 2nd, Trustees of the college; 3rd, The Faculty ; 4th, Music; 5th, The Reverend Clergy; 6th, Members of the Bar; 7th, Medical Gentlemen; 8th, Citizens. The procession arrived at the college building at 11 o'clock, at which place a large company of ladies had already assembled. The ceremonies were opened with prayer by Rev. H. Pfeiffer; an address was then delivered by Thomas Irwin, Esq., on the subject of the many and important duties which are about to devolve upon the officials of the college. Next in order the professors were sep-
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arately installed, after which an able and highly interesting ad- dress was delivered by the principal, the Rev. H. B. Bascum. The hopes of the friends of the institution were now more than realized. The known ability of the professors and tutors gave the strongest assurance that Madison college would soon be ranked among the most respectable and flourishing institutions of the West.
Rev. H. B. Bascum was a New Yorker, a son of the Pitts- burgh conference ; was a forceful orator and was gifted with ex- traordinary power of persuasion. After resigning his position as president of Madison college he accepted an agency for the American Colonization society; a subject that was then agitat- ing the country. Rev. Bascum was only 31 years of age when elected to the presidency of Madison college, yet, for four years before that he had Been the chaplain of the United States con- gress. Henry Clay pronounced him to be the finest natural orator he had ever seen.
At a meeting of the board of trustees held December 7, 1827, Henry Ebert was appointed to memorialize Samuel Evans, then a member of the house of representatives requesting his influence in securing an appropriation from the State in aid of the college. Stating that additional buildings were necessary for the reception and accommodation of the increasing number of students. Thomas Irwin and James Todd, Esqrs., were also appointed to go to Harrisburg and use their personal in- fluence, in conjunction with Col. Evans in securing an appro- priation. It will be remembered that Col. Evans was never found wanting either in his official capacity or as an individual in promoting the interests of the community.
In the speech of Col. Samuel Evans in the House of Repre- sentatives on the bill asking for an appropriation of $5,000 for Madison college he said he had not intended to add before the House to anything he had already said in committee, but now he thought it expedient to add that Madison college was in- corporated at the last session of the legislature, and is now completely organized. The services of six gentlemen, with proper qualifications as professors and tutors have been secured, and the number of students engaged to enter the college is 105. Considering the period at which the institution commenced its operations-considering the number of students who have within so short a space of time become attached to it-con-
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sidering the cheering gratulations which have hailed it from almost every direction, its prospects may be considered flatter- ing and brilliant.
No sectarianism will be tolerated, no distinction of rank permitted, except that created by excellence.
Wherefore the objections to the small sum of money con- tained in this bill? The State has uniformly endowed every institution of the kind which has been incorporated. The Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, the Western University and Dickinson college have been liberally endowed. Washington and Jeffer- son colleges, both in the same county, have each received in money twelve thousand dollars. Allegheny college has received about eleven thousand dollars. Ought Madison college to be excluded from legislative munificence ? Wherefore make a discrimination among the institutions which have been incor- porated, and thereby adopted by the legislature? Does this college contain in its composition any ingredient deemed dan- gerous or noxious? None have been mentioned or even insinu- ated. But it is objected that there are already four colleges in Western Pennsylvania which have been endowed by the State. True; and it is also true that they would not have been established had not the circumstances of the country and the true policy of our government rendered them necessary.
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