USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Brookville > A pioneer history of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania and my first recollections of Brookville, Pennsylvania, 1840-1843, when my feet were bare and my cheeks were brown > Part 20
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" Approved-the eighth day of April, A.D. one thousand eight hun- dred and twenty-nine.
"J. ANDW. SHULZE."
In accordance with the provisions of this act these men met at the house of Joseph Barnett on the first Monday of September, 1829, and located the site on the Waterford and Susquehanna turnpike, at the con- fluence of the Sandy Lick and North Fork, where they form the Red Bank, and named the place Brookville.
The boundaries of the town as then laid out were as follows : Butler Alley, running east and west, north of the second (or old graveyard), thence east, taking in the mills and dam of Robert P. Barr, now Heidrick, Matson & Co. On the west was an alley, now east of the Presbyterian church, down that alley to Water Street, taking in or including " Hunt's Point," thence along Water Street to Pickering Street, and across Red Bank, near the bridge, and out Pickering Street to lot No. 25, and thence to the Sandy Lick.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
'AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE PROVISIONAL COUNTY OF JEFFERSON, TO ELECT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
"SECTION I. (The citizens to elect three County Commissioners and three Auditors on the second Tuesday of October next : )
" Provided, that the largest in vote of the said County Commission- ers, and also the lowest in vote of the said County Auditors, shall only serve one year, the next lowest two years, whose places respectively shall be supplied according to the laws of this Commonwealth. Provided always, That all and singular the costs and expenses in laying out and opening roads, all costs chargeable to the county of Jefferson, arising from criminal prosecutions instituted against persons within said county, and all other costs and expenses incidental to said county, and which of right should be paid by the same, on account of the jurisdiction of the several Courts of Indiana County, and the authority of the judges thereof extending over the said county of Jefferson, shall be paid by the said county of Jefferson, on warrants drawn by the Commissioners of Indiana County, and countersigned by the Commissioners of the county of Jeffer- son.
" SECTION 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful for the said Commissioners of the county of Jef- ferson, or their successors, to call on the Commissioners of the county of Indiana for the purpose of examining, liquidating, and receiving such balances as shall be found due to the said county of Jefferson, and if, on such examination, it be found that a balance is due from the county of Jefferson to the county of Indiana, then it shall be the duty of the Com- missioners of Indiana County to call on the Commissioners of Jefferson County and receive said balance.
" SECTION 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said County Commissioners and Auditors so elected shall hold their office and transact the public business as Commissioners and Auditors of said county at such place as shall be fixed upon by a majority of the Commissioners first elected in said county of Jefferson, until the seat of justice is ascertained, and thereafter at the seat of justice.
" SECTION 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That so much of any act or acts of the General Assembly of this Common- wealth as is altered or supplied by this act be, and the same is, hereby repealed.
" Passed 21st January, 1824."
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PIONEER COMMISSIONERS, TREASURERS, AUDITORS, COLLECTORS, AND ASSESSORS-SATURDAY AFTERNOON A TIME TO PREPARE FOR SUNDAY.
In pursuance of this act of Assembly, approved January 21, 1824, granting to the provisional county of Jefferson the privilege of electing
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
its own commissioners, auditors, etc., an election was held the 12th day of October, 1824. Andrew Barnett was duly elected commissioner of Jefferson County for three years, John Lucas was duly elected for two years, and John W. Jenks was elected for one year, the election of these three being certified to by Alexander Taylor, prothonotary of Indiana and Jefferson Counties. Andrew Barnett and John Lucas took the oath of office before Joseph Mccullough, of Pine Creek township, Friday, October 29, and John W. Jenks before John Bell, Esq., of Perry town- ship, on the 3d day of November, 1824.
November 12, 1824, Barnett, Lucas, and Jenks met at the home of Joseph Barnett, in Pine Creek township, and organized as a board. Ira White was appointed clerk for one year at one dollar a day for the " time employed in the office." A room was rented in Barnett's Inn for an office " at the rate of one dollar a week for the time occupied," " and a closet in said room to be in the use of the county continually."
On the 16th day of February, 1825, John Matson, Sr., was appointed county treasurer.
The pioneer county auditors were elected in 1825,-viz., Thomas Robinson, James Corbett, and Alonzo Baldwin. They were sworn in before Joseph Mccullough, Esq., January 2, 1826.
The pioneer assessors and collectors under the commissioners for Jefferson County were, in 1825 : Pine Creek-assessor, James Shields ; collector, John Barnett ; Perry-assessor, Elijah Heath ; collector, Isaac McKinley.
The pioneer contract to supply the public buildings with wood and coal for fuel was in November, 1831, for one year, by Joseph Clements, for thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents. As the county buildings had only ten-plate stoves, wood, three feet in length, and no coal, was sup- plied under this contract.
Previous to and as late as 1850 it was the rule for mill-men, woods- men, and laboring men generally to stop work every Saturday at noon. The idea was to better prepare for the observance of the Sabbath. As far as my observation reminds me, I can assure you that spiritualizing was practised freely on these Saturday afternoons.
COPY OF DEED DELIVERING GROUND FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSES.
Deed dated July 31st, 1830.
" JOHN PICKERING et al. to Recorded in Deed Book No. I, at COMMISSIONERS OF JEFFERSON Co. ) page 133.
" AND WHEREAS, The said John Pickering, with the approbation and consent of a majority of the said Company, being the parties of the sec- ond part hereto, which consent is signified by their becoming parties to this indenture, for and in consideration of the seat of justice for Jefferson
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
County being established upon the said tract of land, did agree (inter alia) to grant and convey unto the said parties of the third part, and their successors in office, ground for the public buildings, and also for churches and a public burying-ground, as also ten inlots in the town to be laid out upon said tract of land.
" AND WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by an act passed on the second day of April, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty, did establish the seat of justice for said county of Jefferson at the town of Brookville, to be laid out upon said tract of land, and thereby authorize and empower the said parties of the third part to receive (inter alia) from the party of the first part a deed in fee simple for the purposes above mentioned.
" Now this Indenture Witnesseth, That the said John Pickering, as well as for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar, lawful money of the United States to him in hand paid by the said Thomas McKee, Thomas Lucas, and Elijah Heath, Commissioners of Jefferson County, at and before the ensealing and delivery hereof, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, and sold, aliened, en- feofed, released, and confirmed, and by these presents doth grant, bar- gain, and sell, alien, enfeof, release, and confirm unto the said Thomas McKee, Thomas Lucas, and Elijah Heath, Commissioners of Jefferson County, and their successors in office, all that square or piece of ground in the said town of Brookville, situated, lying between, and bounded by Pickering Street, Market Street, Chestnut Alley, and Court Alley, and marked in the general plan of said town, Public Square, and also the outlots known and numbered in the general plan of the same by the numbers twelve (12) and thirteen (13). And also all those ten inlots of ground known and numbered in the general plan of said town by the numbers thirty-four (34), thirty-five (35), thirty-six (36), thirty-seven (37), thirty-eight (38), sixty-four (64), sixty-five (65), sixty-six (66), sixty-seven (67), and sixty-eight (68), together with the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining. To have and to hold the same to the said Thomas McKee, Thomas Lucas, and Elijah Heath, Commissioners of Jefferson County, and their suc- cessors in office, to the only proper use and behoof of the said Thomas McKee, Thomas Lucas, and Elijah Heath, Commissioners of Jefferson County, and their successors in office, forever. In trust, nevertheless, and to and for the uses and purposes hereinafter declared,-that is to say, that the said square shall be and remain for the use of the Public Buildings. That outlot Number twelve (12) shall be and remain for the purpose of erecting churches or houses of public worship thereon for any denomination that sees proper to build thereon. That outlot Number thirteen (13) shall be and remain a public burying-ground. That as to the said ten inlots before mentioned and described, the said parties of
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the third part and their successors in office shall sell and dispose of the same and pay the proceeds thereof into the Treasury of said county, to be applied towards the erection of the public buildings in the Town of Brookville.
" In witness whereof the said parties have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.
"JNO. PICKERING, Trustee. [L. S.] JNO. PICKERING, Executor. [L. S.] OCTAVIUS PICKERING, Executor. [L. S.]
" THOMAS A. DEXTER, SAMUEL HUNT,
" Witnesses to the signature of John Pickering and Octavius Pickering.
" NICH'S FISH. [L. S.] LEONARD KIP. [L. S.]
MARIA I. KIP. [L. S.]
" DAVID CLYDE, Clerk.
WM. H. MAXWELL, Counsellor and Commissioner, New York.
" Witnesses to the signatures of Nich's Fish : WM. JOHNSON, LEONARD KIP, LEONARD KIP, as attorney, and MARIA I. KIP, his wife.
" LEONARD KIP. [L. S.]
" Attorney for all the heirs of Duncan Ingraham.
" REDWOOD FISHER, Executor. [L. S.]
" Witnesses to the signature of Redwood Fisher : ANDREW GEYER and J. C. WIKOFF.
" JABOY M. FISHER, Executor. [L. S.]
" Witnesses to the signature of Jaboy M. Fisher : ANDREW GEYER and RALPH SMITH.
"ANN WIKOFF. [L. S.]
" Witnesses to the signature of Ann Wikoff : ANDREW GEYER and J. C. WIKOFF."
The pioneer court-house was contracted for in 1830 and finished in 1833. The county records show this " Article of Agreement, made the 14th day of December, 1830, between Thomas Lucas and Robert Andrews, Commissioners of Jefferson County, of the first part, and John Lucas, of Jefferson County, and Robert Barr, of the county of Indiana, of the second part. The party of the second part agrees to build court-house, two offices, one fire-proof, within two years from the Ist day of January next. The Commissioners, on their part, agree to pay contractors the sum of three thousand dollars, in manner as follows : two thousand dol- lars as the work progresses, and one thousand dollars in full on the Ist day of January, 1833, to be paid out of the funds arising from the sale
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
of lots in said town of Brookville, if there shall be sufficient ; if not, to be made up out of the county funds.
(Signed)
" THOMAS LUCAS, ROBERT ANDREWS, " Commissioners.
" JOHN LUCAS, ROBERT BARR,
" Contractors.
" Witnesses :
" WILLIAM M. KENNEDY, JAMES HALL."
Our first jail was a stone structure, built of common stone, in 1831. It was two stories high, was situated on the northeast corner of the public square lot, near Joseph Darr's residence, and fronting on Pickering Street. Daniel Elgin was the contractor. The building was divided into eight rooms, two down-stairs and two up-stairs for jail proper, and two down- stairs and two up-stairs for the sheriff's residence and office. The sheriff occupied the north part. It cost eighteen hundred and twenty-four dollars and twenty-three cents.
The pioneer academy in Jefferson County was authorized by an act of the Legislature, approved April 13, 1838. This act authorized the treas- urer of the Commonwealth to subscribe two thousand dollars, to be ex- pended in building an academy building in Brookville, Pennsylvania. The trustees appointed by said act were John J. Y. Thompson, C. A. Alexander, Thomas Hastings, Levi G. Clover, John Pierce, and Richard Arthurs. In 1841 the Legislature authorized the commissioners of Jeffer- son County to subscribe five hundred dollars, and five hundred dollars being raised by subscription of citizens, this made a fund of three thou- sand dollars to erect the building.
The site selected was the lot on the corner of Jefferson and Barnett Streets, and the lot was kindly donated for this purpose by John Picker- ing. The lot was in a state of nature then, being covered with pine- trees. The contractors were Robert P. Barr, Thomas M. Barr, and Robert Larrimer. The building was of brick, and was completed in 1843. Professor J. M. Coleman was the first to teach classics and high mathematics in this institution.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
CHAPTER XII.
THE COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM-ITS INCEPTION-INTRODUCTION INTO AMER- ICA-STATE EFFORT-HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN THE STATE-SCHOOLS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY-PROGRESS OF EDUCATION, ETC.
As an introduction to this chapter, I cannot do better than reproduce an extract from a speech delivered by myself before a convention of Jef- ferson County school directors,-viz. :
" GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION,-I thank you for this honor. I highly appreciate it. As the representatives of thirty-two school districts, two hundred and forty schools, and twelve thousand pupils, we have met this day to consider modes and methods by which we can best advance the cause of education. This is wise and patriotic. Perhaps it might be well as an introduction to our work to review a little history as to the origin and present status of our common schools. Martin Luther, a Ger- man, was the first to advocate the public school system. This he did in 1524, ably, vigorously, and boldly. He asserted that the ‘ government, as the natural guardian of all the young, has the right to compel the people to support schools.' He further said, ' Now, nothing is more necessary than the training of those who are to come after us and bear rule.' The education of the young of all classes in free schools was one of the objects nearest Luther's heart. Scotland is the only other country of Europe that took an early interest in public school education. In 1560, John Knox urged the necessity of schools for the poor. These grand humane impulses of John Knox and other Scotch fathers have spread abroad, ' wide as the waters be,' only to germinate, bud, and bloom into the grandest social, theological, and political conditions ever attained by man. But it remained for the Puritan fathers of New England (America) to completely develop the common school system of our time. In New England education early made great progress. Under the eaves of their church the Puritans always built a school-house. As early as 1635, Boston had a school for ' the teaching of all children with us.' In 1647, Massa- chusetts made the support of schools compulsory and education universal and free by the enactment of the following law,-viz. : 'It is therefore ordered that every township in this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath in- creased them to the number of fifty householders, shall then forthwith appoint one within the town to teach all such children as shall resort to him to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general by way of
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
supply, as the major part of those who order the prudentials of the town shall appoint, provided those that send their children be not oppressed by paying much more than they can have them taught for in other towns.' In Connecticut, in 1665, every town that did not keep a school for three months in the year was liable to a fine. On April I, A.D. 1834, one hun- dred and eighty-seven years later than the enactment of the common school law of Massachusetts, the law creating the common school system of Pennsylvania was approved by George Wolf, governor. Our second State superintendent of public instruction was appointed under this law. His name was Thomas H. Burrowes.
" The foundation of our common school system was built by the convention to form a State constitution in 1790. The article as incor- porated in that document reads as follows :
""'SECTION I. The Legislature shall, as soon as conveniently may be, provide by law for the establishment of schools throughout the State, in such a manner that the poor may be taught gratis.
""'SECTION 2. The arts and sciences shall be promoted in one or more seminaries of learning.'
" This educational article was also incorporated into the constitution of 1838. But little effort was made under the first constitution by legis- lative bodies to establish schools under the first section. Their only aim seemed to be to aid the churches and neighborhood schools to carry on the work they had been doing for a hundred years. The pioneer effort by the Legislature seems to have been in 1794, when, on December 8, 1794, a committee was appointed by the House to report a proper mode of carrying into effect that part of the governor's message in regard to schools. The committee reported as follows :
"' Resolved, That schools may be established throughout the State, in such a manner that the poor may be taught gratis.
"' Resolved, That one-fifth part of the expense necessary to support the masters of said schools be paid out of the general funds of the State.
"' Resolved, That the remaining four-fifths of the said expense be paid in each county, respectively, by means of a county tax.
"' Resolved, That the said schools be put under the direction of trustees in each county, subject to such limitations and regulations, as to the distribution of their funds, the appointment of masters, and their general arrangements, as shall be provided by law.
"' Resolved, That the schools thus established shall be free schools, and that at least spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic shall be taught therein.
"' Resolved, That ten thousand dollars a year be appropriated out of the funds of this Commonwealth to encourage the establishment of acad- emies, in which grammar, the elements of mathematics, geography, and history shall be taught.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"' Resolved, That the said sum be apportioned amongst the city and several counties of the State in proportion to their respective population.
"' Resolved, That whenever a sum sufficient, with the addition of the sums proposed to be given by the public, to support an academy for the purpose aforesaid shall have been subscribed, or contributed, the addi- tional sum of one hundred dollars a year shall be given out of the public treasury in aid of such academy.
" ' Resolved, That when the number of academies in any county shall be so great that the sum to which such county is entitled becomes insuffi- cient to afford one hundred dollars to each, it shall be divided by the trustees aforesaid among the whole of such academies, in proportion to the number of masters employed and scholars taught, and the length of time in each during which each academy is so kept and supported.
"' Resolved, That whenever a sum is subscribed and contributed suf- ficient, if added to the income of any of the inferior schools, to procure the instruction contemplated to be given in the academies, such school shall become an academy and receive the additional bounty of one hun- dred dollars as aforesaid, subject to a reduction in the manner aforesaid.'
" A bill was prepared in accordance with these resolutions and passed both branches, but was lost in conference committee. This was forty years before the enactment of 1834."
THE PIONEER ACT.
On the Ist day of March, 1802, Governor Mckean approved the pioneer law of this State making a provision for the education of the poor, the title being " An Act to provide for the Education of Poor Children gratis."
" WHEREAS, By the first section of the seventh article of the Constitu- tion of this Commonwealth it is directed ' That the Legislature shall as soon as conveniently may be provide by law for the establishment of schools throughout the State, in such manner as that the poor may be taught gratis ;' therefore,
" SECTION I. Be it enacted, etc., That from and after the passing of this act the Guardians and Overseers of the Poor of the City of Philadel- phia, the District of Southwark, and Townships and Boroughs within this Commonwealth, shall ascertain the names of all those children whose parents or guardians they shall judge to be unable to pay for their school- ing, to give notice in writing to such parent or guardian that provision is made by law for the education of their children or the children under their care, and that they have a full and free right to subscribe at the usual rates and send them to any school in their neighborhood, giving notice thereof as soon as may be to the Guardians or Overseers of the term for which they have subscribed, the number of scholars and the rate of tuition ; and in those Townships where there are no Guardians or
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Overseers of the Poor, the Supervisors of the Highways shall perform the duties herein required to be done by the Guardians or Overseers of the Poor.
" SECTION 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That every Guardian or Overseer of the Poor, or Supervisor of the Highways, as the case may be, in any township or place where any such child or children shall be sent to school as aforesaid, shall enter in a book the name or names, age, and length of time such child or children shall have been so sent to school, together with the amount of schooling, school- books, and stationery, and shall levy and collect in the same way and man- ner and under the same regulations as poor taxes or road taxes are levied and collected a sufficient sum of money from their respective townships, boroughs, wards, or districts to discharge such expenses, together with the sum of five per cent. for their trouble.
" SECTION 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Guardians or Overseers of the Poor for the time being, or Supervisors of the Highways, as the case may be, shall use all diligence and prudence in carrying this act into effect, and shall settle their accounts in the same way and manner as by the existing laws of the State, the Guardians, Over- seers of the Poor, and Supervisors of the Poor, and Supervisors of the Highways are authorized and required to settle their accounts.
" SECTION 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That this act shall continue in force for the term of three years, and from thence to the end of the next sitting of the General Assembly and no longer."
It was found that the act of 1802 was unsatisfactory, and, in the hope of betterment, this act of 1804 was passed :
" AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MORE EFFECTUAL EDUCATION OF THE CHILDREN OF THE POOR GRATIS.
" WHEREAS, The law passed the first day of March, Anno Domini one thousand and eight hundred and two, entitled ' An Act to provide for the Education of Poor Children gratis,' has not been found by experi- ence to answer the constitutional purposes intended by it ; therefore,
"SECTION 1. Be it enacted, etc., That from and after the passing of this act it shall be enjoined as a duty on all school-masters and school- mistresses teaching reading and writing in the English or German lan- guages and arithmetic to receive into their schools and teach as aforesaid all such poor children as shall be recommended to them by the Overseers of the Poor, or where there are no Overseers of the Poor, by a Justice of the Peace and two respectable freeholders of the city, district, or town- ship where such school is kept.
" SECTION 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That upon the performance of any such service by any school-master or school-mistress as aforesaid, the Overseers of the Poor or Justices of the
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Peace and freeholders who have recommended as aforesaid, shall certify to the Commissioners of the proper county or city the names of such poor children, the time they have been respectively taught, and the usual rate of schooling paid for other children at the same school, who shall examine such certificate, and, finding it correct, shall draw an order in favor of such school-master or school-mistress for the amount on the treasurer of the proper county or city, to be paid out of the county stock.
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