USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of the Nineteenth Congressional District, Pennsylvania > Part 8
USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of the Nineteenth Congressional District, Pennsylvania > Part 8
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house now stands was purchased, and on March 1, 1814, the bank was in readiness to transact business, notes to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars being is- sued. The statement of March 9, 1814, shows capital stock $45,000, deposits $790. That York was a prosperous town is evi- denced by the growth of the deposits of the bank, which had increased in six months to $80,000. The first cashier was Thomas Woodyear, of Baltimore. Upon his resig- nation in 1817 John Schmidt began his long term as cashier of the bank. No history of the bank would be complete that did not recognize the high intellectual attainment and sound business sagacity of Mr. Schmidt, who for nearly twenty years was active in the management of the bank. No tribute to his memory could be more lasting than the resolution of the Board of Directors, "That a suitable tombstone be erected over our late Cashier, John Schmidt, at the ex- pense of the bank."
Following is a list of Presidents and Cashiers with their terms of service:
Presidents-David Cassat, 1810-1824; Jacob Hay, 1824-1826; Chas. A. Barnitz, 1826-1842; James Lewis, 1842-1845; Mich- ael Doudle, 1845-1858; Henry Welsh, 1858- 1867; Dr. Jacob Hay, 1867-1874; Henry Welsh, 1874-1879; G. Edw. Hersh, 1879 1895; Grier Hersh, 1895 -.
Cashiers-William Barber, pro. tem., 1810-1813; Thomas Woodyear, 1813-1817; John Schmidt, 1817-1835; Samuel Wagner, 1835-1862; Geo. H. Sprigg, 1862-1889; W. H. Griffith, 1889-1896; John J. Frick 1896 -.
On Nov. 26, 1864, the York Bank accep- ted the provisions of the National Bank Act and became the York National Bank. The capital stock of the bank beginning in 1810 with $45,000 has been increased from time to time both by stock dividends from its earnings and from new subscriptions until it has reached $500,000 with surplus
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NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. 1
of $100,000. The total net earnings of the bank from its organization until the pres- ent year amount to $2,654,140.24.
Few communities can point to a financial institution which has continued for eighty- seven years. An institution that has weath- ered the storms of two wars, and the num- erous panics of the past century must stand as a monument to the business capability and sagacity of its originators and mana- gers. The people of York may be proud to remember that their ancestors were active in its management.
The York County National Bank was organized at York prior to 1846 as the York County Savings Institution; the First National Bank, of York, came into exist- ence in 1863; the Western National Bank, of York, was organized in 1875; the Far- mers National Bank, at York was chartered in 1875; and the Drovers and Mechanics National Bank, of York, was organized in 1883. Besides these national banks the city of York has had the banking house of Weiser, Son & Carl, which was established in 1856. York today is one of the leading and strong banking centers of the State, and this exerts a beneficial influence on the business interests of Southern Penn- sylvania. The city has ten banking insti- tutions whose standing by their annual statement in 1895 was as follows:
Capital. Surplus.
York National Bank. . .$500,000 $100,000 First National Bank. . ยท 300,000 100,000 York Co. Na'n'al Bank .. 300,000 100,000
The Farmers' National Bank
200,000 100,000
Drovers' & Mechanics'
National Bank. 100,000 30,000
Western National Bank. 150,000
30,000 City Bank 100,000
50,000 Security Title and Trust
Company
150,000
The York Trust Real
Estate & Deposit Co .. 150,000
J. H. Baer's Sons Bank.
The first banking institution of Hanover was the Hanover Saving Fund Society, which was chartered in 1835, and the next, the First National Bank of Hanover was organized in 1863 with a capital stock of $50,000 which by increases amounted to $300,000 in 1877.
When the first bank at York was estab- lished, in 1814, over forty banks were or- ganized in the State, some of which proved unsound and so depressed business that many projected towns never passed the paper stage. Some of these paper towns were in York county.
Railroads. The early railroads of the Nineteenth Congressional district bore no important relation to the internal commerce of the country, but its later roads were built as links in the great systems which now cover the United States like a vast web and furnish means of locomotion and a market to every one almost at his own door.
The Cumberland Valley railroad was chartered in 1831 to run from Harrisburg to Carlisle and opened between those places in 1837, and was extended by 1856 to Chambersburg, Franklin county, from which a railroad was in operation to Hagerstown, Maryland. These two roads were consolidated in 1864, and an extension built to Martinsburg, West Virginia, which made the Cumberland one of the most im- portant railroads of Pennsylvania. In 1872 a branch was built from Dillsburg to Me- chanicsburg and named after those towns. The Harrisburg and Potomac railroad was chartered in 1870 by the Merriman Iron and Railroad Company and built by Daniel V. and Peter A. Ahl, of Newville. The company becoming involved the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company secured and has operated it since. This road enters Cum- berland county at Shippensburg and ex-
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA.
tends through the southern townships to Harrisburg, having a branch from Wil- liams' mill to Dillsburg, on the Cumberland Valley. Besides these two great railroads running east and west, the Northern Cen- tral crosses the narrow eastern end of the county, running along the Susquehanna. Another northward running road was built in 1869 from Pine Grove furnace to Car- lisle and in 1884 was tapped at Hunter's Run by a road from Gettysburg. The Pine Grove and Carlisle road is known as the South Mountain, and the road striking it is the Gettysburg and Harrisburg Railroad.
And passing from Cumberland to Adams county we find there a railroad history of interest. The first road projected in the county was the old "Tape Worm" line to run from Gettysburg through Franklin county past Thaddeus Steven's furnace to some point on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Work was commenced on it in 1835, but the State afterwards stopped pub- lic appropriation for it and it lay partly constructed until 1884 when the Hanover Railroad completed it eight miles west of Gettysburg to Ortanna Station and after- wards to a point on the Western Maryland railroad of which it is now a part. The Hanover and Littlestown railroad was con- structed in 1859, and now forms a part of the important railroads of Pennsylvania. Next was built the Hanover and Gettys- burg railroad, now called the Han- over Junction and Gettysburg, and one of the important railroads of Pennsylvania. Succeeding this last road came the Gettys- burg and Harrisburg railroad, built in 1884 and passing through Carlisle after its junc- tion with the South Mountain road.
Railroad building commenced in York as early as in her sister counties. The North- ern Central railway, the only road passing across the entire breadth of the State and running from Baltimore to Canandaigua,
New York, was built through York county by different companies. The first company the Baltimore and Susquehanna built to the York county line in 1832, the York and Maryland Line Company completed the road to York in 1838, the Wrightsville, York and Gettysburg Company carried it to Wrightsville in 1840, the York and Cum- berland Company extended it to Bridge- port in 1850, and the Susquehanna Com- pany then completed it to the New York State line. The Maryland and Pennsyl- vania Legislatures in 1854 consolidated all these companies under the name of the Northern Central Railroad Company. The Hanover and York railroad was com- menced in 1873 and now forms a part of the Frederick division of the Northern Central, which also includes the Littlestown road and the Hanover Branch which was completed in 1852 from Hanover to Han- over Junction. The Bachman railroad from Valley Junction on the Hanover Branch across Manheim township to Ebb- vale, Maryland, was completed in 1872, and the Berlin Branch from Hanover to East Berlin was opened in 1877. The Balti- more and Hanover road built in 1877 was from Emory Grove to Black Rock Station, connecting the Western Maryland with the Bachman Valley road; and the Stewarts- town railroad from Stewartstown to New Freedom on the Northern Central was con- structed in 1885.
The last road of the county, the York Southern, has had an interesting history. It was chartered in 1874 under the name of the Peach Bottom railroad and was to run from East Berlin through York and Peach Bottom to Oxford in Lancaster county, but the middle division from York to Peach Bottom is all of the road that has been built in York county. The road was built from York to Muddy Creek Forks in 1874 and the next year carried to Delta.
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NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
The road was sold in 1882, became the York and Peach Bottom and was extended to Peach Bottom. Another sale in 1888 made it a part of the Maryland Central, and in 1894 by still one more sale it was made the York Southern.
Minor Industries. Among the earliest of the present minor industries of the dis- trict is shad fishing on the Susquehanna, which in early days was a large business. from 1815 to 1840 profitable fisheries were conducted along the whole river front of Manchester and Lower Chanceford town- ships in York county and near the small islands in the Susquehanna. The canal dam at Columbia now prevents the shad from going higher up the river and they are scarce below that place on account of in- judicious management.
One of the most prominent of these minor industries is the manufacture of Peach Bottom roofing slate from the slate quarries of Peach Bottom township, some of which were opened during the latter part of the last century. This slate is un- excelled for durability, and has been exten- sively used by the United States and sev- eral State Governments, two great railroad companies, many large manufacturing firms, and on the roof of the palatial Van- derbilt mansion, at Ashville, North Caro- lina, which is the most elegant and expen- sive private residence in the world. The Peach Bottom slate vein commences at the Susquehanna two miles above the Mary- land State line and runs southwest for five miles through Peach Bottom township and then for three miles into Harford county, Maryland, where it is broken by Broad creek. It is 250 feet wide at the eastern end and one mile at the western extremity, and pits have been sunk in it for 200 feet. The Peach Bottom slate belongs to the Cambrian age and has better qualities for
strength and weathering than the Silurian slates. Prof. Louis Reber gives the strength of this slate per square inch as 5,360 pounds when the pressure is applied to tlie cleavage and 10.530 pounds when applied perpendicularly to the cleavage. His analysis of Peach Bottom slate is:
Silica 58,370
Protoxide of Iron 10,661
Alumina
21,085
Lime 0,300
Water 4,030
Alkali
1,933
Carbon 0,930
Magnesia 1,203
Sulphur 1,203
Titanic Acid
Traces
Oxide of Magnesia
Traces
Carbonic Acid .0,390
The valuable constituents in this slate are the silicates of iron and alumina, and the injurious ones are sulphur and the Carbon- ates of lime and magnesia. The Peach Bot- tomi quarries were worked principally by Welsh companies from 1850 to 1885, and now they are operated chiefly by six strong and reliable companies which have their offices at Delta.
The minor industries of sheep and cattle raising, fruit growing, dairying, and water wheel manufacturing are well represented and flourishing in the district, while market gardening, fruit and vegetable canning, brick-making, lime burning, cigar box mak- ing and car building are carried on success- fully on a small scale in different sections.
The Nineteenth District is a rich agricul- tural, mining and manufacturing region with excellent financial accommodations and great transportations facilities which gives promise of future wealth and pros- perity as among the elements of a progres- sive civilization wrought out by educational, moral and religious forces.
CHAPTER V.
EARLY SCHOOLS-ACT OF 1834-THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COUNTY INSTITUTES-ACA- DEMIC SCHOOLS-COLLEGES-PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS-PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS -CARLISLE INDIAN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
I T IS gratifying to know that the public and private schools and the higher institutions of learning in the Nine- teenth Congressional district in number and building equipment and in the profes- sional knowledge and practical efficiency of their teachers have kept pace with the growth of their respective counties in pop- ulation and wealth; and that they compare favorably with the educational institutions of any unurban district in the Keystone State.
Early Schools. Penn when he founded his city and colony provided that schools should be opened for the education of the young in which pupils were to pay a small tuition. Enoch Flower was the first school master in the province of Pennsylvania. The Quakers soon established schools in which the rich paid tuition and the poor were to be taught gratis. The Germans objected to these schools, on the grounds that the work would not be done well. All religious denominations that came to Pennsylvania brought their school teachers as well as their preachers and side by side were built the log church and the log school house, as they feared State supervision in education and sought to have free schools under church patronage. So the early schools west of the Susquehanna were either church schools or private schools, the latter being known as subscription schools, yet classical schools and a college
had been established by the close of the Revolutionary war. The minister was often the teacher, and while scant record of the early churches and their pastors has been preserved yet the names of the early schools and teachers have passed away. The early schools were of two classes, the church school and the subscription school often both existing at the same time in the com- munity and in some cases the latter sup- planting the former. The pioneers were so crowded with work that their children could be spared but about two months in the win- ter to attend school in log cabins and log houses built by common effort, and often at a distance of from three to five miles. The teachers in the subscription schools were often intemperate and profane men of lim- ited education whose profanity was their certificate in securing a school.
"Der Dicke Schulmeister" was on Kreutz creek between 1725 and 1730, and three years later a Lutheran church or parochial school was established there. In 1747 Rev. Michael Schlatter, a German Re- formed minister, established several paroch- ial schools in York and Adams counties, while about the same time the Quakers in the northern part of York county and the Scotch-Irish in the southern part estab- lished schools. In Cumberland county schools were taught as early as 1745, and about 1773 Rev. John Andrews taught Greek and Latin at York, and Rev. Alex-
59
NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
ander Dobbins was engaged in the same line of work in Gettysburg.
Act of 1834. After the Revolutionary war the private or subscription school gained on the church or parochial school till half a century later the common school took the place of both for public education. In 1776 the legislature passed the first school law giving aid to the subscription schools, but little was accomplished, and in many in- stances, as in Carlisle in 1788, personal aid was given to sustain schools for the poor and ignorant. The constitution of 1790 provided that the poor might be taught gratis, and the school law of 1809 directed the assessor to list the children between five and twelve years of age of those to pay for their schooling and they were to be taught by the teachers who were to draw pay for them from the county commissioners. This system of distinction between rich and poor was called the "pauper system" by the op- ponents of the law, and in 1833 there was only an attendance of 17,467 such children whose tuition cost the state for that year but little over $48,000.
The pride of the poor prevented their general acceptance of "gratis" education by common schools. Complex and cumber- some in many ways, yet its defense at the next session made Thaddeus Stevens im- mortal as the "Great Commoner." In 1836, Dr. George Smith, prepared a new bill, remedying the defects of the Act of 1834, and its passage secured the great boon of public education to the people of the State irrespective of wealth or povertv. The common schools led to the county sup- erintendency and the latter was the first successful step toward the teachers' insti- tute and the State normal school. In due course of time the common school became the present public school with its free text books and compulsory attendance. The common or free school system for a time
met with opposition from ignorance, prej- udice and selfishness but eventually tri- umphed over every foe and marks an era in the history of Pennsylvania.
This act of 1834, was anticipated in Cum- berland county in 1831 in which year un- der ex-county superintendent, D. E. Kast, a public meeting was held at Carlisle and passed two resolutions one of which de- manded that a well digested system of free schools be established and supported at State expense, and the other condemned any primary system of education which did not provide the same instruction free to every child without distinction as to wealth or poverty. That meeting also circulated a petition asking the legislature to pass a free school law.
The Public Schools. Under the Act of 1834 sixteen districts of Cumberland county accepted the common school system in 1834, and all of them were accepting in 1836, when the convention voted $10,000 in support of the system in the county. The first district superintendent was Dan- iel Shelley (1854-1860) succeeded by D. K. Noel, who resigned on account of his health, and was followed by Joseph Mifflin (1860-1863). Then George Swartz served until 1869, succeeded by W. A. Lindsey, who was followed by D. E. Kast, whose successor S. B. Shearer came into office in I878.
The common schools met with greater opposition in Adams than in Cumberland county. Prof. Aaron Sheely says that in 1834, seven of the seventeen districts of Adams county accepted the free school sys- tem, that the next year another district came over and the third year eleven districts were in line, leaving five all whom became accepting by 1843. The early county sup- erintendents of Adams county were: David Wills (1854), Rev. Reuben Hill (1856), W. L. Campbell (1858), John C. Ellis (1859),
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA.
Aaron Sheely (1863), J. H. West (1869), P. D. W. Hankey (1871), and Aaron Sheely (1872).
The most formidable opposition to the free school system in the 19th district, was in York county, where but 7 of the 29 dis- tricts accepted the system. The next year nine districts were for free schools and in 1836, seventeen accepted. The remaining districts did not accept until after 1848, and of them Heidelberg came in 1857, West Manheim in 1858, and Manheim in 1870. The opposition came principally from the Pennsylvania Germans whom ex-Supt. W. H. Kain says were not opposed to educa- tion but feared danger to their church from these free schools which would supplant their parochial schools. Of the earlier school superintendents of York county were: Jacob Kirk (1854), G. C. Stair (1855), Dr. A. R. Blair (1856), D. M. Et- tinger (1862), S. B. Heiges (1863), S. G. Boyd (1869), W. H. Kain (1872), D. G. Williams (1878).
After some years the name of common schools was changed to the present one of public schools. These schools are now in active and successful operation in every community in the Nineteenth district.
County Institutes. The earliest men- tion we find of a teachers meeting in the line of institute work is in 1834, when the Teachers' Association of Adams county met at Gettysburg, November 20th of that year. This association was probably formed in 1833, and missed holding ses- sions in 1857, 1858, 1860 and 1861. Since 1865 the Adams county Teachers' Institute has met yearly at Gettysburg where the Pennsylvania State Teachers' Association held a three days' session in 1866.
A year later than the Gettysburg edu- cational meeting there was a convention of teachers and other friends of education at Carlisle on December 19, 1835, to organ-
ize an association but it is probable that it went down. The Cumberland county Teachers' Institute was permanently organ- ized December 21, 1854, and has held its annual sessions ever since.
Of any educational association in York county earlier than 1854 we have no ac- count. On December 23, 1854, the York county Teachers' Institute was organized and like the similar institutes of Adams and Cumberland counties has miet regularly ever since.
Academic Schools. The first classical or academic school in the district of which we have definite information was Rev. Alexander Dobbins' classical and boarding school at Gettysburg, which was in exist- ence from 1773 to 1801. A number of so- called academies were started in Adams county but were remarkably short-lived, and the true succession of Dobbins' aca- demic school was the Gettysburg academy founded about 1810 or 1811, and existing with varying fortunes until 1829, when not- withstanding the State aid that it had re- ceived, its building was sold for debt, and successively used as the home of the Get- tysburg gymnasium and the Gettysburg Female institute. The Gettysburg Female academy was in operation from 1830 to 1875; Haupts' classical school ran from 1840 to about 1850, and the Huntertown English and Classical academy was founded in 1852.
Classical schools were established in the Cumberland Valley at an early day and such a school was at Carlisle in 1776, when its principal and most of its students entered the Continental army. Mention in 1781 is made of a classical school at Carlisle and in 1786 of one at Shippensburg. Hopewell academy was in existence from 1810 to 1832; the Newville classical school started in 1835 continued for several years, and the Carlisle institute founded in 1831 existed
61
NINETEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
for a number of years while Kingston school ran from 1848 to 1850. Hall acad- emy organized in 1851 became a Soldiers' Orphan school in 1867; Mechanicsburg se- lect school started about 1851, became in 1853, the present Cumberland Valley insti- tute; and Sunnyside Female seminary of Newburg existed from 1858 to 1868; while Mary institute of Carlisle founded in 1860 went down about 1870. Shippensburg academy was opened in 1861 and closed some years later, while Mezger female in- stitute was organized about 1880. Other academies have been established in Cum- berland county of which no definite ac- count can be secured.
York county reaches back in her aca- demical history to Revolutionary days. Rev. John Andrews not earlier than 1770 and not later than 1773 opened a classical school at York which he conducted for sev- eral years. The old York county academy was opened in 1787, and is still in existence. The Stewartstown English and Classical institute was founded in 1851, and Cottage Hill seminary at York about the same time, but the latter institution in a few years was succeeded by the Young Ladies' seminary of York. The York Collegiate institute was opened in 1873 and is one of the leading academical schools in the State.
Before passing from the field of second- ary instruction it is necessary to speak of State Normal and public high schools and notice the modern business colleges. The State normal schools having besides their normal courses, elementary, scientific and classical, are prominent and useful factors in the educational fabric of the State and nation commencing with the public school and culminating in the university. Of these normal schools, the Cumberland Valley or Shippensburg State Normal school of the seventh State normal district, is entitled to honorable mention. The
movement that led to its establishment commenced in 1850 and first took definite form in a county normal school at New- ville, but finally resulted, in 1870, in the State normal school for the seventh dis- trict. The charter was obtained in 1870, the necessary buildings erected during 1871 and 1872, and the property accepted as a State institution in 1873. The institution is well equipped for its work, has furnished many excellent teachers, and from 1873 to 1894 enrolled 5,269 students. The York high school was opened in 1870 and is highly commended, while the Hanover and Wrightsville high schools have been estab- lished since 1885. The only business col- lege in the district of which we have ac- count is Patrick's Business College of York.
And also deserving mention is the White Hall Soldiers' Orphan school of Cumber- land county, which was established in 1869; the Childrens' Home of York, founded in 1865 for soldiers' orphans; Eichelberg Aca- demy, at Hanover, and Irving Female Col- lege, at Mechanicsburg, all well managed and meritorious institutions.
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