USA > Pennsylvania > Montour County > Danville > Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania : a collection of historical and biographical sketches > Part 11
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16. When a scholar has been absent from school two Sabbaths, he shall be visited by the teacher of the class to which he belongs, who is to report the cause of such absence to the superintendents. This rule should be strictly adhered to, as it may prevent the schol- ars from breaking the Sabbath.
17. Alterations or amendments of the constitution cannot be made without the concurrence of three fourths of the members.
18. The society, two thirds of all the members concurring, shall have power to raise money for the use of the school.
19. It shall be the duty of each and every member to attend the quarterly meetings, and all other meetings that may be deemed necessary by the superintendents, under a penalty of twelve and a half cents each for neglect, for the use of the school.
IRA DANIELS,
JEREMIAH EVANS,
JAMES HUMPHREYS,
WILLIAM WOODS,
JAMES MONTGOMERY,
JOSEPH PRUTZMAN,
WILLIAM WILSON,
D. C. BARRETT,
JOSIAH MCCLURE,
W. MONTGOMERY,
JOHN IRWIN,
JOHN RUSSEL,
WILLIAM WHITAKER,
CHARLES M. FRAZER.
DANVILLE, June, 1817.
From this document, it appears that there were no female Sunday sehool scholars in that day, and consequently there was still much to learn and an open field for great improvements.
This first Sunday school, in Danville, was organized as above sta- ted, on the 2d day of August, 1817, in a private dwelling on Market
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· HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
street, east of Pine. A brief, biographical note of each of the old founders of the first Sunday school in Danville is appended.
Doctor Ira Daniels was a native of Connecticut. He and Doc- tor Petrikin were the village physicians of that day. They suc- ceeded Doctor Barrett, who was the successor of Doctor Forest, the first physician of the place. Doctor Daniels was editor of the Ex- press, the second newspaper of the county, which succeeded the Columbia Gazette, the first journal in this place, and which was pub- lished only a year or two. The Doctor rendered effective aid in drawing up the constitution and in obtaining the cooperation of others in establishing the school. He was a member of the commit- tee, of which Hon. William Montgomery was the chairman, and drew the last two articles of that instrument.
James Humphreys, a worthy citizen, who cheerfully joined in the good work of establishing the school.
James Montgomery was a member of the large and influential fam- ily of that name, who did so much to establish and aid the village in its early days to obtain a position for usefulness and to give it a reputation for sound morality. His brother, Rev. John Mont- gomery, was a teacher in the school, and subsequently became su- perintendent, and continued in that capacity until he removed to western Illinois where he labored long and faithfully as pastor of a church. They and Rev. William B. Montgomery, were sons of Col. John Montgomery, one of the earliest pioneers who reclaimed Mahoning to civilization and religion. He (James) died in 1826, at the early age of thirty-five years.
William Wilson, the village justice, who most respectably filled that office for an age. After a long and useful course here, rearing a large family, and when well advanced in years, he removed to Il- linois, near the Mississippi river, where he died in 1848, at the good old age of eighty-three years. His decendants still reside in Knox, Rock Island, and Mercer counties, and in Chicago.
Josiah Mc Clure, one of the prominent and popular citizens at that period, held the office of register and recorder of Columbia county, being the first incumbent ; he was also the first secretary of the school, and faithfully discharged his official duties.
John Irwin was one of the early residents, and a hotel keeper, who united with the others in promoting the good work, and he lived
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FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL.
to see the institution permanently established. He was one of the thirty-four subscribers to an agreement to contibute to the support of the preaching of the Gospel in 1785, before the erection of the old Grove church.
William Whitaker was a Hibernian who emigrated from Europe to Philadelphia, and soon afterwards to Danville, whilst it was yet a small village. He was an assiduous promoter of the school. About this period the Methodist church was formed and he was one of its zealous members. The father of a large family, he lived to see them arrive at years of maturity. His daughter and grand children still reside in Danville. His son, Doctor William H. Whitaker, re- sided in New Orleans, and afterwards in Mobile, where he died in 1870, leaving a large family who reside there and in the vicinity.
Jeremiah Evans was a merchant then residing here, and who sub- sequently removed to Mercersburg. He was one of the most effi- cient members of the society, and one of the superintendents elected at the organization of the school in 1817.
William Woods was well known as a leading Methodist, who aided in the organization of that sect when they possessed but slen- der means for such an enterprise ; he was one of the class leaders. His piety and energy commanded the confidence of his colaborers and coreligionists, as well as the respect of the entire community. Thus it will be seen that the school was established by pious and enterprising men, irrespective of religious creeds, though a majority of them were Presbyterians. Owing to the paucity of its friends at its inception it was found expedient for all to unite, who could assist in promoting its objects. Some of Mr. Woods' family still reside in Danville, actively engaged in business pursuits.
Joseph Proutzman was a prominent and popular citizen. He came to Danville after having been elected sheriff of the county to succeed Henry Alward, the first one, about a year anterior to the organization of the school. After the expiry of his sheriffalty he resumed his former profession, that of surveyor, for which his math- ematical attainments and skill well fitted him. Subsequently, and until his decease, he was a justice of the peace.
Don Carlos Barrett was a native of Norwich, Vermont. His birth dated back to 1788. He was a most accomplished and suc- cessful teacher. His academy at Cincinnati in 1808, 1809, and
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HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
1810, was a grand success. His school in Danville at the time the Sunday school was formed was a most prosperous one, being patron- ized by the principal citizens of the place, and by those of the vicin- ity and neighboring villages. Whilst busily engaged in his school by day he studied law by night. Upon his admission to the bar he removed to North Carolina, and subsequently to Erie, from thence to Texas just prior to the revolution, and during that event- ful period, together with Austin and Houston, constituted the "Con- sultation," the triumvirate which exercised supreme control during that sanguinary conflict. After the new nation had secured its in- dependence he resumed his law practice and resided at Bastrop. Here, after a life of great activity and usefulness he died in 1838, at the age of fifty years.
Hon. William Montgomery was born in Philadelphia in 1776, and was taken by his parents, when in his infancy, to Northumber- land, and from thence to Danville. From Danville the family had to flee several times from prowling parties of war-like savages. They sought refuge at Northumberland, or Fort Augusta. In early man- hood he was appointed one of the associate judges of Northumber- land county, for which position his intelligence and sterling integrity well fitted him. When the new county of Columbia was formed, he continued to hold his office in the new county to the close of his long and spotless life, in January, 1846. It may truly be said of him, " he felt that a christian is the highest style of man." The only surviving members of his family are Rev. Samuel Montgomery, residing at Oberlin, and his grand-children and great-grand-children in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Nebraska.
John Russel, one of the pioneers, was a man much respected. He was a merchant, and one of the first in this place. Always ready to join in every enterprise for the moral as well as the material ad- vancement of the community he warmly advocated the establish- ment of the Sunday school, and was a co-laborer with Judge Mont- gomery in the organization of the first Sunday school in Danville. He was chosen treasurer, and ever manifested a deep interest in the success of the school. John Russel was a man of merit, modest, loving the quiet of his family and his home, but was called to public life in 1824, when he was appointed prothonotary of the county by
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THE OLD LOG HOUSE.
Governor John Andrew Shultz. He served six years with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the public.
Charles M. Frazer, the last survivor of the society, was born in Philadelphia, in February 1788. In his infancy, during the sum- mer of that year, his parents brought him to Mahoning where his childhood, youth, and early manhood were passed, in the old home- stead farm, now in part included in the corporate limits of Dan- ville. He was educated in the old log school-house, which stood about thirty paces east of the first Grove church, under the tuition of Master Gibson and other teachers of the olden time, which was about the close of the last century. He cordially aided in founding the school and in its support, during his residence here. He resided for half a century in this vicinity with the exception of two years in California, in 1855-56. Having survived all the other members of the society many years, he died in Peoria, in October, 1876, in his eighty-ninth year. His children, grand-children, and great grand- children reside in Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Peru, South America.
The Old Log House.
Green in the memory of many is the old log cabin where first they hailed the dawn of life, or which perchance is associated with well remembered scenes in the long past. Among pioneers the old log cabin is a sacred institution, one that never fails to call back the hallowed memories of childhood's home. Danville is not without these monuments of the past generation ; and these quaint old struct- ures, in the eyes of those who are now treading the down hill of life, are no less sacred as cherished memorials of the past, than are the remembrances of those whose lives began in the grand old man- sion or the lordly palace.
Among the ruins of the fire in Reed's block, was an old house. It had been disguised for years in a coat of weather-boards, and, by the rise of Mill street, it was left far below the pavement. It was lost to sight. Its original garb gave place to another, and that too was crumbling away with age. But the fire stripped off the shell, and brought out the old log house, only to disappear again, and this time, forever. The ancient beams that left the primitive forest a century ago were exposed in the glare of the flames in the rude
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HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
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dressing of the pioneer, and the style of the olden time. There were the windows and doorways far below Mill street as it is now, but all right as it was then. This was one of the oldest buildings in Danville. It was cemented with mud between the logs and cov- ered with clap-boards in its early days. The chimney, we pre- sume, was on the outside, like the smoke stack of a furnace. But that old building is not without its legends of ghosts and its tales of horror, as well as more pleasant scenes connected with those who trod its threshold in auld lang syne. One frail mortal, tired of life, committed suicide within its walls, and there too, others first saw the light of day. How much of joy and of sorrow, in that old house, was felt by those who have long slept in the grave uncon- scious to pleasure and pain, as the old building itself. Years ago it was used as a school-house and the scenes enacted there " could a tale unfold" that would raise each individual hair, like the quills on the fretful porcupine. I only know that a friend of mine, then a school boy, was the subject of a terrible wallopping in that rude temple of literature. He has not forgotten it yet. As he watched the scene, that wallopping came back to his memory, bright as the flames that played around the old familiar logs, and the image of the stern old school master seemed to rise from the burning floor, and assume a grotesque form, as it vanished in the dense volumes of smoke that filled its chambers. The school master of that day was an autocrat, and played the tyrant in his little kingdom of the school- room, and to-day the advancement in the science of teaching is no less remarkable than the improvement in architecture.
Well, the old log house is gone. Another monument of the past has vanished in smoke.
Old School Days.
The school houses in the olden time were rude and unpretending structures. Some had no glass in the windows-oiled paper answered the purpose. Great logs were piled in the wide hearths, for stoves were scarce. The seats and desks were in keeping with the struc- ture, so arranged that the larger scholars occupied positions behind long desks which ran with either side of the wall, and faced the " master," while the younger ones occupid the more uncomfortable benches immediately in front, where their feet scarcely ever touched
OLD SCHOOL DAYS.
the floor. So much for the house, and now for the school. The " master " was estimated according to his sternness, and the scepter of his power was the symbol of brute force. They didn't think of teaching more than spelling, reading, and " cyphering." There were no free schools, but the poor could attend the school, and the county paid the teacher three cents a day for each scholar on the poor list.
The " master's standing in the community was not alone meas- ured by the dexterity with which he could "point a quill," but the respect entertained for him was somewhat akin to that of the re- vered "circuit rider," who was generally consulted on such matters as related to civil progress, local government, etc., and whose opin- ions thereon were highly esteemed and duly regarded. The " mas- ter " generally " boarded 'round " in turn among the parents of the scholars, and his " week at our house" was looked forward to with mingled feelings of pride and regret by the younger folks, but with satisfaction by the parents, especially the good housewife, as she would take an inventory of her crocks of preserved fruits, or re- arrange the " spare room " to give it an extra air of cozy comfort and welcome.
Don't you remember the time when you were wont to be startled with the stern command of " mind your books?" How it made the little chaps jump and hold up their books before their faces, whilst they made furtive side glances towards the frowning tyrant who wielded the birch ! Don't you remember how the " big boys " would sometimes cram their caps in their pockets, and, meek as in- nocent lambs, say, " Master, please let me go out," and then ske- daddle ? But one at a time was allowed to go out, and to keep things right a small paddle or shingle was hung near the door. On one side, in large black letters, was the word In, and on the other Out. This was to be turned on passing out and in. Sometimes a mischievous fellow would watch his chance, when one was out, and turn the " pass " to " in," and then ask to go out, because he wanted to join the one already out. The " master," peering over his specs, would examine the shingle, and satisfied that all were " in," would grant permission. How many of our readers remember the old " pass " that hung beside the door ? They had no bells, but called the scholars by rapping smartly on the door-frame with a wooden
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HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
rule, accompanied with the word of command, "Books ! books !" when every urchin scampered for his seat, took up his book and pre- tended to study with wonderful earnestness, but all the time peep- ing around to see what was going on. Next, you would hear, " Master, Sam's a'pinchin' me !" or, " Joe's a'scrougin' me !" The mischievous boy, by way of punishment, was compelled to pass across the room and take a seat with the girls-a doubtful kind of punishment. Some blushed like lobsters, and others seemed to enjoy it.
There was one day in the year when the "master's" anger was braved, and that was in the time-honored custom of "barring out the master" on Christmas. On that great occasion, the plot being previously laid, the scholars assembled long before school time, and piled up the seats to barricade the door. All preparations made, they waited the coming of the "master." At last he came, and with threats alarmed the more timid, but the "big boys," no less determined, withstood the onset. An agreement to give free par- don and a general treat to the school was slipped out under the door, with the offer of opening the door if the "master" would sign and return the paper. Sometimes he returned it with his sig- nature at once, and other times he kept them imprisoned for the day and punished them besides. "Barring out the master" was a common custom all over the country, but it has long since been abandoned, though many who read these lines will remember the exciting scenes connected with this old time custom.
In the winter time the "singing school" was also held in the school house. These, as well as the "spelling matches," were the great excitements of the season. For miles around the young folks joined in making the required number, at fifty cents each for the quarter. At the appointed time they assembled, bringing each a singing or "tune book," a tallow candle, and generally a sweet- heart. They were soon arranged on the rude seats, holding the stump of a tallow candle, wrapped in paper, in one hand, and the book in the other. Those who were fortunate enough to own a singing book were regarded with something like envy, yet they commanded a considerable amount of respect. The "singing master" was usually a tall Yankee, wearing a "churn on his head . and a "swallow-tailed" coat on his back. His pantaloons were a
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OUR SCHOOL DAYS.
world to short, and his twang was of the nasal persuasion. They had no blackboard, but with a short stick the "master" sawed the air as he sang out fa, sol, la, me, sol. When he came to the end of the space, he made a sudden turn as the tails of his coat described a semi-circle. "Old Hundred" was then a favorite. When "sing- ing school" was out the grand occasion was manifest in the scram- ble for partners, and many a long walk home resulted in a match.
Once on a very dark night, when singing school was out and some had gone quite a distance, an unpretending young man called out, "Hello ! Becka ! Becka !" as loud as he could bawl. "Hello ! Jerry !" came back on the night breeze and resounded through the near woodland. It was Jerry's "lady love," who had gone some distance on the dark way homeward. "May I go home with ye, Becka ?" was Jerry's next. Again she responded, "Oh, well, Jerry, I reckon !" He did go home with her, and in due course of time they were married and lived in a little frame house on the outskirts of town. He was a shoemaker, and fond of tobacco, and was in the habit of taking very large quids, about the size of a duck-egg, and when exhausted would dry them in a bag that hung in the chimney-corner. When perfectly dry, Becky would smoke them in her short clay pipe. One morning, as a neighbor called to have some cobbling done, he heard the following conversation : "Jerry, any more old chaws?" "Wall, I dunno, Becky, looky in th' ba i-g !" Thus, they lived long and happy together, and some of their descendants may perchance be living in Danville to-day.
There were no church choirs then. All who could sing in the congregation joined in the hymn, two lines of which were "given out" at a time. And when melodeons were first introduced, they were refused admission into many of the churches. Choirs were another innovation that are no improvement, and the time may come again when true worshippers will return to the old-time con- gregational singing.
Incidents.
In 1824, the " Codorus," a small steamboat of about one hundred tons, arrived at Danville, on an experimental trip up the Susque- hanna, and was received with great demonstrations of joy by the citizens. A public banquet was given to the officers of the boat, at
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HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
. the old Cross Keys tavern that stood on the river bank. The banquet was numerously attended, and high hopes were entertained of the speedy and successful navigation of the Susquehanna river by steam. But, alas, these bright visions were of short duration. The boat pro- ceeded on her voyage, and when near Berwick exploded her boiler, killing or fatally injuring a number of her crew. This terrible dis- aster dispelled all hope of successfully navigating the river by steam. More than half a century has passed away and no attempt has been made since the fatal voyage of the " Codorus," of York.
James Hamilton the junior member of the firm of King & Hamil- ton, merchants, in 1813, was a suitor for the hand of Miss Lydia Evans, but his ardent love was not reciprocated. He was rejected by the fair Lydia. This rejection made him desperate, and he com- mitted suicide, by shooting himself with a pistol. This was the first suicide that occurred in the town of Danville, and it was long re- membered with horror. These sad occurances have not been fre- quent in,this place. Perhaps young folks do not love as desperately as they did in the olden time, or the fair maidens of to-day are less cruel than they were in early times. We have no record of any sub. sequent suicide in Danville, for a similar cause ; as those who are rejected, instead of blowing out their brains, gracefully retreat and then seek a more congenial spirit.
In 1778, one evening at dusk, Gen. Daniel Montgomery noticed what seemed an empty canoe floating down the river. Taking a small boat he rowed out to inspect the strange craft. Approaching the canoe he saw an Indian lying in the bottom apparently armed with bow and arrows. On second thought he resolved to pull up to the canoe. On coming along side he found that the Indian was dead. A dead rooster was fixed to the bow of the canoe, a bow and arrows were in his hands and a card was on the Indian's breast, bearing the words, " Let the bearer go to his master King George or the devil." Montgomory drew the canoe ashore, where many citizens inspected its curious freight. It was then sent adrift and has never been heard of since. It proved to be the corpse of a noted chief among the Indians, named " Anthony Turkey." He was killed on the Kingston Flats, while on a murderous invasion among the settlers in Wyoming valley, and his dead body was sent afloat in an old canoe, as it was found by Montgomery.
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INCIDENTS.
My grandfather and grandmother Goodman were among the old residents of Danville. They are buried side by side in the old Luth- eran grave-yard. Grandfather Goodman was a coverlet weaver, and made bed coverings according to the fashion of that day. They were woven of bright colors in fanciful patterns. Some were orna- mented with birds, flowers, stars, or trailing vines. An old record speaks of him as a " man of culture." He had a good library, chiefly German books, many of them in large quarto, Leipsic edi- tions. He devoted much time to study. Grandmother survived him a number of years, and was killed by being thrown from a wagon by a runaway horse. My uncle Philip Goodman's daughter, Eliza Ann, was married to Doctor Samuel G. Maus. He was a man of considerable prominence in his profession, and was for a number of years in partnership with Doctor Logan, father of Senator Logan of Illinois. Doctor Maus died at Pekin, Illinois, in February, 1872. This union between Doctor Maus and Ann Eliza Goodman, brings the writer of this volume into outside relationship with the Maus and the Frazer families.
The first dancing school in Danville was opened by Philip Gra- ham of Milton, in the Pennsylvania hotel then kept by Philip Goodman and now by J. V. Gillaspy. This dancing school was attended by the young folks of the town, and also by many from the surrounding country. Among the latter was Philip F. Maus, then quite a youth. His father, Joseph Maus, had been persuaded to send him in order that he might keep pace with the times. Mr. Philip F. Maus did not take kindly to the exercise and soon aban- doned it. He now laughs heartily at the idea of his scholarship, and does not regret that his tastes and habits, in early life, were of a more substantial character.
Philip Goodman, uncle to the writer, for a long time kept the old " Pennsylvania," now the Revere House, near the bridge. He also kept a store in the same building, where he carried on an extensive trade with surrounding farmers, especially in exchanging goods for wheat. Mr. Maus, at the Mausdale mill, ground the wheat and sent the flour in barrels down the river on boats. Immense quanti- ties of flour by this mode of transportation, were sent to Philadel- phia and Baltimore. These boats had only to be guided on their downward voyage; but returning up stream was a tedious and la-
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