USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of the state of Pennsylvania with a compendium of history. A record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume II > Part 29
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County Superintendent Hoffecker was devoted to what proved to be his life work-the educational interests of the community. He was an ideal teacher and superintendent, being exceedingly sanguine and even-tempered. In spite of the obstacles encountered in the more un- progressive districts, he carried out reforms to which he was committed from the beginning of his term of service-a longer school term, better salaries for teachers, a graded course of study, improved school build- ings, equipments and surroundings. In visiting schools he knew how to encourage teachers and pupils to reach the highest standard possible. In morals, his whole life was an example that forcibly illustrated the precepts he inculcated.
Professor Hoffecker was identified with the teachers' institutes of the county almost from their origin. He had a very large share in out- lining the programs for the annual meetings.
As a man. a citizen, a worker in the cause of public education, Mr. Hoffecker was a model of what a man should be. Had he been dis-
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posed, he might have enjoyed a larger share of political honor. On one occasion, when his party's nomination was within reach he declined it on the ground that his duties lay in a different direction, and that he could not permit himself to be diverted from educational work.
WALLACE PETER DICK, A. M.
Wallace Peter Dick, A. M., professor of Greek and Latin in the West Chester State Normal School, was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, September 9. 1857. On his father's side he is of Scotch descent, while his mother is a native of Vermont. Mr. Dick was prepared for college at Woodstock Academy, Woodstock, Connecticut, and entered Brown University in 1875.
Though he made a specialty of the classical and modern languages, the records of the college show that he was an all-round student, receiv- ing in his junior year the "Howell Premium" of sixty dollars for hav- ing "the highest rank in mathematics and natural philosophy" for the three years past. Ile was graduated in 1879, with the highest honors of his class, having received also, during his course, numerous other high college honors, including an appointment to deliver the Latin ora- tion at the junior exhibition of his class and an election to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society in 1878. He received the degree of A. B. at his graduation and that of A. M. three years later.
From 1879 to 1880 he filled the position of principal of schools of Wickford, Rhode Island, and for the next four years that of principal of the High School at Peace Dale, Rhode Island, teaching all the English, Latin, Greek, French and German. After the expiration of this term of service here an unusual opportunity presented itself to him to enter upon Normal School work in Pennsylvania. He resigned the high
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school principalship and became professor of English at the California (Pa.) State Normal School. He was then for upwards of six years professor of natural sciences and modern languages and later vice- principal and professor of languages and pedagogics in the Lock Haven ( Pa.) State Normal School. In 1891 he was tendered, at an advanced salary, and accepted the position of professor of languages in the West Chester (Pa.) State Normal School. After serving the institution for four years in this capacity he was tendered and urged to accept the presi- dency of a collegiate institute devoted to the higher education of young women at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. . Acting upon the advice of leading educators and personal friends, who were interested in his advance- ment, Professor Dick finally accepted the position and entered upon his work in July, 1895. The institution at once received new impetus and the first year showed a remarkabe increase in attendance, especially in the music department. President Dick's energetic management of af- fairs here abundantly demonstrated his executive ability. A leading citizen of Carlisle states: "I have known him intimately during a number of years, but especially during the three years of his presidency here. Professor Dick is an accomplished, exact scholar. He insisted upon both thoroughness and definite results in the work of his faculty and from his students. I cannot say too much for this phase of his labors here. In executive ability he excelled. He carefully looked after the details of his work so that everything was finished in its proper time and place."
In June. 1898, Professor Dick was tendered a professorship in the West Chester State Normal School, from which he had resigned three years before. This recall to the school to which he had already become so much attached and to the work in which he was so deeply interested appealed to him with irresistible force and, as he had become convinced
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that circumstances would not permit him to carry out his plans in the institution which he was managing, he resigned the presidency and ac- cepted the West Chester professorship. He is thus ( 1903) entering upon his tenth year of service in the State Normal School, instructing and specializing in the department of languages. For a time since 1898 he instructed in Greek and pedagogy, later in Greek, Latin and Ger- man and by a re-distribution of the work made necessary by the growth of the department, he is at present giving instruction in the classical languages only. although he is still an enthusiastic advocate of the claims of the modern languages to recognition. A few years ago, while engaged in teaching the modern languages he spent nearly a year in private study with native teachers at three of the leading schools of languages in Philadelphia for the purpose of improving his speaking knowledge of German, French and Spanish, as his knowledge of the grammar was complete and vocabulary ample, and during the summer of 1901. he gave instruction in Spanish at the Summer School of Lan- guages, Portland, Maine, and received further instruction from the best native teachers in German and French.
Mr. Dick, therefore, retains a deep love for the modern languages in which he is unusually well equipped for giving instruction, and con- tinues to be an assiduous student, although the so-called classical lan- guages claim his attention in the class-room. In 1899 he was tendered the vice-principalship of the school, but found it inconvenient to accept it.
In 1889 Professor Dick took a year's course by correspondence in the History of Education and Pedagogy under the late Dr. Jerome Allen of the University of the City of New York. He has lectured before Teachers' Institutes in various parts of the state, his subjects be- ing taken mainly from language, science or pedagogy, which his fund
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of matural humor enables him to make entertaining as well as in- structive.
Early in life he acquired a thorough knowledge of music, having studied the piano and organ under some of the best teachers. His first teacher of the piano urged him, in fact, to make music his profession. but his mind was fully made up to pursue other lines of work and he entered college instead. lle has served in the capacity of precentor and for a number of years was a church organist.
lle is a member of the Presbyterian church, a Y. M. C. A. director and a Republican in politics.
Professor Dick was married in 1885 to Miss Ida May McConnell, a leading teacher in the public schools of Mckeesport, Pennsylvania, and one of the State Normal Schools. Their only child, a son, died in in- fancy, in 1889.
Professor Dick's experience as a teacher has thus covered a wide field, including nearly all phases of work, graded school, high school. normal school and ladies' seminary. His style of teaching is plain, methodical and thorough. He seeks to grasp the difficulties that lie in the way of individual students and by sympathetic encouragement strives to enable each one to do his best work and attain to the highest possibilities of his being.
HENRY HOWARD HOUSTON.
Henry Howard Houston, founder of Houston Hall, University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, was born near Wrightsville, York county, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1820, the son of Samuel Nelson and Susan ( Strickler) Houston.
Ilis early life was spent in Wrightsville and Columbia. Upon leav-
HJ Hows Pour
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ing school he engaged in mercantile pursuits and soon became connected with the iron furnace business in Clarion and Venango counties, Pennsyl- vania. In 1847 Mr. Houston entered the office of D. Leech & Com- pany, in Philadelphia. Here he learned the canal and railroad transpor- tation business, acquiring such a mastery of all their details that he attracted the attention of Colonel William C. Patterson, then president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Colonel Patterson induced him .11 1851 to take charge of the freight business of the line which the com- pany had just completed from Philadelphia to Pittsburg. consisting of the railroad to Hollidaysburg, the State Portage Road and the canal from Johnstown westward. So well did he manage the business of this road that on November 23, 1852, he was appointed general freight agent. The organization he effected while in this office, which he held until 1867. remains practically unchanged to-day, so thorough and far-seeing was his work. After his retirement as general freight agent, which was due to ill heath, Mr. Houston became one of the promoters and managers of the Union Line and also of the Empire Line. In ISSI he was elected a member of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and was until his death one of its most active men- bers. lle was also a director of the Pennsylvania Company. the Pitts- burg, Cincinnati. Chicago and St. Louis Railway Company, and of many of the subordinate organizations of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
Mr. Houston hecame a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania in 1885. and held the position until his death. Among his many dona- tions to the university the greatest was that of Houston Hall. the recre- ation hall for the students. This was erected at a cost of $100,000 as a memorial to his son. Henry Howard Houston. Jr., a member of the class of 1878, who died while traveling in Europe. Begun during Mr.
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Houston's lifetime, the hall was not finished until six months after his death, being formally dedicated January 2, 1896. Mr. Houston was a trustee of Washington and Lee University.
He was married to Sarah S. Bonnell in 1856. He died June 21, 1895, at his country place at Wissahickon Heights, just outside of Philadephia.
GEORGE MORRIS PHILIPS, A. M., Ph. D.
George Morris Philips. A. M., Ph. D .. principal of the West Ches- ter State Normal School, widely known as an educator of the highest capability, is of Welsh descent. His earliest ancestor of the same name in America was Joseph Philips, born in Pembrokeshire, Wales, in 1716. a weaver and farmer, who emigrated in 1755 and settled near Lionville, Chester county, Pennsylvania. He was a Baptist, and was instrumental in founding Vincent Baptist church, near Chester Springs, in the vicinity of his new home. He brought with him to America his wife Mary who was born in Wales in 1710, and whom he married about 1741. Husband and wife both died in 1792, the former May 18, and the lat- ter December 26, and their remains lie in the Vincent churchyard. Their second son :
John Philips was born in Pembrokeshire. Wales, about 1745, and died at Black Bear Tavern, near Paoli, Pennsylvania. May 22, 1790, and was buried near his parents. He and three of his brothers served in the American army during the Revolutionary war. He was first lieu- tenant in the Chester County Battalion, was captured, and was one of those who endured dreadful suffering on the British prison ship "Jer- sey," in New York harbor. He married Margaret Davis. Their eklest son :
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George Philips was born at Black Bear Tavery, January 29, 1774. but in early manhood moved to West Fallowfield township, Chester county, where the rest of his life was spent. He was owner of the tavern and a farmer, and was a man of wealth for his time. He was a deacon in the Glen Run Baptist church. He married Elizabeth Morris, who was born July 30, 1782, and died November 25, 1853. Her husband died April 20. 1859, and they were buried side by side at the old Glen Run Baptist church.
Joli Morris Philips, son of George and Elizabeth ( Morris) Philips, was born on the paternal farm in West Fallowfield township, Chester county, May 8. 1812, and died on his farm adjoining Atglen on the east, July 21. 1879. He was a farmer throughout his life, and accumulated considerable property. His education was modest, but he was a man of intelligence and strong character; he was influential in the community, and was called to various local offices. He was a trustee and deacon in the Baptist church. Ile married Sarah Jones, who was born July 28, 1819. in East Whiteland township. Chester county, and who died in Christiana, Pennsylvania, July 19. 1902. She was a woman of excel- lent mind, liberally educated, and of the highest Christian character, a Baptist in religion, and held in affection for her great kindness in words and deeds. Her parents were Judge Thomas and Eliza ( Todd) Jones. Her father was a farmer and merchant, and was for two terms associate judge of Chester county. He was a great-grandson of Grif- fith John (Jones), who emigrated from Wales to Chester county, in 1712, and, through a daughter, he was a great-grandson of the Rev. Thomas Jones, who emigrated from Wales in 1729, and who preached for many years in the Tulpehocken Baptist church. in Berks county. Pennsylvania. The wife of Judge Jones was Eliza Todd, born Decem- ber 20, 1793, and died January 14, 1862; she was a great-grand-
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daughter of Robert Todd, ( Scotch-Irish) who emigrated from the north of Ireland to Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, about 1737, and was the ancestor of the Todd family of which the wife of President Lincoln was a member.
George Morris Philips, son of John Morris and Sarah (Jones) Philips, was born in Atglen. (then called Penningtonville). Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1851. He began his education in the neigh- borhood schools and prepared for college at the Atglen High School. an academy conducted by Professor William E. Buck. He entered Lewisburg (now Bucknell) University in 1867, and was graduated in the classical course in 1871; in 1884 he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the same institution. Immediately after his gradu- ation. Professor Philips was called to the professorship of mathematics in Monongahela College, at Jefferson. Pennsylvania, and occupied that position until early in 1873. when he was appointed professor of higher mathematics in the West Chester Normal School. In 1878 he resigned to become professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in Bucknell University, and he served as such until 1881, when he succeeded Pro- fessor Maris as principal of the State Normal School at West Chester. a position which he has adorned from that time to the present.
The excellent instructional capabilities of Professor Philips and his ยท fine managerial ability are amply attested by the phenomenal success of the institution while under his control. During the little more than a score of years of his principalship, the number of students in the normal school has been increased from two hundred and forty to seven hundred and fourteen in 1903, and its graduates and students who have passed out into honorable stations in life are numbered by thousands, a very large percentage of whom have entered upon the work of teaching in various schools of all grades and throughout the entire country. These
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have left their alma mater not only with ample educational acquire- ments, but they have borne in marked degree the impress of the person- ality of him who superintended their instruction, and who ever made it his effort to develop the individual power of his pupils and not merely to afford them the knowledge acquirable from text-books and oral in- struction. That his heart and soul are of a verity devoted to his school has found various and ample attestation in his refusal to be drawn from its service. In the year of his appointment to the principalship, he declined a call to the headship of a sister institution, the Indiana ( Penn- sylvania ) State Normal School. In 1888 he declined the presidency of Bucknell University, and in 1890 he also declined Governor Beaver's proffer of the position of state superintendent of public instruction, while he has also set aside various other tempting calls to schools of as- suredl standing and prominence.
Professor Philips has, however, at all times and in all ways, as he could without neglect of his school, given his zealous effort to advancing general educational interests. In the capacity of institute instructor and platform lecturer, upon educational, literary and scientific topics, Pro- fessor Philips has been in frequent request not only in Pennsylvania but in many other states, and his utterances have always commanded close attention and warm approval. He is even more widely known as an author, and his works on Astronomy. Natural Philosophy, Civil Government of Pennsylvania and the Geography of Pennsylvania, (the first two in collaboration with President Isaac Sharpless, of Haverford College) have had a wide distribution. He was president of the State Teachers' Association of Pennsylvania in 1891, and vice-president of the National Educational AAssociation in 1894. He is now a member of the College and University Council of Pennsylvania, a trustee of
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Bucknell University, a member of the Pennsylvania Baptist Educational Society, and president of the Chester County Historical Society.
Professor Philips has ever borne a full share in local enterprises. He is a member of the board of managers of the Chester County Hos- pital, second vice-president of the Dime Savings Bank of Chester County, a director of the National Bank of Chester County. The only public office he has ever consented to fill was that of school director. He is a member of the Baptist church, in which he has occupied various official positions. His political affiliations have always been with the Republican party. He is a member of the Order of the Sons of the Revolution, deriving his title through the service of his lineal ancestor Lieutenant John Philips.
Professor Philips was married. December 27. 1877. in Highland township. Chester county. Pennsylvania, to Miss Elizabeth Marshall Pyle, a daughter of William H. and Anna (Tayor) Pyle. Both her parents were Quakers. Her father was a farmer and miller, a descend- ant of Robert Pyle, who emigrated from England in 1683. Her mother was a descendant of Robert Taylor, also of English birth, and from whom the poet. Bayard Taylor, also descended. Mrs. Philips was edu- cated at Darlington Seminary and at the Millersville State Normal School, and she was teacher of instrumental music in the West Chester State Normal School at the time of her marriage. She is an accom- plished woman and a zealous and efficient worker in literary, temperance and social circles in the church and community. Mr. and Mrs. Philips have two children : William Pyle Philips, born at West Chester, June 29, 1882, and Sara Elizabeth Philips, born at West Chester, February 16, 1887.
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JAMES WHITFIELD WOOD.
James Whitfield Wood. secretary of the Tippett & Wood Com- pany, of Easton, Pennsylvania, was born in Deckertown, New Jersey. January 17, 1845. From the establishment of the family in America by Timothy Wood in 1700 down to the present. the representatives of the name have been active in promoting the development and substantial upbuilding of the various localities in which they have lived, and have promoted the educational. social and moral status of their respective states.
Timothy Wood came from Yorkshire. England. to the new world. and joined his brother Jonas, then living at Huntington. Long Island. In 1727 he was killed by the Indians. His body was found pierced with seven poisoned arrows. He left three sons. Timothy. Daniel and Andrew. The first two removed to Orange county, New York, in the spring of 1728. Timothy settling in Goshen. while Daniel took up his abode near Florida. The third son. Andrew, afterward removed to New England. Daniel Wood, the lineal ancestor of James W. Wood, purchased what is called the Wood farm, for which he gave a dollar per acre. It came into his possession in 1733, and remained the prop- erty of his descendants for one hundred and twelve years. By his first marriage he had two sons and three daughters: John, Jonas. Mary, Elizabeth and Deborah. By his second marriage he had two sons. Daniel and AAndrew Wood.
Daniel Wood became a physician. and served as a surgeon in the American army during the Revolutionary war, making a splendid rec- ord because of his untiring devotion to the needs of the soldiers. His son Jolm founded the city of Quincy, Illinois, and afterward became governor of that state. Andrew Wood, son of Daniel Wood ( first)
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and brother of Daniel Wood ( second), continued to reside upon the old homestead farm. He married his cousin, Elizabeth Wood, a daugh- ter of John Wood, of Longford, Ireland, and their children were Jesse ; Elizabeth Totten; Andrew, who became a Methodist minister of Ohio; and James.
James Wood, son of Andrew and Elizabeth Wood, was born near Florida, New York, April 18, 1778, and was reared upon the old home- stead, where he continued to reside for many years. In addition to farming he also followed cabinet-making and carpentering. There is still in existence a high clock frame which was given by him as a wedding gift to his wife, and which is now in possession of James Whitfield Wood in Easton, Pennsylvania. He purchased the old family home- stead, giving twenty-five dollars per acre for the property for which his great-grandfather had paid one dollar per acre.
On the 9th of March, 1799, he wedded Mary Armstrong, who is descended successively from William Armstrong (2), William Arm- strong (1), and Francis Armstrong. The last named sailed from Ulster county, Ireland. August 6, 1728, and landed in New York on the Ioth of December of that year. He was a most unswerving follower of the Presbyterian doctrine, and served as trustee of his church. He became one of the earliest members of the Presbyterian church of Flor- ida. and his character is indicated from the following item copied from the original writing, which was signed by Rev. J. Elmer, pastor of the Presbyterian church, September 11, 1758. It read: "Mr. Francis Armstrong, elder of the Presbyterian congregation in Florida, has in every article fulfilled his obligation to me as a minister on account of my support while I lived in the congregation, and much more than ever for his proportion, for which 1 do forever acquit him from all subscrip- tions made to me, and heartily and earnestly recommend him as an
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example for others, if they would follow a preached gospel." Francis Armstrong was not only just and prompt in meeting all money obliga- tions, but also displayed many sterling traits of character which made him a man honored and respected by those who knew him.
To James and Mary (Armstrong) Wood were born the following named: Daniel T., Sarah. William, Julia. Jane Keturah. James. Mary. Thomas and Emily. Of this family Daniel T. Wood was for about thirty years pastor of the Presbyterian church in Middletown, New York. William was an eller in the Presbyterian church at Galesburg. Illinois, and Jane was for many years engaged in missionary and pas- toral work as the assistant of the Rev. Thomas K. Beecher. of Elmira. New York.
James Washington Wood, father of James Whitfield Wood, was born near Florida, New York, on Monday, October 15. 1813. and remained upon the home farm until nearly nineteen years of age. . \t a revival service held in Florida during the fall of 1831. he became interested in the doctrine there preached. and made a public confession of his faith on the ist of January, 1832, by uniting with the Presby- terian church of Florida, Pennsylvania. His educational privileges were somewhat limited. but he possessed a strong, discriminating mind. and used his advantages in the best possible way. Determining to de- vote his life to the ministry, he began preparation in the spring of 1832 by entering upon a course of study under the direction of his brother. Rev. Daniel T. Wood, of Middletown. The sudden change from out- door life, however, to the sedentary habits of the student, brought on a severe illness, and it was necessary to take him back to his home in Florida. New York. However, he was destined for a life of great use- fulness, and recovering from his illness he entered Goshen Academy. then under the direction of Mr. Starl, in the fall of 1832. In November.
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