History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 127

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 127
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 127
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 127

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

. FIFTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

COMPANY F.

Corporal: David Fulton.

Privates: Jacob C. Clevenger, E i Covalt, Job Everts, John R. Fox, Jacob Foz, Jacob B. Glenn, A. Glenn (also Co. B, 126th), Thomas Humbert, Michael Lamon, Geo. W. McClure, John Miller, James Miller, George Marshall, Jonathan Richards, Samuel Stevens (wounded in action Feb. 6, and died Feb. 8, 1865, at Dabney's Mills, Va.), Samuel Unger (also Co. B, 126th Penn. regt.), Joseph Unger ..

THIRD REGT. MD., P. H. B. COMPANY B.

Henry Beatty, Daniel J. Hipner, Frederick Hipner, Jacob Hess, Wm. L. Lee, Henry R. Lee, John Lee, W. Lafferty, Thomas Mann. Thomas Rash, John W. Potter, John C. Shipaway, Geo. E. Shipaway, Joseph Smith, John J. Sheatrompf, Geo. Sheatrompf. Peter Sheatrompf, Saml. C. Hendershot, Charles Hendershot, David Richards, John Miller.

Union township soldiers -organizations unknown .- Josiah Lehman, Jacob Geiger, Andrew J. Geiger, Jacob Hammond, Joseph Crawford, George L. Fisher, John Bowen, Daniel Bowen, John Shank, Alfred P. Bye, Harvey Taylor, Daniel Smith, Robert Beatty, Hanson Pool (died in rebel prison), Henry Pool (died in service), John Hoffman, Dennis Lenhart, wd. at Lynchburg, Va., Jacob L. Richards.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Jabez Karns, 3d Md. inf., wd. front of Petersburg; Joseph Hoopengardner, 208th regt. Pa. Vol. Inf .; George Hoopengard- ner ; John J. Taylor, 126th regt., Pa. Vols., killed at Fredericks- burg; Wm. L. Mckibbin, Co. A, 130th, and Co. E, 149th regt. Pa. Vols .; John C. Parlett, 126th Pa. Vols .- 22d Pa. Cav .; Thomas Parlett, 22d Pa. Vol. Cav .; Ralph Eddowes, Co. E, 20th Pa. Vol. Cav .; Baltzer Deneen, 3d Md., P. H. B .; Joseph Deenen, 3d Md., P. H. B .; George Deenen, 3d Md., P. H. B .; Joseph Brobson, 3d Md., P. H. B .; Robert Carson, 3d Md., P. H. B .; Tolbert Hill, Cole's ind'p't Cav. ; Daniel Ritz, Co. E, 149th regt. Pa. Vols .; Andrew Weldon (killed at Nashville, Tenn.); Riley Leasure, Cole's ind'p't Cav .; Amos Leasure, Cole's ind'p't Cav.

Capt. Frank W. Hess, at the beginning of the war, recruited a company in Bellefonte. Pa., which was m. Apr. ? 0, 1861, as Co. I, 15th regt. Pa. Vols .; commanded the company during its three months of service ; re-enlisted, m. as 1st lieut., Co. I, 60th regt. Pa. Vols., Nov. 4, 1861; pr. to capt. Co. M, 60th regt., July 8, 1862 ; to maj. bat., Oct. 31, 1864 (tr. to bat., July 27, 1864) ; tr. to 65th regt. Pa. Vols., May 8, 1865 ; m. o. with regt., Aug. 7, 1865. Maj. Hess joined the regular army about two years after the war, and has since been in the service, entering as 2d lieut., subsequently pr. to 1st lieut., and now holds a captain's commission.

. Samuel E. Smith, 2d U. S. Cav., drafted 1862; killed at the Wilderness, May 30, 1864.

Col. John Q. Wilds, 24th Iowa Vols., died in hosp., Winchester, Va., Nov. 18, 1864.

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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

David Horton, sgt., m. June 11, 1861 ; pr. fr. corp., Co. F, 8th Pa. Res., 37th regt .; m. o. w. co., May 26, 1864.

Abel O. Griffith, pr., m. Mar. 11, 1864, Co. F, 8th Pa. Res ; tr. to 191st regt., Co. H, May 11, 1864; pris. fr. Aug. 19 to Oct. 7, 1864; m. o. w. co., June 28, 1865.

Zopher P. Horton, pri. Co. H, 8th Pa. Res .; m. June 11, 1861 ; tr. to 191st regt., Co. H, May 15, 1864; pr. to corp., June 13, 1865; m. o. w. co., June 28, 1865 ; vet.

Franklin G. Mills, musician, Co. D, 101st regt. Pa. Vols. ; m. Dec. 6, 1861 ; pris. fr. Apr. 20 to Nov. 20, 1864; dis. by G. O. June 21, 1865; vet.

David L. Fulton, Co. K, 21st Cav .- six months service; Isaac W. Shiver, prl. Co. B, 208th regt., m. Aug. 26, 1864, killed in battle at Petersburg, Va., Apr. 2, 1865; E. W. Gaster, corp. Co. K, 133d regt. Pa. Vols., detailed as musician; Adam Long, Co. F, 99th regt. ; John E. Campbell, Co. E, 158th regt .; John V. Glunt, 47th regt .; David H. Myers, enl. Oct. 15, 1864, Co. M, 19th regt. ; trans. to Co. F, and afterward to Co. A ; dis. Sept. 30, 1865, and m. o. Oct. 14, 1865.

The family of Dr. James Moore, of New Grenada, Fulton county, furnished eight soldiers to the Union army. All were in the service at the same time. The eldest, K. A. Moore, enlisted in less than a week after Fort Sumter was fired upon, but was not assigned to duty. Oct. 9, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F, 77th regt. Pa. Vols .; re-enlisted at the close of his term, and was m. o. in Oct., 1865. John C. Moore, next in age, served in the quarter- master's department throughout the war. Dr. C. W. Moore served as surgeon in the 13th Pa. Cav. nearly two years, and resigned on account of falling health. J. A. Moore enlisted six days after the surrender of Sumter, in Co. D, 5th regt. Pa. Vols., and served three months. Aug. 7, 1861, he was again m. as Ist It. of Co. 0, 28th Pa. Vol. Inf .; pro. to capt. Mar. 1, 1863, Co. B, 147th regt .; wd. at New Hope Church, Ga., May 25, 1864 ; dis. Oct. 28, 1864. James Moore, Co. B, 117th regt .; m. Aug. 17, 1861 ; pro. to sgt. March 1, 1863 ; wd. at Chancellorsville, Va., May 8, 1863 ; dis. Aug. 29, 1864, ex. of term. B. F. Moore, agt .; m. in April, 1861, in - Pa. Art .; afterward tr. to Knap's battery, then to 6th U. S. cav .; dis. while 1st It. of a Maryland regt. W. H. H. Moore enlisted and served until dis. May 20, 1868. C. E. Moore, Co. K, 202d regt. Pa. Vols .; m. Sept., 1864; dis. Aug., 1865. The eight brothers of this remarkable family are all still living. Capt. J. A. Moore has been superintendent of a Pennsylvania soldiers' orphans' school since 1865.

William H. Willett, 2d It. Co. B, 147th regt. Pa. Vols .; m. Aug. 17, 1861 ; pro. fr. Ist agt., Mar. 1, 1863; wd. at New Hope Church, Ga., May 25, 1861; res. April 7, 1865.

Lieut. Moses Whitford, Sd Md. Inf. (home brigade), died at Warfordsburg, Pa., Feb. 18, 1865, aet. 58.

Jacob L. Richards, Co. C, 195th regt. Pa. Vols., enl. July 13, 1864 : dis. Nov. 4, 1861.

E. G. Hedding, enl. Sept. 28, 1861, Co. B, 3d regt. Pa. H. B .; tr. Co. H; pro. 1st agt. Oct. 15, 1868; com. 1st It .; m. o. at close of war. Noah Hedding, enl. Sept. 28, 1861, Co. B, 3d regt. Pa. H. B .: served through the war. James E. Hedding, first served in Pa. cav. regt. nine mos., then enl. Co. H, Sd regt. Pa. H. B. in 1868 ; m. o. close of war.

John H. Winter, drafted June 20, 1864.

James Doran, Co. A, 58th regt. Pa. Vols .; m. Sept. 19, 1864; drafted; dis. by G. O., June 12, 1865.

Benjamin Deavor, Co. A, 58th regt. Pa. Vols .; m. Sept. 29, 1864, substitute; dis. by G. O., June 12, 1865.

John W. Stephens, Co. A, 58th regt. Pa. Vols .; m. Sept. 19, 1864, drafted; dis. by G. O., June 12, 1865.

Jacob Pott, q.m .- sgt., Co. H, 2'st regt. Pa. cav .; m. July 4, 1868; m. o. Feb. 20, 1864 ; re-enl. Nov. 8, 1864, 2d Inf. bat. Light Art., Ohio Vola .: m. o. Aug. 9, 1865.

David M. Kendall, corp. Co. M, 20th regt. Pa. cav .; m. July 20, 1863; m. o. Oct. 3, 1863 ; re-enl. Feb. 21, 1865, Co. H, 79th regt. Pa. Vet. Vols .; m. o. July 12, 1865.

James G. Kendall, sgt. Co. M, 20th Pa. cav .; m. July 20, 1863 ; m. o. Oct. 3, 1863; re enl. Sept. 1, 1864, Co. G, 205th regt. Pa. Vols .; detailed as regt. clerk ; m. o. June 2, 1865.

Isaac Lanehart, m. Sept. 8, 1861, Co. A, 11th regt. Pa. Vols .; served until Jan. 1, 1863, then re-enl. in same co .; pro. to corp .; m. o. July 1, 1865.

Dennis Lanehart, m. 1861, 15th W. Va. regt .; served as private about three years.

Abraham Hershey, 21st Pa. cav. James Menerlin, 21st Pa. cav.

The following served in Co. F, 56th regt. Pa. cav. : John H. Taidig, John Lamberson, George Newman, Jacob Witter, J. Anderson, George Anderson.

Daniel Gunnels, 56th regt. Pa. Cav., shot at Hatchet Run. David Heifner, 21st regt. Pa. Inf. William Miller, 21st regt. Pa. Inf.

FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

COMPANY E.

Alfred Cline, W. G. Cromer, Jacob Allen, David H. Mathias, Robert F. Ramsey.

COMPANY F.

J. J. Cromer.

TWENTY-SECOND CAVALRY.

COMPANY K.

Geo. Bain, H. Buckley, Jacob L. Buckley, Robert J. Boyles, Samuel Cowen, John M. Chestnut, James Deshong, B. F. Gebrett, Isaac Houck, George W. Needham, John Ramsey, J. B. Ramsey. COMPANY H.

Wm. Wilds, George Wilds, Sylvester Wilds, William Mathias, Robert C. Miller.

COMPANY A.

Porter Baker, W. J. Cline (six mos. service) ; unassigned, John Stinson, Jacob Wible.

TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

COMPANY L.

Wesley Cline, D. F. Fraker, 21st cav.

ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.

COMPANY C. John Cline, Isaac Charlton, David Fraker, Andrew Fraker, John Reese. COMPANY F.

L. F. Brahm.

ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

COMPANY H.

Robert V. Campbell, R. W. Coulter.

James Baker. COMPANY H.

FORTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

Emanuel Brubaker. Henry Anderson, Co. C, 82d regt.

William Buckley, 6th army corps.

J. W. Fraker, Co. F, 77th regt. George Houser, Co. F, 77th regt.

Jacob W. Miller, Co. E, 84th regt.

Geo. W. McCoy, Co. E, 107th regt.

J. A. Miller, Co. K, 12th res.

John 8. McDowell, Co. F, 77th regt. John W. North, Co. I, 149th regt.

Peter North, Co. I, 149th regt.

Wesley A. Ramsey, Co. H, 22d cav.

Conrad Ramsey, Co. C, 82d regt. Wm. R. Ramsey, Co. B, 110th regt. Samuel Ramsey, Co. F, 77th regt. Calvin Robinson, Co. F, 77th regt. William Reese, Co. I, 9th cav.

William Robinson, Co. I, 9th cav.

N. C. Trout, Co. C, 126th regt.

Henry Wagoner, Co. H, 126th regt. Andrew Wilt, Co. I, 9th cav. Nathaniel Wilt, Sd Maryland.

The company and regiment of the following are unknown :

Israel Brown, G. W. Clyman, Wm. Glunt, John B. Glunt, M. H. Glunt, David Robinson, Aaron Vice, R. M. Welch, W. E. Welch, A. M. Dubbs, A. J. Lear, Phillip Mathias, Silas Anderson.

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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CHAPTER LXXXII. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS-THE PRESS.

The Schools of Pioneer Days- Description of the Schoolhouses - Teachers - Teachers' Wages - Early Schools and School- houses in Various Parts of the County - Adoption of the Free-School System - Progress of Education - County Super- intendents- Beneficial Effects of their Labors -School Statistics for the Year 1882 - THE PRESS OF FULTON COUNTY -Sketches of the Democrat and the Republican - Owners, Editors and Chief Events in the History of Each - A Remark- able Poem by John McCurdy, the First Editor of the Repub- lican.

[N Fulton county, as in most thinly populated

districts of the state, school privileges were exceedingly meager until after the provisions of the school law of 1834 were put into operation. Schools were conducted on the tuition plan, each pupil paying a stated amount per month or per term. Cabins, which had been abandoned as dwellings, were frequently made to serve as schoolhouses. Sometimes a farmer whose house contained more rooms than were occupied by the family would give the use of an apart- ment for a schoolroom. When schoolhouses were built, they were of the rudest pattern. Logs formed the walls of the building, greased paper served as window-lights, and a huge stone fireplace occupied nearly all of one end of the room. A rude writing-desk, in front of which was a bench of slabs or puncheons, was the principal article of furniture. The pupils, when not engaged in writing, sat upon rough benches, without support for the back. Thus situated, it was impossible for the pupil to be comfortable, and as a natural consequence, his progress in his studies was slow.

Reading, writing and arithmetic were the only studies pursued. Geography and grammar were unknown sciences to the pupils, as well as to most of the teachers of that day. Any man who could write a fair hand, read without spelling out the words, and was versed in the elements of arithmetic, was considered a com- petent teacher. Frequently wandering stran- gers-"tramps," they would now be called- whose antecedents and habits were unknown, were successful in getting up schools, and to them the duty of training and instructing children was entrusted. Of such teachers, a few proved worthy of their calling. Others were ignorant and intemperate, and the money paid them might as well have been thrown away.

In the early settlement on the Maryland border* it is believed that schools were taught as early as 1770, but in what places or by whom, there is neither record nor tradition to show. William Jacques was the first teacher of this neighborhood of whom anything is remembered. He was a British soldier of the war of 1812, who had been paroled, and coming into the settlement, engaged in teaching. He subse- quently settled in the neighborhood and taught successfully for many years, finally losing his life by drowning. Thomas Mood was also a teacher in this locality, cotemporary with Jacques. They taught in buildings erected both for school and religious purposes. The school was usually open for about three months, and the teacher's salary ranged from eight to fifteen dollars per month.

In Ayr township, about four miles south of McConnellsburg, there was a school in opera- tion at Big Springs, on Benjamin Stevens' land, as early as 1777. It was then the only school in the Big cove. A man named Boyd was the first teacher. Some of his pupils came five miles to attend school. Wolves were so numerous that the scholars were obliged to go in parties or under the escort of grown persons for protection. Another school was opened in 1780 about half a mile south of McConnells- burg, and thenceforth schools were regularly supported in the Big cove.

In the northwestern part of the county, a schoolhouse was built and a school opened in Wells township prior to 1790. The schoolhouse stood near the old graveyard, a few rods east of W. L. Mosebey's residence. In 1803 another schoolhouse was erected near Thomas Griffith's house, and a Mr. Young taught in it. He after- ward kept school for several years in a part of his dwelling-house, which was very small. In 1806 a deserted dwelling near Wells' tannery was used as a schoolhouse. In 1809 there were three schools in Wells, taught by John Alex- ander, Ryan and Roachee. The schools of this neighborhood were well patronized, and at the time of the adoption of the common school system were in good condition for those days.

In Belfast, now Licking Creek township, German schools were taught by Jacob and John

*The statements which follow are mainly gleaned from an article, in the report of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction for the year 1877, from the pen of H. II. Woodal, who was then county superintendent.

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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

Eller between 1790 and 1800. Henry Strait afterward taught an English school, three or four miles from the place where the Eller school was opened. Other early teachers were Gray, Steffee, Wilkie and McClain. The schools were all located near the base of Sideling hill. There were doubtless many other early schools in various parts of the county, but of them we have no account.

Within five years after the enactment of the free-school law, its provisions went into effect in every township now comprising Fulton county. No action could more strongly attest the fact that the people of the county are, as they have always proved themselves, zealous friends of education and careful of the interests of posterity.

Ayr township (then including Tod) accepted the free schools in 1835, and the same year opened five schools. Hugh Rankin, Thomas Douglas, Esquire Hauger, James Kendall and J. Jordan were members of the first school- board. Belfast established four schools in 1838-40. Bethel, which in 1834 included Thompson, Union and a part of Brush Creek, had eight schools within its territory when the system was adopted. Col. William Bishop, Maj. Joseph Barnhart, George Smith, Amos C. Stigers, Oliver Ellison and John Fisher were the first directors. Union township (then part of Bethel) had no school of any sort until 1844. Nearly all of Buck valley was then owned by William Lee, Esq., of Philadelphia. As there was no schoolhouse, he refused to pay his taxes, which amounted to a considerable sum, there- fore the directors of Bethel built a house. James Rough, a Scotchman, opened a school with six pupils ; as no more came, the school was closed. In 1852, the former schoolhouse having been sold for a dwelling, a new one was built.

Brush Creek, until 1850, was a part of East Providence township, Bedford county. Two schools were opened under the free-school law in 1837 or 1838. Dublin (then including Taylor) established free schools in 1837, and opened five schools, three of which were within the present limits of Taylor. Licking Creek by a vote of sixty-six to sixty-three accepted the school law in 1838. The first schoolboard consisted of John Noble, Peter W. Deshong, Henry Sipes, Benjamin Daniels, John Jordan and Joseph B. Noble. Contracts for building

seven schoolhouses were given the same year. The average cost of each was one hundred and eleven dollars. The schools were opened in 1839 ; term, three months; salary, thirty-two dollars for the term.

Hopewell township, Bedford county, then in- cluding Wells, accepted the system in 1834, and in 1835 elected six directors, one of whom, Thomas Speer, lived in Wells valley. Shortly afterward two frame school-buildings, the cost of each not exceeding one hundred dollars, were erected in Wells. In 1846 the number of schoolhouses had increased to four. The town- ship of Wells has always evinced the liveliest interest in education. The schools are the pride of the people, and the district has furnished to the county more teachers than any other township.

The first school in McConnellsburg was opened between 1808 and 1810, in a cabin which stood on the commons. Martin was the name of the teacher. A few years later a frame school- house took the place of the first, and it was used until 1820, when a stone building was erected. Later, another story was added, and the house was used as a schoolroom and town hall, until the growth of the town demanded two schools, when both rooms were devoted to their use. Schools were opened under the pro- visions of the law in 1837. The stone building was used for the schools of the town until 1862, when a brick schoolhouse took its place. In 1847 the schools were graded, and in addition to the schools in the stone. building, a public primary school was opened by Mrs. L. M. Ster- rett, in her dwelling. She continued teaching a public school in winter, and a subscription school in summer every year, from 1847 until 1879. She was universally beloved by ber pu- pils and honored by the community. No teach- er could have a better reputation than she en- joyed. During the year 1882, a great want was supplied by the erection of a new schoolhouse in the borough, at a cost of about thirty-four hundred dollars. The building is a frame, con- taining three rooms, furnished with Keystone desks, well lighted and ventilated, making it a model for comfort and convenience. Private or " normal " schools are maintained every year with marked results.

For a number of years after the school system was accepted, its opponents made determined opposition. Some of the districts, acting under

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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS-THE PRESS.

the law of 1838, voted upon the question of clos- ing the schools, but after a warm contest, the system was sustained in every instance. When the free schools were first adopted, the county contained thirty-six schools; there are now seventy, and it is believed that the progress of schoolwork has been as great as the increase in number of schools.

From the concluding paragraphs of Mr. Woodal's report, already referred to, we quote :

For a number of years after the free schools had been established, their efficiency was much retarded on account of indifferent classification, or total want of classification, the spelling classes and the testa- ment class being the only organizations for recitation in the school. This trouble existed partly because many of the teachers knew but little about organiz- ing, and partly because there was not even an ap- proach to uniformity of textbooks; and this lack of uniformity is the chief impediment in the way of progress.

After the office of county superintendent had been created, there was a marked improvement in several respects: the classification was better, higher attain- ments were required on the part of the teachers, and an especial improvement was the yearly assembling of the teachers in county institute. The last did more, perhaps, than anything else to bring the schools into general notice. Though these meetings were, for some years, not very well attended, and though the exercises were sometimes rather tame, yet the county institute has infused more life into the schools than any other agency belonging to the system.

The first county superintendent of schools was Rev. Robert Ross, and his salary was two hundred dollars per year. John S. Robinson was next elected, and George A. Smith finished his term by appointment. W. A. Gray next served one term, and was succeeded by Prof. J. F. Davis. The latter resigning before his term was finished, John A. Woodcock was appointed to fill the vacancy. Hiram Winter was then elected, and served two terms. His successors have been H. H. Woodal and Joseph F. Bar- ton. Prof. Barton was chosen to the office in May, 1881, and has since labored earnestly for the improvement of the schools. The superin- tendent's salary has been increased from time to time, and is now eight hundred dollars per year.

STATISTICS.

The present condition of the schools of Ful- ton county will be seen from the following tabular statement, for the school year ending

June 5, 1882. The figures are from the report of the state superintendent.

DISTRICTS.

Number of

Male Teachers.

Number of

Female Teachers.

Number of Schol-

ars Attending

(average).

Average per cent

of Attendance.

Total Expendi-

tures for school Purposes.

Ayr

288

$1,440 98

Belfast.

248

1,099 05

Bethel .

173

791 23

Brush Creek

147

568 16

Dublin

163

1,178 20

Licking Creek ..

8 1 128.

190

1,074 84

McConnellsburg

148

4,235 11

Taylor

201.

1,016 88

Thompson.

Tod.

114

471 29

Union

485 80

Wells

114

889 42

TOTAL.

1998

$14,021 98

Average number of months of school taught, 5 - except in Ayr township, where the average was 4} months ; average salary of male teachers per month, $21.46 ; average salary of female teachers, $20.50 ; whole number of scholars- males, 1,519 ; females, 1,431 ; average cost of each scholar, per month, 54 cents ; total amount of tax levied for school and building purposes, ៛7,703.24 ; receipts - state appropriation, $2,- 178.88; from taxes and all other sources except state appropriation, $12,452.94 ; total receipts, $14,631.82 ; cost of schoolhouses, purchasing, building, renting, etc., $4,893.74; teachers' wages, $7,237.00 ; fuel, contingencies, fees of collectors and all other expenses, $1,890.19; total expenditures, $14,020.93.

THE PRESS.

THE FULTON DEMOCRAT.

This journal, originally the Jackson Democrat, had its birth in Bedford, and passed the first few months of its infancy in that town. After the new county of Fulton was formed, the establishment was moved to McConnellsburg, where the first number of the Fulton Democrat and Farmers and Mechanics' Advertiser was issued, on September 20, 1850. James B. Sansom established the paper, and. conducted it for more than a dozen years. B. F. Carpenter was associated with him in starting the paper, but ceased to have any part in its management a few weeks after it became the Fulton Democrat. The subtitle, Farmers and Mechanics' Adver- tiser, was soon dropped, and its name became simply that which it now bears. A copy of the

* From the report for 1881.

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Schools.

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HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.

paper, dated October 4, 1850, being No. 3 of the first volume of the Fulton Democrat, and No. 37 of the Jackson Democrat, has been shown to the writer. The journal was of the same form and size as at present. Its third and fourth pages are well occupied by the advertise- ments of Bedford and McConnellsburg business men, while the first and second contain little but political matter. The fact that this issue was the last before the annual election day accounts the extraordinary prominence of poli- tics. On the editorial page the voters of the new county are given a double column of advice, in fullfaced type and glaring capitals. There are a few local items; one of them, as important as any, announcing that the printer wants a few loads of wood immediately. All the early numbers we have been able to find were well printed, and the contents bear the marks of careful editorial labor. Mr. Sansom continued as sole editor and proprietor until 1859, then took his brother into partnership, J. B. & Joseph J. Sansom being the firm. James B. Sansom is still in the newspaper business, and now publishes the In- diana Democrat, at Indiana, Pennsylvania.

Henry G. Smith and John U. Shaffer succeeded Mr. Sansom .. They bought the paper in 1861, and were its proprietors (excepting a few weeks in the spring of 1864, when J. B. Sansom again had charge) until the latter part of 1864. Mr. Smith, who had been the chief editor, then left to engage in the publication of the Daily and Weekly Intelligencer, at Lancaster, Pennsylva- nia, and the Democrat was sold. Charles A. Gaither next occupied the editorial chair. In November, 1865, John R. Donehoo became the proprietor, purchasing from Gaither. He con- ducted the Democrat until April 1, 1869. Smith M. Robinson, who had been associated with Donehoo for a short time, then purchased it. On the morning of December 23, 1869, the Democrat office was burned, and all its contents destroyed. Mr. Robinson immediately secured a new outfit, and the publication went on as before. In June, 1872, he disposed of the establishment to his brother, John A. Robinson, who continued as editor and proprietor four years. In June, 1876, George W. and William B. Skinner succeeded to the proprietorship. The paper was conducted by them until June 20, 1880. During the latter portion of this period, George . W. Skinner was sole editor. From the Messrs. Skinner, II. H. Woodal pur-

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 127

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 967

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967