USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania: From the Discovery of the Delaware to the Present Time (Volume 1 and 2) > Part 49
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The old way of educating children at country schools in Pennsylvania, had about worn itself out by the early thirties, and the question. of adopting a public school system, similar to that in some other states, was agitated. It met with opposition, but a bill was finally passed in 1834, to take effect from its
4. In the Bucks County Historical Society is a collection of the Fractur Art, some of the specimens being really beautiful. Birds are reproduced almost life-like, including the conventional pelican.
5 This school was a noted one in its day, and largely attended from Warminster and Southampton. When established we do not know, and the first teacher we know of, having wielded the ferrule there, was Giles McDowell, probably preceding William Mad- dock, who left 1833. The school house was torn down many years ago. It stood on the Montgomery side of the road dividing the counties, a mile and a half from Hatboro. The author was a pupil here, and by Master Maddock was drilled in the rudiments of mathematics and taught penmanship, including German text, and has a lively recollection of the hobgoblin stories told by the elder boys to frighten the youngsters.
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JOSEPH FELL, FIRST COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
passage. In this county it was not well received and all the townships had not accepted it until 1861, Springfield being the last. The new system needed a head but did not get one until 1854, twenty years after the act was passed, when the office of "County Superintendent" was created. The first incumbent in Bucks county was Joseph Fell,"14 Buckingham, elected the first Monday of May the same year the bill became a law. He was well equipped for the place, in scholarship, tact, skill, experience as a teacher, in temperament and knowl- edge of human nature. He went to work immediately. In his first report to the State Superintendent, made that fall, he said :
"The great difficulty that presents itself to mar the progress of our com- mon schools, and prevent them being the focus of light and life, to the cause of education, is the dearth of qualified instructors to take charge of them. With- out some institution of a Normal character, much time must elapse before the standard of instruction in the common schools will be sufficiently high to meet the wants of an intelligent and progressive community." In his last report at the close of his term, Mr. Fell, with three years experience at his back, com- mended the "lively spirit among the teachers" and their increased ability "to discharge their responsibilities aright." New school houses had taken the place of old ones, and prejudices against the introduction of modern school books was yielding. During his administration Mr. Fell won the respect of directors, parents and pupils.
William H. Johnson, also of Buckingham, who succeeded Mr. Fell, May, 1857, in his first report calls attention to the "incompetency of teachers: the necessity of erecting new school houses, and the inadequacy of apparatus;" nevertheless there was a general improvement. He was followed by Simeon S. Overholt, Bedminster, 1860, who was twice re-elected, but resigned, 1869. The first "County Institute," authorized by Act of Assembly, was held dur- ing his last term. This new feature in education has grown wonderfully in late years, and becomes the most interesting, if not the most useful factor of the common school system, mingling the social life of the county with the educa- tional. In 1889 a "School Directors Association" was organized, holding two meetings a year in Doylestown, one in May, the other on the Thursday of the week of the County Institute. This Assembly has adopted some necessary legislation to advance the welfare of the schools.
On the retirement of Mr. Overholt, William P. Sharkey was appointed by the State Superintendent to fill the unexpired term. He failed of an election the following May, being defeated by Stephen T. Kirk, Doylestown, who re- signed at the end of a year. Kirk's successor was Hugh B. Eastburn, Solebury, appointed June 9, 1870. During his incumbency, until July, 1876, the common school system was greatly improved, the County Institute was reorganized and Local Institutes established, which have become a useful feature. Mr. Eastburn's administration was a successful one and the schools felt the benefit of his methods. In 1876, Mr. Eastburn with the assistance of the patrons, teachers
6 Its two great friends were George Wolf, then Governor, and Thaddeus Stevens, member of the General Assembly.
61/4 Joseph Fell, the son of David Fell, was born at Lurgen, Upper Makefield town- ship, Bucks county, 4, 12, 1804, and died in Buckingham, 3, 11, 1887. He was widely known and highly respected; was one of the oldest teachers in the county, and long engaged in this honorable calling. He was elected to the Legislature, 1837. serving one term; an active anti-slavery man, and a "station agent" on the "Underground Railroad." He occupied the last years of his life in intellectual pursuits.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
and pupils, prepared a common school exhibit for the Centennial exhibition, which received the award of one of the two gold medals awarded to counties. in Pennsylvania. Since his incumbency the common schools of Bucks county have had but four superintendents to watch over and direct their usefulness into new channels, W. W. Woodruff, who served eleven years, 1876-1887, a valuable officer, and William H. Slotter, who was first elected, 1887, succeed- ing himself, 1890-93-96-99, and A. S. Martin, elected in 1902, for eight years principal of Doylestown high school. The instruction in our common schools has been so expanded and improved as to have become an important factor in the cause of higher education. The introduction of the Normal school, a part of the common school system, has increased its efficiency at the expense of private boarding schools and academies, now almost unknown. This followed as a matter of course, for individual enterprise, even in education, cannot success- fully compete with the State.
New features are engrafted on the school system from time to time. Many of the districts print a "Catalogue of their Schools," containing the course of study, rules, names of directors, teachers and alumni. Sellersville schools issued such publication in 1879. In 1883, the County Institute recom- mended a course of study in the graded schools beginning with the primary and ending with the grammar grade. The curriculum of the schools is ex- tended and improved year by years, and the scholars enjoy increased facilities of acquiring an education. The earliest statistics we have seen begin with 1854, and from that time down, they appear to be complete. To make them more intelligible to the reader, we have divided the time into periods of ten years ending with 1897:
Year
No. of Schools
No. of Teachers
Salary Males
Salary Females
Attend- ance
Cost
1854
213
241
$21.57
$17.82
12,983
$36,198
1864
256
235
27.42
22.99
16,394
47,924
1874
270
387
41.14
37.81
14.8.45
80,355
1884
292
300
41.85
35.70
14,001
84.911
1894
320
237
47.29
40.31
13,329
114-574
1897
338
348
50.00
40.64
13.959
122,963
These figures show some interesting facts relating to our public schools. The time covers forty-three years. The first decade '54 to '64 the schools in- creased 43 in number, teachers 44, attendance, 3,411, and cost of instruction $11,726. In 1864 the public schools had more pupils than ever before or since. Why was this? From '64 to '74 the schools increased 14, teachers, 52, the at- tendance fell off 1,549, while the cost of instruction increased $32,431. In these twenty years the salary of male teachers was increased $19.57 and fe- males $19.97. In 1884 we find an increase of 22 in the number of schools over '74, a decrease in teachers of 37, and the attendance had fallen. off 844. From 1884 to 1894, . there was an increase of 28 in the schools, 37 teachers, a decrease of 672 in attendance and an in- crease of $29,663 in cost. In the three years '94 to '97 the schools increased 18, teachers 11, attendance 630, and cost of instruction $8,389, an increase since '83 of $38,052. In the meantime the salary of male teachers had risen to $50.00 a month and female $40.64. The strangest thing these figures exhibit, is the steady decline in school attendance in the thirty years from 1864 to 1894, but revived 630 by 1897, leaving the attendance
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
2,431 less than in 1864. In all these years the population of the county had steadily increased. This needs some explanation to be satisfactory.
A brief history of the rise and growth of the County Institute, one of the most helpful features of our educational system, will not be out of place in this connection. There were no institutes for the instruction of teachers prior to the County Superintendency. The preliminary meeting prior to the first County Institute was held at Doylestown the last of March, 1855. This was a one day affair, and addressed by Thomas H. Burrows, at one time State Superintendent, and Rev. Silas M. Andrews. It was followed, in June by a two days meeting, the instructors being Professor Sanders, Dr. Hoag- land, conductor, of Institutes,. New Jersey, and Professor Stoddard, from abroad, and James Anderson, one of the most experienced teachers of the county. George Lear, Esq., delivered the closing address. This meeting was held in the court house, and an interesting feature was an exhibit of maps and drawings of various kinds, the work of pupils, the larger part from the Bris- tol Borough school. The third Institute and the first that deserves the name of "County Institute," as we understand such meetings now, was held at Doyles- town, September 22, 1855, lasting a week. Joseph Fell was county superin- tendent ; it was largely attended and the people of the borough entertained the female teachers free of cost. The instructors present, and taking part, were Professors Sanders, Stoddard, Grimshaw, Perkins and Needham, and instruc- tion was given in reading, arithmetic, political and physical geography, com- parative anatomy, grammar, penmanship, physiology, school government, school apparatus and furniture and school architecture. These exercises were interspersed with vocal and instrumental music, and addresses by Judge Henry Chapman, a constant attendant, George Lear, Esq., and the Rev. Silas M. Andrews. In his annual report for the year ending June, 1856, Superintendent Fell, in speaking of the Institute, said: "It sent its invigorating influence into half the schools of Bucks county." The annual meeting of the Bucks County Educational Society was held at Newtown in the summer of 1856. Township Institutes were organized the first year of Mr. Fell's superintendency, but Buckingham is the only one mentioned in his report for 1855. During the school year, ending June, 1857, township institutes were held in Bristol, Buck- ingham, Falls, Hilltown, New Britain, Warrington and Richland.
The County Institute of 1857, one of the most encouraging educational movements in the county, was conducted by home effort wholly, the instructors from abroad failing to appear. This summer, township Institutes were or- ganized in Southampton and Plumstead, and one held in Richlandtown for the northwestern townships. During the school year, ending June, 1859, three Institutes were held at Applebachville, September ; Annual County Institute and Educational Society, Newtown; and at Quakertown in March, each being well attended. In the summer, 1858, the increased number of district Institutes gave new life to the public schools, and awakened new emulation among teachers. Two county Institutes were held the fall of 1859 at Riegels- ville and Newtown, both being well attended, and there was an increase of District Institutes, 1859-1860, Springfield being one of the most active. Four general Institutes were held in the school year 1860-61, at Newtown, Doyles- town, Quakertown and Springtown, with an attendance of two hundred and ninety-four teachers, and three in 1861-62 at Erwinna, Quakertown and New- town. There was probably no County Institute held in 1863 and 1865 as there is no official mention of them. In 1864 a successful one of four days was held at Doylestown, and the same year all but Newtown township and
.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
borough, Southampton, Warminster and Warwick held district Institutes. In 1868, the County Institute at Doylestown, in session five days, was the largest and most successful yet held. The teachers with few exceptions, were present and the corps of instructors was never excelled, if equalled, in ability. Profes- sor Mark Baily from Yale, instructor in elocution, was the delight of the In- stitute. He was present several years, and when he ceased coming, a charm was gone. In 1872 the local Institutes were continued a week, each at Sellers- ville, Yardley and Northampton. As evidence of the fidelity of the teachers, in their attendance at County Institutes, it may be mentioned that only four were absent in 1887.
Prior to 1888 the large attendance at the local Institute and the interest manifested gave proof they had become an indispensible feature of public school work. During this period a new feature came to the front, teachers' or- ganizations, and in 1889 thirteen of them held monthly meetings. The mem- bership was restricted to teachers, and the knowledge acquired from these meet- ings rendered them more efficient. The social feature of all these organizations of teachers had a beneficial effect on their school work besides being an import- ant factor in self-culture. The county Institute, 1888, was interesting and promising of good results. But one teacher was absent and that from sick- ness. The Institute was divided into two sections, teachers of graded, and teachers of ungraded schools, holding separate sessions in the mornings two days in the week, but uniting in the afternoons for general work of the Insti- tute. This period was marked by meetings of school directors and teachers, and subsequently one day of the County Institute was given by the directors to a "Directors' Convention," devoted to the interest of the schools generally. These are continued as a fixed feature of Institute week. In 1891 the county was divided into twenty-one local Institute districts, and Institutes organized in nearly all of them, with monthly or semi-monthly meetings. Local teachers' associations are excellent factors in enabling directors and citizens to meet teachers and exchange views. In the school year 1895-96 a series of six "Parents' meetings" were held at Yardley and Doylestown townships under direction of the teachers and directors of the respective districts. These vari- ous educational aids, including the "Reading Circle," assisted very materially in making the public schools of Bucks county what we find them at the close of the century. For many years "Brock's Orchestra" has furnished the instru- mental music for the County Institute, during the evening exercises, by no means the least attractive part of the program. It is an amateur organization of Doylestown devoted to music as a pastime, and the director and members are entitled to and have received great praise.
Within the original boundary of Bucks, but now in the adjoining coun- ties of Northampton and Lehigh, are three colleges, whose history is closely enough allied with the parent county to claim a place in this chapter. These institutions are Lafayette College, Easton, Lehigh University, South Bethlehem, and Muhlenberg College, Allentown, grouped in a radius of eight miles. In treating them, we purpose to give a brief sketch of their organization and gen- eral history with a roll of the students and others from Bucks county who have had any connection with them.
The first step in founding Lafayette College, the elder of the group, was taken the evening of December 27, 1824, at a meeting held in White's tavern, Easton, on the northeast corner of the public square. Jacob Weygandt was the secretary, but we do not know the name of the chairman. A charter was obtained in 1826, and the first meeting held under it May 15, when an organ-
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ization was effected and James M. Porter chosen president of the board of trustees. In the near future the Rev. George Junkin, D. D., was elected the first president of the college, and upon him devolved the work of building up the institution. The college began its educational work on the south bank of the Lehigh, May 9, 1832, but a suitable site was afterward selected on the pres- ent campus on the north side overlooking Easton ; ground was broken June, 1833, and the erection of the first permanent building begun.01/2
Years of struggle followed, but courage and persistent work with the help of warm friends triumphed over all obstacles and the institution was placed on a solid foundation. During its struggles the college had no warmer friend than James Madison Porter. In 1850 Lafayette was taken under the care of the Presbyterian Synod of Pennsylvania, and the Pardee7 School of Science added, 1866, two steps that contributed to its strength and usefulness. The building and grounds are valued at six hundred and fifty thousand dollars, apparatus and libraries fifty thousand dollars, and within the campus, are twenty-eight buildings, thirteen of them being dwellings for professors. Since the doors of Lafayette were first opened for the reception of students, down to July 1, 1898, 4,279 have been enrolled, of whom 1,715 have been graduated. The present attendance is 325, instructed by a faculty of twenty-eight profes- sore. Lafayette College, being within a few miles of the line of Bucks, our county has sent a number of her sons thither to enjoy its educational facilities, and all who have left its hall have done credit to their alma mater. The figures show our county has furnished the college with ten trustees, one member of the faculty and 89 alumni, of whom 40 were regular graduates, the remainder made up of students who did not graduate, and a few recorded as "honorary graduates," having received honorary degrees, about one hundred in all. Here follow the names and brief sketches of all who have been connected with La- fayette as trustees, professors or students8 from Bucks county, down to about the close of the last century :
TRUSTEES.
Silas M. Andrews, D. D., Presbyterian minister, born North Carolina, March 11, 1805; pastor at Doylestown, Pennsylvania, from his ordination, November 16, 1831, to his death March 7, 1881.
61/2 The Rev. Robert Cunningham, Scotland, was an early professor at Lafayette. He came to Easton, 1835, and opened the first Normal school in Pennsylvania; was subse- quently appointed professor of the ancient languages; but returned home in a few years and established what is the largest boys' Preparatory Institution in the Kingdom, near Edinborough. In 1899, the Rev. John George Cunningham, D. D., son of Rev. Robert Cunningham, was invited to this county to assist Mr. Moody at the Mission conference at Northfield, and, before his return to Great Britain, visited Lafayette and addressed the undergraduates. The occasion was an interesting one and recalled some pleasant memories.
7 Pardee Hall, one of the handsomest buildings belonging to Lafayette College, has been twice destroyed by fire, in 1879, by accident, and 1898 by the torch of an incendiary, George Herbert Stephens, a professor in the institution, for the purpose of revenge against President Warfield. He was convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for nine years. The hall was rebuilt, and dedicated in June, 1899.
8 We are indebted to the courtesy of Professor Seldon J. Coffin for the sketches and other data of Lafayette.
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James Kennedy, associate judge, born Tinicum, Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, February 26, 1787; trustee, 1854-65 ; member of Assembly, 1819-23; member Constitutional Convention, 1838, died at Bath, Pennsylvania, about 1882.
James Hall Mason Knox, D. D. LL. D., born New York city ; graduated Columbia College, 1841 ; pastor at Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 1873- 84; president Lafayette, 1883-90; lives at Baltimore, Maryland.
James W. Long, merchant, Easton, Pa .; born Durham, graduated, 1839; member of Assembly, 1847-49 ; president of Easton bank from 1898.
Morgan Long, born Durham, October 27, 1775; merchant miller, and As- sociate Judge; charter trustee of College from 1826 until death, March 21, 1843.
John McNair, D. D., Presbyterian minister ; born Newtown, Pa., May 28, 1806; pastor at Lancaster ; graduated, Jefferson College; died January 27, 1867.
Robert Decha Morris, D. D., Presbyterian minister; born Washington, Kentucky, August 22, 1814, graduated Augusta College, 1834; pastor at New- town, Pa., 1838-56; died November 3, 1882.
Harold Pierce, Insurance, Pittsburg; born Bristol, Pa., September 28, 1856; graduated at University of Pa., 1876; manufacturer at Bristol, Pa., since 1886.
Edward John For, Treasurer of College, 1858-1862; born Doylestown, Pa., Sept. 15, 1824; graduated Princeton ; lawyer, admitted to bar September 16, 1845 .; died 1889.
PROFESSOR.
Edward Hart, B. S. Ph. D., born Doylestown, November 18, 1854; as- sistant in chemistry, 1874-75; adjunct professor, chemistry, 1881-82; William Adamson professor of analytical chemistry, 1882 to present time; fellow of Johns Hopkins, 1876; member of American Institute of Mining Engineers; editor Journal Analytical Chemistry.
GRADUATES.
John James Carrell, A. M., class 1836; Presbyterian minister ; born Tini- cum, March 20, 1812; founder of Franklin Literary Society : Princeton Theo. Seminary, 1836-38; ordained November 19, 1839; pastor, Oxford and Har- mony, New Jersey, 1839-48; Riegelsville, 1848-53; Groveland, New Jersey, 1854-62; chaplain 9th N. J. regiment, Civil war, 1862-63; died Easton, June 21, 1877.
Mahlon Yardley, A. M., class 1843; lawyer ; born Yardleyville, Pa., Feb- ruary 24, 1824; admitted Easton bar, 1845; settled at Doylestown; member state senate, 1858-61 ; Lieut. 104th Pa. Regiment, 1861-62; Provost Marshal, U. S. 1863-64; collector of U. S. Internal Revenue, 5th Pa. District, 1869-73; died Doylestown, June 23, 1873.
Benjamin F. Fackenthall, class 1843: lawyer; born Durham, November, 1825; valedictorian ; admitted to bar, Northampton, November 2, 1846, died Easton, January 12, 1892. 1
James Wilson Carrell, A. M .. class 1845. Presbyterian minister, born Bucks county, 1819; Latin Salutatory, graduated Princeton Theo. Seminary,
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1848; pastor Rosemont, N. J., 1848, ordained Freeport, Illinois, 1850; and died there 1855.
Henry Egedius Spayd, A. M., class 1848; Presbyterian minister; born Philadelphia, March 23, 1825; graduated Princeton Theo. Seminary ; ordained July 20, 1853; pastor Solebury church, 1853-67; Strasburg 1867-70; Harmony N. J., 1870-86, near Wilkesbarre, 1886, to present time.
Abraham Carpenter Smith, A. M., M. D., class 1850; born Greenwich township, New Jersey, December 11, 1828; graduated in M. P. University, 1850; practiced Riegelsville and Mauch Chunk, 1850-70; bank teller, Blooms- burg, 1878-88; Judge Court of Appeals and Errors, N. J., 1889 to death, March 23, 1898.
John Latta DuBois, A. M., class 1852, lawyer, born Doylestown, April 16, 1832 ; admitted to bar, 1856; elder Presbyterian church ; died in 1904.
William Patterson Andrews, A. M., class 1853; born Doylestown, May 6. 1834; admitted to bar 1860; served in Durell's battery, 1861-64; clerk in Treasury department; died Washington, D. C., April 12, 1885.
James Rich Greir, A. M., class 1857; lawyer, Philadelphia; born Plum- stead township, Bucks county ; taught school ; admitted to bar, Doylestown, 1862.
Robert M. Mann, class 1862; born Doylestown, September 12, 1842; pri- vate 128th Pa. Infantry; died October 23, 1862, from wound received, An- tietam.
Robert Jamison, A. M. C. E., class 1863; born Hartsville, January 18, 1841 ; private 129th Pa. Infantry ; died Norristown, September 27, 1883.
Alfred Swartzlander Godshalk, A. M., class 1865; born Doylestown, De- cember 18, 1842; corporal 38th and 5th Pa. Militia, 1862-63; merchant miller since 1865 ; school director, 1878.
Adolph F. Beckdolt, Ph. D., class 1866; teacher Carversville and Anda- lusia; author Natural Science in Public Schools ; Professor English Literature, State University, Seattle, Washington.
Samuel Worman Knipe, class 1867, Presbyterian minister; born Bucks county, Pa., April 9, 1840; graduated Weston Theo. Seminary, 1870; pastor Delaware Water Gap, 1870-83, and since 1883 Oceanic, New Jersey.
Ezra Shive Heany, A. M., class 1867; Presbyterian minister ; born Riegels- ville, June 23, 1839; corporal 135th Pa. Infantry ; graduated Weston Theo. Seminary, 1870; pastor Mt. Pisgah, 1871-72; Centre School, 1872-78; . Stras- burg, 1878; Backertown since 1890.
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