USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of Carbon County, Pennsylvania; also containing a separate account of the several boroughs and townships in the county, with biographical sketches > Part 9
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A school was started at Nesquehoning in 1830, being organized and equipped similarly to those that have already been mentioned. The branches taught were spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic, while the text-books used were Comley's Primer and Spelling Book, Murray's Introduction and English Reader, and the Bible.
Writing in the schools of this period was still done with quill pens, all of which were prepared by the teacher. This was quite a task, particularly so if he
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chanced to have a dull knife and had many pens to mend.
On visiting a school, it was not an unusual thing to hear a half dozen urchins call out, "Master, will you mend my pen?" Whether the master's reply would be a pleasant "yes," or a surly "I got no time," de- pended largely upon the humor he was in when the request was made.
From 1825 to 1835, schools were established in dif- ferent sections of the county on pretty much the same plan. When it was thought necessary to start a school, a town meeting was called, and three or five persons selected to act as trustees. These held their offices during good behavior, under a sort of civil service reform principle. The duty of the trustees was to raise money by voluntary subscription or contribution, select and purchase sites, superintend the erection of school houses, and hold them in trust for school uses.
As it was a difficult matter to raise a large amount of money for such purposes in this manner, the strict- est economy had to be exercised, and sites selected where they could be had for the least money, regard- less of their convenience or adaptability.
Consequently they were mostly poorly chosen and out-of-the-way places, hard by a public highway or upon some waste ground that could not well be put to any other profitable use.
The trustees did not hire the teachers. All that was necessary for one who wished to become a teacher was to get permission from the trustees to use the house, arrange for pupils and fix a tuition fee. The larger the number of subscribers, the better the returns, of course. But it may easily be imagined that the pro- fession of teaching was not at that time exactly an alluring one from the financial point of view.
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HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY.
The most famous among the early schoolmasters of Carbon county was James Nowlins, a native of Ire- land, who, in 1829, began his career as a teacher in Mauch Chunk. The building in which he was destined to achieve his triumphs was one of the worst type of slab houses The furnishings corresponded well with the structure itself, and there were no mottoes or orna- ments to decorate the rough, gloomy walls and cheer the minds of the pupils.
Nowlins was a man of fine literary attainments, but was decidedly eccentric, while being a strict disciplin- arian. His school was composed of more than one hun- dred pupils, many of whom came long distances, think- ing it quite a privilege to be permitted to sit under the teachings of so great a master. All the common English branches were taught, and some of the higher ones, too. He would allow no dull scholar to remain in school. When he chanced to get hold of such an unfortunate one, he would tell him at once, "What God has denied you, I cannot give you ; take your books and go home!"
The chief instrument for inflicting torture was a short hickory club, with leather thongs fastened to one end. These the professor called his "taws."
So deep and lasting were the impressions that he made upon the minds and backs of his pupils with this dread weapon that one of them, recalling his memory, after the lapse of half a century, declared: "While I am telling this, my back itches, and the hairs on my head bristle up like a porcupine's quills, while the ghost of Jimmy Nowlins, with his 'taws' in hand, seems to rise menacingly before me."
But while Nowlins' methods would to-day be consid- ered unspeakable and doubtless result in summary vengeance being visited upon his head, they were not
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entirely unusual then, and in his case, at least, pro- duced good results.
Quite a number of men who became prominent in various fields of endeavor, owed their subsequent suc- cess in large measure to the training they had received in his school. It seems like the irony of fate that Now- lins, who placed so many others on the pathway lead- ing to success, should himself have died in the poor- house.
The early settlers of East Penn and Towamensing were with few exceptions Germans or their descend- ants, members of the Lutheran or the Reformed church. It was their custom to partition off one room in each of their church buildings for school purposes. And the church organist, however deficient that worthy might be in other branches of learning, was called upon to act as schoolmaster.
Almost without exception the German language was taught in these schools.
When the free school law was passed, in 1834, there were twenty-eight schools established within the pres- ent limits of Carbon county. They nearly all belonged to the primitive type which has already been described, and their equipment was little in advance of that of colonial times, while the school term was of but three or four months' duration. Wood, of course, was burned to warm the buildings, and this was purchased by the teacher, who added an extra charge to the tui- tion fee therefor. The heating apparatus generally con- sisted of some old cast-off stove, purchased from the scrap-pile of some iron-monger.
The houses were either deficient in smoke-flues, or altogether without them; hence the stove pipe had to answer a double purpose. In order to save pipe, it was usually made to pass through the loft floor only,
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not extending through the roof, while the smoke was left to find its way out through the chinks between the logs, or be forced down into the school room. Consequently the school room was frequently filled with smoke, to the great annoyance and discomfort of teacher and pupils.
This condition of affairs would sometimes be taken advantage of by the people of the neighborhood, who would bring their meat to the school house to get it smoked.
Most of the districts of the county accepted the free school law with gratifying promptness and, in 1843, when the county was organized, all the townships within its limits had adopted it, and the day of prog- ress was rapidly dawning.
Mauch Chunk already had a school house which was considered the equal of almost any other structure of its kind in the state, and her schools were well con- ducted. In 1844, there were three schools in opera- tion at Summit Hill, while Nesquehoning, Rockport, Beaver Meadow and Weatherly all had flourishing schools.
The first triennial convention of directors met at Mauch Chunk early in June, 1854, electing J. H. Sie- wers, an experienced educator, to the office of county superintendent. His salary was fixed at $400 per annum, which was not entirely an exceptional case, for there was but one superintendent of schools in the state at that time receiving more than $1,000 a year. Perhaps the principal reason for this niggardliness was that the people did not generally approve of the office, which they considered superfluous, viewing its incumbent in the light of an impertinent, meddlesome loafer.
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But Siewers was a warm friend of the public school system. During his term of office he did much to break down whatever prejudices still existed against it, and by visiting the schools, giving advice to teachers, hold- ing public meetings, and addressing the people on the importance of more liberal means of education, achieved grand results.
The cause of popular education in Carbon county was also ably championed in the early days by such broad-minded, public-spirited citizens as R. Q. Butler, J. D. Bertolette, Fisher Hazard, N. B. Reber, Charles Meendsen, Paul Kresge, and others.
Thomas L. Foster, a member of the legal profession, followed Siewers as county superintendent. Under his supervision the schools continued to improve. He labored particularly for the improvement of houses, ventilation, furniture, methods of instruction, and better classification of schools.
He was succeeded in 1863 by R. F. Hofford, a man of solid worth, who held the office continuously until 1881. During this long period many advances were made. One of his first important acts was to adopt measures to secure a better co-operation of the educa- tional forces of the county, resulting in the permanent organization of the Carbon County Teachers' Insti- tute in the fall of 1864. The annual gatherings of this body have done much toward elevating the teacher's profession and promoting the cause of education in the county.
Upon Hofford's retirement, T. M. Balliet, a native of Mahoning township, and a thoroughly capable young man, who has since become one of the recognized lead- . ers of his profession in the Untied States, succeeded to the duties of the office.
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At the expiration of six years, he relinquished the position to T. A. Snyder, who served for three succes- sive terms, studied law, and became a member of the bar.
A. S. Beisel, who followed him, held the office until 1902, when the present incumbent, James J. Bevan, was elected. The latter has placed particular em- phasis upon the importance of grounding the pupils well in English, and has done everything possible to foster the best interests of education throughout the county.
There are now many fine, modern school buildings in Carbon county. Their equipment is up-to-date, and higher standards are being established year after year.
There are thirteen high schools in the county, eight of which are situated in the various boroughs; three are classed as township high schools, while the two remaining are supported by the independent districts of Franklin and Packerton, respectively. Banks, Mauch Chunk and Lower Towamensing are the town- ships which have established these schools.
The large amount of money appropriated by the state toward the maintenance of the public schools, has aided materially in securing better salaries, while resulting in legislation requiring higher training and efficiency on the part of teachers than formerly. True as this may be generally, there are a number of dis- tricts in the county where the pay of teachers is not higher to-day than that of forty years ago, notwith- standing the aid accorded by the state. The study of agriculture has during recent years been introduced in nearly all of the schools of the rural districts.
While the public schools have had such a grand march of progress, there have been no permanently
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HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY.
successful attempts made to establish private schools, or schools devoted to higher education in the county.
Park Seminary, opened at Mauch Chunk in 1832; the Carbon Academy and Normal Association, founded in 1853, first located at Weissport, and later at Le- highton, and Fairview Academy, which had a short- lived career at East Mauch Chunk, were efforts in this direction.
Another institution of this nature was the Normal Institute, originally known as Normal Square Select School, located at what is now known as the village of Normal, in Mahoning township. This school was founded about the year 1878 by Professor Thomas M. Balliet. It was housed in a public school building, and was kept open during the seasons of spring and fall. Its primary purpose was to prepare those in attend- ance for admission to the higher institutions of learn- ing; and a large number of young people of both sexes from the surrounding country availed themselves of its advantages.
When weather conditions were favorable, recitations were often conducted after the manner of the ancients, beneath the trees.
Most of the students were sturdy farmer boys, not a few of whom laid the foundations of a liberal educa- tion and a larger usefulness in the environment cre- ated by the school. These are now literally scattered from ocean to ocean.
After the first few seasons, the school was conducted for the most part by successive students and graduates of Franklin and Marshall College. It was finally closed during the early nineties.
The Carbon Academy, later known as the Lehighton Academy, while not a financial success, also served a useful purpose.
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HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY.
In addition to the schools which have already been mentioned, flourishing parochial schools are being maintained by the Catholic churches of Mauch Chunk, East Mauch Chunk, Lehighton and Lansford.
A school of this description, opened in connection with the Episcopal church of Mauch Chunk, was dis- continued after a time for want of sufficient patronage.
CHAPTER X.
THE MOLLIE MAGUIRES.
While Carbon county, by reason of its smaller area and population, contained fewer Mollie Maguires than either of the neighboring counties of Luzerne and Schuylkill, it nevertheless occupies a position of equal importance to these in the popular mind when the memory of the crimes and outrages perpetrated by the members of that dark and blood-stained organization are recalled.
It was at Mauch Chunk, after the most fearless and resolute of the law-abiding members of society in the coal regions had begun to despair of ever being able to bring a Mollie Maguire to justice for the commis- sion of crime, that the first conviction and execution of one of this lawless and murderous band took place.
It is difficult to secure definite and reliable informa- tion concerning the origin of this organization, the very name of which was a reproach to the civilization of the coal fields for more than a generation.
The nucleus of the American contingent came from Ireland, and were closely identified with, if not actual members of, the Ancient Order of Hibernians. It is evident that the men who comprised this company of outlaws were of Irish birth, and that most, if not all of them, came here direct from the green shores of Erin.
It appears that the Mollie Maguires were an out- growth of the Ribbonmen, or auxiliaries of that so- ciety. This association was formed in Ireland during the early part of the nineteenth century for the pur- pose of resisting landlords and their agents in the en-
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forced collection of rentals. As a branch of this so- ciety, and growing out of it, sprang the men known as Mollie Maguires; and the name of their organiza- tion simply arose from the fact that, in the perpetra- tion of their offenses, they originally dressed as women. Generally, too, they ducked or beat their vic- tims, or inflicted some such punishment as infuriated women would be likely to administer. It is quite likely, besides, that at some time or other they had a leader or patroness named Mary, or Mollie Maguire.
These men came from intimate contact with the heartless landlords and their unfeeling agents in Ire- land, and they transferred the prejudices which they had a right to entertain against these to the coal operators and their subordinates in authority, the men under whom it was their lot to labor for the means of subsistence.
No doubt, in some instances they suffered real wrongs, and were treated with culpable injustice, but it is safe to say that in the majority of cases the griev- ances of which they complained were imaginary rather than real encroachments upon their rights, and of which knavish and designing wretches took advantage in inciting to deeds of violence and outrage.
Crimes of the most shocking nature were committed, and the perpetrators permitted, in many instances, to go unpunished through fear of a like fate being visited upon the informer. Dastardly outrages were com- mitted with impunity, and the lives and property of "marked" individuals were in constant jeopardy.
Lawlessness and crime had existed in the coal re- gion since 1848, and these early depredations were aft- erwards identified as the work of the Mollie Maguires, since they then employed the same methods of warn- ing their victims as they later did. These warnings
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were crude drawings of coffins, pistols, skulls and cross-bones, and vulgar notes, declaring the demands upon the persons for whom they were intended.
They were variously signed, sometimes being given under the name of "One of Mollie's Children," and at other times as "Black Spots" or "Buck Shots" and similar designations.
The society received large accessions in membership during the early days of the Civil War, when there was a great demand for men to take the places of those who had so generously rallied in defense of the nation and its institutions. Among those who re- sponded to this demand from across the seas were the worst classes of the downtrodden population of Europe.
It was now becoming apparent that the anthracite coal fields were infested by spirits the most desperate and lawless, and, when in 1862, an enrollment for the purpose of a draft was ordered, the formidable and dangerous character that animated and distinguished these men was made manifest.
Assaults, arson and murders were committed, and the officers of the law seemed utterly powerless to ap- prehend or bring to justice the perpetrators of these crimes. Coal operators were ordered to suspend operations until the discontinuance of the draft, while mine foremen and their men were warned, at the peril of their lives, not to overlook this peremptory demand. Murders, incendiarism and open riots became more frequent and bold, and but little attempt was made in the way of concealing these crimes. It was at first thought that opposition to the enrollments and drafts upon the part of this lawless element had inspired much of the violence and crime that prevailed during the period of the war; but upon the termination of hos-
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tilities, when crime and bloodshed were daily becoming more rampant, the people at last awoke to a realization of the fact that an organization existed among them that was more formidable and dangerous than any avowed and open foe could possibly be.
Men. were sometimes killed in broad daylight; some- times in the darkness of night, and invariably by strangers-persons at least unknown to chance spec- tators, or to the parties violently put out of the way. Suspected individuals would be apprehended, but in the end nobody could be found able to identify the criminals. The Mollies ruled the people with a rod of iron. The voice of their dread fraternity was un- heard, but its fiendish work was none the less surely performed.
Even the political sentiments of the commonwealth were to some extent moulded by them, and in their par- itcular field they elected or defeated whomsoever they pleased.
The men whose capital was locked up in the coal beds were as obedient puppets in their hands, while there was absolutely no security for life and property.
This was the state of affairs in the anthracite coal regions in the fall of 1873, when Franklin B. Gowan, then president of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail- way Company and of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, made arrangements with Allan Pinkerton, head of the world-famed detective agency of that name, to send a detective into the haunts of the Mollie Maguires, with a view to breaking up their organization, punishing its guilty members and restoring the reign of law and order in that por- tion of the commonwealth.
The man who, after mature deliberation, was called upon to perform this arduous and hazardous under-
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taking was a young Irishman named James McParlan, who assumed the name of James McKenna. He is still alive, and some years ago was detailed to unravel the mystery surrounding the murder of Governor Steu- nenberg of Idaho, but in that case he was not so suc- cessful as he was in exposing the Mollie Maguires and in bringing them to justice.
Prior to his connection with the two great Penn- sylvania corporations, Mr. Gowan had been the district attorney of Schuylkill county, and his duties in that position had brought him frequently in contact with the work of the Mollie Maguires. He was, therefore, able to render valuable assistance in the prosecution of the task which was freighted with such far-reaching consequences to the inhabitants of the coal regions.
McParlan was successful, at the end of nearly six months, in establishing himself in the confidence and good-will of the members of the society which he was seeking to overthrow, and was initiated as a member of the order at Shenandoah, Schuylkill county.
Not only is much of the credit for the disruption of the Mollies' organization due to McParlan, but we are largely indebted to him for what knowledge there is of how its inside workings were conducted. As Mc- Parlan learned, it was an oath-bound society, whose members recognized each other by signs and pass- words and were required under dire penalties to carry out the orders of their officers and to execute the man- dates of the body to which they chanced to belong. They were organized in small local societies, termed "bodies," presided over by a president, known as the "body master." All grievances of members were laid before the "body," and it was there determined what measures of redress or vengeance, if any, should be resorted to. When the object of vengeance was merely
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to be punished or beaten, the members of the "body" were generally called upon to perform the job. When there was need of greater secrecy, the members of other "bodies," living at a distance, were usually se- cured to carry out the wishes of the society.
This was a rule that was nearly always adhered to in cases where murder was intended, making the prov- ing of an alibi, the ever ready weapon of the society in clearing its members when charged with crime, com- paratively an easy matter.
McParlan visited the different towns, especially the strongholds of the Mollies, throughout the anthracite region and laid carefully prepared plans for his peril- ous work. He kept in almost daily communication with Mr. Gowan at Philadelphia, who was one of the few that knew him in his true character. The detective exhibited industry, perseverance and determination to a remarkable degree in the midst of surroundings that might well have appalled the stoutest heart. His find- ings were preserved with the greatest secrecy until such time as the whole gruesome story could be laid before the world from the records of the courts. This occurred in due time, and he appeared as the principal witness against a number of murderers who were con- victed on his testimony and that of corroborating wit- nesses. By three years of unremitting industry, dur- ing which time he was compelled to resort to treach- ery, deceit and double dealing, he succeeded in secur- ing many confidences and even the inmost secrets of those whose lives he sought, and ultimately secured at the bar of justice.
He assumed to be one of the worst among the class of outlaws with whom he was compelled to associate, but himself always carefully refrained from the actual commission of crime. He accounted for his ability to
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live without work by telling various plausible stories, pretending that he was a pensioner of the government and a dealer in counterfeit money, among other things.
McParlan was very popular among the Mollies, who seemed to esteem him all the more because he appeared to be a thorough desperado and a polished rogue.
As to whether or not he was justified in pursuing the course that he did, let casuists argue and theorists quibble; there can be no question concerning the recti- tude of his conduct in the minds of practical men, when all of the circumstances under which he labored are recalled.
One of McParlan's co-workers during a part of his stay in the coal regions was Captain Robert Linden, ostensibly a leader of the coal and iron police, but also a Pinkerton detective. Together they were successful in thwarting many a deep laid scheme for the destruc- tion of life and property.
Among the first of the outrages attended by fatal results within the limits of Carbon county, and charged to the Mollie Maguires, was the murder of George K. Smith, at Audenried, on the evening of November 5, 1863.
Mr. Smith was a member of the firm of George K. Smith and Company, operating the mines of the New York and Lehigh Coal Company at Yorktown.
He had given the enrolling officers a list containing the names of the men employed at the mines operated by the firm of which he was a member, and some of their number had been drafted for service in the army. This circumstance is said to have led to his assassina- tion. He was assailed by a large body of heavily armed men in his own dwelling and was quickly dis- patched in the presence of his terror-stricken family.
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Although several persons were under the ban of sus- picion, and were supposed to have participated in the affair, it was impossible, until the lapse of many years, to obtain any information as to the absolute guilt of the mistrusted parties. Some of these were then arrested and placed in jail at Mauch Chunk, but were forcibly rescued a short time thereafter, at night, by their associates in the order.
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