History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 82

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

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In the month of August, 1852, the corner-stone of St. Agnes' church was laid. In June, 1853, it was dedicated to its patroness, the Rev. Dr. Meriarity, O.S.A., offici- ating. The first high mass was sung in May, 1853, and in 1857 the St. Mary Sodality was organized. The Revs. John F. Prendergast and John Wall both were buried in St. Agnes' cemetery, the latter having died after a short pastorate in the parish. Father Sheridan, who died recently in Philadelphia, was pastor of this church in 1843.

The church of the Sacred Heart, at Oxford, was erected in 1880, and dedicated on September 5th by the Mest Rev. Archbishop Wood. The church is of brick, 70 by 36 feet in size, with a slate roof, and will accommodate 400 persons. Rev. J. F. Kelly is the pastor, who also attends the mission at Kennet Square, where is a small frame church, known as St. Patrick's, dedicated in 1872.

St. Mary's church, at Phoenixville, was built in 1841, prior to which services were held for a time in the Tunnel Hill school-house, under the care of Rev. P. D. Donohue. The late Father O'Farrell had charge of this congregation for many years, and his death was greatly lamented. He was succeeded in 1868 by Father Scanlio, who enlarged and beautified the church, making it into the shape of a cross. Father Martin succeeded Father Scanlin as pastor, assisted by Rev. Father Lynch, formerly of West Chester parish. The first church building was small, only 30 by 45 feet ; the present structure is one of the finest of the denomination in the county.

The present parish of St. Cecilia, together with the at- tached missions of Doe Run and Parkesburg, cover all that portion of the county lying between Thorndale and Lancaster County, running south to a line two or three miles below Doe Run village and north to the border of the county.

Of the present church building in Coatesville the corner- stone was laid on Sunday, Dec. 11, 1870, during the pas- torate of Rev. Charles McFadden. It was blessed and opened for services by Most. Rev. Jamcs F. Wood, D.D., archbishop of the diocese of Philadelphia, on Sunday, Nov. 22, 1874. Previous to this services were held in a hall in Midway.

The old parish, of which Coatesville was only a mission, was the parish of Our Lady of Seven Dolors, Parkesburg. Here it was the priest resided, and attended the missions round from Dry Wells and McCall's Ferry, in Lancaster County, to Coatesville, Doe Run, West Grove, Oxford, and the country round down to the Maryland border.

The church in Parkesburg was built in 1854 or 1855, on a plot of ground northwest of Parkesburg, given to the parish by the McFillin family.

Before that time there had been a small church at Doe Run, built about 1835, since torn down, and replaced by a

new one in 1865. There was never any resident priest at Doe Run. It was attended from West Chester till the · church in Parkesburg was built, after that from Parkos- burg. Subsequent to this, at what date we cannot state, but within the last eight or nine years, West Grove, Ox- ford, and all that lower portion of the county were cut away.

Rev. - Doyle was the first priest resident at Parkes- burg. He came about 1855 or 1856. From that time forward for several years Coatesville was attended once every few weeks from Parkesburg; but, the town grow- ing in importance, and the number of Catholics increasing even beyond the number in the parish proper, provision had to be made for them, and preparations were made to build a church, of which the corner-stone was laid in 1870. About the same time the seat of the parish was changed from Parkesburg to Coatesville, and Coatesville became the parish proper, Parkesburg the mission. Previous to this, in 1867, when the diocese of Harrisburg was erected, all that portion of the parish lying in Lancaster County was cut off. The new church of St. Cecilia, at Coatesville, was formally opened and blessed Nov. 22, 1874, under the pastorate of Rev. L. McCabe.

The name of the church at Parkesburg is " Our Lady of the Seven Dolors," and of that at Doe Run "St. Malachi," formerly "St. Catharine."

There are in Coatesville and surroundings about 90 Catholic families, in Parkesburg and vicinity about 45, and on Dec Run 30.

Although it is not very long since this wide district was attended by priests from Ivy Mills, in Delaware County, yet now there exist in this county about a dozen churches of this faith, each with a spiritual director, and in a flour- ishing condition. Besides those previously referred to, may be named the brick church at West Grove, called the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of which the corner-stone was laid Sept. 14, 1873, and dedicated June 18, 1876.

THE BATTLE-AXES.

There existed in Chester County in 1840, and perhaps a few years earlier, a most strange sect, bearing the equally strange title of " Battle-Axes." They had a number of followers in the northern part of the county in 1840, at which time they seem first to have attracted attention. In 1844 a number of them were arrested ; some of whom were tried and convicted, the others being subsequently dis- charged. William Stubblebine seems to have died in this faith, and in the case (Snyder vs. Stubblebine) regarding the validity of his will there is a mention of this sect. Its principles were essentially those known as " free love," the leading ideas being that all connection between husband and wife was severed, and to possess all things in common, in the fullest sense of the words. The leader of the society here was Theophilus R. Gates, then a resident of Phila- delphia,* and the chief female votary one Hannah Wil- liamson, a single woman .; It is unnecessary to add that this peculiar sect has now no existence here.

# In 1837 several numbers of a pamphlet entitled " Battle-Axe and Weapons of War," and devoted to the new faith, were printed, being edited by T. R. Gates, 290 North Third Street, Philadelphia.

+ West Chester Local News, Feh. 12, 1874.

EDUCATIONAL AND LITERARY.

SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES.

THE Society of Friends were the pioneers in educational matters in Chester County. In noticing the primary in- stitution of schools, therefore, the labors of the society in that direction merit the first notice.

The Yearly Meeting of the society, from time to time, gave much earnest and practical advice in relation to the settlement of schools, and in 1778 advised that in the compass of each Monthly Mecting ground should be pro- vided sufficient for a garden, orchard, grass for cow, etc., and a suitable house and stable be erected, as an encourage- ment to and making provision for the accommodation of a teacher of staid character and proper qualifications; and it was also recommended that funds should be collected for the establishment and support of schools. In accordance with these advices, very many of the meetings provided such property,* and created ample funds to aid in the sup- port of schools, which several of them still successfully employ in that way. To show the working of this system a single example, that of the school at Marlborough, will suffice. The grounds there consist of two acres, with suitable buildings ; and a resident teacher of excellent qualifications, employed in 1830, continued in charge of the school until 1851, a period of twenty-one years.t

These Friends' schools were numerous in those portions of the county where that society formed the bulk of the population, and imparted a solid education to all the youth of their respective neighborhoods, keeping pace, in the studies taught, with those usually pursued in ordinary academical institutions.

Among the most noted of these early schools estab- lished by the Society of Friends was the one at Birming- ham Meeting-house, about 1753, on the site of the battle of Brandywine. This school was for many years under the charge of John Forsythe, one of the best teachers that Chester County has been favored with. Many of those who were introduced by him to the fields of literature and science became conspicuous in after-life, notably among them the late Dr. William Darlington, the celebrated botanist, whose fame is world-wide.

The western and northwestern portions of the county

were very largely pcopled by the race known as the Scotch- Irish. These were a class of settlers very remarkable for intellectual activity, ever prompt to encourage improve- ments, and especially to promote the establishment of edu- cational institutions for the better instruction of youth, and many of them came ready and fitted to engage in the work. The Irish schoolmaster, as he was termed, was generally a man who ruled with a sternness in marked contrast with the milder methods of the present day, but who imparted a thorough knowledge of the branches then taught. In the section of the county inhabited by these people and their descendants the school-houses were adequate to the requirements of the people, and the schools were well sup- ported.

It is doubtless to the fact that Chester County was so fortunate in the character of her early settlers, and that education was so universal among all classes from the earliest settlement of the province, that she owes the pre- eminence which her people have attained for intelligence and general culture.

The early school-houses were either log or stone, some- times built in an octagonal form, and called eight-square school-houses. The desks were placed around against the walls, and the pupils occupying them sat facing the win- dows. Benches without backs, for the smaller children, occupied the middle of the room. A desk for the teacher, a huge stove in the centre of the room, a bucket, and what was called the " pass"-a small paddle, with the words " in" and "out" written on its opposite sides-constituted the furniture of the building. These structures have long since disappeared, and Chester County is now well supplied with school-houses of a superior character, both in their architecture, internal arrangement, and furniture.

Fugg's Manor Classical School .- Chester County has possessed from quite early times numerous and well-con- ducted academical institutions. The carliest of which we have an account was the classical school at Fagg's Manor, established about the year 1739 by the celebrated Rev. Samuel Blair, and conducted by him until his death in 1751. His brother, the Rev. John Blair, succeeded him, and had charge until 1767, when he was elected to a pro- fessorship in the College of New Jersey and removed to Princeton. This school was prolific in valuable men, and there came forth from it many pupils who subsequently became distinguished scholars and Christian ministers, among whom may be named Samuel Davies, D.D., called in his day the "prince of preachers," and who was one of the presidents of the College of New Jersey; John Rogers, D.D., for a long time an eminent minister in New York ; Robert Smith, D.D., a noted teacher; John Mc- Millan, D.D., the founder of Jefferson College ; and the

# So early as 1787 Kennet Monthly Meeting prepared a series of nine rules for the use of its Preparative Meetings in raising a fund for the promotion of schools therein. The fifth rule provides, "The trustees shall, as soon as they see occasion, apply the interest arising from this fund to schooling the children of such poor people, whether Friends or others, as live within the verge of the Monthly Meeting,- Provided, that such children comply with the rules of the sohool." This plan of procedure, somewhat modified, was adopted by the Marlborough Preparative Meeting, 3d of 8th month, 1803.

t The school property of the Preparative Meeting, including the fund, may now be worth some three thousand dollars.

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LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, LOWER OXFORD , CHESTER CO. PA.

WESTTOWN BOARDING SCHOOL , CHESTER CO. PA.

303

SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES.

Revs. Alexander Cumming, James Finley, Hugh Henry, Samuel Blair, D.D., John Woodhull, D.D., Hugh Mc- Aden, James F. Armstrong, James Dunlap, and Nathaniel Irwin. Another pupil was James Ross, one of the first professors of Dickinson College, a noted teacher of the classics, and author of Latin and Greek grammars, etc.

New London Academy .- Rev. Francis Alison opened an academy at New London in 1743, which became a justly celebrated institution, and furnished both Church and State many men of mark. Among those who were educated there were Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress ; Dr. John Ewing, provost of the University of Pennsylvania ; Dr. David Ramsay, the his- torian ; Dr. Hugh Williamson, Rev. James Latta, D.D., Rev. Matthew Wilson, D.D., and three signers of the De- claration of Independence,-Thomas Mckean, George Reed, and James Smith.

In 1752, Dr. Alison removed to Philadelphia, and was succeeded by Alexander McDowell, by whom the academy was removed to Newark, Del., where it became the basis on which was founded the Delaware College.

Tbe present New London Academy was organized in 1828, and became the successor, in name and locality, of the old school of Dr. Alison. It has, with one or two brief intervals, always been in a highly prosperous con- dition, and many hundreds of pupils, some of whom liave become eminent, have received their education there. Since 1828 it has had as principals, among others, James Magraw, T. Marshall Boggs, William S. Graham, W. S. F. Graham, William F. Wyers, George Duffield, and Edward D. Porter. The highest number of pupils at any one time has been eighty-five.

The Nottingham Academy .- This institution was estah- lished in 1744 by Samuel Finley, D.D. It was conducted with admirable wisdom and success, and acquired a higher reputation than any other in the middle colonies, so that students from a distance were attractod to it. Some of the ablest and best men in the country laid the foundation of their eminence and usefulness here, among whom may be mentioned Dr. Benjamin Rush and his brother, Judge Jacob Rush, Governor Martin, of North Carolina, Gov- ernor Mcwhorter, of New Jersey, Governor Henry, of Maryland, Ebenezer Hazard, Col. John Bayard, Wm. M. Tennant, D.D., Rev. Joseph Smith, and James Waddell, D.D., the blind preacher, whose eloquence is eulogized by William Wirt in his " British Spy."

Dr. Finley was a man of fine parts, extensive attainments, and, according to Dr. Rush, "one of the wisest and best of men," and there were no better classical scholars formed anywhere than in his school. It was broken up by the removal of Dr. Finley to assume the presidency of Prince- ton College, in 1761 ; but it has had a worthy successor in the West Nottingham Academy, in Maryland, which was instituted through the agency of Rev. Dr. James Magraw in 1812, and which has always enjoyed a large patronage, and continues to flourish at the present time.

George Churchman, Jr., appears to have opened a board- ing-school in Nottingham as early as 1764. His circular, dated. 1st month 16th, gives the terms " at the rate of £18 per annum, and so for a quarter, half year, or more."

The Brandywine Academy, ncar the Manor meeting- house, now in West Brandywine township, was opened in the year 1793 for instruction in the classics and higher branches of science. It was a necessary adjunct of a theological school conducted at the same place by Rev. Nathan Grier. The academy was at different periods under the direction of Rev. M. McPherson, Matthew G. Wallace, John Ralston, John F. Grier, and Rev. John W. Grier, and closed about 1816. Many who became eminent in professional life were educated here, and its pupils have exerted a widespread and beneficial influence.

Rev. Nathan Grier, pastor of the Brandywine Manor Presbyterian Church, took under his care theological stu- dents. Between 1792 and his death, in 1814, he trained twenty young men for the ministry, among them Rev. David McConoughey, at one time president of Washington College, Pennsylvania, and Rev. John H. Grier, Levi Bull, and John N. C. Grier.

Upper Octorara Classical School .- In 1779, Rev. Wil- liam Foster opened a classical school at Upper Octorara, which was in operation about four years, and was closed in consequence of his death. Rev. Dr. Nathaniel W. Sample was one of his students.

The Friends' Boarding-Schools .- About the year 1790, the propriety of establishing a boarding school by the So- ciety of Friends for the education of their youth of both sexes began to arrest attention. The subject was intro- duced into the Yearly Meeting, and in 1794 it became so far matured that funds were provided by voluntary contri- .butions, and a committee appointed to seek a proper loca- tion for the proposed institution. The farm of James Gibbons, in Westtown township, Chester Co., containing six hundred acres, was purchased, and the erection of the necessary building completed in 1799. The institution was called "The Westtown Boarding-School," and went into operation in the 5th month, 1799, with three teachers, one of them John Forsythe, the popular teacher of the Birmingham school. During the first year it had on its rolls about two hundred pupils of both sexes; and it has been in successful operation ever since.

This school is under the superintendence of a committee appointed at stated periods by the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the society. There are important sub-com- mittees specially intrusted with certain duties, the principal of which are the " instruction," " farm," "admission," and " household." The immediate charge is intrusted to a superintendent, who has the general care of the institution, attends to the supplies and disbursements, but has no direct oversight of the literary departments. There are also offi- cers called the governor and governess, who have special charge over the pupils. in the intervals of school hours.

This institution is now under the exclusive control of the branch known as " Orthodox Friends," and none .but the children of members of that society are admitted to the privileges of the school. Since its organization in 1799 there have been in attendance as scholars, four thousand seven hundred boys and five thousand eight hundred girls. The present annual average is about two hundred pupils, under the care of thirteen instructors. There have been over two hundred teachers, among them the well-known names

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of John Forsythe, Enoch Lewis, Emmor Kimber, John Comly, Eli Hilles, John Gummere, David Whitall, Samuel R. Gummere, and Samuel Alsop, father and son.

Since the erection of the original buildings various addi- tions and improvements have been made from time to time, until they have become quite extensive, and are admirably adapted to their purpose. The main building is one hun- dred and seventy feet in length and four stories above the basement. An additional building, sixty-eight by fifty-four feet, was erected in 1869. The farm of six hundred acres, with the exception of thirty-five acres surrounding the school buildings, is in the care of a farmer appointed by the committee. The profits inure to the use of the school. In addition to farm buildings there is a grist-mill on the premises. As the original cost of the establishment and of all improvements since made have always been defrayed by gratuitous contributions, and no accumulation of prop- erty from tuition fees is intended, the prices charged the scholars have always been very low, simply sufficient, with the income of the institution, to defray the necessary ex- penses. It has been as low as sixty dollars per annum. The present price is seventy-five dollars per session. Many of the pupils are boarded and educated free of cost, from the income of a fund which has been specially provided for that purpose.

This seminary has largely contributed to the diffusion of knowledge and the improvement of other schools, especially among Friends. The numerous private seminaries con- ducted by members of that society, with which our coun- try abounds, may be nearly all traced, directly or indirectly, to this institution.

About 1790, George Churchman, a prominent member of the Society of Friends, founded a boarding-school in East Nottingham for the advanced education of young women, with a view to their qualification as teachers. Suitable buildings were erected, and the school conducted for a few terms, but it was overshadowed by the Westtown Boarding-School, and finally closed. The place was long known as the " Institution."

The New Garden Boarding-School for Boys was established by Enoch Lewis in 1808, and continued in active operation until 1824. It was designed principally for the instruction of pupils in mathematics, science, and natural philosophy. The reputation of Mr. Lewis (who' was a member of the Society of Friends, and had been the teacher of mathematics in the Friends' school in Philadel- phia from 1796 to 1799, and in the Westtown Boarding- School from its opening in 1799 until 1808) soon filled, and kept full, this school. He was an enthusiast in his sphere, and his teaching was thorough. His school was the principal one in the State in which at that day math- ematics were taught on proper principles, and its influence, therefore, was far-reaching. Among others educated here were Joshua Hoopes, Joseph C. Strode, Jonathan Gause, John Bullock, and Eli and Samuel Hilles, all successful teachers.

The Chester County Academy .- This school was incor- porated in 1811, and a Legislative appropriation of two thousand dollars made for its benefit. Buildings were erected in 1812 upon the site sclected in East Whiteland

township, on the line of the leading thoroughfare between Philadelphia and the West,-the Philadelphia and Lan- caster turnpike. The school went into operation in 1813, under the care of Samuel Turney, a graduate of Yale. One of the early teachers was Joseph J. Lewis (son of Enoch), who had charge of the mathematical department. Mr. Turney was a very successful teacher, and while he continued in charge of the academy its reputation stood very high ; but after he withdrew it languished, and, after alternate seasons of prosperity and adversity, it finally went down, the property being conveyed in 1865 by the trustees to the school district of East Whiteland. It is now used for common-school purposes. Among the teachers of this academy were Rev. John W. Grier, Joseph Mason, Robert P. Du Bois, Samuel Durborrow, and Rev. Wm. Hilton.

The West Chester Academy, an institution in which many of Chester County's most worthy citizens have been educated, was opened in 1813. The expense of erecting the necessary buildings was contributed by voluntary subscription. The first teachers were Dr. John Gemmil and Jonathan Gause, who had charge, respectively, of the classical and mathematical departments. Dr. Gemmil died in 1814. In a short time thereafter Mr. Gause became the sole principal, and, except for a brief period, remained in charge until 1829, a period of sixteen years, when he resigned to open a private institution. During the period of Mr. Gause's incumbency the academy flourished, aod became quite celebrated in Eastern Pennsylvania. Many men who afterwards became prominent in life were edu- cated there. Among them Nimrod Strickland, Joseph Hemphill, John Hickman, Washington Townsend, Dr. Wilmer Worthington, William W. Jefferies, James B. Everhart, and Dr. George Smith, author of the " History of Delaware County."

THE WEST CHESTER ACADEMY.

From 1829 to 1834 the academy was in charge of dif- ferent principals. In the latter year Anthony Bolmar, a native of France, took charge of it, and remained until 1840. During this period it was more prosperous than it had ever been before, and was crowded with pupils. Mr. Bolmar was succeeded by James Crowell, who had charge until 1854. William F. Wyers was principal from 1854 to 1866. During this period the schools increased to such an extent that additional buildings became requisite. Messrs.

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SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES.

J. Hunter Worrall and Eugene Paulin succeeded Mr. Wyers in 1866, and conducted the academy until 1869, when it was finally closed as a distinct school, and merged in the State Normal School. Mr. Worrall then started, in Cabi- net Hall, a " Mathematical and Classical Institute for Boys," which is still continued.

Jonathan Gause's Schools .- In 1829, Jonathan Gause, having relinquished the charge of the West Chester Acad- emy, opened an institution which he called " The West Chester Boarding-School for Young Men and Boys," which he conducted until 1832, when he relinquished it to Chey- ney Hannum, and removed to his farm in West Bradford township, where he opened the "Greenwood Dell Board- ing-School." This school became very popular, and was continued until 1839, when he accepted the principalship of Unionville Academy. He conducted this institution until 1847, when he reopened his Greenwood Dell school, and was its principal until 1865, when he retired from the active duties of life, having been a teacher more than fifty- seven years.

Other Boarding-Schools .- " The Downingtown Board- ing-School for Boys" was commenced by Joshua Hoopes, in 1817, and continued until 1834, when he removed to West Chester, and opened an academy there, under the title of " Hoopes' Boarding-School for Boys," which he successfully conducted until 1862, when, by reason of ad- vancing years, he closed his school.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 82

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162