USA > Pennsylvania > Huntingdon County > History of Huntingdon County, in the state of Pennsylvania : from the earliest times to the centennial anniversary of American independence, July 4, 1876 > Part 13
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The manner in which these interests were to be advanced is set forth in the following provisions of the constitution :
158
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
ARTICLE 9, Sec. 1. The society at some general meeting thereof, shall fix and determine upon such articles of agri- culture, production, or improvement in domestic manufac- tures, as in their judgment are entitled to encouragement by rewards; and shall fix, ascertain, and publish, in such manner as shall be directed by the by-laws, such rewards, and the conditions, whenever the same shall become due and payable to the person or persons who shall by his, her, or their skill or industry, according to such conditions become entitled to the same. - And the said directors, or a majority of them shall at the stated meetings, or at such times and places as shall be prescribed by the by-laws, meet for the purpose of hearing the parties applying for such rewards ; and of examining their proofs or specimen ; and shall have full power and authority to determine whether any or either of the applicants is entitled to the reward so advertised, ac- cording to the conditions thereto annexed; and to draw orders to be signed by the President and attested by the Secretary, on the Treasurer, for the amount of such rewards, in favor of the persons to whom the same shall have been adjudged, which orders he shall pay out of the moneys in his hands arising from taxes and subscriptions.
ARTICLE 10. Sec, 1. The rewards shall be offered for pro- moting and increasing the culture of sugar from the maple or sugar trees, or any other substances; the extraction of salts from ashes or vegtables ; the introduction of any new . grain, grass, or roots, and raising the greatest quantity on any given quantity of ground ; the invention of any new and useful untensils in husbandry ; the raising and manufactur- ing of wool, hemp and flax, in greater quantities, or improv- ing the value thereof; the introduction of mineral or other manures; the improvement of the breed of horses, black cattle, sheep or hogs ; the making of butter, cheese, in any given quantities, and of the best qualities; or any improve- ment in all or every of the articles aforesaid, all of which shall be considered as among the objects contemplated by the society.
ARTICLE 11. Sec. 1. In all cases where moneys shall re-
159
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
main in the treasury after the payment of the rewards shall have been made, the President and Directors shall have the power to employ the moneys so remaining, in the purchase of books relating to Agriculture, Mechanics and Manufac- tures, or in the purchase and improvement of a piece of land, for the purpose of a pattern farm.
The following officers, provided for in the constitution, were elected January 14th, 1829 : President, John Patton ; Secretary, Joseph Adams; Treasurer, Mathew D. Gregg ; Managers, William Spear, John Stewart, John Ker, Jacob Grove, Jacob Miller, John Neff, John Blair, of Shade Gap, George Ashman, Thos. T. Cromwell and Dr. John Henderson. Committee of Arrangements : James M. Bell, Henry Miller, James Coffey, Stephen Davis and Christian Garner.
The records of proceedings after this organization of the society are perhaps not in existence.
The present Agricultural Society was organized tempo- rarily on the 14th day of November, 1854, and permanently on the 9th day of January, 1855. A meeting of farmers and others was held in the court house on the former date, at which Hon. Jonathan McWilliams presided, and Gen. J. C. Watson, R. Hare Powell, Jacob H. Miller, George Rudy, Alexander Oaks, John Tussey and Daniel Massey acted as vice-presidents, and George Hudson, John Hirst and Gen. S. Miles Green as secretaries.
H. N. McAllister, A. W. Benedict, J. G. Miles and John Williamson addressed the meeting.
The committee appointed to draft a constitution consisted of J. S. Barr, Col. S. S. Wharton, Gen. S. Miles Green, R. Hare Powell, Dr. J. H. Wintrode, Daniel Massey and Sam'l Wigton.
T. P. Campbell, esq., proposed, and the meeting by vote accepted, the following agreement :
" We, the undersigned citizens of Huntingdon county, impressed with the importance of forming an Agricultural Society for said county, do hereby agree to form ourselves into an association for the purpose of advancing the inter- ests of agriculture, science and the arts; to pay into the
160
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
treasury the sum of one dollar, and be governed by such Constitution and By-Laws as may be hereafter adopted for our government."
The raising of a fund being thus provided for, R. Hare Powell was elected treasurer pro tem.
It was then resolved, "that the officers of this meeting continue to be the officers of the association until the adop- tion of a constitution."
On the 9th day of January, 1855, at a meeting at which the President, Jonathan McWilliams, was in the chair, and Charles Mickley acted as secretary, a constitution was adopted and permanent officers elected. The latter were as follows :
President-Jonathan Mc Williams.
Vice Presidents-Joseph Reed, West township; William Oaks, Barree; Peter Stryder, Porter; Thomas E. Orbison, Cromwell ; Wm. B. Smith, Jackson; Kenzie L. Green, Clay; A. B. Sangree, Walker ; Robert Tussey, Morris ; John Garner, Penn; George Wilson, Tell; Thomas Neely, Dublin; Jacob Miller, Henderson ; Samuel H. Bell, Shirley; David Auxandt, Tod; George W. Speer, Cass; Jacob Baker, Springfield ; Simeon Wright, Union; Gen. J. C. Watson, Brady ; David Parker, Warrior's Mark; James Entriken, Hopewell.
Recording Secretaries-J. S. Barr, J. S. Isett.
Corresponding Secretary-Dr. John Gemmill.
Treasurer-Hon. James Givin.
Librarian-Theo. H. Cremer.
At August term, 1871, of the Court of Common Pleas of Huntingdon county, the society was incorporated, upon the petition of H. G. Fisher, David Blair, R. McDivitt, J. W. Mattern, George Jackson, Theo. H. Cremer, G. W. Johnston, Samuel T. Brown, Graffus Miller, J. S. Cornman, J. Simpson Africa, John S. Miller, Joshua Greenland, John M. Bailey, D. W. Womelsdorf, W. B. Zeigler and John Flenner.
The society during the 21 years of its existence has held sixteen fairs. The dates, premiums paid and expenses in- curred have been as follows:
161
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
1855, Oct. 10th and 11th.
Premiums, $237.00 Expenses, $ 472.00
1856, 8th to 10th, inclusive
255.00
¥
475.00
1857, 14th " 16th,
386.50
743.00
1858, 5th " 7th,
66
438.00
595.00
1859, 4th " 6th,
527.50
620.00
1860, Sep. 26th " 28th,
304.62
496.00
1865, Oct. 4th 6th,
404.00
504.00
1866, Sep. 26th " 28th,
877.00
66
930.00
1867, Oct. 2nd “
4th,
567.00
1029.91
1869, 6th Sth, 66
675.00
915.00
1870,
4th " 7th,
66
66
643.80
960.00
1871, 3rd " 6th,
947.80
1260.00
1872,
4th " 7th,
682.70
1370.00
1873,
7th " 10th,
995.60
1059.00
1874, 6tlı " 9th,
95.60
1064.00
1875, Sept. 28th " Oct. 1st.
1094.10
After the payment of the incidental expenses incurred at the last exhibition, 1875, there remained in the treasury the sum of $64.94, and there was due the society for lumber sold the sum of $71.90. No premiums were paid.
The officers chosen at the annual election in January were Alexander Port, President; Perry Moore and James Hutchinson, Vice Presidents ; Dr. J. R. Patton and James B. Carothers, Secretaries ; Theo. H. Cremer, Treasurer ; Dr. G. L. Bobb, Librarian.
This society aims at the encouragement of both agricul- ture and manufactures. The progress of these industries in the county up to 1870 is exhibited by the following tables : AGRICULTURE.
Number of acres of improved land, 186,818
Value of farms, . $9,445,678
Value of all farm productions, including betterments and addition to stock
1,968,703
LIVE STOCK.
Value of all kinds, . $1,434,648
Number of horses,
7,098
milch cows,
7,120
working oxen,
54
sheep,
17,780
swine,
12,909
ANNUAL PRODUCTS.
Number of bushels of wheat,
388,859
rye, 78,480
L
-
162
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
Number of busheis of Indian corn,
503,807
oats, .
411,479
barley, .
4,525
buckwheat,
20,909
potatoes,
148 679
66
pounds
butter, .
465,027
66
cheese,
690
wool,
54,110
MANUFACTURERS.
Number of establishments, .
32-
hands employed-males above 16,
1,249
66
females " 15, 9
66
66
youths, 101
1,359
Capital invested,
$2,087,052
Wages paid, . .
353,507
Value of materials used,
1,520,506
" " products, .
2,319,152
CHAPTER XXI.
COAL AND IRON-EARLY KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE OF COAL ON BROAD TOP-ATTEMPT TO CREATE A MARKET FOR IT-BEGINNING OF TIIE COAL TRADE-ANNUAL PRODUCTION-DETAILED STATEMENT OF THE BUSINESS FOR 1875-COKE-JUNIATA CHARCOAL IRON-FURNACES AND FORGES BY WHICH IT WAS MADE.
Broad Top mountain, in Huntingdon, Bedford and Fulton counties, contains an eastern or outlying basin of coal of eighty square miles in extent. The mineral was known to exist in that region from the beginning of the present century and mines were worked fully seventy years ago. The opera- tions, however, were on an exceedingly small scale until the completion of the Huntingdon and Broad Top railroad in 1856.
An effort was made to create a market for this coal in 1807, if not earlier. It had not then found its application in the smelting of ores, the generation of steam, the heat- ing of buildings, and the many other purposes for which it has become so useful. The owner of the mines endeavored to induce farmers to experiment with it as a fertilizer, and advertised it to the public energetically and extensively. The Huntingdon Gazette of June 4th, 1807, published edi- torially the liberal proposition of Mr. Samuel Riddle to furnish it without charge, as follows:
"Such of the Farmers as wish to make experiments with the Stone Coal as a substitute for Plaster in manuring their Indian Corn, may be supplied with the Coal gratis, upon application to Peter Hughes, at Mr. Riddle's Mines, on the Raystown Branch. Those who cannot make it convenient to apply at the Mines, can be supplied upon application to the Editor by paying the carriage. The proprietor of the Mines offers not only to refund the carriage but also to pay expense of applying the Coal, if upon a fair experiment, it is found to be inferior to the plaster, which now sells at two dollars per bushel."
164
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
We should probably not hold the editor responsible for the above, for although, like the fraternity of the present day, he may have been willing to bring a new thing to the attention of the public, he no doubt inserted the notice of this novelty at the instance and for the accommodation of Mr. Riddle.
The experiments made in that year must have been in- sufficient and unsatisfactory to the latter, as, at the opening of the next planting season, he sets forth the value and ad- vantages of the fertilizer more at length :
STONE COAL.
Farmers who wish to use Stone Coal for Manuring their Corn, or Grass, may be supplied with any quantity of the Coal ready ground at Two shillings and six pence per Bushel, by applying to Mr. Prigmore, at Mr. Smith's Mill in Huntingdon.
For the purpose of encouraging the Farmers to make trial of the Coal upon different soils, the subscriber will supply them with this article, gratis, upon application to his agent at the Coal Mines on the Raystown Branch; and he further engages that he will pay double the price of the ground Coal to each person who shall purchase the same from Mr. Prigmore, if upon a fair experiment it should not be found to be a manure equal to Plaster.
The Coal should be ground or beaten into a fine powder, and applied at the rate of a handful to each hill of Indian Corn immediately after hilling, and upon grass at the rate of two or three Bushels to the acre. Upon cold calcareous soils double the quantity may be used to advantage.
The sulphuric acid contained in the Stone Coal is said to destroy the Turnip fly and to banish the cut worm and other destructive insects from the Gardens and Fields upon which it has been sown. Farmers and others will confer a favor upon the subscriber by making trial of the coal for this purpose, and communicating the result of their experi- ments.
Huntingdon, May 8th, 1808. SAMUEL RIDDLE.
165
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
This advertisement simply betrays an ignorance of the chemical composition of coal and of the elements that it is necessary to add to the soil in order to enrich it. A trial was all that was required to demonstrate its futility. The Broad Top coal contains but a small proportion of sulphur, from 1.70 to 1.85 per cent., and we need not say that that is not in the form of sulphuric acid or any other combination of sulphur and oxygen, so that the turnip fly and cut worm were not likely to be disturbed in their attacks upon rising vegetation.
With the exception of a few mines opened besides Mr Riddle's, these vast beds of coal were permitted to remain undisturbed in the strata of Broad Top, until about twenty years ago. The annual production of the region during this latter period, and the average price per ton obtained for it at Philadelphia, during the last thirteen years, have been as follows :
Year.
Tons.
Price.
Year.
Tons.
Price.
1856
42,000
1866
265,720
5.75
1857
78,813
1867
244,412
4.75
1858
105,478
1868
280,936
4.50
1859
130,595
1869
360,778
4.75
1860
186,903
1870
313,425
4.50
1861
272,625
1871
319,625
4.60
1862
. 333,606
1872
297,473
4.70
1863
305,678
$5.75
1873
350,245
5.00
1864
386,645
6.50
1874
226,693
4.55
1865
315,906
7.25
1875
268,488
4.15
The foregoing table exhibits the product of both Hun- tingdon and Bedford counties. The proportion produced by each in 1875, is shown by the following detailed statement of the business for that year :
HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
Collieries.
Operators.
Tons.
Cumberland,
R. Langdon & Co.,
14,672
Powelton, .
R. H. Powell & Co, .
23,926}
Barnet,
. R. U. Jacob & Co.,
8,421₺
Dudley,
J. M. Bacon,
2,6403
Blair,
2,3952
Howe,
8,989
Mooresdale,
. Reakert Bros & Co., . · 20,904
Carried up .
-- 81,949
166
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
Brought up . S1,949
Fisher, .
Fishers & Miller, 15,292}
Carbon, .
Geo. Mears, . 20,351
Robertsdale, .. . Rockhill C. & I. Co. 53,567
-171,1593
BEDFORD COUNTY.
Collieries.
Operators. Tons.
Mount Equity, .
. Kemble C. & I. Co., . 41,738}
Cunard, .
R. B. Wigton, . 19,717
Scott, .
. William Scott, 212}
Helena,
. E. P. Jenkins, . 5393
Coaldale,
W. H. Piper, . 24,7373
Rommell, .
Maher & Wilson, 3834
87,32S
Total for 1875. 268,4873
The East Broad Top railroad, connecting with the Penn- sylvania railroad at Mount Union, and penetrating this coal field on the East side of the mountain, in Huntingdon county, carried in 1875, the year in which it was completed, the first coal from the Robertsdale mines, operated by the Rockhill Coal and Iron Company.
The Broad Top coal makes a " bright, open, tenacious and strong coke." The only other coals that approach it in this respect are the Connellsville, in Fayette county, and the Bennington, on the crest of the Allegheny mountains. The following is a comparative analysis of the three kinds:
Fixed
Carbon.
Ash.
Volatilo
Matter.
Sulphur.
Coke.
Broad Top, Barnet seam
74.65
7.50
16.00
1.85
82 per cent.
Kelly
71.12
7.50
19.68
1.70
78 4
Bennington .
68.50
S.00
22.38
1.12
76
Connellsville
59.62
S.23
31.36
.78
68
The Rockhill Coal and Iron Company manufacture coke in ovensat their furnaces at Orbisonia. The building of ovens at Saxton, in Bedford county, for the conversion of the coal from Shoup's run branch and other mines on the Hunting- don and Broad Top railroad into coke, is, we are informed, in contemplation.
Charcoal as a fuel for furnaces and forges must soon go
167
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
out of use in Huntingdon county. The forests have disap- peared from around the iron manufacturing establishments that were built half a century ago, and many of the latter have gone to decay, and others have ceased operations. It must not be inferred, however, that the iron interests of the county have declined. A single furnace now, that of the Rockhill Coal and Iron Company at Orbisonia, produces more metal than all the other furnaces that were ever in blast at one time.
" Juniata charcoal iron" has had, since the manufacture of it was commenced, a great celebrity. The establish- ments in this country that assisted in building up that repu- tation have been as follows :
In Barree township-Rebecca and Monroe furnaces and Rebecca forge.
Brady-Mill Creek furnace.
Cromwell -. Bedford, Melinda, Winchester, Rockhill and Chester furnaces, and Melinda forge.
Franklin-Huntingdon and Pennsylvania furnaces, three Colerain forges, two Elizabeth forges, and Millington, Franklin and Stockdale forges.
Hopewell-Rough and Ready furnace and Clinton forge. Jackson-Mitchell's and Greenwood farnaces.
Morris-Union furnace.
Porter-Barree furnace and forge and Hatfield's rolling mill and forge.
Shirley-Edward furnace.
Tod -- Paradise furnaces and two forges and Mary Ann forge.
West-Juniata forge.
168
CHAPTER XXII.
EDUCATION-NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY-AVERAGE NUMBER OF MONTHS TAUGHT-NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN ATTENDANCE-TEACIIERS- CLASSIFICATION -- BRANCHES TAUGHT-SCHOOL BUILDINGS-PRIMITIVE SCHOOL HOUSE-RECENT ARCHITECTURE-HEATING OF SCHOOL ROOMS- FURNITURE AND APPARATUS-TEACHERS' INSTITUTES-COUNTY SUPERIN- TENDENCY-SALARY-LIST OF PERSONS WIIO HAVE HELD THE OFFICE- -RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES-ILLITERACY- NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO CANNOT READ OR WRITE.
The common school system of Pennsylvania was adopted in 1835, from which time an accurate history of education in our county can be given; but previously educational affairs had been loosely conducted and the preservation of statistics much neglected. The principal aim of this chapter will be to trace the progress of the present system of public instruction. In doing so, we may get occasional glimpses of the older methods by way of comparison ..
It is difficult to ascertain the number of schools within the present bounds of the county before the formation of Blair. As nearly as can be estimated, the number in 1842 was one hundred and thirty-six. The increase since that time has been as follows : In 1857, there were one hundred and seventy-four; in 1865, one hundred and ninety-two, and in 1875, two hundred and fifteen. The average number of months taught in those years was as follows: In 1842, four and one-sixth ; in 1857, four ; in 1865, about four and a half, and in 1875, about five and one-fifth. In 1854, the mimimum length of the school term was fixed by act of Assembly at four months, and in 1872, at five months. Some districts in the county would increase their term had they the means of doing so. Others keep their schools open five months only because they cannot otherwise obtain a share of the State appropriation.
At the beginning of the free school system there were no graded schools in the county, nor had there been any, so far as the records show. Now there are thirty of that class, all
169
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
of which are in the boroughs and villages. The grading of the schools in several of the rural districts has been pro- posed, but the project has never been carried into effect.
The number of children attending the schools at different periods, embracing more than the third of a century, the average attendance, and the cost of instruction per month for each pupil, are shown by the following table :
ATTENDED SCHOOL.
Males.
Females.
Total.
Average
Attendance.
Cost per
month per
Pupil.
1842
2,774
1,841
4,615
43 cents.
1857
4,335
3,532
7,867
5,480
55
1865
4,450
4,125
8,575
5,0SS
72
1875
4,754
4,222
8,976
5,734
S7
The number of teachers in the same year and the average salaries paid them, have been as follows :
TEACHERS.
AVERAGE SALARIES.
Males.
Females.
Males.
Females.
1842
13
6
$20.08
$10.92
1857
154
32
25.39
19.12
1865
105
S7
29.26
24.72
1875
167
57
35:45
31.60
From the comparison just given, it will be perceived that salaries of male teachers in the county have been increased a little over seventy five per cent. since 1842, and that the salaries of female teachers, in the same time, have been in- creased nearly two hundred per cent.
Prof. R. M. McNeal, Superintendent of common schools for Huntingdon county, to whom we are indebted for many of the facts of this chapter, says :
" That our teachers are not yet as well qualified for their work as they should be, is an undeniable fact. That they have greatly improved as a class, is equally true. The standard of qualifications is very much higher than it was a few years ago.
" In the early history of education in our county, high scholastic attainments were not required of the teacher.
" If a man had a fair knowledge of arithmetic, could write a legible hand, read tolerably well, and possessed 'muscle
170
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
to wield the birch,' he had the necessary qualifications to teach.
" Teachers of fifty years ago gave no attention to profes- sional culture. Educational meetings were not known. Works on the theory and practice of teaching were not studied. It is true, many of the teachers were men of ex- perience in the school-room, but they plied their calling in 'tread mill' style, few of them knowing anything of the laws of mental growth and development, or of the science of education.
"As the cause of education has grown and developed, not only greater scholastic attainments, but more thorough pro- fessional training has been demanded.
" The teachers of Huntingdon county compare favorably with those of other counties in point of attainments and zeal in their work.
" In the 'good old times' of subscription schools, none but men(?) were employed to teach. We have no record of any females teaching in the county previous to the adoption of the free school system.
"Female teachers in Huntingdon county, as well as in other counties of the State, have met with violent opposi- tion.
" They have had to battle against the grossest ignorance and most unreasonable prejudices ; but, in the fight, they have come off victorious.
" They have established their title to patronage by their worth. Results prove that they have met with more uni- form success than have male teachers. Some of the best disciplined, the most carefully trained, and the best taught schools in the county have been conducted by female teachers.
"In 1842 there were one hundred and thirty male and six female teachers.
"At the present time about one-third of our teachers are females. During the late war about one-half were females."
The efficiency of our schools has been greatly increased by the attention latterly given to classification. Formerly
171
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
there were as many classes in each branch of study as there were pupils pursuing it. Two books of the same kind could seldom be found in a school. At the opening of the term, book-cases and libraries were ransacked by pupils in their ambition to have a book different from any other in school.
Teachers themselves were ignorant of the value of classi- fication, and did not encourage it. There were fewer branches taught in the schools at that time than at present, and the instruction was given in a very different manner. Arithmetic was not recited. When the pupil reached a pro- blem he could not solve, it was taken to the teacher, by whom the solution was placed upon the slate and handed, without explanation, to the pupil, who departed with his new acquisition and resumed his work.
Previous to the adoption of the present school system, little else was taught in our schools than spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic. In addition to these branches, teachers are now required to pass an examination in and to be prepared to impart a knowledge of mental arithmetic, geography, grammar, history of the United States, and the theory of teaching. In a number of schools, vocal music, algebra, and drawing to a limited extent, are taught, and in a few of the higher grades are also taught etymology, phy- siology, philosophy and astronomy.
In text-books we approach very nearly to uniformity. Those principally used are the New American Readers and Spellers, Brooks' Mathematics, Mitchell's Geography, Few- smith's and Bullion's Grammars, and Goodrich's History.
Of the one hundred and ninety-five school buildings in the county in June, 1875, one hundred and sixty-nine were frame, fifteen brick or stone, and eleven log. Many of the sketches of townships will give the history of the erection of school-houses within them, and therefore we entirely omit such information from this part of the work.
We are indebted to the Hon. David Clarkson, of Cass- ville, for the following description of the primitive school- houses of Trough Creek valley :
" They were built of round logs, and were covered with
172
HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
clapboards, which were kept in their places by heavy logs laid on them to keep them down. The floors were made of logs split in halves and laid together with the flat sides up. Snakes could crawl through, as they often did. In the end of each building there was a great fire-place, with a wooden chimney. The light was admitted through large cracks in the walls, from six to ten inches in width, covered with greased paper for glass, and woe betide the urchin who ran his finger through the window, as often happened."
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