History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 50

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 50

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Coopersburg, he was, on June 5, 1854, elected superintendent of the schools of the county at a salry of $500.00 a year. He was commissioned on the 5th of July. He served until September of the following year (1855), when he resigned to accept the position of cashier of the newly- organized Allentown National Bank. Mr. Cooper organized the system and helped to bring order out of chaos. In 1876 he became a mem- ber of the Centennial Board of Finance, served as trustee of the Union Trust Deposit Company, trustee of the Allentown Female College, trustee of the Muhlenberg College, and many years as school director for the city of Allentown. He died on the IIth day of April, 1886.

TILGHMAN GOOD.

Mr. Tilghman Good was born in Allentown, on the 20th day of September, 1818. He was educated at the Allentown Academy under the tutorship of Mr. Mancourt and was graduated with honor when barely fifteen years of age. While yet a student he was induced to take charge of a school at the Jordan Reformed Church with a view to instruct both the teacher and the pupils in English. After graduation he taught public and private schools in Allentown until 1841, when he was elected to the office of register of wills. After his term of register had expired he went back to teaching. Upon the resignation of Mr. Cooper as superintendent, Mr. Good was appointed by the State Superintendent to serve the unexpired term. He was commis- sioned in October, 1855, and served until the 3d of June, 1857. In 1860 he was again the choice of the directors and was commissioned on the 8th of June. He filled the position until May 22d, 1862, when he was appointed postmaster at Al- lentown. Later he served as alderman and chief of police, besides filling positions of honor and trust.

H. H. SCHWARTZ.

The third superintendent was Hon. H. H. Schwartz. He was a son of John and Hannah Schwartz, and was born near Kutztown, Berks county, on the 21st of December, 1830. When he was about four years of age his parents moved to a farm in Whitehall township, Lehigh county. Through close application he was prepared to enter the Sophomore class at F. and M. College in 1852 and was graduated with honors in 1855. The following year he entered in the office of Hon. S. A. Bridges as a law student. On the 4th of May, 1857, the school directors of Lehigh county elected him to the superintendency at a

salary of $500.00 per year. His work like that of his two predecessors, was mostly that of a pioneer. People in general opposed and preju- diced against the school system; and the county superintendency which was then in its infancy, was made the object of ridicule, contempt and anathema. At the expiration of his term of of- fice in 1860, Mr. Schwartz removed to Kutz- town and began the practice of law. Later he be- came a member of the State Legislature and Judge of the Orphans' Court of Berks county. He was for many years a trustee of the Keystone State Normal School. He died at Kutztown on the 25th of August, 1891.

JACOB Ross.

Upon the resignation of Mr. Good in 1862, Mr. Jacob Ross was appointed and commissioned on the 26th of July, 1862, to fill the unexpired term. He was born in Salisbury township, Le- high county, April 22, 1827. He attended the public schools of this township, such as they were at that time, and by close application prepared himself to become a teacher. He taught school for a number of years in different sections of Northampton and Lehigh counties. At the time of his appointment as superintendent he had charge of the Second ward grammar school in the city of Allentown. It is a fact worthy of note that during his term of office his traveling in holding examinations and visiting schools was all done on foot. After his term was over he went back to the school room as teacher, and while so engaged, studied theology during his leisure hours and was ordained as a minister in the M. E. Church. He died very suddenly on the 24th of November, 1877.

E. J. YOUNG.

Mr. Young was born in Northampton county in what is known as the Irish Settlement, on the 14th of August, 1808. His parents were Peter and Elizabeth Young. He attended college at Easton, and at the age of 16 went to Seneca county, Ohio, where he taught school and attend- ed the theological department of Heidelberg Col- lege, Tiffin, Ohio. Before finishing his course at Tiffin he came to Allentown and took charge of a school in the First ward. On the 4th of May, 1863, he was elected county superintendent at a salary of $500.00 a year. He was twice re- elected, the first time at $800.00, and the second time at $1,300.00 a year. He served in this po- sition very acceptably, and during his nine years of service was the means of bringing the schools into more popular favor. After his term of

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office had expired he again returned to the school room, teaching in the Second ward, Allentown, the Bethlehem and the Hellertown High Schools.

He died of apoplexy on the 10th of November, 1887. Just before the fatal attack his daughter asked to transpose the sentence, "Death sepa- rates the dearest friends," and these were the last words uttered by him.

J. O. KNAUSS.

Mr. Young's successor was Mr. J. O. Knauss. He was born near Emaus, Lehigh county, on the Ist of January, 1840. His parents were Paul and Julia Knauss. By close application and hard study he succeeded in passing his first examination and receiving a teacher's certificate in the Fall of 1858. He began teaching in his native town- ship in the Fall of 1859 at a salary of $20.00 a month for a term of five months. His summer vacations were spent in working in the ore mines of the neighborhood. In the Spring of 1851 he attended the Normal and Classical School at Quakertown, Pa. In 1871 he passed a success- ful examination before the faculty and the State Board of Examiners for a State certificate at the State Normal School at Millersville. He taught five years in the ungraded schools of Salis- bury township, two terms in Emaus High School, and in the Fall of 1868 he became a teacher in one of the Allentown schools. On the 7th of May, 1872, he was elected over three competi- tors, superintendent of Lehigh county at a salary of $1,300.00 a year. He was commissioned on the 27th of July and held the same position for a continuous period of 21 years. During this period the schools made a great deal of progress. He raised the standard of teachers' certificates. Many schools outlined the first course of studies and held a large number of educational meetings. Through his efforts the school system was brought into general favor. His success as superintendent was undoubtedly due to the fact that he had taught in rural, town and city schools and to his untiring energy, unflinching fidelity to duty, honesty and good judgment. He retired from the superintendency June 5th, 1893. Upon re- tiring from the office of superintendent he was appointed to an important position in the Edu- cational Department at Harrisburg, which he still fills with honor and credit. In the com- piling of the foregoing account of the develop- ment of education in this county extensive use was made of Prof. Knauss' splendid report to the department in 1877.

For sketch of Alvin Rupp, the present incumbent, see Rupp family in second volume.

HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARN- ING.

ALLENTOWN ACADEMY.

Although it did not come into actual existence until 1819, the Allentown Academy was charter- ed by the act of the Legislature in March, 1814. The important parts of this act were as follows:

SECTION I. Be it enacted, That there shall be and hereby is established in the borough of Northamp- ton (Allentown), in Lehigh County, an academy or public school for the education of youth in the Eng- lish and other languages, in the useful arts, sciences, and literature, by the name, style, and title of the Allentown Academy, under the care, direction, and government of six trustees, to wit: Peter Rhoads, John Horn, John Miller (tailor), James Wilson, George Keck, Adam Reep, and Jacob Martin, which said trustees and successors to be elected, as herein- after mentioned, shall be and hereby are declared to be one body politic and corporate in deed and in law, by the name, style, and title of "the trustees of the Allentown Academy," etc.

SEC. 5. That the sum of $2,000 be and the same is hereby granted out of any unappropriated money in the treasury of this commonwealth, to be paid to the treasurer of the institution, etc., to be applied : $1,000 thereof in the erection of a building or build- ings, etc., and the purchasing of books, mathematical instruments, and the necessary philosophical appa- ratus, and the remaining $1,000 shall be placed in some safe and productive fund or funds, and the income thereof shall be forever applied in aid of other measures to compensate a teacher or teachers in said Academy.

"SEC. 6. That there shall be admitted into said academy, in consequence of said appropriation, any number of poor children of said county that may at any time be offered, in order to be provided with books and stationery and taught gratis : provided that the number so admitted and taught shall at no time be greater than four, and that none of said children so admitted shall continue in said academy to be taught graits, should others apply, longer than two years : and be it further provided that before any part of the appropriation shall be paid on the order or orders of said trustees, they, or a majority of them, shall duly certify that subscriptions to the amount of $1,000 have been obtained and secured, to be paid for the use of said Academy, and that the trustees have proceeded to erect the building aforesaid."

The last clause deferred the erection of the Academy for several years, and the original trus- tees appear to have done nothing to bring the school into existence even as such time as they were empowered to, and hence in 1819 the act, which had passed out of force, was renewed. The trustees then appointed were James Wilson, Dr. Jacob Martin, John J. Kraus, John Romig, John Fogel, John Siegel, and Philip Kleckner. They immediately addressed themselves to the work. In an address which they published in the news- papers, after reminding the public of the act of

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

incorporation and the appropriation of two thou- sand dollars by the State on condition that one thousand dollars should be subscribed by the citi- zens, they say, "and yet, notwithstanding the above act has been passed now upwards of seven years, said condition has never been fulfilled. Surely this condition of things may continue no longer. In almost every county of the State there. are one or more academies in which the chil- dren of the citizens can be educated to moral ex- cellence, and shall Lehigh stand alone as a pillar of darkness in the midst of the radiance of the surrounding light and intellectual refinement ? We hope not, and therefore earnestly expect that all benevolent enterprising citizens in town or county will early avail themselves of the oppor- tunity to call on Dr. Jacob Martin or John J. Krause, Esq., and contribute their share to- wards the attainment of an object so extraordi- narily desirable and so easily to be accomplished."

The object for which they labored was not realized until four years had passed, when in 1823 the trustees made the following announce- ment, "Since the required amount for the erec- tion of the Allentown Academy is now subscribed and the undersigned desire to make preparations this Summer yet for its erection, the trustees are earnestly requested to meet for this purpose at the house of George Haberacker, in the bor- ough of Northampton, on Saturday, July 30. The trustees are Peter Newhard, of Northamp- ton; Daniel Saeger, of North Whitehall; Daniel Eberhard, of Upper Milford; John Guth, of South Whitehall; H. W. Knipe, of Upper Sau- con; Henry Ritter, of Salisbury, and Philip Wint, of Upper Saucon."

A building was erected at the corner of Wal- nut and Eighth streets, which is still standing, and in 1827, Silas H. Hickox, who came from New England, took charge of the school. The Academy at once secured a place in the front rank of the schools of the town and of the valley, and retained its position for many years. Mr. Hickox resigned in 1829 for the purpose of de- voting himself to the legal profession, and was succeeded by W. W. Wertz. By the census re- port of 1840, the Academy had thirty pupils. After his term of service, and prior to 1853, the principals were Frederick Mancourt, Charles A. Douglass, R. S. McClenachan, and Robert Chandler. In 1852, Professor I. N. Gregory took charge of the school and remained as its principal until 1865. He was the most successful teacher the Academy ever had, and during the long period he was at its head the institution en- joyed the utmost popularity. Dr. Murphy was engaged as principal in 1867, but remained only a

short time, and it became apparent that the school had closed its era of usefulness.

Mr. Gregory, under authority of an act of the Legislature, had put a mortgage on the building for the purpose of raising funds for enlarging it, and under this mortgage the property was sold by the sheriff in 1881. By this sale sixteen hun- dred dollars was realized over and above the amount of the judgment, and this sum was di- vided equally between Muhlenberg College and the Female Seminary. At a meeting of the trus- tees-Eli J. Saeger, August Weidner, George P. Weil, R. E. Wright, Henry Gabriel, and Dr. Alfred J. Martin-held July 15, 1881, Messrs. Wright and Martin were appointed a committee to convey the surplus to the institutions men- tioned. This was done on condition that each of them should grant one perpetual scholarship, of which the benefit should be received by such graduates of the public schools as the school con- trollers and directors should see fit to present for the favor. This measure having been consum- mated the trustees of the old Allentown Academy resigned sine die.

THE ALLENTOWN SEMINARY.

On the Ist of May, 1848, the Allentown Seminary was opened in Livingston mansion, under the principalship of Rev. C. R, Kessler, of the Reformed Church. He had been induced to engage in the work chiefly by Rev. S. K. Brobst, of the Lutheran Church, the originator of the enterprise and its most zealous supporter. The building in which the Seminary was at first housed was a large two-story stone edifice, now the east wing. This mansion, with the beautiful grounds around it, had at one time belonged to the Livingstons, relatives of the Allens, who were the founders of the town. Before the Semi- nay was opened this property had passed into the possession of Messrs. Pretz and Weinsheimer, members of the Lutheran Church, and continued in their ownership until the organization of Muhlenberg College, when it was purchased by that corporation.

The object of the institution was set forth by the first principal, Rev. C. R. Kessler, in a let- ter dated March, 1848, to the Jugendfreund, pub- lished by Rev. S. K. Brobst. It reads as follows : "This institution is especially designed for those who desire to prepare themselves for the sphere of the teacher. It is, however, easily seen that those also can attend the institution with ad- vantage who propose studying either theology, jurisprudence, or medicine, and wish to prepare themselves for one of the higher classes of col-

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lege, and also those who are seeking important acquisitions in knowledge and a higher culture. This institution will offer special advantages to those who desire a thorough and practical knowl- edge of the German language. The moral cul- ture of the pupils will receive special attention." Bible history, biblical antiquities, and Christian morals were enumerated among the regular studies. The primary object of the school. though of the highest importance, was neverthe- less not attained, as it was urged in advance of the times, so that the Allentown Seminary as a normal school, or teachers' seminary, was a fail- ure. The attendance during the first term was but eleven, only four of whom had come to pre- pare for teaching. The institution, though re- taining in view all it had set out to accomplish, was soon announced as a classical school for boarders and day scholars. After much discour- agement and zealous effort on the part of the principal and the friends of education by whom he was sustained, the interests of the school be- gan to advance, and the attendance increased to such an extent that it became necessary to fur- nish enlarged accommodations. Accordingly, during the Summer of 1851, a new building, now the west wing, was erected. In the year 1854 the attendance had risen to two hundred and two, -one hundred and forty-seven males and fifty- five females. The central building, occupying the space between the east and west wings, was then erected during the Summer of 1854, and Livingston mansion was raised to three stories, so that the entire seminary building presented a front of one hundred and thirty feet, and fur- nished accommodations for one hundred boarders. These were the buildings which, with the spa- cious grounds around them, subsequently passed into the possession of the corporation of Muhlen- berg College and are now occupied by the Muhl- enberg Preparatory School.

Among the instructors of the institution were the following: Rev. Christian Rudolph Kessler, A.M., the founder and principal of Allentown Seminary from 11848 to 1855, assisted by Messrs. John Weik, Wm. J. Marx, J. B. Evans, C. L. Lochman, Rev. F. J. Mohr, Prof. C. F. Wullf, Prof. Fr. R. Gerlach, Thomas J. Gross, Prof. C. F. Herrman, Rev. J. L. Kessler, D.D., Rev. J. Riale, Prof. C. V. Mays and Misses Eveline Black, Melvina Stanton, M. Wilson, L. J. Boyd and Mrs. N. Vogelbach. On account of impaired health, Principal Kessler was obliged to cease his labors in 1855.

KEV. CHRISTIAN RUDOLPH KESSLER.

Christian Rudolph Kessler, the first president of the Allentown Seminary, was born Feb. 20,

1823, in the district of Davos, and Canton of Graubuenden, Switzerland. His parents were the Rev. J. S. Kessler, D.D., and his wife, Chris- tina Jeklin. He received his early training in a parochial school conducted by his father until the close of the year 1835, when he was sent to the Canton School of Chur, the highest institu- tion of learning in his native country. In 1840 he was sent to the University of Leipsic, but did not remain there long, owing to the departure of the family to America. He now pursued his studies privately, devoting himself especially to Pedagogics or the science of education being espe- cially incited to this by the increased interest in education, which had recently been awakened by the efforts of the Graubuenden Educational As- sociation of which his father was one of the founders and most active members.

At the close of the year 1841 he entered the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church at Mercersburg. Here besides giving instruc- tion in German, he pursued his theological studies, attending with special interest the lec- tures of Dr. John W. Nevin, who was then rapidly becoming a leader in American theo- logical thought, and with whom he formed a friendship that lasted through his life. During this time he made himself acquainted with the English language, which he in after life spoke with great freedom and fluency.

In the Spring of 1843 he was received into the Gospel ministry and for one year served a num- ber of congregations in Pendleton county, Vir- ginia, when he received a call of the Salem con- gregation of Philadelphia, to become assistant pastor to Rev. Dr. Bibighaus, whom he shortly succeeded. He was married to the only daughter of Hon. David Liehman and his wife, Anna Maria Salade, both natives of Switzerland.

In the Autumn of 1845 he was compelled to resign his pastoral charge on account of the re- peated attacks of bronchitis usually called "a preacher's throat." After a long and prayerful meditation as to the mode in which he might ef- fect most for the cause of Christ and for the good of man, he arrived at the conviction that he could be most useful by devoting himself to the labor- ious yet sacred work of educating the young. Rev. S. K. Brobst, the well-known editor of Jugenfreund, learning of his purpose, induced him to come to Allentown and open a school. In May he began his school with four pupils, though he met with many discouragements and disap- pointments he continued to labor faithfully and soon his admirable character and his ability as a teacher became widely known. Public confidence continued to increase and numbers of students, flocking to his feet from time to time, made it

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necessary for him to extend his plans and enlarge the buildings.

But as his institution continued to extend and flourish more and more his bodily powers were fast declining. In the Fall of this year he had to call his father to his assistance, to aid in carrying on his operations and meeting the wants of his school. But all this was unavailing. His ener- getic will did, indeed, continue to triumph over the weakness of his body, and until within five weeks of his decease, he continued to instruct some of the classes, who came daily into his cham- ber for recitation, where he instructed them, though in a feeble and broken voice.

But the last great scene of his life was rapidly approaching. Feeling his strength completely prostrated, he inquired of his physician what were his prospects for life, and being informed that a few days would in all probability, close his earthly career, he expressed the most perfect resignation to God's will in this matter. Soon after, he took an affectionate farewell of his family, and of some other friends who from time to time called in to see him. The closing hours of his life were perfectly serene and peaceful, his Christian faith supporting him and giving him the assur- ance of a blissful immortality. Awakening about midnight out of a quiet slumber, he inquired of his father, who was watching by his bedside, whether it was Sunday morning, and being in- formed that it was, he exclaimed: "O what a glorious Sabbath this will be to me!" and soon after expired.

Thus departed on the 14th of March, 1855, in the thirty-second year of his age, Christian Ru- dolph Kessler,, who will long be held in affec- tionate and respectful remembrance by all who knew him, but especially by his pupils and the citizens of Allentown, to whose service he de. voted the best part of his laborious life. He was a man of no ordinary talents, and of varied attainments. He was an original thinker and a profound scholar. He was a highly acceptable and popular preacher, and a teacher of rare en dowments.

The services which he rendered to the cause of education generally and especially in Allen- town and that part of Pennsylvania over which the influence of his school extended, cannot be too highly estimated. There is no doubt that he has given a new and great impulse to the cause of education in this region and especially in the county of Lehigh.

Rev. F. J. F. Schantz, D.D., is an historical address delivered on the campus of the Seminary, then Muhlenberg College, in 1898, upon the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of founding of the Seminary, said: "The school at Allen-

town (Muhlbenberg College) continues a last- ing monument to his ability, his devotion to his calling, his self-denying labors and his triumphs of faith in his blessed Lord."

Rev. Wm. N. Reynolds, D.D., of the Lu- theran Church, was the principal of the Allen- town Seminary from 1855, previous to the death of Rev. Mr. Kessler to September, 1857. In these years he was ably assisted by the following instructors: Rev. J. S. Kessler, Rev. J. Riale, Prof. Luther H. Croll, Prof. E. J. Koons, Mons. J. Germain Anglade, Mrs. R. M. Eyster, Mrs. N. Vogelbach and Misses M. J. Green, Cath- arine J. Reynolds, Adelaide S. Richards. In the Fall of 1857, Rev. Dr. Reynolds accepted the presidency of the Illinois State University at Springfield, Ill.

Rev. Wm. Phillips, A.M., of the Reformed Church, became the principal at the opening of the Winter term, Nov. 1, 1857, and continued in the position to the close of the Winter term, Nov. 1, 1859. His co-laborers in instruction in these years were: Rev. J. S. Kessler, D.D., Rev. W. R. Hofford, A.M., Rev. Joshua Derr, Prof. C. F. Herrman, Mons. J. Germain Anglade, the late Capt. Jeremiah P. Schindel, of the U. S. A., and Misses S. A. Barrett and Laura P. Hill. At the close of the Winter term, March 26, 1858, the first decade celebration of the Allen- town Seminary was suitably observed in Zions' Reformed Church.

In the Spring of 1859, Rev. W. R. Hofford, A.M., of the Reformed Church, a student of the Allentown Seminary from the Spring of 1850 to the Fall of 1853, a graduate of Frank- lin and Marshall College, an assistant instructor of Rev. Phillips, became the principal of the Sem- inary. He continued as principal to the close of the Winter term in March, 1864. This was a critical period in the history of the institution, the effects of the financial crisis of 1857-1858 were still felt and the War of the Rebellion opened in 1861 and continued during his connection with the Seminary. The associate instructors in these years were the following: Rev. Dr. Kess- ler, Rev. Joshua Derr, H. LaRue, John Sykes, Prof. C. F. Herrman, D. F. Schoedler, P. Wil- liard, A.M., T. Kessler and Misses A. E. Avery, Maria Zearfass, Sarah Hughes and Olivia Mease.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 50

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1158

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158