USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of Perry County, in Pennsylvania : from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 9
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Residence.
Remarks.
Isaiah W Clouser ...
Corp.
Sep. 5, '64.
I Center twp.
Joseph S. Bucher .....
=
Sep 9, '64.
I Saville twp.
L. H. C Fhckinger ..
"
Sep 7, 64.
I
€
A Worley Monroe ..
Mus. "
Sep. 5, 64.
I
Greenwood twp.
John Acaley ..
Private.
Sep. 7, 64.
I
Valentine Arndt .. ..
¥
Sep. 5, '64.
1 Millerstown.
Peter S. Baker.
Sep. 5, '64.
I
Tuscarora twp.
¥
Adam Bucher.
Sep. 7, '64.
I
€
George W Burrell.
Sep. 5, 64.
I
Saville twp.
I
Watts twp.
I
Cyrus S. Clouser. . . .
Sep. 7, '64.
I
I
I
Buffalo twp.
I
Juniata twp. Liverpool.
I
Wesley Deitrick ...... A. M. Fleck ..
Sep. 9, '64. Sep. 5, '64. "
I
Newport.
Jesse M. Ferguson ...
I
John Fosselman.
=
E. F. Gardner .......
Sep. 5, '64.
I
Miller twp.
=
John Gutshall.
=
Sep. 7, '64.
Watson L. Gantt ......
¡Sep. 5, '64.
I Newport.
Mustered out with company, June 1, '65.
=
John B. Swartz ..
Sep. 5, '64.
I Juniata twp.
=
Findley Rodgers ..
"
"
I
Liverpool.
John Howell
I
Liverpool twp.
"
Benj. F. Barnhart .... Wm. H. Clouser ......
Calvin H. Clouser ....
Sep. 5, 64.
Henry C. Charles .....
Sep. 9, '64.
George L Comp.
Sep. 7, '64-
=
Jacob S. Comp ....
:
Wm. H. Flickinger ..
"
Center twp. Juniata twp.
125
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
I Tuscarora twp.
I Newport.
Daniel W. Gantt .. ...
Sep. IO, '64.
Sylvester Byrem ......
=
ONE YEAR'S SERVICE, COMPANY G, 208TH REGIMENT.
CONTINUED.
Names.
Rank.
Date of Muster into Service.
Term
Residence.
Remarks.
Wm Heinbach.
Private. "
Sep. 5, '64.
-
I
John Lesh ..
I
Juniata twp.
=
. 66
=
=
Baltzer Lesh
|Millerstown.
66
-
=
Jacob M. Long.
¥
=
I
Tuscarora twp. Millerstown. "
I
Wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, '65 ; discharged by Gen- eral Order. June 20, '65.
George F. Nipple .....
Sep. 7, '64.
I Greenwood twp. Mustered out with company, June 1, '65.
James C. Nipple
¥
I
Lewis W. Powell ..
Sep. 5, '64;
I Millerstown.
=
=
Wm. J. Reigle.
Sep. 7,'64.
I Greenwood twp.
16
¥
I Newport.
=
:
Christian Shoop ..
I
Greenwood twp. I Oliver twp.
¥
66
=
¥
Wm. H. Troup ..
Sep 7, '64.
John B. Wright.
I Greenwood twp.
¥
=
¥
Sam'I S. Withrow ...
I Center twp.
John W. Wagner .....
I|Spring twp.
I Newport.
-
I Tuscarora twp.
'Mustered out with company, June 1, '65.
¥
Jas. P. Latchford .. Shuman Miller. John Miller ..
=
Sep. 8, '64. Sep. 5, '64.
I
I
¥
€
I Tuscarora twp.
=
Jacob R. Rider.
¥
George Sweger ...
Sep. 5, '64. Sep. 10, '64.
I | Carroll twp. Buffalo twp.
=
Isaac Tschopp.
Sep. 9, '64. Sep. 5, '64.
Killed at Fort Steadman, Va., March 25, '65.
Geo. W. Weise .. ...... David Yohn .. €6
Greenwood twp. Mustered out with company, June 1, 65.
John I. Kleffman ..
=
¥
66
Martin V. Ormer .....
Justice Rouch
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
126
-
ONE YEAR'S SERVICE, COMPANY I, 208TH REGIMENT, P. V.
Name.
Rank.
Date of Muster into Service.
Term | H
Bloomfield.
Jas. H. Marshall .....
¡Captain.
Sep. 10, '64.
Sep. 3, '64.
I
John D. Neilson .. George K. Scholl ...... John J. Monroe ..
2d Lieut. Ist Sergt. Sergt.
Sep. 10, '64. Sep. 3, '64. Sep. 7, '64.
I
I |Liverpool.
I
Edwin D. Owen ......
Corp.
"
Sep. 3, '64.
Sep. 7, '64. Aug. 31, '64.
I Buffalo twp. $
I
Henry F. Sweger .. ...
Private.
Sep. 3, '64. Aug. 31, '64. '64. Sep. 71 164. Sep. 13,' 64. Sep. 3, , Sep. 13, '64.
HHHHHHHH
I Center twp.
"
4
James Clegg ... ... John A. Clouser ...... Cornelius Clouser .....
=
Aug. 31, '64.
Bloomfield.
Wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, '65; mustered out with company, June 1, '65. Mustered out with company, June 1, '65.
Daniel Cless.
¥
"
I
=
=
=
Andrew J. Clouser ...
=
I
=
Simon S. Clouser ..... Abraham Carl ...
Sep. 3, '64. Sep. 7, '64.
I Center twp. I Saville twp.
"
¥
Wm. Duke ...
Aug. 31, '64.
Il Juniata twp.
=
Wounded at Fort Steadman, Va., March 25, '65; mustered out with company, June 1, '65. Promoted Sept. 10, '64; mustered out with company, June I' 65. Mustered out with company, June 1, '65.
"
"
"
I
I Carroll twp.
Discharged by General Order. May 30, '65.
"Mustered out with company, June 1, '65.
Wounded at Fort Steadman, Va., March 25, '65 ; discharged by General Order, May 30, '65.
Rufus Potter .. Jacob Seiler.
Mustered out with company, June 1, '65. Wounded at Fort Steadman, Va., March 25, '65 ; absent in hos- pital at muster out.
Wounded at Fort Steadman, Va., March 25, '65 ; absent in hos- pital at muster out.
Sam'l Albright .... ..
I Buffalo twp. I Wheatfield twp. I Center twp.
I Penn twp.
Geo. W. Bruner ....
"
I Buffalo twp.
¥
Samuel W. Bair ....
$65- Mustered out with company, June 1, '65. Discharged by General Order, June 7, '65. Mustered out with company, June I,' Sub. =
Qwen Bruner ....
Wm. H. Bruner ..
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
Residence.
Remarks.
Isaac D. Dunkle .......
Ist Lieut.
Abraham Kitner ...... Frank W. Gibson .... Benjamin Shaffer .....
I Spring twp. I
I Center twp.
=
127
ONE YEAR'S SERVICE, COMPANY I, 208th REGIMENT. CONTINUED.
Name.
Rank.
Date of Muster into Service.
Term
Residence.
Remarks.
W'm. J. Dehiser ..
Private.
Sep. 3, '64. Sep. 7, '64. "
I Juniata twp. I | Liverpool. ¡Landisburg.
I
Elias L. Fetrow
Abraham Garling.
Sep. 3. '64.
I
|Bloomfield. Saville twp.
Wounded at Fort Steadman. Va , March 25, '65 ; discharged by General Order, July 21 '65.
Josiah Grubb.
=
Sep. 5, '64.
John W. Hench
Aug. 31, '64.
Levi Hunter ..
Sep. 3, '64.
I Liverpool .. 1
Daniel Hilbert.
=
1 | Buffalo twp.
Mustered out with company, June 2, '65, "
=
=
=
John A. Hillbish.
Sep. 7, '64.
I
Abram E Howe .. ..
Sep. 3. '64.
I
Robert Hunter.
Sep. 9, 64.
I
Wm. Inch ..
Sep. 7, 64.
Wm. Kumler.
Sep. 3, '64.
New Buffalo. -
Wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, '65 ; discharged by Gen- eral Order, May 11, '65. Mustered out with company., June 1, '65. "
George S. Lenhart ...
I |Liverpool.
Samuel Liddick. ..
=
66
WVm. A. Lackey ....
Sep. 7, '64.
4
"
Henry Marshall. ..
Sep. 3, '64.
Jacob B. Meck. ..
= Sep. 9, '64.
Wm. M'Kinzie ..
Sep. 7. 64. Sep. 3, '64.
I |Buffalo twp. =
.
"
«
128
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
Mustered out with company, June 1, '65.
John Ť. Derr.
George Dressler.
16
Edward Dressler ..
-
=
=
I |Liverpool twp. I | Madison twp.
Died at Petersburg, Va., Jan. 9, '65. Mustered out with company, June 1, '65. Wounded at Fort Steadman, Va., March 25, '65; absent in hos- pital at muster out.
Samuel Haines
I
Jacob Hain ..
"
I Buffalo twp, "
I | Liverpool. I
=
-
Wounded at Fort Steadman, Va., March 25, '65 ; discharged by General Order, June 16, '65. Mustered out with company, June 1, '65.
I ! Liverpool twp. Center twp.
John Potter. John Rice ..
ISep. 7,'64.
I |Bloomfield.
MHHH
=
I | Buffalo twp. I Carroll twp. I Howe twp.
"
=
ONE YEAR'S SERVICE, COMPANY I, 208TH REGIMENT.
CONTINUED.
Names.
Rank.
Date of Muster into Service.
Term
Residence.
Remarks.
Geo. W. Swartz ...... Alexander Shortless.
Private.
¡Aug. 31, '64.
I| Watts twp. I | Juniata twp.
John W. Silks ..
Sep. 3, ' 64,
I Buffalo twp.
I
Samuel Shotsberger ..
Sep. 7, '64.
I[Greenwood twp. | Wounded at Fort Steadman, Va., March 25, '65 ; discharged by General Order, June 14, '65.
John Shotsberger
Mustered out with company, June 1, '65, = 1ª
Henry Shotsberger ...
I
Noah Shoop.
=
I | Watts twp.
=
Isaiah Skevington ....
I Bloomfield.
Absent-sick at muster out.
Geo. W. Souder ...... Emanuel Troutman ..
Sep. 3, '64.
Spring twp.
I Greenwood twp. | Mustered out with company, June 1, '65.
The Two Hundred and Eighth Regiment was officered on the 12th of September, with Alfred B. M'Calmont Colonel ; M. F Heintzelman, Lieutenant Colonel, and Alexander Bobb, Major. On the 13th it started for the front, and, immediately upon its arrival, was assigned to duty.
It was in command of General Hartranft at Hatcher's Run, in February, 1865, and at Fort Steadman, on the 25th of March. The result at Fort Steadman, chiefly the work of the 208th gained General Hartranft's promotion to Major General. It next attacked the rebel works in front of Fort Sedgwick. on the 2nd of April.
. The Two Hundred and Eighth had moved with its division upon the line of the South Side Railroad, to Nottoway Court House, on the 9th of April, when the news of the surrender of Lee was received.
All the regiment but the new recruits were mustered out of service on the Ist of June, 1865.
129
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
Sep. 7, '64.
(Mustered out w.th company, June 1, '65. Discharged by General Order May 30. '65. Mustered out with company, June 1, '65.
John Silks.
I
130
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
ONE HUNDRED DAYS' MEN, COMPANY G, 2D BATTALION.
Names.
Rank.
Residence.
Remarks.
Joel F. Fredericks. ...
Capt. Ist. Sergt.
Bloomfield. Juniata. Carroll.
Samuel Briggs ..
2d· Sergt.
George S. Lackey ...
3d. Sergt.
Isaac B. Trostle ..
4th. Sergt.
Israel Bair.
5th. Sergt. Ist. Corp
Bloomfield. Buffalo.
James E. Woods.
2d. Corp.
! Jackson.
Wilson D. Messimer
4th. Corp
Bloomfield.
Carson S. Gotwalt ...
5th. Corp.
Chas. B. Heinbach ...
8th. Corp. Private.
Greenwood. Tyronc. Newport.
David T. Dumm.
Spring.
Henry B. Eby ....
Toboyne.
John Frank
Newport.
A Blain Grosh
Jackson.
Anthony Gibbons
Spring.
D. H. Hollenbaugh ..
Madison.
Alexander M. Hench
D. M. Hohenshildt ...
Aaron Hoffman. ...
"
Geo. Kochenderfer *John Miller.
Saville.
Silas H. Mickey
Carroll.
*Andrew Lightner ...
Isaiah D. Musser ...
Newport.
Charles A. Murray ..
Bloomfield.
John S. Musser
Newport.
Samuel Noll
Spring.
John M. Noll
Benjamin Rice.
Wm. W. Sheibley ...
Madison.
Wm. F. Sheibley.
David R. Smith
Spring.
Philip Shuler
Jackson.
Alfred Waggoner
Spring.
John Jones
James P. Laird ... .. ..
John C. Adams
David R. Demaree ..
131
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
SECTION III .- EDUCATIONAL.
CHAPTER I.
The earliest educational history of Perry county, for want of records, can only be obtained from the narratives that have descended from generation to generation until the year 1834, when an era dawn- ed upon Pennsylvania, such as has never been esti- mated in importance.
The first schools were subscription, kept open about three months, or " a quarter" of the year.
These schools were few and far between, and governed absolutely by the teacher.
Then good scholarship consisted in ciphering to the double rule of three, a term happily omitted in modern arithmetic, in being able to write legibly large and small hand, and ability to read readily in the Bible and Testament.
These schools were often kept in houses very poorly suited for the purpose ; slab seats and slab writing-boards pinned to the logs of the wall, served as furniture.
The earliest school legislation was an act passed on the 28th of March, 1814, vesting the title of a certain piece of land in Toboyne township, in the county of Cumberland, in certain trustees and their successors, for the use of a school. The Act is
132
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
short, and we give it in full as an instance of the liberality of the Commonwealth at that time toward educational enterprises :
SECTION I. The Land officers to make a title clear of purchase money and fees to trustees for schools to be established in the township of Toboyne for a piece of land.
SEC. 2. A majority of subscribers to supply va- cancies of trustees.
After the Act of 1822, requiring county com- missioners to receive from their parents or guar -; dians the names of all children between the ages of five and twelve years, whose parents were unable to school them-this Act imposed a fine of five dol- lars upon these officers for a neglect of duty- houses began to be erected in the various settle- ments of the county. Fifty years ago, the only school-house in Fishing Creek Valley, Rye town- ship, was near the present residence of Mr. Kocher. This house was covered with clap-boards, the com- mon roofing material of the houses or cabins of the valley at that time, and had no floor. It was lighted through single panes of glass fastened side by side between parts of two logs. So limited a knowledge was deemed necessary for the school-teacher of these times, that it is related "a school-master " wanted to keep school in this house who was una- ble to either write with a pen or give instruction in arithmetic. It is further related, to the credit of the patrons, that he was refused the privilege he asked.
The books used in this school were Dillworth's
I33
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
spelling-book, the Testament, DaBoll's arithmetics, and copy-books made of unruled paper.
The oldest school-house in Penn township was a log building, covered with boards split out of logs. This house was located near Young's Mill. The first school kept in it was by Joseph McIntire, and was attended by pupils who lived within the present boundaries of Rye township. Some of these pupils walked four miles, morning and evening, to avail themselves of the educational advantages of being able to read, write and cipher.
The furniture of this house wis slab benches, writing boards of the same material fixed to the walls, and an old smoky stove. Mr. McIntire is represented to have been "severe with the hicko- ry." He heard four lessons from each pupil in reading per day, "made and mended " their pens, and "showed" them in ciphering whenever they came to him for assistance. The custom then was for the pupil to hear the class read while the teacher " worked his sum."
The oldest school-house in Duncannon, formerly Petersburg, was built of logs, and stood on the ground in front of the one now in use in that borough. It was burnt in 1814.
The ruins of the only school-house in Buck's Valley, during its early settlement, may still be seen near the base of Halffall Hills. It stands on a truly romantic spot, and was probably one of the oldest school-houses within the limits of the county.
Who administered school discipline and taught 6 *
134
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
the youthful ideas to shoot, at its first session, has not been certainly preserved.
An old school-house in Pfoutz's Valley not very far from Hart's mill, served to give educational ad- vantages to pupils of both Pfoutz's and Wildcat valleys, until Wright's and Grubb's school-houses were built in 1836. Millerstown at this time was a village of Greenwood township.
The oldest school-house at Liverpool was situat- ed on the site of the present Lutheran church, and was either removed or in ruins in 1828, when the church was built, for, it is said, that the corner- stone of the church was laid on the spot where the old school-house had stood. Rev. Heim's journal contains the following : "On the 17th of Decem- ber, 1814, in the evening, I preached at Stollen- berger's school-house, from Eph. v. 14."
In this same old school-house, in 1810, Rev. Heim organized the Lutheran congregation, whose descendants worship in the church which stands so high above it now. In it, too, the early settlers' children of Liverpool town and township received the elements of their education.
Millerstown has a venerable old school building, which antedates the free-school system. This house, enlarged to meet the growing educational wants of the place, still stands on its old site. It was used for religious meetings until the churches were built.
The first school-house in Tuscarora township was situated in the narrows leading from Donnally's mills to Buckwheat Valley. It was built of logs,
135
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
and known, at that time, as the "Narrow's School." To this house the Bulls, Blacks, Robinsons and Henches, of the second generation, came to receive an education. The next school-house was built on the property now owned by Joseph Leonard. These houses served the purpose until they were supple- mented by the seven which are now in use.
Saville township has a sacred school history, from the fact that she has been the birth-place and early home of more Christian ministers than any township in the county.
The old school-houses were situated originally, one below Ickesburg, near Judge Elliott's farm, another on the Irvin estate, and a third just below Sandy Hill, in Madison township. These were all, in their day, in Tyrone township. These old houses in Saville have been improved by the third edition. The last is credited first in the county.
Tyrone has built and rebuilt school-houses until there are but two of the first houses erected for the purpose remaining, and these in the last formed settlements of Shafer's and Kennedy's valleys. Tyrone is a progressive district, awake to the fact that the best school economy is well-built and well- furnished school-houses, and the best qualified teachers in them, employed at liberal salaries.
In Landisburg, the earliest to move for free schools by legislative enactment, we would natural- ly expect to find the best school buildings. Instead, however, an old stone veteran of many years' ser- vice still serves the free-schools of the place. Spring township had an old school-house, located
136
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
near St. Peter's church, which was used for religious worship by the Lutheran congregation, previous to the erection of the old log church in 1816.
Carl's (Charles') school-house about one mile and a-half east of Elliottsburg, was used by a Lutheran congregation from 1837 to 1840. This house was situated on a lot of seventeen acres of land, donated in his will for school purposes, by Henry Ludolph Spark. Mr. Spark had a school- house erected on this tract, in which he taught school for many years. He died, and lies buried in an old grave-yard near by. After Mr. Spark's death, a Mr. Carl succeeded him, and administered school affairs for twenty years, with such success as to have his name given to the school-house, which should have been called Spark's.
This donation of seventeen acres of land was ex- pressly stated by Mr. Spark in his will, to be for a school-house and a school-teacher, but his idea of a school, with a teacher's home and gardens attached, has never been carried out in Little Germany (as this place came to be called).
The school-houses of Madison township were the ones mentioned in describing those of Saville and Sandy Hill, and the other at Center. These are believed to have been the oldest houses built for the purpose within the present limits of Madi- son township.
The brick building erected at Clark's for a graded and primary school, is a creditable structure for the purpose.
The oldest school-house in Toboyne township,
137
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
as described by one who saw and went to school in it, was situated about twenty rods from Esquire Joshua Rowe's dwelling house. It was covered with clap-boards, had slat benches and writing- boards, and a wooden chimney. It had two win- dows, which emitted light through greased paper. The ceiling was made by laying poles across, close together, and then plastering on the top of them. The floor was made of split logs, fitted together by hewing the edges.
This, at that time, was the nearest approach from the East of a school-house to the Round Top Mountain.
Toboyne township is now pretty well supplied with school-houses, and manifests considerable in- terest in educational affairs.
New Germantown has a graded school, the only one in the township.
In Juniata township there is an old school-house at Markelville, which doubtless served the early settlers of that neighborhood. Markelville main- tained quite a creditable school, without missing a session for nearly twelve years after Rev. A. R. Height's opened its first summer session.
The school was continued during Superintendent Height's term of office, in a building improvised for the purpose. Markelville Academy building was erected by Mr. George Markel. The school continued in this building after Mr. Markel's de- cease, but it soon became apparent that with his death the educational project lost its mainspring. After Rev. Height's term of office expired, he left
138
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
the county, and was succeeded by Rev. Geo. Rea, Profs. Geo. W. Leisher, C. W. Super, and Mr. Alexander Stephens.
Juniata township has a proud array of young men of the present generation, who started as teachers in her public schools. Of these I cannot speak in other than general terms here, except of one, in whom many bright hopes centered, and of whom much was reasonably expected.
John Jones, jr., was born in Juniata township, near Milford, of highly respected parentage. He received a common-school preparation for the business of teaching, which he began in his seventeenth year, and continued during the annual four-months' term, until the winter of 1861 and '62.
In the spring of 1860, the writer of this sketch first became acquainted with young Jones, at Bloomfield Academy. Entering as farmerboys and strangers at the same time, we were soon fast friends. John was soon the acknowledged champion of the school ; possessed of great muscular agility and power, he was always on the winner's side in the athletic games. His mind was as vigorous as his body, and proportionably powerful. He had a retentive memory, but his crowning intellectual development was his reasoning faculty. He con- tinued his studies at Bloomfield Academy during the summer sessions of 1,860 and 1861. He en- tered Iron City Commercial College in the fall of 1861 ; graduated and returned home, where he remained during the remainder of the winter. In the spring of 1862, he entered the law office of Hon.
139
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
B. F. Junkin, where he pursued the study of law until August, when he entered the Army of the Po- tomac, and served nine months in company G, 133d Pennsylvania regiment. In 1864, he served six months in Captain Frederick's company as sergeant, and, upon a recruiting officer of the Ninth Pennsyl- vania Regiment appearing in their midst and ask- ing such as were willing to re-enlist to step out of the ranks, sixteen men said, "If our sergeant goes we will go!" whereupon Jones, under that religious conviction of duty which he never disobeyed, stepped out, and became a soldier of his country for three years longer. For a young man he possess- ed large and varied attainments, and his poems, "The Old Chestnut Tree," and "Our Country," show sufficiently his original merit. They were written in less than six months from the time he rhymed his first stanza.
A single stanza, the first from "Our Country," will give the reader an opportunity to judge of his versification :
" When maddened frenzy leads the van And reason holds no sway, It makes a demon out of man, And darkness out of day."
John Jones was killed at Solemn Grove, North Carolina, March 10, 1865. He has left a record for patriotism characteristic of the man. He, the young, the talented, the noble, the brave, died that his country might live. Cherished be his memory !
One of Juniata township's old school-houses is in ruins on a place owned by Mr. Myers ; another was near Milford, and a third is probably still standing,
140
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
and, from the shape of its walls, is known as eight square.
Oliver township had three school-houses, some years ago, that were probably the first within her borders. Earlier educational advantages were af- forded at the Myers and Milford schools in Juniata, to which this township originally belonged.
Some of the present school-houses in Center township were the original ones in the neighbor- hoods where they are found.
We have no authentic account of the first school-houses, other than that they were very few and far between.
Sutch's school-house, in Carroll township, was located on the south-east bank of Sherman's creek. The spot on which this house stood was consecrated anew by the erection of Mount Pisgah Evangelical Lutheran church on it. This school- house was erected some time between 1775 and 1780. It was the first school-house in Pisgah Val- ley, and, like Reiber's, built twenty or twenty-five years later, intended to serve the double purpose of church and school-house.
Of the other school-houses we have no other data than the fact that several of those now in use bear the impress of antiquity.
Wheatfield township has built new school- houses, which are all removed from the sites of the old ones. The old foundation of one might have .been seen but a few years ago near Esquire Pot- ter's; Center was another, and Fio used as a preaching place by the Lutheran congregation, who
.
14I
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
have since built " St. David's church," until 1845. Religious meetings are held in the school-houses of nearly all the townships in the county.
In many localities, for want of churches, this cannot be avoided ; but wherever it can they should not be used for this purpose during the time that the schools are in session.
A remarkable instance of wise legislation in re- sponse to the petitions of the people, is seen in the act passed in 1831, which provided for the appoint- ment of trustees of the public school-house in the town of Landisburg, Perry county, and gave them power to examine teachers for said school, to visit the same once a month, and to dismiss the teacher for misconduct, want of capacity, and negligence. -Sypher's Pennsylvania History.
From the county auditors' report for 1831, we learn that $171.1712 cents were expended by the county in instructing poor children. This amount, compared with $35,397.69, the amount levied and collected by taxation to support her schools in 1870, sufficiently indicates the progress that has been made in the thirty-nine intervening years, and with all this we seem to have progressed but slowly.
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