USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations, portraits and sketches of prominent families and individuals > Part 35
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SCHOOLS OF WELLSBORO.
The early citizens and residents of Wellsboro took a lively interest in the cause of education. While there were but few children to be instructed they were given lessons at home or by a volunteer teacher; but as soon as the pioneers had provided for their immediate physi- cal wants they made a grand effort and secured the incorporation of an academy in their midst, receiving an appropriation from the State. This was as early as 1817. It was the design of the originators of this project that the academy should have a primary as well as a higher department; the idea of grading schools therefore is not altogether a modern one. This we are told by those who know what were the objects of Judge Morris, Justus Dartt and others concerned in the incorporation. They wished to establish in the wilderness of northern Penn- sylvania an institution of learning where their children could be instructed in the primary as well as the higher branches; and as Wellsboro was the county seat it was deemed best to locate it there, even if those living in the surrounding country were deprived, by reason of their remoteness, of the benefits of its primary department. The academy proved of great service to the people of Wellsboro, and some of its teachers became prominent and distinguished citizens, as well as many of the pupils. James Lowrey was the first teacher, a gentleman of scholastic attainments, who became a distinguished mem- ber of the Tioga county bar. Among the other prin- cipals or teachers we recall the names of Josiah Emery, Rev. B. Shipman, Charles Nash, Erastus P. Deane, Marenus M. Allen and William A. Stone. About ten years ago the academy was consolidated with the union free graded school of Wellsboro, and the building has
Recently a large cigar manufactory has been established, For several years (about 1813-16) before the academy was ready for occupation the Quaker log meeting-house was used for a district or common school, and some- which employs more persons than any other manufact- uring establishment in the borough. It made from July 16th 1881 to January Ist 1882 666,925 cigars, and paid times scholars were instructed at the homes of the a tax of $1,729.35. The people of Wellsboro and vicinity teachers. Among the early teachers were Chauncey Al- ford, Lydia Cole and Benjamin B. Smith. Thus school affairs were conducted until 1834, when the common school law was passed. It was generally approved. are becoming awakened to the necessity of fostering in- dustrial establishments, and in the course of a few months a number of manufacturing enterprises will, it is con- fidently expected, be inaugurated. The village has ar- A school convention was held in the court-house No- vember 5th 1834, which chose Chauncey Alford presi- dent and Josiah Emery secretary. The county commis- sioners-Amariah Hammond, Chauncey Alford and George Knox-were present. The delegates were as follows: From Brookfield, Jonathan Bonney; Chatham, Henry Eaton; Charleston, Cyrus Dartt; Covington town. ship, Avery Gillett; Covington borough, John Gray; rived at a point where it is financially enabled to under- take manufacturing upon a solid and substantial basis, and the completion of the Jersey Shore, Pine Creek and Buffalo Railway, to connect with the Corning, Cowan- esque and Antrim Railroad at Stokesdale, will encourage the citizens to engage more extensively in manufacturing, with this increased facility for marketing their products in the central, eastern and southern portions of the State. Deerfield, James Knox; Farmington, Jonathan Sorber; The farmers and business men generally begin to realize Jackson, Norman Wells; Lawrence, Buel Baldwin; Lib- erty, John Lovegood; Mansfield, William B. Mann; Mid- dlebury, Israel P. Kinney; Morris, Charles Duffy; Rut- that they are paying out annually hundreds of thousands of dollars for agricultural implements, wagons, sleighs,
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WELLSBORO SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
land, Peter Backer; Shippen, George Huyler; Sullivan, David Hazzard; Tioga, Joseph W. Guernsey; Union, Charles O. Spencer; Westfield, Samuel Baker; Wells- boro, Josiah Emery. Delmar and Elkland were not rep- resented. The question of levying a tax for the support of common schools was decided in the affirmative-yeas 23, nays o, Sixteen voted for raising $3,000, and seven for various other sums. The sum of $3,000 was author- ized to be levied and collected. Proceedings in relation to holding elections for school officers of the various townships were had, and the convention adjourned.
The citizens of Wellsboro, governed by the action of the convention, took measures to elect a school board. board purchased a lot, and finally erected a building The first board consisted of John F. Donaldson, Levi I. Nichols, Josiah Emery, J. Brewster, David Caldwell and Ellis M. Bodine. At a meeting of the board March 2nd 1835 Mr. Bodine was elected president, and Mr. Nichols secretary. March 11th 1835 David Caldwell, Josiah Emery and James Kimball were chosen a building com- mittee, it having been agreed that the directors raise a sum of money by subscription for building a school- house. The subscription paper reads thus:
" We the undersigned promise to pay to Jonah Brewster, David Caldwell, E. M. Bodine, J. F. Donaldson, L. I. Nichols and Josiah Emery the several sums affixed to our names, for the purpose of erecting a school-house in the borough of Wellsboro; said house to belong to the sub- scribers, in the proportion of the sums subscribed, but to be under the control of the school directors for the year to come, to be let for the purpose of a school, at a reason- able rate. And we hereby agree to sell to the said bor- ough the house after its completion, at the first cost, should the directors pass a vote at a legal school meeting to purchase the same. The house is to be placed as near the center of the town as circumstances will admit, to be finished as soon as convenient, and the said sums of money payable on demand."
Erastus P. Deane was employed to take charge of the school for five months from November 20th 1835, at $16 per month. The next year he was again employed. He agreed to commence the school November 7th 1836 and continue five months, for the sum of $28 per month; was to board himself and " be to the expense of firewood and chopping the same." The same year Miss Mary P. Nichols was employed to teach twelve or sixteen weeks for $3 per week, finding 'her own room, firewood and board. Such was the commencement of the free school system in Wellsboro.
One of the early taxes levied for school purposes was fixed at one third of one per cent. The highest tax lev- ied was against Samuel W. Morris, $6.54. William Bache's tax was then $1.98. J. N. Bache, Laugher Bache and A. P. Cone were each taxed 17 cents. Wil- liam Bache's school tax for 1875, forty years afterward, was $225.
March 7th 1860 the school district purchased of Laugher Bache the lot on the east corner of Pearl and Norris streets, and soon after erected thereon the school building known as the primary building. During the years 1869 and 1870 proceedings were had by which the academy property was turned over to the school district,
and in the fall of 1870 Professor A. C. Winters was em- ployed to teach, at a salary of $1,600 per year, and three assistants were also employed. In 1871 eight teachers were employed and 477 pupils attended the school. In 1872 there were eight teachers and 491 pupils, and in 1873 eight teachers and 530 pupils.
By this time it became apparent to the people of Wellsboro that an additional building should be erected. Public meetings were held in the court-house, and speakers urged upon the school board the necessity of some action. Public sentiment was completely aroused, and in accordance with popular expression the school thereon which cost, with the furnishing, $33,500. It is on what is generally known as the St. Louis plan, and consists of a central high school building with primary schools about it, each to accommodate 200 pupils,
At the dedication of the central high school building, August 20th 1875, addresses were made by Rev. N. L. Reynolds, James H. Bosard, Judge H. W. Williams, Rev. J. F. Calkins, Judge Stephen F. Wilson, Hon. J. B. Niles, Rev. Dr. Charles Breck and others. A letter was read from Professor F. A. Allen, regretting his inability to be present and congratulating the citizens of Wellsboro on the auspicious event. The school board under whose administration this building was erected and completed consisted of John W. Bailey (president), William Bache (treasurer), James H. Bosard (secretary), Jerome B. Pot- ter, Hugh Young, Chester Robinson and J. B. Niles.
Over 500 scholars are now receiving instruction in the graded schools of the borough, with advantages sur- passed in no other town of the same size in the State, with ample school room, and all the necessary appliances and apparatus, under an efficient corps of skilled and ex- perienced teachers. The present faculty consists of Professor H. E. Raesley, principal; Miss Susan R. Hart, preceptress; Miss Sarah I. Lewis, first grammar; Frank A. Rowland, second grammar; Miss Myra M. Davis, first intermediate; Miss Hattie Morgan, second inter- mediate; Miss M. Louise Jones, primary, assisted by Miss Stella Cook.
The school board consists of George W. Merrick (president), L. Harrison (secretary, J. M. Robinson (treasurer), Morgan L. Bacon, Charles W. Sears, Frank R. Fischler and Isaac M. Bodine.
CHURCHES OF WELLSBORO.
The Society of Friends .- Benjamin Wistar Morris, the founder and original proprietor of Wellsboro, was a member of the Society of Friends, and the first religious services held within the limits of Wellsboro were under their management. The first building for religious meet- ings was erected by Mr. Morris, and stood opposite the public square on the north side of the street, near where the old office of Henry Sherwood & Son now stands. It was of logs, which were hewed on one side and dove- tailed at the corners. Mr. Morris, assisted by his wife Mary Wells Morris (the first female resident of Wells- boro), held services there many years. But after a time,
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
as most of the new settlers were not of the Quaker faith, the services died out, the society being specially weakened by the death of Mrs. Morris, November 6th 1819. The old log church, however, remained for several years after her death and was used for various purposes.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- In 1801 or 1802 Rev. Caleb Boyer and family, from Delaware, together with several other families, settled in the present township of Delmar, near Wellsboro. Mr. Boyer was one of the fif- teen ordained ministers of the Methodist Episcopal church then in North America. He did the first preach- ing in Wellsboro and vicinity, and probably in Tioga county, that of Mr. Morris, the Quaker, excepted.
In 1820 Wellsboro was in the old Tioga circuit, which embraced all the territory within the limits of the Troy district and something more. Rev. Hiram G. Warner in that year formed the first class, and was assisted the first year by the Rev. Mr. Moore, and the second year by Rev. Caleb Kendall. The meetings were held in the log court-house, which stood nearly on the same ground as the present court-house, and subsequently in a school- house or the academy. Among the members of the first class were William Bache sen., Mrs. Pamelia Coolidge, Captain Israel Greenleaf (a Revolutionary soldier), Israel Kelsey, Mr. and Mrs. Kilbourn, and Hannah Cole.
In 1839-40 Rev. Robert T. Hancock raised $2,000 by subscription toward building a church. His successor, Rev. I. K. Tuttle, left the church enterprise in an ad- vanced state, and was followed by Rev. Philo Tower, who carried forward the building to completion, and the new edifice was dedicated by Rev. William R. Babcock, presiding elder of the district, May 21st 1842; it cost $3,000. The church increased in strength, and a par- sonage was soon afterward erected, Rev. D. B. Lawson, the minister in charge, doing work on it to the amount of nearly $100-a very common occurrence then, and not without a parallel now.
In 1850 many conversions and additions to the mem- bership of the church occurred, under the pastorate of Rev. C. Nash. Rev. W. C. Mattison succeeded Mr. Nash, and the interest in church affairs were kept up during the year.
In 1867 Rev. O. L. Gibson was appointed to the charge. As debts had accumulated against the church during the war, a subscription paper was circulated by Isaac Sears, and so liberally signed that the debt of $1,ooo was pro- vided for and $200 left to repair the church. The first Sunday the church was used after these improvements was November 17th 1867. While the services were being held it was discovered to be on fire, and in spite of the utmost exertions of the people it burnt to the ground. This was a sad blow, but fortunately Mr. Gibson, who had been assisting in holding revival meetings for two or three weeks and was presented with $25, generously refused its acceptance unless enough should be added to secure a policy of insurance to the amount of $2,500. This was done, and that amount, secured to the church, served as a nucleus around which to gather funds for a new edifice. Through the persistent labors of the pastor
and members, aided by a generous outside support, a beautiful brick building, costing $25,000, the best in this section of the conference, was completed, and November 17th 1869 (two years to a day from the time of the burn- ing) was dedicated by Rev. K. P. Jervis. Mr. Gibson was no less successful in the spiritual work of his charge than in church building.
The ministers in charge since the last named have been Revs. W. M. Henry, Thomas Stacey, D. D. Buck, K. P. Jervis, and the present pastor, Rev. E. H. Latimer, who is in the third year of his pastorate at Wellsboro.
The church has recently been supplied with new fur- naces, carpets and cushions, and frescoed. It will seat comfortably about 600. The present membership is 277. The trustees are R. C. Cox, Charles Toles (treasurer), Ira Johnston (president), C. W. Sears and C. F. Veile (secretary).
Connected with the church is a very interesting Sun- day-school of 175 scholars, with 19 teachers and officers. The library contains 547 volumes. Henry C. Cox is the librarian.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church .- The parish register in- forms us that the Rev. Charles Breck, then in deacon's orders, arrived at Wellsboro on Tuesday the 21st of Au- gust 1838, and the following Sunday officiated in the first Episcopal service held in Tioga county. This ser- vice was held in the court-house, for no place of worship had then been erected in Wellsboro. Mr. Breck's advent was brought about thus: The lack of religious services led the citizens to the calling of a public meeting, and the question was raised to whom they should apply for a minister. The choice was between the Presbyterians and the Episcopalians, and the meeting decided in favor of the latter. Steps were at once taken to obtain a clergyman. James Lowrey and Joshua Sweet were ap- pointed a committee to carry out the wishes of the meet- ing. Being ignorant of diocese boundaries, the commit- tee addressed their first application to Rev. Richard Smith, then officiating at Elmira, who informed them that as they belonged to the diocese of Pennsylvania they should apply to Bishop Onderdonk, of Philadelphia. Mr. Sweet accordingly wrote to the bishop, who trans- mitted the letter to Mr. Breck, then a student in the General Theological Seminary, New York.
The second Sunday after Mr. Breck's arrival he was met at the door of the court-house by a deputy sheriff, who informed him that religious services could not be held there. He therefore withdrew to the school-house in the rear of the present church, and officiated there for a short time, until the upper part of the academy was pre- pared with a vestry room, desks, seats and a small organ, kindly lent for the use of the congregation by Levi I. Nichols. On visiting the inhabitants of the village and immediate neighborhood Mr. Breck failed to find a single communicant. In the village there were but four or five professed Christians. The church of course labored under great disadvantages from the fact that the people were nearly all ignorant of the Episcopal liturgy and offices.
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EPISCOPAL AND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES, WELLSBORO.
October 30th 1838, about two months after Mr. Breck's arrival, a meeting was held at the office of James Lowrey and a parish was organized, by the adoption of the form of charter recommended by the convention of the diocese. At the same time and place wardens and vestrymen were elected, viz .: Benjamin B. Smith, Levi I. Nichols, Otis L. Gibson, Joshua Sweet (afterward a clergyman of the church), James Lowrey and John L. Robinson. On ap- plication to the Legislature the parish was duly incor- porated under the name of the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Paul's Church, Wellsboro.
On the 15th of April 1839 the corner stone of a church was laid, and on the first of the following December the church was occupied for the first time as a place of wor- ship. It was consecrated on the 12th of September 1841, Bishop Onderdonk officiating. The entire cost was about $3,000. The organ, blinds and chairs cost about $400. Galleries were afterward erected, at an ex- pense of $667. Including the cost of the bell the sum total for completing the church edifice, furnishing, etc., was about $4,065.
Mr. Breck remained the rector for ten years, and speaks warmly of the efficiency of the Ladies' Circle of Industry. At the termination of his connection with the parish the names of the vestrymen were James Lowrey, Samuel Dickinson, William Bache, and James P. Magill, and of the wardens Otis L. Gibson and John L. Robin- son. During the rectorship of Mr. Breck the late Judge Samuel W. Morris generously donated to the parish the site of the present rectory. The number of communi- cants at the time of Mr. Breck's resignation was 90. Of these 12 were originally Episcopalians, 8 came from the Methodists, 15 from the Quakers, 31 from the Presbyter- ians, 10 from the Congregationalists, 8 from the Baptists, and 6 from the Unitarians. The Sunday-schools Mr. Breck himself took charge of. There were three, num- bering 150 scholars.
In 1848, Mr. Breck having resigned, the Rev. A. A. Marple was called by the vestry and took charge of the parish October ist. The rectory was built in 1850 and occupied in July of that year; it cost $1,300. After a ministry of more than fourteen years Mr. Marple resign- ed and removed from Wellsboro in 1863.
Between the years 1863 and 1872 the parish was in charge of Revs. George H. Jenks, Henry J. Van Allen, J. B. Calhoun, John A. Bowman and S. K. Karcher. At the earnest solicitation of the parish the Rev. Charles Breck, D. D., returned and took charge in December 1872. During the year 1873 the old rectory was sold and removed and a new one erected, at a cost of $7,000. Sheds at the church were put up and a new bell pur- chased. This church was the pioneer of its denomina- tion in Tioga county, and its influence has extended over a wide extent of territory in northern Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the commonwealth. Dr. Breck is the pres- ent rector, fatherly, kindly, churchly, full of good acts and deeds as when, 44 years ago, a young man in dea- con's orders, he came to Wellsboro and founded the church in a mere hamlet in the wilderness. A. F. Barnes
is senior warden, and D. H. Belcher junior warden. Connected with the church is a very interesting Sunday- school of about one hundred scholars, over which the rector presides, assisted by a corps of 10 teachers. Wil- liam Shearer is the organist. The library contains about 400 volumes.
Presbyterian Church .- The Presbyterian church of Wellsboro was organized February rith 1843. Rev. Thomas Forster, of Harrisburg, supplied the pulpit a year, gathering a membership at Wellsboro and Pine Creek of thirty members. He was the son of the late General John Forster of Harrisburg, one of the prominent citi- zens of that city and a member of Market Square Pres- byterian Church. Thomas Forster was received into that church on profession of faith September 4th 1834. He was a graduate of Dickinson College. Carlisle, Pa., and at the solicitation of his father he studied law under a Mr. Chauncey of Philadelphia. He, however, deter- mined to enter the ministry, and went with Rev. Dr. Ezra S. Ely to the colony and college he projected in Missouri; but, not finding it what he wanted, came back to the Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny, and finished his studies under Dr. Elliott in the class of 1836. Rev. J. F. Calkins came directly from Auburn (N. Y.) Theo- logical Seminary in May 1844, became the pastor of this church in the following September, and continued such for over thirty years.
The congregation worshiped nine years in the court- house, and in 1853 built and in 1854 dedicated the church in which it has since met. In 1872 the church was enlarged and otherwise improved, at an expense of $4,000.
The first elders were S. P. Scoville, Chauncey Austin and W. W. McDougall. " All these died in faith." Prof. E. J. Hamilton was ordained elder in 1848, and with his predecessors is remembered gratefully by those that re- main.
The Rev. Dr. A. C. Shaw assumed the pastorate in March 1880, and is a minister of rare ability.
Since the organization of the church there have been received over 400 members. The present membership is about 225. The session consists of Samuel E. Ens- worth, H. W. Williams, James Forsythe, Alexander Pol- lock sen., Thomas Allen and C. G. Osgood.
The church has always maintained a well ordered Sunday-school, under an efficient board of officers and faithful teachers. The Sunday-school library contains 1,450 volumes, and supplies reading not only for the children but also for adult members of the church. Andrew G. Sturrock is librarian, C. G. Osgood is the su- perintendent, and Mrs. Osgood the organist. The school is supplied with maps, charts and other appliances for the study and illustration of the Scriptures. Hon. H. W. Williams takes a lively interest in the school and church, and great pleasure in giving advice and instruc- tion. There are now 245 scholars, 15 teachers and 6 officers. A fund of Sioo is annually set apart to pur- chase books for the library, $60 for papers, charts, etc., and $43 for missions.
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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church .- St. John's Catho- lic Society was organized by Bishop O'Hara, of Scran- ton, in August 1873. It was a mission and was supplied by Rev. Fathers Wynne and McDermott, of Blossburg. In 1873 it had 75 members. It held its services monthly, at first in Converse Hall. The congregation and mem- bership increasing, in 1879 Rev. John C. McDermott was located in Wellsboro, and the title of St. Peter's was given to the church. During the year 1881 the old academy and lot were purchased and the academy build- ing remodeled so as to accommodate the wants of the church, at a cost of about $1,200. A parsonage was bought for $1,000, which has been repaired at consider- able expense. Several church festivals have been held, and through the untiring energy and good management of Father McDermott the whole property is paid for and the church is out of debt. There are now about 200 communicants. The church and parsonage occupy a pleasant and commanding site on Academy Hill, one of the most desirable locations in the borough. In ad- dition to the ministerial work at Wellsboro, Father Mc- Dermott attends the churches at Antrim and Tioga, and at the latter place he has within the past eighteen months erected a church at a cost of about $3,000.
A well conducted Sunday-school is connected with the church at Wellsboro, consisting of about 25 scholars, with Miss Lizzie Connelly as chief teacher.
Father McDermott is a gentleman of culture and re- finement, and an indefatigable worker in the affairs of the church.
THE PRESS OF WELLSBORO.
In 1824 Ellis Lewis and Rankin Lewis commenced the publication of the Pioneer. This we believe was the first newspaper published in the county. The citizens of Wellsboro were highly elated at first, but failed to make it a successful enterprise, and the press and material were sold to Elisha Booth and by him moved to Tioga, the citizens of that rival town subscribing for the purchase money.
This aroused the people of Wellsboro to a sense of their loss, and in 1827 Benjamin B. Smith commenced the publication of the Phoenix, which was more success-
First Baptist Church .- On Thursday evening March 19th 1868 Rev. N. L. Reynolds preached in Bunnell's Hall, Wellsboro. After the sermon 27 persons united in establishing the First Baptist Church of Wellsboro. The ful, the citizens having learned the necessity of maintain- usual articles of faith and church covenant were adopted. ing a newspaper at the county seat. It was conducted with ability four or five years; its publication then ceas- ed, but was resumed by B. B. Smith and Charles Coolidge in 1833. In 1834 it passed into the hands of John F. Donaldson, who had been employed in the office since 1827. Mr. Donaldson published it two years, and then sold to Josiah Emery and one Corey. The paper was issued by them until the summer of 1838, when it was sold to Mr. Hartman, who changed the name to the Her- ald. Mr. Hartman died about two years later, and the establishment passed into the hands of Howe & Rumsey. In 1847 George Hildreth published the Herald, the prop- erty of the office having passed into the hands of a stock company. The Herald was Whig in politics. The church was recognized by a council of sister churches July 29th 1868, Rev. J. J. Keys, of Elmira, preaching the sermon. Rev. W. A. Smith, of New Jersey, was chosen pastor. In the course of a year he was followed by Rev. S. M. Brockman as a supply, and his successor was Rev. C. A. Storr. In May 1871 Rev. N. L. Reynolds became pastor. He remained for seven or eight years, an earnest and efficient minister. Since Mr. Reynolds Rev. Isaac C. Houd, and Rev. Messrs. Millis, Vandorn and Morrell (the present pastor) have labored here. The church now has about 150 members. The deacons are James Playfoot and E. H. Hastings; clerk, N. T. Chandler. Connected with the church is a Sunday-school of 150 pupils, with N. T. Chandler super- intendent, assisted by twelve teachers.
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