History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 165

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438

USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 165
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 165
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 165

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The first teachers in the borough of Strouds- burg were Nathaniel and Mary Waters. Mr. Gummere (the author of Gummere's Surveying), his brother-in-law, Mr. Mc Vaugh, Dr. Herring and a number of others were teachers at either the old log school-house or the school held in the stone building.

At Hamilton Square, in Hamilton township, a school was in successful operation about the year 1800. The building in which it was held was also a log structure.

About the same time a school was organized

in Middle Smithfield, under the direction of the Coolbaughs and Overfields, in an old log dwell- ing-house. Pupils came to this, as to the other early schools, from a distance of five or six miles.

In Chestnut Hill township, the first sehool- house was built at Pleasant Valley about 1810. It was a double house, and the teacher and his family lived in one-half, while the school was held in the other. The first teacher is said to have been one Katz. He was succeeded by Frederick Stiner or Sthiner, a native of Ger- many, who taught about fifteen years, and then gave place to Isaac Grover. Instruction was given both in English and German. Another school was established at Keller's Mills, about the same time as the one at Pleasant Valley.

By 1810 or 1812 there were several schools within the limits of what became, in 1815, the borough of Stroudsburg. In 1816 the main school was moved from the building, which stood in Greene Street, to one on the same strect, on the opposite side of Main Street. For the building of this house four hundred dollars were appropriated by the State. The structure is still standing, though dilapidated and abandoned. It was used as the place for holding the principal school of the town, a " mixed " school until the academy was built, after which none but female pupils were receiv- ed there. The Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist congregations worshipped in this build- ing at various periods, before they secured other places of meeting.

The first school was organized in Pocono, about seventy years ago, in a spring-house, sit- uated in Tannersville, near where the upper ho- tel now is. The teacher for a long term of years was John Anglemouyer.

In Jackson the first school-house was built in 1827, at Jackson Corners. John D. Frailey, who lived to be upwards of ninety years of age, was the first teacher here. Another house was built in 1829 at Singerville, and a school was held in it by John Possinger. In both of these schools German, as well as English, was em- ployed as the medium of imparting instruction.

The first school in Ross township was a Ger- man school, taught by a Mr. Keener.

1 In 1877, Mr. B. F. Movey contributed to the State School Commissioners' Report an outline of the educational development of Monroe County, and that contribution forms the greater part of the chapter here given.

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

" In all, or nearly all, of these early schools," says Mr. Morey, " instruction was imparted in but few branches, and in some cases it was thought sufficient for the girls if they learned to read. In the western part of the county the schools were either entirely taught in German, or at best in German and English. The schools were entirely supported by subscription, and

sary for the pupils to travel a distance of four or five miles, owing to the fact that in a few districts the people live quite distant from one another. Although all the districts have not complied with the terms of the school law in the past, yet this year (1877) all will, I be- lieve, have five months school." In 1884 the condition of the schools was as follows :

SCHOLARS.

RECEIPTS.

DISTRICTS.

Schools.

Teachers.

Number of males.

Number of females.

Total amount of tax.

State appropriation.

Total receipts.

Total expenditures.

1. Barrett.

126

117

$840.57

$215.04

$862.04

$1,017.05

2. Chestnut Hill

262

215

1,554.64

291.84

1,959.01

1,893.16

3. Coolbaugh.

162

141

700.35

207.36

945.31

1,286.12

4. Eldred.

127

: 714.74

200.71

921.25

954.01

5. Hamilton

280

195

2,341.96

407.81

2,711.45

6. Jackson

117

112

1,055.29

157.19

1,326.53

1,341.97

7. Paradise.

367.45

145.92

594.19

542:43

8. Pocono

135

136

777.63

202.75

1,070.88

974.82

9. Polk.

164

140

1,079.05

220.40

1,299.45

1,237.30

10. Price.

182.00

116.98

202.82

11. Rose.

115

573.98

158.21

651.48

717.91

12. Smithfield

207

187

2,637.01

327.93

2,735.32

3,195.56

13. Smithfield, M.

111

117

1,206.70

281.86

1,651.29

1,655.96

14. Stroud.

246

178

2,148.21

312.57

3,415.66

3,107.18

15. Stroudsburg

133

128

3,968.42

453.12

15,156.53

7,310.76

16. Stroudsburg, E ...

132

147

1,070.59

214.27

1,478.15

1,470.05

17. Tobyhanna. .

577.19

157.44

835.50

808.48

18. Tunkhannock

280.48

73.73

370.49

547.42

19. Union (Ind.).

218.79

55.30

448.39

285.31

135

139

2,601

2,224

$22,295.05

$4,083.45

$38,549.90

$31,259.76

but very few poor children were returned. No schools were founded by churches, or in the in- terest of any denomination. The school term was in most cases but three months.

"Since 1844," continues the gentleman from whom we have quoted, "the growth of the school system in this county has not been as great as it should have been. Although all of the districts have accepted the terms of the act of Assembly, establishing common schools; yet, unless the State will give more aid to the poorer districts, the results, for some time to come, cannot be much greater. Some of the districts had no schools before this period, but now all the children of the county have school advan- tages. In some distant localities it is yet neces-

Concerning teachers, County School Superin- tendent A. A. Dinsmore, in his report for 1884, says,-

"Considered as a whole, the corps of teachers for this year has been the most satisfactory in my ex- perience. There has been more zealous, earnest work, more inquiries after new and improved methods of instruction, and our teachers are becoming more generally interested in school literature, a majority of them being subscribers for weekly or monthly journals. We have one hundred and thirty-four teachers, of whom there are ninety-four males and forty females. Of the whole number, thirty-six had no previous experience, while but forty-five had taught more than five years. Our old teachers are steadily dropping out, but we are getting some ex- cellent material in their places. The salaries were increased in some districts, but still they are so low

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MONROE COUNTY.

that our 'teachers have little to prompt them to do good work, but a sense of duty and a desire to be useful."

ACADEMIES .- Under the provisions of an act, an academy was built at Stroudsburg many years ago to serve Monroe County as a higher educational institution. A dispute as to the part of the town in which the building should be located was turned to good advantage. Some of the citizens were in favor of building the academy on a hill on the north side of the town, while the rest were inclined to favor the level tract at the base of the hill. A vote for trustees was taken, each voter paying five dollars, and it resulted in favor of building on the hill, which was then called Academy Hill-a name which still clings to it. In this way funds were raised for building. Some of the citizens took such a deep interest in the success of their favorite location as to pay the required five dollars for such voters as were too poor to pay it for themselves. The amount furnished by the State was two thousand dollars, with which sum the building was erected.

Only one other academy was built in the county. In 1854 Rev. Mr. Howell, a Presby- terian minister, came to the Delaware Water Gap and succeeded in building a church there. He then conceived the idea of erecting an aead- emy at that place, and with characteristic energy, at once went to work, and in 1855 opened a school in the finest school building then in the county. In 1862 he sold the build- ing to Samuel Alsop (the author of several mathematical works), who conducted a school there for a short time -- less than a year-and then converted the building into a hotel.

An effort was made by Mr. Schoedler, a Ger- man Reformed clergyman, to establish a Normal School at Brodheadsville in 1870. He proposed to call it the Wickersham German- English Normal School. His effort failed, but an institute, which he hield there, resulted in much benefit to the teachers of the county. In 1874 another Normal School was projected, for which Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg were proposed, in turn, as locations, but the period being an mpropitious one, this effort, like Mr. Schoedler's, failed.

THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENCY. - In 1854, after the law had been passed creating the office of county superintendent, an election was held, which resulted in Hon. Charlton Burnett's receiving a plurality vote. The law, however, required a majority vote to clect, and Mr. Burnett not having this, an appointment became necessary, whereupon Mr. Curtin, then Secretary of State, appointed to the office C. S. Detrich. He served eight and three-quarter years, resigning in 1862. Hon. J. B. Storm was appointed to fill the vacancy and served until 1869. In that year R. W. Swink was elected, but the election having been contested, Jere Fruttchey was appointed by state superin- tendent Wickersham. He served six years, and during that period the salary of the office was fixed at one thousand dollars per year. In 1875 B. F. Morey was elected and served until September, 1877, when he resigned to take charge of the Stroudsburg schools, and A. A. Dinsmore was appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to fill the vacancy. He has held the office ever since and is the present incumbent. A curious fact concerning those who have filled the office in Monroe County is this : that all have been appointed at first ex- cept Mr. Morey.

CHAPTER V.

HISTORY OF THE REBELLION.

THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT (Fourth Re- serve) .- The companies comprising the Fourthi Regiment were recruited, one from cachi of the counties of Chester, Monroe, Montgomery, Ly- coming and Susquehanna. The companies were ordered to rendezvous at the camp at Easton. General McCall, who had been ap- pointed to command the division, visited the camp on the 14th of June, and gave orders for its voluntary organization. The following field officers were elected for the Fourth Regi- ment: Robert G. March, colonel; John F. Gaul, lieutenant-colonel ; and Robert M. Mc- Clure, major. The regiment was clothed and cquipped at the camp near Easton in July. It

1018

WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

was ordered to Harrisburg, encamping at Camp Curtin, where it remained until July 21, when, in compliance with orders from Washington, it moved to Baltimore and encamped at Carroll Hill, reporting to General Dix. A few days later it moved to Stewart's Mansion, on Balti- more Street, where it remained on duty until the last of August, when it was ordered to the gen- eral camp for the Reserves at Tenallytown. On the 1st of October, Colonel March resigned and was succeeded by Albert L. Magilton, lieutenant-colonel of the Second Reserves. Upon the organization of the division, the Fourth was assigned to the Second Brigade, commanded by General Mcadc. On the 9th of October the division broke camp at Tenally- town and encamped in line with the Army of the Potomac near Langley. In the brilliant little victory achieved at Dranesville on the 20th of December, the Second Brigade was held in reserve ; but, upon the opening of the fight, marched rapidly to its support, arriving too late, however, to be engaged. In the general inove- ment towards Manassas, in March, the Fourth moved to Hunter's Mills, returning to Alexan- dria, where it encamped and remained till or- dered to Catlett's Station. Upon the departure of Mcclellan for the Peninsula, the Reserves, constituting a part of the First Corps, were or- dered to concentrate at Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg. They were then detached from MeDowell's corps. They were ordered to pro- ceed to White House, on the Pamunky, and form a junction with McClellan's army. The Fonrth Regiment arrived at Mechanicsville, June 23d. On the 26th a severe battle was fought by the Reserves, on the line of Beaver Dam Creek, in which the enemy was repulsed with great slaughter. In this engagement the Fourth was held in reserve. The following day the rebel army, sixty thousand strong, attacked the single corps of Fitz-John Porter. In this cn- gagement McCall's division was held in reserve until afternoon, when it was ordered in. The Fourth Regiment, commanded by Colonel Ma- gilton, supported Duryea's Zonaves, and, driving the enemy from the woods, moved to the sup- port of Colonel Sickel, whose regiment was en- gaged in a bloody and terrific contest. Before

the Fourth conld come up the Third had re- pulsed the enemy, and Colonel Magilton was ordered to the extreme left. Soon after going into action there his reginient was over- whelmed, driven back, and becoming detached, was forced to cross the Chickahominy to Smith's division to escape being captured.

Retiring from the Chickahominy, the Army of the Potomac wended its way toward the James. At Charles City Cross-Roads the Reserves were drawn np across the New Market road to resist any attack from the direction of Richmond. On the 30th of June, the enemy having massed its forces in their immediate fronts, attacked at half-past two P.M. The fourth was posted in the front line, on the right, in support of Ran- dall's battery. Says General McCall, in his official report, " The most determined charge of the day was made upon Randall's battery by a full brigade with a wild recklessness that I never saw equaled. A somewhat similar charge had, as I have stated, been previously made on Cooper's and Kern's batteries by single regi- ments, without success, the rebels having been driven back with heavy loss. A like resnlt ap- pears to have been anticipated by Randall's company, and the Fonrth Regiment (as was subsequently reported to me) was requested not to advance between the guns, as I had ordered, as it interfered with the cannoneers, bnt to let the battery deal with them.

" Its gallant commander did not donbt, I am satisfied, his ability to repel the attack, and his guns fairly opened lanes in the advancing host ; but the enemy, unchecked, closed up his shat- tered ranks and came in. It was here," says McCall, "my fortune to witness, between those of my men who stood their ground and rebels who advanced, one of the fiercest bayonet fights that ever occurred upon this continent. I saw skulls crnshed by the heavy blow of the bntt of the mnsket, and, in short, the desperate thrusts and parries of a life and death encounter, proving, indeed, that Greek had met Greek, when the Alabama boy fell upon the son of Pennsyl- vania." The casualties in the Fourth Regiment, during the seven days of battle, were upwards of two hundred. From Malvern Hill the Re- serves marched with the army to Harrison's

1019

MONROE COUNTY.

Landing, until summoned to support Pope on the Rapidan. McCall having resigned, the com- mand was given to General John F. Reynolds, under whom it marched to the plains of Ma- nassas, and was engaged in the second battle of Bull Run. The loss in this to the Fourth was one killed and eleven wounded. The regiment next met the enemy at Sonth Mountain. Colonel Magilton assumed command of the Second Brigade; Major Nyce, that of the regi- ment. The Fourth lost in this engagement five men killed and twenty-five wounded.

From South Mountain the Reserves moved through Boonsboro', and, crossing Antietam Creek, opened the battle on the evening of the 16th of September, where the Fourth was in advance. The Fourth lost in this engagement five killed, forty wounded and missing. In the battle of Fredericksburg, which was fought December 13th, the Fourth participated and held the right of the second line. The Fourth lost in this engagement two killed, thirty-four wounded and four missing. Among the wound- ed was Lieutenant-Colonel Woolworth, com- manding the regiment. Soon after the battle of Fredericksburg, Colonel Magilton resigned, and Richard H. Woolworth, major of the Third Regiment, was promoted to fill the va- cancy. On the 8th of July, 1863, the Reserves were ordered to the defences of Washington to rest and recruit. Here the Fourth remained until the 6th of January, 1864, when, in com- pany with the Third, it was ordered to do duty in West Virginia. The Third was commanded by Major William Briner, the Fourth by Lieu- tenant-Colonel T. F. B. Tapper, the whole min- der Colonel Woolworth. The detachment per- formed picket duty from January 7th till the 28th. On the latter date it was ordered to take cars for transportation and was halted at New Creek. The exigency which ealled the Third and Fourth to this spot appeared to have passed, and they pitched their tents on the north branch of the Potomae. On the 10th of Feb- rnary the Third Regiment was transported to Martinsburg. The Fourth followed in a few days. In February the Fourth was moved to Kearneysville, on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- road, to perform picket duty, until March 27th,

when they were moved to Harper's Ferry, and performed picket duty at Harper's Ferry till April 3d. At that date the Third and Fourth were again sent westward to Grafton, two hun- dred miles from Harper's Ferry, and on the 22d of April started for Parkersburg, where they were transferred to steamboats down the Ohio to the mouth of the Great Kanawha, thence up the river to Brownstown. General George Crook had command of the troops con- centrating in the Kanawha Valley. Immedi- ately after landing at Brownstown, General Crook placed Colonel Sickel in command of the Third Brigade, composed of the Third and Fourth Reserves and the Eleventh and Fif- teenth West Virginia Regiments. The Fourth was commanded by Colonel P. H. Woolworth. On Saturday morning, April 30th, the Third Brigade started from Brownstown and marched up Kanawha Valley. On the morning of May 2d, the command started from Great Falls for the village of Fayette, the extreme out- post held by the Union forces ; the brigade of infantry and battery on duty there were added to General Crook's command. The design of the expedition was to strike the Virginia and Tennes- see Railroad at Wytheville and Dublin, destroy it and thus co-operate with the Army of the Potomac, cutting the main artery which fur- nished supplies for Lee's army. On the 6th of May the advance had a lively skirmish with the Sixtieth Virginia, at Princetown. During the next two days the command made a forced march, erossed the East River Mountain, passed through Rocky Gap, and moved through Walk- er's Valley. On the 8th Shannon's bridge was gained. On the morning of the 9th the command passed through the Gap. When the summit was gained the position of the enemy was discovered, an engagement took place and resulted in the rout of the enemy. The loss in this engagement was one hundred and seven killed, five hundred wounded and twenty mis- sing. The two Reserve regiments, numbering from five to six hundred, had from seventy-five to one hundred killed and wounded. Chaplain Pomeroy buried the remains of Colonel Wool- worth, who fell mortally wounded at the head of his regiment, underneath a loenst-tree, near

1020

WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

by the stream over which the regiment charged. Captain Lenhart was wounded early in the cn- gagement. On the morning of the 10th, Gen- eral Crook's command pushed on across New River. New River was crossed on the night of the 10th at Pepper's Ferry. On the 11th the command marched in the rain during the day and reached Blacksburg in the afternoon. On the following day the march was pursucd to the summit of Salt Pond Mountain. May 15, the command reached Union, county seat of Monroe County, and on the evening of the 16th, Greenbrier River. On the 19th of May the command halted at Beadow Bluff, in Fayette County. By the time it reached this point some of the men were suffering terribly from hunger, and no less than three hundred were without soles to their shoes. On May 22d, General Sickel's brigade was ordered to Millville, near Louisburg. While here, their term of service having expired, the Third and Fourth Regi- ments received orders to return to Pennsylvania, to be mustered out. Arriving at Philadelphia on Wednesday, June 8th, they were mustered out of service, the Fourth on the 17th of June.

THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT (Fourth Reserves), COMPANY F .- This company was mustered in June 11, 1861, and mustered out June 17, 1864.

Officers .- George B. Kellar, J. W. Shoemaker, Enoch S. C. Horn, Nathan C. Davis, John Nyce, John W. Burnett, George D. Hufford, John S. Hufford, Samuel R. Bossard, Anson R. Keller, Jacob Slutter, Michael F. Gaffey.

Privates .-- Peter J. Rupert, Josiah Smith, J. An- drew Haney, Philip Altemus, Andrew A. Neal, Thom- as A. H. Knox, Jacob T. Keller, Anthony Albert, Andrew Albert, Christopher Bogart, John H. Betz, Jerome Bender, T. A. D. Coleman, Joseph M. Cristal, Elias Compton, Aaron Culberson, Franklin Culber- son, B. F. Christman, Peter A. Gruber, Wm. W. Gor- den, Titus Harp, Florian Hille, Charles Hagerman, Augustus Kester, C. Krunkmocker, George W. Kess- ler, Andrew Learn, Paul Myers, Abraham B. Miller, Emanuel Miller, John McDermot, Christian Nahr, David Price, Mathias -, Ferdinand Renz, Charles Rust, Albert Schook, Stewart Schook, Thomas Serfass, Mathias P. Shafer, John Staley, Jonas Sitzer, John Shaffer, Henry B. Sitzer, George W. Sitzer, Jerome Sitzer, John Sober, William K. Tidd, Samuel Van Busskirk, Alfred Vanaken, Jas. S. White, Abel T. Wal- ratlı, George Woodling, William Walton, Henry M. Walrath, George Williams, George Wolfe, W. H.A. Wagner, William H. Warner, Joseph H. Weisse.

SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT .- On the 27th of July, 1861, John F. Staunton, of Philadel- phia, received authority from the Secretary of War to recruit a regiment. A camp was estab- lished at Camac's Woods, near the city, and re- cruiting was immediately commenced in various parts of the State. The first company was raised in Carbon County, and was mustered into the ser- vice on the 28th of August. Owing to the be- lief that widely prevailed that no more troops would be needed, the progress was slow, and the companies were not all in camp and the or- ganization perfected until the spring of 1862. The men were principally recruited from the counties of Monroe, Carbon, Wayne, Jefferson, Schuylkill, Indiana, Westmoreland, Luzerne, Northampton and Philadelphia.

The field and staff officers were John F. Staun- ton, colonel ; Horace B. Burnham, lieutenant- colonel ; Harry White, major ; John F. Young, adjutant; Thomas P. Parker, quartermaster ; Robert Barr, surgeon ; James W. Pettinos, as- sistant surgeon ; Edward C. Ambler, chaplain. Thomas F. Corson subsequently joined as as- sistant surgeon. On the 3d of April, 1862, the regiment moved by rail to Baltimore, and thence to Annapolis, Md., where it relieved the Elev- enth Pennsylvania. It was employed in guard- ing the Branch Railroad, in performing provost guard duty in the city, and special duties in different parts of Eastern Maryland. In Feb- ruary, 1863, the Sixty-seventh, numbering nine hundred men, proceeded to Harper's Ferry, doing guard duty for a few weeks. It was then trans- ferred to Berryville, where it formed the Third Brigade of General Milroy's command. The headquarters was at Winchester, and the force under him was charged with holding the rebels in check and protecting the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. "Late in March," says Milroy, in his official report, " in pursuance of an order issued upon my own suggestion, I stationed the Third Brigade of my division, consisting of the Sixth Regiment Maryland Volunteer Infantry, Sixty- seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, First Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry and the Baltimore Battery, at Berry- ville, Colonel McReynolds, of the First New York Cavalry, commanding. My instructions

1021

MONROE COUNTY.

to Colonel McReynolds were to keep open our communications with Harper's Ferry, and to watch the passes of the Blue Ridge, with the exception of expeditions across the Shenandoah for the purpose of breaking up the haunts of Mosby's men. Little of note occurred while herc.

" On the evening of Friday, the 12th of June, Colonel Staunton, who had been at Winchester, returned with the intelligence that the enemy in large force was moving down the valley, and was tlien but a few miles distant. Orders were soon received from General Milroy to hold the command in readiness to retire at a concerted signal, and reinforce him at Winchester. On Saturday morning, at a few minutes before eight o'clock, the cavalry patrol on the Front Royal road reported the enemy advancing in force.

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History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 165

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 1438

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438