History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 48

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 48
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 48
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 48

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1882 .- J. Howard Beach, president; W. N. Alberty, vice-president; Thos. J. Ham, secretary; James B. Eldred, treasurer.

1883 .- J. Howard Beach, president ; W. N. Alberty, vice-president ; Thos. J. Ham, secretary ; James B. Eldred, treasurer.

1884 .- J. Howard Beach, president; W. N. Alberty, vice-president ; Thos. J. Ham, secretary ; James B. Eldred, treasurer.

1885 .- J. Howard Beach, president; W. N. Alberty, vice-president ; Thos. J. Ham, secretary; James B. Eldred, treasurer.

1886 .- W. N. Alberty, president; Geo. E. Moase, vice-president ; N. F. Underwood, secretary ; J. M. Bauman, treasurer.

Many of those who have faithfully served the society in the capacity of directors are now in their graves. The association sustained an irreparable loss in the death of Samuel Allen, whose labors in its behalf were untiring. The minutes of the organization contain many de- served tributes to the memory of Messrs. Allen, Hamlin, Waller and others who were among its founders and active friends.

The society has a present membership of four hundred and fifty, holding eleven hundred and seventeen shares of stock.

In the opinion of the writer, the beneficial influence of this organization cannot be over- estimated. It is not too much, at all events, to assume that, to the degrec to which Wayne County farms and Wayne County stock are su- perior to those in localities with equal natural advantages, but remote from the stimulating influence of competitive exhibitions, is the Wayne County Agricultural Society to be

credited for the present prosperity of our farmers.

The following statistics, taken from the cen- sus reports of 1850 and 1880, tell their own story of Wayne County's advancement during the intervening period of thirty years. We may add, that never during that time was her pro- gress in the agricultural line so great as has been the case since 1880. This assertion will be amply corroborated by the statistics of the enumeration to be taken two years hence,-

WAYNE.

1850.

1880.

Improved land (acres).

59,569

173,285

Number of farms.

1,340

3,586

Value of farms. $2,188,166 $8,392,507

Value of farm implements and machinery

$103,046

$332,298

Number of horses.

1,603

5,544

Number of mules

Number of milch cows

3,963

14,199

Number of working oxen

2,276

1,572

Number of other cattle.

5,339

19,294

Number of sheep ..

10,963

19,543

Number of swine

3,535

7,734

Value of live-stock.

$381,536 $1,150,097

Wheat raised during year (bush.)

6,177

7,114

Rye raised during year (bush.) ...

27,285

34,764

Corn raised during year (bush.) ..

50,577

171,664

Oats raised during year (bush.) ..

96,094

278,985

Buckwheat raised during year

(bush.)

60,786

142,966

Wool (lbs.).

28,928

90,261

Potatoes (bush.)

130,338

310,792

Butter (lbs.)

391,814

1,423,753

Hay (tons).

25,380

64,616

It is estimated that not less than an average of five thousand head of cattle have been driven out of Wayne County yearly for several years past. Correspondingly large shipments are annually made to the city markets of butter, eggs, apples, potatoes, turnips, honey and other farm products.

The present officers of the Wayne County Agricultural Society are : President, W. N. Al- berty ; Vice-President, George E. Moase ; Sec- retary, Hon. N. F. Underwood ; treasurer, J. M. Bauman. Mr. Underwood has also for some years represented the society in the State Board of Agriculture. It is with a degree of, we hope, pardonable pride that we reproduce from the minutes of the last meeting for the election of officers, held February 22, 1886, the fol-

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WAYNE COUNTY.

lowing resolutions. Mr. Beach having posi- tively declined a re-election as president, and Mr. Ham having announced a similar deter- mination as to the office of secretary, on motion of Mr. Woodmansee, it was

"Resolved, That in consideration of the efficient and faithful services in the Chair of the retiring Presi- dent, J. Howard Beach, extending over a period of many years, he is entitled to the sincere thanks of this Board, and they are hereby tendered, and this action ordered to be spread upon the minutes of the Society."

And on motion of Mr. Beach it was unani- mously declared that,-

" WHEREAS, Thomas J. Ham has served the Wayne County Agricultural Society as Secretary to the entire satisfaction of the Board of Directors and of all the stockholders for the last twenty-two years, therefore be it

"Resolved, That in view of the eminent fitness and ability displayed by him for the position which he has so long filled, and the faithful manner in which he has performed the duties of his office, we deeply regret that he feels constrained through personal con- siderations and the press of other duties to decline the re-election unanimously tendered him.

"Resolved, That a vote of thanks be hereby tendered Mr. Ham, and that this action of the Board be spread upon the minutes of this Society and furnished the County papers for publication."

It remains only to be said, in conclusion, that the society is in excellent hands, and only re- quires the sincere and active support of the farmers of Wayne to insure for it in the future as successful and useful a career as it has had in the past.

WAYNE COUNTY FARMERS' INSTITUTE .- The first County Farmers' Institute ever held in Wayne County, or, as is believed, in Pennsyl- vania, was held at Honesdale, February 1 and 2, 1883. The subject of holding such institutes had been agitated to some extent in the State Board of Agriculture for a year or two previously, and while some of the members of that body favored the idea, it was not thought best by the majority of them that the board should undertake anything in that line. N. F. Underwood, then representing the Wayne County Agricultural Society in that body, thinking that something of the sort might be done, and some good accomplished for the

farming interests of the county, without outside assistance, conferred with a number of the leading and public-spirited farmers of various parts of the county, and found so many ready and willing to give the project their countenance and assistance, that it was agreed that a call should be issued, and an invitation extended to farmers and others who might feel interested, to meet at the date above-named. Among those most active in rendering assist- ance were E. K. Norton, of Clinton ; Hon. A. B. Gammell, of Bethany ; T. J. Crocker, of Damascus ; J. E. Woodmansee, of Buckingham ; C. E. Kilpatrick. of Preston ; J. T. Stocker, of Salem ; Hon. E. O. Hamlin, of Bethany ; and B. B. Smith, of Honesdale. The county papers rendered valuable assistance by printing the call for the meeting gratuitously, calling attention to the same editorially and publishing full re- ports of the proceedings. Among the papers read were, " Fruit Culture in Wayne County," by E. K. Norton ; " Thoroughbred Stock," by J. E. Woodmansee ; " Dairy Interests," by C. E. Kilpatrick ; " Root Crops," by A. B. Gammell ; etc. Spirited discussions followed the reading of the essays, and addresses were also made by Hon. E. O. Hamlin and Professor H. B. Lar- rabee. County Superintendent Hon. A. B. Gammell was chosen president, and R. M. Stocker, then register and recorder of the county, was elected secretary. The attendance was much better than had been anticipated, numbering on the second day at least one hun- dred, and all felt that the meeting was an un- qualified success.

It was resolved to hold a similar meeting in 1884, and a committee to arrange for the same was elected, as follows: N. F. Underwood, A. B. Gammell, E. K. Norton, J. Howard Beach, J. T. Stocker, P. W. Collins and J. E. Woodmansee.

The institute of 1884 met in Honesdale, in February. E. K. Norton was elected president and B. B. Smith and J. C. Birdsall, vice-presi- dents. C. E. Kilpatrick was chosen secretary. Essays were read as follows : " Fertilizers and Their Action," by Professor J. M. Dolph, prin- cipal of Honesdale schools ; " Chemical Constitu- ents of Plants," by Professor Henry A. Smith,

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

of Honesdale ; " Best Brecds of Sheep for Wayne County," by J. C. Birdsall, of Seeleyville ; " The Grazing Lands of Wayne County," by N. F. Underwood ; " Fruit Culture, Planting and Varieties," by T. J. Crocker ; " How shall we prevent the ravages of the bot-fly (Estrus Boris)? " by P. G. Goodrich, of Bethany. These and other subjects were fully discussed, and the question, "Can a farmer run in debt for a farm in Wayne County, and pay for it out of the proceeds of the same ?" brought out a great variety of opinions. The attendance at this meeting was good, though not quite equal to that of 1883. Again Wayne County took the lead, by the Farmers' Institute of 1884 naming the first Monday in May, of that year, to be observed as " Arbor Day" in said county. This antedated the proclamation of Governor Patti- son, who named April 17, 1885, as Arbor Day for the State, by one year, and we are gratified to be able to state that it was quite generally ob- served in the county, and that many hundreds of shade and ornamental trees are now growing which were planted on that day.

It was decided to hold another institute in 1885, and a committee was named to arrange for it, consisting mostly of the former committee, with Hon. A. B. Gammell as chairman. An effort was made to secure some outside lecturers. Major Alvord, of Houghton Farm, N. Y., was applied to to assist, and a day was named for the meeting. He could not come on that day, and the meeting was postponed one weck, or until February 8th. Again he was unable to come, and by this time the snow had become deep, and the traveling difficult, many of the roads being blockaded with drifts. Quite a goodly number, however, managed to get to the meeting, and as none came merely out of curiosity, the meeting was not second in interest to those previously held. N. F. Underwood was chosen chairman, and D. M. Eno and A. B. Gammell, vice- presidents. Theodore Day, of Dyberry, read an essay on " The Insect Enemies of the Apple- Tree." William Stephens, of Bethany, explained his method of rutabaga culture. The subject of public roads and road-making machinery was considered at some length, and this dis- cussion brought forth practical and profitable

fruits during the present season, by leading to the introduction through the county of quite a number of improved road-working machines whereby the roads have been greatly improved, at much less cost than by the old methods. Judge Henry M. Seely, of Honesdale, delivered a very interesting address in the evening. " The Best Breed of Cows for Wayne County " was duly considered, and brought out many points of interest. Other subjects received attention, and again the first Monday in May was ap- pointed as " Arbor Day," the date named by the Governor being too early for this latitude. A committee was again named for an institute in 1886. The Legislature of 1885, upon re- commendation of the State Board of Agricul- ture, appropriated one thousand dollars annually for the next two years to enable the State Board to send competent assistants to these in- stitutes upon application.

CHAPTER VI.

Educational Matters in General-The Law of 1834- Teachers' Institutes-County Superintendents.1

THE first movement tending to the popular- ization of the schools was made in 1810, under the school law of the year previous. The school law of 1809 was meagre in its provisions and secured only a slight advance towards the admirable, but by no means perfect, present system of education, though it was the initial step in the direction of making the schools common,-i.e., public, free to all.

Prior to that time but a few schools existed in the county. At the beginning of the cen- tury Wayne County consisted of six sub-divi- sions, or townships; but it was larger then than now, and the whole of one of them (Lacka- waxen) and a considerable portion of another (Palmyra) were included in territory now in

1 This chapter is in some measure based on the report of County Superintendent D. G. Allen for 1877, but is materially enlarged by the introduction of matter princi- pally upon the County Teachers' Institutes, obtained from various other sources. For a particular account of the various individual schools the reader is referred to the several local chapters.

WAYNE COUNTY.

275

Pike County. It is probable that in the four townships which lay wholly within the present limits of Wayne - Buckingham, Canaan, Damascus and Mount Pleasant - and the fifth, Palmyra, largely within those limits, there were not more than five schools, or one to each township, though Canaan is known to have contained more than one in 1802. Mount Pleasant had a school as early as 1794, Damascus probably much earlier, and Salem certainly not long after. John Tyler, who taught in Mount Pleasant in the winter of 1799-1800, is said to have been the first male teacher in the county ; and Mr. Woodbridge, author of the old geography, who taught in Salem in 1808 or before, was, perhaps, the first educator in the county who was the possessor of marked scholarship. Schools were opened in the various centres of settlement as fast as the number of families became sufficiently large to give them support, and by 1810 there were not far from a score of very humble places of learn- ing in the county.

The schools were of the most primitive char- acter. Instruction in them was usually limited to " the three R's : Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithme- tic," and the latter beyond the "rule of three " was considered a wonderful achievement. The buildings were usually rude log structures, though at least one framed school-house was erected in the county by 1804, in Mount Pleas- ant. Many years later than that, when consid- erable progress had been made, the average school-house was still a most dismal and unin- viting building. It was " about 16 x 24 feet and seven feet high, without paint or plaster, with clap-boards agape to catch the winds of winter, and the few 7 x 9 panes that were left were rattling from their decayed sash. The desks consisted of boards pegged up against the side of the house and the benches were made of slabs, having the exterior or round portion of the log down, supported by four straddling wooden legs, driven into auger-holes and stick- ing above the top of the bench like hatchet- teeth. These benches were planed on the top by the tardy process of friction. Their height was apparently determined without any refer- ence to the size of the scholars who were to

occupy them. In the majority of cases the scholars reversed the ordinary practice of stand- ing up and sitting down. They literally sat up and stood down, their heads being higher while sitting than standing."

The schools were all supported entirely by private subscription until the law of 1809 be- came the opening wedge which gradually made a place in them for the poor at public expense, and eventually brought about the system of defraying by taxation the entire expenses of educating all children. The law made it oblig- atory upon the county commissioners to col- lect, through the assessors, the names of all the children whose parents were too poor to pay for their schooling. Such children were to be al- lowed to attend the subscription schools, the teachers were to make out their bills for tuition, stationery, etc., and when the same had been approved by the trustees of the school or three respectable citizens, they were to be presented to the commissioners and sworn to. Orders were then drawn on the county treasurer for the amount of each. Under this law the assessors in Wayne County returned twenty-seven poor children in 1810, twenty-nine in 1811 and two hundred and thirty-five in 1834, which was the last year the law was in force. The first money expended under the law was in 1811, when $34.67 was drawn by Robert Beardslee and Hannah Forbes. The entire amount drawn in the county during the operation of the law- that is about twenty-four years-was not far from two thousand dollars. The law created an unpleasant and unrepublican feeling of caste in the school and community. Many parents kept their children from school rather than to have their names entered upon the " poor list," and many children of the poor refused to go to school because of the taunts which were flung at them on the ground of their being " county scholars."

This condition of things was remedicd by the law of 1834, which created the common-school system and made taxation the basis of its sup- port. It was made optional for a township to accept or reject the provisions of this law by a vote at the regular election, and in many por- tions of the State the law remained therefore

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

inoperative for many years, but to the credit of Wayne County, the law was at once adopted in all of its districts, and it is a significant fact that to-day its educational status is far ahead of that of some counties which tardily adopted the law of 1834.

Under the requirements of the law, a joint convention of the county commissioners and one delegate from each school district was called to meet at Bethany to arrange for the inaugura- tion of the new system. The following dele- gates responded : Earl Wheeler, J. Monroe, Paul Preston, George Welch, Samuel Hedden, Elisha Lincoln, Truman Wheeler, Rufus Gre- nell, Andrew Davison, David Kimble, Oliver Hamlin, Edward Bortree, Charles Forbes and John Ball. Among other business, these com- missioners and delegates levied a county tax for school purposes of $3000. The State ap- propriation was $407.09, making a total of $3407.09.

The following inspectors,-two from each township,-whose duty it was to inspect the schools and examine the teachers, were appointed under the provisions of the law, viz .: Rev. Joel Campbell, John Torrey, Henry Bartlett, George Wurts, Rev. Henry Curtiss, Thomas Fuller, Richard L. Seely, John Belknap, James Mumford, Jr., Peter Sherman, Warner M. Pres- ton, Alexander Calder, George Kellam, Jacob W. Welch, Luther Appley, George S. Young, John Lincoln, Joseph Bass, Charles Wheeler, William R. Stone, Sheldon Norton, David S. West, Isaac Brown, Andrew Davison, Enos Woodward, Harvey Purdy, Jonathan Richard- son, Phineas Howe, Jr., Erastus Wright, Phin- eas G. Goodrich, Gershom Williams, Lemuel Mallery.

The term of service of these inspectors ex- pired the following year, and their duties then fell upon the school directors elected in accord- ance with the law.

In 1836 the delegate meeting was abandoned and the duties of the delegates were thereafter, as now, discharged by the directors, in whom was thus merged the powers originally possessed by commissioners, delegates and inspectors. In 1837 the State appropriation was increased to $1372. Thus gradual improvement was made

in the support of the educational forces, and the schools slowly increased in the measure of their effectiveness. There is no record of a building-tax prior to 1854, and we are informed that until then school-houses were erected by private contribution.

THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS .- The year 1854 marked the beginning of a notable era of advancement. Not only were taxes then levied for building school-houses, but the county su- perintendency was created, a system of exam- ining and granting certificates to teachers was founded, and the cause of education was enhanced by making it compulsory that schools should be kept open at least four months before receiv- ing the benefit of the State appropriation. Be- sides these measures of improvement, Teachers' Institutes, presently to be treated of at length, came into existence and materially stimulated an interest in the best educational methods.

The first person on whom was conferred the honor of the responsible position of county su- perintendent of instruction was John F. Stod- dard, who was chosen to fill the office in 1854. The salary was at that time only five hundred dollars per annum. Professor Stoddard, who was a distinguished educator, and exerted a strong influence for good on the schools of Wayne County, died near Newark, N. J., on August 6, 1873.

The subsequent holders of the office were,-

1859. S. A. Terrell. 1877. D. G. Allen.

1866. E. O. Ward. 1878. H. B. Larrabee.

1869. J. E. Hawker. 1884. J. H. Kennedy.

As soon as teachers were subjected to a uni- form examination by the county superintend- ent, the necessity of training-schools was made evident, and to meet the demand, the Wayne County Normal School was organized in 1855, at Prompton, with L. H. Gibson as principal. This school has since been in operation nearly every year, under Superintendent S. A. Terrell, F. P. Kimble and others. There being no State Normal School in the district including Wayne (No. 4, embracing also the counties of North- ampton, Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Luzerne), the community has had to look to the higher schools of the county for its teachers. The Hol- listerville Normal School, the High School of

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WAYNE COUNTY.

Mount Pleasant and the graded schools of Honesdale have performed good service in fitting young men and women for the pro- fession.

INSTITUTES .- Teachers' Institutes had their real inception in Wayne County in a meeting, or " association," held at Bethany, in November, 1853. It was not termed, though it was, in fact, an institute. It was announced, or called, by the following, which appeared in the Honesdale Democrat, under the heading of "Education," upon October 5, 1853 :

"The Trustees of the University of Northern Penn- sylvania, feeling deeply interested in the advancement of Common School as well as Academic education, and believing one of the most effectual means of se- curing proper attention to this subject is the establish- ment of Teachers' Associations for the mutual benefit and encouragement of Teachers themselves, as well as for awakening in the minds of the people generally a deeper interest in respect to the improvement of com- mon schools and a higher respect for the teacher's profession, propose to hold such an association in the village of Bethany, to commence on the 1st of Novem- be next and continue three days. To this association they would invite all the teachers of the County and of the adjacent counties, together with all others who may feel an interest in its proceedings.

" Lectures will be delivered on various literary and scientific subjects, among which we may mention the following :

" Dr. John B. McMunn, of Middletown, N. Y., on English Grammar.

" Charles W. Sanders, A.M., of New York, on Read- ing and Elocution.

" Mr. Edward Brooks, on Botany and Vocal Music. " D. Jerome Jones, A.B., on History.

" Prof. Justin R. Loomis, formerly of Waterville College, on Geology and Philosophy.

" There will also be lectures on Mathematics, Nat- ural Philosophy and the Art of Teaching. Prof. J. F. Stoddard will devote his attention to the interests of the Association, and will lecture on such subjects as circumstances may require. During the Session there will be a discussion on the defects of the present System of Education and the best means of improv- ing it. The establishment of a County Teachers' As- sociation will also come up for consideration.

" P. G. GOODRICH, Secretary.

" N. B. ELDRED, Chairman. " Bethany, Oct. 5th, 1853."

The convention was carried out practically upon the programme announced, Professor G. Stoubly and Pope Bushnell, Esq., delivering

addresses in addition to those who were named in advance.

The first County Teachers' Institute, denomin- ated as such, was held in Honesdale in October, 1854, by County Superintendent John F. Stod- dard, who was assisted in making preparations for it by a committee consisting of William H. Ham, G. A. Fuller and Miles L. Tracy. In- terest in the proposed meeting was awakened by the following announcement published several weeks in advance in the local newspapers :

" In view of advancing the cause of education, the teachers, school directors and friends of education of Wayne and the surrounding counties are cordially invited to attend a Teachers' Institute to be held at the court-house in the village of Honesdale, commencing on Monday at ten o'clock A.M., October 23d, and to continue until Friday afternoon of that week.

" The object of the institute is to bring the teachers to- gether for mutual improvement and to create a regular- ly organized Teachers' Association which shall enkindle more of a spirit of brotherhood among the teachers themselves and tend to their advancement in science, literature and the art of teaching. Efforts will be made during the meeting to give such instruction in the branches of study usually taught in our schools as is calculated to render teachers worthy of a certifi- cate, and to prepare them to enter the school-room with the prospect of doing their patrons more efficient service as instructors.

"A general demand is made for qualified teachers. Several applications have already been made by di- rectors of the county for teachers whose services are worth from twenty-five to thirty dollars per month. Many of the school directors have assured me that they will be present during the latter part of the week for the purpose of engaging teachers for their winter schools. . . . and that they will permit all teachers whose schools are in session during the week of the institute to dismiss them to attend it, without loss of time.

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History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 48

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