History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 97

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 97

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).

537

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION

At the time. of writing in 1907 twenty- Artificial teeth were in use as early as nine states have legalized the practice of Washington's time, and he himself used a osteopathy. The history of osteopathic ed- ucational institutions began in 1892 with one small school. Now there are eight colleges, and many accredited graduate practitioners. set, but at that early day teeth were either carved out of solid pieces of ivory, which involved great labor and expense, or were human teeth attached to gold plates. The first osteopath who located in York was Dr. Emma E. Donnelly, a western woman, who opened an office in 1901. Early in 1902 she was joined by Dr. Edwin M. Downing, a native of Luzerne County. Dr. Donnelly removed to Los Angeles. Aaron Burr is said to have worn teeth of the kind last mentioned. The later im- provements made in this direction and their introduction into general use, have added largely to both the attractions and the dif- ficulties of the profession, and drawn to it many possessed of superior mechanical skill. Formerly the plates in which the teeth were set were made only of gold and silver or carved out of ivory, which neces- sarily made them both heavy and costly, whereas now, plates are made not only of

Dr. Downing remained in York. He is associate editor of the journal of the Amer- ican Osteopathic Association and the author of numerous articles on osteopathy which have had a wide circulation. Dr. Howard J. Cormeny, a native of York, practices os- teopathy in his native city. Dr. Rachel E. gold and silver, but also of platinum, rubber Walker opened an office in 1906.

DENTISTRY.

Probably no other profession has made more rapid progress during the last half century than dentistry. Prior to that period the study and care of the teeth were limited to members of the medical profession.

The first dental college in the world was established at Baltimore in 1839. Since that time dentistry has been studied as a science and practiced as an art, and has de- veloped until it now ranks among the most useful of the professions. Its ranks contain men of education, culture and high social standing. The development of the science has been rapid, and a profession that is the offspring of the nineteenth century has not proven tenacious of old ideas, nor unfitted itself for growth and improvement by a blind devotion to the errors of the past.

The most rapid improvement has been made in operative dentistry, of which there has been almost an entire revolution. The highest point at first attainable was to fill such teeth as were slightly decayed, whereas, by the aid of the various improved dental instruments, together with the medical treatment of the teeth, the profession is not only enabled to preserve teeth slightly de- cayed, but to restore and protect them for many years. The early practice advocated smooth-pointed instruments for filling, and non-cohesive gold, whereas serrated instru- ments and cohesive gold are now recognized as most expedient.

and celluloid. Rubber plates were not in- troduced until about 1854, and celluloid much more recently. The filling of teeth is also a leading branch of the art, requiring both skill, judgment and delicacy, when properly done.

LIST OF PHYSICIANS.

An act of the State Legislature, passed in 1881, requires all physicians in the different counties of Pennsylvania, to register in the office of the prothonotary, their names, the institutions from which they have gradu- ated and a copy of their diplomas. Physi- cians without diplomas who had practiced ten years before the act went into force were permitted to register and continue their pro- fessional duties. An act of the legislature approved May 18, 1893, requires that all physicians before entering upon the duties of their profession must study medicine four years and receive a medical diploma. After graduation they are required to pass an ex- amination by the State Board of Medical Examiners, appointed by the Governor. If this examination is satisfactory, the appli- cant is licensed to practice medicine and sur- gery by the Medical Council of Pennsylva- nia. He must then register his name in every county in which he resides or opens an office. The following physicians have reg- istered their names in the prothonotary's office at York, since 1881 :

John Ahl, York: James A. Armstrong, Hellam ; Eugene R. Albaugh, Glenville; Horace Alleman, Han- over ; James B. Amos, Muddy Creek Forks; William A.

538

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Albaugh, Codorus Township; Horace M. Alleman, Han- over; Joseph C. Atkins, Red Lion; Obadiah C. Brick- ley, York; George Brickley, York; Isaac N. Boyd, Goldsboro; Jeremiah W. Brickley, York; Napoleon B. Bryan, Delta; Theodore H. Beltz, York; John R. Brod- beck, Jefferson; Alexander R. Blair, York; William F. Brinkman, Jefferson; William B. Bigler, Springvale; . Albert Z. Buchen, Hanover; Philip D. Baker, Carroll Township; George W. Bahn, Spring Grove; William D. Bailey, Dillsburg; Henry G. Bussey, Shrewsbury ; William F. Bacon, York; Joseph H. Bittinger, Hanover ; Edward W. Brickley, York; George W. Brose, York; John A. Blouse, York; Louise Blum, York; Israel H. Betz, York; J. H. Bennett, York; Martin L. Barshinger, York; John K. Blanck, Wrightsville ; Raymond E. Butz, York; Frederick C. Bucher, Wrightsville; Thomas C. Baldwin, York; Levi M. Bailey, Hanover ; Thomas M. Curren, Cross Roads; James C. Channel, Wrightsville; Katharine M. Crawford, York; Julia T. Hill Crawford, York; Julius H. Comroe, York; Jonas Deisinger, Hel- lam; John W. Dehoff, York; Jonas M. Decker, Stovers- town; Laura J. Dice, York; Joseph H. Dunnick, Stew- artstown; John E. Dehoff, York; Oliver T. Everhart, Hanover; Charles W. Eisenhower, Jacobns; John L. Free, Stewartstown; Lewis H. Fackler, York; Joseph H. Fulton, Stewartstown; Levi D. Frey, Glen Rock; Andrew N. Falkenstein, Glen Rock; Georgiana R. Fleagle, Hanover ; Evans M. Free, Stewartstown; James Gerry, Shrewsbury; Elbridge H. Gerry, Shrewsoury; Henry V. Gross, Manchester; Jacob M. Gross, Dover ; Isaac C. Gable, York; Jacob A. Gladfelter, Seven Val- ley : David B. Grove, Hanover; David K. Gotwalt, York; John T. Galbreath, Bryansville; John Gilbert, York; Austin M. Grove, York; Carrol H. Gerry, Shrewsbury; Herbert F. Gross, York; J. Thomas Gal- breath, York; Mercer R. Girvin, Grahamville; Aaron M. Gontner, York; Archibald P. T. Grove, Dallastown; Jeremiah S. Hetrick, New Freedom; Charles G. Hilde- brand, Winterstown; Martin Hoke, Spring Forge: Benjamin H. Howlet, East Prospect; Jacob Hay, York; John F. Holahan, York; Jacob Hart, York; John M. Hyson, Red Lion; John A. Hawkins, Fawn ,Grove; William J. Howard, Franklin Township; Jacob I. Hoff- man, Dillsburg; George E. Holtzapple, York; George R. Hursh, Fairview Township; Horace B. Hetrick, War- rington Township; Benjamin F. Hubley, York: Milton H. Holtzapple, York; Benjamin A. Hoover, Wrights- ville; Lawton M. Hartman, York: Ralph A. Harding, Lewisberry; Frank Horning, Hellam; Robert A. Hilde- brand, Glen Rock: Vallandingham Hawkins, Fawn Grove : James W. Heckman, Delta; Augustus C. Het- rick, Wellsville; John E. Inners, Yorkana; Henry Z. Jones, Jefferson ; George H. Jordy, York; James L. Jamison, Wrightsville; Roland Jessop, York; Pius H. Jones, Glenville ; Louis Jordy, York; George H. Jordy, Hanover; Harry H. Jones, York; Henry S. Keller, Glenville; John B. Kain, York; John D. Keller, Glen- ville : James W. Kerr, York; William H. Kilgore, Delta ; Harry B. King, York; J. Ferd Klinedinst, York: Jere- mialı F. Lutz, Glen Rock; Lemuel S. Lawson, Dallas- town; Luther M. Lochman, York; Alfred A. Long, York; William A. Long, New Salem; Harris R. Le- crone, York; Philo A. Lutz, Winterstown; Isaac L. Mingle, Newberrytown; E. W. Meisenhelder, York; Zachariah C. Myers, York; Edmund L. Melsheimer, Davidsburg: James C. May, Manchester; Joseph S. Miller, York; Joseph R. Martin, Stewartstown ; John A. Melsheimer, Hanover; Robert N. Meisenhelder, Han- over : Granville R. Markel, West Manheim Township; Howard T. Martin, Stewartstown : William H. Minnich, Jacobus : Jerry C. Murphy, York Haven ; Alfred Myers, York; Edmund W. Meisenhelder, Jr., York; Henry C. Markel, Jefferson; Enos F. Mann, Dallastown; Charles F. Miller, Muddy Creek Forks; Matthew J. M. McKin- non, York; John F. McCullough, York; William H. M.c-

Curdy, Slate Hill; William J. McClure, York; David M. McDonald, Stewartstown; Samuel I. McDowell, Dallas- town; Augustus R. Nebinger, Lewisberry; Charles M. Nes, York; Henry Nes, York; Charles G. Nicholas, York; James E. Nickel, Wrightsville; John F. Norris, Airville; Noah A. Overmiller, York; Charles F. Over- miller, Gladfelter's Station; William R. Prowell, Sid- donsburg; James T. Perkins, York; Benjamin F. Por- ter, Brogneville; Samuel K. Pfaltzgraff, York; Edgar R. Park, York; Brantley F. Parker, York; Benjamin F. Posey, Brogneville; John W. Porter, New Parke; Mor- gan A. Posey, Airville; John A. Rynard, Goldsboro; William S. Roland, York; Edwin P. Rohrbaugh, Glen Rock; Luther L. Rewalt, Wrightsville; Benjamin F. Reich, York; Leander A. Roth, Nashville; Robert W. Ramsay, Slate Hill; Roswell J. Russell, Hanover ; Charles Rea, York; Adeline V. M. Rea, York; Samuel J. Rouse, York; George A. Rebman, Wrightsville; Wil- liam F. Smith, Airville; Henry L. Smyser, York; H. David Smyser, York; Jacob R. Spangler, York; William E. Swiler, Yocumtown; James C. Stem, Lewisberry; Wesley C. Stick, Hanover; Andrew J. Snively, Han- over; Charles F. Spangler, York; Niles H. Shearer, York; James M. Shearer, Dillsburg; Joseph N. Smith, York; Howard F. Strayer, York; Joseph A. Stoner, York; David Strack, Thomasville; Francis J. Snyder, York; Lillian R. Safford, York; Lewis H. Sterner, Por- ters : William C. Seitz, Glen Rock; Robert D. Swiler, Yocumtown; J. Frank Small, York; Edward D. Sterner, York; Sally K. Saltzgiver, York; George S. Stone, New Freedom; J. H. Sieling, York; Robert S. Stahle, Manchester Township; Harry D. Snyder, York; W. C. Smith, York; John A. Shower, York; Arthur B. Shatte, York; Bernard W. Shirey, York; Charles E. Spahr, York; John A. Thompson, Wrightsville; William H. Treible, York; Gyula Ullman, York; Frederick W. Van- dersloot, York; Charles H. Venus, Windsor; William H. Wagner, York; Edward A. Wareheim, Glen Rock; John Wiest, York; John S. Wright, Gatchelville; John F. X. Weil, York; George P. Weaver, Hanover; Henry H. Weiser, York; Martin L. Wolford, Dillsburg; Henry Wolf, New Salem; Alexandria C. Wentz, Hanover ; Nathan C. Wallace, Dover; Edward F. Wagner, York; Everett P. Warren, Goldsboro; Charles N. Wolf, Hel- lam; Charles Wagner, Hanover; William E. Webb, York; John H. Yeagley, York; Peter K. Yost, New Salem; James L. Yagle, New Freedom; George N. Yagle, Windsorville; Henry A. Zeigler, York.

CHAPTER XXX EDUCATIONAL

Early Schools and Teachers-Methods of Teaching-State Laws-Free School Sys- tem-County Superintendency-County Institute-Sunday Schools.

The Society of Friends following the in- structions of William Penn, established schools immediately after the first Quaker settlements were made in Pennsylvania. It was the custom of Penn to distribute circu- lars among the early settlers of his province. A short time before his death in 1718 a printed document containing the following forcible words was widely circulated among all classes and nationalities: "Nothing weakens kingdoms like vice. It is the en-

539

EDUCATIONAL

emy of wisdom and religion. If we would preserve our government we must endear education to our people. The government is a trustee for the youth of the kingdom." The early Quakers who took up the fertile lands within the present area of York County, beginning as early as 1735 estab- lished schools for the education of their children.

The Scotch-Irish, who by nature were an educating people, also brought the church and school with them. Church schools sim- ilar to those established in Scotland during the latter part of the seventeenth century, were organized in York County.

Parochial Schools. The first German churches in this county had parochial schools, yet no systematic effort was made to improve the schools among the Germans in Pennsylvania until 1751, when Michael Schlatter was sent to this country on that mission and did excel- lent work. A plan was laid by some noble- men of Europe, for the instruction of the Germans and their descendants in Pennsyl- vania; consequently through the efforts of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg on the part of the Lutherans, and Schlatter on the part of the German Reformed people, parochial schools were very early established in this state and county, These schools continued till the middle of the nineteenth century. In addition to these parochial schools, pri- vate schools were established in places re- mote from churches or meeting houses.

the minds of many of the early lawyers of the York bar, and some of the clergy. At least sixty of Dobbins' pupils became pro- fessional men, twenty of whom became min- isters of the gospel. Andrews removed to Philadelphia; Dobbins died in this county. His remains were interred in the Lower Marsh Creek burying ground near the town of Gettysburg, and the old stone building known as the "Dobbins property" in which he taught, stood for about one hundred years. These were representative men who labored zealously among our ancestors in those early days.

The teachers of York County, in

Early its early history, especially in Teachers. the rural districts, were varied in character and ability. They re- mained longer, however, in one locality in many instances than teachers now do. Thomas Garretson taught twenty-three years in succession at the Newberry Friends' meeting house, in a school kept up by that denomination. He was a mild mannered, genial gentleman, who generally controlled the boys by moral suasion, and his influence was long felt and not yet lost to tradition. William Underwood, the first clerk of the Warrington Friends' meeting, was the first teacher in that section, beginning in 1740. Zephaniah Underwood and his brother, Elihu, were men of equal merit and influence among the Warrington Quakers, before and during the Revolution. John Peter Streher taught the children of the first emigrants in Dover Township in 1758-65 in a log school house adoining Strehrer's church. An educated German, Ludwig Kraft, as early as 1744, began twenty years of con- tinnous work among the early settlers on the banks of the Codorus, at York, when the town contained less than three hundred inhabitants. His school was organized by Michael Schlatter. Rev. David Candler, who organized the "Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Conewago settlement," now Hanover, taught a school in his log church and school house as early as 1738, near the present site of Hanover. After his death in 1744, John Frederick Wildbahn became the instructor of the youths of that settle- ment. He also ministered to the spiritual wants of the first German settlers of the community. Bartholomew Maul, from 1735

Rev. John Andrews, an Episcopal Classical Schools. clergyman and pastor of St. John's Church, afterward provost of the University of Pennsylva- nia, at Philadelphia, beginning about 1770 and continuing during the Revolutionary period, taught in York the first classical school west of the Susquehanna river, which later became the York County Academy, and like the Rev. Mr. Dobbins, who opened a similar school in the Marsh Creek settle- ment, Gettysburg, was a man of great force of character. Both these schools were then in York County, Adams not being separated until 1800. While Andrews taught the ris- ing generation of the better class of people in and around York to con the pages of Latin, Greek and higher mathematics. Dob- bins was doing a noble work for the Scotch- Irish of Marsh Creek. The former trained to 1770, taught the early Lutherans in York.

540

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Among the Scotch-Irish, from the time of 120 years and the one at the Stone Church their emigration, schools were established in Codorus Township existed about the and supported. The oldest one known was same length of time. in the First Presbyterian Church, then a log The following advertisement, published in 1771, illustrates that all teachers were not exemplary characters : building at the union of Scott's Run with the Muddy Creek. It was in operation before 1750. Schools were supported and consid- erable advancements made, at the Presby- terian churches of Guinston, Chanceford, RAN AWAY .- A servant man, who had followed the occupation of a schoolmaster, much given to drinking and gambling. One cent reward is offered. Round Hill and Center. A classical school was opened at the Slate Ridge Church dur- Tradition speaks of many knights of the rod and ferrule who held power by "switch suasion" in different localities during the early history of our country. To another class the following quotation from one of the world's greatest poets, would apply : ing the latter part of the last century. It was taught by the pastor. Among the pupils were the following persons, who afterward became distinguished American citizens : United States Senator James Ross, of Penn- sylvania; Judge Hugh Brackenridge, and Senator Rowan, of Kentucky.

Jacob Goering, who became a Lutheran clergyman of rare ability and power, was born of German parents in Chanceford Township in 1775, and upon attaining his manhood became a successful teacher in his own district.

The people of Fawn tell many a quaint story of "Jimmy" McCandless the poet, fid- dler, justice and schoolmaster, known throughout the entire "lower end" a century or more ago. "Jimmy" Cabot, of the vil- lage of Liverpool, now Manchester borough, was a similar personage about the same time. Lawrence Frost was a successful teacher in Newberry meeting long before the Revolution.

Elisha Hammond and Isaac Kirk before Used. 1800, taught at Lewisberry ; Hervey Ham- mond. the son of the former, and Jacob Kirk, the first county superintendent, and the son of the latter, both followed in the footsteps of their ancestors and were noted teachers in the same vicinity. John Mc- Laughlin, in 1810, taught the first purely English school in Hanover, partly on the Lancastrian plan, and the same year wrote and published a speller. The old Monaghan Church, now the Dillsburg Presbyterian Church, had a parochial schoolhouse con- nected with it, which in 1809, was a very old building. In 1783, John Beals was a teacher of this school and was followed by William Bowman. Samuel J. Kirkwood, the War Governor of Iowa and secretary of ham's grammars; the English reader and the Interior in President Garfield's Cabinet, the Introduction ; frequently the New Testa- taught in Hopewell Township early in life. ment, any history of the United States, or The original school house of Jefferson stood history of any country that might chance to

"Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way, With blossomed furze, unprofitably gay, There in his noisy mansion skilled to rule, The village master taught his little school. A man severe he was, and stern to view; I knew him well and every truant knew; Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace The day's disasters in his morning face ; Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee At all his jokes, for many a joke had he, Full well the busy whisper, circling round, Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned. Yet he was kind, or, if severe in aught The love he bore to learning was in fault; The village all declared how much he knew- And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew. But past is all his fame. The very spot Where many a time he triumphed is forgot."

The

In the primitive days of our history among the Germans and in their

Books parochial schools, books, imported from their native country, were used. About 1800 and later, many of the German subscription schools were taught by Scotch-Irish and English Quaker schoolmasters. The schools under the di- rection of the Friends' monthly meetings at Warrington and Newberry, were regularly kept up for three-fourths of a century, and had a good record. The kindly persuasive manner and the gentle dispositions of these teachers of the past, are still deeply cher- ished in the minds of some of the old citizens of the neighborhood in which they taught. How carefully they tried to con the inviting pages of Webster's, Comly's, and Cobb's spellers; Emerson's, Pike's, Park's, and Daboll's arithmetics; Murray and Kirk-

541

EDUCATIONAL

have found its way into the scanty library beginning with "o" and following with sim- of the early settlers. The competitive spell- pler ones. Large hand was taught first, ing match gave rise to much interest, and taught the early youths the whole of the speller possibly much better than spelling is now taught in many schools. There always was a great rivalry in attempting to acquire a knowledge of this art, and he or she who was the "best speller" in a community, was

then the small hand. The teacher made pens and "set the copies." For the latter, quaint precepts were used. How many times has the reader as well as his father and grandfather seen the following: "Com- mand you may your Mind from Play," "A Man of words and not of Deeds, is like a a local hero or heroine. There was rivalry garden full of weeds," "Desire wisdom from in the study of arithmetic and often a healthy spirit of emulation was inculcated. To go "through the book" and have all "sums" copied, in a large book, specially prepared for the purpose before any other schoolmate could do it, was considered a meritorious victory. experience." In the first log houses, win- dows were made by having the space be- tween the logs cut wider and narrow sash inserted. Thus a window sometimes was made to extend along nearly one side of the building. Before glass had become plenty, oiled paper was used. On this tru- ant boys would often draw crude heirglyph- ics. Indeed such demoralizing tendencies have not yet entirely disappeared.

Thus the one who could "cipher" the best in a community was a person for whom there was much admiration. Until the in- vention of steel pens and for several years after this invention, the quill was the com- mon instrument for writing. Metallic pens were unknown, and it was an important duty for a teacher to know how to make a good quill pen. It is now one of the lost arts, but if we are to judge from the appear- ance, neatness and accuracy of some of the writing of our ancestors, done by a quill, in contrast with much writing with the metal- lic pen, it is a pity that quill-pen-making is a lost art. An attractively executed old doc- ument has come into the hands of the writer. It contains all the problems of an old Eng- lish arithmetic, copied carefully and system- atically on old style paper, made in book form. If Elihu Underwood, who executed this book in the year 1769, at the school adjoining the Warrington meeting house, was not a local hero, he ought to have been considered one. His father, Zephaniah, for many years a famous teacher among the Quakers during the revolutionary period, became one of the first trustees of the York County Academy in 1789.

Methods of The old fashioned log school houses had the writing desks Teaching. almost invariably arranged along the side walls of the room. These desks were for writing pur- poses only. In most cases the writing was done in books made at home by parents or pupils. The first writing exercise was a pense of the county. This law was re- straight mark, then a single curve, next a pealed by the act of March 29, 1824, which double curve, and the letters taken singly, provided that every township or borough

At the church and some subscrip-

The tion schools, in many places the

School sessions were longer than the pres-

Term. ent school term in the rural dis- tricts. In 1806 the one adjoining Slate Ridge Presbyterian Church near Delta in Peach Bottom Township, was kept open for nine months of the year. The records of a school near Spring Forge show that in ISIo it was in session ten months of the year. In 1803 a school was kept open eight months, in Fairview Township, by the father of Jacob Kirk, first county superin- tendent. But these long terms were rather exceptional than the rule, as in general the school term was only three or four months of the year from the time of first settle- ments until a uniform term was established by act of the legislature.

From the time of the adoption of

State. the State Constitution of 1790 to

School 1809, no legislative provision of a

Laws. general nature was made in refer- ence to public schools. During the latter year, an act was passed for the "gratuitous education of the poor." A re- port was made by township and ward as- sessors to the county commissioners of all children between the ages of five and twelve years, whose parents were unable to provide for their education. These poor children were sent to the nearest school at the ex-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 97

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372