History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 72

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended > Part 72

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The old fashioned log school houses had the writing desks almost invariably arranged along the side walls of the school houses. These desks were used for writing purposes only. In most cases the writing was done in books made at home by parents or pupils. The first writing exercise was a straight mark, then a single curve, next a double curve, and the letters taken singly, beginning with "o" and following with simpler ones. Large hand was first taught, then 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: "Command you may your Mind from Play." "A Man of Words and not of Deeds, is like a Garden full of Weeds," "Desire wisdom from Experience." In the first log houses, windows were made by having the space be tween the logs cut wider and narrow sash

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

inserted. Thus one window sometimes was made to extend along nearly one whole side of the building. Before glass had become plenty, oiled paper was used. On this, truant boys would often place crude hieroglyphics. Indeed such demoralizing tendencies have not yet entirely disappeared, to deface these temples of learning by impure chirography.

THE LENGTH OF THE SCHOOL TERM.

At the church schools and some subscrip- tion schools, in many places the session was longer than the present common school term. In 1806 the one adjoining Slate Ridge Pres- byterian Church was kept open for nine months. The records of a school near Spring Forge show that in 1810 it was in session ten months of the year. A school was kept eight months of the year, 1803, in Fairview Township by the father of the first county superintendent. But these long terms were rather the exception than the rule, as in general the school term was only three or four months of the year, from the time of first settlements until a uniform term was established by act of the legislature.

STATE LAWS.

From the time of the adoption of the State Constitution of 1790 to 1809, no legis- lative provision of a general nature was made in reference to public schools. During the latter year, an act was passed for the "gratu- itous education of the poor." A report was made by township and ward assessors to the county commissioners, of all children be- tween the ages of five and twelve years, whose parents were unable to provide for their edu- cation. These poor children were sent to the nearest school at the expense of the connty. This law was repealed by the act of March 29, 1824, which provided that every town- ship or borough should elect three "school- men," who should superintend the education of poor children in their respective districts. But cach county might authorize the "school- men" to divide the township into school dis- tricts, and to establish schools at the expense of the township, to which all the children belonging to the districts, might be taught for three years, at any time between the ages of six and fourteen years. This law was applicable to the whole State, with a few exceptions. A few of the English speaking townships of York County accepted the pro- visions of this act. It was repealed in 1826, and the act of 1809 revived. By the act of

April 2, 1831, the basis of a more efficient system was laid, under which certain moneys and powers were placed under the direction of Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Auditor General and Secretary of the Land Office.

The Act of 1834 establishing our present system of public schools, caused a great and exciting discussion in the legislature. Its final passage was considered a great triumph by its advocates. It was entitled "an act to establish a general system of education by common schools."

A convention of delegates assembled in York on Tuesday, November 4, 1834. Jacob Dietz was president and Daniel Small secre- tary. " Will this convention accept the pro- visions of the school law as passed in April of this year, and shall a tax be laid for the ex- penditure of each district?" was brought up for consideration.

Some of the delegates were sent to the convention by certain townships, with the special purpose of preventing its ac- ceptance. The following - named persons voted in the affirmative, in the order given: Samuel Prowell, representing Fair- view; Luther H. Skinner, Hanover; Jacob Emmitt, South Ward, York; Godlove Kane, North Ward, York; James H. Smith, Chance- ford; Robert Gebby, Lower Chanceford; John Livingstone, Peach Bottom - yeas, seven. The names of those persons are now historic. The first affirmative vote was followed by ap- plause by a few, and marks of disapproval by many delegates.

The county commissioner and the follow- ing-named delegates voted in the negative:

Commissioners .- Jacob Dietz, Samuel Har- nish, John Shultz.

Delegates .- Christian Snyder, Manchester; John Walker, Warrington; Jacob Emig, Dover; Ezekiel Williams, Paradise; William Foster, Newberry; Jacob Weltzhoffer, Hel- lam; Jacob Feiser, Shrewsbury; Hugh Mc- Mullin, Monaghan; James Wallace, Hope- well; Thomas Brooks, Fawn; Abraham Burkholder, Franklin; Charles Diehl, Wind- sor; Samuel Johnson, Spring Garden; Henry Bowman, Heidelberg; Henry Berkheimer, Washington; John Wentz, Manheim; John Fitz, Sr., Codorus; John Kreber, Carroll; Henry Stover, Conewago-nays, twenty- two.

On motion, it was then resolved by the delegates who voted in the affirmative, that the sum of $1,300 be raised by tax, agreeably to the provision of said act, to be apportioned among their respective districts, as follows:

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EDUCATIONAL.

York borough, south ward. $303 99

north ward.

223 74

$528 28

Hanover

122 74

Chanceford.

173 63

Lower Chanceford ..

138 50

Peach Bottom ..

81 52

Fairview.

254 33

$1,300 00

Resolved, That Saturday, the 22d, be the day in which the people meet in their respective dis- tricts, and decide by a majority of votes whether they will raise for the current year a sum in addition to that determined on by the delegates, as above stated.

The convention then adjourned.

On Thursday, May 28, 1835, a similar meeting of delegates was held in the com- missioners' office, which resulted as follows:

Frederick Baugher, North Ward; Israel Gardner, South Ward; Henry Wirt, Hanover; Andrew Clarkson, Chanceford; John Living- stone, Peach Bottom; Stephen Mckinley, Lower Chanceford; Dr. Benjamin Musser, Fairview; Joseph Willis, Newberry; Jesse Wheeler, Fawn-yeas, nine.

Commissioners .- Jacob Deitz, John Shultz, Christian Inners.

John McAllister, Hopewell; Henry Stover, Conewago; Henry Peter, York-nays, six. Some districts were not represented.

Monday, May 2,1836, the annual convention of the county commissioners and school dele- gates assembled at the court house. The fol- lowing delegates attending produced their credentials, and took their seats.

Commissioners .- John . Shultz, Christian Inners, Joseph Small.

Daniel Kraber, North Ward; Joseph Mc- Pherson, South Ward; John Stickel, War- rington; P. Williamson, Peach Bottom; John Thompson, Fairview; Joseph McCreary; Newberry; James E. Mifflin, Hellam; George Klinefelter, Shrewsbury; John Bush, Dover; Joseph Parks, Monaghan; William Allison, Hopewell; Robert Anderson, Fawn; Martin Carl, Franklin; Michael Paules, Windsor; Henry Leib, Heidelberg; John Grist, Wash- ington; Daniel Bailey, Carrol: Luther H. Skinner, Hanover; Samuel Bear, West Man- chester; Andrew Clarkson, Chanceford; Mat- thew McCall, Lower Chanceford.

On motion of Daniel Kraber it was then

Resolved, That a school tax be raised agreeably to the act of Assembly, entitled an act to establish a general system of education by common schools, and the supplement thereto.

The question being taken by yeas and nays, the vote was as follows:

Joseph Small, Daniel Kraber, Joseph Mc- Pherson, John Stickel, John Thompson, Joseph McCreary, James E. Mifflin, George

Klinefelter, Joseph Parks, William Allison, Robert Anderson, Daniel Bailey, Luther Skinner, Jacob Feiser, Andrew Clarkson, Matthew McCall-yeas, seventeen.

John Shultz, Christian Inners, John Bush, Martin Carl, Michael Paules, Henry Leib, John Greist, Samuel Baer-nays, eight.

It will also be seen that the common school system was not very popular in the county generally. Of the nine votes cast by the county commissioners, at the three conven- tions, there is but one yea, that of Joseph Small. The delegates of the following dis- tricts voted to accept the system: Fairview, Hanover, Chanceford, Lower Chanceford, Peach Bottom and York borough. The next year Newberry and Fawn Townships were added to the list. At subsequent conven- tions many districts refused to send dele- gates. At the third and last convention, Warrington, Hellam, Shrewsbury, Monaghan, Hopewell, Carroll and Springfield accepted.

In many places bitter controversies arose, and great opposition was manifested in the efforts to establish schools. The remaining townships, with few exceptions, did not accept the system until after the passage of the act of 1848, which contained the follow- ing conditions: "That from and after the passage of this act, the common school sys- tem shall be held and taken to be adopted by the several school districts of this county." Heidelberg did not, however, accept until 1857; West Manheim in 1858, and Manheim in 1870. Attempts were made to vote down the system in some of the German townships. As time progressed, the new system was re- ceived with more favor. The examination of teachers was very imperfectly conducted by the school directors, or some person selected by them.

THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENCY.

In accordance with the act creating the office of county superintendent of schools, the incumbent to be elected for the term of three years by a majority of the school directors of the county assembled, the first meeting was held in the court house, June 5, 1854. There was a fair representation of the directors from those townships, which had accepted the common school system. Daniel Kraber, of York, was chosen president; J. H. Wat- kins and Jacob Greenfield, vice- presidents; John Finley, of Lower Chanceford, and A. A. Glatz, of Hellam, secretaries. There were four candidates named for the position, viz. : Jacob Kirk, Andrew Dinsmore, C. B. Wallace and D. M. Ettinger. The law gave the school directors assembled the power to estab-

364

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

lish the salary, which on this occasion was fixed at $500, whereupon all candidates withdrew, except Jacob Kirk, of the village of New Market, Fairview Township, and he was unanimously elected. Mr. Kirk was an ex- emplary gentleman, representing an intelli- gent Quaker family of the upper end. He had not been, however, a teacher for a num- ber of years previous to his election, and was not specially prepared to surmount the obstacles in the way of establishing the school system in the county. Two reports were made by him to the secretary of the commonwealth, which officer then filled also the position of State superintendent of com- mon schools. Mr. Kirk's first report was dated December 8, 1854, in which he felt encouraged to say that "the cause of common school education is becoming so interwoven with the interests and feelings of our people as to insure its prosperity." He suggested that the law be so amended as to authorize the school directors to purchase suitable books with the district funds. There were then 247 schools in the county under his supervision, 223 male and 37 female teach- ers; average salaries of males, $19.17; of females, $13.00. Number of pupils in all the schools, 13,652. There were twenty graded schools in York, and six in Hanover. His second report was made to Andrew G. Curtin, secretary of commonwealth and superintendent of common schools, dated "New Market, August 13, 1855." There were then 279 schools, and Mr. Kirk visited 240 of them. The average school term in the county was a little more than four months. The teachers, generally, he said, "were attentive and industrious, but there are some painful exceptions." The highest average salary, $28.75 per month, was paid in Wrightsville. Mr. Kirk resigned the posi- tion, after having served about one year, and G. C. Stair, editor of the People's Advocate, of York, was appointed to the position. He was familiarly known among his many friends as "Neighbor Stair." He was an ardent supporter of the cause of education, having used the columns of his paper to advance its interests. At the expiration of fifteen months, on account of failing health, he resigned, and Dr. A. R. Blair was appointed to fill the un- expired term.

The second triennial convention was held May 4, 1857; Judge Robert J. Fisher, was elected president, and Dr. G. L. Shearer of Dillsburg and Dr. H. G. Bussey of Shrews- bury, secretaries. There were fifty-six direc- tors present. The salary was raised to $1,000 per annum, and Dr. Blair elected. During

this administration, Heidelberg and West Manheim Townships accepted the school system, leaving Manheim the only non-accept- ing district.

In the year 1858, Hanover Borough, Hel- lam and Dover Townships, organized district insitutes and a union institute was formed by the teachers of Manchester, West Manchester and North Codorus. Twenty-three districts in the county adopted a uniform series of school books; outline maps were placed in 124 schools and twelve districts held institutes twice a month. Whole number of schools in county 310; average length of school term, four and one-half months. York had a nine months' term, Hanover eight, Lower Chanceford and Spring Garden six months. The law required but four months, and most districts did not exceed that number. The amount of tax levied was $42,235 for the entire county. During this term the York County Normal School was started.

The third convention for the election of a county superintendent was held May 7, 1860. V. K. Keesey, of York, was called to the chair. The salary remained unchanged and the incumbent in office, Dr. Blair, was re- elected on first ballot over four competitors; at this session 111 directors were present. In 1862 Superintendent Blair entered the Union Army as a surgeon, and Daniel M. Ettinger was deputized to fill the balance of the term. In many townships in the year 1860, district superintendents made reports to the county superintendent.

Among those who reported encouraging progress were W. H. Bond of West Manches- ter, Henery Mosser of Fairview, Charles Mit- zel of Codorus Township, William Linebaugh of Conewago, J. B. Baughman of Paradise, Daniel Rhodes of Manchester and Peter Heiges of Monaghan. Most of these gentle- men were the secretaries of their respective school boards. In 1863 Joseph Wickersham, of Newberry Township, reported that the dis- trict superintendeney "had done much to improve the condition of our fifteen schools. A spirit of emulation has thus been encour- aged."

The fourth convention assembled May 3, 1863. Judge Fisher was chairman, C. B. Wallace and S. J. Rouse secretaries. The salary remained $1,000. One hundred and six directors were present. D. M. Ettinger, S. G. Boyd, and S. B. Heiges were nominated; Mr. Heiges received a majority of the votes and was declared elected. He had been for a number of years previously a successful teacher in the county. For the year 1867 he reported

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EDUCATIONAL.

as follows: Public examinations, 45; appli- cants examined, 377; schools visited, 130; institutes held, 31; educational meetings, 18; days officially engaged, 200; miles traveled, 2,100. There were then 353 schools. Dur- ing the civil war many of the most efficient teachers entered the Union Army. In the year 1867, about seventy pupils attended the Normal School conducted during the Spring and Summer months by county superintend- ent, S. B. Heiges, S. G. Boyd and George W. Heiges. At the next election, held in May, 1866, Mr. Heiges was unanimously re- elected and the salary raised to $1,500. In 1868, on account of sickness, he deputized George W. Heiges to serve the balance of the term.

The sixth convention assembled in May, 1869. Dr. B. F. Porter of Chanceford was elected president. At this meeting S. G. Boyd who had been an energetic teacher in the county, was elected County Superintend- ent without opposition at a salary of $1,500. In his first annual report Mr. Boyd announced that Wrightsville, in 1870, built a magnifi- cent brick school building at a cost of $22,- 000, including lot on which it stood, and furniture. It is yet a noble monument to the enterprise of the town. During this year, Manheim Township accepted the school sys- tem and took advantage of the benefits which accrued from the State appropriation. He held that year, in the county, twenty-two institutes each two days in length. In the year 1871 the borough of York taking advan- tage of the act of 1867, and seeing the neces- sity of better local supervision, elected W. H. Shelley, Borough superintendent, and after this event the county superintendent had no further supervision of the York schools. The York High school was organized the same year. In 1871 Mr. Boyd was elected Presi- ident of the Peach Bottom Railway and W. H. Kain was made deputy county superin- tendent.

At the seventh convention, held May, 1872, ninety-seven Directors were present. A. H. Glatz was chosen President; Wilson Grove, W. J. Arnold and Henry Fortenbaugh secre- taries. The salary was reduced to $1,200 per annum. W. H. Kain was elected over two competitors. He was a graduate of Pennsyl- vania College and well fitted for the position. On March 28, 1873, the Legislature passed an act requiring the county commissioners of York County to provide and furnish an office for the use and accommodation of the county superintendent.

The eighth convention met in May, 1875, Rev. T. M. Crawford, presiding, W. J. Arnold

and Dr. B. F. Porter, secretaries. The num- ber of directors ninety-five. The nominees were W. H. Kain, A. W. Gray and George R. Prowell. Mr. Kain was re-elected. In his first annual report he stated that Spring Garden had the best built and best furnished school houses in the county. Fairview ranked. next. In 1876 there were 410 schools in the county; average salary paid to male teachers was $33.50 per month and to female teachers $31.50 per month. There were 20,500 pupils attending public schools in the entire county, with an average attendance of 13,115. State appropriations $19,025; amount raised by taxation $127,482. The amount paid for teachers' salaries $73,381. Of the teachers 290 males and 120 females.

The ninth convention was held May 8, 1878. At this meeting, Lemuel Ross of Dillsburg was made president, and Capt. Magee, N. Z. Seitz, C. R. McConkey, Millard Blackford and Dr. James Gerry secretaries. There were seven candidates nominated. D. G. Williams was elected. Two hundred and six directors were present. During the previous winter the State Legislature had passed an act allowing the county superin- tendent a fixed compensation for each school under his supervision in the county. At the time of this election, there were 380 schools, exclusive of York Borough. The area of the county is 921 square miles, making the salary $1,671 per annum.

At the ninth triennial convention, which assembled in May, 1881, Capt. Magee of Wrightsville was chosen president; H. C. Smyser of Dillsburg and A. D. Thompson of Hopewell, secretaries. One hundred and sixty-eight directors formed the convention. The candidates were D. G. Williams, S. J. Barnett, J. P. Hays and Daniel Simon. Mr. Williams was re-elected.

On May 7, 1884, the tenth convention was presided over by B. Frank Koller of Shrews- bury, with William Heltzel of Hanover, H. C. Smyser of Dillsburg, and Capt. Magee of Wrightsville, as secretaries. One hundred and eighty-five directors voted. The candi- dates were D. G. Williams, H. C. Brenneman, D. J. Barnett, M. H. Seitz, D. H. Gardner, J. P. Hays and Jacob Smith. Mr. Williams was again re-elected, and is the present effic- ient county superintendent.

There are now 397 schools, and the salary is $1,786.50 per annum. Since 1854 one hundred and six permanent certificates have been granted by the school department at Harrisburg to teachers in York County. There are 144 frame and 220 brick school- houses in the county. The last of the old-time

366

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

log houses has disappeared. But a number of those now standing are reported unfit for use.

THE COUNTY TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

The first session of the county institute assembled in the court-house, in York, on Saturday, December 23, 1854. According to an account of said meeting in the York Gazette, the following teachers and directors were present: Teachers-John Taylor, Dan- iel Klinefelter, Solomon Meyers, J.N. Taylor, Ephraim Trimmer, Aaron Trimmer, Jonas Deisinger, George M. Ettinger, J. M. Alding- er, W. H. Jordon, L. Haney, S. S. Mathews, John Keller, E. Keller, J. E. Kline, Daniel Beitzel, W. F. Davis, C. A. Ebert, G. Scheffer, W. H. Bond, J. M. G. Wiseman, Zachariah Rudy, Michael Galligher, Charles Alexander, Henry S. Bear, Martin L. Dnhling, and John Conoway. Directors -Jacob Dehuff, Wind- sor; E. Garretson, Spring Garden; William Diehl, Seven Valley; Jacob Falcomer, Pine Hill; David Smyser, West Manchester; Dr. W. S. Roland, Alexander J. Frey, J. Jessop, William Sayres, and Dr. A. R. Blair, all of York. In the absence of the county super- intendent, Dr. Roland was called to the chair, William Diehl and David Smyser were chosen vice presidents; J. W. Graham and Dr. A. R. Blair, secretaries. The institute passed an elaborate set of resolutions, with an exhaustive preamble, complaining bitterly of the same evils that still beset the system. It was resolved to call another county con- vention of teachers and directors on Thurs- day, January 25, 1855, which meeting lasted till Saturday noon, of the same week, and was addressed by Hon. Thomas H. Burrowes and Rev. Charles Martin. From this small beginning the county institute has grown in importance and influence. It is now ac- knowledged to be a strong lever in supporting and encouraging a healthful educational feeling in the county. Since the legislative act has been passed requiring all boards of education of the public schools to allow the teachers full time for attending the Institute, nearly every teacher in the county is regularly in attendance for the entire week. The ses- sions are held annually, and continue for five days. Some of the ablest instructors and lecturers in the country are selected.

A large number of the citizens of York Borough and the county attend these annual meetings, and Institute week is looked for- ward to with great interest. The State annually appropriates $200 to its benefit.

YORK BOROUGH SCHOOLS.

The town of York was laid out in 1741,

but before this time parochial schools were opened in connection with the "Evangelical Lutheran Church of Codorus," now Christ's Lutheran. A school was opened in 1735. Barthol Maul was teacher. The German Re- formed people also had a parochial school in connection with their church, which was opened about the same time. Ludwig Kraft was teacher in 1740, and for many years later. These two schools and others of a similar character, were kept in operation for many years. There were subscription schools in force at different times, but no accurate history of their work can be written, on account of insufficient data. Rev. John An- drews, an Episcopal clergyman, conducted a Latin school in York, previous to the Revo- lutionary War. It was still in operation in 1785, and enjoyed a good patronage. John Dobbins, W. H. Brown, D. B. Prince, Roger Dougherty and John A. Wilson, were success- ful teachers of private and classical schools before the common school law was passed.

THE ACT OF 1834.

After the passage of this act, considerable trouble was manifested.

At a public meeting, in the court house, in November, 1835, notwithstanding the most violent opposition, it was resolved, by a considerable majority, that an experiment should be made of the advantages, offered by the law of the preceding year. As the greater part of business, in those days, was conducted on principles of barter or trade, it was doubted by many whether any tax could be collected for school purposes. Many resisted the pay- ment of tax as long as possible, and the col- lector's duty was far more burdensome, and much less lucrative, than in these modern times. The only compensation of the treas- urer was exoneration from militia duty, while the maledictions of rich and poor alike were heaped upon the collector. The follow- ing are the names of the first directors, elected under the provisions of the law of 1834 : Daniel Kraber, Frederick Baugher, John Voglesong, Dr. T. N. Haller, Jacob Laumaster, James Chalfant, Joseph Garret- son, C. A. Morris, Dr. Alexander Small, Dr. Luke Rouse, Jacob Emmett, aud James My- ers.

The borough, from the organization of the school system, was divided into two wards for school purposes, viz. ; North and South, which division continues to the present time in the purchase, ownership and sale of school property, or erection of new buildings, a separate and distinct tax being levied in each ward for this purpose.

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History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 72

Author: Gibson, John, Editor Publication date: 1886 Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104