USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 20
USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 20
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$134.77
Salisbury ..
59.60
Lower Macungie ...
51 48
South Whitehall.
13.91
Upper Milford.
41,03
Northampton ...
36.73
Upper Sancon
30.22
Hanover .....
21 39
Weissenberg
21.12
Upper Macungie,
8.27
North Whitehall.
8.07
Heidelberg
6.42
Lowbill
30
Total
$703.4116
In 1834 the amount raised for the purpose of de- fraying the tuition of the indigent children exceeded $1000, the distribution being as follows :
Borongh of Northampton ..
$440.58
Salisbury.
1.14.69
South Whitehall ....
25.61
Upper sancon ..
76 41
Upper Milford ..
46 89
Upper Macungie ..
23.80
Lower Macungie.
28.53
North Whitehall
22.59
Heidelberg ...
12 .. 15
Weissenberg.
20 01
Hanover.
108.21
1.ow hill
l.yın ...
2.(1)
Northampton,
12.8.1
Total
$1000.05
The following year (1835) a still greater sum, $1153.43, was divided among the townships.
In the mean time the free school law of 1834 had been passed. Of this law Thaddeus Stevens is gen- erally acknowledged to have been the most powerful and effective champion. While the Pennsylvania Germans were, as a rule, opposed to the establishment of free schools,-partly because the measure was a novelty, and partly because it severed education from positive religion,-it is a notable fact that the first Governor who took a decided stand in favor of the system was a Pennsylvania German. Governor Jolin Andrew Schulze, of Bucks County, came out strongly
in favor of establishing a system of free sehools as carly as 1827. Governor George Wolf, who "signed with warm indorsement" the bill of 1834, was also a Pennsylvania German,-a native of Northampton County.
The general law of the State, enacted in 1809, pro- vided for the education of the poor gratis, and it was under its provisions that the sums of money we have already stated were raised and applied. The law failed to do the good that was intended by its framers, chiefly for the reason that there were few families who cared to place themselves on record as being too poor to pay the tuition of their children. In his great speech in the House of Representatives, Thaddeus Stevens said that the bill of 1809 instead of being called a public school law, ought to be entitled "an act for branding and marking the poor, so that they may be known from the rich and proud." While the country was sparsely settled, the system of schools under the law of 1809 was perhaps the best that could be devised and operated.
The new law (of 1834) made the schools free alike to rich and poor, high and low, and provided for their support by taxation. It was made optional for town- ships to accept or reject by election the provisions of the act. There was a strong opposition to the law in Lchigh County, the rich being in most cases unwilling to pay a heavy tax for the poor, and the latter fre- quently unwilling to pay the small share that would fall upon them. Therefore, when the township elec- tions were held, there were heavy votes cast against the free-school law. Allentown and the township of Hanover accepted it the first year, and then followed Lynn through the influence of the Kistlers and Mosers. (The dates of acceptance by the different townships are all given in the table on the preceding page.) Those townships which refused to accept the new law continued the operation of the old one, and in 1839 the total amount received for the education of their poor children was $1022.16, distributed as follows :
Upper Milford.
$211.47
Upper Sancon ....
155.67
Lower Macungie.
1.14 27
South Whitehall.
111.50
North Whitehall
115.00
Upper Macungie
130.80 .
Lowhill
$3.13
Weissenberg
31.92
Heidelberg
2.01
Total
$1022.16
The effect of the law of 1834 is thus described by Prof. Knanss :
"The free-school system at first gave no better teachers, but it regulated the location of school-houses, formed new districts, and brought the children into the schools. If a person had to pay tax he wanted the value of his money. The children learned what was to be learned under the old teachers. Better ones were not to be had, but more teachers were appointed. Soon, however, young men saw that teaching was a profession, and many devoted them- selves more to the cause, sought for education, and
1
77
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
the teaching power grew. In this way the sehools were gradually improved, until the higher and normal schools commenced to educate and prepare better teachers."
There was a show of improvement going on in the schools during the years following the passage of the free-school law, but no decisive step of advancement was taken until twenty years later, in 1854, when the office of county superintendent was established. Charles W. Cooper, Esq., was elected to this office in Lehigh County on June 5th, and had the honor of being the pioneer in a new field. The task which confronted him was a difficult one, but he entered upon it with zeal, and discharged the duties of the offiee with ability and good results until September, 1855, when he resigned, Tilghman Good being ap- pointed his successor.1
Mr. Cooper's report of 1855 is interesting reading at the present day, and affords a very good idea of the condition of the schools of Lehigh County thirty years ago. Of the teachers he says, "The strict letter of the law would have compelled me to reject a still greater number (greater than twenty-nine), but under the cireumstanees I did not consider it policy, though the character of some of the certificates amounted to more than a rejection. I will mention one as an illustration. In one of the districts, where the compensation of teachers is not very liberal, I was requested to examine a young man pronounced by those who had previously employed him and who desired again to employ as a very competent teacher. After having spent quite a long time in endeavoring to ascertain in what branches he ex- eelled, I gave him a temporary certificate, with every branch erased except orthography, reading, and elementary principles of arithmetic, with a written addition below of, 'That which is not crascd the ! holder is still very deficient in.' The applicant was mueh pleased with his certifieate, and was afterwards employed to teach the best school in the district, the written addition below being taken to mean an extra recommendation. This, however, was the only case
"Of our school-houses," he continues, "I hardly know what to say. If I must be eandid, I will only say they are ' nothing to brag of.' They are either of the octagon or square order, with desks attached to in which so much deficiency received even a seraprof . the wall, and high seats, without distinction, where paper from me."
That there were teachers doing duty in the county who were not possessed of extraordinary ability or qualifications for the profession would seem certain from the following application for a certificate, here copied with literal exactness :
" TOWNSHIP, Lehigh county
" Der Sir,, I lInve tryed all means To Become a teacher in our School hons And It Seems Thare is nun To be fount So i am obliged to Due it myself again. They All a Satisfied without me having A Sateficat from yon,, But I would Rether Have one from you,, I am able to Teuch Read- ing, Riting, English and Cherman Pike Rose Mensuration Surveying & Which is not all Required in our School And this i am able to Dne purfeet, Now if you pleas Sont me a Satificat By mule,, If you will come and visit my School you may Exeman me if you think Prope to Dite -
I The nines of all the county school superintendents ure given in the chapter containing the civil list.
-
So,, you know I have Bin at - - at the time of your Examination, I think it Is very Obyous to you that i amable To teach School and the Black Board,, i am Also able to Support in all practical questions, Intrest, Bark, Stone,, Circle questions and oblicks, Coans, Squares and cimme circles and all Cints of questions that you will
" Require of Me
" Yourth Respectfuly 0
- Post office"
The address upon the envelope was :
"CW COOPER Eqr "County Superintent " Coopersburg " Pa
"If i mistake not"
And that there were such teachers does not seem strange when there were trustees in offiee capable of the following :
" TOWNSHIP Oct 10th 1854 " We the undersined the Trosthies of the - ('ool Tistricht to Rec- comant - - as our Cool Deeger To Mr C Cooper the Lehigh County Super In tentend wish him have him to be Xamened &c
" Yours Rasptfuly
Trostees"
=
Notwithstanding some untoward circumstances, Mr. Cooper found the schools in general in a promising condition. He says, " The schools I found well at- tended, some too well, and as a general thing quite an interest was manifested by both teacher and scholars. It was an easy task, however, to distinguish the dis- triets which had accepted the system previous to the act of 1849.2 In all such districts I found better sys- tem, better teachers, better pay, and consequently better instruction than in those which have only had the system since 1849. There seems to be a deter- mination in every district to 'put the shoulder to the wheel,' and to push on the cause of education. With such a spirit manifesting itself, it will not be long before Lehigh can be justly proud of her public schools."
little 'shavers' can neither touch the bottom or sup- port backs from the opening of school to the time of dismissal, and who are only kept from giving out under such corporal punishment by the magic power of the rod. With the exception of a very fine building at Balliettsville, North Whitehall, and several buildings in the boroughs of Catasauqua and Allentown, all the school-houses in this county agree with the foregoing description."
In 1856, Mr. Good stated in his report that "twenty- six teachers give full satisfaction ; sixty-two may be called medium, and employed till better ones can be proeured; seventy-nine would better be dismissed from the service."
2 An net compelling acceptance of the provisions of the law of 1834.
78
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
In 1858 the superintendent said, "The various boards of directors are no longer satisfied with the mere fact that a person calls himself a teacher. In many instances he is troubled with questions, fre- quently such as these, to wit: How many years have yon been engaged in the profession? Where did you teach last year? What kind of a certificate do you hold, and what mode of teaching and government do you adopt in your school ?"
In 1860 the superintendent noted that "the teachers have improved, both in scholarship and manner of imparting instruction."
In 1871 " the first strictly rural graded school is found in Whitehall District, and has been very sue- cessful."
Thus it will be noticed there was a general and gradual improvement in the efficiency of the teachers, and consequently in the condition of the schools. One of the most important factors in the onward movement was the Teachers' Institute, which was first held in 1858, and has since been maintained, holding one session annually, with the exception of a period of three years. These teachers' meetings have stimu- lated study on the part of those engaged in giving instruction, and have also favorably moulded public opinion.
CHAPTER XIL.
LEHIGH COUNTY IN THE WAR OF THE REBEL- LION.
Lehigh Men among the first in the Field-Histories and Rosters of the Forty-seventh and Other Regiments-The Emergency Men-Action of County Officials during the Rebellion.
THE 12th of April, 1861, is memorable from the fact that then began the most colossal and bloody civil strife that the world ever witnessed. The Executive of Pennsylvania on that morning received a telegram in these words: " The war is commenced. The bat- teries begau tiring at four o'clock this morning. Maj. Anderson replied, and a brisk cannonading com- meneed. This is reliable and has just come to the Associated Press. The vessels were not in sight." This startling intelligence was flashed by wire throughout the United States, The Northern people, who had hoped that war might be averted, could not mistake the import of this first overt act of the ene- mies of the Union. They accepted the arbitrament of the sword. On the 15th of April, three days after the firing upon Fort Suinter, President Lincoln issued his proclamation ealling out the militia of the several States to the number of seventy-five thousand. On the afternoon of the same day the Secretary of War telegraphed to Governor Curtin that a call had been made on Pennsylvania for sixteen regiments, aud that two regiments were wanted within three days,
for the national capital was entirely unprotected, and it was feared that it would be attacked. The Execu- tive telegraphed to every part of the commonwealth an appeal for men to come forward in companies and squads with the utmost dispatch for the defense of Washington. Soon the air and human hearts were everywhere pulsating with the wild war music of the fife and drum.
The officers of the few organized companies in the State, as the intelligence of the appeal reached them, hastily called their men together and tendered their services to the Governor. One of the first thus promptly to respond was the Allen Guard, of Allen- town, commanded by Capt. Thomas Yeager.
Just here, before entering npon the history of this company, it may be well to remark that no sooner had these meu left for the field than action was taken by the authorities for the relief of their families, the first of a series of patriotic measures on the part of Lehigh County officials, of which we shall have more to say at the conclusion of this chapter.
The Allen Guard, One of the first Five Com- panies of the State .- The Allen Guard having tendered their services to the State and being accepted by the Governor, proceeded to Harrisburg on the 17th of April, and were mustered into service on the fol- lowing day. Arriving simultaneously, or nearly so, with this company were the Ringgold Light Artillery, Capt. MeKnight, of Reading; the Logan Guards, Capt. Selheimer, of Lewiston; the Washington Guards, Capt. Wren ; and the National Light Infantry, Capt. McDonald, of Pottsville. On the morning of the 18th there also arrived from the West a detachment of regulars of Company H, Fourth Artillery, under com- mand of Lieut. Pemberton (afterward a lieutenant- general of the Confederate army). These regulars and the volunteers of the five companies departed on the same train, at nine o'clock A.M. of the 18th, the former for Fort Mellemy, near Baltimore, and the latter for Washington, and arrived at Baltimore at one P.M. The volunteers were under the necessity of marching about two miles through the city from one station to another. The volunteers, mostly nuarmed, were crowded and hustled along their line of march by a wild mob, composed of thousands of the rebel roughs of Baltimore, the same infuriated horde which made a brutal and bloody attack npon the Massachu- setts Sixth on the following day. At seven o'clock p.M. of the 18th "these five companies, the head of the grand column of two millions of men who were afterwards mustered and marched in their footprints, arrived in Washington. Their timely arrival was the occasion of much joy. They immediately commenced barricading the capitol, and remained in the city ready for any emergency. After twenty-four other regi- ments were organized and fully equipped, these first companies, which were justly entitled to the first place in the first regiment, were organized as a part of the Twenty-fifth and last regiment of three months'
-
79
LEHIGH COUNTY IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
men. Bates, in his "History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers," says, "In the progress of the gigantie struggle which ensued . . . so many and such bril- liant serviees have been rendered by the soldiers of the national armies, that the timely march of these companies has been little noted. But the value of their presence in the capital at this eritieal juneture cannot be overlooked in any fair estimate of the eauses which led to our triumph; and it must ever be regarded as one of the links in that chain of great events, seemingly planned by Providence, for our de- liverance." The thanks of the House of Representa- tives, which are rarely tendered, and only for great and most signal services to the State, were expressed in the following terms :
"'THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, " July 22, 1861. " Resolved, That the thanks of this House are due, and are hereby tendered to the five hundred and thirty soldiers from Pennsylvania, who passed through the mob at Baltimore, and reached Washington on the 18th of April last, for the defense of the National capital.
" GALUSHA A. GROW, "Speaker of the House of Representatives."
ALLEN GUARD (three months' service).
Recruited at Allentown. Dlustered into service at Harrisburg, April 18, 1861.
Thomas Yeager, captain ; James M. Wilson, first lieutenant; Joseph T. Wilt, second lieutenant ; Joseph T. Wilt, first sergeant; Solomon Goble, second sergeant; William Wolf, first corporal ; John E. Webster, second corporal ; Ignitz Cressor, third corporal ; Daniel Kramer, fourth corporal.
Privates. .
Cole, Norman H.
Miller, Edwin H.
Deitrich, Charles,
McNulty, Henry.
Derr, llenry W.
Pfeffer, Charles A.
Dunlap, Milton II.
Rieber, Jonathan W.
Early, William. Frederich, Gideon.
Ruhe, William. Rothman, Ernest.
Rhoads, George W.
Fuller, Malhew R. Frame, William G. Gross, Edwin. Geldner, James. Henry, George F. llouck, John.
Romig, John.
Schenck, Samuel.
Storch, Henry. Shiffert, Charles A.
Hillegas, Nathaniel.
Ilettinger, Joseph.
Sheidler, Adolphus.
Ilox worth, George.
Sheidler, Enville.
Ilittle, Edwin M.
Uhler, John F.
Jacob, David,
Wetherhold, Allou.
Iles, William.
Weiss, David.
heiper, George W.
Wagner, William.
lolsenring, Martin W. Leh, Franklin.
Weiss, Joseph.
Weyandt, Benneville.
The First Pennsylvania Regiment. - The Allen Rifles, a company in Allentown, which had several years been organized and under the command of Capt. Tilghman H. Good, on the organization of the First Pennsylvania Regiment became a part of it, and was designated as Company I. The members of the eom- pany volunteered their services on the 13th of April, 1861, and they were offered to and accepted by the Governor on the 15th. On the 18th the volunteers left their homes and families, unarmed and without uniforms or equipments, and proceeded to Harrisburg.
On the 20th of April the First Pennsylvania Regi- ment was organized by the choice of Samuel Yohe, of
Easton, as colonel ; Tilghman H. Good, of Allentown, as lieutenant-colonel ; and Thomas W. Lynn as major ; while James Miltimore was designated as adjutant. The captain of Company I (the Allen Rifles) having been elected lieutenant-colonel, William A. Gausler was chosen to fill the vacancy. We may remark here that most of the members of this company re-enlisted in other organizations after their term was out, and that all but a few of them received commissions during the war, ranking them from lieutenant to colonel.
On the night of the 20th of April the regiment left Harrisburg under command of Brig .- Gen. George G. Wynkoop, and proceeded first to a point near Cockeys- ville, Md., then to Camp Seott, near York, Pa. Cloth- ing and eamp equipage were received here, and on the 14th of May it entered on the duty of guarding the Northern Central Railroad from the Pennsylvania line to near Baltimore. May 25th it was ordered to Cantonville, Md. ; on the 29th to Franklintown, and on the 3d of June to Chambersburg, where it was assigned to the Second Brigade; from there it was ordered with its brigade to Hagerstown, and thenee, on the 21st of June, to Frederick, Md. It then went to Martinsburg, Va., where it did garrison duty till July 17th. It was then, with its brigade, engaged in making demonstrations in front of the enemy till after the battle of Bull Run. On the 21st it was ordered to Harper's Ferry, and on the 23d it took passage for Harrisburg, where the men were discharged and innstered out of the United States service.
FIRST REGIMENT (three months' service).
COMPANY I.
William HI. Gausler, captain ; E. P. Rhoads, first lleutenant; Benjamin C. Roth, second lieutenant; Abeile Ileilman, first sergeant; Edwin G. Mnench, second sergeant; llenry Fried, third sergeant; Noah Trumbor, fourth sergeant; Heury Trumbor, first corporal; Mahlon Fried, second corporal; Daniel C. Miller, third corporal; Charles Mertz, fourth corporal; Julius Bonkert, musician ; Augustus Ebert, musician.
Privates.
Albright, Tilgunmn.
Ilaldeman, llenry.
Albright, James.
Keck, Thomas.
Blumer, Henry A.
Koeler, Lewis.
Blank, Wellington J.
Kramer, Solomon.
Bechtel, Daniel. Keck, Franklin.
Behlen, Anthony.
Klockner, William.
Bergenstock, David.
Konohl, Melchoir.
Crist, Nelson.
Kramer, Henry.
Dech, William. Kuhns, Alonzo,
Denins, Tilghman.
Keiper, Henry.
Eichel, John.
Kleckner, Benjamin.
Egge, l'erry.
Lanbach, Thomas,
Ginginger, William.
Leiser, James.
Guth, Henry.
Miller, Tilghman.
Ganmer, Willonghby.
Miller, Henry.
Haldeman, Willim II.
Mohr, Heury.
Iliskey, Oliver.
Miller, Charles.
Hlekit, Jonas. Harris, William P'. Huber, Peter.
MeCrystal, James.
Hammersley, Ellis.
Nunnermaker, Daniel.
Nagel, Andrew.
Ochs, Jesse.
Remmel, l'eter.
Hackman, Charles.
Ilardner, David.
Moyer, William J.
Nonnermaker, John.
Hilliard, Williamt.
Hackman, Martin, Ilalso, Charles.
Roth, Edwin. Ritz, Tilghumn.
: Sigman, M. Il. Seip, Lewis G.
80
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Rehr, Lewis.
Smith, Joseph. Trexler, Franklin.
Remmel, Edward.
Seip, James M.
Trexler, Henry.
Van Dyke, Walter.
Wenner, George.
Worman, Abraham.
Wagner, Henry. Wasser, Franklin.
The Ninth Regiment (Three Months' Service). -- Of this regiment, recruited under the call for sev- enty-five thousand men, issued by the President April 15, 1861, Company D was from Lehigh County, and about one-half of its members were enlisted at Cata- sauqua. In that town a meeting was held immedi- ately after the publication of the President's call. Patriotic addresses were. made by David Thomas, M. H. Horn, George W. Cyphers, and others, and a feeling aroused which bore immediate fruit, and not only that, but had an effect throughout the war period. At a second meeting, held on April 17th, the number of enlistments was increased to forty. These men were consolidated with a squad then being enlisted at Allentown, and left for Harrisburg on the 19th, where they were mustered into service on the 24th.
At the town-meeting in Catasauqua the following persons were appointed a committee to go with the enlisted men to Harrisburg, and attend to their wants until they were mustered into service : Joshua Hunt, M. H. Horn, William Miller, C. D. Fuller, V. W. Weaver, and George W. Cyphers. . After they were duly mustered, Governor Curtin commissioned M. H. Horn, of this committee, with authority to visit their camps and attend to their wants generally.
From the date of muster the Ninth Regiment re- mained at Camp Curtin until May 4th, when, having received arms and accoutrements, it proceeded to West Chester, where a camp was established and daily drill had. There it remained until the 26th of May, when it moved by Philadelphia to Wilmington, Del., to strengthen the loyal feeling in that region. The reg- iment remained in camp at Hare's Corner, Del., until Inne 6th, when it was ordered to join Gen. Patter- son's command at Chambersburg, Pa. Here it was attached to the Fourth Brigade, First Division, com- manded by Col. Dixon HI. Miles, of the regular army (who was subsequently killed at Harper's Ferry). The regiment advanced to the Potomac on Sunday, June 16th, and encamped on the road between Wil- liamsport and Martinsburg. The regiment subse- quently recrossed the Potomac and encamped near Williamsport until July Ist, when the whole army in and about that place removed across the river in the direction of Martinsburg, Va. The enemy under Jackson having retreated from Falling Waters, the Ninth encamped on the 2d of July on their camp- grounds. From the 2d to the 8th they remained in and about Martinsburg, Va., and on the latter date moved out on the Winchester pike to Bunker Hill, and a general forward movement was decided upon
with a design of giving battle to the enemy concen- trated at Winchester. But before the movement was commenced a council of war was held, after which the order to advance was countermanded. On the 17th the regiment was removed to Charlestown, on the 21st to Harper's Ferry, on the 22d to Hagerstown, and on the 24th to Harrisburg, where the men were mustered out. During their absence the men of Company D were not called upon to face the sternest duties of war, but they performed all that was required of them. The Catasauqua men on their return home were ten- dered a collation, which was served in one of the Crane Iron Company's buildings, and the Allentown boys were also appropriately greeted at the city of their home.
NINTH REGIMENT (three months' service). FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.
Il. C. Longenecker, colonel ; William H. H. Haugen, lieutenant-colonel.
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