USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 23
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103
221
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
nie I would doubtless have been less buoyant. At the appointed hour I was at my post plying the questions (as the stranger at the hotel had pre- dicted), and the old farmers were there, too. and had a hearty laugh at the close over their incredulity.
I was succeeded by a man admirably qualified for the work, Prof. Sam- tel R. Thompson, for some time principal of the State Normal School of Nebraska, and subsequently appointed superintendent of the schools of that State, who served one complete term and part of a second, Messrs. H. R. Stewart and D. R. Coder completing the term. Mr. H. D. Persons was elected in 1866, and served two full terms, when, in 1872, he was succeeded by James C. Graham, who served two terms. In 1878 C. F. Chamberlan was elected and served till 1884, then J. C. Sturdevant, who was succeeded in 1890 by George I. Wright, who in 1896 was succeeded by E. M. Mixer, present incumbent.
In the grading of schools and the erection of substantial and costly edifices most has been done within the last ten years. Grading had been commenced at an earlier date, but for want of enough and suitable buildings it was imperfect. Meadville, Titusville, Conneautville, Saegertown, Venan- goboro, Cambridge Springs, Gravel Run, Hartstown, Evansburg, Har- monsburg. Springboro, Spartansburg, Cochranton, Mosiertown had their schools more or less perfectly graded twenty years ago. New buildings were erected in 1858-9 in the south ward, in Meadville, of brick, in Titus- ville of wood, and in several other of the places named at about this time. In the north ward, as in the early days, when a building was no longer needed for martial purposes, it was taken for school purposes, so now the State having no more use for it the old arsenal was transferred to the city for the purposes of education, and where the rumble and clatter of artillery and caisson carriages had resounded was now heard the word of instruction and the responsive voice of the pupil, -- the bullet yielding to the book. The arsenal property where now stands the north ward building was donated to the city by the State through the influence of the late Darwin A. Finney, who was then a State Senator and secured the passage of the act of donation.
On the Ist of May, 1861, all the schools of Meadville were organized under one management. the two ward organizations uniting in the Board of Control, and it was decided in the September following to grade the schools of both wards upon the same basis, which previously had been un-
222
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
equal and diverse, and to establish a Union High School. The law author- izing this consolidation had been just previously passed and Dr. Burrowes, who had sketched with such enlightened and broad minded views the towering system in 1836, but which till now it had been impossible to real- ize, had just come again to the head of the school department, after the lapse of nearly a quarter of a century, and displayed in his executive capac- ity all the fire and zeal of his more youthful days and all the power of his eminently organizing mind. He had done me the honor to select me as his deputy and I can bear testimony to his talent for laying out work and keeping all the forces in his department up to the full stretch of their capacity for executing it. One of his first measures was to unite all the wards in cities under one common management, and this action of the Mead- ville boards was in response to his appeals. Another of his cherished pro- jects was to look up all the old academy and worn out college properties and have them transferred to the Boards of Control for public high schools. Many of these institutions had lands and endowment properties which had become quite valuable; but in the majority of cases were accomplishing little in the way of elevated culture. In 1864 the Meadville Academy property was transferred to the Board of Control, together with invested funds, and the high school was permanently established. In 1870 this building, which was sadly dilapidated, was temporarily abandoned and the school was continued in the south ward building, while it was undergoing thorough repairs and refurnishing. In 1888 a fine high school building, containing offices, chapel and seating capacity for 200 pupils, was erected on the site of the old building. In Titusville the building which had been erected in 1858 was enlarged by the addition of four rooms. Two years later this building was destroyed by fire, but was replaced by a much finer structure which was taken for a public high school, and three other build- ings were subsequently erected of brick, fine substantial structures, alto- gether capable of accommodating 1,600 pupils. The schools of that city are admirably graded and managed under able superintendents.
In Meadville the south ward building of brick, three stories in height, capable of accommodating 700 pupils, was erected, and ten years later an ad- dition, two stories, containing eight rooms, was made, and the north ward building, also of brick. two stories in height, but covering more ground sur- face, with capacity for a like number of pupils was entered, in September,
223
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
1869, and in 1896 an elegant new building with eight rooms was erected on the same lot. A superintendent was elected 1867 who at first taught a portion of his time in the high school, but subsequently devoted all his energies to the duties of his office. Prof. G. W. Haskins was the first superintendent, who, from his organizing mind and thorough scholarship, was able to bring fornr out of chaos. He was succeeded by Mr. W. C. J. Hall in 1869, who, from his military education, was able to bring many improvements into the order and method of the schools, and especially in handling quickly and quietly a regiment of young Americans, numbering daily nearly 800, as is found gathered in each ward. He was, too, an enthusiast in natural science, and did much to popularize this branch. He was succeeded in 1872 by his predecessor. Prof. Haskins, and he in turn by myself on the Ist of January, 1875. The schools were organized on two entirely different systems. In the south ward from beginning to end each room has a teacher and a school independent of every other. In the north, after the third year, the pupils study in a large room, and are sent out by classes to recitation where teachers are in waiting to instruct them. Each plan has its advantages. The latter requires more teaching force: but there is a great advantage in having all the study done under the eye of one person whose duty it is to watch and keep them in order, and the teachers are not troubled with looking after any pupils but the class which is sent to her. In the former. where each room has a separate school, the teacher in addition to teaching has the rest of her school to look after and govern; but she has the advant- age of having constantly the same pupils with her, and can exert her per- sonal influence over them more directly than she could if her classes were constantly changing. The credit for the building and fitting of so good and substantial buildings and the organizing of so excellent a system of schools was largely due to Mr. Alfred Huidekoper, Professor Frederic Huidekoper. Prof. Marvin, Prof. Tingley, Dr. A. B. Robins, Joshua Doug- lass, Dr. Livermore, Arthur Cullum, who were all members of the board during this period when the battle was fought, and when opposition was encountered at almost every turn. The fund donated by Mr. George B. Delamater to the north ward and a similar fund to the south ward by Mr. A. Huidekoper for the purchase of reference books, apparatus and works of art have been productive of untold good. These books are in daily and
224
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
almost constant use, and fill an office which could be supplied in no other way.
We have thus seen how the matter of public education has progressed from the feeble beginnings in the block house on Water street to its present fair proportions. Few, if any, statistics were kept before the year 1836, when the common school system began to get into successful operation, but from that time forward we have complete returns. I have chosen three typical years, 1836, infancy or birth of the system; 1856, youth, when it took on a new mantle and the system was revived, and 1876 and '96, its man- hood, to exhibit its comparative workings.
ships and districts.
Number of town-
of schools.
Whole number
months taught.
Average number
teachers.
No. male
teachers.
Female
of males.
Salaries
of females.
Salaries
Male scholars.
Female scholars.
ing purposes.
Tax levied for school and build-
State ap.
teachers' wages.
Total
repairs.
Building
1836
25 123 4.1-5
1856
41 322 5
133 269
90 $12.03 $4.75 2,342 1,947 $1,033.67 $3,115.20 20.86 9.82 6,710 5,818
23,270.18 3,362.10 $18,683.90
$3,115.00 7, 1IS.II
1876
63 413 6
142 344
38.18 23.10 8,839 7,679 133,551.00 14,145.69 34.15 27.66 7,407 6,956 130,961.00 38,645.00
74,582.00
14,434.00
1896
64 497 7.35
149 362
80
Enfruwanga July 18, 193
-
We are frost informed that the Federal Troops at This Station have Order to March in a few Days down The Ohio, of Course the Post will. bu eauratio , and the settlement of the Country mus . Discouraged
Perfore we request that you will be placed to Order a Sergeants Command of Hate troops to support the Post, un But should it not be in your Power to grant wany relief, we wish you to let us know by the find Opportunity what Grosputs we can have and also that you forward the Inclosed better with Delay Iam in be half of the Inhabitants your most Quaient and very Humble Servant
Davide Meads
Col Nwill
Manuscript Letter by David Mead, in 1793.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CRAWFORD COUNTY IN WAR TIMES.
T HE close of the American Revolution left the United Colonies very poor. Alexander Hamilton, as secretary of the treasury, estab- lished the credit of the United Colonies, and Albert Gallitin, as his successor, kept down every expense of the new nation, until its indebted- ness was liquidated. The consequence was that its preparation for war was neglected. Not so the English nation. Along the whole Canada frontier a line of military posts was kept up, the Indians were studiously kept in the interest of the English military force, and upon the ocean the naval commanders were arrogant, searching our merchantmen and taking away our seamen with a high hand. Remonstrances brought no relief, and war was the result. In resources the British nation was superior; but in resolute men the United States then, as now, was not inferior to any nation on the face of the earth.
Governor Snyder, who was then in the gubernatorial chair of Pennsyl- vania, organized the militia into two grand divisions, one for the east and another for the west. The western division was under the command of Maj .- Gen. Adamson Tannehill, of Pittsburg. The State was afterwards subdivided into several military districts, and Maj .- Gen. David Mead, of Meadville, was assigned to the command of the sixteenth division. In August, 1812, Capt. James Cochran's company of riflemen, recruited in Crawford County, marched to Erie. Portents of war thickening, orders were received from Harrisburg, on September 14th, to Brigade Inspector William Clark, of the sixteenth division, to call out the quota of 2,000 men, to be taken from counties west of the Alleghany Mountains to rendezvous at Pittsburg and Meadville. Instructions were issued for recruits to as- semble at Meadville for immediate service, and for the formation of a brigade. A camp was laid out on ground tendered by Samuel Lord, south
225
15
226
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
and west of the college campus. In this camp were companies commanded by Captains Sample. Miller, Warner, Thomas, Buchanan, Forster, Vance, Patterson, McGerry, Kleckner and Derickson. Two rifle regiments, com- manded by Colonels Irwin and Piper, and the first regiment of infantry, commanded by Colonel Syder, left for Buffalo, on the 25th of October. At Waterford the second infantry regiment, under Colonel Purviance, joined the column. Before the close of 1812 the detachment of General Tanne- hill had dwindled down to 200 men, which was left to the command of Major James Harriott, General Tannehill being absent on furlough. This force was soon discharged.
In the summer of 1812 Captain Daniel Dobbins was sent by Gen. David Mead as bearer of dispatches to the general government, which got from the captain the first reliable information of the loss of Mackinaw and Detroit. At a meeting of the cabinet he was asked to give his view of the requirements on Lake Erie. He earnestly advocated the establishment of a naval station and the building of a fleet powerful enough to cope with the British upon the lake. These suggestions were adopted. A sailing mas- ter's commission was given him and he was ordered to proceed to Erie and commence the construction of gunboats, and report to Commodore Chauncy at Sackett's Harbor. The command on the lake was assigned to Lieut. Oliver Hazard Perry, who arrived at Erie on the 27th of March, 1813. `He had served as a midshipman in the war with Tripoli. He was but twenty-seven years old. His first step was to provide for the defense of the post. In consultation with General Mead it was decided to call a thousand militia to rendezvous at Erie before the 20th of April. One artillery company came up from Luzerne County, which was ordered to take the four brass field pieces belonging to the State stored at Waterford. Of practical ship builders at this time at this place there were few, and Perry and Dobbins were obliged to accept the services of carpenters and black- smiths. The timber needed for the gunboats was still standing in the neighborhood when wanted, and had to be felled and used green. Iron had to be gathered up wherever it could be found. A considerable stock was bought in Pittsburg and was brought in flat boats up the Allegheny and Venango Rivers. Fortunately these streams remained at flood tide long after they had usually dropped down to a stage insufficient for boat- ing. The British fleet came down, as if to spy out what was being done.
227
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
To give the impression that a much larger force was in hand than there actually was the columns were kept marching.
Having been completed and lifted over the bar, the American squadron left on a cruise in search of the enemy, and found them in the mouth of the Detroit River, but they could not be tempted out. On the 6th of Septem- ber the entire American fleet, with the exception of the Ohio, which had been sent to Erie for provisions, was anchored in Put-in-Bay, on the south shore of Kelley's Island. "Believing," says Brown. "that the crisis was near at hand, Perry, on the evening of the 7th, summoned his officers on board the Lawrence, announced his plan of battle, produced his fighting flag, ar- ranged a code of signals, and issued his final instructions. On the 10th, at the rising of the sun, the lookout shouted the thrilling words, 'Sail, ho!' and the men of the squadron, who were almost instantly astir, soon saw the British vessels, six in number. Still feeble from sickness as he was, Perry gave the signal immediately to get under way, adding that he was determined to fight the enemy that day! The battle took place about ten miles north of Put-in-Bay, and the action began, on the part of the Amer- icans, at five minutes before 12 o'clock. In less than four hours the boasted prowess of England had been swept from the lake, while the following famous dispatch to General Harrison sent a thrill of patriotism through every loyal heart in the land: 'We have met the enemy and they are ours; two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop; yours with great respect and esteem, O. H. Perry.'" It appears from correspondence between Gen- eral Mead and the State Department at Harrisburg that when Perry was ready to sail he was deficient in men, and that he requested the General to induce some of his troops to volunteer for service on his vessels, and that 100 of the militia did volunteer and serve in that glorious achievement. When all was done, General Harrison wrote to Governor Snyder the fol- lowing commendatory note of the Pennsylvania troops: "I can assure you there is no corps on which I rely with more confidence, not only for the fidelity of undaunted valor in the field, but for those virtues which are more rarely found amongst the militia-patience and fortitude under great hard- ships and deprivations-and cheerful obedience to all commands of their officers."
There were no organized bodies of troops that served in the Mexican war from Crawford County, though there were some individual enlistments.
228
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
When, however, the news that war had been declared was received notice was sent out for the First Battalion, Crawford County Volunteers, to as- semble for parade and review. Col. James Douglass was in command, and on June 6, 1846, the command came with full ranks and was reviewed upon the Diamond at Meadville. A public meeting was held, patriotic speeches were made and a series of resolutions adopted in which the gov- ernment was sustained in its war policy. The battalion again paraded and at the call of Colonel Douglass each of the six companies volunteered their services by marching ten paces to the front.
The election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States was made the pretext for rebellion. The first hostile shot was fired at Fort Sumter on the 12th of April, 1861. Three days thereafter the President called out 75,000 volunteers for a period of three months, "to assist in putting down obstructions to the laws by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings."
On Saturday, April 27, the Meadville company of volunteers estab- lished a camp at the fair grounds on the Island and on the following Sunday afternoon the Stars and Stripes was raised on the ground by Colonel Came- ron, of Toronto, Canada, in whose honor the camp was named Camp Cameron. Before the end of' April five companies had been raised in Craw- ford County and their services tendered to the Governor: The Meadville Volunteers, Capt. Henry C. Johnson, 95 men: Allegheny College Volun- teers, Capt. Ira Ayer, 78 men: Conneautville Rifles. Capt. J. L. Dunn, 80 men; Titusville Volunteers, Capt. Charles B. Morgan, 100 men; Spartans- burg Volunteers, 80 men. The companies of Captains Dunn and Morgan were mustered into the Erie regiment .. The Meadville Volunteers, under Capt. Samuel B. Dick, Captain Johnson having resigned, was finally mus- tered into the Thirty-eighth regiment for three years' service, and Captain Ayer's company was given a place in the Thirty-ninth regiment. The Erie regiment remained in camp near Pittsburg until the expiration of its term of service, when it was mustered out.
It is difficult tracing the record of recruits for the three years' service from any one county. It was very rare that an entire regiment came from any county. And even if it did, the recruits which were added from time to time were taken here and there as they could be secured.
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
TROOPS SENT TO THE FRONT FROM CRAWFORD COUNTY. WITH RECORD OF CASUALTIES.
Companies.
Whole
Killed
in Battle.
Wounded
in Battle.
Died.
Term of
Service.
S. B. Dicks Company.
3 Months
38th Regt., 9th Reserve.
.Co. F
120
10
17
7
3 Years
39th Regt., 10th Reserve.
Co. I
145
18
33
8
3 Years
57th Regt.
Co. K
188
8
II
17
3 Years
59th Regt., 2d Cavalry
. Co. I
200
188
20
25
8
3 Years
83d Regt.
Co. B
215
21
50
12
3 Years
83d Regt.
Co. H
175
23
22
19
3 Years
83d Regt.
Co. D
196
17
41
14
3 Years
IIIth Regt.
.Co. F
198
13
41
17
3 Years
113th Regt., 12th Cavalry
136th Regt.
.Co. B
96
145
18
16
14
3 Years
150th
Regt.
Co. C
127
8
6
14
3 Years
150th Regt
Co. H
115
15
24
II
3 Years
150th Regt.
.Co. I
196
II
2
12
3 Years
150th Regt ..
Co. K
123
6
12
18
3 Years
*190th Regt.
*IgIst Regt.
211th Regt.
Co. A
94
6
12
6
I Year
.
..
. .
. .
3 Years
Co. I
84
2
IO
4
9 Months
137th
Regt.
7
9 Months
145th
Regt.
Co. F
200
23
48
15
3 Years
83d Regt.
.Co. A
.
. .
. .
. .
. .
4
3 Years
163d Regt., 18th Cavalry
Co. B
163
.
. . .
* The greater portion of these two regiments were captured and imprisoned at Belle Isle and Saulsbury and not released except hy death till the end of the war.
.
8
3 Years
IIIth Regt
Co. H
Number.
229
CHAPTER XIX.
DEDICATION OF THE MONUMENT TO CORNPLANTER, THE INDIAN SACHEM OF THE SIX NATIONS, WHO SAVED THE EARLY SETTLERS FROM DESTRUCTION.
T HE writer was present in the Senate chamber of Pennsylvania, on the 25th of January, 1866, when Solomon O'Bail, a grandson of Corn- planter, the great Saclient of the Six Nations, the friend of Washing- ton and of the United States, at the invitation of the Senate, appeared in his war paint and feathers, and in the Indian dialect delivered an address. He was in full native costume and in the fiery eloquence of the woods he spoke in that august assembly. Not a single word he uttered was intelligible, but it was evident that he was alive with his subject and in deep earnest. His countenance was flushed, his action noble and dignified and he spoke with great power.
His purpose was to bring to the attention of the Senators the fact that ltis grandfather, who had died in 1836, at the advanced age of 105 years, was resting in an unmarked grave which would, in a few years, be entirely obliterated and become unknown. He spoke in fitting terms of the noble character of his great ancestor and the eminent services he had rendered to our country in the hour of its tribulation, and had advocated among his own people the duty of industry and education and the virtues of justice, truth and temperance.
On the 16th of March, 1796, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had granted to the Seneca tribe of Indians, to which Cornplanter belonged, a tract of land on the Allegheny River above Warren, designated the "Plant- er's Field," where he had lived a life graciously lengthened out, and where he lies buried. Reciprocating the sentiments of the native orator, and in acknowledgment of the virtues and friendship of the aged chieftain, the Senate passed the following joint resolutions:
230
Dedication of Cornplanter Monument.
1
23I
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Whereas, Solomon O'Bail, a grandson of Cornplanter, an Indian who rendered eminent services to the State and nation during the Revolutionary war and the early history of Pennsylvania and Mark Pierce, his interpreter, have just had a hearing before the Senate;
And, Whereas, A recognition of the eminent services of Cornplanter is due from the government of Pennsylvania; therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in Gen- eral Assembly met that the State Treasurer shall pay to Solomon O'Bail the siin of five hundred dollars out of any moneys in the Treasury not other- wise appropriated, and the further sum of five hundred dollars to Samuel P. Johnson, to be expended in erecting and inclosing a suitable monument in memory of Cornplanter.
Judge Johnson performed the duty imposed upon him with great skill and ability. The monument is of Vermont marble, is over eleven feet in height, and stands on a handsomely cut native stone base four feet in diame- ter by one and a half feet deep. It is located immediately between the grave of Cornplanter and that of his wife, from whom he was separated by death but about three months. On the second section are four well carved dies in the form of a shield. Upon the spire facing west is eut in large raised letters
GIANTWAHA, THE CORNPLANTER.
Upon the die on the same side is inseribed
JOHN O'BAIL, alias CORNPLANTER, ((lied at Cornplantertown, February 18, 1836,) aged about 100 years.
On the die fronting south the following inscription is handsomely lettered:
Chief of the Seneca tribe, and a principal Chief of the Six Nations from the period of the Revolutionary War to the time of his death. Distinguished for talents, courage, eloquence, sobriety and love of his tribe and race, to whose welfare he devoted his time, his energies and his means, during a long and eventful life.
232
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
On the die upon the east side is engraved:
Erected by authority of the Legislature of Pennsylvania,
By Act January 25, 1866.
The dedication of this monument occurred on the 18th of October following, in presence of the family and descendants of Cornplanter, about eighty in number, and a large assembly of native Indians, remnants of the formidable Six Nations, from the Allegheny, Cattaraugus and Tonawanda reservations in the State of New York, and a large concourse of the pale faces from the surrounding country. The dedicatory address was delivered by Hon. James Ross Snowden, an eminent citizen of Philadelphia. Re- sponsive addresses, in the Seneca language, were delivered by John Luke, of the Cattaraugus reservation, a Councillor of the Seneca Nation, and by Rev. Stephen S. Smith, a native of the Tonawanda reservation, Gene- see County, N. Y .. also a Seneca chief of the Six Nations. The speeches in the native tongue were interpreted by Harrison Half Town, an educated native of the Seneca nation. Before the dedicatory services commenced the assembly was addressed in the Seneca language by Solomon O'Bail, a grand- son of Cornplanter, and a chief of his tribe, dressed in the full regalia of aboriginal royalty.
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.