USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > The history of Erie County, Pennsylvania, from its first settlement > Part 13
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The "Young Men's Christian Association " was formed in September, 1860. A. McD. Lyon, President ; S. E. Blackall, Secretary ; A. H. Caughey, Corresponding Secretary; C. E. Gunnison, Treasurer ; James Metcalf, Librarian. It numbered
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
about fifty members. Besides the usual religious work of such a society, a course of first-class literary and scientific lectures was sustained during the winter of 1860-61. A general reading room was opened in May, 1861, for the free use of the young men of the city, a subscription of $175 having been raised for the purpose of establishing the enterprise on a substantial basis. The library of the Irving Literary Insti- tute, consisted of about seven hundred volumes, and was placed in their hands.
In 1828 quite a respectable contribution was made to the Greeks from Erie and vicinity, and several public meetings held. We regret that the particulars were not published.
In 1847, for the relief of Ireland, $150 from officers and sea- men of United States steamer Michigan, $50 from the revenue cutter, and $79 from the other ship hands at the port were acknowledged. Gen. C. M. Reed gave notice that he would store and transport to Buffalo, free of charge, all grain in- tended for this object. A meeting was also called in Water- ford, and about $2,000 in provisions were shipped from the port of Erie.
In February, 1861, $1,000 were collected in Erie for the Kansas sufferers. For this benevolent object, Waterford sub- scribed $155 ; Girard, $100 ; Springfield township, $500 ; Belle Valley, $15 ; probably in all $2,500 from Erie County.
Among the German Roman Catholics was a school society, the object of which was to give educational advantages to poor children. John Gensheimer, President ; C. Englehard, Vice-President ; F. Schlaudecker, Secretary ; F. Peiffer, Treas- urer.
Literary .- In 1806 thirty of the citizens of Erie formed themselves into a library company, Judah Colt being Presi- dent ; Thomas Forster, James Baird, John C. Wallace, and William Wallace, Directors ; and Thomas Forster, Librarian. The company at first expended $200 for standard works, and the institution was well sustained for several years. In 1821 an effort was made to revive it, but without success. The books were loaned to the Irving Literary Institute.
In 1826 there was a Franklin Literary Association ; T. Moorhead, Jr., Librarian.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
In 1833 the Conneauttee Library Company (Edinboro) was incorporated.
In the winter of 1835, a lyceum held its meetings first at the Erie Academy and afterward at the courthouse, interesting the inhabitants by the debates and literary exercises of the mem- bers. The Apprentices' Literary Society originated about 1839, with fifty members and a library, of one hundred and ten volumes, and soon after had a course of lectures. In 1841 an Adelphic Literary Society existed ; A. King, Corresponding Secretary. The Irving Literary Institute had a nucleus for an excellent library. It was organized in 1843 by the union of the Apprentices' and Adelphic Societies.
In 1859 a Young Men's Literary Association was formed at Girard, and about the same time a literary union at Water- ford, which sustained courses of lectures.
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At West Mill Creek an association called Custos Morum (Guardian of Morality) was formed in April, 1860, with twenty- five members ; Jackson McCreary, President. The object of the society was to procure a library, and for intellectual cul- ture.
A Youths' Literary Society at Northeast has existed since 1858. 1
A County Medical Society was formed in 1829. Dr. William Johns, President ; Dr. A. Thayer, Vice-President ; Dr. F. M. Miller, Recording and Corresponding Secretary ; Dr. A. Beebe, Treasurer ; Dr. J. Smedley, Dr. J. Vosburg, and Dr. A. N. Molton, Censors.
In 1836 the Presqu'ile hospital was incorporated, the act to continue in force for the term of twenty years. It was ex- pected a medical college and a medical society would form a part of the establishment, with a lunatic asylum and an asylum for the deaf and dumb. In consequence of the de- pression in business affairs soon after, the project was aban- doned.
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A County Geological Society was formed in 1843. G. San- ford, President ; J. D. Dunlap, Vice-President ; L. G. Olm- stead, Corresponding Secretary, ; William C. Kelso, Recording Secretary ; and J. C. Spencer, Treasurer ; William Fuller, Keeper of the Cabinet and Library ; Jacob Vosburg, Peter
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Pierce, Galen Foster, J. B. Johnson, and Richard Sill, Mem- bers of the Executive Committee.
The objects of the society were commendable, and it is to be regretted that it had an existence of but a year or two. As stated in the constitution, the society were to thoroughly survey the county in order to develop its mineral wealth and resources ; for the advancement of geology and the collateral branches of natural science, and the promotion of intercourse between those who cultivated them.
In 1846 the citizens assembled in town meeting at the court- house, B. B. Vincent in the chair, and Carson Graham, Secretary, and resolved that the public square be planted with trees. E. Babbitt, W. C. Lester, C. McSparren, and S. Jack- son were appointed a committee to cooperate with the town authorities in carrying out the resolution.
A reading room association was formed in 1850, B. B. Vin- cent, President, but, for want of adequate support, was discon- tinued in a few months.
In 1852 a city hall association was incorporated for the pur- pose of erecting a building for the accommodation of the city authorities, as well as for lectures, benevolent societies, a read- ing room, etc.
A sacred music society was formed in 1858. John Galbraith, President ; Thomas Stewart, Sr., Vice-President ; H. Catlin, Secretary ; and J. L. Lints, Treasurer.
In 1852 the Erie County Education Society, for the advance- ment of education, was in existence ; C. W. Kelso, President, and J. W. Wetmore, Secretary.
In 1855 the Girard Lyceum was formed ; Harmon D. Hunt, Secretary.
The Arion Musical Society was organized in Erie in 1860.
CHAPTER XII.
Newspapers-Common Schools-Academies-Normal School-Sab- bath School-First Protestant Missionaries West of Utica-Mora- vians in Venango County, 1767-First Religious Service in Erie County-First Church Edifice-A Religious Experience-Presby- tery of Erie-Revs. Patterson and Eaton-Extract from Rev. A. H. Carrier's Historical Sermon -- Rev. R. Reid-Churches of different Denominations in Erie-Revivals.
Newspapers .- The first newspaper, The Mirror, is dated May 21, 1808, George Wyeth, printer. In size it was ten inches by sixteen ; terms, two dollars semi-annually, in ad- vance. It advocated the Federal Constitutional Republican party, whose candidates at that time were James Ross, for Governor ; Alexander W. Foster, Congress ; and John W. Hunter and William Wallace for Assembly. The Mirror was discontinued after a two years' existence.
In 1813 R. J. Curtis established the Northern Sentinel (the size of a sheet of foolscap), and in 1815 made arrangements for removing his establishment to Detroit. For want of encour- agement he failed to accomplish his purpose, and in 1816 re- commenced business in Erie, having changed the name of his paper to the Genius of the Lakes. The name of John Morris was added as publisher. The "terms, two dollars and fifty cents by post rider-if neglected to the end of the year, three dollars."
The Erie Patriot was issued in 1818 by Zeba Willis, and continued one year. It was then removed to Cleveland, and made the basis of the Cleveland Herald, Mr. Howe being associated in its publication.
In 1819 Mr. Curtis enlarged his paper and called it the Phoenix and Erie Reflector. This was soon removed to May- ville, New York, and discontinued in April, 1820.
Mr. Curtis, in speaking of his editorial experience in Erie,
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
says : "For two or three years during the war I had a very good support, but afterward it was poor indeed. The most of my subscribers paid in produce. For six months I taught school and printed my paper at the same time, with the assistance only of an apprentice and my sister." We might suppose a newspaper published in Erie during the war would contain interesting information ; but it was not the case, as the government prohibited the publication of facts which might have been suggestive to the enemy.
In January, 1820, the Erie Gazette was published by Joseph M. Sterrett. In 1822 James Buchanan was editor for six months. In 1825 J. Hoge Waugh, for a short time ; and in 1836 John Shaner was associated in its publication. In 1842 J. P. Cochran and G. W. Riblet took charge. I. B. Gara became associated with Joseph M. Sterrett in 1846. In politics it has been Anti-Masonic, Whig, and Republican.
The Erie Observer, a Democratic paper, was issued in 1830, T. B. Barnum, editor. H. L. Harvey being editor in 1836, issued a specimen daily paper, to be continued provided there was sufficient encouragement. In 1848 a paper was issued tri- weekly for several months. Thomas Laird, H. Beebe, J. M. Keuster, and S. W. Randall were successively editors. In 1840 it passed into the hands of Durlin & Sloan. Mr. Durlin with- drew from the firm in 1855 and removed to Wisconsin. The paper passed into the hands of Mr. Andrew Hopkins, Jan- uary 1, 1861.
The Erie Chronicle, a conservative Whig paper, was issued by S. Perley in 1840. In 1855 the editor removed to Girard and revived the Girard Republican.
The Girard Free Press was first issued in 1845, being neutral in politics. S. D. Carpenter, editor. November 7, 1854, T. C. Wheeler and William S. Finch purchased the interest of L. F. Andrews in the Girard Express, and commenced the publica- tion of the Girard Republican. The conservative character of the paper was indicated by the motto, "Independent on all subjects, rabid on none." As we have mentioned, Mr. Perley took charge of the paper in 1855.
In 1846 J. P. Cochran commenced the publication of the Commercial Advertiser, which was Whig in politics. After
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
his death it passed in 1852 into the hands of A. H. Caughey, who continued its publication for a year and a half and then sold it to J. B. Johnson, who gave it the name of the Consti- tution. In 1855 the press was destroyed by a mob-an out- growth of the railroad excitement. The Constitution was continued by R. L. White, and for a few months was issued daily-being the first experiment of the kind. The Daily Bulletin, as it was called, suspended issue in 1858. The large number of weeklies issued in Erie probably accounted for the want of success in daily or tri-weekly papers.
The Herald, a monthly temperance paper in quarto form, was published at the office of the Commercial Advertiser during the year 1852.
In 1853 the True American appeared, Compton & Moore, editors. From the first this paper gave temperance and anti-slavery a large share of attention. In 1855 this and the Erie Chronicle merged into one ; James Perley and Henry Catlin, publishers.
The Unsere Welt (Our World), a German paper, was first published by Carl Benson, in 1851. Its name was changed to Frei Presse about 1856. It advocated Fremont and Lincoln for Presidents.
In 1852 the Zushauer (Spectator) appeared ; Mr. Scheuffien, editor. In 1855 C. Moeser took charge, and in 1861, Ernst Sturzneckle. This paper was at first Whig in politics, but became independent. Both the German papers were under Protestant influence.
In 1859 the Express appeared, with E. C. Goodrich editor ; this was soon merged into the True American, afterwards ed- ited by H. Catlin.
The Waterford Museum, Mr. Lewis, editor, changed its name to the Enquirer in 1857, Amos Judson, publisher and editor ; in 1858 it suspended issue for a few months on account of the ruinous rates at which it was afforded ; recommenced with Judson and Lynn, editors ; afterward alone by C. R. H. Lynn.
The Northeast Guard was published for a few months in 1855.
Two newspapers were issued in Edinboro in 1855 : the Gem
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
expired in 1856, and the Museum was removed to Waterford the same year. The Edinboro Express appeared in 1859, at fifty cents per year ; Henry Lick, editor ; "independent on all occasions, neutral in nothing." Issued the last number December 29, 1860, the materials having been sold to Mr. Clute, who was expecting to publish a paper at Three Rivers, Michigan.
In 1851 the Waterford Dispatch was issued at Waterford ; Joseph S. M. Young, editor. In 1856 the paper was removed to Erie and called the Erie City Dispatch. It was independent on all subjects, and was said to have a larger circulation than any other paper in North western Pennsylvania.
In 1855 we hear of the Native American, a monthly at Edinboro.
Schools .- April 2, 1831, a law passed the Legislature of Pennsylvania introducing our present system of education for all. At that time it was shown that out of 400,000 children in the State, more than 250,000 capable of instruction were not within a school the previous year. This was not for want of effort in that direction.
In 1809 an act was passed to provide for the education of the poor, and in 1824 an act that it was hoped would prove effec- tual, but which was repealed in 1826.
In 1834 an act was passed designating the Secretary of the Commonwealth as Superintendent, and, including other valuable provisions, stating that $546,563 had accumulated under the act of 1831.
Next came the act of 1836, " to consolidate and amend the several acts," to settle the mode of taxation, and the applica- tion of the whole for school purposes. The fund accumulated since 1831 was set apart, and a fund from the State treasury pledged for school purposes, and the system became a settled fact as a part of the policy of the State.
In 1854 the election for county superintendents was provided for in each county.
In 1848-49 the provisions of the law were extended over non- accepting districts, as it had been previously optional.
In 1849 an act to provide for the training of teachers for the common schools of the State was passed, and the State was di-
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
vided into twelve normal school districts-Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Crawford, and Erie were made the twelfth district.
William H. Armstrong, of Wattsburg, was elected to the office of Superintendent of Common Schools in Erie County, with a salary of $800, and was re-elected in 1857. In 1860 L. Savage, of Springfield, was elected his successor.
According to the seventh census report, Erie County had, in 1850, 7 academies, with 13 teachers, 375 pupils, and an annual income of $3,357. Public schools, 293, with 308 teachers, 9,928 pupils, and an income from taxes, etc., of $22,120. In 1857 the number of schoolhouses in the county was 276 ; 34 were well adapted to the purpose, 120 capable of being improved, and 102 to be rejected. Erie had three graded schools, and Northeast one.
According to the eighth census report (which we have only in part), Waterford borough had 2 schools; Northeast borough, 1; Girard borough, 1, and 1 academy; Wattsburg borough, 1; Union, 2 ; Wesleyville, 1; Girard township, 16 ; Springfield township, 15, and 1 academy ; Franklin township, 10 ; Fairview township, 11, and about 500 pupils; Summit township, 8, and 160 pupils ; Mckean township, 11, and 511 pupils ; Le Bœuf, 11, and 258 pupils; Washington township, 14, and 642 pupils ; Greenfield township, 8, and 342 pupils ; Amity township, 8, and 424 pupils ; Venango township, 10, and 488 pupils ; Wayne township, 12, and 504 pupils; Union township, 12, and 752 pupils ; Concord township, 9, and 417 pupils ; Harbor Creek township, 17; Greene township, 8, and 450 pupils ; Northeast township, 16, and 1,083 pupils ; Water- ford township, 15, and 450 pupils.
The State Superintendent of Schools reports, for the year ending June 4, 1860, as follows : Erie County-
Whole number of schools 288
Number yet required ..
6
Average number of months taught. 6-8
Number of male teachers .. 157
Number of female teachers
232
Scholars learning German 167
Average attendance of scholars 8195
Cost of teaching each scholar per month $0 51
Tax levied for school and building purposes $12,053 25
State appropriation. 3,922 70
Received from collectors 35,747 95
Cost of instruction .. 35,696 44
Fuel and contingencies 4,040 25
Cost of schoolhouses.
14,824 76
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
In Erie a fine schoolhouse for the East Ward was completed in 1859, at a cost of $20,000. In this building there are ten teachers and about five hundred scholars. German, algebra, geometry, chemistry, and philosophy are attended to among the higher branches.
The West Ward has, besides the principal school, a branch in the upper part of the city which is considered and num- bered as such. In this ward there are eight teachers and about five hundred and thirty pupils ; a library of three hun- dred and fifty volumes belongs to the school.
There is a school for boys attached to the German Roman Catholic church, which is divided into two departments, English and German, and has at present over one hundred scholars.
A school for girls was conducted by the Sisters of St. Benedict, who in 1861 completed their new convent in con- nection with the church. It has three school rooms, well arranged and provided with maps, globes, etc., and four teachers, two being English and two German. The name of the Prioress is Sister Scholastica Burkhard. The ordi- nary English branches are taught, with Christian doctrine, sacred history, drawing, instrumental music, embroidery, etc.
In August, 1804, the lot in Erie, No. 1378, corner of Holland and Seventh streets, where the East Ward schoolhouse now stands, was purchased from the State for the use of Presqu'ile Academy, in the name of James Baird. The only stock- holders known were Daniel Dobbins, Thomas Stewart, and Samuel Hays. A school committee was in existence in 1805.
In 1806 the first schoolhouse was built of hewn logs by John Greenwood. Thirty dollars had been collected from citizens for this purpose. Erie had about one hundred inhabitants who resided mostly in that vicinity. The names of the teachers were Mr. Anderson, Mr. Blossom, Dr. Nathaniel Eastman, and, in 1812, Mr. Ebenezer Gunnison.
In 1811 Waterford Academy was incorporated. The trustees appointed by the Legislature were John Vincent, John Boyd, John Lytle, Aaron Himrod, Charles Martin, Henry Colt, and
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Amos Judson.1 It was endowed with five hundred acres of land near the village, and fifteen in-lots ; in 1816 eight other in-lots were added.
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By an act of February 24, 1820, the trustees were authorized to sell five hundred acres at a price not less than ten dollars per acre, and required to vest the proceeds in some productive fund, the interest to be applied for the compensation of the teachers.
The trustees erected their building in 1822, and in 1826 it was occupied as a school.
LIST OF PRINCIPALS.
John Wood ..
1826
R. R. Nichols 1843
Irvin Camp.
1832
Peter Wright
1844
William Boyden.
1832
A. O. Rockwell.
1844
R. W. Starr.
1833
James C. Reed: 1845
R. W. Orr.
.1833
A. Davidson. 1846
John Livingston
1834
A. Davidson 1847
E. R. Geary
1835
W. R. Marsh 1848
James Park
1836
J. H. Reed.
1849
J. W. Miller
1837
C. J. Hutchins
1850
Irvin Camp
1838
A. H. Caughey 1851
William Benson, Jr.
1838
J. R. McCaskey 1852
F. A. Hall.
1839
S. S. Sears
1853
L. S. Morgan
1840
J. R. Merriman
1854-1857
Charles Woodruff.
1841
J. P. Gould
1857
R. T. Stewart.
1842
J. A. Austin
1857-1861
The present officers are John Wood, President ; William Benson, Secretary ; William Judson, Treasurer ; C. C. Boyd, David Boyd, Miles Barnet, J. L. Cook, and J. M. White, Trustees. The permanent fund is $5,170.18 ; the common fund is $1,874.66.
The legislative acts incorporating the Erie Academy were approved March 25, 1817. At the same time the State donated to the trustees of said Academy 500 acres of land in Millcreek township, adjoining the borough, and later fifteen in-lots in the borough of Erie and $2,000.
At the meeting of the Board of Trustees, June 10, 1817, it was decided to divide the farm lands donated to the Academy into pieces of not less than five nor more than fifty acres.
April 12, 1818, it was decided by a majority vote to lease these lands for a term of 999 years to tenants.
1 Mr. Judson held the office of treasurer from the beginning to December 31, 1858. He died in Waterford, November, 1860, aged eighty-seven, having resided there since 1795. Of him it was said with truth "that he lived a blameless life, and was honest, industrious, liberal, and devoted to objects of public utility. "
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
On Saturday, April 25, 1818, the following notice appeared in The Genius of the Lake, a newspaper then printed in Erie :
" PUBLIC NOTICE.
"That the Academy land situate on the Turnpike road, in the township of Millcreek, Erie County, will be offered on lease in convenient lots (with the exception of the one on which the schoolhouse is erected) for the term of 999 years, at public auction, at the house of Robert Brown, in the borough of Erie, on the first Wednesday of June next, when the terms will be made known. In the meantime, any person wishing to lease may see a plot of the lots by applying to Thomas For- ster, Esquire, at Erie.
" By order of the Trustees. " THOMAS FORSTER, Sec'y."
There is an episode at this point in the affairs of the Erie Academy that does not show the most friendly spirit in the world to a rival school. The " Walnut Creek and Millcreek School Association " had erected a school building on the public land before it was donated by the State to the Erie Academy. This association, as poor and struggling, no doubt, as any in that early day of public schools, petitioned the Erie trustees to set apart the fraction of a lot on which the school building stood and confirm them in possession of it, that the schoolhouse and land might remain. But the Erie trustees passed a resolution leasing that particular tract of land for $20 per acre for 999 years ; and that the lessees bind themselves to reimburse the association for the money actually laid out in erecting the building.
On June 3, 1818, the auction sales of the lands took place upon the following conditions : No bid to be considered that fell under the valuations previously fixed by the trustees. The bids to be for the lease of each acre or fraction for the term of 999 years ; the legal rate of interest to be paid semi- annually on the amount of the bid, during the term of the lease.
Owing to an indisposition of some of the purchasers to take their leases, or from a suspicion that they had bid too low, a new sale was held May 4, 1819, and the lots were resold at lower prices than the first bids.
The yearly interest on the pieces sold amounted to $451.44,
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
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which was later increased by the sale of some pieces previously unsold. This interest, which was to be paid semi-annually, was the permanent educational fund of the Erie Academy. Subsequent acts of the Legislature empowered the trustees to give title to the lands of lessees, on payment of the price bid by them.
At the next meeting of the Academy Board of Trustees, composed as follows : Rev. Robert Reid, President ; Thomas Forster, Secretary ; Rufus S. Reed, Robert Brown, Judah Colt, John C. Wallace, Thomas Wilson, Giles Sanford, and Thomas H. Sill, it was decided to begin the Academy work. Judah Colt, Thomas Wilson, and Thomas H. Sill were appointed a committee to take the matter under consideration.
It was decided that on October 1, 1819, the Erie Academy be opened in Col. Forster's new house, with Rev. Robert Reid as principal, and Mr. Brewster as assistant, the latter teaching under the " Lancasterian system of school-keeping," the fad of that day, embodying rewards and punishments, and so-called "monitors," to report bad conduct of pupils. Before the day set for beginning school, Mr. John Kelley, of Waterford, versed in the "Lancasterian system," was engaged as a teacher.
On June 7, 1820, the trustees were notified that the State had appropriated $2,000 for a school building.
It was found on examination that the fifteen lots donated by the State were not conveniently located for the Academy building, and the committee were instructed to examine other available localities, including the "public square for the purpose aforesaid." Plans for a building were also ordered prepared of these dimensions : "60 feet in length and 30 feet in width ; the lower story to be 12 feet in height ; the second story to be 11 feet in height, the structure to be either stone, brick, or frame."
October 21, 1820, the proposal to sell to the trustees the four lots numbered 733-5, inclusive, owned by Enoch Marvin, at; $75 each, payable in two years without interest, for an Academy site, was accepted. The Legislature was asked for and granted the trustees permission to sell the fifteen in-lots donated for an Academy site, the money from the sale to be used in paying for the new site.
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