Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 26

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036

USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 26

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ROARING SPRING.

The Roaring Spring News was estab- lished in 1906 by Amos Claar, who had pre- viously successfully conducted newspa- pers at Queen and Osterburg, Bedford county and at Windber, Somerset county. Mr. Claar has equipped his office with up- to-date machinery, and the News it a live weekly, devoted to the interests of the town and surrounding country.

The foregoing is a list of the newspapers that have been and are published within the

limits of the county. During three-quarters of a century of editorial toil and trouble, the press of Blair county is to be congratulated upon its good work and the success it has had in furnishing reading matter to the masses. It long ago passed through the incipient stages of newspaperdom to emerge into brighter and more profitable fields. Not all the newspaper ventures have lived or thrived, but the fittest have survived and so far as is known, their present appearance indicates prosperity. The citizens of the county are a reading and intelli- gent people and there is probably no home within the borders of Blair county that some local paper does not enter.

LOCAL LITERATURE.

In the production of general literature the county has not been very prolific. Few books have been written and published by home au- thors. Mr. Jones, who wrote the history of the Juniata valley, was probably the first citizen to put forth a book. Rev. Dr. Morgan M. Sheedy, rector of St. John's Catholic church, has written extensively for the press and is the author of several religious books. Rev. John W. Bain, at present pastor emeritus of the First Presbyterian church, wrote a little relig- ious work entitled "As It Was Fifty Years Ago;" J. A. Boyce, of Eldorado, wrote an in- teresting volume on temperance; J. S. Leisen- ring, Esq., compiled a work on legal forms, which has become a standard among lawyeres ; Charles B. Clark, Esq., wrote a history of the county in connection with the semi-centennial celebration in 1896; Rev. James A. Sell issued a small volume on "The Lost Brothers of the Alleghenies," and has written extensively for the religious press ; Samuel A. Hamilton wrote a novel that was widely read and appreciated and has contributed many articles to maga- zines on flower culture; Dr. C. B. Dudley, for many years chief chemist of the Pennsylvania Railroad company, has written extensively on scientific subjects; Mrs. M. J. Furey has writ- ten extensively for various periodicals, and the opinions of the late Justice John Dean adorn many pages of the state court reports.

CHAPTER XI.

EDUCATION.

Pioneer Schools-Early Teachers-Branches of Study-The Birch as an Education Factor- The School Act of 1809-School Laws of 1834 and 1854-School Superintendents- Teachers' County Convention-State Provision for Schools-Some Noted Teachers- Academies and Seminaries-Education in Altoona-Manual Training-Parish Schools.

PIONEER SCHOOLS.

The pioneers in the territory now embraced in Blair county had no educational advantages and the early education furnished the youth of · our county was of the most primitive charac- ter, forming an interesting chapter in its early history. The settlements were somewhat iso- lated and the few settlers who lived adja- cent were not sufficient in numbers to bear the expense of building and equipping houses for school purposes.

The selection of a site to embrace a sufficient number of citizens made it necessary for some of the children to go quite a distance to attend school. Prior to the establishment by the state of the free school system in 1834 there was no satisfactory provision made by state or township for taxation to meet the expenses, neither were all the people in favor of a for- ward movement which required an outlay of money which, perhaps they did not have, and which was hard to secure. It was, therefore, left to the more public-spirited to take the initiative and strike out into an enterprise that was new and which brought no immediate re- turns in dollars and cents. Without state ap- propriation or local taxation, these enterpris- ing men proceeded to erect public halls of learning. The plans and specifications of architects were unknown. A few brawny men, equipped with an axe and an auger, com- menced operations. Trees of the smaller size

were felled and piled up unhewn and notched together at the corners of the edifice. The roof consisted of clapboards, narrow slats about four feet long, split from larger trees and held in place by poles laid longitudinaliy across them. Not a nail was used. The win- dows consisted of one log on either side being cut out and a few panes of glass, ten by twelve inches, set on end, one against the other, for a space of from four to six feet. In some cases where the leaders in this advanced movement lacked the means to buy glass, they invested in a strong paper which they varnished with lard to make it transparent. This was a good sub- stitute for the glass and cost less money.

The heating plant generally consisted of a huge fireplace in the back end of the building. The smoke was conveyed away by a large chimney, constructed jointly of wood and stones. However, in a locality where circum- stances were more favorable or where they were more advanced in matters of taste. a large oblong "ten-plated stove" was installed. The furniture consisted of desks and long benches. Holes were bored into the logs along the inside of the room into which wooden pegs were driven, extending back far enough to receive a plank or slab about one foot wide. This was the writing desk. Parallel with it ran a long bench constructed usually of a slab with wooden pins to support it. Seats of the same kind filled the space between for the

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juveniles. Without desks upon which to re- and defrayed all expenses from his private cline, or supports upon which to lean and with feet dangling from four to six inches from the floor, the coming men and women were receiv- ing their first instruction in discipline and mental culture, thus giving them a taste or dislike for the arts and sciences and a glimpse of the flowery fields of literature.

There were no standards of qualifications for teachers in those days. They were not ex- pected to be graduates of higher schools. The teacher's efficiency was altogether a matter of his own preference and judgment. The pa- trons knew not if the instructor of their chil- dren was prompted by mercenary motives or a love of the profession. The main protection was to select one among their own acquaint- ance, if such could be found. The system was wholly on the subscription plan. The salary of the teacher was a certain amount per pupil for so many months with board. This was apportioned according to the number of pupils and families. This was commonly known as "boarding around." It proved to be quite sat- isfactory, as it brought the teacher in close touch with the patrons and a very general good feeling was maintained. The average wages of a teacher were from $8 to $12 per month with board thrown in. This was con- sidered quite a snap for the winter months.

The only branches taught were reading, writing and arithmetic, the "three R's." Text books were scarce and of a very crude charac- ter. It was quite common for one book of each branch to supply a whole family. The most distinguishing trait of the old-time school teacher was his ability to wield the "birch," as the rod was then called. All breaches of discipline and delinquencies were straightened out with the rod.

The first schools in the county were estab- lished as early as 1790, the one at Williams- burg, and the other on Clover creek, near what was known as Red Ore bank. Jacob Ake, who was the owner of the land on which the village of Aketown, now Williamsburg, was laid out, seeing the necessity of educational training among the young, secured teachers

purse. Mr. Ake visited village households, brandished his staff, and the children hied away to school. About fifteen years of this system of instruction existed, through the same channel, when subscription schools be- gan. James Martin taught until 1825, after which followed Messrs. Camel, Irvin, Updyke, Spencer and Miss Nancy Anderson, some of whom were very rigid disciplinarians. Mr. Updyke was a minister, and one of his novel modes of punishing pupils was to stand them in some conspicuous position, cover their eyes "with leather spectacles, and allow the school to laugh at them a length of time according to the gravity of the offense committed.

The school on Clover creek was taught by John Bridenthal, in a house which stood on what is now the Hyle farm. The building had been erected for a dwelling-house, but was abandoned by its owner, who moved west. The citizens of the neighborhood fitted it up for a schoolhouse, for which purpose it was used for a number of years. John Diltz taught a school in a private house in the vicinity of Leather Cracker, now Henrietta, about 1795. Among other teachers who taught in this vicinity during this period may be named William Loose, George Glass and William Ketring. Another school was established near Etna furnace, at an early period, probably about 1797. About 1800 the house was de- stroyed by fire, and another, to take its place, was located near Keller's church. The only teacher connected with this school, whose name is handed down to posterity, is James Martin, and no doubt his name would have long since passed into oblivion, had it not been for the liberal use he made of the "cato'nine- tails." About 1800 John Fisher taught a school in a private house near the village of Sharpsburg; and in 1802 a schoolhouse was built in the same vicinity, known as the Houser school. Most of the teaching at that time, in this vicinity, as well as most parts of the county, was German, and probably the first English school taught in Morrison's cove was in 1800 by a Mr. Roach, in a house which

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stood on the present site of Roaring Spring.

Thomas Kinney taught a school near Eliza- beth furnace, as early as 1800. Another school was taught in a private house, near Bell's mills, now Bellwood, about 1809. Alex- ander Kerr and Dudley Burnham were among the most prominent teachers in this commu- nity. These are the only schools coming within this period, of which anything like re- liable information can be obtained. There were doubtless others, but all traces of their history is lost.

In 1813 John Steele taught the young ideas how to shoot, in a house which stood on the present site of the Kellerman house, in Gays- port. At that time Frankstown included the present territory of Blair township, and al- though the village of Frankstown was settled at a much earlier date, there is no record of any school having been etsablished in this dis- trict previous to this. Thomas Stearns, John Knox, Joshua Williamson, William Anderson, John Wertz, Robert McNamara, Joseph Cald- walder, S. F. Henry and Ephraim Galbraith are among the teachers who taught in this lo- cality during this period. About 1812, a school was taught by James Langham, in a schoolhouse that stood near Black's mills, in Greenfield. township. John Dodson also taught for a number of years in this neighbor- hood. One of the most public-spirited men in this community at that time seems to have been John Swoveland, who built a house at his own expense, and donated it to the public for school purposes. In 1815, there was a house erected near Allegheny furnace, Logan township, called the Beales school, which served for school purposes and preaching for a number of years. John Gwin and John Summerville were among the teachers in this locality. The first schoolhouse with a shingle roof, erected within the limits of Allegheny township, was built in Duncansville in 1815. In 1823 Peter Wilt deeded the piece of ground on which the Dry Run schoolhouse now stands for school purposes.

The act of April 4, 1809, made it the duty of assessors "to receive the names of all chil-

dren, between the ages of five and twelve, whose parents were unable to pay for their schooling." Such children were to be edu- cated and stationery furnished by the county. Schools under this system do not seem to have prospered. The law met with general disap- probation. Poor children did not like to hear it said, "your parents are too poor to send you out to school;" neither were parents willing that the names of their children should stand recorded as beneficiaries of the county. Not- withstanding this law was so unpopular, it seems to have remained in force for twenty- five years. Governor Wolf, in 1833, found that of the four hundred thousand children of proper school age in Pennsylvania, but twenty thousand attended school, and three hundred and eighty thousand were uninstructed. In his annual message to the legislature, he strongly urged the passage of a law to remedy this ter- rible state of affairs. As a result the school law of 1834 was passed. This was the real be- ginning of free schools in the state. It was largely through the indefatigable efforts of Thaddeus Stevens that the law was passed through the legislature, and Stevens is looked upon as the father of the free school system in Pennsylvania.

The general school law of 1834 was, in many respects, similar to the present law. That part of it making provision for the ap- pointment of inspectors by the court was re- pealed in 1835, and the non-accepting districts were given two years in which to accept before forfeiting their share of the state appropriation. In 1837 another act was passed, in the main, the same as the present. The non-accepting districts, under the law of 1834, were Frankstown, which at that time included Blair; Greenfield, embracing the present territory of Freedom and Juni- ata, and North Woodbury, which was com- prised of Taylor and South Woodbury, now in Bedford county, and a portion of Hus- ton. It is said, however, that the returning board of Greenfield so manipulated the returns as to count them in. The law met with much opposition in all parts of the county. Men of

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wealth and influence opposed it with all their might and main. For many years the enemies of the system tried to cripple it by electing anti-school men as directors, and not infre- quently men went home from elections with bloody noses, resulting from a hotly contested battle.

In justice to those who opposed the system, it may be said that many of its bitterest oppo- nents became its most ardent supporters. The trouble did not end with the adoption of the system. To comply with the law, houses had to be built and teachers were to be paid. In Frankstown the funds, for several years, were expended in building houses, so that they did not have schools under this system for several years after its adoption. In course of time these difficulties were partially overcome, and things moved along as smoothly as could be expected. Scarcely twenty years had rolled around, however, when the opposition again manifested itself.

In 1854 a school law was passed introduc- ing some important changes. Among the most important was that of the creation of the office of county superintendent. This change was particularly offensive to the teachers. Addi- tional branches were to be taught, and instead of being examined by some "country store- keeper," or "portly squire," they were sub- jected to a more thorough examination by an officer who was sworn to do his duty to the best of his ability. From superintendent Cald- well's first annual report we learn that the teachers feared these examinations so much that "no district had sufficient applicants to open the schools at the proper time."

For several years previous to the time the office of county superintendent was estab- lished, persons were appointed in various parts of the county to examine teachers. Among these examiners were Rev. Henry Baker and Christian Stoner.

Hugh A. Caldwell was the first superin- tendent of Blair county, and received a sal- ary of $400. He was followed by L. H. Williams, in 1856, and George W. English, in 18:7. In 1857. John Dean, afterwards for

twenty-one years judge of the courts of the county and later associate justice of the state supreme court, was elected, and the salary raised to $600. His successor was John Mitchell, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Dean. In 1860 Mr. Mitchell was elected for the ensuing term. J. Ginter Counsman was elected in 1863, and was followed by Elexis Elder, in 1864. In 1865 the salary was raised to $1,000 ;. Mr. Elder served until 1869. John B. Holland was elected in 1869 and served until 1875, when he was succeeded by John H. Steph- ens, who served nine years, or until 1884, when he was succeeded by John H. Likens, at the present time superintendent of in- struction in the industrial reformatory at Huntingdon. He served six years, and was succeeded in 1890 by Henry S. Wertz, who was re-elected three times, serving twelve years, or until 1902, when the present in- cumbent, Tarring S. Davis was elected. The salary is now $2,500 per annum.

The first county convention or institute held by the teachers of the county con- vened in a brick church, later the Collins- ville schoolhouse, in 1847. The meeting was attended by four teachers, and the Rev. Henry Baker, a Lutheran minister of Al- toona, presided. Upon the creation of the office of superintendent in 1854, institutes were held regularly and have been contin- ued until the present time. For many years ; they have been held in the court house in Hollidaysburg. In the earlier days the in- struction was entirely in the hands of the teachers, the practice of bringing in educa- tors of note as instructors and lecturers be- ing started during the superintendency of Professor Stephens. Before the advent of the hired instructors methods were dis- cussed entirely, and class drills were fre- quent at the sessions of the institutes. Now institutes are conducted almost en- tirely for inspirational purposes. A number of noted men and women have appeared from time to time before the Blair county teachers, among them being Mrs. Belva A.

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Lockwood, the Washington lawyer and women suffrage leader; William Hanley Smith, author of the Evolution of Dodd; Dr. Robert S. MacArthur, the noted New York divine; Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh, super- intendent of schools in Philadelphia; P. T. Corsin, former commissioner of education of Ohio; Captain Richmond Pearson Hob- son; Dr. S. D. Fess, president of Antioch college, and Dr. Russell H. Conwell, presi- dent of Temple college, Philadelphia.

During the past two decades the schools have made great strides forward. Scores of new buildings have been erected, almost all of them being built of brick and equipped with all the modern conveniences and facil- ities for the comfort of teachers and pupils. In Logan township, especially, is this prog- ress noted. During the past dozen years, upward of twenty buildings have been erected, most of them at a cost exceeding $10,000. In recent years high schools have been organized in almost all the boroughs of the county and in the townships of Lo- gan, Tyrone, Antis, Snyder and Taylor. In Logan township two teachers are employed in the high school and a three-year course of study has been adopted, while in the other townships there is a two-year course and one teacher employed. Physical geog- raphy, algebra, Latin, civics, botany, plane geometry and bookkeeping are taught in these schools. Logan township has forty- five schools and since 1890 has employed a district superintendent. J. Howard Wal- ters was first employed in this capacity, serving for two years. He was followed by John H. Cessna, who after serving for three years, gave way to John H. Hennen, who holds the position in 1910. In Tyrone and Snyder townships the high school teachers act in a supervisory capacity over the other schools of the respective districts.

The state of Pennsylvania provides more liberally for its schools than any other state in the Union, the appropriation being at the present time $7,500,000 per annum. Blair county's share of this fund for the term of

1909-10 was $73,185.31, including the allot- ment of the city of Altoona, which received $31,498.90. A recent enactment of the leg- islature makes $40 the minimum salary which may be paid a teacher holding a pro- visional certificate, and $50 the minimum for a teacher holding a permanent, or pro- fessional certificate or a state normal dip- loma. As a result of the liberal provision made by the state the tax rate for school purposes has not been high, ranging from three mills, in Allegheny township, to eight mills in Juniata township. The cost per month to educate a child ranges from 98 cents to $2.20, the highest rate being in Juniata township, the most sparsely settled district in the county. For the term of 1909- IO there were 259 teachers employed in the county outside of Altoona.

It would require too much space to enu- merate all the teachers in the county who are worthy of mention. A few of those who taught for many years and are held in grateful recollection by the hundreds, perhaps thou- sands, who came under their instruction, are D. M. White, Professor John Miller, John Z. Smith, Captain Francis Cassidy, Captain William McGraw, Captain John H. Black, Christian Stoner, Jacob Zeth, D. M. Lotz, John M. Kyle, George Eicholtz, George R. Stiffler, D. Elmer Sell, Lucretia Kennedy, Elizabeth J. Patterson and Samuel B. Smith. Captain Cassidy taught for fifty years, retiring from the service but a few years prior to his death in 1907 at the age of eighty-one. Mr. Kyle is a member of the Blair county bar, but he has been prin- cipal of the Duncansville schools for more than twenty years. One of the most unique characters who appears on the roster of teachers of the county is Jospeh Whittaker, who died in 1904. He taught for many years in Blair and Freedom townships. He was an Englishman by birth and in his methods was far in advance of contempo- raries in the school room. He sought by every means in his power to get his pupils to think for themselves, to read and make

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researches. To this end he would advance opposite theories from those generally ac- cepted in matters of history, geography, etc., and frequently his school would be- come a forum of debate that would con- tinue for hours at a time. Teaching school has generally been used as a stepping stone by young men, and many who have risen to prominence as lawyers, physicians and clergymen in the county were at one time or another enrolled as teachers in the county.

The school boards consist of six directors, elected for a term of three years, the terms of two expiring each year. Many of the best citizens of the county have served as school directors, and it can be said of them that, as a class, for intelligent devotion to the cause of popular education, it is doubt- ful if they can be surpassed anywhere. The total number of pupils enrolled in the schools of Blair county in 1909 was 19,584, of which number 8,693 were in the city of Altoona, and 10,891 in the county outside of the city.

ACADEMIES AND SEMINARIES.

Blair county has had few higher institu- tions of learning. The Williamsburg acad- emy, located at Williamsburg, was the first school of the kind in the county. The house was erected in 1847, and the charter was granted in 1851. It was built by a joint stock company. The original number of shares was 28, and the cost per share $50. The first teacher was Rev. John White. Professor John Miller, who figures largely in the educational history of the county, also taught here for some time. The school has long since ceased to exist.

The Juniata collegiate institute, origin- ally called the Franklin high school, lo- cated at Martinsburg, was completed in 1860. It was built by joint stock subscrip- tions, at a cost of $8,000. In 1867, a debt had accumulated against it, and, to save it from passing under the sheriff's hammer, it was sold to the Lutheran synod for $3,000.

It next passed into the hands of J. G. Herbst, who owned it for a short time, when it was purchased by Professor Lucian Cort, for $5,000. While owned by Mr. Cort, there was an addition built to the main building, which cost $8,000. In 1875, it was purchased by Henry Bridenbaugh for $10- 700, and it was in successful operation for a number of years under the principalship of Professor P. H. Bridenbaugh. For four or five years during the eighties it was used as a government training school for Indians, under the direction of Professor Briden- baugh, and in 1901 it was sold to the Church of the Brethren, who have since used it as an old folk's home.

Tipton seminary, located at Bell's Mills, now Bellwood, was built by General B. F. Bell in 1866. Professor Orr Lossing first took charge of the school, and was followed by Robert Fulton and J. A. Stewart. The building has not been used for school purposes since 1875.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 26

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036