USA > Virginia > Rockingham County > Rockingham County > A history of Rockingham County, Virginia > Part 22
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The date when and the place where the first Sunday school was organized in Rockingham have not been ascer- tained; but abundant evidence is at hand to show that ever since the civil war Sunday schools have been numerous.
In the published obituary of John Hinton Ralston, who died in 1874, at the age of 80, it is asserted that he had been one of the first persons in his community to encourage Sun- day schools, and to engage earnestly in the work, when many
14. Rockingham Register, February 3, 1870.
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
good people opposed them on conscientious grounds. - Mr. Ralston was a ruling elder at New Erection.
In June, 1866, it was stated in the Register that there were 41 Sunday schools in the county, and 2500 scholars.
At a county Sundayschool convention held in Harrison- burg, October 26, 1866, the following statistical report of certain schools in Rockingham County was made:
Scholars
Classes
Books
M. E. School, Hbg.,
226
21
188
Presbyterian,
120
23
585
Episcopal,
Harmony,
66
11
100
Fellowship,
93
11
Linville's Creek,
77
9
Cross Roads,
70
10
150
Mt. Crawford (Union),
157
18
500
(Bap.),
75
15
McGaheysville,
104
18
300
New Erection,
40
8
Dry River (Union),
75
10
75
Elk Run,
75
13
200
Edom (Union),
92
8
40
Verses Committed.
Edom school,
15,462
Dry River school,
6,669
Harmony school,
10,50315
In February, 1867, the following statement appeared:
We learn from Rev. F. W. Stanley, agent for the A. T. S., that there are in Rockingham county over twenty-nine Sunday Schools in operation. In 29, the statistics show 322 teachers and 3016 scholars. Within the past year, in these twenty-nine schools, there have been 200 conversions.
This is a winter report.
In July, 1898, a Sundayschool Union of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County was organized in Assembly Hall, Court
15. Rockingham Register, Nov. 8, 1866.
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A HISTORY OF
House, J. P. Houck being made president, and J. C. Staples, secretary.
This is a summer report.
For several years Mr. Henry N. Whitesel of Harrison- burg, now deceased, was the enthusiastic president of the county Sundayschool organization. He was succeeded in office by Prof. Geo. H. Hulvey, who held the presidency till 1910.
The most remarkable development in efficient organiza- tion, extending from the county force to the district officers, and from the latter to the individual schools, has been wit- nessed during the last two years. Not only has the county association made itself vital in all its parts, but it has also set a pace for other counties of the State. According to the reports of the State officers, based upon careful comparisons of statistics, the Rockingham County Sundayschool Associa- tion, for efficiency and thoroughness of work, is now second to none in Virginia. It is also an acknowledged fact that this condition must be credited mainly to Dr. E. R. Miller, of Harrisonburg, who has been president of the organization since 1910. It would be difficult for any one not acquainted with the facts at first hand to appreciate the value of his services, or to realize how much time and labor he has devoted to the work; but the results speak for themselves, and are patent to all. The county convention this year was attended by 1000 people, and practically every school in the county was represented by delegates or letter. From the reports presented it appears that there are in the county 142 Sunday- schools, with 1415 officers and teachers, and 12,184 scholars: a total enrollment of 13,599. Of this number, 3972 are in Ashby District; 3349 in Central; 1622 in Linville; 2139 in Plains; and 2517 in Stonewall.
The table on the opposite page has been prepared from statistics collected by the president of the Association during the past two years, and will be convenient for refer- ence. It shows that all the churches are awake to the importance of the Sundayschool work.
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOLS, 1911-12.
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICTS
Denomina- tions
Plains
Linville
Central
Ashby
Stonew'll
Total
Baptist
2
1
1
2
6
Brethren
1
1
1
3
Christian
3
2
2
3
10
Church of Brethren
8
5
6
10
29
Church of Christ
1
1
2
Episcopal
1
4
10 5
Lutheran
2
2
1
5층
Mennonite
1
4
2
7
Methodist
2
2
3
8
9
24
Presbyterian
1
5
3
1
10
Reformed
1
1
3₺
1
62
United
Brethren
3
5
5
6
7
26
Union
2
1
1
3
1
8
Total
25
19
32
39
27
142
The Sundayschool map presents the above conditions in a still more graphic manner.
A HISTORY OF
The present (1912-13) officers of the county Sunday- school association are the following:
Dr. E. R. Miller, president.
Mr. W. J. Dingledine, vice-president.
Rev. J. S. Garrison, secretary.
Dr. W. T. Lineweaver, Treasurer.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF DEPARTMENTS.
Elementary Division, Mrs. P. S. Thomas.
Secondary Division, Mr. J. D. Alexander.
Adult Division, Prof. J. Owen Long.
Home Department, Miss Vada Funk.
Teacher-Training Department, Rev. A. W. Andes.
Y. M. C. A.
In December, 1860, there was a Young Men's Christian Association in Harrisonburg, with Geo. O. Conrad, president, J. B. Odor, secretary; and the organization was preparing to hold its 4th annual meeting in the M. E. Church on January 5, 1861.
In May, 1873, there was another organization of the Y. M. C. A. in Harrisonburg, F. A. Berlin being made presi- dent; Jos. T. Logan, vice-president; D. H. Lee Martz, secre- tary; J. Wilton, treasurer; Frank L. Harris, librarian.
There seems to have been another revival of the organiza- tion in 1884; at any rate it was in operation in 1885, and until sometime in 1886, when it was discontinued. For three years it lapsed; but in March, 1889, a new start was taken. E. T. Dadmun of Staunton came down as a special aid: Judge Grattan was made president, J. C. Staples, secretary; and a ladies' auxiliary gave assurance of support. From this re- vival the work seems to have gone on for 14 years-that is, till March or April, 1903.
As early as 1827 a Rockingham County Bible society, with John Brown as president, was in operation. In Septem- ber, 1866, a county Bible society was organized at Harrison- burg, in a joint meeting of the several churches. In Novem- ber, 1874, Col. D. H. Lee Martz was president of the society;
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1
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DISTRICT SUNDAYSCHOOL MAP
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
Rev. Cline, of Broadway, and other ministers in the county, were vice-presidents. In 1875 the society was active. J. J. Miller was colporteur for the county, and was expected to visit every family. In the Register of February 11 (1875) he made an interesting report.
TEMPERANCE MOVEMENTS.
In March, 1844, Marshall Division No. 3 of the Sons of Temperance, a national order, was organized at Harrison- burg, with Wm. G. Stevens, Jacob R. Stevens, J. M. Con- rad, W. McK. Wartmann, John W. Bear, L. W. Gambill, Chas. D. Gray, and Henry T. Wartman charter members. During the next four years 153 men were initiated into the chapter. Some of the well known names that may still be seen upon the roll are these: Alg. S. Gray, Geo. O. Conrad, St. Clair Kyle, Jacob E. Harnsberger, P. Liggett, J. N. Lig- gett, John H. Graham, Morgan Switzer, and John G. Effinger.
In 1846 Worth Division No. 44, Sons of Temperance, was organized at Port Republic, and was kept going till the civil war. In January, 1873, it was revived and reorganized. On Christmas Day, 1860, the Sons of Temperance at Bridgewater had an elaborate procession, the Mt. Crawford Cavalry under command of Capt. Jordan, taking part.
Mt. Crawford for many years seems to have been a potential center of temperance sentiment. As early as 1838 the village had a live temperance society. On May 20, 1854, a large convention of temperance advocates was held in the Mt. Crawford Reformed Church, Dr. M. H. Harris presiding. C. Coffman Bare and J. B. McGill were secretaries. A com- mittee of gentlemen in each precinct in the county was appointed to obtain signatures to a petition to the court, praying the court not to grant any license for the sale of "ardent spirits" in the county. Frequently during the years of Reconstruction Mt. Crawford was heard from regarding temperance, when the "Friends of Temperance" were organ- izing councils.
The following paragraph, which appeared in the Register of March 19, 1868, will give an idea of what was being done for temperance at that time.
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A HISTORY OF
We are gratified to notice that our talented and intelligent young friend, E. Roller, Esq., of Harrisonburg, is exerting himself actively in behalf of the cause of Temperance in the Valley. We see that he has proposed organizing Councils of Temperance in Woodstock, Strasburg, Edinburg, Mt. Jackson and New Market, in our sister county below us. He has already organized a number of flourishing Councils in Rockingham and Augusta counties. This is a new organization with the same objects of the old order of Sons of Temperance, an institution that flourished and did much good before the war.
Mt. Crawford was honored in this tribute, for "E. Roller, Esq.," now well known as Gen. John E. Roller, grew up in the vicinity of Mt. Crawford.
In March, 1868, Harrisonburg Council No. 37, Friends of Temperance, elected J. S. Harnsberger president, and A. Poe Boude chaplain. In July following the same council elected J. Ed. Pennybacker president, J. Wilton associate, T. U. Dud- ley chaplain, and J. Gassman secretary. In the fall of 1869, at Petersburg, J. Ed. Pennybacker (1844-1912) was elected president of the State council.
During the decade from 1873 to 1883 the Good Templars were active in Rockingham, having organizations in many parts of the county. In January, 1882, a county local option alliance was organized at Harrisonburg. The same year a local option petition, 18 feet long, with a double row of names, was on exhibition at the store of Houck & Wallis. In 1884 a women's temperance reading room was established in the old clerk's office. It was during the later 80's that the saloons in Harrisonburg and certain other parts of the county were closed a little while by local option.
For a number of years past the Women's Christian Tem- perance Union and the Anti-Saloon League have had active organizations in Rockingham.
Benevolent societies and temperance societies have not been wanting among the colored people of Rockingham. For example, in 1875, 1876, etc., organizations of the Sons of Jonadab, the True Reformers, and the Sons of Purity were effected in various parts of the county. 16
16. General acknowledgment is made to Dr. E. R. Miller, Dr. H.H. Sher- man, Rev. L. J. Heatwole, and Hon. James Hay for aid on this chapter.
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CHAPTER XV.
EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS.
The desire on the part of the Valley of Virginia people for higher education has become general only in recent years; but from early times most of them have craved for them- selves and their children the rudiments of learning-or more; and therefore elementary schools grew up with the first set- tlements. Frequently the pastor was also the teacher; and in many cases the church house and the school house were built on the same lot. The records are not sufficient to give us many particulars regarding the first schools in Rocking- ham and adjacent sections, but we know of some that were here more than a century ago; and with these, as well as with others that came later, we shall have to do.
In 1794 the Methodists of Harrisonburg opened a school. It was organized under the direction of no less a person than Bishop Asbury himself. We read on the yellowed page of the minute book:
In conference chamber, the following persons were nominated by the Bishop as Trustees of the Harrisonburg School, viz.
Andrew Shanklin Samuel McWilliams
Joseph Denny
Robert Harrison
Benjamin Smith
Thomas Harrison
Reubin Harrison
Joseph Cravens
Jeremiah Reagan
William Cravens
George Wells
William Hughs
· Benjamin Harrison
From the thirteen nominated, seven were chosen, as fol- lows:
Andrew Shanklin
Benjamin Harrison
George Wells
Samuel McWilliams
Benjamin Smith
Joseph Cravens
Reuben Harrison
A HISTORY OF
The elder of the circuit, who appears a few months later as Joshua Wells, was to be president of the board, ex officio; George Wells was made vice-president; Joseph Cravens, clerk; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer.
It is said that Asbury held the conference this year (1794) in the Harrison house, on Bruce Street near Main, which is now Gen. John E. Roller's law office. The log church, which stood on the top of the hill where the Dunker church now stands, was new and likely unfinished; for on June 23 the seven trustees, who looked after the business of the church as well as that of the school, resolved, "that a sum sufficient to finish the Methodist meeting house suitable for said School as well as publick Preaching &c. be raised by Subscription."
So the meetinghouse became also the schoolroom. Brother John Walsh was employed as teacher at a salary of fifty pounds.
If the term "Blue Light" or "Blue Laws" could with propriety be attached to the Methodists, we should certainly be inclined to use them both in describing the rules by which this school for boys and girls was to be regulated. They- these rules-remind us very much of some that John Wesley himself drew up for another school :- but here they are, as formulated by the seven trustees on the 23d of June, 1794.
Rule 1. The Scholars shall attend at Eight O'clock in the Summer and Half Past eight in the winter; and the Teacher Shall regulate the time of attendance in Spring and Autumn, according to the length of the day.
2. They Shall be allowed an hour for recreation in Winter, and two Hours in Summer.
3. They Shall be dismissed at six o'clock in Summer, and at four in Winter; and in Spring and Autumn in proportion.
4. The School Shall always be opened and closed with prayer.
5. The Teacher Shall appoint a weekly monitor out of a Senior Class, who Shall Call the list upon all Occasions, and see that the Scholars be present at all times of Publick worship in the School; and give Informa- tion of all misdemeanors in the Teachers Absence. And also that all Scholars of Seven Years old and upwards shall attend at publick service on the Sabbath, wherever his or her Parents Guardians or Master may direct.
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ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
6. No gaming of any kind, nor Instruments of Play shall be tolerated.
7. The Tutor shall be judge of all excuses for non attendance, and shall deal with the delinquents accordingly.
8. A strict order of silence shall be observed in School hours.
9. In every case of Sinning against God, the trial shall be very Serious, the facts proved, and the Sinner Properly dealt with, according to the Judgment of the Teacher. If it should be near the time of a Vis- itation (of the trustees) let it be laid over till the meeting of the Board of Trustees.
10. In a case of rebellion against the rules of the School, or the Authority of the Teacher, Such a Scholar with the concurrence of the Tutor, with the Trustee, Shall be dismissed.
Nevertheless, in Case of Such dismission there shall be a right of ap- peal to board of Trustees.
11. No Scholar Shall be permitted on any account whatever to wear Ruffles or powder his hair.
12. The Scholars Shall be examined in the "Instructions for Chil- dren" Once a week Except the Children of such parents as disapprove the same.
13. There Shall be a Garden procured (if practicable) that those Scholars who choose it may Recreate themselves therein.
14. That no teacher Shall be Eligible for a Trustee.
15. It is Earnestly recommended that no person or persons will send their Children to the School without observing the Strictest punctuality, in making payment Half Yearly; And if Any Subscriber neglects payment one Year, it Shall be determined by a majority of the Trustees, whether he shall be permitted to send the Ensuing Year.
16. Every subscriber is required to give three months notice, if he does not Continue to Send the Insuing Year.
17. There Shall be no more than Forty Scholars admitted into the School and the Subscribers Shall pay to the Trustees the sum of Thirty three Shillings for each Scholar per Year.
18. No Subscriber shall have restitution for the Scholars loss of time, by sending more than the number, or longer than the time subscribed.
The school evidently was continued in session the whole year. The last Fridays in the months of November, Febru- ary, May, and August were days set apart for visitation. On these days the vice-president of the board of trustees was to call a meeting of the trustees, and they were to "Examine the Scholars in their knowledge of God and progress in Learning."
Subscribers were to have the privilege of sending their
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A HISTORY OF
black servants into the school for the first year, "Under these Restrictions viz. They Shall be Classed & Seated by themselves."
A space in the gallery, on the right hand of the pulpit, was to be set apart for the reception of such pupils as attended public worship. The teacher or a trustee was to sit at their right.
If we are disposed to revolt at some of the foregoing regulations, we are certainly gratified at others. On the whole, we must regard the provisions for this school of a hundred and fifteen years ago as remarkably sane and liberal. One or two provisions are surprisingly progressive; for example, who would now imagine that the people of that day were planning for a school garden?
In May of the next year, 1795, Bishop Asbury was again at Harrisonburg; and he gave on that occasion further evi- dence of his concern for the new school. Under date of Wednesday, May 13, he writes in his Journal: "Rode twenty- four miles to Rock-Town, and preached at three o'clock; and again the next day. Here I met the trustees of our school, to whom I read my Thoughts on Education. In the evening I left the town, and on Friday 15, rode forty miles."
It appears from the records that the teacher for the second year, 1795-6, was a Mr. Spencer. It would seem that early in 1795 the trustees were planning to enlarge the school by having two departments and two teachers-Mr. Walsh and Mr. Spencer. The new department was to be a "gram- mar school." March 16, 1795, the Board resolved that "the Grammar School Shall be under the same Rules & Regulations which have been made for the English School-except the Two last weeks in April & the Two first in October, which times shall be set apart for Vacation as Common in Grammar schools."
The outcome seems to have been about this-the minutes are very meager-that Mr. Spencer for the second year had a school combining in some measure the two departments contemplated.
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1
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
After 1796 I find no more references in the records to this school, definitely; but at a quarterly meeting conference held in Harrisonburg on Saturday, January 15, 1820, the matter of securing a school teacher was again under consid- eration. 1
Mrs. Carr, whose recollections went back into the first quarter of last century, mentions Richard Fletcher, Rev. Mr. Cole, and Rev. Joseph Smith as among the Harrisonburg schoolmasters of that time; and names Tiffin Harrison, Gessner Harrison, and Henry Tutwiler as pupils of Mr. Smith. She gives the following characteristic account of school life:
The school hours were from eight to twelve, and from two to five. Recess was never known at that time. We were allowed to go out once in the morning and once in the afternoon. A piece of wood shaped like a paddle was hung on the inside of the door by a piece of string; on the one side was written the word OUT, in large letters, and on the other side was written IN. Two girls were allowed to go out together, when the paddle was turned to OUT, and when they came in the paddle was turned to IN. Sometimes the paddle was reversed, when two more girls would go out to meet the others and have a good time playing, until the teacher missed them; he would send for them to come back. Girls were very sel- dom punished; if ever, very slightly; boys were frequently whipped or kept in after school. We were taught reading, spelling, writing, gram- mar, and geography. A pupil who had gone through Pike's arithmetic, Morse's geography, Murray's grammar, and could spell a dozen words without mis-spelling three, could write a plain round hand, he was a man that was thought capable of holding any common office. Ladies of that day never followed any profession, or meddled with men's affairs-they could teach small children their alphabet and work samplers.
On January 20, 1806, an Act was passed incorporating the Rockingham Library Company, the said company being authorized to procure a library for the improvement of the inhabitants. In 1818 an Act was passed changing the time of meeting of this company. In 1867 the Rockingham Library Association was chartered, and books opened for subscriptions at $2.50 a share; in November (1867) James Kenney was
1. Acknowledgment is made to Dr. H. H. Sherman for access to records.
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.
A HISTORY OF
elected president of the association, J. L. Sibert vice presi- dent, O. C. Sterling, Jr., treasurer, Ran D. Cushen secretary, Wm. D. Trout, librarian.
In the summer of 1825 S. M. Hunter and Rich. P. Fletcher were advertising the opening of a school in Harrisonburg, on August 15, in which school Greek, Latin, philosophy, rhetoric, geography, English grammar, mathematics, surveying, read- ing, writing, and arithmetic were to be taught.
In February, 1826, Rockingham Academy was chartered, with Samuel Moffett, Wm. McMahon, Saml. Newman, An- drew Moffett, Isaac Thomas, Peter Crim, John Hoover, Joseph Cline, and Saml. Hoover as trustees. This school was located between Timberville and New Market, and is now known as Plains (school and church).
In 1827 Miss Anna Moore was conducting a school in Harrisonburg for girls; and at the same time another school, at or near the same town, was going on under the direction of Abner W. Kilpatrick. In November, 1833, Mr. Kilpatrick was preparing to open his school at his home, 32 miles from Harrisonburg; board and tuition for 5 months for $55.
In 1839 a project was on foot, and was probably carried through, to establish an academy in Harrisonburg. An Act of incorporation was passed by the legislature this year or the next.
For a year or two, beginning about 1838, a school in Mc- Gaheysville was conducted by Joseph Salyards, probably the most famous teacher that has ever lived in the Valley of Vir- ginia. Born near Front Royal in 1808, he grew up at New Market, winning by toil an education in spite of poverty and obscurity. After many years of work as a teacher in Rock- ingham, Page, and Shenandoah, he died at New Market, August 10, 1885, full of years and honors. Roanoke College conferred the M. A. degree upon him in 1872; and he is re- membered as scholar, teacher, and poet.2
2. See biography of Salyards by Elon O. Henkel, New Market, Va .; also sketch and selections from his poems in Harris and Alderman's Library of Southern Literature, Vol. X.
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