Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/346

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

Jacob, Isaac. Ann and Xlary Com elison; lesse Sim pson; M aty, M argaret and Charles M. Frazer, and their cousin, Charles F razer; Samuel and John Huntington; Isaac. Peter, Samuel and John R liic; A sa, Samuel and Charles M oore: .Abie. Josiah, Griffith and William Phillips; Joseph and Jacob W. M an s; Charles E v a n s; John M cC oy; and Jefferson and Robert .Montgomery, who came here from Tennessee. Except the Frazers, Scchlcrs and Montgonterys, the pupils were too remote from the school to go home at noon, and were obliged to bring their luncheon with them. There was but one intermission during the day, from twelve to one o ’clock, but in the in ten als the jiupils were pcmiitled to withdraw one .at a time. A triangular board about the size o f an orditury book w as hung from a nail on the inside of the door, bearing on one side the word IN” ' and on the other the word "O U T .” A student held up his hand, and receiving an alTinnative nod from the schoolmaster turned the board to “ O U T ’’ and left the room. Some­ times a boy would w.atch his chance when the master w as not looking and turn the board to “ I N " in order to get a chance to join the absent one at play. .Master Gibson was a rigid disciplinarian and ruled with the rod, but he was honored and affectionately remembered by his pupils. H e was a useful man in his day and genera­ tion. Little is known o f his family. Ilis daughter married a farm er residing on the Chillisquaque. The last surviving pupil of M aster Gibson. Jacob Scchlcr, one of the first children bom in Danville, died, a noncgen* arian, on O iristnias Day, 1880. From him most of the data fo r these reminiscences was gathered. From other sources we find that another school was built in 1793 by Jam es Mont­ gomery, assisted by a few scattered settlers, on the Milton and Danville road, a short dis­ tance from the present line o f this county. Montgomery himself was the only teacher here. How long he taught, or the fate of the building, has never been ascertained. In 1797 another log school was built, on the Danvillc-Bloomshurg road. It had neither floor nor chimney, and the roof was of sap­ lings covered with branches, leaves and dirt. .Mr. Hewitt was the teacher, and from one of his pupils, David D avis o f Valley township, these details were secured. , 1 'hc first school in Washingtonville Imrough was buih in t8o6. It was a frniuc building, later converted into a dwelling. H ie first

teacher there was .Abraham Barry, followed by Jolm Craven, John Moore, a M r. .Allen, jolm Reilly, and a Mr. Hutchinson. The principal promoters o f schools in Derry township in early times were Col. T honus Moorehead, Thomas Robertson and Samuel Brittain. The old "Center Stone Schoolhouse" in U bcrty township was built in 1833. and stood a 1872, when it was destroyed by an incendiary fire. T he ground w as riven jointly by Jam es .Strawbridgc. father o f Dr. J. D. Straw bridge. and here the Doctor received the foundation o f his education. J.amcs l-nffcrty, another Irishman named Duncan, and Jam es Aiken, one o f this State's famous rural poets, were teachers here at different jieriods. Gen. Daniel Montgomery having donated a lot in his plat o f DanviUe. west o f.M ill street and north o f Market street, in 1802, a fram e schoolhou.sc. aliout twenty feet square and one slor)' in height, w as erected 011 this grouiul by voluntary contributions, in 1804. The gable end fronted on the alley mi<lway between M ill and Factory streets, and there were a door and two windows on one end, and three windows on each side. The writing desks were of the usual kind along the sides of the room, and the smaller students were seated on iMMichcs running parallel with these desks. A ll of the scats were destitute o f backs, and the entire arrangement of the school fittings w as of a mast inconvenient and uiKomfort.able character. Andrew Forsyth, an eminent Scotchman, a soldier of the Revolution and an intimate friend o f George Washington, be­ came the first teacher. H e had lost his all in the w'ar and was obliged to take up school teaching at Danville, where he died in 1814H e taught six years in Danville and a short lime in Mooresburg. John .Moore, who afterwards became one of the leading merchants o f Danville, w as the next teacher here. H is successor was Thomas W. Bell, a skillful penman, who w as foUowed by Col. Don Carlos Barrett, the most popular and successful educator who ever presided at this school. Subsequently he became one of the irium vinite in T exas, which included .Austin and Houston, the rulers o f that State during its struggle for independence. .After him came Samuel Kirkham. who wrote his famous grammar while teaching here. Next succeeded Ellis Hughes, a surveyor, who came from Catawissa to Danville in 1820. and after his school term w as ended w as appointed register and recorder by the governor. For
 * iromincnt landmark in Montour county until