Chapter 1
Historical Sketch of Armstrong County
Part 4
ARMSTRONG COUNTY CIVIL ROSTER.
Governors. � William F. Johnston, of Pennsylvania; Andrew J. Faulk,
of Dakota Territory.
Congressmen. � Gen. Robert Orr, Samuel S. Harrison, Joseph
Buffington, Darwin Phelps and James Mosgrove � all citizens of Kittanning.
Walter A. Burleigh, a former citizen of this county, delegate to Congress from
Dakota Territory.
State Senators. � Robert Orr, Jr., 1822-25; Eben Smith Kelley,
1825-29 (died in the discharge of his duties at Harrisburg, Saturday, March
28, 1829); Philip Mechling, 1830-34; William F. Johnston, 1847, until he was
inaugurated Governor in January, 1849; Jonathan E. Meredith, 1859-62.
Members of Assembly, or Representatives. � James Sloan, 1808-09;
Samuel Houston, 1817-18-19; Robert Orr, Jr., 1818-19-20-21; James Douglass,
1834-5-6; William F. Johnston, 1836-7-8, and 1841; John S. Rhey, 1850-1-2; J.
Alexander Fulton, 1853; Darwin Phelps, 1856; John K. Calhoun, 1857-8; Philip
K. Bowman, 1872-3; Andrew W. Bell, William G. Heiner, 1877-80; W. F. Rumberger,
Lee Thompson and Frank Martin, 1880; Thompson and A. D. Glenn, 1882.
Member of Constitutional Convention for 1873-4. � John Gilpin.
United States Commissioner. � Grier C. Orr.
Collector of U. S. Taxes in 1816-17. � Philip Mechling.
Collector of Internal Revenue, Twenty-third District. � Robert L.
Brown.
Deputy Collector for this County. � William H. H. Piper.
Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. � James Thompson.14
President Judges. � John Young, Westmoreland county; Thomas White,
Indian county; Jeremiah M. Burrell, Westmoreland county; John C. Knox, Tioga
county; Joseph Buffington, Armstrong county; James A. Logan, Westmoreland
county; John V. Painter, Armstrong county; Jackson Boggs and James B. Neale.
Associate Judges. � Robert Orr, Sr., James Barr, George Ross, Joseph
Rankin, Robert Orr, Jr., Charles G. Snowden, John Calhoun, Andrew Arnold, Hugh
Bingham, Robert Woodward, Michael Cochran, Geo. F. Keener, John Woods, Josiah
E. Stevenson, H. A. S. D. Dudley, John F. Nulton, Robert M. Beatty, James M.
Stevenson.
Prothonotaries of Common Pleas and Clerks of the Courts of Oyer and
Terminer and Quarter Sessions. � Paul Morrow, James Sloan, George Hiccox,
Eben S. Keley, James E. Brown, Frederick Rohrer, Simon Torney, W. W. Gibson,
James Douglass, Jonathan E. Meredith, Samuel Owens, Simon Truby, Jr., James S.
Quigley, John G. Parr, James G. Henry, A. H. Stitt.
County Commissioners. � Appointed: James Sloan, James Matthews and
Alexander Walker. Elected: Jonathan King, Adam Ewing, James Jackson, Thomas
Johnston, John Henery, George Long, Ale. McCain, John Davidson, David
Johnston, Philip Clover, Isaac Wagle, David Reynolds, Joseph Rankin, Joseph
Waugh, Daniel Reichert, Philip Templeton, Sr., Joseph Shields, Hugh Reid,
James Barr, George Williams, John Patton, Samuel Matthews, James Green, Job
Johnson, Jacob Allshouse, James Reichert, Alex. A. Lowry, John R. Johnston,
William Curll, Jacob Beck, George W. Brodhead, Lindley Patterson, James Stitt,
Joseph Bullman, William Coulter, Amos Mercer, Philip Hutchinson, John Boyd,
Robert McIntosh, Arthur Fleming, Andrew Roulston, John Shoop, William
McIntosh, Archibald Glenn, Wilson Todd, Thos. H. Caldwell, James Douglass,
David Beatty, George B. Sloan, William W. Hastings, John M. Patton, Wm. H.
Jack, James Blair, Thomas Templeton, James Barr, Daniel Slagle, George H.
Smith, Augustus T. Pontius, Peter Heilman, William P. Lowry, Thomas
Montgomery, Thomas Herron, Wm. Buffington, Brice Henderson, and Owen Handcock,
Lewis W. Corbett, John Murphy, James White, John Alward, T. V. McKee.
County Treasurers. � Appointed annually by the county commissioners,
as provided by acts of April 11, 1799, and April 15, 1834: Adam Elliott,
Robert Brown, Samuel Matthews, Guy Hiccox, Thomas Hamilton, James Pinks,
Alexander Colwell, David Johnston, Jonathan H. Sloan, Samuel McKee, Andrew
Arnold, James Douglass, Samuel Hutchinson, John F. Nulton. Some of them were
reappointed once or twice.Elected as provided by act of May 27, 1841: John F. Nulton, George Beck,
James McCullough, Sr., Absalom Reynolds, Henry J. Arnold, Alexander Henry,
Thomas McMasters, Andrew J. Faulk, Samuel Crawford, Robert Anderson, William
Brown, William McClelland (George Kron appointed to fill unexpired term of Wm.
McClelland, deceased), J. Norman McLeod, (Samuel McLeod appointed to fill
unexpired term of J. N. McLeod, deceased), Samuel W. Hamilton, Samuel C.
Davis, John E. Alward, James Piper, James H. Monroe, T. Jeff. Elwood, John C.
Walters. The present constitution of this state makes the term of county
treasurer three years instead of two, as it was under the act of 1841.
Registers and Recorders and Clerks of Orphans’ Courts. � Paul Morrow,
James Sloan, George Hiccox, Eben S. Kelley, David Johnston, Philip Mechling,
Frederick Rohrer, John Croll, John Mechling, John R. Johnston, Joseph Bullman,
William Miller, David C. Boggs, Philip K. Bowman, Wm. R. Millron, James H.
Chambers and H. J. Hayes.Until 1821 the offices of prothonotary, clerk of the courts, and register
and recorder were held by one person.
Deputy Attorneys-General. � Deputy attorneys-general were appointed
by the attorney-general until, by act of May 3, 1850, the name was changed to
district attorneys, one of whom was thereafter to be elected for by the voters
of each county. Thos. Blair, Wm. F. Johnston, Michael Gallagher, J. B. Musser,
John B. Alexander, John Reed, Geo. W. Smith, James S. Rhey, Thos. T. Torney,
Daniel Stanard, Hugh H. Brady, Ephraim Carpenter, J. G. Barclay, John W.
Rohrer, James Stewart.
District Attorneys. � John W. Rohrer, Franklin Mechling, William
Blakeley, Henry F. Phelps, John V. Painter, John O. Barrett, Jefferson
Reynolds, Joseph R. Henderson, M. F. Leason, R. S. Martin.
Sheriffs. � John Orr, Jonathan King, James McCormick, Joseph Brown,
Philip Mechling, Robert Robinson, Thos. McConnell, Jacob Mechling, Jas.
Douglass, Chambers Orr, Samuel Hutchinson, Job Truby, George Smith, John
Mechling, William G. Watson, Joseph Clark, Hamilton Kelly, George B. Sloan,
Jonathan Myers, Robert M. Kirkadden, George W. Cook (appointed vice
Kirkadden, deceased), David J. Red, Alexander J. Montgomery, John B. Boyd,
George A. Williams, James G. Henry, James H. Chambers.
County Superintendents. � J. A. Campbell, Robert W. Smith, John A.
Calhoun, James Richey, William Davis, Hugh McCandless, Samuel Murphy, A. D.
Glenn, D. C. Stockdill.
Deputy Surveyors-General. � Robert Richards, J. E. Meredith, Jackson
Boggs.
County Surveyors. � James Stewart, Robert S. Slaymaker, John Steele,
Robert H. Wilson.POLITICAL.
Armstrong county, 1825, Congress: Robert Orr, Jr., had 1148 votes, and
Abner Lacock 111. Orr’s majority, 1037.Constitutional convention, 1825. Against, 921; for, 379 votes; majority
against calling a convention to revise the constitution, 542.The foregoing statistics were obtained from papers published in 1825. From
1828 to 1854 there was uniformly a democratic majority of several hundred,
except that a volunteer whig candidate was, now and then, elected to some
county office. In 1854 a new secret political organization, commonly called
“Know Nothings,” swept the political field with, to the uninitiated,
an unexpected and astounding majority.In the campaign of 1856 the republican party, newly organized, entered the
political arena with the following results in this county: Presidential �
Fremont, Rep., 2,963; Buchanan, Dem., 2,680. Rep. maj. 283. In 1858: Judge of
Supreme Court � Read, Rep., 2,386; Porter, Dem., 2,003. Rep. maj. 383. In
1860: Governor � Curtin, Rep., 3,474; Foster, Dem., 2,698. Rep. maj. 776.
The presidential election was not earnestly contested by the democrats, so
that the republican majority for Abraham Lincoln was large.In 1862: Auditor General � Cochran, Rep., 2,250; Slenker, Dem., 2476.
Dem. maj. 226. In 1863: Governor � Curtin, Rep., 3,146; Woodward, Dem.,
2,977. Rep. maj. 169. In 1864: Constitutional amendment allowing soldiers to
vote in the camp and field. For, 2,466; against, 1676. Maj. for amendment,
790. In 1865: Auditor General � Hartranft, Rep., 2,810; Davis, Dem., 2,506.
Rep. maj. 304. In 1866: Governor � Geary, Rep., 3,758; Clymer, Dem., 3,078.
Rep. maj. 660. In 1867: Judge of Supreme Court � Williams, Rep., 3,439;
Sharswood, Dem., 3,079. Rep. maj. 360. In 1868: Auditor General � Hartranft,
Rep., 3,987; Boyle, Dem., 3,459. Rep. maj. 528. In 1869: Governor � Geary,
Rep., 3,439; Packer, Dem., 3,079. Rep maj. 360. In 1870: Assembly � Putney,
Dem., 3,206; Steele, Rep., 3,197. Dem. maj. 109. In 1871: Auditor General �
Stanton, Rep., 3,515; McCandless, Dem., 3,144. Rep. maj. 371. In 1872:
Governor � Hartranft, Rep., 4,434; Bukalew, Dem., 3,469. Rep. maj. 965. In
1874: Lieut. Governor � Olmstead, Rep., 3,858; Latta, Dem., 3,523. Rep. maj.
335. In 1875: Governor � Hartranft, Rep., 3,605; Pershing, Dem., 3,121. Rep.
maj. 4834. Brown, Prohib., 196.JUDICIAL AND LEGAL.
The learned judges who have presided over the courts of this county have
adorned their positions by their ability, integrity, impartiality and profound
and varied knowledge of the law, and the learned professions have not been
barren of devoted, well-read and eminent members who have held a high rank in
the esteem of their brethren in other counties of our state. To the heritage
of this county also belongs some of the credit and usefulness of inventive
genius.STUDENTS AT LAW AND ADMISSION OF ATTORNEYS.
Prior to September 1, 1873, any man, irrespective of his literary
attainments, was allowed to study law without being registered as a student by
the prothonotary, and members of the bars of other counties could be admitted
to practice generally and permanently in this county on mere motion. At the
time last above mentioned Judge Logan suggested and the court adopted a set of
new rules, requiring all persons desiring to study law in this county to
undergo a preliminary examination in all the branches of a thorough English
education and the elements of the Latin language, by the board of examiners
created by these rules, and each to produce and file with the prothonotary a
certificate, signed by at least a majority of the members present, that the
applicant is prepared and qualified to commence the study of the law, and that
they have received satisfactory evidence of his good moral character, and that
each applicant give in writing one month’s notice to the secretary of the
board of his desire to be registered, before he shall come before them for
examination, and making it the duty of every attorney of the courts of this
county to register with the prothonotary the name, age, and place of residence
of every person studying the law under his direction, and the time of
clerkship to be computed from the date of such registry. If the applicant is
under the age of twenty-one years when registered, his clerkship is to be
three years, and two years if he has then arrived at his majority, under the
direction and in the office of a practicing attorney or a judge of said court;
but if he shall have studied in a law school of good repute, the time thus
spent may be counted as part of the term, except the last year, which must be
spent in the office of his preceptor. After the expiration of the term of his
clerkship he must undergo an examination of the board of examiners on the
principles and practice of law and equity, and produce and file with the
prothonotary, when his admission is moved for, a certificate signed by all the
examiners who were present at his examination, that he is sufficiently
qualified for admission to the bar, and they have received satisfactory
evidence of his good moral character. Every such examination shall consist
partly of written questions to be answered by the student in writing, which
questions and answers are to be reported to the court. By a rule adopted and
published December 6, 1875, each applicant for preliminary examination must
pay to the secretary of the board of examiners the sum of $3, and each
applicant for final examination the sum of $5, before he be entitled to his
certificate of registration or a report in favor of his admission to the bar,
for purchasing such books as the board may need and defraying such other
expenses as may be incurred by the board.Members of the bars of other counties of this state or of other states
cannot be admitted to practice in the courts of this county until they shall
have appeared before the board of examiners and produced a certificate signed
by them, wherein all the examiners present shall certify that they have
received satisfactory evidence of his moral character and professional
qualifications, including at least two years’ diligent study or practice of
the law, and recommending his admission to the bar. Written notice of any such
applicant’s intention to apply for admission must be given to the board at
least two weeks prior to the application, accompanied with the certificate of
the president judge of the court in which he last practiced of his good moral
character and of the length of time he had practiced therein. An attorney of
another court can be admitted for special cases without the foregoing
requisites.The board of examiners consists of five members, a majority of whom
constitute a quorum. At September term, 1873, the court appointed as members
thereof Darwin Phelps, Edward S. Golden, John V. Painter, John Gilpin and
Robert W. Smith. At June term, 1874, James McCullouch was appointed, vice John
V. Painter, by reason of the vacancy occasioned by the latter’s accession to
the bench.RELIGIOUS.
In the early part of this century the facilities for the enjoyment of
religious worship and privileges in this county were, as is the case in newly
and sparsely settled regions, very meager. Two Presbyterian churches were
organized and two log church edifices, about eight miles apart, were erected
on the west side of the Allegheny river, in what was then Buffalo township, in
1802. From those two churches have sprung all the other churches of that
denomination in this county. These and other churches will be more specially
noticed in the sketches of their respective localities.Rev. T. M. Hudson, a venerable clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church,
had that portion of this county east of the Allegheny river in his circuit of
three hundred miles, which he traversed fifty-four years ago. There were then,
he informed me, no church edifices within that part of his circuit included in
this county. Meetings were held in private houses and in open air, under
trees, in pleasant weather, to which women, in some instances, went a distance
of five or six miles with infants in their arms. The dwelling-houses did not
lack ventilation. They were not as warm as modern dwellings. In one instance,
said he, the feet of another clergyman were frozen while he was preaching in
such a mansion.Sabbath schools began to be organized in 1818-20. They were at first
regarded, by at least some of the pastors and church members, as innovations
upon the proper functions of the church, as the writer was informed by a
gentleman who was cognizant of their first establishment in this county. That
unfavorable view soon vanished, so that they have here, as elsewhere, been
accepted and cherished, by pastors and people, for many years as important
adjuncts to the church.The number of churches in the county in 1850 was 65.
That the great interests of religion have been liberally fostered in this
county is evident from the following statistics:Presbyterian � 1876 � No. churches, 24; No. members, 2,989; No.
Sabbath schools, 20; No. scholars, 2,097.
Methodist Episcopal � No. churches, 19; No. members, 1,814; No.
Sabbath schools, � ; No. scholars, about 1,523, exclusive of the number
attending the Union Sabbath school at Worthington.United Presbyterian � 1875 � No. churches, 13; No. members,
1,038; No. Sabbath schools, 12; No. scholars, 744.
Episcopalian � No. churches, 5; No. members, 330; No. Sunday schools,
4; No. scholars, 265. (Number of members and Sunday school scholars partly
estimated.)Lutheran (both synods) � No. churches, 29; No. members, 2,672; No.
Sabbath schools, 25; No. scholars, 1,907.Reformed � No. churches, 12; No. members, 825; No. Sabbath
schools, 11; No. scholars, 630.Baptist � No. churches, 10; No. members, 650; No. Sabbath schools,
12; No. scholars, 500.Dunkard � No. churches, �; No. members, �; No. Sabbath
schools, �; No. scholars, �.Roman Catholic � No. churches, �; No. members, �; No. Sabbath
schools, �; No. scholars, �.During the winter of 1876 there was a peculiarly deep and extensive
interest awakened in religious matters, which resulted in considerable
accessions to many churches of the different denominations.THE ARMSTRONG COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.
The first meeting was held on Monday, September 15, 1828, at the
court-house. Thomas Hamilton was chosen president, and James E. Brown
secretary. A series of resolutions were adopted indicating, 1. An approval of
the benevolent object of that Philadelphia Bible society to give a copy of the
Bible to every family in Pennsylvania unable or unwilling to pay for it. 2.
That a society for this county be formed. 3. That the business of the society
be conducted by a president, six vice-presidents, and twelve other managers,
who were to choose from their own body a secretary and treasurer. 4. The
appointment of four for each township to visit every family in their
respective townships. A permanent organization was effected at the evening
session by electing Rev. John Dickey, president; Rev. John Reddick, Rev.
Gabriel Adam Reichert, Rev. Henry Koch, Rev. John Core, Thos. Smullen, and
Samuel Green, vice-presidents; Thos. Hamilton, Simon Torney, Philip Mechling,
Frederick Rohrer, Robert Brown, Sr., Samuel Matthews, James Green, John
Monroe, James Brown, Jr., David Johnston, Alexander Colwell, and James E.
Brown, managers. The committees for the several townships were also appointed.
The society was made auxiliary to the Philadelphia Bible Society.The executive committee, D. Phelps, secretary, issued a circular November
17, 1841, inviting the aid of individuals in each township to distribute
Bibles and Testaments, and visit each family in their respective districts.
Application was directed to be made to Alexander Colwell before the 13th,
and to enter upon their duties on December 27. Clergymen and church officers
of all denominations were solicited to co-operate. The committee desired to
ascertain the names of individuals in central situations who would be willing
to keep depositories of Bibles and testaments for the supply of their
respective neighborhoods.That society still exists. A special effort, the centennial year, to see
that every family in this county is supplied with the Bible.EDUCATIONAL.
The only educational facilities, except those afforded by the Kittanning
academy, until after the passage of the act of Assembly of 1834 establishing a
system of free schools, were afforded by pay or subscription schools, sparsely
located, kept in log shanties in some places, and in octagonal log houses
built expressly for school purposes, in other places, with puncheon floors,
primitive desks, and long openings in the walls, a little above the desks,
which were attached to the walls, covered with greased paper for windows.
Spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic � the last-named in many instances
to a limited extent � were about all that was taught in most of those
schools. The teachers were generally men of mature age, of severe aspect and
discipline. At least some of them were “Irish schoolmasters.” The
teacher in those pristine days, in most instances, might be described as
Goldsmith describes the teacher of the village school:“A man severe he was, and stern to view.
* * * * * *
Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace
The day’s disasters in his morning face;
Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee
At all his jokes, for many a joke had he;
Full well the busy whisper, circling round.
Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frown’d,
* * * * * *
While words of learned length and thundering sound
Amazed the rustics ranged around;
And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew,
That one small head could carry all he knew.
But past is all his fame. The very spot
Where many a time he triumph’d, is forgot.”
Several academies were founded in later years, which will be elsewhere
noticed.Among the county expenses for 1828 is the sum of $9.53 for teaching poor
children. The mixed system of paying tuition by those who were able to pay,
and the county paying it for those who were unable to pay, proved to be
impracticable, and was rarely of any avail to those whose benefit it was
designed, on account of their strong and natural repugnance to attending
school as dependents, unlike their wealthier companions, on public charity for
acquiring an education.The free-school system placed all on an equal footing, and it has steadily
progressed in accomplishing its beneficent purpose. When it was optional with
each school district � i. e., borough or township � whether it
would accept the system or not, it was readily accepted by all districts in
this county.As required by the act of April 1, 1834, the county commissioners and the
delegates appointed by the several boards of school directors convened in the
court-house on Tuesday, November 4, 1834. The number of delegates present was
eleven. The Plum Creek district, and that consisting then of Kittanning
borough and township, were not represented. On the questions: “Will the
convention agree to appropriate for the establishment and support of common
schools?” the vote was:Yeas � Jacob Mechling, Franklin township; James Adams, Sugar Creek
township; George Means, Toby township; Samuel Marshal, Perry township; John
Calhoun, Wayne township; Jacob McFadden, Clarion township; Sherman Bills,
Kiskiminetas township, and James McCall, Freeport.Nays � John Hidley, Red Bank township, and James Hindman, Franklin
township.A resolution was passed providing that a tax of $1,920.18, or double the
amount of the quota appropriated by the state, should be appropriated for that
year.In the convention held on Monday, November 2, 1836, the vote to appropriate
for the support of common schools was unanimous. The districts of Allegheny,
Freeport, and Perry were not represented. Double the amount of state
appropriation to this county was ordered to be levied.In 1840 there were fourteen school districts and 120 schools, which were
kept open four months in the year.By the general act of 1854 and its supplements each city, borough and
township is made a district for school purposes, made subject to one board of
directors control, and causing to be selected, triennially by the directors of
the several school districts in each county except Philadelphia, a suitable
person to be appointed (by the superintendents of public instruction) a county
superintendent, whose duties are to examine all the applicants for teaching
the public or common schools in his county, no applicant being permitted to
teach such a school unless he or she has a valid certificate of qualification
granted by that officer; to visit all the schools in the county as often as
practicable, and perform various other duties prescribed by the school law.
The intent of the law requiring teachers to be examined and their schools to
be visited by the county superintendent is to exclude from the useful,
honorable and responsible vocation of teaching such as are incompetent
morally, intellectually, and by the want of proper culture.The number of school districts reported in this county in 1837 was 14;
whole number, 61; number then required, 87; average number months taught, 4
�; male teachers, 58; female teachers, 10; average salaries of male teachers
per month, $17.71; average salaries female teachers per month, $11.61; male
scholars, 1,155; female scholars, 1,088; average number in each school, 46 �;
cost of each per month, 52 � cents.In 1850 the number of pupils attending the public schools was 6,477, and
the number attending academies and private schools, 135.The number of common schools in this county in 1858 was 199; then still
required, 12; average number of months taught, 4.52; male teachers, 163;
female teachers, 50; average monthly salaries, male $24.17; female, $18.18;
number of scholars, male 5,094; female, 4,472; average attendance of scholars,
7,323; cost of teaching each scholar per month, 48 cents. Tax levied: For
school purposes, $22,970.26; for building schoolhouses, $5,235.07; total
amount levied, $28,205.33. Mills on the dollar for school purposes, 8.72; for
building schoolhouses, 3.96; received from state appropriation, $2,654.38;
from collectors of school tax, $18,114.60; cost of instruction, $19,358.11;
fuel and contingencies, $1,593.22; cost of schoolhouses, viz, purchasing,
building, renting, repairing, etc., $5,192.66.In 1876 the whole number of common schools in this county was 261; average
number of months taught, 5.9; male teachers, 163; female teachers, 106;
average salaries per month of male teachers, $41.12; female, $34.40; scholars,
male, 6,730; female, 5,933; average attendance, 8,252; cost of teaching each
scholar per month, 76 cents; tax levied for school purposes and building
schoolhouses, $75,719.25; received from state appropriation, $10,480.08; from
taxes and all other sources, $87,854; total receipts, $98,334.08. Expended:
For building, renting and repairing schoolhouses, etc., $22,949.37; teacher’s
wages, $47,711.68; fuel, fees of collectors, etc. $21,068.53; total
expenditures, $91,729.58, being $3,000 less than for 1875. Contribution to
Centennial fund, $36.50.Thus it appears by comparison that the interest of and facilities for
popular education in this county have progressed with its increase in
population and development of material resources.It is a part of the educational history of this county that there was for
awhile considerable opposition to the county superintendency on the part of
many of the supporters of the common school system. It was at first so strong
that the first convention of school directors, May, 1854, fixed the annual
compensation of the first county superintendent at the meager sum of $300,
some of them thinking, as the writer was informed, that no one would serve for
that sum, and that they would thus discharge the duty imposed on them by law
of selecting a suitable person and fixing his compensation, and in that way
dispense with the superintendent. They did not seem to consider that the law
also prescribed that every teacher of common schools must be examined by that
officer, and that if any schools in a district should be taught by teachers
not having proper certificates there would have been a forfeiture of the state
appropriation to the schools of such district, which, for all the districts in
the county, amounted to several thousand dollars. The gentleman then selected,
Rev. J. A. Campbell, after deliberation, concluded that he could not devote
the time, labor and attention which the law required for that compensation,
but proposed to accept the position for a year if the amount fixed by the
convention would be increased to $400. In order that the school districts of
this county might not lose their state appropriations, several citizens �
the writer does not remember the names of all of them � pledged the
additional hundred dollars, which they paid out of their own pockets, and the
first incumbent of the new and to some extent obnoxious office entered upon
the discharge of his official duties, in which he continued during the first
two years and a part of the third year of the term, teaching part of the time
a normal class and preaching to his congregation.At the triennial convention of school directors in this county, May, 1857,
the annual compensation of the county superintendent was fixed at $800. A
majority of the directors subsequently elected deemed that too large a
compensation, some of them thinking it ought to be about the average salary of
clergymen in the rural districts. On the other hand, a minority of the
directors thought otherwise, and favored the increase. In the attempt in the
triennial convention, May, 1860, to reduce it to $600, it was, in the clashing
of resolutions for increasing and diminishing, through want of sufficient
knowledge of parliamentary rules, unintentionally reduced to $400, and thus it
remained until Ma, 1865, when, on the petition of the requisite number of the
board of school directors, the state superintendent ordered a reassembling of
the convention, by which it was raised to the rate of $800 per annum for the
rest of the term, which expired on the first Monday of June, 1866. It was
afterward raise to $1000. For the present term it is $1200. The state pays the
salaries of the county superintendents out of state revenue, but allows them
to be fixed by the conventions of school directors of the respective counties.
There is now little if any opposition in this county to that office, which
State Superintendent Hickok used to denominate the “right arm” of
the educational service in Pennsylvania.TEACHER’S INSTITUTES,
district and county, are important features of our present school system.
They have proved, when properly conducted, to be useful agencies in improving
teachers. In conducting the former the teachers rely chiefly upon their own
resources. Until the generous provision made by act of 1867, the county
superintendent and teachers were obliged to rely principally upon their own
mental and material resources in conducting the latter, which were, prior to
1868, local, that is, held in different parts of the county, and in which
teachers were obliged to do a large part of the work. They were thus
benefited, because “self-dependence is the great principle to be
aroused,” and because teachers will not attain their full statures if
allowed to remain solely under the shadows of eminent instructors from abroad,
however useful and serviceable the latter may be. The earlier county
institutes, though less prominent before the public and more dependent on home
talent than those held since 1867, nevertheless busy, working, improving ones,
which awakened a lively interest in both members and spectators. For instance,
the one held at Worthington in April, 1860, attracted thither a certain
candidate15 for nomination as candidate for an important county
office, who, supposing a large number of people would be there, which proved
to be the case, thought that that would be an available point for
electioneering. He went into that institute and became so deeply interested in
its proceedings that he didn’t electioneer worth a cent, or rather a vote. He
afterward wrote a graphic account of what was done in the institute, which was
published in the Free Press, and reproduced in the then next May or
June number of the Pennsylvania School Journal.The material aid afforded by the provisions of the act of June 1867, and
realized from elocutionary and musical entertainments and series of able
lectures, which have been liberally patronized, has enabled the county
superintendent, since 1867, to secure the valuable services of some of the
ablest, most skillful, and experienced educators of this and other states in
rendering the more modern institutes attractive and effective. They have thus
far been held at Kittanning, and attended by most of the teachers in the
county. Stores of knowledge useful to teachers and highly practical have thus
been bestowed which ought not to be fruitless in enhancing their culture and
refinement. Progress in the intellectual and esthetic culture of teachers and
pupils, and improvement in school-buildings and furniture within the last two
decades, has been considerable, though not to so high a degree as devoted,
enthusiastic and perfection-loving educators desire. Every section of the
county is now dotted over with comely temples of knowledge, in which every
child of proper age can receive at least a good common English education.JOURNALISTIC.
As early as 1810, a newspaper, bearing the name of The Western Eagle,
was established in Kittanning, by Capt. James Alexander. The first number was
issued September 20, 1810. It was discontinued while its proprietor was in the
military service, but was revived for a short time after his return. Its size
was 18×11 inches. It contained sixteen columns, i. e., the
above-mentioned first number.The Kittanning Columbian and Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Advertiser was
the next newspaper established in this county. Its proprietor and publisher
was Frederick Rohrer, assisted by his younger brother George Rohrer. It was of
medium size, published weekly, and democratic republican in politics. Its
issue of June 5, 1819, No. 14, Vol. I, is before the writer, from which it
appears that its first issue was on Saturday, March 6. (It was finally merged
with the Gazette.) The presidential election proclamation in the issue
of October 7, 1820, shows that Philip Mechling was still sheriff. It also
appears from other contents that the late Gen. Orr was then a candidate for
assembly, on the democratic republican ticket, and the late Samuel Houston for
the same, on both the democratic-republican and Indiana county tickets; that
John Cribbs, James Pinks, Robert Robinson and Thos. McConnell were volunteer
candidates for sheriff, and Anthony Montgomery, Peter Klingensmith and Jas.
Jackson were candidates for county commissioner at the October election.The Kittanning Gazette was established by Josiah Copley and John
Croll, and its first number was issued August 17, 1825. It was conducted under
the firm name of Copley, Croll & Co. until 1829, when Copley withdrew. It
and the Columbian were merged about April 12, 1831, and was published
as the Gazette and Columbian, by Simon Torney and John Croll, under the
firm name John Croll & Co., until November 6, 1832, when Croll withdrew,
and Copley became the editor and publisher for the estate of Simon Torney,
deceased, until 1838 � the Columbian part of the name having been
dropped prior to 1836 � when, i. e., about April 5, 1838, it passed into the
control of the late Benjamin Oswald, who, in the first week of May, 1841,
changed the name to that of the Democratic Press, and afterward to the
Kittanning Free Press, which name was retained until May, 1864, when it
was purchased from Mrs. Oswald by an association, and its name changed to Union
Free Press, which it still retains. Marshall B, Oswald succeeded the
association as publisher of the paper, and in 1876 sold an interest to James
E. Neale, Esq., who, after being elected to the bench in the spring of 1881
(April 9), transferred his half to G. S. Crosby, Esq.It was issued under the name of Gazette uninterruptedly, except the
short period during which it bore the name of Gazette and Columbian,
from 1825 until 1841. It was, for a few years, while it bore the name of Gazette
and Columbian, the organ of the democratic-republican party in this
county. It was afterward a whig paper. On the dissolution of the whig party it
became a republican organ, which it still is. It was never a professedly
antimasonic paper, though for a year or two it acted in harmony with the
antimasonic organization, while it bore the name of the Gazette. As Gazette
and Free Press it has flourished more than half a century.In February, 1830, the publication of the Armstrong Advertiser and
Antimasonic Free Press was commenced by the late Judge Buffington, which
was subsequently continued by William Badger until August or September, 1833,
when the type and other materials thereof were transferred to Freeport, and
thereafter used in the publication of the Olive Branch.Though not germain to the history of journalism, it is to the history of
printing in this county, � the fact that fifty years ago, in 1826, Copley,
Croll & Co. entered into book-printing. In that year they printed for the
author, a Kittanning clergyman, a book of 286 pages duodecimo, entitled
“Lectures on Theology, or Dissertations on some of the most important
Doctrines of the Christian Religion, by the Rev. Moses P. Bennett, Minister of
the Episcopal Church,” which did not prove to be pecuniarily profitable
to either the author or the printers. There are thirteen lectures on as many
different topics, written in a perspicuous style, and evincing much study and
research. The reasoning is logical, but whether all the ideas accord with
those of such as are held to be orthodox is a question for the theologians to
settle.Proposals were made in 1830 for publishing a weekly German paper, to be
called the Armstrong Republican and Friend of Liberty, by Simon Torney
& Co., as soon as sufficient encouragement should be afforded. That
project was not consummated.The Armstrong Democrat was established by Frederick Rohrer and John
Croll June 4, 1834. It continued to be a democratic paper under their
proprietorship, under that of Andrew J. Faulk, and under that of Wm.
McWilliams, until 1864, when it espoused the cause of the republican party.
Its name was soon changed to that of the Armstrong Republican. It has
been owned and conducted for several years past by A. G. Henry, whose son, W.
M. Henry, local editor, has also been manager since 1880.The Mentor was established in the fall of 1862, by J. A. Fulton, and
was published and edited by him until May or June, 1864, when he disposed of
it to an association, and its name was changed to that of Democratic
Sentinel, which has since been published and edited by John W. Rohrer. The
Mentor was the organ of the peace wing of the democratic party in this
county. The Sentinel is democratic in politics.The Centennial, an amateur juvenile monthly, owned and published by
Reichert Bros., near the corner of Water and Mulberry streets, was first
issued in April, 1874. Its size for the first three months was about 7×5
inches; it was then enlarged to about double that size, and in April, 1875, to
10×14 inches.The Valley Times was transferred to Kittanning from Freeport, the
first number being issued here May 6, 1876. It is published by Oswald &
Simpson in Reynolds’ building, northeast corner of market and McKean street.The first newspaper published in Freeport was the Olive Branch, of
which William Badger was the proprietor and editor, who had previously
published and edited the Armstrong Advertiser and Antimasonic Free Press
at Kittanning, the type and material of which he transferred hither in August
or September, 1833. Its publication continued for about two years. The
Freeport Columbian and Leechburg and Warren Advertiser was
established here by A. J. Foster in 1839, which was transferred in April,
1842, to John and Samuel McCulloch, by whom it was published as a democratic
paper until about 1845. The Visitor, after making divers visits to the
domiciles of its patrons here and round about, departed. The Freeport Ledger
was published by A. J. Gibson from 1853 until 1855-6. The New Era was
established by Simon Shoop in the spring of 1872, who, a few years afterward,
transferred it to James A. McCulloch, and its name was changed to that of the Valley
Times, which, in the early part of 1876, was transferred to Oswald &
Simpson, and removed to Kittanning. The seventh and present paper published
here is the Freeport Journal, edited in part by Rev. John J. Francis.
Those were all issued weekly, and were neutral in politics, except the Columbian.The first newspaper published in Apollo was the Warren Lacon, the
first number of which must have been issued on or about November 6, 1835. It
was of medium size, and printed by Robert McKissen. The writer is indebted to
Dr. Robert E. McCauley for No. 47, Vol. III, issued on Wednesday, October 31,
1838, which contains but a part of a column of editorial matter; it was a
democratic paper; most of the advertisements were from abroad; it is barren of
items of local interest save the election returns and the list of letters for
twelve individuals remaining in the Apollo postoffice on the first day of
October, then instant, furnished by Samuel Owens, postmaster. Its publication
ceased, as the writer is informed, in a few years thereafter, probably in
1840. The Apollo Lacon and Kiskiminetas Review was established
in September, 1875, by Miss Jennie Stentz, who shortly afterward transferred
it to J. Melhorn, its present publisher.The Leechburgh Enterprise is the title of a monthly journal that was
established in 1873, and was edited and published by Mr. Robertson for several
years. It was conducted later by H.H. Wray, and was made a valuable special
medium for the presentation of the various branches of business and the
facilities therefor peculiar to Leechburgh and its vicinity.The people of Dayton being in an extreme corner of the county, where they
were not easily reached by the city or Kittanning papers, resolved at a late
day to have a journal of their own. Thus it came about that the Dayton News
company was organized, and on November 10, 1882, the first number of the paper
issued. It soon acquired a circulation, and has since been in prosperous
condition. The publishers of the News are Messrs. Elder, Orr & Co.READINGS FROM OLD KITTANNING JOURNALS.
A few old newspapers, published here at different periods, are before the
writer. The oldest of them is the first number16 of the first
volume of the Western Eagle, which was issued on Thursday, September 20, 1810,
by James Alexander, whose office was then on lot No. 217, at or near the
corner of Water and Mulberry streets, and subsequently lot No. 122, below the
alley on the north side of Market Street. The quality of the paper is fair and
reasonably tough. The type must have been new or nearly so. The size of the
sheet is 18×11 inches. Its sixteen columns are filled chiefly with foreign
news, and contain but little of domestic or local interest.That Eagle, figuratively speaking, took its flight from its eyrie
the second day before the autumnal equinox, but as it did not utter a single
screech indicating stormy weather, it is presumable that its first appearance
to the then 250 inhabitants of “Kittanning town,” as this place is
written on some of the old assessment lists, was in a genial flood of
September sunlight. Dropping the figure, the reader may readily imagine that
groups of Kittanningers, at least the reading portion of them, devoured the
contents of that first Kittanning newspaper, and gathered in groups in the
inns, stores and offices, or in the shade of that large old wild-cherry tree
that stood in Market below Jefferson street, or beneath the thrifty and
fruitful hickory trees that were frequent along the river bank, to welcome
their new visitor and discuss the foreign and domestic news thus wafted to
them.That number of the Eagle contains only three advertisements, which fill a
column and a half. One of them is a reference to lands in other parts of the
county. Another one is the proclamation of Jonathan King, the then high
sheriff of this county, for the election of one person for member of the House
of Representatives of the United States, for the district composed of the
counties of Armstrong, Indiana, Westmoreland, Somerset, Jefferson and Cambria;
one member of assembly in conjunction with Indiana county; and one county
commissioner. The remaining one is the letter list, dated September 17, of
that year, by which it appears that David Lawson was then postmaster, and
letters of seventy-six persons were then remaining in that office, a
considerable number of whom must have resided from fifteen to twenty or more
miles from this point. It may here be mentioned as quite remarkable that David
Lawson had in all eleven children, four of whom were boys and seven girls, and
that every one of them is still living, the youngest being about fifty-four
years of age. That family circle, excepting by the deaths of the parents, is
still unbroken.The only original matter in that number of the Western Eagle is a column
and a third of introductory remarks by the editor, announcing the price of the
paper to be $2 a year, exclusive of postage, payable in cash or rags, at 2 �
cents per pound, half-yearly in advance; that the paper would be forwarded
immediately after publication by a private post, if there should be sufficient
number on the route to defray the expense, at 50 cents a year each, payable
half-yearly in advance; and during the then existing arrangement for the
arrival of the mail the publication day would be every Friday. The other
portions of those remarks are well written, and contain correct ideas as to
the province and duty of an editor in relation to laying before the people
correct information concerning the foreign and domestic policy of our
government and the treatment of public and private individuals. He says that
“in conducting the Western Eagle, it is determined that foul and
malicious calumny shall not be permitted to vilify its columns. If the public
character of any man be necessarily examined, the examination shall be made
fairly but not maliciously; it shall be confined to him as a public character,
and shall not descend to a scrutiny of his private conduct unconnected with
his public station. The intention on this subject, as well as on all others,
is not to abuse, not to descend to scurrilous invective, but on all occasions
to present an open, candid and honest statement to the public scrutiny.”
His prospects seemed to be “flattering. Friends appear on all sides
determined to exert themselves in fostering a paper and assisting its
continuance in the county of Armstrong.” The name of Wm. McCorkle,
written in ink on the margin, indicates that he was one of the first or
original subscribers. The office in which it was published was, I am informed,
in a log building on lot No. 122 on the north side of Market street near the
public alley, which was afterward destroyed by fire while occupied by the late
Nathaniel Henry as a cabinet-shop.Passing over a period of ten years, the writer’s eye falls upon No. 83,
Vol. II, of the Columbian, issued October 7, 1820. “Jefferson
street, southwest corner of the public lot, near the courthouse.”From the proclamation of Philip Mechling, then sheriff of this county, for
the general election, on Tuesday, the 10th of that month, it
appears that the law then required two persons to be voted for sheriff and two
for coroner. By the act of 1817-18 the court-house was made the place for
voting at the general elections by the voters residing in the election
district, then composed of Kittanning township, which, until the formation of
Pine township, embraced all the territory on the east side of the river
between Crooked and Mahoning creeks, and extending east from the river to the
present western boundary lines of Plum Creek, Cowanshannock and Wayne
townships; and that election district also embraced that part of the territory
on the west wide of the river between the Allegheny river and a line beginning
at the mouth of Glade run, now in the township of North Buffalo, thence to the
place where the line of what was then Buffalo township crossed that run, which
point is in the present township of East Franklin, about one mile and forty
rods southeast of Middlesex, and thence to Cummins’ Rock, on the Allegheny
river, which is a short distance above the mouth of Mahoning creek, at the
foot of Kelly’s chute. There are now within the limits of that district six
entire election districts and parts of three others.The number of business advertisements, aside from those connected with the
printing office, did not exceed six, and there are only nine announcements of
candidates for county offices in that issue of the Columbian. The
claims, merits and demerits of the gubernatorial and congressional candidates
then before the people for election were sharply but not scurrilously
discussed by contributors.The issue of October 5, 1825, contains seven legal notices, among which are
the proclamation of Thomas Burnside, speaker of the Senate, and of Thomas
McConnell, sheriff of this county, for the election of a State Senator, in the
district then composed of the counties of Armstrong, Cambria, Indiana,
Jefferson, Venango and Warren, to fill the vacancy in our State Senate caused
by the resignation of Robert Orr, Jr.; four announcements of candidates for
Senator � Eben. Smith Kelly was elected; five for Member of Assembly; five
for county offices; six business advertisements; two lists of letters, one of
which is that of Samuel Houston, postmaster, dated October 1, 1825, and
containing the names of sixty-one persons, some of whom must have resided at
least twenty miles distant; and the appeal made by divers citizens in favor of
the election of David Reynolds as County Commissioner, in which is the
following paragraph, showing the then embarrassed condition of our county
finances: “Mr. Reynolds was elected a Commissioner in 1816, when our
finances were as gloomy, if not more so, than at present; when his term of
service expired, by his exertions and the co-operation of his colleagues, the
situation of the treasury was so much improved that upward of five hundred
dollars in cash remained in the treasury after extinguishing existing debts
and the current expenses of the county, without imposing any extraordinary
burthen upon the citizens thereof.”It is noticeable that in the issue of June 21, 1828, the number of legal
and official notices and business advertisements had increased to twenty-four.
The report of John Galbraith, the borough treasurer, signed by S. S. Harrison,
burgess, and attested by James Douglass, clerk, appears therein, showing the
receipts into the borough treasury, for the year ending May 27, 1828, to have
been $392.25 �, and the expenditures for borough purposes for that year
$355.34 �.It also appears from the Columbian of June 21, 1828, that a
“large and respectable Jackson republican meeting” was held at the
court-house on Thursday evening, June 19, 1828. Resolutions were unanimously
adopted concurring with the nomination of James S. Stevenson, of Allegheny
county, therefore made in that county, and instructing the two delegates �
Frederick Rohrer and John Mechling � from this county to support that
nomination in the general convention to be held at Butler. That candidate was
not, however, nominated by that convention. But John Gilmore was. So it is
nothing new under the sun for Butler to secure the nominations of candidates
for important offices. It is a fact of history, at least of political history,
that Butler county has been favored with very many, if not more than her full
share, of such nominations, as well as important appointments.In No. 526, issue of October 3, 1829, the number of notices and
advertisements is thirty-seven, yet occupying nearly a column less than those
of the issue of June 19 of the previous year. Among the advertisements is the
professional card of the late Governor, William F. Johnston, dated September
26, 1829, in which he tendered his services as attorney at law to the citizens
of Armstrong and the adjacent counties. His office was then “directly
opposite Mr. Reynolds’ inn,” which was on lot No. 126, south side of
market below Jefferson street. Among the legal and official notices are the
proclamations of Daniel Sturgeon, then speaker of our State Senate, and of
Jacob Mechling, then sheriff of this county, for the special election of a
senator to represent the Twenty-fourth senatorial district, vice Eben Smith
Kelly, deceased, to be held on Tuesday, October 13, then instant. That paper
contains announcements of candidates, viz., three for State Senator, four for
Assemblyman, eight for County Commissioner, three for County Auditor, three
for Sheriff, and four for Coroner.Those papers contain but very little original editorial matter, and no
information of immediate local interest, except such as may be gleaned from
the above-mentioned notices and advertisements.Leaving the Columbian, and glancing at its successor, the Gazette and
Columbian, new series, Vol. I, No. 42, Whole No. 458, 18×13 inches, issued on
Wednesday, September 3, 1834, it is found that four of its twenty columns are
filled with legal and official notices and advertisements. Among the former is
the proclamation of Chambers Orr, then sheriff, dated August 6, giving notice
to the qualified voters that an election, as required by the act of April 1,
1834, would be held at the usual places of holding elections in the various
boroughs and townships of this county, on Friday, September 19, then next, for
the purpose of choosing six persons to serve as school directors in each
school district, which consisted of either a township or borough, which was
the first election of directors by virtue of the first act of assembly
establishing a system of common schools in this state. A contributor had
discovered some opposition to that system, which, he found, arose from two
classes of citizens � one opposed it from sordid and selfish motives, and
the other for political purposes. After giving cogent and substantial reasons
for supporting the system, he urged the people to turn out on that day and
elect directors whom they knew to be “sterling friends of the
system.”Nearly a column of that issue is filled with a forcible editorial in favor
of “Our Immediate Interests,” and insisting on the Allegheny river
and French creek as a better and more direct route for the extension of the
Pennsylvania canal to Lake Erie than the Beaver and Shenango one, which was
afterward adopted.Meetings had been previously held in favor of the former canal extension
route. An unusually large and respectable one of the citizens of Kittanning
was held Wednesday evening, January 16, 1828, of which Thomas Hamilton was
president, and Frederick Rohrer and James E. Brown were secretaries, by which
resolutions strongly condemnatory of the latter and as strongly in favor of
the former route were adopted. A committee to draw up a memorial to the
Legislature on the subject was appointed, consisting of Samuel S. Harrison,
Robert Robinson, Thos. Blair, Geo. W. Smith, John Francis, Philip Mechling and
Robert Brown. Another committee of correspondence was also appointed,
consisting of Samuel Houston, Thos. Hamilton, Frederick Rohrer, James E. Brown
and Josiah Copley. Similar meetings were recommended to be held elsewhere, in
counties interested in the navigation of the Allegheny river. In pursuance of
that recommendation, meetings were held at Lawrenceburgh and other places. On
February 2 another large meeting was held at Kittanning, of which S. S.
Harrison was president, and Thos. Blair and G.W. Smith were secretaries. The
suggestion of the Lawrenceburgh meeting, relative to the call of a general
convention at Franklin, Venango county, was approved, and David Lawson, Thos.
Blair and Philip Mechling were appointed delegates. That general convention
was held at Franklin, on Monday, March 25, and strong resolutions in favor of
the Allegheny and French creek route were adopted. Still the Beaver and
Shenango route was adopted by the Canal Commissioners and the Legislature.About three columns are occupied by the correspondence between J.
McCullough, Sr., A. W. Lane, James Douglass and many other citizens, and John
Gilmore, of Butler, who was then a volunteer candidate for Congress, which
clearly indicates that they were mutually in favor of a national bank, and
presents their reasons for being so. Among the miscellaneous matter is an
amusing narrative of a scene in the first court held in Butler county, which
was both serious and comical, taken from Brackenridge’s Recollections of the
West.Among the official notices is that issued by James McCullough, adjutant,
for the Seventh battalion of volunteers to meet at the house of Frederick
Yockey, in Kittanning (now Valley) township, at 10 o’clock A. M., on
Wednesday, September 10, then next, completely armed and equipped for
training. It also appears from that number or issue that the regular nominees
of the “democratic-republican” party that year were Samuel S.
Harrison, of Kittanning, for Congress, and Meek Kelly, of Indiana, for State
Senate. The volunteer candidates were John Gilmore, of Butler, for Congress,
and Joseph Buffington, of Kittanning, and Alexander McCalmont, of Franklin,
Venango county, for State Senate. The regular nominees were elected. There
were thirty causes on the trial list for the third week of September, that
year.Turning to the Kittanning Gazette, new series, Vol. III, No. 9 �
113, whole number 529, same size as the preceding, issued on Wednesday,
January 20, 1836, the writer finds four of its columns filled with
advertisements and official notices. Among the latter is a list of letters
reaming in the postoffice January 1, 1836, Alexander Reynolds, postmaster,
giving the names of sixty-seven persons, some of whom resided several miles
distant.The slavery question had then begun to be freely discussed in the columns
of the Gazette. A contributor who had resided in one of the slave
states fills more than a column of that number in showing the fallacy of the
postulate assumed by McDuffie and other slaveholders: “That the African
negro is destined by Providence to occupy this condition of servile
dependence, is not less manifest. It is marked on the face, stamped on the
skin, etc.” He shows from the Bible that man-stealing and man-selling are
crimes, whose penalty, prescribed therein, was death. As to the mark on the
face and stamp on the skin, he asks how came they? And then argues, if all on
whom they are found may be pressed into the service of the South as menial
slaves, then some, at least, who were born with as pure blood as any son of
liberty, may fall under this dreadful doom; for instances are not wanting in
our own country, and one of a very remarkable character in the State of New
Jersey, of a gentleman becoming as dark as an aboriginal African, in
consequence of disease, and continued so for more than twenty years after the
recovery of his health. This was the natural effect of a peculiar state and
condition of the bile, and such an appearance from this cause is urged by Dr.
Blumenbach as undoubtedly analogous with the natural color of the skin in the
African race.” He further argues that this “mark” is produced
by natural causes, principally by the influence of climate, citing the
physiological fact that the true skin or cutus in people of all the different
grades of color is white, and the external of scarf-skin is the most perfectly
transparent in those of the darkest color, and instancing the graduation of
color � the perfectly white, the less white, the olive, the tawny, and the
black � caused by the influence of the varying heat of the sun from the
highest latitudes to the equator, so that with the exceptions made by the
operations of particular local causes, every parallel of latitude presents us
with a different shade of complexion. He then pertinently asks: Where shall
the line be drawn to designate those who are so manifestly marked out of
slavery from those who have an undoubted right to liberty?Nearly two other columns of that number are filled with a portion of the
debates on the slavery question, in the then recent synod of Virginia.It is announced in another column of that number of the Gazette that
a copy of a printed protest of the American Anti-Slavery Society against the
denunciations of the President of the United States in his message, signed by
Arthur Tappan, William Jay, and others, had been sent to each member of
congress, and the following reply from J. Spreight, M. C. from North Carolina:
“I herewith return you your protest, inclosing, as a testimony of my high
regard for your necks, a piece of rope. You will no doubt appreciate my
motives.”In another part of that issue are some of the proceedings in the
“Investigation of Masonry” in the legislature of this state.Such was some of the reading matter which agitated the minds and stirred
the blood of the readers of the Gazette in Kittanning and elsewhere
over twoscore years ago.The writer has casually picked up the Kittanning Free Press, Vol.
XII, No. 23, issued July 14, 1853, size 23×16 inches. Advertising had then
considerably increased, for in that issue are nine and a half columns of
business advertisements and legal and official notices. Among the latter is
the statement of state appropriations to the common schools of this county for
that year, showing that the amount then appropriated to the school in this
borough was $159.12; also the list of letters remaining in the Kittanning
postoffice July 1, then instant, Simon Truby, postmaster, containing 266 names
of individuals and firms.Source: Page(s) 13-59, History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by Robert
Walker Smith, Esq. Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Transcribed January 1999 by Jeffrey Bish for the Armstrong County Smith
Project.
Contributed by Jeffrey Bish for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project
(http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format, for any
presentation, without prior written permission.Return to the Historical Index
Return to the Smith Project
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