SCHOOLS OF VENANGO COUNTY

FRANKLIN~OIL CITY~SUGARCREEK~VENANGO CITY~PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS~EMLENTON~IRWIN

ALLEGHENY~SCRUBGRASS~FRENCH CREEK~UTICA~POLK~RICHLAND~CHERRYTREE~PLUM

ROCKLAND~OAKLAND~JACKSON~PRESIDENT~CLINTON~OIL CREEK~PLEASANTVILLE

MINERAL~VICTORY~SUPERINTENDENTS

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

This office was created in 1854 and its incumbents, elected by the school directors of the county, have served as follows:

1854-57 Manley C. Beebe
1857-60 William Burgwin
1860-72 Charles H. Dale
1872-75 William C. McClure
1875-84 Silas H. Prather
1884-93 George B. Lord
1893-99 John Bigler served six years and six months
W. G. Ladds appointed; served two and a half years
1902-05 B. V. Riddle
1905-?? Dallas W. Armstrong (as of 1919 he was the current incumbent)

Under the supervision of Mr. Armstrong the schools of the county are making fine progress. Among the resolutions adopted at the last county institute were the following:

To conserve food; to spend less money for essentials and nothing for luxuries; to raise more food and to encourage boys and girls to plant gardens; to encourage children to buy savings stamps; to teach patriotism including a hatred for Prussian despotism; to be so patriotic that a slacker cannot live in our community-that he will either want to do his duty in this war or go to Germany, where he belongs; is indorsed by this convention, and we hereby pledge ourselves for the carrying out of the same to the best of our ability; and we believe that the best way to do this work is by forming the organizations in each of our districts as outlined by our county superintendent.
That it is the opinion and sense of this convention that vocal music should receive much more attention in our schools.
That we indorse the suggestions made regarding the furnishing of good current literature.

RESOURCE: THE HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY HER PIONEERS AND PEOPLE, Volume 1 page 210

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Franklin

1802 A small log house of which John Mason was the first teacher
1809 Alexander McCalmont took charge of the school

Early Teachers

George Power
John McDonnald,
Alexander McDowell
Each 3

Abraham Selders
Phillip Houser
William Connely
James Martin
Cathrine Armstrong
each 2

William Moore
Dennis Pursel
Nathanial Hays
Samual Monjar
William Gibson
Marcus Hulings
Robert Armstrong
Hugh Picknoll
John Atkinson
Robert Austin
Jacob Weaver
Charles Ridgway
John Broadfoot
Samuel Plumer
Robert Dewoody
John Ridgway
each 1

1813 Venango Academy Inc. 1st trustees Alexander McCalmont, George Connely, William Moore, Alexander McDowell, John McDonald and George Power

1815 A wood frame building with a small entrance hall was built with 2 good sized rooms. Early teachers were John Kelly 8 yrs., John Sutton and John Gamble followed by several clergymen: Robert Areys Episcopal, Nathanial R. Snowdon Presbyterian and Thomas F. Magill Presbyterian

1838 510 acres and some lots owned by the schools were sold to fund the building of a brick schoolhouse on Buffalo Street at a cost of $2000 containing two rooms downstairs and one above in September of 1871 the building was sold to the Evangelical Church.

1840 A small frame house on West Park beween Elk and Otter Streets was built on land owned by the Presbyterian Church, this school was still called "the old white school house" in 1919
At that time teachers taught what they deemed appropriate and students could advance to the academy once sufficiently advanced

1848 A brick building on Buffalo Street between 13th and 14th Streets
A small frame house built on Buffalo Street near 9th Street

1867 Union Street School building was built on corner of 11th and Buffalo Street at a cost of $33,700

January 6 1868 it was opened with 700 students

1868 Franklin was incorporated as a city and employed 11 teachers 1,030 students with a 5 month school term

Schools increased from 7 in 1860 to 15 in 1874 a colored school was established between 1861 and 1865

1876 contracts for 2 buildings were awarded 1st ward at 9th and Elk Streets costing $13,490 enlarged in 1889 at a cost of $3,036 2nd ward at 14th and Buffalo Streets costing $18,400 enlarged in 1884 at a cost of $3,275 3rd ward $12,400

1885
A superintendant of city schools was elected

superintendent of schools in succession:
N. P. Kinsley
C. E. Lord
N. P. Kinsley
C. E. Carter

1885 The City of Franklin had 26 teachers 1,388 students with a 9 month school term

1886

A Night School was built by Charles Miller. All Frankiln men were welcome, a few years later women were admitted. No tuitions or fees were charged. For 32 years Gen. Charles Miller paid the expences until January of 1919 when he turned it over to the Y.M.C.A. with furniture, books, etc. to be removed to the building of the association. Superintendant D. J. Hart served the entire 32 years

1919

56 teachers 1,690 students 9 month term and a high school was built costing $140,530 along with 6 other schools
School superintendent was C. E. Carter
Principal : Clyde W. Cranmer
12 teachers and employed 3 special teachers
Austa Reisinger; Drawing
Maud G. Huntsman; Domestic Science
James G. Morgan; Manual Training

Union School: Adda McBride Principal; 11 teachers
1st ward Florence Cambell Principal; 5 teachers
2nd ward Helen S. Birge Principal; 5 teachers
3rd ward Ruth Gealy Principal; 6 teachers
4th Street School Mary Borland Principal; 2 teachers
Oak Hill School Edwinnia R. Yartletts Principal; 1 teacher

Resource: The History of Venango County her Pioneers and People Vol. 1 page 197 & 198

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Sugarcreek Twp

The first school was a log cabin located on the farm of Thomas Brown. The first teachers were William Mead, Samuel Hood and Margaret Robinson.

A small school was taught by Josiah Longwell in a vacant house near Frenchcreek above the mouth of Patchel's Run.

A deserted log house on the Satterfield farm provided a furnished school room where William Mead taught for a number of terms.

RESOURCE: THE HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY HER PIONEERS AND PEOPLE Vol I, page 203

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Oil City

Early 1862 The borough board secured the township schoolhouse on Holiday Run. This board consisted of John Kuhns, L. M. Gordon, A. M. Gardener. The board elected J. J. Kincaid and later his wife as it's first teachers.

1863 A new schoolhouse was built on the site of present day (1919) Oil Well Supply offices. Destroyed by fire in 1866.

1866 Pearl Avenue School on the west side
Mr. Kincaid Principal
Third Ward on the east side
David Hays

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Venango City School District

Second Street School Principals
D. Ross
David McMullin
H. D. Hancock
W. J. McClure
J. Douglass
J. P. Ellingwood
Miss Eliza Kent

East Side High School was organized; rented rooms were used until a brick and stone building on Central Avenue was completed. Mr. Marcus Hulings presented the clock which was placed in the tower.
Principals
J. J. Kincaid
J. F. Weller
Professor Patterson
J. H. Collier

1881 Palace Hill boasted a small school room and both sides of the river consolidated their schools of which C. F. Carroll was the elected Superintendant. After serving 2 of his 3 year term he returned to North England and C. A. Babcock was elected to serve out the remaining year. He served for 25 years as Superintendant.

Principals of High School
Mr. D. Sanford
Mr. J. M. Hall
Mr. R. W. Hughes
Mr. G. W. Gurnee
Mr. F. J. Turnbull (still acting in 1919)

During Mr. Babcock's 25 years of superintendancy four brick buildings of four rooms each were constructed. Along with the following:

One-two room building
One-two room wooden building was replaced by a modern four room brick building
One-four room building was enlarged to 8 rooms
Thus adding a total of 24 graded schools

1898 A new High School was built to accommodate the 350 pupils

1908 J. J. Palmer of Greenville elected as Superintendant
4th Ward building was enlarged at a cost of $45,000
Junior High School was built

1919 North Side High School Principal F. J. Turnbull
Asst. Principal R. C. Thompson
12 teachers
Junior High School Principal Roy A. Baum
18 teachers

Pearl Avenue School Principal Grace James
7 teachers
Seventh Street School Principal Josephine W. Plante
5 teachers
Main Street School Principal Hattie Gould
4 teachers
Spruce Street School Principal Katherine Judge
1 teacher
Selden Street School Principal Ida Irwin
1 teacher
Innis Street School Principal Alice Tisdale
9 teachers
Central Avenue School Principal Adele Harper
9 teachers
Grant Street School Principal Jennie Cowan
8 teachers
Hoffman Avenue School Principal Isabel Kuhns
3 teachers
Gay Street School Principal Louise LeGouelon
3 teachers
Glenview Avenue School Principal Caroline Mimm
9 teachers

There are 2 supply teachers, one each for grammer and primary grades. Eight teachers of special subjects:
Joseph A. Lieder; Supervisor of Music
George F. McAlevy; Manual Training
Parker Peters; Manual Training
William H. Fountain; Physical Training
B. C. Bacon; Penmanship and bookkeeping
Hazel Orcutt; Domestic Science
Olive M. Lowen; Domestic Art and Science
Susan Sproull; Domestic Arts

Private School of Rev. Dr. Earp was conducted for several years by 1919

RESOURSE: THE HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY HER PIONEERS AND PEOPLE Volume I, pages 199-202

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Parochial Schools

Established by Father Coady were enlarged and carried on with success by the Rev. Thomas Carroll. Father Sheridas is also mentioned as taking great interest in all of the schools.

St. Joseph's in 1919 was under management of the Benedictine Sisters

St. Joseph's Academy was under direction of the Rev. Alexis A. Fischer

Assumption (Polish) was under the direction of the Felician Sisters

Sacred Heart was under the direction of the Sisters of Mercy

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Emlenton

The first teacher was Mrs. Lavilla Lowrie, she taught 7 or 8 of her neighbor's children in a room of her house.

The second teacher was Miss Sarah Perry

The third teacher was Miss Lena Milford, she taught in a small house on the bank of the river.

Opinions differed as to when the first schoolhouse was built; 1845 or 1849. It was located in the same place as the 1919 public school and was a small frame building. The ground was given by Joseph B. Fox. It was also used as a town hall and place of worship by nearly all of the different denominations.

The Second school building was also a frame structure.

1873

A substantial brick building was erected

Rev. J. B. Fox erected a large brick building above Shippenville Street which he conducted for some years an Academy called Tableau Seminary.

By 1919 there was a high school ranking as first class with 4 year courses; 9 months each year. There were 3 teachers and the Principal was J. B. Edwards

RESOURCE: THE HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY HER PIONEERS AND PEOPLE Vol. I page 202

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Irwin Township

The first schoolhouse was "McMurdy" a log house of which the first teachers were:

Chauncey Hamilton
Charles Folsom
Jacob Heims

Before this time schools were held at the homes of the farmers in different parts of the township.

Beach Schoolhouse where George Westlake was one of the first teachers

Barnes Schoolhouse was erected near Gilmore's mills; one of the first teachers there was Robert Jones

A schoolhouse was built on the farm of Thomas Martin at an early date, which membered among its teachers William Blakely and Miss Kennedy

A log schoolhouse on the land of Thomas Bullion very early, early teachers there were, John Elder, Reuben York and John Hovis

Guilder Schoolhouse was built on land owned by John Guilder, John Bingham was the first teacher, Chauncey Hamilton also taught there.

Before the passage of the school law of 1834 these schools were all supported by the subscriptions of the patrons. All became public schools except two when the new law went into effect.

In 1919 there were 11 schools, one being distinguished by having a term of 11 months.

RESOURCE: THE HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY HER PIONEERS AND PEOPLE Vol. I page 203

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Allegheny Township

The first schoolhouses were situated near Concord Church and Ashbury Chapel. One of the first teachers at Concord was a Scotchman who boarded in the schoolhouse and taught without books. He is remembered as a fine teacher.

Chapel School provided Mr. G. B. Brown a place to teach at an early date

Broadhead School was built on land given by D. Broadhead, early teachers there included Nancy J. McBride, Elvia Hall and Cornelia Mix.

Neilsburg Academy was sustained for a number of years by the citizens of this township.

By 1919 two schools with 35 pupils in the township existed due to the decline of the "Oil Boom".

RESOURCE: THE HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY HER PIONEERS AND PEOPLE Vol. I, page 203

Scrubgrass Township

1877

The report of the state superintendent of public instruction gives the following account of early educational efforts in Scrubgrass Township.

1804 School was taught at a log house near Witherup's by John McClaran. Pupils yet living are (1877) Samuel Phipps b. 1795 and his sister Polly Williams.

1807 A very large log house was erected near the present (1877) residence of James Anderson, where James White taught a very large shool in use until 1817.

1820 P. G. Hallister taught in a new building near the Witherup's house. The first books used were the Dillworth's speller and the New Testament. The first arithmetic was the Young Man's Companion.

1828 Log houses were built. Among the teachers who taught in them where: Rev. William Dickson, and William Grandon. Their wages half in grain and half in money, were from ten to fifteen dollars per month.

1859 Frame houses were erected some of which are still in use (1877)

1875 Scrubgrass Academy was opened in April

1876 A building was erected on the site of Scrubgrass Church
J. C. Ketler later president of Grove City College, was the first Principal then the following succeeded him; Rev. J. A. Ewing, S. Anderson and S. W. Gilky

1877 The township boasted six schools, with terms of 7 months each

RESOURCE: THE HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY HER PIONEERS AND PEOPLE Vol. I, pages 203 & 204

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French Creek

1801 -1802 A small log building in which James Lowrie lived and taught; stood on Mill Creek a short distance from Utica

1803 A schoolhouse located ¾ of a mile above Utica, on French Creek, James Gilliland, father of Joseph and A. C. Gilliland wielded the burch in the winter of 1803-1804

1810 A log house located near "Hanna's Gap" afforded James Taylor a place to teach for a term

A. P. Whitaker long time editor for the Venango Spectator was one of the Pedagogues in the same neighborhood in later years

A school was taught in an abandoned dwelling on the Gilliland farm two miles Northeast of Waterloo in an early day by Miss Nash

A round log house was erected in the same neighborhood a little later, and for two years children within a two mile radius were schooled by Mrs. Alice Cummings and Sarah Whann

In an early day James Paden taught a term of school in an abandoned dwelling which stood on Runninger farm and about the same time Lacy Cochran, taught for several months in vacant dwelling on the Simcox Place

Major McClelland Place provided teaching as well about 3 miles from Polk

1837-1838 Miss Ama Moore taught a term in the house of John Martin on the Haydrick farm; then a year or two later Miss Delia Hammond

A log building was erected in the same neighborhood on land now owned by John Lesher (1919) Robert Stout, William Gordon and James M. Dailey were among the early teachers

1831 A small log building which stood near the present site (1919) of the United Presbetarian Church; James Scott, Daniel Stephens, William Gordon, William Wright, Edward Hughes, Ester Clough, William Hutchinson, W. W. Whiteley and Allan McCracken. The old log building was destroyed by fire, immediately thereafter a small frame building was put up near the mouth of Hull Creek

1854 A larger building was erected on the same site. Serving as a private enterprise by what was known as Utica Academy and Lecture Room Company. Completed in 1855 being of two stories

1855 Private School organized by C. W. Gilfillan, using above named building Utica Academy

RESOURCE: THE HISOTY OF VENANGO COUNTY HER PIONEERS AND PEOPLE volume 1, page 204

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Utica

As early as 1831 a small log house was erected near the present (1919) site of the United Presbyterian Church. James Scott was the first teacher. Among the various teachers that followed were Daniel Stephens, William Gordon, William Wright, Edward Hughes, Esther Clough, William Hutchinson, W. W. Whiteley and Allen McCracken. This building was destroyed by fire and a frame building was immediately thereafter erected near Mill Creek.

About 1854 a large frame building was erected by a private enterprise known as Utica Academy and Lecture Room Company. This was completed in 1855 and was a two story structure and the same year a private school was organized by C. W. Gilfillan, using this building. The United Presbyterian Church secured the use of part of this building which was completed by the congregation for a lien on the property. The school directors eventually purchased the church's interest and converted it into a public school, called the Utica Academy. It was used until 1886, when it was burned to the ground.

1886 A large two story frame structure, containing four large rooms, was erected, at a cost of $3,200. This building was still in use in 1919.

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Polk

As early as 1829 A small plank building, erected where the one of today (1919) stands.

About 1842 A frame house onthe site of the present (1919) brick building, which was put up in 1868.

1919 a school ranking as a third-class high school, a school that has a one year course was in use.

Richland Township

1824 A school was taught by Samuel Stroup and an early successor was Charles McClatchey. The house was on Donaldson's farm.

1830 The Huston Schoolhouse was built where the roads to Emlenton and Red Valley diverge.

The Swamp school since known as Maple Hollow was one of the earliest schools.

Mrs. Andrew Porter is remembered as teaching a building owned by James Agnew at an early date.

The first schoolhouse was built on land donated by Joseph Fox.

The earliest schools had no abiding place, but were had wherever a room could be obtained. It is noted also that many a public-spirited citizen donated the land upon which schools were built and set examples not followed to any alarming extent.

By 1919 Richland had 10 schools one of these was ranked by the State superintendent as a third class high school.

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Cherrytree Township

In the winter of 1807 the first school was taught by William Reynolds in a log house previously occupied by James Hamilton.

1809 A schoolhouse was builton the Peebles farm, by Ninian Irwin, then owner of the land, who taught the first term in the following winter and again in the winter of 1812-12.

1828 A schoolhouse was built at Cherrytree village, John Ward and A. G. Siverly were among the first teachers.

1828 The first frame building was erected at Breedtown by Ninian and James Irwin. Prominent among the early teachers of the township after those mentioned were Elial Farr, James Hamilton, Richard Irwin, James Spencer, Robert Archer, John Gayetty, Alexander Hays and Hugh Hamilton.

By 1919 Cherrytree had ten schools with terms of seven months.

Plum Township

1830 The first schoolhouse was built among the early teachers were Mary Chapman, W. W. Davison, Mary McIntosh, William Haslet and John Haslet.

The Union Schoolhouse located in the southwestern part of the township, Hoover's schoolhouse, near R. R. Grove's, Fairview, in the northeastern part of the township and the schoolhouses at Diamond and Chapmanville, were the ecucational centers during the first half of the nineteenth century.

1873 The Sunville Academy was founded. It was a frame two story structure on two acres erected at a cost of $5,000. The building committee consisted of Samuel Axtel, D. W. Goodwin, A. J. Cowan and A. W. Richey. The first term taught at Sunville Academy was the autumn of 1873 with S. H. Prather as principal then D. D. Rowley, W. A. Bushnell, H. H. Weber and W. S. Smith. By 1919 the borough established a high school in this building.

Rockland Township

The first schoolhouse stood on the farm of John Hetzler.

The second schoolhouse was built ont he same farm, near the Jolly schoolhouse, Jane Porter and James Donaldson were the first teachers of the schoools.

Another early house was placed on land then owned by David Smith, and William Parker was one of its first teachers.

The site of the Shannon schoolhouse has been used for educational purposes from a very early date. It was given by Andrew Maitland. Sylvester Randall, William and Robert Walker were early teachers there.

Pine Hill schoolhouse was built on vacant land owned by the Bingham estate, and among the early pedagogues there were Rebecca Layton, Nancy Williams and Calvin Johnson.

The Red Lion schoolhouse was built on land given by John Graham, of the township until after the adoption of the public school system, when the Shearer schoolhouse was built.

1854 Jolly Schoolhouse

1856 Collingwood

1859 Weaver

1861 Shanon

1864 Red Lion

1868 Western

1867 Domer

1868 Scrubgrass

1869 Pin Oak

By 1919 Rockland had nine schools, with terms of seven months with the exception of one which has a nine months' term. It had one high school with a three years' course.

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Oakland Township

1805 John Kelly taught the first school at the house of Jonah Reynolds. William Morehead was also a pioneer teacher, holding his school in a log cabin on the farm of Francis Prichard.

1807 The first schoolhouse was erected on the farm of George Kean. The first school there was taught by Michael Hare, a Revolutionary veteran and a man of ability. He died in Erie at a very old age.

The second schoolhouse was built on Kean run, at the crossing of the Oil reek road, William Morehead was its first teacher.

1817 A schoolhouse was built by the people living on Franklin road. It was located one mile west of Dempseytown. Joseph Kean, the first teacher, lived to be the oldest school teacher in the county. Among his early successors were James Vanatan, Mary Gage, John Beers and Alexander Hays.

1827 A schoolhouse was built on the Folwell farm, in the northwestern part of the township, and another near the residence of Robert Haslet. The schools at both places had large patronage.

By 1919 Oakland township had ten schools, one with a nine months' term, the others seven and one high school of the third class.

Jackson Township

One of the first teachers was Ithiel Dodd who also conducted several singing schools, being a good musician. His son Levi Dodd, was an elder in the Franklin Presbyterian Church for more than fifty years, and his grandson, S. C. T. Dodd, became general counsel for the Standard Oil Company in New York City. Among Mr. Dodd's successors in educational work were Eliza Hamilton, Thomas Benn, Edmund Warner, the Misses Patton, McAlevy and Keys and William Myers.

The Fetterman schoolhouse was undoubtedly one of the earliest in the Sugar Creek valley, and some of the pupils of who attended lived beyond the present (1919) limits of Jackson township.

The Cooperstown Academy was established by S. S. Briggs and under the control of a local board. S. S. Briggs was of high character and enjoyed a prosperous career. The building was afterward used for public school purposes.

By 1919 there were five schools with terms of seven months.

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President Township

Patrick McCrea, the first settler in President township, was an educated man, and he taught his children at home, and this may properly be called the earliest school in the township.

The first schoolhouses were at Walnut Bend, President, Big Rock, and one on the Culbertson farm, in each of which very small schools were conducted.

During the time of Mr. E. E. Clapp's residence at President, while he was trying to convert the countryside into a summer resort, he contributed very liberally to the building and equipment of a schoolhouse in the little village of President. The house was fitted with modern desks and well supplied with pure spring water brought in pipes from the hillside. It was unique in its equipment. He took great personal pride in it, although there were very few children to attend. It was believed that Mr. Clapp paid many times as much toward this schoolhouse as all the rest of the taxpayers, not because he was obliged to do so, but because he wished the children of President to have all possible advantages.

By 1919 President township had four schools with terms of seven months.

Clinton Township

A log building on the farm of John Witherup where John McClaran was the first teacher provided the first schoolhouse.

Christy's school was an early schoolhouse being a frame building on the farm of Craft Ghost which stood until 1888. Among the early teachers were John and James Kimes, Eliza Phipps (afterward Mrs. A. G. Egbert) and Lavinia Hackett. Dr. E. H. Geibner, of Sandy Lake, George A. Allen, of Erie, Frank W. Adams, J. D. Chadwick, of Franklin, Belle Cross, and a Friend named Ray were also engaged at this school and the other one in the same district, the building later erected on the farm of David Phipps.

On the farm of Richard Surrena (later owned by Sylvester Baker) was a fairly well built shoolhouse for the period, which was accidentally burned one night after spelling school.

The Riddle school, located on the main road to Emlenton, at the crossroads near the cemtery, was taught by Jane Riggs, Ann Leason, Joseph Eakin, Matthew Riddle, James Riddle and others.

A commodious building for school and church purposes was erected immediately after the furnace was built by John Anderson, at Scrubgrass, as early perhaps at 1824-25, and excellent teachers were employed, Rebecca Devoe (Mrs. Eli Phipps), Mr. McGoldrick, Calvin Waite, Rev. David Law, Alexander F. Stevenson, Elizabeth Whann (who married Joseph Phipps), Ann Kilpatrick (Mrs. John Pollock) and Mr. Hayden being typical of the high class of instructors engaged, who left a lasting impression for good on those under thier care.

The Foster School, another early building, stood on the land of S. Simcox, and there was another, the Scott school, a mile from the Butler line.

When the towshiip was redistricted, in 1856, the buildings previously in use were abandoned. Six districts were then formed. Loal educational work had received an impetus in 1855 in the erection of Jane's Union Academy at Clintonvill, by Mr. and Mrs. William Cross. Among its teachers were McLain Cross, W. H. H. Kennedy, Thomas Seaton, George A. Adams, Mrs. A. G. Egbert and William Cross.

By 1919 the township had seven schools, with terms of seven months. Clintonville had four schools with eight months' terms and one high school of the third class.

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Oil Creek Township

The first schoolhouse built in Oil Creek towship stood in the woods at the head of a ravine called Plumdungeon, midway between the farms of William Poor and Samuel Fleming. The first male teacher there was Hamilton Campbell, from Erie county, who taught several terms, and among his early successors were George Granis and John Sanney.

Another early schoolhouse was situated on the plank road a mile and a half from Pleasantville.

Two schools were built after the public school system was first adopted. Prospect Hill, which took the place of Plumdungeon, and the school on the plank road already mentioned, the Redfield school, two and a half miles from Titusville, being established a little later.

At the height of the first oil excitement, the increased population made ten schools necessary. By 1919 there were five schools in the township, and seven in Pleasantville borough.

Pleasantville Borough

1823 Aaron Benedict built the first schoolhouse, on the eastern border of the settlement, and the first teacher was Austin Merrick, who is represented as an accomplished penman. His immediate successors were principally female teachers. This schoolhouse was for many years the place of worship of the Baptist congregation.

1846 M. C. Beebe, from Fabius, N. Y., arrived, his influence indeed extended to all parts of the county. He assumed the management of the schools at once.

1853 The First Union school in the county was erected in Pleasantville Borough and was conducted by Mr. Beebe and two assistants.

1854 Mr. Beebe was elected the first superintendent of Venango county, serving until 1857.

1873 A commondious brick building was erected.

By 1919 the boroughs have schools with terms of nine months, while in the township the term is seven months, there is also a high school of the first class.

Mrs. M. S. Beebe, widow of the first superintendent of Venango county schools, lives at Pleasantville, and at the age of eighty-eight recalls vividly the experience of her husband in those far-off days. She writes under date of Nov. 25, 1918:

"Mr. Beebe's first trip through the country as superintendent was greeted with disfavor, as the people considered a superintendent an unnecessary expense, merely as an excuse for increased taxation. He visited every school in the county, and in some instances was not even greeted courteously in the homes. I do not remeber the number of schools, but after the first visit a favorable impression was left. The schoolhouses of that day were very similar to the houses in the poorer country districts, containing wooden benches, etc. The teachers the first year came from all over the county to our home in Pleasantville, where Mr. Beebe conducted dozens of private examinations, but on the second tour of the county he found the classes ready for examination, the people cordial, almost without exception, and the superintendent was greeted with enthusiasm. The homes varied in condition, as in all country districts. One amusing incident I recall was this: One night, having been invited to stay in one of the homes of the poorer class, he slept with a barrel of sauer kraut standing at the head of his bed, which you can imagine was far from pleasant. But it showed the goodwill of the people, who would takein a stranger with their limited accommodations. As you know probably, Mr. Beebe extablished the fist local institutes, which were held in country districts and which proved a great inspiration and help to the cause of education. An incident which shows the difficulties attending the performance of his duties was this: On one occation he was due at Raymilton, but discovered that the bridge was down, and there was no method of crossing but to ford the river. This he dared to do, as he knew the intelligence of his horse, so holding his suitcase above his head and lifting his feet from the stirrups he gave the horse the word and plunged in. The horse had to break the ice with its feet, but succeeded, and after a struggle they reached the other side safely, the watchers on the bank expecting any minute to see horse and rider go down. At this time there was only a small school at Oil City, in which Squire Siverly was much interested, but the best schools in the county were Clintonville, Franklin, Tionesta and Neiltown (then in Venango county) and Pleasantville."

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Mineral Township

1820 The first school building was built, it stood in the forest not far from Center Methodist Church, the old road leading to it being still distinguishable (1919). The first teacher was Rachel Jones, from the State of New York, Elmira Woodworth, of Franklin, the second. A forest fire destroyed this building and half a mile distant a second building was erected on the Wright farm near South Sandy.

An early school was taught in an abandoned building on the Riggs farm, where G. Butler and John Elder were among the early teachers.

By 1919 there were five schools with terms of seven months in the township.

Victory Township

The first schoolhouse was a log building erected by the joint efforts of the communtiy, which stood near the summit of Sandy Hill on land of Samuel Irvine. Col. William Shorts secured the first teacher, Stewart Galloway, who "boarded around." Among his early successors was William Brutus Gorman, a native of Ireland, who had been imprisoned in Canada. Upon his release he started for Pittsburgh, stopping for the night, ragged and shoeless, at the house of Colonel Shorts, who, discovering that he was a man of erudition, offered to secure him the district school. He gladly accepted, and though he remained but one term, there was a tradition among old residents that he was a fine teacher and disciplinarian. The next teachers of note were David Moore and Ethan Stout.

A few years later the second schoolhouse was built on the Lyons tract. There was also an early school on the McMillin farm, and Tamar Williams was the first teacher there.

By 1919 there were three schools in the township having terms of seven months.

RESOURCE: THE HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY HER PIONEERS AND PEOPLE, volume 1 pages 197-210

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