VOLUME 12
NUMBER 35
LOCAL HISTORY.
Wells Township Schools, Houses, and
Teachers of Sixty lo One Hun
dred Years Ago.
FOR THE NEWS BY M. M. IIORTON.
CoutinuoJ from last week.
In thoso days, boys and girls,
in school, did not solve problems
in aritlimotic. They worked
sums. Ha boy encountered a
sum which ho fould not work, ho
was said to bo stalled. In such
case, ho took tho troublesome
sum and his slato and pencil to
tho teacher who was expected to
drop all othor work and proceod
to work it. After working it he
handed tho slato containing his
work to tho pupil without any
explanation many teachers
could not explain their work
and if tho latter could xseo the
figures of tho "answer" as they
appeared, in his book, after tho
sum, ho went to his desk, copied
tlio teacher's work, with tho re
sult that tho figures of the an
swer, as thoy wore in the book
did not appear or if ho proposed
to work tho sum after school
when ho was not so busy, woe bo
unto him. His proposition to do
tho work after school was accept
ed as conclusive evidence thnt
he had a "Key" which ho intend
ed to use in working the sum.
lie must work tho sum when it
was brought to him and get the
right answer. Failing to do this,
t'io report, that John Smith or
Joe ISrown hud stalled the teach
er in arithmetic, went into every
home in that district that same
evening, with tho result that
many of the parents and all tho
puniis lost all confidence in tho
teacher as such. Only vicious
conduct of tho worst character,
on part of a teacher, could so ef
fectually destroy his usefulness
as to get stalled, in arithmetic.
Once so stalled, or" said to be, his
work, as teacher, in that district,
ended with the ' term during
which ho failed to get the answer.
One of the most essential quali
fications which the old time
teacher must possess, was that
of being able to make a goose
(uill pen and to keep it in repair
after it was made. The teacher
made new pens and repaired old
ones after or before school hours
The closing hour of each school
day saw the teachers desk cover
ed with goose quills and dilapid
ated pons. No steel pens were
used in school. I saw the first
steel pen, I ever saw, in 1S53,
It was a clumsy affair mado to
fasten on one end of a smoothly
whittled stick which served as
holder. Boys and girls, in those
old time schools, studied their
reading and spelling lessons
nloud, each one trying to make
more noise than any other was
milking. This usually took place,
at its worst, while the teacher
was working a sum.
Happily, much of the old time
way of doing the wjrk, iu Wells
Valley schools, was a thing of tho
past when I became a pupil at
Oibson's. At that time some
progress had been made in the
effort to secure uniformity in
textbooks. Cobb's spellers, , old
and new, and his readers, were
m use and no others. There was
but one arithmetic, Smith's and
Pupils recited in classes in spell
mg, reading and arithmetic at
regular pei iods. The days of
working sums were nearly gone.
was not so with grammar.
ANOTHER R. F. D. ROUTE.
The Crops for 1911.
The erovornmnnt crort ronort
Needmore Posloffice the Distributing for May is generally regarded as
Point, and the Service to Extend
Northward.
-Thompson, Bethel, Union, and
ells township already have tho
benefits of froo rural mail sor-
conveyinga reliablo suggestion
as to the probable wheat yield
from lall seeded grain. Tho
spring seeded wheat zone, which
extends along the northern bord
er n( t.lin TTmt.nd Sit'it.na in nnl
vice, and soon Belfast township t iQ comltioll to bG"reported
-..u.uhu, ,ur wuuavouuon upoQi The M rt ,MU(J(1
informed that on the first day of U1nn,,;ivnftortmnn lmll..nlna ,Unt
ru win oe in operation tbe condition of wIntor whcat on
irom xNeouraore. Tho schedule the first of the monlh was
Qi3 mi( inn i 1 1 1 '..II I '
nn UUUIUUU Will UU 11H JOJIUWH .1 a l r,.l
RECORD OF DEATHS.
Persons Well Known to Many of Our
Readers, Who Have Answered
Final Summons.
ALL SEASONS ARE THINE, 0 DEATH.
Leave Needmore at 0:30 o'clock, of May lust ycar( tho conditmn
a m., thence west to Cross Roads being a fraction better than tho
at the old Clark place noar John
I'lessinger's; thenco north along
mountain road to the D. S. Mel-
lott place, In Licking Creek town
ship; thence east to Fernando
Decker's on Pleasant Ridge;
thenco south via Sideling Hill
Christian church, Sipes Mills,
and Mclvibbin, reaching Need
more about 2:;J0, p. m. Tho
present star route between Sipes
Mill and Needmore will be dis
continued, lnis will boanico
job for somo one, ns it carries
with it a Balary of !)S0 tho first
year and $1080 after the first
year.
It
1 Pi
Mrkhara's, Ilart's and Smith's
grammars were in all the schools.
N Keography was taught
fcvery boy and girl learning to
write had a "copy" book made of
foolscap paper. In those books
the teacher "set" the copies to be
mitated by the learner. That is,
the teacher wrote, in his best
style, a line at top of each page,
ho pup,i copied on every lineo
the bottom. These copies were,
8t" after or before school hours
or ring the noon recess which
the only recess allowed dur
IContinuod on page four)
Close Call.
The undertaking establishment
of William Stoner narrowly es
caped destruction by fire last
Friday morning. Mr. Stoner
and his son Bruce were in the
ton year average condition. The
acreage in wintor wheat is 1,9 10,
000 acres greater than was hir-
vested last year. When the
significance of theso rations is
worked out it means that tho
present outlook is for a winter
wheat yield about 50.000.000
bushels larger than was harvest
ed last year.
Tho outlook generally seems to
bo for an abundant fruit yield,
and tho farming industries in
general aio in a condition to
justify optimism in other branch
es pf business which are largely
dependent upon prosperous farm
ing conditions.
The Gettysburg Cattle.
Gettysburg! Famed in song
and story is an inspiration in
name, memory and national des-
finishing room trimming a casket tiny that will thrill souls for all
for tho late C. P. Carmack, when time to come.
a bale of excelsior standing in ono Gettysburg is more than a gi
corner of the room became ig- gautic struggle of hugo numbers.
nited, and in a moment the room Moro than a shedding of blood
was all ablazo. Tho excelsior
together with tho othor contents
of the room was thrown into the
streets, and tho tire brought un-
for the glory of war. More than
a fierce fighting against odds on
. U - f.V i 1 .
iiiu i' irsi uay. Aiore man one
of tho most terrifying lights thn
der control before it had damaged ever took place at, night in timber
the building to any greater extent Moro than a stubborn charge and
than the scorching of the paint, re-charge at tho whirlpool of tho
Tho contents of the room were struggle. Moro than one of tho
practically destroyed, andBruce's greatest cavalry tights over
hands were so badly burned that waged. More than a fearful ar
it will be some time before he is tillery duel that roared from tho
able to work.
i
t
Rescued.
A few mornings ago "some-
bO'Jy" sold a basket of eggs at
George Hays's store. A short
time afterward Miss Nellie, who
assists her father ia the store.
was passing the crate into which
the eggs had been placed, and
her attention was attracted by a
faint little "chip!" "chip!" and
glancing down at the egg crate,
she noticed a little chick busy
pecking his way out from an egg
shell and piteously pleading for a
breath of fresh air. This appeal
was not lost on Nellie, and she
promptly gave the little fellow
the needed assistance, and the
chick was soon warm under the
tender care of a mother hen
down in George's chicken yard,
Cards of Thanks.
Mrs. T. E. Fleming and chil
dren of Clear Kidge desire to ex-
throats of hundreds of cannons
And moro than ono of tho mos
spectacular infantry charges that
was evei mado.
Gettysburg stands for all this
and more. Here oue of the do
. i .,i .i i .
cisivo uawes or ine world was
fought and a great step forward
was taken by tho human race
Famous songs, grand orations
and stirring paintings have mado
it glorious. Tho national and
state governments have made
the most beautiful park in tho
world. Georgo Linn Keefer, tho
best informed Gettysburg Battle
field guide will be in McConnells-
burg at the Auditorium on Thurs
day evening, May 25th, with 200
beautiful views and a thrilling lec
ture. Admission 25 and 13 cents.
Come and learn about tho strug
gle that gave us the greatest na
tion on earth.
Nose Cut Off.
We leirn from the Everett
press thanks to all who rendered Press that while assisting in put-
assistance ana sympathy Curing ting a new roof on tho lime kiln
me uiness ana aeath or their at the West end of town last
husband and father T. E. Fleni- Monday, Mr. Abram Wareham
laa hfirl t.hrt mislnrt.nnn in Vtava tha
Mrs. C. Martin and family tako end of his nose cut off by a piece
this means of thanking their of the metal roofing which he
neighbors and friends for tho was handing to persons on the
kindness and sympathy shown roof of tho building. Ho was
them during the illness aud death standing underneath a piece of
of the husband and father C. roofing which he had handed up.
Martin. when it slipped and m falline
Mrs. CP. Carmack wish in struck Mr. Wareham m the face
thank the friends and neighbors svenng the end ot his nose,
for the many kindnesses and Whlle the injure is not a serious
sympathy shown her in the sick- 0De li 19 very painful and will
ness and death of her husband probably disfigure him for life,
C. P. Carmack.
Alex. Mayne, of Fort Littleton,
and son Samuel, of Altoona, spent
last Saturday in McConnellsburg
Samuel closed out his hotel prop
' Recent Wedding.
Strait Sipio.
On Wednesday May 10th Mr
Dawson Strait of Gracey and erty ,n Martinsburg, Pa., recent
Miss Rebecca Sipe of Harrison- and 18 now living in Altoona,
ville were united in marriage at an n'3 Wl6 are spending a
the home of the bride by Rev.-W. few days with Samuel's parents
M. Chne. 'The News joins their at tne oId home m Fort Littleton
w i - -
many friends in wishing this ex- 1119 father says he wants to keep
cellent young couple a happy
voyage through life.
Subscribe lor the News,
Samuel around until he gets his
garden made, a cord of wood cut,
hia pump fixed, and the spring
work, generally, doiia,
Ri:v. B. F. Stkvkxs.
Ihe lvov. Benjamin btevons
ono of tho best-known ministers
in the Central Pennsylvania Con
feronco of the Methodist church
and for twenty years a resident
of llarnsburg died Monday
morning at 5 o'clock at tho home
of his son, Dr. John C. Stevens
L'lO South Thirteenth street,
Doath was duo to old age. Tho
Kev. Mr. Stevens was 80 years
of ago. Mr. Stevens had been
suffering from a general break
down since November.
The Rev. Benjamin F. Stevens
was tho fifth son of Vincent and
Martha (Denver) Steveus, and
was born in Fulton County
March 20, Kll. In his own lan
guago ho "was reared on a farm
and taught to do nil kinds of
work and plenty of it." During
the winter mouths ho attended
puonc school. When a young
man he taught tho home schoo!
one year and then went to a select
school for six months later teach
ing lor five months, after which
ho attended tho Seminary at
Cassville, Huntingdon county.
lie remained there (except a few
mouths when ho taught) until he
entered the miuistry in the spring
of 1817).
Ho began preaching in Frost
L t f l i .
ourg, Maryland, ana later came
to Pennsylvania, preaching in
Grcencastle, Shamokin. White
'Haven, Ashland, Jersny Shore,
Northumberland, Williamsport,
Clearfield, Dauville, Milllinburg,
Stewartstown, Duncannou, Me
chanicsburg and llarrisburg.
In 188!) he became pastor of the
Thirteenth street church llarris
burg, and retired in 18'Jl, since
which ho resided with his son,
Dr. John C. Stevens.
Rev. Stevens was an uncle of
Thomas and Dr. F. K. Stevens of
this place.
Mollik Hexdkhsiiot.
Miss Mary Ann flendershot,
died at the home of her brother
in law and sister, Mr and Mrs
Ja mes R. Mellott, near Mercers
hurg, on Tuesday evening of last
week, aged about 0(3 years. The
cause of her death was acute in
digestion, and she had been sick
but a very short time. Miss
llendershot is a native of this
county, and is survived by four
brothers, Denton, Isaac, Carl,
and Mrs, Mellott. The funera
took place last Friday, and her
Death of Mother and Daughter.
Death exacted a double toll and
within twonty minutes in a Cham Alice Rhodes, Blind Daughter of John
bersburg homo on Wednesday Rhodes, of Ayr Township, Fell Down
uuom noon, wnen a moiner ana
her daughter wero summoned
withoutoither know iilg that death
had invaded their homo.
simiislv un ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Stairway Last Sunday Morning.
A distressing accident occur
red in tho home of John Rhodes,
Both were members of a family who lives 00 Part of the old" Fry-
Snapshots at Their Comings and Goings
Here for a Vacation, or Away
for a Restful Outing.
NAMES OF VISITORS AND VISITED
long prominent.
At 12:08 o'clock. Mrs. Annio
Maurer entered into rest and
eighteen minuteslater tho daugh
ter, Miss Emily, peacefully pass
ed away. Mrs. Maurer had been
ill but one week with pnoumonia,
man homestead in Avr township.
In his homo Mr Rhodes has a 1rank Mellott of Needmoro
daughter by his first wifo, about was ln tow" on Saturday.
eightoen years of ago, who has
boon totally blind for a long time.
In addition to her affliction of
blindness, shohasnouso of her
but Miss Emily bad been ill with lower lmbs, tho result of an ac-
a complication ef diseases for cidont to her spinal column when to town
H. C. McGowan, a citizen of
Burnt Cabins was m town on
Friday.
E. L. Fegley of near Dott, was
an early Monday morning visitor
three years. Both were uncon- a cniia iast Saturday night she
scious for several hours before 8,cPt UP stairs, and Sunday morn
death. lnSi ln some way, got too near
Mrs. Maurer was tho widow of t'8 stairway, and fell. It was
tho late B. Latrobo Maurer and
before her marriago was a Miss
Stegey, of Virginia. She came
here with her husband before the
war. Sinco then sho had mado
her homo here. Her husband
was a well known agent and local
thought at first that hor neck was
broken, but sho is still living, and
it is thought that sho may recover
from the fall.
Jacob Strait of Hustontown
was among the Saturday visitors
to town.
H. S. Daniels of Lxkirg l'r:vk
township was a town visiter o:i
Saturday.
Charles and James Mellott of
Saluvia were registered at tho
City Hotel on Monday.
II. E. and D. K. Chesnut of
NtW GRENADA.
Mrs. Nettie Fry, of Guilford
C., 1.1 1.1. ....... i
historian. Miss Emily was the . 1 ' lua 1 ,,BUB,,n wiuniy, visuea . iuK mw wi i wero business visi-
only living daughter and was born l".,,ur om U,,U,B loWQ "ero a,I10nS ll,rs w lown on Saturday.
ou tho day Chambersburg was
burned in 180 1. Sho was aged 10
years and Mrs. Maurer was in
her 78lh year. Both were active
-
the family of her
mombersof tho First Lutheran
church and leave no immediate
relatives. Distant relatives re
side in Los Angeles. Register.
Don.
Our farmers are all hustling to
get their corn planted.
Quite a numbor of our people
attended May meeting at Need-
more and Sideling Hill.
I hoso that are on the sick list
relatives and friends. H. Brum Burt. r r-.i
George Shafer visited friends Springs was roLMsternd nt thn
in Mount Union. Washington flonsn nn vw,i,r
Id - w v... ,J ,
. . . . -
V ..,-,1...., Ji I A IRK ,'lnn,lnl n. f .kl.
TT: i. . ,1. , , " ,ul.,m. ut
uu.uu, spuui, nisi eonesuay nlace is visftmr
night in the home of his naronts. k-ii, r c.... ... ...
x n r . , -. uiumci .ocui6 ninedoiiar, in
1. j. vuuiuugiiam anu wue. Everett
Banner and Thomas Bishop,
lumber dealers of Warfordsburg,
wore guests at tho Fulton llouso
Georgo Banks and Charles
Thomas are treating John Thom
as's house to a new coat of paint.
Abram Ilershey, of Cross
Roads, Taylor township, has
bought tho Harry Gaster pro
perty in New Grenada, and will
tako possession of it next fall,
Jacob Shafer and Gideou Du-
vail, two rf Clay township's up.
to dato
in this community aro John
x. . -,wc ..Buuuuuu:i.i hpre ;l8t Saturday.
arrnlrrt' l To I llxii'rwu mith wlimimn- I 1
r V "l J"' Plummer and family.
M n lfiii a n t n ui .."ova
. ... ...uai.u o. xv.oUiVrF hap thJ .
neuralgia, Jiaroid smith with
on Monday last.
Miss Hazel McQuado of this
place, is visiting her undo and
aunt Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mc
Curdy in Mercorsburg.
A. S. Brant, ouo of Taylor
farmers, wero visitors tnw'lship's sturdy farmers, called
at the Nkws oflico a few minutes
while in town last Saturday.
Rev. John Mellott wife and
daughter Maggio and son Web
ster an.i Rev. S. I. Brumbauirh
representing of Saxton wore m town Tuesday.
untuiiau iuui;e, uu uio uranu wr. and Mrs. Jamps Snvdor
uouge oi wua renows. uur of Chambersburg wore guests
veteran Odd Fellow, Past Grand of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Rum
William Allowav got to thinking mel, of this place, nart of thi
nunnav mnrninir arnnr. t.no crnnrt i n,nni.
Xt 1 : ii m . o
..iia. xauu.u neas times that wnnlrl
who has been spending several
ung trouble.
M rs. Blanche Spencer Lashley,
of Davis, W. Va., is visiting her
mother and friends here.
remains were brought to Union
cemetery in the Big Cove for in
terment.
Calvin P. CaumackT '
At tho age of 03 years, 10
months, and 2 days, Mr. Calvin
P. Carmack died at his home in
McConnellsburg, Pa., Thursday
evening. May 11, 1011. The
cause of his death was pneu
monia, and ho had been sick only
about a week. The funeral took
place at 10 o'clock, Saturday
morning and interment was mado
iu the cemetery at Mercersburg,
Pa.
Mr. Carmack was a son of Simp
son and Mary (Henry) Carmack,
and was born at the old Carmack
homestead on Clear Ridge. He
is survived by lour brothers.
William, of Huntingdon county;
Samuel and Jesse of Clear Ridge,
John W., residing m the state ol
Washington; and James V., in
Chambersburg.
lie was married four times:
1. To Miss Elizabeth Bender,
of Chambersburg. To this un
ion, five children were born,
three of whom are living: Harry,
of Sixmilo Run, Pa.; William,
Chambersburg; Alice, wife of
Seth Houpt, Mercersburg.
2. Mahnda Peffley, of Salem
Church, Franklin county. - Five
children were born to this union,
three of whom are living, namely,
rank, Philadelphia, Minnie, wife!
weeks with hor mother, Mrs,
Adam Hess has returned to her
lome at Komalty, Okla.
Ira Hess had the misfortune to
have his foot mashed one day last
week.
George Deshong entertained
the loafers at Carnell's store last
Friday evening with his violin
Ilopoyou will come again, Gejrge,
Frank Fisher has arrived home
on account of the critical illness
of his father.
Born to Grant Bornhart and
mes mn wouia oe going to Geo. Foreman f U'n. v-iw
inis was Mr. Foreman's first
Visit to town in t hn mof il,
l, - ,,r-. , ' " i'uom unto
juuij'injj iiiiu ins ouuuuji vears
,.! ... . m . , ..I"
cioines no started lor Sixmile
and the more he thought of it the
more eager he was to be there.
! M Ma
hud, a aisiance oi ion miles on
foot, and took the train at that
place, and is now at Wilkes barre
along with the rest of them.
Not so bad for a man up In the
sixties.
W. R. Berkstresser, of Taylor,
visited in New Grenada,
Sunday.
Charles A. Mum ma of near
llarrisonvllle was a pleasant call
er at OUr OfliCO nn Mnndw
Whilo here ho ordered the Nkws
sent to his address.
Mrs. M. W. Nace end littlo
daughter Mary Logan are visit-
last ing Mr NTace's Other's family in
Chambersburg whero their Jittlo
William William nr nmw no uauR'uer is Doing treated for an
wife a daughter. It died the hfl Wft9 usualt ril,n.i wna nn affection of tho throat.
neXt day. rWllaat. Knnrlnw mnrnmr, OUTOldfriend finhort. T7rnrto
The Sunday school at Bedford twppn hl ,.nmo Bk vtu of Thompson townshm -na u
and Woodvale. The coroner was town last Friday, and took timo
notified and an inquest held, but 10 come lnto tlie Nrcws office for
wo have not learned tho result. a c'm- Wlt'1 tho editor and
advance his subscription another
PLEASANT RIDUE. year.
The Revival at the Pleasant Ed. D. Shi
Chapel is progressing nicoly un
der the management of Supt,
Thomas K. Downes.
oeverai ot our prosperous
farmers are spraying their fruit
trees this spring. We wish them
success. Ira Hess purchased a
tine large barrel sprayer and is
accomodating several families.
f orest f ires aro raging in
Lackawanna, Lycoming, Tioga,
Centre, Clinton, Cameron, Union,
Elk, Clearfield and Pike counties.
Over, 50,000 acres of State lands
have been burned over. It is
said that rain will be necessary
to check the flames.
tended,
John G. Mellott and wifo spent
Sunday at Rev. W. R. Truax's,
Charles Mellott wife and daugh
ter Myrtle spent Sunday at J.
W. Truax's.
Sunday school at the Brethren
church is progressing nicely un-
of Ehb AN enger, Shippensburg; der tho care of W. R. Truax,
and Jacob, living in Chambers- Addison Collins and son Harry
burg. , of Hancock, spent Saturday and
Rebecca Reed, Franklin Sunday at Mrs. Martha Skiles
county. Two children. Divorc
ed. The Grand Lodse 1. O. O. F. of
i "
4. Ilettie Briggs, of Franklin Pennsylvania is in session at
county, who survives, together Wilkesbarre this week, ln his
with four children; Russell, Floe, report the grand master says
Max, and the baby. there has been an incroaso in the
During the past five years Mr. membership of tho order within
Carmack had been in tho employ tho past year of 1,800.
of John Sheets & Son, as hack
ariver, ana arove oetweon tnis A Khode island man was run
place and Mercersburg. lie was over by an auto. He arose from
a genial hearted, accommodating, the mud climbed into the car and
careful driver, and will be missed gae the driver a beating. That
by those who have been patroas will teach the driver not to run
of the lino, over another man ln the mud.
thn
Ridge Brethren church began Republican, left on Mondav for
Tuesday evening by Rev. S. 1. Wilkes-Barre. to attend tho Rsth
Brumbaugh from Saxton. session of the Grand r
May meeting at tho Baptist Odd Fellows of Pennsylvania a
church last Sunday was well at- representative of McConnells-
burg Lodge No. 74 1.
Mr. and Mrs. William Corbm
(Nell Johnston) and baby Eliza ot
near Lewistown were calling on
friends tn town on Mondav.
w
Mrs. Corbin and baoy have spent
the past two weeks with Mrs.
Corbin's mother, Mrs. J. W.
Johnston near Cito.
Mr. Lewis Yonker.Bethel town
ship, and Jacob A. Powell, of
Thompson township, were pleas
ant visiters to our office on Mon
day. Mr. Powell presented us
with a couple "Grimes Golden"
apples which were m a perfect
state of preservation.
Mr. John H. Wilt of Waynes
boro, spent a few days visiting
his son in law and daughter Mr.
and Mrs. W. H. .Nesbit m this
place, and greeting his many old
time friends and neighbors in
McConnellsburg. Mr. Wilt
moved to Waynesboro from this
place about twenty year a ago,