The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-06

and Was IA well filed with advertisements
and literary selections. In 1889 two
printing establishments were in operation
here which, beside doing book and JOB
printing, each of them issued q tr-
weekly paper, issued every ether
day in alternate arrangement. A week
" was also issued, mainly intended for
the country, and all had large circula-
ton. The name OF one of these was the
Wheeling Gazette, the publishers of which
were Z. W. and l.. ID Newton, edited by
Z. w. Newton, and subsequently by John.
McCreery. The name of the other was
the Wheeling Times and Advertiser, the
editor and proprietor of which was JAS.
E. Wharton. Both of them were con-
Quoted with zeal and ability.
At an early date the educational inter-
ests of the people received attention
from private individuals, whose gener'
osity prompted them to make provision
for the same. One OF the first acts OF lib
erality of this character was performed by
Noah Zane, ESQ.,, who donated an eligible
lot to be.used solely for school purposes.
Subsequently, however, when 1t became
necessary to extend the market house
with his consent it was used for that pur-
pose on condition that the city would ap-
propriate two thousand dollars for school
purposes, which it agreed to do, but did
not perform until many years afterwards,
when through the energy OF some OF the
friends OF education III our midst 1t was
Investigated, and q pressure being brought
to bear by them on the authorities, the
SUM-, which, with interest, had swelled 70
TO the amount of four thousand dollars,
was distributed among the public schools.
As there are some of the sold boys
still living VINO obtained the first rudi-
ments of their education within the walls
of the old Lancasterisn Academy 1t
but due to them and the cause of educa-
ton in our midst, that We should IN few
W rds recall some of the circumstances
connected with its history. 1t was the
first educational institution of .impor'
lance established in Wheeling and 1t
originated in the liberal muniticence of
Noah Linsley, gentleman OF fine cul-
ture and extensive eruditioD. he came
here at an early date from his native
State, Connecticut, and in short time
after his arrival occupied n
leading position at the bar,
which at that time included
the names of such men as DoddrIdge,
Hammond, Pindell and others, whose
ability and reputation as jurists shone
conspicuous. During successful
practice he accumulated considerable
property and means. He died in the
year 1914, leaving will among other
provisions in which was the donation OF
the ground on which the instit utlon was
erected, as we'll as devise of certain
real estate towards the support and
maintenance of the same, constituting
perpetual fund, having this end IN
view. The institution was chartered in
the same year in which this public bene-
factor died.
The system of instruction adopted
was that Of the moni'orlal.
Each monitor had charg' . a
class, and the class ;" Tors
reported any improper depo "ent,
deficiency in the lessons or nes.o"' OF
study to other monitors, styled head mon :
tors, who reported directly to the prlncl.
pal. The method Of teaching was the
most successful object teaching ever
practlsed. Two or three long boxes OF
sand occupied various sides Of the room,
above which WAS displayed one or more
large letters Of the alphabet. The class
having been summoned by the monitor
to take its place. he put them through
certain manual, admonishing them III
words such rs, "mske ready" when every
hand would go up followed by mark,
when each one would essay to copy the
letter in the sand. If upon inspec
lion it was discovered TO he I'M
made, it was ordered to be erased
and new trial had, and there is one
hing very certain, that boys who could
not otherwise have made their letters by
another mode for long time IN the prsc-
tice of this would succeed in n very short
time. AS far as the general public Is
they know little or nothing
the disposition of this fund.
rhe result has been the existence OF con-
siderable dissatisfaction not only as TO the
bad management which appeared to char
acterize it, but also the ignorance in which
the trustees have heretofore kept the COM
by their failure to make reports
~ to the state Of affairs. Linsley was
buried in the old grave yard, which,
some years since, was removed 10 securea
site for depot and other buildings
fer the Hempfeld Railroad Company
HIS remains were among the last to be
removed. At that time his grave was
marked by plain slab, bearing upon It's
face this simple inscription:
connecticut gave him birth;
Virginia gave him grave"
His remains were placed in Mt. Wood
Cemetery, but whether his resting place
is marked or not, am unable TO say
The names and memories OF such men
we ought not willingly to let die, and no
more graceful act could be done by the
of Wheeling than the erection Of
a monument which shall perpetuate his
liberalty and commemorate his name.
He WAS graduate OF Yale College, and
in his will did not forget his alma mater,
bu. gave to it u legacy OF three thousand
dollars.
The agitation Of the introduction Of
the pubic school system was inaugural
ed in the year 1916 or l847 and among
some OF the advocates of the same were
DR.. Townsend, Judge Thompson, James
II. McMeclen and Mr.. HIldreth. They
were met by great opposition at first By
II few, but eventually It was either over
come or be ,ame latent The first school
law of q general character pa'sed by the
Legislature, left it optional with the
counties to adopt its provisions or not as
they deemed proper. Ohio, kanawha
and Marshall were the on y counties
which adopted it, and kans-
wha and Marshall did nothing
more than adopt it, for they
suffered it to remain unused.
But not so Ohio county. She At once
put it in force. The Fifth ward public
school house was built in the year lS4S,
and was not only the first public school
house erected in the city Of Wheeling,
but was the first in the Southern States.
A few years subsequently, general
school law was enacted, which inside tie