Daily Republican., 1880-12-14
EDUCATION.
Biographical Mn eteh Of Delsware's
Earnest Frfends OF EdusnaiOn.
For the Republican.


drawn up at the request
OF the State Superintendent OF Public
Schools in Delaware, presents some
facts which will doubtless interest the
public at this time. It shows the labors
Of most sxeellent and worthy minis
ter, Rev. W. B. Gregg, of the Whining
ton Conference, in behalf Of education
and especially in securing the passage
Of the present School Law. By pub
fishing it you will aid this good cause
and oblige A BRIESD or EDUCATION.
In the year OF our Lerd one thousand
eight hundred and 6fty.two Rev. W.
B. Gregg rsmodelsd church in Berlin,
Somerset county, Pa, prepared 1t
for a Seminary of learning, and Sc.
cured the services Of John +. Ebel hart,
Esq, a graduate of Allegheny college,
Pa, as principal, siiR Mss Wit.
UrisR Ehsrhart and himself as assist
ants. This school succeeded finely, for
two years, increasing in interest all
the time, till he was compelled to laage
on account Of the sickness and desxh
of his father--then 1t closed. He
preached regularly on Sundays, at
teuded to the finances and taught dur.
ing the week. Perhaps 10 institution
Of learning left more fruit for the time
il was in operation than this. There
are many OF the students to-day o.
cupying important stations in life.
Everywhere he Travelled he took q
special interest in education, visiting
public schoolhouses, encouraging teach.
ers and instructing the children. In
1856 while located, on account OF his
fathers sickness, death and settling his
estate, he received permanent eertif-
icate from Daniel Shelley, Esq, Coun
" Superintendent for Cumberland
county, Pa, and taught q graded
school for fifteen months. In 1857 he
isined the PhilsGelphia Conference and
wherever he was appointed, preached
and aided the cause Of education.
Travelling Safe Harbor Circuit in 1861
and 62 he lived at Millersville, Lancas-
ter county, Pa, where the State Nor.
NAL Schsol is located.
He bought stock, was elected and re-
elected trustee for about ten years, and
served on the committee TO examine the
classes with Judge Rays, Of Lancaster
City. He was in the Board of Trustees
when Prof. Edward Brooks was elected
President-voting for him. Professor
Wickershsm was President when he
was stationed there, and was intimate
with him, often preaching In the
chapel by his request. In 1868 he wa;
appointed to PittmRn Station, Phila
deiphis, Pa. While there he visited
the schools and addressed the Ohildrer
frequently. The citizens were anxious
for him to be q director, but he left tai
city and went into the army IS chap
lain.
He was appointed to Smyrna ii
March, 1866, and finding that the pub
lie schools we're in bad condition ag
Iltated reform, and commenced with th
public schools. He then secured
partner in the person of Dr.. James Z
IClawson, and bought the old Quaker O
Friends meeting-house and opened
Seminary. This institution succeeded
finely and successfully in the hands o
, Prof. Bstchtel. Ii had salutary iDhu
suce on the town and public schools
bringing them up to higher grade
His next charge was Greensboro, Caro-
line county, Nd. Here he urged tn
cause of education and the building q
good house for graded publioschool
lit was built, and the school was il
loperstion at the close Of the year. Il
llS70 he was appointed to SeatoEd, Del.
and found the public schools in a des
perate condition, only $50 having beef
voted by the citizens in the district 70
a large school. This amount secure'
the State appropriation which wa
small. Both school houses in the tow
we're in q bad condition. He agitate
tue subject of education, and offered :
be one of tsn to give one hundred do
lars to purchase what was called tn
= IOdd Fellows Hall, or old academy, an
ref, it for select school, Offering
secure the teacher. The Academ
could be bought for Eve hundred do
, liars, and improvements would cost fv
, hundred dollars.
In this he could not snoceei. The
he offered to be one OF twenty to Civ
slOO each to build q public schot
. house for the town-grade the schools
etc. A meeting vas held for this puI
pose, but it could not succeed, d.
: Martin putting damper on the entel
: prise by saying that he was oppos!
to public schools. Moat Of the citizen
of Seaford were poor, and without pull
, Lie schools never could receive an edu
cation. While in Smyrna frou March
'66 10 March '69, Mr.. Gregg with other
held me tings for educational purposei
drafted a school bill for the Legislator
L. and appointed committee, with J. A
: Fulton, Raq., as chairman, to urge il
5 passage, or as much of it as possible
, Jacob Deakyne, ESQ, Of Thoroughfar
) Neck, Nsw Castle Co., and DR.. Brow
were on the committee on education
Jacob Deakyne being connected wit
Mr.. G's. charge and attending hi
church was urged to do the best h
D could for the cause in framing bill
: at least have Superintendent Of put
lie schools appointed, and the teacher
. examined, but he said DR.. Brown wa
3 opposed to it, and nothing was done
They had a public meeting in the Cou'
House during the sitting OF the Lezis
Ilsture, and Mr.. G. secured the service
of Prof. Wishershsm, State Superir
teudeat Of public schools Of the State
Psnnsylvanis, formerly President
the State Normal School OF Pennsylvs
, mia, who delivered a startling sddrea
a TO the members OF the Legislature an
eitizsDs, showing the advantages OF
we'll re. .ulated school system.