Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-04-24
Martinsburg "reminiscences.

NJ v
The schools offifty years ago, Con-
sisted of private character, teach
ers going from family to family after
scholars. Parents subscribed for
one quarter of three months,-the
rate, generally, in what were termed
common schools, being $3.50 per
quarter term. We had no free
school system. The State provided
a school fund for INDECENT children
at the rate of % cents "a day, the
teacher keeping record, and making
application to school commissioner
for each days tuition of such. The
State also furnished, by order of the
teacher, such books as might be ne
cessary, which books belonged to the
State and were retained by the
teacher, after the school session was
closed. My first school hours were
spent in the house known then as
Mackey's, opposite the present Epis-
copal church, when the mysteries of
A. 3. and C. advanced to Alb, Ba,
Dog, Cat, etc, were instilled into my
young mind. My companions were,
Win Baker, Luther Hamme, and
Sam Hutchinson also Ann Doyne
Wolff, Margaret Brown, Maria Bak-
er, Anna G. Wilson and many others
All the above are now dead. This
school was taught by my own dear
mother. Afterward, and in success
sion. I was introduced into the school
taught by Miss Nancy Maxwell, af-
terward Mrs. VIM. Reid, in the house
yet occupied by the Misses Maxwell.
on Burke street. The old Maxwell
school house was on the cornerof the
alley above, where the Captain had
charge of the advanced scholars
He was the teacher par excellence of
the day, and nearly, if not all the
scholars in the town, were pupils
under him at some period of their
youth. In progress of education,
nearly all my time after school hours
was spent in the basement Of the
Lutheran church, the first teacher
being Mr.. John Young with his
daughter, Caroline, assistant These
were succeeded by u Mr.. John By
ers. My associates were James E.
Hill, Joseph Painter, the Grove
boys; also some of Jno. nj. VOLTS
children, Jacob Nj. Shaffer, Daven-
port Long; also Brooks Hunter,
whose remains lie in the Episcopal
Cemetery. He was killed in Cuba,
as one of the Filibusters under
Lopes in the expedition for the pur-
pose of freeing that island from
Spanish Rules. | must relate an in
cident of school life in which he was
actor For some cause he was kept
in during dinner recess, myself and
others were playing at marbles in
front Of the window and hearing
bench fall, looked in, finding him
swinging by the neck to che stove
pipe. He had used his cravat and
would have died by hanging, if not
discovered. As it was, he was
long time regaining consciousness.
Chris. Hill, Harrison Painter, and
myself, by direction of teacher, &C
companied him to his home, where
A. j. Thomas now resides. In the
room l occupied in school and in
same studies, were Daniel Mathews,
William Girard, Davenport Long,
David and Harrison Painter, Jacob
Swartz, JAS. Helferstay, and Chris,
Hill, nearly all Of whom have pass
ed away | also attended n school,
taught by Rev VIM. Herridon, in
the property owned by Mr.. Pyle, on
the street leading to the fair ground.
The Catholic church had nunnery,
with school, in the property known
as the Kennedy House, where Col.
Nadenbush did reside. Mrs. Little
and sister, Miss Weber, taught fe-
male school in the house now occu-
pied by Rev. McKeefry. Mrs. Jona-
than Double, taught in what was
known as Sommerville property, on
E. King street. A Mr.. Saffell taught
in the house adjoining King st. Hall.
The academy was located on the hill
in front of the Episcopal Cemetery,
and was taught by Mr.. Bascom, sue
ceeded by his assistant, Norman