Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-08-22
MRS. DIR. JOHN P. sTERRErT.

MRS. DIR. JOHN P. STERRETT.
written for the SENTINEL AND RE-
PUBLICAN.)
There died on Tuesday of last week, :,
a most estimable Christian woman, q
synopsis of the history of whose useful
life may bring to many old readers Of
the SENTINEL recOllectiOns of days that
are cherished as halcyon. A narrative
of the career and connections Of Mrs.
Anna X. Sterrett, will revive memoir
les Of the times when than the name Of
Sterrett none was more highly hOnOred
throughout Tuscarora Valley, ythat
abode Of an aris tocracy whose only
foundations were brains, character and
physique. AS DIR. John P. P.Sterrett, her
husband, and the Hon. James P. Ster-
rett, Chief Justice Of the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court, were giants intellect
ually and physically, ESQ was the de-
ceased great among women on account
Of her simplicity, sweetness, gentle
ness and sympathy.
Her early distinction in Juniata
county, was that Of being the first Prin-
cipal of TuscarOra Female Seminary.
This model institution of learning was
founded in 1S47 by Alexander Patter.
son, mainly for the right education OF
his own daughters and incidentally fol
the benefit Of the young ladies Of Tus'
carora Valley. The Seminary was at
first located in Mr.. Patterson's large
dwelling house in Spruce Hill town
ship on the south side of Tuscarora
creek Miss Anna Kennedy, the sub.
ject of this sketch remained at the
head of the Seminary for rtwo-and -a-hal1
wears, and much of it's later fame as an
institute for young ladies was due to
the impress Of her character upon It.
She was succeeded as Principal by Mr.
Patterson's daughters, in turn, and af
terward, when the Seminary was re
moved to Academia, it ranked as
worthy companion to the famous Tusca
rora Academy. Miss Kennedy wa
born in Oxford, Chester county, Pa
on January %, 1927. During her Ia
bors as Principal Of the Seminary shs
met and loved DIR John X. Sterrett, tc
whom she was married at Oxford In
1850. The ceremony was performed
by a relative the Rev. Or. John NJ
Dickey, at the unusual hour Of O'Clock
in the morning, as the young couple
had to drive IA miles in order to catcf
a railroad train at the village Of North
east, Md. There had been anticipa
tions Of a celebration Of their COLDER
wedding anniversary next November
an occasion which would have brough
together descendants ,Of some OF tn
most distinguished families Of the ina
ton, as we'll as representatives Ofmany
of the best families of Pittsburgh, VIII
have delighted to honor the Sterrett
during the past twenty years. Lik'
her husband Miss Kennedy came of IL
lustrous stock. Her father DIR. Johl
Kennedy was born in Baltimore an
located as a practicing physician ii
Oxford. Her mother, Mary Dickey
was q daughter Of Col. David Dickey
who was an extensive owner Of cOtto
and paper factories at Hopewell, M
Vernon and on the Brandywine. Co
, Dickey's wife was Moffit, a membt
: of distinguished family Of Cecil cOur
ty, Maryland. Her paternal grant
t father was also q soldier, and won di
} tinctiOn at the battle Of North Point.
:. The removal of the Sterrett's frol
, Tuscarora Valley, practically elimina