Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-07-13

the North and South Ward school dis
tricts, and, also, after the consolida-
ton into a single district.
True, occasionally, petty ward
politician of little ability, desirous of
some reward for his political labors,
would succeed in entering the board
of school directors. Generally, how
ever, in the fact of so many honest and
upright colleagues, his influence was
little felt.
On the other hand, when man
once became recognized as an effi-
cient and intelligent laborer for the
good of the educational system, it was
the custom, in many wards. to return
him, term after term, without regard
to his own politics or the political
complexion of the ward. Thus the
Fourth Ward, the strongest Republi-
can district of the city. elected the
honored DIR. Charles b. Eager, a DEM
ocrat, whenever he could be prevailed
on to permit the use of his name.
/ have spoken in this series of some
of the school buildings and their teach
ers in the year 1874. others will be
introduced at a later period. But l
wish now to speak briefly about few
of the school directors of the same
period.
Some of the Early Veterans of the
School Board
Several of the eminent founders of
the common school work in Harris
burg had retired from long and faith
full service in the board shortly before
the period now under consideration.
Among these were DR.. j. H. Eager,
DR.. C. Seller, Jacob Iouser, A. Boyd
Hamilton, Charles Muench, w. H.
Egle, John T. Wilson, William s.
Shaffer, r. r. Chrisman. James Flem-
ing, II. A. Sturgeon, william H. Sci
bert, Joseph Liness, Hamilton Alricks,
DR.. George w. Porter, DR.. Dewitt,
John Edwards and the Rev. Charles
A. Hay. ID. D.
1t is to be regretted that the scope
of this series will not permit an ex-
tended and deserved eulogium of many
of the names given above. They were
prominent citizens of the community
who unselfshly gave time and talent
to placing Harrisburg's educational
system on a firm basis.
In 1874 the Harrisburg Board of
Control consisted of twenty-five MEM
bers, the Second and Eighth Ward,
by some hocus pocus, being cut off
with two representatives, whilst all
the other wards of the nine into
which the city was long divided. had
three members.
These twenty-five men were Peter
Reel, Christian Kraber, David r. Mil
Ter, George f. Weaver, John l.. Lingle,
Samuel D. Ingram, Valentine Hum
mel, Daniel Eppley. John c. Jennings,
CurZon, Daniel d. Boas, David
Maeyer, William II. Smith, John C.
Herman, John r. Brooke, Charles T.
George. Henry Ebersol, Jacob Rohrer,
ID. C. Burinite NJ A. Shattuck, John
TILL Thomas f. Mullen, DIR. John c.
Samuel II. Simon and Henry
NJ. Kelly.
| knew all these men and my heart
expands with gratitude as l recall
deeds of kindness received from them
Individually and collectively. 1t is a
roll of honor. There was not a weak
man in the whole list; and Harrisburg
is to-day reaping a rich educational
harvest from the seed they planted
so judiciously.
The Survivors of the Board
OF the entire number l can recog-
nize but four who are living to-day:
John C. Jennings, then president of
the board, who, after years of siren
Gus work in handling railroad sys-
TENS beyond the Mississippi, is now
q prominent manufacturer of this city,
and looking as vigorous and youthful
as when he welded the gavel in the
little room in College Block the vet
eran druggist, DR.. Charles T. George,
whom every one knows and every one
owes; DR.. John c. Hutton, then fresh
from his alma mater at Gettysburg
and full of educational enthusiasm
and Samuel H. Simon, son of the WELL
known architect and contractor, John
B. Simon, who was a bricklayer in
his youthful days and is now a prac-
icing physician in Brooklyn, n. Y.
some School Directors of Note in
Their Day
Space will not permit an extended
notice of these men of the 1874 school
board, but justice requires at least a
brief mention of some of them.
Peter Reel, a staunch citizen of the
First Ward, interested in farmlands
and in the stone quarries of that sec
ton of the city, was emphatically q
man of action. Terse in speech, his
Judgment was almost unerring, and
his advice in school matters always
received respectful attention from his
colleagues. Christian Kraber, long
associated with the Chesapeake Nail
Works, and David r. Miller, an archi-
lect and contractor, were both model
directors and both labored, in the face
of discouragements and opposition, to
secure the new Harris Park school
for the First Ward.
Samuel d. Ingram was not only, for
many years, an efficient school direc-
tor of the city, but was, at the same
time, the county superintendent of
schools for Dauphin county, doing
much for the elevation of the educa-
tional work of the towns and rural
districts of our country. A talented
son of his will be remembered as the
i've city editor of the Telegraph for a
number of years.
Valentine Hummel, grocer in
Market Square, was not only very
prominent in his labors for the
schools, but was also an important
factor in the religious activities of the
city. AS a superintendent in Zion
lutheran Sunday school he left last
ng impress for good on hundreds of
plant minds
rhe Great life Work of Daniel EppIey
Daniel Eppley, of the Third Ward,
was indeed a grand old man. With
1ry goods store in Market Square. he
was long leader in Harrisburg bust
1ess enterprises. A conscientious
lealer, there was never a stain of sus-
Dicion on any transaction in which he
was engaged With the golden rule as
MS guiding star. he was as good citi-
zen, as upright and unpretending a
Christian as ever trod the streets of
our city. A stately and dignified
yet affab1e and generous,
prompt in business, a leader in every
for civic betterment and