the same. It was not, of course, a success, and very little money was ever paid by the county, but some was accepted, as appears by this bill:
| Cambria County to Archibald Christy. Dr. |
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For the schooling of the poor children of |
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To Sarah Ann, 48 days |
$1.44 |
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To Bridget, 49 days |
$1.47 |
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To Cecily, 7 days |
.21 |
$3.12 |
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The first substantial act authorizing the common school system was that of April 1, 1834, when the state appropriated $75,000 to assist the townships and boroughs in adopting it. It authorized the election of six directors at a special election to be held in September of that year; that one director from each district should meet with the county commissioners in November, and a majority thereof should determine whether a school tax should be levied.
The first meeting of the directors and the county commissioners took place November 4, 1834. The latter were David Somerville, David Davis and Michael Leavy. The directors who met with them were Daniel Brown for Cambria township, Henry J. McGuire for Allegheny, Robert P. Linton for Conemaugh, John McGough for Summerhill, Thomas Lilly for Clearfield, John McConnell for Susquehanna, and Jacob Rager for Jackson township. Richland township was not represented. All the members of the convention, excepting Mr. Rager, voted for an assessment of six mills to be levied and collected by the county for school purposes. On May 4, 1835, another meeting was held at the commissioners' office to determine what should be done for that year. David Davis and Michael Leavy represented the county. The directors were: Dr. J. Duane Stark, of Allegheny; William Wherry, of Cambria; Christian Good, of Conemaugh; Thomas Lilly, of Clearfield; Michael Kennedy, of Susquehanna; Philip Heading, of Richland; and Daniel Brown, of Washington. There was no director from either Summerhill or Jackson present on this occasion. The convention voted five for and two against levying a tax for that year. In accordance with the Act of Assembly, the convention fixed Saturday, May 23, for the people of the several districts to vote on the question whether any of the respective districts desired to increase the levy. The vote was to be taken at the several polling places, excepting that for Washington township, which was to be held at Brown's Mill. On May 2, 1836, the convention again met Michael Leavy and David Todd. On this occasion the directors were: Richard
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