Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.II, p.417

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History of Cambria County, V.2

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 417

Mineely, who there presided over a subscription school, the tuition of which ranged from fifty to seventy-five cents per month of six days in a week for each scholar. Rev. Mineely married Harriet Morgan, and lived and died on a farm above Franklin borough, which was known as the Emerson farm for many years. Rev. Mineely was classed among the Dunkard preachers.
    The teachers following him were: George Gordon, a Mr. Carrolltown, John Beatty, David Garber, Joseph Berry, Hiram Folsom, and B.D. Doty, who taught from 1832 to 1834.
    William McKee, who died recently, came to Johnstown in 1822, where he served as burgess, justice and alderman for many years. He attended a pay school in 1827, when David Garber taught in the “old black” schoolhouse, which, Mr. McKee believed, was erected about 1812. He also attended school in a building which stood on the site of the United Brethren church on Vine street, when the teachers were Hiram Folsom and Jonathan Bowen. The books used were “Pike's Arithmetic and Western Calculator,” “English Reader,” “United States Spelling Book,” and the “Testament.” He states that he graduated there in 1834 by learning to solve simple fractions, because the teacher, never having studied it, could not help him in vulgar fractions. However, his education, which was considered excellent at that period, was completed in a school taught by Homer Hart at the “Bucket Factory” below the town where he mastered the problems in vulgar fractions.
    In accordance with the school act passed in 1834, the public schools were organized in the borough of Johnstown, and the teachers selected by the board of directors were: Samuel Douglass, 1834-37; Orson H. Smith, Jonas J. Huber and David F. Gordon, 1839-41; Samuel Douglass, 1841-44; Charles Meegan, Cyrus L. Pershing in 1845. Then annually, J.B. Breckinridge, C.E.H. Richardson, a Mr. Caldwell, George M. Reade, Andrew Gohn, Samuel Douglass, and James F. Skyles and S.B. McCormick, from 1853 to 1855.
    About the time of the completion of the Union School building, the borough of Johnstown was authorized, November 22, 1855, to elect a principal for its schools. Henry Ely was the successful candidate, and was elected for a term of three years, but in 1858 the position was raised to that of superintendent, and A.H. Sembower was chosen, who served for two years. In 1860, Edward H. Mauck was elected; 1861, S.B. McCormick;

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	417
Mineely, who there presided over a subscription school, the tuition of which ranged from fifty to seventy-five cents per month of six days in a week for each scholar. Rev. Mineely married Harriet Morgan, and lived and died on a farm above Franklin borough, which was known as the Emerson farm for many years. Rev. Mineely was classed among the Dunkard preachers. The teachers following him were: George Gordon, a Mr. Carrolltown, John Beatty, David Garber, Joseph Berry, Hiram Folsom, and B.D. Doty, who taught from 1832 to 1834. William McKee, who died recently, came to Johnstown in 1822, where he served as burgess, justice and alderman for many years. He attended a pay school in 1827, when David Garber taught in the “old black” schoolhouse, which, Mr. McKee believed, was erected about 1812. He also attended school in a building which stood on the site of the United Brethren church on Vine street, when the teachers were Hiram Folsom and Jonathan Bowen. The books used were “Pike's Arithmetic and Western Calculator,” “English Reader,” “United States Spelling Book,” and the “Testament.” He states that he graduated there in 1834 by learning to solve simple fractions, because the teacher, never having studied it, could not help him in vulgar fractions. However, his education, which was considered excellent at that period, was completed in a school taught by Homer Hart at the “Bucket Factory” below the town where he mastered the problems in vulgar fractions. In accordance with the school act passed in 1834, the public schools were organized in the borough of Johnstown, and the teachers selected by the board of directors were: Samuel Douglass, 1834-37; Orson H. Smith, Jonas J. Huber and David F. Gordon, 1839-41; Samuel Douglass, 1841-44; Charles Meegan, Cyrus L. Pershing in 1845. Then annually, J.B. Breckinridge, C.E.H. Richardson, a Mr. Caldwell, George M. Reade, Andrew Gohn, Samuel Douglass, and James F. Skyles and S.B. McCormick, from 1853 to 1855. About the time of the completion of the Union School building, the borough of Johnstown was authorized, November 22, 1855, to elect a principal for its schools. Henry Ely was the successful candidate, and was elected for a term of three years, but in 1858 the position was raised to that of superintendent, and A.H. Sembower was chosen, who served for two years. In 1860, Edward H. Mauck was elected; 1861, S.B. McCormick;