that the first convention of school directors, May, 1854, fixed the annual compensation of the first county superintendent at the meager sum of $300, thinking that no one would serve for that sum, and that they would thus discharge the duty imposed on them by the law of selecting a suitable person and fixing his compensation, and at the same time dispense with the superintendent. They did not seem to consider that the law also prescribed that every teacher of common schools must be examined by that officer, and that if any schools in a district should be taught by teachers not having proper certificates there would have been a forfeiture of the State appropriation to the schools of such district.

The gentleman they selected, Rev. J. A. Campbell, after deliberation, concluded that he could not devote the time, labor and attention which the law required for that compensation, but proposed to accept the position for a year if the amount fixed by the convention would be increased to $400. In order that the school districts of this county might not lose their State appropriations, several citizens pledged the additional hundred dollars, which they paid out of their own pockets, and the first incumbent of the new and to some extent obnoxious office entered upon the discharge of his official duties, in which he continued during the first two years and a part of the third year of the term, teaching part of the time a normal class and preaching to his congregation.

INSTITUTES

Teachers' institutes previous to 1867 were self-sustaining and were held at irregular intervals in different parts of the county. Since that date the State has made provision for their support, and the regular sessions held yearly at Kittanning are well attended and productive of great benefit to all who attend.

ACADEMIES

During the different periods of the growth of education in this county there have arisen and passed away many institutions for the imparting of higher branches of learning than those afforded by the public schools. Born in enthusiasm and ambition, these halls of learning have not always developed in proportion to the desires of their founders, but they have left a strong impress upon the present generation, so their origin and life have not been in vain.

The following is a list of the academies and

institutes existing since the beginning of the county's history, only two of them being now alive. The only one of the old academies existing now is Slate Lick, and it depends upon an irregular service of youthful preceptors who teach during their summer vacations. The other is the Dayton Normal Institute.

The last one founded heads the list: Dayton Normal Institute, Dayton Union Academy, Doaneville Seminary, Glade Run Academy, Kittanning Academy, Lambeth College, Leechburg Academy, Leechburg Institute, Oakland Classical Institute, Slate Lick Classical Institute, University of Kittanning, Worthington Academy.

MODERN SCHOOLS

One of the defects of the present school system is the lack of a permanent school fund for use in emergencies. In case of a panic the appropriation is liable to fail and the schools will be helpless until the next meeting of the Legislature. Texas has a fund of $52,000,000.

Over forty-two years ago the historian Smith, who was then county school superintendent of Armstrong, stated that the best teachers in Austria were selected for the rural schools, and at the convention of 1913 the same statement was made by Prof. Corson of the Ohio school board. Yet the present rule is to send graduates of the high schools to "break in" at the rural schools, to the injury of the scholars and the doubtful benefit of the teachers. "As the teacher, so the school is."

Many improvements have been made, however, in the school administration, books are furnished by the State, and last year (1912) the State appropriation for all purposes was $15,000,000.

Medical inspection has been introduced into some of the schools, but is not compulsory. The townships that have medical inspection are fourteen, and those without number eleven. Three are not reported. Last year in the State inspection 750 districts were examined, with 145,000 pupils, 111,000 proving defective in some way. Defective vision was the greatest trouble, with teeth and lungs closely following. Of the 3,572 schools examined 1,100 had unsanitary closets. In one of the districts of Armstrong county almost one-half of the children had some more or less serious ailment. Nine of the boroughs of this county have the inspection and three have not. It is to be hoped that the next historian of this county will not have to record a single township or borough without this necessary adjunct

of modern educational methods. And that most vital of all necessities of the country school as well as the farmer-good roadsshould not longer be neglected as in the past.

CONVENTIONS

The tenth convention of school directors for the county was held in the new high school auditorium in November, 1913, with Hon. Geo. W. McNees as chairman. In the matter of information it was probably the most important ever held in Kittanning. Addresses by prominent educators and members were heard on vital subjects relating to health, finance and improved methods of instruction. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Frank Cribbs, S. Buffalo township; first vice president, R. Hagerman, Perry township; second vice president, A. W. Smith, Gilpin township; secretary, J. E. Vantine, Kiskiminetas township; treasurer, J. S. Porter, Applewold; auditor, John A. Fox, Kittanning; delegate to the State convention, S. S. Blyholder, Burrell township.

The convention also favorably recommended the increase of the salary of the county superintendent to $3,000 per year. Prof. W. A. Patton is the present capable superintendent.

MEDICAL INSPECTORS

The State medical inspectors for 1913 are: Apollo borough, Dr. A. H. Townsend, Apollo; Bethel and Parks townships, Dr. Thomas L. Aye, Kelly Station; Boggs and Pine townships, Dr. T. H. Newcome, Templeton; Brady's Bend township, Dr. C. G. McGogney, Kaylor; Deanville independent district and Mahoning township, Dr. J. B. Longwell, Seminole; East Franklin township, Dr. J. E. Quigley, Adrian; Elderton borough and Plum Creek township, Dr. J. A. Kelly, Whitesburg; Ford City borough, Dr. A. E. Bower, Ford City; Freeport borough and Gilpin township, Dr. C. M. McLaughlin, Freeport; Parker's Landing_borough and Hovey township, Dr. A. M. Hoover, Parker's Landing; Johnetta borough and South Buffalo township, Dr. W. J. Ralston, Freeport; Leechburg borough, Dr. J. D. Orr, Leechburg; Manorville borough and Manor township, Dr. Roscoe Deemar, Manorville; West Kittanning borough and Rayburn and Valley townships, Dr. T. N. McKee, Kittanning; Red Bank township, Dr. C. E. Sayres, Hawthorn; Rural Valley borough, Dr. S. E. Ambrose, Rural Vailey; South

Bend township, Dr. J. A. Lowery, South Bend; South Bethlehem borough, Dr. E. K. Shumaker, New Bethlehem; Wayne township, Dr. E. J. Fleming, Dayton; Wickboro borough, Dr. J. B. F. Wyant, Kittanning; Worthington borough, Dr. J. W. Dunkle, Worthing

ton.

STATISTICS

In 1876 the whole number of common schools in this county was 261; average number of months taught, 5.9; male teachers, 163; female teachers, 106; average salaries per month of male teachers, $41.12; female, $34.40; scholars, male, 6,730, female, 5,933; average attendance, 8,252; cost of teaching each scholar per month, 76 cents; tax levied for school purposes and building schoolhouses, $75,719.25; received from State appropriation, $10,480.08; from taxes and all other sources, $87,854; total receipts, $98,334.08. Expended: For building, renting and repairing schoolhouses, etc., $22,949.37; teachers' $47,711.68; fuel, fees of collectors, etc., $21,068.53; total expenditures, $91,729.58.

In the year 1913 the number of schoolrooms in the county, including the boroughs, where there are several grades, was 413; the average months to each yearly session was 734; the number of male teachers was 118; number of female teachers, 304; average salaries of the male teachers in the county, outside of the boroughs mentioned below, was $51.40 per month; average salaries of female teachers, exclusive of the boroughs, $42.63 per month; number of male scholars on the entire county roll, 7,302; female scholars, 5,963; average attendance, entire county, 11,179; average cost per month for each scholar in the county, including the boroughs, $2.03; amount of tax levied for educational purposes, including boroughs, $200,134.11; appropriation from State, $76,040.91; amount received from all other sources, $273,227.07; total value of all schoolhouses in the county, $708,504; amount paid as salaries to teachers, $168,910.42; expended for fuel, repairs, water, light, etc., $130,281.56.

In comparison with the salaries paid teachers in the country schools of the county the averages of male and female salaries in the boroughs of Kittanning, Ford City, Wickboro, Freeport, Leechburg and Apollo are presented. Male salaries, $116.63; female salaries, $59.64; the number of months taught in the borough schools averages nine.

WAR-WAR OF

The following list of natives of this county who have been honored by their fellowcitizens, as well as those of other States and territories, is not complete, for the reason of the neglect of officials in the past, who failed to make complete records of the names of the office-holders of their days.

Among the natives of Armstrong county who held office in other parts of this country were: Walter A. Burleigh, Congressman from the territory of Dakota; Andrew J. Faulk, Governor of Dakota territory; G. W. Rutter, U. S. Senator from the State of Washington; Thomas Hays, State Senator from Butler county; C. M. C. Campbell, representative from Allegheny county; and John A. Crum, State Senator from Venango county.

Armstrong county has contributed one governor of Pennsylvania, William F. Johnston, and the following Congressmen: Gen. Robert Orr, Samuel S. Harrison, Joseph Buffington, Darwin Phelps, James B. Mosgrove. The present official is J. N. Langham, of Indiana, whose term expires in 1915. The Congressional district includes Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson and Clarion counties.

STATE SENATORS

Robert Orr, Jr., 1822-25; Eben Smith Kelley, 1825-29 (died in the discharge of his duties at Harrisburg, Saturday, March 28, 1829); Philip Mechling, 1830-34; William F. Johnston, 1847, until he was inaugurated governor in January, 1849; Jonathan E. Meredith, 1859-62; S. M. Jackson, 1875-6; Edward D. Graff, 1879-80; William B. Meredith, 188588; J. B. Showalter, 1889-92; William B. Meredith, 1895-1900; Andrew G. Williams, 1901-04; George W. McNees, 1905-08; J. Frank Graff, 1911, term expires in 1917.

MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY

Philip Klingensmith, 1800; James Sloan, 1808-9; Samuel Houston, 1817-18; Robert

Orr, Jr., 1818-21; James Douglass, 1834-6; William F. Johnston, 1836-41; Jacob Hill, 1847-50; John S. Rhey, 1850-52; J. Alexander Fulton, 1853-5; Darwin Phelps, 1856; John K. Calhoun, 1857-8; Andrew Craig, 1860-61; J. A. McCullough, 1862-3; J. W. McKee, 1864; Alexander Anderson, 1865; Franklin Mechling, 1866-67; S. M. Jackson, 1868-69; M. M. Steele, 1870; George S. Putney, 1871; Philip R. Bowman, 1872-3; Robert Thompson, 1874-6; J. A. Hunter, 1875 (died without taking his seat); William G. Heiner, 1877-8; W. F. Rumberger, 1878-9; E. D. Graff, 1879-80; Francis Martin, 1880-81; Lee Thompson, 1881-84; A. D. Glenn, 1883-86; Robert Daugherty, 1885-88; Andrew J. Elliott, 1887-8; S. B. Cochran, 1889-96; Frank Mast, 1891-96; J. W. McKee, 1891-96; Geo. W. McNees, 18971900; Joel Crawford, 1901-2; J. Frank Graff, 1901-04; Frank W. Jackson, 1903-06; Geo. W. McNees, 1905-08; Hiram J. Sedwick, 1905-08; S. B. Cochran, 1908-09; R. H. Megraw, 190910; John M. Williams, 1909-10; Robert P. Hunter, 1911-13; George W. Larkins, 1911-13.

The present representatives are Harry H. Irwin, of Laneville, South Buffalo township, and Elmer B. Latshaw, of Kittanning.

PRESIDENT JUDGES

John Young, Westmoreland county; Thomas White, Indiana county; Jeremiah M. Burrell, Westmoreland county; John C. Knox, Tioga county; Joseph Buffington, Armstrong county; James A. Logan, Westmoreland county; John V. Painter, Armstrong county; Jackson Boggs, Allegheny county; James B. Neale, Calvin Rayburn, W. D. Patton and John H. Painter, Armstrong county. J. W. King, the newly elected judge, will take his seat in 1914.

ASSOCIATE JUDGES

Robert Orr, Sr., James Barr, George Ross, Joseph Rankin, Robert Orr, Jr., Charles G.

Snowden, John Calhoun, Andrew Arnold, Hugh Bingham, Robert Woodward, Michael Cochran, George F. Keener, John Woods, Josiah E. Stevenson, H. A. S. D. Dudley, John F. Nulton, Robert M. Beatty, James M. Stevenson. The new constitution of 1874 abolished the position of associate justice.

DEPUTY ATTORNEYS GENERAL

Thos. Blair, Wm. F. Johnston, Michael Gallagher, J. B. Musser, John B. Alexander, John Reed, Geo. W. Smith, John S. Rhey, Thos. T. Torney, Daniel Stanard, Hugh H. Brady, Ephraim Carpenter, J. G. Barclay, John W. Rohrer, James Stewart. Deputy attorneysgeneral were appointed by the attorney-general until, by act of May 3, 1850, the name was changed to district attorneys, one of whom was thereafter to be elected by the voters of each county.

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS

John W. Rohrer, Franklin Mechling, William Blakeley, Henry F. Phelps, John V. Painter, John O. Barrett, Jefferson Reynolds, Joseph R. Henderson, M. F. Leason, R. S. Martin, D. B. Heiner, H. N. Snyder, Rush Fullerton, J. P. Culbertson, M. F. Leason, C. O. Morris.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Appointed: James Sloan, James Matthews, Alexander Walker. Elected: Jonathan King, Adam Ewing, Jas. Jackson, Thos. Johnston, John Henery, George Long, Alex. McCain, John Davidson, David Johnston, Philip Clover Isaac Wagle, David Reynolds, Joseph Rankin, Joseph Waugh, Daniel Reichert, Philip Templeton, Sr., Joseph Shields, Hugh Reid, James Barr, George Williams, John Patton, Samuel Matthews, James Green, Job Johnson, Jacob Allshouse, James Reichert, Alex. A. Lowry, John R. Johnston, William Curll; Jacob Beck, George W. Brodhead, Lindley Patterson, James Stitt, Joseph Bullman, William Coulter, Amos Mercer, Philip Hutchinson, John Boyd, Robert McIntosh, Arthur Fleming, Andrew Roulston, John Shoop, William McIntosh, Archibald Glenn, Wilson Todd, Thos. H. Caldwell, James Douglass, David Beatty, George B. Sloan, William W. Hastings, John M. Patton, Wm. H. Jack, James Blair, Thomas Templeton, James Barr, Daniel Slagle, George H. Smith, Augustus T. Pontius, Peter Heilman, William P. Lowry,

Thomas Montgomery, Thomas Herron, Wm. Buffington, Brice Henderson and Owen Handcock, Lewis W. Corbett, John Murphy, James White, John E. Alward, T. V. McKee, William C. Bailey, D. W. Hawk, Darwin E. Phelps, Stewart Donaldson, P. C. Fiscus, J. M. Fleming, S. E. Sloan, W. C. Storey, John L. Kron, F. M. King, H. J. Hays, James B. B. Douglass, Andrew Gallagher, John Black, Charles E. Meals, Alexander Montgomery, W. H. Jack, Will A. Heckman, Israel Shafer.

F

TREASURERS

Appointed annually by the county commissioners, as provided by acts of April 11, 1799, and April 15, 1834: Adam Elliott, Robert Brown, Samuel Matthews, Guy Hiccox, Thomas Hamilton, James Pinks, Alexander Colwell, David Johnston, Jonathan H. Sloan, Samuel McKee, Andrew Arnold, James Douglass, Samuel Hutchinson, John F. Nulton. Some of them were reappointed once or twice.

The act of 1841 provided for the election of the treasurers, and the following served terms of two years, until 1874, when the term was made three years: John F. Nulton, George Beck, James McCullough, Sr., Absalom Reynolds, Henry J. Arnold, Alexander Henry, Thomas McMasters, Andrew J. Faulk, Samuel Crawford, Robert Anderson, William Brown, William McClelland, George Kron (unexpired term of McClelland), J. N. McLeod, Samuel McLeod (unexpired term of J. N.), Samuel W. Hamilton, Samuel C. Davis, John E. Alward, James Piper, James H. Monroe, T. J. Elwood, John C. Walters.

Three year terms-William W. Fiscus, George W. McNees, G. Hays Foster, W. B. Bailey, Frank Mast, Israel Shafer, S. F. Booher, E. J. Ash, J. O. Crum.

The present treasurer, J. W. Simpson, has a four-year term, the first since the law

PROTHONOTARIES

Paul Morrow, James Sloan, George Hickox, Eben S. Kelly, James E. Brown, Frederick Rohrer, Simon Torney, W. W. Gibson, James Douglass, Jonathan E. Meredith, Samuel Owens, Simon Truby, Jr., James S. Quigley, John G. Parr, James G. Henry, A. H. Stitt, Boyd S. Henry, Joel Crawford, J. M. Williams, James H. McFarland, I. T. Campbell. Until 1821 the offices of prothonotary, clerk of the courts, and register and recorder were held by one person.

REGISTERS AND RECORDERS

Paul Morrow, James Sloan, George Hickox, Eben S. Kelly, David Johnston, Philip Mechling, Frederick Rohrer, John Croll, John Mechling, John R. Johnston, Joseph Bullman, William Miller, David C. Boggs, Philip K. Bowman, William R. Milliron, James H. Chambers, H. J. Hays, Irwin T. Campbell, Harry B. Henderson. Mr. Henderson has been elected four consecutive terms.

SHERIFFS

John Orr, Jonathan King, James McCormick, Joseph Brown, Philip Mechling, Robert Robinson, Thos. McConnell, Jacob Mechling, Jas. Douglass, Chambers Orr, Samuel Hutchinson, Job Truby, George Smith, John Mechling, William G. Watson, Joseph Clark, Hamilton Kelly, George B. Sloan, Jonathan Myers, Robert M. Kirkadden, George W. Cook (appointed vice Kirkadden, deceased), David J. Reed, Alexander J. Montgomery, John B. Boyd, George A. Williams, James G. Henry, James H. Chambers, Alexander Montgomery, William W. Fiscus, George W. McNees, S. F. Booher, James S. Gallaher, W. C. Bailey, Erwin E. Cochran, Chambers Frick, Thomas J. Shaner.

COUNTY SURVEYORS

James Stewart, Robert S. Slaymaker, John Steele, Robert H. Wilson, Thomas W. Williams, Wade H. Mast.

In addition to the above, the following citizens of Armstrong county have held positions in the public service of Pennsylvania: A. D. Glenn, deputy superintendent of public education; F. C. Beecher, examiner of statements in the insurance department; Frank W.

The number of residents of Armstrong county who fought in the Revolutionary war and against the Indians was probably large, but there is no method of ascertaining their Below will be exact names and location. found the names of the applicants for annuities from the State between 1812 and 1844, as veterans of the wars or widows of veterans.

George Buyers, Eve Daugherty, widow of Patrick; William McConnell, John Vasey, Henry Zerfoss, William Harbison, William Guthrie, Elizabeth Sloan, widow of James; John Lemon, Mary Lemmonton, widow of Timothy; John Davis, William Stitt, Massey Harbison, widow of John; Abraham Fiscus, John Smith, Elizabeth Guthrie, widow of William; Daniel Yount, Mary McKee, John Brown, John Fulton, John Hawk, Church