HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 9
PAOLI TOWN SCHOOLS
The first school in the town of Paoli was taught about the year 1817, by James Stores. The house was built for a dwelling, and was fitted up for school in true primitive style. Mr. Stores taught but one term, and and was succeeded by Joseph Athon. Not much concerning these schools has been learned. The Braxtans, Lindleys and Campbells were here and probably attended, but of those who were pupils then all are gone to that land over and beyond "the river." About 1829 Benoni Jackson opened a select school in his dwelling-house in the east part of town. This school was continued several years. Mr. Jackson was a good teacher, and was liberally patronized by the people of the town. The Braxtans, McVeys, Campbells, Merrits and Hoggatts were among his patrons. About the year 1832 Mrs. A. M. Collins taught a school in a frame house east of the southeast corner of the public square. The Braxtans, Wellses and Merrits were pupils. Robert Higgins, of Orangeville, attended this school. Later than this, Col. John Murray taught in the Hoggatt property in the east part of town. He was succeeded by James Brooks, and he by Bartlet Coffin. The patrons of this school were the McVeys, Towels, Browns, Hoggatts, Braxtans and Hazlewoods. B. R. Harrison taught here in 1844 and 1843. About the years 1841 and 1842, Col. Murray taught in the White property in the west part of town. At Christmas time he gave his pupils a "treat" of cider and apples. Dr. Green Hazlewood, of Chambersburg, attended the school. The school history of the town of Paoli is nearly all included in the history of the seminary.
THE COUNTY SEMINARY
The idea of a county seminary originated with the Constitution of 1816, which provided that all fines assessed for any breach of the penal laws, and all money paid as an equivalent by persons exempt from military duty, except in time of war, should be applied to the support of county seminaries in the counties wherein they were assessed. This money was held in trust by a Seminary Trustee, appointed at first by the Governor of the State, and afterward by the Boards of County Commissioners, and later elected by the people at a general election. Thomas Coffin, John Pinnick and Thomas Chapman, in the order named, served as Trustees of Seminary Fund in Orange County. The following act incorporated the seminary.
AN ACT INCORPORATING A SEMINARY IN THE COUNTY OF GIBSON AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, APPROVED JANUARY 21, 1826.
SECTION 8. The County seminary for the County of Orange is hereby established at the town of Paoli, the seat of justice of said county, and it is hereby made the duty of the President and Associate Judges of the Circuit Court of said county at the first term of said court, after the passage of this act, to appoint five good and lawful freeholders, residents of said county, as Trustees of said seminary, whose duty it shall be to take an oath or affirmation that they will well and truly discharge the duties assigned them as aforesaid for the term of one year from and after their appointment, and until their successors are appointed and qualified in the manner prescribed in the foregoing provisions of this act; and the Trustees of the Orange County Seminary Fund is hereby required to pay over all moneys that are or may come into his hands for the use of said seminary to the Trustees of said seminary, or their order, when called on for that purpose; the Judges and Trustees of said county shall be governed in all other respects by the provisions of the foregoing sections of this act, except that nothing in this act contained shall be so construed as to abolish the office of Seminary Trustee in the said county of Orange. This act to take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
The Trustees appointed under this act, were Lewis Byrum, John Scantlin, John G. Clendenin, Andrew Wilson and Joseph Potts. This Board, after being organized as required by law, proceeded to procure a site for the proposed building. Lot No. 50 was purchased from William Hendricks for $40; a part of Lot No. 57, from Orange County, for $24, and a part of Lot No. 51 from William Spooner donated for the encouragement of education. The seminary building was erected during the summer of 1827. Henderson and Holt were the contractors who built it. We have not been able to learn the contract price or cost of the building, nor have we been able to obtain the date when the first school was opened here, but it was probably late in 1827, or early in 1828.THE SEMINARY TEACHERS
Joseph Athon, who had previously been teaching in town, was the first teacher in the seminary. He taught but a short time and was succeeded by David Adams, who taught here during 1828-29. The patrons at this time were the Braxtans, Campbells, Scantlins, Clendenins, Doughertys, Lindleys and Spooners. Birney taught about 1830. He was succeeded by a man named Sisson. About this time Henry M. Kennedy taught for short time. T. B. Kinder had charge of the school during 1833. He was a fine teacher of penmanship. Samuel T. Lindley was a pupil this year. Rev. William Martin taught a term in the seminary about this time. Mr. Martin was a good man and well-beloved by all who knew him, but he evidently did not understand all the ways of thoughtless boys, as he could not succeed in maintaining discipline in school. During his term Thomas. N. Braxtan and John G. Clendenin, Jr., having committed some offense in school, in order to evade punishment jumped out of the window and ran away to the top of the hill north of town; here they climbed a beech tree and rested in fancied security. But Mr. Martin was not to be outdone this time. He followed them and having brought them down, proceeded to administer a whipping there, lest his anger might cool while returning to the schoolhouse. That tree is still standing, and Mr. Braxtan declares that he would not have it destroyed for $500. During the summer of 1835, a feeling was worked up favorable to increasing the efficiency of the County Seminary. A. J. Simpson, Thomas Coffin, Hiram Braxtan and David Adams, having been appointed Seminary Trustees, resolved to raise the standard of the institution to that of other seminaries in the State. They accordingly gave notice that "a teacher who can come well recommended as to moral character, and who is well qualified to teach the Greek and Latin languages, together with Mathematics and English language," would be employed to take charge of County Seminary. As a result of this notice, Mr. James A. Watson, a learned and scholarly man, was employed. He opened school the second Monday in October, 1835. Mr. Watson was a good teacher and conducted the school in a very satisfactory manner. He remained here until about 1838, and was then succeeded by Samuel Newel. The latter was also a successful teacher. At the close of his school the pupils produced the play of "William Tell and the Tyrant Gesler." Thomas Coffin as Tell shot the apple off of John G. Clendenin’s head, who personated Albert. T. N. Braxtan played the part of a soldier. About this time Mrs. L. Green had charge of the female department of County Seminary, and later Mrs. Meur taught the same department. Lawyer Thixton became principal teacher of the seminary about 1839, and James Brooks assistant. Thomas Hunt attended one term this year. About this time Mr. Keller was Principal of the seminary. The Legislative mind was never very clear as to the proper manner of electing Seminary Trustees. First they were appointed by the Judges or the Circuit Court; next elected by the people, and afteward appointed by the Board of Commissioners; and in 1841 changed back to an election by the people.