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Newsletter of the Town of Porter Historical Society
Vol. 22, No. 1, September, 1998
Vee L. Housman, Editor
Rev. Jacob G. Denny of Ransomville will be our speaker. Several years ago he came into possession of a series of old letters written to a girl in Easton, PA, during the Civil War. The letters were written by her brother and by a friend of hers, both of whom were soldiers in the war. Rev. Denny will share the contents of the letters with us and describe how the girl and her family might have felt when reading of their experiences on the battlefield.
Do you know anyone who isn't a member? Why not invite them to join us at our September meeting. Rev. Denny will be presenting a fascinating talk and the refreshments are always guaranteed to be delicious. And if you know of anyone who would like to receive a copy of our newsletter or if you would like an extra copy or two for yourself, let Cora Gushee know and she will be glad to oblige. Spread the word that our meetings are thoroughly entertaining. They don't even need to know that they're educational as well! This year promises to be the best yet!
(Towers Corners)
| Pupil's Name | Parent's Names | Age | Approx. Yr. of Birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willie H. Lloyd | Thomas Lloyd | 14 | 1853 |
| Albert E. Lloyd | Thomas Lloyd | 06 | 1861 |
| Kate E. Moag | Samuel Moag | 12 | 1855 |
| Elberteen E. Shippy | Samuel Shippy | 14 | 1853 |
| Florence A. Balcom | Milo Balcom | 14 | 1853 |
| Albert J. Balcom | Milo Balcom | 10 | 1857 |
| Charley Moss | Isaac Moss | 11 | 1856 |
| Marium E. Myers | William Myers | 08 | 1859 |
| Rollie G. Phillips | Thomas Phillips | 06 | 1861 |
| Charley H. Allen | George Allen | 11 | 1856 |
| Walter W. Allen | George Allen | 09 | 1858 |
| Arthur Canfield | James Canfield | 07 | 1860 |
| John Mendham | Robert Mendham | 11 | 1856 |
| Willie Mendham | Robert Mendham | 09 | 1858 |
| Julias M. Ripson | William Ripson | 13 | 1954 |
| Lillie B. Cowan | Peter Tower | 06 | 1861 |
| Bessie E. Cowan | Peter Tower | 05 | 1862 |
| Albert Jillson | Loren Balcom | 08 | 1859 |
| Sanders Readers | Morses Geography | Adams Arithmetic |
| Sanders Spelling | Mitchels Geography | Smiths Arithmetic |
| Browns Grammar | Smiths Astronomy | Days Algebra |
| Preston on Bookkeeping | Colburns Mental Arithmetic |
| Size of | Size of | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | Year | Class | Teacher | Year | Class |
| Warren Bristol | May 1842 | 46 | W. Edward Knowles | Nov 1849 | 55 |
| Warren Bristol | Oct 1843 | 41 | William Cay T. Barrett | Nov 1851 | ?? |
| Mary Chubbuck | May 1843 | 57 | Mary Quade | May 1852 | 48 |
| Douglas Eaton | May 1843 | 62 | Mary E. Eaton | Nov 1852 | 45 |
| Lucinda McArthur | Apr 1844 | 64 | N. J. Robinson | Nov 1853 | 38 |
| Stephen H. Baker | Nov 1844 | 53 | Amanda Harris | Nov 1855 | 39 |
| Mary Chubbuck | May 1845 | 65 | Mary B. Bloodgood | Dec 1856 | 32 |
| Dorothy Moag | Sep 1845 | 40 | Mary Parks | May 1857 | 32 |
| Almond Comstock | Nov 1845 | 60 | D. W. Eaton | Dec 1857 | 41 |
| Susan Johnson | May 1846 | 39 | Fanny E. Moss | May 1858 | 32 |
| Sarah Johnson | May 1846 | 39 | Henry S. Knapp | Dec 1858 | 38 |
| Fatima Quade | Nov 1846 | 36 | Mary Parks | Apr 1859 | 40 |
| Mary R. Brighton | May 1847 | 33 | E. H. Campbell | Nov 1859 | 40 |
| Hannibal Gaskill | Nov 1847 | 31 | Ann Quade | May 1860 | 40 |
| Mary A. Brighton | May 1848 | 39 | Clara N. Higbee | Nov 1860 | 39 |
| Adelia H. Cobb | Nov 1848 | 50 | Emma E. McCollough | May 1861 | 34 |
| Hannah Whitfield | Apr 1849 | 39 |
YOUNGSTOWN: We are indebted to the Youngstown News of the 9th for
several interesting items:
Miss Sarah Swain has accepted a position to teach school at Great
Falls, Montana, and left last week for that place.
Miss Carrie Barton has returned to her position in the Nebraska
University, after a two weeks visit with her relatives and friends
here.
Youngstown Union School Opens With Increase In Attendance Over Last Year; More Rooms Needed; Professor A. E. Barnes, of Clyde, NY, is Principal; More Expected to Register After First Fruit Picking Is Finished; Use Temporary Room.
The Misses Marian Lutts and Sara Smithson left Tuesday for
Brockport, NY, where they entered the Normal school.
Miss Henrietta Wills left Monday for Pennsylvania where she has
accepted a position as teacher of Domestic Art.
Miss Margaret Tower left last week for Geneva where she will teach
during the present school year.
Miss Helen Root and Mrs. Jessie Girling returned Tuesday to their
duties as teachers in the Lewiston school.
Miss Caroline Bullock, Harriet Hill and Edith Robertson returned
Tuesday to Niagara Falls where they will resume their duties as
teachers.
PRIVIES--The trustee or trustees in the several school districts shall provide suitable and convenient water-closets or privies for each of the schools under their charge, at least, two in number, which shall be entirely separated each from the other, and having separate means of access, and the approaches thereto shall be separated by a substantial close fence not less than seven feet in height. It shall be the duty of the trustee or trustees aforesaid to keep the same in a clean and wholesome condition. . . .
MURDER AT YOUNGSTOWN
- A horrible murder was committed near the village of Youngstown, in
this county, last Monday. Patrick Donovan, an aged and hitherto
respected resident of that vicinity, made a murderous assault upon his
wife and one of his daughters, cutting both terribly with an axe.
Mrs. Donovan subsequently died of her injuries. The daughter, Maggie,
about eighteen years of age, will, it is hoped, recover.
After committing the terrible assault Donovan ran to the lake and
jumped in the water. He was pursued by the neighbors, and voluntarily
came out of the lake and delivered himself up, saying that he had
intended to commit suicide, but had concluded that such an act would
be wrong and hence he changed his mind. The wretched man was taken to
Lockport and safely lodged in jail.
Donovan claims that his wife and one of his sons have been trying to
poison him. There is no doubt that the murder was unprovoked and
cruel to the last degree. It is claimed that the man is insane.
About a year ago, it is said, while Donovan was digging a grave in the
cemetery he was over come with the heat, and since that time has been
mentally unsound. He was taken to Buffalo hospital, and had recovered
to such a degree that further restraint was not regarded as necessary,
and he had been with his family for some time.
Donovan moved to Youngstown from Ohio thirty-five years ago [1841] and
has during the greater part of his residence there worked as foreman
on the works at Fort Niagara. His family consisted of himself and
wife, three daughters and three sons. The children were so advanced
in years as to be able to care for themselves. They moved in good
society, and were known only to be respected. One of the sons,
Edmund, has taught school in the village. The two older sons, John
and Cornelius, are contractors and have been working in the State of
Michigan during the present season. The daughters have remained at
home.
A coroner's inquest was held on the body of the murdered woman,
Saturday, by Justice Warren Jackman. The jury returned a verdict that
the deceased came to her death at the hands of Patrick Donovan, her
husband, while laboring under a temporary fit of insanity.
[Editor's Note: Patrick's wife, Julia Donovan, was buried in
the Catholic Cemetery on Oak Street. Her tombstone shows that she was
born April 1818 and died Sept. 21, 1876. Patrick is also buried
there. He was born March 16, 1812, and died March 3, 1900. He lived
to be 88 years old. Daughter Margaret recovered from her injuries and
by 1880 she had become a 24-year-old school teacher who was living
with her sister, Mary Donovan, in Youngstown.]
Contributed by Vee L. Housman, courtesy of Town of Porter Historical Society.
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