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the very hairs of his head with the ardor of his temperament and the fervor of his love to God and man. Full of enthusiasm himself, in the teacher's chair as well as in the pulpit, he was able to inspire his pupils with genuine enthusiasm in their studies."
"His brother, his son and his brother-in-law, who succeeded him one after another in his work, all enjoyed better advantages of education, but to him belongs the honor of having originated, and originated well, the series of classical schools which have proved such an ornament and blessing to his native town. It was under Mr. Preston Richardson, brother of Lyman, that I obtained my immediate and final preparation to enter the junior class in college. His school was then wholly a private personal affair, and was kept in a small, simply but suitably furnished chamber, or attic, in the house of his father, the old Richardson house. That was the germ of Franklin Academy and Harford University. Preston Richardson was the gentlest and loveliest of men, as unpretending as he was unselfish and un-ambitious; but a most faithful and devoted teacher, and a Christian, whose simple, child-like faith blossomed and bore fruit in a life of rare purity and beauty. I always think of him as beyond any man of my early acquaintance, resembling the Apostle John."
Up to the year 1855 some fourteen hundred students enrolled at Harford Academy, and nearly every one of them carried away with them feelings of regard for the Richardsons similar to those expressed above. No family that ever lived in Northern Pennsylvania ever did more for the cause of education, sound morality and the pure principles of Christianity than the Richardsons.
The "Nine Partners", and the other pioneers that followed them, appreciated the value of an education and early established schools for the education of their children. The women, especially, appear to have been cultivated Christian ladies. The first school that Professor Tyler remembers was one taught by Mr. Herrick, in Joab Tyler's house. The early teachers mentioned by him are Miss Sarah Fisher and Mary Kingsbury, who taught in the old meeting house, "She seemed to be the living embodiment of wisdom and goodness," Nancy Sweet, Sara Thacher, Polly Carpenter, Williston and Samuel E. Kingsbury. Rev. David Torrey mentions a letter received from Harford written, in 1819, to a young gentlemen, which says "the girls are all teaching." The nine girls mentioned were Nancy Tyler, Philena Thacher, Polly, Betsey, Nancy and Sally Carpenter, and Sally Kingsbury (afterwards Mrs. Lyman Richardson), Eliza Thacher and Mary Kingsbury (afterwards Mrs. Jabez Tyler), and they were teaching at Ararat, Clifford, Great Bend, Lawsville, Waterford, and so on. "This was the kind of work that Harford was doing in those early days; this the enterprising activity of its educated young women." Mrs. Aaron Greenwood and Mrs. Kingsbury, wife of Rev. E. Kingsbury, were cultivated ladies of influence, who helped to introduce into Harford the culture, the refinement and piety which was characteristic of Harford, even in its pioneer days. The Harford families have furnished scores of good school teachers. There are eleven schools, including the graded school in the village, in Harford township; Tiffany or Carpenter District, Richardson Mills, Sweet, Very, Read, East Hill, Harding's, Podunk, Tingley's, Oakley's. The graded school has two rooms and three teachers, a principal, assistant and primary teacher, and ten grades. Wallace L. Thacher furnishes the following list of school teachers from 1800 to 1820: Harriet Wadsworth, Aaron Greenwood, Amasa Herrick, Mary Kingsbury, Stephen Worth, ----- Cole, Joshua K. Adams, Alcamena Case, Ely Kingsbury, Daniel Seaver (Samuel and Eliza Thacher, but not in Harford:, Philena Thacher, Coy Richardson, Peter Thacher, Simeon Tucker, Miss Hawley. Harford had a good academy and good private schools, and did not look with great favor upon the public school system at first. . As late as 1863 the people of Harford had paid but little attention to the common school system of the State, until the old school houses that had been built by the different neighborhoods became very much dilapidated. The more progressive part of the community began to see that something must be done; then began the political fight between high and low tax, which finally culminated in the election of a high tax board of directors. In 1866 John Blanding, Henry W. Jones, Penuel Carpenter, David L. Hine, Elias Carpenter and Gardner Babcock constituted the board of directors, and they decided to build a graded school building at Harford, which they did at a cost of two thousand three hundred and fifty dollars. M. B. Helme, who was afterwards sheriff of the county, was the carpenter. The School Board has not always been harmonious in its councils, but since 1865, when the new departure was taken, eleven new school houses have been built, giving the township a school property worth in the aggregate about ten thousand dollars. The higher department of the graded school is intended for the advanced pupils throughout the township, and the plan works well. Professor H. S. Sweet was the first principal, assisted by Emma Blanding and Sophronia Farrar. The following persons have been principals: E. S. P. Hine, four terms; Henry C. Barret, Miss Sarah Jones, two years; Henry L. Griffis, W. W. Fletcher, D. J. Peck, W. L. Thacher, Agnes Thacher, Etta Hine and Sadie Tingley were assistants a number of years. Berton E. Smith was principal two years, and W. B. Miller in 1887. Mary Brown, Alice Farrar, Kate Quinlan and Arta Sweet, Assistants.
Agreeable to notice, on the 21st day of October, 1858, a number of the public spirited people of Harford assembled in the school house in the village of Harford for the purpose of considering the propriety of forming an agricultural
society. Arta Sweet was elected chairman and P. Carpenter, secretary. After considering the subject, the following committee was appointed by the chairman to draft a constitution and by-laws for the organization: A. Carpenter, Fowler Peck, L. R. Peck, M. Oakley, D. E. Whitney, P. Carpenter, J. Blanding and W. C. Tiffany. The meeting then adjourned to October 25th, when the constitution and by-laws were reported and adopted, of which a portion is given, viz: "This society shall be known as the Harford Agricultural and Mechanical Association. The object of this society shall be to promote and encourage the best interests of agricultural and mechanical arts. Any person may become a member by subscribing to this constitution and paying the sum of fifty cents, said sum to be paid annually, the which shall admit to the fair the family of said member. The funds received by the treasurer shall be appropriated to the payment of the contingent expenses and of premiums, but no premiums, except discretionary premiums, shall be awarded to any person not a member of the said society. The society shall hold an annual fair at such time and place as shall be fixed by the executive committee, and it shall be the duty of the said committee to make all necessary arrangements for holding fairs. No money shall be paid out by the treasurer, except on orders drawn by the executive committee."
The charter members of the Harford Agricultural Society were: Asa Hammond, S. B. Guile, Fowler Peck, Amasa Chase, Austin Dannon, George A. Lindsey, E. C. Peck, G. M. Carpenter, A. L. Forsyth, J. Clark, P. Carpenter, J. Blanding, A. Carpenter, J. W. Watson, E. T. Tiffany, J. W. Tyler, B. F. Eaton, Wm. C. Tiffany, W. T. Moxley, Stephen Sweet, John Williams, E. N. Carpenter, Orlando Watrous, C. S. Tanner, F. W. Richardson, Hoyt Wilcox, C. Tiffany, A. Reade Jr., Harvey Kingsbury, Ira Carpenter, L. R. Peck, George Leach, C. H. Miller, A. B. Tucker, Shepherd Carpenter, Geo. I. Tingley, Marshall H. Blanding, Willard W. Wilmarth, P. V. Dunn, Alanson Aldrich, Coe Wells, John A. Smyth, Millbourn Oakley, S. E. Carpenter, Joel G. Hotchkiss, John Leslie, H.G. Blanding, Merit Seley, H. J. Tyler, D. E. Whitney, D. T. Roe, Tingley Tiffany, Theron Palmer, H. Marcy, D. L. Hine, Jos. Powers Jr., A. J. Adams, N. G. Brainard, Alonzo Abel, A. M. Tiffany, G. J. Babcock, S. C. Halstead, O. Payne Jr., H. Sibley, C . L. Seley, Dexter Sibley, Dalton Tiffany, William Brundage, A.G. Barnard, Jos. Moore, H. M. Jones, A. W. Greenwood, R. L. Tingley, E. J. Tyler, Walter Graham, J. D. Richardson.
The first fair was held on the grounds of the Congregational Church Society on November 9 1858, at which there was a fine exhibition of stock, vegetables, etc. At this fair there was one class for horses, colts, and mules; there were three classes for cattle. In the first class were offered premiums for the best bull, best milch cow and best heifer; class 2nd, best pair work oxen, best pair three year old steers, and best pair two year old steers; class 3rd, best lot yearlings, not less than four head, the best lot calves, not less than four head. Premiums on sheep were for best buck and best lot of ewes. The first officers of the society were John Blanding, president; Millbourn Oakley, vice president; Tingley Tiffany, treasurer; A. B. Tucker secretary; L. R. Peck, Fowler Peck, D. E. Whitney, executive committee. The first annual meeting was held January 10 1859. The treasurer reported fifty cents in the treasury. The officers elected for the ensuing year were; A. Carpenter, president; A. Hammond, vice president; E. T. Tiffany, secretary; P. Carpenter, treasurer; S. E. Carpenter, J. Leslie, H. Marcy, executive committee; after which were added D. L. Hine and Coe Wells. The second annual fair was held October 13 1859, with the premium list considerably extended. The annual meeting of 1860 was held January 9th, when the treasurer reported twenty-four dollars and sixty nine cents on hand. During the year 1860 the society procured and fenced ground of N W. Waldron, directly back of the present site of the hotel, and the next fair was held on this ground. The necessary buildings for their use were erected with funds procured by subscription among our people. In the report of their annual meeting of 1863 is the first we find of any officer receiving pay for services, when it was ordered that the secretary be paid five dollars per year. At this time it was ordered that the society be known as the Harford Agricultural Society.
In 1868 there was $770.52 in the treasury. During this year the society moved their buildings to the ground which it now occupies. For this purpose there were orders drawn on the treasurer for $1020, the amount of the deficit being borrowed for the purpose of paying these orders. The great expense of moving buildings and fitting up the new ground was relieved very much by the liberal action of the farmers in giving labor and lumber. This work was done under the supervision of I. H. Parrish, D. L. Hine and P. Carpenter. The eleventh annual fair was held on the new ground, October 7 and 8, 1868. February 1 1869, the treasurer reported $8.56 on hand. The executive committee was authorized to borrow money to put the ground in proper condition. February 7 1870, the membership tickets, badges, etc. were done away with, and a single admission of twenty-five cents was charged. February 6 1871, the treasurer reported $24.29 on hand. The executive committee reported that the income of the society was insufficient to meet expenses and that they had borrowed $150 and given their individual notes for the same. At this meeting it was resolved that the premium on domestic sewing be discontinued. In February, 1873, new constitution and by-laws were adopted, of which Article 5 provides that "it shall be the duty of the executive committee to revise and arrange a premium list, appoint judges, employ police and gate-keepers
and other necessary assistance, advertise for each annual fair, draw all orders on the treasurer, and do any other business not specified in the by-laws. They shall receive as compensation for the above service each $6.00 annually. The above article has never been altered or amended. There are two auditors elected each year. All accounts are examined and nothing is accepted by the society until certified by the auditors as correct. The treasurer is required to give bonds to the executive committee for the faithful performance of his duties. In 1875 the salary of the secretary was made $20, since which time it was fixed at $40 a year. In 1879, we find a report of $803.38 on hand. During the summer the floral hall now in use was erected, fence renewed, well dug, etc., and the expense of these improvements was $803.49. Receipts of the fall fair, $897.04, expenses, $569.50, leaving $328 for another year.
In 1884 we find $946.78 in the treasury, and the executive committee leased two acres of ground, which is fenced in with the original ground. They built a large addition to mechanics hall, added to the dinning room, and erected a secretary's office, with baggage room connected, for the care of all kinds of parcels, which may be left in his care for a small compensation, after which the society consider themselves responsible for the same until called for by the holders of duplicate checks. In 1885 their receipts were larger than ever before, the total receipts being $1579.30; paid premiums, $678.50; other expenses, $578.61, leaving on hand, February 1 1886, $1108.77. A portion of this money is being used this year in erecting new stands, painting buildings, fencing two and one-half acres more ground, which has been leased this year, digging another well, etc. The society has been very fortunate in securing the services of their executive officers. In the twenty-eight years of its existence there has never been a hint of any dishonesty. The society has never been incorporated, and custom allows all over twenty-one years old to vote in our annual meetings. . Of the twenty-eight fairs held there has been but two adjourned on account of bad weather. Only one office vacancy has occurred by death. There were seventy-six charter members, and of these, forty are still living.
The Harford Agricultural Society has been successful from the beginning, and the interest has increased from year to year until all the surrounding townships have become interested, making their annual fairs the best in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Its success is due to the honesty and fairness with which its business has been conducted, the liberal and democratic spirit that has been shown in distributing the offices, and the intelligence of its managers. And further, it is purely a farmers fair, without attendant horse racing, gambling, and drinking.
Harford Cemetery: All the record or data which can be found in regard to the title and first occupancy off the old or original grave yard are found in a manuscript history of the township written by Deacon Caleb Richardson in 1837 as follows: "In the year 1803, December 6th, Mr. Drinker, by his deed of that date, gave one acre of ground for the use of the families residing within three miles of that ground. Hosea Tiffany and Amos Tiffany, by their deed dated September 24 1824, annexed seventy-five perches on the northeast side of the lot." The first burial in the yard was Polly Follet, an infant daughter of Robert Follet, born December 8th, died December 25, 1796. The first adult buried there was Dr. Comfort Capron, in 1800, aged fifty six.
In the fall of 1868, a movement was made by the citizens of Harford to enlarge the grounds, as nearly every lot of the old yard was occupied by 1 or more graves. In October, at a meeting of those interested, measures were taken to procure a charter of incorporation for the society, to be called "The Cemetery Society of Harford" Amherst Carpenter, E. T. Tiffany, W. B. Guile, J. C. Edwards, H. M. Jones and John Blanding were elected Trustees. Application for a charter was made in November and granted in February, 1869. The charter provides for the annual election of two trustees to serve for three years, making a board of six trustees, who have power to elect a president, secretary and treasurer from among their number, to purchase additional ground when necessary, sell lots, make repairs and generally to control the affairs of the association. S. B. Guile, who owns the land adjoining agreed to sell all the land they wanted for two hundred dollars per acre. Under this agreement two acres had been purchased and surveyed into two hundred lots. Colonel A. Carpenter, who was sexton for twenty three years, and knew where everyone was buried, went over the yard with E. T. Tiffany and they numbered the lots and made a map of the grounds. Roads have been laid out, and in some cases the lots are enclosed by evergreen hedges. The first head markers were native stone, which are more durable than marble and granite. The "City of the Dead" is already three times as populous as the little hamlet in which it is located. Here "the rude forefathers
of the hamlet sleep": HOSEA TIFFANY, ROBERT FOLLET, CALEB RICHARDSON, SAMUEL THACHER, JOHN CARPENTER, of the Nine Partners are buried here. DANIEL AND JOSIAH CARPENTER died in Massachusetts, and MOSES THACHER in Ohio, at the residence of John Seymour. EZEKIEL TITUS, the last of the Nine Partners, died in 1846, in the eighty-second year of his age, and was buried in this cemetery.
Others of the early settlers died as follows: Obadiah Carpenter in 1810, aged sixty eight years; Asa Very in 1829, aged fifty three; Nathaniel Jeffers in 1833, aged seventy one; Thomas Tiffany in 1835, aged seventy eight; Abel Rice in 1837, aged seventy seven; William Coonrod in 1837, aged eighty four; Obadiah Thacher in 1838, aged eighty; Elkanah Tingley in 1838, aged seventy eight; Aaron Greenwood in 1845, aged sixty four; Rufus Kingsley in 1846, aged eighty four; and his wife, aged seventy nine; Samuel Guile in 1847, aged sixty five; Abel Read in 1857, aged eighty nine; Amos Tiffany in 1857, aged seventy two; Eliab Farrar in 1858, aged eighty five; Jemima, his wife, in 1874, aged ninety one; Austin Jones in 1861, aged seventy three; Asaph Fuller in 1868, aged ninety two.
Rev. Ebenezer Kingsbury and Rev. Adam Miller sleep with the people they labored among so faithfully. Rev. Lyman Richardson also sleeps with his fathers, with the appropriate epitaph, "He lived for others." Among other later ones are James Wilson, aged eighty three; John Graham, aged eighty four; Isabella Graham, aged ninety one; Joseph Peck aged eighty six; Daniel Parish, aged seventy; John Kingsbury, aged seventy six; Samuel Seymour, aged seventy six; Polly, his wife, aged eighty four; Jotham Oakley, aged seventy; John Gilbert, in 1869, aged eighty one; Leonard Titus, died 1870, aged eighty three; Ira Stearns, aged seventy nine. 1871.---Mrs. Samuel Guile, aged eighty seven; Captain Asahel Sweet, aged ninety four; John Stewart, aged eighty nine. 1872.---Mrs. Peter Thatcher, aged eighty eight. 1873.---Augusta Sophia, aged seventy three; Alanson Aldrich, aged sixty six; Orime Seley, aged eighty two; Jacob Clark, aged seventy six. 1874.---Amos J. Rice, aged eighty-two; Henry Cross, aged eighty-eight; Daniel Oakley, aged seventy six. 1875---A. Carpenter, aged seventy three; Robert Alexander, aged eighty two. 1876---Joshua K. Adams, aged eighty five. 1877---Rev. E. Allen, aged eighty five; Amherst Carpenter, aged seventy eight; Mrs. Ousterhout, aged seventy six; Ira Carpenter, aged seventy seven. 1878---Joseph Shannon, aged eighty five; Thomas Frear, aged eighty eight. 1879---Mrs. M. Tingley, aged ninety nine; Mrs. Dixon, aged ninety four. 1880---Richard Richardson, aged eighty one; Mrs. Henry Cross aged eighty seven. 1881---C. C. Richardson, aged eighty six; Mrs. Susan Taylor, aged one hundred and two; Mrs. Abram Taft, aged eighty four; Warton Williams, aged seventy eight; Mrs. Emeline Thatcher, aged ninety; Rev. A. Miller, aged seventy five. 1882---Mrs. Whitney, aged eighty five; Mrs. Fanny Loomis, aged ninety one; Onley Thacher, aged eighty three; Saxa Seymour, aged eighty nine; John Blanding, aged seventy four; Peter Williams, aged eighty two; Mrs. Onley Thacher, aged seventy nine; Tyler Carpenter, aged eighty. 1883---Dr. J. B. Streeter, aged ninety six; Rebecca Thacher, aged eighty seven; Mrs. Christian Younger, aged seventy five; Mrs. Sarah Richardson, aged eighty two; Mrs. Lucy B. Tingley, aged eighty three; Millbourn Oakley, aged eighty one; John Kingsley, aged eighty eight. 1884---Walter Follet, aged eighty eight; Andrew Van Buskirk, aged seventy; John Gow, aged eighty six. 1885---William Gow, aged sixty five; Tyler Brewster, aged sixty nine; Ira H. Parrish, aged seventy. 1886---Mrs. Ira Stearns, aged ninety; J. C. Edwards, aged sixty two; Mrs. C. S. Tanner, aged eighty three; Mrs. Louisa T. Allen, aged seventy eight; Harvey Sibley, aged eighty nine; Elkanah T. Follett, aged eighty; Mrs. Jeremiah Rogers, aged seventy seven, Zerah Very, aged eighty one. Since 1869 there has been about sixteen burials on an average, varying from eight burials in 1885 to thirty two in 1881. The advanced ages of so many that were buried during that time will not escape the notice of the careful reader.
There are three other burial places in the township.
THE PECK OR UNIVERSALIST BURIAL GROUND is a mile or more south of the village, located on the land of Freeman Peck, on a sharp rolling ridge. It consists of about one half of an acre walled in with beautiful balsams along the wall in front and up the slope that faces the road. Some of the Pecks, Walter Wilmarth, Asahel Carpenter and a few others are buried there.
THE HARDING OR POWERS BURIAL GROUND is located in South Harford. The first adult buried there was Thomas Harding, about 1809. The Hardings, Brundages and many others are buried there. Some of the graves are unmarked save by a head or footstone and unknown. Joseph Powers has recently surveyed one hundred and four rods of land and enclosed for burial purposes. This includes the old yard with additional ground, which is under the control of Joseph Bowers.
THE WILMARTH BURIAL GROUND is located on lands given by Sewell and Perry Wilmarth in West Harford. The Wilmarths and others have buried here.
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