Henry Hocker Seltzer, Pennsylvania Dutch Teacher, Civil Servant, and Physician - Memories of 1856-1915 E-Book

Henry Hocker Seltzer

• Herausgeber: Seltzer Books
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 120

Beschreibung

This is my great-grandfather's autobiography. He grew up on a farm near Belle Grove, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Dutch was spoken in the home. English was his second language, putting him at a disadvantage when he went to school, but he became very bookish, proud of his educational accomplishments. For 10 years, he taught in one-room schoolhouses in Pennsyvanian Dutch farm country. At times, he handled, alone, as many as 65 students ranging in age from 5 to 21, and for a wage of $33/month. He had to deal with the vagaries of rural schools, with behavior problems and parents who had little respect for book learning, and arbitrary decisions of county-level school administartion. During corn-husking sometimes only 3-5 students would show up. He traveled by train to Kansas in 1878, and almost settled there. Later, le got a civil service bookkeeping job with the US Treasury Dept and wrote a bookkeeping text book for farmers. And, at the age of 40, he got an M.D. degree from what later became George Washington University.

Leseprobe

Henry Hocker Seltzer, Pennsylvania Dutch Teacher, Civil Servant, and Physician - Memories of 1856-1915

WASHINGTON, D. C.

1915

To my beloved. Sons,

Charles William,

Edgar Arnold,

Warren Ray, (not horn at time of writing),

I dedicate these reminiscences of my childhood., youth and manhood,

Washington, D. C,

June 30, 1888

Henry Hocker Seltzer, March 14, 1910

 Henry Hocker Seltzer, 1922

Preface

Part First, 1856-1888

Ancestry

Childhood

Early Years at School, 1861--5

Recollections of the War of Rebellion

School Years 1865--7

Three Years a Tanner’s Boy, 1867-70

School Years 1867-70

Two Years in Dauphin County, Mar. 1870 to Mar. 1872

School Years 1870-2, and in My Native Country Again

Attending A Graded School, 1872.

School Year, 1873.

First Term at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa. Mar. 23, 1874

Examination for a Teacher’s Certificate and Applicant for a School, 1874

Second term at L. V. College, October 5, 1874.

Last Term in Common School, 1875

First Term at Teaching, March to June 1875

First Winter Term, 1875-1876

Business Course at Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. April to July, 1876

Winter Term, 1876-1877

Spring Term, 1877

Winter Term, 1877-1878

Housekeeping and Spring Term, 1878

Winter Term, 1878-9.

Trip to Kansas, 1879

Winter Term, 1879-1880

Winter Term, 1880-1881

Trip to Illinois, 1881

Winter Term, 1881-1882

Winter Term, 1882-1883

Spring of 1884

Clerkship in Treasury Department, Washington, D, C. Sept., 18, 1884

Events of 1885

Events of 1886

Events of 1887

Events of 1888 (in part)

Religious Training and Views

Part Second, 1889-1915

GENEALOGY

PATERNAL ANCESTRY

MATERNAL ANCESTRY

Preface

Of the following these peculiarities will he noticed:

Numerals written in figures instead of words,

Capital letters incorrectly used.

The train of thought often broken abruptly.

Some common-place expressions,

The sense sometimes not elegantly, but I trust always clearly, expressed,

As an apology for the above I can only say that I was very often interrupted, and had very little time to devote to the matter

Part First, 1856-1888

Ancestry

I, Henry Hooker Seltzer, was torn Aug, 28, 1856, in the village of Belleview (now called Belle Grove) Lebanon Co. Pa. Both, my paternal and maternal great-grandfathers came from Germany in the early part of the 18th century. My paternal grandfather's name was Philip Seltzer, born Pec. 26, 1772. He was married to Maria Uhland, born Aug, 10, 1784. Her mother’s maiden-name was Light. Grandfather Seltzer was a mason by trade.and also cultivated a small farm which he owned.

He died April 19, 1847 and is buried in the Reformed Church Cemetery, at Annville, Pa.

Grandmother Seltzer died Peb. 25, 1860, and is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Belle Grove, Pa. I remember her very well, being about 4 years.old'when she died. I attended her funeral and her death was one of the first sorrows I experienced. Both were consistent members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

My maternal grandfather’s name was Martin Hocker, born Oct. 21, 1768. He lived in Perry Township, Dauphin Co, Pa., where he had several fine farms and kept a Hotel for many years. He was a thrifty farmer and accumulated a considerable fortune. He was Co, Commissioner of Dauphin Co, 1829-32. He was twice married, his second wife's maiden-name being Barbara Smith, born Oct. 6, 1787. He raised a family of 14 children, was highly respected and widely known.

He died April 1862 and is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Hummelstown, Pa. Grandmother Hocker survived him 16 years, dying Mar. 16, 1879, and is buried at the same place. Both were earnest members of the Lutheran Church. I remember them very well. A visit to Grandfather Hooker's was one of the great events of my early boyhood days,

'Both paternal grandparents died of Consumption and both maternal of Paralysis,

My father, Henry Uhland Seltzer, was born June 15, 1824, in North Annville Township Lebanon Co. Pa. My mother Anna Hooker was born May 10, 1827, in Derry Township, Dauphin Co, Pa,

I have been able to get very little information in regards to the early history of our family. The records having been lost or destroyed, and in most cases not carefully recorded, but simply handed down verbally from generation to generation.    *

Childhood

On the twelfth day of Dec. 1850, my father was married at Harrisburg, Pa. by the Rev, Charles A, Hay, Luth. Min. The result of this union was 8 children, of which I am the fourth. One child, James Monroe, died Aug, 6, 1855, aged 11 mos, and 18 days. The rest all arrived at manhood and womanhood. The following is the date of their birth:

John Philip

Nov.

2,

1851

Martin H.

Oct,

27,

1852

James Monroe

Aug.

23,

1854

Henry H.

Aug!,

28,

1856

Lizzie Ellen

July-

10,

1859

Benjamin Franklin

April

 1,

1861

Charles Augustus

Aug.

19,

1864

Levi Harvey

Oct.

27,

1866

Father kept a Hotel and. did a little farming "besides, I remember very little of the incident while living in the Hotel. Father's Hotel had the reputation of being a first-class house in all respects. Both father and mother were tired of Hotel business and in the spring of 1861 moved on a farm of about 50 acres, where we lived for 4 years. My time was very pleasantly spent in spring and summer running about, playing and working a little amd in fall and winter going to school. How the days seemed then, a month almost as long as a year now. My older brothers taught me in all arts of making toys, pictures, and etc,, and took me along on little rambles and excursions through the woods and valleys of the neighborhood. Bro. John being lame was the mechanic and planner of most things, and Bro, Mart being strong and plusky protected us from insult and harm of ugly boys that we might meet,

Early Years at School, 1861--5

In the fall of 1861, at the age of 5, I started out in school, at the Long Lane School House, in North Annville Twp. Lebanon Co, Pa. I am not postive, but think my first teacher was Mr. Adam Light. I remember him as a strict disciplinarian, and he had a fight with some of the larger boys. That school used to bear rather an unsavory reputation for rowdyism. I remember very little of the first doings in school. However I recollect having a "Webster's Elementary Spelling Book", and as I did. not understand’ the English Language, I learned about like a parrot does. It is wonder that we learned anything at all. The scholars all spoke Pennsylvania Dutch and studied English books, and yet they made good progress.

             In the spring of 1862 I attended, a summer school, taught by Miss Annie Bolar, a beautiful and accomplished young lady. She did much to smooth and polish our rough manners. She taught in the Beliview School House.

In the fall of 1862, I went to Long Lane School again and we had Mr. Joseph R. Henry for teacher. He was soon drafted, and left for the army becoming a Captain in the 173 Regt. Pa. Militia. We were all very sorry to see him go, for he was a kind teacher. He was succeeded by Mr . Peter W. Boltz, under whom I made fair progress. In the spring of 1863, I attended a summer school taught by Miss Bolar again, in a small warehouse in Bell Grove. I liked her very much and made good progress.

In the fall of 1863, Mr. Samuel C. Snavely was our teacher. He was rather cross, as we used to say, but a good teacher. I now began to read in the First Reader and was nearly always at the head of of my class. From this time on I began to improve rapidly. Mr. Snavely also taught a summer school in the spring of 1864, which I attended. Father was always a friend of schools and sent his children as much as possible. He was far ahead in literary attainments, of the usual man of his time and certainly showed good sense in thus educating his children. He certainly did his duty in this respect. Next fall, 1864, we had Mr. Snavely again for our teacher. I was now promoted to the Second Reader, and began to cipher a little. I could also write and spell pretty well. I began to understand a good deal more of the English Language and therefore my studies had more interest for me. I am unable to say whether these first four winter terms were 5 or 6 months long. The records of North Annville, for this period are either lost, or destroyed so I could not ascertain for certain. I remember that I was not very fond of school these first yeras, but it was mostly because the teachers were so surly and. hardly ever gave a pupil a kind word, and even if they would, it could have hardly been understood, and therefore it is hard to tell much in regard to the matter.

Recollections of the War of Rebellion

I have some remembrance of Lincoln’s first election to the presidency, and the call for volunteers, especially the call after the first battle of Bull Run, which was quickly responded to by the young men of our town and vicinity. The very air was full of war feeling. The National Flag decorated almost everything - envelopes, letter paper and etc., had flags, cannon, soldiers etc., printed on them, with patriotic sentiments. Every city, town and even mere hamlets, displayed the National Colors to the breeze. Our village had two large flags and now how they used to wave! One was soon torn to shreds by the storm but the other kept on floating until the war was ended. I distinctly remember the soldiers coming home on furloughs, or when mustered out, in their blue uniforms and many of them bringing their muskets, swords etc., along with them. How anxiously the newspapers were looked for by the relatives and friends of the soldiers. Every now and then some father would go to the front and bring home the remains of a beloved and patriotic son. As I remember, at first from our place there were mostly young men volunteering, but later on the draft came and husbands and fathers were called upon to leave their homes for the scene of war. Many were the sleepless nights passed.just before the time before the draft to take place came. Many escaped being drafted for long periods by voiuntarily enlisting for short periods. Nearly all the drafted men tried in every way to he excused, while at later times, long after the war had ended they made big pretentions to patriotism and bleeding for their country, yet the fact remains that they tried their very best to escape the service. There were some notable exceptions however, and some after their service expired voluntarily enlisted for 3 years .

When in the summer of 1863 the Rebels were moving on towards Harrisburg, great consternation fell upon all the people. Store keepers hid their most valuable goods and the people buried their papers, records etc., and valuables in the most secret places. My father put a box-full under the barn and hid his gun in the haymow, instructing us boys not to say anything about them if we should be questioned. The expression "the Rebels are coming" was heard for quite a time and always occasioned great alarm. After the battle of

Gettysburg, everything became brighter, but the following year the scare was renewed when Chambersburg, Pa. was burned.

The discussions in regard to the war were very amusing and sometimes ridiculous, among the plain, simple, people. When a General had won a victory,  he was lauded and no question asked in regard to the circumstances etc., so when unsuccessful, that same General was unmercifully denounced.

Hearing old veterans tell of their exploits, hardship, etc., after coming back was very interesting to me, and I used to beg my father to take me along to the store, which was the general rendezvous of all the farmers, laborers of the neighborhood every evening, and there I would sit for hours and drink in the narratives given.  By the way, a returned soldier was quite a hero and everybody honored him as such.

The copperheads were not very numerous in our County, but such as they were greatly despised. As a rule all those people who were opposed to the war were called Copperheads or Secessionists.

Sometimes a soldier would bring home with him some relics of the war, and we boys would delight to get a bullet, or some trinket. One morning while attending summer school the report circulated that Mr. John G. Mark had come back from the war, so we all went to his father’s house to see him and he gave us some hard-tack to eat, and how sun-burnt he looked. He had been in the Army of the Potomac.

            One great feature was the war songs. You could hear them everywhere. We boys organized a company of which I was a drummer boy,  Bro. John fifer, and Bro. Mart color bearer, and we used to meet every Saturday eve, for quite a time. The war continuing for so long a time, it seemed to lose a great deal of the horrors, and became an old or common affair.

At last the news came that Lee had surrendered and no one can tell what great rejoicing there was. The anxious mothers, wives and children all felt relieved and many fervent thanks were sent to the Father in Heaven for the blessings of peace, It was indeed a terrible time and I hope and trust no more war may ever disturb our land of freedom and right.

My father was actively engaged at home in helping to raise bounties so as to quicken volunteering, thereby preventing it from being subject to the draft. Having a family of six little children I suppose he did not feel justified to leave them to fight for his country. His loyalty and devotion to the Union cause and the administration, however was second to none.

School Years 1865--7

In March 1865 we moved on a farm of about 140 acres three quarters of a mile South, of Belle Grove. Our school was fully a mile distant, known as Shady Grove School, near Kauffman’s Church,