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,

I commenced going the first day. the teacher was Mr. Henry C. Clouser, not a very learned scholar, but a pleasant and kind teacher, rather noted for talking too much in the school-room, I liked him very well for he 'had a happly way of cheering a fellow up and creating an ambition to excel. In this term, I, for the first time began to feel that I was leaving the ranks of small scholars and getting nearer the larger classes, for towards the end of the term I was put in the Third Reader, which was quite an honor for a 9 year old boy. I got a new Greenleaf’s Common-School Arithmetic, and worked in it as far as Long Division, but there I stuck. In summing up my progress for this year 1 can say I made great progress in reading, writing and spelling and ordinary progress in arithmetic.

We had several spelling schools and I attended and took part in them, A public exhibition was also gotten up at the end of the term, but I did not take part. The teacher gave prizes in spelling and I came near getting one. It was one of the pleasantest terms I had and I always remember Mr. Clouser with gratitude for his kindness and earnest efforts in my behalf. I was twice punished by whipping for some mischief I had done, and of course justly deserved it.

In the spring of 1866 I attended a summer school for one month, taught by Miss Annie Ruff, who had been a scholar during the winter term. She was a fine young lady and subsequently married Mr, Clouser, our former teacher.

In the fall of 1866 Mr. Cornelius H. Light taught our school. He had been a schoolmate of mine at Long Lane School and, for the time, was considered an excellent scholar. He had a way of drawing out everything that was in a fellow and I remember how gladly I used to recite. He did not merely stay within the limits of the lesson, or text hooks, but used much new and interesting matter besides. I commenced the study of Geography this term, and used Monteith’s First Lessons, the book I have yet. In Arithmetic I made excellent progress_iworking as far as page 108 in my ’’Greenleaf’’. In fact I made rapid strides in all branches. I ’wrote good compositions for the small command of language I had. The teacher gave me a letter of efficiency, deportment etc., of which the following is a verbatim copy:

Green Grove School,

North Annville, Lebanon Co. Pa.

Mar. 21, 1867,

The scholar Henry H. Seltzer is a boy of true courage and the conduct is number one. I do believe I had no scholar under my control that I had less trouble with than with the named boy. The attendence was good. Progress was exceedingly good. The lessons assigned to the pupil, he was willing to get them properly.

He was present 97 days.

He was absent 33 days.

School opened Sept, 19, 1866.

Closed Mar. 21, 1867.

Teacher

C. H. Light,

"During these two summers I had to work pretty hard. We had good crops and times were brisk, being right after the close of the war money was very plentiful. In Feb. 1867 we had sale of the farm stock, and got ready to move to the new home that father bought. We boys looked forward to these events of sale, moving etc. with a great deal of pleasure. Nearly all the uncles, aunts, cousins, and neighbors would be present on these occasions.

Three Years a Tanner’s Boy, 1867-70

In the fall of 1866 my father bought a Tannery from Mr. Wm. Ault, situated on the New Market Forge about one mile southeast from where we lived. It has since been torn down and the tan-yard converted into a trucking patch. It was quite a novelty at first, but after awhile that wore off, and then the real work was only begun to be felt. It was no steam tannery and all the bark had to be ground with horse power. That bark mill seemed to me to be going forever. Bro. Mart and I took charge of it by turns. We had an old hatchet and had to break up the bark in pieces about the size of a hand. While the mill was going we used to stand alongside cracking that bark over the hopper, the grinding making a dust that seemed unbearable to many, but not at all disagreeable to me. The faster the horse walked, the faster it ground, so we were always anxious to have a horse that stepped briskly. Besides grinding bark there was a good deal of other work to be done that I could do. The leather was very nice to handle after being tanned but the hides hadn’t the sweetest smell possible sometimes, and many people used to turn up their noses as they passed. This was a very romantic place. The forge dam was a wide sheet of water well stocked with fish, and I used to help to fish with a seine and we caught bushels of fish. Sometimes of course there was always a company of six or eight so that all got big shares but not too much for use. My Uncle, John Lessley, used to furnish the seine. Father used to set nets and use them in the spring, fall and winter, so we were always well supplied with fish. Bro. John knit all the nets we used. There was a large hill back of our house on which stood fine cedar trees. We boys used to scour the banks of the dam and adjoining woods in search of nuts etc.

Along with the tannery was about 20 acres of land, but it was very hilly and not very fertile. The best thing I thought then, the hills were good for, was for coasting in winter. How we boys used to ride down on our little sleds!

School Years 1867-70

In the fall when school commenced I could quit grinding bark, for "grinding my brains,” and right glad I was for the change. Bro. Mart, I am sorry to say, was kept out of school a great deal by that bark mill and he did not seem to care much. My Teacher for 1867 was Aaron L. Bowman, a pretty radical teacher. He started me in the study of English Grammar, and I learned very little of it on account of the technical words used, which I could not understand. Of course I committed the definitions to memory, and could give all the rules, but knew very little practical grammar. In arithmetic I made splendid progress working both common and decimal fractions. In geography I went far ahead. In penmanship I made rapid strides as my copy books will show, for I have preserved them from 1866 on. I wrote a very good hand and was only 11 yrs. old. In reading I was promoted to the Fourth Reader. I now began to understand pretty well what I read. I used to read for hours in my father’s library which was pretty large and well selected for those times. 1 was especially delighted with History and learned a great deal in those young days. Erom this term on I was regraded by most as the best scholar in school. We had two spelling schools this term and I took part in both.

My teacher for the fall of 1868 'was Mr. Elias H. Hartz, a very ordinary scholar, but trying very hard to teach. He had some trouble with the larger boyes, and was not liked by the patrons generally. This was his first term and he had to learn. I made progress in all my studies and think under almost any kind of teacher I would have advanced in learning. The teacher had very successful spelling schools. He was kind to me and I now tried to do the best for us all.

In the fall of 1869 Mr. Jacob A. Gundrum was our teacher, and he was the surliest, must unpleasant teacher I ever had. His educational ability was not very extended, but thorough such as it was. His meanness, as I considered, was a constant scowl and unkind reprimand when I did not give the exact wording of the text book. He stuck to the text book entirely. If my recitations were perfect, not a word of commendation escaped his lips, nor even was there a pleased look upon his countenance. To his praise it must be said, however, that I made excellent progress and became tnore correct and careful in regard to my studies. To my father he used to praise me highly, but never in my hearing that I can remember. During this winter I first read a text book U. S. History and I was very much interested in it. Last spring (Mar, 1869) father bought me a large geography called McNally’s System of Geography and 1 was the happiest boy in existence, every day I was looking over my big book, noting the beautiful, large maps and seeing the many cities and towns marked on. I learned more geography from that book than from any other that I got afterwards. I used it a while this term but the teacher had no other scholars in it, and wanted me to get a Mitchell’s Intermediate Geography. I did not like to ask my father to buy another new book so the teacher made a proposition to be that if I would make the fire for him during the winter he would buy me the book. Of course I readily agreed and by making fire all winter certainly fairly earned my geography. I got a new arithmetic, Robinson’s Practical, and made good progress in it. In grammar I especially made good headway, being able to parse most sentences of common construction. I also began to use a dictionary this term and thereby acquired a larger vocabulary of words. I attended the Teacher’s Institute at Lebanon one day and was much pleased with what I understood about it. I was now beginning to be a large boy and was for several years in the highest classes. I was really glad when school stopped this year, a thing which never occurred afterwards, but I had such a dread of the teacher's harsh words.

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

In the fall of 1869, father sold the tannery and rented a farm of 80 acres in Derry Twp., Dauphin Co., of the owner Mr. Anthony Creiner, an uncle of mine. It was on the Berks and Dauphin Turnpike about mid-way between Derry Chursh and Swatara Station. The farm was in a high state of cultivation and we had an ordinary stock.

The farm was to small for the help father had. We might just as well have had one of 120 acres. The usual grand time of moving was hard, and it was the longest, or farthest move we ever made, the distance being about 8 miles. This was a strange community and we boys had to make acquaintances. I remember some very fine companions I had. It was near the P. & R. Railroad and seeing the cars every day was a grand thing, I thought. It got to be an old affair after a few months. The Spring Creek was not far away, and we went fishing sometimes. This was near the place where mother was born and reared, and she was very glad to live at this place. Father did not make anything financially and looked about for a larger farm. The second year we partially farmed Uncle John Kauffman's farm of the same size as ours and that gave us more work. I was 14 years old and began to feel myself pretty big. I could work right well on the farm, although father always said I would never make a farmer and guess he was about right and I believe too he did not want me to be a farmer either. I was not strong physically and was soon tired out, but I tugged away manfully and did the best I could. Here I fell from a horse the first and only time I ever did, but remember I was not very anxious to ride a wild horse. While were living here Bro. John went from home to learn the trade of saddler in Lebanon. I used to think I'would like to live near Derry Church and it certainly is a nice country as compared with the hills of the Forge Dam, but not half as romantic. I was several times in Harrisburg and thought it a great thing to see the State Capital.

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

The school was very close to our house and I went very regularly after I had started. Our teacher was Mr. Samuel C. Landis, for both years. He was a man of fair literary attainments and would have been an excellent teacher but was too poor in keeping dicipline. It was a real pandemonium sometimes. The teacher was too kindhearted and we boys, I am sorry to say, took advantage of his weakness. From this time on, I never started to go to school before the corrn was husked, and usually got about four and one half months a year.

I soon caught up with the classes, however, and now commenced the study of U. S. History and made rapid progress. In the other studies I moved along steadily and had no trouble in leading my classes. One of the great features of these two years was, the large number of spelling schools. Our school had the reputation of "spelling down" every other school in the township. We frequently went three or four miles to attend one. Sometimes I would ’'stand the floor" the longest and usually three or four teachers would be among the spellers.

We got such a reputation, that when our teacher made a spelling school, all the other best scholars attended and tried their best to beat us, but it was of no use, for we came out triumphant as usual. Those were very enjoyable times for me, for I was praised and admired by everybody. I now become larger in stature and my mind began to emerge from boyhood to manhood. Had I only been a little more courageous and held, I could have done wonders, but that same extreme modesty, which had followed me from my earliest yers, still clung to me. I never had a harder time in my life than fighting it. I could learn any long declamation, or write a good essay, but dreaded to deliver them in public. No one can tell, who was not in the same condition, what anguish of mind I suffered on account of this foolish timidity. My teachers and my father were very patient with me in this matter, and I shall always feel very grateful to them.

In fall od 1871, my father rented Mr. Jacob L. Bowman’s farm, of about 130 acres in Londonderry Twp. Lebanon Co. about one mile east of Campbellstown, and about six miles from where we lived. In Mar. following we moved, with all its attending pleasures. It was a very fine and good farm, but a fearfully dilapidated house.Tthe owner however began to build a new house and we had the workmen in board. It made very much work for mother, but it was pleasant company to have all the different kinds of mechanics, some of whom were young men. This was a new neighborhood and we had to make new acquaintances again. In the fall Bro. Mart went to learn the wagon-makers' trade in Campbellstown, and stayed until next April when he became tired of it and went to farm again, which I think was was his proper sphere. The new house was completed in the fall and about November we moved in. After the new house was built, the owner concluded he wants to farm and so we had to move away

Attending A Graded School, 1872.

In November 1872 I commenced going to school in Campbelistown, where there were two schools, one primary and the other advanced. Of course, I attended the later and soon ranked among the best scholars. In this school there were some good scholars, and I had no trouble whatever to get along with them. Our teacher was Mr. George W. Matternes, a teacher of long standing and rather indifferent. However, he was a great admirer of me and urged me to try for a school telling me I could easily make a certificate. I had a very pleasant time this winter, and met as a school-girl, the lady that was destined five years later to become my beloved wife. It was aclear case of "love at first sight^" and strange to say never grew less. I enjoyed this term very much and made good progress. Being there were nearly all large scholars we had more time to devote to the recitations. I was a general favorate among the big girls, of whom there were many, and it was mostly on account of my good scholarship. Of course, I was not blind to the admiration of the fair sex either, and tried to be as gallant as my extreme modesty would allow. This was an awfully cold winter and I was almost frozen in going to and from school.

We had very much snow and the roads were drifted most of the time. It seemed very lonely at home, being Mart and John were both away from home.

School Year, 1873.

In March 1873 we moved, about one mile east on the farm of Mr. Samuel L. Bowman, a brother of father’s former landlord. The farm was about the same size as the one we had left. On this farm, father lived seven years. It was in an out of the way place and rather a lonely place. We boys used to do considerable work for the neighbors, and father always let us have all the money we earned so we were rather anxious to go out, but we were pretty liberally supplied with pocket-money by father for he never was niggardly in anything.

Our teacher was Mr. Aaron Imboden, a man of good education, who performed his duties as teacher with the greatest care and exactness. He was an excellent teacher. I commenced the study of Physical Geography this term, and made very good progress in all my studies, I completed Practical Arithmetic and took up Higher. The school was nearly a mile from our house, but I attended very regularly, of course I was considering myself no longer a boy, but a young man. I was now beginning to think what profession I was to follow, but came to no definite conclusion. Mother wanted me to become a storekeeper's clerk, but I did not like that very much. I had a higher ideal than a country storekeeper. I finally resolved to try teaching school, and father sent me to college for the spring term of 1874, after which I was to try for a school, with what success we shall see presently.

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

Monday morning, Mar. 23, 1874, was an eventful time in my school-days. I was then to enter a College as a student, no longer a mere scholar but a collegian. Well the mere thought nearly staggered me, and when I entered the big building, the highest

and largest I had ever been in, I looked around in wonder. Two of my young friends, Cyrus and Adam Behm, took me along and introduced me to the president, Prof. L. H. Hammond, A. M., a very pleasant man. We matriculated, and the president assigned us the different branches we were to study for the term. He gave Adam a kind of preliminary examination, and after being through Cyrus remarked that I was about equal in scholarship to Adam, so he did not ask me any questions. The branches I was to study were Reading, Writing, U. S. History, English Grammar, Mental and Written Arithmetic, and Composition and Rhetoric. 1 was classed as a preparatorian, of course. I did not recite many times before I found that some very poor material was sent to college, and an ordinary common school would have been a better and more profitable place for them. I was greatly pleased with the recitation system, having no one but the class before you.The professors were all very fine men I thought, but not so far ahead of the public school teacher as I had imagined they would be. I passed very well in my examinations at the close of the term. The professors under whom I had recitations were well pleased with me, and the president called me to his room one day and told me I should take a full long course,which I should have been only too glad to do, but I had to plead poverty as an excuse. I see now, how easily I could have done it myself if I had only known then what I do now. However it may have been for the best that I did not attend the five years it would have taken me to complete the Classical Course. I was not so very strong physically and such persistent application might have undermined my health for life. I received a thorough training in the common branches and afterwards passed much better examinations in them than did the college graduates. The distance from our house to College was about four miles, and I walked this every morning and evening, not missing a single day in the entire term.

My grades in the different branches were as follows:

	Teacher	Grade
Reading	Prof, Aikman	8.50
Penmanship	Prof. Lehman	8.37
Mental Arithmetic	Prof. Bierman	8.30
Written Arithmetic	11	8.25
English Grammar	Miss Sarah Burns	7.43
U. S. History	Prof. Aikman	8.85
Composition and Rhetoric "		8.50
	Average Grade	8,31
Explanation: 9 superior, 8 very good,		7 good, 6 middling
My deportment was	exemplary.

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

After the close of the spring term, in the middle of June, I worked on the farm and occasionally looked into my books. On July 21, 1874, the examination for our township was held in Annville. Mr. W. Gr, Lehman, of Lebanon, was the Co. Supt, and I entered the class. I felt my extreme timidity, but nerved myself sufficiently for the great ordeal. After filling out the preliminary blank the Supt. gave out the words in orthography. When this was over reading was next in order. After that was safely passed, I felt reassured and went along finely. The examination was public and the room was full of spectators, among whom were the school directors. I am able to say that in the examination I was disappointed in teachers. I had never known them outside of the school-room and when called upon by the Supt. would make very lame replies and hem and haw in a way that seemed to me very singular. In a word, most of them were poor scholars. My certificate came in due time and was as follows, graded on a scale of 1 very good, 2 good, 3 middling, 4 poor, 5 very poor:

It was considered by all an excellent paper for the first time of examination. Being armed with a certificate I now made application for a school. The Board considered my application and deferred action until a subsequent meeting. In the mean time, I went to see some of the directors and the only objection was my youthful appearance. A young teacher having failed with the school the year before. Well, I did not get the school, and next applied in Bethel Twp., was unsuccessful again, then tried North Annville Twp. - no go either. This was just the time the great money panic of 1873 was felt in the country. It had not much effect before, but now the country people began to feel it, and the school teachers were very plentiful, because many clerks, etc. having no employment turned to teaching, having left the profession years before. Had I a little more experience I might have succeeded in getting a school. My fellow student, Cyrus Behm, got a school, but then his friends were very influential and besides he was more of a man in appearance than I, but in regard to scholarship we were about equal, his certificate averaging same as mine. In a few years, however, I outranked him very far and he never came near to my standard.

I was rather disheartened by my unsuccessful efforts, but concluded to try again next year. I had the satisfaction of knowing that I was regarded as a good scholar, even if I did not "look old enough for a man," I was 18 years old and tall, but

slender of build.

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

Having been unsuccessful in getting a school, I tried to persuade father to let me go to college again and he was easily made willing to give his consent, next 1 went to mother and she did not want to hear any more of college. The term commenced in the latter part of August and 1 knew I could not start at the beginning, so I waited a few weeks and then commenced to urge my claims. It hung in the balance a long time. At last mother thought I might wait until the corn was husked. Well that was too far off and I compromised by saying that I could stay at home a week when corn-husking came. At last, on Monday morning, Oct. 5th, I started out with my lunch-basket for Annville. The reason mother was opposed to my going was on account of the cost. She thought it was too much money - one dollar a week for tuition. But when she saw how very anxious I was to go, she was too tender-hearted to keep me back. In looking back I can't blame her much, for she often did without a servant-girl to economize a little, and father’s financial circumstances were not any tooflush, of course he was not in straightened conditions, but the sum of twelve dollars, my tuition, was quite an item. Well, I arrived at the Colllege and entered the President’s office, where Prof. Hammond received me pleasantly. He questioned me in regard to my wishes in the selection of studies, and I intimated that I would like to take up the study of Latin. He said the class had a start of six weeks, but if I would think that I was able to catch up with the class I could try it. Ofcourse I had to recite privately to the professor of Latin until able to go with the class. I was just two weeks in catching up. Therefore, doing the work of eight weeks in two. But I studied pretty hard. I used to walk in the middle of the street, having my eyes on the book, learning the declensions and conjugations. My other studies were Mental Arithmetic, English Analysis, and General History. I was in the "B" Rhetorical Class and wrote some fair essays during the term. I got along very well in all my work, leading the classes in English Analysis and General History and Mental Arithmetic. I passed the examinations at the end of the term and got very good in all the branches. My grades were as follows, on the Text Box: same scale as before:

Latin Grammar and Reader Prof. Tohill 8.

Text Box:
English Analysis Mental Arithmetic General History Prof. Hammond 8.37 .

Prof. Lehman 8.85

Miss Rosier 7.71

Average Grade 8.31

It was a remarkably fine fall and I had a nice time walking in and back. About the most important was my taking part in a public rhetorical exercise. It was held in the college chapel which was filled with the Annville people and friends of the students. I wrote out my ’’oration", had it corrected and then committed it to memory, rehearsing it before the Paculty and several times in private. It was a small effort when viewed from my present standpoint, but it was earnest and original. Being it is short I will reproduce it here in full, as I have the original MS. in my possession:

___________________

THE RAILROAD.

Of all the great inventions none is of more importance to all classes of people than the railroad. It is scarcely forty years since the first railroad was constructed and- ince that time railroads have sprung up like magic. For the transportation of all kinds of merchandise the railroad is a decided improvement on the old way of doing this with the team or on the canal. In the United States there are now nearly one hundred thousand miles of railroad in running order and nearly as much more in course of construction. The rapid settling of the Western States is mostly due to the railroad. In the year 1869 when the Union Pacific railroad was completed, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans were connected by railroad, and now the Metropolis of America sends her manufactures to the Pacific coast , and receives in return the products of the Eldorado of America.The railroad is sometimes the scene of terrible collisions in which many lives are lost, but this is owing to the carelessness of the engineers of the different trains. To travel in a railway car is very agreeable and pleasant while to travel in a stage-coach is often very disagreeable, especially in cold or unpleasant weather. By means of the railroad the northern markets are supplied with the products of the sunny south, and thus the railroad is the greatest commercial agent in the United States.

Ortography	2	Geography	2
Heading	2 1-2	English Grammar	1 1-2
Writing	2	U. S. History	1 1-2
Mental Arithmetic	2	Theory of teaching	2 1-2
Written Arithmetic	2

My father went along with me in the evening when the exercises were to take place. Ofcourse most of the boys had not appeared in public before and were therefore very nervous about it After the opening the President announced that the program would be followed as printed and no speakers would be announced. When my turn came I marched up to the stage, and went up the steps, faced the audience and delivered my "oration" in a good firm voice, and how relieved I was when I left the stage no one can tell. I have given a great deal of space to this occasion, more than the subject would warrant, but it was a tremendous effort for me and later when inclined to be nervous in regard to speaking in public I always remembered how I succeeded in my first effort and that gave me confidence.

Last Term in Common School, 1875

After the fall term was over, I could not hope for attending the winter term. The only alternative left was to go to our common school again. Accordingly, I started early in January, took up only the common branches and had an excellent review of them. The same teacher was there that we had the year before. Some would have thought it too humiliating to attend a common school after having gone to a colleg;, but from what I have seen in regard to many college graduates, it would be agood plan to attend a good common school after graduation and learn something of the common branches. I made good use of the three months remaining of the school term and in my next examination the effects were seen. We had unusually much snow this winter and it was very cold.

I occasionally looked into my Latin books and longed for a continuation at college, but knew it could not be, so I began to think of something to do to earn money. Having a good certificate from the Co. Supt. I was eligible to teach, and I concluded to open a private school in the spring, usually called a summer school. I received many encouraging reports of scholars being anxious to attend my school, who had been schoolmates of mine and now became my scholars. In March, I left the common schools as a scholar forever.

First Term at Teaching, March to June 1875

I obtained permission to have the use of the Mount Pleasant School House, situated on the Horseshoe Turnpike, about one mile from our house. Early in March I went around in the neighborhood to see the patrons for scholars. I obtained the promise of some thirty and felt quite hopeful. I opened the 22nd. of March and had twenty scholars the first day. This was very encouraging. Now in regard to the statistics of my teaching career, I refer the reader to my library for a book called "Records of Teaching" in which I wrote out, in full, names, averages, visitors, etc, and so will not repeat it here. I shall only dwell upon the general ideas and recollections of the terms. The idea of teaching was quite novel at first, and I patterned after my last teacher very much for I knew his methods were very good and also approved by the patrons. I tried my best and succeeded so well that the patrons were unanimous for me to have the winter school. I could never understand ’why a new teacher was nearly always so popular for the first year. I found by experience that was invariably the ease. I mean a teacher who had a reputation for scholarship and ability to teach. My school continued nicely for about three weeks when the measles became epidemic and nearly broke up the school. I would have made what I thought then quite a little fortune, had it not been for the measles. Some pupils never came back after having been sick for a long time, thinking it not worth while to start again. I taught three full months and realized about $55.25, of which I invested in a watch and chain, the first I ever had.

My school was hardly visited by the patrons as they were too busy. I worked in hay-making and harvesting during the summer and read books on the theory of teaching, looking up a little for examination.

This summer I commenced paying attention to Miss Sue Arnold, whom I married about two years hence. I was examined in July by Go. Supt. Wm. B. Bodenhorn, with the following result:

First Winter Term, 1875-1876

In the fall of 1875, the Board of School Directors elected me to teach the Mt. Pleasant School. I opened in Sept, and closed in Mar. 1876, The school was strong in numbers and pretty well advanced. My mode of dicipline was too easy and consequently not very effective. I did not use corporal punishment at all. The school was noisy and that was ail the objection raised. My methods were never questioned, and the progress made by the pupils was good. The Co. Supt. complimented me highly on the advancement made by the pupils. I certainly worked harder this first winter than for many subsequent ones. I was pretty well tired out still in the evening. Very few people visited the school and had the parents only advised me a little in regard to the order of discipline, or, better, had they trained their children so as to behave themselves m school, I could have been entirely successful. I had many warm friends among the scholars and should you inquire among the pupils of the place they would undoubtedly speak kindly of their teacher Harry Seltzer in 1875-1876. That was one of the pleasant features of teaching school, the thought of being remembered by your scholars as they lived. For no one person ranks as high among the children as their teacher. Many young men and women have grasped me by the hand and greeted me as their old teacher, and I knew there are very few scholars that I have forgotten either. My salary for this term v/as $35 per month, six months term. It was a large sum of money, and I saved $150 to go to school in the spring. I boarded at home and not need to pay for it, however I gave father $20, part of which he had furnished me in the previous summe., I was never accustomed to spend much money. There was a Teachers’ Institute held at Lebanon in November which I attended. These Institutes were continued for four days and much was said there by college professors and lecturers who probably never had seen the inside of a common school. Some valuable hints were thrown out, and many teachers tried to apply them in their schoolrooms with more or less success.

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

My aim had been to become a clerk or bookkeeper in some large establishment in a city, and the circulars of Prof. Eastman seemed to indicate that his school was the very best, and I concluded I would take a course in business and become the great commercial man he seemed to be able to make of me. Well, I found out that plans do not always hold out. I started for Poughkeepsie, N. Y, Monday morning, April 3, and it rained all day. Bro. Mart took me to the depot at Annville, where I got my ticket for Allentown, Pa. and had my trunk checked. I was now going away from home all alone and had to find my way the best I could, having never been farther on the cars than Lebanon. On arriving at Allentown I got a ticket for New York City and had my trunk rechecked. The scenery along the Lehigh River was very fine. About 1 P. M., we reached Jersey City and took the ferry for New York. I fell in with a party that was going to the same place I was. I took the street cars for the Grand Central depot and got my ticket for Poughkeepsie and was soon on my way. I was amazed at the great city of Hew York, how far it seemed I was going on that street car. It was dark when I got to Poughkeepsie and went at once to the College Office where I got my scholarship, cost $50, and was directed to my boarding place, No. 139 Mansion Street. It was a most disagreeable day and the next morning it snowed. I had a good boarding place and paid $4.50 per week. There were nine students at our house, and we had a pleasant time, for they were all fine fellows, no roughs or drinkers among them. The students came from all parts of the country and from Japan, Spain, Cuba and South America. Nearly every state in the Union was represented. In the morning I got my outfit and was assigned to my desk in the Theory Department. At first an Asst. Professor started me in the work and I began the driest of all studies - bookkeeping. We had about one hour practice in penmanship every morning, after that the regular bookkeeping work followed. I made slow progress at first and failed the first two times to pass the first Theory examination, that gave me the blues, and had I not been ashamed of being called a homesick baby I believe I would have left the College after the first three weeks. Things grew brighter, however, after awhile and the third attempt at the examination brought me 100 percent. I now continued more hopeful.

Poughkeepsie was a most beautiful city, so nicely shaded, and fine suburban residences. It contained a great many schools of excellent character. It was on a high bank of the Hudson, and the outlook was grand Eastman Park was nearly in the center of the city and was a fine place. My chum at first was from Weedsport, N. Y. later on I had one from Reedsburg, Wis. We used to walk out into the country Saturday and Sunday, although we went to some church nearly every Sabbath. The Methodist and Presbyterian churches being the most frequent.

My second theory exam, was passed on the second trial with 86%. The third was disposed similarly with 100%. I was now five weeks in the course and promoted to the Practical Department where we used money and goods and made actual business transactions. I was much pleased with this and got along finely. I worked out three complete sets and passed the Junior Actual Business examination the first time at 80%. I tried the Senior examination three times before successful in passing, but then made 100%. The minimum passing mark was 75%. I worked out three sets in the Senior department, and then was promoted to the Offices where I remained about four weeks. Having completed the required amount of work, I entered the final examinations for graduation. This was the severest of all the examinations. I passed the first time at 85%, and was then entitled to my Diploma and the degree of Master of Accounts. Oh how I used to flourish that " M. A.” after my name! I thought I was somebody of great importance - vain delusion. I had a thorough knowledge of Double Entry Bookkeeping, and that was all.

On the 14th of July, I took the steamer Mary Powell for home. It was a delightful day and the trip down the Hudson was grand and picturesque. I took the cars at Jersey City for Philadelphia, where I stopped half a day to see the great Centennial Exposition. Of course, I saw very little in so short a time. At 7 P. M. I took the train for home and arrived at Annville at midnight, from there I walked home about four miles. It was about 1:30 A. M. when I reached the house. They were surprised to see me for I had written that I would be home on the following evening, that is Saturday instead of the night previous. They were all very glad to see me, and I was just as glad to see them. It was the longest time any one of us had been away from home. I had been well all the time I was away, and my appearance was good.

My money had given out and father loaned me twenty dollars to complete the course which money I repaid the next year. My total expenses for the course were about $175, all of which I paid myself. From the time I began teaching, I supported myself, which I should have done too. I was now ready to accept a position as bookkeeper but none presented itself, so I began to look about for a school again. There was opposition to me in the South Annville Board, and some directors acted very meanly. I did not get a school and so had to go to some other township. Mr. Bodenhorn, the Supt., recommended me to the South Lebanon Board, and they elected me to teach a school in that township.

Text Box: My certificate was the best in that township and aws as follwos:

Geography 1 1/2

English Grammar 2

U. S. History 1 1/2

Theory of Teaching 2

Practice of Teaching 2

Cartography 1 l/2

Reading 1 l/2

Writing 1

Mental Arithmetic 1

Written Arithmetic 2

Winter Term, 1876-1877

In the middle of October 1876 I commenced teaching the Bed House School, in South Lebanon Township, about three miles south of Lebanon. It was a nice part of the county and I had a good new house . The school was weak in the beginning of the term but filled up in a few months. This was one of the best schools I ever taught, my discipline was good, and the scholars were obedient and industrious. They made rapid progress, and everything passed off smoothly. I had a great many large scholars and some were as old as myself. I used corporal punishment this term when I saw it was absolutely necessary. There is a certain degree of respect in a healthy rod that will command attention from a pupil when all moral suasion seems to fall to the ground. I always dreaded to use the rod and was as sparingly in the use of it as possible. I. boarded with Mr. Monroe Smith and had a splendid place, Mrs. Smith being an excellent cook as well as a perfect lady, and she spared no pains to attend my wants. I shall always remember her for her kindness.

My board for the whole term of five and one-half months was $35. But I went home nearly every Friday evening, often walking the entire distance which was about 9 miles. Bro. Mart fetched me pretty often and took me down Monday mornings.

The teachers of the Township organized a Literary Society of which I was an active member. Here for the first time I took part in a debate and was trying to appear be an old hand at it, as it would not do for me to let the other members know how ignorant I was in regard to conducting a public exercise of this kind. I was very attentive and soon "caught on" to the ways of the Society. I have learned one thing and that is to keep quiet in regard to a thing of which you are ignorant, for just as sure as you open your mouth you will expose your ignorance. I became quite a ready speaker, arid was regarded as a great scholar. It is an excellent thing for a young man to go from home into a strange community, for if there is anything in him he will be appreciated and honored. Altogether this was a very successful term, and I enjoyed it much. I was meanly treated by the Directors. My agreement stated the pay to be from $25 to $35 per month according to grade in practice of teaching. My grade being 1 l/2, and they paid me only $28 per monyh. I gave them my views of the case and had it not been for the presence of a lady, I would have handled them pretty severely. My salary should have been about $32 per month. On Feb. 10, 1877, I was married to Miss Sue Arnold, at Annville, Pa. by Rev. J. M. Deitzler. We took no wedding trip as I had no time to lose but went to my schoolroom as usual the Monday following. We went to see the uncles, aunts,etc. on Sundays still, until we had made the rounds of the entire relationship. My school closed the last day of March and I opened a summer school the following Tuesday. I held a spelling school on Mar. 15, which was a great success. I had never had one before and was a little anxious about it. I prepared a good program and carried it out to the letter. Many of the young ladies and young men of the vicinity were present. The scholars acquitted themselves nobly. There were a number of teachers present and they made short addresses. I used to attend most of the spelling schools that the other teachers held, and was invariably called upon to make an address. I can recall some of the remarks. Now they seem to me insignificant, but they were appreciated at the time. I made a large number of friends in this part of the country and was well treated by everybody.

Spring Term, 1877

Many of the patrons being anxious that I should open a summer school at Detweiler’s School House, I did so, the first Tuesday in April, I had closed my winter term only the Saturday beforeand therefore had no vacation at all. I did not personally canvass for scholars and simply announced to my friends that I would trach. I had a good many pupils but might have had a great many more had I exerted myself a little more. It was a pleasant place near a shady grove and had an easy time. T he pupils were very kind and obliging. I commenced the study of Algebra and got as far as division where I stuck. My time was mostly employed in reviewing for examination. In the previous summer br. John went to Thayer, Kansas, where he worked at his trade of harness-making with cousin J. H. Blouch. He came home in July and we were all very glad to see him. We were all at home this summer but it was the last time, for soon we separated and formed homes of our own.
In August I was examined by Supt, Bodenhorn with the following result:

Orthography 1

Reading 1 12

Writng 1

Mental Arithmetic 1

Geography 1 1/2

English Grammar 1 1/2

U. S. History 1 1/2

Theory of Teaching 2

Practice of Teaching 2

For the fun of the thing, I went to Dauphin County and was examined by the Supt. Mr. D. H. E. LaRoss, at Dery Church with the following result:

Orthography 1 3/4

Reading 2 1/2

Writing 1

Mental Arithmetic 2

Written Arithmetic 2

Geography 2

English GRammar 2

U. S. History 2

Theory of Teaching 2

Many of my former schoolmates were in the class and I enjoyed it very much. The markings, I think, were not carefully made, for I am sure I could not have been so uniform in the last six branches.

I always enjoyed a Teachers' Examination, for I felt confident of the result, adn my certificates show a gradual improvement where they were properly graded.

I stayed much at Mr. Arnold's this sumemr and had a royal good time. This sumemr term I taught two and a half months and realized about $40.

Winter Term, 1877-1878

I was elected to teach the Primary School No. 4, in the town of Annville and had a graded school embracing pupils in the second and third Readers., It was a pretty neifey set of scholars, but by applying the rod. I kept them in fear and therefore from mischief. The school was strong in numbers and I was pretty well tired out still. I walked into town and back nearly every day.It was about a mile nearer than the College, being at the nearer end of town. It was a fine fall the weather being nice until Christmas, but then from that time o on it was cold and stormy and had much snow. I commenced to try my hand at pen lettering and made some fine specimens. My salary was $33. per month, six months term. Iinade very little progress in education as no pupils were advanced, enough to give occasion to study. I now began to look around for a house to set up housekeeping and concluded to move to Belle Grove, the place of my birth and childhood. I was induced to select that place on account of the many schools that were within short distance of it. Bents als© were cheap and I knew that e- conomy had a prominent part to play in my affairs. This fall (1877) I voted for the first time, and the ticket.was the one put forth by * the Republican party. My father being a republican, I naturally read mostly Republican literature and that settled my convictions. I have never voted any other but the Republican ticket since, up to the present time -1888.

Housekeeping and Spring Term, 1878

On the 28th of March 1878 we moved into David Henry’s house in Bellegrove and commenced t© keep house. There was the usual big time of the "flitting',' as it is popularly known and my wife and her sisters, and my mother, prepared the feast. Hew lively it was, but soon they began to leave and by evening we were alone. We were now safely started and as happy as a king. My fater-in-Iaw furnished all the furniture, etc. needed and I got a bed and provisions to last nearly half a year, from home. I also bought a carpet for the parlor. Our house had four rooms, a cellar and a garret. The rent was $28. a year. I had $150. saved from teaching the previous year and that together with our furniture constituted our total capital. Now was the time to bring an income to the firm.

I started a summer school in North Bellegrove School House, with very poor success, financially, but I held out for two months and realized a total sum of $14. -well that was discouraging, yet I could not blame the people very much as they were mostly poor and the panic of 1873 being much felt by everybody,

Prom this time on I kept accounts of my expenses, etc, in regular double entry form and refer the reader to my account books for a history of my financial affairs,-this much X will say, however, that I always paid my debts, and had an excellent credit in all the neighborhood. I passed the time very pleasantly at home and in June my wife and I shut up the house and went home to father’s where I worked in haymaking and harvesting and Sue helped mother and sister Lizzie-in the house. We went home every summer until father stopped farming in the spring of 1883. We usually stayed from 4 to 6 weeks.

In the summer I was ezamined and made the fsllowig certificate:

Orthography 1

Reading 1 12

Writing 1

Mental Arithmetic 1 1/2

Georgraphy 1 1/2

English Grammar 1 1/2

U. S. History 1 1/2

Theory of Teaching 2

Practice of Teaching 2

I went out gunning a good deal and used to get some red squirrels after the season was open.

Winter Term, 1878-9.

I was elected to teach the Long Lane Svhool, where I first went to school as a scholar in 1861. It was pleasant to dwell upon those memories of long ago. All the hoys and girls of that time were now men and women. I had a pretty strong school and fairly advanced. Everything went along nicely and I had good success. The scholars were obliging and studious. We had a good many visitors during the term We organised a Literary Society that met in a hall in Mr. D. B. Leslie’s store building. We had some lively times and in Jan. held a Grand Literary Entertainment in the Eranklin School House that was well attended and a great success. These efforts at debate etc. were a good school for me, for I eventually lost that terrible timidity and could face an audience in a cool and collected manner.

I began to have confidence and that is all one needs, I had planned to move West, to Kansas, where I thought a teacher could do better financially, and therefore in the spring took a trip to that state to see the country. In my next chapter I will describe it.

I was examined by the Co, Supt, with the following result:

Orthography 1

Reading 1

Writing 1

Mental Arithmetic 1

Written Arithmetic 1

Geography 1

English Grammar 1 1/2

U.S. History 1

Theory of Teaching 1 1/2

Practice of Teaching 2

My salary was $32 per month, 6 months term. I economized and found I made just about expenses. The teacher was certainly underpaid, just imagine to keep up the dignity of the profession and get the necessary books to advance in knowledge. I bought a good many books during the year, ore of them being a Worcester Unabridged Dictionary, a volume that I found to be invaluable. I numbered my books and found I had 56 in all. This was the nucleus of my present Library. I had to deny myself many pleasures in order to buy the much coveted books. I had attended a Normal Class at Annville about two weeks before examination, it was conducted by Prof, Burnside of Lebanon and the Co. Supt. , Mr. Bodenhorn.

Trip to Kansas, 1879

On tuesday, April 29, 1879, I started for Kansas, in company with my friend and schoolmate, Cyrus M. Behm. We left Lebanon at noon and Harrisburg at 3.45 P. M., crossing the Alleghanies at night, left Pittsburg at 11.55 and passed Columbus, Ohio, about 8 A. M. Wednesday, passed Indianapolis at noon and crossed the St. Louis bridge at 9 P. M. At St. Louis, Cyrus and I separated, he taking another route. I took the Missouri Pacific Railway from St. Louis and passed Jefferson City at 3 A. M, Thursday, arrived at Kansas City at 11 A. M. and at once left for Thayer, Kansas, the point of my destination where I arrived at 7 P. M, and pleasantly surprised my cousin, J. H. Blouch and family. I had a pleasant time. The total distance traveled was 1350 miles, I felt good all the time on the train, and slept the second night. I had a 3rd class ticket but could travel in good cars. I observed the country pretty closely as we went by; but from a car window you can't take in very much. I found Kansas to be a very fine country. The next day after my arrival, cousin Henry, Mr. Anson H Kreider and myself drove in a two-horse wagon up to Chanute, 15 miles distant, to buy some furniture. I had a good opportunity to see the country and made the acquaintance of a good many Pennsylvanians who had settled here. I stayed around Thayer and occasionally went fishing, catching many good-sized cat- fish. Cousin Henry kept a boarding house and bakery. His wife was alone and worked very hard. We helped her still such as white-washing, digging garden,etc. We drove around a good deal and I had a fine time all throughout. Cousin spared no pains to make it agreeable for me. He arranged for a wagon trip to the Indian Territory, and we started on the 16th of May with a two-horse wagon, taking our provisions, bedding etc, along. As I wrote out a full description of this trip, I will only give the main particulars here. The course we took and the towns we passed will be seen on the following map, which will give some idea of the country and area over which we passed. It is well to study it carefully and note the places marked on it. There may be some errors ss we could not always get the correct names of creeks etc. Cousin, Anson H. Kreider and myself formed the party. We took a gun along, also fishing tackle. The night before we started there was a big fire in town and caused great excitement. We started in the morning and went in a southeasterly direction. We stopped for dinner at noon near the Little Labette Creek, ate, fed and watered our horses. Henry took care of the horses and Anson and I taking turns in preparing the meals. We always rested our horses a while at noon. It was quite warm, but clear and a good breeze. In fact, there always seems to be a wind in Kansas. The nights especially are cool. It is very invigorating to have such a climate. I certainly never felt better in my life. We were now nearly at the city of Parsons. This is a fine town, well built of brick and stone and is the metropolis of southeastern Kansas. We spent quite a time in the cityand bought some little things that we were in need of. Our rations were elegantly put up by Mrs. Slouch and we enjoyed them all the more. Having seen all of the city we wanted, we drove about l/4 mile east of town and camped for the night on the banks of the Big Labette Greek. It was a beautiful place, nicely shaded by large trees; and the ground was covered with green grass. As a rule all the timber you see in Kansas is along the banks of the streams, which are usually skirted for a short distance. The trees are mostly small but some are very heavy. I saw walnut logs that I believe were over five feet in diameter. I was not at all inclined to sleep this, my first night in the wagon We had a large white muslin cover on our wagon and this we snuglypulled down until we had it all nicely covered, in the daytime we rolled the sides up and had a nice open wagon. I don’t knew why I couldn’t sleep, but it was only this first night, for after that I soon fell asleep. Well after thinking a long time, Henry and Anson being snoring at a great rate, I too, fell asleep. In the evening we did some fishing and caught quite a number of cat-fish whichI1 fried in the morning for breakfast. It was a delightful morning and at seven o’clock we started on our journey. We passed thru Labette City, arrived at Oswego at noon and took our dinner. This is a nice little town. We passed on and came to the Big Labette Creek at about 2 P. M. Here we concluded to stop for the night. It was a wild looking place, heavily timbered and at night we heard the wolves howling and the wildcats calling in the distance. We had no need to be afraid for they would not come near and if they would we had a gun ready loaded to receive them. Every evening Anson and I took notes of the day’s journey and events, from which I am writing this. However nearly everything is so firmly fixed in my mind that I can vividly recall it almost exactly at this time. We occasionally had the company of a native Kansan and he would enlighten us in regard to the great resources etc. of this state. The morning came and brought a bright and beautiful Sabbath. We did little traveling on this day but had to move a little, passing thru Chetopa to the boundary and about 6 or 8 miles into the Indian Territory. Here we took our dinner and then lay down in the wagon for a nap. It was getting very warm and we rested quite a time. We returned to Chetopa and camped for the night on the east bank of the Neosho River, a large stream of water. We took a stroll about Chetopa to see the sights and near sun-down 1 experienced the first Kansas shower. It came so suddenly that we had barely time to shut the wagon. It rained very fast and thundered and stormed awfully. I was afraid it would upset our wagon. Just as suddenly it stopped as it commenced, and we were all refreshed by the cooled atmosphere. Next morning we took a westerly course and at 10 A. M. passed Kingston, a mere hamlet. Here we wrote letters home. Resuming our .journey we stopped for dinner about two miles west of Kingston. .This was quite a new country, we met few houses on the way. We forded Pumpkin Greek and the Verdigris Eiver and arrived at Coffeyville, Montgomery County at 4 P, M. Here we camped for the night near a band of Indians. We had ample time to see the town. The country along the Verdigris is wild-looking and wooded. We passed thru some large tracts of timber. We were awakened early Tuesday morning by a thunder storm, but we kept nice dry in our wagon. We started early in the day bound for Independence which we reached about noon, and took our dinner here and then as usual went to see the town. After satisfying ourselves we resumed our journey, crossing the Elk River and went on towards Neodesha, Wilson County. As we were approaching this place I saw some of the finest wheat I ever saw. It was along the river bottom. We camped for the night on the west bank of the Verdigris River. Before coming to Neodesha we forded the Pall River. We tried fishing here in the Verdigris,but without success. This was the fifth and our last night lodging in the wagon. In the morning we went almost directly east and passed thru the coal fields S. W. of Thayer. It was about noon when we arrived in town and drove into the yard, having completed our trip of sightseein., We travelled as near as I could calculate 143 miles, making almost a circle in the counties of Nesho, Labette, Montgomery and Wilson and the Indian Territory. I was very favorably impressed with Kansas and it is a great state in many respects. It has its drawbacks, has been more praised and denounced than any other state in the Union. I stayed with Cousin Henry’s until May 2Sth, when I left for Troy, Doniphan Co., Kansas, where my Uncle, Daniel W. Miller, lived. I went by way of Kansas City, passed by Leavenworth, and had to stay overnight at Atchison. In the morning I started for Troy and came to Uncle’s in the forenoon, They were very glad to see me. The next evening we had a tremendous storm. It blew fearfully and about 60 miles west of here it destroyed the town of Irving, killing a good many people. 1 never before saw such black clouds or such a severe wind. The country around here is bluffy.

Cousin George and I went out into the country and picked a lot of wild strawberries, which were very plentiful. I remained at Uncle Miller’s until Monday afternoon, when I started for home. I went to St, Joseph, Mo. and there bought a limited ticket for Harrisburg, Pa, for $26.25. I had a fine view of the Missouri River. I took the Hannibal and St. Joe road to Q,uincy, Ill., and from there the C. B. and Q. road to Chicago. This is a fine part of Illinois, from Quincy to Chicago; and Chicago is certainly a fine city and has elegant suburban residences I believe for fully 20 miles out of the city. I has a good view of Lake Michigan here. I took the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne and Chicago road and arrived at Pittsburg at noon next day. I pssed over the Alleghanies in the afternoon, and it certainly was a grand sight, looking down on the tree- tops, it looked like one vast green carpet. The scenery is certainly sublime, I arrived at Harrisburg at 10 P. M. and had to wait until the next morning before l could take the last part of my journey. Next morning, Friday June 5, I took the 5:15 train arriving home in the forenoon, for I had to walk from Annville to father’s house. I had travelled almost 3000 miles and was gone nearly six weeks, My wife had stayed with my parents nearly all the time I was off. I had gone with the intention of emigrating to that state if it came up to my expectations. I was fully satisfied in regard to the country. I had not seen the time of failures in crops and consequent depression caused thereby. Why we did not emigrate will appear farther on. The total expense of my.trip was about $70.

Winter Term, 1879-1880

I was chosen to teach the Bellegrove School, now known as North Bellegrove, and. commenced teaching in Sept. It was the strongest school in number I ever taught. I had about 65 pupils enrolled. If that does not give a man work, let some one try it who is sceptical on the subject. The pupils ranged in age from 5 to 21 and correspondingly in grade.

There is very little to add in regard to the details of these different terms of teaching. I was getting tired, not so much of teaching, as of the miserly pay I was getting. It was barely sufficient to make a decent living, and to lay up anything for a rainy day was out of the question. Of course, I was intending to emigrate to better pastures when unforeseen difficulties arose. I had been favored with a visit from my cousin, J. H. Blouch, of Thayer, Kansas this summer.

On March 28th Charlie was born, and I had enough to do this spring. However, he was a good baby and did not cry very much. I did an immense amount of reading this year and kept a record of the number of pages read. I derived some benefit of course, but had I read less and that more carefully, it would have been much more profitable. I had early in life acquired a taste for reading and what at first appeared dry and uninteresting became desirable and instructive. My salary for this term was $30 per month, 6 months term. This summer (1880) I was examined for the last time by Co. Supt. Bodenhorn.

My certificate was as follows:

Orthography 1

Reading 1

Writing 1

Mental Arithmetic 1

Written Arithmetic 1

Geography 1

English Grammar 1

U. S. History 1

Theory of Teaching 1 1/2

Practice of Teaching 1 1/2

Recing an invitation from my friends at Derry Church, Dauphin Co.., to "go thru the mill", I concluded to do so "for fun", and this was the result:

Orthography 1

Reading 1

Writing 1

Mental Arithmetic 1

Written Arithmetic 1

Geography 1 1/4

English Grammar 1 1/4

U.S. History 1 1/4

Theory of Teaching 1 1/4

These were pretty clean certificates.

Winter Term, 1880-1881

I was elected to teach the South Bellegrove School for the term of 1880. The Long Lane School had been discontinued the latter part of the last term on account of the house being in an unsafe condition. New three schools were made out of two: the North Bellegrove, South Bellegrove and the Union Water Works. My school was made up from part of Long Lane and former Bellegrove.

I had a large number of scholars and some were troublesome. A great deal of prejudice existed among the parents, and some treated me meanly in an underhanded way behind my back. I performed my duties faithfully and worked very hard, but it seemed to no purpose.This was what discouraged me more than the poor pay, or rather small pay, and that is saying a good deal. We organized our Literary Society again this year and it was a great success. But many of the people were opposed to even this. I should perhaps not be too severe on the people here, for there was a great deal of ignorance and indifferance among them. In the summer of 1881, I was granted a Professional Certificate by the Co. Supt., Mr, Bodenhorn.

I began to study Physiology for the purpose of having that additional branch on my Professional Certificate. While I did a certain amount of reading, it was nothing in comparison to what I did the previous two years. I had a great deal of leisure time to devote to study and reading. I always worked during haying and harvesting but that was about all. In August 1880 Bro. John was married and soon started for Kansas, intending to make that state his future home. After he arrived at his point of destination, he found everything in a very discouraging condition, the crops had failed, and there was no money and no work, and it was such a poor outlook that he concluded to come east again and settle down here. I was much disappointed as I had intended to take my family and John’s wife along out in the spring. It might have changed my whole after-life if he had stuck to Kansas, but whether for the better or worse no one can tell. I had to think about what to do to make some more substantial income. I turned my thoughts to Illinois and thought there I might do better as a teacher. I finally corresponded with an Intelligence agent in Decatur, Ill. and procured a job on a farm at $18 per month. I will give in detail my experience in this venture in my next chapter

My salary was raised a little this term, being $33 per month, 6 months term. It was certainly not a large sum to live on for a whole year. I earned about $20 in summer still, and Sue made a little by knitting caps, etc,

Trip to Illinois, 1881

On March 28, 1881, I left Palmyra, Pa, for Decatur, Ill, by way of Chicago. It was very cold yet and many piles of ice and snow could be seen along the river., I had received word from Mr. Davidson, the Agent, who had procured a place for me on a farm, that I should come as soon as possible. I arrived at Chicago at 10 A. M. Tuesday and had to transfer my trunk to the Wabash depot. The streets in Chicago were full of snow and ice and were very tough, to travel in a hack. I left for Decatur at 12 noon and arrived at the latter place at 7.30 P. M. I remained in the depot until morning, to save hotel bill. In the morning I hunted Hr. Davidson’s Office and after some difficulty found him in the back part of a lawyer’s office. This lawyer was Mr. B. I. Sterrett, formerly of Carlisle, Pa., a very fine gentleman. I introduced myself to Mr. Davidson, and he wrote me a letter of introduction to Mr. Frank Haley, at Porsyth, about six miles north of Decatur. Mr. Haley lived two miles east of Forsyth and I soon found his house. He was not home, but his housekeeper requested me to come in, and, at evening, he came home. He seemed a pleasant young man, and I believe I would have stayed with him. However, he had given up all hope of my coming and so had hired another man about a week before I came. He was in rather a bad fix and told me he would ask the other man if he would be willing to leave his employ; but he concluded to stay, so I had no job. The next morning, Mr. Haley went with me to find a place among some of his neighbors, but they were all supplied One man wanted to give me work at ditching. I took a spade and tried it. Well, I did not ditch more than two minutes; that satisfied me. I might say here that my idea was to work on a farm only to make expenses and get examined for a school. I had made my calculations all right, but the inclement season was against me. I now saw the roads of Illinois at their worst; and they were awful. You could hardly drive at all. Mud, I believe, two feet deep, and then frozen solid again. I was thoroughly disgusted. Well, I went back to Decatur and upbraided Mr. Davidson for disappointing me, and at once wrote home to father to send me a money order for $30 to get back with. Then I started to see if I could get employment in some kind of business in Decatur. I believe I was in twenty different stores, offices, etc,, but the same answer, "didn’t need anyone", was invariably given. In the meantime aman was with Mr. Davison to look for a farmhand, and both he and lawyer Sterrett went out to hunt me. Towards evening I came to the office and went home with Mr. Davison. Next morning, I started for Oreana on foot, and it was 8 miles distant and awfully cold. I thought the fierce wind would freeze the very marrow of my bones. I never felt so cold in my life. When I reached Orean,a Mr. Shastit’s house was about two miles distant. I arrived there near noon and handed the old gentleman my introductory letter.- He agreed to hire me for four months at $18 per month. I took dinner with the family and then started in work. My first job was husking corn, next sawing and splitting wood, after which feeding the stock, and lastly, long after dark, ate our supper. I was completely tired out, and wearing thin calfskin boots. They were wet through and through. I retired early to a small room with a bed but not a single chair, or anything else to put my clothes on, and I had to lay them on the floor. I slept the sleep of utter exhaustion, and thought I had barely closed my eyes when Mr. Shastit called me to get up to feed. I distinctly remember what an awful time I had to pull on my boots. At last, however, I was ready; and with a lantern we went about that feeding again. Wel,l it was the most extended feeding I ever saw, and I was raised on a farm too. After feeding came breakfast, which I relished indeed. I had my trunk at Decatur and wanted to fetch it, but Mr. Shastit would not give me the team to go to the depot at Oreana. He wanted to put me at trimming ahedge fence and I told him I could not work in the clothes I had on and especially my boots. I wanted him to lend me $5 to buy a pair of rubber boots, but he flatly refused, and plainly intimated that he doubted my integrity. I told him it was impossible for me to go on in this way, and he went into the house, paid me 35 cents for the half day I had worked, and I started for Decatur on foot, walked the whole way. I went to Mr. Davison and boarded with him until my money order came all right. Father had failed to send me the order, but kept it as a receipt. At last I suspected something of the kind and telegraphed him to send it on. It came on Monday morning April 11, and at 12 noon I was on the train bound for old Pennsylvania with a firm resolution that I would never leave the state again. I was gone a little over two weeks, but in that time, short as it may seem, I suffered more disappointment, humiliation, and I can truthfully add severe hardships, than ever before or since. I thought fate was against me and nothing seemed to succeed. I was about a week in a lawyer's office and read a good deal of law, but the place where I stayed mostly was the Public Library of Decatur, and anyone examining the register for April 1880 will see the name " H. H. Seltzer" for a good many times. In this way I passed the time. I left at noon, as stated before, and had nothing to eat since breakfast but a few apples. Before going further I want to say that Mr. and Mrs. Davison treated me very kindly, as well as lawyer Sterrett. Later, in 1887, in looking over some official papers in the Treasury Department, I saw his, Mr. Sterrett's address as attorney for a claimant, on a circular for a certificate of non indebtedness to the United States. I wrote him in regard to my experience in Illinois, and he wrote me a very pleasant reply. Now then to resume my homeward journey. When it was going towards 4 P. M., I began to get very hungry, but could get nothing until I came to Ft. Wayne, Ind. There I bought two large sandwiches and nothing else I think ever tasted better than those sandwiches. I now felt better, having had a severe headache before. I was practicing too much economy, and yet I rather think I had to. I passed through Danville, Ill., Lafayette, Ind, .Logansport and Ft. Wayne, Ind. Arrived at Harrisburg, Pa., at about 4 P. M, and came to father's soon after. They were glad to see me but I felt disappointed. I explained how matters stood and went over the whole story. Sue was was at grandpa Arnold’s with little Charlie, and Thursday I went over to Campbellstown to see them. My wife was much moved with pity at my trials and hardships. She has a very tender heart and loving nature and always pities those in distress. I spent about $30 on this trip and could not afford to indulge in such expeditions very often. It had been of some advantage to me , as all rugged experiences are.

Had the season been earlier I would undoubtedly have stayed. The climate of that part of the country is very unstable. It is certainly not as healthful as that of the hills and valleys of Pennsylvania. The only inducement that took me out to those western states was that of bettering my condition financially. I could have done that too had I stuck to it, with more pluck. But I had considerable of that I thought before I went. It was the last trip of that kind I took,

Winter Term, 1881-1882

I was elected to teach the same school I had the previous term. The conditions were unchanged, and I got along as well as usual, more grumbling behind my back however, and I suppose that I was severely handled at the evening fireside, in the presence and hearing of the scholars. This certainly tended to decrease the respect the pupils had for their teacher. Incidentally and through faithful friends I found this out. It did not contribute to my ease of mind and cut deeper perhaps than those who were the cause of it thought it would. When I remembered that I did my duty faithfully and impartially, I felt better. We had a Spelling School towards the close of the term that was very successful. It was during this term that I first commenced to take private lessons in Latin and Algebra, in company with a fellow teacher, Mr. John ., Snoke, under the direction of Prof. S. O. Goho, A. B. of Annville, Pa. We walked to Annville every Saturday to recite. We got along very well and made good progress. Our Literary Society was in a fair condition. In the spring I had tried to start a summer school, but did not succeed in getting a sufficient number of scholars. In the early spring I was examined in Physiology and Algebra by Co. Supt. Bodenhorn. I passed, as usual, and he added these two branches and also Double Entry Bookkeeping, to those on my Professional Certificate I now got the necessary blanks, had them properly filled out, "signed, countersigned and approved" by the proper authorities and then sent them with my Prefessional to the Permanent Certificate Committee, and by it forwarded to the Department of Public Instruction at Harrisburg. The State Supt. Rev. E. E. Higbee, granted me a "Teacher’s Permanent Certificate", under date of Sept. 14, 1882. This certificate exempts me from examination and is good all over the state. I had applied for a school in Cornwall Twp. in July 1882, but was not successful. The School Board concluded to make a change and elected me to the North Bellegrove School. I had at the time the school in Cornwall Twp. in view and expected to be able to resign, but it turned out differently. This summer Charlie was very sick with Summer Complaint, but he recovered. I helped father to work more than other years and earned cosiderable. My salary for this term was $33 per month, six months term.

Winter Term, 1882-1883

I commenced teaching the North Bellegrove School in Sept., 1882. There were hardly any scholars the first two months. I often had only three scholars present and I think I only averaged five for that time. After corn-husking was over, the larger scholars came and from that time on I had as fine a school as one could wish. I devoted a good deal of my time, when I had no occasion to use it as teacher, in my private studies, having Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic War, in Latin and Brooks' Geometry in Mathematics, We continued these studies until April 1883, when we both discontinued them. We were nearly through the first book of Caesar and. had completed three books in Geometry. I succeeded better in Latin than in Geometry. Our Literary Society did not flourish this term and was suspended early in the fall. My studies gave me enough to do, and so I did not care much. In the winter, my Kansas friend, Anson H, Kreider, came to see me, and we had a very pleasant talk, but I could not detain him for any length of time for he was in such a great hurry. Pleasant memories arise as I am writing these pages. It was not all discouragement and disappointment in my life, for which I am duly grateful. My term drew to an end and proved to be the last in Lebanon County and I believe the most successful. The inevitable $33 per month was my pay for six months.•

Spring Term, 1883

In the spring of 1883, I opened a summer school at the Shady Grove School, about 1 l/2 miles from town. I had quite a number of pupils and a very pleasant time. I had gone to this school in 1865-1867 and old memories were revived. My scholars came from four school districts and yet the number was not large. I taught two months and realised about $23 - quite a small sum, but better than the first term at Bellegrove School. The patrons paid up pretty promptly and it is a fact that with the five private terms I taught I never lost a cent. The people were honest if not very enthusiastically inclined towards education. I now began to look for a salary and, having little to hope for in this locality, I corresponded with the secretary of the Manheim Borough School Board, Lancaster County. In June I went to see the members personally and was elected to the First Secondary School at a salary of $45 per month, 7 months term. This was quite an advance and encouraged me very much. I worked in haying and harvesting for Mr. Aaron L. Horst, near town. In August we moved to Manheim, about 23 miles distant, Bro. Mart and grandpa Arnold doing the hauling. It was a long trip and the weather was very warm. We moved on South Charlotte St. in a large house for which 1 was to pay six dollars per month rent. Manheim'at that time was a Borough of about 1800 inhabitants and was a very fine town in regard to streets and buildings. Four of my wife’s brothers and sisters lived here and we soon made a number of acquaintances. I was very kindly treated and greatly respected by the people. We had a weekly paper published here, and the town was a great place for manufacturing cigars. The wages were good, and trade consequently lively.

Many of the people in town and vicinity belonged to the religious sect known as Dunkards, who are a plain and simple people in manners, but industrious and usually well to do. In money matters these people were far ahead of the Lebanon Countians but in an educational sense way behind. They are paying the best salaries to school teachers andb the best teachers of all the neighboring counties come here. It is only a question of time when their schools will rank as foremost in the State.

Winter Term, 1883-1884

In Sept. 1883, I commenced teaching the First Secondary School, Manheim Borough, Lancaster Co. Pa. It was the third grade down from the High School. The grade embraced the branches usually in an ordinary ungraded school. I taught Grammar and U. S. History orally. We had the third Reader and in Arithmetic through Common Fractions. I had a large number of pupils and some very hard material. I tried my best to govern more by moral suasion, but nothing less than brute force would bring them to order. I became very tired of teaching this termand especially of teaching in a town. Having had such a well behaved school the previous term, the contrast was so great. I worked hard this term and the results were good. My brother Frank came to board with us in February, 1884. He worked at his trade with my brother-in-law Peter G. Arnold. I attended the Co. Institute at Lancaster, and it was a big affair, over 600 teachers were in attendance. The Millersville State Normal School being in this county, there were many graduates teaching. Many of these Normal graduates were without any experience save what they got at the Normal and failures were often the result. I did quite an amount of reading this term. On March 17, 1884, Edgar was born. We moved up the street to a house near Market Square. I had to pay $75 a year rent. It was an old one and one-half story house, but comfortable. We had a good sized lot and garden. But on the whole I was not well pleased with the town. It was not a very wide-awake place, although more so than the village I had left. I tried, by correspondence, to secure a position as bookkeeper with some Philadelphia firm, but was not successful. I gave lessons in bookkeeping to the Principal, Mr. Witmer, during the winter. I tried to get up a class, but it was no go. I found out that people as a rule are not very anxious te take hold of anything that costs a little money. Free lectures, instructions etc. will be patronized. Probably if I had canvassed personally I might have been able to get up a class .

Spring of 1884

Mr. .J. B. Stroh and I had opened a Select School in partnership, soon after the close of the winter term. We had an attendance of 15, and Mr. Strain having started to build a new house, he turned over to me the school, and I closed the concern in short order. It was contemplated on too grand a scale, and I listened to Mr. S. an old teacher of town.

I had another examination for "fun" this spring. Having seen in the Philadelphia Record a notice in regard to Civil Service Examina tions, I wrote for a blank etc., filled it out, and complied with all the conditions for examination, and was notified to appear in Philadelphia on the 24th of April for examination in the new Post Office Building. I went the day before and stayed overnight at the "Merchant House". I also went to see an old friend of father’s, Mr. Phreaner, and had a talk with him on the prospects of getting a position as clerk or bookkeeper. He seemed to be a little reserved in manner, but treated me kindly. I entered the examination which commenced at 10 A. M. It was severer than I thought it would b,e and I got through about 2:30 P. M,. hurrying very much and consequently making numerous errors. On the 4th of June my Certificate came with the following result markec on a scare of 100:

1st Subject Orthography, Penmanship, etc. 76.25

2nd Subject Arithmetic (fund. urles) and Percentage 95

3rd Subject Int., Disct. etc. and Bookkeeping 62.50

4th Subject English Grammar, Letter Writing, etc. 60

5th Subject Geography, History, Government, etc. 92.50

Average 77.25

Iwas well pleased with the result, but it was no correct criterion to go by in regard to my attainments. Like a great many others I had no faith in "Civil Service", and did not expect to get an appointment .

I went out fishing along the Chicquesalunga Creek, a good deal this spring and usually had good luck. But it was more for the recreation and fine scenery that I went than for the fish I caught. My sister-in-law, Mary, stayed with us from March to September. I was elected to teach the same school I had the previous year and at the same salary. In the summer I worked in haying and harvesting with my wife's uncle, Peter. We went home to Palmyra, for quite a while after harvest. In Sept., 1884, I commenced teaching again, and was more discouraged than ever. I had quite a number of new pupils, of the usual kind. The weather was extremely warm and I felt sick. On the 18th, after teaching two week,s I received an appointment to a $900 per annum position in the U. S. Treasury, Wahington, D,.C. Well, this was, to say the least, a very agreeable surprise. I resigned my school next day and made preparation to go to Washington. It did not take me very long to get ready. On Monday the 22nd, I was on my' way.

In the latter part of April there was a vacancyin the ManheimNational Bank for a clerk, and I made application for it. I spoke with some of the directors and they seemed favorably impressed, The Board stated that my qualifications were the best of all the applicants (3 or 4 in number) but elected another man, because he had been a long resident of the town, and I was almost a stranger. Of course this did not encourage me, yet I always felt a kind of secret satisfaction and consolation in the thought that my abilities were always acknowledged, though seldom rewarded. If I only had a chance or opportunity, no matter how humble, I used to say, in a clerical capacity, I was sure I would soon merit promotion, and this thought was fully realized in a short time.

I now closed my teaching career which I followed faithfully for nearly ten years and can sum up in a few lines the impressions I received during that time. I always was much concerned in the progress made by my pupils, and usually fell far below the mark I had set. I think now that I set that mark too high. Being I was a very rapid learner myself, I thought others should be the same. I looked too much on what was yet to be accomplished instead of what had already been done. I used to hear other teachers speak of their schools in such glowing terms that I felt utterly disheartened. However, when I came to the bottom facts in such cases they were greatly overdrawn and a few bright pupils were held up as a representation of the whole. My ability to present a subject in a clear manner was often acknowledged, and frequently commended by the Co. Supt. I was thoroughly familiar with the subject I wanted to teach and therefore could teach it. This may sound like boasting but it is a fact nevertheless. That I have done good work in the schoolroom, hundreds of men and women of to-day will testify, who had been my pupils. After being out of the profession for four years, I am a great deal more favorably inclined to it than I was when engaged in it. If only parents would cooperate with the teacher and consider him a friend of their children, instead of a tyrant, it would be a pleasure to teach. I hope the time will come speedily that the teacher will be considered and paid in his true light. I have given rather much space to the few lines promised, but trust not without some profit to the reader. When a man has had a rugged experience in a profession, he is very apt to have a good deal to say in regard to it.

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

I started for Washington, D. C. Monday morning, Sept. 22, 1884, arriving here at 6P.M. I stopped at the Pennsylvania House, No. 345 Pa. Ave. N. W., which was nothing but an ordinary boarding house. I stayed here until the following August, at the rate of $20 per month. Next morning I went to the Treasury Building, Pa. Ave. and 15th St, N. W. and presented my credentials at the Appointment Division where I was sworn in as a copyist at $900 per a numin the Register’s Office. I was at once introduced to the Deputy Third Auditor, Mr. Gangewer, a very kind and benevolent looking old gentleman, who took me to the Chief of the Bookkeeper’s Division, Mr. Jones. I was detailed to this Division for workand Mr. Jones took me to Mr. John H. Jackson who was to be my boss and instructor. Mr. Jackson, in company with Mr. D. P. McGowan, kept the ledgers. The accounts of the Quartermaster, Commissary and Engineer Departments of the Army and the pension Accounts are kept in this Division. Mr. Jackson started me in, giving out "Charges” which was a copy of the Officer’s account as it then stood on the ledger. There were many duties assigned to me, among which the principle ones were "raising charges", posting the "General Account and Transfer Ledgers", and reporting on "Circulars for Certificates of Non-indebtedness" of army officers. I got along very well in my work and Mr. Jackson instructed me so kindly and clearly that I had no trouble at all. I "picked up" rapidly and was soon familiar with my work. On Oct. 6, I was promoted to $1000 per annum and transferred to the Third Auditor’s Office. I went on smoothly and was exceedingly well pleased. There was no worry about my work, nogrumbling or complaining of any sort. My Chief and fellow clerks treated me very kindly. On the last Saturday in October I went home to vote and had three days leave of absence. My family stayed at Manheim and were very glad to see me. The presidential election going against our party, some were very apprehensive in regard to our positions after next 4th of March. I felt very lonely sometimes being so much by myself and knowing very few people in this city. In December I went home again and had leave from Christmas to New Year. Iwas now in a fair way to make a little money.

Events of 1885

On January 6th 1 was promoted, to $120. per annum. In February I went home on a short visit. The 4th of March was drawing nigh, but. before that, on February 21st the Washington Monument (555 feet high) was dedicated. There was a grand display of.both military and civic organizations. The weather was extremely cold. The Inauguration was now at hand, and immense preparations were made for this great event. For nearly a week before and after the day, the sound of fife and drum and band music could be heard day and night. The scene was such as cannot be described. The 4th opened bright and warm and was one of the most beautiful March days I ever saw. I heard the president deliver his inaugural address and then went to my boarding place to view the procession from the balcony. It took from 12:30 to 4:30 P. M. for it to pass one point. The Democrats were overjoyed at their victory, or pretended victory in last November, and now looked for the spoils. Many were disappointed, and many not. In the first year of the new administration every possible vacancy that could be filled without Civil Service Examination was made. On March 23rd my six months probation were up, and I was then permanently appointed. In April, my wife and children came down on a vi sit. Father accompanied them.We stored our furniture in Manheim, in March, and the family boarded with father in Palmyra. I did not know how things would turn out, and therefore waited awhile before I moved our household goods to this city. In July I went home on my annual vacation. We usually get 30 days a year, but the new Auditor cut it down to 15, so I had not much of a vacation this first year. I made arrangements to move and rented a house, No. 443 5th street N.E., which we occupied the first week in August. My father-in-law, Mr, Arnold, brought the folks down and stayed a week with us, helping to fix up the house. I began to be better satisfied now, for we had our own home, and I had my books and papers here, which I had missed very much. My wife took sick in the fall and suffered a good deal, otherwise we were all well. In the office, I was getting a-long very well. This was my first summer in the city and it was terribly hot, and I was anxious for a short time in the country.

Events of 1886

There is very little to record in regard to a government clerk’s life, unless it is outside of his employment by Uncle Sam. I continued at my work as before. In February we went home to see Grandpa Arnold who had been very sick feom New Year on. He suffered from kidney trouble and a combination of weaknesses of the digestive apparatus. He lingered until April 1st when he died, exactly 19 years after his wife had died. He was an honest, industrious, upright and Christian man. He treated me with the greatest kindness and respect. His house was always a pleasant place for me, and I shall never forget the goodness of heart he displayed. In May, brothers- in-law Charles and Frank Arnold came to us on a visit. They stayed nearly a week and enjoyed themselves much. Sue had been sick often with what seemed to be Cramp of the Stomach, and I sent for her sister Emma to stay with us. In July, mother and brother Harvey came on a visit. They remained a bout a week and were much pleased. In the beginning of August Sue, Emma and the children went home, and I kept "bachelor's hall" for about three weeks, when hearing that father was dangerously sick, I hurried home and found him pretty low. He rallied, however, and was soon able to be about again. His complaint was hemorrhage of the bowels or stomach. We had a fine time at home. I now began to get tired of the monotony of office life and began to think of taking a course of study in some of the professions more for having something to do for mind than to follow or practice. I thought of Law first but aft erwards concluded Medicine would be of more use, as well as of greater diversity in detail. I think it a noble and humane science. Law on the contrary deals so much with criminals and reprobates. How these desires will turn out is not yet apparent. I have done considerable reading during my time in this city and added a goodly number of volumes to my library. Nothing of any importance, save what I have stated took place during this year, as regards me personally.

Events of 1887

In February 1887 Mr. Jackson died and our Chief was reduced to $1600, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Jackson We got a new Chief, Mr. Beuel Williams, of Mass. In May, Bro. Frank was married and paid us a visit on his wedding tour. In June, brother-in-law Peter C. Arnold, wife and son paid us a visit. In August, we went home on our annual vacation. In June, two of our clerks were discharged and that made vacancies of $1400 and $1600. The Auditor promised me promotion within 30 or 60 days but no promotion came. I am waiting now for a change of administration when my claims will be recognised, I hope. Many of the promotions are made witout the least regard to efficiency. This is what discourages me. I would not object if the promotions were made on merit alone, as they claim to be on the ’’Rules and Regulations” , but these are printed and hung up for effect mostly and to deceive the credulous public. An examination of the work done by many of the government clerks will show that true civil service reform is very much needed. During this year 1 added quite a number of volumes to my library. I did a good deal of reading too. My private correspondence was also considerable, mostly however, of a social nature.

Events of 1888 (in part)

In the beginning of this year, I had some thoughts of writing a work on bookkeeping suitable for farmers. In February I went to work and by the latter part of April ’’Bookkeeping on the Farm", was complete in a neat manuscript form, ready for the publishers. It is a worthy effort, and I trust will find a generous reception by the farmers of our country. It is intended for public schools and private learners. I sent it first to D. Appleton and Co. of New York, but they declined to publish it . Next I tried Christopher Sower Co., Philadelphia, and they wrote me a very nice letter, but could not undertake its publication. Then I tried a western publisher, Mr. J. E. Sherrill, Danville, Indiana. He wrote me that he would like to have until fall to examine it. How he will decide I am unable to say, but believe favorably.

I have now traced my history for 32 years and given everything of interest for that time. Should Providence spare my life for some years to come I shall supplement this by the events of interest for that time. As long as I am in the government service there is very little to write worth preserving. I have experienced a great deal of pleasure in writing these reminscences. My father and Bro. John paid us a visit this May and stayed five days in the city.

Religious Training and Views

As near as I can remember, I attended Sunday School from about the age of three years on. My parents were eminently pious and spared no pains to instruct us in the practical duties of the Christian religion, both by precept and example. Our home had been a home of prayer and thanksgiving from the time I was born. How truly grateful I am for this I can not express in words. The only evidence I can give is the effort I have put forth to follow the example. Ho one can imagine, who has not experienced it , what it is to be retired in a Christian home. Children may appear indifferent, reckless and wild, but a pious parent’s teaching or example will never be effaced from, their memories»

As soon as I could read I used to take books from the Sunday School Library and read them. I had very little thought in regard to right and wrong until I was about nine years old. Then I began to realize the difference between righteousness and sin according to the teachings of the Bible. I attended the Lutheran church and Sunday School at Bellegrove until I was 14 years old when we moved to Dauphin Go. where I attended the Union Sunday School at Derry Church. I was deeply impressed with the wickedness of sin and refrained from profanity and most of the vices common among hoys. However, I was no saint hy any means and found much room for improvement. From 1872 to 1878, I attended no Sunday School regularly. I usually attended .services at Campbelltown or at Brighthill’s Meeting House. In the winter of 1874-5, I attended catechetical instruction at Annville, under Rev. J. M. Deitzler. It is the custom of the Lutheran Church to educate their people in the duties of the Christian religion,and I think it is the proper way. I should have mentioned that I was baptized in Oct. 1856 by the Rev. Samuel Tingling. In April 1875, I was duly confirmed and admitted to full membership in the First Lutheran Church at Annville. This was an incomplete step towards becoming a Christian man, and I neglected to keep up the duties consistent with the vows taken upon being confirmed. I always had tried to to satisfy my conscience with the resolve that I would wait until married and then make an open confession or become converted, which I believe is one and the same thing. In the spring of 187,8 I became a teacher in the Lutheran Sunday School at Bellegrove and in the fall was elected a deacon in the church. In the winter following Rev. Mr. Deitzler held a revival, and my wife and I were converted and made an open profession of Christianity, becoming not mere formal, but active members in the church. I cannot help but say that my ideas of religion were somewhat crude, or rather traditional, being based too much on the personal state of the emotions, instead of the true reverence, fear and love of God.

The Bible is an infallible guide for everyone, and it should be most earnestly studied and followed. The next spring I was elected superintendent of the Sunday School, that is in the spring of 1880. I was reelected in 1881-2-3, resigning in August 1883, when I removed to Manheim, Lancaster Co. Pa. My superintendence was very successful. I was careful not to appear to be a dictator, but by judicious action obtained about everything I advocated, and I have always found that other people know some things too and should have a perfect right to their opinions. I had able assistants, or in fact they were equal with me for there were two superintendents elected at the same time, but I usually took the lead by request of the other superintendent. This custom of having two officers arose from the fact that the church was built by the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations, and each was to have a representative as leader of the Sunday School. I had with me two exceptional men as helpers in the superintendency, Mr. John R. Fertig and Mr. Charles A. Mutch, the latter is now a minister of the Gospel in the U. B. Church in Christ. I tried to do my best in the church work, but fell far short of what I wanted to do. But I must not forget that we are all human.

We were received into membership in the Lutheran church at Manheim by letter. Rev. J. Peter was the pastor. I was soon elected a teacher in the Sunday School and had a large class of ladies and gentlemen, both married and single. I made myself as useful as possible and addressed the school occasionally. I also led the weekly prayer meeting sometimes. I have found out this that a humble worker is always more appreciated than a loud-mouthed professor. After all a man’s religion is nearly always gauged by his acts and not by his words ,and I believe it is a just measurement. On coming to Washington, D, C. in 1884, I attended the Lutheran Church on the corner of 11th and H streets, Northwest, Rev. Samuel Domer, D. D. pastor

Part Second, 1889-1915

Twenty-seven years seems a long time of space and there should naturally follow many interesting and notable events in a man’s life, yet under certain conditions and environment there is at most not much to record. More than a quarter of a century has elapsed since I wrote the first part of my Autobiography, at which time I had fully resolved to add a second part at some future time. The natural bent of the human mind is to put off as much as possible what might or ought to be done. Service in the government departments is not productive of any great events worthy of record, The monotony of every day life is so marked that hardly anything arises to change "the even tenor of the way". I have kept up my diary to and including 1904, and this can be consulted if thought of sufficient interest to the reader. Possibly the neglect of preparing a continuence of the first part of my record was the fact that the boys have been of sufficient age to know everything that transpired during this period, with the exception of Warren who was not born until April 20, 1891. In some of my diary I have added at the end of each year a summary of events and observations for that year and these might prove of some interest, especially during the years 1892-6, while pursuing a course in medicine to a successful completion 'with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, at the Medical Department of the Columbian University, of the District of Columbia, now known as the George Washington University. These four years were indeed"full" for me. As I look back now, it seems almost impossible that such a course could have been taken by a man of apparently so little physical vitality. Although I would not by any means convey the idea that at any time I was to be considered an invalid, yet I scarcely weighed more than 120 pounds and with the office duties and parental cares of a household, and I may add church duties, it is really a wonder that 1 could bear the strain. No one can appreciate how relieved I felt when my final examinations were successfully passed and I had the great pleasure of inviting my father to be present at commencenent on May 7, 1896. That was the proudest moment of my life, and I shall never cease to be grateful to the Good Lord that He spared my aged father to have that privilege which I alone know how highly he appreciated. It is not necessary to say much about my active medical practice, mornings and evenings, for about four years except this fact, I was very successful, far exceeding my expectations. It was a most laborious task and very severe on my nervous system from the fact that I was perhaps too sensitive or sympathetic. I gradually "closed out" my practice as much as I could, but many of my former patients would call me in for years afterwards. As in my teaching career I tried to do conscientiously everything for my pupils to advance them in their studies, so in my medical practice I spared no labor or expense to minister to my patients to the best of my ability.

Financially it was not much of a success, as I barely realized in money as much as my course cost me which was about $535. The satisfaction of having a fair knowledge of the subject and being able to attend to the ordinary needs of my family amply repaid me for the time and energy expended in pursuing the course I did.

In the fall of 1892, the Democratic party elected Grover Cleveland president of the United States and the following March a new regime began in the governmental affairs. Soon after, our Chief of Division was dismissed, and we got a Democrat in his place, a Mr. Williams from Boston. He was a kind and good-hearted bachelor but had a weakness for strong drink and would go off on a debauch for weeks at a time and then sober up in a hospital. In October 1894 the "Dockery Law/" went into effect, abolishing our Division in the Third Auditor's Office, resulting in the discharge and reduction of a large number of clerks, all Republicans. The reference to the new Chief of Division made above is in error, it should have been Mr. B. F. Harrah, who was soon succeeded by Mr. C. G. McGruder, Jr. a young Democrat from Maryland. As a result of this new law, I was reduced from $1400 to $1000 per annum and placed on the "Temporary Roll". I should have stated that I had been promoted to $1400 Dec. 1, 1890, after passing a rigid examination with a grade of 94.58%. I did not like this temporary position and soon found there were some $900 vacancies in the Treasurer’s Office. I applied for one and was appointed, October 20, 1894. I now had to begin all over again at least in salary. The work in the Division of General Accounts to which I was assigned is of a higher grade than that in the office in which I had been previously employed. I soon made myself useful and was highly complimented by my new Chief, Mr. F. D. McDowell, a Democrat from Iowa. I might state my gradual advancement in salary here as follows: Jan, 20, 1896 to $1000, June 18, 1897 to $1200. Feb. 9, 1898 to $1400, Dec. 15, 1900 to $1600 July 1, 1901 to $1800. I was examined for the first promotion and the last two with the folowing result: 83.38; 93.61; 95.24; respectively.

On Nov, 25, occurred the death of my father after a very brief illness. This was indeed a severe bereavement, and I shall never forget the sad and lonely ride home that bleak November day, and the painful ordeal of meeting mother, who was heart-broken. I have tried to become reconciled to the loss by all manner of reasoning etc., but the fact remains that the world appears different to me from what it did before. I don’t know if all sons were similarly related, or I might say attached to their fathers as I was, but I was so impressed with Father’s goodness, his kindness, uprightness, and the great respect with which he was held in the community in which he lived and wherever he was known, that I thought there never was such a father for anybody else. This may sound like selfishness on my part, but I cannot think about it, even at this late day, in a different manner. Something is missing that I cannot account for, nor is there anything in this world that can take its place. And, after all, should, there be such a thing as a substitute for a father’s care and love?

My mother had been spared for many years and in a measure compensated for for father’s loss, but mothers cannot take fathers’ places with boy,s as I believe fathers cannot take mothers’ places with girls. The great annual event of going home for our vacation was now at an end. True we went up every summer, but it was no longer home. While we have many dear friends, none can take the place made vacant by the parents; and no other home, however fine, comfortable and happy, can supply the place of the original home of our childhood and youth.

In the spring of 1900, Rev. Dr. Domer resigned as pastor of St. Paul’s Luteran Church, and we then severed our connection with that church and united with Keller Memorial, Md. Ave. and 9th St. N. E., only a few squares from our house. In September following, I was elected superintendent of the Sunday School, and in October an elder in the church and secretary of the church council, which offices I have held continuously ever since being reelected as my terms expired. I had been assistant superintendent of St. Paul’s Sunday School and a deacon in the church and secretary of the council for a number of years. Our new church home became a source of great comfort and joy from the fact that we could attend all of the services and get acquainted more fully with the people. Rev. C. H. Butler was the pastor until Nov. 1907 when he resigned and was succeeded in 1908 by Rev. C. P. Wiles. The year 1900 is memorable for us from the fact that in Sept. Charlie took Typhoid Fever and was sick for eight weeks. It was a long siege and many anxious hours of watching, hoping and praying for his recovery. He passed thru the ordeal safely, and we all felt so glad. He afterwards attended the Columbian University, taking a course in Architecture, finishing it with a two-year special course at the University of Pennsylvania in 1905.

In May 1902, we bought our house, No. 640 1st. N. E. for $5200 and have lived here ever since. It was a source of great pleasure to make our own home comfortable, cheerful and pleasant. During these years we have made some repairs and have everything in fine order. We have large rooms and can move about with ease and satisfaction.

On September 14, 1904, Edgar got married to Miss Ruth E. Latham, and the following September Charlie married Miss Edith K. Early. The birth of Edgar’s little girl, Olive in 1905, was a great event in our house, as they have been living with us ever since their marriage. It is not necessary to record the boys’ doings as that is well known to them and this is to be strictly an "Autobiography" so I have tried to keep as near to my ’’subject” as possible.

Warren graduated from the Washington High School in 1911 and entered the Catholic University of America as a student in Architecture in October following and is now (1915) finishing his last year.

During all these years of my official life I have been doing a great deal of reading; and as I have a dislike of using books from a Public Librar,y I buy most of the books I read. My private library has grown to large proportions and is a source of great pleasure to me as well as of much profit. I might say that my objection to public libraries is simply that you are limited as to the time allowed in reading books, and I like to take my own time and not be hurried.

On January 10, 1914, after a few days of slight ailing,mother passed peacefully away to her eternal rest, having survived father for almost 17 years. No one had any thought that she was seriously sick, and she was conscious to the last minute, just fell asleep as it was. I had paid her a visit just a few months before and spent nearly a week with her and she was so happy and cheerful that it seemed impossible almost to think that she should pass away so soon.after. The last vestige of home is gone now and all but one have been gathered to the heavenly home, Aunt Molly Miller, of Des Moines, Iowa, is still living. I attended mother’s funeral, and there was a large number present. The little School children who had learned to know her and love her came to take a last look at her sweet, kind face. Cousin Mart Hooker spoke very tenderly about mother at the funeral as he had also done at father’s many years before. Now both parents are gone, and we stand at the head of the procession and will be the next to follow.

I have now given a history of 59 years of my life and think it needless to add more. The future is before me and probably will be spent in a similar manner as the last thirty years. I have a desire for a home in the country and should delight to have a little ground to till and work about in the open air as I would be able to do, comfortably, whether this will ever be realized remains to be seen.

Washington, D. C.

Washington’s Birthday, 1915

GENEALOGY

PATERNAL ANCESTRY

Michael Seltzer, Great-grandfather.

Came from Germany when quite young, probably not more than seven years old. He located somewhere in the vicinity of Jonestown, Lebanon Co. Pa.

He died about the year 1815 and is buried at the Goshert Church, Sherksville, or vicinity, near the Berks County line. His wife’s maiden name was Gassert, or Goshert probably, and is buried at Jonestown Lebanon Co. Pa. (Traditions verbally handed down).

Ceorge Uhland, Great- grandfather.

Was born probably in the vicinity of Lebanon, of German ancestors married Mary Light. Both are buried at Kaufman's Church, about midway between Belllegrove and Annville. They have no inscribed tombstones, and I could not ascertain anything in regard to their birth and death. Mary Light was a daughter of Martin Light, who was born about 1725 in Lebanon Township, and died October 1805. Married a Miss Peiffer. (See record of Light family in History of Dauphin and Lebanon Counties page 245, Lebanon County.)

Philip Seltzer, Grandfather.

Born Dec. 26, 1772. Died April 19, 1847.

He was a mason by trade but spent much of his time on a small farm that he owned. After lingering for some years, he died of Consumption. He was a sober, quiet and industrious man and a member of the Lutheran Church. Buried in the Reformed Church Cemetery, Annville, Pa.

Maria Uhland. Grandmother.

Born August 10, 1784. Died February 25, 1860.

I remember her very well as a kind old lady, sitting in her rocking chair and holding me on her lap sometimes. And when she died, I was at the funeral, standing alongside of my father as they lowered her body into the grave. It made a lasting impression on my mind. Her disease was consumption. She also embraced the Lutheran faith. Buried, in the Lutheran Cemetery at Beliegrove, Pa.

PHILIP SELTZER'S FAMILY.

	NAMES.	BORN ’ BOSH• •			DIED
1	Jacob	Oct. 12, ’ Oct. 12,	1801	Nov.	11,	1892.
2	Mary (Xander) (Bloltz)	Oct. 25,	1806	Dec.	1,	1884.
3	Fanny (Lessly)	Oct. 21,	1812	May	27,	1892.
4	George, U.	Aug, 14,	1813	Oct.	27,	1873.
5	Samuel, U.	May 16,	1816	Oct.	28,	1883.
6	Catharine (Blouch)	Oct, 19,	1819	June	27,	1883.
7	Henry, U.	June 15,	1024	Bov,	24,	1897.
8	Lydia	Oct, 13,	1826	Sept	. 5,	1850. /

HENRY U. SELTZER'S FAMILY.

	NAMES	BORN		DIED
1	John Philip	Nov. 2, 1851
2	Martin H	Oct. 27,1852
3	James Monroe	Aug.23, 1854		Aug. 6, 1855
4 5	Henry II Lizzie Ulen ’ (Longenecker) ’	Aug.28, 1856 July 10,1859	1	Aug. 6, 1855


6	BenjaminFranklin'	Apr. 1, 1861
7	Charles Augustus’	Aug. 19, 1864
8	Levi Harvey > 5	Oct. 27, 1866	f

MATERNAL ANCESTRY

Adam Hocker, Great-grandfather.

Came from Germany and had been heard to say that they were six months on their way to America. He lived in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pa. He married Elizabeth Weidman, who died in 1785.

(History of Dauphin and Lebanon Counties).

ADAM. HOCKER’S FAMILY

Martin Hocker, Grandfather.

Born, Oct. 21, 1768. Died, April 25, 1862.

He was a shoemaker by trade, but farmed nearly all his life, keeping a country hotel for a long time. I remember him very well. He used to say that he had seen General Washington and knew much of the Revolution. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. Died of cerebral hemorrhage (Apoplexy). His funeral was one of the largest in that part part of the country, for he was a highly respected, upright man.

Barbara Smith, Grandmother.

Born, Oct. 6, 1787. Died, March 16, 1878.

Of her ancestry, I have been able to find nothing at all. She was grandfather's second wife and the most friendly and kindly-looking old lady I ever saw. She too was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. She was stricken with cerebral hemorrhage and lingered for a few weeks. I attended the funeral. Both are buried in Hummelstown, Pa.

MARTIN HOOKER'S FAMILY' (first wife)

	Names		Born		___ J___________ .			Died
1	Peter	Feb.	24,	1801
2	Catharine(Greiner)	Sep.	3,	1802		Dec.	19,	1871
3	John	May	6,	1804
4	George	June	18,	1806		Oct.	31,	1886
5	Christina(Landis)	Nov.	24,	1808

(second wife)

6	Elizabeth (Foorman) Apr.		23	1810	Apr.	14,	1897
7	Martin	May	2s’»	1812	Oct.	1,	1892
8	Mary	Aug,	29,	1814	Mar.	12,	1894
9 J?	Jacob	May	27,	1818	Aug.	7,	. 1898
10	Susan(We 1 tme r)	Jan.	17,	1822	Sept.	21.	1900
11	Sarah(Kauffman)	Sept.	27,	1824	Sept.	15,	1912
12	Anna(Seltzer)	May	10,	1827	Jan.	10,	1914
13	Barbara(Cassel) *	May	10,	1827	Dec.	17,	1910
14	Molly (Miller) I I	July	4,	1829		17,

Landed at Philadelphia, Pa. from Germany.

Sep.	5,	1730,	Mattheis Seltzer	1
Sep.	5,	1749,	Nicholas seltzer	1
Sep.	15	1749,	Weirich Seltzer	From Rupp’ s 30,000 Names t
Aug.	28	1750,	Johannes Seltzer	of Germans landing in Pa. i
Sep.	5,	1751,	Johan Martin Seltzer	1
Sep.	19	, 1752	, Hans Jacob Seltzer	I
		----------		$
Oct.	2,	1741,	Simon Heinrich Hooker	i

seltzer@seltzerbooks.com privacy statement


	Webseltzerbooks.com