(Chapter flow:)
ITS ORIGIN AND TOWN LIMITS
TOWN LIMITS
GROWTH, CHANGE OF NAME, ETC.
MERCANTILE ASPECT
MANUFACTURING
TRADES ETC.
SHIPPING INTERESTS
EASTERN SHORE STEAMBOAT CO.
SHIP BUILDING ETC.
HOTELS, LIVERY STABLES, ETC.
PHYSICIANS
LAWYERS
POST OFFICE
PRINTING OFFICES
SOCIAL ASPECT, ETC.
MORAL ASPECT
TEMPERANCE CAUSE
SCHOOLS
CHURCHES
Note: In duplicating this material for publishing on The Pocomoke Public Eye we have made minor adjustments to correct some of the spelling, punctuation, etc. We believe the errors were not in Rev. Murray's original writing but occurred in the process of formatting the material to a digital format for viewing online.
SCHOOLS (CONTINUED.)
Mrs. Nettie O'Daniel was a native of Wilmington, Del.,
where she received a liberal public school education, and
taught in the public schools of that city and in Pocomoke
City High School, in Wyoming College, Del, and in
Colorado. Mrs. O'Daniel was a lady of fine accomplish-
ments and showed herself to great advantage in the school
room as an educator.
Miss Mary M. Hearn was also one of the first assistants
in the High School. She was born in New Town, Md.,
on the 16th day of July, 1848. She went to school until
she was fifteen years of age, after that she was educated
by her father, Dr. John L. Hearn, at home. She was well
qualified as a teacher and taught in the High School for
nine years, when her health compelled her, by incessant
application, to resign her position. Indeed, her feeble
constitution was so worn down that although she continued
teaching until vacation, then she yielded shortly after to
the inevitable and passed away. Her death occurred
Aug. 24th, 1875. Miss Hearn had a fine mind and an
amiable disposition. She was raised right and adorned
her name with a life worthy of imitation.
Charles H. Council, Esq., is a native of Southampton'
County, Va. He was educated at Richmond College,
Virginia, and at Columbian College, D. C, at which latter-
place he graduated. At school ten years in Vir-
ginia before he came to this county. After coming here
he taught two years at McMaster's School-house, two
years at Pitt's Creek School-house, and has been engaged
in the High School for about nine years, in which he is
still engaged teaching.
Mrs. Millie Primrose, daughter of Thomas F. Stevenson,.
Esq., was born at Snow Hill, Md., and was educated at
the Academy of that place. In 1869, she entered the
High School of Pocomoke City to teach a primary
class, and continued in that capacity until 1873. when she
succeeded Miss Eudora E. Hay in the grammar class, and.
has continued teacher of that room until the present.
Mrs. Primrose is a lady of fine accomplishments and
an efficient teacher. As an evidence of her efficiency, I
will mention the fact, that she has been teaching in the-
High School in Pocomoke City for thirteen years, nine
years of which she has been in charge of the Grammar
School Department without a rival for the position. An
interesting item of rare occurrence, in connection with
Mrs. Primrose is here inserted. She is a member of a
family of five persons, representing five generations, and
each one being the first born of each generation; their
ages aggregating 276 years, all living in the same
house, and all enjoying good health.
John W. Murray succeeded Mrs. O'Daniel as teacher of
the grammar school department in the High School of
Pocomoke City. He was born in New Town, Worcester
County, Md., on the 13th day of November, 1848. From
his infancy he was delicate in health. He was educated at
the Academy and High School of Pocomoke City, and at
Dickinson College, Carlisle, Penn. He had an ambition
to excel; he was studious and with a close application,
made great progress in learning. He not only studied at
school, but at home; also, he was the last member of the
family to retire at night, and the first to arise in the morn-
ing poring over his books. John was also a lover of
home, and never seemed happier than when in the society
of his mother. Touching remembrances of him come up
before me as I write this article, which brings the tear
unbidden from its place. Frequently in the family we
would be discussing the subject of the hard struggles for an
honorable livelihood, and the various casualties to which
we might be subjected, when John would exclaim : "Moth-
er," said he, "I intend to take care of you." To illustrate
his industry I will mention an incident which has always
been a great satisfaction to me.
At a certain commencement, the scholars as was always
the case, had their pieces to get by heart against the day
of exhibition. On the day appointed the large building
was crowded. John's turn came to speak. The piece
assigned him was a declamation of a Roman General
before the Roman Senate. As he approached the rostrum
the principal remarked to the large audience that "Mr.
Murray had only two weeks to translate that speech into
English and commit it to memory besides attending to his
other regular studies. He made the speech successfully,
and in leaving the stand and while walking down the aisle
to his seat, I noticed the eyes of all were upon him. I
felt prouder that day to be the father of such a young
man than the possessor of millions of money. After
teaching at Stockton and in the High School in Pocomoke
City, he went to Dickinson College to finish his education
for he was ambitious to graduate with nothing short of the
highest honors conferred upon a completion of a college
course; but here his strength failed him, and he had to
give up the struggle. He went to Arkansas to regain his
health, but the trip only helped to shorten his days. He
came home to his native place and lingered for two years
with that fatal disease, Consumption, when, like the
evening zephyr that hushes into silence at nightfall, he
passed away in hope of a blissful immortality on the 27th
day of April, 1873, in the 25th year of his age.
Eulogies have been heaped upon him. After he received
his certificate from the School Board of the county the
examiner was in Pocomoke City and said he was an honor
to his parents and a credit to his native town. One who
was associated with him in school and knew well his
knowledge of Latin and Greek, said to me that John could
read Latin as fluently as he could read English. The
principal of the High School and the president of Dickin-
son College both spoke to me in high terms of his intellect
and his acquirements. His text books of English, Latin,
Greek, French and German, which I still keep as remi-
niscences of him, remind me of the long hours he would be
poring over them.
Continues next Saturday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye.