History of Leitersburg District, Washington County, Md

are interred. This was a place of burial as early as 1783. It is surrounded by a brick wall, erected in 1889 by George W., David, and Sophia Ziegler. The Hartle burial ground, on the farm of Alveh L. Stockslager, is inclosed by a substantial stone wall. The burial ground of the Lecron family is situated on the farm of John D. Spessard; that of the Good and Barr families, on the farm of C. L. G. Anderson; of the Gilberts and Rowlands, on that of Daniel N. Scheller; of the Garvers, on that of William H. Hoffman; of the Dayhoffs, on that of William H. Stevenson. There are also private burial grounds on the farms of Upton Clopper, Samuel Cook, etc.

A burial ground is connected with each of the five churches of the District. That at Jacobs is the oldest, and here there are many graves marked by rough headstones bearing no inscriptions whatever. It may be positively stated, however, that interments were made here as early as 1790.

"THE HOLLOW HOUSE"

CHAPTER V.

SCHOOLS.

MARTIN'S SCHOOL

LEITERSBURG SCHOOLS-THE JACOBS CHURCH SCHOOL-" JACOB MILLER'S SCHOOL HOUSE"-PARADISE-ROCK HILL-PLEASANT HILLNEW HARMONY-MT. UNION-GENERAL STATISTICS.

It is difficult to trace the history of early educational effort in Leitersburg District. It may be positively stated that George Adam Mueller was a teacher in the Jacobs church neighborhood in 1774 and Michael Boor in 1786, but where they taught is a matter of conjecture. The population of the District was certainly ample to sustain one or more schools as early as the Revolution, but while it is highly probable that the more enterprising and intelligent among the pioneers secured for their children some local educational advantages, no record of such efforts has been preserved.

"THE HOLLOW HOUSE."

One of the earliest school houses of the District stood on the north side of the Greencastle road about a mile from Leitersburg and a short distance from the residence of Andrew Strite. From its location in a deep depression between two hills this was long known and is still remembered as "the hollow house." The building has been removed, and but little now remains to mark its location except a well of water. It was a long, low structure, built of logs, and served both as school room and as residence for the teacher. Here Thomas Hauks taught in 1804. The following correspondence, the original of which is preserved by Mark Z. Poe of Leitersburg, is probably the earliest document extant relating to the educational history of the District:

SIR: As the first quarter was to have been in advance there could be no doubt of its being due now, but as I did not stand in any great need of the money till now I did not think it material to write you for any; but my family as well as myself being at this time in a bad state of health make it indispensably necessary that I should write you this note, the purport of which is for the sum of $4.00, which you will please to send by one of your sons in the morning when

they come to school, for which I will send you a receipt in the evening of the same day.

July 24, 1804.

Mr. George Ziegler.

THOMAS HAUKS.

Charles Cavender taught here in 1813 and a Mr. Crawford about 1820. The latter appears to have been one of the last teachers. There can be little doubt that this school was established prior to 1800, and that a large part of the District was embraced in its territory.

MARTIN'S SCHOOL.

One mile east of Leitersburg on the main road to Smithsburg is the school house locally known as Longmeadows or Martin's. On the opposite side of the road from the present modern building stands a long, one-story, wooden structure, weather-beaten and dilapidated though still comparatively substantial. This building may well be regarded as a landmark in the educational history of the District. From the original subscription paper for its erection it is learned that "a number of the inhabitants of Upper Antietam Hundred in Washington County, Md., met according to notice given for that purpose at the dwelling house of Christian Good on the 2d of March last [1811] in order to choose suitable persons and a proper place for building a school house and the persons then and there met did unanimously elect Christian Good, John Moyer, and Jacob Lambert trustees for carrying into effect the said purpose," who accordingly selected "a lot of ground on a corner of Christian Good's plantation, on which they provided material and commenced the building." This they agreed to finish "with good and sufficient materials and in a neat and workmanlike manner, the whole to be made with two good floors and well illuminated with glass windows, the room for a school to be furnished with a desk, two writing tables, with proper seats and a good stove. The part intended for the accommodation of a teacher and family is also to be well furnished with a good stone chimney, door, windows," etc. It was further specified "that the said house shall be and remain for the sole use of a school and accommodation of a teacher and for no other purpose, except that it be open on Sundays and other convenient