Springfield Township.

another large weeping-willow and tall bushes of osage-orange and sumach overshadow the wall. Short mounds of buried children fill the space, though larger graves show where the 'rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.' In the rank grass and among the vines that here creep over the ground and swathe the graves dwell undisturbed hosts of insects, especially crickets and grasshoppers. Among these the great green grasshopper abounds, one of the noisiest of our musical insects, and day and night alike his shrilling is heard among the graves, making this rural 'God's acre' a very garden of insect song.

"The plain stone building is a pretty object, standing in its two-acre field, embowered among trees. Just across the meadow is a farm, once a country-seat of an eminent president of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Adjoining that the cupola of 'Shady-Bank,' a fine country home, rises above the tops of a noble grove of trees.

"Inside the building is exceedingly plain. It is fashioned after the manner of a Quaker meeting-house, having a 'gallery' or long rows of elevated seats along the middle, opposite the door. A pulpit is arranged at the central part of the gallery, beneath which is a chancel-like space, where stand a reed organ and a superintendent's desk. Comfortable sofa-benches, with reversible backs, are ranged in front and on either side of the pulpit. In front of the chancel stands a large cannon stove, whose long pipe penetrates the ceiling. The walls are unadorned, and the whole interior is plain enough to suit the severest taste."¹

Schools. - In Springfield as early as 1793 a school was maintained under the care of the society of Friends, but of the manner of instruction pursued therein very little information, other than the fact of the school being established, has been obtained. The first definite knowledge of the schools, about the beginning of the present century, is that furnished in the story of the childhood days of John P. Crozer. In speaking of that period in the life of the latter personage his biographer says, -

"The educational advantages of Delaware County at that time were very limited. About three-fourths of a mile from the old mansion (West's birthplace) there may still be seen a little stone school-house. Here, at the age of six, John commenced his studies, walking daily to the school in company with his sisters and his brother James; and here he received all the school education he ever had, except a little over one quarter's instruction, in his fifteenth year, at a school two miles off. His first teacher, or 'master,' as he was called in those days, was Moses Taylor. John had been under his instruction but a short time, when 'Master Doane' succeeded to authority in the little schoolhouse. He is described as having been a good teacher in spelling and arithmetic. In reading, his ability consisted in calling the words readily, rather than in emphasis or inflection. He was a thorough disciplinarian, and having drank deeply into the spirit of Solomon, was an earnest believer in the use of the ferrule and the rod. John seems, however, to have escaped correction, there being in his case no need of such gentle persuasions to diligence or good behavior. On the contrary, he was a favorite with his instructor.

"Under this teacher John commenced ciphering, and found no little difficulty in comprehending the science of numbers. Long, irregular columns were given him to add up. How to dispose of the tens and hundreds was the problem. He was told to 'carry them forward,' but what 'carrying forward' meant was just what he did not understand. Master Doane scolded, threatened, did nearly everything but explain; until John was almost in despair . . . . When he (Crozer) was about nine years old 'Master Doane' gave up the reins of government to Mr. Joseph Pardee. He was a man of more education than his predecessor, but in the opinion of his youthful pupil, who had already begun to study men,' he had less ability to impart instruction.' Under Master Pardee, in addition to his other studies, he gained some knowledge of surveying, and soon put his knowledge into practice by surveying some of his father's fields, his only instrument being an old compass and a two-pole chain.

"After reaching the age of thirteen, John attended school only in the winter, working the rest of the year on the farm. Even in the winter his studies were accompanied with work in taking care of the stock, cutting and carrying in the wood, and building the morning fires. In comparing the present facilities for education with those of his childhood, Mr. Crozer said, 'My teachers knew nothing of English grammar, although they professed to teach something of it, and the little knowledge of grammar I possess was obtained without a teacher after I was twenty-one. Not one of my teachers, except perhaps Mr. Pardee, would now pass examination as teachers of common schools in Delaware County."²

The school building known by old citizens as the "Yellow school-house" was erected in the latter part of the last century. The ground on which it stood in 1760 belonged to Josiah Hibberd, who acquired title to the property by right of his wife, Susannah, daughter of George Owens. In 1764, Hibherd died, and in proceeding in partition in 1768 the land passed to James Rhoads, whose son, Owen Rhoads, in 1778 received it under the terms of his father's will. The land on which the school-house stands was conveyed by one of these parties, in whom the title was, but when or by whom has not been ascertained. The lot is triangular, and is formed by Springfield and Darby road and the road from the Rhoads farm to Chester and Springfield road. George Bolton Jones, who died in 1834, and who had attended school there nearly one hundred years ago, computed from the present time, used to relate that one McCue, an Englishman, taught there many years. He was much addicted to drink, and was wont to go to the Lamb Tavern, or others near by, on Friday night, where he would remain until Monday morning, and get thoroughly drunk. Many times the larger pupils would go for him Monday morning, and, one on each side, would lead him to the school-house. When intoxicated he was always good-natured, but when sober he was apt to be severe, and the boys would receive flogging without stint. One Monday morning, in the fall of the year, he was not to be found, and nothing was heard of him until the next spring, when a farmer, in feeding hay to his cattle, found him dead in the hay-mow. It was supposed he went in there when drunk, and became covered with the hay, and was smothered to death.

John Ogden, who died in September, 1877, in his ninetieth year, went to school in 1799 in the little stone school-house, southeastern part of Springfield, and five years later taught there.

Among the teachers in the school years ago were Lydia Massey, William Saffer, Harlan Ingram, Dr. Samuel Bartleson, and Dr. J. L. Forwood, of Chester. The school directors of Springfield did not acquire title to any property in Springfield until 1855, but had possession of the school-houses which had been built prior to the school law of 1834. The old Yellow school-house was used until 1852, when the present house was built. This is known as the Central School. The present mayor of Chester, Dr. J. L. Forwood, was the first teacher in the new house.

A stone school-house was built about 1822, near the line of Ridley township, one mile south of Oakdale