Locust Grove School

Christian Sanderson

In the early 1900’s, the school teacher was Christian Sanderson, the leader of the folk band, the Pocopson Boys.    He was a local historian and a colorful member of the community.  The West Chester Daily Local dated December 28, 1906 states:

Robert W. Caldwell, Pocopson School Board Member

Robert W. Caldwell was born about 1822. Caldwell began his career as a farmer and shipped produce to Philadelphia markets by rail from West Chester. In 1860, he purchased a Locust Grove Village general store at sheriff’s sale. Robert Caldwell, or his children, ran this store from 1860 through 1930. Robert Caldwell’s occupations included farmer, market man, shopkeeper, and postmaster. His vocations included: assessor and collector of taxes for Pocopson; director and treasurer of the Pocopson School Board; and delegate to the first Republican County Convention in 1855.

Student Profiles

The Locust Grove Schoolhouse records include attendance books from 1855 through 1874 and years 1887 through 1893. Only the years 1860 and 1870 feature both attendance and census records; these documents together can be used to learn a little about the Locust Grove Schoolhouse students and their families. Looking at these documents for both census years, 1860 and 1870, we can see how Locust Grove Schoolhouse families grew and changed.  

Mary Gillen

Some students were first generation Americans.

Mary Gillen

Born: ca. 1852
Race: White
Ethnicity: Irish (both parents born in Ireland)
Student in 1860 through 1870

Edward Parker Griffith

Some student’s parents had unique jobs.

Edwin Griffith (Edward Parker Griffith)

Born: ca. 1852
Race: White
Student in 1857 to 1866

Evaline Midcalf

Some students lived in another family’s household and held a job while attending school.

Evaline Midcalf

Born: ca. 1857
Race: White
Student in 1870

Abraham James Brice and William Henry Brice

Some students were from large and growing families.

Abraham (Abram) James Brice
Born: ca. 1860

William Henry Brice
Born: ca. 1861
Race: African American
Students in 1871

Class Profiles

The Locust Grove Schoolhouse attendance records capture different information each year. Sometimes progress and content are included, sometimes race and age, and in the early books, the occupations of parents. For every year, days absent and days attended are recorded, as well as the student’s first and last name and gender. Here is a snapshot of the class in 1860, 1870 and 1890.

Locust Grove Class in 1890

In 1890, regular attendance was increasing, but enrollment was declining. Pennsylvania Federal Census records for 1890 were destroyed in a warehouse fire in 1921, so we do not know how many households or the overall population of Pocopson for this year. The Teachers’ Monthly Reports for June 5, 1890, show 23 students enrolled in the Locust Grove School at that time. The 1890 roll did not record occupations for the fifteen families or the race or ethnicity of the students. June 5th was the end of the 160-day school year.

Locust Grove Class in 1870

Locust Grove Schoolhouse was growing in enrollment, and the building was expanded in 1870. Census records indicate 107 households and 502 people lived in Pocopson Township in 1870.  That year, fifty-two students attended the Locust Grove Schoolhouse. Of the 52 students—aged 6 through 17—enrolled, five students were African American, 14 students had Irish immigrant parents, and 33 students were white.

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