4o  Memoir  of  Thomas  H.  Powers.  J™;™"™' 
zen,  who  held  the  position  of  "  Baker-general  to  the  army  of  the 
United  States  during  the  Revolutionary  war." 
Mr.  Ludwick  deceased  June,  1801,  leaving  his  residuary  estate,  esti- 
mated then  at  $8,000,  "  to  the  association  which  should  be  first  incor- 
porated for  the  purpose  of  teaching  gratis  the  poor  children  of  the  city 
or  liberties  of  Philadelphia,  without  any  exception  to  the  country, 
extraction  or  religion  of  their  parents  or  friends." 
In  1804  a  lot  of  ground  was  purchased  on  the  north  side  of  Walnut 
street,  above  Sixth  street,  and  a  neat  two-story  brick  edifice  was  erec- 
ted and  completely  fitted  up  for  the  reception  of  scholars.  On  the 
decease  of  the  widow  of  the  testator  the  society  became  possessed  of 
further  property,  making  the  Ludwick  bequest  about  $13,000. 
In  1859  t^e  schools  were  removed  from  Walnut  street  to  the  Beck 
school  house  on  Catharine  street,  above  Sixth  street,  where  a  flourish- 
ing school  is  still  maintained  by  this  society. 
In  i860  the  society  report  "  already  about  19,000  children  have 
been  pupils  in  the  schools  established  by  the  society,  and  among  the 
names  are  those  of  some  of  our  most  prominent  and  valuable  citizens." 
u  Within  the  walls  of  its  school-room,  and  by  its  members,  in  connec- 
tion with  other  philanthropists,  the  law  passed  in  1818  establishing  the 
common  school  system  in  Philadelphia  was  devised  and  drafted." 
From  the  records  of  this  society,  in  1827,  we  make  the  following 
extract  : 
"  The  committee  report  that  on  an  examination  of  the  records  they  find  that 
Thomas  H.  Powers  was  admitted  a  scholar  in  Fourth  month,  1819,  and  continued 
until  Third  month,  1827,  a  period  of  nearly  eight  years,  during  which  time  from 
the  report  of  Thomas  Walter,  his  teacher,  it  appears  that  his  deportment  was  unusu- 
ally exemplary,  and  the  diligence  and  attention  with  which  he  pursued  his  studies 
altogether  satisfactory. 
"  At  the  time  of  his  admission  he  was  seven  years  of  age  and  could  spell  but 
indifferently,  but  by  close  application,  although  the  state  of  his  health  frequently 
occasioned  his  absence,  he  became  a  good  reader,  writer  and  arithmatician,  and  also 
became  tolerably  proficient  in  mathematics  and  book-keeping. 
"  The  teacher  states  as  a  remarkable  circumstance,  that  during  the  whole  time 
which  this  lad  was  under  his  care  he  does  not  recollect  that  he  ever  had  occasion  to 
punish  him  or  even  speak  a  harsh  word  to  him.  Indeed,  all  the  information  received 
by  your  committee,  as  well  as  their  personal  knowledge  of  him,  is  such  as  to  induce 
them  to  believe  that  an  expression  of  approbation  of  his  conduct  by  the  Board  of 
Managers  is  justly  due  to  him,  and  may  operate  as  an  encouragement  to  others  to 
follow  the  excellent  example  he  has  set  his  fellow-students  while  in  school.  They 
therefore  offer  the  following  resolution  : 
