High-resolution, full color images available online
Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
View college, high school, and military yearbooks
Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
Support the schools in our program by subscribing
Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information
Page 14 text:
“
John A. Brashear OHX A. BRASHEAR was born at Brownsville. Pa., in the year 1840. With the rest of the boys of the neighborhood, lie attended common school,—a very common school, as Mr. Brashear puts it. for it was only a very ordinary two-roomed, brick building. But be that as it may. it gave him his first insight into learning, and instilled that desire for knowledge, which has made him the great scholar that he is. After leaving public school, in order to learn a trade, he apprenticed himself, as pattern-maker, to a steam boat engine manufactory, in his native town. In i860 he removed to Louisville, K , where he again found work with a steam engine builder. Louisville was one of the hot beds of the Confederacy, and the fact that he was a Northerner, and had sworn allegiance to the Union, made things so unpleasant that he was forced to leave. He came to Pittsburgh, and accepted a position as millwright with Zug Painter, and for the next twenty years lie was closely associated with rolling-mill work. Throughout all this time, however, he had been faithfully enlarging upon his elementary knowledge of astronomy, which his grandfather, Nathaniel Smith, had first imparted to him as a boy. It was exceedingly difficult, up hill work, filled with discouragements, and demanding untiring labor. He had to solve the most difficult problems, and penetrate the deepest of sciences, almost without help or assistance. During his stay with Zug Painter he made a very careful study of the heavens, usually taking his candle and star map on the river bank and getting behind the pig metal piles, locating the principal stars in a constellation until they became very familiar to him. There was but one man in Pittsburgh. Professor Langley, who had any knowledge of astronomy, and while the assistance he did render was invaluable, yet Mr. Brashear would not impose upon him to any great extent. With the help of his wife. Phoebe Stewart, whose encouragement and labor did much to win success for her husband, he made, by three years’ work at night, a five-inch lense and telescope. Not content with this, he began the grinding of a twelve-inch reflecting telescope glass. After two and a half years, when the lense was nearing completion, during which time he had worked almost S
”
Page 13 text:
“
This book ts respectfully dedicated to Mr. John A. 'Brashear whose unflagging interest, and untiring efforts, as a member of the Committee on Technical Schools, has secured for our institution many of the advantages and privileges that we so well enjoy, and whose contributions to science have Won for him a place among the great men of the world.
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.
