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Sylvester Dana, son of Anderson and Sarah (Stevens) Dana, was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., May 28, 1806. His parents both came from Connecticut in their youth to this place, and the father of each was slain in the battle of Wyoming, July 3, 1778
He entered College at the beginning of the Sophomore year, and after graduating spent two years in reading law with Judge Garrick Mallery (Yale College 1808) of Wilkes-Barre. He was admitted to the bar in 1828, and the same year went to Ohio, where he conducted for two years the academy at Worthington, near Columbus; having then been admitted to practice in the courts of the State, he removed to Circleville, and entered into a law-partnership with G. W. Doane, Esq., which continued for about four years, during a portion of which time he edited a paper called The Olive Branch.
In the spring of 1832 he married Miss Elizabeth Brown, of Worthington, Ohio.
His health failing, he was advised to return to Wilkes-Barre, and in 1835 he became the principal of the Academy there, which position he held until 1839, when he built a private academy of his own, called the Wyoming Boarding School which he conducted successfully, in connection with the adjoining farm, until October, 1866, when he removed to Bucks County, near Morrisville, directly opposite Trenton, N. J., where he was occupied with farming and with his interest in the Morrisville Rubber Works, of which he was principal owner.
In the latter part of July, 1879, he had an attack of paralysis, from which, however, he mainly recovered. He died, at his place near Morrisville, on the 19th of June, 1882, after an attack of pneumonia, in his 77th year. His wife died in February, 1878. (from Obituary Record Of Graduates Of Yale College
Deceased during the Academical Year ending in
June, 1883) .
Sylvester Dana, who was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, Pa., November 7, 1828, was a native of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where he was born May 28, 1806. He was the son of Anderson Dana, a native of Connecticut, who was born August 11, 1765, who was the son of Anderson Dana, born in 1733, and his wife, Susanna (Huntington) Dana, who was the son of Jacob Dana, born in 1698, who was the son of Jacob Dana, born in 1664, who was the son of Richard Dana, who was born in France, April 15, 1612, and died in Cambridge, Mass., April 2, 1690.
Sylvester Dana was educated at the Wilkes-Barre Academy, then under the charge of Rev. Joseph H. Jones, D. D., and at Yale College, from which he graduated in 1826. He read law with Garrick Mallery, and practiced in this city and Circleville, Ohio.
Owing to failing health and trouble with his voice, which prevented public speaking, he returned to Wilkes-Barre from Ohio, and in 1835 became the principal of the Wilkes-Barre Academy, which position he held until 1839, when he established Dana's Academy. A few years since he gave up his school and removed to Lower Makefield, Bucks county, Pa., where he died June 19, 1882.
Mr. Dana married, March 26, 1832, Elizabeth Brown, a daughter of Moses and Elizabeth (Frisbie) Brown, of Connecticut.
Five children were the result of this union—Eunice A. Dana, Elizabeth Dana, Louisa A. Dana, Ellen Dana, and Robert S. Dana, whose wife is Fanny Pawlings, who have one son, Sylvester Dana. (from Families of the Wyoming Valley by George Brubaker Kulp)
September 7, 1841
Mr. Dana's School at Wilkes-Barre
Parents intending to send their sons beyond the city for an education should not overlook Mr, Dana's school at Wilkes-Barre. It has every possible advantage in regard to salubrious atmosphere, beautiful location and excellent management, to render it among the most desirable schools in the country. Mr. Dana has all the needed qualifications to instruct as well as guide young minds, and then, it should be remembered, the School is situated in the very midst of the beautiful Wyoming Valley. (North American - Newspaper Article)
May, 11, 1842
Wyoming Boarding School for Boys
S. Dana. A. M., Principal
This Institution, located three-quarters of a mile from the centre of the borough of Wilkesbarre, has been in operation one year and more.
The study rooms are spacious and well ventilated, and in no case occupied by more than two students, each of whom is furnished with a separate bed room, closet, etc. The habits, feelings, and tastes of the pupils are assiduously cultivated, and a watchful and conscientious supervision is exercised over their conduct, as well in their hours of diversion as in those in study. The number is limited, so as to enable the principal to attend personally to all their recitations. The course of instruction embraces all the studies preparatory to admission into any class in college, and a thorough English and Mathematical education. There are two seasons in the year, consisting of 22 weeks each, commencing on the first Mondays of May and November.
Terms of Boarding and Tuition, (including fuel, light, washing, books, and stationery) $30 per session. The celebrity of the valley of Wyoming renders it unnecessary to speak of its suitableness as a place of education of the young. It is believed to be unsurpassed by any place in the Union for the beauty of its scenery, the healthiness and intelligence of its inhabitants, and its freedom from bad influences. (North American - Newspaper Advertisement)
According to H. C. Bradsby:
About 1840 Sylvester Dana had erected a building on Academy street and organized a classical school, which in a measure took the position previously occupied by the old academy in the public square.
