International Students at MSNS, 1856-1920 - Blogs @ Millersville ...

Created by Janet Dotterer

• The Lancaster County Normal Institute Catalog for
1855 lists 38 female students and 96 male
students. As expected a majority of the students
came from Lancaster County but out of the 134
students listed 26 students came from outside the
county. We had students from the following
counties in Pennsylvania: Beaver, Bucks,
Cambria, Chester, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Lebanon,
Montgomery, Perry, Susquehanna, Washington,
Wayne and York. Plus we had a male student from
New York, NY and another male student from St.
George’s, Delaware.

• Our first international student, F.J.P. Varro, is
listed in the 1856-1857 catalogue as coming
from Strasburg, France. Mr. Varro is
mentioned in letters home from Sallie Bolton, a
fellow student, noting that he will be taking
mathematics. After leaving Millersville, Mr.
Varro moved to Washington, PA in the western
part of the state. He joined the Pennsylvania
Militia during the Civil War, serving in
September 1862. He died in 1868 in Dixmont,
a suburb of Pittsburgh.

• Following Mr. Varro, there were a handful of
students who traveled a great distance to
attend MSNS: George E. Huey, from
Londonderry, Ireland, attended in 1858-1859.

• There were no international students attending
MSNS between 1860 and 1865. However, 28
students traveled from out of state to attend the
Normal School during the 1860-1861 school
year, including Ursula Cushman from Portland,
Maine; Fanny M. Haley from Boston,
Massachusetts and George N. Church from
Vicksburg, Mississippi.

• Our next international students were G. W.
DeLeon, from Kingston, Jamaica, attended in
1865-1866; Bessie, Lillian and William Eastty, from
Montreal, Canada, attended in 1868-1869; Charles
Rowe, from Cornwall, England, attended in 1869-
1871; and Florence Geary, from London, England,
attended 1870-1871. According to the catalogue
they only attended one year and did not graduate
so we have no record of what became of them.
This was true for many of the early students. After
one year of schooling they could get a job teaching
and rarely returned to actually earn their degree.

• Prior to 1880 a majority of the international students
were from Europe, the exception being our three
students from Canada and one from Jamaica. After
1880, the majority of our international students came
from Central and South America, though there were
students from other parts of the world as well.
According to the catalogs there were students from the
following countries at MSNS between 1880 and 1920:
Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, Puerto Rico,
Mexico, The Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Trinidad,
Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador, Great Britain, Japan,
India, South Africa, Switzerland, Spain and Ontario. In
all, 164 students traveled from around the world to
attend MSNS between 1856 and 1920.

• 1856-1857:
‣ F.J.P. Varro
• 1858-1859:
‣ George E. Huey
• 1865-1866:
‣ DeLeon, G.W.
• 1868-1869:
‣ Eastty, Bessie
‣ Eastty, Lillian
‣ Eastty, William
Strasburg, France
Londonderry, Ireland
Kingston, Jamaica
Montreal, Canada
Montreal, Canada
Montreal, Canada

• 1869-1870:
‣ Rowe, Charles Cornwall, England
• 1870-1871:
‣ Rowe, Charles Cornwall, England
• 1881-1882:
‣ Pile, W.E. Laguayra, Venezuela
• 1883-1884:
‣ Davies, H. Janette Castellnathe South Wales
• 1884-1885:
‣ Davies, Hannah J. (Class of 1885)
‘Nathe, Glanmorganshire, South Wales

• Our first international student to be listed as a
graduate was Hannah J. Davies from ‘Nathe
Glanmorganshire, South Wales, Great Britain
who was graduated in 1885.

• 1890-1891
‣ Silva, Jose Maria Managua, Nicaragua (earned medical
degree from Penn )
• 1890-1891:
‣ Roman, Victor M.
• 1893-1894:
‣ Jane, Albert
• 1894-1895:
‣ Agostino, George
‣ Ferrer, Armando
Jinotepe, Nicaragua
Guantanamo, Cuba
Santiago, Cuba
Puerto Principe, Cuba

• 1895-1896:
‣ Bravo, Salvador Nicaragua (went on to medical school at Penn )
‣ Cuadra, Hernan Nicaragua
‣ Solorzana, Arturo Nicaragua
• 1896-1897:
‣ Alvarado, Francisco Granada, Nicaragua
• 1897-1898:
‣ Cartaya, Joseph T. Matanzas, Cuba
(left school in April 1898 to Fight with Cuban army)
‣ Cuadra, Hernan Nicaragua
‣ Solorzana, Arturo Nicaragua
• 1898-1899:
‣ Gamez, Ramiro Rivas, Nicaragua
• 1899-1900:
‣ Bory, Gerardo L. Daiquiri, Santiago, Cuba

‣ Bory, Gerardo L. Daiquiri, Santiago, Cuba
‣ Dumans, Dario Luiz Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
‣ Portuondo, Jose E. Santiago, Cuba
‣ Portuondo, Petro Santiago, Cuba

• There were many ways students could participate in the everyday life of
MSNS: the literary societies, athletics and social organizations. The
international students were active in these many pursuits, with the most
participation in athletics.
• Jose Villalon played forward on the basketball team; Miguel Cocco
played guard on the basketball team and played end on the football team,
and was President of the class in 1907; Juan Villa played left field on the
1907 baseball team; Lorenzo Ruiz played infield on the baseball team in
1905 and 1907, and right end on the 1906 junior football team; Manuel
Casares played outfield on the 1905 baseball team; Lorenzo Alvarez
played left halfback and Antonio Martinez played right half back on the
1908 junior football team; J.C. Lopes played on the football team from
1912 through 1914 and on the basketball team from 1913 through 1915,
earning a varsity letter; Ramon Caceres was a substitute on the 1912 prep
basketball team.. Juan Estiu played flute in 1902 Normal Orchestra; Jose
Portuando was an assistant patrolman on the Life Saving Corps and
Andres Fernandez was in the 1902 Military Company.

Jose Portuando was an assistant patrolman

‣ Belaval, Mario S. Ponce, PuertoRico
‣ Bory, Gerardo L. Santiago, Cuba
‣ Estiu, Juan Santiago, Cuba
‣ Fernandez, Alfonso M. San Juan, Puerto Rico
‣ Fernandez, Andres F. Havana, Cuba
‣ Fiol, Joaquin Santiago, Cuba
‣ Mederos, Heliodoro Colon, Santa Clara, Cuba
‣ Morcillo, Jesus Santiago, Cuba
‣ Perez, Eqequiel Mexico City, Mexico
‣ Perez, Pablo Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Plumacher, Fred Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa
‣ Plumacher, Harry Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa
‣ Portuondo, Alfonso Santiago, Cuba
‣ Portuondo, Jose E. Santiago, Cuba
‣ Portuondo, Pedro Santiago, Cuba

Andres Fernandez was First Sergeant

John Estiu played flute

‣ Armstrong, Thomas Ponce, Puerto Rico
‣ Arrufat, Jose Havana, Cuba
‣ Bory, Carolos R. Daiquiri, Santiago, Cuba
‣ Bory, Gerardo L. Daiquiri, Santiago, Cuba
‣ Bueno, Soter de Barras Sao Paulo, Brazil
(died 30 June 1903)
‣ Estiu, Juan Santiago, Cuba
‣ Lopez, M. Antonio San Germain, Puerto Rico
‣ Octavi, Providencia San Juan, Puerto Rico
‣ Villalon, Jose A. Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Villalon, J. Emilio Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Villalon, Luis Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo

‣ Aspuru, John A. Havana, Cuba
‣ Barreras, Pasquale M. San Juan, Puerto Rico
‣ Bory, Carlos R. Diaquiri, Santiago, Cuba
‣ Buch, Miguel A. Santiago, Cuba
‣ Cocco, Manuel, Jr. Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Cocco, Miguel Angel Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Correll, Ethel Nara, Yamato, Japan
‣ Correll, Florence Nara, Yamato, Japan
‣ Freites, Ernesto B. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
‣ Lambardi, Luis Bogota, Colombia
‣ Malenchini, Pablo Bogota, Colombia
‣ Mencia, Jose Rivadeo, Lugo, Spain
‣ Meunier, Joseph Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Pellerano, Arthur A. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
‣ Tapia, Ramon Santiago, Cuba
‣ Tous, Jaime San Juan, Puerto Rico
‣ VaDillo, Balbino Santiago, Cuba
‣ Villalon, Jose A. Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Villalon, Luis A. Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Zaballa, Ramon Santa Clara, Cuba

• The two students from Japan were children of an
MSNS graduate who was a missionary in Japan.
The Rev. Irwin H. Correll, Class of 1871, chose to
send his daughters to his alma mater in 1903-
1904. Ethel and Florence Correll were two of the
Rev. Correll’s eight children. It appears that they
were the only two children he chose to send to
MSNS. In later years he wrote one of his
daughters had chosen to teach kindergarten and
be a missionary in Japan but was stricken and
died. Since he does not name the daughter we do
not know if it was one the daughters that attended
MSNS.

‣ Alvarez, Lorenzo J. Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Batlle, Augusto Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Bory, Charles R. Daiquiri, Santiago, Cuba
‣ Bozzo, Humberto San Juan, Puerto Rico
‣ Casares, Manuel Camaguey, Cuba
‣ Castillo, Primo Camaguey, Cuba
‣ Cocco, Manuel Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Cocco, Miguel Angel Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Desai, [ ] India
‣ Guzman, Jose Pamico, Vera Cruz, Mexico
‣ Lebron, Felipe Santo Domingo
‣ Martinez, Antonio Havana, Cuba
‣ Montealegre, Isaac Nicaragua
‣ Ortega, Jose A. Havana, Cuba
‣ Perez, Luis San Juan, Puerto Rico
‣ Pimentel, Jose Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Ruiz, Lorenzo Havana, Cuba
‣ Stahl, John F. Bayamon, Puerto Rico
‣ Varela, Conchita Havana, Cuba
‣ Vega, Miguel Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Williams, Emma Hainault Kent, England
‣ Williams, Nellie Mai Hainault Kent, England

Manuel Casarez played outfield

‣ Alvarez, Lorenzo Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Batlle, Augusto Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Bello, Charles Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Bozzo, Humberto San Juan, Puerto Rico
‣ Brugal, Andres Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Brugal, Jose Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Brugal, Juan Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Cocco, Manuel Puerto Plata, San Domingo
‣ Cocco, Miguel Angle Puerto Plata, San Domingo
‣ Comas, Manuel Guantanamo, Santiago, Cuba
‣ Desai, Pinakinprasad M. Baroda, Bombay, India
‣ Febles, Edward E. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
‣ Fernandez, Manuel Santiago, Cuba
‣ Feros, Rafael Santiago, Cuba
‣ Gonzalez, Domingo Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Jonghde, Juan Jose Santiago, Cuba
‣ Martinez, Antonio Colon, Havana, Cuba
‣ Pastoriza,Salvador Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Pimentel, Jose Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Ruiz, Lorenzo Havana, Cuba
‣ Seyfert, Bula Stratford, Perth, Ontario, Canada
‣ Torres, Octavio Havana, Cuba
‣ Vega, Michael. Santiago, Santo Domingo
‣ Vila, Juan A. Havana, Cuba
‣ Vila, Rafael Havana, Cuba
‣ Villalon, Jose A. Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Villalon, Luis Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Villareal, Juan Jerez Bavamo, Cuba
‣ Yllas, Antonio Santiago, Cuba
‣ Zayas, Antonio Trinidad, Santa Clara, Cuba

Members include Manuel Cocco, left end; Lorenzo
Ruiz, right end, Lorenzo Alvarez, left half; and
Antonio Martinez, right half

‣ Albertich, Rene Cienfuegos, Cuba
‣ Alvarada, Jose A. Granada, Nicaragua
‣ Arrufat, Jose A., Jr. Havana, Cuba
‣ Blanco, Jose Arguelles, Cuba
‣ Brugal, Andres Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Brugal, John Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Capwell, Florence Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
‣ Cepero, Carlos Havana, Cuba
‣ Cocco, Miguel Angel Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
‣ Correa, Francisco Granada, Nicaragua
‣ Echemendia, Diego M. Trinidad, Cuba
‣ Febles, Edward Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
‣ Galluzo, Julian Havana, Cuba
‣ Lescano, Alejandro S. Lima, Peru
‣ Lima, Horacio Havana, Cuba
‣ Menendez, Victor Aviles, Oviedo, Spain
‣ Pastoriza, Salvador Santiago, Dominican Republic
‣ Planell, Alberto Santiago, Cuba
‣ Reyes, Miguel A. Havana, Cuba
‣ Rovirosa, Alfred Havana, Cuba
‣ Ruiz, Leopoldo Santa Clara, Cuba
‣ Ruiz, Lorenzo Havana, Cuba
‣ Seyfert, Bula Collingwood, Ontario, Canada
‣ Vila, Juan A. Havana, Cuba
‣ Vila, Rafael Havana, Cuba
‣ Villalon, Jose A. (Class of 1907) Puerto Plata, San Domingo (studied at Bucknell)
‣ Villalon, Luis A. Puerto Plata, San Domingo
‣ Yllas, Antonio Santiago, Cuba
‣ Yllas, Arthur Santiago, Cuba
‣ Zaballa, Melintino C. Santa Clara, Trinidad, Cuba

Members included Juan Vila, left field and Lorenzo Ruiz, third base

Jose Villalon played forward

• The next to graduate was Jose A. Villalon from
Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo who graduated in
1907. Miguel A. Cocco from Puerto Plata,
Dominican Republic and Bula S. Seyfert from
Collingwood, Ontario, Canada were graduated in
1908; brothers John F. and Lester F. Merrick of
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada were graduated in 1913
and 1914, respectively; Ricardo I. Plaza from
Esmeraldas, Ecuador and J. Carlos Lopes from
Itaguy, Brazil were graduated in 1915; Louisa Lillo
from Santiago, Chile was graduated in 1918; and
Lazaro Milaor from Manila, Philippine Islands was
graduated in 1920.

Jose A. Villalon from Puerto Plata, Santo
Domingo who graduated in 1907. Jose A.
Villalon went on to school at Bucknell and
remained in the United States working as
an engineer. He married a young woman
from York, Pa. and eventually settled in
Philadelphia. His brothers, J. Emilio and
Luis also attended MSNS but are not listed
as graduates.

‣ Aranga, Miguel Havana, Cuba
‣ Basterrechea, Jose Havana, Cuba
‣ Caminero, Jose Havana, Cuba
‣ Camino, Ignacio Coruna, Spain
‣ Castaner, Joseph Barcelona, Spain
‣ Cocco, Miguel A. (Class of 1908) Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
‣ Diaz, Manuel, Coruna, Spain
‣ Echemendia, Diego Trinidad, Santa Clara, Cuba
‣ Galuzzo, Julian Havana, Cuba
‣ Gonzales, Jose Havana City, Cuba
‣ Gonzales, Manuel Havana, Cuba
‣ Gutierrez, Carlos San Jose, Costa Rica
‣ Moran, Manuel Havana, Cuba
‣ Ortega, Camilo M. Havana, Cuba
‣ Ortega, Jose Havana, Cuba
‣ Rodriguez, Jesus Havana, Cuba
‣ Rovirosa, Alfred Havana, Cuba
‣ Ruiz, Carlos Camaguey, Cuba
‣ Ruiz, Leopoldo Condado, Trinidad
‣ Seyfert, Bula S. (Class of 1908) Collingwood, Ontario, Canada
‣ Vila, George Havana, Cuba
‣ Villalon, Luis A. Puerta Plata, Santo Domingo
‣ Zaballe, Melitino C. Trinidad, Cuba

Miguel Cocco played Guard

Miguel A. Cocco from Puerto
Plata, Dominican Republic was
graduated in 1908. Miguel A.
Cocco moved to Harrisburg and
then Baltimore. He married
Myrtle E. Widle (Class of 1908).
By 1923 he had moved back to
Puerto Plata and was working
as a civil engineer.

Bula S. Seyfert from
Collingwood, Ontario, Canada
was graduated in 1908. Bula
S. Seyfert married Walter A.
Gilbert (Class of 1909) and
settled in Christiana, Pa. and
eventually moved to
Philadelphia where he was a
banker.

• 1908-1909:
‣ Bolivar, J.M., Jr.
‣ Lamardrid, Louis G.
‣ Rodriguez, Jesus
• 1909-1910:
‣ Bolivar, Jose M.
‣ Castro, Clodomiro
‣ Gato, Alfred H.
‣ Plaza, Ricardo J.
‣ Prieto, Alfredo
‣ Prieto, Francisco
Santiago, Cuba
Cuba
Cuba
Guantanomo, Cuba
Havana, Cuba
Havana, Cuba
Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Havana, Cuba
Havana, Cuba

‣ Arteaga, Francisco Havana, Cuba
‣ Bolivar, Francisco Santiago, Cuba
‣ Bolivar, Octavio Santiago, Cuba
‣ Lara, Fernando, Gonzales San Juan, Fabasco, Mexico
‣ Lopes, J. Carlos Itaguy, Mexico
‣ Merrick, John F. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
‣ Nieto, Angel San Juan, Fabasco, Mexico
‣ Peral, Indalecio F., Jr. San Francisco, Dominican
Republic
‣ Plaza, Ricardo I. Esmeraldas, Ecuador
‣ Prieto, Alfredo Havana, Cuba
‣ Prieto, Francisco Havana, Cuba
‣ Stampfli, Olga Rutti, Zurich, Switzerland

‣ Alvarado, Louis Juticalpa, Honduras
‣ Bolivar, Frank Santago, Cuba
‣ Caceres, Ramon Moca, Dominican Republic
‣ Castro, Porfirio San Pedro, Cuba
‣ Esteve, Enrique Moca, Dominican Republic
‣ Lopes, J.C. Itaguy, Brazil
‣ Merrick, Lester F. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
‣ Merrick, John F. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
‣ Rabasa, Oscar Mexico City, Mexico
‣ Rivero, Diego Havana, Cuba
‣ Stampfli, Olga Ruti, Zurich, Switzerland

‣ Emanuelli, Rodolfo San Juan, Puerto Rico
‣ Lopes, J. Carlos Itaguy, Brazil
‣ Merrick, John F. (Class of 1913)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
‣ Merrick, Lester F. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
‣ Plaza, Ricardo I. Esmeraldas, Ecuador
‣ Serrapinana, Francisco Havana, Cuba

The son of Frank Merrick, Class
of 1887, who was a manager and
later Vice President for
Westinghouse Corp. in Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada and chose to
send his son to MSNS. Like his
father, John was Valedictorian of
his class. He wenton to Cornell to
study electrical engineering and
after graduation moved back to
Canada working in the
engineering field. He served in
the Air Corps from 1917 to 1919
and from 1942 to 1945 and by
1953 was living at the Bar O
Ranch in Bandera, Texas as a
rancher and oil producer.

• MSNS
‣ Lopes, J. Carlos Itaguy, Brazil
‣ Merrick, Lester F. (Class of 1914)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
‣ Plaza, Richard I. Esmeraldas, Ecuador
• Model School:
‣ Castro, Miguel Matanzas, Cuba
‣ Josende, Jose Sagua la Grande, Cuba
‣ Josende, Santago Sagua la Grande, Cuba
‣ Valdes, Simon Santo Domingo, Dominican
Republic
‣ Veloso, Alberto Santiago, Cuba
‣ Veloso, Manuel Santiago, Cuba

Like his father and brother,
Lester graduated from MSNS.
Unfortunately, we know very
little about Lester following his
graduation from Millersville,
other than he went on to
Cornell like his brother.

Lester Merrick, football;
J. Carlos Lopes for
football and basketball

‣ Castany, Ignacio O. Managua, Nicaragua
‣ Martinez, Jose M. Juticalpa, Honduras
‣ Plaza, Ricardo I. (Class of 1915)
Esmeraldas, Ecuador
‣ Valdes, Simon B. Macoris, San Domingo

J. Carlos Lopes was Team Captain

J. Carlos Lopes played centerfield

J. Carlos Lopes
played forward and
Ramon Caceres
was a substitute

J. Carlos Lopes for
football and basketball

Ricardo I. Plaza from
Esmeraldas, Ecuador was
graduated in 1915. Ricardo I.
Plaza returned to Ecuador as a
teacher and principal at the high
school in Esmeraldas. He went on
to serve as Treasurer of the
Providence of Esmeraldas;
Director of Education in
Esmeraldas and took charge of
the American consular in
Esmeraldas, Ecuador until the
closing of the office; in 1939 he
became a professor of the
College “5 de Agosto” in
Esmeraldas.

J. Carlos Lopes from Itaguy,
Brazil was graduated in 1915.
J. Carlos Lopes continued his
education at Cornell, studying
civil engineering. Upon
graduation he was employed by
Bethlehem Steel Corporation as
a draftsman. He married Sarah
Weaber (Class of 1915) and
they settled in Schaefferstown,
Pa. They had five daughters,
Olga, Lela, Zelia, Rita and
Ruth. He served as president of
the class from 1938 to 1940.

• 1915-1916:
‣ Castany, Ignacio O. Managua, Nicaragua
‣ Lopes, J. Carlos (Class of 1915) Itaguy, Brazil
‣ Martinez, Jose M. Juticalpa, Honduras
‣ Valdes, Simon B. Macoris, Santo Domingo
• 1916-1917:
‣ Duluc, Eumenes Santo Domingo
‣ Espinoza, J.J. Rivas, Nicaragua
‣ Lillo, Louisa Santiago, Chile
‣ Morales, Francisco Bogota, Colombia
• 1917-1918:
‣ Alvarez, Miguel Bogata, Colombia
‣ Lillo, Louisa Santiago, Chile

Louisa Lillo from Santiago,
Chile was graduated in 1918.
Louisa Lillo was hired in 1917 by
MSNS to teach Spanish. This
she did while working on a
degree at MSNS. After
graduation she completed her
B.S. at the University of
Pennsylvania, graduating in
1919, and then returned to her
native Chile and taught in
Santiago. She did marry but we
do not have a date of her
marriage, DeJara was her
married name. She died in
1960.

‣ Milaor, Lazaro (Class of 1920)
Manila, Philippine Islands
‣ Ponce, Leopold Trinidad, Cuba
‣ Stacey, Cristobal Quito, Ecuador
‣ Zuazo, Mario Havana, Cuba