USA > Arkansas > Johnson County > Johnson County, Arkansas, the first hundred years > Part 8
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Clarksville also assisted. The Sunday afternoon was beautiful and a large crowd was in attendance.
The first Sunday School at Harmony was rallied to existence in the little log hut in 1848. We are told that three gentlemen from Clarksville, Redmond Rogers, Augustus M. Ward and Gus Goodridge assisted in the organization. The name of "Horse- head Union Sunday School" was a fitting caption. After eigh- teen years that did not seem wide enough in scope and the name Horsehead, which was only the name of the creek, was dropped and the title changed to "Western Union Sunday School." In 1900 was again changed to the "Harmony Union Sunday School."
CHURCHES BUILT
Churches built during the latter part of the past century or the early days of the present were, in part, as follows: Methodist Church, Knoxville, June 13, 1885.
Cumberland Presbyterian, Lamar, August 30. 1887.
Christian Church, Coal Hill, 1890. Missionary Baptist Church, Piney, 1891. Methodist Episcopal, Lamar, March 6, 1893.
Cumberland Presbyterian, Coal Hill, July 13. 1895.
Methodist Episcopal, Coal Hill, March 11. 1896. Missionary Baptist, New Garden, Lamar, 1900. Missionary Baptist, Knoxville, Dec. 6, 1901. Methodist Episcopal, Spadra, March 30, 1903 Missionary Baptist, Union Grove, Feb. 10. 1906.
CATHOLIC CHURCHES
The Catholic or Holy Redeemer Church at Clarksville was organized sometime during the early '80's. Father Mathews was the first pastor and it was by his faithful efforts, supported by two excellent women, Misses Ada and Anne Hite, that the first and present building was a possibility. The Misses Hite began the actual work one afternoon by securing a three hundred dollar sub- scription from individuals in the town of Clarksville. The mem- bership at that time constituted Frank Oberle, John Holpert, B. C. Kleva, E. Werner, Gus Speiler, Mathew Flynn. Mike Leib and the Misses Hite. The families of these men also became mem- bers therefore giving the little church an encouraging out-look.
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One of the most beautiful plots of ground in the town was purchased from Mrs. Eva Rogers, Father Thomas Keller repre- senting the church. This property is located on the north side of East Main Street on the hill just beyond the bridge across Spadra Creek. Holy Redeemer Church, a modest little frame house, stands with its shining cross pointing upward on the highest part of the hill. The grounds with evergreens and concrete walks, a picturesque fountain with fish and flowers, together with the rectory, school house and other buildings, make this quite a pretty place.
For a number of years Sister Lucy Albertine mothered a parochial school of a score or more of children. This was with- drawn early in the year 1920 when Sister Lucy was given a larger scope for activity in St. Scholastica.
Among the missions belonging to the Holy Redeemer Church at Clarksville are the Sacred Heart Church, Hartman; St. Mathews Coal Hill; and a station each at Jamestown and Montana.
The Sacred Heart Church near Hartman is far the largest of the missions and was possibly the first Catholic organization in Johnson county, having been a charge out from the Altus church as early as 1880. One of this county's most enterprising citizens, Hugo Oberste, was the leading spirit in the founding of this now flourishing little mission. The first building, put up in the '80's, has long since been given over to the schools and another, larger, with a tall spire rising above the vestibule place, can be seen on the top of the hill for miles around. This church is one of the few rural churches in Arkansas that can boast of a pipe organ, the installation of which has doubtless encouraged musical talent, for this congregation has a splendid choir.
Priests who have served in turn in Clarksville and missions are the following: Fathers Mathews, Joseph, Othmar, Placidus, Thomas, Maurus, Aloysius and Hoyt. The present pastor, Father Lawrence Hoyt, O. S. B., has been with this people for sixteen years and is not only much loved by his own congregation but by the citizenship at large. He was for a time president of the Ger- man Catholic Immigration Committee. He is all American big hearted and generous.
SCHOOLS
Doubtless the first school ever taught in this part of Arkan- sas was back in territorial days when Old Dwight was abandoned by the Missionaries.
A. W. Lyon, who had come from New Jersey in the year 1828, was the instructor. This was probably late in 1832 or '33, fol- lowing the removal of the Missionaries to the Indian Territory. Mr. Lyon boarded a number of the boys from different parts of Arkansas.
General Albert Pike, in his autobiography states that he taught school in 1833, on Piney Creek in Johnson county. It will be remembered that Johnson county was formed in '33, hence the school taught by Gen. Pike was within the present limits of the county.
In the thinly settled districts the education of the children was often quite limited, nevertheless almost all the parents were anxious for their children to receive every advantage possible. And while an education to most of them meant "reading and 'riting and 'rithmetic," they were ready and willing to pay the price for that.
Wherever there were enough families to furnish fifteen or twenty children of school age, some itinerant teacher found his way into that locality and was welcomed by the people. Sometimes a log dwelling was used for these schools but more often a little church had been built in the neighborhood and these carly pedagogues were always welcome to use that.
They were usually of logs and the popular size was 18x20 ft. A big fire place was provided at one end and the older boys of the school were given turns at securing wood if the term extend- ed to the cool days.
These transient teachers were nearly always strangers but as a rule they were honest and dependable.
The Arkansas legislature of 1843 passed a law for a public school system but it did not provide for the necessary taxation to make it practical. It formed a foundation, however, for future building. It was the beginning of the system in use today. For twenty years and more after this law was passed the itinerant
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gentlemen were still finding their way from place to place wherever a population afforded a monetary consideration for their services.
The "Little Red School House", still standing today as a resi- dence on the east side of Cravens Ave., across Sevier St., south of the McConnell block, was built in the forties. It was here that many of the young people of earlier days attended school. Education, which always follows closely in the wake of civiliza- tion, was making some strides in Arkansas when the past century had half rolled around.
The Ewing Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian church began to realize the need for fitting the youth of this part of the state for higher places in life. Some counties were sup- porting institutions for their future citizenship and the sentiment in Johnson county was strong for the school.
A spot in a thiekly settled district, at least it was the most populous of the sparsely populated county, was chosen on which to build, and in accord with the decision of the Presbytery, trus- tees were appointed, to-wit: Augustus M. Ward, F. F. William- son, E. Roach, Seth P. Howell, Sidney B. Cazort, O. Wallace, Thos. Madden, T. I. Perry and T. M. Blackard. These trustees purchased a tract of of land near Little Piney which was formerly the Wm. Adams homestead, but at that time the property of Geo. W. Taylor. This purchase was made on July 31, 1858. The building was erected at once, and perhaps three years passed with as many terms of school, before the period of the Civil War became too intense for so peaceful an occupation as school teach- ing to continue.
The first instructor at Ewing was a young man from Cane Hill College whose name was James Crawford. When the state of Arkansas voted to cast her lot with the southern cause and volunteers were called for, Prof. Crawford went back to his for- mer home at Cane Hill and enlisted. When the regiment to which he belonged was camped on lower Spadra, he was taken ill and dicd.
The next instructor at the Seminary was a Presbyterian min- ister, also from Cane Hill, F. M. Latta. Rev. Latta later moved to Clarksville. Mrs. Latta was formerly a Miss Willis. Their son, a fine young fellow, graduated from Washington University and afterwards went to Mexico City where he finally made his
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home. Rev. Latta purchased the old James Cravens residence and had built, in part, the present home of Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Kendrick.
The next term at Ewing was taught by an eminent educator, a graduate from Princeton-Prof. G. W. Stuckey. This term was not finished, though his efforts were of a high order, but the Federal troops were advancing and it was thought prudent to close the school.
Ewing Seminary burned a few years after the war. The old foundation still remains. The well of excellent water, with a bucket and rope, and the old shed above, is today as it was in the long time ago. Many of those who received their early training at old Ewing Seminary, were afterwards promi- nent in the social and political life of the country.
It will be noted doubtless that all the higher schools over the country at large had been for male children only. No educa- tion for the girls. It must be remembered however, that as early as 1820 when the first settlers were making their way into the wilderness of Arkansas, in Boston, Mass. the dangerous in- novation of permitting girl children to learn more than reading, writing and the "Sampler," which was their diploma, was caus- ing many heated discussions and much anxiety. It was either
in 1822 or '23 at a town meeting in Northampton, Mass. it was de- cided that the public schools should be open to girls as well as boys. Therefore, no wonder that in those days of slow travel, no telegraph wires, no telephones, and even no trains to connect Arkansas with that radical state of Massachusetts, that the female children of Arkansas were subject to the confines of a grade even lower than the "Sampler" degree. But when once these little women were reluctantly permitted into the sacred confines of the mysteries of book learning, they were very like the fox, who when once his nose is inside the door, is soon standing free within.
Therefore, to one looking back today, it would seem as if those first little women had left the door wide open and let the whole tribe in. For, to the credit of those old progenitors, be it said that the year following the building of Ewing Seminary, it was voted to erect another, even a better one, for the young ladies. This Female Seminary was located at the county seat on the crest of a steep hill far out on West Severe street.
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This Seminary for Young Ladies was made spacious with four large rooms, one of which was given to piano instruction.
Prof. Benham, Miss Benham, Misses Amanda and Jennie Buchanan were among the literary teachers and Prof. Snider was instructor of music.
Dr. Earle who had fostered early education for the youths of the state at old Cane Hill, and who was foremost in every educational movement visited the Seminary for young ladies quite often, with a double motive, however, for later Amanda Buchanan became Mrs. Earle. Miss Clara Earle who is today a teacher of Modern Languages in the College of the Ozarks is a daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Earle.
This Seminary was used for a hospital by the Federal sol- diers during the Civil War, but soon after the close of hostilities it was burned.
And then it was that Johnson county citizens for the first time permitted co-educational instruction. The doors of the little "Red School House" were opened to both young men and young ladies.
The Arkansas Legislature of 1866 levied a tax sufficient for the employment of teachers in public schools and Clarksville was one of the first to take advantage of the privilege. Therefore the following year, 1867, we find Prof. Naylor and his daughter, Miss Naylor teaching in a "Double Log House", which was con- verted for the purpose from the former dwelling of A. M. Ward.
During the seventies the School Board secured the lower floor of the new Masonic building situated on the west side of South Fulton St. It was here that Prof. Geo. W. Hill taught his first school in Clarksville.
Soon after the Iron Mountain Railroad penetrated this county the little inland village of Clarksville was converted into a thriv- ing typical southern town of some twelve hundred people. The spirit of progress was everywhere prevalent and the School Board was not lagging for they began as early as 1879 to negotiate for a suitable building to designate as "The Public School." In 1852 A. M. Ward had built a beautiful residence which donned the vantage of the hill north of Clarksville and it was this that the School Board purchased in 1880.
But this too, soon seemed inadequate, for after a lapse of a few years the improvised school building was torn away and a
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new, spacious and beautiful structure, the pride of the town, took its place. This is still standing and is the east half of the present College of the Ozarks' Administration building. And when that gala day arrived in which the Cumberland Presbyterian church again honored Johnson county by locating her college in Clarksville, that city glady donated this building to the new in- stitution. The city immediately prepared for a new public school building which was located in south Clarksville facing north on Filmore street, the property covering the entire block.
Albert O. Nichols taught the first term in the new building. He was followed by C. T. Garrett who taught one term. This was in 1893. In 1894 Prof. J. W. Sallis became connected with the public schools of Clarksville where he was destined to spend many long years. He was re-elected by each incoming Board for seventeen consecutive years. Many of those who were his pupils when he first entered the Clarksville schools, grew up, married and their children attended school under his superin- tendency. In addition to his work in the city schools he served the county for eighteen years as County Examiner and County Superintendent of Schools. Upon retiring from school work he entered the newspaper business in which he is still engaged.
Prof. Sallis is a native of Mississippi, having moved to this state with his parents when he was eleven years old. He re- ceived his education at Cane Hill College,-a college to which every Arkansan should give homage for that institution has furn- ished many teachers over the state-and other states-and the fruits of her work are not dead, nor will they die. Even though the school itself was discontinued when the University of Ar- kansas was located at Fayetteville, it was replaced in the estab- lishment at Clarksville of Arkansas Cumberland College, now known as the College of the Ozarks.
In 1913, the board of the Public Schools of Clarksville, com- posed of Dr. A. M. McKennon, President, Samuel Laser, R. S. Davis, Lee Cox, Dr. J. S. Kolb, Hon. J. W. Coffman, faced a diffi- cult propositon. For a long time the taxes had been insufficient to pay the number of teachers required to instruct the children in the crowded rooms. With that burden already heavy, they were brought face to face with the fact that Clarksville must have a new and larger school house in order to properly care for its ever increasing school population. Though the task looked impos-
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sible, these gentlemen, encouraged by a body of one hundred faith- ful women banded together as a School Improvement Association, began a movement to erect a new building. The task at first seemed impossible, but they worked faithfully, without re- muneration, encountering and overcoming many difficulties.
Between West Main and Cherry streets, covering a block at the top of the incline above the Missouri Pacific Depot, stands one of the handsomest and most modern school buildings for a town of thirty-five hundred population in the state. It is equipped with all modern improvements and is second to none in arrange- ment and convenience. It is of red brick and is fire proof. It is steam heated and is today housing more than 600 children. Both the High School and the Grammar grades are taught there but the day is not far distant when they must be segregated.
This army of children representing the younger citizenship of Clarksville is supplemented in numbers by the academic department of the College of the Ozarks.
There were public schools located in other places in the county, wherever the taxes were sufficient to support one, soon after the law of '66 was passed. Cabin Creek, Coal Hill, Hart- man and Knoxville initiated the school system in the seventies and Spadra too, though that town had been scattered so widely during the past quarter of a century, owing to the various coal camps, that more than one school must be maintained. Cabin Creek and Coal Hill each have a handsome brick school building, erected within the past few years.
Every neighborhood now has a public graded school, and has terms ranging from five to nine months each year.
Negro teachers are employed also for negro schools, equal in length to the schools for white children, in the localities where the negroes are in sufficient numbers.
The Deaf Mute Institute and the Schools for the Blind of Arkansas found their origin in Clarksville. Because of the lack of funds they were each, in turn, moved, both of them passing through the same channel to Arkadelphia, thence to Little Rock. Four acres on which to place the blind school were purchased on the top of the hill northeast of Clarksville, just above the lo- cation of the Catholic cemetery of today.
In the year 1860, Johnson County fostered forty-nine pub- lic schools within her borders. There are now eighty-seven
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school districts in the county and approximately 125 persons who hold teachers' licenses. The average attendance at the county normals is two hundred persons.
Johnson County maintains High Schools at Clarksville, Coal Hill and Lamar.
COLLEGES
Clarksville has never known a happier day than that on which the Arkansas Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian church located its state school here.
The Arkansas Synod had for a long time considered the lo- cation of a College somewhere in the State. And when they held their Spring meeting of 1891 in the city of Little Rock, there was a contest covering a period of three days in which the towns of Clarksville and Hope were striving for the honor of being chosen as the home of this institute. The balance swerved several times and only a final vote decided the apparently equal choice. This was on Friday. Telegrams announced the victory to Clarksville. On Saturday when the delegates re- turned, a band met them at the station and a general jubilec was indulged in, during the afternoon and evening.
The Synod selected the following Board of Trustees: A. P. May, President, Clarksville; W. C. Wheat, Secretary; Dr. J. P. Mitchell, Clarksville; J. H. Wofford, Morrilton; J. D. C. Cobb, Jonesboro; J. R. Jones, Hope; W. H. H. Shibley, Van Buren; S. F. Stahl, Bentonville; D. L. Bourland, Little Rock.
The Opening of the First Term-On Sunday morning Sep- lember 6, 1891 an introductory service of the opening of the Arkansas Cumberland College was held in the Cumberland church in this city. The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Charlton of Bentonville. . Rev. J. H. Crawford of Morrilton who was president of the Board and Rev. S. H. Buchanan assisted with the service.
Tuesday, September 8, 1891 the doors of this Institution were opened for the first time and the citizenship of this town was well represented when several hundred persons filled the auditorium to overflowing.
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Rev. H. B. Miliner the local pastor of the C. P. church pre- sided. A scripture reading and prayer was offered by Rev. S. H. Buchanan. An address of welcome was delivered by Capt. A. S. McKennon in a very eloquent manner. He closed his dis- course with the following:
"Gentlemen, who are members of the board of trustees of the Cumberland College, I want to say to you that you are welcome to our town and county, you students who are here from other sections of the county and state are welcome to our hearts and homes. We want you to improve the opportunities presented you here. Our welcome to you here is as deep as the ocean and as broad as the land."
The Rev. J. H. Wofford, a member of the board, representing those concerned from the outside, responded with words of ap- preciation of the wonderful welcome the institution had received from the Clarksville people. He rehearsed in brief the many efforts of the church to establish a school of their denomination some where in the state. He said "The Cumberland Presby- terian Church of Arkansas has long felt the need of a live ener- getic school of its own in the state. In 1883 steps were taken to unify the three synods of the state that we might found a state school. They were consolidated in 1884.
"That year Doctors Earle and Buchanan were appointed as a committee to work up the matter. In 1887 a committee was appointed at Morrilton to raise an endowment fund. In April of this year the Synod met at Little Rock received bids and lo- cated the College here. The church proposes to offer to our children the facilities we deem proper for Christian education. We would be recreant to our trust if we failed to establish such a college.
"It is in our hearts and minds to lay hold of this institution, to put our arms around it and push it to ultimate success."
Hon. J. E. Cravens representing the citizenship of the town gave a brief address in his accustomed able manner and closed with a few words to the entering students: "Children, do you know the amount of money contributed by your parents here to educate you? Will you neglect to improve the opportunity given you? No man here expects to acquire fortune or fame; they are not working to that end; they are laboring for you. The affairs of state and church will rest upon you in a few years and it
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is your duty to qualify yourself for that time. Teachers, I have merely had an introduction to you. The ladies look well, the gentlemen are ugly, as they should be. May this school be the pride of the whole country.
The First Faculty:
Prof. S. F. Howard, A. M., Language and Literature, ch. Prof. J. A. Laughlin, Mathematics, Latin and Greek.
Prof. G. W. McGlumphy, Science. Dr. S. H. Buchanan, D. D., Bible and Metophysics. Florence Wilson, M. A., Preparatory Department.
Ella Bonds, M. A., Intermediate Department.
Clara Earle, Primary Department.
Eula Pierce, Director of Music.
Hallie Wofford, Assistant Music.
Violet Dyer, Expression.
The number of students enrolled the first week was 16& Never was there an institution begun with a more loyal spirit of enthusiasm. Immediately following the settling down to the curriculum routine, the subject of literary societies was taken up, and following a student body meeting, every boy and every girl were enrolled in the two societies decided upon. One of these was given the name of Woffordian, complimenting J. H. Wofford of Morrilton and the other Mitchellean, in honor. of Dr. J. P. Mitchell.
The next move of the student body, was the organization of an editorial staff for the publication of a College Magazine. This they called the Mitfordian, thus combining the two societies in issuing that monthly publication. The first Editor in Chief was Paul Mckennon. The first Business Manager was Henry Traylor. Other editors were Robert Sneed, Annie Rogers, Ethel Garrett and Arthur Nichols.
It was through the efforts of this student body that the State Contests were initiated into the Arkansas Colleges.
The committee appointed to communicate with other col- leges made brief work of their project, for on November 13, 1891 a meeting of representatives of the colleges of Arkansas met in Little Rock and organized.
The Arkansas Cumberland College has won several cups of honor for Oratory, Debate, Reading and Athletics.
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In 1914 the Cumberland Base Ball Team won the State Championship.
The athletic coach for the term 1921-22 is James F. Coleman from Center College, Kentucky.
Only a memory list of the names of men who have filled the position of chairman of the faculty can be given here: S. F. Howard, J. A. Laughlin, Edwin H. Lyle, G. D. Crawford, W. E. Johnston, J. L. Spence and H. S. Lyle. Dr. G. D. Crawford was doubtless connected with the corps of instructors longer than any other person.
Under the present administration of Rev. Hubert S. Lyle, on July 1, 1917, the Board of Trustees of Arkansas Cumberland College entered into an agreement with the U. S. Presbyterian College Board, with headquarters in New York City, for that Board to direct the management of the College for five years. The College Board has since this time merged into the General Board of Education.
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