USA > Georgia > Greene County > History of Greene County, Georgia, 1786-1886 > Part 18
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The boy who couldn't "stomp-out" chestnuts with his bare heel was looked upon as a "sissy", but how those stickers did hurt when those Sunday shoes had to be put on the next day.
In 1937, chestnut trees are a curiosity, the book satchel has been discarded; and those who carry lunch to school, carry it in thermos containers. The boys and girls who have never had the privilege of carrying a tin dinner-bucket to school, and when the noon hour came, sat down in the shade, removed the lid and pulled out a fat biscuit, made a hole in the side of it with his index finger and filled the hole with molasses, and munched it along with fried chicken, ham and other things that had been prepared for their lunch, have missed much in life. And, if they never dammed up the branch to make a "wash-hole", they are just out of luck.
The boys and girls who were reared after this fashion, know how to meet every emergency in life; and they do not go whining to "Uncle Sam" every time a little depression comes along. This is why our forefathers and mothers could meet adversity with a smile, and cut out th garment to fit the cloth.
FIRST SCHOOLS
The first school of record in Greene County, was esta- blished in Greensboro in 1786, and was known as the Union Academy. "Rector' Ray was in charge, and here, one of Geor-
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
gia's famous teachers began his career. I refer to Dr. Moses Waddell. He came here from North Carolina when a boy of about eighteen, and was probably attracted on account of Greensboro having been laid out for the University of Georgia; was looking for a job as teacher. He taught in the Union Aca- demy in the fall of 1786, and the spring of 1787. He was re- elected as teacher, and went to North Carolina to bring his parents to Georgia. When he returned with his parents and their household possessions in an ox-cart, he found Greensboro in ashes. The Indians had burned the town in his absence, and he saw no prospect for a school at that time. So he drove on to Bethany, and there he established a private school where he taught one year. From Bethany, he moved to Columbia County, where his record as an educator started, and where historians begin their record of his famous career. The old Union Academy served as a school building until after the War of 1861-65, and there are a few people now living, who went to school there. This building stood on cemetery hill and about where the new Chapel is now being built. Some of the timbers from this old school building are in the structure of the old barn that is near by.
The old log church that was built by the Methodist about 1800, was converted into a school house for girls after a new church was built. At least one of the "girls" who attended this school, Mrs. Thomas Stocks, told this writer that she went to school there. Mrs. Stocks died more than thirty years ago at a ripe old age. Many of the wealthier families had private tu- tors for their children.
In 1852, the Presbyterian Synod of Georgia, established a Female College in Greensboro under the name of the Greens- boro Female College. I have before me a photostat of the first diploma ever issued by this college.
An act was passed by the Legislature to incorporate Brock- man Academy in Greene County in 1826. The Trustees were: William Read, Abraham Greer, John High, Joel Hunt, Wil- liam McWhorter, John S. Penn and James Brockman. (Ga. Laws, 1826)
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
An account of examinations given at the Greensboro Male and Female Academy on June 9, 1821 was given in the Greens- boro Herald of May 25, 1882 when H. T. Lewis was the edi- tor and Judge Columbus Heard was the proprietor. The ex- aminations were in reading, writing, spelling, English Gram- mar, geography and the globe, Corderi and Select Veteri, Vir- gil, Virgil, and the Greek Testament, Latin, arithmetic, com- position, oratory, the Bible, Milton's Paradise Lost, chemistry, painting and drawing. The school paper issued was called, "The Selector".
Many of these students were children of the Revolutionary Soldiers who settled here. The old Academy stood on Ceme- tery Hill where Rock Chapel now stands. These students be- came leaders in many areas and their descendants reside in nearly every state in the union.
James Foster and Thomas Wingfield were trustees and visitors at the examinations were : Rev. Francis Cummins, Geo. G. Matthews, Henry Lewis and John Bethune. The act of the Academy was dated 1803, and the Rev. James Ray as Rector and Rev. Francis Cummins as the second Rector.
Some of the names of the students are given although there is not a complete list.
Bethune, Joseph
Grimes, Henry
Bethune, Mary
Greene, Adeline
Barnett, Ann
Gresham, Nancy
Barsh, Ann C.
Gresham, Eliza
Bilbro, Martha
Grimes, Charity
Billbro, Louisa
Heard, Felix
Bilbro, Charles
Heard, Minerva
Colquitt, Benj.
Harrison, Adeline
Catlett, Woodruff
Howard, John
Dupree, Benj.
Johnson, Thos.
Dawson, John ,
Jones, Albert
Dawson, Geo. A.
Jones, Sara T.
Dawson, Thos.
Lawhon, John
Dillard, Geo.
Lewis, James
Dillard, Lucy
Lowe, John Love, Frances
Greenwood, E.
Lewis, Caroline
Grimes, Thos
Lewis, Mary
Grimes, Stirling
Miller, John
Grimes, T. W.
Mathews, Chas.
Greenwood, Eldridge
Mounger, Mary
Greenwood, Wm.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
Martin, Sara A.
Sanford, Lucinda
McIntire, Catherine
Torrence, Albert
Miller, Mary
Todd, John
Monford, Mary
Todd, Henry
Nickelson, James
Todd, Affie
Pierce, Geo. F. (The Bishop)
Talbot, Julia
Phillips, John
Wingfield, Edward
Pierce, Julia
Wingfield, Antoninette
Pinkard, Delilah
Wells, Mary
Peek, Ann
Woodruff, Mary
Robins, John
Woodruff, Lucius
Sanford, Daniel
Winston, Sarah
Sanford, Joseph
Wells, Wm.
Sanford, Eliza
Wingfield, Lucy
GREENE COUNTY'S POOR SCHOOL FUND 1825 to 1838 (By T. B. Rice)
An old book found in the Greene County Ordinary's office gives a list of poor children that were educated by the State of Georgia. This book lists the names of the children who received free schooling, what District they lived in and the names of their teachers. The total enroll- ment was 155 children between the ages of 8 and 17, the vast majority of whom were boys.
The following letter shows where the money to pay the teachers came from :
Greensboro, Ga. 1st April, 1830
"His Excellency George Gilmar
Sir, Please deliver to James S. Park, Es- quire,, or his order a warrant on the Treasurer for Nine Hundred Thirteen Dollars and four cents, on amount of the Poor School fund, due the County of Greene."
(Signed) Thomas W. Grimes Trustee Poor School Fund Greene County, Ga.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
The record does not show whether the children were or- phans or children of parents who were too poor to send their children to school. However, at least one of the children whose names were mentioned, became Governor of one of our South- ern States; and many others became ancestors of men who be- came prominent in later years. This reflects credit both on the children and their teachers, and should be an incentive to every poor boy and girl. Back in those days there were no free schools; parents had to pay for the education of their children, meaning those who were able to pay, and some who were able, did not send their children to school but let them grow up in ignorance. Now, we have compulsory education.
The names of the teachers who taught in Poor School.
137th District Osborn Eley
138th District Sugar Williams and David Day
140th District
James A. Thornton
142nd District
Thomas H. Lightfoot and Josiah Lewis
143rd District
Herndon Haralson and Henry Reid
144th District
Absolum Baugh
145th District
Wm. B. P. Adams
147th District
James L. Mitchell
148th District David Day, and S. G. Jenkins
160th District Peter Baugh, Lancelott Rood & L. Parker
162nd District Joel Daws and Peter Baugh & A. M.
Norris Joel Bruce also taught in this district.
There seems to have been no female teachers, back in those days. Presumably, poor children went to regular pay schools and were taught along with other children whose par- ents were able to pay for their tuition, and that the above named teachers taught in practically all the Greene County schools, of that period.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
HOW THE POOR SCHOOL FUND WAS ADMINISTERED
The following letter was addressed to each Justice of the Peace in Greene County and makes it clear as to how poor children were looked after and put in school:
"Greensboro, 25th January, 1830 Esquires and Captains District No.
Gentlemen :
The laws of 1828 makes it the duty of the Justices of the Peace in the different Captains districts to procure and make a list of all children in their respective districts, together with their names, ages and sex-whose extreme indigence entitles them to a participation in the Poor School fund, and report them in writing to the Trustee for their County annually."
(Signed) Thomas W. Grimes, Trustee
CAPTAINS AND ESQUIRES
Three men functioned in each Militia District; the following gave their names:
1. Captain Joel E. Mercer Dist. 137 Wm. Daniel Harrison H. Watts Esquires
2. Captain Wm. Newsome Dist 138 Abraham Yates John Armstrong Esquires
3. Captain Geo. Crutchfield Dist. 140 Robert Newsome Augustine Green Esquires
4. Captain Josiah Caldwell Dist. 141 Peter C. Johnson Alexander Perkins Esquires
5. Captain Curtis Lewis Dist. 143 Jonas Fauche John Chew Esquires
6. (missing) Dist. 144 James Moore Loahens Wright
Esquires
7. Captain Elishah Jarrell Dist. 145 Mathew Wingfield Franklin Martin Esquires
8. Captain William Duncan Dist. 146 Young F. Gresham William Moncrief Esquires
9. Captain John Branch Dist. 147 John C. Hall James M. Burton Esquires
10. Captain John Ward Dist. 148 William Jones John Willson Esquires
11. Captain Joseph Akins Dist. 149 William T. Walker John Park Esquires
12. Captain Joseph B. Winston Dist. 160
Butt L. Cats John Copeland Esquires
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
13. Captain William Winslett Dist. 161 George Hall Amasa Palmor Esquires
14. Captain Thomas J. Park
Ephriam Bruce Wm. Bryan
15. Captain Cullen S. Cridel
16. Captain John Hutchinson
William Rowland Seaboro McMichael Esquires
The prefix, Captain, meant a prominent man in the dis- trict; the suffix Esquire, meant a freeholder and a responsible man; and they were required to search out all school-age chil- dren whose parents were too poor to send their children to school, and all of them served without pay.
In the year 1830 the Poor School fund amounted to $1,- 602.64 and was deposited in The Branch Bank of Greensboro, of which, James S. Park was cashier. (The Greensboro Bank was a branch of the Georgia State Bank which stood on the corner of the lot that Mrs. Felix Boswell recently sold to Mr. James Boswell.)
The only officer who received pay for handling the Poor School fund was Ordinary or Trustee, and he received 5% for handling the fund.
One noteworthy item of expense is a charge of $7.00, the amount paid by the Trustee covering "the cost of a trip to Milledgeville after the funds."
In all probability, the Nine Hundred-Thirteen Dollars that Thomas W. Grimes sent to Milledgeville for, consisted of gold and silver coins. Paper money was issued by private banks and corporations, and much of it was looked upon with suspi- tion. For example, The Augusta Bridge Company floated a vast amount of paper money in 1816; this money passed at face value for some years and finally became worthless; other pri- a gamble.
In order to protect themselves against loss, Guardians, Executors and Trustees described the money that they received from estates, giving the name of the bank that issued the money, etc. If the money that had been turned over to them became depreciated or worthless, they could not be required to be responsible for more than its actual value.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
THOMAS STOCKS INSTITUTE
Thomas Stocks Institute. Greensboro Female College-1851.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
THE GREENSBORO FEMALE ACADEMY
On May 21, 1851 there was a deed put on record in Greensboro showing that Henry Merrell deeded lot No. 212 to the Trustees of the Greensboro Seminary, the consideration being $500.00 The Trustees named in the deed were: Francis H. Come, Francis Bowman, Josiah Davis, Henry Merrill, Ros- well Hurlbert, M. Saffold, J. L. Brown, Homer Hendee, Wm. C. Dawson, Wm. W. D. Weaver and B. Johnson. The lot was bounded by Broad, Green, Chestnut, and Laurel Streets and is now owned by Judge James B. Park.
The first President of the College was Dr. I. S. K. Axon, (father of the first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson) and the first Pres. of the Board of Trustees was, Francis Beeman. One of the first if not the first diploma issued by this college reads :
Greensboro Female College (Picture of the college ) Founded by the Synod of Georgia Opened January 12, 1852
That our daughters may be as corner stones polished af- ter the similitude of a Palace. (Psalm 111-12.)
The Trustees and Faculty of Greensboro Female College in testimony of correct deportment and proficiency in the sev- eral branches of Science and Literature as taught in this in- stitution, Award to Miss Ann Octavia Nickelson, this diploma and declare her entitled to the highest honors of this institution.
Given at Greensboro, Ga. July 20, 1854.
Signed : I. S. K. Axon, Pres. of the College Francis Bow- man, Pres. of the Board of Trustees.
On a program of the first concert given by the students of the college there were fifteen selections of vocal and instru- mental music given. The program was on Friday evening Nov. 12, 1852 and the names of the following students appear :
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
Misses O. and J. Nickelson, M. Janes, M. McMahon, Kate Beeman, Annie R. Bowman, E. Zimmerman, E. Smith, Violet B. Ellington, Mary J. Crooks, M. J. Waddell, Emma Hines, Sarah Threwatts.
Dr. Joseph R. Wilson, father of President Woodrow Wil- son, preached the commencement sermon for this Academy in 1858, and it would not require a great stretch of the imagi- nation to say that little Thomas Woodrow accompanied his father to Greensboro and flirted with Ellen Axon.
Dr. Wilson's text was taken from First Corinthians 14:34 "Let your women keep silence in the church." Dr. Rice had a copy of this sermon and presented it to Mrs. William Gibbs McAdoo (Pres. Wilson's daughter) while she was on a visit to Georgia with her husband.
Mrs. Thos. E. Winn, nee Minnie Linton has an old pam- phlet with the following information: Greensboro Female Col- lege, founded by the Synod of Ga. A. D. 1851. Faculty : Rev. Homer Hendee, Pres. and Prof. of Rhetoric, Logic, Mental Philosophy, and Natural Sciences, Rev. R. A. Houston, Pastor of Pres. Church, Prof. Mathematics, Astromony, Moral Phi- losophy, and Evid. of Christianity. Miss Julia Thompson, Teacher of English Branches, French, Drawing and Painting. Mr. Issac Holt, Prof. of Vocal and Instrumental Music. Mrs. L. R. Ioyt, Assistant Teacher of Music. Miss Teacher of Preparatory Department
This institution is highly regarded by numerous patrons in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, etc, etc.
College Expenses, including contingencies, per session :
Primary Division
$ 9.00 Drawing and Painting 12.50
Academic
16.50 Music on piano and use of
Collegiate
25.00
same 27.50
French Language
10.00 Music on guitar 21.00
No charge for lessons in Latin and singing in classes.
Signed: F. C. Fuller, Secretary.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
Published by order of Resident Board, Greensboro, Ga., July 12, 1860. Planters Weekly, Printers, Greensboro, Ga. Synod's Board of Trustees: John Cunningham, Pres.
James F. Foster, M.D.
F. C. Fuller, Esq.
Rev. John W. Reid
James L. Brown, Esq. David Howell
Rev. I. S. K. Axon, D.D.
Josiah Davis
James A. Nisbet
Rev. S. K. Talmadge, D.D.
W. W. D. Weaver
Rev. F. Bowman, D.D.
Y. P. King, Esq.
Rev. C. P. Beeman, D.D.
John A. Miller
Rev. Homer Hendee, Ex. Of.
W. B. Johnson
O. P. Daniel Robert Campbell
The faculty in 1854 had these names on the list: Dr. I. S. K. Axon, Pres., Dr. Francis Bowman, Dr. Francis Gold- ing, Dr. Nathan Hoyt, Dr. Joseph Styles, Miss Ann Maria Lyman, Miss Louisa M. Alcott. This was a very distinguish- ed faculty and many interesting chapters could be written on any one of the members. Dr. Axon was a noted minister and educator and the father of the first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson. Dr. Frances and Miss Alcott were both noted authors whose stories are still widely read. Ann Maria Lyman came from Northampton, Mass. and was the mother of Mrs. James B. Park and Mrs. Henry T. Lewis.
The beginning of the War between the States closed the doors of this thriving institution as a college and it was used as a school for children until it was taken over by the Confede- rate government and used as a hospital for wounded soldiers. This day was about January 1865 and every store building and church in Greensboro was filled with the wounded and dying soldiers.
Soon after the surrender, Greensboro was full of Yankees, and stealing and plundering went on for some time. It was 1872 before the school reopened and the headmaster was John Seals who published the old "Temperance Banner" at Penfield, and later moved to Atlanta.
A Northern man and his wife by name of Haile tried the school for a while and finally on Dec. 14, 1872 the famous old Presbyterian College burned to the ground, and it is said
Rev. N. Hoyt, D.D.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
it was of incinerary origin. The lot was sold to A. S. Seals where he built a home, later Judge James B. Parks bought it.
We have always heard that the idea of the college being erected originated in the mind of that old Revolutionary sol- dier, Dr. Francis Cummins who was a delegate to both the Mecklinburg Declaration and the U. S. A. Declaration in 1776. He taught Andrew Jackson (Old Hickory) in North Caro- lina. He came to Greene County soon after it was organized in 1786 and was pastor of the old Bethany Presbyterian church in Greensboro and taught school in the old Union Academy on cemetery hill. Union services were held in the old Siloam Meeting House that stood near the old Academy the only building there at that time in which religious services were held. Dr. Cummins died in Greensboro on February 22, 1852 and was buried in the Greensboro cemetery.
Other schools were the Brockman United Academy, in- corporated in 1826 which was the first after the Greensboro Academy of 1786. Lafayette Hall Academy was opened in 1827, and Thornton Academy in 1831 and as said before the White Plains Academy in 1834.
Louisa May Alcott was born in 1832 in Germantown, Pa. where her father kept a school for two years then they moved to Concord 20 miles from Boston. Her first successful book, "Little Women", written about 1868 has probably been read by more girls than any book ever written. Louisa taught school and it is said she taught in the Greensboro Academy about 1850, and that she came South with Miss Ann Maria Lyman who later married Joel Poulain and had two daughters, Mrs. James B. Park and Mrs. Henry T. Lewis. Louisa May Alcott went back to Boston, Mass. where she taught, wrote and nurs- ed the wounded Union soldiers and served her family. Miss Alcott never married and died March 6, 1888. Her books are full of youth's warmth and laughter and will live on.
The Greensboro Female College flourished for some years, and continued to function until just before the close of the War Between the States. I have before me a letter written
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
by Dr. Joseph R. Wilson, father of President Woodrow Wilson, dated "Augusta, Ga., Dec. 28, 1863, protesting against the Confederate Government taking over the Female College in Greensboro for Hospital purposes. This letter was written to Mr. Cunningham, and reads in part: "Tell them that this is now almost the only school left to this part of the state, and that there are other buildings that might be used for hospi- tals. For instance, the old Methodist church will hold nearly as many as the College, and be there no warehouses that can be occupied ?"
Tradition says, Louisa M. Alcott was once a teacher in the Greensboro Female College, but there is no documentary evidence to prove it. However, Mrs. Ella Sanford Ferrell, wife of the owner of the famous "Ferrell Gardens" of LaGrange, Ga., and near relative of Dr. S. V. Sanford, Chancellor of the University of Georgia, told on many occasions, that Miss Al- cott was her teacher while she attended the Greensboro Female College. It is a known fact that, there were several teachers in this college from the New England States. The only account of the marriage of Miss Lyman to Mr. Poulain known to exist, is a letter written by Mrs. Samuel Davis of Greens- boro, to her daughter, Mrs. Thomas J. Bowen, mother of Mrs. T. B. Rice, who was a missionary to Africa. Mrs. Bowen pre- served these letters and brought them back when she returned home after a four year stay in Africa. These letters are among the sacred treasures of her daughter.
Judging from the statement of Mrs. C. C. Vincent of Greensboro, who was one of the students in January 1864, this school had ceased to function as a Female College. He says : "On January 1, 1865, Mr. John Seals opened a mixed school in the old College building, and I was one of his pupils. After the school had been running two days, it was taken over as a Hospital, and as wounded soldiers were brought in from Atlanta, Newnan, Jonesboro and other points where heavy fighting was going on. When the College building was filled, other buildings were pressed into service until every church store-house, warehouse, and every other available place was filled."
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
WILLIAM H. SEWARD TAUGHT IN GREENSBORO
William H. Seward, once governor of New York State United States Senator and Secretary of State in Pres. Lincoln's cabinet was born in N. Y. in 1801. While attending Union Col- lege in the fall of 1821 he had a disagreement with his father and left college and sailed for Savannah, Ga. He couldn't find work in Savannah so he went to Augusta.
He did not find work in Augusta and by now had no money, and was very discouraged. With only the clothes he wore he walked to Mt. Zion in Hancock County where the Beeman's, Gildersleeves and other Northern friends lived. He learned from them that a new Academy was to be opened and his friends, newly found as they were, put him to bed, pressed his clothes, fed him and loaned him a buggy and horse to go to Putnam County where he secured a job teaching at the Union Academy.
This Academy received its charter Dec. 15, 1821 and the first Board of Trustees were: Iddo Ellis, William Walker, William Turner, William E. Adams, Zaccheus Butler and Hardy Pace. After teaching here for a time Seward went to Greensboro to teach. Here he boarded in one of the best homes and freely mingled with the belles and beaux of the town. He had a long illness, which was probably typhoid fever and friends here nursed him and cared for him until health was restored.
Seward's father found out that his son was in Greensboro and prevailed on him to return to Union College in N. Y. where he completed his college work. It is said that after William H. Seward became a statesman and was nationally known he came back on a visit to Putnam and Greene Counties and visited the friends he had there. Two men especially were mentioned, Ma- jor Frederick Ward and Major Crafton who lived in Putnam at one time, and the Claytons in Greene Co.
There were many early schools in Greene County and the following list is given and the years in which they were incor-
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY
porated by the Georgia Legislature. Greene Co. Academy, 1786, Brockman United Academy 1826, Lafayette Hall, 1827, Thormton Academy, 1827, White Plains Academy, 1831, Pen- field Female Seminary, 1834, Buena Vista Academy, 1850, Union Male and Female Academy, 1859, Mercer Institute 1833 and Greensboro Female Academy chartered in 1852.
OTHER SCHOOLS
In 1790, the entire population of Greene County was 5,405 ; and in 1800, it had practically doubled, 10,761. Adiel Sherwood's Gazetteer, written in 1827, and Rev. George White's "Historical Collections of Georgia" have little to say about the schools in Greene County, although, Sherwood does mention the fact that, Greensboro had a Female Academy and a Male Academy. The fourth edition of his Gazetteer publish- ed in 1860, mentions Penfield, Woodville, Greensboro, Union Point, and White Plains, but makes no reference to schools other than those in Greensboro and Penfield. This is probably due to the fact that, when he wrote the first edition, he was pastor of the Greensboro Baptist Church, and was familiar with the schools in the county. Whereas, in 1860, when the last edition was published, he was not familiar with the changes that had taken place after he left, and used his old manuscript of 1827. Unquestionably, all of the towns and villages mention- ed by both Sherwood and White had schools long before their histories were written, but White Plains, Greensboro, and Pen- field seem to be the only places where their early school histor- ies were preserved.
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