USA > Georgia > Troup County > History of Troup county > Part 14
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During the administration of Miss Daisy Davies, who was elected presi- dent in 1915, an endowment fund of $251,000.00 was pledged largely from local citizens; notable among the many contributors, the following generous sums: James G. Truitt and wife, $50,000.00; the Dunson estate, $37,000.00; Miss Mary Nix, $12,000.00.
In 1920, William E. Thompson was elected to the presidency, and during his administration, Samuel C. Dobbs donated $25,000.00 and built a beau- tiful home on the campus.
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In 1931 the college celebrated the centennial of the original establishment with a pageant, depicting its progress from a small school to the present splendid equipment.
In the early days of the school, it is interesting to note some of the quaint incidents and settings. These first students, "Amarantha Cameron, Philo- genia Ware, Elethia Mclendon, Sophronia Campbell" and others arrived in carriages and in barouches with far more bandboxes and umbrellas than books. They were accompanied by their black "mammies," but this new business of girls getting an education did not encourage so many "curling tresses" and so much "tubbing and buttoning," so the mammies were sent home.
A serious period ensued in which one-half of each day was devoted to the study of mathematics, it being generally conceded in that day that a woman could not learn such an abstract subject. But much time was given to the writing of essays with such serious subjects as "Mother, Home and Heaven," "What is Life but Fleeting," "All a Mist," and "In the Dark Our Fortunes Meet Us," and others of like import.
The college authorities declared that a knowledge of French was indis- pensable, "as the diplomas are printed in French." In addition to all this getting of knowledge, these young misses were admonished to "mind your manners, and walk sedately."
The board of trustees of LaGrange Female Institute, who succeeded the board of LaGrange Female Academy, were as follows: Sampson Duggar, Hampton W. Hill, Daniel McMillan, Orville A. Bull, and Thomas B. Green- wood.
The catalogue of 1848 announces that, "Board for pupils of the Institute can be obtained in the following homes: Major George Heard, Benjamin Harvey Hill, Esq., Dr. N. N. Smith, James Bradfield, Esq. Price of board per month, $9.00, exclusive of washing and lights." Lights were tallow candles. Twenty girls were accommodated in the institute at the same price.
The dormitory was used in the last days of the war as a hospital for wounded soldiers.
Thus it will be seen that the LaGrange Female Academy, chartered on December 26, 1831, and a suitable building erected for its accommodation was used continuously for the academy classes and those of LaGrange Female Institute, which was chartered on December 17, 1847, and also for the classes of LaGrange Female College, as it was later called, until 1851. The little academy has the distinction of being the first institution ever char- tered for the instruction of young ladies in any state.
The presiding officers of the institution under the original title of prin- cipal, and later as presidents, are given below. For three years the classes
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HISTORY OF TROUP COUNTY
were combined with those under President Ichabod F. Cox at the Southern College, and his name is added to the list.
1831-33 Thomas Stanley 1871-72 E. P. Burch
1834-42 John Park
1872-74 James T. Johnson
1843-56 Joseph Montgomery 1875-81 J. R. Mason
1857-59 W. C. Connor 1881-85 John W. Heidt
1859 William C. Harris 1885-15
Rufus W. Smith
1860-63 Gadwell J. Pearce
1915 Alwyn M. Smith
1863-66 Armstrong
1915-20 Miss Daisy Davies
1866-69 Ichabod F. Cox
1920 -- William E. Thompson
1869-71 Morgan Callaway
SOUTHERN FEMALE COLLEGE. In 1842 Rev. John E. Dawson organized a school for young women. Dr. Dawson was soon succeeded by Milton E. Bacon, through whose efforts the school was chartered under the name of LaGrange Female Seminary in 1845. By an act of the General Assembly of Georgia dated January 31, 1850, it changed the corporate name to La- Grange Collegiate Seminary for Young Ladies; two years later on January 14, 1852, the name was changed to Southern and Western Female College. On February 17, 1854, the name received its last change of Southern Female College as a title.
The first class of four was graduated in 1845. The institution won an enviable reputation for thorough and conscientious work, and its increasing patronage demanded more extensive accommodations.
In 1850, the old school building was remodeled for a boarding house or dormitory, and a beautiful chapel was erected. The location at this time was in the eastern part of LaGrange, between the present Hill and Greenville streets. President Bacon was succeeded by John A. Foster.
In 1857, I. F. Cox was made president, in which position he labored over thirty years. During this period he firmly established the success of the college.
Near the close of the Civil War, the buildings, which were then used as a hospital for Confederate soldiers, were accidentally destroyed by fire. The government at Richmond, Virginia, upon the presentation of the claim by Benjamin H. Hill, appropriated $51,000.00 to restore the property, but as the Confederacy soon dissolved, no return for the loss could be made.
With indomitable energy President Cox set to work to rebuild and re- furnish the institution. In 1871, the new site on Church Street was selected and work begun on the buildings. The chapel erected in 1877 was a monu- ment to the generosity of President Cox and the people of LaGrange.
During the commencement of June, 1887, President Cox was stricken by apoplexy and died from the stroke. But the heritage he left was a col-
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lege free from debt and equipped with handsome buildings and the most modern appliances. For a time Mrs. I. F. Cox served as president, and was succeeded by her son, Charles C. Cox.
After the death of President I. F. Cox, which occurred during the com- mencement in June, 1887, the college was managed for a time by his wife, who was succeeded in turn by her son, Charles C. Cox. Mr. Cox was greatly beloved by the citizens of LaGrange as well as the students, and the college flourished under his administration which continued until the summer of 1895.
Dr. G. A. Nunnally became president, and his administration lasted for seven years, during which time a new dormitory, the Sarah Ferrell Lyceum, and a chapel were added to the institution.
In 1902 M. W. Hatton was chosen as president, and he served until 1908 when two of the buildings were burned. Due to the vigorous efforts of the local alumnae, the Sarah Ferrell Lyceum was renovated and arranged for classrooms as well as a dormitory, and Dr. R. H. Blalock was engaged to manage the institution, and so successful was his administration that not only were the annual expenses met, but a surplus was provided. Rev. W. D. Upshaw was engaged to solicit funds for the rebuilding of the dormi- tory.
In 1910, the new building was completed, and William F. Brown was elected as president, and served as such for two years. In 1912, James E. Ricketson succeeded as president, and continued to serve until 1916, when M. W. Hatton returned for one year.
In 1917, the trustees of the college decided that inasmuch as L. J. Render had for many years been a generous patron of the college and had advanced large sums of money for buildings and for maintenance of the college, that repayment of these advances would be an impossibility on the part of the trustees, and that the wisest course was to discontinue the school and turn over the property to their creditor. This was done, and the buildings were converted into apartments, and some time later became the property of Pike and Hunter under the name of Render Apartments.
The Southern was always noted for its classical background and the splendid musical conservatory. The Cox administration inaugurated this excellent department, and Dr. John H. Norman of Oxford, England, and Miss Eula Render, who had studied many years in New York and abroad, added greater lustre by their knowledge and brilliant performance.
The presidents of Southern Female College at LaGrange include in their roster many well and widely known educators. The roster follows:
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HISTORY OF TROUP COUNTY
1842-46 John E. Dawson
1895-03 Dr. G. A. Nunnally
1846-55 Milton E. Bacon
1903-08 M. W. Hatton
1855-57 John A. Foster
1908-10
Dr. R. H. Blalock
1855-57* Henry E. Brooks
1910-12
William F. Brown
1857-87
Ichabod F. Cox
1912-16
James E. Ricketson
1887 Mrs. I. F. Cox
1916-17
M. W. Hatton
1887-95
Charles C. Cox
BROWNWOOD. In 1840, the Brownwood Institute for young ladies was established by Dr. Robert C. Brown. It was located about two miles from LaGrange in land lot 113 on the West Point highway, and occupied the site of Dr. W. W. Rutland's present residence.
Dr. Brown was born, reared and educated in England. He had previously taught at the Scottsboro School, and Mrs. B. C. Ferrell had been one of his pupils. It was through Judge B. C. Ferrell that he was induced to locate in LaGrange. He was a man of great wealth, and spared no expense in designing and building the school.
The buildings were entirely English in design, drawn by English archi- tects, and built by English workmen. The campus was immense, about one hundred acres in extent, and the school buildings were placed in the center. There were magnificent oaks, velvety lawns of blue grass, and many of the flowers common to the Old South. Winding walks and broad driveways, sanded with the whitest sand, wound through the campus.
Pupils were enrolled from all over the South, and it was a great honor to receive a diploma from Brownwood. For among the noted educators of this old school are recalled the names of Bennett, Sherman, Foster, and Cox. Dr. and Mrs. Brown had four children: Harry became a noted physician; Marie, an artist, never married; Lucia married Ovid Rodgers; Lydia a phy- sician. Dr. Brown is buried in Hillview Cemetery in LaGrange.
After the death of Dr. Brown, Brownwood was sold to Dr. Otis Smith, a Baptist minister from Massachusetts. Dr. Smith married Martha Womack, an aunt of Mrs. Thomas A. Boddie.
Thomas Boddie was a student at Brownwood and recounted to Miss Belle Boddie some of the pranks of the school boys. . On one occasion, Dr. and Mrs. Brown went to the house of Peter Tatum to perform the wedding ceremony of Betty Tatum and Dr. Little. Dr. Smith and his wife were the first guests to leave for home after the ceremony. It was a very dark night, and on reaching the Brownwood neighborhood, the horses became disquieted and refused to go on. Ben, the negro coachman, got out to investigate and found a rail fence built across the road. Ben cleared the road and next morning there was no sign of a fence there. Dr. Smith made
*During the years of 1855-57, John A. Foster and Henry E. Brooks acted as co-presidents.
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no reprimand, and in fact, enjoyed the prank as much as the boys who played it.
In 1852, Brownwood was chartered by the General Assembly as a uni- versity for boys with Dr. Otis Smith as president, and for many years enjoyed the reputation of one of the best schools in the South.
COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The public schools of Troup County were organized in January, 1871, in accordance with an act of the General Assembly enacted on October 13, 1870. The following members consti- tuted the County School Board, and the militia district represented is noted:
655 LaGrange District. James H. Fannin, President
City of LaGrange. John E. Toole, Secretary
673 Harrisonville District. J. P. Mooty
656 East Vernon E. J. Greene
697 Rough Edge
Anderson Leslie
698 Mountville
J. T. Johnson
699 O'Neal's Mill
John H. Traylor
700
Hogansville District.
W. C. Lovejoy
701 West Point District. W. L. Alford
City of West Point. J. W. Oslin
735 West Vernon John W. Glass
800 Antioch John G. Goss, resigned Aug. 1
804 Long Cane. B. C. Cook
805 Mclendon's Joel Gibson
1086 Pool's Mill S. H. Dunson
Town of Hogansville. No election
The examination and selection of teachers and the issuance of the licenses to teach were made in August, September and October, 1871, and the fol- lowing names were authorized to teach in the common schools: In East Vernon, F. B. Mosely and Mrs. Mary R. Lane; in Harrisonville, J. P. Mooty, John Willingham and Isaac Jackson; in Rough Edge, Robert H. Dallis; in O'Neal's Mill, Frank Ward; in West Vernon, Charles S. Johnson; in West Point district, J. D. Attaway and J. R. Mann; in Antioch, W. G. Floyd and Miss Ella M. Boyd; in Long Cane, Miss Florence Burton; in Mclendon's, L. S. Bates; in city of West Point, A. P. Mooty and A. F. Trimble; and the following names with place undesignated: J. M. Hogg, Lemuel Bruce, W. S. Alford, Mrs. Ella Marchman, Mrs. Fannie Autrey, J. B. Camp, Robert E. Park, I. F. Cox, J. W. Hogg, W. E. Palmer, J. W. Tarleton.
The first school census taken in the county in the fall of 1871 merely gives the totals of white and colored between the ages of six and twenty-one.
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HISTORY OF TROUP COUNTY
DISTRICT
WHITE
COLORED
TOTAL
655
LaGrange
55
477
532
City of LaGrange
270
325
595
656
East Vernon
85
210
295
673
Harrisonville
181
266
447
697
Rough Edge
238
215
453
698
Mountville
97
354
451
699
O'Neal's
210
247
457
700
Hogansville
157
255
412
Town of Hogansville.
103
5 2
155
701
West Point
116
177
293
City of West Point.
151
155
306
735
West Vernon
100
118
218
800
Antioch
151
137
288
804
Long Cane
181
232
413
805
Mclendon's
71
180
251
1086
Pool's Mill
149
163
312
Total
2315
3563
5898
COUNTY SCHOOLS REORGANIZATION. The original Board of Education which was chosen in 1871 was found to be too large for efficient work, so the board was reorganized on January 19, 1872. The new board consisted of five members with a term of office of four years. The first three of the board given below were chosen for two years, and the other two for four years, so that the terms of the whole board would not expire at the same time.
1872-74 W. P. Edmondson
1894-02
W. R. Bradfield
1872-74
W. E. Glanton
1894-96
John D. Johnson
1872-78
N. L. Atkinson
1894-98
J. F. Thompson
1872-88
M. L. Rachels, Chairman
1896-00
R. L. Gilham
1872-85
John E. Toole
1896-06
Henry W. Miller
1874-79
A. E. Reid
1899-14
W. B. Whatley
1874-82 W. S. Trimble
1902-06
James F. Askew
1878-86
A. C. Williams
1903-11
H. C. Kimbrough
1879-83
E. T. Winn
1904-05 . Jesse F. Jones
1882-87
J. N. Carlton
1904-06
E. B. Clark, Chairman
1884-92
J. C. C. Freeman
1904-08
William T. Tuggle
1885-88
Orville A. Bull
1904-08
W. C. Davidson
1886-92
John D. Johnson
1904-14
C. K. Bass
1887-90
William M. Boyd
1905-08
R. E. O'Neal
1888-92
James F. Park
1906-10
George V. Boddie
1888-92
W. E. Dozier
1908-14
H. E. Newton
1892-96
John T. Boykin
1908-28
H. H. Lane, Chairman
1892-94
William A. Poer
1908-12 John W. Colley
1892-04
William V. Gray, Chairman
1910-18
J. H. Cleaveland
1894-02
J. F. Mobley
1914-18
Fannin Potts
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1914-18 W. S. Brock 1922-30 L. L. Smith
1914- J. Q. Burton, Chairman 1922-30 J. T. Hairston
1918- J. D. Walker 1928 -- J. C. Teaver
1918-22 R. H. Sivels
1930 -- H. J. Hogg
1918-22 W. C. Davidson 1932 -- J. T. Patillo
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS. The county school superintendents, called formerly commissioners, were elected by the Board of Education in the first plan of operation, but were afterwards made elective by the voters, but excluding those in cities which had an independent system of schools.
The officials of the early days of public schools were hampered in many ways in the accomplishment of their purposes: the apathetic attitude of the people, the lack of suitably trained teachers, and the woeful lack of funds coupled with the temporary diversion by the state authorities of the school funds, which caused the pay of teachers to be deferred or discounted. The roster of superintendents follows:
1871-85 John E. Toole, Sr.
1912-20 John B. Strong
1885-01 Orville A. Bull 1920-28 Thomas G. Polhill
1901-08 Hatton Lovejoy 1928 -- J. H. Melson
1908-12 W. C. Davidson
PRESENT COUNTY SCHOOLS. In 1920, when Thomas G. Polhill was elected as County School Superintendent, there were twenty-three small white schools in Troup County outside of the municipal corporations of LaGrange, Hogansville and West Point. The attendance on these schools was very irregular, for it was dependent on weather conditions and the needs of the various stages of crop development on the farms. Some of the school buildings were poorly lighted and heated and inadequately furnished with suitable desks, blackboards and apparatus. During the administration of T. G. Polhill, the physical conditions were almost revolutionized and reconstructed. Instead of the numerous poorly constructed buildings, there were constructed nine modern consolidated schools, each one of which is provided with a suitable assembly room, a library of well selected books, furnished with modern desks and an adequate teaching force. The question of attendance further hampered by the increased distance of some pupils from the consolidated school, was solved by the use of school buses under the control of careful and skillful drivers to carry pupils to and from the schools. Since the consolidation of the various schools, the pupils have made wonderful advancement in comparison with former days.
Another potent factor in the advancement of the rural schools of our county has been the introduction of the Four-H Clubs in the schools by Miss Ida Bell, and the Boys Club by our county farm agents, George Daniel
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HISTORY OF TROUP COUNTY
and John Anderson. These ideas were impracticable until the schools were consolidated, because the units were too small to justify the expense.
These great improvements that were inaugurated in our county schools have been amplified and carried on under the efficient management of the present superintendent, J. H. Melson, who is a teacher of wide experience and ability, and who is in sympathy with every effort towards improvement.
The following are the schools: Pleasant Hill at Abbottsford; Center and Gray Hill in the 5th district; Hillcrest in the 12th; Mountville; Oak Grove; Rosemont; Salem; Tatum.
PERSONNEL OF THE COUNTY SCHOOLS. The personnel of the county schools under the supervision of J. H. Melson follows:
Abbottsford
H. B. Coleman and two teachers
Center
J. D. Whiteside and six teachers
Gray Hill K. T. Wilson and four teachers
Hillcrest H. B. Clay and three teachers
Mountville
H. M. Perry and four teachers
Oak Grove
Frank Cain and three teachers
Rosemont
O. T. Harmon and seven teachers
Salem Miss Ruth Boyles
Tatum H. R. Sims and three teachers
TROUP COUNTY ACADEMY. The Troup County Academy was chartered in 1827, and in 1828 was located on the present site of Hillview Cemetery in LaGrange. The students of the academy used water from a spring on the grounds of the Church Street Park, the former Ridley place. Among the teachers of this academy are noted Judge Orville A. Bull, Judge Blount C. Ferrell, and Lem Robertson. In 1838 the property was transferred to the trustees of the LaGrange High School, who sold the property to the city for a cemetery.
FRANKLIN ACADEMY. This academy was chartered in 1827, and incor- porated on December 26, 1831, at the same time as the incorporation of the town of Franklin, and was located in land lot 283 of 5th district on the present site of the high school. On December 24, 1832, the name of the town and of the academy were changed to the name of West Point Academy.
PLEASANT GROVE ACADEMY. This academy was chartered by the Gen- eral Assembly of Georgia in 1827, but no names were mentioned in the charter. It is probable that the old Pleasant Grove School was the site, but there are no records available to verify this.
VERNON ACADEMY. Chartered on December 22, 1829, with the follow- ing named trustees: Woody Dozier, Willis Whatley, Elliott Reid, Wiley J. Sterling, and Ira Allen. It was chartered as an accessory to the town of
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EDUCATIONAL
Vernon on the Chattahoochee, which had been an aspirant for the location of the county seat in 1828. The academy, like the town, now exists in memory only.
LAGRANGE FEMALE ACADEMY. Incorporated on December 26, 1831, this was the school which was developed into LaGrange Female College. This academy has the distinction of being the first incorporated institution for the instruction of women only in the state of Georgia. The history will be treated under the history of LaGrange Female College.
WEST POINT FEMALE ACADEMY. This academy was chartered and incor- porated on December 25, 1837, with the following trustees: Beaman H. Martin, Benjamin P. Robinson, William Reid, Dickerson, Burnham, John M. Russell, John C. Webb, and Edward B. Terrell. This academy was operated for some time, probably up to the time of the war in 1861, and formed the nucleus of the Female College afterwards built in 1868.
LAGRANGE HIGH SCHOOL. This school was chartered on December 28, 1838, with the following board of trustees: N. N. Smith, Benjamin Cam- eron, William A. Redd, Jesse Bull, John E. Gage, Bennett M. Ware, Wilie Womack, Andrew Battle, and James K. Redd. The property of the Troup County Academy was donated to them by the trustees of that institution, which was sold, and a site bought on the eastern side of the town between Hill and Greenville streets and east of King Street. The site contained about twenty acres, and fronted 750 feet on the present Hill Street. This school was presided over by some well known educators, Otis Smith, Carlisle Beman, Threlkeld, Hodges, Mooty and Jones. On October 14, 1843, the property was purchased by Joseph T. Montgomery, and it is probable that he induced Carlisle Beman, then president of Oglethorpe University, to take charge of the school. At a later date it was in possession of the LaGrange Board of Education, who sold the school site to a company to use as a race track, and the school was moved further west to the intersection of Hill and Greenville. This in turn was sold by the city to Robert E. and Edward Park, and the building removed to Park Avenue and operated as a boarding school for boys. A few years later it was destroyed by fire.
HOME ACADEMY. Chartered on December 31, 1838, with the following named trustees: William Christian, William E. Marcus, Peachy Bledsoe, William M. Fincher, Elkanah Talley, Thomas Tatom, George Wells, and Samuel Cartright. The location of this academy cannot be definitely stated as the names of the trustees constitute the only clue. Probably in the south- ern part of the county, but possibly in the eastern.
WEST POINT FEMALE COLLEGE. While the college may have been a development of the West Point Female Academy, it was organized as a college mainly through the efforts of Major Mcclendon, and financed by a
140
HISTORY OF TROUP COUNTY
stock company in 1868. In November, 1873, it was destroyed by a storm, but was rebuilt in 1874 by the city council under the administration of B. F. Reid as mayor. Colonel A. P. Mooty was one of the presidents, and was in charge in 1874, at which time there were about a hundred students in attendance.
THE LAGRANGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Education in LaGrange for many years was dependent on her colleges, the high school for boys, and several private schools, all of which received a small addition to their income from the state school fund through the county school commissioner. The Gen- eral Assembly of Georgia had passed several acts enabling the city of La- Grange to establish a system of public schools, and in the early part of 1903, an election was held to authorize an issue of bonds for the construc- tion of school facilities to the amount of $25,000.00, and the citizens approved the measure by an overwhelming majority.
The following Board of Education was elected by the city council to put the system into operation: F. M. Longley, who was chosen as chairman, T. A. Atkinson, J. H. Edmondson, H. R. Slack, C. L. Smith, W. L. Cleave- land, and John D. Edmundson, mayor and ex-officio member. The high school, now Harwell Avenue, was erected at a cost of $13,000.00; East LaGrange and the Union Street colored school, for $4,500.00, and the bal- ance up to $20,000.00 was used for desks and apparatus.
Clifford L. Smith was chosen as the first superintendent; James E. Ricket- son as High School principal; Miss Lulu Ward as principal of East LaGrange, and Miss Fleming Ward as principal of Unity School, conducted in a build- ing furnished by the Unity Cotton Mills. An additional colored school was established as Hill Street in the old colored academy.
The construction of Elm City Mills in 1905 and the Unity Spinning Mills in 1909 soon overcrowded the Unity School, for which temporary provision was made on Oak Street for the first grade, but finally resulted in the construction of the Unity School on Wilkes Street, and the enlarge- ment of Union Street. The High School was built in 1914 at an approxi- mate cost of $36,000.00. The system at that time included the High School on north Greenwood Street, Harwell Avenue Grammar School, Unity Grammar School, East LaGrange Grammar School on Johnson Street, and a kindergarten school on Dixie Street, and the two colored schools, Union Street and Hill Street.
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