History of Lewis County, Kentucky, Part 16

Author: Ragan, O. G
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Jennings and Graham
Number of Pages: 522


USA > Kentucky > Lewis County > History of Lewis County, Kentucky > Part 16


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


Angus V. Wilson; Alfred Harmon, surveyor; W. C. Halbert, county attorney.


In 1863 David Fearis, David M. Dunbar, Wm. S. Parker, Robert Richards, N. R. Gar- land, Edward Roe, Peter Duzan, A. H. Seatley, Samuel McEldowney, Jesse Markland, Peter Mawk, Lewis C. Stricklett, Dudley Calvert, and W. T. Jones were elected justices of the peace.


List of County Officers, October, 1865 .- James S. Pollitt, judge; Lewis C. Stricklett, Samuel Ellis, Jesse Markland, Samuel McEldowney, Peter C. Mawk, Nicholas Moore, Edward Roe, W. D. Parker, Wm. Ruggles, N. R. Garland, A. H. Deatley, Peter Duzan, Dudley Calvert, magistrates.


Manley Trussell, county attorney; J. B. Fitch, sheriff; Wm. R. Hendrickson, jailer; Alfred Harrison, surveyor; Thomas W. Mitchell, county clerk.


Officers from 1864 to 1869 .- First court held in Vanceburg, on Monday, March 21, 1864, Hon. S. Holbrook, county judge.


Thos. W. Mitchell appointed as deputy county clerk May 17, 1864; and, upon the death of John T. Parker, he was appointed county clerk at a special term, July 4, 1864. His cer- tificate as clerk of the Circuit was signed by L. W. Andrews.


1865 .- James S. Pollitt, county judge; Thos. 22


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W. Mitchell, county clerk; Mandley Trussel, county attorney; J. B. Fitch, sheriff; R. G. Barber, coroner; James McDermott, assessor; Wm. R. Hendrickson, jailer; Geo. M. Thomas, 1868, county judge, on resignation of J. S. Pollitt; Mandley Trussell, county attorney; Thos. W. Mitchell, county clerk; Wm. R. Hendrickson, jailer; James McDermott, school commissioner; R. G. Barber, coroner; Smauel Ellis, sheriff; Alfred Harrison, surveyor.


Officers, 1870 .- Geo. M. Thomas, county judge; Mandley Trussell, county attorney; W. R. Hendrickson, jailer; Thos. W. Mitchell, county clerk; Alf. Harrison, surveyor; John Woodworth, assessor; R. G. Barber, coroner; Samuel Ellis, sheriff; James McDermott, school commissioner.


August, 1870, to 1871 .- James R. Garland, county judge; Joseph A. Spark, county clerk; Thos. W. Mitchell, County Court clerk; Lewis Plummer, jailer; Samuel Ellis, sheriff; Henry C. Bruce, treasurer; Robt. B. Lovell, 1871, sheriff; Thos. W. Mitchell, school commissioner; W. C. Halbert, county attorney; Alfred Harrison, surveyor.


Officers from 1871 to 1878 .- Justices of the peace: D. W. Fearis, D. H. Brightman, L. C. Stricklett, W. W. Moore, Wm. Ruggles, Samuel W. Williams, Thos. J. Walker, Jesse Markland, D. M. Dunbar, J. J. Fitch, Wm. S. Parker,


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Dudley Calvert, Henry McKee, and Peter D. Lykins. Joseph D. Secrest later elected; also R. R. Hines, John Hackworth, Peter C. Mawk, N. R. Garland, Lewis Dickson, D. H. Boyd, Wm. P. O'Doherty, Joshua D. Fitch, Richard P. Thomas, Dudley Calvert (re-elected), Samuel McEldowney, R. R. Williams, Samuel W. Williams (re-elected), J. J. Fitch, Thos. J. Walker (re-elected), James R. Gidding.


August, 1874-1878 .- M. P. Lewis, county judge; W. L. Fitch, county attorney; Thos. A. Mitchell, county clerk; Jos. A. Spark, County Court clerk; H. F. Warder, 1872, sheriff; A. J. Harrison, 1874, sheriff; Willis Hisey, jailer; Peter C. Mawk, surveyor; A. Dud. Pollitt, as- sessor.


Officers from 1878 to 1882 .- A. W. Fryer, county judge; Thos. A. Mitchell; Jos. A. Sparks, deputy county clerk; S. J. Pugh, county at- torney; Thos. C. Wilson, W. G. Bullock, deputy sheriffs; Willis Hisey, jailer; Peter C. Mawk, surveyor; R. G. Barber, coroner.


Magistrates. - James M. Dunbar, Isaiah Grigsby, D. H. Boyd, D. W. Fearis, Geo. W. Herrin, John W. Keyser, Alexander Plummer, Benj. F. Branham, B. W. Parker, Henry McKee, Isaac W. Lykins, Wm. M. Parker, E. G. Ray- born, F. M. Taylor, J. J. Fitch, Jas. Nolen, B. D. Pollett, W. E. Reed, Jas. M. Fults, Jesse


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Markland, Ammon Cooper, Isaac Conley, Wm. Sharks.


Officers from 1882 to 1886 .- A. W. Foyce, county judge; R. D. Wilson, county clerk; S. I. Pugh, county attorney; Samuel L. Hall, 1882, S. H. Parker, 1884, sheriff; J. W. Cottingham, jailer; W. G. Bullock, assessor; Dr. W. H. Campbell, coroner; Peter C. Mawk, surveyor; T. B. Bullock, superintendent schools.


Magistrates of 1884 .- Henry McKee, S. I. Dodd, G. H. Harrison, D. H. Boyd, J. E. Lang, W. B. Parker, Geo. W. Heselton, A. J. Arm- strong, G. H. Gilbert, H. I. Bell, R. H. Fisher, Geo. W. Herrin, B. D. Pollett, G. H. Bane, Jesse Markland, W. E. Reed, A. N. Coofer.


Officers from 1886 to 1890 .- Samuel J. Pugh, county judge; E. H. Fitch, county attorney; Thos. A. Mitchell, county clerk; J. C. Willim, sheriff; Joseph W. Cottingham, jailer, 1890-94; Henry C. Myers, assessor; T. J. Adam, J. M. Wells, coroner; Wm. H. George, school com- missioner; Alfred Harmon, surveyor; S. A. Agnew, treasurer.


Magistrates 1889 .- R. W. Higgins, E. R. Hays, W. H. Wright, L. N. Rayborn, J. W. Lykins, W. B. Cooper, Isaiah Grigsby.


Officers from 1890 to 1894 .- A. W. Fryer, county judge; Thos. A. Mitchell, county clerk; W. C. Halbert, county attorney; J. C. Willim,


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1890, Ed. Willim, 1892, sheriffs; Joseph W. Cottingham, jailer; Jack Hendrickson, assessor; G. E. Dunbar, school commissioner; A. Harrison, surveyor.


January Term, 1890-93 .- Magistrates: R. H. Fisher, H. L. Bilyen, W. D. Gully, Jas. M. Lee, Thos. W. Irwin, B. F. Branham, Wm. Sparks, John T. Dodd, G. W. Hamilton, Isaiah Grigsby, B. D. Pollett, R. W. Higgins, Wm. E. Reed, R. M. Parker, J. T. Bowman, Ralph Stafford, . E. W. Hackworth, W. K. Hampton.


1893 to 1894 .- S. G. Hillis, county judge; Thos. A. Mitchell, county clerk; W. C. Halbert, county attorney; Ed. Willim, sheriff; Geo. W. Dale, jailer; W. H. Hamrick, assessor; Dr. G. M. Will, coroner; E. C. Rowland, surveyor; Geo. E. Dunbar, school commissioner; E. A. Jones, treasurer.


1897, New Constitution .- Ed. Willim, county judge; O. P. Pollett, county clerk; W. C. Hal- bert, county attorney; Marshall Bertram, sheriff, Thomas Cooper, assessor; E. C. Rowland, sur- veyor; Geo. E. Dunbar, school commissioner; E. A. Jones, treasurer; C. A. Tamnam, jailer.


Officers of 1903: Magistrates .- E. W. Mc- Clain, W. E. Darragh, W. H. Wright, Joshua Stampa, J. W. Lykins, W. B. Cropper, Isaiah Grigsby.


Officers from 1901 to 1905 .- J. M. Lee, county


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judge; O. P. Pollett, county clerk; W. C. Thor- oughman, county attorney; T. M. Bowman, sheriff; David Smith, assessor; Ernest H. Staley, surveyor; J. T. Burchart, coroner; W. Rich. Henderson, school commissioner; C. L. Tam- nam, jailer; Geo. E. Dunbar, treasurer.


Officers from 1905 to 1909 .- J. M. Lee, county judge; O. P. Pollett, county clerk; W. C. Thor- oughman, county attorney; M. Bertram, sheriff; Thos. Cooper, assessor; Dr. J. T. Owry, coroner; W. R. Henderson, school commissioner; G. P. Adams, jailer.


Officers, 1909 .- Same officers, except G. W. Lykins was elected sheriff, H. F. Sullivan, jailer, and Dr. J. M. Wells, coroner.


Officers of 1911: Magistrates .- W. H. Mc- Clain, No. 1; A. R. Campbell, No. 2; Theo. Bagby, No. 3; H. L. Walters, No. 4; O. T. Lee, No. 5; R. M. Parker, No. 6; P. C. Henderson, No. 7.


List of county judges and county clerks:


1856 Thos. Henderson, Judge.


1860 J. R. Garland,


Geo. T. Halbert, Clerk.


1865 Socrates Holbrook,


Thos. W. Mitchell, "


1866 J. S. Pollett,


1870 J. R. Garland,


1874 W. S. Lewis,


Jos. A. Sharks,


1878 A. W. Fryer,


Thos. A. Mitchell,


1882


1886 S. J. Pugh,


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


1890 S. J. Pugh, Judge.


Thos. A. Mitchell, Clerk.


1894 A. W. Fryer,


1894 S. G. Hillis,


1898 Ed. Willim,


O. P. Pollett,


1902 J. M. Lee,


66


1906


1910


REPRESENTATIVES .- The following are Lewis County's list of Representatives.


STATE SENATE


W. C. Halbert.


1866-1870


R. B. Lovell. 1873-1877


H. C. Bruce 1880-1884


S. J. Pugh 1894-1895


J. D. Rummans.


1895-1899


W. H. Cox. 1900-1906


B. C. Grigsby


1907-1910


T. F. Bagby


1912


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES


Aaron Owens


1810-1813


Samuel Cox. 1813-1816


Thos. Marshall 1817


Aaron Stratton


1818


Samuel Cox.


1819


Wm. B. Parker


1820


Alex. Bruce 1821


F. R. Singleton 1822-1823


C. B. Shepherd .


1824


Alex. Bruce.


1825


C. B. Shepherd


1826


John Bruce.


1827


Thos. Marshall


1828


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


John Bruce.


1829


Thos. Henderson 1830


C. B. Shepherd . 1831-1832


Thos. Henderson.


1833


Chas. H. Marshall


1834


Israel B. Donaldson.


1835


Thos. Marshall


1836


W. B. Parker


1837


T. J. Walker


1838


Thos. Marshall


1839


Manley Trussell.


1840


Socrates Holbrook 1841


Thos. Marshall


1842


Benj. Given.


1843


Thos. Marshall.


1844


U. B. McKellup


1845


L. J. Proctor.


1846


James Bilderback


1847


N. R. Garland.


1848


John L. Fitch.


1849


John Thompson


1850


Cleaton Bane.


1851-1853


Joshua Given.


1853-1855


T. H. C. Bruce


1857-1859


Same (resigned August 16, 1862)


1861


P. S. Layton.


1862-1865


P. H. C. Bruce


1865-1867


J. B. Fitch (declared ineligible)


1867-1869


Alex. Bruce.


1867-1869


A. J. Hendrickson


1869-1871


Thomas J. Walker


1871


(Seat contested and declared vacant, 1872)


1859-1861


F. M. Wood.


G. M. Thomas.


1855-1857


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


G. M. Thomas. 1872-1875


Rufus Emmons 1875-1877


J. D. Thompson 1877-1879


Isaiah Grigsby 1879-1881


F. H. Hull. 1881-1883


Wm. Bowman 1883-1887


S. G. Hillis 1887-1891


G. T. Halbert.


1891-1893


Wm. Bowman . 1893-1895


A. Dud. Pollitt.


1895-1897


D. D. Lykins.


1898-1900


Jas. Cooper. 1900-1902


R. C. Hanna. 1902-1904


W. C. Halbert. 1904-1906


J. D. Lowder. 1906-1908


T. M. Bertram 1910-1912


Before 1810 Lewis and Greenup were rep- resented together, by Plummer Thomas, in 1809, and other gentlemen of Greenup County.


GENERAL ELECTIONS .- The issues before the people in 1798, at the time delegates were elected to form a new Constitution, were the slavery question and the election by the people of the office holders. The famous "Resolutions of '98," probably from the molding hand of John Breckinridge, came into existence in the Legislature of 1798. But this was before our county was born-a few years; yet the Consti- tution then framed was that under which she


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


came into existence, and under which her course was guided for nearly fifty years.


The subjects for discussion before the people in 1849-1850 Convention were:


"First .- The relation of the State to slavery.


"Second .- The election of all officers by the people.


Third .- The inhibition of the use of the credit of the State for internal improvements.


"Fourth .- The Constitution of the several courts of the State.


"Fifth .- The introduction of a clause for the prevention of dueling.


"Sixth. The distribution of representation in the State Legislature.


"Seventh .- A common school system."


(From "History and Texts of the Constitu- tions of Kentucky," by Bennett H. Young, 1890.)


This Constitution went into effect in June, 1850, and was the supreme law of the State for about forty-one years. Under it Lewis County elected her officers, fought in the great Civil War, builded her present county seat, organized her macadam road system, helped build a rail- road, went through a tobacco growing mania, saw the rise and fall of the Farmer's Alliance, discussed at various times the temperance


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


question, promulgated the gospel, built churches and schoolhouses in every section of the county, and now, under another "New Constitution," she is moving smoothly and each year marks a change for the better in some of the abuses of the county's administration.


CHAPTER V


COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM: COMMISSIONER-SUPERIN-


TENDENTS-BOARDS OF EDUCATION-TEACHERS- GROWTH OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTY- DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLHOUSES.


"The Common School! O, may its light Shine through our country's story; Here lies her wealth, her strength, her might; Here rests her future glory."


THE "FREE SCHOOL FUND" of Kentucky orig- inated from money distributed by the General Government before and up to 1836, to those States that had no land grants for educational objects. By that time Kentucky had received $1,433,757; but the subject of the schools and of education, by the Constitution of 1799, had been left to the tender mercies (?) of the Legis- lature, and by 1837 the fund had been reduced to $1,000,000, and, in 1838, to $850,000. In 1845 an Act passed the Legislature authorizing the school bonds to be burned in the presence of the auditor and treasurer. This was actually done, and the enemies of free thought seemed to have triumphed by wiping out the last ob- ligation of the State to educate its citizens.


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But this spirit of injustice aroused the friends of common schools, and a set of representatives were returned to the Capital in 1847 who passed an Act requiring the governor to reissue the bond, or rather, issue a new bond, and also pro- viding for submission to the vote of the people of an additional tax of two cents on the one hundred dollars for schools. The people ratified the tax by a majority of 36,000 votes.


By the time the Constitutional Convention of 1849-50 had met there was due the school fund from the State $1,276,391.71.


It was upon this condition of affairs that the Convention began to discuss the proposition of placing a school clause in the New Constitution.


The discussion was opened by Benjamin Hardin, delegate from Nelson County, in which he made a roaring speech against the proposi- tion, wherein he ridiculed the "free school," stigmatized its teachers as a set of low, brutalized ignoramuses, and said that they were a "miser- able set of humbugs." He declared his county never had, nor ever would have, a free school. He had "no opinion of free schools-none in the world."


He thought it would take forty-five hundred schools to accommodate the children of the State, and that the expense would be more than she could raise. He was sending all the time


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


five or six children, beside his own, to the Methodist and Catholic Colleges, and he seemed to think that was the better way to educate the future citizens of the State.


All this tirade of abuse put the friends of education on their mettle, and Larkin J. Proctor, of Lewis County, threw down the gauntlet to Mr. Hardin in defense of the education of the masses. "He not only contended that the adop- tion of this provision of the Constitution for the permanent security of the school fund was demanded by the people, but was demanded by all lovers of free government and intelligence and virtue; that the members of the Convention were engaged in making a Constitution which was to be thoroughly democratic in all its oper- ation; that they were throwing back into the hands of the people all political power, and that it was essential now to secure to these people and their posterity the means of giving their children the blessings of an education in order that they might be qualified to discharge the duties that might devolve upon them." He said: "While, however, these great and im- portant truths are recognized and admitted by all, it is to be feared that gentlemen are not practically alive to the important influence of these truths on the operation of our government. The gradual extension of the privilege of free


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


suffrage in the provisions of the Constitution which we are about to adopt, and which is to place in the hands of the people the selection of every officer of the government, imposes on the members of this Convention the solemn duty of making a corresponding effort to extend the great privileges, the light of knowledge, and the means of cultivating the minds of those who are to come after us. For, sir, if we mean to pre- serve our free institutions, we must watch over them; we must learn to know and number our great political rights; we must study the tenure by which we hold them, and must also qualify ourselves to discern from afar off the dangers that threaten us-for the rights and liberties of man are always in danger from some quarter."


That the children who are now basking in the beams of the sunshine of education vouch- safed to them by the Constitution may know what a valiant fight its friends in the Convention made for it, we copy a few of the speeches made in its favor. Mr. Taylor, Chairman of the Committee on Education, made a grand speech. He said: "There are in Kentucky (1849) ninety- one thousand children whose parents are mostly unable to educate them, and yet we are be- sought not to interfere. Great God! Can it be possible that we shall be non-combatants in the great battle of life-for knowledge is life.


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


I ask if gentlemen can look upon this barren and unproductive field and not desire to plant and nurture within it the tree of knowledge (perhaps of life also), to lead through it those fountains of living water which slake not, but rather increase the thirst of him who drinketh? Who does not desire to cast upon this still and unfruitful pool bread, with the cheering assur- ance that it shall indeed be gathered after many days? To sow broadcast over this land the seeds of knowledge which shall germinate and produce for ever? With the startling facts presented in this report of the second auditor how can gentlemen hesitate about the absolute necessity of a constitutional provision for some system of general education? It can not be that this convention will adjourn without the ex- pression of some solicitude on this great matter. We have been told by the gentleman from Nelson (Mr. Hardin) that the Catholics are opposed to this system of common schools, and that if we put it in the Constitution they will oppose its adoption. Sir, I do not believe it. I will not do them the injustice to believe this imputation upon their patriotism and intelli- gence. They will not send their children, as said, to free schools. Be it so. Let them edu- cate their own children; they have the right to do so, and the ability, too. Is that any reason


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


why the friends of education should neglect to provide for such a system of public instruction as will hang up at every man's fireside the lamp of knowledge? We have erected the lamp-if I may use the figure-like the brazen serpent in the wilderness, and invited every man to look and live, and if he will not, we have the consola- tion that it is not our fault or our neglect."


William B. Machen, afterwards United States Senator, took grounds against this constitutional provision.


Dr. William K. Bolling, from Logan County, made a magnificent oration for the common school clause. He says:


"But the gentleman from Caldwell (Mr. Machen) would not force the State to pay the interest on this National gift, made sacred by a solemn Act of the Legislature for ever, to edu- cational purposes. He thinks it might be in- convenient. That is her concern, not mine. It will not be denied that she justly owes the money, for she has, through her Legislature, ordered the evidences of the debt to be listed. A listed debt, I understand from the lawyers, is not assignable, and therefore does not require the baptismal fire to stave off its payment until a more convenient season. But, sir, let these hundred chosen delegates go home and tell the anxious thousands that will greet their return


23


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


that a part of our labors here insures to the descendants of this land of heroes and song the keys to the temple of knowledge; that hence- forth, under the new organization, schools are to spring up in every neighborhood, and to be as free as the gush of waters from the mountain rock.


"Tell them that the mountains and the valleys and the plains of this heavenly heritage are to be studded with schoolhouses, which, like the temples of the living God, are to be free to all, without money and without price. Tell the children of the poor and unfortunate that hope, heretofore that mystic shadow of good which receded as they advanced, and whose home was fabled terminus of the rainbow, has been made to receive substantive proportions and become a smiling reality. Tell them that the fountains of living water have been opened up, in which the budding desire for knowledge may slake its thirst, and where all are invited to come and partake freely. Let this be told them, sir, and a voice redolent of thanksgiving and benediction will go up from half a million of the best of our people to the God of the widow and the fatherless."


T. J. Hood, of Carter County, also made a speech in favor of the schools. He said:


"We are also admonished by that same


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


gentlemen (Mr. Hardin) and others upon this floor to leave the school fund and the proceeds of the school tax to the guardian care and tender mercies of the Legislature. Sir, the experiences of some eleven years have demon- strated to the people of Kentucky the necessity of placing that fund upon more elevated ground, and securing it against that rapacious spirit of legislation which has not hesitated to lay violent hands upon it whenever an emergency seemed to require a prostitution of its means. The general principles of this report, as I before re- marked, meet my cordial approbation. It con- secrates and forever establishes the school fund, and places its principal beyond the reach of legislative abuse, while, at the same time, it secures the faithful application of the interest to the education of the children of all classes of society.


"Under the benign auspices of these extended means for intellectual development we shall see loom out from every city and country, from lowland and mountain, many an intellectual giant, with names gilded with no phosphoretic aureola borrowed from a distinguished ancestry, but with minds swelling with energies; fresh, free, native, and vigorous, and owing their attractions and power alone to their own masculine pro- portions.


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


"Then, indeed, will Kentucky become what I would have her as distinguished for virtue and intelligence of her citizens as for the chivalry of her sons and the beauty of her daughters."


The outgrowth of all this oratory and logic was the admission into the late Constitution of Article XI, on Education.


It has been preserved in the New Constitu- tion of 1890, and is to-day the bulwark of de- fense against the enemies to the common school, who, thank Providence, are growing fewer every day as the system becomes more and more perfect.


There might have been some excuse for Ben Hardin's reproach of the ancient peda- gogue, but it was the fault of a faulty system which had not thrown around it those safe- guards which now prevent ignoramuses from taking the chair of the teacher.


In 1839 a change was made in the school law, reducing the county commissioners from five to three. There seems to have been more officers than schools up to 1851.


As well as I can determine, although there were five districts laid off in Lewis County in 1822, the common schools went into operation in Lewis County about 1853. The first free school was taught on Mudlick by John S. May, who


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


died only a few years ago, in that same locality. He was followed by Artensia Everett, now Mrs. Hardin Shaw. Next came Mr. Joshua T. Harry, who died on Upper Kinny a few years ago; and after him came Mathew Mitchell, who was an excellent teacher and far above the average of his day in educational attainment. Under his management our log schoolhouse, with its split log branches, received its first blackboard, and he also introduced the study of grammar, geography, history, and organized a Friday evening debating club. The subjects for dis- cussion were such as would require historic research, and to stimulate the boys to do their best the good-looking girls were put on the stand as judges to decide which side produced the best argument. I will never forget how I studied my speech and then spread myself in its delivery, when Lavinia Virginia Martin, Mary Louise Evans, and Emily M. Beckett, or either of them, might have been on the judge's stand.


The history of the school on Mudlick is parallel to that of almost every school in the county. It was slow but gradual development toward a better order of things. The payment of money by the State served to draw teachers from the Eastern States, who were generally poor, pecuniarily, but shrewd, erudite Yankees,


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History of Lewis County, Kentucky


well qualified to teach and excite the pupils to seek a broader field of research for knowledge.


The War of 1861 affected the schools to considerable extent, preventing any noted im- provement during its continuance; but after its close, and its passion began to subside, the schools started on again toward a better system.


Step by step the coils have fastened, by leg- islation, around the teacher, the trustee, and the patron, till now the teacher must be an educated person and the common school curriculum con- tains all the elements of a good English educa- tion. The teacher must not only know science, but he must be examined in theory and practice as well. He must show ability to teach as well as knowledge of the subjects to be taught. Then, again, the "Reading Circle " and "County Teachers' Library" are widening the scope of his mental horizon and giving him an introduc- tion to classic literature, to the works of the ancient masters in his own art, and to the mythology of the primitive ages. Indeed, to be a teacher in the common school now requires character, erudition, ability to command and to impart instructions to others. Instead of the "miserable humbug" which Ben Hardin pic- tured in the Convention of 1849-50, the teacher is the peer of the foremost statesman in that Convention. His moral character, scholastic




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