USA > Mississippi > Lowndes County > Columbus > A history of Columbus, Mississippi, during the 19th century > Part 7
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The first principal of the male department who occupied the new building in 1836 was Mr. Abram Maer, a Scotch gen-
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tleman, educated for an Episcopal minister and the popular teacher of a large boy's school, taught in a building situated on the site of the residence of Mrs. G. W. Cox. He continued as principal for one year with great satisfaction to the patrons and pupils, and resigned for a more enlarged field of labor. His assistants were J. Sewell Norris, and the Rev. Thos. Archibald. He was succeeded in 1837-1839 by Prof. Robert Bruce Witter as principal, the assistants continuing the same. Prof. J. A. McLean and wife took charge of the female de- partment in 1837 and 1838.
In 1839 Mr. Joel Parker was principal, with Sewell Norris and Mr. J. W. Payne, a graduate of Yale College, assistants. During this session a school rebellion took place in which the large boys "turned out" the principal, and his department was discontinued until the end of the term. The assistant teachers were not included in the rebellion and they finished their school term.
The school books used in 1840 were Webster's " blue back " speller, Eclectic readers, Olney's geography, Kirk- ham's grammar, Smiley's arithmetic, Grimshaw's history of the United States, and Comstock's philosophy.
AN IMPORTANT FACT.
In 1840 the trustees of the Franklin Academy were liable for a large debt incurred in the erection of the school building without resources for easy payment. A year or two before this date the trustees of the Franklin Academy had set apart square No. - north of Main Street as a public Cemetery for the use of the citizens of Columbus. The square was laid off in streets and lots 8 by 16 feet, subject to enclosure, singly or in parcels, by citizens for private use. In a letter dated August 21st, 1840, Mr. Abram Murdock proposed to the trus- tees as a financial plan for the payment of the debt, and a greater security to the citizens for burial purposes, that they lease these lots to the highest bidder as other lots or parts of lots were leased by the trustees of Franklin Academy in accordance with their legal obligations. This suggestion of Mr. Murdock's was not complied with and the cemetery was continued as a public burying ground according to the original plan until 18 ---. In 1878, the mayor and board of aldermen
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of the city of Columbus were made by State law the legal successors of the trustees of the Franklin Academy so far as the possession and management of the property and finances were concerned.
Among the principals of the Franklin Academy who served between 1840 and 1860 were J. T. Hoskins, J. J. W. Payne, J. A. McLean, E. Wiley, Mansfield Clayton, McGahey, B. A. Vaughan, J. B. Weir and W. C. Carter. Among the assistants were S. W. Mullen, Henry Brown, W. W. Lester, and James D. Lynch. Among the principals of the female de- partment were Mrs. J. A. McLean and Miss Louisa Morse, with Miss Maria Morse. From 1860 to 1870, among the prin- cipals were J. A. Stevens and G. T. Stainback. In the female department were Miss Mattie Scull and Miss Mary Tabb. After 1870 the principals were T. R. Edmunds, J. M. Barrow (1873), C. H. Cocke, E. R. Sherman, and J. M. Bar- row, 1879 to 1901.
Mrs. L. E. Eager was principal of the female department from 1876 to 1890 with an intermission of one year. Among the first male assistants were Dabney Lipscomb, S. M. Nash and Richard Leigh. Among the first female assistants were Mrs. Lizzie Hale, Miss Jennie Worthington and Miss Mary Mayo.
Prof. J. M. Barrow, whose principalship comprises a period of twenty-five years, and Mrs. Laura E. Eager, whose principalship of the female department extended from 1875 to 1890, are justly entitled to the greatest credit for their successful management during these years of highest pros- perity and educational character.
IMPORTANT CHANGES
After the constitution of 1869, in which the freedom and civil rights of the negro were fully recognized, it was deemed necessary to conform the charter of the Franklin Academy to this new condition of affairs. This was done by the pas- sage of a bill in 1877 introduced by the Hon. J. E. Leigh. In this bill all the requirements of the State school laws passed in accordance with the constitution, were incorporated into the charter and regulations of the Franklin Academy especi- ally that part which pertained to the equal education of the
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negro. This was done by the establishment of the colored department of the Franklin Academy, called for convenience Union Academy, in which the educable negro children of Columbus and the township were admitted to equal rights and advantages with the white children and were governed in every particular by the same school regulations. Union Academy has been a flourishing school from that date to the present time and has been managed by the same board of school directors with great ease and success. W. I. Mitch- ell (colored) has served as assistant principal since the estab- lishment of Union Academy.
Another important change in the charter and law of the Franklin Academy was made in 1878 by a bill introduced by the Honorable W. H. Sims. This bill abolished the old board of school trustees who had entire management of both the finances and the literary conduct of the school and made the mayor and board of aldermen of the city of Columbus the legal successors of the old trustees of the Franklin Academy except the literary management and the election of teachers which was put in the charge of a board of school directors to be elected every two years by the voters of the city and township.
This put all of the school funds in charge of the city treas- urer, a bonded officer, and the expenditures in the hands of the official board which levied and collected the money with which to pay them. The board of mayor and aldermen had charge of all the school property, the erection and care of school buildings, fixing the salaries of teachers, etc. The school directors who were required to give no official bond were left free to carefully study the literary wants and success of the school and to secure competent teachers for the work.
Under this division of labor and responsibility, the Frank- lin Academy has been maintained as a first class school of high grade, with so much the confidence of the citizens of the town as to control the largest portion of their patronage.
In 1886, the two school buildings, male and female de- partments were deemed insufficient for the accommodation of the school and the present large and commodious edifice was erected at a cost of $20,000 the entire amount being paid
RESIDENCE OF DR. R. R. STOCKARD.
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without any special tax or issuance of bonds; and at this time the Franklin Academy is entirely free from debt.
In 1839 the school trustees were Ovid P. Brown, Richard Barry, P. Wade, Wm. Covington, Thos. Magee; in 1847 James Whitfield, Eli Abbott, R. D. Haden, I. M. Knapp, J. J. W. Payne; in 1849 George R. Clayton, Robert D. Haden, Hardy Stevens, James S. Lull, Andrew W. Jordan; in 1856 James Miller, W. L. Lipscomb and others; in 1875 J. H. Sharp, B. A. Vaughan and others.
In 1878 the board of school directors were J. M. Barrow, president, C. L. Lincoln, T. A. Schoolar, Titus Gilmer (colored), and Ben Fernandes (colored).
In 1886 the board was W. L. Lipscomb, president, C. S. W. Price, J. A. Hudson and others.
In 1901 S. M. Nash, president, R. S. Curry, Wm. Kilpat- rick, Wm. Newby and Wm. Gunter.
In 1901 the faculty of the Franklin Academy consists of twenty-three teachers, fifteen white and eight colored. The names of the white teachers are as follows: Prof. J. M. Barrow, principal, Miss Jennie Worthington and Miss Mary Mayo, first assistants; Misses Blannie Shields, L. A. Neilson, Lena Roden, Fannie Young, Selena Martin, Laura Young, Annie Manning, Mary Stokes, Ruth Kennebrew, Mrs. M. B. Patterson and Mrs. A. T. Sale .*
The colored teachers are W. I. Mitchell, H. B. Tucker, Mrs. Hattie Johnston, Mrs. Frank Morgan, Mrs. Lula Roberts, Mrs. Jonas Hunter, Mrs. Georgia Walker, Miss Bessie Nance.
There are 668 white pupils and 860 colored. Total 1,528. The school fund for 1900 was $9,706.58 of which $2,398.55 was received from city leases.
COLUMBUS FEMALE SEMINARY.
In 1832 about the time of the erection of the first Masonic hall on the southwest corner of the square now occupied by General S. D. Lee, Rev. David Wright established the Colum-
*NOTE-Prof. Joe Cook succeeded Prof. J. M. Barrow as Super- intendent of the City Schools, and under his efficient administration Franklin Academy still prospers and holds its place securely in the affections of the people of Columbus. A new building has been erected in the southern part of the town and named "The J. M. Barrow Memorial School."-EDITOR.
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bus Female Seminary and taught in this building. The seminary became a flourishing institution and required the assistance of two additional teachers, Miss Axel and Miss Bray. Miss Bray was distinguished as being the earliest love of the Poet Longfellow, her name in this association and her coming south to teach in Columbus, Miss., being mentioned in some of his biographies. After three or four years the Seminary was discontinued.
MISSISSIPPI FEMALE COLLEGE.
Through the active agency of Mr. Abram Maer, a popular and successful teacher in Columbus, The Mississippi Female College was incorporated and established in Columbus 1838. It was a large two and a half story frame building, an imposing and commodious structure which included the dormitories and study halls. It was located on the hill northwest of the Franklin Academy. Mr. Abram Maer was its president as- sisted by an able corps of teachers among whom were Misses Dunning and Dewey and Prof. A. S. Pfister as music teacher. Irs first board of trustees was Thomas G. Blewett, president, Thomas Magee, R. T. Brownrigg, Benjamin S. Long, Thomas J. Brownrigg, Madison Walthall, John Huddleston, A. F. Young, James Jones, E. H. Sharp, Wm. Amis, E. B. Drake, Wm. Covington, A. J. Hodges and Ovid P Brown.
The daughters of these trustees and other citizens were among its pupils. Boarders from a distance filled its dormi- tory and its success was well assured when it was suddenly destroyed by fire.
In 1840 a May day celebration was first presented by this institution to the town of Columbus with the floral decora- tions, music, addresses and the crowning of the May queen, who at this time was Miss Mary Wade, one of the handsomest girls in the town and afterwards one of its reigning belles. She married the Hon. William Vassar, of Aberdeen, and was the sister of Mrs. B. A. Vaughn now of our city.
MAIN DORMITORY OF THE INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE.
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CHAPTER XI-CONTINUED.
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND NEWSPAPERS-REV. C. C. PRESTON.
In 1840 there was established one of the most remarkable schools in the educational history of Columbus.
Quite a number of the leading citizens were dissatisfied with the character, scope, and influence of the educational ideas of the day, and they determined to secure a change in this particular and a teacher whose views corresponded with their own. They complained first of the memoriter or parrot like and ritualistic methods of instruction. Second, of the undue importance, both in time and consideration given to the dead languages, Latin and Greek, to the almost entire exclusion of the natural sciences, and third, they seri- ously objected to the science of arithmetic being taught by rules to the exclusion of all analysis or mental effort of the pupil. They also believed that the co-education of the sexes would be beneficial to both.
The views of Froebel and Pestalozzi were becoming understood by the American world, and several Columbus boys had been sent to Europe for the benefit of instruction in these schools. The citizens succeeded in finding the Rev. C. C. Preston who had adopted their views and had success- fully demonstrated their practicability in a school at Moores- ville, Ala. Mr. Preston acceded to their proposals and came to Columbus in the fall of 1840.
School houses were scarce at that time of the year and he opened his school in a two-room frame cottage on the lot now occupied by Capt. Dan Richards.
After the close of the winter vacation the school was moved to a large and handsome cottage situated on the hill in the rear of the present Askew residence.
The school was well furnished with double desks, black- boards, maps, globes, and all available school appointments. The girls who were admitted at this time, and the boys occu- pied adjoining desks according to their classification. All 8
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the views and methods of instruction of both patron and teach- er were fully carried out. The first new departure was the opening of the school with religous exercises of reading the Bible, singing and prayer, an exercise not common in the public schools and colleges of the day. The next change was the introduction of Colburn's Mental Arithmetic as the basis of all instruction to be given in the science of numbers, and classes were formed in botany, zoology, physiology, drawing, composition, music, and in penmanship with the muscular movement.
The success of the school was phenomenal and at the examination in June, 1841, held in the basement of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church, classes were examined in phren- ology, the pupils exemplifying their knowledge by examining the heads of visitors. The classes in botany, zoology, and physiology presented their specimens and essays prepared during the term. The class in Colburn's Mental Arithmetic, composed of boys and girls from fourteen to sixteen years of age, were examined on examples selected by the audience from the arithmetic of the day, their solution being accom- plished by the analysis used in their text book and without the knowledge of a single rule in the books from which the examples were taken.
The success of this examination was very gratifying to the patrons and pupils of the school.
The success of the second year was quite equal to that of the first. The enthusiasm of the pupils was so great that they complained of no tasks which were assigned them. They attended recitations before breakfast and at night without a murmur. They enjoyed beyond description the strolls on the banks of the Luxapalila for the purpose of collecting botanical and zoological specimens, and their annual science camp hunt and the dissection of subjects during recitation in physiology. The encouragement given to the development of their own mental perceptions and resources and the exercise of original thought and expression were especially gratifying to their young and vigorous minds and a number of Columbus men and women still thank the new education and C. C. Pres- ton for teaching them how to think their own thoughts and act on the promptings of their own independent wills.
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In 1842 Rev. C. C. Preston left Columbus for other fields of labor. An extended sketch of this school has been given to allow 20th century educators an opportunity to ask the question, 'Is history repeating itself?"
PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
From 1840 to 1860 Columbus was an Eldorado for school teachers and private schools. In 1842, Miss Williams taught a flourishing female school in the basement of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. In this school calisthenics was first taught in Columbus. During these years, Helm, Eager, Welton, Morse, Mills, Brown and Powell, all highly educated teachers, taught prosperous male schools. Dr. Simpson Shep- herd taught a female school in the Methediet church. Prof. Burnham taught a large school in the basement of the Presby- terian church. Mrs. Innis and Misses Harriet Love and Louisa Morse taught primary schools.
To Miss Maria Morse belongs the honor of being the historic primary teacher of boys in Columbus. More men in Columbus at this time (1901) claim a joint memory of pupilage under her instruction than any other single teacher. She was a woman of substantial good sense and acted upon a few well defined ideas. She believed if a boy was taught to spell well, to tell the truth, and had been well whipped, he could make a good man. Columbus honors the memory of Miss Maria Morse.
About 1850 Mr. Abram Maer established the Montevallo Male and Female Academy, which soon reached a high degree of prosperity. In this school Professor Foster, T. C. Weir and Col. Wheadon were teachers in the male department and Prof. Markstein in the department of music. The inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows also established a male high school, which was well patronized on account of the high character and educational ability of the teachers, among whom were Profs. S. M. Meek, John W. Chandler, A. J. Quinche, Thos. B. Bailey, Thos. Carter, W. H. Lee, B. F. Meek, Samuel Pope, and Lewis and wife. The school began in the present city hall building and was afterwards moved to a large two story brick school house erected by the Odd Fellows in the
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eastern portion of Columbus. It was destroyed by fire and not rebuilt.
After the war Capt. T. C. Belcher, A. D. McVoy, Prof. T. R. Edmunds, Mrs. L. E. Eager, Mrs. Alston, Misses Worth- ington, Pierce, Shaeffer, and Bean were popular private school teachers.
COLUMBUS FEMALE INSTITUTE.
In 1847, seeing the necessity of educating Columbus girls at home, Col. A. A. Kincannon set on foot a project to erect a female college in Columbus, and with the hearty co- operation of many of the leading citizens they projected and established by subscription the Columbus Female Institute. As soon as the necessary amount of money was subscribed, the stockholders met and elected the following board of trustees: George R. Clayton, president; A. A. Kincannon, John S. Topp, J. T. Harrison, Samuel Butler, Thos. G. Blewett, Rich- ard Evans, W. L. Harris, W. W. Humphries, D. Lipscomb, Green Hill, G. H. Young, Jonathan Decker, treasurer, S. A. Brown, secretary.
The trustees purchased the property known as the resi- dence of Maj. Moore, a large 12-room house, situated on the present site of the I. I. and College, and built the White House, which contained the study hall and recitation rooms, and which is now a part of that institution. The institute opened in 1848 with the Rev. A. S. Smith as president, and a full corps of competent teachers.
The Institute was prosperous from the very start and well patronized by Columbus citizens and the adjoining coun- ties. Most of the families in Columbus were represented, and the very elite and most literary of our Columbus women were pupils within its walls. Grandmothers and mothers remember it as the school in which they were educated and took their degrees, and while memory lasts the old people of Columbus will recall with gratitude and pleasure the Colum- bus Female Institute.
President Smith remained two years and was succeeded by R. A. Means, A. M., a South Carolina gentleman of birth and education. He was president for several years. He
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was succeeded by Mr. J. H. McLean, a scholarly lawyer and successful teacher, who taught only one year.
Rev. B. F. Larrabee and wife, assisted by Dr. J. W. Shattuck and wife followed him and brought the Institute up to the zenith of its prosperity and success. The dormitory could not accommodate its boarders, and first class work was being accomplished in its school rooms and its reputation extending to the neighboring states, when unfortunately the dormitory was destroyed by a fire caused by falling of a burning toy balloon upon its roof. This accident occurred in the fall of 1858.
In 1859, Prof. Larrabee and trustees succeeded in raising about $30,000, and with this amount proceeded to the erection of a large three story dormitory sufficient to accommodate 300 boarders. In October, 1860, this institution was re- opened with the dormitory partly finished, with a flourishing school, which was discontinued in 1861 on account of the existing war and continued closed until 1867, when it was re-opened by Rev. A. S. Andrews as president. He served several years and discontinued his presidency to accept the chancellorship of the Southern University at Greensboro, Ala. Dr. Andrews was succeeded by Prof. J. J. Baird, and he, after a year's service, was succeeded by Rev. J. F. Tarrant and his highly accomplished wife, now a prominent educator in Alabama. In 1875 Miss Lorraine Street, who had been for a number of years connected with the institution as pro- fessor in several departments, was elected president. It continued with much success under her management until 1885, when it became the property of the State under the name of the Mississippi Industrial Institute and College.
The Columbus Female Institute occupied a period of over thirty years in the educational history of Columbus, and was the leading female college in northeast Mississippi. Among its prominent assistant teachers were Mrs. Laura E. Eager and Miss M. J. Callaway, and in the music depart- ment were Profs. Callowoda, Markstein, and Poleman. Mrs. Torry presided for a score of years over its art department, and many parlors and homes are decorated with paintings, the work of her pupils. She still lives at an advanced age, honored and loved by the citizens of Columbus.
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INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE.
In 1858, Miss Sallie Renau, a young lady of high literary attainments, of Grenada, Miss., being much interested in the subject of female education, and objecting to the very partial manner in which the State of Mississippi was dispensing her educational advantages to the exclusion of the girls of the State, prepared a memorial on the subject setting forth the rights of women to equal school opportunities with men and asking for the establishment by the State, of a female college, equal in all its advantages to the State University, for the education of her girls. Her memorial was presented to the State Legislature and received a warm approval by Gov. J. J. McRea who recommended it in his annual message to the legislature. The memorial was referred to the commit- tee on education and was never reported upon. At a later date the subject was re-opened by Mrs. Annie C. Peyton, of Copiah county, in the newspapers of the day, and with the assistance of Mrs. John G. Hastings, of Claibourne county, the Hon. John McMartin, senator from that county, prepared and secured the passage of a bill through the legislature of 1884 incorporating the Industrial Institute and College. The provisions of the bill were complete, and trustees were ap- pointed who asked for proposals by the cities and towns of the state to secure its location.
Columbus, Miss., made an offer of the large buildings and adjacent grounds of the Columbus Female Institute, together with $50,000 of city bonds, making the amount equal to $90,000. The offer of Columbus was accepted by the trustees and, in October, 1885, the Industrial Institute and College opened its first session.
As a matter of historical record in the history of Colum- bus, and for the purpose of showing her early interest in the higher education of women, the following fact is herewith recorded: Fourteen years after the memorial of Miss Sallie Renau, and fifteen years before the incorporation of the Indus- trial Institute and College, in 1870, at a meeting of the board of trustees of the Columbus Female Institute while A. S. Humphries was president, S. A. Brown, secretary, and Jas. Sykes, W. W. Humphries, W. L. Lipscomb and others were
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trustees, a resolution was unanimously adopted, directing that a memorial be prepared setting forth the views of the trustees on the necessity for additional advantages for the higher education of the girls of Mississippi and offering as a basis for a favorable commencement of this great work at the hands of the State, the buildings and adjacent grounds of the Columbus Female Institute sold buildings and grounds to be used as the female department of the State University. The memorial was prepared in due form, addressed to the State Legislature and to the trustees of the State University for their cooperation. This memorial was placed in charge of Chancellor Theodoric C. Lyon of Columbus, for presen- tation to the university board of trustees in session at Oxford. The memorial was presented to the trustees, received and filed, but as they were at that time engaged with the problem of excluding the negroes from the State University, they asked that its consideration be postponed until this difficulty was removed, which was done by the establishment of Alcorn University in 1871.
"At its opening in October, 1885, there was present 250 applicants, more than could be received into the dormitories. Every session since the promise of this auspicious opening has been more than fulfilled. During the fifteen years of the school's life more than 2,600 young women have come under its instruction. Of these some 409 are still in school. Two hundred and eighty-nine have taken certificates of pro- ficiency in industrial arts and seventy-five the degree of B.A. A large proportion of the B. A. graduates are filling with distinction, chairs in southern colleges." (Extract from I. I. & C. Catalogue 1890)
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