Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 46

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 46

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The remedies named are here to meet the natural troubles of the body. Many of them were known to the Indian medicine men and were the only remedies resorted to prior to the settlement of the country by the Caucasians. When new diseases were introduced by viola- tion of natural laws, stronger remedies were called for, and as civilization advanced calls for still more radical remedies increased, until now there is scarcely a place for the medicinal plants of Mississippi in the pharmacopœa.

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CHAPTER XI. .

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

ROM the period of the first Protestant-English settlements in what is now the state of Mississippi, in the latter half of the last century, the majority of those settlements sus- tained small neighborhood schools. These schools were of the very simplest character. Usually they were kept in log houses, with rough plank benches for the only furniture. They were supported wholly by private contributions, or by the tuition fees paid. The course of study rarely embraced more than the rudiments: reading, writing by copy, and arithmetic so far as the double rule of three. However, where conditions were favorable, as along the Mississippi river, in the rich-land counties, would be found a gathering of families compara- tively wealthy and often highly cultivated, whose schools would be of a better type, and include the classics and English grammar. Noteworthy among these were the Swayzes, of Adams county; the Lymans, of Claiborne; the Vicks and Cooks, of Warren.

The first known public school of any reputation in the territory was a female school established at Natchez, in the year of 1801, by the Rev. David Ker. He was assisted by his wife and daughters, who were highly finished scholars and very elegant ladies. He was of Irish birth, was an ex-professor of the University of North Carolina, and 1802 was appointed judge of the superior court. He left descendants of his name, who are yet about Natchez.

Jefferson college, located at Washington, Adams county, was incorporated on the 13th of May, 1802. The institution still exists. It had no endowment at the first, the plan being that it should be supported by voluntary contributions. A site was donated by John and James Foster and Randall Gibson. On the 3d of March, 1803, congress granted to it a township of land and some lots in the city of Natchez. These grants, however, did not yield any available funds for a number of years. The city lots were adversely held, and litigation ensued, while the township lands were not yet subject to entry. Toward the close of the year 1810, an arrangement was effected whereby the buildings and subscriptions of the Washington academy, which was at work under the Rev. James Smiley, were transferred to the college, and thereby the institution was enabled to make a beginning. It was opened, on the 1st of January, 1811, on the footing of an humble academy, under the charge of Dr. Edwin Reese; Mr. Samuel Graham, assistant. In the year 1812 about $5,000 was derived from a grant of escheats made by the legislature. In 1816 the sum of $6,000, payable in four annual installments, was appropriated by the territorial legislature, and a Mr. James McAllister employed as principal. In August, 1817, the suit with the city of Natchez over one of the lots granted by congress, was compromised by the payment to the college of $5,000; and thereupon the east wing of the college edifice was erected. In 1818 the town- ship lands began to yield something, and about $8,000 was obtained from that source.

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This sum, with about $13,000 more, borrowed from the state and from bank, was applied to the completion of the buildings. Shortly afterward the values of lands declined, and the policy of the Federal government, in making land-grants on extraordinarily liberal terms, practically excluded competition, so that the college was disappointed in its expectations of further revenue from that source. A period of great financial difficulty ensued, from which it was not rescued for years, and in which executions were sometimes levied on its property, which was preserved only by the generous intervention of its trustees, who paid the debts, in some instances, from their private means. In June, 1821, Mr. McAllister retired. The academy was kept up, ou a reduced scale, until 1826, when the instructor then in charge died, and the institution was closed for a period. This emergency led to a final compromise of the remaining litigation with the city of Natchez by which it was agreed to sell the property in controversy and divide the proceeds. Still, but little benefit was derived from this expedient. Sales were slow, and at low prices. However, an agreement was made with Mr. E. B. Williston, as president, and Maj. John Holbrook, as superintendent, on a five years' lease, for the reopening of the college, on the West Point plan, at their own expense. It was so reopened December 1, 1829, and with great success. In 1832, however, Mr. Williston resigned, because of failing health, and Major Holbrook died. Capt. Alden Patridge, formerly superintendent at West Point, succeeded as president. He remained but a few months. The military system was then abandoned, and the trustees determined to employ teachers at fixed salaries. One of those teachers, Mr. Charles L. Dubuisson, was made president in June, 1835. The school, however, did not flourish. It so declined that in March, 1838, there were only twenty-five students, of whom only five were in the college proper. The collegiate department was therefore suspended for one year, and a thorough reorganization effected. Work was resumed in 1840, with an extensive course of study and a faculty of five professors, Rev. A. Stephens, president. The attendance of students was largely increased. At this time the estate of the college amounted to $251,671. This included the site and buildings, library and apparatus, bank stock, and purchase-debts of the lots in Natchez and of the township lands, the latter having been at last located and sold. Most of these funds were, however, soon lost by unfortunate investments. In 1845 the college was under the charge of Professors Jacob Ammen, John Rowland and Orrick Metcalfe, and was flourishing. In October, 1850, it passed into the hands of President Ashbel Green, son of Dr. Green, president of Princeton college. In April, 1853, the Rev. Charles Reighly became president, and he was followed, in July, 1856, by the Rev. E. J. Cornish. On his death, which occurred in 1859, Prof. J. J. Critchlow was appointed presi- dent pro tempore, and remained in charge until the summer of 1861. At this time, owing to the stress of finances caused by the war, salaries were suspended, and Professor Critchlow and the Rev. W. K. Douglass, as associates, were employed under a special arrangement. They conducted the school until the summer of 1863, when it was suspended. The buildings were later occupied by the Federal troops as barracks, and were not restored to the trustees until November, 1865. For seven years thereafter the college was presided over by Mr. Jesse Andrews. In the summer of 1872 Prof. J. S. Raymond, the present president, was elected, and authorized to employ an assistant. Tuition was made free, and so remained until the summer of 1875. The session of 1879-80 was a very prosperous one, and the employment of two additional assistants was authorized. Since that time the history of the college has been one of success. President Raymond is at present assisted by Prof. Matthew C. Harper and Prof. Jackson Reeves, both graduates of the state university. The effective endowment is about $40,000. This institution occupies the interesting attitude that its

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charter was the first granted in Mississippi for any purpose; that it is the oldest existent school in the entire South perhaps, outside of North Carolina and Virginia; that it has still never granted a baccalaureate degree; that its students have included J. F. H. Claiborne, B. L. C. Wailes, A. G. Brown and Jefferson Davis; and that the great naturalist, J. J. Audubon, was once its drawing master.

The story of Jefferson college has carried us far beyond the period of its origin. It will be necessary now to return to the date, about 1802. The limits fixed for this publica- tion forbid a full history of all the excellent schools of which information more or less satis- factory is attainable. Many quite deserving of distinct chapters will have to be dispatched with brief mention. It is to be remembered, too, that many other fine schools are not only extinct, but also lost to memory.

The Franklin Society academies .- By an act passed January 8, 1807, Cato West and twenty-one others were incorporated as The Franklin society, for the purpose of establish- ing an academy at the town of Greenville, or its vicinity, in Jefferson county. The academy was successfully established, in two distinct branches, one for each sex. The Rev. and Hon. David Ker was in charge of the female academy for a period about 1810.

Madison academy .- By an act passed December 5th, 1809, Samuel Gibson and twelve others were incorporated under this name, and empowered to establish the academy in the county of Claiborne, on the north fork of the Bayou Pierre, near the town of Port Gibson, under the presidency of Henry C. Cox. By an amendatory act, passed December 1, 1814, the removal of the academy to any site within three miles of Port Gibson was authorized; it was removed to that town.

Washington academy, at Washington, Adams county; established about 1808, by Rev. James Smiley. In 1810, it was absorbed by Jefferson college, as related.

Rickhow's academy was established for boys, at Natchez, in 1811, by the Rev. Jacob Rickhow, from New Jersey. It continued for several years. Mr. Rickhow was one of the pioneer Presbyterian ministers, and is a historical character in his church.

Green academy was located in what was then Madison county, Mississippi territory, but what is now the vicinity of Huntsville, Alabama. It was incorporated in 1812, and received a donation from the territory of $500, in 1816.

Washington academy was located in what was then Washington county, Mississippi territory, but is now Washington county, Ala., at Fort St. Stephens. It was incorporated in 1814, and received a donation from the territory of $500, in 1816.

The Jackson academy, in Wilkinson county, was a mixed boardingschool. Mr. William Connell was principal: Mr. Booth, steward. Board and washing were restricted to $60 per annum. It was incorporated December 27, 1814; Daniel Williams, Sr., and eight others, incorporators and trustees.

The Pine Grove grammar school, in Amite county, was established in 1814; perhaps earlier. Rev. James Smiley was principal; Mr. H. Wiley, assistant. It was a boarding- school, with a steward. Tuition, board and washing, $100 per annum. This was merged in the Amite academy, at Liberty, Amite county, which was incorporated December 8, 1815; James Smiley and ten others, incorporators. A $1,500 house was erected by sub- scription. The school prospered for a time, but wasted away, and in 1829 the house was occupied by a sixteenth section free school.

The Pinckneyville academy, at Pinckneyville, Wilkinson county, was incorporated Decem- ber 23, 1815: Gerard C. Brandon and eight others, incorporators and trustees. It was still at work in 1825-6; Mr. William Smart, principal.

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The Wilkinson academy, two and one-half miles east of Woodville, was incorporated December 23, 1815; Abram M. Scott (afterward governor) and eight others, incorporators and trustees. In the year 1825-6, Mr. Charles H. Talbot, late of Tennessee, was principal; in 1826, Mr. S. Hill; in 1831, Mr. J. A. Shaw; in 1832, Samuel McLelland; in 1833, Mr. Z. S. Lyons; and in 1834, a Mr. Black. Shortly after this, it seems to have become extinct.

Richard Pearce and Israel Spencer, elders in the Presbyterian church, conducted a high school in Natchez from 1815 to 1820.

The Shieldsboro college, located at Shieldsboro, in Hancock county, was incorporated in 1818.

The first aid extended by either Federal or state government to the cause of common- school education, came in the establishment of the sixteenth section funds. On April 7, 1798, the Mississippi territory was organized. In offering the public lands, acquired from the Indians, for sale, the government pursued the usual policy of reserving in each township the section numbered sixteen (or some other in lieu thereof, whenever that section had been otherwise lawfully disposed of), for the support of schools within the township .*

The act of congress of January 9, 1815, inaugurated a policy of leasing the lands on short termis. The state statute of February 5, 1818, passed pursuant to the injunction of the constitution of 1817, adopted the same plan. At first the lands were managed by the county courts, but the act of January 9, 1824, authorized the election, by the resident heads of families, of trustees, who were empowered to rent, collect and disburse the rents, erect school- houses, employ teachers, etc.

The act of February 27, 1833, authorized the sale, on a credit of one to four years, of ninety-nine year leases; the purchase money to be secured by lien on the lands. The pro- ceeds, when collected, to be invested in the Planters' bank stock. The amendment of February 27, 1836, allowed the proceeds to be lent to private borrowers, at teu per cent., with security or to be invested in stock of solvent banks. Various alterations of detail were made by statute; but the foregoing system was substantially adhered to for many years.

The act of 1842 required the distribution of the proceeds among all the schools of the township, in proportion to the resident scholars attending

There was much mismanagement. The money invested in Planters' bank stock was lost; that invested in other banks met the same fate; many of the purchase notes were permitted to become barred by the statute of limitations; many that were collected were so collected after protracted and costly litigation; much of the money lent out proved to be lent on worthless endorsements, etc. It is a disgusting story.

Even where there was a fund preserved it was practically useless, except in rare instances. It was a troublesome business, and the trustees were generally indifferent. Where they were not, they were embarrassed to the point of paralysis by uncertainty as to the laws. By the year 1845, no less than fifty-three statutes, local and other, had been passed in reference to these lands. Those statutes were scattered through numerous volumes of session laws. None knew where to turn for certain knowledge. The statues were generally ill drawn, hardly ever requiring the officers to give bonds for the discharge of their duties.

The landssharks were about, of course. Plots to lease cheap, plots to engross the desirable parts of a section, and defy competition as to the residue, etc., abounded. Timber thieves were not wanting either.

*A somewhat different policy was adopted in the Chickasaw cession, embracing about the northern one-fifth of the state; whence came the Chickasaw school fund, of which later.

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Governor Brown, in his message of January 6, 1846, called the attention of the legisla- ture to the manner in which this interest had been most shamefully neglected, and urged the establishment of a system of schools under a general head responsible to the state.

Nothing was done. Notwithstanding the governor's message the matter went as before. In a few counties there was a semblance of attention; in the most, none; and after the Civil war, in the days of reconstruction, the greater part of what was left was either squandered or stolen.

Meanwhile, the lands are out of hand for ninety-nine years, with a few exceptions where they have not been in request. They will begin to revert about 1933; but what will then be their value agriculturally, after a century of skinning, it needs no prophet to foresee. As the county superintendent of Sharkey county put it, "boards of supervisors are, from time to time, donating, as it were, to individuals valuable sections of land belonging to the people, upon the virtual condition that, after enriching the happy individual and his offspring, it shall be turned over, worn out and worthless, to the remote posterity."

To sum up, there are fifty-seven counties that should be largely endowed from this source. Of that number, nineteen have no trace of the fund left; three have an income for the whole county of less than $100; twelve others have incomes of $300 or less; seven others, incomes between $300 and $500; two others, incomes of about $800; three others, between $1,000 and $2,000; and one, an income of about $3,000. Eleven others report lands of more or less value still on hand (mainly of little account); and the remaining counties make no report.

The Beach Hill academy and Methodist meeting-house (sic) was incorporated on February 6th, 1818; Isaac Dunbar and four others being incorporators and trustees.

The Elizabeth Female academy, located at Washington, Adams county, was the first high school exclusively for girls in the state; and was the first school established by any Protestant denomination in all the extreme South. In the year 1818 Mrs. Elizabeth Roach donated the land and buildings, on condition that the donees, the Mississippi conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, should maintain there a high school for the education of girls. It was incorporated in 1819. It maintained until the day of extinction a very high character for thoroughness of tuitional work. In all but name it was a college. The first presi- Mr. dent was Mr. C. Stiles, from Claiborne county; Mrs. Jane B. Sanderson, governess. Stiles died in 1822, and was succeeded by the Rev. John C. Burruss, a most accomplished gentleman. Under him, Mrs. Caroline M. Thayer, a near relative of Dr. Warren, the hero of Bunker Hill, was governess. From 1828 to 1832 the Rev. Benjamin M. Drake was presi- dent. In 1833 he was followed by the Rev. J. P. Thomas, and Mrs. Thayer was succeeded by Mrs. Susan Brewer. In 1836, the Rev. Bradford Frazee became president; and in 1839, the Rev. R. D. Smith, Miss Lucy A. Stillman being governess. There is extant an old report which shows the number of boarders (but not of the day scholars) for the first eleven years. They were as follows: for 1819, twenty-eight; for 1820, twenty-eight; for 1821, seventeen; for 1822, thirteen; for 1823, eighteen; for 1824, twenty-five; for 1825, ten; for 1826, thirty ; for 1827, forty; for 1828, forty-five; for 1829, sixty-three. The course of study embraced penmanship, English, French, Latin, geography, ancient and modern history, belles lettres, arithmetic with the elements of mathematical sciences, astronomy with the use of the globes, chemistry, natural, moral and mental philosophy, constitution and government of the United States, the Bible and evidences of Christianity. About 1844, after a career of about twenty-five years of great usefulness, the academy was abandoned, other schools more favor- ably located having drawn its patronage away.

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The Natchez academy was incorporated February 12, 1819; Dr. John Hosmer and thir- teen others being incorporators and trustees. Dr. Hosmer was the principal. He and his wife had come from Lexington, Ky., in the December previous, for the express purpose of opening a female academy, "as good as any in the United States." The institution seems to have perished soon. Its charter and property were used later, as will be shown under the date 1829.

Pearl River academy, in Lawrence county, was incorporated February 12, 1819; William Cooper, Sr., and four others being incorporators and trustees.

The Wilkinson Female academy, of Wilkinson county, was incorporated February 19, 1819; John Joor and five others being incorporators and trustees.

The Columbian academy, of Marion county, was incorporated February 10, 1820; Benjamin Lee and seven others being incorporators and trustees.

The first effort made by the state in aid of general education was in the establishment of the literary fund. This was done by the act of 26th of November, 1821. All escheats, confiscations, forfeitures, and derelict; all fines, penalties and forfeitures not otherwise ap- propriated; all goods of persons dying intestate aud without heirs, were appointed to this fund. It was directed to be invested iu bank stock or leut on security. Its object was, first, to aid in the education of poor children; secondly, to endow and encourage schools. Such portion of the fund as should be left unused in the education of poor children was to be divided among schools to be kept in the different counties, for such purposes as the legis- lature should deem best for the promotion of literature; but no distribution of this kind could be made until the surplus should amount to $50,000.

The Planters' bank, in the stock of which nearly all, if not quite all, of the fund was in- vested, failed, aud was put into liquidation in 1844. Its stockholders realized nothing from their stock. The fund proper was wiped out of existence at one sweep. It would hardly have been worth while to dwell on the Literary fund, so barren was it of visible fruit, except that the establishment and cherishing of it for a period of eighteen years discloses an anxiety in the minds of the people of the state to further the cause of education, and except for the further fact that it was one of the progressive steps by which, through failure and disaster, the present stage was reached.

The Franklin academy, located at Columbus in Lowndes county, was established in 1821, by authority of the legislature. It was, by twenty-four years, the earliest free school of note and permanency in the state. It was and is a sixteenth section school. At the time of its foundation the county of Lowndes formed a part of Monroe, and was separated from the residue of the state in white occupancy, by the intervening lands of the Choctaw Indians. The school sectiou was divided into lots and leased for ninety-nine years. At first they paid an annual rental of about $8,000; but in the financial troubles of 1837-40, a system was in- augurated of forfeiting the leases, and releasing at lower rates, the result of which was that the income dwindled to about $2,400 per annum from that source. It has, however, been supplemented by taxation so as to maintain the school on an efficient basis. From the begin- ning, there were distinct male and female departments. Until the year 1839, there was a full collegiate course free, but at that time, owing to complaint that the resources of the institu- tion were taxed for the support of a high curriculum to the partial exclusion of the children of the poor, a reorganization was made by which the higher courses, especially of Latin and Greek, were left off. In 1842, there was a further modification, by which the course was di- vided into five classes, all except the first being required to pay tuition fees ranging from $4 to $12 per session of four months. Under this management less attention was paid to the

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higher branches, and other schools were established for them. Later, the Odd Fellows school was destroyed by fire, which led to the gradual re-establishment of the former high grade at the academy; and that high grade has been maintained ever since that time. In 1876, a branch for colored children was established. A very handsome additional building has been recently erected, and the school is keptopen for nine months of the year. So early as 1837 the attendance of pupils had reached about two hundred; but prior to the reorganization of 1839, it had fallen away to about one hundred. That measure immediately brought the number up to about four hundred. The numbers since have varied. The annual attendance is now about one thousand, of which about six hundred and fifty are white. A full account cannot now be given of the various principals. In 1836, Prof. Robert B. Witter was in charge of the male department, with two assistants, while Mrs. M. A. Innes and an assistant were in charge of the female department. In September, 1837, a Mr. Swift was in charge, and he was followed, in June, 1838, by the Rev. H. Ried. In July, 1839, Mr. James T. Hoskins was elected prin - cipal of the male branch and given two assistants, while Miss C. Mathieson was placed in charge of the female, also with two teachers. In 1841 the male department was under Mr. J. J. W. Payne, with one assistant; and the female, under Mr. McLean and wife. Passing over the long list of other teachers, it remains to note that the academy is now under the presidency of Prof. Pope Barrow, a graduate of Randolph-Macon college, and that he has a corps of eleven assistants in the white branch alone. This school has been always a progressive one. As far back as 1841, is to be found a communication in the Argus making a protest against "the new experiment now being tried in Columbus of teaching our children to spell before they learn their alphabet."

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 46

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314