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 48

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 48

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institution was defective, for want of an amendment of the charter. The Judson does not seem to have ever rallied, but fell into other hands and was lost to the denomination, and, indeed, lost to everybody.

The Grand Gulf academy was opened in April, 1835, under the charge of Calvin Miller, a former student of the Miami university and the United States Military academy. In 1837 Mr. Miller moved to Clinton, to practice law; and the academy passed into other hands.

The Tuscahoma academy was opened at Tuscahoma, in Tallahatchie county, in 1835. The Rev. Francis Rutherford and wife were placed in charge. A spacious two-story brick building was erected, and a high grade of study was established. Incorporated in 1838.

The Holly Springs Female institute was organized in 1836- the same year in which the Chickasaw cession was organized into counties. Trustees were appointed at a meeting of the citizens held for the purpose, and a Miss Mosely was employed to teach the first session. In 1837, a Mr. Baker and his wife were principals. In the same year Holly Springs was incor- porated. The sum of $10,500 was appropriated by the corporate authorities for the develop- ment of the academy. In 1838, Mr. Thomas Johnson was made principal; a more desirable lot was purchased, containing four acres; the cornerstone of a handsome brick structure, two stories high, and 60x64 feet, was laid, and pianos were purchased. There were about eighty pupils. The music department was under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Kenno, and was well conducted. There was a collegiate department, with a high curriculum. In May, 1839, Mr. Johnson was succeeded by the Rev. C. Parish, late a professor in the Holly Springs univer- sity. He was assisted by Miss Ruth Beach, Rufus Beach, Esq., and his daughter Eliza were the music teachers, and Mrs E. Langley in the ornamental branches. In this year the insti- tute was incorporated. In January, 1842, Mr. Parish resigned. He was followed by the Rev. C. A. Foster, an Episcopalian clergyman, under a lease for five and a half years. He was assisted by the Rev. A. P. Merrill and wife, and Miss Martha W. Frazer; J. F. Goneke and daughter music teachers. A fine cabinet of minerals, a good philosophical apparatus, and a library, were provided, and part of the grounds was laid off as a botanical garden. The attendance of pupils for 1842 was about one hundred, for 1843 about one hundred and twenty, for 1844 about one hundred and fifty. In 1843 Prof. Goneke and daughter were succeeded by a Mr. Morse, late of Jackson, and a Miss Covington. The school made quite an enviable reputation. The examinations were held in public, and the pupils were questioned on the higher branches, such as geometry, geology and mental philosophy, and were required to con- verse in public in the French tongue. In 1845 Professor Foster resigned and was succeeded by the Rev. James Weatherby, late of the Oxford Female academy. The Rev. G. W. Sill became president in the fall of 1848, and under him the institute came to its best career. The buildings were all completed, and the halls were crowded with bright girls from all the country round about. In 1856 the Rev. N. Chevalier became president, and he was snc- ceeded in 1858 by J. H. Hackleton. This gentleman remained in charge until the Civil war swept the institution out of existence. It was burned by an incendiary.

The University of Holly Springs gives the first appearance in the state of a title so pre- tentious. It was first agitated in the summer of 1836 (being' the same year in which the Chickasaw cession was organized into counties) by the Rev. Robert Hardin, a Presbyterian minister who had come down from Maury county, Tenn., on a prospecting expedition. There was a town meeting, there were addresses, committees were appointed, and a board of trustees organized; but there the matter stopped for a while, on Dr. Hardin's final determina- tion to remain in Maury county. However, a classical school was established and placed under the care of Mr. F. A. Brown. The question of the university was revived in June,

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1837, by Dr. W. P. King. The trustees were increased; a subscription, aggregating $22,- 650, was raised. A two-story brick building was erected in 1837, and the academical depart- ment of the school opened with considerable advertisement, under the charge of Rev. C. Parish and Mr. Brown. The collegiate department was opened in 1838; Rev. Joseph Travis, president pro tem .; Rev. C. Parish, professor of ancient languages; J. B. Clausel, professor of mathematics and natural philosophy; Charles R. Lemanski, professor of modern lan- guages; William H. Blake, principal of preparatory department. In 1839 the university was incorporated. Being pressed for money and patronage, it was shortly afterward trans- ferred to the Methodist church, the faculty remaining unchanged. This experiment proved also a failure; and the church soon gave it up. The Holly Springs Gazette of November 4, 1842, says of it: "With the buildings sufficient for a college, it seems to have been neglected, if not wholly abandoned." In 1843, an effort was made to reanimate the university. The services of Elisha Bass, Jr., and Frederic Sanborn were secured. Still no success followed. It is a significant fact that editorials in the Gazette, of date December 1, 1843, and December 13, 1844, on the schools of Holly Springs, make not the least mention of the university.

Richland academy, located at Shongalo, a village now deserted, but formerly in Carroll county, about one mile west of Vaiden, was incorporated in 1836. A two-story building, 26x46 feet, with three apartments, sufficiently large for the accommodation of one hundred pupils, was erected in 1837-8. The first session began April 22, 1839, under Mr. and Mrs. Emmons (formerly of the Raymond Female academy); with Mr. A. P. Hill, A. B., from the South Carolina college, as assistant in the male department, with fifty pupils.

The Carrollton academy was also incorporated in 1836. In January, 1840, the male department was placed in the hands of Mr. James M. McLean, who gave general satisfaction, and was still in charge in July, 1841.

The Paulding academy, at Paulding, in Jasper county, was, incorporated in 1836. It took rank quickly as a first-rate school. In 1845 and 1846 it was under John E. Seaman, as principal.

The Madisonville academy, and the Canton Female academy, both in Madison county, were incorporated in 1836.

The Monticello academy, located at Monticello, once capital of the state, and in Law- rence county, was founded by A. M. Keegan and others by voluntary donations. Incorporated February 4, 1836, Arthur Fox, president of the trustees. Distinct male and female depart- ment; in 1838 Rev. A. R. Graves was in charge of the former, Miss Sophia Royce, of the latter; in 1839, Prof. J. M. Ellis was in charge; in 1840, Francis P. Montfort, late from Gallatin, was preceptor of the former; Mrs. S. J. Sawkins, preceptress of the latter. Prop- erty, a handsome two-story building, lot ninety-nine feet square; valued at $4,000.

The Oakland Female seminary, located at Oakland, in Claiborne county, near Oakland college, was opened in January, 1836, by J. Black.

The Port Gibson seminary was established in Port Gibson in the fall of 1836, by Mann Butler, a gentleman who brought to his work an experience of several years, acquired in some of the best institutions of Kentucky. Still open in the winter of 1840-1.

The Raymond academy probably was the successor of the Hampden academy of 1830. Perhaps no school in Mississippi more thoroughly exemplified the evil of an unceasing change of teachers. It was bad everywhere, but here was at its very worst. The female department was capable af accommodating one hundred pupils, and in 1836 was under Mr. and Mrs. Emmons; in 1838, under Miss L. Parker; in 1839, under the Rev. Bradford Frazee, some time president of Elizabeth academy; in 1840, under Mrs. Jane Clark, from

Edward Hayes .

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Carlisle, Penn., and later Columbia, Tenn. Exactly when Mrs. Clark left is not now known, but in 1845-6 the principal was E. Ames. After this, the school seems to have failed, as there were in 1847 a number of private schools, and no mention made of the academy. The male department was, if possible, even worse. In 1836 it was under Mr. C. Ramsay; in 1837, under James C. Campbell, A. M., of New York; in 1838, under Mr. Heywood Foote; in 1839, under Mr. F. D. Cowles; in 1840, under W. Richard Ellis, A. B., and Jean Joseph Giers, associates, of Kentucky; in 1841, under Albert W. Ely, A. B., in January, and S. E. Goddard, in June. There is no further history, except a notice in the Raymond Times of October 10, 1845, that the building was tumbled to pieces, discreditable to our town and neighborhood.

The Woodville Female academy was opened in August, 1836, at the house formerly occupied by Mrs. Stark (see date 1832) by a Miss Chapman, late from Tuscaloosa, Ala. In June, 1838, Miss Chapman was succeeded by Mr. and Mrs. Halsey, who retained control of it until 1846, when Miss Clarissa M. Chapman (afterward Mrs. Dunbar) succeeded them and conducted the academy successfully for a number of years.

The Natchez Female academy, kept by Rev. W. H. Bruner and wife, who had for- merly taught in Vicksburg (see date of 1832), was probably open before 1837. At all events, it was at work in November, 1837, and continued until the summer of 1839.

The Liberty academy, located at Liberty, in Amite county, was probably a con- tinuation of the old Amite academy. In April, 1837, it was under the management of Mr. George W. Rudd. He was followed in February, 1839, by Mr. John R. Caulfield. At this time the old charter was revived by the legislature. In November, 1841, Mr. J. R. Knox, a graduate of Miami university, was principal, and he was followed in February, 1844, by J. H. Black, A. M.

The Mississippi Female college, located at Columbus, was the first exclusively female school to assume the name of college. Exactly when the institution was established is doubtful, but it is certain that it was at work in 1837. The Rev. Abram Maer was president; a man described as of extensive literary research, of long tried worth and established reputation, and possessing that rare faculty of governing with ease and communicating knowledge with facility, which constitute at once the ornament and usefulness of an instructor. The building was tasteful and elegant in its structure, and commodious in the number and arrangement of its apartments, situated on the most elevated point in the town. Thomas G. Blewett was president of the trustees. The curriculum embraced, besides the common branches, belle lettres, French, Latin, geometry, algebra, natural philosophy, chemistry, botany, mental philosophy, evidences of Christianity, music, drawing and painting. The college was incorporated in 1840. In 1838 there were about ninety pupils. In July, 1844, Mr. Maer had left, and the college was probably suspended.

The Louisville academy, located at Lonisville, in Winston county, was incorporated May 9, 1837; founded by contributions, aggregating $5,152. The building was a two-story frame structure. James Martin was president of the trustees. The first teachers were: John W. Morrison, in the male department, and James Martin, in the female department. In 1842 the male department was under George G. Snedicor, who was followed in July, 1843, by the Rev. J. I. Jones and Mr. D. W. Seiders. In 1843 the female department was under Mr. and Mrs. Godden.

The college and academy at Sharon, in Madison county, at first a university school of the Methodist, Baptist, Old School and Cumberland Presbyterian churches, was incorporated in 1837. The town was created for and by the school. The female academy was opened T

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in April, and was in the hands of Misses J. H. and H. W. Copes, of Maryland. Early in 1838 the preparatory department of the male school was opened, with about forty pupils; and in the October following the college proper got under way. Five professors were elected to the faculty, four of them clergymen; one from each of the patronizing denomi- nations. The idea was to distribute the chairs after that plan, so as to prevent the exclu- sive sectarian influence. The Rev. Alexander Campbell was president of both schools. In the college Rev. Richard Beard, William L. Williford and John F. Little were of the faculty. In the academy Rev. H. W. Smith was principal, assisted by his wife and Miss Stratton; Mr. C. Brachus, music teacher. There were two distinct lots, with buildings, for the two schools, and a subscription of about $20,000 for endowment. The pupils in the college, including preparatory, for 1839, were one hundred. In 1841 President Campbell resigned, accepting the presidency of Mississippi college, and the schools seem to have been placed under Profes- sor Beard. In the early part of 1843 the female academy was transferred to the Mississippi conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. It was reorganized under the name of the Sharon female college. The male school seems to have become extinct, probably because of the vicinity of Mississippi college, then fostered by the Presbyterians, and of Centenary col- lege, then fostered by the Methodists. Rev. E. S. Robinson was made president of the female college, assisted by his wife, Mr. C. W. F. Muller and others. There were over eighty students that year. In 1845 President Robinson was succeeded by the Rev. Pleasant J. Eckles. Under him the reputation of the college greatly increased. He was followed, in 1854, by the Rev. J. W. Shelton. He was soon succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Guard, who had charge until 1861, when the Rev. William L. C. Hunnicutt, now president of Centenary college, became president. Dr. Hunnicutt soon enlisted as a chaplain in the Confederate army, and was followed by the Rev. Samuel D. Aikin. In 1867 Dr. Aikin removed to Texas, and Dr. Hunnicutt again became president. He was followed, in 1869, by the Rev. Josiah M. Pugh, formerly of Madison college, who retired in the following year, when Dr. Hun- nicutt still again took charge; and again, in the next year, 1871, Dr. Pugh succeeded Dr. Hunnicutt. In July, 1872, Dr. Pugh accepted the presidency of Marvin college, in Texas, and was followed by the Rev. Mr. Moss, from Alabama, but the college had run its course. The class of 1872 was the last to graduate, and the doors were soon closed. This failure was the result of several causes, mainly the shifting of population, the impoverishment of the surrounding country, and an unfortunate fire in 1868, which destroyed the main building.

The Cayuga academy, at Cayuga, in Hinds county, was opened in February, 1837. A new, spacious and comfortable building was provided. Mr. R. A. Carloss and wife were principals.

The Lane academy, named for the Rev. John Lane, a Methodist minister of prominence who was devoted to educational interests, and located at Vicksburg, was incorporated in May, 1837. A. B. Reading, Esq., gave a building lot, valued at $10,000, for the site. Revenue was drawn from the sixteenth section funds. In 1838, the academy was at work, under the Rev. A. W. Chapman, a Methodist minister, with two assistants. In December, 1839, Mr. Chap- man retired, to devote himself to the female academy recently established, and this school passed under the control of Mr. Richard Griffith, of Ohio, a graduate of the Ohio university, and of Mr. Robert D. Howe. In October, 1844, Mr. Griffith had retired, and Mr. Howe was assisted by Mr. J. G. Parham, Jr.

The Greensboro academy, at Greensboro, in Choctaw county, was incorporated May 11, 1837; Erasmus L. Acee, and forty others being incorporators and trustees. There was a tine building. In 1842 Mr. and Mrs. Melton were in charge; but differences among us had " about ruined our schools."

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The Pinckney academy, at Pinckney, Newton county, was incorporated May 13, 1837; Michael Thomas and six other being incorporators and trustees.

The Marion academy, in Lauderdale county, was incorporated in 1837.

The Hernando academy, at Hernando, in De Soto county, was incorporated May 11, 1837, being the first incorporated in the Chickasaw cession. Rev. McMahon (sic) and eight others were incorporators and trustees. The first principal of the female department of whom any trace is now discoverable was Mrs. Dockery, in 1839. She was followed in December by Mrs. Caroline C. Jones. In 1845, Mrs. M. W. Simmons was in charge, and the Rev. A. P. Henderson, a graduate of Glasgow college, opened a male school in the male academy. In 1847 a better building, containing three rooms, was erected. In 1850, by authority of the legislature, the academy was transferred to the Methodist Church South; new buildings were erected. Col. Warner M. Yates, an eminent teacher, was called to pre- side over it, which he did with great success for several years. He was succeeded by Mrs. M. A. Moseley, who for several years prior to 1861 maintained a school highly approved and numerously attended. Meanwhile debts accumulated, and the trustees were finally forced to sell the property, which passed into private hands, but is still used for school purposes.

The Preston academy was established in Yalobusha county as early as 1837. In that year and in 1838 it was under Thomas J. Jenkins, as rector. The village itself was planted exclusively for the encouragement of education, like Sharon. In 1842, and before, Mr. R. G. Wilder, was rector, and the trustees boasted of the character of Preston as one of the oldest and most respectable seats of learning in north Mississippi. Mr. A. W. Kilpatrick took charge in April, 1843.

The Colbert Male and Female academy, of Lowndes county, was incorporated February 15, 1838; Timothy L. Rogers and six others being incorporators and trustees. It was opened January, 1838, under the Rev. Jacob Lindly, assisted by Mrs. Maria M. Gay, both originally from Pennsylvania. In June, Mr. Lindly, who took charge only to start the school, with- drew in favor of Mrs. Gay, with Miss Lindly as assistant. An accomplished music teacher was engaged. In July, 1841, Miss Charlotte Paine, from the Oxford Female academy, took charge; but her health failed, and, in January, 1842, she was followed by the Rev. W. W. Burch and wife.

The Aberdeen Female academy, located at Aberdeen, in Monroe county, was opened February 1, 1838, under the charge of James A. McLean and wife, assisted by Miss Norris; musical department under Mrs. Brown. It was incorporated in 1845.

The Liberty Female seminary, at Liberty, in Amite county, was opened in the spring of 1838, by the Misses Ring, who proposed to teach the whole system of female education generally adopted in female schools. They were followed, in 1843, by Misses S. T. and S. A. Russell.

The Vicksburg Female seminary, under Rev. Samuel W. Speer, with four assistants, in 1838 justly ranked among the best institutions in the state. It became extinct in 1840, or about that time.

The Union Female academy is the earliest of the Attala county schools traceable. It was twelve miles above Kosciusko, and in 1838 was under the charge of Mrs. M. P. Caffrey.

The Oxford Female academy, located at Oxford, Lafayette county, was incorporated in 1838. The first principal was Miss Charlotte Paine, whose first session closed in December, 1839, with a roster of thirty-four scholars. She was succeeded by the Rev. James A. Weath- erby, with three assistants. In 1842 there were eighty-four pupils, drawn from three states. The building was a two-story brick structure. In 1844 S. Leak Slack, of Philadelphia, took

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charge. He was assisted by his wife, Miss Ann C. Smith and Miss E. D. Ware. After a short time he was followed by a Mr. Collins, from Vermont. In 1854 the school was trans- ferred to the Cumberland Presbyterian church and reincorporated under the name of the Union Female college. Under this name and management the school is still a working institution of high order. Its presidents have been successively: Rev. Dr. Stanford G. Bur- ney, afterward professor of English in the university, and now principal of the department of theology at Cumberland university; Rev. Dr. C. H. Bell, now of St. Louis, Mo .; Prof. Robert J. Guthrie; Rev. J. S. Howard; Prof. W. I. Davis; and Prof. H. N. Robertson, the present incumbent. This college, although the Fayette academy was established many years before it, still enjoys the distinction of being the oldest female school in the state of unbroken history (leaving out of view the interruption of the war). Its first class under the charter of 1854, graduated in 1856. It has graduated two hundred and thirty-one. The average attendance is about one hundred and fifty. Young boys are admitted as day scholars. The premises are ten acres in extent, and the main building is a large and commodious three- story brick. The old structure is still in use as a music hall.

Franklin Female academy, located at Franklin, Holmes county, was opened in the sum- mer of 1838, under Mrs. Rose and Miss Merriwether. In July, 1842, it was taken in charge by Col. G. D. Mitchell, from Grenada academy.

The Emery academy, located at Emery, Holmes county, was established in January, 1839, under the auspices of the Mississippi conference of the Methodist church, Rev. Bradford Frazee and wife were the principals; incorporated that same year; Hon. David O. Shattuck and thirteen others being incorporators and trustees.

The Richland Male and Female academy, located at Richland, Holmes county, was opened before 1839; but in January of that year, its capacity was enlarged, by the addition of a new building, to one hundred and thirty pupils. It was under Mr. Hollis Holman and his sister, Mary B. Holman. In 1842 Rev. D. L. Russell, assisted by his wife, took charge; Mr. P. Kenna and wife having the musical department. This institution seems, in 1848, to have been superseded by the Eureka Masonic college, incorporated that year, and located at the same place. Lemuel Doty was president of the trustees; Rev. D. L. Russell was president and professor of moral and mental science; Mr. Z. Mott Lawrence, professor of languages; Mr. W. L. Wright, professor of natural sciences, and principal of the primary department.

The Winston Female seminary, in Winston county, was opened in January, 1839, under Mr. Eugene Ferris and Susan B. Micou. No day scholars admitted.

The Vicksburg Female academy was established at a meeting of citizens on July 24, 1839. Rev. John Lane and eighteen others were elected trustees. Rev. A. W. Chapman, who had been acting as agent on subscription and building, was continued. The academy was opened on the fourth Monday of October, 1839, Mr. and Mrs. Chapman principals. The buildings were large and convenient, with accommodation for fifty boarders; incorporated in 1840. It derived some revenue from the sixteenth section. The Misses Grandier were assist- ants. In September, 1840, Miss A. M. Foster was engaged in addition. In 1841 there was a library of six hundred volumes. Striby was professor of music. In 1844 Miss Sarah Boyer was assistant in the literary department; P. Schmidt, music; Mons. Vallett, French, etc. In 1846 Professor Nash was in charge of the music.

The Woodville Male academy was established in January, 1839, by Mr. Halsey, then principal, also, of the Woodville Female academy. He was assisted by Rev. Mr. Mudge, formerly a member of Wesleyan university, and who, in 1837, had opened a classical and scientific school, which was merged in this. Mr. Mudge left in 1841, and was followed by

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Mr. Ulysses Chapman, a graduate of Wesleyan university. In 1845, Mr. Halsey, having relinquished the female academy, took personal charge, but in 1846 he was succeeded by a Mr. Soule, and he, in turn, and in the same year, by John S. McLean. In June, 1847, Mr. McLean was followed by Mr. George H. Wiley, who, however, soon moved to Jackson, La., and accepted a position in Centenary college.

The Woodville Classical school was incorporated February 14, 1839. It was promptly opened in the basement of the Presbyterian church, S. A. Phelps, A. B., principal. In Sep- tember, at the beginning of the third term, Mr. M. B. Green, A. M., was engaged as a coprin- cipal, and the school divided into two departments. How long this school continued to exist is not now known. It was at work in the session of 1842-3.

The Wahalak Female academy, in Kemper county; the Farmington academy, in Tisho- mingo county; the Plymouth academy, in Lowndes county; the Wyatt Male and Female academy, in Lafayette county, and the Chulahoma academy, in Marshall county, were also incorporated in 1839.

The Sylvestria academy, male, was opened at Sylvestria, in Marshall county, in 1839, by Z. D. Cottrell, late principal of the Oxford Female academy. It was converted into a female academy about 1841.

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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 48

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